Chapter 2 The Cruel Official

  Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor in Chinese history, who eliminated the six states, attacked the Xiongnu to the north, and conquered the land of Baiyue to the south, completing the great unification of China; established a unified Qin dynasty, strengthened centralization; abolished enfeoffment, set up prefectures and counties, standardized axle tracks, writing, weights and measures, creating a unified pattern for China...

  Although two thousand years have passed, we still live under the influence of Qin Shi Huang. Our daily lives cannot be separated from the county system, block characters, Chinese civilization... It can be said that our every move is still inheriting the legacy of Qin Shi Huang.

  Although many people scold Qin Shi Huang as a tyrant, no matter what, being able to unify the world, create the Huaxia civilization that we identify with, and establish China's unified framework... must be a hero of the ages. Such great achievements cannot even be accomplished by the "sages" in Confucianism, only Qin Shi Huang has done it.

  If one can raise a son as heroic and extraordinary as this, it is also a great joy in life.

  Qin Yiren couldn't help but feel a little self-satisfied, consoling himself.

  "Is Qin Shi Huang really my son? Not that rascal Lü Buwei's offspring?" Qin Yiren's infatuation didn't last long, as he suddenly remembered a most unglorious affair.

  It is said that Qin Shi Huang was the son of Lü Buwei, and was the result of Lü Buwei's hidden evil intentions and his plan to overthrow the state.

  Lü Buwei first spread the rumor, then presented Zhao Ji to Qin Yiren. From then on, Qin Shi Huang naturally became the son of Qin Yiren, inherited the throne of Qin State, conquered the six states, unified China and became the first emperor in Chinese history.

  "This will change color, and it will turn Lü Buwei's trick into green." Qin Yiren touched the worn-out leather hat on his head, thinking very gloomily.

  "Ah! I'll just be Qin Yiren then! From now on, I'm Qin Yiren!" Qin Yiren was extremely displeased but had no choice but to accept his new identity.

  Qin's affairs are too much, becoming a puppet of Lü Buwei, being manipulated by Lü Buwei, and becoming a nominal king of Qin. This is indeed difficult to accept, but if there is profit to be gained, pretending to be foolish is not impossible to try.

  The problem is that even the skin on top of his head has to turn green, which is a shameful thing for men. Qin Yiren cannot accept it no matter what, but unfortunately, this situation is indeed helpless and has to be accepted as a fact about Qin Yiren.

  "Lü Buwei, you scoundrel! I won't let you make a cuckold of me!" Qin Yiren secretly warned himself that no matter what, he couldn't let his hat turn green.

  "It would be best if I let Lü Buwei wear the green hat!" Qin Yiren gritted his teeth, his imagination running wild.

  It is well known that Lü Buwei gave a big green hat to the strange man of Qin. If it could be turned around and Lü Buwei wore the green hat instead, it would really be something to look forward to.

  Having accepted reality, Qin Yiren's mind also calmed down and he looked at the five people in front of him. According to his predecessor's memory, these five were his attendants.

  The oldest man was called Hei Bo, the most loyal servant of Qin Yi Ren. Qin Yi Ren was brought up by him. Hei Bo was originally a servant of Qin Yi Ren's birth mother Xia Ji, who was very loyal and worried that Qin Yi Ren would suffer, so she sent Hei Bo to serve him.

  That woman is Qin Yiren's maid, seventeen years old this year, elegant and beautiful, good at singing and dancing, and can also play the guqin well. Qin Yiren likes the guqin, so he wants her to come and serve him.

  The other three men with exceptionally tall and large builds were Qin Yiren's bodyguards, they were the elite soldiers of the Qin army, who had rolled on the battlefield, slept in piles of dead bodies, and bathed in blood, although they were thin to the point of being unrecognizable as human beings, yet they exuded a fierce aura.

  Qin Yiren originally had ten Qin army sharp soldiers as his guards, but after three years of hard life, seven of them starved to death. These three were the ones who could withstand hunger.

  Their leader was the tallest of them all, named Meng Zhao.

  There were two others, one named Ma Gai and the other Fan Tong. Ma Gai was eloquent and quick-witted; Fan Tong spoke little but often hit the nail on the head with a single remark.

  This is all the staff under Qin Yi's command.

  "Wanting money but having no money, wanting people but having no people, wanting power but having no power... Wanting everything but having nothing. Is it really that difficult to return to the Qin state and ascend to the throne of the Qin king?"

