Chapter 24: The Death of Qin Shi Huang 2

  Win Jeong was shocked, and suddenly felt his body unusually heavy, and breathing became very difficult. Win Jeong knew that his life was about to end. What made him resentful was that the man in red robe dared to lay hands on him. Who was he, after all?

  A mysterious dragon-snake battle, unexpectedly let Ying Zheng know that his own death is approaching. He knew that the guy who killed him in his dream just now must be the one who would take over his country after he died. However, he was now seriously ill and no longer had the ability to fight with others.

  However, one's own posthumous affairs must be arranged properly and that red-robed guy must not be allowed to succeed. Thinking this way, the position of the crown prince quickly settled in Ying Zheng's mind: Fu Su, Fu Su, it can only be Fu Su! Having thought of this, Ying Zheng called out in his very low voice: "Come in! Come in!"

  Zhao Gao's ears were specially trained to listen to the emperor's voice. When he heard Ying Zheng's call, he slipped into Ying Zheng's sedan chair like a cat in no time.

  "Your Majesty, what are your orders? The effort is right here! What are your orders? The effort is right here!" Zhao Gao said timidly and fearfully as he knelt on the ground.

  "Zhao Gao, go and bring Huhai and Li Si, the Chancellor, to me! Bring Huhai and Li Si, the Chancellor, to me!" Ying Zheng seemed to have used all his strength to say.

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Gao responded with a single word, then turned around and descended from the sedan chair. In that instant when he turned around, a faint, secretive cold smile flashed across his face. He knew that this once invincible First Emperor, who had unified China, was now almost done for! It didn't matter if he couldn't hold on anymore, but his own life was tightly tied to the emperor's. As long as the emperor lived, no one would dare to do anything to him, no matter how dissatisfied they were with him. But once this tree fell, he would lose his backing and not only would his days be difficult, but he might even lose his life.

  So, as soon as he thought of the impending deadline for winning the policy, Zhao Gao's mind quickly turned around. And almost at the same time, a sinister plan emerged from his mind. Thinking of this, the few fish-tail wrinkles at the corner of his eyes became even more intricate, as if there was a huge secret hidden in them.

  Soon after, Zhao Gao called for the Prime Minister Li Si and the Second Prince Hu Hai to come over. Zhao Gao told them: "His Majesty may not be doing well, so he has called you all over!" Although in his heart, Zhao Gao did not care about anyone, on the surface, he still had to put on a show. After all, Li Si was the Prime Minister and the Second Prince Hu Hai, whose status wasn't higher than his own by hundreds of times?

  "Your Majesty, how is your dragon body? Is everything all right?" Hu Hai put on a very concerned look. In fact, in his heart, he had been looking forward to this day for a long, long time. He would win over his father's favor and thought that the position of crown prince was definitely his own. As for his older brother, although he was more talented than himself, which Hu Hai acknowledged, what use was that? Talented people were still used by those in power! His own concern was to win over his father's favor, and everything would be settled!

  At first, Fusu and I were both in the imperial palace. Fusu was proud of his own abilities and had often made me lose face. What happened later? Hehe, with the help of Zhao Gao, I successfully gained Father's favor and gradually alienated him from my elder brother Fusu.

  However, despite this, Huhai had a deep-seated feeling in his heart that something was not quite right. He always felt that although his father was very good to him and treated him with kindness and respect, there seemed to be something hidden behind his father's kind face. And that something was what made him feel uneasy and restless. It was a shadow, one that existed both in his father's heart and his own. But while it was the same shadow, the feeling it evoked was different. This, Huhai was well aware of.

  That shadow is the shadow of my elder brother Fu Su. In Father's heart, that shadow is a kind of reluctance, or it can be said to be a kind of difficulty in letting go, Father finds it hard to let go of his brotherly love. However, in his own heart, that shadow is a dark shadow, a shadow that makes him feel like an ant on the back, a shadow that makes him feel like a thorn in the throat, a shadow that cannot be shaken off for the time being, and he will not be able to put his mind at ease. That shadow is not his elder brother's shadow, but a ghost, a ghost that makes him afraid, a ghost that makes his heart forever unable to open up.

