The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 129 Snow of Yan State, Blood of Bashu
Yan State, Ji, and an unnamed mountain in the north.

Ying Chengjiao was wearing a bearskin coat and Bai Wuxia was wearing a fire fox fur coat.

The boy and girl, one in black and one in red, walked together, climbing the mountain on the frozen hard soil.

The young man stamped his feet hard, his legs and feet went numb, but he didn't even stomp out a speck of dust, so he whispered:

"To destroy Yan, we can't pick Dong Ri, because we can't defeat him."

The girl hummed softly.

"It is difficult to march in winter and it is not suitable for war. Even the uncivilized barbarians will not go south in winter."

The boy didn't argue.

Seeing that the boy didn't respond, the girl felt a little bored and said:
"Why did you let Le Jian go? Are you trying to win over Le Yi? When are we leaving?"

"One is to win over Yue Yi, and the other is... to let Yue Jian go is to let ourselves go." The young man smiled and said, "The King of Yan thought that he was feasting me on the Golden Terrace and that he was the reincarnation of King Zhao of Yan? He doesn't have the heart of King Zhao of Yan, and he will not be able to persist for long if he does things in a spiritless way. Don't worry, he will do something stupid soon."

When the girl heard this, she said "Oh", feeling mixed emotions and couldn't tell whether she was happy or sad.

They walked another three hundred steps, and then white dots began to fall from the sky; it was snowing.

The snow was falling fast and getting heavier fast.

At first it was like salt being sprinkled on the air, and then like catkins being blown up by the wind.

Finally, the snowflakes in Yan were as big as a mat, and were blown down to the Golden Terrace.

Snow in the north may look pretty for a while when it first falls, but it will soon reveal its true form, with its majestic momentum that makes people feel cold.

A snow-white robe suddenly appeared five steps away from the two of them.

In this cold winter, he was still wearing only a thin white shirt, looking elegant and not feeling cold at all.

The face is handsome but lacks expression. It is none other than Gai Nie, known as the Sword Saint in the martial arts world.

"Sir, it's not advisable to go into the mountains on a snowy day." The Sword Master said seriously, "It's dangerous."

Ying Chengjiao shrugged his shoulders, and the snow fell.

"Listen to Mr. Guy, let's go back."

He has been investigating the lives of the Yan people in Jicheng over the past ten days.

I heard that there are many Yan people who make a living by hunting in this nameless mountain.

One reason was to avoid heavy taxes, and the other was to avoid war, so they wanted to see it with their own eyes.

It's a pity that God is not kind to us.

If the Sword Master says it is dangerous, then it is really dangerous. Ying Chengjiao has never been one to show off his strength.

The Sword Master breathed a sigh of relief.

Heavy snow will cover up many things, such as wild animal footprints and hunter traps.

Although he is an expert swordsman, he is not good at finding clues.

If we miss something during the investigation and cause the young master to get hurt, we would regret it.

Fortunately, the young master listened to advice.

The three people who had just entered the mountain returned home and walked down the mountain.

Halfway through the journey, the sound of a flute suddenly became faint and melodious, traveling through the snowflakes.

The Sword Master did not stop walking, but turned his head and looked in the direction where the flute sound came from.

Although his expression was as indifferent as ever, there was worry and seriousness in his eyes.

[Where does the music of spring come from in this land of ice and snow?]
[When something goes wrong, there will be trouble!]
[The young man is young, so he might be attracted by this.]
[If the young master insists on watching, how should I persuade him...]
A childish voice drowned out the sound of the flute.

"Gane."

The Sword Master sighed inwardly.

[I am curious indeed... If you really want to know, I will go and explore it by myself.]
"exist."

As he spoke, the Sword Master withdrew his gaze and turned to the Young Master.

He saw a child who looked like a little bear standing in front of him with his arms open.

The Sword Master was a little confused.

[What is this for?]
"Young Master, do you want to..."

"Hold me." The boy said in a deep voice, "Let's run!"

[Who is this nice guy playing the flute outside in the snow? He's obviously coming for me!]
Gai Nie blinked.

[Um? ]
[Um! ]
"only!"

He bent down, picked up the child, and nodded to the girl beside him.

The girl nodded in response.

When there are three of us, walk slowly.

There was a gust of wind when there were two of them.

One white, one red, two phantoms broke through the wind and snow and quickly disappeared into the nameless mountains.

Without having to take care of the boy, the two of them moved more than ten times faster. Only footprints on the snow could prove that someone had been there.

The heavy snow flakes would soon cover the footprints and erase all traces of the three people.

The originally melodious sound of the spring flute suddenly became urgent, as if a calm person was angry.

The flute sound became clearer.

Half a moment after the three people left, an old man with a pale face and white hair appeared.

He held a green bamboo flute horizontally, wore a single layer of clothing, with his chest uncovered, and stood on the mountain looking down.

There was nothing to see except the white snow.

He moved the flute away and stopped playing the sound of spring.

He squatted down and gently touched the snow with his palm, trying to find any trace of the person.

If he didn't find it, Bai Xue wouldn't leave any trace for him.

He grabbed a handful of snow, put it in his mouth and took a bite, and tasted the snow water had a smell of earth.

