Upon seeing this, the remaining enemies cried out and scattered in panic. The deputy envoy, leading the Black Ice Guard assassins who were lying in ambush nearby, gave chase and captured the leader of the assassins in a short time.
Yang Duanhe held a knife to the man's throat and said calmly, "You are nothing but ants, yet you dare to oppose the Black Ice Guard of my Qin Kingdom? Tell me honestly, who sent you to assassinate me here?"
Although the assassin was seriously wounded, he still cursed viciously: "If Mo Xia doesn't die, one day... you tyrannical Qin lackeys..." Before he could finish speaking, Yang Duanhe turned his wrist slightly, and the blade pressed down, forcing him to break out in a cold sweat.
The deputy envoy said coldly, "Do you know that we have been investigating the Yan region for some time now, on the orders of the Grand Commandant? You remaining Mok Knights are colluding with the rebels, and you are already doomed."
The assassin stared at Yang Duanhe with hatred, as if trying to brand his face into his heart, before suddenly attempting to bite his tongue and commit suicide. Yang Duanhe was prepared and slapped the assassin's jaw open, causing him to faint.
"Take him back first and interrogate him slowly," he ordered coldly. "This man may implicate more accomplices; we can't let him die easily."
That night, the Black Ice Guard imprisoned the assassin and his remaining followers in a secret cell and interrogated them using their unique methods. Sure enough, they discovered that a large number of Mohists and assassins were gathering in a certain place in the northern border of Yan, secretly plotting and waiting for an opportunity to make a move.
"Take the best men from the Black Ice Guard and set off tonight," Yang Duanhe ordered his deputy, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Go all out and wipe them out in one fell swoop."
...........
Amidst the turmoil in the border regions of Qi, Han, Wei, and Yan, the imperial court in Xianyang was far from calm.
Since the order to "purge all schools of thought" was issued, many court officials have harbored resentment, especially those who were once influenced by Confucianism and have doubts about the large-scale purge.
On that day, in the imperial court, a few Confucian scholars and officials took the opportunity to submit a memorial, listing the harms of the "mass killings" and claiming that this move might incite public resentment and shake the foundation of the Qin state.
Ying Zheng remained noncommittal, observing their words with cold indifference.
After the Confucian scholars had finished speaking, he slowly said, "If the old ways are not eliminated, how can the new policies be implemented? Although Confucius and Mencius have their merits, if their disciples secretly form a rebellious party, they will be traitors and rebels. Why should I hesitate to kill them?"
With just one sentence, he refuted the Confucian scholars, leaving them speechless.
After the court session ended, Ying Zheng summoned Efu and Han Fei to the imperial study to discuss the discordant voices in the court.
Ying Zheng scoffed, "It's quite surprising that these people dare to impeach you. They usually fear you like a tiger, which is truly unexpected!"
The wicked man cupped his hands and said, "Although these courtiers' words are harsh, they are not of great harm. The real threat lies in the rebellions plotted in the four border regions and their secret collusion with the old sects. Once the external troubles are completely quelled, no one in the court will dare to continue making noise."
Han Fei then advised, “But we should leave some room for maneuver. After all, the new policies are about to be implemented, and someone will be needed to assist in their execution. If all Confucian scholars are exterminated, the foundation of education will be lost. Why doesn’t Your Majesty wait until the purge is over before establishing the imperial examination system, recruiting both the poor and the talented, and making good use of those who are capable?”
Ying Zheng nodded after listening: "What you said is exactly what I wanted. Axes and knives are old tools and are indispensable; however, we must also retain some orthodox doctrines to assist in governance. Therefore, I have decreed that Mohism, agriculture, medicine, and Legalism can be preserved, and Confucianism is not entirely negated, but we must first eliminate the rebels and then distinguish the loyal and virtuous."
Upon hearing this, Han Fei smiled slightly, thinking to himself that the King and the Grand Commandant's ambitions were no longer to control the various states, but to truly reshape the world's moral order.
This bloody purge is precisely laying the foundation for greater unification.
As a successor of the Legalist school, although he also came from one of the Hundred Schools of Thought, his stance was more inclined towards the schemes of Ying Zheng and his wicked husband.
......
