If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1032 The Great Dragon of Huaiyin
Xiaoyu has recently transformed into the aura of the Ancestral Dragon, practicing the "benevolent way of a stepmother" in various counties and prefectures in the southeast.

They have been constantly burrowing into the earth's veins and water veins, rarely returning to the surface, and even less often seeing people, so they are much less informed.

The news she heard about Guanzhong mainly came from conversations among the local people in the prefecture.

It's been delayed a lot.

Ordinary people didn't react much to the return of the military commander.

During the reign of Emperor Renhuang, military commanders would lead their personal guards on expeditions from the Central Plains to various regions; it was common for them to return victorious and flaunt their military might.

The common people had long been accustomed to it and did not realize that the return of the East Sea Navy Marquis this time had an unusual significance.

“I’ve been away from Xianyang for two months now. The first batch of military commanders should enter Shenzhou within half a month. Now, 150,000 troops have arrived in Guanzhong. The speed is not slow, nor is it too urgent,” Xiaoyu said.

The Divine Mace Protector stared into her eyes. "I don't believe you can't understand what it means for 150,000 proud and fierce soldiers to enter Xianyang."

Xiaoyu laughed and said, "Why do you think I don't know and need you to remind me?"

If I hadn't known, I would have been instigated by Wei Liaozi to actively vie for the position of 'Grand Tutor Gu,' fight to the death with Li Si, suppress Prime Minister Feng, kill Lao Ai with a single sword stroke, banish Empress Dowager Zhao to the cold palace, and support Prince Gao to ascend the throne.

I will become Grand Tutor, striving to control the military and political power of the court and become the "Prime Minister" of Qin.

Then, without my knowledge, the forces opposing me secretly united and summoned the Great Wall Legion, the Baiyue Legion, the Eastern Navy Legion, and the Western Regions Legion, along with a large number of military commanders and hundreds of thousands of troops, to Guanzhong to defend the emperor.

Then, I used my great supernatural powers to fight to the death with hundreds of thousands of elite Qin soldiers who had lived since the reign of Emperor Renhuang. The battle was so fierce that the sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and blood flowed like rivers in Xianyang, with corpses piled up everywhere.

Finally, after I finished the internal strife, panting heavily, all six states in Shandong had been restored to their former status and had even formed a coalition army to arrive at Hangu Pass.

Even though I was exhausted, I still had to lead the remaining troops to the battlefield.

He fought a fierce battle with the dragon who possessed the destiny of heaven. In the end, he was defeated and fled westward in panic with his son, Gao, living in constant fear.

There wasn't even time to pack up the 'Qin Dynasty treasures' that couldn't fit in ten thousand carts.

God help me, I don't have the time or energy to process them.

Entering the treasure mountain empty-handed, one might not even make it back to Xiniu Hezhou alive.

The sins of killing are too great; they deserve divine retribution.

The Divine Mace Protector gaped, his expression blank.

Xiao Yu sighed, “My enemies came to Xianyang to pull strings for me, making me the Grand Tutor of Qin, and encouraging me to fight for power and profit.”

They bewitched me, saying I was born a saint and that once I became the 'Grand Tutor of Antiquity,' I would surely lead the Qin Dynasty to turn the tide.
Everything they did had only one purpose—to make the above scenario my reality.

They eagerly anticipated, silently calculated, and secretly pushed forward.

But I'm not stupid.

I understand what I want and what I can do, as well as what others are thinking and what they can do.

I only pursue what I need; I can't be bothered with anything else that's meaningless.

Taibao's expression was complicated. He said, "You left Xianyang to come to the southeast to inspect the earth's veins, just to avoid the chaos in Xianyang?"

Xiaoyu shook her head and said, "Whether I follow other people's rhythm or deliberately go against their rhythm, it's not my own rhythm."

I didn't intend to avoid anything, nor did I intend to participate in anything.

I'm just seizing the opportunity and making the most of the time to pursue what I want.

Inspecting the southeastern region is something I enjoy doing now. The rewards I reap are beyond your wildest imagination.

