Entering July, the weather has become increasingly sultry. In the blue sky, a sun like a fireball hangs, and the clouds cannot stand the heat and quietly hide without a trace. The willows on both sides of the river seem to be sick, and their leaves
It was hung on a branch and rolled up, but the branch did not move. A big yellow dog lay sickly under the tree, its tongue hanging out and breathing heavily.
In the afternoon of that day, the cavalry of the First Emperor's fifth hunting expedition arrived at Pingyuanjin Ferry in the scorching heat.
This Pingyuanjin is an ancient ferry in the old Zhao State. It was named after the fiefdom of Pingyuanjun (Zhao Sheng) of the Zhao State. It has always been an important waterfront fortress on the lower reaches of the big river (the name of the Yellow River in the Qin Dynasty). At the end of the Warring States Period,
The battle between Qin and Zhao was undoubtedly the most intense, so the emperor, ministers and soldiers were very familiar with the geography of Zhao, so when they arrived here, the soldiers were not very surprised. They only prepared to cross the river under the command of guard Yang Duanhe.
There is a forest about a mile away from the ferry, which is the only place that is still shaded under the scorching sun. The emperor's tent is still being set up, and a four-horse carriage is parked under a big tree with its curtains hanging, and bursts of coughing can be heard.
Zhao Gao, the official of the CRRC (equivalent to the current private secretary and driver of the head of state), and two maids stood in front of the car. Ten feet away, a full 300 sword-armed soldiers stood upright around the car. Although there was shade from the trees,
, the forest was still very hot, and the endless chirping of cicadas made everyone’s eardrums numb.
No one made a sound, and the atmosphere became increasingly numb and agitated.
Everyone present knew that His Majesty the First Emperor was ill again, and it was not serious.
Li Si had just met with His Majesty and suggested that he cancel his plan to go north to Jiuyuan and return to the capital immediately.
"Prime Minister, I'm fine! Order the camp to cross the river and go north to Jiuyuan immediately!" This was the unquestionable order of His Majesty the Emperor. Next to him, Zhao Gao was crying and hunched over, not even daring to raise his head.
When he first heard this sentence, Li Si's heart sank involuntarily.
Li Si knew about the emperor's illness. Since the return of the shark from the East China Sea to the west at the end of May, the emperor's condition had been getting better and worse, and the medicine from the imperial doctor was of little use to him. That damn Xu Fu brought three thousand boys and girls to the ship.
The team suddenly fled without a trace on the sea. The emperor was very angry and his condition became more serious. The most hateful thing was that as soon as Xu Fu ran away, the alchemist medicine that the emperor relied on to "rejuvenate" was cut off.
"Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor really can't make it?" Li Si didn't dare to think about it any more.
Li Si walked numbly in the woods, and an incident since June appeared in his mind.
In mid-June, the emperor suddenly issued an edict to send Meng Yi back to Xianyang, and Zhao Gao took charge of the emperor's seal.
For this reason, Li Si once proposed to His Majesty the Emperor and asked himself to be the leader of history affairs and seals. Because Li Si instinctively despised an eunuch who had lost his penis. But His Majesty the Emperor replied: "Xiao Gaozi follows
In my more than thirty years, I have never let you down, so why should I doubt it?"
Not long after Meng Yi left, Li Si planned a route back to Xianyang, and the emperor agreed. However, what he never expected was that once he passed Linzi, the emperor became ill again, and suddenly decided to go north to Jiuyuan to reward the army.
Just now, Li Si once again proposed to return to the capital, but the emperor dragged his illness and insisted again.
Did Meng Yi really return to Xianyang to pray for the mountains and rivers to pray for the emperor? Or did he have another mission? What was the purpose of the emperor insisting on going north to Jiuyuan despite his illness?
It was decided through discussion? Why is this now?
All kinds of signs make Li Si feel that His Majesty the Emperor no longer relies on him. This is an ominous sign. What should he do if something unexpected happens to the Emperor? Think about how he has grown from a fallen scholar with the help of an article "
"The Order of Remonstrance and Expulsion" was appreciated by the First Emperor. Over the past twenty years, he has been promoted from the Prime Minister of Hequ to the Chief of the Hequ Order, Shi to Taiwei, and promoted to the Prime Minister step by step. He has dedicated his whole life to his achievements. Why in the end, His Majesty the Emperor, who has been waiting for him all his life, turned out to be the last one?
How many steps did he go astray? Li Si felt hesitant for the first time.
At sunset, the river flows eastward, rippling with golden light.
Crossing the river from Pingyuanjin, the emperor's camp advanced slowly along the official road.
At nightfall, Zhao Gaogang served the First Emperor to finish his dinner on the four-horse carriage. Since he fell ill again the day before yesterday, the emperor's appetite became worse and worse. Although there were all kinds of delicacies, the emperor could not eat more than a few mouthfuls. Zhao Gao was very worried.
