Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Xu Qing nodded to the other party, who was none other than Gai Nie, Ying Zheng's strongest bodyguard and the court's chief swordsmanship instructor. Perhaps because there was no such thing as Jing Ke's assassination attempt on Qin in this world, even if an assassination attempt still occurred, it was ultimately more bark than bite, which caused Gai Nie to change quite a bit.

Ultimately, it's because Gai Nie doesn't have to bear the guilt of killing his best friend, and doesn't have to live with constant remorse.

Of course, Gai Nie's fame is much less than that in the original novel.

However, comparatively speaking, knowing what happened in the original work would actually be a good thing for Gai Nie, who was directly involved.

"Mr. Gai, you've come to see me. Is there something wrong with the sword I forged before?" Xu Qing asked Gai Nie as usual. Even though he was quite sure that there was nothing wrong with the sword he had forged, since the other party had come and they had already greeted each other, he had to find something to talk about.

“It has nothing to do with the sword!” Gai Nie said calmly. “The King has learned of your return and wishes to see you.”

Since the King of Qin wanted to see him, Xu Qing still had to give him face.

So he followed Gai Nie into the Xianyang Palace.

Although Ying Zheng had previously given Xu Qing a token that allowed him to enter the palace on his own, Xu Qing still did not do so. After all, he did not actually have much to ask of Ying Zheng.

Power and wealth are not what Xu Qing wants.

The reason I came to Xianyang before was simply because I felt that the situation in the world had come to this point, and sooner or later I would have to face Ying Zheng. It was still very necessary to meet with Ying Zheng and seek a peaceful life.

It was still the Zhangtai Palace where Ying Zheng handled state affairs.

When Xu Qing arrived here with Gai Nie, Ying Zheng was still dealing with government affairs.

"Mr. Xu!"

Upon seeing Xu Qing, Ying Zheng put down what he was doing.

Gai Nie also took the opportunity to leave the place and hide in the shadows. In Xu Qing's perception, there was not only Gai Nie but also some mysterious people in the shadows. This was normal. Even though Xu Qing and Ying Zheng had met several times, one should always be wary of others. People can change. Just because Xu Qing hadn't done anything to Ying Zheng before didn't mean he wouldn't have the intention to harm Ying Zheng later.

"What business does Your Majesty have with me?"

Xu Qing stood some distance away from Ying Zheng and asked him.

He also did not get too close to Ying Zheng.

After all, it's necessary to give those operating in the shadows a sense of security, so that they believe they can react immediately should he actually do something.

Ying Zheng, however, did not think so much about it. He met Xu Qing's gaze and explained, "Upon learning of Mr. Xu's return, I decided to meet with you and have a chat."

As he spoke, a look of gratitude appeared on his face. "I already know about the situation in Wei. The fall of Daliang was entirely due to your help, sir!"

Although Wang Ben was very concerned about the merit of destroying the country, he did not conceal Xu Qing's contributions.

On the contrary, the more difficult the situation was when facing Daliang, the more grateful he was to Xu Qing when Daliang fell.

If it weren't for Xu Qing's guidance and help, he wouldn't know how much time he would have wasted in front of that city.

It can be said that Xu Qing's help brought the destruction of Wei forward by at least several months.

Over several months, a significant amount of food and supplies for the army can be saved.

Of course, Wang Ben had to inform Ying Zheng about this. While Xu Qing and Xiao Meng were still traveling in Wei, Ying Zheng, who was in charge of Xianyang, already knew about these things.

"Rewarding merit is the law of Qin. Whatever you ask for, sir, whether it is ten thousand yi of gold, a thousand acres of fertile land, or an official title and rank, I will grant it," Ying Zheng continued, his gaze fixed on Xu Qing.

The candlelight inside the palace flickered gently, casting Xu Qing's long shadow. He smiled faintly upon hearing this, his expression remaining calm and unmoved. "I have never desired power or wealth. My assistance this time is merely a matter of following the trend. If I were to ask for anything, I would only wish for a peaceful place where I can forge swords for my own enjoyment, free from the strife of the court and the chaos of war. That would be enough for me."

Ying Zheng stared at Xu Qing for a long time, seeing that his eyes were clear and without a trace of falsehood. Therefore, he gave Xu Qing an extremely valuable promise: "As long as you do not betray my Great Qin, then my Great Qin will not betray you in the slightest!"

"If you desire peace and stability, sir, I will grant you that!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xu Qing said to Ying Zheng with great composure.

After discussing the affairs of the Wei Kingdom, it was natural to talk about other things. Ying Zheng's main purpose in summoning Xu Qing to the palace was to consolidate his relationship with this extraordinary person. According to everything Wang Ben had told him, this extraordinary person was not just skilled in sword forging; he possessed the power to stir up the winds and clouds of the world.

