Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Through the open doors, one can vaguely see the shimmering light and myriad wonders within the central palace.

Gai Nie's gaze was fixed, his expression unchanged, and he steadily stepped forward into the central palace.

Just as his figure completely entered the hall, the bronze door behind him slowly closed again, isolating him from all outside sounds.

But Gai Nie didn't care about any of that, because the scene inside the palace had already made him feel awe.

Although the dome has been carefully repaired, and the repairs are intended to match the original dome patterns, subtle differences at the joints are still clearly visible. These are not the result of ordinary wear and tear, but rather scars left by a powerful force tearing the dome apart. There is even a faint trace of energy remaining in the air, which, though faint, is enough to suggest the terrifying intensity of the battle that took place that day. It was not a duel between ordinary experts, but a clash between top-tier powerhouses.

The floor of the central palace was not paved with the brocade or bluestone of ordinary palaces, but rather with exposed, warm jade, covered with crisscrossing grooves. These grooves varied in depth; some were like sharp blades, with clean, sharp lines; others were like flowing water, warm and long; still others resembled stars, concealing hidden mysteries. Even after repairs, these grooves remained clearly discernible, not deliberately erased.

Gai Nie's gaze narrowed slightly. Upon closer inspection, he realized that these Dao marks were not left unintentionally during the battle. Each one contained the essence of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, clearly indicating that someone had deliberately created them.

Given time, as the Daoist traces become more and more ingrained, this arrangement may very well become a sacred place for Yin-Yang School disciples to comprehend the Great Dao and refine their cultivation.

In comparison, the swirling, shimmering light within the central palace seemed utterly insignificant.

However, what Gai Nie cared about most was the figure sitting on the high platform.

The original nine-story platform was severely damaged in the previous battle between Xu Qing and Donghuang Taiyi. Although Xu Qing had the dome repaired in recent days, he did not restore the nine-story platform, leaving it in a dilapidated state.

But it is precisely this dilapidation that adds to the unfathomable and detached air about the figure sitting cross-legged on it.

The moment he saw that figure, Gai Nie's eyes narrowed sharply.

Before coming to the Yin Yang School, he only knew from Jing Ni that Xu Qing was there, so he assumed that Xu Qing was just a guest. But now that he saw it with his own eyes, that thought vanished instantly.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at Xu Qing sitting on the high platform, calm and composed, he doesn't seem like a guest at all; he seems more like the master of this central palace, or even the entire Yin-Yang School.

"Mr. Gai."

Meeting Gai Nie's intense gaze, Xu Qing, standing calmly on the high platform, slowly rose to his feet.

With a single step, he appeared beside Gai Nie like a ghost, his tone calm: "Sir, you have come from afar, you must be tired."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie immediately turned to look at Xu Qing and said calmly, "The journey from Xianyang to Lishan is not far and not arduous. However, I never expected that Mr. Xu would be hiding in this Yin-Yang School."

Knowing that Gai Nie had doubts, Xu Qing explained calmly, "Some time ago, some changes occurred in the Yin Yang School, and the position of leader changed hands. I have some connection with the Yin Yang School, and with the recommendation of the members of the Yin Yang School, I reluctantly took over the position of leader of the Yin Yang School temporarily."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie's heart sank.

Xu Qing spoke casually, but he came from Ghost Valley, had exceptional insight, and his martial arts skills were among the best in the world. How could he not see the clues?

Combined with the lingering energy within the central palace and the deliberately left traces, there is no doubt that an extremely terrifying battle must have broken out here before, and the change of leadership of the Yin-Yang School must be closely related to that battle.

It was probably that earth-shattering battle that allowed Xu Qing to take control of the Yin-Yang School.

Thinking of this, Gai Nie's gaze towards Xu Qing became more complicated.

Regardless of the details of that battle, Xu Qing's role in becoming the new leader of the Yin-Yang School must have been crucial, far more than he claimed to have done "reluctantly."