Taibao sighed, "I was worried about you before, but now it seems that you are the most clear-headed and rational one."

Sigh, they even called you stinking dog shit, and 'Shen Gongbao'.

"I feel you're completely unaffected by the calamity's aura; on the contrary, they're jumping around as if the calamity's aura has entered their brains."

Xiaoyu said, "Don't think about calamities or great tribulations. Just follow your heart and live each day to the fullest."

Whatever the outcome, at least now and in the future, I have no regrets.

If this is achieved, there will be no difference between a cataclysmic disaster and a peaceful, prosperous era.

Taibao's eyes were complicated as he said, "You still need to be careful about two things. First, Lao Ai is trying to bribe various military commanders; I don't know what he's up to."

You deliberately distanced yourself from the Empress Dowager some time ago, and she has already held a grudge against you. The Empress Dowager also dislikes you.

In addition, more than fifty True Immortals are vying with you for the position of 'Grand Tutor of Qin'.

Some of them came from overseas fairy islands, their identities and origins were not very clear, but they had various military commanders as guarantors.

There were also extraordinary people recruited by Li Si and Lao Ai, including seven or eight Daoist masters.

I really don't know how they convinced those real people.

Xiao Yu laughed and asked, "Have those fifty-odd True Immortals entered the Imperial Observatory?"

Taibao said, "They went to the Heavenly Emperor's Palace to inquire about the True Form Map and went to the Qinling Mountains to look for the Nine Cauldrons."

The celestial master of the Imperial Observatory kept them outside, saying only that they would talk when they returned.

"You're truly amazing. In just over a month, you've managed to subdue that group of proud Celestial Masters from orthodox Xuanmen lineages, making them all completely convinced of your abilities."

Xiao Yu said smugly, "Believe it or not, when I return to Xianyang, those dozens of True Immortals will be completely convinced of my abilities and willingly serve me."

Tai Bao shook his head firmly, "If I believed you, I would be a complete idiot."

"We'll see!" Xiaoyu said confidently, then asked, "What does Lao Ai have to offer to bribe the military commander? Are they short of money and power?"

Taibao asked, "Have you ever seen the Emperor's treasury? It's not a secret treasury for storing secret treasures, books, and manuals, but a treasure vault."

During the reign of Emperor Renhuang, various military commanders fought in all directions, plundering wherever they went.

The finest treasures were all sent to Xianyang and placed under the Emperor's ownership.

Those of the next rank were rewarded by the emperor with titles and honors bestowed upon high-ranking officials and nobles in the court.

Only after waiting a second time was the military officer rewarded.

Do you think Lao Ai could bribe them?
Besides treasures, there are also 'titles'.

They are now being granted marquis titles based solely on their military achievements.

Military commanders only command troops in battle; they find it difficult to even establish their own government or state.

Lao Ai, however, could grant them their wishes with a single appointment.

To date, seven military commanders have received a personal promise from Queen Dowager Zhao—that if they achieve great merit in the upcoming campaign to quell the rebellion, they may be granted the title of king or even have their own kingdoms established.

Xiao Yu said, "Establish a country in Dongsheng Shenzhou? Isn't that still a barbarian country? What's the point?"

Taibao shook his head and said, "It's not necessarily a barbarian country."

Xiao Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Has Empress Dowager Zhao gone mad? There isn't even a single 'Ying' clan prince in the entire land."

In her previous life, a major reason for the downfall of the Qin Dynasty was that Ying Zheng insisted on implementing the prefecture-county system.

The prefecture-county system was certainly advanced.

But it's too advanced.

A minister once advised Ying Zheng to enfeoff his sons in various regions, establish their own kingdoms, and suppress the surrounding areas on behalf of the Xianyang court.

Ying Zheng refused, but Li Si even supported him in implementing the prefecture-county system.

Therefore, Qin Shi Huang had many descendants, but none of them survived.

They were all in Xianyang, wiped out in one fell swoop... uh, wiped out in one fell swoop by Hu Hai.

