activa-t Chapter 580 Campaign against Wei
Chapter 580 Campaign against Wei
The King of Qin spoke with great interest: "Oh? Tell me more."
Ying Wuyou organized his thoughts and said, "Father, the first step is to take advantage of Crown Prince Ji of Wei. He has been studying at the Great Qin Academy for over two years, and I believe the influence of our Great Qin culture has already formed in his memory. He must have a certain understanding of the strength and advancement of our Great Qin. Under such circumstances, we can guide him to develop the idea that 'only by surrendering can we preserve the ancestral temple and save the people of Wei' through specific courses, the influence of classmates, or even 'accidentally' learning about Wei's predicament. This will lead him to write letters home, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to pass on information to the King of Wei through specific channels. This is the best way to win hearts and minds."
The King of Qin nodded, and Ying Wuyou continued, "The second step is to use an economic stranglehold. Immediately, under the pretext of 'year-end audits and logistics adjustments,' suspend the supply of strategic materials such as ironware, medicinal herbs, and winter cloth to Wei, and significantly increase the prices of luxury goods such as salt and sugar. At the same time, use border merchants to buy up Wei's grain at high prices, triggering a food crisis in Wei."
Ying Wuyou turned to look at the seated King of Qin, who was gazing at him thoughtfully, seemingly without any intention of interrupting. Ying Wuyou then took a deep breath and said, "The next step is the third: to launch an offensive using the power of public opinion. We will use the *Da Qin Xin Bao* as a platform and invite renowned Confucian scholars and academics to participate."
Please write an article about the bright future after unification. The article can describe the earth-shattering changes that the unified country will bring to the people, such as how clothing, food, housing and transportation will be improved; how educational resources will be better allocated and shared; and what changes will occur in daily life, etc.
In short, it is advisable to paint a comprehensive and detailed picture of what is desirable, so that both the old nobles and the common people who are currently observing can understand the benefits of unification for the overall development of society and for their own interests. Only in this way can we truly win the hearts and minds of the people, instill confidence in the future, and encourage their active support for the unification of the world by our Great Qin.
Ying Wuyou continued, "The fourth step is military preparation. Father can send people to the western border of Daliang to garrison, conduct military exercises, and exert pressure."
As the King of Qin listened, his eyes gleamed with increasing admiration. "Disintegration of the central government," "subtle influence," "a letter from home to move the father"... these strategies directly targeted the weakest points of the human heart.
"Excellent!" King Qin exclaimed in admiration. "Jiayang's strategy strikes straight at the heart of the enemy! Using your own spear to attack your own shield, brilliant! Let's proceed with this plan!"
He walked to the imperial desk and wrote with a vermilion brush: "Imperial Edict: The Great Qin Academy shall strengthen its 'special attention' to the Crown Prince of Wei, Ji, and guide him to understand the times and the general trend, which may lead him to spontaneously write a letter home, stating the advantages and disadvantages; the Economic Department shall immediately implement a strategic material embargo and price control on Wei; the Reporting Department shall draft documents to widely publicize the benefits of unification; Han Xin shall lead 50,000 elite troops to relocate to the western border of Daliang, where they shall conduct daily drills to demonstrate military might; the Engineering Department shall select capable personnel, secretly survey the waterways and city walls of Daliang, and formulate alternative strategies for water attack!"
The imperial edict was quickly drafted, stamped with the imperial seal, and sent to various regions by officials.
The King of Qin looked at his daughter with a deep gaze: "Jiayang, you are in charge of coordinating this matter. The Great Qin Academy, the Economic Department, the Messenger Department, and Han Xin's army, if needed, you may act with my warrant."
"Your subject obeys!" Ying Wuyou replied solemnly.
On the third day after the King of Qin issued his edict, Xianyang was shrouded in the last chill of the twelfth lunar month.
In the bamboo garden behind the Great Qin Academy, Prince Ji of Wei was copying a newly drawn "Map of Water Conservancy in the Nine Provinces". The ink slowly spread on the delicate Qin paper, outlining the course of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, as well as densely marked water conservancy projects, many of which were still just concepts on paper.
