Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 230

But that coward Ji Bu detonated the wooden bridge, stopping him from doing his thing!

Having lost the opportunity to die for his country, Yingbu was despondent when he remembered that the Queen and the King's child was still in the city and he wondered if the child had escaped. So he did his best to find him and eventually took over Mi Xin.

After the fall of his homeland, the desperate Ying Bu devoted all his attention to this child, who would become the new Chu state...

Little did he know that, in addition to being wanted by the Qin state, he was also being searched for by the Gonggongtang of the Farmers.

After digging a pit to bury the queen, Ying Bu listened with a heavy heart to Mi Xin's incessant weeping. With his two arms covered in mud on his back, he headed north to leave the State of Chu.

As a pure soldier, this commander of the Thunder Leopard Legion had no experience in taking care of a child and raising him, so he could only try his best.

Besides Ji Bu and Ying Bu, Long Qie, the commander of another important army on the Guangling battlefield, also survived after being separated from Shao Yu while covering the rear.

Although the Tenglong Legion suffered heavy losses, the group did not break up. When Long Ju tried to track down the main force again, he only found the abandoned Seven Seas Dragon Armor. Then, he had to flee north because the Qin people were chasing after him.

The three Chu generals had to reluctantly acknowledge the consensus that the state of Chu had fallen. Their respective missions led them to set their sights on fleeing their homeland and heading north.

Long Ju's destination was the State of Qi. Compared to the two generals and his hundreds of subordinates, he was too conspicuous as a target and could be surrounded and annihilated by the Qin people at any time.

His plan was to first find a mountain forest in the State of Qi to occupy and set up camp, so that the Tenglong Legion could settle down.

Chapter 261 Nan Gong Enters Yin and Yang

Inside Shouchun City, Zhang Han, who originally needed to conceal his identity, swaggered around the streets dressed in Qin clothing.

After Wang Jian breached the city, almost all the various factions within it left. His covert investigations at the martial arts level, aside from confirming that the Mohists were still plotting against Qin, did not uncover any direct anti-Qin activities by other schools of thought or martial arts factions.

While Confucianism, Taoism, and the Agricultural School did indeed have connections with the State of Chu in Shouchun, these connections were far from warranting conviction. Zhang Han did not want to provoke a confrontation between the State of Qin and the Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) over trivial matters.

An empire cannot rely solely on killing if it wants long-term stability and peace.

In addition, Zhang Han's infiltration was not without its gains. The Shadow Guard's actions within the city cooperated to some extent with the Qin army's siege and recorded many residences of Chu nobles who were staunchly anti-Qin. They led the army to eliminate these enemies who were pretending to cooperate but actually intended to carry out sabotage in the future.

After King Ying Zheng of Qin arrived in the State of Chu, Zhang Han went to pay him a visit immediately. He compiled his views on the State of Qin from various social classes in Shouchun into a book and reported it to the emperor, which earned him praise and rewards.

The Shadow Guard's next task is to continue preventing rebellions like those in Xinzheng and Chenying from occurring in Shouchun City. Zhang Han will need to stay for the next year to accomplish this mission.

The Shadow Guards also noticed the rumors about the youngest son of King Xiong Qi of Chu, and Zhang Han immediately confirmed that there was something wrong with them after learning about it!

Such stories could circulate in Chenying and Guangling, but how could they spread so quickly in Shouchun, a city Xiong Qi had never been to before? It's impossible that no one was behind it.

Regardless of the motives of those who instigated this, digging along this line will uncover a group of anti-Qin elements.

Furthermore, the fact that Xiong Qi's youngest son was also a great achievement is also a testament to his accomplishments.

Several years ago, Li Xin was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the 200,000-strong army to attack Chu, not only because of his personal abilities, but more importantly because he planned and contacted Liu Sha to kill Yan Dan, who was organizing the assassination of Qin, and made great contributions. Therefore, he gained the favor and trust of the King of Qin.

