allendalepharm Chapter 193 Price?
Chapter 193 Price?
He had long heard that Lin Tian's name shook Xianyang, and that the King of Qin treated him like an extension of his own arm; but seeing Han Fei and Zhang Liang bowing their heads in obedience, and hearing this arrogant and undisguised statement, he was shocked: this man was probably not just favored, but a real giant who held power and was just waiting for the right opportunity to rise!
In that instant, Yan Dan seemed to see Lin Tian in charge of the court, with all officials bowing down to him.
This thought isn't surprising—anyone else would probably think the same way. But if Lin Tian knew, he would simply shake his head and chuckle.
Yan Dan slowly sat down, and once again solemnly bowed to Lin Tian, her voice softening slightly: "May I ask, sir, have you ever set foot in the land of Yan?"
"Since ancient times, Yan and Zhao have been home to many generous men, and Yan itself is known for its beautiful women and heroic spirit. Although I have never been there in person, I have long admired it." Lin Tian's tone was calm, yet every word resonated deeply. He did indeed have a certain fondness for Yan—it was the location of his capital in his previous life, where he used to jog in the morning and read at night, reciting poems and listening to the rain; there also lived a Snow Maiden, with exquisite features and a sword as white as snow.
Upon hearing this, Yan Dan's eyes lit up, and a hint of joy appeared on her lips, which she quickly suppressed. But Lin Tian had already noticed that hint of excitement.
Lin Tian already understood: the Crown Prince's visit today was most likely an attempt to use his position as the Imperial Preceptor to pave a way back to Yan.
With Su Qin's death, the ambitious ruler of Yan also perished. Later, after a disastrous defeat in the campaign against Qi, King Xi of Yan ascended the throne—the father of King Dan of Yan. This man was cowardly as a mouse; in times of crisis, he would even push his own wives and children onto the battlefield as shields.
Therefore, when the Qin state was secretly angered by the old story of Su Qin's alliance, King Xi of Yan immediately gritted his teeth and made a sacrifice, sending his crown prince, Yan Dan, to Xianyang as a hostage, just to seek temporary peace.
In Lin Tian's eyes, whether based on historical facts or the plot, Yan Dan was a tragic prince who was repeatedly battered by fate.
Yan Dan's smile broadened slightly, and he readily replied, "Since the Grand Preceptor admires the State of Yan, he will certainly make time to visit Yan in the future! I will personally welcome and entertain him with the utmost respect due to a feudal lord!" Here he comes!
Lin Tian sneered inwardly, but a gentle smile appeared on his face. He feigned surprise and continued the conversation: "Your Highness, weren't you sent to Qin as a hostage by imperial decree? If the King of Qin doesn't show mercy, it's unlikely that you, as the host, will be able to invite me as your guest."
As expected! Yan Dan came here specifically for his sharp tongue—he wanted to use him as a ladder to heaven to escape back to the State of Yan.
Logically speaking, he should have scaled the city walls and fled north to escape.
But Lin Tian was unwilling to help.
After returning to his country, this man did not think about strengthening his army or forming an alliance against Qin. Instead, he devoted all his energy to a dagger—searching for Jing Ke, training as an assassin, and planning a desperate attack.
This act of stabbing thoroughly enraged the State of Yan, ultimately leading to the Qin army's advance at the Yi River and the massacre and destruction of the city's inhabitants.
Lin Tian really looked down on a ruthless person who carried the title of Crown Prince but only knew how to gamble everything.
Among the princes of the seven kingdoms, there were those with true talent like Han Fei, who were born out of wedlock; while Yan Dan and Han Yu, who held the position of eldest sons, had no ability to take on any responsibility.
Having a good life doesn't necessarily mean you deserve the dragon throne.
Yan Dan was stunned for a moment!
He understood—Lin Tian not only saw through his predicament, but also saw through his unspoken plans.
But he dared not gamble. As a hostage, if even a whisper of these words were to reach the ears of the King of Qin, he might not even be able to bring his remains back to Ji City unharmed.
Ever since he heard that Lin Tian had appeared in Xianyang, he couldn't sit still, and a small fire ignited in his heart; but now, as the flame flickered, he clenched his sleeves tightly, hesitating to reach out and touch it.
