To become a king who expanded his territory, Zhao Yan had planned for a long time, sparing no effort and mobilizing the strength of the entire nation.
He even went to the extent of traveling to Qin and signing an alliance with Ying Zheng. Back then, he arrogantly thought Ying Zheng was genuinely pleading for an alliance, afraid that Zhao would attack Qin.
But now it seemed...
It was all a trap.
Ying Zheng's true goal was to deceive him, making him attack Yan without any concerns. Then, while Zhao's forces were divided, Qin would strike.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yan's heart burned with uncontrollable rage.
Hatred!
He hated Ying Zheng to the core!
He wanted nothing more than to tear Ying Zheng to pieces.
All the chaos in Yingchuan, the alliance plea everything was a ruse.
A trap to lure him in.
This realization filled Zhao Yan, who always considered himself superior to Ying Zheng, with fury and regret.
"General Pang Nuan will surely annihilate the Qin army," Guo Kai chimed in to echo the sentiment.
Regarding Pang Nuan's abilities, the ministers in the court had no doubts.
With Lian Po's death, Pang Nuan had become the most senior general in Zhao.
Even Li Mu couldn't compare.
Thus, as Zhao's forces prepared to return, Zhao Yi said nothing to contradict Zhao Yan.
"The situation in Dai Commandery how is it?" Zhao Yan asked, turning his gaze to Zhao Yi.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Yi began to report.
"The battle in Dai remains in a stalemate. General Li Mu has been leading cavalry attacks against the Qin forces. Our Zhao cavalry is famed worldwide for their mastery, but the Qin general Meng Wu refuses to engage Li Mu directly and keeps retreating instead."
"At present, General Li Mu has already pushed the fight to the Qin borderlands."
"Since Ying Zheng has attacked our Zhao, then Zhao can attack his Qin," Zhao Yan declared without hesitation.
"Convey my decree: instruct Li Mu to advance and breach Qin's northern border towns."
At this moment, hatred clouded Zhao Yan's judgment.
"Your Majesty, that must not happen!"
"Our Dai Commandery's forces are mainly cavalry, adept at field battles but not at attacking fortified cities. Moreover, the Qin army's goal is to entangle General Li Mu and our 200,000 border troops.
"If we invade Qin territory recklessly, we will fall into a trap." Zhao Yi spoke up immediately, fearing Zhao Yan might act impulsively.
"Hmph."
Zhao Yan snorted coldly and managed to restrain himself.
At that very moment
"Report!"
"Urgent news from Wu'an!"
A messenger rushed into the great hall.
"What is it?"
Zhao Yan felt a sudden pang of unease and quickly asked.
"Wu'an has fallen."
"General Pang Nuan requests His Majesty to mobilize troops to defend Handan immediately."
"The general is currently retreating while engaging the enemy, striving to preserve forces to protect Handan." The messenger knelt and reported.
Upon hearing this
Zhao Yan's face turned pale. Sitting firmly on his throne moments ago, he now trembled and stood up abruptly, his expression stricken.
"How is this possible?"
"How could they achieve this in just a few days?"
"How could Qin's army be so formidable? How could General Pang Nuan fail to hold them back?"
"General Pang Nuan has never been defeated in his campaigns against Yan; how could he lose so quickly against the Qin army?" Zhao Yan's voice trembled.
Even in his ignorance, he understood that Wu'an, a mere hundred li (about 50 kilometers) from Handan, was the final barrier to the capital's defense.
"Thirty thousand troops stationed there Qin attacked just yesterday. Does that mean General Pang Nuan couldn't even hold out for a single day?"
"How is this possible?" Zhao Yi, equally stunned, exclaimed.
No one had anticipated such a turn of events.
"Your Majesty," one minister urgently spoke up.
"Wu'an was the final bastion protecting Handan. Now that it has fallen, Handan is in imminent danger.
"We must evacuate to Dai Commandery and use it as a defensive stronghold."
This suggestion quickly gained support from several ministers.
"I second this proposal."
"As the saying goes, 'Where there is life, there is hope.'
"With the fall of Wu'an, Handan is now undefendable. However, with General Pang Nuan and General Li Mu's combined forces, Dai Commandery can be held securely.
