Chapter 32: Zhao Conquers Handan

  The next morning, Li Mu and others bid farewell to Lin Wenqing and set out on their journey again.

  At this time it was already very close to Handan City, so although the crowd's speed was not fast, they only walked for more than an hour before arriving at the front of Handan City.

  Handan was the largest city of Zhao State, with a square layout structure which is also a common layout for ancient Chinese cities. The width of each side is at least over 2 kilometers and there is also a moat in front of the city wall, with a width of more than 10 meters. On each side of the city wall, apart from the main gate, there are two secondary gates and eight horse-face structures protruding outward.

  The city wall is composed of large square bricks, with a height of about 10 meters, and some sections of the city gate reach as high as 12 meters. On the surface of the city wall, there are still many marks of impact, showing that it has experienced many wars. Moreover, outside the city, four satellite cities were built, each garrisoned by a battalion of Zhao troops, with tunnels connecting to Handan City, guarding Handan. The three thousand plus troops led by Yuan Xuan who had been sent back earlier to aid Handan were stationed outside the city. The city gate was filled with sentries, swords drawn and bows stretched, the military camp outside the city was long and dense, with guns and spears standing like a forest, having an intimidating presence. Even from a high vantage point, it is a strong and easy-to-defend city.

  Moreover, there were more than 700,000 households in Handan City, with a population of over 3 million, which could withstand long-term siege. After the Battle of Changping, Qin State had twice sent large troops to surround Handan City, and the longest time was three years, but ultimately failed to break through Handan's strong city, and returned in defeat. Therefore, the solidity of Handan's city defense was also famous among other states.

  This time, Li Mu brought back more than 6,000 people. Of course, not all of them could be brought into Handan City. He only brought in 300 cavalrymen, 100 war chariots, and another 1,000 soldiers entered the city. The rest of the soldiers were stationed outside the city at Yuan Xuan's military camp.

  The layout of the city of Handan is also mainly square, with roads crisscrossing each other, dividing the city into block areas. After entering the city, there were already many residents on both sides of the main road, welcoming Li Mu back to the city.

  Li Mu Ping was already quite famous in the country, so he was highly respected by the residents. This time, he defeated the Qin army's attack and preserved Zhao State from loss, so many residents came out spontaneously to welcome Li Mu Ping. There were also a few elderly men who were recommended by the residents and were highly respected in Handan City, who offered wine to Li Mu Ping in front of his chariot. Li Mu Ping got down from the war chariot, took over the wine cup, drank it all at once, and then comforted the crowd with kind words before getting back on the chariot and proceeding.

  Gao Yuan said to Li Yinghong: "It seems that General is very popular."

  Li Yinghong also said proudly: "Of course, my father is the most respected person in Handan City. After you live here for a while, you will know."

  The team walked hundreds of meters again, and saw that a team of vehicles had turned over on the cross street in front, with more than 100 people surrounding a high carriage pulled by six horses, coming face to face with Li Mu's large team. Whoever could ride such a high carriage must be a noble son of the imperial family, so Li Mu immediately ordered the team to walk along the edge and give up half of the street to avoid conflict with the other party.

  After the two teams met, the team stopped and one person came down from the high vehicle, with a golden crown on his head, wearing a wide-sleeved long gown, dressed in finery, and bowed to Li Mu: "Your Majesty has had a hard journey, Zhao Jia is here to welcome Your Majesty."

  Li Mu also got down from his chariot and returned a courtesy, saying: "So it's the young master. What merit does Li Mu have to be honored with your presence?"

  Zhao Jia smiled and said: "Your Majesty is too polite, this time Your Majesty has greatly defeated the Qin army, beheading over 600,000 of them, killing the Qin general Huan Ju, making great contributions to our Zhao state, and still being a pillar minister of our great Zhao. As a member of the royal family, I should welcome you with respect." Then he looked at Li Mu's troops again and said: "I heard that during this great war, there was a general who had the star of a great general on him, and now he is in Your Majesty's army. May I ask which one it is? Can I see him?"

  Li Mu also knew that Zhao Jia came to welcome himself, mainly to see Gao Yuan, so he said: "Young master wants to see Gao Yuan, of course, it's okay, please wait a moment." Then he turned back to the team and told Gao Yuan.

  Gao Yuan also knew that such things would probably be unavoidable in the future, after all, who made himself bear the title of descending star? Therefore, he had no choice but to dismount and follow Li Mu to meet Zhao Jia.

  Now the highland has a certain understanding of this era's appellation. In the past, when watching some ancient costume TV series or classics, young men were respectfully called "Gongzi". In fact, this title was exclusively used for princes in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, regardless of age, as long as they did not inherit the throne, they could be called "Gongzi". For example, Mengchangjun Tian Wen of Qi State, Xinlingjun Wei Wuji of Wei State, Pingyuanjun Zhao Sheng of Zhao State, and Chunshenjun Huang Xie of Chu State were collectively known as the Four Nobles of the Warring States. Each of them had more than 3,000 guests, among whom there were many talented scholars. Therefore, the reputation of the four nobles was extremely high, not inferior to that of the monarchs. Of course, by the end of the Warring States period, it had been relaxed a lot, and as long as they were the children of the powerful and wealthy families, they could also be called "Gongzi". It wasn't until the Ming and Qing dynasties that this title was thoroughly popularized among civilians.

