Qin Gong

Chapter 704: Ying Zheng’s Questions, Gui’s Statements

Chapter 704: Ying Zheng’s Questions, Gui’s Statements

It was late at night, and although he was in the bustling Xianyang, Gui, who was standing outside the palace, still felt hot all over. As he walked back and forth a few steps, his panicked face and forehead were already covered with a little sweat.

Looking at the palace guards holding long spears and the palace guard general outside the palace gate, Gui couldn't help swallowing.

Until this point, Gui still didn't understand why the king summoned him privately in the middle of the night.

"Are you the Fifth Doctor Gui?"

After a long time, Han Yezhe came to Gui from outside the palace gate, illuminated by the candles lit by the maids.

"The last one will be!"

Gui had an impression of Han Yezhe. Now, standing outside the palace gate late at night, he felt relieved when he saw Han Yezhe.

"The king is waiting in the study, go in!"

Han Yezhe looked at Gui, who was about the same age as Bai Yan and had a young face, nodded, then turned around and prepared to enter the palace.

An accompanying eunuch had already brought over a wooden tray and motioned for Gui to take off his sword and place it on the tray.

"Han Yezhe, wait a minute!"

Gui looked at the eunuch bringing the wooden tray, his heart tightened, he swallowed, and looked at Han Yezhe with a panicked expression.

Seeing Han Yezhe turning around, Gui hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"Han Yezhe, I am a close confidant of Wu Lie Jun. I once served Wu Lie Jun and met Han Yezhe once. Wu Lie Jun and Gui also talked about Han Yezhe a lot..."

As Gui spoke, his breathing became rapid.

Han Yezhe frowned slightly and nodded. It was also because of Bai Yan that he knew that Gui was Bai Yan's confidant. Han Yezhe also had some good feelings for this general. But seeing that Gui did not take off his sword and instead mentioned Bai Yan, Han Yezhe felt a little puzzled.

"May I ask Mr. Han, is the king's summons related to Lord Wu Lie?"

When Gui said this, regardless of the armor he was wearing, he knelt on the ground and saluted Han Yezhe. With a tense expression, he stared at Han Yezhe with eyes full of pleading.

At first Han Yezhe did not understand what Gui meant. But when he saw the look in Gui's eyes as he knelt down and asked, looking at the most valiant cavalrymen in the world who were not afraid of going to the battlefield, he knelt down and asked.

Considering that Gui was unwilling to put down his sword, Han Yezhe instantly understood what Gui meant, especially when he saw Gui's increasingly rapid breathing and pale face.

"It's related to Lord Wu Lie. Lord Wu Lie is deeply trusted by the king and has made great contributions to the destruction of Qi. If the king asks about something, I must tell him and don't hide it!"

Han Yezhe said to Gui, under the dim candlelight, taking advantage of the night, he nodded slightly to Gui, and signaled with his eyes that Gui should put down the sword and not think too much.

"Thank you, Mr. Han!"

When Gui heard Han Yezhe's words, it was as if all the strength in his body was drained away, and his whole body went limp. After two breaths, he kowtowed to Han Yezhe with red eyes, then stood up and hurriedly placed his sword on the wooden tray held by the eunuch.

Han Yezhe looked at Gui's actions and couldn't help but nod in admiration. After all, he had followed Bai Yan through life and death. If he hadn't reminded him just now, this upright general would have drawn his sword and committed suicide!

However, the general did not think that if he really committed suicide, even if he fabricated some crimes and asked for death, in the eyes of King Qin Ying Zheng, it would probably cause Ying Zheng's disgust.

"Although the king is in Xianyang, he is aware of what Wu Liejun has done. He is very gracious to him. The king has already sent an urgent summons to summon Wu Liejun back to Xianyang!"

Han Yezhe looked at Gui who had put away his sword, and when Gui turned around, he spoke to him as if he was chatting.

Looking at Gui who was a little dazed, Han Yezhe said nothing more, turned around and walked towards the palace. Han Yezhe had already reminded the general that this general was a man of upright character. Having said that, all that remained was how much the general could understand.

Inside the Xianyang Palace.

Gui followed Han Yezhe all the way, and accompanied by a maid, he finally arrived at the study. It was Gui's first time to come to the palace study to meet Ying Zheng, and he was in a very nervous state.

"Your Majesty, the people have been brought here!"

Gui saw Han Yezhe bowing to the man in black standing next to the huge cloth map in the study. Realizing that the man was Ying Zheng's Gui, he quickly knelt on the ground.

