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

Chapter 1497 Hu Hai, the False Holy Emperor, Having Mastered Divine Skills

Just like last year, Xiaoyu brought Sister Peony to Xianyang to celebrate the Lunar New Year; and just like last year, on the eve of Lunar New Year's Eve, Grand Tutor Yu wove a dream, using the technique of "building bridges" in dreams to pull the kings of the Ying clan, as well as their close ministers, into the "Dream of the Conference Room".

The second group of guests consisted of Hu Hai, Li Si, and others from the Xingyang court.

The former King Ying did not need Grand Tutor Yu to act as a bridge; they were ghosts who could send messages in dreams, and naturally, they could enter dreams as well. Grand Tutor Yu gave the City God Ying Qian a heads-up beforehand, and brought the old ghosts over himself.

Compared to last year, there are even more old ghosts attending the Transmigrator Conference this year.

Grand Tutor Yu also saw an old ghost whose limbs and neck had obvious gaps from its body.

The old man, with his tall hat and wide belt, was slender and had a simple, ancient face. He could be described as elegant and extraordinary.

Moreover, his attire was similar to Li Si's, and the ceremonial objects he wore were similar to those of Grand Tutor Yu.

Upon noticing that Grand Tutor Yu was staring at him, the old man gracefully bowed and said, "Grand Tutor Yu, Wei Yang greets you."

"Oh, so it's Chief Minister Shang Wei. Please take a seat!" Grand Tutor Yu suddenly realized, his expression very solemn, as if he was not surprised at all by the image of his limbs being separated from his torso.

She also secretly glanced at Ying Qian out of the corner of her eye.

The culprit who caused Shang Yang to be torn apart by five horses was Ying Qian!

At the beginning of Shang Yang's reforms, Ying Qian strongly supported him. However, Shang Yang's enforcement of the law was too harsh; even the crown prince was punished according to the law. But the crown prince could not be punished, so Grand Tutor Ying Qian was made to take the punishment in his place. His nose was cut off, and he is still wearing half a bronze mask on his face at this moment!
Judging from Shang Yang's title "Wei Yang," he still harbored deep resentment towards the Qin royal family.

During the pre-Qin period, surnames and clan names were separate. People with surnames and clan names were either high-ranking nobles who owned fiefdoms or were descendants of high-ranking nobles. This is because the clan name was the name of the fiefdom.

For example, Qu Yuan and Xiang Yu. Qu Yuan was a member of the royal family of Chu, and shared the surname "Mi" with Empress Dowager Mi Yue. His ancestors were enfeoffed in the land of "Qu". Xiang Yu, on the other hand, was of the surname "Ji" and was a descendant of the royal family of Xiang.

Wei Yang, a descendant of the royal family of Wei, was granted a fiefdom called "Shang" in the Qin state for his outstanding achievements, and thus became known as "Shang Yang".

Now he calls himself "Wei Yang," clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the Ying royal family. Having been torn apart by five horses and his entire family wiped out, how could he possibly retain his fiefdom?

However, the fact that he was willing to come here shows that he was very dissatisfied with the Ying royal family, but he also remembered the "kindness" of his old lord.

During King Xiao's reign, he was second only to the King of Qin, wielding immense power over both military and political affairs. In terms of authority at court alone, even the combined power of Grand Tutor Yu and Li Si couldn't match his. This demonstrates the trust and reliance King Xiao placed in him.

Grand Tutor Yu discovered that Wei Yang had been following King Xiao closely.

Ying Qian and Ying Si remained calm and showed no remorse when they saw Shang Yang.

Even Shang Yang was brought in, which shows how large the "advisory group" assembled by the former King Ying was.

When Meng Yi, Meng Tian, ​​Li Xin, Wang Li, and some of the military commanders of the Great Wall Army were brought over, they saw that the hall, which was ten times the size of Zhangtai Palace, was packed with people.

Each person, adorned with a towering crown and magnificent court robes, was either a king or a high-ranking official; truly, no commoners were among their entourage.

