Pang Juan led a 300,000-strong Wei army to Country of Han and threatened to destroy Country of Han if it did not submit to Wei. The King of Han had to listen to the advice of Dr. Shen and ceded part of his country, avoiding his strength and retreating to the capital, while at the same time sending envoys to Qin, Zhao and Qi to ask for their help. Pang Juan's army retreated without a fight, which was Pang Juan's favorite result, he ordered part of his army to approach the Country of Han's capital, while the rest of his army was keeping their strength, he had to wait for Sun Bin's arrival.

  When Pang Juan left Daliang, he ordered Pangcong to guard Daliang, he said to Pangcong: “If Sun Bin wants to save Han, he will still use the same trick of besieging Wei to save Zhao, you stay in Daliang and maneuver around him, no matter how big the casualties are, you have to stall him, I want to fight him on the land of Wei.” He also specifically instructed Pangcong, “After I leave, you must find a way to make Zhong Liqiu return to Qi.”

  Pangcong thought that Pang Juan was worried about him being used by Zhong Liqiu again, and stated to Pang Juan, “Since the last time Uncle taught me, my nephew has never sought out Zhong Liqiu again, and will never associate with her again.”

  Pang Juan said, “Letting Zhong Liqiu go back to Qi is not mainly because I am worried about you, Zhong Liqiu is Sun Bin's spy, I am doing this to utilize her in order to cast a counter trick, so that she can tell Sun Bin about the news of the emptiness of the Great Liang, so that Sun Bin can be more resolute in his efforts to besiege the Wei and save Han.”

  Pangcong was stunned and asked, “Uncle, how do you know she is a spy?”

  Pang Juan smiled faintly and said, “You told me.”

  Pangcong was puzzled and said, “I ...... I didn't ......”

  “The last time the False Noble son JiaoShi Suburbanist Feng Error happened, although you didn't admit it, I know that it was you who told Zhong Li Qiu the news, and then Qi knew about it.”

  Pangcong hung his head guiltily and said, “Uncle, I shouldn t have deceived you .......”

  Pang Juan said in a serious tone, “Pangcong, one cannot be without love, especially not without love between a man and a woman, but love between a man and a woman is most likely to cause a person to lose his or her mind. A citizen who loses his mind loses his own interests; a merchant who loses his mind loses his money; you are a general, if you lose your mind, what you lose will be the lives of thousands of people and even your own country.”

  Pangcong raised his head and looked at his strict fatherly uncle, nodding his head, “Uncle, I understand.”

  Since Zhong Liqiu rejected Pangcong at the river last time, Pangcong never came to pester her again, and she finally spent a quiet time. This day Zhong Li Qiu was alone at home sewing and mending clothes when Pangcong came, she swept a glance at Pangcong and asked very indifferently, “What are you doing here?”

  Pangcong sat down beside her and said, “It's been a long time since I've seen you, I came to take a look at you ......”

  Zhong Li Qiu was still busy with the work in her own hands and laughed at herself, “Came to spy on me because I'm a spy?”

  “No, because I'm still not dead to you.”

  “As a general of Wei, you're pursuing a Qi spy, the King of Wei will kill you when he finds out, so it's better to die with that heart.”

  Pangcong laughed and said, “If I don't say anything, no one will know that you are a spy.”

  “There is no impermeable wall, others will know sooner or later.”

  “Once someone knows, we'll leave Wei immediately.”

  “Don't want your uncle?”

  “For you, I can not want anything.”

  Zhong Li Qiu stopped the work in her hands and looked at Pangcong, “For a woman like me, you're not worth it.”

  “Since I chose to do this, it must be worth it.” Pangcong looked sincere.

  Zhong Li Qiu couldn't help but be a little moved and said, “General Pang, I'm really not worth it to you ......”

  “Worth it,” Pangcong interrupted, ”It's worth it when I say it's worth it.”

  Zhong Li Qiu said, “General Pang, hear me out ...... Because of Sun Bin, I hate Pang Juan, and I hate you too, and I've secretly sworn to kill you all ...... Unfortunately, I'm not my sister, and can't kill you all ...... General Pang, with an enemy, your life will be in danger at all times.”

