Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 195 confirms: a plea and a desperate struggle.

"But that's impossible!"

"According to the legends and unofficial historical records of the First Emperor's Mausoleum since ancient times, it is indeed mentioned that Ying Zheng thought of leading the Qin Dynasty to continue to conquer after his death, and the entire Qin First Emperor's Mausoleum was built in imitation of the map of the world."

"But that's just a legend after all."

"The celestial star does match historical facts. In the 36th year of King Zheng of Qin, a celestial star fell in Dongjun, with the words 'The First Emperor will die and the land will be divided' written on it. But if that celestial star had such power, how could the Qin Dynasty have perished?"

The middle-aged man shook his head repeatedly, seemingly denying the matter.

"Could it be that the First Emperor really once led the entire nation to attack the heavens and brought back celestial stars? Otherwise, how could the First Emperor's mausoleum contain hundreds of thousands of Qin terracotta warriors who are like immortals on land, the Twelve Golden Men, and celestial stars?"

In the end, the middle-aged man, who had no idea what was going on, revealed a hint of mockery. He realized that he had lost his mind and actually believed such nonsense. If the First Emperor had really launched a nationwide campaign against Heaven, it would have been recorded in history books. How could there not even be a single legend or anecdote left behind?

If there were hundreds of thousands of immortals in the First Emperor's mausoleum, the story of the Qin Dynasty's struggle for supremacy would be a joke.

However, he did not notice that Zhao Kuo was not persuaded at all. Instead, his expression became more and more serious. Finally, he lowered his voice and said in an extremely solemn tone, "What if I tell Master Huang that this is indeed the case?"

"What?" The middle-aged man's pupils dilated in shock.

"You may leave now." After waving away the secret agents from the Imperial City Guard, Zhao Kuo looked at the middle-aged man with a resolute expression: "Master Huang, there are indeed no records of the First Emperor's conquest of Heaven, not even Sima Qian dared to record it, but I can tell you that it is true."

"What does His Majesty mean?"

The middle-aged man whom Zhao Kuo referred to as Master Huang, who was none other than Huang Shang, the number one martial arts master of the Southern Song Dynasty, was shocked and could hardly believe it.

Zhao Kuo could see his shock, confusion, and doubt, but he still nodded calmly and said, "History is like a little girl who can be embellished by others. It can be believed but not entirely. For four hundred years, the Han Dynasty did only one thing: erase the story of the First Emperor's conquest of Heaven. Only those long-established aristocratic families and the various dynasties that were established on the ruins of the Han Dynasty after its fall have some scattered records about this event."

"So, the celestial stars are real, and the hundreds of thousands of Qin terracotta warriors at the terrestrial immortal realm in the First Emperor's Mausoleum, as well as the twelve golden statues, are also... real?" Huang Chang's body trembled as he said this.

As a terrestrial immortal, the foremost Taoist master of the Southern Song Dynasty, and even one of the few Taoist grandmasters in the entire world, he never imagined that he would hear such a shocking secret.

The First Emperor attacked Heaven!

These four words alone are enough to cause a stir throughout the world, leaving no one at peace.

Not to mention the ensuing events concerning Zhao Min and the Heavenly Sword, as well as the various events surrounding the First Emperor's Mausoleum that have become a sensation throughout the world.

"I... am not sure!" Zhao Kuo hesitated for a moment, but there was no uncertainty in his words. On the contrary, he was full of certainty, and his desire and greed were bound to succeed.

After all, many things cannot be faked.

It's true that Zhao Min's cultivation level reached the heavens in one step, and it's true that she can control life and death with the Heavenly Sword in her hand.

It is true that in an instant, one can traverse tens of thousands of miles, appearing from the Ming Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty.

So how could the secrets of the First Emperor's conquest of Heaven, which are unknown only to the royal families of all the countries under Heaven, and even the royal families of small countries, and the things inside the First Emperor's mausoleum, possibly be fake?
The most important thing is...

"If these are false, why is Zhao Min so impatient to appear within the territory of the Sui Dynasty, and why is she so reckless in leading several Grandmasters of Celestial Phenomena to attack Jingnian Temple in order to seize the He Shi Bi jade?"

