Chapter 370: You are not birdmen, only the grandfather is a birdman
In the four-horse carriage, the First Emperor chatted with Ying Chengjiao for a while, and suddenly asked:
"You don't look well. What did your mother say to you?"
Ying Chengjiao touched his face.
"Really? It's the same old story. Don't rebel. If I dare to harm you, I will never let me go."
"Mother has always been like this, don't take it to heart."
"Haha, I know. I'm used to it."
The carriage was airtight and it was pitch dark when the curtains were lowered.
The candles burned quietly, but the light was not enough to fill every inch of the space. As the car bumped, the candlelight flickered, and the faces of the two people also flickered, making it difficult to see clearly.
Whenever the First Emperor went on a public trip, he would always prepare five four-horse carriages.
On the way back to Xianyang from Yongdi, the convoy was once again attacked. The assassin had no chance to get close to the four-horse carriage and died on the way.
Arrived in Xianyang and entered the Xianyang Palace.
When the curtains were lifted, the warm and non-glaring sunlight illuminated the interior of the carriage, making every detail visible. The eyes of the black bird on the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's crown were visible, sparkling and shining.
Ying Chengjiao took a deep breath of fresh air, raised the car curtain, turned his head and smiled:
"I won't ride in the same car with you next time. It's bad luck that I get assassinated every time I ride with you."
The First Emperor smiled slightly.
"How do you know that they are targeting me and not you? After the wax festival, you have been assassinated three or four times more than I have been."
Ying Chengjiao got off the carriage, and the First Emperor followed.
"Then I'd better go with you . Your guards are much safer than mine. It's safer to be with you."
"It is better to rely on yourself than on others. Once you sit on the throne, these guards will be at your disposal."
Ying Chengjiao didn't take it seriously, and the First Emperor smiled and changed the subject.
"Are those two little guys, Yin Man and Hu Hai, making any noise?"
Ying Chengjiao said with a vigilant look:
"What? You don't want to place a prince or princess in my house, do you?"
"That's exactly what I meant."
"No need to talk! They are your sons and daughters, not mine. You can give birth to them and raise them. You are so happy now, and you want me to raise your children. Brother Emperor, please have some shame!"
"Today you raise my children, tomorrow I will raise your children. When you have children in the future, you can send them to the Xianyang Palace and I will raise them for you."
[Offspring...]
Zhao Ji’s cold words echoed in Ying Chengjiao’s mind again.
"I once found a novel in the land of Baiyue, which was left behind by a student of a novelist a hundred years ago. The book records that the Yellow Emperor was reincarnated as Gou Jian, who took the blood of three thousand virgin Yue women to achieve divine power, and pacified the Wu Kingdom alone with a sword.
"The saying that the heir of "The Sword of Yue Girl" can help the heir of "The Yellow Emperor" to achieve great success must have come from this novel. You have written a large number of novels. You are to novelists what Confucius is to Confucianism and Laozi is to Taoism. You should be very clear that novels are mostly imaginary."
Ying Chengjiao rolled his eyes and curled his lips.
"Who wants you to raise them? I heard from Xiao Shiba that you didn't believe him when he said he had a headache and thought he was just kidding. With your way of raising children, I'm afraid you're going to kill my children."
The First Emperor held his forehead and explained:
"That bastard was not able to explain himself clearly and even lied. I can tell the hearts of the courtiers, but I cannot tell the heart of that bastard."
Ying Chengjiao chuckled.
"Just make excuses.
"How have you considered the matter of the doctors? And when will slavery be abolished? I have called all the disciples of Guiguzi to Xianyang for you, so there won't be any disasters outside. You are the best at winning the hearts and minds of these profit-seeking diplomats. If the nobles in Guanzhong still can't see the situation clearly, get them all out!"
The First Emperor said casually:
"The tour is imminent, we will discuss these matters after I return."
"What's there to wait for? This is not a big deal. Compared with your county system, the same writing system, the same wheels, the same rules, and the same customs, these are nothing!"
"I don't want Fang'er to be so tired, why don't you be the regent and do whatever you want."
"If I become regent, wouldn't that change the nature of the situation ? If I propose a policy in court and you agree with it, would it have the same effect as if you proposed a policy and asked for its implementation? The king represents the Qin State, and cannot let the civil and military officials hate the Qin State itself, do you understand?"
"I don't understand, and I don't want to understand. You are just a coward."
"Ying Zheng! Do you want to fight? My sister-in-law has lost Li Long. If you push me too far, I will beat you up!"
Zhang Han, who was waiting beside the First Emperor and never left his side, listened to the two brothers' conversations without any distinction of respect. He felt calm and a little happy.
[When Chang'an Jun is here, Your Majesty is always much happier. ]
Zhao Gao died.
