It snowed all night yesterday, and when I woke up this morning, the whole Xianyang was a world of snow.
This was the first snow in Xianyang this year, and also the first snow Chen Xuan had seen since he came to this world.
The sun trembled as it climbed out from behind the mountain, and the air was filled with chill. It was in this weather that Ying Zheng was rescued by Ying Zichu, and they boarded a carriage together, taking an excited Chen Xuan with them to the Qin State's generals' platform.
Chen Xuan had never seen an ancient military formation. Although there were a lot of mercenaries at the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang in later generations, he had never seen them. Besides, they were inanimate objects, so how could they be compared with the real thing?
The carriage was still moving slowly, and Ying Zheng was still looking at the scenery of Xianyang. After all, he entered the palace while sleeping, and he had been kept in the palace since he came back. This was probably his first time out of the palace.
Because the Hu Ben soldiers led the way, Ying Zheng did not see the so-called common people, and Chen Xuan did not see the so-called common people. They only saw a bunch of dilapidated houses scattered around, and they were becoming increasingly scarce.
Chen Xuan looked at this seemingly desolate land and felt a little uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because he regarded this place as his own territory and these people as his own people.
The person who drove Ying Zheng was Meng Que. He had followed Ying Zichu into Handan. Although he held a military position, he was ultimately just a guard and there were no extra troops for him to lead. Therefore, after he came back, he stayed with Ying Zichu.
Today, because Wang He and Meng Ao were personally driving the car for Ying Zichu, Meng Que was sent here to guard Ying Zheng.
Chen Xuan actually liked this guy. After all, if it weren't for him, Ying Zheng might have died on the way back to Qin in history.
Ying Zheng also had some good feelings towards Meng Que. After all, he was the one who had fought to protect the people he had killed, and he was also the cousin of Meng Tian and Meng Yi, which always made Ying Zheng feel close to him.
It has been a while since the envoys returned home. If it were not for the winter when food and fodder were difficult to transport, I am afraid that these Tiger Guards would have rushed out and headed straight for Zhou and Han.
Even though spring is still a long way off, these Tiger Soldiers are still full of enthusiasm, as if they can win just by fighting.
For them, only fighting could get them ahead. Studying? Studying was the business of the six states in Shandong. The old Qin people just needed to be able to fight. As long as they could fight, those who had studied would come running over.
If you don't believe me, just look at the prime ministers since Qin Xiaogong. How many of them are from the old Qin? On the other hand, the position of Great Liangzao has always been held by old Qin people, and now that position is still vacant, I'm afraid that no one will be able to win the support of the people unless they have achieved half the achievements of the previous Great Liangzao.
The previous Great Liangzao was named Bai Qi, who had been a meddlesome Tiger Guard like their ancestors. But Bai Qi became the Great Liangzao, the Marquis of Wu'an, while their fathers became a pile of bones scattered across the borders of Qin.
They have the confidence to become the Great Liangzao Bai Qi, and also the perseverance to accept the fate of their fathers and become the bones of those who defended the borders and expanded the territory.
Even before Chen Xuan got close, he sensed a chilling, menacing aura. Leaning his head slightly, he saw the Tiger Guards ahead, laughing and playing. Even on a break, they wouldn't wander outside their camp.
Ying Zichu did not let Meng Ao inform everyone when he came today, and Wang He did not say anything to warn this group of Hu Ben. After all, sometimes only the most truthful information can make this suspicious king give up his idea.
Ying Zichu looked at the group of old Qin people who had gathered together, and he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with the fight just now.
Chen Xuan lay on Ying Zheng's head, looking at these old Qin people. He finally understood why Qin was able to unify the country. Although he knew that the benefits of serving in the army had been exceptionally good since Shang Yang's reforms, he had never imagined that they would be so good that so many people would risk their lives for them. Perhaps this was the Chinese tradition.
"Zheng boy, see this? This is the sword that will unify you in the future!" Chen Xuan watched the murderous aura above the army slowly condense, and finally took the shape of a tiger, roaring at him.
Because there were people all around, Ying Zheng couldn't respond and could only look at the group of tiger guards. He seemed to have made some decision in his heart.
Zhao Qiong stood uneasily in the court, having returned late because of his injury. The Yan envoy had to pass through Zhao, so the people in Handan had long known about his folly and the news that Qin was going to raise 300,000 troops to attack Zhao.
"You brat! Why did I send a brat like you?!" King Xiaocheng of Zhao was going crazy. Lian Po had already invaded the State of Yan, and the capital of Yan, Ji, was completely surrounded.
He still remembered the Yan envoy's face at the time. The capital was clearly under siege, and the King of Yan might be a "guest" in Handan any day. Even so, because of that scoundrel Zhao Qiong, the Yan envoy suddenly became powerful, and he couldn't do anything about it. He had to persuade them with kind words and promise them many things before the war between Zhao and Yan could be temporarily suspended.
Zhao Qiong stood there trembling, not daring to say a word in rebuttal, for fear that King Xiaocheng of Zhao would accidentally drag him down and chop him off.
The ministers were silent. Ever since Lin Xiangru's death, with Lian Po and Le Cheng away at war in Yan, the court had become increasingly powerless to control the king. No one dared even offer a word of advice, let alone control.
King Xiaocheng of Zhao seemed undeterred. He pointed at the courtiers below and shouted, "Aren't you going to say something? What's the point of raising you? Are you here to cause trouble?"
In an instant, everyone in the court knelt down and pleaded guilty, saying, "Your Majesty, I beg you to die."
"A thousand deaths? I've used every torture method the Shang and Zhou dynasties could use, and it still wouldn't be enough to make amends!" King Xiaocheng of Zhao seemed to have found an outlet for his anger. "When Han surrendered the city, only Zhao Bao advised me, and you all flattered him. And then what?! And then what?! How many of the 400,000 Zhao soldiers survived?! Ah! Speak up!"
"I beg you to die." More than ten years had passed since the Battle of Changping, and there were few figures from that time in the court. But even so, since King Xiaocheng of Zhao had started cursing, they had to continue.
After all, they are not people like Lin Xiangru and Zhao Bao, who only care about their own wealth and interests. As for the rest, what does it have to do with me?
King Xiaocheng of Zhao raged on for nearly half an hour, his strength finally running out. He slowly slumped down on his throne and angrily ordered, "Send my order. Order Lord Xinping and Lord Wuxiang to lead their troops to the Qin border immediately. Make sure to stop the Qin troops at Changping!"
"Yes!" The servant responded hurriedly, fearing that if he responded too late, he would be scolded for another half hour.
"I am exhausted. You all should get out now." King Xiaocheng of Zhao closed his eyes. "As for Zhao Qiong, I will throw him into the Heavenly Prison. Let's see whether we win or lose this war. If you win, go back home and never let me see you again. If you lose, don't come out again."
The court officials responded and gradually left. Zhao Qiong had just kowtowed a few times when he was dragged out and thrown into jail.
In the vast palace, only King Xiaocheng of Zhao sat alone on the throne, unmoved for a long time. His aged body, like rotten wood, slowly weathered and dissipated, finally disappearing into the long river of history.
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