The moment those words are spoken, if any one of the three people in the room turns around and reports to the King of Qin, their own body will be lost forever, and they will never be able to return home.
Yan Dan stared at Lin Tian—this man was Ying Zheng's mentor, enjoying a favor from the emperor rarely seen throughout the country. Would he really betray him?
Lin Tian sat motionless, his expression calm. This was always his way: when someone came to him with a request, he never rushed to agree, but waited for the other party to reveal their hand before weighing the pros and cons and deciding on his offer.
Yan Dan suddenly stood up. Lin Tian was slightly taken aback, thinking he was about to leave in a huff; Han Fei and Zhang Liang were also startled and both wanted to get up to see him off.
To everyone's surprise, Yan Dan bypassed the table, strode forward, and with a thud, slammed his knees to the ground, his forehead heavily striking the blue bricks, performing the deepest prostration. His voice was extremely low, yet every word was clear: "I implore the Imperial Preceptor to have mercy and help Yan Dan return to his homeland—I only ask to set foot on the soil of Ji City once more in this lifetime!"
Lin Tian remained silent for a long time. The person before him was prostrate before him, his posture extremely humble, yet his heart felt as heavy as if a stone were hanging in it. Logically speaking, if Yan Dan were to return to Yan, he would neither shake the foundation of Zi Lan Xuan nor harm the core of Liu Sha, so there was no need to eliminate him so quickly.
Should we really lend him a hand?
Lin Tian hesitated again. It wasn't that he was heartless, but this deal was too difficult to gamble on—helping wouldn't bring much profit; not helping seemed a bit unbearable. It was like a chicken rib that he couldn't chew or spit out.
Yan Dan remained kneeling, oblivious to the silence. After a moment, Lin Tiancai slowly spoke: "Name your price. What bargaining chips do you have that would make me make an exception and intervene?"
The price? Lin Tian knew the answer: he was willing to help, but certainly not without compensation. Besides, Yan Dan was nothing more than a figurehead hostage in Qin—nominally the crown prince, but in reality, he was less powerful than even a princess of Yan. A princess could at least form alliances through marriage and exchange grain and horses, but supporting a mere Yan Dan required providing him with lavish food and clothing, as if it would damage Qin's reputation.
Do you think he alone can stop the Qin state from taking action? That's a ridiculous notion that would fool even a three-year-old.
If it weren't for King Xi of Yan's extreme fear of death and his insistence on sending his son to Qin, the Qin court probably wouldn't have even bothered to draft the necessary documents.
As soon as Lin Tian finished speaking, Yan Dan slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on Lin Tian's face—his expression was as calm as a deep pool, without the slightest ripple. He quickly calculated in his mind and finally spoke: "One hundred thousand taels of gold, three carts each of jade and agate, and twenty beautiful women from Yan. I will immediately send an envoy back to Ji to deliver the message, and they will arrive in Xianyang within a month."
He felt he had given his all. He would accept being stripped of his title as crown prince if it meant returning to Yan. His father, though cowardly, was bound by blood; how could he stand by and watch his heir wander in a foreign land? If the Qin court relented, the ransom would pour in.
Han Fei and Zhang Liang exchanged a glance, their eyes showing no surprise, only sadness.
It's not that I don't believe it, but I feel sorry for this prince who has staked his last bit of dignity on a vain opportunity.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tian smiled and chuckled.
Yan Dan's heart tightened, but she saw that Lin Tian was still sitting upright and motionless.
Is it still not enough? How could it be! Even a small vassal state might not be able to raise that much money even if it used all its resources!
At this moment, Zhang Liang spoke gently, his voice like a clear spring striking a stone: "Your Highness, if you truly wish to return, why not offer a price that will entice Mr. Lin..." Since Lin Tian had politely declined his request to become his disciple, Zhang Liang had followed Ying Zheng's lead and addressed him as "Mr." instead of "Brother Lin."
Yan Dan gritted his teeth for a moment, then suddenly raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers: "Grand Preceptor! If you release me to return to my country, I will offer you 500,000 gold coins as a reward, five cartloads each of jade and agate, and fifty beautiful women—this is all I can do!"