Even those Taoists who often focused on cultivating the Dao and preserving their health probably had a lifespan like this. Yet he had already achieved such a lifespan just by cultivating to the initial stage of martial arts. No wonder so many emperors throughout history had tried various cultivation methods in pursuit of immortality—this temptation was simply too great!
"Zhao Gao, Zhang Han!"
"Your servants are here!"
"I order you two to lead your Shadow Secret Guards and Luo Wang members to spread out around the area, monitor the movements within a hundred li radius, and not let anything escape your notice!"
"Your servant obeys!"
Hearing Ying Ji's order, Zhao Gao and Zhang Han clasped their fists and replied respectfully in unison!
"Additionally, Zhao Gao. I am currently in Yan territory. Although I wish to return to Qin, Qin's laws stipulate that a hostage abroad cannot return to the country without being summoned by the King of Qin."
"To put it bluntly, I am now as blind to the situation in Xianyang. Now I order you to dispatch half of your Luo Wang members, lead them personally, and secretly infiltrate Xianyang City. Investigate the movements of all forces in Xianyang, and ensure that nothing is missed. Find the best opportunity for me to return to Qin!"
Ying Ji said to Zhao Gao, and at the same time, turned his back to Mi Yue and winked at Zhao Gao, who immediately understood.
Both he and General Zhang Han were from the Qin Shi Ming Yue world, which was a time when Qin was about to unify the world. They naturally knew the history of over a hundred years ago well. It seemed His Royal Highness intended for him to lead the Luo Wang to stir up chaos in Qin after King Wu of Qin, Ying Dang, died from lifting the cauldron, thereby creating an opportunity for His Royal Highness to return to the country in a justifiable manner.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Zhao Gao replied.
"Twenty-five Luo Wang members stay to protect His Royal Highness and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and obey General Zhang Han's command. The rest will follow me to infiltrate Xianyang!"
Zhao Gao said to his Luo Wang members.
"Yes!"
All Luo Wang members clasped their fists and replied, then neatly divided into two teams of twenty-five each. Twenty-five of them walked to Zhang Han and stood with the Shadow Secret Guards.
At this moment, both Zhao Gao and Zhang Han's moods were extremely complicated, even the moods of the Luo Wang and Shadow Secret Guard members were extremely mixed. They never thought that the Luo Wang and Shadow Secret Guards, bitter enemies, would one day stand side by side.
"Let's go!"
Zhao Gao shouted in a low voice, then led twenty-five Luo Wang members into the cold, snowy wind, heading west toward Qin.
"Mother, let's go back too. Next, we just need to wait for the situation in Qin to stir before choosing the right time to return to the country!"
Ying Ji took Mi Yue's hand and returned to the dilapidated hut. Mi Yue was still in a daze. Looking at her son giving orders with such poise, strategizing and commanding the overall situation, Mi Yue couldn't help but smile gently.
"Good, my Ji has finally grown up!"
Mi Yue's heart was filled with pride. Mi Shu, Mi Shu—even if Ying Dang inherited the throne, so what? Just look at the turbulent situation in Qin now.
What did Ying Dang have besides brute force that could compare to her Ji? Ying Dang was a man of brute strength; he could lead an army, but how could he be qualified to sit on the throne of Qin?
Watching His Royal Highness and Her Majesty return to the hut, Zhang Han's mood was also complicated, and he couldn't even believe this was real. Yet he still let go of his past and made up his mind to follow His Royal Highness wholeheartedly to build a foundation even grander than that of Emperor Ying Zheng.
"Shadow Secret Guards, Luo Wang members, listen up! Hide in this village, secretly protect His Royal Highness and Her Majesty, and monitor intelligence within a hundred li radius. Ensure full control!"
In fact, accommodating more than a hundred people in this place was not a problem. To guard Ying Ji and his mother, Yan had exiled them to a desolate, uninhabited village, with only four or five men responsible for watching them. The entire village was not small, and with the abilities of the Shadow Secret Guards and Luo Wang members, it was not difficult to hide in this uninhabited village without being detected by these four or five men!
In the hut, Ying Ji looked out the window at Zhang Han giving orders calmly and steadily. It was obvious that besides being the leader of the Shadow Secret Guards, Zhang Han also had the demeanor of a great general—a rare military talent.
This was undoubtedly true. In the historical plane, after Emperor Ying Zheng's death, Zhang Han was the pillar of the late Qin Dynasty. He was also ranked among the famous generals in Chinese history. When the whole world raised the standard of rebellion and the vassal states were restored, he led 200,000 convicts conscripted from Lishan to block Xiang Yu's westward advance. Together with General Wang Li, he defeated the Chu army many times and killed Xiang Liang, the Uncle of Xiang Yu and Lord Wuxin.
If Zhao Gao had not cut off his food and supplies later, how could the 200,000 convict army have been defeated and surrendered in the Battle of Julu? Otherwise, there might not have been a struggle between Chu and Han at that time.
