Yan country, thistle capital.

Because the previous generation of monarchs, Yan Wucheng, liked to stay in Wuyang City, the lower capital, so the thistle has been quite deserted for more than ten years.

It's deserted and even a little rundown.

Obviously, this is the capital of Yan Guozheng'er, but anyone who goes to Wuyang and then comes to Jidu will always emit such a feeling.

"Jidu, far inferior to Wuyang!"

Cai Ze's heart is like this at the moment.

As a native of Yanguo, it is certainly impossible for Cai Ze not to have been to Jidu.

Compared with the thistle in his impression, the thistle in front of Cai Ze at this moment is really too old and too dull.

This feeling was so strong that when King Yan's Palace appeared in front of Cai Ze, Cai Ze couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

At least the palace still feels imposing.

Although the majesty of King Yan's palace is not on the same level as Xianyang Palace or Handan Longtai, and it is not even comparable to the three high-platform palaces in his own Wuyang City, it at least proves one point - the majesty of Yan Kingdom is still there.

That's good.

Soon, Cai Ze entered the palace city.

Horse-drawn carriages were moving, and many craftsmen could be seen on both sides of the road, busily repairing and expanding the palace.

Seeing this scene, Cai Ze's expression became even more relaxed.

If Yan Guo has really been reduced to the point that he doesn't even have the ability to repair the palace and make a appearance, then Cai Ze really has to think about whether to turn around and leave.

"In any case, this Yan Kingdom is also one of the Seven Heroes after all." Cai Ze comforted himself in his heart like this.

Soon, Cai Ze met the two supreme leaders of the Yan Kingdom in the main hall of the palace at this moment.

Empress Dowager Yan and Yan Guoxiang Bang Le.

Cai Ze respectfully saluted the Empress Dowager Yan who was sitting on the top: "The minister has seen the Empress Dowager." ”

The young Yan Guotai looked cold and bowed slightly, "Envoy, please take a seat." ”

After Cai Ze sat down, Empress Dowager Yan spoke again: "I don't know what the envoy means?" ”

Cai Ze said respectfully: "The minister came this time to inform the Queen Mother of good news. ”

"Good news?" Empress Dowager Yan's face couldn't help but have a little more intriguing smile: "Please also ask the envoy to tell me what the good news is." ”

Cai Zedao: "Back to the Queen Mother, now that the State of Qi has sent troops to attack Chu, the troops in the country are empty, if the Queen Mother is willing to attack Qi, then she will be able to go down to Linzi with one drum and reproduce the hegemony of King Zhao back then!" ”

Empress Dowager Yan's face moved slightly, and then she showed an inexplicable smile: "What did the old woman say as a messenger, but it turned out to be this matter." This matter is difficult for Yan Guo and the old woman, please go back, messenger. ”

Cai Ze was anxious when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Queen Mother, please think twice." ”

Empress Dowager Yan shook her head and said, "Hasn't the envoy forgotten that the current Zhao State and the Qi State are allies?" If the old woman sent troops to attack Qi, wouldn't she offend Zhao Guo? ”

The current Zhao State is no longer the Zhao State that was still controlled by the Qin State back then, but has become the Zhao State that is almost invincible in the world today.

In addition, Empress Dowager Yan's maiden family is the Zhao royal family, and this Empress Dowager naturally does not want to go to war with Zhao.

But Empress Dowager Yan doesn't want to go to war, but that doesn't mean that no one wants to go to war.

The music room on the side spoke at the right time: "Queen Mother, in the opinion of the ministers, this attack is actually imperative." ”

Empress Dowager Yan was stunned when she heard this, and her eyes when she looked at Le Jian couldn't help but be a little puzzled: "What does Chang Guojun mean by this?" ”

Le Jian talked eloquently: "Queen Mother, you must know that this Yan and Qi are mortal enemies, and now the Qi State has seized the cities of Lanling, Xiangben, Tancheng and other cities in the Chu State, and nearly half of the Huaibei land has returned to the hands of the Qi State. If the Qi State collects the entire Huaibei Land in this war, then it will definitely be a great disaster for the Yan Kingdom! ”

Empress Dowager Yan's good-looking eyebrows began to wrinkle and turned into a figure-of-eight, and after a long while, she said: "Of course, the old woman knows that she can't make the Qi State stronger, but Chang Guojun must also know that now the Qi army is cooperating with the Zhao army to attack the Chu State, if you send troops to attack Qi at this moment, won't it make King Zhao unhappy?" ”

This is the second time that Empress Dowager Yan has emphasized this point.

