The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Chapter 314: The Siege of Xianyang (Part 3)

Under the protection of Meng Dade, Fusu and his party arrived at Wugong County, where Meng Tian was stationed.

As soon as we entered the camp, we felt a solemn atmosphere.

The soldiers lined up neatly, their eyes firm and loyal. They were dressed in heavy armor and held sharp weapons, like an indestructible fortress.

When Meng Tian heard that Fusu had arrived, he strode over to greet him.

The long journey had left Fusu's already pale face even more exhausted. His lips were chapped and he was panting slightly.

"My lord, you have worked hard on the journey." Meng Tian knelt on one knee and saluted.

Fusu hurriedly helped him up and said, "General, there is no need to be so polite." His voice was a little hoarse and revealed a hint of fatigue.

After everyone entered the tent, Fusu looked at the map and asked about the current situation.

Meng Tian replied, "Sir, Li Ze's troops to the northeast of Xianyang City, Xiang Liang's troops to the southeast, and my own troops have formed a siege on the city. Furthermore, I have dispatched 50,000 troops to the various counties in Guanzhong to quell the rebellion."

Fusu coughed lightly and said, "General, you are indeed very thoughtful. How is the situation in Xianyang City?"

Sima Yan, standing by, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Sir, ever since the Xianyang court ordered the troops to withdraw to the city some time ago, the city gates have been tightly closed. Although the defenders inside the city are numerous, their morale is low and the people are in a state of panic."

Fusu frowned slightly, his eyes revealing his concern about the situation.

Meng Tian said, "Don't worry, sir. Our army has laid siege to the city but hasn't stormed it, so the people inside have been spared. Furthermore, according to our spies, the city is heavily defended, but upon learning that you are leading a large army, many people are eagerly awaiting your return, secretly hoping for your return to take charge."

After hearing this, Fusu paced slowly, his steps seemed a little heavy.

After a moment, he said, "General, we cannot attack Xianyang City lightly. After all, it is the foundation of the Qin Dynasty. Once the war spreads, the people will suffer."

Meng Tian replied, "Your Excellency is merciful, and I understand. However, if we want to break the impasse, we must take a long-term approach."

At this moment, a sudden burst of noise came from the gate of the camp, which was originally quiet and solemn.

It turned out that Chunyu Yue, Fu Sheng, Shusun Tong and other Confucian scholars and doctors hurried here.

When they heard that Fusu was here, they were very excited and hurried to pay him a visit.

You know, since Fusu was sent to southern Xinjiang by the First Emperor to supervise the army, the fate of a group of Confucian doctors such as Chunyu Yue has also undergone tremendous changes.

For various reasons, they were repeatedly expelled from Xianyang by Emperor Qin Shi Huang and had to leave the city.

After leaving the capital, Chunyu Yue and others had to return to their hometowns sadly.

However, things are unpredictable, and not long after, earth-shattering news arrived—the First Emperor had passed away! This sudden change shocked everyone.

At that time, many people, including Chunyu Yue, were looking forward to Prince Fusu inheriting the throne.

After all, Fusu has always been known for his generosity and benevolence. If he ascended the throne, he might be able to implement some state governance strategies that are in line with Confucianism.

Therefore, when they heard the news, everyone couldn't help but get excited secretly, as if they saw that their long-held philosophy of governing the country was about to be realized.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned, and it was not Fusu but Hu Hai who succeeded to the throne.

This result was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Chunyu Yue and others, making them deeply disappointed and frustrated.

In desperation, these once ambitious Confucian scholars decided to spend the rest of their lives in the countryside and never again care about court affairs.

But who could have expected that not long after Hu Hai ascended the throne, massive peasant uprisings broke out in various parts of Shandong like a lit powder keg.

For a time, the country was in chaos and the people were living in misery. Faced with such a chaotic situation, Chunyu Yue and others' hearts, which had been silent for a long time, once again ignited a glimmer of hope.

Now, when they accidentally learned that Prince Fusu was actually in Wugong County, the long-hidden hope was instantly rekindled.

So, everyone set off without hesitation, rushing to meet this once highly respected young man.

When Fusu heard this, he immediately asked someone to invite them in.

After Chunyu Yue and others entered the tent, they saw Fusu hurriedly bowing, his eyes full of excitement.

Chunyu Yue said with tears in his eyes, "Young Master, you have lost a lot of weight!" His voice was choked with sobs, as if it contained endless concern.

Fusu felt a pang of sadness when he heard this. His gaze slowly fell on Chunyu Yue, and a trace of trance flashed in his eyes.

He seemed to see the scene when he first became Chunyu Yue's apprentice. At that time, he was still a young boy, full of longing and confusion about the future.

For Fusu, this old minister who was both his teacher and friend held a certain weight in his heart. During the time when he was despised and scolded by his father, Chunyu Yue was always by his side, constantly encouraging him to stick to his original aspirations.

Fusu hurriedly helped Chunyu Yue up and said, "Sir, please don't be like this. Please get up quickly."

Chunyu Yue stood up and wiped his tears, his eyes revealing his deep respect for Fusu.

He said, "Sir, the current situation is turbulent. Hu Hai's tyranny and his appointment of Zhao Gao, Yao Jia, and others have led to the division of the world. Sir, you are wise. Once the rebellion is quelled, the world will surely prosper under your leadership."

Fu Sheng also stepped forward, his expression serious and solemn. He said, "Sir, we are willing to follow you and assist you with Confucian teachings. We will surely be able to appease the people and quell the rebellion."

Shusun Tong added, "The people of Xianyang are in a state of panic. If you can announce your intentions to the world, perhaps you can defeat the enemy without fighting."

Sima Yan, who was standing by, was not used to these Confucian scholars talking about benevolence and righteousness all the time. He frowned slightly and was about to interrupt them.

However, he saw Meng Tian shaking his head slightly, and Sima Yan had to swallow his words.

Fusu nodded slightly and was about to speak when Meng Tian stepped forward and said, "Gentlemen, your words are reasonable, but this matter requires further consideration. For now, we should first stabilize the surrounding counties and ensure sufficient food and fodder."

Fusu frowned slightly upon hearing this. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "General, you are absolutely right. Gentlemen, you have come a long way and must be very tired. Let's take a rest first."

When Chunyu Yue and the others heard this, a hint of barely perceptible disappointment flashed across their eyes.

Several people unconsciously glanced at Meng Tian, ​​as if expressing their dissatisfaction with his words.

However, they still hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

Afterwards, Fusu arranged for Chunyu Yue and others to rest for a while, and then left the tent.

After everyone left, Sima Yan stepped forward with a hint of anger and dissatisfaction on his face.

"General, these Confucian scholars always talk about benevolence, righteousness, morality and Confucian governance, as if the world must be governed according to their ideas. No wonder Your Majesty was unwilling to use them when he was in power. We are fighting hard and bloody battles in the front, and now they jump out to interfere. They really think they are big shots." Sima Yan's voice was full of resentment.

Meng Tian smiled helplessly, with a hint of bitterness in his smile.

He gently patted Sima Yan's shoulder and said, "Sima Yan, you are a little biased. Although they are a bit pedantic, they are also useful. We can't generalize. We should listen to their opinions more."

Sima Yan snorted angrily, his eyes still full of disdain. However, he knew that Meng Tian's words had some truth, so he said nothing more.

Fusu walked out of the camp alone, looking towards the distant Xianyang City, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

However, he also agreed with some of the ideas in Confucianism, which, if used properly, might help find a better way out of this troubled world.