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

Meng Tian and Bai Qi looked at the man in black who was being lifted into the air by Zhao Huan with one hand, their eyes filled with strange expressions.

They recognized it as the attire of the Black Ice Guard.

The one captured by Zhao Huan was Zhang Han, the commander of the Black Ice Guard.

At this moment, Zhang Han's heart was already in turmoil. He had originally planned to find an opportunity to secretly report to His Majesty about his visit to the Mohist and Gongshu families.

He believed his concealment skills were unparalleled, and even Bai Qi and Meng Tian might not be able to detect him without knowing his presence.

But as soon as he approached the courtyard, Zhao Huan spotted him.

And then... and then that was it.

He only felt a blur before his eyes, and a large hand locked his throat.

What terrifying power this is.

"Speak! Who sent you? What do you want to steal?"

Zhao Huan grabbed Zhang Han by the neck and asked in a cold voice.

He's panicking. Could it be that his rebellion has been exposed?

Zhang Han's face turned red from being choked, and he couldn't utter a single word. He could only look at Ying Zheng with pleading eyes.

"Cough cough."

Ying Zheng coughed twice and stepped forward.

"Huan'er, stop! They're on our side!"

Zhao Huan was taken aback, then turned to look at Ying Zheng: "Father, do you know him?"

"Hmm." Ying Zheng nodded, his expression unchanged, and said, "His name is Han Zhang. He has been with me for many years, responsible for gathering information outside. He probably saw that we were all here and didn't dare to disturb us, so he hid to the side."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan finally released his grip. "That scared me to death! I thought our rebellion had been exposed!"

With a "bang," Zhang Han fell to the ground, clutching his neck and coughing violently, gasping for fresh air.

Zhao Huan curled his lip, walked over and kicked him: "Hey Lao Han, next time you need something, just knock on the door. You're acting like a thief. If my dad hadn't said he knew you, your neck would be broken today."

Zhang Han: "..."

Thank you so much!

Struggling to his feet, he knelt on one knee before Ying Zheng, his head bowed low: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent."

This "incompetence" was partly out of shame at being so easily discovered, and partly out of shock at experiencing Zhao Huan's unfathomable strength up close.

Ying Zheng waved his hand dismissively, and asked, "What is it?"

Zhang Han composed himself and respectfully replied, "My lord, the Mohists and Gongshu people you instructed have been 'invited' here."

"Oh?" Before Ying Zheng could speak, Zhao Huan's eyes lit up.

"Father! You're so efficient!" Zhao Huan rubbed his hands excitedly. "Where is he? Where is he? Take me to see him!"

Seeing Zhao Huan's impatient manner, Ying Zheng found it amusing, but his face remained impassive: "No rush. For the sake of our great cause, we must be careful in everything we do. I have already settled them in a safe place nearby."

He then turned to Zhang Han and ordered, "Lead the way."

"Yes." Zhang Han respectfully accepted the order, and as he stood up, he subconsciously took two steps away from Zhao Huan.

Young Master Huan is terrifying.

The group followed Zhang Han and headed out of the village.

On the way, Zhang Han lagged half a step behind, approached Ying Zheng, and quickly reported in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Your Majesty, the Mohists, the Gongshu School, and those alchemists have all been warned. They know your identity, but they would never dare to reveal a single word in front of Prince Huan."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly. He glanced at Zhao Huan, who was walking at the front and enthusiastically "arm in arm" with Bai Qi.

gunpowder……

I hope these people won't disappoint me.

The group followed Ying Zheng and soon arrived at the foot of a mountain east of Zhao Family Village.

The mountain is not very high, but its terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

What alarmed Li Si and Bai Qi even more was that they could keenly sense that countless subtle yet sharp auras were lurking in the dense forests along the way from the foot of the mountain to the summit.

They were clearly elite soldiers, yet Meng Tian remained calm.

It seems that His Majesty has actually mobilized the Meng family's private army for this place.

The scale of the project was considerable.

"Father, isn't this a bit too much?" Zhao Huan noticed the unusual atmosphere around him and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "With this level of security, not even a fly could get in!"

"Hmm." Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "We are about to carry out a major rebellion, which will implicate nine generations of our families, so we must be extremely careful. From now on, this place will be called the 'Academy of Physics,' which is our foundation, and secrecy is our top priority."

"Father, your consideration is thorough; I admire you!"

Zhao Huan gave a thumbs up.

"Gewu Academy... to investigate things and acquire knowledge, to explore the principles of all things. What a great name! So cultured!"

The group walked up a newly opened mountain road, and soon a cluster of buildings surrounded by high walls came into view.

The courtyard wall was built of blue bricks and huge stones, reaching several meters high. It was topped with crenellations and patrol walkways, resembling a small fortress.

The gate was made of heavy ironwood, and two rows of soldiers in black armor, holding long spears, stood in front of it. Each of them had a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, and it was clear at a glance that they were the elite of the elite.

Upon seeing Ying Zheng and his entourage approaching, the leading officer immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

Greetings, Lord!

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, signaling him to get up, then pushed open the door and went in first.

Zhao Huan followed behind, looking at the formidable defenses with astonishment.

My old man, as expected of the man who named my eldest brother Zhao Fan, even managed to procure armor.

It seems that my dream of becoming a carefree prince is just around the corner.

Meanwhile, inside the Institute of Gewu (格物院).

Dozens of people dressed in various colors were gathered in the central open space, guarded by soldiers in black armor.

These people were clearly divided into three groups.

The largest group consisted of about forty or fifty people, all dressed in coarse linen clothes, with dark skin, calloused hands, and an untamed glint in their eyes. They were gathered together, led by a gaunt old man with sharp eyes, who was speaking in a low voice to the person next to him, his face full of resentment.

"Hmph! Ying Zheng is tyrannical. He used our three clans as hostages to force us here. How are we any different from prisoners? How can a true man endure such humiliation!"

"Master is right! We disciples of the Mohist school would rather die than submit! When we find an opportunity, we will make that tyrant know how powerful we are!"

This group of people were the Mohist disciples whom Zhang Han had "invited" with ruthless methods.

The elderly man at the head of the group was Mo Yuan, a prominent figure in the contemporary Mohist school.

Another group, slightly smaller, numbering about twenty or thirty, were also dressed as artisans, but their clothes were much neater. They were gathered together, pointing at the surrounding buildings and layout, sometimes shaking their heads, sometimes nodding, engaged in some kind of technical discussion.

The leader was a tall, sprightly old man who stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Gentlemen, look carefully. The location here is exquisite, the layout subtly follows the rules of nature, and the craftsmen who built these houses are of the highest caliber. To be able to build a courtyard of such scale, 'His Majesty's' ambitions must be grand! We are truly fortunate to be a part of it!"