Chapter 26 Liu Ji's Journey: At this time, he was being eyed by Ying Zheng and envied by Zhao Gao...

At this moment, Meng Yi, whom Ying Zheng had his eye on and Zhao Gao was jealous of, had just left Pengcheng with a group of personal guards.

He rode ahead on horseback, still pondering the words the First Emperor had spoken to him.

[Meng Yi, I order you to immediately travel to the southwest to search for extraordinary and mysterious traces, whether of people, objects, or rare treasures. Anything beyond the realm of ordinary understanding must be thoroughly investigated and recorded, and reported back to me immediately. Especially... the Black Bird.]

The First Emperor rarely issued orders in such a serious tone. Meng Yi was familiar with the First Emperor's personality and deeply felt the importance and urgency of the task. He also understood that this was probably no ordinary task.

Most of the southwest originally belonged to the Chu state. Although it had been conquered and governed for four years, the more remote the area, the weaker the Qin's control. The Ba and Shu regions had long belonged to the Qin, but the Dian and Yelang regions further southwest remained uncivilized. Moreover, if he were to penetrate deeper into the southwest, the miasma, the barbarians, the nobility still attached to Chu, and the complex terrain would all be difficulties he needed to overcome.

Moreover, the so-called "miracle" is ethereal and elusive, so one can imagine how arduous this task will be.

The black bird at the end of the sentence also caught Meng Yi's attention. He couldn't help but recall when the First Emperor summoned the Grand Historian, the Doctor, and the Alchemist to interpret his dream in Langya. At that time, the First Emperor had also asked him, and his answer was that it was an auspicious omen.

Birds appearing in a dream is an auspicious sign. Who knows, a distinguished guest might be waiting for you in some distant land.

These days, the First Emperor has been diligent in his duties and has not mentioned the Black Bird once. He thought the matter of the Black Bird was over, but now that the First Emperor has spoken of it, it seems he has dreamt of something again. Perhaps His Majesty has received some kind of summons, or perhaps he has received news from somewhere that there are indeed miraculous things in the southwest.

Meng Yi could not fully understand the First Emperor's profound meaning, but he would not question the monarch's decision; he would wholeheartedly carry out the monarch's orders.

In just half a day, he had assembled a team to go to the southwest. The team included elite soldiers who had fought in the Chu battlefield, scribes to record their experiences, and guides familiar with the terrain of the southwest. However, due to the urgency of the situation, Meng Yi had not yet found a suitable person for the most important task: an interpreter who was fluent in the southwestern dialect and customs.

As he rode his horse along the highway, Meng Yi sketched out the route in his mind.

First, travel along the imperial road to Xiapi, then board an official boat from Xiapi to Shouchun. After arriving in Shouchun, head southwest, and that's when the mission given by the First Emperor will officially begin.

Some figures appeared faintly under the pine trees beside the T-shaped road ahead. Before Meng Yi could give any orders, his personal guards rode forward to investigate.

It is important to note that during the Qin Dynasty, there was a dedicated lane, three zhang wide, in the middle of the main road. This lane, called the Imperial Road, was reserved for the emperor's use only, and no one else was allowed to travel on it. Although Meng Yi had an edict from the First Emperor, out of respect for the emperor, he always traveled on the side road.

Anyone who dares to trespass on the imperial road or cross it will be exiled.

The guard returned quickly and said, "Minister Meng, those people were the laborers who helped retrieve the Nine Tripods in Pengcheng. One of them is the official in charge, named Liu Ji."

"Liu Ji?"

"Yes, Liu Ji is now the assistant clerk of Pei County." The guard was the same soldier who had captured the remaining rebels who attempted sabotage with Liu Ji on the day he retrieved the tripod. Liu Ji was very good at seizing opportunities, and as soon as the guard showed his appreciation for him and wanted to recommend him for merit, he immediately used his silver tongue to get closer to the guard.

He was good at making friends, and with just a few words, he extracted information about the guard. Seeing that he was a promising soldier, he spoke highly of him. Before long, the two developed a fairly good relationship.

"Minister Meng, Liu Ji traveled extensively in his youth and knows this place very well." The guard hesitated for a moment before speaking. He told Meng Yi his impression of Liu Ji: "I believe that Liu Ji, who rose from humble beginnings, is knowledgeable in various arts and sciences. Perhaps he is worth employing. I request your decision, Minister Meng."

Meng Yi raised an eyebrow, deep in thought. Their group had obvious shortcomings; because of their privileged background, they were somewhat out of touch with common people and didn't know how to navigate social interactions.

