Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Cheng Zhijie, who had also received a transfer order, angrily went to discuss it with Yuchi. When he opened the door, he saw Shen Ce holding up a yellow brocade horse pad above his head.

His expression immediately tightened, he turned around and closed the door, took the brocade from Shen Ce's hand and rubbed it repeatedly.

He knew this thing wasn't meant to be draped over Yuchi Laohei's head. The moment he saw it, he understood the implications. He didn't care whose idea it was; he just thought it was a good plan. If the King of Qin didn't want it, he could just pin the blame on this captain—it wouldn't be a big deal.

When a fourth-generation official, standing eight feet tall, with his upper body bare and revealing a six-pack as thick as old cowhide, stands in front of him, the pressure he feels is unprecedented.

"Who taught you? Tell the truth," Cheng Zhijie asked sternly, clenching the yellow silk in his hand.

Shen Ce knelt at the lower end, feeling the heavy breathing, and said with his neck stiff, "General Cheng, when our three thousand Xuanjia soldiers charged into Dou Jiande's army of one hundred thousand, I was right beside you."

"If it weren't for that, I would have killed you long ago. Is that really what you wanted?"

"I am simply feeling indignant on behalf of the King of Qin and his generals."

Speak like a human being.

"I am also dissatisfied with myself."

"That's right. If everyone looks out for themselves, they'll be doomed. Otherwise, where would all the saints in the world come from?" He patted Shen Ce on the head after saying that.

After speaking, he walked over to Yuchi's side and began to discuss things with him, completely ignoring his absence.

Contrary to popular legend, Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Zhijie were not mere warriors. Both were descendants of officials and possessed a keen political sense. When the "yellow robe" appeared before them, their ambitions were instantly ignited.

The two men were initially unsure how to advise the King of Qin, but upon seeing this object, they made up their minds.

Shen Ce didn't want to see or hear it, but Yuchi Jingde's voice was too loud. They were even discussing who killed the crown prince. How could I possibly know about this?

He squatted at the doorway, covering his ears with his hands, his neck hunched over, muttering repeatedly, "I can't hear you, I can't hear you."

After muttering for an unknown amount of time, Cheng Zhijie suddenly brought him in front of the two of them.

"Stop pretending, Old Yuchi's voice can't be covered up with his hands."

Shen Ce had no choice but to slowly stand up, giving a wry smile: "Such confidential information is too sensitive for this subordinate to hear."

Cheng Zhijie, however, didn't seem to care. After exchanging a glance with Yuchi, he said in a deep voice, "Are you willing to start this matter?"

Shen Ce's eyes lit up, feeling that the matter had been settled. He clasped his hands in a salute and said, "I will obey General Cheng's orders."

"You'll have to suffer a bit."

"I can eat it."

"If it succeeds, and the person lives, there are two levels; if they die... then all is over."

The outcome of the two levels was within his expectations, but... it wasn't enough. He couldn't avoid the bloody battle outside Xuanwu Gate, or everything would be over for him.

"Thank you, General Cheng," Shen Ce bowed in thanks, then stepped closer to Cheng Zhijie and cautiously inquired, "If we are to take action tomorrow, would it be permissible for me to guard the Prince of Qin's residence?"

The two said in unison, "Dream on."

Cheng Yaojin grinned and said, "Once you've caught my eye, don't even think about delaying. It's not easy for the army to produce a bright one like him; we can't let him go to waste." With that, he reached out his large hand towards Shen Ce again, lifted his armor, and looked at the foot-long scar on his chest.

Shen Ce couldn't tell whether the two genuinely wanted to mentor him or simply wanted to offer him a form of compensation...

"Can you read?"

"Recognize"

Cheng Zhidian nodded and told Shen Ce about the celestial phenomenon that Venus was visible in the Qin region that day, indicating that the King of Qin would rule the world.

"Tell the soldiers all the celestial information for today. If they question you, show them this," Cheng Yaojin said, reaching behind his waist to take out a fish-shaped tally. "Make sure things are handled well."

"promise."

Shen Ce came out of the house, looked at the two-inch-long fish tally, turned it over, and saw that it read "Left First Cavalry Commander, Cheng Zhijie".

