I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 474 Proposal for a Military Parade

Ying Zheng pulled his thoughts back from the past. Just then, Ying Wuyou led the group through the vermilion palace gates.

"Your subjects respectfully wish Your Majesty good health and longevity, and that the Qin Dynasty's foundation will last for a thousand generations!" The crowd bowed deeply in unison, their voices echoing in the empty hall.

Ying Zheng's gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Ying Wuyou—she had shed the gentle smile she had when she was paying New Year's greetings to the concubines, and standing among the princes and princesses, she truly possessed the majesty of a prime minister.

"Get up, all of you." Ying Zheng raised his hand to signal, his gaze falling on Ying Gaolu. "I heard you sneaked off to the armory again yesterday and even had a sword duel with Meng Tian's son?"

Ying Gaolu shrank back in fright, causing everyone to stifle their laughter. Ying Zheng's lips curled slightly upward, but he quickly suppressed it: "Jiayang, you stay. The rest of you may leave."

The hall fell silent immediately. After everyone had left, Ying Wuyou stepped forward and asked, "What brings you here, Father?"

Ying Zheng, his expression stern, pushed a scroll of secret reports across the table. The words "Xiang Yan" were prominently displayed on the yellowed parchment. "The State of Chu has been making frequent unusual moves recently. Wang Jian has submitted a memorial requesting additional provisions and military equipment. What is your opinion on this matter?" Ying Zheng asked in a deep voice.

Ying Wuyou reached out and took the secret report, slowly unfolding it as her gaze wandered over the words. As she read, memories of 224 BC flooded her mind. As a time traveler, she clearly remembered a major event that occurred in 224 BC.

In 225 BC, General Li Xin led an army of 20 on a grand expedition to conquer Chu. He was full of vigor and confidence, and believed he would win the war. However, he did not expect that the Chu army had already set up many traps, waiting for his arrival.

When the Qin army arrived at Chengfu, the Chu army suddenly launched a fierce attack. Caught off guard, the Qin army was thrown into chaos and caught off guard by the Chu army's fierce attack.

At a critical moment in the war, Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, betrayed the King of Qin and returned to Chu to take command. This sudden turn of events made Qin's situation even more difficult.

Although General Li Xin fought valiantly, the Chu army was too numerous and tactically superior, and the Qin army ultimately could not withstand the attack, suffering heavy losses and almost being wiped out.

This sudden and devastating defeat shocked the entire Qin state. The Qin army, which had been riding high on morale, instantly became demoralized, and the soldiers were filled with fear and unease about war. At the same time, those forces that had always harbored ill intentions towards Qin secretly began to stir, attempting to seize profits amidst the chaos.

Faced with such a dire situation, the King of Qin realized that he had to take decisive measures to salvage the situation. Therefore, he decided to personally go to Pinyang to visit the experienced veteran general Wang Jian.

Wang Jian knew that the strength of the State of Chu was not to be underestimated, and he understood that defeating Chu would be no easy task. Therefore, when the King of Qin asked him how many troops he needed, he answered without hesitation, "At least 60 troops." This number surprised the King of Qin, but after careful consideration, he ultimately agreed to Wang Jian's request.

Thus, Wang Jian led an army of 60 on another expedition, engaging in a thrilling life-or-death struggle with the Chu army. This war between Qin and Chu lasted for a full year, with both sides investing enormous manpower and resources. The brutality of the war was beyond imagination, with countless people displaced and suffering immense loss of life.

Ultimately, Wang Jian, with his exceptional military talent and unwavering will, led the Qin army to victory. However, the cost of this war was enormous; countless people died, countless families were shattered, and countless lives were lost in the flames of war.

However, the Qin Dynasty was no longer what it once was. With Ying Wuyou's assistance, the course of history had changed. Li Xin had not embarked on that disastrous campaign, and the Wei state had not yet been destroyed. Qin was already militarily powerful, and after the reforms brought about by Ying Wuyou, its economy had become unparalleled, leaving other states far behind.

Ying Wuyou frowned slightly, quickly weighing the pros and cons in her mind. She felt that going to war with Chu at this time was not a wise move. Although Qin was powerful, war would inevitably bring losses, and Chu had a deep foundation; if it got bogged down in a protracted war, many variables would inevitably arise.

It would be better to turn our attention to deterring and consolidating Qin's position in the Central Plains. Furthermore, if Qin could be given a few more years to develop, and once it completely overwhelms Chu, Wei, and Qi in terms of economy and military, then without resorting to large-scale warfare, it could subjugate these states through economic warfare without bloodshed, which would be more beneficial to Qin's long-term development.

Thinking of this, Ying Wuyou raised his head, his eyes firm and confident, and said to Ying Zheng, "Father, why don't we review the troops?"

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He had heard Ying Wuyou's thoughts, and these were not the first time he had heard them. He had been able to calmly accept Li Xin's failure and Xiong Qi's betrayal once again.

Ying Zheng nodded, signaling Ying Wuyou to continue.

Ying Wuyou sat not far from the King of Qin and spoke eloquently: "Now, our Great Qin is strong and well-equipped, with ample supplies. Its military and economic strength far surpasses that of other states. This military parade will not only demonstrate the might of our Great Qin, but also serve as a powerful deterrent to other states. When the State of Chu sees such a powerful army as our Great Qin, it will surely be wary and dare not act rashly. The other states will also restrain their ambitions because of the might of our Great Qin."

"Furthermore, military parades can unite the hearts and minds of the military and the people, allowing the people of Qin to see the strength of Qin and enhancing their confidence and sense of belonging. At the same time, it can also allow the soldiers to showcase their prowess and boost morale."

After the military parade, backed by our powerful nation, we will exert economic pressure on other countries. Through trade, we will control their economic lifelines, making them economically dependent on our Great Qin. In this way, given time, without large-scale warfare, we can subdue them without a fight and bring them into our Great Qin territory.

Ying Zheng listened quietly, his expression gradually softening. "Economic warfare..." Ying Zheng murmured the word to himself, the word swirling in his mind as if opening a door to a new world.

His thoughts began to unfold as Ying Wuyou spoke, imagining a war without gunpowder, where various forces fiercely competed in the economic sphere. What would that scene be like? Merchants would openly and covertly vie for dominance in the market, while politicians would manipulate the economy from behind the scenes.

Ying Zheng couldn't help but think, "If it really is as Jia Yang said, then it must be a very exciting war!" Ying Zheng sighed inwardly. A glint of excitement flashed in his eyes, as if he could already see the scene of Qin's great victory on the economic battlefield.