Chapter 298 Undercurrent
Xianyang, Xiangbang Mansion.
Guests gathered outside the house, many of whom were scholars from the six countries in Shandong, who wanted to present letters of advice to win Lu Buwei's favor and gain promotion.
Shang Jun's reforms not only turned Qin into a war machine, but also gradually broke the tradition of aristocrats monopolizing the military, allowing civilians and even slaves to gain access to the ranks, and also recruited many military talents for Qin.
For example, Meng Ao was originally from the Qi State and was highly used in the Qin State. From then on, the Meng family took root in the Qin State and gradually became a powerful military family.
Lu Buwei was a native of Wei. When he entered the Qin Dynasty, he had no foundation at all and had nothing except money. Of course, even though Lu Buwei had money, it was useless in the face of blood and status.
The reason for his rapid rise was the trust and support of King Qin Zhuangxiang. Because the latter, as a proton, is equally groundless.
Lu Buwei joined forces vertically and horizontally to seize the pain point of the Queen Mother Huayang's childlessness, and quickly established an alliance within the Qin State using Ying Yi as a link. As a result, the power structure within the Qin State today is still inherited from the period of King Qin Zhuangxiang more than ten years ago.
Lu Buwei had a unique talent. While becoming the Prime Minister of Qin under one person, he also accelerated Qin's trend of absorbing talents from the six countries in Shandong.
Because of his attributes and actions, he was destined to be unable to cooperate with the native families of Qin.
In the past ten years or so, there have been more and more guests from Qin. A large number of tourists from outside the pass, including talented ones, were used by Lu Buwei, flooding the Qin State.
The rest gathered in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion day and night, hoping to be favored. However, not everyone is like Li Si, who has the courage and ability to win Lu Buwei's favor.
A carriage gradually approached, and the guards of Xiangbang Mansion separated the crowd. The tourists gathered outside Xiangbang's Mansion were a little curious, who was in this unadorned carriage?
As the carriage door opened, the answer was gradually revealed, and those with sharp eyes could already see the appearance of the person stepping out of the carriage.
Zhao Shuang!
Many people thought about this name in their minds, with doubts on their faces.
The contradiction between the guest officials and the noble families has been going on for a long time, and has gradually become more and more acute. Now, it has become a conflict between various noble families in the Qin State and Lu Buwei, which has reached the point where it will never end.
Everything is hidden in the undercurrent, but no one doubts the power hidden under the water. Once it breaks out, it will set off huge waves. And the power brought by this wave will swallow up every distinguished person in Xianyang City today.
Among the clans, the one who is in the limelight is the Lord of Hanyang, Zhao Shuang. He rose rapidly a few years ago. Although he had no official position, today, he has become a presence that no one can ignore.
A year ago, Lord Chang'an rebelled, and many clan members were implicated. Many of them were protected by Lord Hanyang, thus saving their wealth and lives.
This also made Hanyang Lord's power grow stronger...
Many people think it is even stranger.
Why did Zhao Shuang come to Xiangbang Mansion at this time? And judging from the attitude of the guards in Xiangbang Mansion, they seem to be very respectful.
Although there are many suspicions outside the mansion, the interior of Xiangbang's mansion is very clean.
The place where Lu Buwei entertained Zhao Shuang was in the side hall next to the central hall - a quite private place.
Lu Buwei stood in the hall and waved slightly when he saw Zhao Shuang coming.
"Mr. Hanyang has come a long way and is tired. Please sit down quickly."
"Thank you, Xiangbang!"
The host and guest took their seats and seemed to be enjoying themselves very much. However, the sudden appearance of a person changed the harmonious scene.
"Lao Ai has met Prime Minister and Lord Hanyang!"
Lao Ai stood in the hall without a seat. Lu Buwei didn't seem to care, just standing there stupidly, drinking with Zhao Shuang all the time.
"Why are you still standing there, Marquis Changxin? Sit down quickly!"
After a long time, Lu Buwei seemed to remember and invited Lao Ai to sit down. The other party blushed, but he thanked him and sat down.
The ranking in the mansion: Lu Buwei is the leader, Zhao Shuang is the second, and Lao Aijing is the last. Basically, at this banquet, only Lu Buwei and Zhao Shuang were talking, and Lao Ai was not qualified to speak at all.
"Mr. Hanyang, will you gain anything from this trip to the Central Plains?"
"Shuang is a remote and humble man. He recently took charge of the office for my king and purchased congratulatory gifts. He passed through South Korea and encountered a giant robber on the way. Fortunately, he got help from the Prime Minister and gave him military talismans, so he was able to resolve the crisis." Zhao Shuang smiled and glanced at Lao Ai. , "I heard that the soldiers of Marquis Changxin were originally in Sanchuan, and they also suffered from this bandit?"
Lao Ai looked at the old and the young in front of her, and her heart was full of anger, but she couldn't let it happen. Maybe he was so angry that he felt awkward speaking.
"This, this, me."
Seeing that Lao Ai was having trouble speaking, Lu Buwei intervened.
"That group of giant thieves is really hateful. It turned out that my generals reported that they discovered that Chang Xinhou's military camp was on fire at night. When they went to rescue them, they only saw the body of General Ji. The group of giant thieves had disappeared. .”
Lu Buwei sighed leisurely, looking very regretful.
"General Ji is also a brave general. It is a pity that he died in an unknown place."
"Yes! What a pity!"
Having said this, Zhao Shuang clapped his hands, and Xuanjian, who had been staying outside the house, led people into the hall and placed six long boxes on the short case.
"Hanyang Jun, this is..."
Lu Buwei seemed a little confused, but as the box opened, an inexplicable expression appeared on his face.
When Lao Ai saw the contents of the box, she stood up suddenly, her blood surging and her face complex.
The seven long swords of Luan Shen, Zhen Gang, Duan Shui, Monster, Zhuanhun, and Destroying Soul were placed in six boxes, their blades dull and dull.
Sharp weapons were originally associated with blood, but at this moment, they were like ornaments, showing off something.
"The net is a sharp weapon, but the disputes in the rivers and lakes will eventually lead to gains and losses. I have been in the Central Plains for several months and have found these swords. I brought them here today to give to the Marquis Changxin." Zhao Shuang said, speaking sharply. With a twist, "This time, don't lose it again."
Lu Buwei looked at this scene without any intention of taking care of it.
Lao Ai clenched his hands, his face turned from red to purple, and veins popped up on his face. He tried his best to suppress the murderous intention and resentment in his heart; in the end, he turned the murderous intent and resentment in his heart into a bow, and Yin Yin bowed. Words: Thank you, Your Majesty!
"Come here, Lord Changxin is feeling unwell. Please help him go down and rest first!"
Lu Buwei smiled softly and called someone to help Lao Ai go down first.
"Your Majesty, this is really a good trick!" Lu Buwei looked at Lao Ai's retreating figure and smiled leisurely, "It's just that a ferocious beast is a ferocious beast after all. If you break it and humiliate it, the revenge in the future will only be more ferocious."
Zhao Shuang smiled and looked at Lu Buwei.
"Then does Xiangbang expect revenge from this ferocious beast?"
Lu Buwei smiled and said nothing. He just raised his wine cup and drank with Zhao Shuang.