Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 114

On the other side, Xinghun, who was summoned along with the Moon Goddess, had strange markings permanently etched onto his face. He overheard the Eastern Emperor's command and softly murmured the name of the city.

"Lord Xinghun seems to have special memories of this city?"

When Donghuang doesn't speak, his disciples are free to speak. This is a variable in the strict hierarchical structure of the Yin-Yang School, and it has always been preserved.

“What the Moon Goddess says is correct.” Xinghun smiled amusedly. “After all, the location that the Grand Commander saw is related to my old name.”

"So, will you be traveling with the Moon Goddess on this journey?"

Donghuang suddenly spoke. Nothing could be seen from under his wide black robes, but Xinghun knew that Donghuang's eyes were definitely fixed on him.

"No, Your Majesty Donghuang, I still have much to learn about Yin-Yang techniques."

He suddenly stepped forward: "Someone in Handan City owes me a cup of tea. If I want to get that tea back, I think I should at least learn to gather my energy into a blade."

Xinghun's smile turned sinister...

Chapter 136 The War Between Qin and Zhao Begins

After the New Year, the atmosphere of war once again permeated the air, bringing a sense of oppressive unease to all those closely connected to it.

Li Mu was not originally an expert in espionage, but through years of war with the Qin state, he had learned some skills.

Moreover, Lü Chen, Yan Shen, and Yan Bing, whom the peasants sent to study in Zhao's army, had extensive experience in the ways of the martial arts world. Even though the Qin state was not ostensibly suitable for the activities of wandering knights, in reality, the farther away from Xianyang, the less strict the control often became.

Judging from the reconnaissance conducted by the disciples of the Farmer's School in the former territory of Han and the direction of Taiyuan County, the Qin army is still employing a two-pronged attack strategy from the north and south.

The Zhao state had limited national strength and was not qualified to actively choose the battlefield, so it could only passively meet the enemy as always.

Li Mu decided to leave Sima Shang to guard the banks of the Zhang River, while he continued north to confront the Qin army on the northern route, waiting for an opportunity to defeat them before turning south.

The approach is exactly the same as last time.

Zhao Jun has had a tough two years, but thanks to the supply of grain from Yan and Qi in the farmhouses, things are much better than they were under normal circumstances.

After encountering a Qin cavalry squad, a Zhao cavalry scout team bravely launched an offensive and defeated the Qin cavalry.

This small squad, led by Yan Bing, gained the upper hand before the battle and received high praise from Li Mu. Among them, Yan Bing, relying on his strength and courage, took the lead and personally killed five Qin cavalrymen, greatly diminishing the morale of that Qin cavalry.

But then neither side showed any further weaknesses, and the situation immediately reached a stalemate, which lasted for three months.

After probing several waves of attacks on the southern Zhang River and finding that Sima Shang remained as composed as ever, the Qin army also stopped and maintained a stalemate.

Zhao Jun was a tough nut to crack, and the Qin state had long been prepared for a protracted war and was in no hurry at all.

...

"Your Majesty, the General has sent a letter."

The red-haired devil Zhao Gao knelt down respectfully and spread a scroll of bamboo slips on the imposing table of King Zheng of Qin before obediently stepping back to await orders.

For King Zheng of Qin, the State of Zhao was not a place to be happy. To this day, he still harbored resentment over the humiliation he suffered in the city of Handan when he was young.

In previous years, Qin King Zheng regarded the State of Zhao as the first target for destruction. He may not have blindly believed Han Fei's memorial. He himself was eager to return to the old territory as a victor and look down on his former enemy as soon as possible!

"Please invite Mr. Wei Liao."

After reading Wang Jian's report from the front lines, King Zheng of Qin remained calm and said nothing.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhao Gao lowered his head and quickly left the main hall. His silhouette, reflected in the King of Qin's pupils, was full of obedience and shrewdness.

Soon, an old man entered the main hall, and Zhao Gao, under the orders of the King of Qin, brought him a cushion.

"Sir, the situation at the front is still not good. Is it possible to contact Guo Kai in advance and ask him to transfer Li Mu away?"

Wei Liao was an old and venerable minister who had been of great help to the Qin state in intelligence work and had always been a staunch supporter of him in court. The King of Qin was willing to treat him with respect.

"Your Majesty, this matter can be handled by the Net."

Wei Liao lowered his eyes, looking exhausted. This old fox had long grasped the overall situation and understood that the ambitious king before him was capable of achieving the same unification as the Zhou dynasty. But precisely because he understood this, he began to consider resigning...

"Sir, you originally hoped that General Wang Jian and Li Mu would confront each other for a while longer, thus wearing down Zhao Qian's patience. Why do you now believe that only three months have passed before you can launch a counter-espionage operation?"

Even though it was he who proposed whether the counter-espionage plan could be carried out in advance, and now that Wei Liao had no objection, the King of Qin instead pressed him for details in a deep voice.

"In order to maintain the fighting strength of Zhao's soldiers, Li Mu has made too many mistakes in the past two years. Guo Kaiding has already obtained evidence that can easily kill Li Mu, so we can take action in advance."

As he spoke, Wei Liao coughed violently. The King of Qin glanced at Zhao Gao in the corner, who immediately understood and stepped forward to silently and gently rub Wei Liao's back.

"Yes, you are absolutely right, sir."

He nodded calmly. As the king of Qin, he certainly understood this, but in most cases, his subjects needed to speak first on many matters.

"Zhao Gao?"