Having no power or troops, killing them is as simple as slaughtering chickens and pigs.

Liu Laosan's Han dynasty also followed the Qin system, but in the early stages, a large number of people with the surname Liu were enfeoffed as kings.

Those Liu-surname kings later brought much trouble to the Western Han Dynasty. However, at the beginning of the dynasty, they did indeed stabilize the country for the imperial family.

"There were indeed no kings of different surnames in China before, but didn't Lao Ai set a 'good precedent'?"

Taibao sighed, "Even if you are not enfeoffed as kings in Shenzhou, but your fiefdom is located in Dongsheng Shenzhou, it will still be very attractive to you military lords."

This would be a huge blow to the imperial court.

They were previously military commanders.

They themselves, along with their personal guard, belonged to the Great Qin; they were generals and soldiers of the court, and the court had nurtured them.

Once a fiefdom is established outside, it will be like the Western Shu in the Shifting Sands region.

Should the Western Shu Luye Guard pledge allegiance to the Qin Dynasty or listen to the King of Shu?

Once a military commander establishes a state abroad, it means that the elite troops that the emperor has spent enormous resources and endless effort to cultivate will be lost in a single day and become the military commander's private army.

They are just not very obedient now, but in name they still belong to the Great Qin.

If General Meng Tian were recalled and allowed several years to gradually reorganize the army, he would definitely be able to subdue the eight regional military commanders again.

Once a king is enfeoffed and a kingdom is established, the imperial court loses its legitimacy. To conquer, the only option is through war.

Hearing the regret and sorrow in his tone, Xiaoyu disagreed and said, "The Ying clan will eventually migrate west; what is meant to be lost will be lost sooner or later."

Taibao said with a strange expression, "With these dozens of military commanders and more than 100,000 elite troops, who in the Divine Land can rival us?"
You were inspecting the rebellion in the southeast; you should have seen their reactions to this matter, right?

Are there any signs that the rebels are about to launch an attack?

Xiao Yu said, "If dozens of military commanders can defy fate and change destiny, will the Great Qin still lose its Mandate of Heaven?"

Taibao nodded slightly and said, "That makes sense. I just can't understand how the rebels, with their current strength, could possibly defeat the elite troops of the Great Qin."

You're not the only one inspecting the southeast.

The immortals of the Dao Palace also investigated various forces.

No one understood how this situation would evolve.

From sand table simulations to divination and spirit writing, the same conclusion was reached—once the Qin Dynasty truly took action, it would surely sweep away all resistance.

"Why should a spirit official like you care about this? Go back!" Xiao Yu said.

Taibao glanced at her and said, "I am a spirit official, I have no reason or ability to care about this."

But you are the Grand Tutor of Qin, and you've been busy in the southeast for several months. What insights have you gained?

Xiao Yu asked, "Did Master Yumen ask you to ask this?"

Taibao shook his head and said, "He didn't ask, but I also have many relatives and friends."

In casual conversations, they feel that since someone is your friend, they should know more about your background.

Xiaoyu laughed and said, "Alright, I'll tell you some inside information so you can show off a bit in front of your relatives and friends."

“That’s not what I meant,” Taibao quickly replied.

"Do you want to hear the inside story?" Xiaoyu asked.

"Okay, you say."

Xiao Yu said, "I have found the real dragon."

Taibao was shocked: "Is it the dragon vein of the true Son of Heaven?"

“Not only the dragon vein, but even their identities have been confirmed,” Xiaoyu said.

Taibao asked in surprise, "Who is it?"

"I've revealed a secret, so don't go spreading it around." Xiaoyu suppressed a laugh and said mysteriously, "I've found hundreds of dragon veins, but there's only one true dragon. The emperor is in the Jing family! A certain disciple of the Jing family has the bearing of an emperor."

"Is it the Jing family of the Mi clan, the former royal family of Chu?" the Grand Protector asked.

"Yes, there is an aura of an emperor in the southeast, and it should be found in them. The one who will restore the Great Chu will surely be a prodigy from the Jing family," Xiaoyu said, feigning profundity.

