Yuan Hong and Bo Yikao have already sworn as brothers; once they boarded the boat to Xique, they stood completely on the side of heaven's will. To use phrases like "not of my kind" to attack Yuan Hong would be somewhat out of place.
Deng Chan Yu pondered for a moment, but in the end she did not make a move. She watched as Yuan Hong returned to Jiameng Pass with a large amount of gold and jewels.
Xiqi also sent thanksgiving gifts to Han state.
Deng Ai sent an army of 50,000, and Huang Feihu sent another 50,000, totaling a force of 100,000 to come to the rescue. To anyone looking in, this was undoubtedly a firm and loyal ally.
Although Xiqi has suffered heavy losses, the external environment is now slightly better than before.
Previously, Han state had only bordered the southern part of Nanlin. Now that LongDragon Pass has been broken, the southeastern direction of Xiqi has also officially bordered Han state. If they are not afraid of being betrayed by Han state, they can certainly enter Zhongyuan through the route of LongDragon Pass, Sanshan Pass, Xu state, Mengpo, and Mengjin. There is no need to fight on the route of Si water pass, Jiepai pass and Chuanyun pass.
In reality, Han state would not allow them to enter, and they dare not take this route.
The Nuwa Festival of Han state was held on the 15th day of March, lasting a month. After that, they sent an army to aid Xiqi. By the time everything settled down, it was already June.
Xiqi City.
Ji Chang lay on the bed, his face pale.
Perhaps it is that Ji Xu Kun is not as good as the original Lei Zhen Zi, which causes Ji Chang's hundred children astrological pattern to be far less powerful than that in the original timeline. Perhaps it is because Xiqi raised the banner of rebellion too early and repeatedly repelled the attacks of Yin and Shang dynasty, exhausting Ji Chang's qi.
At this time, the founder of the Zhou dynasty was just three months short of his ninety-fourth birthday.
He cannot celebrate with his children this year.
Wen Zong besieged the city for a month. In order to boost morale, Ji Chang had to climb up the city walls every day wearing armor that was significantly lighter, but still very heavy for him.
None of his sons are capable, and only his own prestige can barely stand against Wen Zhong.
Wen Zhong had a keen eye. He saw that Ji Chang was not well, so he attacked the city every day. At noon, he attacked once, and at sunset, he attacked again. Whenever Wen Zhong attacked the city, Ji Chang had to appear on the city walls to encourage the soldiers. Wen Zhong's attack on the city was irregular, and he never let Ji Chang rest. Sometimes there was a one-hour interval, sometimes there was a half-hour interval, and sometimes he launched a fierce attack for half a day.
Ji Chang, despite his illness, managed to drag himself to the city walls every day, enduring the exhaustion with sheer willpower. In the end, he collapsed due to exhaustion.
Now that the Shang soldiers have withdrawn and he has taken the immortal elixir left by Ju Liusun before his departure, there is still no sign of improvement in his health. He knows that his time is running out.
Ninety-three years old is not considered an early death, and dying as a Yin minister also aligns with his own expectations.
At the last moment, he called Bai Yikao to his bedside.
In a low voice, "Son, I am preparing for Ji Fa to inherit the heritage of the Ji family."
Bai Yikao felt a massive thunderclap erupt beside his ear, so loud and powerful that it stunned him into silence.
Holding the medicine bowl, his movements froze for a moment.
He closed his eyes and then opened them again, using the spoon carefully to feed his father the medicine, his voice dry and scratchy: "I understand."
Ji Chang's voice was very calm, downright cruel: "You have three sins. One is to allow Hongjin to sneak attack Nancheng, two is to make friends with an alien Yuan Hong, and three is your inability to maintain brotherly harmony."
Bai Yikao could hardly believe his father had said this, the charges were totally groundless and he was too innocent!
Hong Jin couldn't stop it himself, and Yuan Hong? wasn't befriending Yuan Hong to save Xiqi? As for brotherly harmony, one can't possibly expect him to be on good terms with hundreds of brothers, can one?