  Pangcong softly said, “I'm not afraid, if I can get you, even if it's just for one day, it's death, I'm willing.”

  Zhong Li Qiu instantly snapped out of Pangcong's sweet words and coldly said, “I would rather die than let you have me.”

  Even though it was just a play, Pangcong still couldn't help but feel a bit chilled as he asked Zhong Liqiu, “Do I really annoy you so much?”

  “No, only because you are my enemy.”

  “As long as I don't make you hate me, I still have hope ...... By the way, I forgot to tell you, my uncle has left to attack Country of Han, no one cares about me, I can come to you every day.”

  “I won't promise to come every day.”

  Pangcong smiled and said, “It doesn't matter if you don't promise, I'm happy to be able to talk with you ...... today I still have some things to do, otherwise I can stay for a few more hours.” He stood up and said with a bad smile, “Stay until the night ...... next time, next time for sure.”

  Early the next morning, before the sky had even dawned, a carriage sailed out of Daliang City, and in the carriage sat Zhong Li Qiu and her son Xiao Chun Qiu.

  Xiao Chunqiu hugged his mother's arm tightly and asked, “Mother, is Qi far away?”

  Zhong Liqiu said, “Far.”

  “What are we doing in such a faraway place?”

  “To find your great-aunt.”

  “What does my great-aunt do?”

  Zhong Liqiu did not know how to answer the child, thought for a moment, and said, “See your great aunt, you will know .......”

  At this time, on a dirt slope by the side of the road, Pangcong rode on his own horse and looked at Zhong Liqiu's carriage from afar.

  Zhong Liqiu's carriage was fading away on the bumpy, uneven dirt road.

  Pangcong can not help but think a lot, uncle's scheme step by step began to realize, but he from the heart is not willing to let Zhong Liqiu go, although he can not get Zhong Liqiu, but as long as I can see her, it is also a kind of satisfaction, but she is now gone, gone forever.

  As soon as Zhong Liqiu arrived in Linzi, he immediately came into the palace to see his sister. Zhong Li Chun mixed feelings pulled Zhong Liqiu's hand, carefully surveyed the sister who had gone through suffering, she suddenly found something, reached out and lightly held Zhong Liqiu's head, carefully pinched a white hair on her sister's head, plucked it and put it in front of Zhong Liqiu and said, “Sister, look, there are white hair ...... ”

  Zhong Li Qiu said indifferently, “If there is, there is, early old age and early death.”

  Zhong Li Chun glared at her and said, “You're only in your twenties, it's still early to be old ......”

  “Alas,” Zhong Liqiu sighed, ”I feel like I've already lived a lifetime ......”

  Zhong Li Chun looked at her sister heartily and said, “Sister, don't be pessimistic, in a few days I'll let the Great King make a match for you and let Sun Bin marry you, by then, you'll feel like you'll never live long enough.”

  Zhong Li Qiu shook her head and said, “Sister, don't bother, I won't marry Sun Bin.”

  Zhong Li Chun deliberately tensed her face and said, “Playing small again.”

  “Sis, I'm not playing small nature, I really won't marry.”

  “Not marrying ...... Then what did you come to Qi for?”

  “Pang Juan is leading Wei's army to attack Country of Han, Wei is already empty, I came to tell Sun Bin that if we attack Wei at this time, we will definitely win.”

  “So you're still here for Sun Bin?”

  Zhong Li Qiu smiled gently and released, “I came for him to defeat Pang Juan, not to marry him ...... Sun Bin will surely be a character that will remain famous for ages to come, if a woman who was once an enemy's wife marries him, it will tarnish his good name, and the generations to come will say that Sun Bin was trying to take away a man's wife in order to killed Gongsun Yue.”

  Zhong Li Chun looked at her sister speechlessly, their sisters' fates were simply too similar.

  Zhong Li Qiu urged, “Sister, hurry up and tell Sun Bin the inside story of Wei, as long as I can be of help to him in building his career, I'll be satisfied.”

