Watching the gurgling Zhengguo Canal and the lush green farmland on both sides, Fu Su couldn’t help but sigh: “Zheng Guo originally intended to use this canal to obstruct our Great Qin’s unification of the Central Plains, yet unexpectedly it assisted instead.”

The green-robed youth riding in the same carriage put down the bamboo slips in his hands and looked where he was looking, indeed seeing spring’s warmth bringing flowers into bloom, a scene of thriving prosperity.

The Zhengguo Canal was a clumsy method thought up by Zheng Guo of Han to delay the Qin army’s eastward advance and drain Qin’s national strength. Excavating the Zhengguo Canal was a massive project that even with Qin’s power would take no less than several decades to complete. As a result, over twenty years had passed. Drawing water from the Jing River westward to flow into the Luo River eastward, the Zhengguo Canal stretching over three hundred li had already irrigated this plain for over a decade, creating more than forty thousand qing of fertile farmland, making Qin’s granaries sufficient to support the Qin army opening multiple battle fronts. Without this Zhengguo Canal, the Guanzhong Plain where Qin was located would certainly be barren and desolate, absolutely without surplus grain to provoke war.

One soldier’s monthly rations amounted to roughly eighty jin. If Qin wanted to destroy Chu, it would require at least two years of campaigning. According to old General Wang Jian’s plans, an army of six hundred thousand, plus logistical reserves—the required rations were simply incalculable. It could be said entirely that the Zhengguo Canal was the foundation stone of Qin’s unification of the plains.

“Master Zheng was truly talented.” The green-robed youth praised with considerable admiration. When Zheng Guo was constructing the Zhengguo Canal, someone exposed his intentions. King Zheng was furious and intended to behead him. However, Zheng Guo’s self-deprecating words calmed the King’s anger. Those words were quite famous, and the green-robed youth kept them in his heart, now couldn’t help but softly repeat them: “I began as a spy, but once the canal is complete, it will also benefit Qin. I have extended Han’s life by several years but built a achievement for Qin lasting ten thousand generations.”

“An achievement lasting ten thousand generations…” The smile at Fu Su’s lips deepened. As the convoy proceeded along the gurgling Zhengguo Canal, he thought of events from a month ago and couldn’t help but feel deeply moved. “Water can give life to people, but can also kill people.”

The green-robed youth knew he was referring to the flooding of Daliang a month ago.

Wang Ben diverted the river and canal water to flood Daliang city, causing countless deaths and injuries within the city. King Jia of Wei emerged from the city to surrender. Thus Wei was destroyed.

No one had imagined that this seemingly most difficult campaign against Wei would be resolved so cleanly and decisively, with Qin army casualties reduced to the lowest point. Instead, Li Xin, who before deploying troops had confidently sworn two hundred thousand soldiers could take Chu, had initially won several battles. But afterward, he was pursued for three days and three nights by Chu’s General Xiang Yan. Ultimately, two of the Qin army’s military camps were broken through, seven commandants were killed, and Li Xin fled in great defeat.

After King Zheng received the military report, he was furious and personally went to Pinyang to request old General Wang Jian to come out of retirement again. This was why they were traveling today. However, he didn’t know why King Zheng wanted to bring Eldest Prince Fu Su and him along. Perhaps to have the Eldest Prince say some soft words he couldn’t say well himself. After all, the Eldest Prince was still young and had no face to lose.

The green-robed youth withdrew his gaze from the canal water and farmland outside the carriage. These past days, because they had been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Chu campaign and preparing grain and weapons for redeployment, they hadn’t found time to discuss recent events. So he didn’t know what attitude Eldest Prince Fu Su held regarding the flooding of Daliang.

Moving his lips, the green-robed youth felt now wasn’t the time to discuss such matters. The guards around were all too close. He could only suppress his thoughts.

Following the Zhengguo Canal southward, they reached Mount Pin. Here was a palace built by Duke Li of Qin. Because it was south of Mount Pin, it was named Pinyang Palace. The prefecture and county that developed around this Pinyang Palace was thus called Pinyang.

