Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

He paused, his tone growing increasingly impassioned, each word piercing the hearts of the crowd: "Qin conquered the world, slaughtering the people of Chu. Your clansmen and ancestors are all buried in Chu. Are you just going to stand by and watch Chu be completely destroyed, watch your ancestral legacy crumble, and watch your descendants become prisoners of Qin? If we rise up today and win, the tide of battle will turn, Qin will be weak and Chu strong, and we can protect the Great Chu. If we lose, I, Lord Changping, am willing to bear all the blame and will never implicate your families in the slightest!"

His words, each one resounding and powerful, ignited the patriotic spirit that had been suppressed in the crowd for many years.

The white-haired elder bowed first, his tone firm: "What Lord Changping says is absolutely right! We have endured humiliation and hardship for many years, all for this day. We are willing to obey Lord Changping's command, and swear to fight to the death against Qin and defend our Great Chu!"

The other clan elders echoed their sentiments, their resolute gazes all focused on Lord Changping. Years of forbearance and resentment had transformed into a determination to rebel against Qin.

Once the agreement was reached, everyone immediately split up and took action without any delay.

The old nobles of Chu quickly mobilized their private armies, contacted the anti-Qin forces lurking in the city, and secretly spread the news that the Qin army was trapped. Lord Changping, on the other hand, sat in the government office, falsely conveyed the Qin king's decrees, and lulled the Qin army stationed in the city into a false sense of security. At the same time, he secretly deployed troops to gradually control the city gates, granaries, and transportation routes of Chenying.

Everything proceeded silently. On the surface, Chenying City remained calm as ever, with people coming and going in the streets, as if nothing had happened. But underneath, undercurrents were surging, waiting for a signal to unleash a monstrous wave.

As night fell, the silence of Chenying City was broken by a clear bugle call, the agreed-upon signal for the uprising.

Private soldiers and anti-Qin civilians, already fully prepared and armed, surged like a tide towards the Qin army's garrison and government offices in the city.

Caught off guard, the Qin army was caught off guard, and the city's inhabitants joined in the chaos. Screams, shouts, and the clash of weapons mingled together, echoing through the night sky, plunging the entire city of Chenying into turmoil.

The Qin army stationed in Chenying was already limited in strength, and they were further misled by Changping Jun's false decrees, making it impossible for them to organize an effective resistance.

In less than an hour, the Qin army camp was breached, the garrison commander was killed, and the remaining Qin soldiers either surrendered or scattered and fled.

Lord Changping, clad in armor and wielding a long sword, ascended the city tower of Chenying, raised his arms, and shouted: "I am Xiong Qi, son of King Kaolie of Chu. Today I raise an army to rebel against Qin and defend my great Chu! All who are willing to follow me will support the state and share in peace; all who aid Qin in its tyranny will be killed without mercy!"

Beneath the city walls, countless civilians and soldiers echoed each other, their shouts resounding through the sky and reaching every corner of Chenying. Their voices were filled with resentment and determination, with longing for their homeland and anticipation of restoring their kingdom.

Looking at the excited crowd below, Lord Changping's eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction. He then ordered in a deep voice, "Immediately send troops to block all the key roads of Chenying, completely cut off the Qin army's retreat, strictly check all passersby, and do not allow any information to leak to Wang Jian's army! In addition, take stock of the food and weapons in the city and quickly send them to support General Xiang Yan. We must trap the 300,000 Qin troops in Chu territory!"

Military orders are absolute, and the rebel soldiers immediately sprang into action, blocking all the key roads around Chen Ying, destroying bridges, and burning grain transport routes, completely severing all communication between Wang Jian's army and the rear.

At this time, Wang Jian was still leading his army in pursuit of Xiang Yan, advancing rapidly and far from the Qin army's supply lines. He was completely unaware of the turmoil in Chenying City and remained immersed in his expectation of capturing and killing Xiang Yan.

When Xiang Yan, who was far away on the front line, learned that Lord Changping had launched an uprising in Chenying and cut off the Qin army's retreat, he was first shocked, and then overjoyed.