As time went on, military reports frequently came back from Han, Wei, Qi, and Yan.
Chang'an Jun Chengjiao quelled a large-scale rebellion of Confucian scholars near Xinzheng. Feng Jie and Zhang Han annihilated the accomplices of aristocratic families in Qi and appeased some Confucian scholars who had submitted. Yang Duanhe led the Black Ice Guard to break through several hidden Mohist followers in Yan.
It seemed that the world was beginning to see the dawn of peace, but beneath this appearance, some scattered remnants and small factions were still stubbornly lurking.
Some hid in ordinary people's homes, while others fled to the mountains and wilderness; some escaped by sea, while others fled to the border regions. Even with the Black Ice Guard's extensive network of spies, it was difficult to guarantee that they would all be captured.
In Xianyang Palace, the wicked man reported these situations to Ying Zheng and suggested: "We should stabilize the current situation first. As long as the main forces in the four borders are eliminated, even if the small and scattered remnants are rampant, they will not be able to cause great trouble. It is better to concentrate our efforts and slowly eliminate them."
Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly: "That's feasible! The world is not yet settled, and we still have to be distracted everywhere. It would be better to follow your suggestion and slowly eliminate them."
"The imperial examination system you previously recommended has already begun to be revised and can be promulgated at an appropriate time. Once implemented, children from poor families in various regions will be able to enter officialdom, and it will no longer be monopolized by those families."
"In this way, the people's hearts will be appeased, and the world can gradually return to the laws of Qin."
The wicked man understood immediately: "Then I will continue to be stationed in Xianyang, working with Han Fei to coordinate and integrate battle reports from all sides, helping Cheng Jiao, Feng Jie, Zhang Han, and Yang Duanhe consolidate the gains of the campaign. When the time is right, we will announce the imperial examination and completely reverse the situation."
Ying Zheng readily agreed: "That's excellent. As long as you do well, the chaos will end, and the foundation of my Qin Dynasty will be even more secure."
........
The pacification of the Han and Wei territories continues.
In Chengjiao's camp, torches hung high, and the faint smell of blood lingered. He leaned against his desk, flipping through the recently submitted roster, which listed scholars and powerful figures who had been found or were suspected of colluding with traitors and secretly communicating with the remnants of the former regime.
“The powerful and influential people in Han and Wei are all adept at feigning compliance.” Cheng Jiao sneered as he read. “Now that our army is strong, if we slow down further, we may be raising a tiger that will cause trouble later.”
A lieutenant entered the tent and reported: "Thirty miles ahead, there is an old city where a large number of scholars seem to be gathered, secretly communicating with the descendants of the former marquis. I heard that they are using the guise of 'spreading the Way and giving lectures' to gather people and intend to cause trouble."
Cheng Jiao closed the bamboo slips, his eyes sharp: "Let's go! Tonight, we'll lead our troops to wipe them out and let those fools who dare to attempt restoration witness the might of the Qin army."
That night, Lord Chang'an led his elite troops, braving the stars and moon, straight to the old city.
Under the starlight, the city gate tower stood faintly.
When the gatekeepers saw a large army approaching, they hurriedly sounded the alarm, but when Cheng Jiao's banner came close, they realized that the newcomer was none other than Lord Chang'an, Cheng Jiao, and the panic immediately subsided.
"Open the city gates immediately!" The city gates were opened instantly.
At Cheng Jiao's command, soldiers surged into the streets and alleys, killing anyone who resisted on the spot. The so-called "Shilin Guild Hall" in the city was also surrounded in an instant.
"Those who lay down their weapons will be spared death!" he shouted from the front of the guild hall.
A commotion erupted from inside, with some shouting, "Rather than surrender to Qin, we should fight to the death!" Immediately, more than ten scholars charged out wielding weapons, only to fall instantly into pools of blood.
Inside the guild hall, the remaining scrolls and books were scattered all over the floor, with bloodstains reflected on them, making the scene even more tragic.
Cheng Jiao remained silent, only ordering the search for evidence before taking away all the survivors. Seeing that there was no way to escape, the "descendant of the former marquis" committed suicide in despair.
After the battle, Cheng Jiao washed away the blood and grime, and looking at the faint dawn on the horizon, he felt extremely happy.
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