On the eighth day of the second lunar month, the first day after the sun went down, Hu Hai, the newly minted heir to the Qin Dynasty, was guarding Qin Shihuang's sleeping tent.
After losing his father, he was in a state of confusion all day long. He just watched blankly as Xia Wuche and others arranged the appearance of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and then put his body into the coffin so that he could push it into a large carriage early the next morning and continue on the road.
Create the illusion that Qin Shi Huang is still alive...
This was the idea of Zuo Prime Minister Li Si. Although Hu Hai was the crown prince personally appointed by Emperor Zhenger Bajing and should be buried to succeed him, Li Si believed that if Shang collapsed outside, for fear of changes in the princes and the world, it would be better not to announce the funeral secretly and use Qin Shi Huang to take advantage of it.
The threat frightened Xiaoxiao, and she would wait until she returned to Xianyang before making any plans.
Anyway, those who knew about the death of Emperor Qin Shihuang, besides Hu Hai and his relatives and important officials, were also Xia Wuji, the doctor, and five or six eunuchs.
Everywhere, the camp was surrounded as usual, food was served, and all the officials performed the same things as before. Anyway, since the emperor died of illness, Zhao Gao and Li Si were the ones delivering the food.
At this time, Xia Wuji waited for the medical officials to finish their work and said goodbye. Zhao Gao also hurried in from outside. As soon as he entered the door, he bowed to Hu Hai and said:
"Prince, Li, Feng, and Wang have left."
Hu Hai hurriedly went over to help Zhao Gao up: "Fortunately, CRRC's official order is here, otherwise I wouldn't know how to deal with Li Si and Feng Wuze."
Wang Li is Hu Hai's uncle, and they have always been familiar with each other, but Li Si and Feng Wuze are both former ministers of Qin Shihuang. Hu Hai respects him, but he doesn't know how to get along with him at this moment. He is afraid that he is too young to be an important minister.
Being deceived, he simply claimed that he was "excessively sad" and asked Zhao Gao to deal with it.
At this moment, Zhao Gao returned, and Hu Hai then asked: "What is the final result regarding the route back to Xianyang?"
After Shang died, he returned to Xianyang as soon as possible to be buried, and let Prince Hu Hai ascend to the throne. This was agreed by Li and Feng.
But on the return route, Feng Wuze was a military commander and was very concerned about efficiency in everything he did. He thought he should take the shortest and fastest route, turn around and go back to Anlu, then go to Nanyang and return to the capital via Wuguan Road.
However, Li Si and Zhao Gao believed that this way of returning would look like the imperial driver turned around in a hurry after something big happened, which would easily make people suspicious. It would be better to pretend to continue the hunting tour, go to Zhu City, and then go north through Ming'e Sansai (Yi).
Yangsan Pass) entered the Central Plains and returned to Xianyang from Hangu Pass.
Although the time and distance are longer, the route seems much more normal.
Zhao Gao seemed to support Li Si, but he said in his heart: "If it were not an urgent matter, I would even want the imperial driver to continue on the original route to Kuaiji County and then turn back. It should be noted that the First Emperor never gave up halfway when doing things. Since he said he would go to Kuaiji to carve stones
, then I will definitely go. This time I return to Xianyang. Once people who understand the behavior of the First Emperor know about it, they will know that the First Emperor has died and the sun has set..."
Although Zhao Gao gained Hu Hai's trust and allowed him to carry out the Fu Xi service, he had no say in the auxiliary political system. He could only look at Li Si with big eyes and small eyes like Wang Li, and Feng Wuze had a dispute.
Fortunately, in the end, Li Si's opinion was followed and a compromise but safe route was taken.
Hu Hai nodded, it didn't matter which way he took, just hurry up and asked hurriedly: "That's the first thing, what about the second thing?"
Zhao Gao immediately said: "Both Li and Feng agreed with the prince's words. Fu Su was a sinner. He colluded with the Mo people to assassinate the First Emperor, which made the First Emperor's illness worse. Such an unfaithful and unfilial person is still said to be a 'benevolent and filial piety'."
It’s ridiculous to have sympathy!”
"In the name of the First Emperor, his treasonous deeds should be made known to the world, and he should be arrested as soon as possible. In addition, since Fusu has committed a serious crime, how can his son be granted a fief? We should immediately send people to Shu to recover and imprison Fusu's son in Shu.
The Zongfu is waiting for the arrival of the new emperor!"