  Country of Han messenger Shen Dafu came to Qi to ask for troops to save Han, the King of Qi promised to save Han. Tian Ji and Sun Bin discussed the time to send troops, Sun Bin thought that Han and Wei are not at war for long, Pang Juan has almost no loss, if he sends troops at this time, it's equal to replace Country of Han to suffer from war loss, Sun Bin intends to watch the fire from the other side of the shore and don't send troops for the time being. Tian Ji is worried that if he doesn't send troops in time, Country of Han won't be able to resist Pang Juan's pressure and submit to Wei, which will increase Wei's power. Sun Bin said if he told the King of Han that Qi will send troops to save him, Country of Han will fight against Wei with all its strength. Sun Bin and Tian Ji decided to send Qin Gu to Country of Han, but he refused to go back to Country of Han without seeing Qi's troops.

  Before Qin Gu left, he went to a soothsayer's house to take a divination and he got the hexagram “Peeling”. The soothsayer told him that this is not good, the “inner hexagram” Kun is smooth, the outer hexagram “Burgundy” is stop, this hexagram can be said to be the yin and the yang is bad, the villain gets the ambition, the gentleman is in trouble, he is advised to stay at home, don't go out of the house. Qin Gu listened, but smiled and said, “This is very good, just what I was hoping for.”

  Qin Gu went into the palace to see Zhong Li Chun and bid her farewell. After a few words of pleasantries, Qin Gu “sigh”, said: “I just accounted for a hexagram, it is a bad hexagram.”

  Zhong Li Chun relieved: “Don't believe the words of the soothsayer, they will talk nonsense.”

  “I know that the Queen hates people who do divination the most, but I believe in divination ...... Queen, if I have any misfortune on this mission to Country of Han, I hope you can remember me as a friend ......”

  “Mr.Qin, if you really believe in divination, I will ask the king to send someone else on a mission to Country of Han.”

  “No, this mission to Country of Han, only I can take this responsibility ......” Qin Gu paused for a moment, and gathered enough courage to say, ”Queen, in the pendant capital, I have many things to say to you, but it is difficult to speak, I want to say what I want to say now. words all out ......”

  “Say what you have to say.”

  “I'll say it, if the Queen hates me, don't do it in front of me, wait until I'm gone.”

  Zhong Li Chun laughed, “What kind of words are these, how could I hate you, say it.”

  “Zhong Li girl ...... Is it okay for me to call the queen like this?”

  “Yes, this is best.” Zhong Li Chun nodded.

  “Do you still remember the first time we met?”

  “Of course I remember, I came to Qi to find General Tian in order to save Sun Bin.”

  “I ...... liked you back then ......”

  Zhong Li Chun couldn't help but blush for a while, she actually felt it a long time ago.

  Qin Gu was also embarrassed and said, “Miss Zhong Li don't blame me for being blunt.”

  “I don't blame you, I also saw it at that time ......”

  Qin Gu continued, “Later, seeing Miss Zhong Li fall in love with Mr. Sun, I had been disappointed, but I didn't get discouraged, I have been waiting, although this waiting is very slim, but I am still waiting, I hope that Miss Zhong Li and Mr. Sun will not end up ......” He looked at at Zhong Li Chun, and then said, “If I say so, Miss Zhong Li will not be angry ......”

  “You say it, I'm not angry ......”

  “Later, what I didn't expect was that Miss Zhong Li went into the palace and became the queen! I was completely disappointed, I also hated Sun Bin, how could he let Miss Zhong Li enter the palace and become the queen?”

  Zhong Li Chun sighed and said, “He had no choice then.”

  “Later I learned from General Tian that Miss Zhong Li would only be a nominal queen for Mr. Sun, and that later on the girl would have to leave the palace and marry Mr. Sun ...... I was very jealous of Sun Bin again, jealous that he would make the girl so in love with him . . out of jealousy, I told ......” Qin Gu paused for a moment and spoke with great difficulty, ”told the great king about you ...... ”

  Zhong Li Chun froze, stood up violently and said indignantly, “So it was you ......”

  Qin Gu looked frankly at Zhong Li Chun and said, “It's me, I told the Great King about all of you ......”

  Zhong Li Chun slapped him hard and Qin Gu was sent tumbling on the ground.

  Qin Gu struggled to get up, approached Zhong Li Chun, wiped a handful of blood on his mouth, and said, “Zhong Li girl, you hit, hit hard, just don t kill me ......”

