usatvline Chapter 257 King Qin Organizes His Thoughts
Chapter 257 King Qin Organizes His Thoughts
The King of Qin frowned, his mind churning with thoughts. The more he pondered what he had just heard, the more he felt that what Jia Yang had said was merely a dream. Yet, it all felt so real; every detail, every twist, made perfect sense. Upon closer reflection, it was reality.
Setting aside his doubts for the moment, the King of Qin took a deep breath and continued to ponder along the lines of history. [First, there was the scene of Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) cruelly murdering many of his brothers—a bloody and ruthless act that chilled the heart. Then, Zhao Gao dared to openly distort the truth in court, turning black into white, yet not a single official stepped forward to speak out! What caused the ministers to remain silent? Were they all afraid of Zhao Gao's tyranny?]
Just as the King of Qin was deep in thought, the image of the Chen Sheng and Wu Guang uprising flashed before his eyes. [The two men raised their arms in a rallying cry, and the world responded, igniting a raging inferno. Subsequently, the former states of the six kingdoms indeed sprang up like mushrooms after rain, restoring their kingdoms, plunging the once unified Qin Empire into chaos and fragmentation. At the same time, Liu Bang seized the opportunity to rise to power, raising an army, gradually expanding his influence, and eventually establishing his own sphere of influence—the Han Dynasty.]
As the situation evolved, the newly restored states gradually weakened amidst their internecine struggles and annexations. Most of their power was either absorbed by the powerful Chu state or brought under the control of the emerging Han state. The King of Qin couldn't help but feel suspicious about Xiang Yu, the leader of Chu: "Is Xiang Yu the son of Xiang Yan? If so, the Xiang clan's ambitions are immense; we must find a way to eliminate them."
After a series of thrilling battles and struggles, Liu Bang finally defeated the seemingly invincible Xiang Yu in the Chu-Han Contention, becoming the ultimate victor. He then formally ascended the throne, changing the dynasty name to "Han," thus beginning the glorious chapter of the Han Dynasty.
Immediately afterward, the King of Qin's mind kept replaying the events Jia Yang had mentioned. When Jia Yang spoke of Empress Lü, Emperor Hui, and Emperor Wen of Han (Liu Heng), the King of Qin fell into deep thought. [Empress Lü must have been a woman, and she wielded immense power; could she be Liu Bang's wife? As for Emperor Hui, his reign must have been extremely short. And this Liu Heng, who is revered as Emperor Wen, is clearly no ordinary person; he is truly formidable!]
After much deliberation, the King of Qin fell silent once more. He pondered to himself: "How many years has the Han Dynasty truly lasted? These three figures who just appeared must undoubtedly belong to the Eastern Han Dynasty. Yet, even amidst such turmoil, the Han Dynasty managed a smooth transition to the Western Han. But why did my Great Qin Empire perish after only two generations? Moreover, I have yet to complete the unification of the empire, while the important ministers of the Western Han have already begun to rise to prominence and grow in power. So, how long can I survive? How long can my Great Qin Dynasty endure?"
Faced with this series of troubling problems, the King of Qin dared not delve any further into the matter. He sighed helplessly and said slowly to Jia Yang, "Jia Yang, I am somewhat tired. I should return to the palace to rest first. As for what you just mentioned, I will carefully consider it after I have rested and then inform you of it."
Ying Wuyou nodded slightly and said with concern, "Yes, Father. I see that you look unwell and seem a little listless. Perhaps we should ask the Imperial Physician to come and examine you. You should pay more attention to your daily routine, make sure to go to bed early and get up early, and avoid overworking yourself. In your spare time, you should also exercise to keep your body in good shape."
Upon hearing Ying Wuyou's thoughtful words, the King of Qin couldn't help but smile with relief. He reached out his broad hand and gently stroked Ying Wuyou's head, saying softly, "It's alright, my son, don't worry. Go back and rest quickly; it's windy and cold outside, don't catch a cold."
Ying Wuyou bowed respectfully and replied, "Your subject will obey your father's command and take his leave now." After speaking, she slowly turned around and walked away with steady steps.
As soon as Ying Wuyou's figure disappeared from sight, King Qin seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, looking much older. Seeing this, Fu De, standing to the side, was startled and immediately knelt down, asking in fear, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
The King of Qin waved his hand wearily and sighed, "I am fine. Get up and return to Zhangtai Palace." With that, he mustered his strength, slowly straightened his body, and walked heavily toward Zhangtai Palace.
Throughout the journey, the King of Qin frowned, lost in deep thought. He pondered the future of the Qin Dynasty with great anxiety, the faces of his ministers in the court constantly flashing through his mind. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he should live a few more years, so that he could thoroughly eliminate those with treacherous intentions from the court and ensure the eternal stability and prosperity of the Qin Dynasty. Unbeknownst to him, the King of Qin had already arrived at the Zhangtai Palace.
Inside the Zhangtai Palace, all was quiet, with only the Qin King's even, soft breathing flowing slowly through the air. Time seemed to stand still, and before anyone knew it, an hour had passed.
At this moment, the sky outside the window resembled a gradually spreading ink painting. Dusk deepened, and dim light filtered through the window lattices, casting shadows on the palace floor. In this hazy light and shadow, the King of Qin finally opened his eyes slowly. His gaze was initially somewhat hazy, but it quickly regained its clarity and sharpness.
At this moment, the King of Qin showed no trace of his previous dejected state. He sat upright on the bed, exuding an awe-inspiring aura, his imposing kingly demeanor once again on full display. With a slight raise of his hand, he said in a deep voice, "Someone, quickly go and summon Meng Yi to me."
Before the words were finished, a quick-witted eunuch responded and rushed out of the hall like a gust of wind. Time passed by, and after about a quarter of an hour, a series of steady, powerful footsteps approached. Soon after, a burly man with a resolute face strode into the Zhangtai Hall. It was Meng Yi. He knelt on one knee before the King of Qin, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "This humble general Meng Yi greets Your Majesty!" His voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the spacious hall.
King Qin's face was ashen. After surveying the crowd in the hall, he said slowly, "You may all leave." Upon hearing this, the eunuchs lowered their heads and carefully withdrew from the hall. In the blink of an eye, the once slightly crowded Zhangtai Hall became empty, leaving only King Qin and Meng Yi.
The King of Qin stared intently at Meng Yi, then lowered his voice and said, "Meng Yi, I have a very important matter to entrust to you. You must personally travel to Pei County in Sishui Commandery to eliminate a man named Liu Bang for me. Remember, this matter must not be known to a third party." With that, the King of Qin's gaze sharpened further.
Although Meng Yi had some doubts, as a subject, he knew that some things should not be asked. So, he nodded without hesitation and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations and complete this task." After speaking, he bowed to the King of Qin again.