Despite his grief over the loss of his son, he rallied his remaining troops, ordered a halt to the escape, and turned back to prepare for a coordinated attack with Lord Changping from within and without, to avenge the defeat of Wang Jian's army.

Inside the city of Chenying, Lord Changping stood by the window of his official residence, gazing at the still-burning flames of war outside, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

He knew that the uprising was only the first step. Next, they would face a fierce counterattack from Wang Jian's 300,000 elite Qin troops, which would inevitably lead to a brutal battle.

But he had no other choice.

They could either win a decisive battle, preserving the foundation of the Chu state and allowing its people to breathe a sigh of relief, or suffer a crushing defeat, witnessing the destruction of the Chu state and seeing their lifelong obsession vanish into nothingness.

In fact, he didn't have to take such a desperate gamble.

If he hadn't rebelled against Qin, he would still have been the Right Chancellor of Qin, the powerful and influential Lord Changping, enjoying wealth and honor, and living a carefree life.

But in everyone's heart, there are always some obsessions that are enough to make people do anything.

For Lord Changping, his obsession was the State of Chu.

For the sake of the State of Chu, he was willing to give up high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, to put himself in dire straits, and to spare no expense. Even before the uprising, he had countless opportunities to back down, but he gave them all up, pushing himself step by step to the brink of danger.

He knew that after this rebellion against Qin, there would be no place for him in the entire Qin state, but he would not regret it even if he died.

Chapter 346 Shocking Change in Huaiyang, Gai Nie Enters Yin and Yang!

Huaiyang, bordering the Chu territory, was a crucial strategic location in Qin's war against Chu. The reinforcement and deployment of the front-line army, as well as the transportation and supply of provisions and weapons, all depended on this location to reach the heart of Chu.

Because of Huaiyang's special status, when the Right Chancellor, Lord Changping Xiong Qi, volunteered to be stationed in Huaiyang and coordinate logistics, Ying Zheng agreed almost without hesitation.

He chose to place complete trust in this personally appointed regent, entrusting the lifeline of the army that was attacking Chu to him.

In the early stages of the war, Lord Changping lived up to expectations, managing the logistics in Huaiyang meticulously and flawlessly. Supplies were transported in a timely manner, and reinforcements were deployed in an orderly fashion. Although Wang Jian's army at the front lines was not yet unstoppable, it advanced steadily and cautiously, gradually encroaching on Chu's territory. The war against Chu seemed to be progressing smoothly.

This is why, when Xu Qing advised Ying Zheng in Xianyang Palace that Lord Changping harbored ulterior motives, Ying Zheng did not take it to heart and even secretly dismissed it.

In his eyes, Changping Jun's performance was perfect; he was loyal, dutiful, and showed no flaws whatsoever.

As for the clues Xu Qing mentioned, Ying Zheng thought it was a deliberate frame-up. As the Right Chancellor of Qin, Lord Changping held a high position and great power. If he fell from power, it would inevitably cause turmoil in the court. It was not impossible that someone with ulterior motives would take advantage of this to cause trouble.

Ying Zheng thought he had everything under control, until an urgent report from Chen Ying arrived at his desk in Zhangtai Palace by fast horse, completely shattering his confidence.

Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, launched a rebellion in Chenying, causing a great upheaval and cutting off the food supply to the front-line army.

There was no way to hide this matter, because Xiong Qi's actions were extremely powerful. When he raised his arm and called out, the old nobles of Chu in Chenying responded one after another, and within a few days, they conquered the entire Chenying.

Then, based in Chen Ying, Xiong Qi revealed his identity as the son of King Kaolie of Chu. In a short time, the former people of Chu who had been occupied by Qin flocked to him, and a sizable rebel army quickly took shape.

Under Xiong Qi's command, this rebel army quickly swept through Huaiyang, turning this strategic hub of Qin's campaign against Chu into chaos and devastation, ultimately leading to its complete demise at the hands of the rebels.

If it were only the fall of Huaiyang, it could still be remedied. But what was truly fatal was that the food supplies for Wang Jian's army at the front line depended entirely on Huaiyang for transportation.

