When the northern part of the Hetao region fell, Meng Tian almost stumbled and fell to the ground.
Back then, he and Lu Li worked together to subdue the Xiongnu in the Hetao region, and it took them a lot of effort to drive them out. Now, how come they have been taken back so quickly?
"What on earth is going on! Why do the Xiongnu soldiers have so many siege weapons?"
"Reinforce the troops! Send 50,000 more troops to the southern part of the Ordos region. We cannot allow the Xiongnu to advance any further!"
He was unwilling! This was their homeland, which they had fought for with their blood, sweat, and lives. Now they were going to hand it over to the Xiongnu?
He is a general of the Great Qin Dynasty; he cannot be such a coward!
However, news of Meng Tian losing the northern part of the Hetao region still reached Xianyang.
Fusu was furious when he found out!
"What a Meng Tian! What a Meng family army! Is this the Great Wall they guard?"
Shusun Tong quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This is rather strange. The Xiongnu army only numbered 100,000, while the Meng family army had 300,000. How could they not hold out?"
He remained silent about the fact that the Xiongnu army possessed a large number of siege weapons, and instead placed all the blame on Meng Tian.
"You mean... Meng Tian colluded with the enemy? Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Although Fusu was furious with Meng Tian, he would never believe that Meng Tian was colluding with the enemy.
Back then, he decisively defeated the Xiongnu army, and even the Xiongnu Chanyu died at Lu Li's hands. How could the Xiongnu possibly let Meng Tian go?
"But this is strange. Meng Tian had 300,000 Meng family soldiers, yet he couldn't stop 100,000 Xiongnu soldiers?"
Fusu fell silent. Indeed, it was somewhat unreasonable. The Xiongnu soldiers were best at cavalry charges, not at sieges.
The Meng family army has 300,000 men, yet they still lost the northern part of the Hetao region. It seems that Meng Tian is really getting old and has been living a life of ease for too long!
"What should we do next? If the problem of the Xiongnu is not resolved, it may spread to the interior."
"I believe that Meng Tian should be dismissed and replaced with someone else!"
Fusu's expression immediately changed. Replace Meng Tian? Replace him with whom?
Now, the Qin Dynasty has no capable generals left, and Zhang Han is still attacking the rebels.
Shusun Tong sneered and said, "Your Majesty, send Zhao Gao!"
Fusu was immediately taken aback. Zhao Gao? He has experience in commanding troops?
"My dear Uncle, such a joke is not to be taken lightly!"
Shusun Tong continued, "Your Majesty, Zhao Gao is a strategist. Sending him to resist the Xiongnu will also weaken his power in the court. It's a win-win situation!"
Once Zhao Gao leaves Xianyang, the Black Ice Guard in Xianyang will become nothing more than a decoration.
Fusu's eyes lit up instantly. That's right! If Zhao Gao wins, he will replace Meng Tian in guarding the Great Wall. If Zhao Gao loses, he can directly order Zhao Gao's execution and disband the Black Ice Guard!
When Zhang Han finishes dealing with this rebel army, he can then be sent to guard the Great Wall. This would truly be killing three birds with one stone!
"Alright! We'll do as you say, Uncle!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Shusun Tong immediately knelt down and kowtowed in praise.
"Zhao Gao, don't blame me for being ruthless. You brought this upon yourself! Summon Zhao Gao here!"
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a guard rushed into the study and reported, "Your Majesty, Zhao Gao requests an audience!"
"Summon them!" Fusu waved his hand.
Zhao Gao strode in, bowed, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"
Get up.
"Do you know that the Xiongnu attacked the Hetao region and have already lost the northern part of it?" Fusu asked bluntly.
Zhao Gao was startled upon hearing this, for he had never heard anyone mention this before!
"Your Majesty, I was unaware of this."
"Zhao Gao, Zhao Gao, how could you not know about such an important matter? What exactly is your Black Ice Guard for?" Fusu roared in fury.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty truly did not know. These past few days I have been keeping a close eye on news of the rebels, so I have not been paying attention to the situation in the Hetao region."
Zhao Gao also felt wronged. He really didn't know that he had been tracking the rebels' whereabouts for the past few days. How could he have imagined that the northern part of the Hetao region had fallen?
"Hmph! If it weren't for the current internal and external troubles, I would definitely punish you for dereliction of duty!"
"However, Meng Tian lost the northern part of the Hetao region, and I doubt whether he is still capable of guarding the Great Wall. I intend to send you to replace Meng Tian. What do you think?" Fusu asked calmly.
Zhao Gao was startled upon hearing this.
He never expected that Fusu would send him to Hetao to replace Meng Tian.
This...this is absolutely absurd!
Since returning to Qin, he has stayed by Ying Zheng's side and never left. He has never commanded an army.
If we go to the Hetao region, how could we possibly be a match for the Xiongnu?
Thinking of this, Zhao Gao immediately said tactfully, "I am incompetent and afraid I am not fit for the task. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider!"
This is no small matter. If the Hetao region cannot be defended, he will not only lose his head, but the Qin Dynasty will also pay the price.
"Zhao Gao, do you not trust my judgment? Or do you not trust yourself?" Fusu sneered.
Zhao Gao immediately knelt down and kowtowed, shaking his head repeatedly, saying, "Your subject dares not."
"Since that's the case, then you may go," Fusu said coldly.
Zhao Gao sighed helplessly, kowtowed to express his gratitude, and turned to leave the study.
Watching Zhao Gao's departing figure, Fusu smiled slightly.
"Zhao Gao, oh Zhao Gao, I will show you who the true ruler is!"
After leaving the palace, Zhao Gao did not rush on his journey. Instead, he went to the Prime Minister's residence to visit Li Si.
When Fusu's order was relayed to Prime Minister Li Si, Li Si was immediately taken aback.
"His Majesty actually wants you to replace General Meng? Has he gone mad?" Li Si exclaimed in surprise.
Meng Tian's achievements are undeniable; if he were to leave the Great Wall, the Qin army would inevitably be in grave danger.
"Your Majesty wants me dead!" Zhao Gao said with a bitter smile.
Although he was not as talented as Li Si or Lu Li, he was not stupid. How could he not understand what Fusu was saying?
But he had no choice, because he had promised Lu Li that he would never do anything to harm the Great Qin.
He was also loyal to the Qin Dynasty and to Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng.
"Prime Minister, I have come here today only to tell you that you should be careful of the Confucianists in the court in the future."
After saying this, Zhao Gao turned and left. Not long after returning to the Grand Commandant's residence, he received an imperial edict from Fusu.
He shook his head helplessly and set off, but before going to the Great Wall, he returned to Yunmeng Mountain first.
Lu Fusheng has regained consciousness. She has dissipated all her cultivation, and although she has extended her life, her body is still extremely weak.
After Zhao Gao saw Lu Fusheng, he told her the whole story.
Upon hearing this, Lu Fusheng immediately frowned and said, "So, you were tricked by Fusu?"
"I suppose so," Zhao Gao nodded and sighed.
Lu Fusheng pondered for a moment, then asked, "So what do you plan to do?"
"Of course I went to the Great Wall. I promised my master I would be loyal to the Qin Dynasty, and now that the Qin Dynasty is in trouble, it is my duty to serve."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