"Wu Dafu Gui, I pay my respects to the king!"

Gui raised his hand in greeting.

Born in a small village with only dozens of households in Qishan, not to mention Gui's ancestors, even the entire population of Qishan and his ancestors have not produced a fifth-rank official.

Gui is the only fifth-rank doctor in the village and also the first fifth-rank doctor.

Qishan is just a remote and poor village in the vast territory of Qin State. Now Gui, who was born in the small village of Qishan, can come to the palace and pay homage to King Ying Zheng of Qin. This honor is no less than that of making meritorious service.

When this matter spread back to the village, Gui couldn't imagine how proud his parents would be.

"Are you Wu Lie Jun's confidant? When Wu Lie Jun was promoted to the rank of Fifth Great Officer, the person he personally visited in Qishan was you?"

When Ying Zheng heard Han Yezhe's words, he waited for Han Yezhe to step aside and couldn't help but glance at Gui who was kneeling on the ground to salute.

"Your Majesty, it is this general!"

Gui nodded and instinctively looked at Ying Zheng. However, when he saw Ying Zheng's gaze, he instinctively lowered his head in fear, not daring to look Ying Zheng in the eye.

If Meng Gu and Meng You were here and saw Gui's appearance, they would surely smile with satisfaction and comfort Gui with empathy.

Not everyone has the courage to remain unconcerned when faced with Ying Zheng's gaze.

"Tell me all the details of escorting the old gentleman from Qi to Xianyang!"

When Ying Zheng saw Gui's appearance, he turned to look at the map.

Han Yezhe stood aside, quietly with his head down. He noticed that Gui's face changed instantly after hearing Ying Zheng's words. Han Yezhe could only sigh in his heart, hoping that Gui would not hide it.

In the quiet atmosphere, one breath passed, then two breaths passed. When Ying Zheng turned his head slightly, he glanced at Gui who was kneeling on the ground. His expression was full of nervousness. The doubts in his heart had been answered at this moment.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng continued to look at the map and let Gui hesitate.

Finally, Gui looked at Han Yezhe who was silent and lowered his head, and saluted Ying Zheng.

"Your Majesty..."

Gui looked at Ying Zheng and, while hesitating, told him the story of how he escorted the old man from Qi to Xianyang.

"Does Lord Wu Lie have any instructions?"

Ying Zheng listened to Gui's nonsense, and after he finished speaking, he looked at the map and asked.

"Have!"

When Gui's voice came, Ying Zheng's eyes flashed for a moment as he looked at the map. He turned his head slightly and looked at Gui.

Under Ying Zheng's gaze, Gui swallowed and told Ying Zheng that Bai Yan had secretly placed two bamboo slips next to the old man.

As early as when he was summoned, Gui had a premonition that King Ying Zheng of Qin summoned him, which must be related to the two bamboo slips, or to the old man.

In the study room.

After hearing Gui's words, although Han Yezhe's expression did not change, he seemed to finally relax as he lowered his head. Following Gui's words, Han Yezhe was absolutely certain that, as Liu Yu had said, all the bamboo slips were cast by Bai Yan.

"But these two bamboo scrolls?"

Ying Zheng spoke, then signaled Han Yezhe to bring the two bamboo slips on the wooden table and show them to Gui.

At this moment, Ying Zheng's expression was also full of complexity. Looking at Gui, he thought of what Gui had just said. In Qi, Bai Yan privately asked Gui to go to Yingchuan and secretly hand over the bamboo slips to the fake old man.

Thinking of Bai Yan, he ordered his trusted confidant to escort the fake old man to Xianyang to meet him...

"Your Majesty, I have never opened the bamboo slips! Judging from the bamboo joints of the two bamboo slips, they are indeed what Lord Wu Lie ordered me to give to the old man!"

Gui bowed to Ying Zheng and said, although he did not open the bamboo slips, when he saw Han Yezhe delivering the bamboo slips, Gui still looked at the bamboo joints on the outside of the bamboo slips and recognized that these two bamboo slips were indeed the two bamboo slips that Bai Yan gave him when he was in Linzi.

After saying this, Gui looked uneasy. On the one hand, he was afraid that if he said it out loud, it would harm Bai Yan. On the other hand, he was afraid that if he didn't say it out loud, it would also harm Bai Yan, especially with Han Yezhe's reminder just now.

"Back off! Today's conversation must not be spread to anyone else, and Lord Wu Lie is no exception. Otherwise, all three of your clans will be beheaded! Bai Yan... the same goes for this!"