The incident with the Farmer's Clan revealed his true abilities; he could turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist, directly siding with the Qin state. However, the Farmer's Clan was merely a martial arts sect and not much of a threat. But the incident in Daliang City was different. No one knew how Xu Qing had managed it, but he had plunged Daliang into rebellion, allowing the Qin army to conquer Daliang effortlessly.

It should be noted that Daliang was a fortified city in the world, and it had been besieged many times in history, but it had never been breached from the front.

Such a person, even if he has no intention of entering the court as an official, should absolutely not be ignored.

"Sir, you possess extraordinary wisdom and insight into worldly affairs. I have another matter I would like to ask you today," Ying Zheng said to Xu Qing.

"Your Majesty, please speak." Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged as he waited quietly for what was to come.

"Now Qin has destroyed Han, Zhao, and Wei, and Yan and Qi are barely surviving. Only Chu, with its vast territory, abundant resources, and powerful army, is the last stumbling block to Qin's unification of the world." Ying Zheng's finger landed heavily on the map of Chu on the table, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I wonder what your opinion is on the war against Chu?"

Xu Qing raised his eyes, and even though he was quite far from Ying Zheng, his gaze was still fixed on the map. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, his tone revealing a hint of insight: "Your Majesty, the key to the success or failure of the war to destroy Chu does not lie in the size of the army, but in the hearts of the people."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng immediately looked puzzled, his brows furrowing slightly as he leaned forward: "I don't understand what you mean, sir. The territory of Chu is vast. To destroy Chu, one must use a strong army to press on the border in order to defeat the enemy. Why do you say it depends on the hearts of the people?"

Xu Qing made no move, his voice low and clear: "Human hearts are fickle, they can gather and scatter. Your Majesty's desire to destroy the Chu Kingdom and unify the world is certainly firm, and your generals are all brave, but you cannot stop the fact that there are disloyal people in the court and in the martial world who are secretly obstructing you."

Ying Zheng's expression instantly turned serious, and he sat up slightly: "Does your statement, sir, indicate that you know something?"

Xu Qing's expression remained calm and composed, but his words shook Ying Zheng to his core.

"Your Majesty should know that because of persuading the Farmers to join the Qin state, my relationship with them has become quite close. During my time with the Farmers, I discovered some things..."

“Previously, the State of Yan sent envoys to Qin with the intention of assassinating Your Majesty. The Farmer School was also involved in this... Your Majesty should be aware of this matter.”

Ying Zheng was certainly aware of this; Zhao Gao had informed him of it after the assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang.

It was because of that incident that he realized the threat posed by the peasants, which is why he prepared to take action against them.

It wasn't until Xu Qing persuaded him to gain a deeper understanding of the peasants that he changed his mind, shifting from destroying the peasants to subjugating them.

Xu Qing then helped him accomplish this.

Although the peasants had been involved in the assassination attempt against him, according to Xu Qing, those people had already been dealt with during the process of subduing the peasants. Therefore, Ying Zheng had not paid any attention to the peasants since then. However, he did not expect that there would be a follow-up to the peasants' affairs.

"What did you discover, sir?"

"Regarding the matter of the assassin who was an inside agent in the Qin Palace that day," Xu Qing spoke again, revealing a crucial point.

This incident immediately stirred up some memories for Ying Zheng.

The assassination attempt on Qin by the State of Yan did not frighten Ying Zheng much because the two assassins were too clumsy. After the incident was over, he handed the matter over to the Court of Justice for handling, and the Luo Wang (a secret network of intelligence) also conducted a secret investigation.

Unfortunately, the investigation ultimately came to nothing, leaving it as an unsolved case.

Because all the clues have been cut off.

Xu Qing continued, "That person holds an extremely high position in the Qin Palace. He is no ordinary official; he is someone who has access to the king's whereabouts and can even influence parts of the court."

Ying Zheng sat up abruptly, the atmosphere around him instantly becoming heavy. A flash of surprise, anger, and urgency crossed his eyes as he leaned forward and pressed, "Is what you say true, sir? Who exactly is this person?"

Xu Qing raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Ying Zheng's sharp eyes directly, and clearly uttered three words: "Lord Changping".

"Impossible!" Ying Zheng blurted out, slamming his hand on the table, making the bamboo slips on it rattle. "Sir, stop talking nonsense! Lord Changping is loyal and devoted to me and to the Qin Dynasty!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock and anger, and with an unwavering tone, recounted Changping Jun's merits one by one: "Back then, during the Lao Ai Rebellion, the court and the country were in turmoil. It was Changping Jun who helped me quell the rebellion and consolidate my throne. Before that, when Xinzheng was in turmoil and the remnants of the Han people were restless, it was he who volunteered to rush to Xinzheng overnight, strategized, and quickly quelled the chaos, appeased the people, and stabilized the southeastern heartland of Qin. Now that Qin is attacking Chu, he has volunteered to go to Huaiyang to oversee the preparation of provisions, clearing the way for the army to attack Chu. He has worked tirelessly and without complaint."

