I am not a seventh-generation descendant of Lord Wu'an from the Qin Dynasty.

The entire Lishan camp was in an uproar.

Bai Qi silently sheathed his sword, took a step back, and whispered something in his ear.

"Your Majesty, look at your people!"

"Faced with such a united will of the people, what is the powerful minister Lü Buwei?"

"Your Majesty's ambition should be to conquer the six kingdoms and create a magnificent era that covers the entire land!"

"Are the eight hundred people in Shanglin Garden a problem that Your Majesty should worry about? No!"

"What Your Majesty should be thinking about is how to organize these eight hundred men from Shanglin Garden into an army."

"If the eight hundred people in Shanglin Garden are all squad leaders, then with just one order from Your Majesty, Your Majesty can easily control eight thousand people in Xianyang City."

"If there are 800 people in Shanglin Garden, and each of them is a general, then there will be 80,000 people in Shanglin Garden in ten days."

"If there are 800 people in Shanglin Garden, and each of them is a general of a thousand men, then there would be 800,000 people in Shanglin Garden in a hundred days."

Bai Qi took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "What Your Majesty should be thinking about is controlling the armies of the realm!"

"Control the armies of the realm!"

King Zheng of Qin murmured to himself, the golden sun shining brightly behind him, his whole body radiating golden light, and his eyes gleaming with ambition to overthrow the world.

At this moment, he understood everything Bai Qi had planned for him.

The eight hundred people in Shanglin Garden were just the beginning, and the clarification of rumors in Xianyang City was merely a minor embellishment.

Even if the powerful minister's carriage made way for the new king, it was nothing more than child's play in the face of the overwhelming roar of the troops at the Lishan camp.

Lü Buwei's position as regent and prime minister, along with his deep-rooted power, suggests that his rule over the country is firmly established.

But in reality, beneath that illustrious and authoritative facade, it's nothing more than the four characters "Wei Shang Wai Xiang" (meaning "Minister of State Affairs").

Without Qin Shi Huang's indulgence and support, he would be nothing more than a sandcastle in the air that could be easily toppled.

The people of Qin would not recognize him, nor would the royal family and nobles of Qin for five hundred years.

Even the so-called three thousand retainers he kept, once they were removed from the power of the Prime Minister of Qin, who would still recognize him?

Before this, everyone was speculating that Bai Qizi's next move after driving away three empresses dowagers and a prince's brother in one day would inevitably be aimed at Lü Buwei.

This was also the thought of King Zheng of Qin.

But at this moment, King Zheng of Qin, standing in front of hundreds of thousands of Qin soldiers and civilians in the Lishan camp, suddenly realized what Lü Buwei was.

Indeed, he had the title of regent, looking after the new king on behalf of the former king.

But so what?

Is it not enough that a mere merchant from another region served as a minister and prime minister for seven years simply because the late king valued loyalty and righteousness?

enough!

If one were to ask oneself honestly, even Lü Buwei would have to admit, or dare not, harbor any evil thoughts.

He was a civil minister, and his military affairs relied heavily on Meng Ao, a Qin general from Qi. The Qin army did not recognize him, and the Qin people would not recognize him either.

Having figured all this out, King Zheng of Qin looked at Lü Buwei, who was full of signs of old age, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"I understand what you mean, sir."

"The matter of Lü Buwei's dismissal as prime minister should not be rushed."

"If I were to lead the Qin cavalry eastward out of the six states, Lü Buwei's management skills would be indispensable."

"The Great Qin Dynasty can't do without Prime Minister Lü!"

Bai Qi smiled in the same way and added, "The King is hiding behind the scenes, winning over the hearts and minds of the military, the government, and the people."

"If it is right, it is because Your Majesty is wise and enterprising; if it is wrong, it is because Lü Buwei is ineffective in governing and poor in teaching. If so, the Chief Minister of the Qin State shall severely punish him."

"Keeping Lü Buwei around will be beneficial in the short term!"

The cheers on the training ground of Lishan Camp gradually subsided.

King Zheng of Qin, holding the sword of Duke Mu, stepped forward and declared in a booming voice, "I am Ying Zheng!"

Beneath the nine-foot-high platform, the soldiers and civilians of Qin shouted in unison, "Long live the King!"

Finally, exhausted from cheering, after three shouts, everyone's dark eyes turned to the king's figure.

"Zheng was born in Handan and served as a hostage for nine years!"

Below the nine-foot-high platform, the soldiers and civilians of the Great Qin were somewhat at a loss, looking at each other.

Li Si's eyes darted around, and he seized the opportunity to shout, "Your Majesty, you were a hostage in Zhao when you were young, and you rendered great service to the Qin state!"

The Qin people echoed, "Your Majesty, you were a hostage in Zhao when you were young, and you rendered great service to the Qin state!"

"He was highly regarded by his father and grandfather, and at the age of thirteen he inherited the throne. He married at sixteen, and the Chu woman became pregnant with his son."

Li Si raised his arm and shouted again, "His Majesty is getting married, and Queen Chu has a son; the coming-of-age ceremony should be held!"

The Qin people joined in, shouting, "The King is getting married, and the Queen of Chu has a son; the coming-of-age ceremony should be held!"

Bai Qi frowned slightly upon hearing this, but since things had come to this point, he had no choice but to place his hand on the hilt of Lord Wu'an's sword, stride forward, look at Lü Buwei, and bow with his hands clasped.

"Prime Minister Lü, please crown His Majesty!"

The clamor below the nine-foot-high platform gradually subsided, and tens of thousands of Qin soldiers and civilians all turned their gazes to Lü Buwei's back.

In recent days, even those who pay little attention to royal politics have come to know that the young king's desire to rule personally is ultimately hindered by the powerful minister Lü Buwei.

