General Qin was so angry that his beard trembled after hearing what Qin Zhou said. "Ah Zhou, what is more important than achieving great things? The emperor just wants to expand the territory. You should know that once we conquer the Great Zhou, the territory of our Northern Desert will be expanded by more than half. That is the credit of our Qin family. Our Qin family will be remembered for thousands of generations and will be recorded in history forever! Isn't this what you have always wanted? Don't you want to tell the world that even though you, Qin Zhou, are a woman, you can still achieve hegemony?"
Qin Zhou looked at his grandfather's excited and angry face and felt something was wrong.
Yes, this is her ideal, but her ideal is not achieved by stepping on the bones of the people of the Northern Desert.
She loves Beimo and hopes to expand its territory. She wants to find fertile land for the people of Beimo and hopes that they can live and work in peace and contentment without suffering from displacement.
However, in the current situation, if she wants to achieve hegemony, she will have to sacrifice the lives of many people. The people's food rations will all be used for war, and the epidemic will be ignored. Is this what she wants
"Grandfather, we can't do this!" Qin Zhou had never disobeyed her grandfather in her life. This was the first time. She felt very sad, but she had no choice but to do this.
General Qin could hardly believe his ears. "What? You can't do this? Don't you even listen to me?"
He was so excited that phlegm came up and he coughed violently, tears coming out.
"Grandfather!" Qin Zhou patted his back quickly, "What's wrong with you?"
Old Master Qin coughed so hard that his abdomen ached. He finally stopped to take a breath, then slapped her hand away, "Get out of here, you unworthy granddaughter!"
Qin Zhou looked at him sadly, "Grandfather!"
"If you still call me grandpa, you must listen to me." After being excited, Old Master Qin's face turned red, and his eyes were also bloodshot, with desire and greed in his eyes.
Qin Zhou was silent, not knowing how to explain it to his grandfather.
It seems that my grandfather has joined the emperor's camp, but how could he be so confused? My grandfather has always taught me that as a general, I should put the people first.
But now he is sacrificing the people.
"A Zhou," seeing her silence, Old Master Qin also calmed down, "Grandfather didn't ask for much in this life, I just hope to expand the territory for our Northern Desert. If this wish is not fulfilled, Grandfather will die with regrets. Your father and brothers are not as good as you, so Grandfather can only count on you, do you understand? I hope you don't let Grandfather die with hatred."
Qin Zhou was torn between her own conscience and her own desires. On one side was her beloved grandfather, and on the other were the people of Beimo. How should she choose between filial piety and righteousness? How should she balance loyalty and benevolence
"Listen to grandfather's words, go to the palace and ask for permission to go to war, and make great contributions to Beimo!"
Qin Zhou raised his head abruptly. "Grandfather, is it your idea or the emperor's idea to let me enter the palace to ask for permission?"
"It makes no difference. It makes no difference to anyone. The most important thing is that you go." Old Master Qin sounded a little unnatural.
"This is the emperor's intention, right?" Qin Zhou stared at him.
"The Queen sent someone here today. She wanted you to come to the palace to ask for permission. If the Emperor issues an order to go to war at this time, he will be attacked by the peace faction. Only if you, a great general, come to the palace to ask for permission, the Emperor can stay out of this."
Qin Zhou suddenly became angry. "Since it is the emperor's intention, why does the emperor want to stay out of it? Grandfather, if I don't make great contributions to Beimo, I will become a criminal of Beimo anyway."
"How could that be? If you return victorious, who will blame you for anything? Everyone will only respect you and flatter you."
"No," Qin Zhou's mind was not confused. In fact, after the assassination just now, her mind was much clearer. "If I win, although Beimo has expanded its territory, my Qin family insisted on going to war and ignored the lives of the people. This is unkind and unjust. If I lose, it is because I am ambitious and sacrificed the interests of the people. This is even more unkind, unjust, unfaithful and unfilial, because it will definitely affect the reputation of my Qin family and damage the foundation laid by my Qin ancestors."
General Qin looked at her and said, "Even so, the Qin family is still a hero."
Qin Zhou's heart was as cold as water. "Yes, as long as I die at that time, the Qin family will still be a hero and a meritorious official."
Old Master Qin was silent for a long time, and then he said softly: "As a child of the Qin family, it is your duty to make sacrifices for the Qin family's reputation and foundation."
Qin Zhou clenched his fist angrily, "Haven't I done enough over the years? Who among the Qin family isn't drinking my blood now?"
Old Master Qin stood up and said coldly, "I am warning you. This time, you have to go whether you want to or not. I have promised Queen Cao that you will go to the palace to ask for permission today. If you don't go, I will be the only one to lead the battle."
"You..." Qin Zhou looked at him sadly, "Grandfather, I am also your granddaughter, can't you have a little pity on me?"
"Grandfather sympathizes with you, but our Qin family's business must be passed on. Your brother has grown up. This time you take him with you and make military achievements. There will be a share for you and your brother. By then, the Qin family will have successors."
Qin Zhou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears came out of his eyes, "Okay, okay, I didn't expect that my grandfather was just trying to coax me by saying that I was the hope of the Qin family. His purpose was just to make me build achievements for my brother so that he could inherit the Qin family's foundation. I was so stupid that I believed you."
Seeing that she was about to go crazy, General Qin was furious, "Look at you, what are you doing? He is still your brother, can't you do something for him?"
"Okay, okay, okay!" Qin Zhou said yes three times in a row, took a step back, his eyes shattered, "I will enter the palace now, as you wish!"
General Qin's face lit up with joy, "Grandfather will accompany you to the palace."
Qin Zhou shouted angrily, "Get lost, you old thing! After this time, I will have nothing to do with you forever!"
General Qin was furious. "How dare you... be so rude to Grandfather?"
"I, Qin Zhou, will be ashamed of the Qin family for the rest of my life!" Qin Zhou said, then turned around and ran out.
Old Master Qin was so angry that his breath got stuck in his throat. He reached out to hold on to the chair, and suddenly he felt dizzy, his eyes went dark, and he fell down.
"Old General!" The servant rushed over.
Qin Zhou had already run out. Hearing the servants' panicked shouts, she turned around and saw her grandfather fainted on the ground.
She hesitated for a moment, then ran back.
"Call the doctor!" Qin Zhou ordered.
"Yes!" The servant ran out.
Qin Zhou helped General Qin up, still feeling angry and upset, but after all, he was his grandfather whom he had respected and loved for many years, so he couldn't let go for the time being.
The servants carried General Qin back and the doctor arrived soon.
After a diagnosis and consultation, the doctor asked the servants who served the old general, and his face looked serious.
"How is it?" Qin Zhou asked.
The doctor glanced at her and said, "General, let's talk outside."
Qin Zhou's heart sank when he saw his solemn expression. He stood up and walked out with him.
(End of this chapter)