binnovel Chapter 588 The Campaign Against Wei 9
Chapter 588 The Campaign Against Wei 9
He wrote about the reforms in the Qin state: "...The people of Qin were pragmatic and did not value empty talk. Princess Jiayang promoted papermaking, which enabled knowledge to spread a hundredfold compared to bamboo slips; she promoted printing, which enabled the reproduction of classics a thousandfold compared to handwritten copies; she promoted cement roads, which enabled merchants to travel tenfold faster than before. Furthermore, there were new agricultural tools, improved laws, and academies... These reforms were not temporary measures, but rather the foundation for lasting peace..."
He wrote about the world map: "...Your Majesty, I have often heard it said: 'A frog in a well cannot discuss the sea, nor a summer insect can discuss ice.' Now, at the Great Qin Academy, having the opportunity to view the world map, I realize that what I saw before was merely a limited perspective. The conflicts between the six states of the Central Plains are but a small part of this vast map. To the east lies the boundless ocean, which the Qin's giant ships can already navigate; to the west lies the vast desert, where caravans and camel bells can reach India; to the south are tropical rainforests, and to the north are frozen snowfields. The world is far greater than what Father and Your Majesty and I previously knew..."
He stopped writing here, tears welling in his eyes. He knew that what he was about to say would be like a sharp sword, piercing his father's last illusions.
"...I have studied geography here and have come to realize that the Qin people's ambitions are not limited to the unification of the Central Plains. They have built ships, learned about the sea, and opened ports for trade; their ambitions lie in the four seas. In contrast, our Wei Kingdom is still trapped in six cities, fighting tooth and nail for even a small piece of land. Is this not lamentable?"
"...In the past, Confucius climbed Mount Dongshan and found Lu small, and climbed Mount Tai and found the world small. Today, I look at a world map and realize how vast the world is. Qin people are pursuing knowledge and are determined to make progress. Their momentum is unstoppable. If our Wei state continues to adhere to the old system, I fear that in the future we will not only fail to preserve our ancestral temples, but we will also lose our place in the Central Plains."
Tears fell onto the paper, blurring the ink. The prince wiped away his tears and continued writing:
"...Whenever I think of this, I often cannot sleep at night. I remember when I was in the Wei Palace, I discussed the general situation of the world with my father. At that time, I only thought that it was the seven kingdoms vying for supremacy. Now I realize that the world is so vast, and the seven kingdoms are but a drop in the ocean. If we cannot adapt to the times, we will eventually be submerged by this surging torrent."
"...Last New Year's Eve, fireworks lit up the city of Xianyang, making it as bright as day. This was not merely for viewing, but a true demonstration of practical application. Gunpowder can be used for celebrations, as well as for mining and road construction. In contrast, our Wei state's alchemists pursued illusory goals, while the Qin people were pragmatic, which is why they became powerful."
Finally, he wrote the most crucial paragraph:
"...Princess Qin Jiayang once said: 'Those who follow Heaven and the people prosper, those who defy Heaven and the people perish.' Reflecting on this today, these words are indeed true. I hope that my father will clearly understand the current situation, consider the sake of the Wei state's ancestral temple and the common people, and carefully consider and make a wise decision..."
"Your Majesty, I have recently studied water conservancy and learned that although Daliang City is sturdy, its terrain is low-lying. If there is a flood, it will surely become a vast swamp. Qin has cement, which can be used to quickly build dikes; and it has a water transport system, which can be used to change waterways. Father... you should make plans as soon as possible."
Towards the end of the letter, the ink was of varying shades, and some words were even blurred—the result of tears mingling with the ink. The Crown Prince put down his pen, as if he had exhausted all his strength.
He knew that once this letter was sent, he would become a "traitor" to the State of Wei and an "unfilial son" in the history books. But he also knew that if he did not send the letter, the city of Daliang would be stained with blood, the ancestral temples of the State of Wei would be completely destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people would suffer terribly.
"Someone come here." His voice was hoarse.
Wei Zhong, the personal servant, pushed open the door and entered. This old servant, who had served three generations of the Wei family, also had unease in his eyes at this moment.
"Send this letter back to Daliang as quickly and secretly as possible. It must be delivered to Father King before...the first day of the Lunar New Year."
