Chapter Thirty-Three: Princess Yu Xi

  Xingyang

  In the midst of wind and rain, various forces gathered here, and this three-river stronghold has become Liu Bang's new target for binding interests. As for the military actions of the Anti-Qin Alliance after the Battle of White Horse, Zhao Bi reacted very slowly, still indulging in internal strife.

  Finally, Yang Xiong was squeezed out of Gongyang, which made Zhao Bi very pleased for several days. From the third in command to the first in command, from being able to nod and follow others' gaze, to having the power to point at the mountains and rivers, Zhao Bi felt all sorts of benefits brought by power.

  Around Zhao Ping and Wang Ming, a group of beneficiaries had gathered. Their means of acquiring wealth were simple: they would frame people, carry out purges, fabricate charges, throw the resisters into prison or kill them. In this regard, Zhao Ping's methods were no different from those of his cousin Zhao Gao.

  In the face of immense wealth, Zhao Bi has already blinded his eyes. In his view, Xingyang's fortress is solid enough. Since Wu Guang's tens of thousands of troops couldn't break the city, who else would dare to attack Xingyang?

  Out of caution, Zhao Bi had previously ordered the garrison troops on the north bank of the White Horse River to withdraw into the city to strengthen its defenses, bringing the number of Qin soldiers inside the city to 10,000. Although most of them were newly recruited after Yang Xiong left and their combat effectiveness was limited, Zhao Bi believed they were enough for defense.

  Facing the threat of Liu Bang's army, Zhao Bai was not worried at all, which made the neutral faction that had always kept a distance from the internal struggle between Zhao and Li restless.

  If Xiangyang falls, it won't just be Zhao Yun who's unlucky.

  Office of Imperial Clan Affairs

  Chen Di's recent mood has been gloomy, and this trip to San Chuan made him deeply feel the instability of the foundation of the Great Qin. Xianyang is located in the heart of Guanzhong, with Hangu Pass blocking it. Even if there was a huge disturbance on the east side of the pass, as long as Zhao Gao ordered people to intercept messengers at Hangu, Wu Pass, and the northern area of Yunzhong, what Xianyang heard would still be the peaceful and prosperous situation.

  It's none of his business, so he just hung high. Chen Di had always maintained an attitude of non-participation and non-interference in the internal struggle of Xiangyang. Chancellor Zhao Gao's power was overwhelming, and it was not something that a marginal member of the royal family like him could shake off. Letting Chen Di assist the tyrant like Wang Ming, to frame Li Si and his son Li You, was also something he couldn't do.

  Silence is also a silent resistance.

  Chen Di's attitude is changing, and the attitudes of others who are not with Zhao Bi and Wang Ming are also changing. When Liu Bang's army appears outside the city, Ying Yu Shu, who has been hiding her strength, takes action, and Chen Di, the head of the imperial clan, is her first target for persuasion.

  "The palace heard that Chen Zongzheng has been restless lately, so I brought some high-quality incense to calm his mind. This incense was left behind by the previous emperor, and it's almost been two years now. The palace is thinking of him a lot." Ying Yuxi was still wearing plain clothes, with only a small yellow flower inserted at an angle on her hairline, which made her look exceptionally simple and elegant.

  Bring out the former emperor, it is to show identity, although Hu Hai ruthlessly killed his brothers and sisters, but as long as he did not kill Ying Yurou, then Ying Yurou was still the eldest princess of Qin State, still a noble member of the royal family.

  "The Princess has killed the minor official, by rights, it should be the minor official who comes to visit the Princess first." Chen Di was nervous and spoke in a flattering tone, but in reality, he had deliberately kept his distance from the Li family some days ago, fearing that he would get burned. Now that Ying Yu Xi had come to his mansion, if Zhao Ben and Wang Ming were to find out, it would be hard to explain.

  "Oh, I'll just wait for Zong Zheng's arrival at the mansion. Hopefully, it won't take too long, I can wait, but those rebel troops outside can't." After saying that, Ying Yu Shu didn't even wait for Chen Di to respond and got up to leave Chen's mansion immediately.

