socalfunplaces Chapter 217 What a dramatic coup!
Chapter 217 What a dramatic coup!
Bai Yifei froze on the spot, his face ashen, looking like a puppet nailed to the palace.
Lü Buwei hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, please understand! The Grand Preceptor was clearly using this as an excuse to make a fuss. I hope you will forgive the Han envoy's breach of etiquette. The envoys have traveled a thousand miles, weary from their journey; occasional oversights are understandable. Your Majesty's benevolence will surely earn the respect of the six states!"
Lin Tian sneered, his gaze sweeping over Bai Yifei like a blade: "Dissatisfied? A weak nation has no diplomacy! If you really want to compete, mobilize your troops tomorrow. Within three days, our iron cavalry will easily crush Xinzheng!"
Before he finished speaking, he immediately turned around and addressed the five stunned envoys behind him with a friendly smile: "Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, and Wei—the five states of Shandong—have always been friendly states of Qin. It is not easy for you to come from afar. You are all honored guests of our great Qin. Please take your seats with peace of mind."
Befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones. What Zhang Yi failed to accomplish, I, Lin Tian, will personally undertake today.
"The Grand Preceptor's words are truly insightful!" "Although Wei and Han are neighbors, the friendship between Wei and Qin runs deep!" "Our state of Qi has always been of one heart and one mind with Qin!"
……
The envoys from the five countries vied to agree, nodding in unison and beaming with warm smiles.
Strategic alliances?
Lin Tian scoffed inwardly—this was no alliance at all, but a motley crew of scoundrels, each with their own ulterior motives, calling each other brothers on the surface but secretly plotting against each other.
In that instant, he glimpsed the truth behind the so-called "Six-Nation Alliance" from the eyes of the five men:
Snakes and rats share the same hole; their false heat puts on a facade, but it dissipates with a single touch.
Instead of worrying about them banding together, we should consider Li Mu's strategy against the Xiongnu. The Zhao state is the only behemoth capable of directly confronting the Qin state, boasting numerous renowned generals and brilliant strategists.
Bai Yifei clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, and she didn't even notice the blood seeping out.
He hated it so much that his bones felt cold—Lin Tian had only targeted him from beginning to end, and what chilled him even more was that the other five didn't even dare to open their mouths, as soft as a lump of mud.
He was full of strategic wisdom and lofty ambitions, yet he was trapped by the corrupt Han dynasty and mired in the quagmire of the imperial court.
Lin Tian came from a later era. He was not only well-versed in "Nine Songs of the Sky", but also had the essence of the Seven Warring States etched into his very being.
The so-called era of great strife, where the weak triumph over the strong? It's nothing more than a comforting dream tale written by historians.
No matter how clever Bai Yifei was, he couldn't withstand the overwhelming tide of Qin's million elite soldiers and thousands of chariots.
In the end, he could only remain a weak minister behind him, yet he harbored ambitions to usurp power. Such a country was not only empty of funds and impoverished in terms of people's livelihood, but also had a collapsed court, surrounded by foreign enemies, with incessant infighting among the powerful and the suspicion between the emperor and his ministers as sharp as a knife.
"You think you can defy fate?" Lin Tian sneered inwardly. "That's utterly absurd."
Did Han Fei and Zhang Liang really succeed? Did the quicksand really stabilize? In the end, it was all just an empty dream, leaving not even ashes.
Lin Tian waved his hand dismissively, "Enough, enough! Since Prime Minister Lü has spoken, we should at least give him some face. Besides, Marquis Blood-Clad is a distinguished guest, and he is also an envoy sent by Prince Han Anqin..." His show of force was swift and decisive, causing Bai Yifei to lose his composure on the spot. Lin Tian was delighted to see that the opposing side's formation was in disarray and could no longer be reorganized.
The moment Lü Buwei jumped out, Lin Tian knew for sure: he wasn't protecting Bai Yifei; he clearly had ulterior motives. What else could he possibly be after in the imperial court? He was only after him.
Lin Tian never waited for others to make a move, nor did he bother to sit and wait for the blade to fall. Knowing that his opponent was about to draw his sword, he simply slashed at him head-on.
"How ruthless is the Grand Preceptor? Back in the capital of Han, you and I offered advice and strategies to the King of Han! When the Wei army of 100,000 pressed on the border between Han and Wei, how could we have defeated that elite Wei infantry without the Grand Preceptor's planning? The Grand Preceptor has rendered meritorious service to Han, and the people of Han will always remember him. Yet today he publicly humiliates me, is he not showing any mercy?"
Blood-Clad Marquis Bai Yifei glanced at him sideways, his gaze as cold and menacing as a viper's hiss, clearly there to cause trouble.
He had barely recovered from his shock and being caught off guard when Lin Tian immediately retaliated. Bai Yifei never expected that Lin Tian would resort to such a ruthless move as soon as he entered the hall.
