I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

9 – Unravel and Weave

Unlike just before, when the disappointment was subtle, Pyeongwon-gun spoke with anticipation.

“Why?”

“The offspring of Yanhu must have inherited the lineage of Zhao. However, wasn’t that why King Jin didn’t attack Chu?”

The current King of Qin, whose mother came from a collateral royal family of Chu. In other words, half of the blood flowing through his body is the royal blood of the Chu Dynasty.

However, King Jin went to war against Chu and captured their capital.

During the week before putting the plan to meet Pyeongwon-gun into action, I took a special lecture from Hankyung.

Big events that have happened recently and open mysteries of each country. Hankyung doesn’t know all the details in detail, but he knew various stories as he went to study abroad.

“And?”

Pyeongwon-gun, with an expression of satisfaction, mentions the following.

I was no longer nervous. It seemed that everyone now knew what Pyeongwon-gun was concerned about.

“You said there are two concerns, right? It must be the question of whether today’s feelings will continue after I become King Yeon.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll answer you at once.”

The reason why I should ascend to the throne rather than a person whose lineage is connected to the royal family of the Cho Dynasty.

And it is proof that I will continue to keep my current promise even if I ascend to Yeonwang in the future.

That is cognition.

“Because I know.”

Pyeongwon-gun asked in response to my answer.

“Do you know?”

“Yes. I know the strength of Jo Nara. I have seen its potential. Therefore, I will not engage in a foolish war that only results in losses.”

Now that malice and white flag are dead, the best master in the world is definitely Yeompa.

Gijeonpamok (起翦頗牧) Yonggun Choi Jeong (用軍最精).

Baekgi, Wangjeon, Yeompa, Imok.

Genealogy of the best masters who swept the Warring States Period. It is recorded even in the Thousand Character Text (千字文), and continues to thousands of years later.

Here, Baekgi and Wangjeon are the generals of the Qin Dynasty who achieved unity in the world, and Yeompa and Imok are the generals of the Zhao Dynasty who most persistently stopped the Qin Dynasty.

No matter how weak the Zhao Nara is, as long as Yeompa and Imok are enduring, the Yan Nara’s strength is not enough.

“The offspring of Yeonhu Hana do not know the country of Jo even though the blood of the Joseon Dynasty flows through their bodies. Therefore, the offspring of Yeonhu can only be Yeon, so he does not know the fear of the country of Cho and only sees the external damage and attempts an invasion. It will.”

This was also the reason Pyeongwongun was reluctant to Hyehu’s plan.

King Jin attacked the state of Chu even though he had a mother who was a member of the royal family of the state of Chu.

In the Warring States period, where only the weak-knack rules, bloodlines can never be a safety net.

Pyeongwon-gun must have been afraid that the Zhao Dynasty would lower its vigilance against Yan just because Yeonhu’s offspring ascended to the throne.

Therefore, he must have thought that it would be better for another royal family of Yan to take the throne and continue to pay attention to Yan, rather than a son of Yan Hu becoming king and being stabbed in the back.

Hana Pyongwon-gun’s thoughts are not enough.

We need to go one step further here.

Yeon and Jo are each other’s lips and teeth. Cho blocks Qin and Yan blocks Qi. I know.”

Why are you at war with Jo Nara?

It’s obvious that even if only one of Yeompa or Imok sorties, it will be wiped out.

“Don’t fight with Yan, but be in harmony…”

Pyeongwon-gun muttered that and then laughed.

“It’s been a while since I heard this. You are the second. The person who insisted that I should be with Yeon Nara.”

“Who was the first?”

“Sojin (蘇秦).”

“Ah…!”

Sojin was someone I knew.

Mentioned in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms through the words of Zhuge Liang, he advocated a combined plan that the remaining six countries should join forces against the Qin Dynasty, which emerged as the hegemon among the seven great warlords.

In fact, he was a diplomat of the rare era who, starting with Wen Hu, the monarch of Yan, my home country, became the co-Prime Minister of the six countries that had been removed from Jin and succeeded in consolidating the merger.

Due to the appearance of an outstanding figure named So-jin, the six countries put aside long-standing grudges and unfolded a common front.

And Jin Dynasty’s advancement to the east was thoroughly blocked while Sojin’s joint plan was maintained. For as little as 15 years. Only one person’s performance tied the Qin Dynasty together.

However, it was impossible for the alliance to last long, as the number of countries was not two or three, but six, and each country had deep grudges.

As the union disintegrates, Sojin is demoted from Prime Minister of the Kingdom to an official of the State of Yan.

Although the end was shabby, everyone acknowledged that Sojin was an extraordinary orator who controlled the world with just one individual argument.

“I didn’t meet So-jin in person, but we exchanged ideas through correspondence. Until he went to Qi, he did not give up the alliance between the states of Zhao, Wei, and Yan.”

Looking at the big picture, it is the Warring States period in which wars in each country are constantly going on, but if you look deeper, you will see a more active human exchange than ever before.

Flyers from Qi are active in Zhao, Sojin from Zhou settles in Yan, and Adoption from Yan rises to the top of Qin.

