The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 359: Chang'an Jun appears, Qin Wang Zheng slaughters seven clans, and those who intend to rebel will only die.
The Qin King's Central Palace, the Council Hall.

The candlelight flickered in the hall, and the flames in the lamps illuminated the piles of bamboo slips on the table.

In the corner, a gilded Suanni incense burner was spewing out wisps of green smoke, and the subtle fragrance of sinking water incense was slowly flowing in the hall.

Chang'an Jun entered without notification.

Qin Wangzheng, who was lying on an ergonomic chair flipping through the memorials, glanced sideways and said, "Hmm":
"Have you had enough fun these days?"

"What the hell." Ying Chengjiao said angrily: "If you think re-enacting laws is fun, go ahead and try it."

The young man strode across the palace gate with big strides, his sleeves fluttering in the air, bringing a gust of cool wind.

He walked to the table, picked up the Yinglong glass plate in one hand, grabbed a plum from the plate with the other hand and ate it. He found the sour snack very appetizing and surprisingly delicious.

His fingertips were stained with plum juice and he kept eating one plum after another.

"You don't need to make a draft." Qin Wangzheng's eyes wandered over the memorial in his hand, and he said leisurely: "What are you complaining about?"

The plum lost its fragrance as soon as it entered his mouth. Ying Chengqiu pressed the tip of his tongue against the plum pit and spat it out suddenly.

With a "puff" sound, the plum pit hit the bluestone floor tiles in the hall and rolled several times before stopping.

"Wasn't it me who checked? Wasn't it me who confirmed? Wasn't it me who put the final stamp?"

"It's just an inspection. It's nothing. I review memorials every day. The weight of the memorials can reach half a stone. How many bamboo slips have you handled in so many days? I haven't said I'm tired yet, what are you talking about?"

"It's just an inspection? You just say it lightly! How can the laws of the country be played with? I have carefully studied every word of this stone bamboo slip, and this new law is not much different from the one I made myself."

"Is your contribution greater than that of Han Fei, Li Si, and Xun Kuang?"

"Go on, keep talking. I want to see if you can find a fourth person who has greater achievements than me."

King Zheng of Qin did not answer.

He sat up straight, holding the wolf-hair brush in his slender fingers, dipped it in the ink in the inkstone, and began to draw on the bamboo slips.

The tip of the pen made a slight rustling sound as it slid across the bamboo strips, pausing occasionally as if the pen was carefully considering the words.

Ying Chengjiao pushed aside the inkstone and other sundries on the table, lifted his robe, sat directly at a corner of the table, and told Zhao Gao to pour him a glass of iced orange juice with honey.

Zhao Gao obeyed the order and left, with the same respectful attitude as he treated King Zheng of Qin.

For a moment, the only sound in the hall was the rustling sound of pens scratching on bamboo slips.

A moment later, Zhao Gao came over holding a tray of orange juice, tiptoeing almost without making any sound, his footsteps as light as a cat walking close to the ground.

After about a moment, King Zheng of Qin stopped writing and gently blew on the ink on the bamboo slips.

He rolled up the bamboo slips and handed them to his younger brother.

Ying Chengjiao reached out to take it.

Qin Wangzheng retracted his arm half an inch, and said with a smile:

"Last time you advised me not to be soft-hearted, this time it's my turn to advise you.

"Brother, don't be soft-hearted."

Ying Chengjiao took a step forward, snatched the bamboo slips from his brother's hand, turned around and walked out with big strides, his robe fluttering in the wind.

"Hua Long." Qin Wang Zheng reminded his brother from behind, "You can be selfish and you can be affectionate, but you must put these behind Qin. Don't let me down."

"Shut up." A voice came from outside the palace door.

The sunlight outside the palace gate shone on Ying Chengjiao's back, outlining a sharp silhouette.

After he could no longer see his brother, King Zheng of Qin tapped the table three times with his fingers. The sound of his fingertips hitting the table was particularly clear in the silent hall.

Suddenly, a sharp cold light like Qin Jian flashed in his eyes, and he said resolutely:
"Call Meng Tian."

"Yes." Zhao Gao agreed, and a hint of imperceptible fear flashed in his eyes when he lowered his head.

Ten days ago, Xiong Jue invited him, the Minister of Chefu who had the mark of Chu, to a banquet, but he did not go.

He thought that if the Chu faction came to invite the two prime ministers, Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi, then it should be Huayang Bufei and Mi Chen. He was a favorite of Qin Wangzheng, and Lu Buwei had personally tried to win him over!

Sending Xiong Jue, who had a monthly salary of 800 dan, clearly showed that they looked down on him. Since the Chu clan looked down on him, why should he think about their past friendship?
Mi Yang, who taught him the skills, died, and the Queen Mother Huayang, who had been kind to him, also died. At that time, there was no one in the Chu clan that Zhao Gao owed anything to.

Zhao Gao sent eunuchs to the Nei Shi Mansion to find Meng Tian.

As he walked out of the palace, the fingers in his sleeves trembled slightly, and he was extremely glad that he did not accept Xiong Jue's invitation, otherwise he would be implicated.