This person hates Lin Tian to the bone and has long since placed him at the top of the list of people he hates most in his life.
If Bai Yifei hadn't been wary of Lin Tian's unfathomable cultivation level and knew he was no match for him, he probably would have pounced on him on the spot and torn him to pieces.
What an arrogant person! Yet, upon meeting him, he was publicly humiliated.
A hundred strokes of the cane? For an envoy from another country, that would be an utter disgrace.
Moreover, he was the Blood-Clad Marquis, whom the Han Dynasty relied on! Bai Yifei was burning with rage. Lin Tian's contemptuous face and blatant threats were like knives cutting into his bones.
Destroy the country? Send troops? His knuckles clenched until they turned white, his eyes burning with fierce anger, yet he forcefully suppressed the surging resentment within him. Lin Tian's words, "A weak nation has no diplomacy," pierced his ears like nails, lingering for a long time.
"Your Majesty, your judgment is wise! It turns out that the Grand Preceptor has long been in cahoots with the state of Han, and has even served Han's officials. I implore Your Majesty to carefully distinguish between loyalty and treachery—how can the position of Grand Preceptor be entrusted to a foreigner who has served six states?"
His voice was decisive, neither humble nor arrogant, each word ringing with conviction. The speaker was Li Si, the Minister of Justice. Lin Tian had assumed he could hold his tongue, but little did he know that this court assembly would ultimately involve this formidable figure.
Li Si was not a treacherous official, but he was driven by self-interest and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even trampling on brotherly affection.
Driven by profit and the desire for survival, Lin Tian was no exception. He did not despise Li Si's ambition, but he looked down on his callousness in daring to turn against even his own brothers.
Li Si stepped forward with his head held high, bowed deeply to Ying Zheng on the throne, then knelt on both knees, his voice booming: "Your Majesty, I am of limited talent and learning, lacking both the wisdom and martial prowess of the Grand Preceptor. But I am a subject of Qin, a native of Qin raised on Qin soil! As a Qin citizen, I will never devise a single strategy for the six states, and I am willing to give my life for Qin! However, the Grand Preceptor once relieved the siege of Han from the Wei army, and today he holds the reins of the Qin court. Based on this alone, I fear the position of Grand Preceptor is not worthy of the people's respect!"
Lü Buwei then spoke again, his tone low and sinister, carrying an undeniable warning.
"Your Majesty, Li Tingwei's words are all reasonable. If Your Majesty insists on protecting him, this old minister has no choice but to follow the late king's edict and, by exercising the power of regent, request the Empress Dowager to attend court and jointly decide this important matter! Although this old minister is already half-buried, I swear to protect the foundation of our Great Qin with my life, and I will never allow such villains to destroy it!"
As the prime minister and regent, Lü Buwei was not required to kneel before Ying Zheng. Yet, at this moment, he prostrated himself on the ground, appearing exactly like a loyal and devoted old minister.
"I second that proposal!"
"We, your humble servants, second this proposal! We swear to safeguard the destiny of the Great Qin!"
The rhythm began, and another group of people bowed their heads in unison, a dark mass, like waves surging in.
Lin Tian lowered his eyes and smiled, watching the group of actors who had taken the stage in full costume. He thought to himself, "What a grand coup d'état! The plot is intricately linked, and each of them is a natural-born actor."
Lin Tian did not react on the spot, but only smiled, his smile chilling: "You gentlemen's words are full of hidden barbs, going around in circles, but what you're really saying is that I, Lin Tian, am unworthy to be the Imperial Preceptor, unworthy to educate the Qin Kingdom, and you've probably already prepared evidence of my crimes, just waiting for me to speak so you can nail me to the pillar of shame for 'disloyalty and injustice'?"
"Hmph! All the officials in the court agree with what I said! Li Tingwei testified personally, is there a single falsehood in it?!" Lü Buwei suddenly stood up, his long sleeves fluttering, his beard trembling slightly, a sneer of certainty appearing on his face, his eyes like hooks, firmly locked onto Lin Tian.
"Bullshit!" Lin Tian roared, his voice like tearing silk, his fingertip pointing directly at Lü Buwei's nose. "You dare to speak to me? A mere old man relying on his age dares to bare his teeth in front of me?!"
Before he finished speaking, he took a step forward, his eyes flashing like lightning, and his aura surged suddenly, as if thunder had exploded in his sleeves.
Caught off guard, Lü Buwei's face turned pale, and he staggered back three steps, nearly falling to the ground. Ying Zheng, seated high on the dragon throne, subtly gripped the edge of the dragon table, his gaze sweeping rapidly towards Lin Tian, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.
"You...you dare—!!" Lü Buwei forced himself to straighten his back, but his voice was weak. He still gritted his teeth and stared at Lin Tian. "Bai Yifei testified for you himself. Are you perhaps being wronged?!"