"This will safeguard the foundation of our Zhao kingdom."
Other ministers echoed the sentiment.
For many aristocrats, family interests were paramount. Land loss and fleeing the capital mattered little to them as long as their families remained intact, their power preserved, and their wealth untouched.
Such people have existed in every era.
At this moment, even Zhao Yi did not oppose the suggestion to retreat to Dai Commandery.
Zhao, as a kingdom, was composed of the regions of Zhao and Dai.
Dai Commandery was originally annexed by King Zhao Wuling after he defeated the Dai kingdom. Though not as prominent as Zhao, it encompassed nearly half the landmass of the Zhao kingdom, with a population of nearly ten million.
It was a significant stronghold.
However, Zhao elites had historically viewed Dai as less important, often sidelining officials from the region.
Li Mu was a prime example.
Although he was a high-ranking general of Zhao, he was never truly included in the kingdom's inner circle.
"We must not abandon Handan!"
"Handan is the capital of Zhao. If we abandon it, what will happen to the millions of people in Zhao? Should we hand Zhao territory to Qin?"
"General Pang Nuan has assured us he can delay the Qin army, giving Your Majesty time to mobilize forces to defend Handan."
"As long as Handan stands, Zhao will not fall!"
"Back during King Ying Ji's time, after the defeat at Changping, Zhao was at its weakest, and Qin forces had already reached Handan's gates. But with the unity of our people, we held the city and forced the Qin army to retreat!"
"Compared to those desperate times, Zhao is now stronger."
"What reason do we have to fear Qin?"
One of the Nine Ministers of Zhao stepped forward and spoke passionately.
His words resonated with a group of ministers.
"I agree!"
"Handan has been our capital for hundreds of years. Even in our darkest days, we never abandoned it. If we defend Handan, Qin cannot destroy us!"
"I am willing to fight Qin to the death!"
"We will defend Handan at all costs!"
The court split into two factions, fiercely arguing.
One side favored retreating to Dai Commandery.
The other insisted on defending Handan.
Zhao Yan's expression grew increasingly conflicted, unsure of the best course of action.
However, deep down, he leaned towards retreating to Dai Commandery. After all, there were over 200,000 troops stationed there. With Zhao's additional 300,000, the stronghold would be impregnable. But staying to defend Handan meant an uncertain fate.
"Retreating to Dai is the safest option," Zhao Yi advised.
Hearing this, Zhao Yan frowned, a suspicion forming in his mind: "Li Mu, like that old fool Lian Po, once supported Zhao Yi as king. Li Mu commands immense loyalty in Dai and controls the military there. If I retreat to Dai and Li Mu rebels, the consequences would be disastrous."
"If we retreat, his command must first be stripped."
Having resolved this internally, Zhao Yan looked to Guo Kai.
"What does the Prime Minister think?"
All eyes in the court turned to Guo Kai.
It was obvious what his stance would be.
Everyone knew Guo Kai was cowardly and selfish. In such a situation, he would surely advocate retreating to Dai Commandery.
"Your Majesty," Guo Kai began.
"I believe..."
"...that we must defend Handan and fight Qin to the death!"
"Back then, Zhao held the line. Now, under Your Majesty's leadership, we will do so again."
"Zhao is invincible!" Guo Kai declared boldly.
His words left the entire court stunned.
Even Zhao Yi.
Everyone found this extremely strange.
"What's going on today?"
"The most cowardly and self-preserving Guo Kai is suddenly unafraid of death and even supports defending Handan?"
"Is the sun rising from the west?"
"Guo Kai must have taken the wrong medicine."
"Why would he advocate for defending the city?"
All the officials were shocked, completely unable to understand why Guo Kai would support holding the line at Handan.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the court, Guo Kai sneered internally: The King of Qin made it clear under no circumstances should Zhao Yan be allowed to escape to Dai. This is a major contribution, one that will secure my future wealth and status.
Seeing Guo Kai's firm stance on defending Handan, Zhao Yan's eyes flickered with an unusual expression. Then he thought to himself: It seems the chancellor realizes that Li Mu's command over the military poses a threat to me. Insisting on defending Handan, gives me the chance to strip Li Mu of his authority.
