Honghuang: Eat a Hunyuan Daluo

Ying Yiren came to the bedside, gently picked up the baby, who was fast asleep. He looked at the child in his arms with loving eyes, his heart filled with excitement.

"This is my child." In a foreign land, held hostage, although he had enough to eat and drink, his life was far from easy.

With the child born, Ying Yiren felt much more relaxed, a weight lifted from his heart, and his face was filled with a genuine smile.

A weak voice came from beside the bed: "My lord, please name our child."

Ying Yiren pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "Let's call it Zheng."

Time rolls forward like a wheel, and in the blink of an eye, three years have passed.

With the help of Lü Buwei, Ying Yiren bribed the officers guarding the city and successfully escaped back to the Qin state.

King Zhao was furious and wanted to kill Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng. Lü Buwei intervened and, in addition, Zhao Ji's father was a well-known wealthy merchant in the area, who hid the two, thus saving their lives.

Time flies, and Ying Zheng is nine years old.

Just then, news came from Qin that King Zhaoxiang of Qin had passed away, King Xiaowen had ascended the throne, and Lady Huayang had become queen.

Lady Huayang strongly recommended Zichu as the crown prince of Qin. Then, she negotiated with the state of Zhao and, through a combination of kindness and coercion, Zhao finally released Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng back to Qin.

When Ying Zheng returned to Qin, he received a better education and absorbed all kinds of knowledge like a sponge.

King Xiaowen of Qin died after only one year on the throne, and Zichu succeeded him as King Zhuangxiang of Qin.

Zichu also died young, reigning for only three years before passing away.

When Zichu died, Ying Zheng was only thirteen years old.

The thirteen-year-old boy became the king of the Qin Dynasty and officially ascended the throne.

The following day, Ying Zheng changed into a black dragon robe and arrived at Xianyang Palace.

The civil and military officials of Xianyang Palace had already arrived. After everyone paid their respects to Ying Zheng in the hall, a minister, seeing that Ying Zheng was young and easy to bully, suggested: "The late king died early and the king is young. Why don't the empress dowager oversee the country first, and then return the power to the king when he is a little older?"

This statement immediately garnered the approval of the majority of the ministers. In their view, Zhao Ji lacked political acumen and was ignorant of political maneuvering. With Zhao Ji in charge of government affairs, wouldn't it be up to them to decide matters of state and military affairs?

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng remained calm. He stood up and said coldly, "The late king's edict forbade the empress's harem from interfering in politics. Are you, my ministers, going to disobey the late king's orders?"

Ying Zheng stood in the Xianyang Palace, his body as upright as a pine tree, as immovable as a mountain, his deep gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

When officials met his gaze, they would invariably lower their heads and show respect within three seconds.

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Xianyang Palace, casting its light upon Ying Zheng and making his figure appear even more imposing, sacred, and unapproachable, like a deity from heaven.

The Xianyang Palace was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Many officials cursed inwardly, wondering what kind of monster Ying Zheng was, possessing such terrifying power at such a young age, and he was only thirteen!
After an unknown amount of time, Ying Zheng's calm voice rang out: "My dear ministers, do you have any objections?"

"We have no objections."

Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction, sat down and began to handle state affairs. The ministers met with Ying Zheng and watched in awe of his skillful governance.

When Ying Zheng first entered politics, he arranged everything in a reasonable manner, as if he was born to be the king of Qin.

Time flies, and seven years have passed in a flash.

For seven years, the Qin Dynasty kept a low profile, continued to implement Shang Yang's policies, emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, developed weaponry, and implemented a military merit system.

During this period, Ying Zheng also secretly established a secret service organization, the Black Ice Guard.

The Black Ice Guard selects orphans from all over the country and trains them using the most militaristic methods, with the up-and-coming general Zhang Han as its leader.

Every official member of the Black Ice Guard is capable of taking on ten, or even dozens, of opponents.

The Black Ice Guard was primarily responsible for Ying Zheng's personal protection, intelligence gathering, assassination, and control of public opinion. In just five years since its establishment, it has trained thousands of Black Ice members, who are scattered across various countries and continuously transmit information to the Qin Dynasty.

That day, while Ying Zheng was handling state affairs, a palace servant cautiously approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, news has come from General Bai Qi."

"Oh?" Ying Zheng raised his eyes, a smile flashing across his face. "The new recruits must have finished their training. Let's go take a look!"

An hour later, Ying Zheng, along with palace attendants and guards, arrived at the military camp outside Xianyang City.

Bai Qi greeted Ying Zheng outside the military camp.

Upon seeing Ying Zheng arrive, Bai Qi rushed forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject Bai Qi greets Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng nodded slowly: "General Bai, please rise. How is the training of the new recruits of my Great Qin going?"

"Your Majesty will know once you go inside."

Then Ying Zheng and Bai Qi walked into the military camp together.

Upon entering the military camp, the first thing that catches the eye is a huge square formation, with every soldier in the formation having a resolute face and exuding a murderous aura.