With Zhang Han's great military talent and 200,000 convict soldiers, he could have firmly defended Hangu Pass, blocked Xiang Yu's army from advancing westward, and the entire Great Qin Empire would not have perished.
Moreover, even if they lost the terrain of the Central Plains, with the world's most powerful pass, the 800-li Guanzhong land, and millions of old Qin people, they could have formed a tripartite balance of power in the world. In the future, it would not be impossible to rise again and counterattack the Central Plains!
"General Zhang Han is truly a military genius!"
Ying Ji sighed and said.
"Yes, Ji. It is really not easy for you to cultivate such loyal subordinates. Moreover, these subordinates are currently the capital for you and me to settle down. Never treat them badly. When we return to Qin in the future, we must reuse General Zhang Han and Zhao Gao!"
Mi Yue also agreed, which made Ying Ji glance sideways in surprise. Although he could also think of this, it was because he was actually a time traveler. But his mother's vision was actually so far-sighted.
However, Ying Ji soon realized that his mother was the Empress Dowager Xuan, who pioneered women's involvement in politics in Chinese history and held the power of the court for more than forty years. It was only natural.
Her scheming, her methods, her vision—even Ying Ji couldn't help but admire them. But he had no worries at all, because he knew that his mother would never have any thoughts of harming him. Moreover, his position in his mother's heart was probably much higher than that of his nominal father, King Huiwen of Qin!
In fact, it was exactly as Ying Ji thought—he was unique in Mi Yue's heart, and his position in her heart was even more important than her own.
This could be seen from Mi Yue's actions: she seized state power for her child, had an affair with Lord Yiqu, borrowed the military strength of the Yiqu Kingdom to assist her son, and finally killed Lord Yiqu and even destroyed the Yiqu Kingdom!
"Yes, Mother, I understand!"
Ying Ji nodded and said.
...
The snow was falling heavily. In this cold winter with howling north winds, several staggering figures supported each other and walked toward the village. These were the men Yan had sent to guard Mi Yue and her son, but their quality was really questionable.
"Boss Zhang, we had a great time this time! We played in the county for a few days, and those girls in the county were so enthusiastic—all of them were beautiful and delicate."
"That's right, Boss Zhang. Who would have thought that the hostage sent by Qin is actually quite rich, letting us brothers spend days drinking and carousing outside. But I'm afraid these days won't come again. I really miss those girls in the county!"
"Yeah, yeah, Boss Zhang. I wish we could live like this forever!"
Everyone chattered to their leader, Zhang Hu. They were all local hooligans. Yan had sent them to guard Mi Yue and her son for two reasons: they were close by, and they wanted to humiliate this former crown prince of Qin.
"Hmph, what are you afraid of? Even if we don't have money to go to those girls in the future, isn't there one here?"
Zhang Hu snorted and said.
"What, Boss Zhang? Are there any women here? You must have made a mistake, Boss Zhang!"
"Hmph, who said there aren't? Isn't the mother of that Qin hostage a great beauty? As beautiful as a fairy, and she's a king's woman. Brothers, tell me—how many lifetimes of blessings would it take for you to enjoy such a woman? But now she's right in front of us, completely powerless to resist, at our mercy. Don't you brothers feel tempted?"
Zhang Hu said with a sinister smile. Hearing Zhang Hu's words, the several hooligans were all moved. Yes, they would never be able to enjoy such a beautiful and noble woman under normal circumstances. But now she was right in front of them—if they could have her, it would be worth dying for!
"Alright, brothers, I think you've all made up your minds. Let's do it right away. Go back and sleep with this Queen of Qin. What harm can her sickly son do? He can't even stir up a storm."
Thus, led by Zhang Hu, the several hooligans, overcome with lust, planned to violate Ying Ji's mother, Mi Yue. Little did they know that a pair of cold eyes were watching them from the big tree beside them—from this moment on, they were walking into the abyss, never to return!
"Report to the Commander! The several men sent by Yan to guard His Royal Highness and Her Majesty have returned. What should we do with them?"
The door opened, and a figure of a Shadow Secret Guard flashed in and said to Zhang Han.
"Oh, do you know what their purpose was for this trip?"
Zhang Han asked without even opening his eyes.
"This... this... Your Commander, your servant dares not say!"
The Shadow Secret Guard said with some fear. It was not that he was afraid of Zhang Han—on weekdays, the Shadow Secret Guard members and their commander were like brothers. It was because this incident was really too serious.
"When did the Shadow Secret Guards become so cowardly? What would the Luo Wang think of us? Speak! I forgive you for your offense!"
"Yes, Commander. Those men said... they want to insult Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
"What? Bastards! How dare they insult Her Majesty! A minister dies when his lord is humiliated—where does this leave me, Zhang Han?"