Ying Fusu

From the eighth day of the seventh month of autumn (Xinwei day) to the twelfth day of the seventh month of autumn (Yihai day).

In just five days and four nights, Fusu led his troops a thousand miles to Shaqiu.

In contrast, the imperial procession set off from Shaqiu on the tenth day of the seventh month of autumn (癸酉 day), and it took three full days to travel more than a hundred miles.

Since it was a "continued eastern tour," it was impossible to stay overnight at the imperial palace every night.

It had only been eleven years since the First Emperor unified the country, and there weren't enough palaces in the Guandong region for him to live in.

This is precisely the important reason why Zhao Gao made the decision to "continue the eastern tour".

—On the one hand, it's about pretending nothing happened.

The First Emperor was perfectly fine and even had the energy to continue his eastern tour.

On the other hand, as long as the eastern tour continues and the journey resumes, the situation can be controlled more easily.

For example, meals that should be lavish can be simplified.

We're on the road, so we can just grab something to eat.

Since it's just a casual meal, there's no need for much trouble—I, Zhao Gao, will simply deliver it to His Majesty.

For example, the occasional reports from high-ranking officials and ministers could be postponed under some pretext.

What's the rush that you have to say it while we're on the road?

"I" am already exhausted and annoyed by the journey, and you're talking to me about state affairs?

Go away, go away, go find somewhere cool and stay there...

...

Such conveniences allowed Zhao Gao to more easily and confidently cover up the truth.

The premise is: if there were no hotheads named "Meng Yi" in this world.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have advised His Majesty not to bring this official with him when we left Xianyang!"

About a hundred miles northeast of the sand dunes.

Outside a maple forest ablaze with crimson hues.

Zhao Gao stood with his hands behind his back inside the tent, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with malice.

These words also made Li Si, who was standing to the side, purse his lips.

"In truth, it was our own poor planning that caused this."

"We should have realized that Meng Yi would one day return from Kuaiji to report back."

"If we had planned and responded earlier, we wouldn't be in such a passive position."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao and Li both tensed up, their expressions turning rather unpleasant.

We should have been prepared!

Whether it was an ambush on the way, prior contact, or secret house arrest, it didn't matter.

Ultimately, it was wrong to let Meng Yi appear so easily near the imperial carriage at such a delicate time, and then cause such a scene in public.

"It is time to prepare countermeasures."

"well……"

"I was just too busy with other things and didn't have time to think about it."

With this sigh, Zhao Gao rubbed his temples in distress.

Li Si also looked troubled, his thin lips pressed even tighter.

And the head seat, which both of them subconsciously—or rather, intentionally or unintentionally—was ignored;

Prince Hu Hai, who had just reached adulthood but had not yet undergone the coming-of-age ceremony, wore a slightly puzzled expression.

"Minister Meng Yi..."

"General Meng Tian..."

...

"If the Meng clan could be used by me..."

Perhaps they didn't realize that Zhao and Li were ignoring them, or perhaps they simply didn't care.

After the two fell silent, Hu Hai murmured to himself, casting his probing gaze toward Zhao Gao to his right.

"teacher."

"Is it absolutely necessary to kill Minister Meng Yi?"

As he spoke, Hu Hai even furrowed his brow in a very vivid manner.

"I can understand that Meng Tian deserves to die."

"If Meng Tian had not died, it would have been difficult for me to take control of the border troops under his command."

"But Meng Yi..."

"Can't we just subdue them?"

"If we can win over Meng Yi, then upon returning to Xianyang, more people should be able to believe that Father Emperor's will bequeathed the throne to me, not to my elder brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao's expression froze for a moment.

He glanced at Li Si subconsciously, then lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time.

Then, feigning helplessness, he said, "Minister Meng Yi is far beyond what you, young master, can subdue."

"This wild horse was so fierce that even the general—his own elder brother by blood—could not tame it."

"In the end, it was only through the awe-inspiring power of the First Emperor that this wild horse was barely tamed."

...

"Everyone in the court knows that Minister Meng Yi is upright and incorruptible, and he does not show favoritism even to his own elder brother."

"Even the First Emperor was once confronted by Meng Yi in court, who bluntly pointed out his mistakes."

"The young master said that if he could be subdued, the court in Xianyang would be won over and would no longer have any doubts about the young master's succession?"

"Oh……"

"I'm afraid that once we get to Xianyang, the first person to jump out and angrily point at the young master as a 'traitor' in front of all the court officials will be his own minister, Meng Yi."

As soon as he finished speaking, the still young and naive Prince Hu Hai naturally fell into deep thought.

While Hu Hai was unaware of what was happening, Zhao Gao and Li Si exchanged a rapid series of glances in a short period of time.

—Zhao Gao and Meng Yi have always been at odds.

Just think about it: the two people who were closest to the First Emperor;

One was a man of humble origins who, to this day, was only a minor official with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain), and was almost universally regarded by both inside and outside the court as a "favored minister" and a "treacherous minister."

One was a righteous minister from a military family with a distinguished lineage, who himself held the high-ranking official position of Shangqing and enjoyed a good reputation both inside and outside the court.

How could two people like this, even if they have no grudges against each other, possibly have a close personal relationship?

Moreover, the two were actually enemies.

—On one occasion, Zhao Gao committed a serious crime, and the First Emperor ordered Meng Yi to investigate and punish him according to the law.

Meng Yi was upright by nature, and having received the First Emperor's order to "strictly investigate," he naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest and decisively sentenced Zhao Gao to death!

Perhaps Meng Yi's sentence was too harsh, or too strict with the law, and the First Emperor inexplicably softened his heart again.

Considering Zhao Gao's "unwavering loyalty," he was pardoned from the death penalty.

Having narrowly escaped death, Zhao Gao dared not resent the First Emperor who had ordered a thorough investigation.

Thus, Meng Yi became the enemy who disregarded all sentiment and wanted to kill Zhao Gaoyu.

Over the years, both men, who were constantly by the First Emperor's side, openly and secretly competed with each other.

However, Meng Yi was young and considered himself a "national hero," so he disdained to persecute Zhao Gao, a mere court official.

Zhao Gao, however, was wary of Meng Yi's family background and dared not do anything to Meng Yi.

This is why the two have maintained a facade of "peaceful coexistence" for so many years, both outwardly and in the eyes of the First Emperor.

At present, Hu Hai has shown a tendency to win over Meng Yi and give him important positions. How could Zhao Gao sit idly by?

—What did Zhao Gao gain by risking his life to support Huhai?

Is the plan simply to replace the emperor of the Qin Dynasty with a new one, and then continue to be the emperor's "left and right arms," ​​like two generals?

"This matter is none of your concern, young master."

"Imprison him for now."

"It's not too late to discuss this after all the major events have been accomplished."

Seeing Hu Hai's hesitation, Zhao Gao wisely took a step back and didn't definitively say anything.

—Imprison him first, and we'll deal with it after Huhai successfully ascends the throne.

However, once Huhai becomes the "Second Emperor of Qin," it's uncertain who will decide Meng Yi's fate...

...

Sitting at the head of the table, Hu Hai frowned in deep thought, still feeling somewhat conflicted.

Below, Zhao Gao and Li Si sat facing each other on either side, each with their own thoughts.

Outside the tent—near the imperial carriage, which Zhao Gao had ordered his trusted men to "strictly guard" and forbid anyone from approaching;

A short figure blended into the night, and with a very tricky angle, quietly approached the side window of the imperial carriage...