The next day.
Outside Handan City.
At the summit of a desolate mountain, guards stood ten steps apart, maintaining tight security.
Before a solitary grave, offerings, and incense had already been placed.
Ying Zheng stood before the tombstone, his face tinged with sorrowful remembrance. Behind him, Wang Jian, Wang Ben, and Zhao Feng stood silently, awaiting orders.
"Teacher," Ying Zheng spoke softly, his voice filled with emotion.
"I have returned."
"All the lessons you taught me, Zhao Zheng will never forget."
"Without you, there would be no Ying Zheng of today."
"The world, all of Huaxia..."
"Zhao Zheng has been working hard. I have already conquered the Three Jin states Han has fallen, and now Zhao is about to follow."
"Once Zhao falls, the next will be Wei."
"With the Three Jin under Qin's control, only three states will remain. Zhao Zheng is confident that within eight years, I will unify the world."
"When that day comes, the land will be united, and Huaxia will know peace. Our people will no longer suffer the calamities of war."
"I will ensure that the people of the world rest and recover and that the scourge of internal conflict will never return."
Ying Zheng gazed intently at the tombstone, murmuring as if speaking directly to the teacher who had once mentored him.
Standing before the grave, it was as though Ying Zheng could see the figure of his mentor, tirelessly guiding and protecting him in the past.
Now, standing here again, Ying Zheng felt like a student presenting his achievements to his teacher, showing that he had fulfilled his promise to strive for unity.
"Historical records mention two teachers of Qin Shi Huang," Zhao Feng thought silently as he observed the scene from behind.
"One was Shen Yue, who taught him during his time as a hostage in Zhao. Shen Yue gave Qin Shi Huang his foundational education and shaped his imperial vision. Even after Shen Yue's death, his teachings influenced Qin Shi Huang deeply."
"The second was Lü Buwei, who mentored him after his return to Qin and was appointed as regent. Both men left a profound mark on Qin Shi Huang, particularly Shen Yue."
"If Shen Yue had lived longer, his legacy in history might have been even greater."
Reading the name on the tombstone, Zhao Feng could not help but connect it with historical records.
In truth, Zhao Feng hadn't planned to be here today. It was a direct order from Ying Zheng himself, leaving Zhao Feng no choice but to comply. Otherwise, he would still be in the field hospital treating injured soldiers.
"Bring Zhao Yan forward," Ying Zheng commanded sharply.
At his order, two guards brought Zhao Yan up. Being unarmed and weak, Zhao Yan wore no shackles or restraints.
"Kneel before the grave," Ying Zheng said coldly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ren Xiao immediately acted, kicking Zhao Yan to his knees.
Despite being forced down, Zhao Yan tried to stand again. He understood full well that Ying Zheng would not spare his life, so he saw no point in humiliation and preferred death over submission.
But Zhao Yan's struggle was futile.
"Teacher," Ying Zheng continued, his voice calm but steely.
"I have brought Zhao Yan, the man who killed you, here today. However, I will not grant him an easy death. He will suffer. He will witness his kingdom fall and his people enslaved."
"To kill him outright would be too merciful."
Then, his tone grew icy.
"Make him bow before the grave and offer his apologies!"
His words carried a heavy anger, causing Zhao Yan to tremble involuntarily.
"Bow!" Ren Xiao barked.
"Ying Zheng, if you have any courage, just kill me!" Zhao Yan shouted defiantly.
"You want me to bow to a commoner? Does Shen Yue even deserve that?"
"I should have desecrated his grave and scattered his bones long ago!" Zhao Yan sneered coldly.
Ying Zheng's eyes flashed with killing intent but ultimately remained composed.
Ren Xiao, however, showed no mercy. He grabbed Zhao Yan's head and slammed it against the ground, forcing him to bow repeatedly.
"Ahhh!" Zhao Yan struggled desperately, but Ren Xiao, a seasoned general, held him down with ease. Soon, Zhao Yan's forehead was battered and bloodied.
After a while, Ying Zheng raised his hand, signaling for Ren Xiao to stop.
"Zhao Yan," Ying Zheng said icily, standing tall and looking down at him.
"I just received word your dear elder brother, Zhao Yi, has now taken the throne as the King of Zhao."
"What?!" Zhao Yan's face turned pale with horror.
"That's impossible!" he stammered.
"How could he escape? How could he claim the throne?"
Ying Zheng smirked.
"That throne was his, to begin with."
"When you had Mao Sui killed to prevent Zhao Yi's return, do you know why it was so easy?"
"It was because I was pulling the strings from the shadows."
"Do you know why I allowed you to ascend to the throne instead of him?"
