The Great Qin Dynasty: The egg of the Black Bird was revered as a national guardian beast.

I stayed at Linguang Palace for several months.

Soon, the autumn harvest ended, and the busy farming season came to a close.

The weather was no longer hot and became cool, so the First Emperor moved his carriage away and returned to Zhangtai in Xianyang.

After that, preparations for the winter hunt began.

When the world is at peace, the emperor holds a grand celebration, conducting spring hunts and autumn hunts, while the feudal lords lead their armies in rehearsals and winter hunts to prepare their troops, so as not to forget the importance of war.

After the First Emperor returned to Xianyang.

At the court assembly the following day, it was announced that the army would be reorganized in preparation for the winter hunt.

During the winter hunt, all civil and military officials were required to participate.

Although only skilled archers could participate in the winter hunt, those who could not shoot could watch from the sidelines.

Time passed quickly.

.........

Marquis Wucheng, Wang Jian,

Since the unification of the world

Even when he was at home in seclusion, he often asked for leave and did not attend court.

But today, during the winter hunt, he donned his armor and once again boarded his chariot to train the army.

The civil and military officials each stood in two rows.

A loud, long cry,

Everyone in Xianyang looked up and saw a giant black bird flying in the sky.

The next moment, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard.

A bronze chariot drawn by six horses, surrounded by Qin soldiers, drove out of Xianyang.

This time, the First Emperor rode in a chariot without a roof.

He gripped his sword, the beads falling from the imperial crown swaying and scattering before his eyes.

He stood there in the chariot.

There was no superfluous look in his eyes, yet he seemed to look down on everything.

The black and gold robe he wore today was embroidered with a soaring black bird.

But upon closer inspection, one can see that...

The feathers of the black bird on it looked as if they had really grown out, densely packed and arranged on it.

That's exactly what happened.

The black bird embroidered on his robe

Its feathers were not embroidered, but were inlaid with feathers that Xuan Ye had exchanged.

From a distance, it gleams with a cold, metallic sheen.

Soon, Zhao Gao drove his chariot to a stop outside Xianyang City, in front of the civil and military officials.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

The carriage stopped, and the ministers standing on both sides of it bowed slightly to the First Emperor.

The First Emperor stood on the chariot and raised his hand.

No need for formalities.

Immediately following was a whooshing sound, the sand outside the city was kicked up, and Xuan Ye slowly fell down.

Upon witnessing this scene, both civil and military officials looked astonished.

I hadn't noticed it from the sky just now. It's been so long since I've seen it. How did the Heavenly Fate Mystic Bird become so big?

But they didn't dare ask.

He lowered his head, suppressing all his doubts.

Not long after, Wang Jian's chariot stopped ten paces away from the First Emperor, and he got off.

He stepped forward.

He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty. Please forgive me for being in full armor and unable to perform the full ceremony."

"It's alright." The First Emperor waved his hand.

Wang Jian nodded and then said, "The elite troops of our Great Qin have been assembled. Please inspect them, Your Majesty."

The First Emperor stood on the chariot, saying nothing.

After a long time,

Only one cold word was uttered: "Granted."

"Yes, sir." Wang Jian accepted the order and withdrew, then climbed back onto the chariot, looking at the army gathering in the distance.

Black banners fluttered in the wind.

Beneath those banners stood countless soldiers in neat rows, each wielding a spear and halberd.

The chariots rumbled, and the banners fluttered.

"Line up in formation for the review!"

Soon after Wang Jian shouted these words, a messenger went down to relay the order.

"Splash!"

A unified sound rang out.

Upon receiving Wang Jian's instructions, the generals of each army quickly arranged for their troops to form ranks according to their respective branches.

The armored vehicle units led the way, followed closely by the infantry formations.

Cavalry units provided flank protection, while crossbowmen formed the rearguard.

The formation was impeccable, and the soldiers shouted as they marched in an orderly fashion to their respective positions.

"The formation is complete. Your Majesty, please inspect it!"

Wang Jian walked up to the First Emperor's carriage again and clasped his hands in greeting.

This time, the First Emperor nodded, and Zhao Gao hurriedly drove his chariot to inspect the various armies.

Wang Jian followed closely behind the First Emperor.

The First Emperor, holding his sword, stood on his chariot, looking around at the vast, dark mass of Qin soldiers.

Wherever the carriage went, large numbers of soldiers in black armor knelt on the ground in perfect unison, like a tidal wave.

The spears and halberds stood like a forest, gleaming with a cold, icy light.

Then the generals of each army, holding their imperial tallies, reported to the First Emperor on their troop strength and military preparedness.

The First Emperor praised him, bestowed upon him wine and food, and rewarded him with gold and silk.

The grand review and inspection lasted for two hours, and it was only much later that the First Emperor departed in his chariot.

Xuan Ye watched the grand inspection from a distance.

With Qin's elite soldiers like this,

Why did the Qin Dynasty perish after only two generations?

The First Emperor unified the country, and then standardized the written language, cart tracks, and weights and measures.

To do it in the shortest time

To achieve cultural and institutional unity across the world.

However, the effect is minimal, and it may be necessary to follow Lao Tzu's advice that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish, requiring slow and careful cooking to succeed.

The First Emperor was too hasty.

To want one person to accomplish what would take decades, centuries, or even generations to achieve.

The people of Qin in Guanzhong would unconditionally trust the First Emperor.

The people of the other six states, however, felt a mixture of fear and resentment towards the First Emperor.

They don't care who rules them.

The resentment towards the First Emperor stemmed from a series of decrees he issued after unifying the country.

Not only can the old money that was saved up before no longer be used.

They had used the old balance for countless years, and many other things, but none of them were usable anymore.

That's why resentment arises.

If misled by those with ulterior motives, this resentment could become the root of their rebellion against the Qin Dynasty.

Presumably, the former nobles of the six states will be able to quickly rally their forces.

That's probably why.

..........

After the military inspection was completed,

The First Emperor then led his civil and military officials, along with his sons, to the royal garden in Shanglin Garden for a winter hunt.

Although we just inspected the troops today, we are heading to Shanglin Garden.

However, some people had already arrived at Shanglin Garden and entered the garden beforehand.

They will surround them without uniting, or encircle them from all sides.

Once their encirclement was complete, the First Emperor led his officials and sons into the encirclement to shoot and kill them.

Each person's arrows are also different.

This is so that we can distinguish who hunted the prey.

The one who hunts the most will be the champion of this winter hunt and will be rewarded by the First Emperor.