After the failed campaign against Chu, although the King of Qin decided that he could no longer serve as the commander-in-chief of the Qin army, he did not punish him severely. He even planned to let him continue to follow Wang Ben to destroy Yan and Dai, nominally to "atone for his crimes through meritorious service".

The King of Qin had an incredibly tolerant attitude towards the characters he liked.

King Xiong Qi of Chu, whom Zhang Han still refers to as Lord Changping, is a man whose sins are so great that the value he can create is equally great.

Capturing Changping Jun's young son, who had fled abroad, would not only stabilize the hearts of the people in Chu, but would also undoubtedly reveal the attitude of the King of Qin towards Li Xin before he led an army of 200,000 men on his journey.

The Shadow Guards are naturally trusted by the King, but if that trust could be elevated to another level, wouldn't that be wonderful?

Besides Zhang Han, Luo Wang also had its eye on this credit. However, Luo Wang was ahead of Zhang Han in that they had vaguely heard beforehand that the so-called bear heart was actually another version of the mi heart.

Rumors can come in all shapes and sizes, and to verify their authenticity, one must start by interviewing a few people who have personally met Mi Xin up close. Unfortunately, such targets are extremely rare.

Xiong Qi and his wife are dead, Mi Lian is in Lu Wei's hands, and there are no leads on the maids, guards, or physicians who were originally in the Changping Jun's residence in Chen Ying City; they are most likely all dead...

If there's one exception, it's the Zhu family.

After Zhu Jia went to Chenying City, he took care of his wife's health and later also took charge of some of the midwifery work. He knew more about Mi Xin than Xiong Qi himself.

Unsurprisingly, apart from the Zhu family themselves, everyone else in Chenying City who knew about the Zhu family was also wiped out. Even if the Mo family suspected that the Zhu family knew the clues, they could not be sure.

From God's perspective, all the clues confirmed that Lu Wei's original guess was correct: Xiong Qi himself fabricated this rumor and ordered his assassins to spread it.

Therefore, the only way to investigate Xiong Xin or Mi Xin was to start with the farmers, but who knew that this was necessary?

At least for now, the Shadow Guards and the Net are still searching for clues in the Chu Kingdom.

Just as Zhang Han walked past the second-floor window of a restaurant on Shouchun Street, two inconspicuous pairs of eyes kept watching his figure until he turned the corner and disappeared.

Zhang Han had extremely keen intuition, but even after being stared at by those two gazes for a long time, he did not notice anything unusual.

Is Master Nan leaving?

The young Han Xin withdrew his gaze, and he became increasingly ordinary, like the clothes covered in gray patchwork. Even his eyes no longer seemed so special at first glance.

The young Han Xin concealed his extraordinary nature, and this low profile was like the Hidden Dragon Sword given to him by Nan Gong, which never revealed its sharpness before being drawn.

"The State of Chu is gone, and this old man naturally has to find a way out for himself." There was no trace of sadness in Chu Nan Gong's aged voice, and his eyes, which were completely hidden by his thick eyebrows, were no longer visible.

"Is Lord Nan going to Daze Mountain?" Han Xin continued to ask.

"How could that be! Do you think I would go to that brat Lu's territory to survive?" After hearing Han Xin's words, Chu Nan Gong coughed violently twice, then shook his head, pretending to be surprised, while blowing his beard and glaring.

"Isn't that right?" Han Xin said with a matter-of-fact expression. "I think if Lord Nan is willing to go, Hall Master Lu will definitely give you a warm welcome."

"This old man would rather go to Xianyang than go to a place like that!" Chu Nan Gong's voice was firm and unwavering: "Perhaps joining the Yin Yang School would give me a good life in my old age."

"The Yin-Yang School?" The disheveled boy's tone was calm yet tinged with surprise.

"It's better to associate with those mystical fellows who seek immortality than with ambitious young men who are obsessed with power..." Nan Gong stood up, leaning on his cane: "Han Xin, you'd better be careful about your choices in the future."

Nan Gong had also walked far away, but Xiao Han Xin, standing by the window, did not see him leave the restaurant.

