Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 112

This is not hard to understand. As the most powerful person in the world at that time, the King of Qin's status naturally attracted the allegiance of some people and the hatred of others.

However, someone as 'intelligent' as Gan Luo, what if the King of Qin deemed him insufficiently valuable? He couldn't possibly have been without considering a way out.

After all, Han Fei, whom the King of Qin had so admired and even sent troops to intimidate, died in prison. Was Gan Luo, a mere twelve-year-old boy, more important than Han Fei?

Therefore, even knowing that the Yin-Yang School was secretly orchestrating everything, this child prodigy, while struggling to break free of the puppet strings binding him, did not openly confront the owners of these 'strings'...

After all, the true mastermind behind Gan Luo's transformation into Xinghun was the supreme leader of the Yin Yang School: Donghuang! The real orchestrator was Da Siming!

A month and a half has passed, and there has been no news from the Qin state. However, based on information from another angle, Gan Luo has most likely joined the Yin-Yang School:

Lu Wei learned from Li Mu that the cities that the King of Zhao had surrendered at Guo Kai's urging had not yet been received by any Qin soldiers with a letter of state.

As Lord Wu'an, Li Mu completely disapproved of the cession of territory. According to intelligence from various sources, the Qin army, with its two armies from the north and south fully assembled and of enormous size, clearly intended to completely annex the Zhao state.

How could we possibly disband our army over a few cities? The State of Han ceded territory to the State of Qin just last year, and was destroyed this year. Isn't this a lesson from a recent example?

However, since Li Mu was far away in the army at the time, he was powerless and had no time to dissuade him, and the letter of cession of the city had already been sent.

Aside from grief and indignation, Zhao's soldiers could do nothing.

But so much time has passed and the Qin state has not sent any officials to take over the land, which clearly indicates that something has happened.

Li Mu disregarded all that and focused all his efforts on preparing for the battle.

The Hall Master naturally assumed that since Gan Luo, who carried the imperial edict, had become a Star Soul, the edict would not reach the Qin court.

Soon, Handan City welcomed the New Year of the seventh year of King Zhao's relocation, 229 BC.

This is probably the last moment of joy for this country.

More than a month before the end of the year, the royal procession set off in a grand procession from the North Gate, leading dignitaries of all ranks toward Xingtai.

Xingtai, also known as Tantai, is the real-life prototype of the Tantai Music and Dance Hall in the capital. It is a majestic and magnificent palace and villa. This year, King Zhao decided not to disturb the people of the capital and to go to Xingtai to celebrate.

There is also a palace there that is already famous and will become even more famous in the future: Dune Palace.

Legend has it that this palace was originally built by King Zhou of Shang, who set up a wine pool and meat forest in it, which later led to the downfall of the kingdom.

Later, King Wuling of Zhao also loved this place, but ultimately starved to death in the palace due to the issue of succession.

Decades later, the First Emperor of Qin, who brought an end to the chaos of the Warring States period, will also pass away here...

Thus, Sand Dune Palace acquired another name: the Land of the Trapped Dragon.

But this nickname has not yet been widely adopted; the Sand Dune Palace and the Tantai Terrace remain the magnificent detached palaces of the King of Zhao.

King Zhao and his entourage of dignitaries departed, including Zhao Yi, leaving a huge power vacuum in Handan. At this moment, the leader realized that he seemed to have suddenly gained the ability to do as he pleased.

He can retrieve the one hundred taels of gold he deposited at the Prime Minister's residence during the New Year period.

Even if Guo Kai had definitely left some experts to guard the Prime Minister's residence, by taking action now, he wouldn't need to wait until the chaos of the Qin army's siege, thus minimizing the already low risk.

If Li Mu is rescued when the war between Qin and Zhao breaks out, he can lead his men back to Dazeshan to manage his forces for a year and consolidate his power.

For the time being, let's set aside the war and focus on testing our chances of becoming the leader of the knights!

