Simultaneous travel: I am a talented person in all the worlds

Chapter 449 Qin Shi Moyu Feels the Urgency
"Finally...it's here?"

With a flick of his finger, Qin Shi Mo Yu placed the intelligence report of "Empress Dowager Xia's death" over the oil lamp.

The orange flames licked at the silk, and the ink quickly curled up, charred, and finally turned into a wisp of smoke, disappearing without a trace.

If we mark several crucial turning points in the turbulent life of Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, we can understand his destiny.

So, firstly, he was born in Zhao, experienced the vicissitudes of life, and honed his resilient and ruthless character amidst humiliation and murderous intent;
Secondly, he returned to Qin territory and miraculously ascended to the position of crown prince amidst the turbulent court struggles.

The third is the storm foreshadowed by these two intelligence reports.

The death of Empress Dowager Xia may seem like just the peaceful passing of an old woman, but in the balance of power in the Qin Palace, it meant that a crucial weight had been suddenly removed.

The fragile balance of power, originally held by the Chu faction represented by Empress Dowager Huayang, the faction of the Chancellor represented by Empress Dowager Zhao and Chancellor Lü Buwei, and the old royal faction maintained by Empress Dowager Xia, was completely shattered at this moment.

With the death of Empress Dowager Xia, the royal faction that should have been inherited by the King of Qin would inevitably return to Ying Zheng's hands.

In addition to his advancing age, the combination of these factors laid the foundation for him to assume personal rule.

This is the first major change.

Another intelligence report, that Chang'an Jun Chengjiao led reinforcements to assist Meng Ao, the general attacking Zhao at the front, was a deadly move by Lü Buwei against the Chu faction of Empress Dowager Huayang in this game.

Cheng Jiao, Ying Zheng's half-brother, was another crown prince besides Ying Zheng, and a legitimate heir to the throne.

As for the official historical records, Mo Yu has no way of knowing.

However, in the timeline of Qin's Moon, the outcome of this event is clear and unambiguous.

Lü Buwei, the powerful prime minister, would "help" Lord Chang'an to "passively rebel" in Tunliu.

Moreover, it was the kind of situation where they had just "helped" him raise the banner of rebellion, and then immediately sent out a large army and assassins to stab him to death under the pretext of suppressing the rebellion.

Although the executors in the original work, Ba Linglong and Hei Bai Xuan Jian, were either killed or poached by him.

But for Lü Buwei, it was merely a matter of changing the knife; it did not alter the overall strategy.

It must be said that this move was ruthless and precise.

This completely eliminated, from a physical standpoint, another legitimate heir to the throne of Qin.

This not only completely severed the last hope of the Chu faction, led by Empress Dowager Huayang, to continue their power by supporting a new ruler, but also completely tilted the political balance of the entire Qin state towards the faction of Empress Dowager Zhao and Lü Buwei.

But at the same time, it also made Ying Zheng's throne more stable and unshakeable than ever before.

Once the balance is broken, what will inevitably follow is a life-or-death struggle between the king and the prime minister.

Normally, this would be a fatal internal drain on a country, especially a rising power that intends to annex all other nations.

Especially after that, there was Lao Ai, who was personally sent to the palace by Lü Buwei and was about to stir up even greater trouble, who was eyeing the palace covetously.

Empress Dowager Zhao, a woman lost in power and desire, was an uncontrollable bomb that could explode at any moment.

The Wang faction, the Xiang faction, the remnants of the Chu faction, plus a rising "eunuch faction".

Such complex internal struggles could easily deplete the national strength and resources accumulated by the Qin state through six generations of rulers since Shang Yang's reforms.

At that time, the great cause of unification will instantly become a mere illusion.

This is the norm and the most likely event in the course of history.

But the course of history took an unexpected and bizarre turn.

At the height of the power struggle between the king and the prime minister, when they had even reached the point of revealing their true intentions, Lü Buwei, the powerful minister whom countless people in later generations had labeled a "cunning merchant," made a choice that silenced all the wise men in the world.

He didn't resist.

Faced with the young monarch's cold, ruthless blade, he chose to back down and give up everything.

Even when Ying Zheng had already spared his life, he followed the example of Shang Yang and, in order to preserve the laws and vitality of the Qin state to the greatest extent possible, drank poison and "committed suicide to atone for his sins."

At the cost of his own life, he severed all pretexts and possibilities for the resurgence of the Xiang faction, and offered Ying Zheng the final and heaviest "gift" for his personal rule.

He handed over a complete and powerful Qin state, free from internal constraints and with its national strength almost intact, to Ying Zheng.

Behind this, how many intricate power struggles were entangled within the Qin state? How many shadows of alliances and counter-alliances among the seven states were intertwined? And how many choices and allegiances of the various schools of thought were involved in the torrent of history?
Later generations have no way of knowing this.

However, it is conceivable that at this critical juncture that will determine the fate of the world for the next few centuries, the enlightened people of all nations, whether they have the world at heart or serve their own masters, would never choose to stand idly by.