"Grand Tutor Yu, why are there so many people? Are the late kings also bringing their civil and military officials with them to travel through time?" Meng Yi asked in surprise.

"They will only observe. When you encounter difficulties during your journey, they will offer you strategies. In other words, they will contribute their experience and wisdom, and everyone will work together to overcome the difficulties," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Meng Yi looked around again and asked, "Why are the military commanders of the Eastern Navy Corps and the prefectural commanders guarding key locations nowhere to be seen? They are the direct participants in the chaos in the Central Plains and should be the ones who need to travel through time."

Grand Tutor Yu shook his head and said, "The main purpose of a collective time travel is to formulate a grand strategy. Involving those responsible for local battlefield tactics is not very useful."

Too many unrelated individuals would increase the risk of our strategy being exposed, which is not worthwhile.

She glanced at the officers of the Great Wall Legion, "Even you only have a general understanding of how the situation in the Central Plains will evolve next year."

You yourselves are not the main force of the time travel.

Around the end of the group's time travel, I joined in, traveling through time seven or eight times, getting to know the important officials and the princes of the Ying clan, and increasing our understanding and rapport.

The purpose of this was to increase mutual understanding, but in reality, it was to make them understand the truth that Grand Tutor Yu had been saying, but which they were unwilling to accept: the Great Wall Army's southward march into the Central Plains would not only fail to turn the tide, but would also do more harm than good.

If it weren't for this purpose, they wouldn't have needed to participate in the collective time travel, just like the military commanders of the East Sea Fleet.

Li Xin stroked his long beard thoughtfully and said, "Tonight's collective time travel will only simulate the situation in the Central Plains, without including the grasslands?"

Grand Tutor Yu nodded and said, "Currently, the imperial court is unable to march north into the desert, and the Great Wall Legion is mainly adopting a defensive posture."

Stabilizing the defenses and reducing the Xiongnu's invasion of China would be considered a successful mission.

If something changes in the north next year, and we encounter a powerful enemy that you cannot handle, I will immediately provide support.

This year I have completed the reconstruction of the earth's veins, and I will spend most of my time in Xianyang, where I will have the time and energy to help you.

Wang Li said, "We want to help the court quell the rebellion. If we stay in the north and watch the rebels ruin the beautiful land that the late emperor built, I will have no face to meet my ancestors after I die!"

His grandfather was Wang Jian, a general of the Qin Dynasty.

In this Pangu world, which possesses miraculous power, Wang Jian lived long enough to be ranked first among the "Ten Great War Gods of Qin" for a long time, until he died in the north three years after Ying Zheng's death.

When he led the Guanzhong Imperial Guards to support the Great Wall Army, he was ambushed by a hermit from the Xiongnu side, his old illness relapsed, and he died.

"Whether the Great Wall Legion should head south to quell the rebellion can be decided after we cross over."

"In the early stages, the collective time travel was only to simulate the grand strategy of the Central Plains battlefield next year. Only later will a new world be opened specifically for your Great Wall Legion to simulate the changes in the situation in the north and the Central Plains after the Great Wall Legion marches south," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Meng Tian looked around at the generals of the Great Wall Army and said in a deep voice, "Let us remain calm and await the Grand Tutor's instructions."

"Yes, sir!" Without exception, all the generals, including the veteran Li Xin, bowed their heads in agreement.

Grand Tutor Yu glanced at Meng Tian and said, "Please come in, everyone. We'll finish our year-end summaries before we officially travel through time."

This year's year-end summary was the same as last year's: Hu Hai gave a speech, Li Si summarized the court's policies and gains and losses, and then the various Ying clan princes talked about the difficulties they encountered, what kind of help they needed, and what kind of help they could provide to other princes.

Next, Guan Zhenren, representing the Imperial Observatory, recounted his predictions for the coming year based on his observations of the stars at the end of the year.

Compared to last year, the difficulties encountered by all parties this year have increased significantly, but the confidence of the princes and courtiers has actually grown stronger.