"Because Zhao Yi is much smarter than you. If he had taken the throne, my conquest of Zhao would have been far more difficult. But with you as king? Taking Zhao was child's play."
"From the very beginning, you were nothing but a pawn in my game."
Zhao Yan was struck dumb, his mind reeling.
"No… No, that's impossible."
"My rise to power couldn't have been orchestrated by you."
"Zhao Zheng… I will kill you!"
Zhao Yan thrashed wildly, his rage blinding him. But the guards holding him down didn't budge an inch.
Watching all this unfold, Zhao Feng couldn't help but admire Ying Zheng.
"This man is incredible," Zhao Feng thought.
"To manipulate an entire nation, orchestrating every move of its king without his knowledge… That level of strategy is truly astounding."
"No wonder he could unify the world."
"Ying Zheng, the father of our nation what a remarkable figure!"
Although Ying Zheng said only so much, the efforts behind those words must have been considerable. He had orchestrated events that allowed Zhao Yan to ascend the throne over his elder brother, the rightful crown prince. This intricate scheme speaks volumes about the careful planning and strategy involved.
It makes sense now.
Back when Zhao Yan ascended the throne, he encountered little resistance. With his lack of wit and merely relying on Guo Kai, how could such an outcome have been achieved? Now everything adds up.
It was Ying Zheng who manipulated events from the shadows all along.
"Zhao Yi has already escaped to Dai and has been declared King of Dai by the generals there, along with the Zhao officials who fled with him," Ying Zheng said casually.
"However, to distinguish himself from you, he does not claim the title 'King of Zhao.' Instead, he has taken the title 'King of Dai.' He has officially ascended the throne and now commands an army of 200,000 in Dai.
"In truth, his claim to the throne is far more legitimate than yours. Your claim, born of usurpation, pales in comparison." Ying Zheng's tone remained laced with mockery.
The more pain Zhao Yan endured, the more satisfied Ying Zheng felt.
For all his greatness as an emperor, Ying Zheng was still human. He possessed human emotions and desires. It would be impossible for him to remain entirely rational at all times.
Watching his nemesis suffer in front of him, it would be saintly not to inflict additional torment.
"Ying Zheng… kill me."
"Kill me now."
"I am unwilling! I can't accept this!"
Zhao Yan screamed in despair. His spirit was crushed by Ying Zheng's words. The ascension he had been most proud of was nothing but a cruel joke orchestrated by his greatest enemy.
Everything he thought he had achieved had been manipulated by Ying Zheng in the background.
"I told you, I won't kill you."
"Take him away. Keep him under strict watch, and make sure he doesn't die," Ying Zheng commanded with a wave of his hand.
The guards immediately lifted Zhao Yan and dragged him out of sight.
"Teacher," Ying Zheng turned back to the grave, his tone softer.
"Do you see this?"
"I've taken to heart everything you taught me back then.
"Kingship, strategy, and the art of governance.
"I will use everything you taught me to unite this world.
"When that day comes, I will posthumously honor you as the Grand Scholar of Qin, ensuring that your name is known throughout the land."
His words carried the weight of a solemn promise.
Turning around, Ying Zheng's gaze shifted from Wang Jian to Wang Ben before finally settling on Zhao Feng.
"General Zhao, care to walk with me?" Ying Zheng asked with a faint smile.
"As you command," Zhao Feng replied promptly, knowing there was no room for refusal.
Ying Zheng began walking slowly up the mountain path, with Zhao Feng following a step behind.
Wang Jian and Wang Ben stood in place, watching the two figures retreat into the distance.
Suddenly, Wang Ben's eyes lit up as if he had noticed something. A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Father."
"What is it?" Wang Jian snapped impatiently.
"Don't you think Zhao Feng and His Majesty look quite alike? Look at Zhao Feng's profile it's almost identical to His Majesty's," Wang Ben said in a half-joking tone.
Hearing this, Wang Jian turned to glare at his son. "Are you tired of living? How dare you gossip about His Majesty! Do you want to die?"
The reprimand made Wang Ben instantly shut up. He had spoken without much thought, intending only to tease.
Still, Wang Jian couldn't help but glance at the two figures again.
From their vantage point, they could only see Ying Zheng and Zhao Feng's profiles as they walked, one slightly ahead of the other. The resemblance was, indeed, striking.
"The more I look, the more they do seem alike."
"If they were to walk together outside, one might mistake them for father and son," Wang Jian thought to himself. But unlike his reckless son, he kept these musings to himself.
Zhao Feng was just an ordinary commoner, unconnected to the royal family. Such speculation was purely coincidental and meaningless.
On the mountaintop, Ying Zheng walked ahead while Zhao Feng followed a step behind.
After a while, neither spoke.