He swallowed it, squatted on the ground, and sighed.

"How ungentlemanly! Why are you running? What a pity for me to have such a heavy snowfall."

The broken snow fell on his head, making his hair even whiter.

It is hard to tell whether his hair was originally white or if the falling snow turned his head white.

The old man stood up on his knees and brushed the snow off his body.

“Okay, it’s God’s will.

"The five elements rotate, mutually reinforcing and restraining each other, without end.

"If you don't look for me, I'll look for you, it's the same."

Qin State, Xianyang.

Prime Minister Lu Buwei, who had gone to Bashu, returned exhausted.

The carriage did not even stop at the doorstep, but continued on its way towards the central palace.

When King Zichu of Qin heard that he had returned, he was overjoyed and immediately put down the bamboo slips in his hand to meet him.

The two exchanged no more than three words when Lu Buwei bowed and said:
"I am not returning alone. I am traveling with you this time, along with Ba Qing, the leader of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce. Your Majesty, please meet him."

Prince Chu of Qin was overjoyed. After straightening his manners, he ordered his attendant Ying Bai to personally invite Ba Qing in.

Lu Buwei suddenly smiled and patted his forehead lightly, as if he had just remembered something, and reminded softly:
"Your Majesty, don't be surprised when you meet the owner of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce later."

Qin Wang Zichu raised his eyebrows and smiled:

"Sir, you are joking. In this world, there is no one else who can surprise me except you."

Although Qin Wang Zichu said this, he was mentally prepared.

When Ba Qing led Ying Bai in, although Prince Chu of Qin's expression did not change, ripples were forming in his heart.

Ba Qing, the leader of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce, one of the seven major chambers of commerce in the private sector, is actually a beautiful woman!
Ba Qing was short and did not even reach the chest of Prince Chu of Qin.

Her face exudes a watery and lively aura. She cannot be described as absolutely beautiful, but there is a graceful air in her every frown and smile.

She bowed gracefully, smiling before she spoke:

"Meet the King of Qin."

Qin Wang Zichu no longer hid his amazement in his heart, which showed entirely on his face, and he held the woman up with both hands.

"Please stand up. Please stand up.

"I thought you were a strong man, but you turned out to be a beauty.

"You are a woman who can manage such a large business. I have never seen such a wonderful woman."

Ba Qing raised her smiling face and thanked him softly in gentle voice.

When Prince Qin Chu smelled a faint fragrance, his heart was inexplicably moved, and he actually had the urge to have another wife. His eyes flashed a little blurry, and then he suddenly woke up.

He took a step back, full of vigilance, and his voice suddenly turned cold.

"What did you do? Take five steps back!"

Ba Qing's beautiful eyes moved, and a hint of satisfaction flashed across them.

With a sweet smile, she took five steps back.

As she retreated, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing her white wrists.

With his hands on his waist, he shouted from five steps away:
"Is that enough?"

Although the voice was still pleasant to hear, it could no longer be described as a whisper.

Prince Chu of Qin glanced at his confidant Lu Buwei calmly and forced himself not to get angry.

Ba Qing was brought back by Lu Buwei. If there was any problem, how could Lu Buwei not know about it?

"That's enough." Qin Wang Zichu said calmly, "What did you do just now?"

Ba Qing took off a small bag woven with flowers and plants from her waist and said with a smile:

“It’s just a scent bag.

“At first I was afraid that the King of Qin would take a fancy to me, want me, swallow my wealth, and take my land.

"Lü Buwei said that the King of Qin was definitely not such a person, so I took an aphrodisiac sachet and gave it a try.

“Now I see that the King of Qin is indeed not interested in me and is very determined, so we can discuss the next step of cooperation.

"I will help the King of Qin conquer Bashu, and the King of Qin will help me control the Bashu Chamber of Commerce. Do you want to do it?"

Prince Chu of Qin looked at Ba Qing, but he did not see the slightest respect for his power on Ba Qing's face or in her eyes.

The leader of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce seemed to have no idea how to write the word "fear".

Qin Wang Zichu said coldly:
"What if I don't agree?
"You dare to use medicine on me. According to Qin law, you should be charged with the extermination of your entire clan.

"You still dare to stand here and talk so much. Should I say you are courageous or ignorant and fearless?"

Ba Qing waved her hands, she really didn't care.

"If you don't help me, I won't live long if I go back. It would be better for me to die here."

"Death is easy, but what is difficult is the time before death." Prince Chu of Qin said slowly, "There are many interesting punishments in our Qin State, such as Lingchi. It uses a blunt blade to cut a person's body 3,600 times. If 3,599 blades kill a person, the executioner must be buried with him. There is also the water drop punishment, which is..."

Ba Qing's face gradually turned pale.

She is not afraid of death, but she is afraid of torture.

She regretted it.

She shouldn't have been blinded by hatred and desire and conspired with Lu Buwei to murder her husband.

No matter how much the husband favors his concubine and how badly he treats her, she is not as scary as Mr. Qin.

The Qin State was a country of tigers and wolves, and the King of Qin was a king of tigers and wolves. How could she have forgotten that?
Prince Qin looked at Ba Qing's face and mentioned nine kinds of torture with a cold face.