Imperial power is exclusive. Even though Hu Hai is a crowned prince, as a young son, he does not have much self-confidence. Zhao Gao also mentioned it as "the matter of Lord Zhao Changan", so he has high hopes for his father.
His eldest brother Fusu was jealous and wanted to kill him quickly.
To ruin his reputation and arrest him again, Zhao Gao's plan played into Hu Hai's plan.
He even refused to let go of Fusu's heirs, because Hu Hai heard from Zhao Gao that Qin Shihuang summoned Li Si before appointing Hu Hai, and asked about the Yellow Emperor's appointment of his grandson Gaoyang...
Having just come into contact with the imperial power, Hu Hai was no longer the obedient little son in front of his father, but revealed his ruthless side:
"Not only Fusu and his son, but also the young master Gao and the young master general Lu have been noticed by His Majesty and wanted to use them as supervisors. Now that the Feng and Li families are assisting the government, they must not act rashly, but if there is an opportunity, I will deal with it."
Don't let them threaten me!"
"Will anyone say that I'm not timid?" But after all, he was still young. After Hu Hai got angry, he suddenly became worried.
However, Zhao Gao praised highly: "His Majesty, the First Emperor, Nangpu killed the Queen Mother Zhao and Lao Ai's two sons. This was a sure way to eradicate evil. No one said that the First Emperor was unfilial!"
But Zhao Gao's words changed.
"But the prince, don't forget, compared to the young masters, there is a person who doesn't know life or death, who is more of a threat to Da Qin and the prince!"
"That person is Heifu!"
…
"Black husband?"
Hu Hai revealed this name. When he was young and ignorant, he had publicly mocked Hei Fu for his dark face. At that time, Hei Fu smiled and said to the First Emperor that he had a red heart...
"You should really cut it open and take a look! If you are a loyal minister, you should come to Zhucheng to die or commit suicide!"
Hu Hai spat. Most people in the world regarded Hei Fu as an accomplice of Fusu, so Hu Hai had no good impression of him at all.
At present, Hei Fu has been sealed by Qin Shihuang, but Zhao Gao secretly warned Hu Hai that Hei Fu might still be alive...
"By order of the CRRC, is it true that Mr. Hei is not dead?"
Hu Hai was full of suspicion.
Zhao Gao sneered: "Prince, Hei Fu has always been cunning. How could this cunning black dog of Jingchu die by such a coincidence? He must have participated in the Fusu and Mo family's rebellion. He was too guilty to go to Zhu City to see the First Emperor, so he could only pretend
He was trying to escape death. After all, Wang Sunziying was simple and honest, but he was actually deceived by him..."
Ziying understood very clearly that when Hu Hai succeeded to the throne, Zhao Gao was the person he trusted the most, and he did not hesitate to give Zhao Gao favors and say good things. As expected, Hu Hai did not blame him as an "honest man", but instead used him in important ways.
Zhao Gao exaggerated: "When the First Emperor was still alive, he used the name of Marquis Wu Zhong to suppress him. Even though Hei Quan was not dead, Hei Quan did not dare to cause trouble. Now, once the news of His Majesty's death is leaked... Hei Fu rebels, and all his old troops in Lingnan will surely
It has cut off contact with the Central Plains, and there are many party members in Nanjun, Yuzhang's hometown. Once someone rebels, it may involve the entire south!"
"What should we do?"
Hu Hai fought for the position of heir just to inherit this great land and enjoy it without any worries. He did not want to face the chaotic situation of "the death of the First Emperor and the division of the land" as soon as he came to power.
Zhao Gao smiled and said: "Prince, don't worry, I have already discussed it with several important ministers. This time, Zhonglang General Wang Li will lead 20,000 guards to Weiwei County. He will accompany the prince to escort the coffin of the First Emperor northward and return to Xianyang from Hangu Pass."
."
Wang Li is a person Hu Hai trusts, so this arrangement is very appropriate.
"Feng Wuze, Marquis of Wuxin, will take 20,000 people to guard Zhu City, cut off the river, and then gather soldiers from Jiujiang, Nanjun, Hengshan and other counties to advance into Yuzhang and suppress the rebellion at any time."
Although Feng Wuze has always been a supporting general and his reputation is not as good as that of Wang Jian and his son. Recently, he has been overshadowed by Meng Tian, Li Xin, and Heifu. However, he has been leading the army for a long time, acting alone as a general, and can ensure that the south is safe.