He's practically a god...

"But isn't it good for young people to have ambition..." Looking down at the few ordinary dishes on the table—the first meal Nan Gong had treated him to—he couldn't help but recall the lavish feast he owed a favor for, and murmured to himself, "May the earth nourish all things, and may Shennong never die..."

"Are generals, ministers, kings, and nobles born with a special destiny? ... That's quite a slogan, and it might even suit someone like me."

...

In the Daze Mountains, after hearing about the existence of 'Xiong Xin', Zhu Jia, knowing more details, immediately frowned and realized that this was probably a scheme by King Xiong Qi of Chu, and that the scheme itself was very likely to bring him considerable trouble in the future.

Ji Bu from Zuimenglou had come two or three times in succession to inquire about the clues in the search for Mi Lian, which was already troublesome enough. After the eldest daughter, the secret of the youngest daughter was even more fraught with danger and death. The Zhu family patriarch, who had a thousand faces, wandered alone in the main hall of Shennong Hall. He could not even share this worry with anyone.

After all, Xiong Qi had been kind to him, Shennong Hall, and even the Farmer's Clan, and the chivalrous leader Tian Guang had indeed owed him a favor and hadn't repaid it before the incident. Considering all these factors, as long as the Farmer's Clan wasn't involved, his personal safety wasn't that important.

Therefore, the Zhu family was still determined to keep it a secret for Xiong Qi, but the secret did not prevent him from complaining a few times.

The Zhu family should send Shennong Hall disciples to Chu to investigate more relevant clues and make full preparations for the problems they may encounter in advance.

Situ Wanli has recently noticed that Zhu Tangzhu is busy with something, and the content of his work is highly confidential, so much so that even he, as his 'best friend,' cannot get involved.

The farmhouse is now in turmoil, and Situ Wanli, as a gambler, needs to constantly observe the behavior of his opponents at the card table. In his view, the strongest members of the six halls—Lu Wei, Zhu Jia, and Tian Meng—are all hiding some problems and secrets from everyone, which makes him hesitant and uncertain.

To be honest, Situ Wanli also wanted to be the leader of the chivalrous sects, but having the desire was one thing, and being able to actually do it was another.

"Brother Zhang, what do you think the future of farming will be like?"

Upon learning that the Zhu family had kept their doors tightly shut all day and had not come out, Situ Wanli in the Siyue Hall frowned, stroked his beard, and asked Zhang Er, whom he trusted.

Zhang Er had a good reputation in the Jianghu of Wei, and his personal character had never been problematic after joining the Farmer's Clan. His talent played a crucial role in the fact that the Four Mountains Hall was able to recover so quickly from the losses in Daliang City and gradually develop upwards.

Unlike Tian Mi, who harbored doubts and suspicions towards Chen Ping, Situ Wanli placed full trust in such a talented individual.

Unlike Tian Mi, whose succession process was problematic, he lacked confidence.

Situ Wanli has a deep foundation in the Farmer's Clan. Before Lu Wei joined the Farmer's Clan, he was already the head of the Four Mountains Hall.

The gambler, who is now in his prime, is slightly older than Zhang Er. Cultivating Zhang Er as his successor would also be beneficial for him after he retires in his old age.

“Each hall has its own purpose. As far as the present is concerned, maintaining the status quo is the best for the Four Mountains Hall,” Zhang Er replied calmly. He had served Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, and although he looked down on Situ Wanli, he could still get along with him out of a promise.

“If things could stay this way, that would be nice.” Situ Wanli shook his head, “But… we still need to be prepared for changes.”

"Given the strength of the Four Mountains Hall, perhaps not making any preparations would be better to avoid being misunderstood." Zhang Er's suggestion this time was sincere. The matter of the peasant family only involves the peasant family internally, and there will certainly not be a complete extermination. For the Four Mountains Hall, being prepared to surrender to the victor at any time can avoid any excessive losses.

As for Situ Wanli personally, Zhang Er speculated that if he were willing to voluntarily step down, surviving shouldn't be a problem... right?