Pyeongwon-gun and Sojin were both from different places of origin and activities, but both were famous celebrities in the world.

Even if they didn’t know each other, it wasn’t strange that they communicated across borders and built friendships.

“When the Qin Dynasty tried to bring me in, I had a hunch. The mission given to me would be to protect the Zhao Dynasty and stop those Tigers. So I contacted Sojin to raise a joint army once more.”

In the end, it failed.

Pyeongwon-gun was bitterly upset.

“However, there is a person from the Yan Dynasty who is talking about joining again in front of me. Truly, the will of Heaven is unpredictable.”

Unlike So-jin, who first toured the countries holding the banner of unity, I only sought him for my own comfort and peace when I became King Yeon, but Pyeong-won-gun seemed to see nostalgia for the past in me.

“If Young master becomes the King of Yan, will the joint army of the six kingdoms really rise again?”

“That’s something I can’t say for sure. The role of Duke Wen is enough for me. If I want to raise a joint army, a second Sojin will have to appear in the world.”

“Heh, even if it’s Gong Kong, it’s fine. The person who recognized and embraced Sojin, whom Jo Nara didn’t recognize, was Yeon’s Gong Kong. I think if it were Young master, he would find the second Sojin.”

“That word…”

“That’s right.”

My voice trembled because I couldn’t control my joy. Pyeongwon-gun smiled happily and nodded his head.

“I support Young master.”

§

‘That’s it! Done! Done!!’

My steps from Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion were very light.

Received an affirmation. As long as Pyeongwon-gun came out to protect me, there was nothing to worry about the future anymore.

Pyeongwon-gun is a big grown-up in the royal family, but he is also the superior of the former generation.

Even if I don’t get treated as a VIP right now, at least I don’t have to worry about living like I am now!

I couldn’t help laughing at the sense of accomplishment that I had persuaded Pyeongwon-gun with my words. At least in Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion, there are people around him, so it’s fortunate that he somehow endured it.

“hehehehe, if Hankyung knew, what kind of drinking bowl would he be afraid of?”

After all, you are the pride of Yan! I could already see the way he would cheer me up.

Everything I’ve done so far has been natural. Lead by example? Do you treat your subordinates well? Are you mature? All of these were actions that came naturally because I have memories from my previous life.

Even if I received praise for doing such a thing, my hands and feet shriveled because I felt like I was being bowed down.

But this time it’s different. This is something I solved with my own ability, regardless of my real age or status. You can proudly shrug your shoulders and raise your nose!

While walking proudly like a triumphant general, something popped out of his alley.

‘People?’

At first, I thought it was an object, but when I looked closely, it was a person whose body was tightly wrapped in cloth.

I don’t know when I went to visit Pyeongwon-gun, but now I was full of composure, consideration, and love. There is nothing to rush, so I slowly stop walking, deciding to give way.

However, it seems that the opponent wasn’t going anywhere in particular. Likewise, the other person who stopped walking stood tall in front of me.

I’m on the small side too, but I’m a small body that’s one head smaller than me. It’s a child

I was about to pass by, thinking there might be a companion, but the new look caught my eye through the gap in the cloth wrapped around my body.

Crumpled clothes, poorly maintained tangled hair, soiled skin.

The fabric itself is not bad, but it is worn and worn, so you can see the torn parts in places. The sleeves didn’t even fit. It must be that she couldn’t find new clothes, so she kept wearing what she had been wearing before.

A child who is not under the supervision of a guardian at all.

It was easy to see these children in Handan. Siege of Handan following the Battle of Changping. There was only one or two children who lost their parents in that war.

‘Just as I hoped for Pyeongwon-gun’s compassion, this time it’s time for me to show compassion.’

I gently bent my legs to eye level with the child.

“Honey, are you lost?”

The moment you meet your child face to face. I almost inadvertently let out admiration.

Despite the shadow cast by the cloth wrapped around her head, her eyes shine so beautifully.

Those sparkling eyes were a vivid golden color. A shimmering glow under the straight eyes. It was like looking at a finely crafted jewel.

I was at a loss for words and completely lost my sight. So it was. The thing I couldn’t react at all to the hand of a child pushing me away.

Even though it wasn’t that strong, I fell to the floor and hit my butt.

Rather than being in pain, I felt sorry for myself, saying that I must have been too burdened.

I was about to open my mouth thinking I should apologize, but the child who was looking down at me let out a gasp.

“Traitor!!”

Then, as if he had suddenly appeared, the child turned around and ran away.

I was dumbfounded.

What is it? What happened?

My brain, unable to keep up with the given situation, went on strike. As I fell to the floor, I blinked my eyes and organized my thoughts.

After a while, I stood up and brushed off the dirt. However, I laughed out loud at the still unsolved mystery.

“Heh heh…No, but it’s not like perverts. Why are you saying he’s a traitor? I don’t understand.”

Let’s forget it. Let’s forget

In today’s tough world, there must be a child with such a heartache.

Even if I tried to ignore it like that, I couldn’t forget those eyes.

“I was serious…”

But what did I betray?

It was unfair.