Lu Buwei narrowed his eyes, clasped his hands together on his stomach, and coldly swept his gaze over Bai Qi, his eyes landing on the hilt of Bai Qi's slightly unsheathed sword.

"If I do not comply today, will Bai Qizi bleed five steps from here?"

Bai Qi sighed, "To wield the king's sword is a necessity forced upon me by circumstances; even if I don't want to, I have no choice!"

Lü Buwei's words were like needles: "How does Your Majesty intend to treat your uncle? To dismiss him as prime minister, to expel him, to offer him wine?!"

"Prime Minister Lü has misunderstood."

Bai Qi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty ascended the throne at a young age. Without Prime Minister Lü's strong support, you would not be able to hold onto the throne."

Lü Buwei's expression softened slightly.

"But now the evil winds in Xianyang are growing stronger, and there are many rumors circulating about the secret affairs between Prime Minister Lü and Ganquan Palace."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Qi stepped forward two steps, leaned down and whispered, "As Lü Xiang knows, Bai Qi shares your plight and truly does not wish to follow in the footsteps of the Marquis."

Lü Buwei's expression stiffened slightly as he squinted at him. "You... you really have entered Ganquan Palace..."

Bai Qi nodded firmly, "Your Majesty's kindness is boundless, and you are generous in your forgiveness."

"Bai Qi is willing to act as guarantor. As long as Marquis Wenxin fulfills his promise to the King to take the crown and assume personal rule, the position of Prime Minister of Qin will be secure and worry-free for ten years."

"If I break this oath, and the Wei River dries up, I, Bai Qizi, am willing to suffer the same punishments as Shang Yang and Wu An!"

"Ten years as prime minister?" Lü Buwei squinted and pondered. He was already over fifty years old, and in ten years he would be sixty years old, which would be enough for him.

"Bai Qizi, is this really true?"

Bai Qi glanced at the clear blue sky and swore an oath, "If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!"

Seeing that his expression was genuine, Lü Buwei finally felt some relief from the pent-up frustration in his heart.

A gentleman's word is his bond!

"What's done is done!"

Lü Buwei eventually stepped onto the stairs.

Bai Qi quickly stepped forward to help him up, and this time Lü Buwei glanced at him but did not refuse.

"Bai Qizi is young, precocious, brave, and strong-willed. Doesn't he want anything for himself?"

Bai Qi blinked.

Lü Buwei reached into his robes and pulled out a black bronze token.

The front is smooth, while the back is engraved with "Heavenly Slaughter and Earthly Destruction, Demons and Monsters".

Bai Qi's eyes were glazed over, and he reluctantly looked away, saying sincerely.

"I want to raise them, but I can't afford it."

"Haha! Bai Qizi sees things very clearly," Lü Buwei laughed loudly. "Without the national treasury to spare no expense, intelligence from the six states won't be easy to obtain!"

Bai Qi, with a fawning smile, said, "Of course, if Prime Minister Lü is willing to allocate some gold and silver every year, Bai Qi is not unwilling to accept it."

"I dare not refuse the gift from Your Excellency."

Lu Buwei smirked, reached out and pulled out half of the token, drew an arc under Bai Qi's nose, and then stuffed it back into his pocket.

"Then forget it. I feel this deal is too unprofitable. I'll support you and the younger generation for a few more years!"

"Bai Qizi, don't be in such a hurry. I'm old now. When I retire and return to my hometown, won't all of this still be yours?"

Bai Qi's lips twitched. "Well, another master of empty promises!"

Both of them knew perfectly well that this was an unspeakable deal.

Bai Qi guarantees that he will be able to retire peacefully from his position as prime minister in ten years. Lü Buwei will allow him to access the Black Ice Guard's intelligence network in the six kingdoms, with all expenses covered.

This is a secret alliance between ministers, who are usurping the emperor's power for their own selfish gain.

The key point is that he can't refuse.

But he didn't explicitly say where the ten-year agreement with Prime Minister Lü started.

If we count from now, it's been ten years. It's also been ten years since King Zheng of Qin ascended the throne. And if we count from King Zhuangxiang of Qin ascended the throne, it could also be ten years as prime minister, right?

Lü Buwei walked up to the nine-foot-high platform, faced King Zheng of Qin, and said with emotion, "Zheng'er, you've grown up!"

In a daze, he seemed to see the gloomy boy who had been a hostage for nine years six years ago.

It was he who, when he was no longer accepted by the royal court, taught him to please Empress Dowager Huayang and win her favor.

It was he who, when he was thirteen and his father had died, defied public opinion and placed him on the throne.

It was he who, when he was sixteen and about to marry, prevented him from coming of age and assuming personal rule.

Now, he will personally crown him.

In fact, it was King Zheng of Qin who felt this most deeply at this moment.

He looked at the man in front of him, whose temples were beginning to turn gray, and he still remembered how lonely and helpless he was when he first entered the royal court.

His earnest teachings when instructing Qin Zhuan, and his impotent rage upon first hearing of the prime minister's affair.

Now, it all turns into a long sigh.

"Father, I truly have no intention of forcing you to come of age today. I only want to tell you that I have grown up and am no longer the naive child under your protection!"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

With a look of satisfaction, Lü Buwei raised his hand and patted King Zheng of Qin's increasingly broad shoulder.

"From this day forward, you are a king, and you shall bear the heavy responsibility of a king's authority."

Lü Buwei looked at Bai Qi and said, "Give it to me!"

Bai Qi looked at King Zheng of Qin.

King Zheng of Qin smiled wryly, "I really didn't prepare in advance..."

"Your Majesty, Li Si is ready."

"Well, the impatient treacherous minister has jumped out again."