Starting with ten elixirs of immortality, I led the First Emperor to rebel against the Qin Dynasty.

[If you think it's alright, please give it a 5-star rating if you read it for more than 30 minutes. I heard that ratings are not given for reading less than 30 minutes.]

My life has been like walking on thin ice; when will I finally reach the other side?

[A popular spot for handsome men and beautiful women to take photos]

[A temporary resting place for the brain]

Daqin, Lantian County.

On the official road, two fine horses walked slowly.

The middle-aged man on horseback was dressed in ordinary cloth, yet his face exuded an imposing presence, his deep gaze sweeping across the fields. Beside him, half a horse's length behind, sat a burly man, also dressed in cloth, but whose imposing presence could not conceal the steely aura honed through countless battles.

"Fusu's words still echo in my ears." Ying Zheng's voice was low and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger. "To govern with benevolence and righteousness is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger. If I were to practice benevolence and righteousness, the remnants of the six states would devour my flesh and sleep on my skin. And yet he doesn't understand!"

When his eldest son, Fusu, was mentioned, Ying Zheng's tone turned cold. His heir, on whom he had placed such high hopes, was increasingly associating with Confucian scholars who only knew how to engage in empty talk, spouting the doctrines of the former kings while criticizing the empire's iron-fisted laws. This irritated Ying Zheng, so he changed his name to Zhao Zheng and, accompanied by Meng Tian, ​​left the palace to see the Qin empire for himself.

Meng Tian remained silent. The affairs of the king's family were not for a subject to discuss. He was merely fulfilling his duty to protect His Majesty's safety.

"Hmm?" Ying Zheng suddenly reined in his horse.

A village not far ahead.

Unlike the desolation seen along the way, this village appeared remarkably... neat and tidy.

The houses, made of blue bricks and tiles, are arranged in a pleasing and well-planned manner. The village roads are wide and clean, without a trace of dirt. What is most striking is that the villagers, despite their pale complexions, all appear energetic and speak with a strong voice.

This was considered an extraordinary phenomenon in the Qin Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, something is amiss here." Meng Tian also noticed the unusual situation.

Ying Zheng did not speak, dismounted, tossed the reins to Meng Tian, ​​and strode towards the village entrance.

He noticed that in the fields outside the village, there were crops he had never seen before. The plants were lush and leafy, quite different from millet and wheat.

"Old man, please." Ying Zheng stopped a farmer who was about to enter the village.

Seeing Ying Zheng's extraordinary bearing—though dressed in simple clothes, he possessed an imposing presence that commanded respect—the old farmer quickly bowed and asked, "What brings you here, sir?"

"May I ask, sir, where is this place? Why does the village appear so prosperous?" Ying Zheng pointed to the village and the unfamiliar crops.

Mentioning his village, the old farmer straightened his back, his face full of pride: "Sir, you may not know, but this is my Zhao Family Village. As for these good days, it's all thanks to Young Master Huan from my village!"

"Young Master Huan?" Ying Zheng became interested.

"Yes!" the old farmer began, "Young Master Huan's name is Zhao Huan, and he just turned eighteen this year. When he was eight, neither of his parents were around, but he was exceptionally intelligent. He led us to cultivate wasteland and improve farming tools. Take this magical plant in the land," he pointed to the lush crops, "it's called a potato. It's a divine seed that Young Master Huan found. It yields thousands of kilograms per mu, saving countless lives! With Young Master Huan around, our Zhao Family Village will never go hungry!"

Yields of several thousand jin per mu!

Ying Zheng's heart skipped a beat. He knew the weight of those five words. For the Qin Dynasty, conquering the world, provisions were always of paramount importance. If such a divine object truly existed, what need was there for instability in the realm, or for the destruction of the Xiongnu!

Meng Tian also looked surprised. Having led troops for many years, he naturally understood what this meant.

"Who is this Zhao Huan?" Ying Zheng pressed.

