Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Ying Zheng spoke in a deep voice.

Even before assuming personal rule, Ying Zheng had the world in his heart and was well-versed in the situations of various states. The "Nightfall" organization of Han and the great general Ji Wuye, who rose to power through a fortuitous encounter, were both recorded in the secret records of Qin.

"The state of Han is weak, and Ji Wuye is not a particularly loyal minister or general. However, his story of rising to power is quite intriguing." Xu Qing slowly recounted, his tone calm and even. "This man came from humble beginnings, starting as a retainer and climbing step by step to become the Grand General of Han. His journey can be considered legendary."

"In the past, when the State of Chu attacked the State of Han, Han was on the verge of destruction. At this critical moment, Ji Wuye stepped forward and volunteered to fight, leading 8,000 soldiers to meet the 100,000-strong army of Chu. By all accounts, he had no chance of winning, but luck was on his side. At that time, a general of Chu suddenly died of a violent illness, leaving the Chu army leaderless and in chaos. Han was thus able to win a narrow victory, and Ji Wuye became known as the God of War in Han because of this battle."

Xu Qing's tone suddenly changed, and his gaze fell on Ying Zheng's face as he slowly said, "Coincidentally, the opponent that Qin is facing now is also Chu."

Ying Zheng was exceptionally intelligent. Combining what Xu Qing had said earlier with this seemingly unrelated story, an idea suddenly struck him. His expression turned serious and urgent as he looked at Xu Qing, and he leaned forward to ask, "What brilliant plan do you have, sir? Please speak frankly!"

"It's just some personal opinion," Xu Qing said calmly.

Although he had previously offered many analyses, those were rather general strategies and not personal opinions. They were simply tailored to the specific problems based on the military report given to him by Ying Zheng.

Next, he shared his own thoughts.

"The State of Chu is an extremely complex country. In the past, King Dao of Chu also tried to implement reforms, but in the end, he failed. As a result, even the king could not have absolute authority within the State of Chu. Those who truly controlled all walks of life in Chu and influenced the situation of Chu were always the deeply rooted nobles."

"It is precisely because the noble forces are deeply entrenched and each has their own agenda that political upheavals are so frequent in the State of Chu. From Huang Xie to Li Yuan, and now to the new ruler Fu Chu, the rulers of the State of Chu have changed several times in just a few years. But no matter how the ruler changes or how the prime minister changes, those nobles are always the biggest beneficiaries, and their foundations remain unshaken."

"But people are inherently selfish. Even these noble families who share the same interests are not a monolithic group. There are disputes and misunderstandings among them. Now, only because Qin's attack on Chu threatens their common interests, these nobles have temporarily put aside their differences and worked together to elect a general who is widely respected. That general is Xiang Yan."

Xu Qing paused for a moment, then added, "Xiang Yan is indeed a talented general, deeply loved by the people and soldiers of Chu, and enjoys a very high reputation. He is also capable of leading the Chu army to contend with the Qin state."

At this point, a profound look flashed in his eyes as he slowly revealed his core thought: "If he were to die suddenly like that Chu general who led the campaign against Han years ago, I wonder if the powerful nobles of Chu, each with their own agendas, would be able to choose another general whom everyone would agree upon?"

Chapter 348 Each Using Their Own Methods

War is something that will stop at nothing to achieve its goals.

As Xu Qing finished speaking, a brief silence fell over Zhangtai Palace. As the candlelight flickered, Ying Zheng's gaze gradually sharpened from solemn to intense, and the caressing of his fingertips abruptly ceased.

He was incredibly intelligent and instantly grasped the unspoken meaning behind Xu Qing's words. Breaking the deadlock and dismantling the alliance of Chu nobles through assassination, without expending a large army, was far more efficient than a direct confrontation.

For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly thought of the assassination attempt that Yan State had carried out against him that day.

To be fair, those people were indeed capable, managing to bring the assassins right in front of him.

Unfortunately, the assassin's skills were not very good, and the assassination attempt ultimately ended in failure.

However, if successful, coupled with the presence of treacherous officials like Lord Changping within the Qin state, chaos in Qin would be inevitable.

The same is true now.