"Your Majesty, the net is ready."

Zhao Gao stopped what he was doing and knelt down behind Wei Liao:

"But what about the farmers who colluded with Li Mu?"

"The Farmer's School..." King Zheng of Qin murmured the name, recalling the information the Yin-Yang School had given him, and shook his head: "The leader of the Farmer's School, Tian Guang, is under the control of the Net, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"I heard that he is now in the State of Yan, and is a retainer of Yan Dan?"

"Your Majesty is wise."

“Then keep an eye on them.” He looked at Zhao Gao, who bowed his head. “As for the Zhao state, have Guo Kai eliminate Li Mu immediately.”

"The servant understands."

Zhao Gao respectfully kowtowed, awaiting further orders from the King of Qin:

"Also, Gan Luo returned to Qin last year, but then he suddenly disappeared with a letter from the Zhao state!"

The king, who had not inquired about the matter all last year, suddenly brought it up today, which startled Zhao Gao.

"Go and find out what happened."

"Yes."

After Wei Liao and Zhao Gao had both left, a new figure entered the hall and knelt before King Zheng of Qin.

Ying Zheng did not look up and continued handling state affairs: "What do you think?"

"After Lord Gan Luo went missing, the Shadow Guards immediately set out and discovered something unusual by the roadside in the apricot grove, a hundred miles from Xianyang."

"After investigating along the way, the general course of events has been confirmed, and Luo Wang is highly suspected."

Zhang Han knelt down and answered earnestly.

"The infighting for power within the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) can be unrestrained, but when it endangers the subjects of my Great Qin, it crosses the line."

Ying Zheng finished processing one scroll of bamboo slips without changing his expression, then picked up the next one and opened it: "Go and keep an eye on how Zhao Gao handles cases."

"The minister obeys the order!"

------

Tian Guang, who was mentioned by the powerful King of Qin and the leader of the Luo Wang organization, was still working as a carpenter, carving small wooden figurines.

The person sitting in front of him was Yan Dan, the crown prince of Yan and the leader of the Mohist school.

The two met alone in a small tavern outside Jicheng. Snow was falling heavily outside the tavern, and the howling wind rattled against the windows.

The violence outside the tavern only made the tranquility inside it all the more precious.

"Brother Tian Guang, did you invite me here today to reveal your true identity?"

Yan Dan's black eyebrows tied around his waist indicate that he is meeting Tian Guang at this moment as the leader of the Mohist school.

Tian Guang was a man of great wisdom and courage, and also renowned for his chivalry. Yan Dan had investigated him specifically, but found nothing.

The fact that nothing was found is itself a form of finding.

Ironically, Yan Dan's greatest desire now is to succeed as the King of Yan, and his status as the Crown Prince is undoubtedly an important basis for this succession.

But for the sake of his great cause, he often deliberately sheds the title of Crown Prince and speaks with wise men he encounters as a member of the Mohist school of martial arts.

"In the great war between Qin and Zhao, Zhao will find it difficult to resist for long." Tian Guang finished carving and placed the small wooden figure on the table: "Once Zhao is destroyed, and the Qin army approaches the Yi River, what should Your Highness do?"

No matter how much Yan Dan emphasized his identity in the martial arts world, everyone still referred to him by the title of Crown Prince.

"I will command the three armies and fight alongside the disciples of the Mohist school against the tyrannical Qin!"

Yan Dan gripped the wine glass in her hand, her eyes sharp.

"Your Highness's determination to resist the tyrannical Qin is so strong that you are willing to risk the destruction of the country?"

"Until death do us part!" Yan Dan slammed Mo Mei on the table, and Tian Guang took out a metal token from his pocket and placed it next to Mo Mei.

"Shennong's Decree!"

The supreme tokens of the Mohists and the Agrarians were placed together. Yan Dan and Tian Guang stared intently at each other, then the latter mentioned another name: "Lord Changping..."

...

It was half a year ago that Yan Dan became the leader of the Mohist school.

Yan Dan, who broke through the Mo family's forbidden area and brought back Mo Mei, did not immediately gain the support of all Mo family disciples.

His status as the crown prince remains a concern for the Mohist disciples.

Therefore, Yan Dan, wielding the Ink Eyebrow, spoke with each of the various commanders, and ultimately only gained the support of Master Ban, who represented the inheritance of mechanical arts, and the Xu family, who represented the inheritance of casting, in the Mechanical City.

Even if we forcibly include Jing Ke and Dao Zhi, who are far away in Ji City, there are only four commanders who are willing to obey his orders.

There were a total of nine leaders in the Mohist school.

This means that even if the remaining five people strongly oppose it, the Mohists still have the power to hold a "Heavenly Decree" to remove him from office.

Fortunately, some of the five were not in the city, and several of the commanders were hesitant rather than opposed to Yan Dan.

After making some promises, and relying on the fact that he did indeed have Mo Mei in his possession, Yan Dan was temporarily recognized as the Grand Master.

However, this unstable situation made Yan Dan very uneasy. He needed to place someone who supported him in the leadership position...

Especially for Yan Dan, who had completed the information exchange with Tian Guang and was determined to carry out the assassination plan against Qin, he needed to completely seize power in the Mohist school!

After returning to Jicheng, he did not go back to his residence immediately, but went to the Golden Terrace.

Gao Jianli and Kuang Xiu, who had a grudge against the Qin state, were undoubtedly good candidates to replace the two leaders of the Mohist school.