"I heard that Young Master Huan's father went out to do business many years ago and has not returned since. Young Master Huan survived on his own, and he is the backbone of our village!" The old farmer's words were full of admiration for Zhao Huan.

Ying Zheng nodded, asked no further questions, and walked straight into the village. An eighteen-year-old boy could change the face of an entire village? Such a person must be either incredibly talented or utterly treacherous. He had to see it for himself.

Guided by the old farmer, the two soon arrived at a house in the center of the village.

The courtyard wall is not high, but it is made of blue bricks. The gate is a sturdy wooden door, with two stone piers in front of it. It is simple yet grand, exuding a unique style.

Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back in front of the gate, straightened his not-so-disheveled clothes, and personally knocked on the gate.

"Thump, thump, thump."

The knocking on the door was crisp and clear, carrying far in the quiet afternoon.

A moment later, footsteps were heard in the courtyard, and the wooden door creaked open.

A tall, upright young man appeared behind the door.

The boy was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a handsome face. He wore a clean linen robe. What was most special about him was his temperament. He was calm and composed, yet he had a maturity that came with experience in the world, which was incongruous with his age.

Ten years ago, Zhao Huan traveled from the 21st century to this place and became an eight-year-old orphan. Fortunately, with the help of a system, he was given the world's strongest martial arts and an immortal body, and then disappeared after leaving behind a pile of books and supplies from the future.

Not long ago, he received a letter from his father, "Zhao Zheng," who had been missing for many years. The letter said that he had achieved success in business and would soon be returning home.

Zhao Huan sized up the two people outside the door.

The leader, a middle-aged man around forty years old, was tall with a rugged face and an air of domineering arrogance. Zhao Huan had only ever seen such an aura in portraits in history books.

A thought struck him. The letter said his father was a merchant, but the man before him didn't look like a merchant at all; he looked more like... a ruthless king.

However, the letter mentioned that the father had achieved considerable success over the years, so it was not impossible for him to have developed such a demeanor. Moreover, his age also matched.

Zhao Huan was somewhat uncertain and asked tentatively.

"father?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Ying Zheng and Meng Tian.

Ying Zheng was a little confused and subconsciously replied.

"Um?"

This sound was less of a response and more of an instinctive reaction from someone in a superior position to an unexpected situation, carrying with it questions and scrutiny.

However, to Zhao Huan, this "hmm" sounded like the original owner's father.

Zhao Huan was confident in his judgment. What fool in this world would randomly adopt a son? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Ten years! I've struggled alone in this era for ten years, and finally I've seen my family again!

Zhao Huan grabbed Ying Zheng's arm with great enthusiasm and pulled him into the courtyard.

"Father! You're finally back! Come in, come in!"

Ying Zheng was caught off guard by this sudden enthusiasm and strength. He was pulled by Zhao Huan and stumbled, momentarily losing his balance.

Meng Tian was completely petrified on the spot.

What did he see? What did he hear?

Your Majesty... the First Emperor of Qin, is called "Father" by a country boy?

His Majesty even hummed in response?

And then His Majesty was pulled inside by this young man?

Meng Tian felt his mind was overwhelmed. He had spent his life on the battlefield, experiencing countless bizarre battles, but none of them were as absurd and terrifying as what was happening before his eyes.

Inside the courtyard, Zhao Huan pressed Ying Zheng down onto the main stone bench without saying a word, while he himself moved a small stool and sat opposite him.

"father!"

As soon as Zhao Huan opened his mouth, his eyes reddened, and his voice carried the grievances of not seeing each other for ten years—of course, it was all an act.

"Do you know what kind of life I've been living since you left!"

He began to complain, tears streaming down his face: "My mother died young, and I haven't heard from you since. Even that scoundrel Er Gouzi in the village dared to steal my cornbread! If it weren't for my cleverness in figuring out how to farm, I'd probably have starved to death in some remote mountain valley long ago!"