Chapter 347 Reunion with Ying Zheng, A Way to Break the Stalemate!

After discussing this trivial "trivial matter," Xu Qing asked Gai Nie, "Mr. Gai, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie immediately gathered his thoughts and said earnestly to Xu Qing, "The upheaval in Huaiyang is alarming. Lord Changping has betrayed Qin. When His Majesty learned of this, he was filled with shock and anger, and he remembered your earlier warning..."

"At this moment, His Majesty wishes to see you, sir!"

Xu Qing was not as quick to learn the news as Ying Zheng.

Especially for such a major event.

If Xu Qing found out faster than Ying Zheng, either the incident occurred closer to where he was, or Ying Zheng was misled.

In the current situation, although Xu Qing is staying in Lishan, Lishan is very close to Xianyang, so it is obviously impossible for the former situation to occur. As for the latter situation, Ying Zheng was indeed deceived by Lord Changping before, otherwise he would not have trusted Lord Changping so much and entrusted him with important responsibilities.

However, after the turmoil in Huaiyang, no matter how skilled Lord Changping was, it was impossible to completely keep everything under wraps.

Now that he was no longer being deceived, Ying Zheng would naturally receive the message quickly.

Naturally, Xu Qing only just learned about this.

However, even after he found out, his expression didn't change much, as if everything was within his expectations.

"It seems the King of Qin did not heed my previous warnings," Xu Qing sighed.

Gai Nie also thought of what Xu Qing and Ying Zheng had talked about in Zhangtai Palace.

On that day, not only did the King of Qin, who trusted Lord Changping, not believe what Xu Qing said, but even he, a hidden eavesdropper, felt that Xu Qing's words were somewhat alarmist.

Lord Changping would betray the Qin state? That's a joke.

However, facts speak louder than words.

When news of what happened in Huaiyang reached back, even Ying Zheng had to admit that Xu Qing was right, not to mention Gai Nie.

After hearing Xu Qing's sigh, Gai Nie remained silent.

Xu Qing continued, "The reason why the King of Qin wants to see me at this time is simply because he feels that my warning was correct and is now filled with regret. He wants to find a way to make amends and therefore wants to hear my opinion. In that case, I will go with you to see the King of Qin."

In just a few words, Xu Qing revealed all of Ying Zheng's thoughts.

Gai Nie felt a chill run down his spine, but remained silent.

……

After leaving the central palace and exchanging a few words with Consort Yan, Xu Qing and Gai Nie left the Yin Yang School's mountain gate and sped towards Xianyang City.

Mount Li is not far from Xianyang, and since both of them possessed extraordinary skills, they arrived in Xianyang in less than half an hour.

After entering the city, Gai Nie led Xu Qing directly to Zhangtai Palace, where Ying Zheng was waiting for Xu Qing.

The Zhangtai Palace remained empty and solemn, but compared to the previous rage and clamor, it now carried a more oppressive and somber atmosphere.

Inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, casting Ying Zheng's weary figure on the palace walls in alternating light and shadow. He stopped pacing and sat upright behind a table, his fingertips repeatedly stroking the hilt of the Longevity Sword. His brows were furrowed, and his expression was full of anxiety and regret. He did not even notice the footsteps coming from outside the palace.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Xu has arrived," Gai Nie announced softly, breaking the silence in the hall.

Ying Zheng suddenly looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. Before Xu Qing could speak, he stood up and strode towards the door to personally greet him.

This display of power caught Gai Nie's eye, causing a strange glint to appear in his own eyes.

Although the King of Qin had valued Xu Qing highly before, he had not reached this level.

The last person whom the King of Qin cared about so much was Han Fei.

Unfortunately, Han Fei eventually died.

"Mr. Xu, you've finally arrived!" Ying Zheng's voice trembled slightly, lacking its usual imperial majesty, and instead filled with guilt and urgency. "I was foolish before, failing to heed your advice and misplaced my trust in that traitor Xiong Qi, which led to today's disaster, the fall of Huaiyang, the desperate situation of Wang Jian's 300,000-strong army, and the perilous state of Qin!"