Without the Emperor's seal and the imperial edict from the Secretariat, this token can't even mobilize ten soldiers. Tomorrow's uprising will only be possible with the eight hundred soldiers from the Prince's residence. Cheng Zhijie's intention couldn't be clearer... to mobilize the masses.

These soldiers under my command are completely illiterate. If I just tell them about the celestial phenomena, how will they understand their meaning? I need to think of a way to figure it out.

Shen Ce stuffed the fish-shaped tally into his clothes and swaggered toward the training ground. The journey was short, taking only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The soldiers on the drill ground were not concerned when they saw that the squad leader had only suffered some minor injuries. In the army, who doesn't get beaten up? Even General Yuchi had carried a sword, let alone the squad leader.

Today, the King of Qin entered the palace, and there were no official duties assigned to him. As everyone gathered together, the atmosphere immediately became lively, and they all began to chat idly.

"Squad leader, I heard that the Crown Prince and the Emperor's concubines..." A soldier winked lewdly, clenched his fists together, and stuck out his two thumbs, bending them up and down.

"Where did you hear that?" Shen Ce asked, displeased. How could a common soldier know such a secret matter?

The guard shrank back and whispered, "Ugh, that clerk from the Imperial Household Department, he can't keep his mouth shut, he was bragging to me..."

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, the older soldier quickly changed the subject, saying, "Boss, why is it that when the Prince of Qi goes to fight the Turks, he has to transfer our generals and brothers from the Prince of Qin's mansion?"

"It was because of the Crown Prince's recommendation."

"Bullshit. Two years ago in Bin Prefecture (present-day Binzhou, Xianyang), the Turkic leader Jieli led a large army, and the King of Qi was so scared that he wet himself. It was our prince who led a hundred cavalry to repel the enemy. Now you think you have guts?"

The soldier's words drew a burst of laughter from the crowd, followed by a long silence.

All military merits in the land belong to the King of Qin, and the nine or five best military officers are assigned to the Eastern Palace; this seems to be the general consensus.

The Xuanjia Army, which had been fighting alongside the King of Qin in his conquest of the world, could only sit in the training ground and compose a few meaningless words, which looked rather comical.

"Brothers, stick together!" Shen Ce suddenly stood up and slammed his knife into the ground.

Dozens of burly men, seeing this, suddenly perked up and swarmed over, their rough language ringing out: "Boss, are you planning something big?"

"Keep your skin tight!" Shen Ce hissed, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. "A couple of days ago, I overheard a story on the street. I'm free today, so I'll tell it to you all. Brothers, please give your opinions."

Seeing that it wasn't something important, everyone relaxed and agreed.

Shen Ce lowered his voice and said, "There is a wealthy family in the north of the city. A few years ago, the second son of the family led his brothers to build up most of the family business. Now the old father is about to die and wants to leave all the family property to the eldest son who is idle. On the other hand, the second son's brothers were bullied and killed by the eldest son, and the family business they built will not be left to the second son at all."

Brothers, what do you think we should do in this situation?

Although the soldiers were rough and uneducated, they had seen plenty of the dirty tricks of power struggles and corruption within their clans and villages.

Before the story was even finished, the already irritable man from Northwest China couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out something.

"鸹貔."

"Shame on my ancestors"

Old Zhou shouted, spat on the ground, and picked up his weapon: "Where are those two thieving father and son? I'll go and have a word with them."

The soldiers were also furious, saying that there was no such logic in the world. At the very least, the property should belong to whoever built it. That would be reasonable.

Shen Ce felt the atmosphere was right, so he didn't say anything and turned to look at the imperial city.

Everyone followed the team leader's gaze, but before they could even turn their heads, they quickly withdrew their eyes and kept their mouths tightly shut.

After all that talk, it's just a folk version of the story of the Crown Prince and the King of Qin. The captain is really about to pull off something big...

Zhou Laosan stepped forward, hastily reaching out his hand as if to cover Shen Ce's mouth, while lowering his voice to say, "How can the royal family be compared to the common people?"