People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Zhao Yan looked at Cao Ze and smiled, "Sir, you have rendered meritorious service and deserve a reward!"

Guo Kai stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, Mr. Cao Ze is a rare talent. In my humble opinion, it would be better to let Mr. Cao Ze accompany General Pang Nuan north to jointly repel the Qin army!”

Seeing that Zhao Yan was interested, Cao Ze said calmly, "Your Majesty, the Qin army has only sent Meng Ao to lead troops so far. It is still unknown whether they will send other troops."

Han Cang seized the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, Mr. Cao Ze is right. Rather than having you follow General Pang north, it would be better for you to stay in the capital. If the Qin army makes any moves, Your Majesty can consult you on the matter."

Guo Kai narrowed his eyes as he watched Cao Ze and Han Cang singing in unison.

Unexpectedly, Han Cang would openly help Cao Ze, it seems that the two have long been colluding together.

When Zhao Qian ascends to the throne, that will be the day he eliminates Han Cang!

Zhao Yan thought about it and agreed, "That makes sense."

……

Shortly after Cao Ze left the palace after court, he was overtaken by Guo Kai's carriage.

“Mr. Cao Ze, we are both working for the Queen and for His Highness Qian. Why do you want to get close to Han Cang?”

Cao Ze asked, feigning confusion, "Why does Your Excellency say that?"

Guo Kai sneered, "Young man, I was going to advise you to be careful!"

He lowered the carriage curtain and said to the coachman, "Return to the manor."

He knew that Cao Ze had seen through some of his intentions.

but it does not matter.

Don't they know who he is? A capable minister of the Great Zhao! How could he not get rid of Cao Ze!

It's better not to go north with the army now, because if we leave later, there won't be an army to escort us!

Cao Ze chuckled and advised him to be careful.

He hasn't even tried to persuade you, you old rascal, yet.

Over the next ten days, Li Wu and Jing Ni saw Cao Ze, who was very diligent in his cultivation.

Li Wu and Jing Ni whispered to each other, saying that Cao Ze was acting strangely.

She finally overcame her psychological barrier and pretended to be tricked by Cao Ze into going to the Li family's pharmacy to buy clove oil.

This guy, on the other hand, started cultivating right away. Not only did he not give them any special treatment, but he also didn't exactly have a happy family time.

In the Qin court, Ying Zheng sat high on the throne.

He looked at Lü Buwei and said, "Now that Zhao has sent Pang Nuan to lead his army north, there is no need to worry anymore."

Lü Buwei remained silent, somewhat annoyed.

Cao Ze had directly revealed the plan that he had discussed with General Meng Ao.

He now even suspects that there might be spies in his own household.

"I will obey Your Majesty's orders in everything."

Ying Zheng suppressed his excitement, "Chengjiao!"

The elegant young nobleman bowed and said, "Your subject is here!"

"Together with General Fan Yuqi, lead 50,000 troops to Tunliu in Shangdang, awaiting orders to cooperate with General Meng Ao in marching east out of the Taihang Mountains and aiming for Handan!"

"Your subject obeys!"

Lord Chang'an, Chengjiao, gladly accepted the order, as he had already discussed it with his elder brother, the king.

He is unfamiliar with military affairs, so if he wants to lead troops, he can only choose a general to assist him.

Not long ago, Empress Dowager Xia Ji passed away. I must seize this opportunity to make military achievements and secure a place for myself in the Qin court.

Lu Buwei looked at the two brothers who seemed to have a good understanding of each other, a slight smile playing on his lips. He glanced unintentionally at the taciturn Lord Changping.

Ordinary charges wouldn't be enough to get rid of Cheng Jiao, but if Cheng Jiao 'voluntarily' committed treason...

Ying Zheng wanted to take control of the army before assuming personal rule. Did he really think that Ying Zheng, as his regent, was just a figurehead?

After leaving the court, Lü Buwei met with Lord Changping, who was cautious in his words and actions and seemed to be a transparent person.

"Is Your Majesty ready?"

Lord Changping said calmly, "General Fan is a loyal subject of Qin, and was extremely loyal to the late king."

Lü Buwei smiled and said, "That's true."

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, Lü Buwei, in a good mood, said to Li Si, "Tomorrow morning, place all the compiled books at the south gate."