Zhao Guo, that's the object that no one dares to offend easily.

Lejian shook his head again and said, "The Queen Mother's worries are indeed justified. But what the minister wanted to ask the Queen Mother to consider was that now that Zhao State has united the four countries to attack Chu, Chu State is almost a certain defeat, even if there is one less Qi State, it will be harmless for the entire war situation. ”

Le Jian said this, deliberately aggravating his tone: "And does the Queen Mother really think that King Zhao will be willing to see a powerful Qi State?" It must be known that not long ago, Zhao had just won the Tang Dynasty from the hands of Qi, wasn't King Zhao worried that Qi would join forces with Qin, Chu and other countries to attack Zhao after capturing Huaibei and becoming stronger? ”

Empress Dowager Yan was a little speechless for a while.

Cai Ze on the side observed his words, and he also made a decision in his heart, and immediately took the opportunity to persuade him: "Queen Mother, the people of Qi would never have thought that Yan Guo would suddenly send troops at this moment, so this is the best time to attack Qi." ”

Empress Dowager Yan turned her head and glanced at Cai Ze with a strange expression: "Speaking of which, the old woman has some doubts and wants to ask the envoy to explain." Is there a war between Yan and Qi, and what does it have to do with the Qin State? ”

Cai Ze said with a smile: "The Queen Mother should know that the reason why this King Zhao started a war against Chu was because Qin and Chu secretly concluded an alliance with each other, intending to fight against Zhao. ”

Empress Dowager Yan's face showed a surprised expression: "It turns out that there is really a covenant between Qin and Chu?" The old woman thought it was just an excuse for King Zhao...... So you came here this time, hoping to help the Chu State reduce the pressure? ”

Cai Ze said very boldly: "Back to the Queen Mother, that's exactly the case." ”

Empress Dowager Yan was silent for a long time before she spoke: "The old woman needs some time to make a decision, the messenger should go back to the pavilion to rest first." ”

Cai Ze stood up, took a deep look at Lejian, and then retreated.

After Cai Ze left for a while, Empress Dowager Yan spoke again.

"Chang Guojun, do you really plan to attack the Qi Kingdom?"

Lejian nodded and said, "Back to the Queen Mother, that's exactly the case." ”

Empress Dowager Yan sighed softly and said, "The old woman didn't maliciously block it because of her relationship with King Zhao, but the old woman wanted to know...... If King Zhao is dissatisfied, how should this matter be resolved? ”

In this era, the fate of offending a hegemonic country is very serious, which can be seen from the Chu State that is now being besieged.

Empress Dowager Yan didn't want her Yan Kingdom to follow in the footsteps of Chu State.

Le Jian shook his head lightly and said, "The minister dares to ask the Queen Mother, if the Zhao State continues to be strong like this, will the Qi State be destroyed in the hands of the Zhao State?" ”

Empress Dowager Yan thought for a while and said, "It should be." ”

Le Jian continued: "If that time comes, Zhao State will be the only neighbor of Yan Kingdom. If the Queen Mother still wants to expand her territory at that time, will she fail to attack Zhao State? I'm afraid that by that time, it will be the Yan State that will be attacked by the Zhao State! ”

Empress Dowager Yan was a little stunned: "So what Chang Guojun means ......"

Le Jian said: "So the minister's meaning is very simple, that is, to seize as much land as possible before the Qi State was destroyed by the Zhao State, so that the Yan State will become more powerful." Otherwise, once the road to the south of the Yan Kingdom is closed by the Zhao State in the future, the Yan Kingdom will definitely follow in the footsteps of the Qi State and be destroyed by the Zhao State! ”

There was silence in the hall, and Empress Dowager Yan frowned and was silent for a long time.

Le Jian continued to persuade: "And there is another point that the minister wants to say, that is, this time the war may not necessarily offend the Zhao State. After all, King Zhao must be more willing to attack Qi first, and if he attacks Qi, then King Zhao will definitely unite with Yan, so in King Zhao's heart, he will probably not break the alliance with Yan because of Qi. ”

These words finally moved the Empress Dowager Yan.

"Is that really possible?"

Le Jian nodded affirmatively: "Back to the Queen Mother, there is indeed such a possibility." ”

Empress Dowager Yan let out a sigh of relief, and only after a long time did she say: "Since this is the case, then this matter of cutting Qi, the old woman is accurate!" ”