Approaching Xu Qing, Ying Zheng appeared sincere and even bowed to him, saying, "I know I was wrong, and I hope you will forgive me. I also hope you can set aside past grievances and guide me to save Qin and the 300,000 soldiers on the front lines!"

It seems that Ying Zheng is really in a hurry.

However, it is not surprising that the current Right Chancellor directly rebelled against Qin, and Wang Jian's 300,000-strong army was trapped deep within the territory of Chu. If a good countermeasure could not be found, it would be an unbearable pain for Qin.

If we were unaware of it beforehand, that would be one thing.

Ironically, Xu Qing had warned Ying Zheng beforehand, but Ying Zheng himself hadn't taken those warnings to heart.

Now he deeply regrets it, and consequently, Xu Qing's importance in Ying Zheng's mind is repeatedly emphasized.

Seeing Ying Zheng's attitude, Xu Qing quickly stepped aside and said calmly, "Your Majesty is too kind. I was just telling Your Majesty some things I knew, and I didn't do anything else. There's no need for Your Majesty to be so formal."

Despite saying that, he secretly harbored resentment in his heart.

Good heavens, this is quite a show of force. It seems I've become Wang Jian!

He vaguely remembered that in history, Ying Zheng had just blindly trusted Lord Changping, abandoned Wang Jian, and appointed Li Xin as general to attack Chu. In the end, Lord Changping betrayed him on the battlefield, and Li Xin's 200,000-strong army was completely wiped out in Chu. Ying Zheng regretted his actions and personally went to Wang Jian's hometown to apologize and beg Wang Jian to come out of retirement.

Now, things have taken a turn for the worse. Without the story of Li Xin's conquest of Chu, all he did was warn Changping Jun about the problem, and Ying Zheng ended up apologizing to himself instead.

Despite his inner grumbling, Xu Qing's expression remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.

Seeing that he didn't take it to heart, Ying Zheng felt somewhat relieved. He quickly led him to the desk and handed Xu Qing the urgent report from Huaiyang. His tone was urgent yet respectful: "Sir, Huaiyang has fallen, Xiong Qi has rebelled, Wang Jian's army is trapped in Chu territory, and their supplies are cut off. Qin is surrounded by Chu troops on the outside and internal rebellions are spreading. Qin is in a dilemma. I have thought it over and over, and only you, sir, can see the whole picture. Please analyze for me how to break this deadlock."

Xu Qing frowned slightly. Logically speaking, such matters of state should not be asked of him, after all, he was not a court official of Qin.

But since Ying Zheng had already asked, Xu Qing could only try to help him analyze the situation.

As he flipped through the latest urgent report, he said softly, "I have glanced at this report. The current predicament of the Qin state has three core issues: suppressing the rebellion, transporting grain, and sending reinforcements. These three issues are interdependent and indispensable. Only by advancing them simultaneously can we stabilize the overall situation and relieve the siege of Wang Jian's army."

"Firstly, we must quell the rebellion." Xu Qing looked up at Ying Zheng, his tone firm. "Xiong Qi has established himself in Chenying and relies on the power of the old nobles and commoners of Chu. Although he has a great momentum, his foundation is not stable, and most of his rebel army is hastily assembled with varying combat strength. He is not invincible. The key lies in choosing the right general. Chenying has a complex terrain and is supported by the old forces of Chu. We need a wise and brave leader who is skilled in battle and familiar with the terrain of Chu to lead the army."

"At the same time, orders should be sent to nearby counties to maintain strict defenses, prohibit the free movement of former Chu citizens, cut off Xiong Qi's army's manpower and supplies, and send people to appease the Chu people who have been misled by Xiong Qi, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, and clarifying Qin's appeasement policy to undermine the popular support of the rebel army. With this two-pronged approach, the Chen Ying rebellion can be quelled in less than a month, Huaiyang can be recaptured, and the strategic hub for attacking Chu can be regained."