With that in mind, Zhao Yan felt reassured and gave Guo Kai a knowing look, as if to say, You truly understand me.
Then he declared loudly, "For the chancellor to have such a patriotic heart is both my fortune and the fortune of the State of Zhao."
"I have made my decision."
"We will defend Handan to the death and fight the Qin army with all our might."
"However, before that, we must mobilize reinforcements to support Handan," Zhao Yan said gravely.
"Your Majesty," Guo Kai immediately responded, "There are still 200,000 border troops and nearly 100,000 regional forces stationed in Dai."
"What the chancellor says is reasonable. The Qin forces harassing the Dai region are few. As long as we stabilize the border, they cannot breach it."
"Moreover, our Zhao cavalry is the best in the world. Our reforms with Hu-style cavalry and archery surpass anything the Qin cavalry can achieve," added a minister allied with Guo Kai.
"As long as 100,000 Hu-style cavalry remain to guard Dai, the region will be secure."
"I concur."
"Additionally, General Li Mu himself must lead the reinforcements to ensure victory over the Qin army," Guo Kai quickly added.
Watching Guo Kai and his allies echo each other's sentiments, Zhao Yi wanted to object but found himself unable to come up with a counterargument.
After all, Handan was indeed in a perilous situation.
"Draft the decree."
"Summon Li Mu back," Zhao Yan ordered decisively.
After the court session concluded...
In Zhao Yan's royal chambers:
"Chancellor, your loyalty to me is truly unmatched."
"You understand that if I flee to Dai, I might fall under Li Mu's influence. He has always supported Zhao Yi, after all."
"If he uses his military power to coerce me into abdicating, I would be finished."
"Among all the officials, only you have my best interests at heart," Zhao Yan said with a moved expression as he looked at Guo Kai.
Hearing this, Guo Kai was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. "Your Majesty is wise. I will serve you with unwavering loyalty."
"I have already decreed that Yan Ju will take over Li Mu's command in Dai."
"Furthermore, I will summon Li Mu to return to Handan first."
"While he does possess great military skill, I must keep him under my control," Zhao Yan said firmly.
"Your Majesty," Guo Kai said promptly, "Li Mu currently commands over 200,000 troops. What if he refuses to relinquish his authority?"
Zhao Yan frowned. "In that case, Chancellor, you must handle it personally. If he refuses to hand over command…"
Zhao Yan's voice trailed off, but the murderous intent in his eyes was unmistakable.
Guo Kai's heart leaped with joy, and he immediately responded, "I understand."
In Xianyang.
The Royal Court Assembly Hall:
"Splendid, truly splendid!"
"Pang Nuan commanded 300,000 troops to defend Wu'an City."
"And in just one day only one day"
"Our Great Qin army breached the city despite its heavy defenses."
"Beyond Wu'an lies Handan, a mere hundred li away."
"The fall of Zhao is inevitable," Ying Zheng declared with a hearty laugh.
Holding the battle report in his hand, his joy was evident.
"Your Majesty," Wei Liao said with a smile, "according to the report, General Zhao Feng claimed the top merit in this victory."
"He led the charge, breaking through the western wall and causing the Zhao forces' defenses within the city to collapse."
"This achievement undoubtedly belongs to General Zhao Feng," Wei Liao added with a laugh.
"In Great Qin, merit must always be rewarded."
"Wei Qing, record this contribution for Zhao Feng."
"Once Zhao is conquered, I will distribute rewards personally," Ying Zheng said with a broad smile.
The fall of Wu'an, the looming capture of Handan, and the imminent destruction of Zhao of it filled Ying Zheng with excitement.
The humiliation he had endured in his youth was about to be washed away.
"Your Majesty is wise," Wei Liao proclaimed loudly.
"With our valiant soldiers now at the gates, it is time to march on Handan."
"I have waited a long time for this day," Ying Zheng said, a sharp gleam in his eyes.
"Your Majesty must not go!"
"Zhao has not yet been completely subdued."
"Handan has not fallen."
"It is too dangerous for Your Majesty to visit such a war-torn area," Wang Wan stepped forward to advise.