Xiang Yan's ability to become a general of Chu was the result of a compromise between many nobles and the King of Chu. Within the territory of Chu, only Xiang Yan had the ability to command a large army, and his prestige and ability were among the reasons.

But what if such a person dies?

Even if the State of Chu is able to select a new general, it will still take some time. This time may not be long, but it will still give Wang Jian's army at the front a better chance of survival.

After all, what the Qin state lacks now is time.

Whether it's suppressing the rebellion, opening new supply routes, or rushing to Wang Jian's aid, all of these tasks require time.

"Your insight is brilliant, sir!"

Ying Zheng quickly praised Xu Qing, saying, "Your words have enlightened me greatly!"

Xu Qing showed no pride, calmly saying, "These are just my humble opinions."

"Your Majesty will need to consider the specific personnel for these matters."

"That's natural!" Ying Zheng nodded.

Because of the urgency of the matter in Huaiyang, Ying Zheng did not have much time to entertain Xu Qing. After a brief meeting, Xu Qing left Zhangtai Palace again under the escort of Gai Nie.

Not long after Xu Qing left, another person arrived at the palace.

"Your subject Zhao Gao greets Your Majesty."

The newcomer was dressed in a black official robe, had dark red hair, and a gloomy, pale face. He was Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office. In addition to being in charge of Ying Zheng's carriage, Zhao Gao was also favored by Ying Zheng and was in charge of the Qin state's sharpest weapon, the "Net" organization.

"Zhao Gao, do you know why I summoned you here?" Ying Zheng sat upright behind the table. After Xu Qing left, he resumed his imperial demeanor, appearing extremely cold.

Zhao Gao raised his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them, and slowly said, "I suspect that Your Majesty summoned me here because of the war at the front and wants to get the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) to help."

As the most secretive assassin organization in the Qin state, Luo Wang was an all-encompassing, all-pervasive network that had lurked in the shadows of the seven states for many years. It recruited desperate prisoners and wandering swordsmen, and after brutal training, they became the sharpest hidden blades in the hands of the Qin state, dedicated to eliminating the emperor's greatest threats. In the past, Ying Zheng granted Luo Wang many privileges, allowing them to defy Qin laws and kill without consequence, all to prepare them for use today.

"You are quite insightful." Ying Zheng's tone was calm, yet carried immense weight. "Xiang Yan commands the entire Chu army and enjoys the deep affection of the people. Now, with the upheaval in Huaiyang, Wang Jian's army's retreat has been temporarily cut off, and on the front lines, facing him is none other than Xiang Yan. Today, I order you to dispatch the elite of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) to Chu immediately to assassinate Xiang Yan! No matter the cost, you must take his head and shatter the morale of the Chu army!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao felt a chill run down his spine.

Assassinating the enemy commander amidst a vast army is an extremely difficult task.

But since Ying Zheng had made such a request, Zhao Gao naturally couldn't say that it was impossible to do so.

After all, this was an opportunity he had been waiting for.

Although Ying Zheng didn't say anything openly about the peasant matter, Zhao Gao was able to keenly sense that Ying Zheng didn't seem to trust him as much after that. Even though he could always understand the emperor's intentions immediately, there was a barrier between him and Ying Zheng, which was not a good thing for Zhao Gao.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Zhao Gao quickly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the top-ranking assassins of the Luo Wang are already on standby. They will certainly not fail in their mission, and will take Xiang Yan's head and present it to Your Majesty."

"I hope you keep your word!" Ying Zheng gave Zhao Gao a deep look, then dismissed him.

……

Meanwhile, on the front lines in Chu, smoke filled the air, and the stalemate seemed insurmountable.

Wang Jian led 300,000 Qin troops, but was besieged by Xiang Yan's Chu army in the heart of Chu territory. The camp's food supplies were running low, and the soldiers could only eat wild vegetables and fruits to fill their stomachs, and their morale was declining day by day.

Scouts sent out to gather intelligence on the supply routes kept disappearing without a trace. The grain transport teams deployed by Ying Zheng were delayed due to the rebellion of Chen Ying. In this desperate situation, even the veteran general Wang Jian, who had been through many battles, couldn't help but frown.