After more than an hour, Meng Tian arrived, wearing the official uniform of a civil servant.

King Zheng of Qin gave Meng Tian the bamboo slips he had prepared long ago:
"open to take a look."

"Yes." Meng Tian responded and unfolded the bamboo slips.

There were not many words on the bamboo slips, and Meng Tian took a quick glance at them to get a rough idea. Most of them were surnames, belonging to the old Qin nobles. A small number of them were given names, and one of them was Ying.

Although there was no change on Meng Tian's face, he was very nervous in his heart.

At this critical juncture, the king would definitely not show him this object for no reason.

He rolled up the bamboo slips again.

Hearing the noise, King Zheng of Qin asked:

"finish watching?"

"Yeah." Meng Tian responded.

"Take it and change your clothes." Qin Wangzheng raised his head, his face majestic without anger: "I will give you the Lantian Tiger Tally, and you will mobilize 5,000 soldiers from the Lantian camp."

Word by word:
"Compare the names on the bamboo slips and kill them one by one.

"Kill anyone who dares to point a weapon at you."

"Yes!" Meng Tian responded straightforwardly, but his heart was filled with shock and uproar.

When one rises, that one falls.

The slaughter of the Qin nobles meant that the king still cared more about the Chu clan? Then he mobilized the guards to surround the two prime ministers. Although it was a matter of public duty, it was ultimately against the king's will...

"Any questions?" asked King Zheng of Qin.

Meng Tian, ​​who was worried about gains and losses, opened his mouth and said:

"No."

King Qin Zheng looked at Meng Tian for a while, and said firmly:
"No. You do."

Meng Tian lowered his head slightly, clenched the bamboo slips with his only remaining hand, pursed his lips and said nothing.

His brother and his arm were not killed or cut off by the Chu clan. But if Xiong Qi, who had already arrived at the scene early, had not delayed time, his brother would not have died, and he would not have been one-armed.

Meng Tian repeatedly reminded himself that he was the only one left in the three generations of the Meng family and he must not act on impulse but must be rational.

But it is a miracle that a young man under 20 years old can appear as calm as an octogenarian who has experienced the vicissitudes of life. It is impossible for him not to have any thoughts in his mind.

"Why don't you ask?" King Zheng of Qin asked angrily.

Meng Tian said nothing, for he knew what the king wanted.

The king wanted Meng Tian to be like he was before, speaking his mind freely, treating the king as a friend, and being more casual with him in private.

He wanted to do the same.

But he can't.

Since the death of his elder father and younger brother, there has been an invisible gap between him and the king. Half of this gap is the difference between the monarch and the subject, and the other half is family responsibility.

"Get out!" Qin Wang Zheng pointed at the palace door, his eyes reddened: "Get out!"

"Yes." Meng Tian responded, clutching the bamboo slips and leaving. The wind outside the hall blew away the few tears in his eyes.

From the king's attitude towards him, he knew that he was overthinking.

The king treated him with great kindness, and he appreciated the kindness, but was unable to reciprocate.

The fault was with Meng Tian, ​​not King Zheng of Qin.

He stood outside the palace, waiting for Zhao Gao, the official in charge of the seal and talisman, to take him to get the Lantian Tiger Tally, waiting to be promoted from a civil official to a military general.

The Lantian camp was only thirty miles away from Xianyang. Meng Tian took off his clothes and put on his armor, and led his soldiers to the camp at full speed. In less than an hour, they arrived at the camp. The camp had already received the order, and 5,000 elite soldiers were ready to go. Under the light of the torches, the black formation looked like a ferocious beast that was ready to eat anyone.

Meng Tian stepped onto the platform to review his generals and glanced at the soldiers standing solemnly below.

"According to the king's order, there is an urgent military mission tonight." He held up the tiger talisman: "All units act according to my instructions, and there must be no mistakes!"

Wang Jian, the Lantian general who was meeting with Meng Tian, ​​stepped forward, clasped his hands and asked:
"May I ask, General, what military business is this?"

Meng Tian took one look at Wang Jian and knew that this man was a direct descendant of Lord Chang'an.

Thinking that the troops were moving as fast as thunder and would soon attack the mansions, if he told others about it now, Wang Jian would not have the chance to report it, so he lowered his voice:
"Kill the rebels."

Wang Jian's pupils shrank slightly, but he quickly regained his composure:
"The general understands."

A few moments.

"General, five thousand troops have been assembled." The personal soldier who took over the command of the troops said beside Meng Tian.

Meng Tian put away the bamboo slips and put on his iron helmet:
"Set off."

Five thousand cavalrymen poured out of the Lantian camp like a black torrent and headed towards the noble mansions in Xianyang.

Meng Tian personally led 3,000 elite troops to a magnificent mansion in the western suburbs of Xianyang. The owner of the mansion was an old Qin noble, whose wife's surname was Ying.

"Surround the mansion and do not allow anyone to enter or leave." Meng Tian ordered: "Handle the archers on the wall, and the rest of you follow me inside."

The guards at the mansion panicked and rang the alarm bells when they saw the army approaching.

The house was suddenly brightly lit and shadows of people were moving around.