  Zhong Li Chun said hatefully, “I won't be relieved even if I kill you!” She said as she casually grabbed a bronze weapon beside her.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Qin Gu calmly said, “I know, I deserve to die, but I can't die now, if you beat me to death, I won't be able to go on a mission to Country of Han, I won't be able to make Country of Han fight to the death against the State of Wei, and if Country of Han doesn't fight to the death, Mr. Sun won't be able to defeat Pang Juan completely.”

  Zhong Li Chun looked at him speechlessly.

  Qin Gu said, “I am sorry for Mr. Sun, I am sorry for the girl ...... Therefore, I am going on this mission to Country of Han, even if I occupy the evil trigrams, I have to go, I want to make Country of Han fight to the death with the State of Wei by virtue of my three inches of tongue so that Mr. Sun can completely defeat Pang Juan.” Qin Gu looked at Zhong Li Chun and continued, “Miss Zhong Li, if you don't beat me anymore, I will leave, Mr. Sun and General Tian are still waiting to see me off.”

  Zhong Li Chun turned around and turned her back to Qin Gu for a moment before saying, “You go ......”

  “Miss Zhong Li, goodbye ......,” Qin Gu gave Zhong Li Chun a deep salute and turned to walk out.

  Zhong Li Chun slowly turned back, the tears on her face were flowing uncontrollably.

  Both Qin and Zhao were unwilling to offend Wei because of Country of Han, so they refused to send troops to save Han. The King of Han put his only hope on Qi, but Dr. Shen's delayed return made the King of Han deeply feel that his country was in danger. The king of Han was persuaded by Sima Dafu to agree to submit to Wei for the time being, and then try to break away from Wei once there is a chance. The king of Han was unwilling to do so, saying, “If I submit to Wei, I will never be able to lift my head up again among the lords.”

  Pang Juan ordered his army to launch another attack on Han capital, and the terrifying sounds of killing did not disappear into the blood-soaked sunset until the sun set in the west. The soldiers of Country of Han on the city wall, either wrapped in bloodied linen or hanging by their wounded arms, leaned wearily against the battlements. Outside the city, the Wei army had already withdrawn, leaving only bent weapons and damaged carriages.

  Sima Dafu advised the king of Han to make an early decision; if he waited until Pang Juan had conquered the capital city before replying to Pang Juan, his appetite would be even greater. The king of Han still had a glimmer of hope that Qi would send troops, and said that he would wait a little longer, and that he could not submit to Wei as a last resort.

  While the decision makers of Wei and Han were at loggerheads and hesitant, Qin Gu arrived outside the Han capital at a fast pace. Unfortunately, he fell into the hands of Wei's soldiers, who tied him up and took him to Pang Juan's tent. When Pang Juan saw Qin Gu, he was stunned at first, and then ordered the soldiers to untie him and receive him as an honored guest.

  Qin Gu did not appreciate this, and he said coldly to Pang Juan, “Marshal Pang's soldiers, forcibly abducting a country's emissary, is not in line with the world's public decency.”

  Pang Juan laughed and said, “If Mr.Qin can't swallow this, I'll punish them immediately.”

  Qin Gu said indifferently, “They are only carrying out an order, and the one who should be punished is the one who gave this order.”

  Pang Juan was embarrassed for a moment, then said, “I must find out who dared to conceal from me and give such an order that would jeopardize Wei's reputation.”

  Qin Gu laughed, “Marshal Pang doesn't need to find out, I don't know what year it will be when I find out ...... If Marshal Pang is really over it, then just let me go.”

  “I definitely want to let Mr.Qin go, however, I met Mr.Qin after a long time, and I have a lot to say ...... How about Mr.Qin staying in my camp for a few days first?”

  “As an emissary of Qi, I dare not tarry here, when I return from my mission to Country of Han, I will definitely come to the marshal's camp to stay for a few more days.”

  Pang Juan tried, “If I'm not mistaken, Mr.Qin's mission is to tell Country of Han that Qi's army will be marching to save Han.”

  “Marshal Pang, you guessed wrong.”

  “Then what is your mission?” Pang Juan asked with a smile.

