Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 105

Although she could not kill the Moon Goddess, she firmly believed that the Moon Goddess was inferior to her. However, she still could not underestimate such an opponent.

Unlike last time when Yanfei was completely focused on Yandan in the Crown Prince's residence, now she has a lot of time for herself.

Therefore, Yanfei had been secretly keeping track of the Moon Goddess's whereabouts, with the aim of figuring out what the Moon Goddess was doing in order to prepare in advance.

"Lu Wei of the Gonggong Hall of the Farmers? The Moon Goddess believes this person can help her defeat me?"

Yan Fei recalled a face in her mind, a handsome young man who had rushed out of Luqiu Pavilion in Dao Zhi's memory. However, in Dao Zhi's impression, this person was very weak, so it was probably not him.

With her gaze lowered, Yanfei temporarily put the matter out of her mind: whether the Moon Goddess had temporarily given up and returned to the Yin Yang School, or gone to find that Lu Wei, she could at least have some peace and quiet for the time being.

Yanfei could not continue following the Moon Goddess; there were still matters in Ji City she had not yet completed:

"Yan Dan's baby is due soon, I need to prepare a 'gift' for him~"

------

"Brother Tian Du, let me personally go to the army and discuss this matter with Lord Wu'an!"

With a faint smile, Lu Wei took on Li Mu's entrustment and saw Tian Du off, who was instantly relieved to be free of responsibility.

Tian Du said that Tian Guang was so busy in Jicheng that he couldn't hand over any matters and only let him decide for himself, which shows that Jicheng was bustling with activity after he left.

The fact that Tian Guang was so preoccupied with other matters that he couldn't attend to the affairs of Zhao suggests that even after the fall of Han and Qin's conquest of Zhao, the assassination plot against Qin had begun.

But now that Yan Dan no longer has Dongjun Yanfei, how can he persuade the current leader, Six-Fingered Black Knight?

Even if, as the crown prince, he betrayed his own principles for power and asked the Quicksand organization, which had become an assassin group after the fall of Han, to help him, Wei Zhuang at that point might not even be able to reliably defeat Black Knight, let alone kill him...

Exhaling a breath, the Hall Master took the Zhenyue Sword, which he had previously entrusted to Lu Yu for safekeeping, and temporarily forgot about the matter in Yan.

After all, this matter has nothing to do with him; the ones who need to worry are Yan Dan and Tian Guang. Whether a plan that was destined to fail can be implemented or not won't have a significant impact on the overall situation.

If this assassination plan were in the historical timeline, it might have a chance of success, but in the world of Qin's Moon, Gai Nie is still by Ying Zheng's side!

This swordsman's swordsmanship is currently far from reaching the level he would have when he betrayed Qin more than a decade later, but he is currently unharmed and can unleash his full power...

Moreover, besides Gai Nie, Qin, as the strongest country in the world, has many other experts in its palace. The Luo Wang organization is also doing its best to protect the King of Qin. No matter how you look at it, it is impossible to carry out an assassination openly in the palace.

"So that's why Jing Ke's five-step killing technique was needed...?"

...

He rode to Li Mu's military camp and asked the guards outside the camp to return the Zhenyue Sword to Li Mu. It wasn't until it was almost dark that a personal guard hurriedly came to lead him into the inner camp.

"Lord Wu'an was busy with military affairs. He had just taken a break when he saw the sword that Hall Master Lu had sent him. Without even taking a break, he sent me to invite Hall Master Lu over."

"It was not intentional to slight the hall master, and I hope the hall master will not take offense."

Lu Wei had seen this guard before at the residence of the Marquis of Wu'an in Handan City and could recall his name. Hearing the guard defend Li Mu, Lu Wei smiled and nodded.

“Military camps are important locations, and Lord Wu’an is the commander-in-chief of an army, so I understand.”

The Zhao army camp is more meticulously arranged than the Xiang army camp that the Hall Master saw in the Chu Kingdom. However, considering that one side is in wartime and the other is in peacetime, it is not appropriate to directly compare their strengths and weaknesses.

Outside a small tent, Li Mu saw Lu Wei being led in from a distance and strode forward to greet him from several dozen meters away.

"Master Lu, let's go to an open space to talk in detail."

With his personal guards keeping a safe distance, Lu Wei was led by Li Mu to two rows of weapon racks in an open area of ​​the military camp. This Lord of Wu'an was now very straightforward in his speech:

"Since Master Lu is willing to come see me, he will definitely grant my request."