  So, although he has always tried his best to please his father and make him happy in front of him, he also knows that as long as his father does not grant him the title of crown prince, he will never have a peaceful day. However, judging from the current situation, it is almost impossible for his father to make himself the crown prince while he is still in good health. Because such opportunities have already been missed many times, and the best opportunity has also been missed. Therefore, this can only prove one thing, that is, when his father will appoint who as the crown prince, it is very likely to be at the time of his death.

  It was precisely because of this consideration that his supporter, Zhao Gao, insisted on bringing him along when his father went out on patrol. According to his father's original intention, he had not planned to let him follow. This point is still very clear. This Zhao Gao really has a knack for it, he's simply godlike! Heh heh, with someone like that assisting him by his side, what can't he accomplish?

  Huhai had always followed Zhao Gao's advice, but this time, because it was a matter of great importance, Huhai felt that Zhao Gao's arrangement was simply the most brilliant chapter in all his works.

  "Ah, Huhai, I'm afraid it's all over for me. Hmm, after I die, you must take care of yourself, absolutely must take care of yourself! Don't be so mischievous anymore, okay? Also, with your older brother Fusu, the two of you brothers must get along harmoniously, absolutely cannot suspect each other, you are flesh and blood after all!" Ying Zheng repeatedly exhorted Huhai. Although he now only had breath to exhale but not inhale, yet for this speech, he was extremely mindful, extremely mindful, therefore willing to spend that extremely precious energy, to once again repeatedly exhort his youngest son, also the one who could most delight him.

  But his youngest son, Huhai, seemed to have heard something from it, and his heart tightened. Can't be too presumptuous? Take care of yourself? What does that mean? These words, don't they sound like the kind of entrustment that hands over state affairs into one's own hands? This is clearly, clearly telling oneself not to grieve because one didn't become emperor! At this time, Huhai's eyes were about to fall out, but his tears weren't for his dying father, but for himself having expected something in vain and crying about it! Father, father, you are really muddled! I've been so good to you, always speaking in line with you, always thinking of ways to make you happy, but at this final juncture, you still, still left the position of crown prince to Fusu! Father, father, don't die! If you don't die, I still have hope, at least I still have a chance to live! But if you do die, and Fusu becomes emperor, won't I be on a path to certain death?

  Huhai's back was drenched with cold sweat, and he felt like he was about to tremble all over.

  "This, here, what place is this?" Ying Zheng spent half a day's effort and finally squeezed out such a sentence. Hearing that Ying Zheng had finally spoken, Prime Minister Li Si hurriedly bowed deeply to answer: "I report to Your Majesty, this is Hebei Shachuo."

  "Oh, oh," Weng Zheng didn't speak for half a day. After a long time, he suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had suddenly thought of something, and hastily gasped: "Quickly, quickly, draft the imperial edict, quickly draft the imperial edict."

  Since the illness of Ying Zheng, all these affairs have been handled by Left Chancellor Li Si. As for this Li Si, Ying Zheng is still very at ease with him. This man is well-versed in the Five Classics and advocates using law to govern the country. His theories are highly appreciated by Ying Zheng. Moreover, he has good moral character and is a trustworthy person.

  Li Si quickly spread out the silk cloth and held his brush, waiting for Ying Zheng's dictation. Finally, Ying Zheng gathered almost all his strength and said intermittently: "Pass on the order to Prince Fu Su... hurry back to the capital... prepare... prepare to preside over my funeral." After finishing these words with great difficulty, Ying Zheng raised his head with great effort, as if he was worried about something. A rare stern glint flashed in his eyes, and he said: "Seal it quickly!" After saying this sentence, Ying Zheng seemed unable to hold on any longer, his head suddenly slumped to one side, and he fell into a coma again.

  "Father, Father~~~~" Hu Hai's voice was filled with seven parts fear and three parts sorrow.

  At this time, the Left Chancellor Li Si re-read the newly drafted imperial edict, then took the jade seal from the side of Ying Zheng. He knew that as long as he lightly affixed it, the next generation's ruler of the great Qin state would be born from his hands. For a moment, his hands felt like they had a thousand jun* of weight. However, at this time, he could no longer think about other things, because these were the emperor's words, who dared not follow them? Thus, he held up the jade seal and went to affix it to the newly drafted imperial edict.

  But history, at times, is clearly a farce. It's precisely because of this that the wheels of history turned a huge corner here, in this place called Hebei Sand Ridge. And with this huge turn, the direction also underwent tremendous changes.