Mo Yu gazed at the flickering orange flames, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if they could pierce through the mists of time and glimpse the burning flame deep within the heart of that all-powerful prime minister.

perhaps……

Lü Buwei was now resigned to his fate, prepared to use his life and reputation to pave the final path for his grand ideal of "unifying the world" and for the young monarch he had personally helped to the throne.

The impending debauchery of Lao Ai in the harem was perhaps not an accident at all, but rather a "gift" deliberately given to Empress Dowager Zhao by Lü Buwei.

He planted a "landmine" with his own hands to detonate the Empress Dowager Zhao, a woman whose power was growing and who was beginning to create a rift between him and Ying Zheng, and who might even become the biggest obstacle after Ying Zheng took power.

He wanted to resolve this biggest problem himself before Ying Zheng officially assumed power, and take all the blame and responsibility upon himself.

Furthermore, those ambitious and radical factions within the general and ministerial party, those troublemakers who were unwilling to see the true unification of royal power, were all pushed into Lao Ai's camp.

When the time is right, we can use Ying Zheng to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

While eliminating the threat, it also boosted the prestige of Ying Zheng, the newly enthroned monarch.

The "forced rebellion" of Chang'an Jun Chengjiao and the later "rebellion" of Lao Ai may very well be the same scheme in essence.

It was all orchestrated by Lü Buwei behind the scenes.

The same tactic was used twice.

On one occasion, taking advantage of the "Chengjiao Rebellion," he eliminated the threat posed by the royal family for Ying Zheng and crippled the Chu-affiliated maternal relatives.

On one occasion, he used the "Lao Ai Rebellion" to help Ying Zheng depose his mother and, incidentally, purge his own faction.

In a manner bordering on self-destruction, he cleaned up all the old problems in the court that had accumulated since the reign of King Zhuangxiang of Qin due to the frequent changes of new rulers and the suspicion surrounding the young ruler.

Finally, he used his own death to bring the story to a perfect close.

In this way, the young King of Qin could set out unburdened and fulfill the long-cherished wish of generations of Qin rulers and wise ministers—

Swing the sword to cut through the clouds, and all the princes will come to the west!
To completely end this centuries-long Warring States period of chaos!
"Tsk..."

A soft laugh escaped Qin Shimoyu's lips, tinged with admiration.

If what he thought was true, then Lü Buwei would be a renowned prime minister throughout history, underestimated by countless later generations.

The orange flames danced in his pupils. Although he had not yet had the honor of meeting this Prime Minister of Qin, he had a feeling that Lü Buwei was such a person!

A skilled warrior has no illustrious name.

If Qin Shi Huang had not left behind a complete and powerful Qin state, how could he have swept across the six states in just ten years?

"Why is the person I'm facing so strong?!" Qin Shi Moyu muttered in complaint.

But Mo Jiayi, who knew him best, could sense the commander's excitement from his tone and expression—a burning passion for a battle against a worthy opponent.

'Ha, men, even a commander like him, can't escape the inexplicable urge to win when facing a worthy opponent.'

Mo Jia shook his head inwardly repeatedly, but dared not reveal it in the slightest.

Otherwise, the commander, whose mind is smaller than a pinhead, would not know how to tease her.

Qin Shi Moyu glanced at Mo Jia Yi with a knowing look in his eyes, only to find the other man's expression cold and aloof, his eyes calmly fixed on him without revealing the slightest flaw. After staring at him for a moment and finding nothing, he withdrew his gaze and continued his scheming.

Whether Lü Buwei was a profit-driven shrewd merchant or a wise minister who endured humiliation and hardship made no essential difference to him, who had already chosen to stand on the opposite side of Qin.

Now that history has proven the final outcome, the question remains: what development trajectory would have been most beneficial to the Qin state and to Ying Zheng?

"That……"

Qin Shi Moyu traced the three characters "Chang'an Jun" on the silk scroll with his fingertips. "I just need to... do it the other way around."

"Since your death is the most advantageous option for the Qin state, then..."

"You can't die."

Mo Yu slowly rose, walked to the map behind him, and gazed across the territory of Qin, finally settling on the map of Zhao.
"Not only can you not die, but I will also help you rightfully take over command of the Qin army from Meng Ao."

"Furthermore, you will achieve remarkable military exploits on the land of Zhao, enough to shock the court and the public!"

In this way, the Chu faction gained new leverage.

A powerful and accomplished general, Lord Chang'an, will become the sharpest trump card in the hands of Empress Dowager Huayang and the Chu faction.

At that time, Empress Dowager Zhao, realizing the enormous threat, would not dare to act recklessly as she had in history in order to maintain her power and status.

She will have to turn the tables and rely more closely on Lü Buwei's power to fight against the resurgent Chu faction.

In this way, the balance that had just been broken within the Qin King's palace would be re-established in a more intense and unstable manner.