Even if Xianyang were to take emergency measures and requisition supplies from other areas to reinforce the front lines, opening new supply routes and procuring sufficient provisions would still take time. Meanwhile, Wang Jian's 300,000-strong army, now deep in Chu territory, isolated and without logistical support, could only sustain itself for a short time.

"Xiong Qi!"

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng held the urgent report in his hand, examining it repeatedly with a gaze as sharp as a knife, wishing he could cut out every single word on the bamboo slip to confirm that he had not misread it.

But the truth was ultimately cruel; every stroke and every word in the urgent report told the truth of the betrayal.

After confirming it again and again, the anger that had been suppressed in his heart erupted instantly, turning into a roar that shook the entire palace: "How dare you?! How dare you?!"

Ying Zheng's body trembled slightly, and his words were filled with a chilling and furious rage that penetrated to the bone.

His eyes blazed with fury, an unprecedented rage that he had never felt before. Even when Fan Yuqi betrayed him, he had never lost his composure or been so enraged.

This is because the person who betrayed us this time was no ordinary person.

Lord Changping was no nobody, nor an ordinary general; he was the Right Chancellor of Qin, a regent personally appointed by Ying Zheng, and a key figure in controlling the logistics of the campaign against Chu from Huaiyang. Having long held a high position in the court, he moved freely within the Zhangtai Palace, knowing many of Qin's secrets, such as the deployment of the army against Chu, the troop allocation in Xianyang, the grain reserves of various counties, and even Ying Zheng's political strategies and bottom lines.

The betrayal of such a person is more fatal than the invasion of 100,000 Chu troops.

Once those secrets fall into the hands of the State of Chu, Qin's years of planning will be in vain, and the war against Chu will be doomed to utter ruin.

The roar echoed through the empty Zhangtai Palace, lingering for a long time.

The guards outside the palace were silent as cicadas in winter, each standing with their heads bowed, not daring to even breathe loudly, for fear of angering the King of Qin in his rage.

Ying Zheng slammed the urgent report in his hand onto the table, scattering bamboo slips all over the floor. The crisp sound of the impact broke the silence of the palace, just like his chaotic, furious, and out-of-control state of mind.

But he was, after all, the king of Qin, a monarch destined to unify the world.

Anger solves nothing. After a moment, his tense body slowly relaxed, and the raging fire in his eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a bottomless coldness and solemnity.

Even if the sky were to fall, he must remain calm and uphold the overall situation of the Qin state.

The rebellion must be quelled as soon as possible!

Chenying is the gateway to Huaiyang. Xiong Qi used Chenying as his base to win over the old nobles and people of Chu. If the situation drags on, the rebellion will inevitably spread. At that time, not only will Wang Jian's army, which has penetrated deep into Chu territory, be in dire straits, but even the Chu territory that Qin has already occupied will be completely out of control, and the situation will be unimaginable.

But merely suppressing the rebellion is not enough. The most urgent task at present is to rush to the aid of Wang Jian's 300,000-strong army, which is trapped deep in the heart of Chu territory.

With 300,000 soldiers far from their homeland, surrounded by the Chu army on the outside and lacking logistical support on the inside, every day of delay increases the risk of annihilation, and there is no time to lose.

Ying Zheng paced back and forth in the Zhangtai Palace, his brows furrowed, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the Changsheng Sword at his waist.

The cool touch of the sword calmed his agitated mind, making him more composed as he rapidly considered countermeasures.

Who can lead the troops to quell the rebellion? The terrain of Chen and Ying is complex, and it is also supported by the old power of Chu. Only a capable general can handle the task.

Where should we urgently procure grain supplies? The Guanzhong Plain has ample grain supplies, which can be transported from there. However, opening new grain routes, avoiding areas affected by rebellion, and speeding up transportation are all pressing problems that need to be solved.

Should the reinforcements be sent to Wang Jian's army by sending troops to escort supplies, or by dispatching a large army to contain the Chu army and buy Wang Jian's army a chance to regroup?

Countless thoughts intertwined and collided in his mind. Every decision concerned the safety of the Qin state, and no mistakes could be tolerated. Just as he was concentrating and trying to sort out his thoughts, a figure and a few words unexpectedly entered his mind—Xu Qing.