Wei Zhong knelt down, took the letter with both hands, and tucked it into his bosom: "This old servant... will certainly not fail in his mission."
“Furthermore,” Crown Prince Ji added, “if…if things cannot be accomplished, you shall remain in Wei and need not return.”
With tears streaming down his face, Wei Zhong kowtowed three times before rising and leaving.
Crown Prince Ji sat alone in the Library Pavilion, gazing at the falling snowflakes outside the window. In the distance, the lights of Xianyang City flickered warmly and resolutely in the snowy night. To the southeast, towards Daliang City, however, there was only darkness.
He knew that the fire he had lit with his own hands would burn down an old world.
He had nowhere left to retreat.
On the first day of the first lunar month in 222 BC, in Daliang City.
On this day in previous years, this central metropolis would have been filled with jubilation. After the morning ancestral worship ceremony, the palace gates would have opened wide, and the King of Wei would have hosted a banquet for his officials; the streets and alleys would be alive with a variety of performances, including dragon and lion dances, and the crackling of firecrackers; people would be dressed in new clothes, exchanging New Year's greetings, and children would chase and play, asking for lucky money...
But on the first day of the Lunar New Year this year, Daliang City was deathly silent.
Although the ancestral worship ceremony in the palace was held as usual, it was reduced by more than half. Fewer than thirty officials were present, and all of them looked solemn, devoid of any New Year's joy. When the King of Wei, dressed in sacrificial robes, burned incense and kowtowed in the ancestral temple, his hands trembled.
The ancestral tablets were silently arranged in the candlelight, from Marquis Wen of Wei, the founding emperor, to King Hui of Wei, who brought Wei to its peak, to King Anli of Wei, who struggled to maintain the state... Finally, it was his place.
"Ancestors above," King Jia of Wei knelt on the cold stone slab, his voice choked with emotion, "This unworthy descendant, Jia, has been incompetent in defending the land, causing the state to peril and the country to collapse... Jia, you deserve to die a thousand deaths..."
He kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the stone slab with a dull thud. Once, twice, three times... blood seeped from his temple, staining the stone slab red.
"Your Majesty!" the Master of Ceremonies exclaimed.
King Wei raised his hand to stop him. He slowly rose, looked at the ancestral tablets, and smiled bitterly: "After today, will this ancestral temple... still exist? Will the incense of our ancestors... continue?"
No one dared to answer.
After the ancestral worship ceremony concluded, King Wei did not hold a New Year's court assembly, but instead returned to his bedchamber alone. The palace banquet had already been cancelled—the palace's food reserves were dwindling, and even the royal family's meals had been reduced.
He sat in the empty hall, toying with a jade disc in his hand. It was a New Year's gift presented by the Crown Prince at this time last year, and the jade disc was engraved with the four characters "National Prosperity and People's Peace".
"Peace and prosperity for the nation..." King Wei murmured, then suddenly burst into laughter, a chilling laugh. "The nation is on the verge of collapse, and the people are suffering! Ji'er, when you presented this jade disc, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
As I laughed, tears streamed down my face.
Just then, a palace attendant rushed in, carrying a secret letter: "Your Majesty! A letter has arrived from Xianyang... from His Highness the Crown Prince! The messenger says it must be delivered today!"
King Wei abruptly stood up, practically snatching the letter from his hand. His hands trembled violently, and it took him several attempts to break the sealing wax. His son's familiar handwriting came into view...
He read it word by word, initially calm, but his face grew paler and his hands trembled more violently with each reading. When he read the phrases "world map" and "ambition to conquer the world," he staggered backward and collapsed onto his throne.
"Your Majesty!" the eunuch exclaimed.
The King of Wei waved his hand, signaling him to leave. He continued reading the letter, and when he reached the last paragraph warning about the terrain of Daliang and the possibility of a water attack, the letter in his hand fluttered to the ground.
“Water attack...water attack…” he murmured, his eyes filled with fear.
He recalled historical records: Zhi Bo Yao flooded Jinyang; Bai Qi flooded Yancheng... Each water attack resulted in countless deaths and the complete destruction of cities. And Daliang City was indeed located in a low-lying area; when Lord Xinling fortified the city walls, he had worried about flooding...