Then he suddenly smiled, like ice and snow melting.

"Only those who betrayed the Qin State would receive these interesting punishments. I don't think you will."

An hour later, Ba Qing was sent out of the palace by Ying Bai.

In the next half month, Prince Chu of Qin sent someone to accompany Ba Qing to visit Xianyang.

The majestic atmosphere of the first city in Central Plains gradually dissipated the pride in Ba Qing's heart.

The Bashu Chamber of Commerce is located in a corner of Bashu, and it is very powerful.

But in Xianyang, in Qin, and in the Central Plains, it is nothing more than that.

Inside the palace, Lu Buwei immediately knelt on the ground and hit his head with a "bang".

"I deserve death for my crime! I only ask that the king spare my people!"

Prince Chu of Qin helped Lu Buwei up, his thin face full of sadness.

"Sir, what did I do wrong that you had to hide it from me?
"If you had informed me in advance, would I not have allowed this woman to come in?

"Fortunately, you came to see me alone, so no one saw this. We can just pretend it never happened.

"If there is a minister here, I will lose my dignity if I don't investigate, and I will lose you, sir. Please don't put me in this dilemma again."

Lu Buwei was so grateful that tears streamed down his face.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!

"It's not that I don't want to tell Your Majesty, it's just that Ba Qing is very perceptive.

"Once she sees that the king is prepared, she will not cooperate with us, and I will be helpless.

“I prepared that sachet and gave it to her before I entered the palace.

“I made sure that no harm would come to His Majesty before I brought her to see His Majesty.

"I didn't expect that the woman I was helpless against had been broken by your Majesty's words. Your Majesty is mighty!"

After another moment, Lu Buwei walked out of the palace with his head lowered.

Prince Chu of Qin sat on a straw mat and said to the attendant Ying Bai beside him:
“Bai, go check on Lu Buwei.

"See what he did in Bashu and report it in detail.

"If there is any rebellion... kill it."

Ying Bai responded softly, "Yes," and when he was about to leave the palace, he heard another call from behind.

"Bai." Qin Wang Zichu looked at the attendant who turned around and said seriously: "The person I trust the most is only you."

After leaving the Qin Palace, Lu Buwei returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

This is both his office and his residence.

The large courtyard in front is the government residence, and the large mansion in the back is the private residence.

He waved his hand to let all the housekeepers and servants go down.

Lu Buwei looked at the exhibits in the house and felt very unfamiliar.

Not long after he took office as prime minister, he went to Bashu, and he had not yet fully familiarized himself with his high position.

He slowly sat down on the chair, imagining that he was sitting on the chair at the front right of the court, which was the seat only the prime minister could sit on, and closed his eyes.

“Your Majesty will not kill Bu Wei and is so tolerant of Bu Wei, so Bu Wei will have to make drastic changes.

"The tyrannical Qin cannot conquer the world.

"The common people and merchants should all be taught by the king's way and sincerely submit to him. Then there should be no distinction between the noble and the humble in this world!
"Brutal means and cruel punishments can suppress people, but they cannot suppress their hearts."

As he spoke, a man with blood coming out of all his orifices and a hideous face appeared in front of his originally dark eyes.

The man died miserably, stretching his arms towards him and roaring:

"I, Bud, sincerely love you! I have already promised to help you, Qin!
"Why did you collude with that bitch to kill my son and steal my money?

"Why is this happening! Why is this happening! Ah!"

Lu Buwei's hands were shaking, as if he had first heard that Duke Bie used humans as fat.

His hands were also stained with blood that could never be washed away.

No, his hands could no longer be washed clean as early as the Caotan killing that shocked the whole country!
He opened his eyes and looked at his right hand in the candlelight.

It was with this hand that he put poison into the wine bottle of Bad, the leader of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce!

When he arrived in Bashu, Bader entertained him warmly.

He took advantage of Bud's trust and teamed up with Bud's wife Ba Qing, who was about to be divorced for having no children, to poison Bud.

With the military help of Li Bing, the governor of Shu County, the Bashu Chamber of Commerce was successfully taken over by Ba Qing.

“A successor who has been carefully nurtured by the family since childhood and has the family’s backing.

"A spoiled foreign girl whose mother is weak and about to be divorced because she can't have children.

“You don’t want Qin’s help, you are still the leader of the Bashu Chamber of Commerce.

"Without the help of Qin, your wife will be a toy for anyone to ravage.

"Isn't it obvious which of you is easier to control?"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, waving away the still roaring Bard in front of him, and growled:

“I’m not wrong, this is the fastest way!
“To rule a tyrannical country, one must first fight violence with violence, and then fight violence with violence!
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.

"Why can't it be possible to save ten thousand people by dying for one?
“That’s fine!
"That's fine!"

The next day, Lü Buwei, who had been on a long journey, did not even take a day off and walked into the government office from his own house.

"Gan Luo, put the other bamboo slips aside for now, and find the information about Chang'an Jun for me first. I want to see it."

A little boy opened his big eyes and responded in a soft voice, "Yes."

(End of this chapter)