socalfunplaces Chapter 362 The Death of Empress Dowager Huayang
Chapter 362 The Death of Empress Dowager Huayang
Seven days later.
Xianyang, the capital of Qin.
Ying Zheng received Wang Jian's letter.
In his letter, Wang Jian not only talked about the situation at the front, but also briefly mentioned Xu Lin's affairs in Daidi.
Upon reading the contents of the letter, Ying Zheng frowned slightly and ordered Han Fei, Zhang Liang, and Li Si to be summoned.
Neither Zhao Gao nor Gai Nie were skilled in warfare.
Before long, Han Fei and Zhang Liang arrived at the front hall of Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng had Zhao Gao deliver Wang Jian's letter to them.
Han Fei and Zhang Liang were both shocked after reading the letter.
Is Qin going to directly destroy Zhao?
As the saying goes, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Can the Qin state swallow the Zhao state whole?
In fact, without Xu Lin's assistance in Dai, it would have been very difficult for Wang Jian to directly destroy Zhao.
Because Li Si lived far away and had many things to do, he was the last to arrive.
Once everyone had arrived, Ying Zheng encouraged them to express their opinions freely and without reservation.
Han Fei spoke first.
His laws were implemented in Qin, and Honglian needed his care, so he had to perform well.
"I believe that destroying Zhao is not that simple."
"I can understand General Wang Jian's desire to destroy Zhao, but I believe we should proceed cautiously step by step."
"The Grand Tutor once said, 'If you take too big a step, you're likely to break...'"
Han Fei gave his advice in a serious tone.
He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
It wasn't Ying Zheng who interrupted him, but a eunuch who rushed over in a great hurry.
"Your Majesty, something has happened at Huayang Palace."
The eunuch said respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng had already guessed what was going on, so he told Han Fei and the others to go back first, and to discuss the matter of attacking Zhao another day.
Alternatively, Han Fei, Zhang Liang, and others could write to him to express their opinions.
"Your Majesty, I take my leave!"
Han Fei bowed and withdrew.
Zhang Liang followed closely behind.
Li Si wanted to leave, but Ying Zheng stopped him.
After Lü Buwei's death, Ying Zheng increasingly relied on Li Si. Even after Han Fei arrived in Xianyang, Ying Zheng still preferred to use Li Si.
Because Li Si was obedient.
Undeniably, Han Fei was very capable, but he was not an easy person to get along with. He was good as a friend, but not very suitable as a subject.
Because Ying Zheng preferred reading Han Fei's books to spending time with Han Fei.
Zhang Liang was also very capable, but because of the matter of destroying Han, there was always a sense of detachment between Zhang Liang and Ying Zheng, who did not want to think about it in detail.
Can you guess what happened at Huayang Palace?
After Han Fei and Zhang Liang had walked away, Ying Zheng looked at Li Si.
Li Si was not only loyal, but also capable.
Although Han Fei and Zhang Liang were no less capable than Li Si, they were not even half as loyal as Li Si.
Only now did Ying Zheng understand why most rulers chose to appoint relatives rather than people based on merit.
The sage is powerful, but he is not loyal to you at all. How can you use him?
For example, Li Mu of Zhao, was he loyal to the King of Zhao or to the state of Zhao?
The problem with Han Fei and Zhang Liang was that they were neither particularly loyal to the Qin state nor to the King of Qin.
They entered Qin largely because they had no other choice.
"I believe it may be related to Empress Dowager Huayang."
Li Si answered while thinking.
As far as he knew, Empress Dowager Huayang's health was deteriorating day by day.
The fact that the eunuch dared to speak so directly just now suggests that Empress Dowager Huayang is no longer capable of handling things.
Ying Zheng nodded and had Zhao Gao and Li Si follow him to Huayang Palace.
Zhao Gao wanted to bring some men with him as a precaution, but Ying Zheng stopped him.
Empress Dowager Huayang was, after all, his grandmother. As the saying goes, even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs, so he didn't believe that Empress Dowager Huayang would harm him.
Moreover, this is Xianyang.
Zhao Gao was highly skilled.
Before long, Ying Zheng arrived at Huayang Palace.
Before Ying Zheng even entered Huayang Palace, he heard a deafening cry.
Looking in the direction of the sound, all one could see were people dressed in mourning clothes; clearly, Empress Dowager Huayang was dead.