This information quickly spread to the ears of all the upper-class people in Xianyang, making the whole of Xianyang suddenly much clearer.
They didn't know why Zhao Gao died, they only knew that Zhao Gao was the First Emperor's confidant.
The First Emperor did not make any comment on Zhao Gao's death.
If no one was seen during the La Festival, and if the Minister of Chariots had not become the Minister of Chariots again among the Nine Ministers, they would not have known that Zhao Gao was dead.
This attitude made many people in Xianyang begin to feel a sense of crisis. No one knew how deep the vortex was behind the First Emperor's behavior and how many people were hiding behind it.
The unknown is scary. They are afraid that they are at the center of the vortex without knowing it.
Someone has summarized the recent events in Xianyang:
The Queen Mother of Zhao voluntarily left Xianyang and lived in Yong.
The Chang'an royal family exterminated Meng Xibai, who was demoted to the highest civil and military positions in the Qin State, namely, Prime Minister and State Commandant, and was thrown into prison in Xianyang.
After the new Prime Minister Jiang Shang and the Imperial Guard Lian Po came to power, they discovered that the two of them were originally retainers of the Lord of Chang'an.
Xunzi's disciples, who were very successful in the Qin Dynasty, rose from court officials to minor clerks in the county, while their teacher, the world-famous Xunzi, also often lived in the Chang'an Junfu.
During the La Festival, Chang'an Jun was pardoned and released from Xianyang Prison.
During the La Festival hunting season, Mi Sui of the Chu clan was called Sui Wangshou.
After the La Festival, news of Zhao Gao's mysterious death spread.
Gai Nie, who was once a retainer of Chang'an Jun and later entered the palace to carry out seal and order matters and was responsible for protecting the First Emperor, has also disappeared.
…
"The Zhao clique has been defeated, the Chu clique has gained strength, and Your Majesty has sided with Lord Chang'an."
After a new year, Wang Wan, the right prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, who seemed to be getting older, talked to himself and issued a warning to the officials headed by him.
"We must not make enemies with Lord Chang'an!"
Unless the First Emperor summoned him secretly and said that he wanted to get rid of Chang'an Jun, Wang Wan would definitely not get involved in this mess.
If it had been thirty years earlier, he would have been in the Xianyang Palace, clearly showing off Chang'an Jun's wolfish ambitions, pointing at the First Emperor's nose and denouncing the boy as not being worthy of a consultant.
But now, he is old, no longer young, no longer has the drive, and he seeks stability.
He called the servants.
"Find a retainer with neat handwriting to write a visiting card. Three days later, Wang Wan will visit Gang Chengjun."
"only."
Wang Wan put the wrinkled back of his hand in front of his eyes, leaned close and squinted to look at it again and again.
"In troubled times, the art of preserving oneself..."
…
"We can't stay here anymore."
In the new building, Gan Luo sat dejectedly in the first seat, glancing longingly at the rosewood beams and pillars, the crystal jade walls, the white pearl curtains, the night-shining pearls in the sky, and the white jade lotus on the ground.
Never before had the heads of all the major families come in such an aggregate. Everyone sat cross-legged in front of the table in silence. The delicious food on the table remained untouched, but the wine jugs on the table were changed again and again.
"We haven't actually lost yet, have we?"
Gan Luoqiang smiled and staggered to his feet, his face flushed and reeking of alcohol.
He walked down from the high seat, swaying from side to side, and walked through the aisle between the seats, speaking and singing in the tone of those actors.
"In the past, Shang Yang was powerful, but his body was torn into pieces by five oxen. Zhang Yi was unrivalled in his eloquence, but King Wu expelled him when he came to power. When Bai Qi was slaughtered, all the states were afraid, but the King of Qin killed himself when the sword came.
"Since the founding of the Qin State, we have never been as prominent as them, with a status and power comparable to that of the king! But we have been laughing until now.
"Don't judge a hero by his success or failure at a certain moment. The length of a moment doesn't mean anything. We are fighting for a lifetime. Let's see who will have the last laugh! Gentlemen, don't lose heart."
After singing and speaking, his people also walked to the door. He, the leader of the aristocratic family, turned his back to the heads of many aristocratic families.
"How did Luo perform this play? Is it worthy of a good performance? After watching Luo's play, you guys should not go to Wushan today, okay?"
Gan Luo straightened his clothes, walked out of the new building with a smile, turned around and looked at the shabby appearance of the new building - the quaint old door could never be closed, and the place where the plaque should have been hung was bare.
"color!"
He praised highly and turned to leave.
There was a noise in the new building.
"How could we, many people, be suppressed by that brat?"
"Oh, you are so afraid of that bastard that you dare not even call a woman today! We are here to have fun with our slaves and concubines, what does that bastard have to do with us? Why did he come to our house?"