"The State of Zhao is currently on the eve of a storm, and I have no confidence in winning the upcoming war. Therefore, when I met with the Tian family earlier, I told him to quickly withdraw his disciples from the Farmer's School back to Daze Mountain."

"It is greedy of the farmer to ask him to buy more grain for Zhao, because the Zhao army has nothing left to exchange with the farmer."

"I previously gifted the Zhenyue Sword to Hall Master Lu, and it still belongs to him."

Li Mu personally bent down and tied the broadsword in his hand to the side of the Sea-Swallowing Sword at Lu Wei's waist, his eyes calm and composed: "I also know that Hall Master Lu has been trying to befriend me, an old general, and is even willing to purchase grain for the Zhao army under the current circumstances of Zhao."

"I wonder what value Li Mu possesses that would make him useful to Hall Master Lu. Hall Master, please speak frankly. Given Hall Master's kindness to the Zhao Kingdom, I will certainly accomplish anything that Li Mu is capable of doing right now!"

"Does Lord Wu'an realize that he is in imminent danger?"

Lu Wei and Li Mu exchanged glances. The other was a seasoned veteran with a hundred victories on the battlefield, and now that things had come to this, he was indeed able to be more frank.

"Is Master Lu referring to Guo Kai and the King?"

Li Mu clearly knew everything; his answer, though a question, was forceful and clear.

"Yes." Lu Wei nodded vigorously: "Qin will definitely bribe Guo Kai, the general will definitely be dismissed, and Zhao will definitely perish."

"I know, but as long as I don't obey the king's orders and persist in repelling the Qin army, the State of Zhao will not perish..."

"The general is a man who understands military strategy. He must know that as long as Guo Kai doesn't want you to continue fighting, the Zhao army will definitely be defeated."

"There are countless examples throughout history of treacherous officials harming the country!"

Hearing this, Li Mu closed his eyes, walked to the weapon rack, and suddenly picked up a long spear to examine it: "I am a Zhao man and a Zhao general. Some paths, even if destined to fail, are still my final destination!"

"Lord Zhao Wu'an, this is not how you should end up!"

Lu Wei drew his Zhenyue sword with a clang and shoved it into Li Mu's hand: "What does the general think of the Qin army?"

Holding the familiar grip, Li Mu gently placed the long halberd back into place, his palm caressing the blade of the Zhenyue Sword:

"For those who follow the military strategist tradition, the Qin army as a whole was the strongest army among the seven states, a victorious force!"

"To Lord Zhao Wu'an, the Qin army is a butcher and executioner who wantonly invades my Zhao territory! They are the enemies I want to kill most in my life."

"And what is your opinion on the Qin state, General?"

"A country of tigers and wolves may have its merits, but the harshness and subtlety of its severe laws and punishments make the people suffer unspeakably."

“But…” Li Mu lowered his gaze, “it seems that only countries like this can become the strongest…”

"That's right, but Qin only became strong and wealthy by plundering the other six states. If Qin had no more enemies to plunder, it would enslave its own people even more!"

The lord boldly placed his hand on the shoulder of the Lord of Wu'an before him:

"As long as the people can survive, they are the most peaceful stream; but if they cannot survive, they are the most boiling oil."

"The general believes that even after Qin conquers the six states, will it turn its people into streams or boiling oil?"

Chapter 128 Master Lu, you didn't want this either...

"Master Lu, you don't want your name to be on the radar of that Prince Qin, do you?"

The moon goddess approached him step by step, her lips, adorned with pink lip gloss, resembling two dewy flower petals. Beneath her alluring beauty lay a chilling danger in the enigmatic smile at the corners of her mouth.

Lu Wei took a small step back, his mind racing as he considered how to respond. How could things have turned out this way...?

...

That night, after conversing with Li Mu, frankly expressing their opinions, and making a secret pact, the Hall Master rushed back to the capital, Handan.

Even though paper was manufactured, its use remained limited to the headquarters of Dazeshan and Luqiu Pavilion, and it did not spread widely.

Therefore, Lu Wei in Zhao could only tear off a piece of cloth, scribble a few lines, and quietly go to Zhao Yi's residence. He woke up A Yu and told him to immediately instruct his trusted disciple to send the letter to Daze Mountain.

Lu Yu nodded and did as instructed. He put on his long gown and went out, returning shortly after. The head of the hall then gave him a few more instructions on the next steps of the city's layout and told him that he and A-Yu could discuss the matter of contacting A-Shan in Jicheng and purchasing grain from Yandi.

Now that the Gonggong Hall has a wide-ranging presence, Lu Wei doesn't need to handle everything personally anymore. Of course, he'll have to put his four carefully cultivated underlings to good use.

