After Ying Zheng issued this command, many people were stunned.
A large number of commoners also strongly opposed it.
After all, before this, the old Qin people always possessed a Qin sword. Only with a Qin sword in hand could they protect the realm.
But now, Ying Zheng was going to confiscate weapons from across the land, which meant they could no longer have swords.
This was like pulling out their teeth for the old Qin people.
It was something they found very difficult to accept.
Many of them even raised questions.
"Why are you confiscating our weapons!!"
"Indeed! Having a weapon in hand allows us to defend ourselves daily! In our spare time, we can practice swordplay, and in battle, we can use them. If our weapons are confiscated, how can we practice swordplay!!"
"Your Majesty's command is truly incomprehensible. If weapons from others are confiscated, so be it, but why must the weapons of us old Qin people be confiscated too!!"
Confiscating the weapons of others was not difficult.
The commoners of other states did not dare to resist the army of Great Qin.
When the command of Great Qin was issued, they had only one course of action: obedience.
What's more, after confiscating those weapons, Ying Zheng provided them with compensation, giving them money.
Of course, this was not the currency of their original states but the currency of Great Qin.
Great Qin's currency could circulate more easily across the land through such means.
However, the old Qin people were not so easy to appease.
Most of the old Qin people now had some wealth.
They wished to keep their weapons, thinking that if they had the chance to go to the battlefield in the future, they could still use them and achieve merit alongside Qin generals.
At this moment, Ying Zheng wanted to confiscate their weapons, making it difficult for them to accept.
If they were not old Qin people, they might have already picked up their weapons and caused trouble.
Precisely because they were old Qin people, the soldiers found it easier to explain.
"His Majesty's confiscation of these weapons is actually for our protection!!"
"Although we no longer have weapons, neither do others. Furthermore, when entering or leaving cities, they will inspect people for weapons!"
"Since everyone is disarmed, do we still need to worry about enemies attacking us with weapons?"
"As for what you said about practicing swordplay to be ready for enlistment, you can completely practice with wooden swords. If you dislike the weight of wooden swords, you can practice with stone swords!"
"When you truly join the army, the army will naturally issue real weapons, and at that time, you will be no weaker than anyone else!!"
"The army issues weapons?"
Upon hearing that the army issued weapons, many old Qin people trembled.
One must know that when old Qin people enlisted in the past, they had to provide their own weapons.
A bronze sword could even be passed down through three generations.
Three generations had relied on that single sword to achieve merit on the battlefield.
Therefore, weapons were exceptionally important to them.
But now, with the army willing to issue weapons, the situation was completely different.
If the army was willing to issue weapons, their own weapons would no longer be so precious.
As long as they joined the army, everyone would be equipped with a weapon, and they would not have to worry about not having weapons in the future.
Therefore, many people wavered at this point.
"When we join the army, will they really issue weapons??"
"Of course, they will issue weapons! Not only does our Great Qin now have sufficient wealth, but we also have iron weapons. There is absolutely no shortage of weapons!"
"Anyone who joins the army will not only be issued a weapon, but if a weapon is damaged, it can be replaced immediately. There is no need to worry about not having weapons to use, as was the case before!!"
"Then, then, I am willing to turn in my weapon!!"
Having confirmed that everyone would receive a weapon upon joining the army, many old Qin people were willing to give up their weapons.
Although without weapons, they could protect their families' safety and the safety of all Great Qin at all times,
they believed that the soldiers of Great Qin could protect them.
It was precisely for this reason that they willingly handed over their weapons.
Especially after many of them received compensation, they were even more satisfied.
However, while they were satisfied, some people were not.
In fact, they were in a panic.
"No! How can the Qin people do this? How can they confiscate our weapons??"
"We are Tu'an people, we need to restore our nation, we need combat power. Without weapons, how can we restore our nation!!"
"Damn it, the Qin people don't want us to restore our nation at all. They just want to force us to our deaths, which is why they want to confiscate our weapons and not let us carry weapons into the city!!"
"What do we do now? If we truly lose our weapons, we won't have the slightest power to resist!!"
Weapons were the assurance in everyone's hearts. Without weapons, these Tu'an people felt no assurance at all.
Therefore, at this moment, they were facing an extremely difficult choice.
Faced with Qin's intention to confiscate weapons from across the land, they did not know how to respond.
In the end, they chose the simplest and most brutal method.
"We can no longer stay in the city. It seems we can only go into the mountains, become mountain kings, accumulate strength, and wait for an opportunity!!"
"It seems there is no other way. We will hide in the mountains and await the princess's orders!!"
"Alas! Before the action has even begun, we have to flee into the mountains. It seems this rebellion against Qin will not be simple!!"
Many people wanted to resist Qin because they were intoxicated by the words of the Tu'an Princess.
They were envious of the position of consort in Tu'an and even more envious of the position of King of Tu'an.
For these reasons, they were willing to take a gamble and take risks to rebel against Great Qin.
But when they encountered setbacks, they quickly sobered up.
They knew that with their strength, it would be very difficult to contend with Qin.
Therefore, a portion of the Tu'an people chose to follow others, carry their weapons, and enter the mountains, preparing to accumulate strength.
Even more people chose to cease their resistance, extinguishing the ambition in their hearts.
Like ordinary commoners, they honestly surrendered their weapons and acted as if nothing had happened.
Such a choice greatly weakened the forces resisting Great Qin.
Those who were manipulating all of this from behind the scenes were even more furious.
They had not expected Great Qin to break their stratagem so easily.
...