Qin Official

"Chen Jun, if you and I want to raise troops in Jiaodong to respond to the king, why do we bring this group of merchants together? What can this group of people accomplish?"

After representatives of the thirteen merchants left Salmon Island, Cao Shen arrived belatedly and met Chen Ping watching the sea with his hands behind his back under the "Wangfu Reef".

Cao Shen was originally from Peixian County. Four or five years ago, he and Xiao He were conquered by Hei Fu and moved to Jiaodong. When quelling the rebellion of the Qi Dynasty, he made great contributions in killing Tian Heng's brothers and was promoted to Cao Cao.

The officers and nobles produced by this kind of real swords and real guns are highly respected by the county soldiers. After Hei Fu left, Cao Shen actually took charge of the military power of Jiaodong County, but the new county captain was not as good as him.

Therefore, the first thing Qin Shihuang's envoys wanted to do was to arrest Chen Ping, and the second thing was to remove Cao Shen from his post and take back the military power and tiger talisman.

Cao Shen was a sensible person and knew that the black color on his body could not be washed away. He simply fled with the seal like Chen Ping. According to Cao Shen's idea, he originally planned to raise an army directly. Among the 5,000 county soldiers, there were at least 2,000. If you listen to him, the outcome will be 50-50...

But Chen Ping stopped him and said, "Wait a little longer."

This wait lasted more than two months.

Although he knew that Chen Ping was waiting for the news of Qin Shihuang's death to spread completely, and secretly disrupted the situation, the only thing Cao Shen didn't understand was why he invited thirteen merchants from all over the country to join in the rebellion?

He said disapprovingly: "Peisi merchants also like Jia Qiuli. I don't like them very much, and I have never heard of anyone who wants to attract merchants to join them. This group of people is the most vulnerable, and they are more likely to get good things than anyone else." Even if there is danger, he will be the first to run away. How can such a person be relied on?"

Chen Ping smiled and said: "Mr. Cao, don't underestimate this group of merchants! We also need money and food to raise an army, and they have the most abundant supply of these two things."

Under the guidance of Heifu, in addition to going to Haidong and Liaodong to do business such as fishing, trading slaves, buying leather goods, ginseng and antler, etc., they also contracted local salt farms, raised chickens, and even assisted the government in mining. It's a hugely profitable industry.

Four years after the establishment of the trading company, the thirteen companies were very profitable and motivated, which greatly improved the efficiency of various industries. Although most of the benefits were taken away by the government, they were all very fat.

However, the Qin Dynasty strictly prohibited the sale of land. Merchants who had money could not use it for mergers and acquisitions, so they could only use it for three purposes: investing in reproduction, lending, and buying grain.

Perhaps because they had suffered from famine during the Zhutian Rebellion, all the merchants were keen to stockpile grain. As long as it did not exceed the amount allowed by the government, they would buy as much as they could. Every home was filled with county warehouses. When Chen Ping was the county magistrate, Turn a blind eye and close one eye just for today.

"Secondly, they still have the manpower."

During the three years that Chen Ping was the county magistrate, he did not only put pressure on merchants to collect grain. In his thirty-sixth year, he agreed to allow each merchant to build more ships and even build a small town in Haidong as a trading station.

In the thirty-seventh year, under the pretext that "the barbarians from Haidong plundered the caravans and the garrison soldiers had no time to protect them", they agreed that in addition to the servants in Jiaodong, they could also hire idlers and add 300 to 500 private armed forces. They also sold a batch of old weapons that had been eliminated by the county government to them at a low price...

Now, the merchant group also has armed forces.

It seems that Chen Ping protects the trading companies at every turn and thinks of them in everything. The thirteen merchants are grateful, and they grow stronger with Chen Ping's connivance.

Not to mention, Chen Ping secretly asked the thousand barbarians trained by Daojian to serve as subordinates. Now they are on the island, which is an important basis for him to have the courage to raise troops.

Chen Ping calculated a mathematical problem for Cao Shen: "The private soldiers of the thirteen families range from two to three hundred to five or six hundred. Taken together, there are as many as four to five thousand. If we want to capture Jiaodong, it is really difficult." That generation is indispensable."

Cao Shen still had doubts: "There is no treacherous businessman, how reliable is he? What if he secretly reports it to the government, or surrenders to bandits..."

He especially remembered that on the eve of the fall of the Chu State, in Huaisi, there were many profiteers who colluded with bandits and rebels and took the opportunity to hoard food. As long as they were profitable, they could always find a way out.

Chen Ping, however, had his own calculations: "The more than two months we have spent in hiding have made everyone in Jiaodong understand that the Qin court is unreliable. All the good governance of the princes will be lost if the people perish and the government will die. Nothing can be left."

"The merchants are even more heartbroken. Except for Wu Zhonghou and us, no one treats them as human beings. The salt fields and mines are not allowed to be mined, and they are not even allowed to go overseas. This will cut off their financial paths and people's money." , like killing parents! Merchants already regarded the government as their enemies, and when they heard that the First Emperor had passed away and that Marquis Wu Zhong had taken all the Huaihan Jiangnan, they all began to think about it. Otherwise, they would not have gathered here as soon as the news came. .”

Cao Shen shook his head: "Once it fails, it will be the fate of the clan. I'm afraid I will still hesitate to look forward and backward."