"Open the door! We are investigating the case by the king's order!" Meng Tian shouted loudly.

The door slowly opened, and a woman in a nightgown walked out, supported by the housekeeper.

Her name was Yingpin. Although she was over sixty years old and had a head full of silver hair, her eyes were still sharp.

"Meng Tian?" Yingpin recognized him and was surprised at first, then angry: "What are you doing here?"

Meng Tian dismounted and walked in front of Yingpin:
"Madam, Tian obeys the king's orders."

He pressed the hilt with one hand, and his voice turned cold:

"Madam, you are a member of the royal family, why do you intend to rebel?"

Yingpin's pupils dilated, and a flash of fear flashed across her face, followed by a look of desolation and pain. Her cloudy old eyes were filled with blazing anger:

"My nephews were killed by Qin Yiren, and none of them survived.

"My three sons lost their official positions, and my youngest was beaten to death in prison by the Chu barbarians.

"Qin Zheng and his father could do such a beastly thing, shouldn't we rebel? Can't we rebel?
"I am not such a coward as to stick my neck out and let others kill me!
"Although my surname is Ying, it is not the same Ying as Qin Zheng's!"

"Madam, please don't say anything more." Meng Tian said in a cold voice: "Hand over everyone in the mansion to avoid implicating innocent people."

Yingpin sneered:

"We only intended to rebel, but you came before we could commit treason.

"Based on this situation, I really don't think you will let anyone in my house go.

"There are only Qin people who died in battle, no Qin people who surrendered, just charge in."

Meng Tian lowered his head slightly and exerted force with his arms.

Qin's sword was unsheathed, and the bright sword light and the bright red royal blood flashed together.

Meng Tian, ​​who was covered in royal blood, had a determined look on his face:
"Fire arrows!"

The archers on the wall received the order and shot arrows like rain.

Yingpin, whose throat was bleeding profusely and who had been shot by several arrows, glared at Meng Tian, ​​wanting to straighten her back and die standing.

He held on for a moment and then fell to the ground with a loud bang.

"Search the house! Leave no one alive!" Meng Tian ordered in a cold voice.

Soldiers poured into the mansion like a tide, and screams and pleas for mercy rang out one after another.

Meng Tian stood there, looking at Concubine Ying's body.

The blood spread on the bluestone slabs like a red stream.

When the sound fades away.

"General, we have made a discovery!" a lieutenant came to report.

Meng Tian followed the captain to a study and found it was filled with bamboo slips and maps.

He picked up a scroll that detailed the rebellion plan.

When to raise the army, how to control the city gates, and even a list of people who were ready to support Chang'an Jun Ying Chengjiao and divide up important positions in the court.

"Take them all away and present them to the king." Meng Tian gave the order, his voice trembling slightly.

Could it be that Chang'an Jun was also involved in this matter?

The operation ended at dawn, and none of the more than 300 people in Yingpin's mansion survived.

"Report! General Wang Jian has killed all of the Gongsun clan!"

"Report! General Li Xin has completed the mission!"

"..."

The successive good news made Meng Tian feel relieved.

He looked through the bamboo slips and found that all the names on the list had been crossed out.

Overnight, the seven old noble families of Qin State were wiped out.

"Withdraw the troops and return to the camp." Meng Tian gave the order tiredly.

After handing over military affairs at the Lantian camp, the one-armed Meng Tian remained silent on the way back to the palace to report.

[If it is really confirmed that Chang'an Jun is related to this matter...] Meng Tian just thought of the beginning and couldn't think any further.

Time goes back to daytime.

Ying Chengjiao had no idea about the bloody storm that was about to take place in Xianyang City.

Holding the scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, he rode in a carriage drawn by four horses back to Chengjiao Palace and Li Yi Palace.

As soon as he entered the palace, the palace chief Ying Ping winked at him and kept looking towards the back room.

He beckoned Ying Ping to come over, put his palm on Ying Ping's chest, and said with a smile:
"Why are you being so sneaky? I'm touching your heart, so tell me honestly what's wrong?"

[Young Master, why are you so bold lately…] Ying Ping blushed slightly, glanced at the other palace maids, bit her lip, and looked at the young master with a gloating look:

"The lady phoenix is ​​here."

Ying Chengjiao raised an eyebrow, but instead of letting go, he reached into her clothes and started grabbing and rubbing her.

"Why?" The young man smiled and said, "While she is here, can't I do the things I love?"

Ying the parrot, who likes Baba the most, covered his mouth and widened his eyes.

Ying Yingying lowered her head, but her eyes were always on the young master.

The other palace maids in the palace were all beautiful and charming, and they were all amazed and envious.

This seemingly normal situation made Ying Chengjiao realize that something was wrong.

If it were a normal scene, they would have been chattering a long time ago.

"Young Master, Princess Qi is here too." Ying Ping's voice was soft and charming, her big eyes were watery.

Ying Chengjiao: “…”

"My mother is here?" the young man shouted loudly, into the air: "Han Feizi is leaving? I will send Han Feizi off!"

As soon as the young man returned to his bedroom, he left.

(End of this chapter)