"Father, you must not go to Zhao," Fusu also stepped forward to plead.
"We implore Your Majesty to reconsider," the officials shouted in unison.
But Ying Zheng remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, the uproar in the hall instantly quieted.
"In my youth, I was held hostage in Zhao, enduring unimaginable suffering and humiliation."
"When I left Zhao, I vowed that one day, I would return as a conqueror."
"Destroying Zhao is not only about fulfilling the grand vision of uniting the world passed down by my ancestors but also about settling my grievances."
"With our army at the gates of Handan, nothing will stop me from visiting Zhao," Ying Zheng said resolutely.
Hearing the determination in his voice, the officials realized that his decision was final and could not be changed.
"If Your Majesty leaves the capital, who will oversee state affairs?" Wang Wan asked, his eyes flashing with calculation.
This old fox had his schemes. If Ying Zheng left and entrusted Fusu with governance, it would solidify Fusu's position as the heir.
"I will be gone for no more than a month."
"The matters of governance will be handled jointly by the Prime Minister, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Chief Justice."
"As for reviewing documents, that will be left to Wei Qing," Ying Zheng said calmly.
Those whose names were mentioned were delighted, but Wang Wan and Kui Zhuang felt disappointed.
Ying Zheng's decision not to assign Fusu meant the crown prince had not yet secured his position as heir in Ying Zheng's eyes.
"We accept the decree," the selected officials said respectfully.
"When does Your Majesty plan to depart?" Wei Liao asked.
"Tomorrow," Ying Zheng replied.
"How many guards will accompany you?" Wei Liao continued.
"Five thousand will suffice," Ying Zheng said with a faint smile.
"Five thousand seems too few for the King's safety," Wei Liao expressed his concern.
It wasn't just a minister's duty to care for the monarch but also the concern of an ally for another ally.
To Wei Liao, Ying Zheng's safety was crucial.
Under heaven, only Ying Zheng can unify the world. If Ying Zheng were to encounter danger, the dream of unification would be delayed indefinitely.
"In Zhao, I have 300,000 elite soldiers. Are they not enough to protect me?" Ying Zheng asked calmly, then waved his hand dismissively.
"Enough! There's no need for further discussion. If there are no other matters, the court is adjourned," he declared with a laugh and turned to leave the hall.
Zhangtai Palace
Rarely setting aside the state documents, Ying Zheng now sat with Wei Liao standing before him.
"Wei Qing, this time, I am essentially entrusting the oversight of the court to you," Ying Zheng began.
"When it comes to Wang Wan, Li Si, and the others, you must exercise balance and tact. Let them fight amongst themselves if they wish, as long as it doesn't affect the state of our Qin."
"You need not fear them. In all matters, you have me to back you up," Ying Zheng assured.
"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will handle everything appropriately," Wei Liao promised immediately.
"With you, I am at ease," Ying Zheng said with a faint smile before adding, "The Yan Kingdom has there been any movement?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty. Yan has been amassing troops along the Zhao-Yan border, likely harboring some ambition," Wei Liao replied with a cold sneer.
"Prince Dan of Yan… truly a naïve man with grand aspirations. Naïve enough to think he can seize meat from my plate," Ying Zheng remarked with a chilly laugh.
The activities of Yan along the border had not escaped Qin's intelligence network. Ying Zheng easily saw through their intentions.
"What shall we do about Yan, Your Majesty?" Wei Liao inquired.
"Do you think I'll let the meat of the Qin state fall into someone else's mouth?" Ying Zheng sneered.
"Once we break through Handan, Yan will certainly attack Zhao to seize its cities. But if they dare to act, I will destroy them for their insolence."
"Let them try to steal from Qin's table. I want to see if Yan truly dares to face the might of my Qin army," he declared firmly.
Wei Liao smiled and exclaimed, "Your Majesty is truly wise!"
At that moment, a voice called from outside the hall, "Physician Xia has arrived."
Ying Zheng and Wei Liao turned their attention toward the entrance as Xia Wuque, clad in the robes of the imperial physicians, walked into the hall.
"Your Majesty," Xia Wuque greeted with a deep bow.