Chen Ping said: "I left a way for them to retreat and flee to Haidong by boat. Actually, I don't need to tell you. I heard that the Chu bandits are approaching, and several of them have already planned to do this."

Chen Ping laughed. There was a historical reason for this.

"In the past, Le Yi led the armies of the five kingdoms to attack Qi, but only Chu helped Qi. The king of Chu sent general Nao Chi to rescue Qi. He entered Ju from Tancheng, which is today's Langya, and was appointed prime minister of Qi by King Min of Qi."

"But Nao Chi allowed his Chu soldiers to loot and misbehave in Ju, and even tied up King Min of Qi. After a while, he hung him from the roof beams, skinned and cramped alive. King Min of Qi was tortured Next, I wailed for two days and two nights, and finally died of anger..."

"This move aroused the righteous indignation of the people of Qi, and then Wang Sunjia raised his arms in the market and shouted. The people of Qi, Yongbao, merchants, craftsmen, and light knights, all responded to the right, and then killed Nao Chi and drove away the Chu soldiers."

That incident caused the Qi people to be extremely distrustful of the Chu people. Although decades have passed, Qi merchants also understand that once Chu thieves under the banner of "King of Chu" enter Qi, they will be "fat" in the eyes of thieves. sheep".

The possibility of treating each other with courtesy is far less than being killed with one knife and being skinned and cramped like King Min of Qi!

"The officials of the Qin court are unreliable. The bandits in Chu are getting closer and closer. The merchants in Qi are in a dilemma. If they want to protect themselves, they can only follow us!"

This is the reason why Chen Ping asked Cao Shen to "wait a little longer" when he wanted to raise an army two months ago.

This wait made the Jiaodong officials completely devastated. This wait also brought the confirmed news of the death of the First Emperor, as well as the new situation of chaos in the world.

Now, everything is ready.

Chen Ping touched the wet blood at the corner of his mouth and said: "Thirteen merchants, led by Guan Yan and Dao Jian, have made a blood alliance with me to help us in our affairs, respond to the princes, and make Jiaodong independent of Qin counties and protect themselves." Royal pirates! We have all the money, food, and soldiers."

"Last month, the thieves from Taishan and Yimeng Mountains were deceived by me. They had no choice but to resist the government and fight with soldiers from Linzi, Jibei, and Langya counties. No matter what happens in Jiaodong, the three counties have no time to take care of it."

Under his calculation and planning, the internal and external conditions have been met, and the final step is just around the corner.

"Mr. Cao, have you made arrangements as well?"

"It's all arranged."

Cao Shen smiled. Although he and Chen Ping were missing, they were everywhere in the county.

"Over at Yeyi, those who have been favored by the Lord are also willing to respond. At least a thousand strong men can join us."

"Ten days later, the two 'groups of thieves' from Laishan and Laoshan will use the banner of Zhutian to cause chaos at the same time! Take advantage of the county soldiers to rush to suppress it, and all the localities can attack together, occupy the county town, and immediately merge their forces to annihilate the county soldiers. , and finally besieged Jimo!"

"good!"

After setting the date for the incident, Chen Ping paid homage to Cao Shen: "Ping knows nothing about the battle formation. I will rely on Lord Cao to capture the city and territory in ten days!"

Cao Shen quickly helped Chen Ping up and said: "These days, if Chen Jun hadn't had foresight and foresight to leave behind the enemy early, and then manipulated the situation vertically and horizontally, the situation in Jiaodong could change. No matter how brave Cao Shen was, even if he had raised his army two months ago, it would be difficult to defeat the general trend. "

He said movingly: "You and I are like two fishes, trapped in the drying rut of Jiaodong, with enemies on both sides, how can we not help each other?"

The two old men with long beards said something about each other, and the atmosphere was weird, but Chen Ping did not feel uncomfortable. Instead, he looked at the Wangfu Reef next to him. It looked like a woman standing on the beach holding a child.

It is said that this reef was created by a local fisherman who went out to sea to fish. He was suddenly caught in a storm and never returned. His wife was so sad that she stood at the beach with her under-month-old child all day long, hoping that one day a miracle would happen and her husband would be safe. Return.

But after a long time, her husband did not return, but she turned into an immovable stone statue and stood there, as if it would stand until the day the sea withers away...

When a gentleman goes to war, he doesn't know the time of his service. How can he be at the right time? It is very similar to the legend of Tushan, the wife of Dayu.

Chen Ping couldn't help but think: "We stayed in Jiaodong, so we are not just 'looking after our husbands'?"

What she looks forward to is the master who is kind to the two of them, and what she looks forward to is the black husband.

Chen Ping then smiled and said:

"To help each other, this is a good metaphor. Mr. Cao, you and I have to be prepared. If we succeed in raising an army, I'm afraid we will still have to be in this desperate situation, withstanding the siege of powerful enemies from all walks of life, waiting for the king to sweep the world. , the day I returned to Jiaodong..."

Maybe one or two years, maybe three to five years, maybe ten years? Chen Ping was unsure. Jiaodong and Jiangling were too far away, so the news he received was very vague and difficult to distinguish between true and false.

He only knows that he can definitely wait!

"On that day, even if I am very old, I will greet you personally and tell the prince face to face."

"Chen Ping is guarding this cave in Jiaodong!"