Inwardly, Zhao Feng was growing anxious. Why is Qin Shi Huang walking with me alone? Could there be some kind of reward in store for me?
Suddenly, Ying Zheng came to a halt.
"Don't you have anything you'd like to say to me?" Ying Zheng asked with a faint smile, turning to look at Zhao Feng.
"Well…" Zhao Feng hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Though he deeply admired Qin Shi Huang and was thrilled to meet this legendary figure, actually speaking with him was intimidating. After all, this was the emperor himself. Zhao Feng couldn't possibly treat him like an equal or speak casually.
Seeing this, Ying Zheng chuckled softly. He glanced around, then casually sat down on a nearby rock.
He beckoned Zhao Feng over. "Sit."
Zhao Feng hesitated. "Your Majesty, it's fine if you sit. I'll remain standing."
"Sit," Ying Zheng commanded, his gaze firm.
With no choice, Zhao Feng sat down beside Ying Zheng.
Satisfied, Ying Zheng smiled. "I've heard that you're a man of great character.
"During every battle, you always lead from the front. Is that true?"
Zhao Feng nodded. "It's true."
"A general's primary duty is to command his troops, not to risk his life in the vanguard. Leading from the front is a foolish move. If the general falls, the army collapses. Surely you understand this?" Ying Zheng's tone carried a note of reproach.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Feng replied calmly, "this is precisely what sets my leadership apart.
"When I lead my troops, it's either victory or death there's no retreat.
"My presence at the front boosts morale and inspires the soldiers to fight with unparalleled determination.
"The capture of Handan was achieved through this approach."
Zhao Feng spoke with confidence. With his exceptional skills and overwhelming strength, he saw no reason to shy away from the front lines.
"But have you considered your safety?" Ying Zheng asked, his tone softening.
"I have a million soldiers at my disposal, but capable commanders like you are rare. You are one of the few I can rely on."
As he spoke, Ying Zheng patted Zhao Feng's shoulder, his words carrying a weighty sincerity.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng laughed. "Your Majesty, I value my life greatly.
"I enlisted at sixteen, and it's been over three years since then. I'm almost twenty now.
"I have a mother to care for, a sister yet to be married, and though I'm still unmarried myself, I already have a pair of children.
"If I were to die, what would become of them?
"So, I will live on at least until Qin unifies the land. After that, I would be happy to campaign in the south, subduing the Baiyue and guarding the southern borders for Your Majesty."
The first part of Zhao Feng's response was entirely heartfelt.
The final part, however, hinted at a subtle ulterior motive.
He knew history and understood that this particular period of history would be hard to change. Although Qin Shi Huang was a peerless emperor, he was, after all, a mortal, and his life had its limits. His sons were destined to fail in holding together the vast Qin Empire. If history repeated itself and Hu Hai ascended the throne, the Qin dynasty would fall. Even if Fusu were to become emperor, his abilities wouldn't be sufficient to sustain the empire for long.
In short,
The end of the Qin dynasty was inevitable.
Zhao Feng was naturally planning for himself and the future.
Campaigning against the Baiyue and guarding the southern frontiers that was the path Zhao Feng chose for his future.
If Zhao Tuo could only secure a small corner of the empire, Zhao Feng intended to eventually contend for the Central Plains.
When that day came, his network of spies would spread across the land, and intelligence would be fully within his grasp.
When that day came, Zhao Feng would command an army of hundreds of thousands of elites, making it easy to eradicate the remnants of the Six States.
"Good," Qin Shi Huang said, laughing.
"I look forward to the day you help me unify the land and campaign against Baiyue. As for guarding the southern frontier, when that day comes, sending you there would be an underutilization of your talents."
These words carried double meanings, filled with high expectations for Zhao Feng.
"Do you still remember the two generals who retreated during the battle at Wei City?" Qin Shi Huang suddenly asked.
"Weren't they already sent to Xianyang? After that, I don't know what happened," Zhao Feng replied honestly.
Chen Tao and Zhao Tuo they would no longer have any opportunity to serve as generals.
Given Qin Shi Huang's words, it was clear he already knew the details and had likely personally intervened. No matter what connections Chen Tao and Zhao Tuo had, they wouldn't be able to make a comeback.
"This matter," Qin Shi Huang said, "I handled. Retreating in the face of battle and jeopardizing the outcome almost led to the fall of Wei City. Such a crime cannot go unpunished."
"I've already ordered the Minister of Justice to deal with it titles stripped, ranks revoked, imprisoned in Zhao Jail, and executed at a later date!" Qin Shi Huang chuckled, then looked at Zhao Feng.
"Does this make you feel better?"
"Your Majesty is mistaken," Zhao Feng quickly responded.