  Zhao Jia is the elder brother of Zhao Wang Qian. Originally, Zhao Jia's mother was the queen consort of Zhao Xiao Xiang Wang, and Zhao Jia was the legitimate son who should have inherited the throne of Zhao State. However, because Zhao Xiao Xiang Wang favored Zhao Qian's mother, he deposed Zhao Jia and made Zhao Qian the crown prince instead. He also appointed Guo Kai as Zhao Qian's teacher, and only granted Zhao Jia a fief of 300 households to live in within the state.

  However, due to Zhao Qian's mother being a courtesan and Zhao Qian not being good at studying, Guo Kai also guided Zhao Qian with indulgent pleasures. Therefore, after Zhao Qian ascended the throne, he trusted Guo Kai greatly. On the other hand, Zhao Jia was born of legitimate birth and, after growing up, intentionally imitated the example of Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng of the former Zhao state, treating guests with courtesy and humility, widely recruiting retainers, although not yet reaching the standard of four gentlemen having over three thousand retainers. At present, there were also over a thousand retainers under his gate. Therefore, in Handan, Zhao Jia had some good reputation, many officials and scholars befriended him.

  Gao Yuan followed Li Mu and arrived in front of Zhao Jia, also stepped forward and saluted: "Gao Yuan has seen the young master."

  Zhao Jia returned the courtesy and said: "Mr. Gao, no need to be so polite." However, Gao Yuan could hear it in his tone, but couldn't hide the disappointed tone.

  Zhao Jia had heard about Gao Yuan's story and was also curious, but he thought Gao Yuan would be exceptionally handsome and impressive. However, after meeting him, he found that Gao Yuan looked ordinary and unremarkable, just like any other person, without any extraordinary aura of a "star descending to the mortal world". As a result, Zhao Jia couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed, even doubting whether the so-called "star descending to the mortal world" was just something Li Mu made up.

  However, the appearance of the plateau is indeed very ordinary. For special agents, except for a few with special functions, the primary condition is that they look as ordinary as possible, and it's best to be the kind that can't be found when thrown into a crowd. The kind of special agent who looks handsome, elegant, or stunning only appears in movies and TV dramas, but in reality, they are eliminated in the selection stage. Therefore, if you look at his appearance, Gao Yuan is just an ordinary person with a very common face.

  Although somewhat disappointed, Zhao Jia did not dare to be slow with Gao Yuan, lest he mistake his own name for a virtuous one. Therefore, he also praised Gao Yuan a few times. Gao Yuan also took a closer look at Zhao Jia and saw that his age was around 35 years old, with a fair complexion, thin eyebrows, long eyes, and three strands of long whiskers. However, in his demeanor, there was still an air of arrogance unique to noble young masters, which Gao Yuan could hear after being disappointed. It seemed that compared to the Fourth Young Master, Zhao Jia still had a significant gap.

  Since they didn't see eye to eye, they naturally didn't get along. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhao Jia also bid farewell to Li Mu and left in his car. Li Mu got back in the car and continued driving.

  This time on the road, there were no other dignitaries to meet again. After turning two corners, they arrived at Li Mu's mansion. Ning Qi, the general manager of Li Mu's mansion, also led the servants and maids who stayed in the mansion to welcome Li Mu's return at the door.

  Although Li Mu is often at war outside, he has very little time to live in Handan, but the scale of his mansion in Handan is still very large, and it can accommodate one or two thousand people without any problem. The walls are high and thick, like a city within a city. After all, Li Mu is now a king, with great power and prestige, and he also has fiefs and territories, and his family supports hundreds of retainers, so his mansion will not be inferior.

  However, there were not many family members left in Li Mu's mansion, because most of the guests he supported had followed him to battle. Moreover, Li Mu's wife had passed away several years ago and did not leave behind any daughters. Li Mu also did not have a concubine, so only two or three hundred people remained in the mansion, mostly servants and maidservants. The over one thousand soldiers that Li Mu brought into the city could all be accommodated within his mansion.

  Among the soldiers, most of them were actually Li Mu's guests or former guests. They were not unfamiliar with Li Mu's mansion and were also very familiar with his family members. Therefore, when everyone met, they all asked each other about their well-being, and many people couldn't help but shed tears.

  Ning Qi is a middle-aged man in his forties who entered Li Mu's mansion as a gatekeeper at the age of twenty. For more than twenty years, he has been loyal to Li Mu and is also very astute and capable. He has learned to read and write, and has a good understanding of things. Li Mu has recommended him to enter the imperial court several times, but Ning Qi has always declined. As a result, he is now in charge of managing Li Mu's mansion, which is run in an orderly manner with clear financial accounts. Li Mu regards him as a friend and does not treat him as a subordinate. Moreover, Ning Qi has watched Li Xuanhong grow up, and Li Xuanhong also respects him very much, addressing him as "Ning Shu".

  Li Mu introduced Gao Yuan to Ning Wei and had Ning Ju arrange accommodations for him, as well as for the other soldiers. Although over a thousand people arrived at once, Ning Ju didn't panic at all, but instead dispatched and arranged everything, from personnel to vehicles, in an orderly manner, revealing his strong organizational abilities.