"Father, the traitors all say I only have three years left to rule, and next year will be the last. If I can just survive this, will I finally have a bright future and my destiny be restored?"

When Hu Hai talked about his fate, there was only a hint of trepidation on his face, the rest of his expression was one of excitement.

Grand Tutor Yu said, "As long as you live to this time next year, your destiny of 'three years of reign' will be shattered."

But this doesn't mean you can rest easy.

As long as you are still the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty, the destiny of "the Qin Dynasty will perish after only two generations" will continue to pull you toward destruction.

Like a water ghost in the river of fate, it grabs your ankle and won't let go.

Only by breaking the destiny of "the Qin Dynasty will perish after only two generations" can you truly open up a vast sky and have a smooth path in life. Li Si pondered and said, "Back then, the Grand Tutor asked the Emperor to lead us to establish the 'Eastern Capital' in Xingyang, hoping to use the Emperor's three-year destiny to stop the great immortal in the rebel army."

Killing the Second Emperor before the three-year period is up is tantamount to defying the will of Heaven.

Therefore, the Second Emperor could act as a shield, preventing the Xuanmen immortals from directly intervening.

Now that the three-year period is about to end, the Xuanmen Immortal has not only lost his worries, but will also actively promote the destiny of "the second emperor's three-year reign" and actively plot to harm the emperor.

The second emperor is in even greater danger; it will be very difficult for him to survive until the end of next year.

Hu Hai panicked, "Uncle, is this true?"

The various princes of the Ying clan had different expressions, but none of them showed any panic.

Even the former king of Qin only looked at Hu Hai with a strange gaze. Neither in his heart nor on his face did he show the same anxiety and fear as Hu Hai.

Grand Tutor Yu said, "Prime Minister Li is right, but you have nothing to worry about. The worst outcome is that you will die on the battlefield before Xingyang falls."

But I will absolutely not let Xingyang fall so easily.

Even if we take a step back and assume that Xingyang has indeed fallen, my Great Qin still has twenty-five vassal kings.

If the rebels concentrate their forces on dealing with you in Xingyang, they will inevitably relax their suppression of the other vassal kings.

Therefore, even if you fulfill the destiny of 'ruling the country for three years,' it won't have much impact on the Qin Dynasty, right—"

Before Grand Tutor Yu could finish speaking, Hu Hai exclaimed in surprise, interrupting her, "Father, do you mean that the Mandate of Heaven for Great Qin is no longer tied to my destiny?"
Even if I die next year, you can still elect a new emperor, the Xingyang court will continue to function as usual, and the Great Qin will still exist.

—That would be for the best! By using your three-year destiny to protect Xingyang for three years, you will have accomplished your mission perfectly, be worthy of your ancestors, and can join the former kings. Without you, this "King Zhou of Qin," only then can our Great Qin regain its destiny!

Many feudal lords were secretly thinking about this.

They weren't worried about Hu Hai's safety; they only hoped that he would burn himself out for the Qin Dynasty, and then... perhaps I could inherit the throne?

Grand Tutor Yu shouted, "How can you, the emperor of this dignified empire, be so lacking in composure, panicking at the slightest thing?"

"Father, I~~~"

—My life is about to end, and my throne is about to be usurped. How can I not be terrified?

Hu Hai was still filled with fear, but he shrank back twice under the cold gaze of Grand Tutor Yu, forcibly suppressing his panic, and said, "Father, I have been disrespectful."

Grand Tutor Yu then continued, “Because your minor destiny of ‘enjoying the country for three years’ has no direct causal relationship with the major destiny of ‘the Qin Dynasty will perish after only two generations,’ killing you will not cause the Qin Dynasty to perish.”

So you don't need to worry at all about any powerful spirits targeting you.

If you were killed when the Qin Dynasty was still at its peak, the kings of the Ying clan and the important officials in the court would definitely elect a 'Third Emperor'.

The Qin Dynasty has already reached its third generation; what does the fate of "the Qin Dynasty perishing after only two generations" mean?