  If Li Si's move was a little faster, if Zhao Gao's thinking was a bit slower, and if the First Emperor Ying Zheng could hold on for just a little longer, then the development of future events would definitely be different. In that case, Fusu, the eldest son, would have become the emperor, and people like Zhao Gao and Li Si, especially Zhao Gao, would have been beheaded. However, Fusu was well-read and always advocated for benevolent governance, reducing taxes and labor for the people, alleviating conflicts, and developing production. In that case, the Qin dynasty would not have perished in such a short period of time. Of course, it's hard to say whether it could have lasted for hundreds of years. If so, then the subsequent dynasties, including the Han, Tang, Wei, Jin, and Three Kingdoms, would all need to be rewritten.

  But history is just history, it has its own laws there, and its wheels are unstoppable for anyone. But that's just from the perspective of understanding the law. In history, there must also be many accidental factors. And sometimes, some seemingly small details can change history.

  Just as the Left Chancellor Li Si was about to put the jade seal on the already drafted imperial edict, a large and fat palm suddenly grasped his hand like lightning. At the same time, a very low and solemn voice also sounded in Li Si's ear: "Chancellor, wait! Chancellor, wait!" With just these two sentences and one action, history turned at this moment, right here in Hebei Shachuo.

  Li Si looked at Zhao Gao with a shocked expression, but saw a sinister glow in his eyes. His hand hesitated for a moment, and this hesitation made Hu Hai become the emperor and the eldest son Fu Su become a wrongly killed ghost.

  In that very spacious carriage, Hu Hai was taking care of Ying Zheng who was already on his deathbed. Zhao Gao, the commander of the central chariot, and Li Si, the left prime minister, came out of the carriage one after another. Zhao Gao puffed out his chest and stood with his hands behind his back. He first swept the surrounding guards with a stern gaze, then cleared his throat and shouted in his signature loud voice to the nearest guards: "Without my order, no one is allowed to approach the big carriage half a step. You must be vigilant and prevent anyone from approaching. Those who disobey will be killed!" Then he thought for a moment and seemed to feel that it was still not enough, so he shouted again to all the guards: "All the guards listen up! Immediately leave the big carriage three zhang away. Without my permission, no one is allowed to approach!"

  "Yes!" After listening to Zhao Gao's words, all the guards retreated three zhang in the opposite direction of the sedan chair. As the commander of the imperial chariot department, Zhao Gao was in charge of the emperor's vehicles and horses, which naturally included these guards. In other words, he was actually the highest commander of all the guards who followed the emperor. Therefore, all the guard soldiers had to listen to his orders. Power became a tool for guaranteeing this conspiracy.

  Zhao Gao took another look and felt that there shouldn't be any problem, so he nodded to the Left Chancellor Li Si and then entered a carriage that was slightly smaller than the one of Ying Zheng's, following behind the latter.

  Zhao Gao entered the carriage and saw that Left Chancellor Li Si was already there, looking anxious and uneasy. He said to Li Si: "Chancellor, when you covered up the jade seal just now, didn't you realize that our time is almost up? You're such a clever person, how could you not have thought of this?"

  After listening to Zhao Gao's words, the Left Chancellor Li Si was shocked and stared at Zhao Gao with wide eyes. Half a day later, he stammered: "Lord Zhao, what do you mean by this? Please clarify!"

  "Although Zhao Gao had already ordered the guards to retreat three zhang, he still involuntarily glanced around and then leaned in towards Li Si's side, his face filled with terror. "Chancellor, you are really muddled! Think about it, His Majesty has only left a decree for Prince Fusu to return to the capital to preside over his own funeral. Isn't this as clear as a louse on a bald head? If we let Fusu return to the capital, after His Majesty's passing, the position of Emperor will undoubtedly be Fusu's. And if that happens, General Meng Tian will naturally become a high-ranking official in the court and will surely replace you as Chancellor. Think about it, whether in terms of ability or actual power, or contributions to the state, can you compare with Meng Tian? That General Meng Tian, this great Qin Empire, is almost half built by him! Moreover, his relationship with Prince Fusu is extremely close, all of which has predetermined that once Fusu ascends to the throne, Meng Tian will surely take power. And when he takes power, whether it's you or me, we will both be purged by them. If they are lenient, maybe they will just exile us from Xianyang and demote us to ordinary citizens; but if they slightly harden their hearts, not only our own lives will be in danger, but also the lives of our families, with no one left alive within three generations! When that time comes, we will be crying out to heaven and earth, but no one will respond!"

