Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

For such a trivial matter as the order of events to cause such a fuss with the Imperial Household Department Chief and even bring it to his doorstep, Ying Shaoyang saw this as a sign of incompetence.

His thoughts involuntarily swept over the other important officials in the court. Xiao He was capable, but his tenure was still short and he needed more experience and refinement; Lü Huiqing, Zhang Dun, and others were capable, but their governing philosophy in the Song Dynasty was too "lenient," which did not quite fit with the efficient centralization and enterprising spirit that the Qin Dynasty needed now.
Li Si excelled in legal practice, but lacked a broader perspective; Zhang Juzheng was a man of many talents, but unfortunately, he had only been in Qin for less than a year, his position was not yet secure, and he could not immediately assume the important role of chief minister...

"Alas, there are still too few pillars of the court that can be relied upon."

Ying Shaoyang sighed softly to himself.

At this moment, he looked at Wang Guan, who was still bowing and waiting for his decision, and slowly spoke, his voice calm but carrying a hint of coldness.

"Lord Wang."

"The old minister is here."

Wang Guan's heart tightened, and he quickly replied.

“Building roads to connect prefectures and counties is certainly important. But do you know, my dear minister, how will the people along the way make a living once the roads are built? Will they rely solely on cultivating a few small plots of land?”

Ying Shaoyang's gaze seemed to pierce through people's hearts.

"I bestowed this divine art to relieve the people's suffering and benefit them, not for you to use it as a perfunctory gesture, merely seeking the name of a 'road'. If the road is open but the people do not prosper, what use is this road? As the chief minister, you should have a longer-term vision and use your mind more thoroughly."

These words, without direct accusation, pointed out the shortcoming of Wang Guan's strategy: focusing only on "access" and neglecting "enriching the people." They also subtly criticized him for not being meticulous enough and for only knowing how to vie for power and show off his abilities.

Wang Guan sensed the dissatisfaction and a hint of "disdain" in Ying Shaoyang's words. His face turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He quickly lowered his head.

"This old minister...this old minister is foolish and ignorant, thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!"

Ying Shaoyang stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to Liu Bang, saying calmly.

"As Liu Aiqing suggested, priority was given to those skilled in 'turning fossils into mud' to build roads leading to major mines and military industrial sites."

The necessary slaves will be coordinated between the Imperial Household Department and the Grand Secretariat, and drawn from non-urgent projects. —Wang Aiqing.

Wang Guan's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed again.

"The old minister is here."

"We must not slacken our efforts in connecting remote prefectures and counties."

How to allocate manpower and balance the interests of all parties is your responsibility as the Grand Secretary. I only care about the results.

"This old minister... obeys the decree!"

Wang Guan's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Go back."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Wang Guan and Liu Bang bowed and left the hall. As they exited the palace gates, Liu Bang glanced at Wang Guan, who seemed dazed and whose back appeared somewhat hunched, shook his head, and quickly left. He still had to arrange the allocation of magical experts and slaves.

Wang Guan stood alone outside the palace gates, gazing at the bustling streets of Xianyang, his heart filled with a chill. His Majesty's seemingly calm words struck him like a heavy hammer.

He knew that his performance today had disappointed His Majesty.

That seemingly secure position of prime minister is probably already on the verge of collapse.

His shadow stretched long in the setting sun, making him appear exceptionally desolate.

……

Meanwhile, in Xuzhou, far away in Sichuan.

The mighty river flows ceaselessly, and dense military camps are stationed on both banks.

The entire 400,000 Qin Imperial Guards were not conducting their daily drills at this moment. Instead, they were sitting cross-legged in designated areas, practicing collective cultivation in their respective battalions.

Centered on this army of 400,000, the energy of heaven and earth within a radius of hundreds of miles around was drawn by the baleful aura of the army formation and the collective cultivation, forming an enormous, visible energy vortex!

Countless spiritual roots and herbs transplanted by Ying Shaoyang to this place are scattered around the military camp. The pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth emanating from them is also integrated into this huge energy vortex, making the proportion of spiritual energy in the vortex higher and purer.

Four hundred thousand burly soldiers, like four hundred thousand sponges, frantically absorbed the purified energy. Above the military camp, powerful auras erupted intermittently, indicating that someone had broken through their current cultivation level!
In just over ten days, dozens of top-tier experts with profound auras and piercing eyes have emerged from these 400,000 Imperial Guards! The number of first-rate experts has increased several times over!
On the riverbank, a general in black armor, exuding a powerful aura, stood with his hand on his sword; it was none other than General Wang Ben.

