People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 461, The Full Picture of Xu Qing's Plan
"Tian Guang sent Zhu Jia and Situ Wanli with Tian Ze to burn the grain that Jade Tiger had hidden!?" Yan Lingji said in surprise.

“I originally thought Tian Guang would burn the grain that Han Fei borrowed, but I didn’t expect him to choose the military rations that Emerald Tiger had hidden. Although it’s a bit different from my plan, it doesn’t affect the outcome,” Xu Qing said.

After reading the secret letter again, Yan Lingji turned to Xu Qing and asked, puzzled.
"How exactly did you guess that Tian Guang would do this?"

“I didn’t guess that Tian Guang would do this, but that Xiong Qi behind him would make him do it. Xiong Qi’s heart is not in Qin, and I deliberately didn’t tell Xiong Qi what I was going to do at Taiyi Mountain. Given his fear of me, he will definitely ask the King what I am going to do.”

"His Majesty will certainly not tell Xiong Qi about my instructions, but he will reveal some details. In addition, he is the Right Chancellor, in charge of Qin's civil administration. If Lü Buwei wants to mobilize grain, he will definitely have to go through him."

“After I left Taiyi Mountain, I gradually revealed my whereabouts and behavior to Tian Guang, and Tian Guang will certainly report it to Xiong Qi truthfully.”

"With Xiong Qi's intelligence, I believe this intelligence is enough for him to guess that I want Nanyang to surrender to Qin, and he will inevitably risk being suspected to stop me."

Xu Qing's lips curled slightly as he took Yan Lingji's small hand and pulled her into his arms, explaining slowly.

Yan Lingji leaned against Xu Qing's chest, tilting her head slightly to look at him. Her pretty face was still full of doubt as she asked...

"Since he wanted to stop you, why did he let Tian Guang burn the grain? Shouldn't he have protected the grain?"

"That's because Xiong Qi needs Han Fei as an ally. According to what Situ Wanli told me, Tian Guang had actually started trying to win Han Fei over a long time ago."

Xu Qing looked at Yan Lingji and began to explain.

Xu Qing didn't know much about Xiong Qi, the mastermind behind Tian Guang, but based on the descriptions in the original work, he was very clear about the other party's ambition and goals.

Xiong Qi wanted to preserve the State of Chu and prevent it from being destroyed by the State of Qin. Relying solely on the peasant school or the power of the State of Chu was not enough. That's why the other side actively supported anti-Qin forces in various states, such as Ji Dan of Yan and the royal family member in the Wei clan.

As the only heir to the State of Han with exceptional talent, Han Fei would undoubtedly become a potential target for Xiong Qi to win over.

However, although Han Fei appears easygoing, he is quite arrogant. When he was still in Xinzheng, Situ Wanli told him that Tian Guang not only asked him to win him over, but also to show goodwill to Han Fei, wanting to win him over.

However, Han Fei directly rejected such an offer of friendship.

In the original novel, after Han Fei entered Qin, it was because of Xiong Qi's shady actions that Han Fei agreed to help him plan the Azure Dragon Project.

As for the drought in Nanyang, Xiong Qi and Tian Guang were originally outsiders, but his appearance drew them into the drought. Therefore, Xu Qing believed that once Xiong Qi learned what he was going to do in Nanyang, he would definitely not let go of this opportunity.

While helping South Korea preserve Nanyang, they would certainly try to win over Han Fei, and grain became the best opportunity.

"And all of this boils down to the word 'interest.' For his own benefit, Xiong Qi will definitely do as I expect. The only surprise is that he plans to burn the military rations hidden by the Jade Tiger, instead of the rations that Han Fei borrowed from Wei."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Lingji's eyes sparkled with countless little stars, and her gaze towards Xu Qing was filled with admiration.

Xu Qing's intelligence far exceeded her imagination. "Resourceful and shrewd" was not enough to describe the man in front of her. He had been scheming against Xiong Qi since Taiyi Mountain, and had unknowingly led him into a trap that had been set up in advance.

This cunning manipulation of human nature shocked Yan Lingji. Facing an enemy like Xu Qing was like being a naked puppet, not only completely exposed but also forced to walk step by step into a deadly trap according to the other party's arrangements. The mere thought of it terrified her.

Fortunately, Xu Qing is her man. No matter how capable Xu Qing is, he has to be subdued by her at night.

"Now do you know why I didn't tell you before? Because I wasn't sure if Xiong Qi had fallen into the trap," Xu Qing said.

Of course, his schemes against Xiong Qi didn't stop there. To add an extra layer of insurance for himself, Xu Qing also put into practice the knowledge he had learned in psychology, which he had taken as an elective in college in his previous life.

By sending Xiong Qi and other scholars from various schools of thought, including the Gongyang School, to Qin, the plan aroused the Qin's unease and anxiety. Then, through Tian Guang, the plan gradually revealed the plan's whereabouts and objectives, making the word "grain" stand out among various pieces of information. Through this kind of suggestive information, the plan gradually lured Xiong Qi to the issue of grain.

"Hmm, so what's next? Are we going to expose them after they burn the supplies?" Yan Lingji asked curiously.

"If the truth is revealed to the public, the Farmer's Clan will be despised by everyone. Therefore, this matter cannot be known to outsiders, but it needs to be spread within the Farmer's Clan through the mouths of others, especially among the higher-ups."

Xu Qing shook his head and looked at the bright moon outside the window.

A despised peasant family is of no benefit to him whatsoever. His goal from beginning to end has always been to reduce Tian Guang’s prestige among the peasants while completing the plan to subjugate Nanyang to Qin.

Then, he supported Tian Meng, Tian Mi, Situ Wanli, and others, gradually seizing power within the peasant family, and ultimately replacing them.

The Tian family used this method when they replaced the Qi state, and the peasant family was gradually controlled by the Tian family in the same way. Now he is just giving them a taste of their own medicine.

"Go to sleep early. Han Fei is returning to Nanyang tomorrow, and we should leave then too," Xu Qing said.

"Leave? You want to avoid suspicion?"

A glint flashed in Yan Lingji's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She turned over and sat up from Xu Qing's arms, hooking her arms around Xu Qing's neck and saying with a light laugh.

"Yes, Bai Yifei and Han Fei both know I'm in Nanyang. If the grain is burned, they will definitely suspect me."

“If I leave Nanyang, even if they have some suspicions, I will have an alibi, which is enough to pin the blame on Fei Cuihu, Ji Wuye and Tian Guang.”

Xu Qing feigned helplessness and looked at Yan Lingji.

Of course, besides avoiding suspicion, he also had to go to Xinzheng to see his older sister, Chao Nv Yao, since he had finally come all the way to South Korea.
His beloved wife must be feeling incredibly lonely in the Han royal palace without his company these days.

"Okay, then get some rest."

Yan Lingji had no doubts and nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)