  What Zhao Gao said was also what Li Si worried about in his heart. This is indeed a louse on a bald head, a very obvious truth. However, as a subject, what can he do? Thinking of this, Li Si's face turned sorrowful, and he said to Zhao Gao: "Alas, Lord Zhao, I understand the truths you've spoken. But we are all subjects, and the Emperor's edict is here, what can we do?"

  "What's up? Hehehe... Zhao Gao snorted coldly through his nostrils and continued: "It's simple, now the Emperor is seriously ill and his mind is unclear. So, from now on, all state affairs will be in our hands! We just need to forge an imperial edict and order the whole country to make Hu Hai the crown prince, and have Prince Fu Su and General Meng Tian commit suicide to atone for their crimes. Hehe, that way, this world won't be ours alone?"

  "What? That, that! ~~" Li Si knew that if Fu Su ascended to the throne, he would certainly not have a good ending for himself. However, if he were to privately alter the emperor's will, that was something he absolutely dared not do.

  "This, this, I'm telling you, Lord Zhao, since ancient times, deposing the elder and establishing the younger is a matter of national subjugation and chaos. How can we do such a thing? If the people of the world find out, we'll be unable to explain ourselves." Li Si sighed and said.

  "Alas, I say to you, Prime Minister, how can you still not understand? Such a thing, how can we let others know about it? Ah? This matter, it's just that only heaven and earth know, you know, I know. If not, I'm afraid we'll all face the disaster of extinction!"

  Li Si thought for a long time and finally let out a deep sigh, saying: "Alas, this is the only way to plan for the present!"

  As soon as Li Si's voice fell, a shrill cry came from outside: "Prime Minister, Prime Minister, the Emperor...the Emperor is no more..."

  Li Si's face suddenly changed after hearing Hu Hai's words. Zhao Gao burst out laughing and said, "Prime Minister, how is it? Everything is within my expectation, right? Haha, this is all the will of heaven, this is all the will of heaven!"

  Thus, Li Si and Zhao Gao conspired to forge an edict to enthrone the young Hu Hai as emperor, while at the same time drafting a fake edict ordering Prince Fusu to take his own life in atonement for his crimes. In this way, Hu Hai became the Second Emperor of Qin, with all power naturally falling into the hands of the eunuch Zhao Gao.

  The governor of Guiji, named Yin Tong, was also dissatisfied with the politics of the Qin dynasty. Although he was a Qin official, he had ulterior motives. However, his ability was not strong enough, so he wanted to borrow the prestige of Xiang Liang in Guiji City to start an uprising against the Qin. On this day, Yin Tong called for Xiang Liang to come and discuss the matter of jointly starting an uprising against the Qin.

  From afar, two horsemen came galloping over, arriving at the gate of the county government office and dismounting. One of them was around forty years old, with a majestic appearance and an aura that repelled people from a thousand miles away. The other one was none other than the renowned Xiang Yu.

  "Please go in and report, just say that General Xiang Yan's younger brother Xiang Liang is seeking an audience." Xiang Liang said to the two soldiers guarding the gate.

  Very soon, the two soldiers went in to report. Not long after, a man wearing official clothes came out hastily, shouting repeatedly: "Ah, ah, it's really a long way to welcome, it's a long way to welcome! Two generals please come in, two generals please come in!"

  This man was none other than Yin Tong, the governor of Guiji. As he led the two men into the inner house, Yin Tong couldn't help but praise Xiang Yu from time to time: "Ah, ah, General Xiang Liang's nephew is truly a young hero, so brave and strong at such a young age!" However, despite his words, he had no idea that his own death was imminent.

  "Ah, why doesn't the young master sit down?" Yin Tong said to Xiang Yu, still being very polite and not knowing that his death was imminent.

  "Oh, I won't sit. I just like standing." Xiang Yu said coldly. His attitude made the dignified governor of Guiji, Yin Tong, very displeased, but he couldn't lose his temper, so he could only say: "Oh, in that case, please do as you wish!"