socalfunplaces Chapter 178 Death is not worth regretting!
Chapter 178 Death is not worth regretting!
After Ying Zheng relayed Zhang Liang's doubts, Lin Tian's expression suddenly turned solemn: "Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust! Only if you trust them will they dare to risk their lives for you! These men are all veterans who have survived countless battles, and the four words 'no regrets even in the face of death' are etched in their bones!"
They will die and never return!
The four characters landed like a hammer striking a bluestone.
The three of them were all shocked, their hearts churning with emotion that lingered for a long time.
Ying Zheng, still on horseback, bowed deeply, his voice strained: "May I ask, sir, how did you train such an iron-blooded army?"
"Training troops?" Lin Tian looked at Ying Zheng, his tone calm and steady. "Just do it the way your ancestors did—don't you all remember? The mighty Qin, united in the face of national crisis!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "If your Qin generals harbor such a heart, why worry that your soldiers lack such courage? The national humiliation remains unavenged, a memory that the people of Qin will forever remember! Your strength has never lay in superior weaponry, but in the unity of purpose and unwavering loyalty between superiors and subordinates! Remember—the shame of the past is the backbone of your present!"
Suddenly, he remembered something and looked up to ask, "Is the stone tablet that Ying Quliang carved with his own blood to vow revenge still standing in front of Yingyu Palace?"
Ying Quliang was none other than Ying Zheng's ancestor—the Duke Xiao of Qin, who had the foresight to recognize Shang Yang's talent and strongly promoted his reforms. That monument of shame, inscribed with blood, became a closely guarded secret of the Qin dynasty from his time onward, passed down orally by successive rulers and never shown to the public.
No one in the world knew of its existence.
Lin Tian blurted out, and Han Fei and Zhang Liang's pupils shrank instantly: Is this really true?
Ying Zheng, however, could no longer contain himself and suddenly raised his arm and shouted, "Halt, army!"
The command was swift and decisive, spreading throughout the entire ranks in an instant. The messengers repeated the order in unison, and each team reined in their horses and halted, their faces filled with surprise and doubt as they all turned to look at the front of the column.
Lin Tian stared in astonishment at Ying Zheng's tense jaw and murderous brows, his heart sinking suddenly—
This is just a historical record, how come... it seems like some incredible secret has been revealed?
Zi Nu and Nong Yu rode up quickly; Yan Ling Ji and Li Wu also rode up from the rear of the group; even Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang, who were guarding the left and right, noticed something was wrong and rode up side by side.
Only Honglian, exhausted from the long journey, was now dozing lightly in the carriage, completely unaware of the sudden storm brewing around her.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ying Zheng dismounted, clasped his fists to his chest, bowed deeply, and bent his back into a humble and solemn arc: "Ying Zheng, King of Qin, respectfully pays his respects to Mr. Lin Tian!"
"What...what exactly happened?" Lin Tian was stunned, speechless for a moment. "Please get up, please get up!"
Ying Zheng straightened up, his expression sincere and resolute: "I earnestly request that you, sir, come to Qin to govern. I am willing to treat you with the respect due to a disciple and appoint you as my national advisor."
The Imperial Preceptor—the supreme teacher of the Qin court, the monarch's instructor. What's even more remarkable is that he invited him openly and frankly in front of all the civil and military officials, heroes of the martial world, and foreign envoys.
In an instant, all eyes turned to Lin Tian like a tidal wave, holding their breath and waiting for his reply.
Zilanxuan and the others from Liusha all knew perfectly well that this was not an ordinary recruitment, but an invitation of importance surpassing that of the Prime Minister, and drawing the attention of the entire nation.
"Just because I know about that monument?" Lin Tian frowned.
"Our ancestors' precept: Anyone who is not a Qin ruler but knows the shame of the monument is a national advisor," Ying Zheng replied decisively.
Lin Tian suddenly smiled, raised his hand and pointed around: "Then all these people right now, did they all hear that—could it be that your Qin Kingdom is going to have a group of new national advisors?" His lips curled up slightly, his smile shallow yet sharp.
Ying Zheng was taken aback, clearly speechless at these words. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he couldn't find the words to reply for a moment.
