Chapter Fifty-two: The Sixteenth Captain

  A large river flows out of the Zhongnan Mountains, rushing into the Wei River, which is one of the nine rivers in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province. At the confluence of the Ba River and the Wei River, dense forests cover the vast wilderness, stretching for dozens of miles, forming a vast primeval forest.

  Willow catkins fluttered in the sky, as if snowflakes were falling from the sky and sprinkling into the green forest, a strange and enchanting realm that made people drunk and unaware of heaven and earth. Zhang Han entered the dense forest under the guidance of Dun Ruo through a hidden path between the trees.

  The carriage had only traveled a dozen or so paces along the narrow forest path when a straight, broad road suddenly appeared in this dense and lush primeval forest.

  Along the main road, the horse-drawn carriage gradually entered the depths of the vast forest. Hu Hai looked out of the window and saw that among the towering ancient trees, there were occasionally short and straight grayish-white roofs appearing and disappearing, revealing a hint of mystery in the desolation.

  Walking on the forest avenue, Hu Hai sat in the carriage and always felt that someone was staring at him in the depths of the forest, as if looking at prey. However, when he looked around, he couldn't see anyone's shadow. Was it an illusion?

  The carriage had not gone far when a white stone castle appeared in the distance, standing tall on high ground amidst the forest. The greyish-white high walls and protruding towers stood out even more against the endless green surroundings.

  Zhang Han was astonished to see the castle on the high ground in the forest, he had never known that there was such a hidden and huge castle at such a close distance from Xianyang.

  The horse carriage slowly approached the high ground. A circle of white stone city walls with small towers and battlements, simple yet majestic and extraordinary. In front of the slope stood a stone pillar over ten feet high, engraved with two large red characters - Baigong Temple.

  "Is this the Gwangalli Beach?"

  Hu Hai jumped down from the horse carriage and curiously sized up the simple yet rough-looking castle in front of him.

  "Your Majesty, this is the Ganlu Temple."

  Tong Wei also got off his horse-drawn carriage and stood beside Hu Hai, answering.

  "Is the black ice rink here?"

  "This... I don't know if Black Ice Heaven is this place either, Your Majesty." Dong Rou said hesitantly.

  "Aren't you the one who said that only you knew where Hei Bing Tai was in Da Qin? How come now that we're at Zha Palace, you don't know?"

  Huhai was astonished by Dunruo's words, and Zhang Han was even more shocked, hastily blocking Huhai in front of him, grabbing Dunruo and scolding him.

  "You old thing, bringing His Majesty to such a secluded place, what is your intention!"

  "Zhang Han, stop!"

  Hu Hai was startled by Zhang Han's sudden movement and hastily shouted.

  Hu Hai knew that Dun Wei couldn't have planned to harm him in advance, because he himself had made a sudden decision to come to Hei Bing Tai, and before coming to Hei Bing Tai, Dun Wei had always been by his side, without any opportunity to set up traps. Zhang Yan was also worried about this.

  "What does Your Excellency, Lang Zhongling, mean by this? How dare I have a heart that would harm Your Majesty?"

  Duan Ru had always been calm and composed, but upon hearing Zhang Liang's words, he became somewhat anxious.

  Zhang Han heard Hu Hai's loud shout and reluctantly let go of Dun Wei's hand, saying: "You have no other intentions, why did you bring the Emperor to a place where people rarely come?"

  "This is the Emperor's decree, passed down to his old ministers. If Your Majesty is wise and able to govern this great Qin Empire, then bring him to this temple, and when he enters the temple, he will naturally know where Hei Bing Tai is." Dun Wei was extremely humble.

  "Zhang Ai Qing, quickly apologize to Old Master Du." Hu Hai scolded.

  Zhang Han realized his mistake at this time, and hastily bowed to apologize to Dun Wei. Dun Wei was magnanimous, waved his hand and walked behind an ancient tree with sprawling branches, pushing down a round stone the size of a man's embrace.

  Hu Hai and Zhang Han were still in shock at the old man pushing out a stone to do what, when they heard the rumbling sound of deep landmines, and the massive and heavy castle gates creaked open.