"Your Majesty's million new soldiers are equipped with the best gear in Qin, from their armor and weapons to their warhorses and even their arrows. I assure Your Majesty that these million new soldiers are no less capable than any veteran. They can help Your Majesty unify the world!"

Listening to Bai Qi's report, Ying Zheng's face showed satisfaction. The Black Ice Platform and these million new soldiers were the results of seven years of Ying Zheng's reign.

Now, with a strong army and sufficient supplies, it is time for the Qin Dynasty to embark on the path of unifying the world.

Under Bai Qi's leadership, Ying Zheng inspected the entire military base. Driven by Shang Yang's Legalist thought, the entire Qin Dynasty was governed by strict laws and had become a war machine. As long as it could continue to expand outwards, it would become more courageous and stronger with each setback and battle.

After inspecting the area, Ying Zheng returned to Xianyang Palace and summoned his civil and military officials, including Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Meng Wu, Wei Liao, and Li Si, to discuss matters.

In the council hall, a huge sand table is placed horizontally in the center.

The sand table, with its intricate layout, encompasses all seven kingdoms, clearly and vividly showcasing their situations and outlining the military strategy against them.

Next to the sand table, there was a huge map hanging. This map was so large that it included almost all the countries, including the seven kingdoms, and clearly depicted the view of the countries from above.

Bai Qi spoke first: "Your Majesty, our Great Qin now has nearly two million elite soldiers. The Black Ice Guard has infiltrated various states, continuously transmitting intelligence back to Great Qin. The time has come to unify the world!"

Wang Jian glanced at Bai Qi and then cupped his hands, saying, "Your subject agrees with General Bai Qi's point of view."

Meng Wu also expressed his agreement.

Wei Liaozi stroked his long beard, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and made a precise analysis: "I believe that even if we are to fight, we should decide who to attack first. Among the seven states, Qi, Wei, and Yan do not border our Great Qin, so we should send people to win them over for the time being. Chu and Zhao are the strongest states and should not be attacked at the same time. As for Han, it is the weakest of the seven states and should be the first stop for our Great Qin to attack."

Prime Minister Li Si nodded slowly in agreement after hearing Wei Liao's words: "I also believe that we should destroy Han first. However, to ensure that no other country interferes when our Great Qin destroys Han, we should first let Yan and Zhao, two countries that often protect Han, clash." The group discussed the matter in the council hall for a full day and night, and finally decided on a strategy.

In summary, it can be summed up in eight words: befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones, and defeat them one by one.

After everyone left, Ying Zheng summoned Zhang Han.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Ying Zheng nodded calmly and said, "The Black Ice Guard members planted in Yan and Zhao can now be mobilized."

"Yes."

The entire Black Ice Platform, like a giant war machine, was immediately activated. Under the instigation of the Black Ice Platform, the states of Yan and Zhao quickly developed conflicts, leading to friction between the two sides and ultimately resulting in war.

The Qin state then took the opportunity to attack the Han state, which was quickly destroyed.

In the eighth year of King Zheng of Qin's reign, Ying Zheng, sharpening his sword, ordered Bai Qi to lead an army of 500,000 to attack the State of Zhao.

The army of 500,000 men included both new recruits and veterans, but they were the elite of the Qin army, the sharpest blade of the Qin Empire.

With an army of 500,000, Zhao deployed troops on the border of the Zhao state. King Zhao knew that ceding territory to negotiate peace was like drinking poison to quench thirst, so he sent his general Li Mu to fight.

Li Mu had mastered the true art of military strategy, employing troops cautiously and flexibly, and possessing outstanding military talent. He led an army of 800,000 Zhao soldiers to defend the city, refusing to initiate battles with Bai Qi. For a time, the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

King Zhao was greatly relieved and praised Li Mu in court, deeming him a military genius of Zhao!
News of the unfavorable situation at the front quickly reached Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng was not in a hurry. He ordered the Black Ice Guard to be deployed again. Under Ying Zheng's instructions, the Black Ice Guard spread rumors throughout the Zhao state.

First, it is said that Li Mu's refusal to take the initiative is due to cowardice and fear of Qin's military might. Then it is said that Li Mu has long harbored rebellious intentions and that his refusal to fight is because he wants to amass power and launch a counterattack on Handan!
At first, King Zhao did not believe it, but as the rumors spread more and more within the Zhao state, he began to feel uneasy. After some hesitation, King Zhao made up his mind and ordered Zhao Kuo to replace Li Mu.

Zhao Kuo immediately took office, replacing Li Mu, who was then escorted to Handan.

Zhao Kuo was young and arrogant. On his first day in office, he commanded an army of 800,000 men. Full of confidence, he said in front of his generals, "800,000 against 500,000, the advantage is on our side. We will surely drive back the Qin army within three months!"

Zhao Kuo possessed extensive theoretical knowledge of military affairs, but he lacked practical experience despite his theoretical foundation. Without thoroughly studying the war situation, he arbitrarily changed Li Mu's strategy and launched a preemptive attack.