Lin Tian immediately suppressed his smile, his tone calm yet resolute: "I have no interest in an official career, so please, Your Majesty, abandon that idea. If you truly wish to recommend someone, I have a very suitable candidate."
"May I ask your honorable name, sir?!" Ying Zheng frowned slightly, his tone hesitant, but having already figured out Lin Tian's temperament, he had no choice but to suppress his doubts and ask the question.
Lin Tian scoffed inwardly, "They've finally arrived!"
With all the groundwork laid, now it's time to get down to business.
He raised his hand and pointed directly at Han Fei, then laughed loudly: "Han Fei—should be the Prime Minister of Qin."
The entire hall erupted in uproar, like a thunderclap splitting still waters, creating a sudden and tremendous uproar!
"Lin Tian! Are you crazy?!" Zi Nu glanced at the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, hurriedly spurred her horse closer, and questioned them in a low voice.
Lin Tian turned to the side and asked, "Can he still go back to Korea? And Han Fei—can he really just stand by and watch his homeland fall?"
His tone abruptly shifted, and he stared intently at Han Fei, his gaze sharp as a blade, his voice like cold iron: "Those thousand elite Han soldiers, did you personally select them? What are you plotting? Do you really think others can't see through you? Han Fei—what you're after is the assassination of the Qin Emperor!"
Han Fei slowly dismounted and walked step by step to Lin Tianma, looking up at the man on horseback.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you... Fei, where did I go wrong?"
Upon hearing this, and seeing Han Fei's expression, Ying Zheng was greatly shocked and speechless for a moment.
Not only him—everyone present was stunned, even the usually composed Zhang Liang stood frozen in place.
Zi Nu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly shook the reins and spurred her horse closer to Lin Tian's side.
"Don't you think...it's too cruel?" She looked at him, her voice as soft as a sigh.
Lin Tian met her gaze, his eyes filled with an indescribable heaviness, and said in a low voice, "There are some things that I will regret if I don't do them."
Zi Nu gazed at his deep, unfathomable eyes for a long time, as if she could read a thousand unspoken words within them. She gently bit her lower lip and finally spoke: "I believe that every step you have taken has its own reason."
She believed Lin Tian. As for Nongyu, there's no need to say more.
These two men, who were like brothers to Han Fei, stood behind Lin Tian at this moment.
When Han Fei choked out the question, "What wrong have I done?", Lin Tian's answer was already burning like a blade in his heart.
He shouted sternly, "What does Confucianism mean by 'pacifying the world'? You might as well abandon your books and practice swordsmanship! You've studied for half your life, and you're even familiar with Legalism, yet your mind is only set on the state of Han?! For a hundred years since the Spring and Autumn Period, there has been no end to war, and the fields are littered with bones—are only the people of Han considered human? I'll tell you today: this man is Qin Shi Huang!"
He lashed out with his riding whip, pointing it directly at Ying Zheng: "For ten years, he unified the six kingdoms, and all six states bowed their heads; he unified the land, and the hearts of the four seas turned to him! Only this man is worthy of this responsibility! He could end a century of chaos, but you, you insist on reigniting the flames of war, plunging the people into misery once more? You wish to reform and strengthen the state of Han, yet you cannot see the surging tide of change in the world; you call him your dear friend, and he treats you with utmost sincerity, yet you harbor murderous intent? Han Fei, oh Han Fei—disloyal and unjust, betraying heaven and earth, do you still deserve to be a subject?!"
Lin Tian's words were sharp and powerful, each sentence like a blazing fire, exuding a righteous spirit that resonated throughout the audience, and subtly carrying an aura that captivated everyone.
At this moment and in this place, only one word can describe it—the masses are utterly captivated!
Before he finished speaking, the Yuanhong Sword had already shot out of the air and pierced into the hard soil in front of Han Fei's feet with a clang. The sword trembled and shot out cold light, penetrating three inches deep!
Lin Tian shouted again: "The trend of the world is overwhelming and unstoppable; those who follow it prosper, and those who oppose it perish! Han Fei—how will you explain yourself to the people? How will you explain yourself to Ying Zheng, whom you once called a friend? When your deeds are exposed, you will drag the entire state of Han down with you, causing the king to suffer and the common people to suffer. How will you explain yourself then?! Death is not even worth regretting!"