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

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Don't make a fuss."

Cheng Jiao nodded and entered the city with Cao Ze.

He said excitedly, "That scoundrel Lü Buwei, despite all his calculations, certainly didn't expect Brother Cao to come to Xianyang."

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "How could I not know where the problems are in what I've written?"

He also thought that Lü Buwei would compile all the things he had taught in Handan into the book, and the person who wrote it was none other than Li Si. This was fate's way of making Lü Buwei suffer a great loss.

Cheng Jiao suddenly said, "However, if Brother Cao points out the problems with his own writing, will Lü Buwei use this as an excuse to turn the tables and slander Brother Cao?"

"Of course we will, which is why we need to plan this carefully. I can't do this personally."

"Then who should step forward?"

Cao Ze patted Cheng Jiao on the shoulder and laughed, "Who else but you?"

"Me?" Cheng Jiao asked in surprise, "My knowledge is not deep enough to point out the errors in Brother Cao's writing."

Cao Ze said, "These are not problems. The reason you are the one to step forward is because you are Lord Chang'an, the king's own brother, and no one will easily question you."

Cheng Jiao's eyes lit up. "That makes sense, that makes sense!"

"Let's do it this way!" Cheng Jiao clapped his hands, very excited. He had long ago slapped Lü Buwei in the face.

He was forced to flee to the State of Zhao like a dog, and almost died far from home, bearing a bad reputation.

With such deep-seated hatred, if the situation hadn't been more favorable, he would have already led his men to their door to kill them.

“However, before that, we need to build momentum,” Cao Ze said. “The bigger the better.”

"That makes sense." Cheng Jiao nodded in deep agreement.

“These past two days I have been spreading the word that I intend to revise the ‘Lüshi Chunqiu’.”

Cao Ze added, "There are many people from the various schools of thought in Xianyang; why not have them all come over?"

Cheng Jiao clapped his hands and exclaimed in praise, "That's how it's done! Brother Cao is truly brilliant."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "I'll find the errors in it and give them to you in the next couple of days. Make sure you remember them well so you don't give yourself away."

"Very wonderful."

After finalizing the plan, Cao Ze and Cheng Jiao parted ways.

Cao Ze was walking on the streets of Xianyang when he unknowingly passed by the Zhao residence.

He glanced at the tightly closed Zhao residence, hesitated for a moment, and then went up to knock on the door.

His path to becoming Prime Minister Cao was at stake, and he wouldn't be at ease until he found Lao Ai.

It is now certain that Lao Ai was hidden in Ganquan Palace.

If he wanted to find out Lao Ai, he either had to get close to Zhao Ji or go to Zhao Gao and use his access to Ganquan Palace to find out Lao Ai's whereabouts.

The mansion gates opened, and a servant dressed as a page looked at the impeccably dressed Cao Ze and asked politely, "May I ask who you are, guest? Do you have a visiting card or name card?"

Cao Ze shook his head and said, "I don't have a visiting card or name card. You can tell Brother Zhao that Cao Ze has come to visit."

In this era, strangers were required to bring a visiting card or name card when they first visited someone's home.

However, he had known Zhao Cheng for quite some time, and since he was only visiting temporarily, he didn't need these things.

Seeing that Cao Ze was composed and not faking it, the servant said, "Please wait a moment, I'll be right there."

A moment later, the servant came running, followed by a handsome young man.

"Hahaha..." Zhao Cheng stepped forward quickly, grasped Cao Ze's hands with both of them, and said with a joyful expression, "Brother Cao, you've finally come! If you hadn't come, I would have come to your door."

Cao Ze was surprised that Zhao Cheng was more enthusiastic towards him than before.

But this is also a good thing.

"Brother Zhao, you're too kind. I should be the one coming to apologize in person."

The two exchanged pleasantries and arrived at the water pavilion in the backyard of the Zhao residence.

Zhao Cheng ordered people to prepare wine and dishes.

“Brother Cao, my elder brother serves the Empress Dowager at Ganquan Palace most of the year and is rarely at home, which has disappointed you.”

Cao Ze smiled and said, "It's nothing, I was just asking."

While Cao Ze and Zhao Cheng were having dinner and building rapport, far away in Xinzheng, Han Fei was having a secret meeting with Consort Ya of Zhao and Lord Xinling of Wei in the Han Palace.

"The reunification of our three Shanxi provinces is a magnificent feat unprecedented in a century."

Han Fei said, "However, Qin is powerful now. Even if we unite, we will only have the ability to contend with Qin in the short term, and we will not be able to defeat Qin."

A refined-looking man spoke up: "It seems Your Majesty already has a plan. Why don't you tell me?"

"Hehe, I do have some ideas, but I still need the cooperation of Lord Xinling and Consort Ya."

Han Fei smiled and said, "If this plan succeeds, it will surely deal a heavy blow to the Qin state."

Consort Ya knelt before the tea table, her figure graceful and elegant.

"Your Majesty, please speak, and Lord Xinling and I will listen."