Master Lu has a very good reputation in the martial arts world.

------

The war to destroy Chu was not yet completely over; it would take time to conquer the southern mountains and forests.

However, according to the general public's opinion, even the Chu army of 400,000 was defeated, so the Yue people in the south could not cause any great trouble.

Ying Zheng thought the same way. After making a trip to Chu and returning to Xianyang, he immediately accelerated the war machine: he ordered Wang Ben to lead an army to annihilate the northern Dai state and the Liaodong Yan state.

Neither of these two countries are major enemies, and they are becoming increasingly compliant. However, to make the future map of the territory look 'good,' it wouldn't take much effort to wipe them out.

The reason for choosing Wang Ben was that these two remaining forces were only secondary achievements; for the main merit of destroying Qi, Ying Zheng intended to use Meng Tian, ​​whom he favored.

The Wang family has already made enough contributions; it's time to let the Meng family step in and balance the power within the army.

Ying Zheng placed high hopes on Meng Tian, ​​but what he couldn't have imagined was that perhaps the Wang family had been incredibly lucky over the past ten years, and possessed the strength to match the title, the primary credit for destroying Qi would, due to some fortuitous circumstances, fall into the hands of Wang Ben, who was responsible for pacifying Yan and Dai...

Chapter 262 Unexpected Death

Dazeshan welcomed two new guests.

Having learned from his disciple's report that Zhang Liang and Xiang Bo had arrived together, Master Lu, who was chatting with Li Mu at Yan Gui Ridge, instructed his disciple to first have Lü Qing take the group to tour Gonggong Hall, and then did not rush to meet them immediately.

Li Mu recently visited Jing County in the south. Because Jing County was affiliated with Dong'ou, it was not greatly disturbed by the Qin people. Although Fan County in the west received a group of Qin soldiers, those Qin soldiers were also heading south.

It seems that before the southern Baiyue were pacified, the Qin state did not focus its main efforts on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, which was supposed to be submissive.

After inspecting the troops under Li Zuoche and Peng Yue in Jing County, Li Mu personally traveled south again, and couldn't help but shake his head at the sight of the mountains and forests there.

The battlefields Li Mu experienced throughout his life, whether fighting wolves on the grasslands or confronting the Qin army, were far removed from the dense forests and miasma-ridden environment of this place. In his view, the combat experience accumulated by the seven states of the Central Plains was insufficient to conquer the Baiyue.

If King Jian of Qin had taken a steady and methodical approach, he probably wouldn't have had any problem conquering the Yue people. But that guy was quite old after all. At his age, he certainly couldn't withstand the constant infighting with the Yue people, who were familiar with the geography of the area, in the sweltering south. And the empire wasn't short of other generals.

If this area is to be conquered by force, it would be necessary to send out generals in their prime with strong learning abilities to advance gradually. Li Mu is already over fifty years old, and he believes that his mental agility and physical strength have declined considerably, making the campaign against the Baiyue people very arduous.

From Qin's perspective, Wang Li might be a good candidate. The Hundred-Battle Armored Soldiers are well-suited for mountain and forest warfare, but he is a bit too young.

Moreover, his grandfather and father were highly respected, and if this third generation were to lead an army of hundreds of thousands to attack Yue, the issue of future military power distribution would need to be considered.

Based on his experience, Li Mu believed that attacking Yue would be a huge pitfall. The Qin generals who actually came to inspect the area could not have failed to see this. After Wang Jian's army conquered the territory of Chu, it only ventured a few days into Baiyue before stopping, as expected. The fighting here should not start immediately.

The Qin state needs to make some professional preparations, which will take at least two years.

After carefully calculating the military estimates of both Qin and his own forces, Li Mu had a clear understanding of the future development direction and shortcomings of Gonggong Hall. Upon returning and reporting back, Lu Wei would personally make the key adjustments that Gonggong Hall needed to make next year.

This is not something that can be resolved in just one or two discussions, but a rough plan can be quickly discussed and a general outline can be developed.