Ying Zheng gave the order softly, and then asked Han Yezhe to take Gui away from the palace.

"promise!"

When Gui heard what Ying Zheng said, he was a little confused and shuddered. But when he saw that Ying Zheng didn't seem to have any intention of punishing Bai Yan, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Gui also didn't know whether his meeting with Ying Zheng late at night was good or bad for Bai Yan. At the moment, Gui had no choice. Besides praying that he didn't cause any disaster, he could only obey Ying Zheng's instructions and keep silent about what happened today. Otherwise, not only himself, but also Bai Yan would be punished by Ying Zheng.

Seeing Han Yezhe signaling to stand up, Gui stood up with a confused look on his face and followed Han Yezhe away.

After a while.

With the departure of Han Yezhe and Gui, Ying Zheng was the only one left in the quiet study. He stood alone beside the map, looking at the territory of the world. There was only a big word "Qin".

If it weren't for Liu Yu in the past, Ying Zheng would not have suspected this fake old man, not to mention that this old man had bamboo slips in his hand.

As Liu Meng spoke, he became wary and when he met the old man, every word and action of the old man seemed so ridiculous in Ying Zheng's eyes. Especially as they got to know each other better, whenever he asked the old man what his opinion was, the old man remained silent. In the past, he always said that one had to figure out everything by himself, and rarely spoke. Most of the time, he used these two bamboo slips to engage in verbal debates.

"Bai Yan!"

Ying Zheng sighed and looked at the location of Qi on the map.

If he had not met Liu Meng, Ying Zheng would have really been kept in the dark by Bai Yan.

At this moment, when he was absolutely certain that Bai Yan was the one who wrote those bamboo slips, Ying Zheng's mind was filled with horror, anger, joy, relief, and a hint of excitement hidden deep in his heart.

Compared to before, Ying Zheng no longer needs to worry that the author with extraordinary talent whom he has never met will be used by others. He also does not need to worry that the mysterious person he has always wanted to meet will be the remnant of the old ministers of various countries and the enemy of Qin.

Ying Zheng turned his head and looked at the quiet study in front of him. Looking at the numerous wooden racks for placing bamboo slips under the countless candle lights, he thought that Bai Yan had been in this study for a long time, accompanying him and helping him deal with important affairs of the Qin State.

Muran, Ying Zheng was a little angry, but also felt at a loss whether to laugh or cry, especially when he thought about the fact that he had specially given those bamboo slips to Bai Yan for him to read.

"Your Majesty! The people have left!"

Han Yezhe returned to the study and reported to Ying Zheng.

"Can you please tell this person not to tell Bai Yan?"

Ying Zheng looked at the scene in the study and asked Han Yezhe with his back turned.

In Ying Zheng's eyes, since Bai Yan did not want this shocking reputation, Ying Zheng would not expose Bai Yan even if he was angry.

Perhaps a few years ago, Ying Zheng would not understand Bai Yan's intentions and would have been a little worried, confused, and suspicious. After all, a lot of the content recorded in the bamboo slips would be enough to be passed down through the ages.

But at this time, as Qin annexed various countries, Ying Zheng became the king who owned the entire territory of the world. After Zhou, he became another common ruler of the world.

Looking at the remarks of the Ying clan members and the generals with great military achievements in the court, Ying Zheng knew what Bai Yan was worried about.

Bai Yan!

I don't want to be enemies with everyone!

But Bai Yan, like Ying Zheng, knew that if Qin followed the Zhou system, then Qin's conquest of other states and annexation of the world would become meaningless.

That is why Bai Yan would make friends with clan members and meritorious officials on the surface without offending anyone, but secretly put forward a substitute to be the enemy of clan members and meritorious officials, to help him, Ying Zheng, implement the county system and come up with ideas to solve hidden dangers.

Even the King of Qin didn't know about this matter!

"Your Majesty, this man has been warned!"

Han Yezhe nodded, and then told Ying Zheng word for word what he had instructed Gui to do when he left the palace.

While listening to Han Yezhe's story, Ying Zheng thought of Bai Yan. As he pondered, he could not help but feel relieved. In the Qin Dynasty's conquest of the world, Bai Yan's contribution was no less than anyone else's. If it weren't for his lack of experience, he would not be as good as Wang Jian and others! He did not have a deep foundation in Qin, and could not compare to the nobles behind those meritorious generals in the court! And his identity as a Qi person...

How come Bai Yan was often mentioned after Wang Jian, Wei Liao and Yao Jia in conversations among officials and aristocratic families in the court and the country!