"Ah!" Hu Hai exclaimed again, this time his face was full of joy. "Father, does that mean that as long as I issue an edict in advance to appoint my son as the Crown Prince?"

And he proclaimed to the world that as long as he died and his crown prince succeeded him as the 'third emperor,' the rebels would not dare to harm him.
If you kill me, the destiny of "the Qin Dynasty will perish after only two generations" will be immediately broken. This is a great destiny!

I am invincible.

Grand Tutor Yu waved his hand and said, "Don't think nonsense. You can't have children before the Mandate of Heaven is restored."

Even if one of your elder brothers is made crown prince, it won't make a difference.

Compared to your "three-year reign," the Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations is a grander destiny, while the prophecies of "an emperor's aura in the southeast" and "the death of the First Emperor, the division of the empire" make it a lesser destiny.

"Father, I'm going to be a father soon!" Hu Hai exclaimed excitedly. "Two of my concubines are pregnant, and one of them is a boy! He will be born next spring. I don't need to appoint my elder brother as crown prince; I have my own son."

The kings of the Ying clan already harbored ill intentions in their eyes when they looked at him, and now their malevolence intensified.

—This "King Zhou of Qin" is truly a scoundrel. Not only did he wreak havoc on the Qin Dynasty, but he also clung to the throne so desperately. Knowing full well that the Qin Empire was at a critical juncture of life and death, he insisted on making his newborn son the third emperor, refusing to consider the overall situation and allow his adult brothers to inherit the throne.

"The Grand Tutor said that His Majesty cannot have any offspring, which must be a 'destiny' derived from numerology." King Mu looked at Hu Hai with a strange expression. "Moreover, your ancestors, that is, us, did not sense any vibrant life force in you, like buds breaking through the soil."

"What spores? What vibrant life?" Hu Hai panicked a little.

He wasn't completely ignorant; he just didn't want to believe or accept this reality.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor and the Ancestor mean that you should not have children at this time!"

The other princes and nobles of the Ying clan were suppressing their laughter, wanting to shout it out, but they all held back. Only Prince Liang, Ying Lie, couldn't help but shout out excitedly.

"Nonsense! My concubines are pregnant! And not just one, but two!" Hu Hai's face flushed red.

—And it wasn't just one concubine who had an affair; there were two. Are you proud of that? Oh, no, only two have been discovered so far; there are definitely more that haven't been discovered yet.

The princes of the Ying clan felt increasingly contemptuous, but this time no one voiced their true feelings, since Hu Hai's mentality had visibly crumbled.

Feng Quji said tactfully, "In the past two years, His Majesty has been too diligent in his duties and has become somewhat estranged from his concubines in the harem."

Please rest assured, Your Majesty. After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, I will come to assist Your Majesty in investigating and cleaning up the filth within the palace.

Diligent in government affairs but neglectful of the harem—this assessment of Hu Hai a few years ago would be an utter joke.

What the old prime minister said is now true.

Throughout the entire year, the number of times Hu Hai shared a bed with the beauties of his harem could be counted on two hands.

"How do you plan to clean this up?" Hu Hai stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

Feng Quji said, "For the sake of Your Majesty's reputation, it is best to keep it quiet and not make a fuss. Or, does Your Majesty have any plans?"

"I want to~~" Hu Hai was about to utter a harsh word, but having already mastered the "Pseudo-Saint Emperor's Divine Skill," he possessed an extremely strong instinct: whenever he faced a decision that would affect the divine skill, the mental technique of the "Pseudo-Saint Emperor's Divine Skill" would automatically activate, giving him a warning of pleasure or discomfort.

At that moment, he had a bad feeling.

"I want to be the Holy Emperor! I cannot let those two lowly maids ruin my divine power. How should the Holy Emperor handle this matter?"

Suddenly, Hu Hai had a flash of inspiration and sighed, "Of course I should forgive them and give them a chance to repent, so that they won't have any regrets for the rest of their lives."

Everyone was stunned.

(End of this chapter)