Upon hearing the news, Bai Qi, the commander of the Qin army, laughed heartily: "To actually dare to launch a preemptive attack, Zhao Kuo is truly a fearless young calf!"

Li Mu knew how powerful the Qin army was, so he chose not to engage the Qin elite troops in direct combat, avoiding their strength and waiting for them to tire themselves out.

Zhao Kuo dared to launch a direct attack. Although the Zhao army far outnumbered the Qin army, the difference in equipment and individual quality among the soldiers was like night and day!
After pondering for a moment, Bai Qi made a decision: "Since that's the case, let's turn the tables on them."

The following morning, Zhao Kuo used tactics from military books to launch a direct attack on the Qin Dynasty.

Bai Qi feigned defeat and moved his army camp thirty li back.

Zhao Kuo, beaming with triumph, declared, "Within three months, we will annihilate Bai Qi's army; within six months, our Zhao army will surely conquer Qin!"

When news of Zhao Kuo's victory reached Handan, King Zhao was overjoyed and rewarded Zhao Kuo handsomely.

In Handan prison, Li Mu sighed to the heavens upon hearing the news. How powerful was the Qin army? Even if they were no match for them, how could they have suffered such a crushing defeat? It was clearly a ploy by Qin to lure them into a trap!

While in prison, Li Mu once again advised King Zhao that the army must not pursue the enemy after their victory. However, King Zhao was blinded by his current victory and directly ordered Li Mu to be executed. At the same time, he ordered Zhao Kuo to pursue the enemy after their victory.

Over the next month, Zhao Kuo launched five attacks, each time routing the Qin army and forcing them to retreat in disarray, eventually reaching Changping.

Changping is a depression in the terrain, surrounded by mountains on all sides.

After the Qin army withdrew, Zhao Kuo led an army of 800,000 to garrison the area.

At this moment, a general cautiously said, "General, this place is easy to attack but difficult to defend. If we are stationed here, how can we resist if the Qin army attacks in the middle of the night?"

Zhao Kuo glanced at the man with a calm expression and said, "The Qin army has suffered six major defeats. It's already commendable that they didn't flee in disarray when they saw our army. How could they possibly launch a counterattack against us?"

The night is getting darker.

A campfire had been lit in the Qin camp at some unknown time!
Under the light of the campfire, someone ran up to Bai Qi and reported, "General, it's done! It's done! The entire Zhao army of 800,000 has entered Changping! Changping is easy to attack but difficult to defend; we will surely win this battle!"

Bai Qi's eyes were deep as he slowly said, "Since our battle with Zhao Kuo, our army has retreated again and again, a total of six times. Everyone is feeling bad and holding their breath."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Who were they? They were the invincible elite warriors of the Great Qin!
To retreat six times in front of a child whose hair hasn't even fully grown? What an utter disgrace! Everyone has long vowed to get back all the humiliation they've suffered!
Bai Qi grinned, revealing a ferocious smile: "Then let's all fight to our hearts' content tonight."

Bai Qi took the lead and, under cover of night, secretly surrounded Changping with 500,000 Qin troops.

As dawn broke, the sky gradually brightened.

Bai Qi's eyes narrowed, sensing the perfect opportunity had arrived, and he shouted, "Follow me and kill!"

"Boom boom boom!" The thunderous drumbeats resounded like a tidal wave, and the shouts and cries of the Qin soldiers echoed throughout the heavens and the earth!

In Changping, Zhao Kuo shivered and was startled awake from his sleep. Why were there drums and sounds of fighting all around him?
Zhao Kuo was stunned for a full half minute before he realized, "Did the Qin Dynasty launch a sneak attack in the middle of the night?"

Zhao Kuo immediately donned his armor, thinking to himself, "After several fierce battles, I feel that these Qin soldiers are nothing special. Since they dare to come and die today, I might as well finish them off in one battle, annihilate Qin, capture Bai Qi alive, and return to the capital in triumph!"

After this battle, Zhao Kuo was destined to be remembered in history and remain famous for all time!

Thus, the 800,000 Zhao soldiers, led by Zhao Kuo, began to clash with the Qin army.

Soon, the Qin army and the Zhao army clashed in close combat.

The Qin army finally revealed their true strength; with each strike, a fine head flew off.

After half an hour of fierce fighting, the Zhao army lost tens of thousands of men.

The Qin army's charge was unstoppable, and they launched a general offensive, with shouts filling the air.

Zhao's army suffered repeated defeats and was completely routed.

Zhao Kuo glanced at the surrounding terrain and realized the danger. His eyes turned red as he shouted, "Break through! Break through at all costs!"

But the Qin army from all sides seemed to have turned into an impregnable wall of bronze and iron. No matter how desperately the Zhao army fought, they could not shake them at all!
Ultimately, Zhao Jun's breakout attempt failed, and he was trapped and died in Changping.

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P.S.: To increase dramatic conflict, the timing of some historical figures' appearances has been changed, so I'll mention it here.

(End of this chapter)