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

“Mr. Cao Ze, we’ve met several days ago, but we haven’t had a proper chat yet.”

Cao Ze paused slightly. He didn't want to talk too much with someone as deep-thinking as Li Si, but he thought that if he were to become Prime Minister Cao, he would need a hardworking and ambitious person like Prince Juan to do the hard work so that he could help his wives with their tasks.

He patiently replied, "Things are numerous and complicated, it's rare to have such a leisurely mind."

Li Si laughed and said, "Indeed. It is truly remarkable that you and the young master have been able to chat for two days and two nights in the carriage."

It's nothing difficult, just a bit of bragging and popularizing the nine-year compulsory education... Cao Ze said with a faint smile: "Brother Li, we are old acquaintances, so there's no need to hide anything, just speak freely."

Li Si finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Brother Cao, could you tell me what you and Young Master Shang said?"

Under other circumstances, given his pride, he would not easily ask others such questions.

Even if this person is a senior student.

He was confident that his abilities and knowledge were enough to make anyone take him seriously.

This was also the reason why he had ambushed Lü Buwei in the middle of the night. As he expected, Lü Buwei valued him and appointed him as an envoy of Qin to Han this year.

However, his arrogance has been completely shattered in the past two days.

No matter how hard he tried to demonstrate his knowledge to Ying Zheng, and no matter how much effort he put into writing his strategies over the years, Ying Zheng only commented that they were passable.

He initially thought that Ying Zheng didn't recognize his true talent, and that he was simply an unappreciated genius.

But to his utter surprise, Ying Zheng used what he had learned and written to point out the shortcomings and some errors in his work, and taught him how to improve it.

In the end, he initially thought it was because Ying Zheng was exceptionally intelligent and capable of doing what others could not. However, from Ying Zheng's repeated phrases such as "I listen to the words of Master Cao Ze," he realized that it was not Ying Zheng who was knowledgeable, but rather Cao Ze who taught him well.

This was an unparalleled blow to him, and it could be said that it almost caused his Dao heart to collapse.

With the intention of knowing himself and his enemy, he had been waiting to have a private talk with Cao Ze.

Cao Ze asked with a half-smile, "Brother Li, do you really want to know?"

Li Si, shameless as ever, bowed and said, "Please, Brother Cao, show me the way out."

He knew that Cao Ze had seen through his thoughts.

But there's no other way now.

His senior brother pointed out the way for him, and then the King of Qin fell from the sky. He thought he would smoothly rise to the top of his life, but then Cao Ze appeared out of nowhere and blocked his path to power, right on the path he was best at.

It really is...

Cao Ze smiled and said, "Brother Li, there's no need for such a grand gesture. What I discussed with His Majesty was nothing more than some old acquaintances we talked about in a general way."

He silently added in his mind that they were old acquaintances from two thousand years later, and at most it could be considered popular science education.

Li Si smiled wryly and said, "Brother Cao, why joke with me? It's just some old acquaintances that have made Young Master Shang's learning far surpass mine. If it were new knowledge and new learning, wouldn't that shock the world?"

Cao Ze shook his head slightly: "Brother Li, there is no need to belittle yourself. The reason why Young Master Shang is far superior to you after hearing what I have taught you is not because you are inferior to Young Master Shang, but because Young Master Shang is in a position where he can see further and knows more than you, so there is not much of an information gap between you and him."

Li Si asked doubtfully, "Information gap? What is that?"

Cao Ze chuckled: "It's all about information asymmetry. For example, you know that Lü Buwei harbors rebellious intentions, while others don't, still believing that Young Master Shang and Lü Buwei are inseparable. You know more about this than others, and I don't need to elaborate on the benefits you'll gain in future struggles, do I?"

Li Si nodded slightly. "Not bad."

It was precisely because his senior brother Han Fei saw the irreconcilable conflict between Lü Buwei and Ying Zheng that he was able to persuade Lü Buwei to willingly choose Ying Zheng.

As if instructing a student, Cao Ze said, "Brother Li, if you want to go further in the future, there is no need to rush. The road ahead is difficult and long, and you cannot control it. You might as well calm down, observe more, learn more, think more, consider dangers, consider changes, and consider retreats."

Li Si stared blankly at Cao Ze for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.

"Brother Cao's words are truly wise words for officials and conduct. I have learned a lot from them."

Cao Ze patted Li Si on the shoulder and said in a very serious tone, "Brother Li is very talented. I may need your help in the future. I hope you will not refuse when that time comes."

How could Li Si not understand the meaning behind Cao Ze's words? What did he mean by needing help? This was a promise to him.

He said with emotion, "Thank you so much for your help, Brother Cao!"

Cao Ze smiled and said, "Brother Li, you should get some rest. Things may change drastically in the next couple of days, so you need to conserve your energy."

Li Si solemnly replied, "Brother Cao, I will remember what you said tonight. I take my leave."

Cao Ze watched Li Si leave with a smile. A future top-notch worker shouldn't be wasted.

As Li Si walked into his tent, he suddenly slapped his forehead.

He wanted to ask Cao Ze what he and Ying Zheng had talked about, so that he could find a different way to gain Ying Zheng's attention and even compete with Cao Ze.

How did you manage to prepare to work for Cao Ze in the future, after just a few words from him?

Does he genuinely believe that he is inferior to Cao Ze?

Li Si was frustrated, but he also admired Cao Ze's abilities.