The tent was dimly lit. Wang Jian held a map in his hand, his fingertips tracing the mountains and rivers of Chu, his expression solemn.

The lieutenant bowed and pleaded, "General, our supplies are running low, and the Chu army is besieging us tightly. If we continue to hold our ground and do not come out, we may not be able to hold out for more than half a month. We should fight to the death to break out, and perhaps there will still be a glimmer of hope!"

Wang Jian slowly shook his head, a trace of composure and wisdom flashing in his eyes: "No. The Chu army is numerous and occupies the terrain. If our army breaks out now, it will inevitably suffer heavy casualties, which will not outweigh the gains. At present, our food supplies are running out and there is no sign of reinforcements. If we simply hold our ground and wait for reinforcements, the day our food supplies run out will be the day our army is destroyed. If we sit and wait for death, there will only be one way out."

He stared at the map, a resolute glint suddenly flashing in his eyes: "The Book of Woqi says that the form of a guerrilla army is to move suddenly and remain still, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak. The only plan now is to abandon defense and attack, divide our troops into multiple routes, harass the enemy with guerrilla warfare, and feed the enemy, so that the State of Chu will be thrown into chaos! Only in chaos can we find an opportunity to break out and wait for reinforcements and supplies."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Wang Jian summoned his generals and issued military orders. He divided his 300,000-strong army into several elite squads, each with several thousand men, led by capable generals. They were to break out of the encirclement and launch a rapid march within the territory of Chu, avoiding the main force of the Chu army. They were to raid the granaries and counties of Chu, seize supplies, and harass the rear of the Chu army. Their aim was not to annihilate the enemy, but only to disrupt the situation in Chu and make it difficult for Xiang Yan to attend to both ends.

Despite being exhausted, the Qin soldiers were greatly encouraged by the military order and went to carry it out.

In a short time, several Qin army squads, like sharp blades, quietly broke through the Chu army's weak defenses and dispersed to various parts of Chu to carry out guerrilla warfare.

They raided the Chu army's grain camps by day and attacked by night, burning grain and looting counties. Wherever they went, the people of Chu were filled with fear, and the Chu army's supply lines were severely damaged.

When the news reached Xiang Yan's central command tent, Xiang Yan flew into a rage, sweeping the bamboo slips off the table and shouting, "That old scoundrel Wang Jian, how dare he act like this!"

His face was ashen, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "I swear to capture him and tear him to pieces to appease the people of Chu!"

Xiang Yan knew that Wang Jian's move, though seemingly crazy, was actually ingenious.

Once the Chu region falls into chaos, the Chu army's food and supplies will become unsustainable, while the Qin army can rely on the enemy for food, catch its breath, and may even take the opportunity to break out.

More importantly, if Wang Jian's main force cannot be found as soon as possible, and the Qin army is allowed to run rampant in Chu, those Chu nobles who already harbored ulterior motives will inevitably become dissatisfied and may even turn against him.

Immediately, Xiang Yan adjusted his deployment, leaving some troops behind to continue besieging the Qin army's original camp. He pretended that the main force had not moved, but in reality, he personally led his elite troops to secretly track down Wang Jian's main force.

He issued an order that no matter the cost, even if it meant abandoning some cities, they must find Wang Jian, capture him in one fell swoop, and completely thwart the Qin army's offensive.

Xiang Yan was known for his love and care for his soldiers, which won him the hearts of the people and soldiers of Chu. His officers and soldiers were all willing to fight to the death. Upon receiving the military order, they immediately dispersed and launched a carpet search within the territory of Chu.

However, Wang Jian acted with extreme caution. His main force constantly moved between the mountains and rivers of Chu, their whereabouts unpredictable. Sometimes they would raid the Chu army's grain camps, and sometimes they would hide in the mountains and forests. Xiang Yan's elite troops pursued them for several days, but they were unable to find any trace of them. Instead, they were harassed by the Qin army's guerrilla squads and became exhausted.

Just as Xiang Yan was searching for Wang Jian's main force, danger was quietly approaching.

The assassins from Luo Wang, following Zhao Gao's orders, rushed to the State of Chu day and night, and then silently infiltrated Xiang Yan's army.

The first wave of assassinations occurred late at night.