"This doesn't just make me feel better it brings relief to all the soldiers who defended Wei City."
The actions of Zhao Tuo and Chen Tao had spread throughout the entire army at the time, earning them universal condemnation. Many soldiers had loudly demanded their deaths.
"Indeed," Qin Shi Huang nodded in agreement.
Then, with a hint of curiosity, he asked, "I heard that you broke open the gates of Wu'an and Handan by yourself, with just a sword in hand. How did you manage it?"
Having seen the shattered gates of Handan, Qin Shi Huang's curiosity was piqued.
Zhao Feng chuckled and replied, "It was through a divine weapon I stumbled upon, coupled with strength far exceeding that of ordinary men."
The statement was partly true and partly false. While the divine weapon played a role, it was Zhao Feng's immense strength and the support of his inner energy that made it possible.
Upon hearing this, Qin Shi Huang didn't hesitate. He drew his Zhanlu Sword from his waist and tossed it to Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng instinctively caught the sword by its hilt, puzzled as he looked at Qin Shi Huang.
"Strike your sword against mine and see whose blade prevails," Qin Shi Huang said with a smile.
Zhao Feng grinned. "Your Majesty, you'd best reconsider. If your sword gets dulled or damaged, it wouldn't be ideal."
At this, Qin Shi Huang burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! The Zhanlu Sword is ranked among the top ten in the world, perhaps even the finest legendary weapon still in existence. And yet, you think your sword might damage it?"
"Zhao Feng, oh Zhao Feng, if this were heard by others, they'd laugh at you."
With that, Zhao Feng grew indifferent, drawing his Dragon Spring Sword alongside the Zhanlu Sword, and extended both to Qin Shi Huang.
"Your Majesty, why not test it yourself?" Zhao Feng said with a grin.
"Seems like you're very confident in your sword. Fine, let me see for myself," Qin Shi Huang remarked, his interest piqued further by Zhao Feng's confidence.
"But if your sword gets damaged by mine, you won't hold a grudge, will you?"
"If it gets damaged, I won't complain," Zhao Feng replied, brimming with confidence.
"Very well. Watch closely!" Qin Shi Huang smirked.
Gripping the swords with both hands, he swung them forcefully.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed, accompanied by a brief flash of sparks.
As the blades separated, Qin Shi Huang examined them carefully, his expression shifting to one of surprise.
"Which master crafted your sword? It withstood the Zhanlu Sword! Both blades are evenly matched?" Qin Shi Huang exclaimed in astonishment.
Zhao Feng also glanced at the swords, equally surprised. "Your Majesty's Zhanlu Sword is indeed one of the finest divine weapons, to match my sword's sharpness so closely."
This outcome genuinely surprised Zhao Feng. He had assumed the Zhanlu Sword to be a mere mortal blade that would shatter or bend when struck by his Dragon Spring Sword, which was of a higher mystical tier.
But now, Zhao Feng realized he had underestimated the Zhanlu Sword.
"Surprised, aren't you?" Qin Shi Huang chuckled, clearly amused.
He carefully examined the Dragon Spring Sword before tossing it back to Zhao Feng.
"This truly is a top-tier divine weapon," Qin Shi Huang said.
"What do you call this sword?"
Zhao Feng sheathed the sword and explained, "I discovered this blade beneath a crystal-clear waterfall in Yingchuan County. Upon drawing it, I faintly heard the sound of a dragon's roar, so I named it Dragon Spring."
"Dragon Spring Sword a fitting name," Qin Shi Huang praised.
Then, looking at Zhao Feng with a smile, he added, "The Zhanlu Sword gained fame through generations of Qin kings and is known to all as the sword of the King of Qin. I hope the Dragon Spring Sword will gain renown because of you, Zhao Feng. Let the world know that the Dragon Spring Sword is your blade."
Hearing these words, laden with great expectations, Zhao Feng earnestly replied, "I will do my utmost."
"Good. Sit down," Qin Shi Huang said with a chuckle, taking his seat again.
After this exchange, seeing Qin Shi Huang's genial demeanor, Zhao Feng felt that the emperor was approachable not the domineering, aloof figure he had initially imagined.
Relaxing a bit, Zhao Feng allowed himself to loosen up.
"The Yan State has moved its troops," Qin Shi Huang remarked.
"They've already crossed the Yan-Zhao border and have taken several Zhao cities."
"What do you think should be done?" Qin Shi Huang asked with a smile.
"What else?" Zhao Feng smirked.
"Anyone trying to snatch meat from our mouths should be made to spit it out the same way they took it."
"Hahaha! Zhao Feng, you truly suit my tastes," Qin Shi Huang laughed heartily.
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