Anxious, I tried my best but with little success.
On a hot day, the First Emperor Ying Zheng, who was lying on the bed covered with silk quilts and still shivering, suddenly spoke: "Zhao Gao, where have we been?"
"Back to Your Majesty, our camp has crossed the river and has reached the boundary of Julu County."
"How far is it from here to Jiuyuan?"
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's still 1,700 to 800 miles away."
"Oh, I'm afraid I can't wait any longer. Cough...cough..." Emperor Ying Zheng coughed violently again.
When Zhao Gao saw Zhao Gao, who was kneeling on the ground, he immediately stood up and went over.
Ying Zheng waved his hand and said: "No, you go down first. Don't let anyone disturb me!"
"Yes." Zhao Gao retreated in panic.
Emperor Ying Zheng, who was leaning on the bedside, gasped for breath and gradually woke up.
The team of several thousand people marched forward quietly, without any noise except the occasional neighing of war horses. This is the great army that I rely on to sweep the world! Ying Zheng's heart was filled with excitement, and he pulled down the curtains at random.
Outside the window, there are torches on the official road, like a fire dragon meandering forward.
The night was dim and the moon was rising. Emperor Ying Zheng's thoughts slowly merged into the boundless starry sky.
Once upon a time, the Lao Qin tribe controlled Longxi alone, drove away the barbarians, protected the Zhou Dynasty, and resisted the six kingdoms. They went wherever they needed in the world. But now the Prime Minister said that the Lao Qin people have scattered all over the world, and less than 30% of the Lao Qin people in Guanzhong have survived.
How can I rest in my heart! Nowadays, the undercurrent of restoration of the exiled nobles of the Six Kingdoms is raging. Once the world is in turmoil, what can I rely on to frighten the world? Ying Zheng, Ying Zheng, you have been swaying the old Qin people wantonly, now you know
Wrong? But with a hundred thousand old Qin armor in hand, what should I fear? But I don’t have any more. I asked Meng Yi to return to Xianyang first, didn’t I just want to gather the old Qin people in Guanzhong to prepare for unexpected troubles? Li Si
Li Si, why couldn't you tell me earlier? As you do things without any hesitation and only want to figure out what your superiors want. General Wang Ben once said to me before he died, "Li Si is too focused on mediation and too self-centered."
"How dare I entrust the future of the empire to you? If something happens to me on the way, who will stabilize the situation? Meng Tian is far away in Jiuyuan, and Li Si makes me undecided. How difficult it is.
Once upon a time, I pursued innovation, change, and perfection in everything. I didn’t establish a queen in the harem, or a prince, because I wanted to slowly select a truly capable prince to inherit the world. God has given me more than twenty years.
I just didn't grasp the time well. When I got sick, I realized how dangerous it was for the inheritance of the empire's supreme power to be blank. Looking back on the past, I was like a ridiculous farmer, walking from the end of the field to the end, always trying to find
The strongest and fullest ear of wheat, never dissatisfied, keeps moving forward, always pinning hope on the front. When you get to the end, you find that the one you missed is the best. Isn't that the case in Fusu? Although
There are still some shortcomings, but at least he is responsible, dares to speak out, and has his own thoughts. I feel relieved when I leave the empire to him. Isn't this because he has repeatedly rejected Li Si's suggestions and insisted on going north to Jiuyuan? It turns out that the bottom of his heart is
I really want to see him and General Meng Tian.
Once upon a time, I always wanted to spend my lifetime dredging rivers, opening roads, building palaces, building the Great Wall, and promoting new laws in the land of Kyushu. I wanted to rule the world by law and give the world a happy life.
Unfortunately, it seems to be a little overdue now. During this hunting trip, the land was everywhere desolate, and even those who cultivated it were hard to find, which shows the embarrassment of the people. In remote areas of the country, wandering bandits gathered in the mountains and forests.
, there are still a large number of prisoners escaping in Guanzhong, what a huge hidden danger this is. In this way, how can the head of Guizhou in the world live and work in peace and contentment? Ying Zheng, Ying Zheng, don’t you know the principle of "too much is not enough" in your lifetime? You really
Is there still time to correct it?
Thinking of this, Emperor Ying Zheng was so furious that he spat out a mouthful of blood, "Wow...", fell down, and passed out.
Zhao Gao, who was guarding the door, heard the noise and came in to take a look. He was shocked. He hurried out and shouted: "Imperial doctor, please tell the imperial doctor quickly..."
Li Si, Hu Wujing, Yang Duanhe, Dun Ruo and other accompanying ministers all rushed after hearing the news. During the rush, no one among them noticed that at the moment of Haishi, a blue "lightning" suddenly went west
.
"What was that just now? It was so bright!"
"Meteor..."
"Are there any blue meteors? I can't see them..."
However, a few of the guarding soldiers saw the strange scene.