  “I am an emissary of Qi, how can I tell Qi's enemies the secrets of Qi?”

  Pang Juan laughed meaningfully, “Since I am an enemy of Qi, for the sake of Wei, I must find a way to get the secret, otherwise, I won't let Mr.Qin leave here.”

  “Detaining an emissary from another country, and spreading the word might tarnish the Marshal's reputation.”

  “I won't let the truth of the matter get out, and the news that gets out will be that Mr.Qin betrayed Qi and defected to Wei for the sake of his position.”

  “Doesn't Marshal Pang feel despicable for doing this?”

  Pang Juan laughed, “It depends on how it's said, if it's for personal self-interest, using this means is indeed despicable, but I'm doing it for the state of Wei. For the sake of the country, no matter what means are used, it cannot be said that it is despicable, because the fight of the country is supposed to be by any means necessary, or else it will be destroyed by the other country.”

  “What you said seems to make sense, but I can't figure it out for a while.”

  “It doesn't matter if you can't figure it out, you can take your time to think about it, and after you figure it out, I'll let you go.”

  “What if I can't figure it out?”

  “Then I'll have to resort to torture.”

  “What if I'm not afraid of torture?”

  “I'll have to kill you.”

  “You won't get the secret even if you kill me.”

  “Mr.Qin is overthinking, I'm killing for others to see, I must get what I want, and if I can't get it, I'll destroy it.”

  “Marshal Pang, it looks like I have to give in ......” Qin Gu sighed helplessly.

  Pang Juan laughed, “Mr.Qin is a smart man ...... Say it, what is your mission?”

  Qin Gu said disdainfully, “There's really no secret to tell, my king asked me to tell the King of Han that Qi cannot send troops to help Country of Han.”

  Pang Juan sneered, “You lie. Qi has an alliance with Country of Han and it is impossible for it not to help Country of Han.”

  Qin Gu said, “What's a covenant, didn't Marshal Fang say that for the sake of the country's interests, one can do whatever it takes.”

  “Sending troops to save Han will be beneficial to Qi, and will solidify the alliance between Qi and Han against Wei.”

  Qin Gu laughed, “Not really, Wei and Country of Han had also made an alliance and sent hostages to Country of Han, when Wei and Qin were at war, did Country of Han send troops according to the alliance? No. To this kind of country that is unpredictable and untrustworthy, is it necessary for Qi to sacrifice its own generals and waste its own provisions?”

  “You're on the verge of convincing me,” Pang Juan mused, ”but I still can't believe it.”

  Qin Gu asked, “How can I convince you?”

  Pang Juan thought for a moment and said, “Come with me to the bottom of Country of Han's city and tell the Koreans, in front of the generals of both armies, that Qi does not agree to send troops to help Country of Han.”

  “I can't go.”

  Pang Juan laughed triumphantly, “I knew you wouldn't go, because what you said was false.”

  “If Qin Gu has a word of falsehood, the marshal may immediately behead me outside the tent.”

  “Then why don't you go?”

  “To tell the Country of Han of my king's decision under the marshal's compulsion, they won't believe it.”

  “You don't have to care if they believe it or not, I'll believe you as long as you get the word out to them.”

  Chingu thought for a moment and said, “Will you let me go after I finish?”

  “Of course.”

  “Let me go to Country of Han?”

  “No, your mission has been completed, there is no need to go to Country of Han, I will send someone to send you back to Qi.”

  Qin Gu shook his head and said, “I can't go back to Qi, as an emissary of my country, I can't arrive in a friendly country to fulfill my mission as expected, and I can only appear as a captive of an enemy country, how can I have the face to go back to Qi?”

  “Then where do you plan to go?” Pang Juan asked.

  Qin Gu sighed long and hard, “Hide in the mountains and forests, and stay hidden.”

  “Mr.Qin's talents are rare, wouldn't it be a shame to hide in the mountains and forests, how about staying with me?”

  “If I betray Qi today, I may betray Wei tomorrow, isn't Marshal worried?”

  Pang Juan smiled and said, “What I am worried about is that sir is unwilling to stay.”