He was filled with dissatisfaction, but seeing Ji Chang's kind and loving gaze, he ultimately suppressed his anger.
"Son, I understand."
Ji Chang waved his hand, indicating he no longer wanted to take the medicine: "Call them all in."
Bai Yikao was dazed and confused, and went out to call his other brothers.
Ji Chang sighed quietly inwardly. When a man is about to die, his words are kind. He knew his eldest son well. He was naturally pure and loyal, and capable. In times of peace, he would be an excellent successor. However, in these troubled times, his character was not suitable.
During this moment of lucidity, his divination skills had reached an extremely high level.
He roughly calculated that the counterattack of Yin State's fortune, and the counterattack of the emperor's fortune, would certainly fall on his successor.
Can an ordinary mortal body bear it? It's difficult! Only Ji Fa, who joined the Xuan School, has a chance of survival.
To let Bai Yikao step down and let Ji Fa take his place, this was the only thing he, as a father, could do for his two sons.
Cruel, but something that had to be done, and couldn't be explained.
Very soon.
The many sons of Ji Chuan who are in Xiqi entered the ward in turn.
In the front row, standing before him were the ten sons he had with Tai Si, all of them talented individuals. The other sons behind them also had their merits. In his lifetime, he had been worthwhile.
Ji Chang indicated for Bai Yikao to help him sit up.
He sat on the bed and looked at all his sons.
"My son, I intend to pass the heritage of the Ji family to Ji Fa."
"Wa" - the sound of shock filled the room as all his sons were stunned.
Old fourth Ji Dan and old seventh Ji Wu both looked at Bai Yikao in astonishment. It was completely unexpected, what's going on?
Old third Ji Xian, old fifth Ji Du, and old eighth Ji Chu exchanged glances with each other, all showing a mix of confusion and uncertainty.
The sons in the army were quite happy. Ji Fa was both physically and mentally capable, leading by example and being at the front lines with the soldiers, unlike his eldest and third brothers who were more gentle and refined. He truly understood the hardships of the soldiers.
To ensure a smooth transfer of power, Ji Chang also called in Jiang Ziya.
Right now, everyone is still formally a subject of Yin Hong, and the position of Prime Minister is held by Ji Chang. It's impossible to give Jiang Ziya another Prime Minister post, but Ji Chang instructed Ji Fa to recognize Jiang Ziya as his "Second Father." I can't control the seniority within your Xuan School, but in Xiqi, you, Ji Fa, should treat Jiang Ziya as your father.
He thought that Jiang Ziya was a disciple of the Xuan School, and his fortune should be auspicious. Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya should be bound together, their fortunes connected, so that when the counterattack of Yin State's fortune comes in the future, "the father and son" can bear it together.
Ji Chang finally pulled the hands of Bai Yikao and Ji Fa together: "When brothers unite, they can cut steel; remember, remember."
Only then did Ji Fa recover some of his intelligence from the overwhelming surprise. He solemnly promised, "Big brother may serve as the clan leader of the Ji family, with a status equal to mine within the family. If I break this oath, I, Ji Fa, shall suffer divine retribution."
Ji Chang, with his last bit of strength, instructed Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya: "If our family truly has the day of establishing the foundation, remember not to let Yin State become extinct."
"I understand."
"Son, I will remember."
Looking at Ji Chang, who was about to close his eyes, he remembered one thing: "The power of Qi and Han has become established. They can be allies. Let's make an agreement to share the territory of Yin State. Zhou and Qi will be in the north, Han in the south. With three countries, we can share the land of the world."
Don't let my family bear the counterattack of Yin State's fortune alone. Come join us too.
"Yes!"
At three in the morning, the founder of Xiqi, Xibo, Zhou Gong, and the Grand Minister Ji Chang passed away in his own mansion, aged ninety-three.