  No strength at all, it's as hard to ascend to the throne of Qin Wang as it is to climb to heaven. Qin Yi Ren was so depressed that a string of stars appeared in his eyes, and he stumbled around, about to fall over at any moment. He asked, "Is there anything to eat?"

  “……”

  A moment of silence, Hei Bo and they let out a long sigh, no one spoke.

  If there is food to eat, would Qin Yiren starve to death?

  If they had something to eat, would they become as thin as a bamboo pole?

  "Master, I'll go fetch water for you." Hei Bo dragged his exhausted and weak body out, one step at a time.

  Looking at Hei Bo's hunched back and extremely slow pace, Qin Yiren let out a weak sigh.

  In two lifetimes as human beings, when has it been as difficult as today?

  In modern society, Qin Yi Ren didn't have a good job, his salary was barely enough to eat, at least he could eat his fill. But now, not having food to eat, this is the first time in his two lifetimes that he has encountered such a situation.

  Heibao soon returned with a broken jar, trembling slightly, and handed it to Qin Yiren.

  "Ah, so fragrant!" Qin Yiren smelled the fresh water vapor and felt that this was the most delicious smell he had ever smelled in his two lifetimes. Like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey, he grabbed it with one hand and brought it to his mouth, gulping down the water fiercely.

  "Gulp! Gulp!" A sound like a thirsty cow drinking water rose, and Qin Yiren drank half a can of water clean.

  "Hmph!" Qin Yiren let out a satisfied belch, proudly raised his neck, shook his head, and looked like a strutting rooster. His carefree spirit far surpassed that of having sex with a famous female celebrity 100 times.

  "Rest now, young master." Hei Bo's eyes reddened and a layer of misty air shrouded his eyes.

  "Taking a break?" Qin Yiren had not fully adapted to this identity and did not understand Heibo's intention, so he was taken aback.

  "Your Highness, once you fall asleep, you won't know when you're hungry." Hei Bo's tears could no longer be held back and flowed out like a string of broken pearls.

  "Use sleep to deal with hunger?" Qin Yiren almost bit his tongue off, he really wanted to curse loudly, but it was as if his heart had been pricked by a needle, and he couldn't get the words out no matter what.

  "Master, we've been living like this for years." Meng Zhao blamed himself and said: "Master, it's all our fault for being incompetent and unable to protect the wealth."

  Qin Yiren was a prince of the Qin state. After being held hostage in Zhao, every year the Qin state would send a large amount of wealth to Handan, enough for him to live a life of luxury where clothes and food were readily available. However, these goods were confiscated by the Zhao state, not a single coin reached his hands.

  "Gentlemen, it's all our fault!" Ma Gai and Fan Tong, Mo Er chimed in unison.

  "It's Zhao Guo's fault, what does it have to do with you? You don't need to blame yourselves." Looking at the five determined yet self-reproachful and sincere faces, Qin Yiren couldn't hold back anymore, tears gushing out.

  In such a predicament, he didn't even have any complaints, let alone was self-reproaching. What a good person! How loyal!

  "Don't worry, I'll take you back to Qin State!" Qin Yiren said without thinking.

  Although it was a furious remark, it contained great self-confidence, because he was not the previous Qin Yiren who was both cowardly and annoying.

  "Master, we believe in you!" Hei Bo, Meng Zhao, Ma Ge, Fan Tong and Mo Er's eyes were brimming with tears, their faces filled with excitement: "Master, as long as there is confidence, there is hope!"

  Formerly, Qin Yiren was tormented by a life without sunshine and lost his confidence, living like a walking corpse. Now, Qin Yiren shows great self-confidence, which is important for everything.

  "Take a rest first and take care of your spirit." Qin Yiren instructed, lying on the couch.

  Heber and his five companions retreated, each returning to their own homes, using sleep to combat hunger.

  "How should I spend this day? How can I return to the Qin state?" Qin Yiren had no intention of sleeping, he wanted to plan for the future, lying on his bed thinking.

  Bang!

  Suddenly, a loud noise came, the door flew open, and several people in red appeared at the entrance.

  Ps: The historical materials of the Qin Dynasty were seriously lost and maliciously smeared, leaving behind the notorious reputation of "cruel and inhumane". What was the real Qin state like? This book aims to restore its original appearance. If you like it, please collect, click and recommend. Thank you!