PFC Chapter 145 Li Si's Visit and Victory
Chapter 145 Li Si's Visit and Victory
Li Si, a talented and resourceful minister of Qin, finally arrived in Qi after going through many hardships.
As he slowly stepped down from the carriage, gazing upon the scene before him—so different from that of Qin—he felt a surge of confidence. He didn't rush to pay his respects to the King of Qi immediately, but instead chose to rest briefly at the post station. He knew that to achieve this cooperation, simply meeting the King of Qi was far from enough; he had to start with the crucial points.
Li Si knew perfectly well that although the State of Qi seemed to be quite powerful, as long as he could firmly capture the Prime Minister Hou Sheng, who was at the core of power, it would be equivalent to taking down the entire State of Qi.
King Jian of Qi was consumed by wine and women, utterly incompetent and negligent, neglecting state affairs and allowing Qi to gradually decline. Corruption was rampant in the Qi court, with Prime Minister Hou Sheng being particularly greedy, his eyes fixed solely on money and profit. If they could skillfully subdue Prime Minister Hou Sheng, then the grand plan to open an economic zone on the Qin-Qi border would already be more than halfway to success.
After a short rest, darkness gradually fell, and night quietly enveloped the earth like a huge black curtain. Li Si carefully selected several extremely precious items and walked with steady steps toward the residence of Prime Minister Hou Sheng.
As he stood before the magnificent gate of the mansion and looked up, he saw that the mansion was so large that it seemed to contain the heavens and the earth. The carvings above the gate were exquisite and delicate, and every line seemed to contain endless artistic charm. The buildings inside the mansion were even more magnificent, with carved beams and painted rafters. It was like a fairyland on earth, which made people marvel.
Li Si was well aware of Hou Sheng's wealth, but when he witnessed Hou Sheng's unimaginable riches firsthand, he was still deeply moved. Upon hearing that Li Si, the Qin State's Minister of Justice, had come to request an audience, Hou Sheng did not hesitate to put down his affairs and hurriedly went out to personally greet him.
When he caught sight of Li Si, a warm smile immediately spread across his face. He asked, "Lord Li, how is Li You?"
This sudden greeting startled Li Si, filling him with surprise. He never expected that Hou Sheng would inquire about his son, Li You, who was far away. However, as a high-ranking official, Li Si, with his years of experience, quickly suppressed his surprise and asked calmly, "My son isn't in Xianyang, but he seems to be doing well. Are you and my son quite familiar, Prime Minister?"
Hou Sheng laughed heartily, his eyes shining with sincerity, and said, "Brother Li You is a good man. We were close friends. When he left, he specially invited me to visit Qin, which I still remember vividly. I never expected that Brother Li You would be gone from Xianyang before I even got there. It's truly a pity."
Li Si said with a slightly solemn expression, "Your Excellency is too kind. When Li You was in Qi, he was taken care of by Your Excellency, and he was truly grateful."
Hou Sheng waved his hands repeatedly, his eyes full of sincerity, and said with a smile, "Lord Li, you are too kind. I regard Brother Li You as my own half-brother, so it is only natural for me to take care of him." After saying that, the two smiled at each other, and there seemed to be an unspoken understanding between them.
Seeing this, Li Si secretly admired Hou Sheng, who seemed rough and unrefined but was actually quite thoughtful. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I hope my sudden visit has not disturbed Your Excellency the Prime Minister. I hope you will forgive me."
Hou Sheng waved his hand and said heartily, "Lord Li, you flatter me. You are a guest, so there is no question of disturbing you. Please come in and let's have a good chat." As he spoke, he took Li Si's hand and walked into the mansion. His enthusiasm seemed to dispel the entire winter.
Li Si followed Hou Sheng slowly into the house, and the two sat down according to etiquette, as host and guest. Li Si bowed slightly and solemnly stated his purpose, saying clearly and firmly, "Prime Minister, I am on a heavy mission this time. I have been sent to the State of Qi on the orders of my King of Qin to discuss cooperation with Qi. This is a crucial opportunity concerning the future development of our two countries, and I hope that you, Prime Minister, will give it due consideration."
Upon hearing this, Hou Sheng's eyes flashed with surprise, and he blurted out, "Cooperation? That's quite a novel idea. I wonder how we can cooperate?"
With a smile, Li Si patiently explained, "The King of Qin is well aware that the people of the world are suffering terribly and their lives are filled with hardship. Therefore, the State of Qin intends to build an economic zone on the border between the two states of Qin and Qi, thereby establishing a bridge connecting the two countries and allowing merchants and people from both states to truly benefit from it."
When Hou Sheng heard the words "economic zone," his eyes lit up instantly, as if he were seeing a new world full of hope. He asked eagerly, "What are the benefits of establishing this economic zone? I'd really like to hear about it."
Seeing Hou Sheng's expectant expression, Li Si felt secretly pleased. He smiled and asked, "I've heard that Your Excellency the Prime Minister owns many vast properties. Is that true?"
Hou Sheng was slightly taken aback, then nodded and said, "There are some, but they are all the result of hard work."
Taking the opportunity, Li Si continued, "Prime Minister, why don't you consider this: if you were to relocate some of your businesses to the economic zone, you would find that it's a hub for people from all over the world—not just Qi people, but also Qin people, and people from other regions. Their spending habits and capabilities are far superior to those of ordinary Qi citizens. In this way, your businesses will undoubtedly enjoy a broader market and more business opportunities within the economic zone, perhaps even allowing them to reach a new level."
Hou Sheng nodded without saying much, while Li Si calmly presented the economic zone plan and stated directly, "Prime Minister, once this economic zone is completed, Qi will reap substantial benefits. Qin is willing to share the profits of trade with Qi. This will not only enrich Qi's treasury, but you, sir, will also receive a great reward." Li Si subtly implied to Hou Sheng that if this matter were to be facilitated, he personally would gain enormous benefits.
Upon hearing Li Si's words, Hou Sheng's heart was stirred with a series of emotions. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of something unfathomable flashing within them, his mind racing as he pondered everything that had suddenly happened. However, he didn't rush to look at the plan. After all, in his view, power and wealth were the most important things. The plan was merely a distribution of profits; as long as he profited enough, he didn't care how much Qi State gained.
Seeing this, Li Si sneered inwardly. He knew Hou Sheng's true nature well; this fellow had always been a greedy and lustful man. He gently beckoned, and soon two servants carried in a heavy box. The box looked plain and unadorned, but it exuded a mysterious aura, as if it concealed endless wealth.
Li Si waved his hand, signaling the servant to leave, then slowly walked up to Hou Sheng and said with a smile, "Prime Minister, please think it over carefully, there's no need to rush into a decision. I came in a bit of a hurry today, and I was afraid of disturbing your enjoyment, so I specially prepared this small gift. I hope you won't find it offensive." After speaking, he gently walked over and opened the box.