He gazed at the Qin navy fleet, composed of elite boatmen from the Song Dynasty, anchored on the river, and then at the increasingly terrifying 400,000 Imperial Guards behind him. His face showed little joy, but rather a hint of resentment and dejection.

"Trust... the trust of those in power is of utmost importance..."

Wang Ben muttered to himself, his fists clenching unconsciously.

Wang Ben, born into a military family, believed himself to be lacking nothing in terms of ability, experience, and loyalty. He was positioned as a commander-in-chief, ready to lead from the ground up in Xuzhou.

However, His Majesty promoted Zhang Han, who came later, directly from a minor official in the Imperial Household Department to the commander-in-chief of the army that was conquering the other world, while Wang Ben became the deputy commander!
This was an utter disgrace to the proud and arrogant Wang Ben!
"Zhang Han... Hmph!"

A fierce glint flashed in Wang Ben's eyes.

"It's just because His Majesty trusts them..."

He took a deep breath, suppressing his resentment, and his gaze became even more resolute.

He knew that the strength of these 400,000 Imperial Guards had increased dramatically, and the navy was also in place; they were the main force for receiving and settling the people from the other world.

He himself, and his 400,000-strong army, are the sharp swords in His Majesty's hands!

"This time, I will make His Majesty see that I, Wang Ben, am no less than anyone else!"

He swore secretly in his heart.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to a spot in the middle of the river, the very direction from which the "Heavenly Gate" was about to open. Judging from the known history of the Sui Dynasty, that era was one of great upheaval, teeming with top commanders and generals. If he couldn't seize this opportunity to achieve great military exploits, he feared it would be even harder to rise to prominence in the talent-rich Qin Dynasty!

at this time--

hum!
A strange fluctuation, seemingly originating from the very source of the world, suddenly emanated from the heart of the river!

The once calm river surface began to ripple without wind, and the flow of energy between heaven and earth instantly became chaotic!

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, deep within the river, a colossal stone gate phantom, inscribed with countless profound runes and exuding an ancient and desolate aura, slowly rose from the bottom of the water, as if traversing countless ages, and finally solidified, its enormous gate covering half of the river surface!

The Heavenly Gate has opened!

Wang Ben's pupils contracted sharply, and he instantly cast aside all personal emotions, shouting sternly.

"All troops, listen up! Be on high alert!"

Woo-woo—! Woo-woo—! Woo-woo—!
A desolate and urgent bugle call instantly resounded throughout the entire military camp! The 400,000 Imperial Guards were suddenly awakened like sleeping giants. Everyone quickly ended their cultivation, picked up the weapons around them, and formed a tight military formation. A soaring murderous aura shot straight into the sky!

At the same time, from the direction of the central command tent, came the steady and powerful command of General Zhang Han.

"Vanguard scout battalion, enter Tianmen! Ascertain the terrain, troop distribution, and military deployment on the opposite side! Bring back accurate information within three hours!"

"promise!"

A team of about a hundred elite Imperial Guards, composed of the most skilled and agile warriors, burst out of the army like arrows released from a bow. Without hesitation, they transformed into afterimages and rushed into the massive stone gate that covered half the river, its interior filled with flowing light and shadow, leading to an unknown world!
Meanwhile, on the distant river, the large warships that had been prepared for a long time, carrying civil officials, craftsmen, and some elite naval forces, slowly adjusted their sails and began to move, heading straight towards Shimen!

In wars of annihilation, no means are too cruel. Wang Ben refused to believe that the other world, with its equally brilliant civilization, would allow Qin to enter without resistance. Behind the tranquil Heavenly Gate, the Qin warriors would inevitably face a test of blood and fire! And his opportunity lay within that blood and fire!
Shortly after the vanguard scout battalion rushed into Tianmen, several fast boats flying the Qin flag followed closely behind, shooting out of Tianmen and appearing on the river surface on the Xuzhou side.

At the bow of the ship, a Jinyiwei guard dressed in a flying fish robe held aloft a special black iron token, signaling to Zhang Han and his men who were waiting on the shore. At the same time, another Jinyiwei guard, channeling his inner strength, threw a rolled-up piece of paper precisely in Zhang Han's direction.

Zhang Han snatched the note, quickly unfolded it, and his expression changed drastically after scanning its contents! The information on the note was clearly crucial, and might even overturn some of his previous predictions.

Without any hesitation, he turned around immediately, his voice like the clang of metal, resounding throughout the entire army.

"Order! All troops to launch an assault, according to Plan A-3, enter Tianmen, control the opposite riverbank, and establish a bridgehead! Quickly!"

At the command, the 400,000-strong Qin Imperial Guard, already poised for action, surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, displaying incredible speed! Formations shifted, footsteps thundered, and torrents of black energy surged into the massive, shimmering stone gate with astonishing efficiency, heading towards the world on the other side of the Heavenly Gate!