"The Crown Prince Wei's calligraphy is becoming increasingly steady and refined." A gentle voice came from behind.
Prince Wei put down his pen and turned around, only to see Chunyu Yue, the newly appointed "Doctor of Political Theory" of the academy. This great Confucian scholar of Qin, the tutor of Prince Fusu of Qin, was currently also a teacher at the Qin Academy.
“Mr. Chunyu.” Crown Prince Ji bowed respectfully, his gaze involuntarily falling on the newly printed copy of the “Great Qin News” in the other man’s hand.
Chunyu Yue unfolded the newspaper and pointed to a long article on the front page, saying, "Today's newspaper has a major article, with a title personally given by the King of Qin and written by this old man. The title is 'On the Unification of the World and the Blessing of All People.' Would the Crown Prince of Wei like to read it first?"
The Crown Prince's heart stirred slightly. He took the newspaper, his gaze sweeping over the neatly printed words:
"In the past, the Duke of Zhou established rites, and the feudal lords of the world each guarded their own territories; now, the cycle of Heaven has begun, and all the people of the nine provinces yearn to return to oneness. Why do I say this? For when divided, strength is weak; when united, strength is strong. When divided, war rages on; when united, peace and stability can be expected..."
The article begins by stating its argument, and then elaborates on the benefits of unification from five aspects:
The first is "to stop the war." The text lists the casualties of hundreds of years of war: "The white bones of Changping are still warm, and the flames of war in Handan have burned for three years." If the world is unified, then "the brave men can return to their fields, and the old mothers will not cry for their sons."
The second point is "facilitating the exchange of goods." Taking the cement roads built by the Qin state as an example, it illustrates that after transportation became convenient, "Shu brocade could reach Handan in three days, and Qi salt could reach Xianyang in half a month." With prosperous commerce and travel, taxes were abundant, and people's livelihoods were prosperous.
The third point is "equal education." It describes the plans for the Great Qin Academy and local government schools, stating that "regardless of social status, all children can enroll and learn to read; farmers, merchants, and artisans can all acquire a skill." It specifically mentions the upcoming "express delivery" system, which will ensure the timely delivery of government orders, "a decree issued in the morning from Xianyang will arrive at the East Sea coast by evening."
The fourth item is "Water Conservancy Development." It is accompanied by a simple diagram illustrating the massive projects that could only be implemented after unification: "Dig the Ling Canal to connect the Xiang and Li rivers, repair the Zheng Guo Canal to irrigate Guanzhong, and dredge the Yellow River to prevent flooding." The text emphasizes that such projects are beyond the capacity of a single nation.
Fifthly, "establishing laws and regulations." It advocated "standardizing writing, unifying cart tracks, standardizing weights and measures, and standardizing ethics" to eliminate barriers to communication between countries, "so that scholars from Yan and Zhao could discuss the Way with people from Chu and Yue, and merchants from Qi and Lu could use contracts as evidence with merchants from Qin and Jin."
The article concludes: "Some may question: Where are the ancestral temples of the six states? Where have the descendants of the old nobility gone? In the past, King Wu of Zhou, after conquering King Zhou of Shang, enfeoffed Wei Zi in Song, ensuring the continuation of the Shang ancestral rites. Now, our King of Qin is more benevolent than the sages of the past. The royal families of Han and Zhao are granted residences in Xianyang; Xiang Yan, after surrendering, retains his titles. The unification of the world is not about annihilation, but about integration; not about destruction, but about sublimation. The talents of the six states are all brought to the Qin court; the cultures of all states are incorporated into Chinese civilization. This is a great undertaking for a thousand autumns, the foundation for peace for ten thousand generations!"
After reading it, the Crown Prince remained silent for a long time. Every sentence in the article struck his heart like a hammer blow. He thought of the increasingly strained food supply in Daliang City, the ministers in his father's palace who were still debating whether to fight or surrender, and the rumors about the Qin army's mobilization that Zhang Cang had "unintentionally" mentioned the other day.
"Sir, this article... is truly incisive," the Crown Prince said hesitantly.