After tricking the Divine Mace Protector away, Xiaoyu continued to cause trouble around Sishui County.

Unblocking the earth's veins and water veins doesn't simply mean treating them like water pipes or gas pipes from her past life and clearing away the blockages.

She is also building a "2.0 new pattern of China's geomorphic veins" with the Qinling Mountains as the core.

This is equivalent to "upgrading and renovating the water, electricity, gas infrastructure of old residential areas".

After the transformation was completed, when Xiaoyu possessed the Qinling Ancestral Dragon again, he was able to sense the landscape of various parts of China more accurately and clearly.

For example, before she came to the Southeast, the chaotic evil energy in the earth's veins had accumulated to the point that it could trigger a magnitude 4 earthquake, which she could not foresee in advance using only the Qinling dragon vein.

Only by using the "General Map of the Mountains and Rivers of Kyushu" can one detect where an earthquake will occur.

Whether it was the earlier magnitude 6 earthquake north of the Jing River or the chaotic accumulation of silt in the Shu region, both were detected through the "General Map of Mountains and Rivers" of the Weather Bureau. Then, Xiao Yu went to the Qinling Mountains to indirectly regulate the flow of the earth's veins with the Qi of the Ancestral Dragon.

Once the "2.0 Divine Land Vein" transformation is complete, she can even discard the "General Map of Mountains and Rivers" and even abandon the "True Form Map of the Four Rivers and Five Sacred Mountains," directly taking the Qinling Dragon Vein as the "brain" of the Nine Provinces.

How could the "mind" not perceive or control the limbs and bones?
Unfortunately, the Qin Dynasty is now in its final stages, and she has arrived too late.

If a rebel were to seize territory and establish a royal court, she might lose her "territorial rights" again.

Even though the "shelf life" is too short, Xiaoyu still diligently fulfills her "stepmother responsibilities".

They not only upgraded and renovated the "old residential area," but also maintained each of the dragon veins, arranging various "pillar techniques" that fit the terrain.

She wasn't trying to curry favor with the rebels or make connections with her future soulmate in advance.

She was simply fulfilling the responsibilities that the First Emperor had not yet completed.

Dragon veins are the essence and core of the earth.

It's like the earth has gained an extra organ.

Shattering these internal organs would cause enormous damage to the land of China.

Xiao Yu now had a very strong feeling: if the barbarians were to invade China in the future, or even if the barbarian tribes were to take over the Central Plains, it would be because too many of the dragon veins of the Nine Provinces had died, and the "divinity" and "essence" of the Divine Land had been completely lost, leaving it too weak to suppress the great dragons of the surrounding barbarian tribes.

The Ancestral Dragon is not a dragon vein; the Ancestral Dragon has the responsibility of being the "Earth Mother."

However, Da Qin had always been the "stepmother of Disney princesses".

What Xiaoyu is doing now is simply what she should do.

It is a duty that should be fulfilled, and it is not even qualified to be called "compensation".

Providing additional benefits is what constitutes compensation. Giving others what they deserve is merely fulfilling an obligation.

After another half month of turmoil, and still not knowing if there was any progress on the side of Guangfu Wang E, Xiaoyu went to Pei County for a quick look before leaving Sishui County. Qiushui was still Lu Wan's wife and there had been no accident.

Then she continued southeast, entered Donghai County, and went to Huaiyin.

"Damn it, who did this? Such a huge dragon has already been dug up?!"

Upon entering Huaiyin, Xiaoyu was shocked and angered to discover that a thick and desolate atmosphere permeated the land.

She was very familiar with this aura; it was the "deathly aura" and "resentment" emanating from the corpses of the dragon vein.

In the Qinling Mountains, there is nothing but this dead dragon aura.

Now, the land beneath Huaiyin is also filled with this dragon energy, in considerable quantity and of very high quality.

It is two or three times larger than the "dragon" of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, and should be an "emperor-level dragon vein".

But now it has been dug up.

(End of this chapter)