  Today she came to give Chen Di an opportunity, whether he can grasp it or not depends on Chen Di's attitude. If Chen Di returns the visit, then there is a possibility of discussing unity next, but if Chen Di still fears Zhao Gao's power and does not make a choice, then Bing Yuxi doesn't need to waste his efforts on Chen Di anymore.

  In Sanjiang County, in Xingyang, after two generations of Li Si and Li You's operation, the foundation of the Li family had long been deeply buried underground. Zhao Bi was able to cut down the tree trunk but could not uproot the Li family. Military officers like Junhou and Quzhang could be bought off, county magistrates and county captains could be won over, while minor officials like Shizhang, Wuzhang or small clerks and prison guards were unlikely to attract Zhao Bi's attention, and the potential of the Li family was hidden among them.

  This potential, once unleashed, is enough to turn Li's fortunes around, of course, this requires an excellent leader.

  Li Si served as the Prime Minister of Qin for many years and it is impossible that he did not have his own power. On the issue of selecting a crown prince, Li Si indeed made a mistake. The foolishness of the young king Hu Hai was beyond his expectation. In fact, Li Si also foresaw the potential danger and appointed Li You as the governor of Sanchuan County to keep a way out for himself.

  With military power in hand, I am not afraid of Zhao Gao's rebellion.

  Li Si's plan was good, but man proposes and God disposes. He never thought that the anti-Qin wave triggered by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang would make his layout a bubble.

  In Xianyang, after Zhao Gao seized control of the military power in Xianyang, he immediately launched a palace coup and either forced to death or imprisoned officials who held different opinions, such as Li Si and Feng Quji. At this time, Li You was surrounded by Chen Sheng's and Wu Guang's troops in Yingyang and could not return to provide support, so he could only watch as Zhao Gao gained power.

  When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's army was defeated, the situation in the court had already become irreversible. Zhao Gao's trusted aide, Zhang Han, became the Grand General of Qin, and Zhao Gao's power suddenly increased greatly, far surpassing that of Li Si. Li You had few soldiers and could only follow Zhang Han's orders, which was also the reason for his eventual defeat at Yongchu.

  After Li You's death, the actual controller of the Li family was replaced by Ying Yushu, which is the only choice in a helpless situation. In the history where Li Yuan did not cross over, Ying Yushu was like a withered grass floating on the surface of a long river, rising with the wind and falling with the wind, leaving no trace.

  ——。

  The mighty river, the snowflakes of early winter have begun to fall fluttering, and in a few days, another wave of cold air from the northern grasslands will move south, and the river that has been flowing for three seasons will also be frozen.

  A fleet of grain transport ships from Luoyang, consisting of three tower ships and eleven flat-bottomed warehouse ships with over 360 sailors on board, was sailing downstream to Changyi, the granary set up by Qin in Guandong. However, before reaching Changyi, this fleet had to stop at Xingyang for replenishment.

  On land, the anti-Qin coalition army won victory after victory, posing a great threat to the Qin army's water transportation. If it weren't for the urgent need of grain and supplies for the two large armies of Zhang Han and Wang Li in Zhao territory, this time the Qin navy would not have dared to venture out.

  Lofty warship's bow.

  A young Qin general with a straight figure and dark complexion stood, allowing the snowflakes to fall onto his black armor, and in a moment, the white snow covered his entire body.

  "Ah, Li Dai - the school lieutenant, the wine is warm!" The cabin door of the building boat opened, and Gu Yun, dressed in men's clothing, emerged with a heroic spirit.

  Li Dazi is really stupid.

  It's freezing cold, yet he stands at the bow of the boat, staring blankly and lost in thought.

  Gu Yun didn't believe that Li Yuan couldn't tell her gender, but this fool just wouldn't ask, and normally treated her the same as other attendants, which made Gu Yun feel like a cat scratching an itch, both itchy and not daring to scratch.