"Furthermore, although Prince Su of the Great Ming Dynasty is the first border prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, his domain is only in Shaanxi. How could he have cultivated dozens of terrestrial immortals and hundreds of celestial grandmasters?" Zhao Kuo raised two more questions that Huang Shang could neither explain nor understand.

Regarding the former question, based on the secret report from the Imperial City Guard, Zhao Kuo and Huang Shang were certain that Zhao Min must have known, after obtaining the Heavenly Sword, that only by acquiring the He Shi Bi and using its power along with the Heavenly Sword could she possibly escape the pursuers from the Prince Su's mansion.

Or perhaps there is a deeper purpose hidden within. However, the news that Zhao Min was fighting desperately against the Jingnian Temple of the Sui Dynasty with her meager strength had already been presented to Zhao Kuo, and the bronze hall where the He Shi Bi jade was stored at the Jingnian Temple was suddenly blocked by an unimaginable force.

Even the combined efforts of Ning Daoqi, the foremost Taoist master of the Sui Dynasty, and Song Que, the Heavenly Blade Master, couldn't shake the entire situation, which is no exaggeration.

The latter goes without saying.

Before Zhu Jinzhen revealed the power of dozens of terrestrial immortals and hundreds of celestial grandmasters, no one, whether Zhao Kuo, Huang Shang, or even anyone from any country in the world, would have dared to imagine that this power came from a single force.

After all, those were dozens of terrestrial immortals and hundreds of celestial grandmasters!
The combined forces of the Ming, Sui, Northern and Southern Song dynasties, the Mongol Yuan and Liao dynasties, and even those dozens of smaller states, could not match the terrifying power under Zhu Jinzhen's command.

If it weren't for Zhu Jinzhen relying on the Heavenly Sword to continuously steal the power of the celestial stars within the First Emperor's Mausoleum...

Do you expect them to believe that Zhu Jinzhen has the means to mass-produce terrestrial immortals or celestial grandmasters?
"call!!"

Huang Shang let out a long breath, his eyes gleaming: "So, the Heavenly Sword is real, everything in the First Emperor's Mausoleum is real, and the Heavenly Star is real too. This is why Prince Su of the Ming Dynasty risked exposure to chase Zhao Min thousands of miles to retrieve the Heavenly Sword."

"If it were me, I would do the same." Zhao Kuo nodded, putting himself in others' shoes. If someone stole the Heavenly Sword from him, he would go mad just as much.

Huang Shang naturally understood as well.

He looked at Zhao Kuo and asked in a deep voice, "Does Your Majesty want me to take action?"

Zhao Kuo told him so much today, even revealing that the secret of the First Emperor's conquest of Heaven was true, and that there was only one possible reason: he also wanted the Heavenly Sword.

Or rather, the Mausoleum of the First Emperor!

Zhao Kuo did not answer, but instead got up, walked to Huang Shang, and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Huang Chang was shocked. Although he was the emperor's tutor and a terrestrial immortal, he could not accept such a grand gesture from the emperor without reason.

However, Zhao Kuo persisted, his eyes already brimming with tears, and pleaded, "Master Huang, no matter who the Heavenly Sword falls into, there are only two fates awaiting all nations: either they submit to the other, or their nation is destroyed."

"Whether for public or private reasons, I implore you to seek this glimmer of hope for our Great Song Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, could it be..."

Huang Shang wanted to offer some advice, but didn't know how to continue.

The importance of the Heavenly Sword was confirmed the moment it was established, reaching a level of importance equal to that of the nation. Huang Shang naturally understood that Zhao Kuo's words were not an exaggeration.

Because, a certain sixth prince of the Ming Dynasty, relying on the power of the Heavenly Sword, had accumulated the power of dozens of terrestrial immortals and hundreds of celestial grandmasters in just a few years.

This is only part of what the other party has proactively revealed; the true situation remains unknown.

And what's most terrifying is that this is only the power of a single Heavenly Sword.

If, as the rumors suggest, combining the Heavenly Sword, the He Shi Bi Jade, and the Tai'a Sword allows one to open the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum and inherit the Qin Dynasty's legacy, so what? With hundreds of thousands of Qin terracotta warriors at the terrestrial immortal realm emerging, who in the world could stand in their way?

Thinking of this, Huang Shang could only sigh helplessly: "So be it, Your Majesty, then I will risk it all for the sake of the Song Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)