It is conceivable that there will be no major problems with Luqiu Pavilion in Yan purchasing grain in the name of farmers. If Yan Dan knew that the farmers' purpose was to aid Zhao, he would definitely do his best to help them, even if it was behind King Xi of Yan's back.

As for the State of Qi, it's where the agricultural headquarters are located, so there won't be any problems purchasing grain!

In the letter he sent to Dazeshan, besides instructing him on purchasing grain, he also ordered Lü Chen and the Yan brothers to come to Zhao immediately.

These three men are rare talents among my subordinates who have studied military strategy. A general cannot be limited to hunting and playing house with a small force in the mountains. He should also have the opportunity to experience some big scenes!

The upcoming Qin-Zhao War next year will be a great opportunity!

Sending three men, along with a few trusted confidants, to serve as Li Mu's personal guards, to witness firsthand the grand war of annihilation, and to see how to deploy troops in a massive operation involving hundreds of thousands of people, would undoubtedly be of great benefit to them.

If I remember correctly, the Qin army's commander-in-chief this time is Wang Jian. This direct confrontation between two of the four greatest generals of the Warring States period is an invaluable learning opportunity...

...

The following day, it was confirmed that the overall strategy in Zhao was in place. He would personally intervene, and with the agreement in place, he was certain he could save Li Mu. What remained were some additional personal matters that Lu Wei himself needed to attend to.

For example, the treasures and gold in the mansion of the notorious corrupt minister Guo Kai!

Prime Minister Guo Kai has swindled a full hundred gold coins from me. The Hall Master will definitely take back this huge sum at the appropriate time, and perhaps extract a little bit of interest.

Unlike that night at Yan Chunjun's residence in Jicheng, where the situation was stable and Master Lu had ample time to slowly amass wealth, Lu Wei believed that the best time to reclaim his hundred gold pieces at Zhao Xiangguo's residence was during the Qin army's siege of the city and the ensuing chaos in Handan.

Time was limited, so he had to rush into the Prime Minister's residence masked at top speed, avoid getting entangled with the Prime Minister's experts, rummage through the treasury, and then quickly escape out of the city.

The plan itself wasn't particularly dangerous; it was just a test of my time management skills. The Zhao treasury certainly contained a considerable amount of gold, but after the Qin army breached the outer city, their primary objective would undoubtedly be to besiege the inner city, making entry into the palace risky.

A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in a proper way. Gold is certainly important, but compared to one's own life, the Master believes it is insignificant.

One should refrain from taking risks, and even if one must take risks, the purpose should at least be for one's own ambitions, not for mundane things.

He had been secretly scouting outside the Prime Minister's residence for several nights when A Yu reported to Lu Wei that "the Moon Goddess of the Yin-Yang School has come to the city," which aroused his suspicion.

In particular, the Moon Goddess also captured several peasant disciples from Handan City and interrogated them, all of whom were related to herself...

------

The moon goddess's southward journey was even more frigid than her northward journey to the Yan Kingdom.

The words Yan Fei uttered, "You will never be as good as me," often echoed in her mind, and the sound grew louder and louder!

"I not only want to prove you wrong, but also that I am right."

"It will also make you understand that even your most prized Yin-Yang techniques are easily surpassed by me!"

The astrological laws are more effective for those who are deeply involved with Yin-Yang arts, but Master Lu, who has studied the Five Virtues, is not among them, and even the Eastern Emperor is powerless to detect his secrets.

After returning to the Yin-Yang School last time, the Moon Goddess, who had previously held the leader Donghuang in the utmost reverence, suddenly underwent a slight change in her feelings through subtle probing.

Lord Donghuang also possesses a power that he cannot detect, and this power is one that he has a chance to grasp in his own hands...

It was this change that led her to not immediately return to the Yin Yang School to report after she could no longer deal with Yan Fei, but instead to insist on going to Zhao to find Hall Master Lu.

“It’s normal that ordinary farmers don’t know Lu Wei’s whereabouts.”

“Zhao Yi’s steward, Lu Yu, is Lu Wei’s trusted confidant. This man will surely be able to tell me some good news.”

As she rose from the bath tub, steam rose from the Moon Goddess's graceful figure, usually concealed beneath her loose clothing. Drops of water slid down her smooth, creamy skin, landing on the floor along her long, shapely legs.

After using Yin-Yang magic to evaporate the remaining water droplets on her skin, she carefully put on her conservative Yin-Yang school attire, glanced at the afterglow of the setting sun, and prepared to wait for the moon to rise before going out.