Chapter 306: Capturing the Wei King’s Palace! Dian Qing Awakens!
Inside Daliang City, chaos reigned, and the Wei King’s palace was even more tumultuous.
Both eunuchs and palace maids were rushing to escape for their lives.
The Qin army had already entered the city, heading straight for the Wei King’s palace.
The guards in the city were like decorations; they were completely routed by the sudden charge of the Qin army.
The situation in the city was under complete control.
Common people knelt trembling on both sides of the road, their nation destroyed and home lost, unsure how the Qin state would treat them.
“Strange, why do they all look so emaciated? Didn’t they say Daliang City had plenty of food?”
Yan Lingji, with a face that could bring disaster to the nation, swept her gaze over the faces of those refugees.
The current state of these common people reminded her of the scene when the Baiyue people perished.
With a quiet sigh, Yan Lingji suddenly felt some sympathy for them.
“No matter how ample, it never reaches these ordinary people. The so-called abundance is just scraped off their backs.”
Li Mo shook his head, his words dripping with sarcasm.
He then turned to Wang Ben and ordered, “Pass down the orders, open the Wei state’s granary, and distribute food for three days.”
“Yes!”
Wang Ben did not ask further and immediately issued the military order.
The food in Daliang City had already been hoarded by the Wei King’s men.
They allocated it daily to the citizens of the city.
However, the quantity they distributed was barely enough to fill gaps in their teeth, let alone satisfy their hunger.
The citizens of the city had long been filled with grievances.
At such a time, opening the granary to distribute food was the surest way to win people’s hearts!
Many of the people kneeling by the road heard this news.
With one accord, they lifted their heads to look at Li Mo.
In their fearful eyes, gratitude swiftly replaced their fear!
Yan Lingji observed the noticeable change in their eyes and turned to Li Mo with a wistful tone, saying, “If it had been you attacking us Baiyue back then, many innocent people would not have died.”
Baiyue was annihilated back then by Ji Wuye and Bai Yifei’s forces.
They didn’t care about the lives of the people, leaving desolation in their wake wherever they went.
Li Mo chuckled lightly. “War is about seizing land and people; the people are the foundation of a nation, just like the ground when building a house.
Without a foundation or without laboring for one, the collapse of the house is just a matter of time.”
Moreover, he was distributing the grain from Wei State.
And this grain was originally exploited from these common people.
Using their own money to do a good deed for the Qin State, a win-win situation!
The Wei King’s escape plan was abruptly cut short!
Before he could gather his treasures and flee, the palace gates were broken through by the Qin army!
The Wei King was captured on the spot!
The Qin army quickly took residence in Daliang, replacing all the guards in the city.
The city walls were adorned with the flags of the Qin State.
This proclaimed the downfall of Wei State!
Li Mo awoke from his concentration and let out a gentle breath.
This time, he not only surveyed the territory of Wei State.
He also overlooked Korea, which bordered Wei, and Zhao, which adjoined Korea.
These three adjacent, now fallen states could be “seen” in any place within at any time he wished.
More accurate and clearer than the satellite positioning of later generations!
“National Advisor, Wei State has been taken; I am prepared to train the troops for seven days, then head straight for Chu State to aid my father.”
After arranging matters in the city, Wang Ben came to Li Mo’s residence together with Li Xin.
After entering the city, Li Mo directly stayed in the Wei King’s palace, which was far superior to a military camp.
“You are the general for the expedition; you can make such decisions yourself.”
Li Mo patted Yan Lingji, who was leaning against his leg, indicating for her to sit up.
Wang Ben sincerely said, “You are the supervising military officer; I naturally must report to you first.”
Li Mo waved his hand: “I am the supervising military officer for the Qin-Wei war, but now that the battle with Wei State is over, it naturally doesn’t concern General E anymore.”
He really didn’t want to worry about this.
Wang Ben was much better at fighting than he was; asking him about everything felt rather strange.
He planned to stay in Wei State for a few days and return with Yan Lingji after Dian Qing woke up.
Jing Ni was about to give birth, and he had no mind to join the chaos in Chu State.
“National Advisor, you exaggerate; I still have something to consult with you.”
Wang Ben chuckled foolishly, looking at Li Mo hesitantly.
Li Mo smiled and said, “General Wang wants to ask what those things I brought are, right? And if there’s anything else?”
…….
Hearing Li Mo’s insightful remark, Wang Ben became unexpectedly calm.
He nodded and said, “Indeed, National Advisor.”
“The power of that round ball is something I’ve never seen in my life. If we could bring more to the battlefield in Chu, my Tai Army would surely achieve a great victory.”
Wang Ben spoke truthfully; even Li Xin believed the same after witnessing the explosive power.
However, the two overlooked one crucial matter.
That is, the cost of the explosives!
While cost is one aspect, there’s also the time required for production.
What Li Mo brought had already been produced through overtime work.
From the gunpowder ratios to making sugar.
…
Most importantly, there was also the refining of the copper balls.
All of these required time and effort.
Li Mo nodded and said, “Let’s wait a bit longer. I’ve brought all that has already been made. Once the next batch is ready,
I will send someone to deliver them directly to you.”
He understood this principle well.
In this era, the emergence of explosives as a weapon was practically a dimensional strike in military terms!
Even the Wei Martial Soldiers couldn’t withstand the bombardment of explosives; how much less so the ordinary soldiers.
As long as there was enough supply, no matter how many soldiers there were, they would just become live targets.
However, the cost of this thing was exceedingly high.
Even for the strong Qin State, it couldn’t provide that much explosive material at once.
Li Mo had already saved a lot of military funds for Ying Zheng.
But the price of producing a single copper ball bomb was still staggering.
Am I expected to foot the bill myself?
As they talked, a soldier suddenly rushed in.
“Report! National Advisor, General, the big guy from Wei has woken up!”
“Understood. Keep your distance, don’t let him hurt you.”
Li Mo slapped his thigh and stood up.
The “big guy” the soldier mentioned naturally referred to Dian Qing.
It had only been a day, and Dian Qing’s recovery was faster than he had anticipated.
Such a fierce general would be a pity to kill.
Moreover, Dian Qing was not a bad person; serving the Wei State was merely to fulfill his master’s last wish.
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