"Let him come up."

Soon, the guards brought Liu Ji back.

What Liu Ji noticed first was the leader's expression and demeanor. Having mingled among the common people, he knew very well who he could and could not offend.

The man before me had a resolute face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He wore a dark black robe and carried a jade-hilted sword. His demeanor exuded the composure of someone who had long held a high position, along with a hint of barely perceptible anxiety. Although young, his presence was undeniable.

He bowed deeply, his posture respectful yet not servile. He told himself that another opportunity had arrived. Hadn't he been making friends everywhere precisely for this moment? Although he didn't know the other person's identity, he clearly possessed more imposing presence than the county magistrate or prefect. He must be a scion of a prominent family, cultivated from childhood.

"Liu Ji, a junior clerk and assistant clerk of Pei County, pays his respects to Your Excellency!"

During the Qin Dynasty, officials were not addressed as "Daren" (大人). "Daren" primarily referred to people of high moral character or prominent status, or was used by children as a respectful term for their parents. It was only after the Han and Tang Dynasties that the title "Daren" gradually came into use in official circles.

During the Qin Dynasty, when addressing officials, lower-ranking officials would use the surname followed by a shortened version of the official's title to address a known superior. For example, Meng Yi's personal guards addressed him as "Meng Shangqing," and if Meng Yi addressed Li Si, he would call him "Li Xiang." Lower-ranking officials would use respectful titles such as "Zuxia" or "Jun" to address an unknown superior. For instance, Liu Ji addressed Meng Yi as "Zuxia."

In addition, the Qin state emphasized military merit and nobility, and titles could also be used as appellations.

Meng Yi's gaze swept over Liu Ji as if it were a physical presence. Liu Ji was tall, with a shrewd and unruly face. He wore the brown cloth robes of a lower-ranking official and looked somewhat disheveled from the dust of his journey.

But his eyes were unusually bright.

"Rise and answer," Meng Yi said in a deep voice. "I wish to travel to the southwest. How can my subordinates assist me?"

Liu Ji was unclear about Meng Yi's purpose in coming, but he knew it was an excellent opportunity. The salary of a village head was sixty shi (a unit of grain measure), while that of a county commandant's assistant was two hundred shi—a difference of more than three times. The county commandant's assistant held a higher rank than the village head and had access to officials at the prefectural level. Having already tasted the sweetness of promotion once, he naturally wanted to climb even higher.

When the State of Chu still existed, the government was controlled by the three major clans of Qu, Jing, and Zhao, and almost all important official positions were held by these three clans, leaving ordinary scholars with no hope of advancement. After the State of Qin replaced Chu, only military merit could lead to promotion for non-nobles. After the unification of the six states, there was almost no war except for the Xiongnu in the north and the barbarians in the south. It was already difficult for Liu Ji's family to get him a position as a village head; any further advancement depended entirely on his own efforts.

Liu Ji anticipated Meng Yi's question, and without haste, he stepped forward, speaking clearly and distinctly: "The journey to the southwest is fraught with peril and long. I was born here and in my youth traveled extensively through the former Wei and Chu states, even traversing the Dang Mountains, so I am intimately familiar with the rural paths and local customs. You are surrounded by valiant soldiers; why should you worry about such trivial matters? I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty."

Meng Yi's gaze lingered on Liu Ji's face for a moment. His face, though flattering, was plastered with a smile, but deep within his eyes lay something undeniable: ambition. The ancient Chu region in the southwest was a complex place, and indeed, as Liu Ji had said, needed a guide familiar with the lives of ordinary people who could minimize their troubles.

Seeing that he remained silent, Liu Ji raised his stakes again: "I am an official who mingles in the marketplace, associating with peddlers, laborers, wandering knights, criminals, sorcerers, and magicians. I know all sorts of people and am familiar with the slang of various regions. The southwest is home to many ethnic groups, each with its own language, and there are many feuds and witchcraft practices. I can relieve you of these troubles."

A light breeze carrying the scent of rain blew along the roadside, causing the green pines to sway.

“What you say does make some sense.” Meng Yi reached out to soothe the slightly agitated horse, stroking his beloved rider’s head. Thinking of how this man had uncovered the conspiracy of the remnants of the Six Kingdoms when he was trying to seize the Nine Cauldrons, he felt a greater sense of trust in him. He slowly said, “The southwestern wilderness is not immune to treacherous schemes, and we certainly need talents like you.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji felt relieved.