"Secondly, there is the transportation of grain supplies, which is the most urgent matter at present. Wang Jian's 300,000-strong army is trapped in Chu and has run out of food supplies. Every day of delay increases the danger. The Guanzhong region has sufficient grain supplies, which can be requisitioned from Guanzhong immediately. The total amount should be enough to meet the needs of Wang Jian's army for three months. At the same time, two new grain supply routes should be opened."

“One route goes through Guanzhong, Hangu Pass, and Nanyang, detouring to the eastern part of Chu, avoiding the area of ​​Chen Ying’s rebellion, and delivering directly to Wang Jian’s army’s camp; the other route requisitions grain from Bashu and transports it via the Yangtze River, which can both speed up the transportation and diversify the risks, preventing the grain route from being cut off by the Chu army.”

"Thirdly, it was to rush to the aid of Wang Jian's army."

Since Ying Zheng asked Xu Qing for his opinion, Xu Qing made full use of his political acumen and spoke eloquently. He did not recommend any specific generals, but only offered his own solutions.

"...Simply delivering provisions is not enough. The Chu army will surely take advantage of the fact that Wang Jian's army is running out of supplies to launch a full-scale attack. I think we should divide our forces into two routes. One route should be the Chen Ying army that quelled the rebellion. After suppressing the rebellion, a portion of the troops should be sent south to reinforce Wang Jian and tie down the Chu army. The other route should be sent from the north of Chu to harass the Chu army's rear, cut off their supply lines, and force them to send troops back to reinforce the rear, thus creating conditions for relieving Wang Jian's army."

"Of course, the most important thing is still Wang Jian. We can try to send him a message, telling him to consolidate his forces, hold his ground, and not to attack rashly. We should wait for the supplies to be delivered and the reinforcements to arrive before engaging the Chu army in a decisive battle. General Wang Jian is a veteran of many battles, calm and resourceful. As long as we can hold our ground and wait for reinforcements, we will surely be able to wait for a turning point."

After Xu Qing finished speaking his mind, he returned to his usual taciturn self, lowered his eyes and stood aside, quietly waiting for Ying Zheng's response.

After he finished speaking, Ying Zheng remained silent for a moment before slowly opening his mouth, his tone calm: "What you say, sir, is not much different from what I think."

As he spoke, the light in Ying Zheng's eyes dimmed slightly, and his tone was less urgent than before, revealing a hint of disappointment. He had thought he would get a more ingenious and ingenious solution from Xu Qing, but what Xu Qing said, while sound and comprehensive, was largely the same as the countermeasures he and his court officials had discussed, only more concise and without mentioning specific candidates.

Xu Qing naturally noticed that Ying Zheng's enthusiasm had waned.

Therefore, he continued, "The above statements are my views based on the current situation."

"However, there are always some unexpected things in this world, and not everything can happen as smoothly as expected."

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow and asked Xu Qing, "What do you mean by that, sir?"

His first thought was of Changping Jun's betrayal.

He had previously been confident that Lord Changping, stationed in Huaiyang, would be able to handle the logistics and provisions for the army attacking Chu smoothly. However, he never expected that the enemy would betray Qin at the last minute, causing Qin's campaign against Chu to fail and putting the 300,000-strong army at the front line in danger of annihilation. This was the most unexpected and unforeseen accident.

However, this time, Ying Zheng was wrong. What Xu Qing was talking about was not the betrayal of Lord Changping.

"Does Your Majesty remember Ji Wuye, the great general of the former state of Han?" Xu Qing asked Ying Zheng, mentioning an old friend.

Ji Wuye is truly an old friend from a very long time ago.

After the name reached Ying Zheng's ears, it took him a while to remember who it was.

"I've heard a little about it!"