"Li You, the son of Prime Minister Zuo Si, has been ordered by the First Emperor to lead an army of ten thousand people to cross the river south. Now he has taken back the military power of the Wuchang Camp and asked Xinyi to take away the weapons of the thirty thousand veterans of the Southern Expeditionary Army who were trained in the fields and send people to guard them.
. Now Li Youzheng is rushing to the Changsha camp. There are tens of thousands of people there, most of them are disabled and sick. Heifu's close confidant, Captain Tao, and Captain Xiao He, the commander of Su Su, are in charge..."
As long as Li You captured the Changsha camp, all Heifu's old camps in Jiangnan would also fall into the hands of the imperial court.
In this way, even if he pretended to have been captured by the Yue people, he would have only surrendered to Lingnan.
But as long as the officers and soldiers of the Southern Expeditionary Army have their families as hostages, I am afraid that not many will be willing to rebel!
Zhao Gao was very proud. Thanks to Qin Shihuang's clever move, Hei Fu shot himself in the foot! It would be better if he didn't live, but once he survived, he would be completely defeated and brutally divided into pieces!
But he was always vicious and would never give up like this, so he said:
"Prince, Feng Jing will lead 10,000 soldiers to escort the people of Anlu County into the customs. They will set off in March and will arrive in May, but..."
Hu Hai was listening with great interest. He felt that the teacher had arranged everything and he could enjoy the results. He quickly asked: "But what?"
Zhao Gao looked worried: "The price of grain in Guanzhong has reached 200 yuan per stone. If we send another 50,000, 100,000, 150,000 people, won't it skyrocket? Moreover, all the fertile fields near Xianyang are already owned.
, where is there any room for them?"
Hu Hai nodded. He still wanted to save a lot of space to repair his father's unfinished palace: "This is indeed a difficult problem. What does the Central Chefion Order think?"
Zhao Gao came up with an idea and said: "I think there is no need to make them immigrants. After the Southern Expeditionary Army is captured, these family members will lose their use. Instead of being raised by the court rice grains in vain, why not make the best use of them?
?”
“Make the best use of everything?”
In the eyes of Hu Hai and Zhao Gao, those 50,000 Anlu and Guizhou heads were not people, but a bunch of numbers...
Zhao Gaodao: "Yes, now that the First Emperor has passed away, Lishan Mountain must be repaired as soon as possible. This county in the head of Guizhou can just fill the vacancy of prisoners and concubines! All the old, weak, women and children will be sent to the hermit office to work for the young government. As for the young people,
Strong men can drive day and night, and most of them will die from exhaustion. When the work is completed, all those who survived will be killed and buried to avoid future troubles!"
Hu Hai hesitated: "All the young and strong men in Anlu, that's at least 10,000 people, are going to be killed?"
Zhao Gao bowed down and said, "If these ten thousand people die, we can gain peace in Guanzhong and peace in the world. After the crown prince succeeds to the throne, he can rule from the top and rule the world forever. What's wrong? The First Emperor once said that the worst thing is to be a master.
What is missing is the desire to kill!"
"Killing intention..." Hu Hai nodded and became determined.
"That's right, I... this path, if I don't advance, I will retreat. If I can't win, others will drag me off your bed and kill me brutally. I can't be soft-hearted!"
Zhao Gao prostrated himself: "This is the successor of the First Emperor, and this is His Majesty the Second Emperor of the Qin Dynasty!"
"Second Emperor." Hu Hai was very happy with the title, although he could not officially succeed to the throne until he returned to Xianyang for the funeral.
Zhao Gao lost no time in raising his head and said: "Your Majesty, those Anlu people still have some time to live, but today, they must kill several people!"
"The death of the First Emperor must not be spread outside until His Majesty returns to Xianyang. However, five or six people including the imperial doctor, doctors, and eunuchs have known about it. For the sake of the world, we must kill him first to silence him!"
Hu Hai couldn't wait to try his hand at it: "Shan! I will let Li Liang, the official, kill them all!"
Li Liang was extremely efficient. After half an hour, he had killed one doctor and four eunuchs one by one. However, when he reached the residence of the imperial physician Ling Xia Wuji, a group of Lang Wei rushed in with swords and pounced on them.
null.
Looking at the medicine baskets in the room, but there was no sign of the old medical officer, Li Liang secretly cursed that this 70-year-old man was worthy of being able to fend off assassins for the First Emperor. He was too clever and could run very fast. He hurriedly went to report to Zhao Gao:
