Born Saints: Starting from Liaozhai

Chapter 125 Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng, on the verge of death

Time passed slowly.

Because the words of the God of Mist Mountain were so unbelievable, even Ying Zheng found it hard to believe.

Will the God-King really appear when I am dying?

Will it really grant immortality?

Despite his bewilderment and disbelief, Ying Zheng ultimately did not give up on sending Xu Fu to the East Sea to search for the immortal mountains.

Immortals, elixirs of immortality.

Upon returning to the capital, Xianyang, Ying Zheng dispatched Xu Fu to carry out the plan.

Shipbuilding, recruitment, and supplies preparation—everything proceeded smoothly.

A large number of craftsmen were conscripted and worked day and night. Good materials were transported into the workshops, and the sounds of axes and chisels were incessant.

At the same time, young boys and girls began to be selected and recruited in various places, either by offering generous rewards or by forcibly conscripting them by imperial decree.

In a short period of time.

The momentum is already considerable.

In the blink of an eye.

In 219 BC, Xu Fu led his crew into the sea.

The banners and flags have gone far away.

It gradually disappeared between the sky and the sea.

During this period.

According to the words of the God of Wushan, the one who destroyed Qin was Hu.

Ying Zheng had already concluded in his heart that the so-called Hu were the northern Hu people, that is, the Xiongnu.

Therefore, he dispatched General Meng Tian to lead an army of 300,000 to attack the Xiongnu in the north.

Iron cavalry rolled on.

Go straight out of Shangjun.

In a short time.

The northern border is engulfed in continuous warfare.

at the same time.

The Qin Dynasty began a large-scale construction of the Great Wall, connecting the existing walls from the Warring States period to defend against the Hu people.

Across the mountains and rivers, manpower surged like a tide, with countless laborers being conscripted and working tirelessly day and night.

213 BC.

When the order to burn books was issued, all historical records not belonging to Qin and books from various schools of thought were burned, leaving only medical, divination, and agricultural books.

The whole country was shaken and scholars fell silent.

the following year.

212 BC.

The Qin Dynasty built a straight road from Xianyang to Jiuyuan, and also began construction of the Epang Palace, a grand project with heavy labor.

same year.

Among the alchemists and Confucian scholars, many were punished for speaking out against superstition or offending the emperor. They were eventually buried alive in Xianyang, their blood flowing in the fields. These two events are known in history as the burning of books and burying of scholars alive.

Amidst these major events, Ying Zheng's health deteriorated rapidly without him even realizing it.

Having been a hostage in Handan, the capital of Zhao, since childhood, he was often hungry and lived in constant fear, which made him physically weak.

With hundreds of pounds of bamboo slips to review every day, he gradually overtaxed his body.

After the sacrifice to the God of Mist Mountain, his health began to deteriorate significantly.

In addition, he had to manage everything, big and small, and slept very little. He also ingested large amounts of pills containing mercury and lead, which caused him to experience dizziness, irritability, and mental confusion.

Ying Zheng often felt weak and physically frail, and his temper became violent and suspicious.

However, he persisted and refused to stop.

Until 210 BC.

This year.

Despite his already severely weakened health, Ying Zheng embarked on his fifth eastern tour, which passed through the sand dunes.

The carriages and horses set off, accompanied by a grand procession.

Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, Li Si, Meng Yi, along with physicians, craftsmen, musicians, and others, accompanied him.

The imperial procession was as majestic as ever, stretching for dozens of miles, but unfortunately, the people inside the imperial carriage were no longer the same as before.

When Xu Fu arrived at Langya during his eastern tour, he returned and met with the First Emperor. Fearing punishment for not obtaining the elixir of immortality, Xu Fu lied and claimed that he was blocked by a giant shark and asked a skilled archer to accompany him.

Despite his poor health, clinging to the last glimmer of hope, and even knowing that Xu Fu was likely deceiving him, Ying Zheng continued to provide people, food, and archers.

Thus, Xu Fu embarked on his second voyage, never to return.

Time passed slowly.

The eastern inspection team gradually arrived near the sand dunes.

Scorching sun, exhaustion, a relapse of old ailments, and erysipelas took hold, and when Ying Zheng reached the sand dunes, his condition suddenly worsened.

The massive eastern inspection team stopped here, and the atmosphere quietly became solemn.

Banners were lowered, and carriages and horses were silent.

The once bustling procession now seemed unusually subdued, with even the passing soldiers not daring to speak loudly and walking very quietly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

It was 1-3 PM.

The weather was hot, the sun was scorching, and the blazing sun was high in the sky, baking the earth.

The air carried a faint scent of heat and dust, and even the wind felt dry and heavy.

The ground in the distance was slightly distorted by the sun, and steam rose from it.

Inside the Dune Palace.

Heavy curtains hung down, blocking out the scorching sun from the outside.

The interior of the hall was somewhat dim.

The air was stuffy, with a faint smell of medicine mixed with incense, creating a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

Ying Zheng lay on the bed, with a brocade mattress beneath him and a thin silk quilt covering him.

His face was slightly pale, his breathing was a little rapid, there was a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead, his eyes were half open, and his expression was somewhat dazed, as if he was sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused.

One side of the bed.

Zhao Gao lowered his head and was serving her closely.

He moved with extreme gentleness, carefully wiping the sweat from Ying Zheng's forehead, his expression one of utmost respect.

However, a faint light flickered in the depths of those lowered eyes, as if they were thinking about something.

Not far away.

As the only prince to voluntarily request to accompany the emperor on this eastern tour, Hu Hai stood out prominently.

At this moment, his face showed obvious unease and tension, and he glanced at Ying Zheng on the bed and Zhao Gao beside him from time to time.

Hu Hai tightened his grip slightly, his expression showing both worry and tension.

Apart from them.

Several eunuchs and physicians, who were close to the emperor in the palace, surrounded the bed, constantly checking on the emperor's body. Their expressions were solemn, and their brows were furrowed.

The physicians exchanged glances, none daring to speak easily, and an uneasy atmosphere permeated the air.

outside the temple.

Li Si, as the Left Chancellor, waited outside, ready to be summoned by the First Emperor at any time.

As for Meng Yi, he was sent to offer prayers to the mountains and rivers and was not present at the Sand Dune Palace.

At this moment, the entire palace seemed to be shrouded in an invisible shadow, oppressive and heavy, making it hard to breathe, and everyone vaguely realized something.

on the bed.

Ying Zheng's chest heaved, his breathing became disordered, and he coughed violently a few times, the sound of which was particularly jarring in the silent hall.

It took him a long time to catch his breath.

Ying Zheng's eyes were half-open, his expression dazed, and he could barely make out the figures in front of him.

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and weak, "Am I...am I...dying...?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the hall fell silent, as if the air itself had frozen.

The physicians lowered their heads and dared not respond.

Zhao Gao stood to the side with his head bowed, not daring to say anything either. Suddenly, Ying Zheng murmured softly.

"Where is Xu Fu? Where is the elixir of immortality? Why hasn't he brought it back to me yet?!"

After muttering to himself for a while, Ying Zheng seemed to regain a bit of clarity. He suddenly realized something, and a flash of fury appeared in his eyes.

"You audacious traitor, Xu Fu, how dare you deceive me—when you return, I will make you wish you were dead!"

As he spoke, his breathing became erratic, and he coughed violently again, his face turning red, making him appear even weaker.

His consciousness gradually began to blur, and scenes from the past flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

The image of him once going to Wushan to worship the God of Wushan flashed through his mind.

The words of the God of Mist Mountain also echoed in his mind.

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