This was old General Wang Jian’s hometown. Pinyang had been a rather barren prefecture and county several decades ago, with no rivers flowing left or right. Only when the Zhengguo Canal was constructed to this place did conditions improve considerably. Also, after Wang Jian became Supreme General, he invested funds to acquire considerable farmland for the clan. A gathering place for the Wang clan had formed in Pinyang. The local people of Pinyang County received notification early this morning of the King’s visit, so they lined up on both sides of the road to welcome him.

The convoy drove directly to the front of Wang Jian’s residence. Wang Jian led the entire family, young and old, to welcome King Zheng at the gate. After Fu Su and the green-robed youth descended from the carriage, King Zheng impatiently pulled Wang Jian toward the study to discuss matters.

The Wang family sent out Wang Jian’s clan brother to receive Fu Su, which wasn’t considered neglecting His Highness the Eldest Prince. After arranging them to rest in a side hall and serving refreshments and soup, he considerately departed. Fu Su estimated that his royal father’s humble posture before Wang Jian wasn’t suitable for others to see, even his son.

If everything went smoothly, perhaps there would be nothing for him to do. Only if things didn’t go smoothly would it be his turn to appear. However, Fu Su felt his royal father was really overthinking—old General Wang Jian was devoted to the country and naturally wouldn’t refuse.

So Fu Su ate refreshments and drank warm, sweet soup with peace of mind, not forgetting to ask his young tutor: “Where’s that fellow Wang Li? Why didn’t I see him at the gate just now? Wasn’t he brought back to Pinyang by old General Wang for training?”

“He accompanied General Wang Ben to attack Wei.” The green-robed youth explained. Wang Li, first entering the battlefield, actually had no military rank. All military merit in Qin had to be fought for on the battlefield. So it was quite normal for Fu Su not to know the whereabouts of a common soldier. The green-robed youth also felt it would be strange to specifically report it to him, so he simply never mentioned it.

Hearing this, Fu Su laughed and put down the soup bowl in his hands: “Then he doesn’t know whether to be glad or disappointed. With Daliang city’s situation, he had no way to earn military merit.”

“He said he’s already gone to join General Meng Tian stationed in Chu territory, and after old General Wang goes to war, he’ll participate in the campaign against Chu together.” The green-robed youth thought of Wang Li’s complaints in the letter about not participating in real warfare, and his face couldn’t help but show some genuine smile. The smiles he usually wore on his face had been fine-tuned countless times, like covering his face with a mask. This smile rarely carried several degrees of sincerity. Others might not distinguish it, but Fu Su, who had spent every day with him for several years, saw it at a glance. He involuntarily narrowed those hawk-like eyes inherited from King Zheng. He rubbed the edge of the soup bowl before him with his finger, drawing out his voice meaningfully to ask: “Oh? You two correspond?”

“It came together with the battle report.” The green-robed youth didn’t care much—it was just one piece of cloth. The Wang family still had this small privilege.

“Even Wang Li is certain his grandfather will come out to attack Chu. The King won’t have made today’s trip in vain?”

Fu Su raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn’t expected his young tutor and the Wang family’s legitimate grandson actually had private correspondence. Didn’t they clash like fire and water from their first meeting?

The green-robed youth hadn’t expected his highness to focus on completely the wrong point. However, seeing no outsiders around, he wanted to probe Fu Su’s views on the strategy of flooding Daliang. He had never confessed to Fu Su that this was a strategy he offered, also because he feared being rebuked for cruel methods. But although he had thought this matter through thoroughly, he had actually been troubled by it, tossing and turning. If their political views differed, future conflicts would certainly increase, and he would be constrained in his actions. This matter was just the right touchstone to test the other’s bottom line.

Fu Su also wanted to properly ask his young tutor when he had become so close with the Wang family boy. However, before either could speak, someone came outside knocking at the door saying old General Wang requested their presence.