Lord Xinling said gently, "What Consort Ya said is correct. Your Majesty may as well tell us what this plan is."

Han Fei thought to himself, "As expected, none of them are easy to fool; they're all just like that traitor Cao Cao."

Incense smoke curled in the imperial study as Han Fei slowly said, "Try to turn Lü Buwei against his cause."

"Ok?"

Lord Xinling, who was about to enjoy his tea, and Consort Ya both looked at Han Fei.

"Try to turn Lü Buwei against his cause?"

Consort Ya said, "Lu Buwei is now second only to the emperor in power in Qin. How can he be turned against you? Your Majesty should not entertain such wishful thinking."

Han Fei smiled without saying a word, then looked at Lord Xinling and asked, "Does Your Majesty also think so?"

He didn't propose this plan casually.

He has been working tirelessly to defeat the Qin state for some time now.

Until he inadvertently remembered that Cao Ze had abandoned his sister and gone to the Qin state, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with this brilliant plan.

Lord Xinling frowned in thought. "Does Your Majesty believe that the King of Qin and Lü Buwei are destined to clash, and that Lü Buwei will inevitably lose?"

Han Fei took a deep breath and slowly nodded: "That's right. No matter how capable or high-ranking Lü Buwei is, he is eventually getting old. And the current King of Qin has the appearance of a hegemon. When two tigers fight, one of them will surely suffer a loss."

"If Lü Buwei fails, he will inevitably be eliminated by the King of Qin. Therefore, Lü Buwei is not someone who cannot be won over."

"When we join forces to accomplish great things in the future, and Lü Buwei joins our alliance, the defeat and destruction of the Qin state will be just around the corner."

Consort Ya nodded slightly. "In that case, it's not impossible. Does Your Majesty have a plan?"

Han Fei said, "It's already there, but it's not perfect yet. It needs the cooperation of both of you."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Lord Xinling looked at the young Han Fei and couldn't help but recall Lord Longyang's evaluation of him: "Indeed, he is no ordinary man; he has the countenance of a wise ruler." If the King of Wei possessed Han Fei's talent, he would have no reason to worry.

Han Fei coughed lightly, "I plan to reorganize the Iron Blood Alliance of the Three Jin states, forming a sharp dagger to pierce the enemy's heart and help the King of Qin bring down Lü Buwei."

"Since Xianyang is a place where a net is tightly woven, those who take action must be experts who can carry out the mission and also escape."

Ya Fei's eyes flickered slightly, "What kind of experts do we need?"

She realized this was an opportunity to infiltrate Xianyang, capture Cao Ze, and kidnap him to the State of Zhao to marry Xue Nu.

Han Fei replied without hesitation: "An intelligence expert, a master of infiltration, and at least a second-rate martial arts expert."

If you want to enter Xianyang and cause trouble, you're too weak; you'll just be easy prey.

Lord Xinling was still deep in thought.

Consort Ya replied, "Very well! I accept on behalf of the State of Zhao."

Lord Xinling felt it was worth a try. If he could win over Lü Buwei, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the Qin state and play a crucial role in undermining its confidence.

"Wei is willing."

Han Fei breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled, "Then who do you two intend to send?"

Consort Ya smiled faintly and said, "The state of Korea brought this up first, so Your Majesty can speak first, and then I and Lord Xinling can discuss it later."

Han Fei had already considered this.

With the assistance of the states of Wei and Zhao, Ji Wuye no longer poses any threat to him. Judging from Ji Wuye's recent decision not to take over the military and political affairs of Nanyang, it can be seen that Ji Wuye has shown signs of submission.

Therefore, he felt much more at ease.

"Wei Zhuang, the successor of Guigu School, and Zi Nu, the mistress of Zi Lan Xuan, one a half-step Grandmaster and the other an intelligence expert, are you both satisfied?"

Although Wei Zhuang has only just broken through to the half-step Grandmaster level, he is still a genuine half-step Grandmaster.

"Ah."

Lord Xinling said, "Although I am a master, it is inconvenient for me to act. However, Lord Longyang can go to Xianyang in my place. Would one person be enough?"

"Lord Longyang?" Consort Ya was surprised.

The two grandmasters of the State of Wei refer to Lord Xinling and Lord Longyang.

However, because of his affair with the former King of Wei, the world thought that Lord Longyang was just a powerless favorite minister, unaware that he was also a grandmaster.

Han Fei was surprised that the State of Wei was so helpful, sending out a grandmaster directly.

"That's enough. We're just going ahead; we don't need too many people."

Seeing that a half-step Grandmaster had emerged from Korea and a Grandmaster from Wei, Consort Ya felt confident that getting Cao Ze to Zhao would be no problem.

However, just in case, she smiled and said, "In that case, the State of Zhao will also produce a grandmaster."

Lord Xinling asked with interest, "Who is it?"

In his mind, although the State of Zhao was powerful, it had no grandmasters.

Ya Fei asked crisply, "Does the head of a renowned sect have the qualifications?"

"Gongsun Longzi?"

Neither Han Fei nor Lord Xinling expected it to be him.