Chapter 6: Meeting with Shaoqing and Qin Lei to Discuss Strategies, Farewell of the Prince from the Proton Mansion

Early the next morning, Qin Lei instructed Tie Ying to invite Li Guangyuan once again

The person who caused Tie Zhonghao distress is currently bidding farewell to Li Guangyuan, the Deputy Minister of the Honglu Temple of the Qin State.

Qin Lei was unaware that the iron boss was facing a critical decision.

Li Guangyuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and, with a resolute gesture, said to Qin Lei: "Upon my return to the country, I will certainly meet with His Majesty to seek an explanation for you. Your Highness, take care, and we shall meet again!"

As his return date approaches, the affairs become increasingly complicated, and he can only do this much; from here on, it will depend solely on Qin Lei himself

Having finished speaking, he got into the sedan chair and departed

Li Guangyuan would set off for home early the next morning, which would involve a certain ceremony. Qin Lei, being confined within the residence, was unable to see him off, thus Li Guangyuan came in advance to bid farewell.

Unexpectedly, the situation took a sharp turn, and the negotiations ended hastily. Pretending to be ill lost its significance, and Qin Lei had to utilize this byproduct for self-rescue

Although the Three Kingdoms coexisted with persistent warfare, they shared common roots and origins, exhibiting strong complementarity. Naturally, interactions were frequent and trade flourished. However, due to the conflicts and contradictions between the nations, individual merchants found it difficult to survive amidst the challenges and exploitation. Consequently, merchants had no choice but to unite and form various commercial associations to confront the challenges of existence

Li Guangyuan saw Qin Lei regaining his former exuberance and couldn't help but laugh heartily. He took the wine cup and drank it all in one go. He exclaimed loudly, "Indeed, it is a joy to drink with a true friend!" He tossed the cup aside and turned to board the carriage

Seeing the master appear somewhat awkward, Iron Eagle stepped forward with a tray, on which were three cups of wine.

The elder, known as Uncle Cai, hoarsely said: "My lord, has not your sixteen years of effort gone to waste?"

... ...

Qin Lei raised a cup with both hands and presented it to Li Guangyuan, saying loudly: "The first cup is to wish you a smooth journey home, may it be as easy as riding on a flat road". The delicate and gentle expression on his face no longer showed a trace of sadness

Li Guangyuan stroked his beard and pondered: "I have some acquaintance with Lord Huang, so I will take care of it. However, I will be departing for my homeland in a few days, and the other two still require your personal introduction."

Li Guangyuan also felt a sense of reluctance. Although the Fifth Prince's studies had been delayed, he was exceptionally talented, wise beyond his years, and most importantly, he was generous and humble, treating others with sincerity. If he could return to his homeland, he would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Great Qin. He completely forgot about the unfortunate individuals still lying in their hospital beds from the incident at the hostage residence.

When Qin Lei came to his senses, he saw the guard in front of him with a face full of astonishment. He was somewhat taken aback, but in an instant, he understood. He reached out and patted the poor guard's face, then walked leisurely into the residence

Li Guangyuan solemnly accepted and drank from this cup to the last drop

Qin Lei served a cup of tea to Li Guangyuan and then quietly stood to the side, waiting for him to free himself from his thoughts

This time, Li Guangyuan did not make any excuses and arrived promptly

... ...

Li Guangyuan acted swiftly, and by noon, he conveyed that everything had been arranged.

Qin Lei nodded slightly, indeed it was so. He just did not know why such a change had occurred, and he smiled self-deprecatingly

Qin Lei waited for him in the small study during their regular meeting. Li Guangyuan noticed that he appeared calm, which eased his mind somewhat. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Qin Lei pulled out a piece of paper from the book "New Records of the Three Kingdoms" and handed it to him, looking somewhat troubled as he said, "I do not know whom to seek at https://wwwhetushu.com. Please guide me, my lord."

Qin Lei, with a reluctant expression, held Li Guangyuan's hand and said, "Today, I bid farewell to you, sir. I do not know when we will meet again." On the side, Tie Ying saw that His Highness still adhered to his usual melancholic demeanor towards Lord Li, and secretly chuckled in his heart, though he did not dare to show it on his face

Qin Lei raised his last cup and said loudly: "The third cup, for our meeting tomorrow! Please drink this cup to the fullest!"

Li Guangyuan glanced apologetically at Qin Lei and took a drink

Qin Lei smiled and said, "I still need your assistance in making the connections."

This was the result of Li Guangyuan's sudden inspiration to have Qin Lei pretend to have amnesia. The original plan was to take advantage of Qin Lei's assassination attempt to gain a few more benefits during negotiations, and this list of medical personnel who came to visit turned out to be a byproduct.

Qin Lei turned a blind eye, putting the slices of meat into his mouth and chewing them with satisfaction. He no longer paid any attention to the questions from the iron boss

Li Guangyuan observed that His Highness remained calm and composed, and he nodded, saying: "Heaven does not forsake humanity; there are three individuals on this paper who can be of use." He pointed to three names on the paper: Huang Gonggong, Zhishan the monk, and Tie Zhonghao. "Huang Gonggong is a close attendant of the Emperor of Qi, Zhishan is the foremost disciple of the national master, Huineng the monk. As for Tie Zhonghao, he can serve as a valuable ally."