Li Si cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

Lü Buwei took two steps and then said, "Withdraw a thousand gold coins from the treasury and put them with the letters tomorrow."

"A notice was posted and read aloud, promising a thousand gold pieces to anyone who could add or subtract a single word."

Li Si looked surprised. Was this an attempt to emulate Shang Yang's strategy of moving a log to establish trust?

After briefly recalling the contents of "Lüshi Chunqiu", Li Si seemed to be deep in thought.

Was Lü Xiang really only trying to promote his work?

"Yes."

He decided to read "Lüshi Chunqiu" a couple more times to see what secrets it contained.

……

In late July, the weather turned cool.

Meng Ao and Pang Nuan clashed in close combat at Yaoshan, and every day, messengers on horseback rode from the main road of Handan City to the royal palace.

Cao Ze began constructing the Great Circulation within his body at Qingping Residence. After half a month of preparation, he was seven or eight parts confident of success.

He began to slowly circulate the microcosmic orbit, using the Yin and Yang Qi of the Ren and Du meridians as the root, and connecting the limbs and bones through the twelve regular meridians.

At this moment, all meridians are open, and the flow of qi and blood is completely unobstructed.

He silently recalled the ancient texts of his predecessors and the experience notes on breaking through to the first-class innate realm.

The Book of Changes and the Cantongqi states: "Exhaust the earthly branches of Wu and Ji to complete the cycle of heaven."

The twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians are interconnected in terms of their Qi mechanism.

It resembles the description in the "Seven Tablets of the Cloudy Bookcase" that "the Heavenly Gang moves and the Earthly Fiends unite."

The hundred meridians circulate like the sun and moon, forming a complete and perfect cycle of energy, with the Yellow Court as the cauldron and the Qi Acupoint as the furnace.

Only then does it align with the state described in the "Collection of Teachings of Zhong and Lü" as "the three fields are restored, and water and fire are in harmony."

The Yin and Yang energies circulate throughout the body's 360 joints and 84,000 pores.

Ultimately, one can achieve Lao Tzu's "circulation without ceasing," thereby attaining a body free from all leakage.

A day and a night passed, and Cao Ze's divine light subsided, making him appear no different from an ordinary person from a distance.

Jingni and Liwu took turns protecting Cao Ze, and both women noticed the abnormality of Cao Ze's breakthrough.

Logically, the faster one can build the internal circulation of Qi, the higher their talent.

Li Wu took three hours, and Jing Ni took two hours.

Twelve hours have passed since Cao Ze started.

It can be said that it was a failure.

However, Cao Ze's aura grew stronger and stronger, not at all like a master who had just entered the first-class realm.

When the sun was high in the sky, Cao Ze opened his eyes, and his body moved without any wind.

Li Wu approached, "It's done?"

Cao Ze blinked. "It's done."

He had already completed the Great Circulation within his body in half an hour.

Unexpectedly, while consolidating and studying the Taoist classics he had memorized, he gradually entered a state of enlightenment.

This directly enabled his internal circulation system to transition from its initial formation to a state of smooth operation.

That leaves only months of hard work in getting things working together.

Just as Cao Ze was preparing to indulge himself with Li Wu and Jing Ni in broad daylight, there was a knock on the gate of Qingping Residence.

“Mr. Cao Ze, it is I, Han Cang.”

A soft, feminine voice came from inside. Cao Ze gestured for Jing Ni and Li Wu to bring Xiao Yan'er into the house.

"Lord Han."

Seeing Han Cang dressed in plain clothes, Cao Ze asked, "Something happened?"

Han Cang said in a low voice, "I have come to tell you, sir, that the King intends for you to travel north."

Cao Ze was prepared and knew that Guo Kai would not give up.

"Is this the only way?"

Han Cang shook his head and sighed, "I cannot change Your Majesty's decision."

"Please come with me to the palace, sir."

Cao Ze thought to himself, "It's all because you're incompetent."

"it is good."

Chapter 220 Snow Maiden's Light Dance, Beauty's Affection

The main hall of Longtai Palace.

Cao Ze stood there calmly.

His gaze lingered on Zhao Jia and Ya Fei for a moment.

Because Pang Nuan led his troops north to block the Qin army and Li Mu guarded the border, there were almost no important figures in Handan who could restrain Guo Kai and others.

Therefore, Consort Ya frequently visited the palace during this period.