"How could Meng Xibai be fine? Have you forgotten? What does Meng Xibai's actions have to do with that brat? Shouldn't the Shangqing be more cautious?"
"How can you lead us if you are so weak? I think it's not the land that needs to be saved, but the people. He has been frightened by that brat."
“…”
Gangcheng Jun Cai Ze also joined the verbal attack and denounced Ying Chengjiao and Gan Luo.
[He really did it, changing the situation with his own strength. King Zhaoxiang of Qin's vision is as vicious as ever. Unfortunately, Chang'an Jun's ambition is not to govern the country, but to pursue these false virtues. ]
[No matter how cruel these people are to their slaves and concubines, how much harm can they do to the Qin State? Guanzi built towers to vent these people's energy on women, replacing lust with lust for power. Why can't you understand? ]
During this gathering in the new building, the six-foot-wide agarwood bed was not used, and no one used the green jade scented pillow because there were no women.
…
Meng Ao's illness has recovered, but his body has become much weaker after this serious illness. He can no longer return to the state he was in before he fell ill, chasing and chopping Changsun Mengtian with a sword.
This is the case with the elderly. Their body functions are not as good as those of young people. After a serious illness, they recover and are just like normal.
Every illness brings them one step closer to death. A minor illness brings them one small step closer, while a major illness brings them one big step closer.
"I regret that I shouldn't have listened to my grandfather and mother."
Meng Yi, with a resolute face, stayed beside the old man, holding the old man's hand, and said with a little regret.
When Meng Ao and his mother wanted to take action against Ying Chengjiao, he stopped them forcefully.
As a member of the La Festival hunting team, Meng Yi knew better than most that there had never been any grudge between the First Emperor and Chang'an Jun, and he was just overthinking it.
"What's done is done. There's nothing to regret."
Meng Ao sat up with great effort and touched his grandson's head. A loving smile appeared on his usually iron-blooded and tough face.
"Grandfather is old, you and your brother have to support the Meng family. Grandfather is a nobody, he has never been to school and can't read, but his eyes are still good.
"Seeing that both were shot with arrows, one died from an arrow in the chest, and the other survived from an arrow in the arm, I knew that I should be careful. If I can't afford a bronze mirror, I can use a broken sword. Seeing Wu Anjun commit suicide out of grief and anger, I knew that I should not disobey the king's orders, even if they are wrong. Seeing the Queen Mother Xuan starved to death, and Wei Ran and Fan Ju were forced to death by the king, I knew that I should not get too close to these scholars and threaten the king's power.
"My father never associated with Wang Wan, Feng Quji, Li Si, and Wei Zhuang. Whenever he met them, he would call them birds and drive them away. It's not that my father looked down on scholars. If Wu'an Jun couldn't read and understand the art of war, how could he lead us to victory? Without the advice of these scholars, how could we conquer so much land with my father's bunch of birds? My father is a bird, but not a fool. He is afraid.
"Biao Gong died, Wu'an Jun died, Fan Yuqi committed treason and also died. Except for that birdman Wang Zhi, the generals of my father's generation are gone, and none of them died a good death.
"My father knew that he was not as smart as those scholars, so he simply stopped associating with them. First, he wanted to avoid being tricked into charging by them without knowing it, and second, the king did not like us to get too close to those scholars.
"It's not easy to go from Qi to Qin, and it's even harder to gain a foothold in Qin. What I can do is to watch more and not make the mistakes I see.
"I've beaten and scolded you all these years not because you did anything wrong, but because I haven't seen it. I'm a coward, I don't dare to gamble, don't blame me."
Meng Yi, who thought the old man would scold him, listened to the old man's nagging at a loss, and his eyes became red unconsciously.
"Meng Tian is more like me and your father. You studied military tactics with your brother, but you have always had a scholarly air since childhood. Your father favors your brother, not because he despises you, but because he doesn't know how a scholar should walk.
"Grandfather only knows how a military commander can protect himself and the Meng family. Grandfather knows that you don't like fighting, but there is nothing I can do. Grandfather doesn't understand. When you have a son in the future, if he doesn't want to follow the military, you should know how to teach him.
"You have all grown up. None of you are birdmen. Only your grandfather is a birdman. Your brother has made a great name for himself in the Xiongnu land and is known as the first warrior of the Qin State. Your grandfather is very happy.
"But in fact, my grandfather is more worried about whether this kid is injured. Killing more than 20,000 Xiongnu, what a big battle it must have been. Send a letter to your brother and your father, asking them to return to Xianyang. Go to Chang'an Jun's mansion and ask Chang'an Jun for a carrier pigeon, which is faster.
"Father is tired, take a nap."