After becoming the leader of the knights, he maintained contact with the Mohists through his relationship with Gao Jianli, while also using his relationship with the Moon Goddess to learn about the internal affairs of the Qin state.

Then, when Qin destroyed Wei, he showed Xiaomeng favors to plant a spy in the Taoist community; in his spare time, he visited Xiaoshengxianzhuang to seduce Zhang Liang; and in Dazeshan, he let Li Mu lead the troops in training.

From the martial arts world to the imperial court, he has woven a network even larger than Luo Wang. Whenever there is a change in the world, Lu Wei can react quickly and achieve his ambitious goals!

Of course, this is just a general idea, and there will be many revisions needed based on the actual development of the situation.

The plan was to infiltrate the Prime Minister's residence on New Year's Eve, when the defenses would be at their weakest.

Before carrying out this operation, the Hall Master needs to visit a senior figure in the martial arts world who has recently arrived in Handan.

There are very few people whom Lu Wei addresses as an elder, because such people usually need to meet two requirements at the same time:

First, they are older and possess unparalleled skills in a particular area.

Secondly, this person not only poses no threat to the Hall Master, but can also be used by the Hall Master.

Another, albeit optional, third requirement is that this elder is of high moral character and wouldn't get angry or hold a grudge even if they suffer a loss.

Although Master Lu considers himself no good person, and of extremely low character, he hypocritically expects everyone around him to be loyal, righteous, and reasonable.

The elder in the martial arts world he was going to visit perfectly met all three requirements:

"Master Nian Duan has arrived in Handan. I wonder how many days you will stay in this city?"

In a simple dwelling, Lu Wei and the physician Nian Duan sat facing each other. Nian Duan had met the sect leader a few times in the Daze Mountains in the past.

At that time, Master Lu was just a minor four-star pearl grass manager.

At the time, in order to ask Nian Duan to treat Xiao Yan'er, Lu Wei took out several famous medical books from later generations, thereby establishing a friendly relationship with this medical sect leader.

“Master Lu, I am no longer the head of the medical sect, but just an ordinary itinerant doctor.”

Nian Duan coughed lightly a few times, his breathing uneven as he spoke, and he looked very unwell.

"After stepping down from my position as sect leader, I traveled around with my young disciples to accumulate experience. The State of Zhao was our last destination."

"After the New Year, I will go to a mountain in the Taihang Mountains to live in seclusion and never care about the affairs of the martial world again."

"I see." Lu Wei turned to look at the girl sitting upright under the makeshift thatched shed outside, providing free medical care to patients in Zhao Ducheng, and realized that she was Duanmu Rong.

Lu Wei had heard about Nian Duan's departure from the position of head of the medical school last year. At the time, he even wondered if he could buy some more medical books to entice this highly respected physician to join the agricultural school.

Although there are physicians among farmers, the medical skills of the Zhu family, the head of Shennong Hall, are exceptionally high. However, everyone has their own area of ​​expertise, and the foremost physician in the world is none other than Nian Duan.

Nian Duan is only in his fifties this year, an age when he should be a reliable doctor.

But in Lu Wei's eyes, Nian Duan was a man whose energy and spirit were disordered, whose breath was waning, and who was about to die...

A doctor cannot heal himself...

This old healer has saved countless lives. She is also a martial artist, and using internal energy to save lives is a common practice in the martial arts world. Nian Duan's Golden Needle Acupuncture is a special technique that allows her to use her own vital energy as a medium to assist different medications in saving the lives of those on the verge of death.

Even if each acupuncture treatment doesn't cause significant damage, the cumulative effect over time makes it understandable that Nian Duan, now in her fifties, has become like a candle flickering in the wind...

Having witnessed countless deaths, she could accept her own death with equanimity. The only thing she still couldn't let go of was her youngest disciple, Duanmu Rong.

With loving eyes fixed on Rong'er's earnest face outside the house, Nian Duan coughed violently a few more times.