Since Chengjiao, Changwenjun, Yangquanjun, and others had all died, Changpingjun Xiong Qi was in charge of the funeral arrangements at Huayang Palace. Upon learning of the king's arrival, Changpingjun immediately went out to greet him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Changping bowed deeply.
With the death of Empress Dowager Huayang, the Chu faction in Qin will follow her lead.
Without the protection of Empress Dowager Huayang, every step he takes from now on will be as precarious as walking on thin ice.
"Why did Grandma suddenly leave?"
Ying Zheng asked.
He had no feelings for Empress Dowager Huayang, but as the ruler of a country, there were some things he had to do.
Lord Changping succinctly described Empress Dowager Huayang's illness, which resembled a stroke in later generations—an incurable disease for which doctors were helpless.
After seeing the body of Empress Dowager Huayang one last time, Ying Zheng left Huayang Palace.
Li Si wanted to congratulate Ying Zheng, but felt it wasn't the right time, so he kept it to himself.
Without the constraints of the Chu faction, Qin's hegemony is bound to succeed!
……
Seven days later.
Empress Dowager Huayang was buried.
Lord Changping dismissed his attendants, took out a letter from his sleeve that Empress Dowager Huayang had written to him before her death, and fell into deep thought as he read its contents.
Empress Dowager Huayang advised him to stop there and stop fighting with Ying Zheng, as the fates of Cheng Jiao, Mi Ling, and Chang Wenjun were already before him.
Even the death of Empress Dowager Huayang was related to her struggle with Ying Zheng.
The best doctors in the world were all on Ying Zheng's side, one of whom was the imperial physician Xia Wuqie.
Although Xia Wuqie visited Empress Dowager Huayang before her death, he said there was no cure and she could only drink more water.
If it were Meng Ao or Wang Jian whose lives were hanging by a thread, would Xia Wuqie have said that?
Then there are Nian Duan and his apprentice beside Xu Lin.
Lord Changping personally went to Nian's residence to invite Nian Duan to Huayang Palace, but Nian Duan didn't say a word, only shook his head.
If it were Xu Lin whose life was hanging by a thread, would Nian Duan remain silent?
Empress Dowager Huayang advised Lord Changping to find an opportunity to return to the State of Chu, as the people of Chu would find it difficult to survive in the State of Qin without her protection.
Because Qin and Chu will eventually have a war.
If Lord Changping insists on avenging Cheng Jiao, Mi Ling, and others, the opportunity lies in the State of Chu, in Fusu, not in the peasant family, and certainly not now.
After reviewing it one last time, Changping Jun burned it.
Then he coughed violently a few times, leaned over the table, and wrote a letter to Ying Zheng, requesting to resign.
Now that things have come to this, the only option is to retreat in order to advance.
As far as he knew, the political scene in Chu was also very complicated, and going back rashly would probably be worse than staying in Qin, so he needed to plan carefully.
As the saying goes, haste makes waste. He needs to keep a low profile in Qin and make most people forget his existence, otherwise he will become a thorn in the side of others.
……
That night.
Just after Ying Zheng replied to Wang Jian, indicating his agreement with Wang Jian's suggestion to attack Zhao, he received a letter from Lord Changping.
After reading the letter, Ying Zheng gave it to Zhao Gao.
What do you think?
Ying Zheng asked.
Although Zhao Gao was a eunuch, he was not a castrated man. Because he had been by Ying Zheng's side for a long time, he had become half of Ying Zheng's strategist.
Gai Nie had little interest in politics, so Ying Zheng would often ask Zhao Gao for his opinion.
"That Xiong Qi is a cunning and treacherous old man."
"I believe this person should not be allowed to live."
Zhao Gao made a throat-slitting gesture.
He was like a sword in Ying Zheng's hand, so he always considered things from Ying Zheng's perspective when he spoke and acted.
This is also one of the reasons why Ying Zheng liked Zhao Gao very much.
"Our Great Qin Dynasty is founded on law; how can we kill people arbitrarily?"
"You said before that he was very close to farmers, what about now?"
Ying Zheng was a man of few words and rarely smiled.
He also felt that Changping Jun was a potential threat.
Lord Changping was originally a prince of the State of Chu. When Chu was destroyed, Lord Changping would face a choice between Qin and Chu.
Without a doubt, Changping Jun would choose the latter.
Therefore, Ying Zheng and Lord Changping were destined for a battle. (End of Chapter)