It felt like meeting one's teacher for the first time, the reclusive Master Xun who now lives in seclusion in the back mountains of Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Crushed from the inside out.

A soldier dressed in fine black armor approached and bowed, saying, "Lord Li Si, the general requests your presence."

Li Si sized up the soldiers' attire and concluded that they were General Wang Yi's personal guards.

Could it be that Cao Ze has taken a liking to him again? Does Wang Yi really harbor ulterior motives?

Li Si nodded calmly: "Alright."

After bidding farewell to Wang Yi, Meng Tian did not return to his tent to rest, but instead went to the stables to find Sima Sefu to count the number of horses.

After a long while, Meng Tian asked, "Has the count been completed?"

The thrifty man said, "Everything has been counted, and the number is exactly the same as yesterday."

"Not a single detail off?" Meng Tian questioned, "Sima, where are the carriages and horses that the scouts brought back at dawn today?"

"We haven't seen any foreign carriages or horses today."

"Hmm?" Meng Tian exclaimed in surprise, thinking to himself, "No carriages or horses?"

A hissing sound rang out, catching Meng Tian's attention.

He stared intently and recognized the man as one of General Wang Yi's personal guards.

"Why was your identity revealed so late at night?"

The guard bowed respectfully and said, "Commander, I have been ordered by the general to deliver an urgent letter out of the camp."

"Urgent message? To which destination? To whom?" Meng Tian stared intently at his personal guards, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation and coldness.

"The general has given a secret order that I must not reveal it."

Meng Tian stroked the warhorse beside him and said calmly, "Although the general's order is important, the laws of Qin stipulate that once the camp gates are closed, they cannot be opened without authorization unless there is a battle. If anyone is found doing so, they will be executed according to military law."

His voice wasn't loud, but the coldness in his words was enough to chill anyone with a guilty conscience.

As the commander of the camp, he had the authority to execute anyone who violated military law on the spot.

The guard was a little flustered. "This...this letter is to be sent to Xianyang. It can't be delayed."

"Xianyang?" Meng Tian's gaze sharpened slightly, realizing that things didn't seem to be as General Wang Yi had said. The flaws in his account were too obvious.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, the guard quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "No, no, what I meant was that the general personally ordered me to deliver this letter. I cannot bear the blame if you find fault with me."

Meng Tian remained noncommittal. He patted his personal guard on the shoulder and said, "You know horses well and chose the fastest one. It seems this is indeed a very urgent mission."

After he finished speaking, he left directly. The dark clouds gradually obscured the moonlight, hiding the shadows of everything, and the night was deep.

Li Si arrived at Wang Yi's tent with a calm expression.

Regardless of Wang Yi's intentions, he had no choice but to come, nor dared he not to.

Li Si cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Li Si greets General Wang Yi."

Wang Yi knelt before the table and said with a smile, "Lord Li Si, please sit down."

Li Si calmly knelt opposite Wang Yi.

"May I ask what brings you here so late at night, General?"

“Sigh…” Wang Yi slowly got up, paced around the tent with his hands behind his back, trying to put psychological pressure on Li Si.

"Currently, the Qin court is in turmoil, with various forces vying for power. And the army is the area that all these forces most want to get their hands on."

"Young Master Shang is all alone abroad, and it's inevitable that he will be coveted by villains. The King has not yet come of age and has not yet assumed personal rule. There are many unscrupulous people both inside and outside the court. It's not a peaceful place..."

Li Si stared intently at the bronze wine vessel on the long table.

Wang Yi is right; the army is indeed a target of contention among various parties, which is why Ying Zheng took a detour to Wusui.

Wang Yi, who commanded one of the four elite forces of Qin, was undoubtedly a pivotal figure in the Qin state.

"With the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain within the court, and Prime Minister Lü assisting in governance outside the court, how could things not be peaceful? General, you are overthinking it."

Wang Yi sneered: "If I remember correctly, Lord Li Si came from the Prime Minister's mansion and was a retainer of Prime Minister Lü, wasn't he?"

Li Si stood up, one hand behind his back, and said, "It is thanks to Prime Minister Lü's kindness that I am where I am today."

Wang Yi's face was cold as he stared directly at Li Si, his words laced with murderous intent.

"Then why is Lord Li with Young Master Shang?"

Li Si knew that Wang Yi was testing him, and that he might be trying to use him to frame Ying Zheng.

If one's answer is even slightly off, one could very well die unexpectedly in the camp.

He inexplicably thought of Cao Ze's words earlier—"Think of danger, think of change, think of retreat."

The sorrow and the blessing of the blessings, the blessings of the blessings.

Li Si's mind raced, and he said confidently, "His Majesty honors Chancellor Lü as his uncle, and serving Chancellor Lü is naturally a way of being loyal to His Majesty. I think even if Chancellor Lü knew, he wouldn't blame me."

Wang Yi's lips curled slightly. "Lord Li, please have a seat."

The two sat down at the table again, and Wang Yi personally poured Li Si a full glass of wine.

"Lord Li is right, but there is still one thing I don't understand."

Li Si gently held the wine cup. "General, please ask."

"Young Master Shang is of noble status, but why did he appear in Wusui at a time when the Qin and Han states are at risk of war?"

Li Si subconsciously gripped his wine cup, pondering a response.

He needed to both expose Wang Yi's true intentions and protect himself so that he could present his achievements to Ying Zheng.