  Qin Gu was silent for a moment and showed a look of a scholar dying for a friend and said to Pang Juan, “It's rare that Marshal Pang thinks so highly of Qin Gu! Qi has Sun Bin, I can't build up my success and fame in Qi. If I'm under Marshal Pang, my name won't be lower than Sun Bin's. I'm willing to stay in Marshal Pang's account. Qin Gu is willing to stay under Marshal Pang's account!”

  Only then did a real smile appear on Pang Juan's face as he said to Qin Gu, “The first time we met, I wanted to keep you sir, but you didn't say yes, and today, I finally got what I wanted.”

  The sun once again rose from the east, and the first thought of the king of Han when he saw the sunrise was that if there was no more news of Qi's troops today, he would have to resign himself to his fate. At that moment, the Crown Prince of Country of Han burst into the palace in a great hurry, saying that Qin Gu, the messenger of Qi, had arrived, that he had been captured by Pang Juan and escorted to the outskirts of the city, and that he wished to see the King of Han.

  The King of Han immediately took a few strategists and followed the Prince up the city wall, which had already been filled with Country of Han soldiers waiting for him. Han looked out of the city and saw Qin Gu standing on a chariot, still as suave and spirited as ever. Surrounding the chariot he rode in were rows of Wei soldiers armed with shields and halberds.

  Qin Gu saw the King of Han on the city wall, cleared his throat, and said in a loud voice, “Your Majesty, Dr. Shen of Han went on a mission to the Country of Han, and was unable to return to the country of Qi to resume his duties due to illness, so my king sent a foreign minister to the country of Han to inform your Majesty of my king's decision.”

  The king of Han listened with straight ears, afraid of missing a word.

  Qin Gu continued, “Unfortunately, the foreign minister was hijacked by Wei's soldiers outside Han's capital city and was unable to meet the Great King in a ceremonial ceremony; with his three-inch tongue, the foreign minister convinced Marshal Pang, who agreed to allow me to meet the Great King outside the city to tell the Great King about my king's decision.” He paused and cleared his throat again.

  Sima Daifu whispered to the King of Han, “Your Majesty, could Qin Gu be being utilized by Pang Juan ......”

  King Han silenced him, “Don't speak, listen carefully.”

  Qin Gu said to the city, “My lord, Marshal Pang won't let me tell the truth, but I don't dare disobey my king's order ......”

  The Wei general beside Qin Gu was stunned and whispered, “Mr.Qin, how can you say that?”

  Qin Gu said in a loud voice to himself, “My king has decided to send troops to save Han, and Sun Bin has already entered Wei with an army of 200,000 soldiers ......”

  The Wei general then reacted and shouted, “Shut up, stop talking!”

  Qin Gu ignored him and cried out with his last strength, “Sun Bin told me to tell the king that he will never withdraw his army until he defeats the Wei army!”

  “Any more nonsense and I'll kill you!” The Wei general reached out and covered Qin Gu's mouth.

  Qin Gu smoothly pulled off the sword on the Wei general's waist, “I'll kill you first!” Saying this, he stabbed his sword deep into the Wei general's abdomen, and the Wei general screamed and fell out of the car.

  Seeing this, the Wei soldiers under the car waved their halberds and slashed at Qin Gu. Qin Gu's sword could not stand up to the halberds, one halberd slashed at his head, blood spilled out, Qin Gu could not help but sway a few times. Almost at the same time, another halberd stabbed him in the abdomen, blood stained his lapel red ......

  To give up his life for righteousness, this is Qin Gu's last choice.

  On the city wall, the King of Han said to the still-frozen Crown Prince of Country of Han, “What are you still waiting for, release the arrows!”

  The arrows in the hands of the soldiers of Country of Han were shot towards the outside of the city, and a fierce battle began again, unlike yesterday, today's Country of Han generals are all brave and fierce.

  Note: “Watching the fire from the other side of the river” is the ninth of the Thirty-six Stratagems, which means “sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight”. It means “sit and watch the tiger fight”. This plan often refers to watching the enemy's internal conflict intensify and reap the benefits. Sun Bin used this plan to let Country of Han fight with Wei army, weakening Pang Juan's military strength, in order to win over Pang Juan. To know the result of Sun Bin and Pang Juan's final battle, please watch the grand finale: “The best option is to run away”.