He actually sent for them? Hadn’t the King persuaded old General Wang? Why so quickly? Didn’t he try harder? The green-robed youth had intended to stay in the side hall waiting, but the messenger said the old general requested Minister Gan to come along as well.

The two exchanged glances and entered the main hall full of questions. Upon seeing the expressions on the faces of the ruler and minister inside the hall, they knew important matters must have been settled. The King of Qin sitting in the host seat wore a relaxed smile, having shed the dignity he bore in Xianyang Palace. He looked considerably younger than his actual age. Very few people in this world could make him lower his guard so much, and Wang Jian was one of the few.

Qin’s aged Supreme General sat in the guest seat. The Wang family were all authentic Western Qin sons, tall and robust in stature. Although Wang Jian had passed his sixtieth year, he was still vigorous in spirit with upright posture, able to don armor and enter battle at any time. Indeed, talk of retiring due to illness was just an excuse.

Fu Su respectfully paid respects to his royal father and old General Wang. Just as he straightened up, he heard King Zheng ask Wang Jian with a smile: “The General knew I was coming and said he wanted to see Minister Gan. Now that you’ve seen him, can you resolve my confusion?”

Only then did Fu Su realize he had actually benefited from his young tutor’s favor. He raised his head in surprise.

But the young Minister of State standing behind him instinctively sensed trouble. What connection did Wang Jian have with him? It was definitely that brilliant strategy in the silk pouch!

Sure enough, Wang Jian spoke calmly: “Your Majesty, Minister Gan also deserves credit for the merit of attacking Wei. That strategy of flooding Daliang was precisely what he gave to my grandson Wang Li.”

Not daring to raise his head, the young Minister of State immediately felt Fu Su’s gaze directed at him from the side, but he had no time to pay attention.

Wang Jian truly lived up to his reputation for deep cunning. Those small calculations in his heart were simply transparent before the other party. He had originally intended to have the Wang family owe him an enormous favor without anyone knowing, to be reclaimed with interest when needed. Instead, it had backfired cleverly. With one light sentence, Wang Jian laid this matter openly before the King, both eliminating future troubles and continuing to win the King’s trust.

“Oh?” The King made an ambiguous single sound, yet one couldn’t hear his pleasure or displeasure.

The young Minister of State wasn’t too worried about King Zheng being suspicious. After all, he was Fu Su’s tutor—if not thinking for Fu Su, for whom else? When King Zheng originally sent him to Fu Su’s side, wasn’t it precisely for this? What made him uneasy was Fu Su’s thoughts.

This was simply the worst situation.

If so, it would have been better to tell Fu Su about this matter early on, rather than having him learn of it from someone else’s mouth.

However, he currently had no time to attend to Fu Su’s reaction. He hurriedly responded to the King’s questions, respectfully and cautiously wording: “Just idle thoughts from reading books. I didn’t dare directly trouble General Wang Ben.”

Actually, he spoke modestly. If he had handed this strategy directly to Wang Ben at the time, the latter would certainly have scoffed at it. This final result also came about because of various power plays, with Wang Ben choosing it as the best option under helpless circumstances.

Wang Jian also knew this point. His purpose was merely to bring their private dealings to the table, performed for the King to see. He also didn’t wish to offend this young Minister of State without reason, so he smiled warmly: “Merit must be rewarded. This old man didn’t want the Minister’s painstaking efforts to be buried.”

The corners of the young Minister of State’s lips twitched twice. Wang Jian’s stated reason was too high-sounding—he really had no way to reproach it. He could only adopt a modest appearance and exchange a few courteous compliments with this old General Wang.

This old General Wang was extremely smooth. He could even deduce that after Wang Jian had made this gesture sufficiently, the next step would certainly be to sully himself to seek the King’s absolute trust.

Only after King Zheng casually issued an edict of reward did he allow the two to leave, presumably still having words that needed to be said privately with Wang Jian.