Internal strife is most deadly when the forces of all parties are roughly equal and no one can easily overpower the other.
Moreover, Mo Yu's smile held a hint of amusement.

When Lü Buwei discovered that "self-sacrifice" was not the only path he could take, when he realized that by fighting against the Chu faction, he could gain greater power and even completely transform Qin into his ideal "Lü family's state"...

Can this former idealist still retain that pure, burning brilliance, without being corrupted by the desire for power?

Having too many choices isn't always a good thing.

not to mention……

Mo Yu's fingertips slowly traced across the map, finally gently touching the core area of ​​the Three Jin regions.

With Ji Wuye's sudden death, Xueyi Hou becoming his spy, and Han Fei and Zhang Liang becoming his allies, South Korea has largely fallen under his control.

The State of Wei, with the widow and offspring of Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, as leverage, coupled with a series of internal purges and the prestige gained from the previous great victory over Qin general Meng Ao, had already become a pawn in his hands.

The lands of the Three Jin states, including Han and Wei, are now under their control.

Only the State of Zhao...

Mo Yu frowned slightly.

He hasn't figured out where to start with this toughest challenge yet.

The Mohists' influence in the Zhao region was mediocre, offering him no leverage.

Although the veteran general Lian Po had been successfully assassinated in Wei by him through the Luo Wang network, clearing the way for him to take control of Wei's military.

However, the true pillar of the Zhao state was not Lian Po.

It was Li Mu! It was Pang Nuan! It was the unparalleled Zhao cavalry!

Compared to the already weakened states of Han and Wei, the state of Zhao is still far too strong.

"In that case..."

Qin Shimoyu gazed at the city of Handan on the map, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes.
"...Then let the Qin army break through Handan."

As one of the de facto supreme commanders of the allied forces, he was actually plotting to have the Qin army capture the capital of his ally.

If these words were to spread, the alliance he had painstakingly built would instantly crumble and vanish.

However, within this command tent, the only listener was the figure standing silently behind him, like a shadow.

Even after hearing her leader's earth-shattering remarks, her eyes remained completely unmoved.

It seemed as if it had long been commonplace.

It was as if, no matter what decision the president made, she would carry it out unconditionally and without hesitation.

"What are your orders, Commander?" Mo Jiayi's voice was clear, cold, and crisp.

"One copy, hand it to Han Yu. The other, deliver it to Zhao Jun's commander Pang Nuan's desk." Qin Shi Mo Yu handed the intelligence about Chang'an Jun to Mo Jia Yi.

"Here you go." Mo Jiayi respectfully accepted it.

"and many more,"

Qin Shi Moyu stopped her, pondered for a moment, and then said again, "Send someone else to bring Hei Bai Xuan Jian over, and also bring Yan Ling Ji over."

Mo Jiayi's usually cold eyes showed a rare flicker of emotion upon hearing the name. He gave Mo Yu a meaningful look but said nothing, silently disappearing into the night outside the tent.

Inside the tent, silence returned.

Qin Shi Moyu felt a little guilty under her cold gaze before she left, and touched his nose, muttering to himself:

"I brought Yan Lingji here to handle some important business. Besides, didn't you say a couple of days ago that you couldn't stand it? I've seen you have any complaints about other women, so why are you picking on Yan Lingji?"

"Ah, women."

Qin Shimoyu shook his head and let out a long sigh.

He sat back down at the table and continued working on crafting the magical artifacts.

The overwhelming force of the powerful figures and the battle maniacs made him feel an intense sense of crisis.

Among all the Jadeite celestial beings, he is the most thoughtful and profound.

Qin Shi Moyu can accept clinging to powerful figures and enjoy the pleasure of doing so, but he absolutely cannot accept losing his last usefulness!

As various worlds were developed, the strength of the War Maniacs and the Heroes increased too quickly, and their realms became too high.

Qin Shi Mo Yu knew that a large part of her value lay in the logistical aspects of weapon crafting, and a small part in the resources she originally controlled within the Qin Shi world.

However, with the rise of the War Maniac and the Heroes, and the emergence of mortals, he became the one who demanded resources from other 'his' worlds.

As for the most crucial aspect of weapon crafting, due to limitations in skill level, it can no longer provide the significant assistance it once did.

You can't expect a Foundation Establishment disciple to help a Nascent Soul or even a Deity Transformation stage ancestor refine weapons, can you?
Moreover, as the War Maniac and the Heroes raced ahead on their own paths, their abilities also steadily improved.

It's just that the two big shots were too lazy to put in the effort in this area, and also because they didn't want to take away Qin Shi's job.

Otherwise, do you really think the War Maniac can't forge weapons?

Although the God of War's true form has changed from a brass horn shield to a golden sacred tree, it is still essentially his [magical weapon].

He handled all the later maintenance and upgrades himself, instead of having Qin Shi do it.
Even though no one was urging me.

But Qin Shi Moyu, with his deep and meticulous mind, could not pretend not to see it.

He should also speed things up.

(End of this chapter)