Tie Zhonghao remained silent for a long time, and finally straightened his back and resolutely declared: "Family above all!" His voice was as firm as metal and stone. In fact, a few days ago, when he sent guards from the mansion to thwart the assassination attempt on Qin Lei, he had already understood that this day would come sooner or later

At the entrance of the Proton Mansion, Qin Lei felt somewhat melancholic. Although he had known Li Guangyuan for a short time, the two shared a relationship that was both teacher and friend, enjoying each other's company immensely, and could be considered as friends across generations

He patted Qin Lei's hand and said emotionally, "Your Highness, please take care. When you have time, do take a look at the books in that box. Everything about you is well, but your knowledge is still insufficient." Qin Lei was completely ignorant of such matters; it would be more accurate to say he was uneducated.

... ...

Qin Lei nodded gently, expressing a hint of distress as he said, "Ever since my aunt passed away, my situation has become increasingly difficult. Now, I am even under house arrest, making it hard to take action." If there were fewer soldiers outside the Proton Mansion, he might have attempted to break out, but now there are at least two hundred guards. Although Qin Lei was confident, he was not so reckless as to provoke hundreds of strong men with just two people.

On the bustling Taozhu Street in the west of the capital city, various foreign trading houses stand, large and small. Among them, the largest occupies several dozen acres, featuring red tiles and green trees, with high walls and spacious courtyards. Inside, there are numerous halls, bustling with merchants and travelers. In front, an ancient plaque reads "Zhongdu Club," which, as the name suggests, is a gathering place for merchants from the capital of the Qin state, Zhongdu. Tie Zhonghao serves as the head of this establishment.

Qin Lei smiled and said, "That means there is at least one month left."

Li Guangyuan looked at the five names, without a trace of doubt, clearly indicating that he was aware of the situation

Xiqin cuisine is similar to the Sichuan cuisine of the Qin Lei era, emphasizing a combination of numbing spiciness and fresh aroma: vibrant vegetables and enticing slices of moderately fatty meat paired with various Sichuan pepper seasonings, all transformed into a feast that is visually appealing, tantalizing to the senses, and utterly satisfying to eat, thanks to the meticulous cooking of skilled chefs

On that noon, the skilled chef from Qi prepared a table of Western Qin cuisine for He Tushu, featuring four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, and two soups, all rich in color, aroma, and flavor. It seems that Qin Lei's praise for his culinary skills through practical actions greatly inspired the enthusiasm of this chef.

He paced back and forth in the hall for a while, then spoke in a low voice to the elderly man dressed as a butler who stood silently by: "Uncle Cai, there are three matters I need you to arrange: First, effective immediately, all the shops under the Tie family will cease to restock, and all funds in the accounts must be withdrawn. Second, agree to Liu Panzai's acquisition request, but it must be settled in cash. Third... our people will all return to the country."

Qin Lei picked up a piece of glistening, golden twice-cooked pork and, tilting his head, asked the Iron Eagle, who was engrossed in eating beside him: "Do you really have no familial relationship with that Iron Boss?"

He shifted his gaze from the paper to Qin Lei, who had been sent to a foreign land as a hostage shortly after his birth. Had it not been for the careful nurturing of the Princess of Qi, it would have been questionable whether he could have survived. After the Princess's death, he became even more isolated and vulnerable, having been bullied to the utmost by the state of Qi. Now, he has also been abandoned by his own homeland.

This is not a secret; Duke Zhao Wujiao of Dongqi has returned to the capital overnight from the front lines, likely to urge the Emperor of Qi to mobilize for war

In the refined state of Qi, the simple and strongly flavored cuisine of the Western Qin was regarded as peasant food by the high-ranking officials and nobility, yet it was highly praised and widely popular among the common people. Noticing that Qin Lei had a robust appetite and was not averse to meat, the chef tentatively prepared a dish, which indeed became a great hit, devoured completely by Qin Lei and Tie Ying. Thus, Western Qin cuisine became a staple on the menu of the Proton's residence.

Li Guangyuan took a look and saw that there were five names on www.hetushu.com, namely the horse doctor of the Tai Hospital of the State of Qi, the eunuch Huang, the monk Zhishan of the Baoguo Temple, the Daoist Xu of Longhushan, and Tie Zhonghao from the Zhongdu Guild Hall, five unrelated individuals

The iron eagle was biting into a piece of green rapeseed, and upon hearing the words, it shook its head vigorously, causing the leaves to sway from side to side and splattering the juice.

Li Guangyuan sighed inwardly, his expression growing increasingly grave

In the past, the composed and dignified Lord Tie was now somewhat at a loss. He had struggled in the capital for sixteen years to attain his current position of privilege and influence, where he could command attention with a single call. Suddenly having to abandon everything in the capital to fulfill a task covered in cobwebs, Tie Zhonghao found it difficult to face the situation calmly

The capital city is a traditional square city, with a well-structured layout. The eastern part is where the high-ranking officials and nobility reside; the western part is a gathering place for merchants; the southern part is inhabited by common people; and the northern side houses various government offices and the capital's military garrison. These four sections encircle the vast imperial city, with a strict class hierarchy that should not be easily transgressed.

Qin Lei raised the second cup and said in a clear voice: "To the great Qin, may we achieve victory and avenge our humiliation with this second cup!" His tone was elegant, yet carried an indescribable irony

Qin Lei walked to the front of the door, habitually stepping onto the stone bench, lost in silent contemplation. The guard, Jin Wu, felt a sense of dread in his heart, for he had heard that this so-called "Martial Madman" had once beaten a group of colleagues to the point of incapacitation right in this very place

After a long pause, the middle-aged official sighed deeply and said in a hoarse voice: "Your Highness, do you know why our Great Qin hastily concluded the treaty?" Without waiting for Qin Lei to respond, he continued: "Our Great Qin has already completed its preparations, and at most, we will go to war within a month."