  The stone gate opened, and Hu Hai and the others waited for half a day, thinking that someone would come out to greet them. However, after a long while, the entire castle was still eerily quiet, as if it were an empty ghost town.

  The deep and profound city walls and watchtowers are like the open mouths of giant beasts, with their bloody big mouths agape waiting to swallow up the food that enters.

  "What's going on? Old Ai Qing." Hu Hai pointed at the quiet and silent castle and asked.

  "Your Majesty, I have followed the First Emperor since his ascension to the throne. At that time, when the city gate was opened, there should be people who came to pay their respects to Your Majesty. But now, why is it like this? Even I do not know."

  The weak are equally humiliated. The people in this castle are all devils living in darkness, manipulating human lives, what can they do?

  When Dun Weak spoke, Hu Hai saw a figure flashing by on the city wall, as if observing their group. There must be someone in the castle! At this time, hearing Dun Weak say so, Hu Hai probably had an idea.

  There are people in the castle, and they must have found out that we've arrived. Moreover, the castle gates were opened by our own people. If these people still haven't come out, it's either to give this new emperor a chance to show off his power or they don't recognize us anymore.

  But didn't recognize himself, this old man came once, can't he also not recognize?

  "I have just arrived at Hei Bing Tai, is it that there isn't a single living person to come and welcome me? Or are you all aware that it's me but intentionally not coming to welcome me?"

  Huhai couldn't figure it out and didn't want to think about it anymore, so he decided to use the most direct method to force these people out. Didn't they say that these people were only loyal to one emperor? Now that the emperor has arrived, do these people still dare not show up?

  "Is there something trustworthy from the noble person under the city?"

  A thick and rough voice suddenly appeared on the city wall, but only the sound could be heard, and no one's shadow could be seen.

  What kind of token? The jade seal is definitely not something one can carry on their person. What else could be used as a token?

  After some thought, Hu Hai took down the beautiful jade seal that had been hanging from his waist and held it up, saying: "Can this be considered a token of trust?"

  This seal was used by Hu Hai when issuing hand orders and has always been carried with him.

  As for the jade seal, it was managed by a special official called the Symbol Seal Official, and now Zhang Han is in charge of this matter. Previously, Zhao Gao was also like this. The officials under the Symbol Seal Official were all his subordinates. However, the special feature of the Great Qin Emperor's seal was that whenever an imperial edict or public document was to be sealed, it had to have the emperor's handwritten order before it could be done.

  There is an even more peculiar aspect: regardless of who holds the position of Imperial Seal Keeper, the actual keeper of the jade seal and the one who performs the sealing is always an elderly member of the imperial family. Without a decree from the emperor, not even the Imperial Seal Keeper Zhao Gao or Zhang Liang himself can access it.

  The purpose of making such laws is to ensure that the imperial seal is actually in the hands of the emperor himself. This is also why, when touring the east, Zhao Gao had already drafted the edict and still needed to find Hu Hai to add the jade seal.

  Of course, if it was still the predecessor Hu Hai, then after the eastern tour returned to Xianyang, Zhao Gao would definitely find a way to grasp the jade seal in his own hands. In history, Zhao Gao did so, killing the royal family members who kept the jade seal and taking it away.

  History does not have so many ifs!

  Hu Hai did not know how the people hiding in the dark could see what was in his hands, and after a while, he heard the sound of cheering from within the castle: "Welcome Your Majesty!" The front of the castle was still without any signs or anyone.

  Wow! It really works. How did these people manage to see clearly and confirm that this small thing in their hands is genuine? Hu Hai was puzzled.

  "Can they go in with me?" Hu Hai asked, walking two steps and then stopping.

  "Long live Your Majesty!"

  Huhai listened and waved his hand for Zhang Han and Dunruo to follow him.

  Three people walked into the castle, and again heard a loud thunder-like sound.

  "The sixteen gentlemen of Hei Bing Tai pay their respects and welcome Your Majesty!"

  Thank you in the name of God, bettycpp, Fengxueaiwujian for the three brothers' reward.

  Is today's Monday recommendation really so little? The requirements of several brothers who urged to update yesterday will be met as much as possible today!)