A Luo Wang assassin, disguised as a Chu army scout, stealthily infiltrated Xiang Yan's tent under the cover of night. His short blade gleamed coldly as he thrust it straight at Xiang Yan's heart.

Just as the short blade was about to touch Xiang Yan's clothes, a figure suddenly appeared, and a long sword in his hand accurately parried the short blade with a crisp "clang" sound, sparks flying everywhere.

"There are assassins!"

Upon hearing the commotion, the guards outside the tent rushed in and instantly surrounded the tent.

Xiang Yan sat calmly at the table, as if he had anticipated the assassination attempt and showed no sign of panic.

He raised his eyes to look at the assassin from the Luo Wang organization, his tone icy: "Ying Zheng sent you? The Luo Wang organization's methods are nothing special."

Seeing that the assassination attempt had failed, a ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the assassin from Luo Wang. He lunged forward again with his blade, but was killed by the combined efforts of the guards around Xiang Yan.

But this was just the beginning. In the following days, Xiang Yan was assassinated several more times.

Some tried to poison the food, some lurked outside the tents and secretly shot arrows; some even infiltrated the guards to launch a sneak attack.

However, Xiang Yan was prepared. He knew that as the commander of the Chu army, he was a thorn in the side of the Qin state and would inevitably be assassinated. Moreover, in his secret contact with Lord Changping, Lord Changping had already told him about the true nature of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven).

As the former Lord Changping, the Right Chancellor of Qin, he held a high position and great power. Although he did not take charge of the Luo Wang organization like Lü Buwei had in the past, it was not a problem for him to obtain some of the Luo Wang's secret intelligence.

As a weapon of Qin, the net secretly carried out many missions, and Lord Changping, considering the overall situation, naturally took it into account.

Assassination, though a despicable method, is a very effective tactic and should not be ignored.

With Changping Jun's reminder and his own awareness, Xiang Yan took his own safety very seriously. He knew he bore a heavy responsibility and absolutely could not afford to be harmed. If something happened to him, no one would be able to cooperate with Changping Jun to save the State of Chu.

He had already ordered the defense of the central command tent to be strengthened. Everyone who approached him had to undergo multiple checks, and the guards were on duty day and night, with strict security, making the entire central command tent impenetrable.

Even a powerful force like Luo Wang would be helpless in this situation.

Ultimately, while the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) is infamous, it is not as powerful as one might imagine. If it could truly kill whomever it wanted, Qin would not have gone to such great lengths to conquer Han, Zhao, and Wei. They wouldn't have even needed to mobilize a large army to attack cities and fortresses; they could have simply had the Luo Wang kill the important figures of those states.

Although the top-ranking members of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) are all experts, they are not as high-level as one might imagine, when compared to the rest of the world.

In the past, they had a fearsome reputation for two reasons: first, they were backed by the powerful Qin state; second, they were hidden in the shadows. Because their true strength was unknown, they were like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, ready to devour anyone at any moment, which made them all the more terrifying.

However, if one takes precautions, even a supposedly all-pervasive net will find it difficult to find an opportunity.

Take the assassination attempt on Lord Xinling by the Luo Wang organization back then, for example. It took a great deal of effort, even having Jing Ni, a top-tier female warrior, disguise herself as a courtesan to get close to Lord Xinling. Moreover, the assassination involved a lot of planning and was only successful thanks to Xu Qing's sword. Otherwise, it would have taken even longer.

Furthermore, Xuan Jian's assassination attempt on the Wei general was fraught with danger. Although he succeeded, the real reason for the Wei general's death was the King of Wei's wine, which broke the general's weakness. Otherwise, Xuan Jian would never have been able to succeed.

Even so, Xuan Jian was also seriously injured.

It is clear that assassination by the Luo Wang organization is not an easy task, especially when the Luo Wang organization is hidden in the shadows and no one else is aware of it.

Now, Xiang Yan had long been on guard against the trap, and naturally, she would not let them succeed.

"A bunch of rats hiding in the gutter. If they hadn't shown themselves, so be it. But since they dare to show themselves, this general wouldn't mind executing them one by one!"

Xiang Yan's words revealed his disdain for Luo Wang.