The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, May is coming.

The entire court was immersed in a tense and busy atmosphere, and all the ministers were making careful preparations for the First Emperor's eastern tour.

The scale of this eastern tour necessitated a powerful military escort to ensure the safety of the First Emperor. After careful consideration, the initial deployment of this escort was divided into three parts: a 5,000-man Weiwei Army would serve as the Central Guard, commanded by Li Ze; a 5,000-man Zhongwei Army would form the Rear Guard, commanded by Meng Yi; and a 5,000-man Duwei Army would form the Vanguard Battalion, commanded by Deputy General Tu You. Overall command of the escort was given to Wang Ben.

That day, in a makeshift camp outside Xianyang, Wang Ben stood quietly before a large map, his brow furrowed slightly, his eyes focused and deep, as if he were trying to see through the map to the distant mountains and rivers. His hand gently traced the route marked on the map, his mind brooding silently.

As a general of the Qin army, Wang Ben was fully aware of the immense significance of this eastern tour for the Qin Empire. The First Emperor would personally lead the army on a tour of the East, showcasing the majesty and strength of the Qin Empire.

However, this also means facing more unknown challenges and risks. Wang Ben felt that the responsibility was heavy and he had to ensure the absolute safety of the First Emperor.

Wang Ben called Li Ze, Meng Yi, and Tu You to discuss the specific marching strategy. The four of them sat around a simple desk, discussing with serious expressions.

Wang Ben stared at the map with a serious look, his brows slightly furrowed. He said firmly, "Your Majesty's safety is of paramount importance during this eastern tour. We must ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Upon hearing this, Li Ze nodded solemnly in agreement, clasped his hands together and replied, "I understand."

Tu You and Meng Yi also bowed and said in unison: "General, we are willing to serve Your Majesty with all our hearts and souls, even until our death."

Wang Ben nodded slightly, acknowledging their loyalty, and then he said, "Okay, now that everyone understands the importance of this eastern tour, let's begin discussing the specific marching strategy."

Everyone agreed and started discussing.

Meng Yi bowed and said, "General, I suggest strengthening the security along the way to prevent assassins from ambushing."

Tu You echoed, "General Meng's words make sense. Furthermore, we must also pay attention to your Majesty's diet and daily life to prevent any unexpected events."

Wang Ben nodded slightly to show his agreement.

Afterwards, everyone discussed in detail the marching route, campsite selection, and response measures in case of emergencies.

Wang Ben looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Everyone, we will advance in three directions. General Tu You, you will lead the vanguard troops first, responsible for exploring the road conditions ahead and promptly identifying and eliminating potential threats."

Tu You nodded and said, "I obey your command!"

Wang Ben looked at Li Ze again and said, "General Li, you will lead the Central Guards to follow closely and protect His Majesty's carriage at all times."

Li Ze bowed and said, "I understand!"

Meng Yi bowed and said, "I am willing to lead the rear guard and be responsible for the security work in the rear and surrounding areas to ensure that there are no enemy attacks."

Wang Ben nodded with satisfaction. "Okay, it's settled. I hope we can successfully complete this mission and protect His Majesty."

Everyone agreed in unison, their eyes determined. They knew that this eastern tour was not only related to the safety of the First Emperor, but also to the future of the Qin Empire.

In the end, the four of them unanimously decided to divide their troops into three groups and set up strict outposts along the way to deal with possible emergencies.

The vanguard troops led by Tu You will set off first, responsible for exploring the road conditions ahead and promptly discovering and eliminating potential threats.

Li Ze led the Central Guard Army to follow closely behind, protecting His Majesty's carriage at all times.

The rear guard led by Meng Yi was responsible for guarding the rear and surrounding areas to ensure that there would be no enemy attacks.

After everything was arranged, everyone waited silently for the day of the Eastern Tour to arrive.

The words are divided into two parts.

As for Zhao Gao, that day the First Emperor ordered him to assist Hu Hai in going out to sea to search for immortals, and to set sail after the First Emperor arrived at the coast of the East China Sea. Zhao Gao then found Xu Fu and conspired with him.

Zhao Gao and Xu Fu sat opposite each other in a secret room, brightly lit by candlelight. Zhao Gao looked at Xu Fu with a gloomy expression, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Mr. Xu, His Majesty has now entrusted the task of finding the immortal to us. If we fail, we will all die!" Zhao Gao said in a low voice.

Xu Fu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Master Zhao, going to the sea to search for the immortal island is a dream in itself, not to mention that we need to bring back the elixir of immortality, which is as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

Zhao Gao frowned, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "Master Xu, this voyage to sea in search of immortals is fraught with difficulties, but if we can find the elixir, it will be a great achievement. However, if we cannot find it, we will surely perish."

Xu Fu sighed inwardly. Zhao Gao was indeed a ruthless man. He knew this voyage to find immortals was a life-or-death journey, but if he refused Zhao Gao's request, he would likely be killed on the spot. So, Xu Fu gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "Okay, if that's the case, I will obey Lord Zhao's orders. However, the sea is unpredictable, and searching for the immortal island is like finding a needle in a haystack. There's no guarantee of success."

Zhao Gao sneered, "Hmph, as long as you're willing to do your best, I'll naturally find a way to bring you back safely. But don't forget, you and your family's lives are in my hands."

After saying this, Zhao Gao took out a jade token from his bosom and handed it to Xu Fu. "Take this token and it will save your life when you encounter danger. But remember, you can only use it once."

Xu Fu accepted the jade plaque and expressed his gratitude with tears of gratitude. However, he knew in his heart that he had become Zhao Gao's pawn, his life and death beyond his control. In the days that followed, he could only pray to God for a successful and safe return from his voyage to the sea.

Zhao Gao snorted coldly, his eyes gleaming with cunning and determination. He continued, "So, we must be prepared for both scenarios. On the one hand, we must go all out to find the elixir, not missing any possible clues. On the other hand, we must also leave a way out for ourselves, just in case."

Xu Fu was shocked when he heard this. He frowned and asked in confusion, "Sir, what do you mean by this? Do you have any plans?"

Zhao Gao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile, and he replied in a low voice, "Yes, I do have a plan that can ensure our safety."

Xu Fu's eyes flashed with curiosity and anticipation, and he couldn't wait to ask, "Sir, please tell me quickly!"

Zhao Gao approached Xu Fu and whispered, "We can start by sending people to spread rumors about immortals appearing at sea and mysterious islands hidden within. This way, the people will be excited about our expedition, and His Majesty will believe that we really have the potential to find the elixir and will give us his full support."

Xu Fu nodded in agreement, but still asked with some concern, "But what if we can't find the elixir by then?"

Zhao Gao's lips curled up into a sinister smile, and he said confidently, "Master Xu, don't worry. If we really can't find the elixir of immortality, we can always find something similar to replace it. As long as we forge it carefully, it won't be easily discovered."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu's face darkened, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew that deceiving the emperor was a grave crime, but the current situation left him with no choice. Although he was extremely reluctant, he could only nod and accept Zhao Gao's proposal.

After the two reached a consensus, they began to discuss a specific implementation plan. Zhao Gao quickly dispatched his trusted aides to spread rumors about immortals and the elixir of life among the people. These rumors spread like wildfire, quickly spreading through the streets and alleys, sparking widespread discussion.