However, such a general whose contributions were no less than anyone else, a Qi native, the most deserving and most likely meritorious official to be granted a fief, did something that the Ying clan, most of the ministers, and the gentry could not do.

Against enfeoffment!!!

Thinking of Bai Yan's repeated life-and-death experiences and the contributions he had just made, he was finally willing to give up his fiefdom, and even gave up the stunning reputation he should have had in order to write a letter to promote the county system.

Now, whenever Ying Zheng thought of Bai Yan's concealment, the resentment and anger towards Bai Yan in his heart could not help but dissipate one by one, and in the end he could not blame him.

"Before entering the palace just now, did you warn this person?"

Ying Zheng thought of Gui's hesitation in the study just now and asked.

When Han Yezhe heard this, he was stunned. After hearing Ying Zheng's question, he knew that he could not hide it from Ying Zheng, so he knelt down and told Ying Zheng what happened before entering the palace.

"I was just worried that this person was Bai Yan's confidant and would rather draw his sword and commit suicide than enter the palace, so I warned him!"

Han Yezhe told Ying Zheng the whole story and then waited for Ying Zheng to deal with it. After all, he was making a decision on his own without Ying Zheng's permission, so he hinted to Yu Gui.

Han Yezhe also didn't know how Ying Zheng would deal with Gui. After all, in the Qin State, it was taboo for a general to have trusted subordinates who were loyal to him.

If it had happened during the reign of King Zhaoxiang, this would probably have been enough to cost Bai Yan and Gui their lives.

Fortunately, with Lu Buwei in power, Qin laws were relaxed a lot. And as Qin's territory gradually expanded, generals were needed to lead troops in various places. These things were more or less unavoidable. As a result, there were no taboos like during the reign of King Zhaoxiang.

But now, these things appeared nakedly in front of Ying Zheng, which would inevitably make Ying Zheng unhappy.

"Get up! Given the time, the other imperial edict should be in Wang Ben's hands!"

Ying Zheng's words surprised Han Yezhe, who was kneeling on the ground. Han Yezhe, who had been with Ying Zheng for many years, knew very well that Ying Zheng did not seem to blame the five officials Gui, nor did he mean to blame Bai Yan.

Besides being surprised, Han Yezhe could only guess that perhaps the king also knew that Bai Yan and the fifth official Gui had been in a life-and-death relationship together in the early years.

"Your Majesty, we should be here soon!"

Han Yezhe stood up and reported to Ying Zheng.

Before Han Yezhe knew about Ying Zheng, he specially ordered someone to give Wang Ben a scroll of imperial edict, which ordered Wang Ben to lead troops to Linzi, arrest all the noble families of Chu, Wei, Yan, and other noble families hiding in Qi, and move all those noble families to Xianyang and Guanzhong.

"Your Majesty, it's late!"

Outside the study door, Concubine Qi, wearing thin clothes and accompanied by her maid, stood outside the door to remind Ying Zheng that it was time to rest.

When Ying Zheng heard what Concubine Qi said, he realized that it was late at night and he had to go to court the next day, so he turned around.

"When Bai Yan returns to Xianyang, immediately order him to come to the palace to see me!"

Before leaving, Ying Zheng did not forget to give Han Yezhe a word of advice, and then walked out of the study.

"promise!"

Han Yezhe bowed his head quickly.

..............................

"Yawn~!"

Bai Yan lay on the bed, rubbing his nose, not knowing who was scolding him.

Late at night, Bai Yan, who was suffering from insomnia, got up and went to the window, looking at the bright moon and stars in the sky outside.

Tian Feiyan is in Xianyang, so Bai Yan naturally wants to return to Xianyang as soon as possible. However, Bai Yan also knows that after returning to Xianyang, there will be endless trivial matters coming to him.

Bai Yan became confused when he thought that Ying Zheng planned to ask him to accompany him to Yongqi to offer sacrifices.

Fortunately, at this time, there was Tian Ding in Xianyang City and a teacher in Yanmen. Bei Ji had moved the tomb of her mentor Yin Bei back to her hometown, which is now in Chu, and Xu Shi also moved his mother's tomb to Zhao and buried it with his deceased father.

This time I am returning on my own. If something really happens, I will find a way to get Tian Feiyan to leave Xianyang first.

"Xingyang!"

Bai Yan thought that he would be able to reach Xingyang tomorrow, which was not particularly far from Luoyang and Hangu Pass.

Go check it out tomorrow!

Although there has been no news from Xingyang, Bai Yan still plans to visit a place when he passes by Xingyang.

(End of this chapter)