That day at Xianyang Palace, Xu Qing advised him, bluntly stating that Lord Changping harbored ulterior motives, and warned him, but he scoffed and refused to believe it.

At that time, he was so focused on Changping Jun's perfect performance in coordinating logistics that he dismissed Xu Qing's claims as baseless speculation. He even secretly thought that someone might be deliberately using clues about the peasants to frame Changping Jun, since Changping Jun held a high position and great power, and his downfall would inevitably cause turmoil in the court.

Looking back now, every word Xu Qing said was precious and to the point; every clue was not unfounded or fabricated.

Ying Zheng suddenly stopped, a complex and unreadable expression flashing in his eyes.

There was regret, self-blame, and a chill of being belittled and deceived by illusions.

He was wrong in the end. He was wrong to trust Changping Jun's disguise too much, to ignore Xu Qing's warning, and to be blinded by the apparent perfection, thus putting the safety of Qin and the lives of 300,000 soldiers in danger.

If he had calmed down and carefully investigated the clues Xu Qing mentioned; if he had been more vigilant and hadn't entrusted the safety of Huaiyang entirely to Lord Changping, perhaps today's events wouldn't have happened, Wang Jian's army wouldn't be in such a desperate situation, and the Qin state wouldn't have suffered such a heavy blow.

“Xu Qing…” Ying Zheng murmured the name, his tone heavy and complicated.

The most urgent tasks are to quickly deploy measures to quell the rebellion and provide reinforcements to stabilize the overall situation in Qin, and to summon Xu Qing immediately.

This was the only person who saw through Changping Jun's true colors and warned him in advance.

Perhaps Xu Qing has more clues that he doesn't know about; perhaps Xu Qing can come up with a good solution to break the current predicament for him.

……

Mount Li, in front of the headquarters of the Yin-Yang School.

This was Gai Nie's first time setting foot in this place.

Although the Yin-Yang School has been rooted in the Qin State for many years and has repeatedly shown its prowess in recent years, occupying a place in front of Ying Zheng, Gai Nie, as Ying Zheng's chief bodyguard, rarely deals with the Yin-Yang School.

Because he had once been fortunate enough to receive guidance from a Taoist master, he had a rather mediocre impression of the Yin-Yang School, which had broken away from Taoism, taken an unorthodox path, and deviated from the Great Way.

After Ying Zheng decided to summon Xu Qing, the task of delivering the summons naturally fell to Gai Nie.

He first went to Xu Qing's residence in Xianyang, but surprisingly found it empty. Fortunately, Jing Ni was still in the mansion. From Jing Ni, Gai Nie learned Xu Qing's whereabouts. He had not gone to travel to another country, but had gone to the Yin-Yang School in Lishan.

Left with no other choice, Gai Nie had to change course and head to Mount Li, stepping into the mysterious and unpredictable Yin-Yang School for the first time in his life.

After announcing his purpose at the door, a short while later, a woman with exceptional poise and beautiful features appeared before him.

"Mr. Gai, please follow me." Yan Fei spoke calmly, nodded slightly to Gai Nie, then turned and led Gai Nie into the Yin Yang School.

Gai Nie followed closely behind Yan Fei, glancing around the mysterious sect as he gained a rough understanding of it.

But what he was most curious about was Xu Qing.

At Jingni's place, he only knew that Xu Qing was in the Yin-Yang School, and he thought that Xu Qing was just a guest. But now it seems that things are not as simple as he thought.

Although Gai Nie had little contact with Yan Fei, he knew that she was the Eastern Lord of the Yin Yang School, whose strength was unfathomable and far beyond that of ordinary masters.

Following Yan Fei's lead, Gai Nie finally arrived at the gate of the Yin Yang Family Palace.

“Mr. Gai, we’ve arrived. The person you want to see is inside.” In front of the Bronze Palace gate, Yan Fei stopped and gestured to the side.

Gai Nie nodded slightly and cupped his hands to Yan Fei, saying, "Thank you, Miss."

After saying that, he stepped forward and was about to push open the heavy bronze door when a slight mechanical sound suddenly rang out. The bronze door opened slowly and automatically, revealing a passage leading into the hall.