Ying Zheng's voice grew increasingly heavy, his eyes filled with disbelief: "How could such a loyal minister, who devoted himself to the cause and made such great contributions, secretly collude with the Yan state to act as an inside agent in the assassination attempt on Qin? Sir, you must have made a mistake!"

Chapter 333 The Star Luo Sword Offering, A Perilous Situation in Chu

Ying Zheng ultimately retained some rationality.

If Xu Qing hadn't been the top contributor to the conquest of Daliang City, and if the "Longevity Sword" he forged hadn't helped him out of trouble and provided him with great benefit on several occasions, he would have been furious and enraged simply because of Xu Qing's direct "slander" of Lord Changping.

"Perhaps I've made a mistake."

Xu Qing spoke in a flat tone, without any intention of explaining, as if his earlier earth-shattering remark was nothing more than a trivial matter mentioned casually.

But the more nonchalant he seemed, the heavier Ying Zheng's heart became, and he inexplicably began to care.

He was inherently suspicious. Even though he had the magnanimity to admit his mistakes and correct them in time, when he heard unpleasant words, his first reaction was never to believe them easily. Instead, he would repeatedly doubt and scrutinize them, and only after several rounds of deliberation would he reach a conclusion.

That's exactly how it is right now.

Xu Qing's strange and unusual attitude first filled Ying Zheng with doubt, and then many new thoughts began to emerge in his mind.

'Mr. Xu has no grudge against Mr. Changping, so why is he slandering him for no reason?'

'Could it be... that Lord Changping truly harbors treacherous intentions?'

"Impossible! Lord Changping is a meritorious official of the state, utterly loyal, and there is absolutely no way he would betray me!"

Two completely different ideas clashed fiercely in Ying Zheng's mind, and in the end, he still couldn't reach a conclusion. He could only forcefully suppress his doubts and put the matter aside for the time being.

After that, he chatted with Xu Qing for a long time, but the matter of Lord Changping was like a thorn stuck in Ying Zheng's heart, making him lose all interest in the subsequent topics and remain listless throughout.

Xu Qing was incredibly perceptive and saw through his thoughts at a glance. He simply stopped talking and bowed to Ying Zheng to take his leave.

When Xu Qing left Xianyang Palace, he was not alone. Gai Nie, dressed in plain clothes, silently followed by his side, escorting him out of the palace's forbidden area.

"Mr. Xu..."

As Gai Nie's voice slowly rang out, Xu Qing's steps suddenly stopped, and he slowly turned around.

"What you just said to the King, is it true?" Gai Nie asked earnestly, his tone grave. He had overheard the entire conversation between Xu Qing and Ying Zheng.

Although no one was aware of his presence on the surface, he remained hidden in the shadows, silently protecting Ying Zheng's safety.

"Whether it's true or false, it ultimately depends on your own choices." Xu Qing didn't explain further, his tone remaining calm. "If it's true and you don't want to believe it, then it's false; if it's false and you believe it without a doubt, then it's true."

Having said that, Xu Qing didn't linger and walked away without any intention of continuing the conversation with Gai Nie. Gai Nie's eyes flickered as he watched Xu Qing's retreating figure. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing, simply standing silently in place, his expression unreadable.

……

The meeting with Ying Zheng was an accident, but since they had met, Xu Qing didn't mind giving Ying Zheng some pointers.

After all, the war for Qin to destroy Chu is already imminent and irreversible.

Now that the three Jin states have been destroyed, looking at the world, the Chu state, though seemingly powerful, is no longer an obstacle to Qin's unification.

However, in the original history, the Qin state actually suffered a great loss at the beginning of its attack on Chu.

Li Xin led an army of 200,000 to attack Chu, but ultimately suffered a crushing defeat. All 200,000 Qin soldiers perished within Chu territory, and Li Xin, a rising young general of Qin, fell in this battle, completely disappearing into the dust of history.

Was Li Xin's defeat due to underestimating his enemy? Admittedly, this was one reason, but it was by no means the root cause.

While it would be extremely difficult to destroy the State of Chu with an army of 200,000, it shouldn't have resulted in the complete annihilation of the entire army.

The real root of the problem lies in Changping Jun's betrayal.

Li Xin led his army deep into Chu territory, and even if he were ambushed, he might still have had a chance to break out. However, Lord Changping's defection cut off his retreat and cut off all his chances of survival, which led to that disastrous defeat.

Now, perhaps the premature demise of the State of Wei triggered a series of chain reactions, leading Ying Zheng to launch the war against Chu ahead of schedule.

This time, without Li Xin leading the troops, Wang Jian led an army of 300,000 men on the expedition. No one could predict the final outcome.

However, Xu Qing had already informed Ying Zheng of the potential danger posed by Lord Changping. Whether Ying Zheng believed him or not was up to him.