The sect leader, with ulterior motives, took the initiative to grasp Nian Duan's wrist pulse and channeled some of his Rejuvenating Technique internal energy into her, which greatly improved the old woman's complexion.

"Senior Nian Duan, please take good care of your health."

...

Disciples of physicians have always been a valuable resource.

After returning to his residence, Lu Wei met with Nian Duan during the day and immediately began to plot against this top physician in the world.

Rather than let Nian Duan, who is only in his fifties, die now, he should buy some energy pills in the mall to replenish her energy and then join the farm.

A rough estimate suggests that the elderly man is physically healthy and has no injuries, but is simply lacking in energy. Once he has enough energy, he could serve the farm for another thirty years.

Thirty years later, her disciple Duanmu Rong also reached the age of maturity as a doctor, and served the Hall Master for another forty years!

If this continues generation after generation, and at least two generations of medical masters serve one's own purposes, then the value is extraordinary.

This kind of business is worth planning!

But the time cannot be now.

Master Lu believed that the best time to intervene was when Nian Duan was about to completely burn out. For now, it was best not to get too involved in the lives of this master and disciple.

Offering help in times of need is the most effective way to show kindness.

If I could recruit Nian Duan as the resident physician of Gonggong Hall, my own foundation would undoubtedly be much stronger!

------

Xianyang was just as lively as the Qin state's New Year celebrations this year.

A few months ago, the Qin cavalry crushed the state of Han, and having achieved the feat of destroying the country, it was not a problem to celebrate wildly.

Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, served as the Right Chancellor and was responsible for overseeing the overall situation.

He walked out of the Qin palace with a big smile on his face. King Zheng of Qin had just summoned him and discussed with Lord Changping some matters concerning the attack on Zhao next year.

As soon as Xiong Qi stepped out of the main hall, he encountered Zhao Gao, a eunuch who was standing outside the hall and respectfully bowing to him. Zhao Gao had recently gained the trust of the King of Qin.

Lord Changping didn't seem to care much, ignoring Zhao Gao's presence and walking straight past him. After they passed each other, a hint of caution flashed in both of their eyes:

'A net, is it...'

'Changping Jun...'

At the Yin-Yang School headquarters, the New Year is an important day for worshipping ghosts and gods, but for the newly appointed Left Protector Xinghun, he is more focused on his cultivation of Yin-Yang arts.

His family from his past identity had all been murdered; he no longer needed that old name... at least not until he possessed the power to control his own destiny...

On that familiar, youthful face, due to the effects of the Yin-Yang technique, special patterns were faintly appearing, allowing the boy's evil aura to run rampant.

'Qin State, the Net of Intrigue, the Yin-Yang School!'

'And farmhouses...'

'I'll settle things with you properly once I have the power!'

Chapter 135 Asking for Tea

If possible, Lu Wei would not want to commit theft.

Stealing is beneath the dignity of the Hall Master, and being caught would not only be shameful but also subject to a nationwide manhunt. It's hardly a good business.

Such low-level interests are only enjoyed by a thief like Robber Zhi, who is born with a thieving nature and always feels guilty and ashamed when he does them!

The righteous-looking hall master thought to himself as he instantly devoured an entire chest of glittering gold from the Prime Minister's treasury.

Now that I've recouped my initial investment, it's time to earn interest! Hehe.

In the basement of the treasury, looking at the overflowing treasure chests, he unceremoniously raised his hand and waved his inner energy to open all the chest lids.

Guo Kai's snow-covered area is much larger than Yan Chunjun's. Moreover, unlike Yan Chunjun, who is fond of collecting art, Guo Kai is a vulgar man who only likes gold and silver.

This greatly facilitated Master Lu's actions.

However, the boxes appear to be very scattered, and the number of items seems to be far less than the wealth of Yan Chun Jun.

This only proves that this underground treasury has more than one level! Guo Kai is definitely richer than Yan Chunjun!