"You are permitted to bid farewell to your fellow villagers and give them some instructions. Then set off immediately without delay." Seeing Liu Ji walk towards the resting crowd ahead, Meng Yi turned to his personal guard and said, "Wang Qi, set aside a horse for him."

"Yes," Wang Qi replied.

At first, Liu Ji was able to hold back, but before Fan Kuai could even open his mouth to ask, he couldn't hold back any longer once the two of them locked eyes.

Fan Kuai sat on the ground, holding a gourd and drinking water. His bulging muscles rose and fell with each swallow under his coarse cloth jacket.

Liu Ji nudged Fan Kuai's shin with his toe and called out Fan Kuai's name. His voice was not loud, but it carried a deliberately suppressed excitement.

Fan Kuai wiped his face and said in a muffled voice, "What's wrong? Did those people give you any trouble? If you need anything, just call on your brother!"

Liu Ji clicked his tongue and leaned close. He quickly glanced left and right before lowering his voice and saying, "Those people over there are all high-ranking officials. The one in the lead is dressed in an extraordinary manner, and I've never seen the token on his waist before."

Fan Kuai's eyes widened, and he asked with concern, "What? Did he cause you trouble?" He subconsciously frowned and clenched his fists. It looked as if Liu Ji was about to rush forward at a moment's notice.

"Trouble?" Liu Ji chuckled, unusually excited: "He's taken a liking to me! I told E'xu, I'm going to be rich! You're going to be rich!"

Fan Kuai was surprised, a hint of worry lurking in his eyes: "What did you see in me? Did you see the three strings of cash you owed at Wu Fu's tavern?"

"Go away, go away." Liu Ji chuckled and shoved Fan Kuai's shoulder, but the force was not strong: "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth. You must have taken a liking to my skills. I know all sorts of people, and I'm fluent in all kinds of slang and secret codes."

As he spoke, he even imitated Meng Yi's serious manner of speaking.

Fan Kuai gradually came to believe that Liu Ji had hit the jackpot. He patted Liu Ji on the shoulder and then said excitedly, "Don't worry, go with them. I'll bring the news back. I'll take good care of things at home, so don't worry about your sister-in-law."

Liu Ji grabbed Fan Kuai's hand and held it tightly, saying, "Good brother."

Fan Kuai grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He looked somewhat simple and honest, but unexpectedly, he put Liu Ji at ease.

The wind picked up again.

Beneath the pine tree, Fan Kuai silently watched Liu Ji join the disciplined group, mount his horse, and the hooves clattered. Liu Ji waved to him, and the strong, healthy black horse carried him away into the distance.

Fan Kuai stood there blankly, unable to utter a word.

-

Xiapi.

Liu Ji truly experienced the benefits of power.

Before even entering the city gates, Wang Qi took out the talisman to verify it. It was only at this moment that Liu Ji learned that he had actually allied himself with Meng Yi. Less than a quarter of an hour later, the magistrate of Xiapi County arrived with a group of officials to visit Meng Yi at his lodgings.

The magistrate of Xiapi County wanted to host a banquet to entertain him, but Meng Yi refused, saying that he was bound by imperial orders and could not delay.

Liu Ji watched as the smile on the face of the magistrate of Xiapi County froze for a moment, before he quickly asked Meng Yi in a fawning manner what he needed, promising to satisfy all his desires.

Meng Yi, being of upright character, simply said there was no need for trouble, as it was getting late and he was only stopping in Xiapi to rest and replenish his food and water. After saying this, he frowned and recounted how, on the way from the imperial road, he had discovered that some sections of the road were poorly maintained and ordered the county magistrate to rectify them that morning.

With just a few words, the county magistrate, who was even older than Liu Ji, could barely keep his smile going.

However, because Meng Yi was a close advisor to the First Emperor and held a high position, he had no choice but to continue to smile obsequiously.

Although Meng Yi said he did not want to be extravagant, the food sent by the county magistrate was still exceptionally delicious to Liu Ji.

Liu Ji became increasingly determined to seize the opportunity and take control of power.

Even if we don't speak of someone as absolute as the First Emperor, Meng Yi's position is still quite good.

See, no matter how much Meng Yi tries to save face for the county magistrate, he wouldn't dare to turn his back on him, would he?

A note from the author:

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[Let me see][Let me see][Let me see] Please, please give me some nutrient solution! [Dog head holding a rose][Dog head holding a rose][Dog head holding a rose]