Meanwhile, on the large ships coming from the opposite side of Tianmen, a group of people with extraordinary bearing and different attire were observing in astonishment the terrifying mobilization capabilities and overwhelming momentum of the Qin Imperial Guards.

One of the middle-aged generals, with a resolute face and calm demeanor, looked at the ordinary Qin soldiers who were rushing away like tigers and wolves. He felt the internal energy fluctuations on their bodies that were no less than his own, as well as the fierce killing intent of those who had survived a hundred battles. He couldn't help but gasp and sigh.

"These...the ordinary soldiers of the Great Qin are all as strong as I am, and they have clearly been through fierce battles! Such a ferocious army, numbering 400,000...our Great Sui has absolutely no chance of winning!"

This person was none other than Li Jing.

Xu Shiji, standing beside him, shook his head with a bitter smile on his face.

"What Brother Medicine says is absolutely right."

The Qin Dynasty has dispatched an army of 400,000 men of such strength… My Sui Dynasty has two choices: either surrender and open the city gates, perhaps preserving our ancestral temples and people; or… be slaughtered and our land shattered.”

He was filled with mixed emotions. Looking at this powerful army, he couldn't help but fantasize that if he could command such an army, where in the world could he not go? What achievements could he not accomplish?
On the other side, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and others dressed as scholars, although also intimidated by the Qin army's appearance, had more of a calm understanding of the situation in their eyes, and even a hint of contempt for "warriors" like Li Jing and Xu Shiji.

Fang Xuanling said in a low voice.

"The Pharmacist and Mao Gong are still calculating the strength of their armies, but little do they know that the Great Qin has already secured victory. Thousands of experts from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been infiltrating our Great Sui for a long time, and Yang Guang has long been serving as an official in the Great Qin... The tide has turned, and the outcome is already decided."

Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng both nodded silently; as top strategists, they saw further ahead. Military confrontation, given Qin's demonstrated strength and prior planning, had become meaningless.

Among the crowd, Changsun Wuji's younger sister, Changsun Wan'er, gazed at the Qin army and the majestic Heavenly Gate with a mixture of admiration and curiosity towards the Qin emperor she had never met.

Li Yuan's daughter, Li Xiuning, had a fluctuating expression as her mind raced, with only one thought remaining.

We must find a way to inform our father and brother as soon as possible, abandon all unrealistic fantasies, and surrender immediately! This is the only way to survive!
However, the focus of the perception of top-notch women in the martial arts world, such as Shang Xiuxun, Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, and Shi Qingxuan, is different.

They clearly felt that the energy of heaven and earth coming from the Heavenly Gate was far more concentrated and active than that of the Great Sui Dynasty!
Shang Xiuxun took a deep breath, her eyes filled with longing.

"This world is rich in energy. If I obtain a cultivation method, I will definitely be able to break through to the Grandmaster realm!"

Shi Feixuan's aura of compassion seemed to have intensified, and she sensed a complex interplay of order and chaos.

Wanwan licked her red lips, her eyes fixed intently on the strange and agile movements of some of the Eastern Depot's guards on the shore, calculating that if she could learn them, her own strength would surely increase greatly.

……

Inside and outside Xuzhou City, the people, who had been feeling somewhat desolate and forlorn because of the closure of the Heavenly Gate, erupted in thunderous cheers when they saw the massive stone gate reappear and countless mighty Qin troops continuously pouring in!
"The Heavenly Gate has opened again!"

"May Heaven bless the Great Qin! Long live the Emperor!"

"Xuzhou is about to get lively again! Quick, stock up on goods, we're sure to get a good price!"

Forward-thinking vendors have already begun to act, knowing that with the movement of the army, logistical support and personnel exchanges will surely make Xuzhou a prosperous place again.

……

On the other side of Tianmen, in the world of the Great Sui Dynasty, near the riverbank.

Several Sui army officers left behind listened with grim faces to the message relayed by the Imperial Guards. The message sank them to their lowest point—the powerful figures and key forces in crucial regions like Shu and Jiangnan had already been either controlled or eliminated by the Imperial Guards!

All that's left is haggling and trying to get better terms for surrender. Resistance? Powerful rebels have already been eliminated by the combined forces of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Further away, guided and organized by numerous Imperial Guards and some surrendered forces, a dense crowd of people, like ants, could be seen converging on the Yangtze River from all directions.

Hundreds of boats of various sizes were moored on the river; these were all requisitioned or surrendered vessels, awaiting the transport of people to Tianmen. (End of Chapter)