"Wei Qing, if there is nothing else, you may go and prepare for your upcoming duties. You will have a lot on your plate in the coming days," Ying Zheng said.
"Your servant will take his leave," Wei Liao replied, bowing respectfully before exiting the Zhangtai Palace.
After Wei Liao departed, Ying Zheng glanced at Zhao Gao, who stood by the doorway.
"You may withdraw as well," he said.
Zhao Gao's heart trembled at the command. Bowing quickly, he closed the palace doors behind him.
"Father-in-law," Ying Zheng began with a smile, "Tomorrow, I will set off for Zhao. I summoned you today to ask if you would accompany me."
"Handan is about to fall?" Xia Wuque asked, visibly surprised.
"Very soon. Within a month, it will be ours," Ying Zheng replied confidently.
"In that case, I shall naturally accompany Your Majesty," Xia Wuque said with a faint smile, though a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes.
"Father-in-law, perhaps Dong'er might still be in Handan. If so, it would be her last possible refuge," Ying Zheng said, his tone softening.
"When we break through Handan, I will issue an order to search the entire city."
"Let us hope for the best," Xia Wuque replied with a faint smile, though there was a trace of bitterness in it.
The words of Lady Zhao still lingered in his mind, casting a shadow of despair over his heart. Yet he was unwilling to believe them fully.
Old as he was, Xia Wuque could scarcely imagine that Lady Zhao would have harmed his daughter.
And if it were true, how could he bear to reveal such a devastating truth?
To tell Ying Zheng would mean forcing him to confront the fact that not only had his mother betrayed him in the past, but she had also caused the death of the woman he loved most.
It was a blow he believed Ying Zheng could not endure.
"Father-in-law, you should prepare for the journey. We depart tomorrow," Ying Zheng said, smiling warmly.
In Xia Wuque's presence, Ying Zheng allowed himself to relax, showing an unusually cheerful side.
Handan was the city where he would exact his revenge and perhaps reunite with the woman he cherished most. Even the faintest glimmer of hope was something he would cling to.
The absence of a queen in Qin had long been a topic of courtly discussion. Why was there no queen?
Those who had witnessed the events of the past understood the reason.
The lack of a crown prince was equally perplexing. Why was there no heir?
The answer was clear to those same courtiers: if that woman had lived, she would undoubtedly have become the queen of Qin, and their child would have already been named crown prince.
For Ying Zheng, only the memory of that woman mattered.
"By the way, Father-in-law," Ying Zheng said suddenly, "this trip to Handan will also give you a chance to see your old disciple."
"It has been a long time since I last saw Chen Furen," Xia Wuque said with a gentle smile.
"Since the conquest of Han, I have not crossed paths with him."
"As the chief military physician of the Lantian Army, Chen Furen's contributions have been significant. After the conquest of Zhao, he will be promoted to imperial physician," Ying Zheng said with a smile.
"I thank Your Majesty on behalf of my unworthy disciple," Xia Wuque said, neither declining the honor nor overly humble.
"There's no need to thank me. This is a reward he has earned," Ying Zheng said.
"Over the years, his work as the chief physician has saved countless soldiers' lives."
"Speaking of contributions," Xia Wuque mused, "I am even more curious about this Zhao Feng."
"The medical techniques he developed have saved numerous injured soldiers. Despite his young age, he has achieved remarkable feats. I must meet him in person during this journey," Xia Wuque said with admiration.
"Not only you, Father-in-law, but I am also eager to meet him," Ying Zheng said with a smile.
"At the age of eighteen, he defeated Wei Wuji, killed Lian Po, and shocked the world."
"Even Lord Wu'an of the past could not have achieved such feats at such a young age," he added with evident pride.
"Perhaps this is destiny, granting Your Majesty a future Lord Wu'an to serve Qin," Xia Wuque remarked with a stroke of his beard and a smile.
"Precisely," Ying Zheng said with confidence.
"The late King Zhaoxiang relied on Lord Wu'an as his commander but ultimately sentenced him to death. If Zhao Feng truly proves to be my Lord Wu'an, I would never repeat that mistake."
It was clear that Ying Zheng held Zhao Feng in the highest regard.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 290+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader