Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 104

After unifying the country, the prominent Mohist and Confucian schools would divert some of the Luo Wang's attention; the internal struggle for the crown prince within the unprecedentedly large Qin empire would be of paramount importance; and once the Luo Wang had infiltrated the Qin army... and so on, Zhao Gao felt that he could finally free up his resources to deal with the Peasant School, but another ten years would have passed...

By then, the world will be on the verge of chaos, and the First Emperor of Qin will be nearing the end of his life. For the sake of the Second Emperor's name, the Luo Net needs to focus even more on Xianyang. Once they have completely stabilized Xianyang, Master Lu will be able to lead the peasants in an uprising.

Based on this calculation, the web woven by the terrifying hunter Luo Wang is too vast. As long as one does not delve into the center of the web, allowing the farmers to resist without threatening to break free of the web, one will never become the hunter's primary target.

All of this is predicated on Lu Wei's knowledge of the historical timeline...

...

In Xianyang City, only two people remained at the highest meeting of the Luo Wang leadership, which the Hall Master had been longing for.

Compared to the lively atmosphere at the conference in previous years, the atmosphere is much more peaceful now.

A group of peasants can fight tooth and nail for power, but the power struggles within the Net are much more civilized, yet far more deadly!

"News has come from Daliang City that Lu Wei of the Gonggong Hall of the Farmers has extended his reach into the Wei Kingdom and killed about ten of our people."

The woman in the soft voice, one of only two victors in the high-level power struggle, chuckled after delivering this message and added:

“Gonggongtang has already crossed the border into the states of Zhao and Wei, and together with their original states of Qi and Yan, I feel more and more that this Lu Wei will be very ‘compatible’ with us.”

“Is that so? Then why don’t you go and recruit him?” Another victor: The man with the booming voice had three longswords in front of him, which he held in his palm and tapped lightly, producing a crisp metallic sound.

“We have such great ambitions, and he ‘gets along’ with us, so he’s just another person to ‘share the venison’, and it’s more appropriate for him to die.”

They looked at each other, both the effeminate man and the strong-willed man wearing gentle smiles. But they both knew that they wanted to kill each other to seize control of the network.

Power can be shared, but the supreme seat of power can only be occupied by one person.

"Leave Lu Wei to me. He's quite skilled and a genius." The strong-willed man lowered his eyes, staring at the three famous swords before him.

“My six sword slaves are still short of manpower. Once they are assembled, they will need a sacrifice object for their swords.”

"Hao Cao and Jing Ni will be temporarily stored in Gonggong Hall and retrieved in a few years."

“I’m glad you think that way.” The soft, effeminate voice laughed in a high-pitched tone: “Ju Que has gone to the State of Chu. This person is getting closer and closer to us. I will bring this person into our trap at the right time.”

"Another person connected to the Farmer Clan?" The strong voice carried a hint of displeasure: "Que Luo's previous plans for the Farmer Clan were complete failures, and besides, he is already dead. We didn't even know about many of the hidden arrangements."

"I don't recommend taking action against the various schools of thought now. The relationship with the King of Qin in the court is the most important thing right now."

"I know what I'm doing." The effeminate man slowly shook his head: "We've suffered considerable losses over the years and need more fresh blood to replenish our ranks."

"Let those martial arts practitioners be hostile to each other. We don't need to care which faction they belong to."

"As for the farmers, just keep an eye on Tian Guang. This chivalrous leader seems to be guarding a secret."

"I have a feeling that if we can find this secret, it will trigger a major earthquake in the Qin court, no less significant than the one that happened in the last century."

"Who exactly is secretly colluding with the forces of the five nations?"

------

Only Lu Wei returned to Handan City.

Ziwu was left in Wei to mingle with Li Shang in the chivalrous circle, while Lu Ni, Xue Nu, and Ji Yan headed east to the headquarters in Daze Mountain to rest.

"Ah Yu, have the retainers and disciples of the manor instigate some conflict with the Wu Anjun Mansion in the city."

"Then, in Zhao Yi's name, write a petition accusing Li Mu and send it along with a bribe of three hundred gold pieces to the Prime Minister's residence."

“Every two weeks thereafter, we must send Guo Kai documents of the same nature, which also include the matter of Li Mu’s collusion with the peasants to plot a rebellion.”

"Yes, Brother Lu!"

Lu Yu was given a new task after he had been planning in the city for more than two years. Without asking why, Lu Yu readily agreed and immediately carried it out.

Next, the head of the hall found Zhao Yi himself and discovered that he was having a feast with Zhao Cong and Yan Ju. The young Lord Pingyuan, who had confided in him just months ago how much he disliked Yan Ju of Qi, was now arm in arm with Yan Ju, laughing heartily.

Yan Ju's methods of making friends are truly extraordinary, but since they fit perfectly into Lu Wei's plan, he didn't go in to disturb the three of them and simply continued to conceal the fact that he had returned from Zhao Yi.

But it didn't escape Tian Du's notice.

The Tian clan member, who was supposed to be in charge of the farming of over ten thousand disciples, suddenly arrived in the capital and, with a frown, found Lu Wei:

“Master Lu, Xia Kui is currently busy with important matters in Yan State. Now, all matters in Zhao State are to be handled and arranged by you and me.”

First, shifting some of the blame onto Lu Wei, Tian Du continued:

"Lord Wu'an approached me some time ago, hoping that we could buy grain for the State of Zhao in Qi and Yan in the name of farmers. I dare not agree to this matter lightly."

"What does Hall Master Lu think?"

Chapter 127 Yanfei, Moon Goddess of Peach Garden

The Moon Goddess visited Ji City for the third time.

This time, she wasn't wearing the formal attire of a Yin-Yang School protector. Instead, she had long, flowing purple hair draped behind her, with a small tail tied three inches above the tip.

The long gauze skirt is slightly shorter than the formal skirt, and instead of draping over the ground, it only reaches the ankles. The skirt is made of exquisite Shu brocade, which looks very smooth in the sunlight.

Beneath the purple veil of her hat, the Moon Goddess's calm face concealed a flicker of anger, however faint, yet it still stirred within her a renewed rage, fueling her dissatisfaction with her own state of mind...

Compared to the tactful encounters with wandering knights during my travels in previous years, this year can be described as the 'ultimate collapse of morality and social order'!

Even though her Yin-Yang magic had extended beyond three zhang, there were still fools who dared to offend her eyes and ears.

Under normal circumstances, these trivial matters wouldn't have lingered in her mind for even a second. However, each time she paused, she encountered the clamor of lowly commoners, coupled with the difficulties she faced while practicing Yin-Yang arts. This caused a flaw to appear in her originally flawless state, like a full moon.

However, when she discovered in Ji City that her 'good sister' Yan Fei had been abandoned by the Crown Prince of Yan, the Moon Goddess's eyes lit up with a rare gleam...

"I told you, you're wrong..."

He deliberately changed into Yin-Yang School formal attire, and according to the guidance of astrological laws, the Moon Goddess easily found the completely undisguised aura belonging to Dongjun.

Inside the Crown Prince's residence, after the ruins of the two houses that were burned down last year were cleared away, Yan Dan simply ordered his subordinates to level the entire surrounding area and build a peach blossom grove.

This project was contracted by the disciples of Luqiu Pavilion Farmers, and the premium was quite high. However, every month, experienced elderly farmers carefully tend to the peach grove and water it with secret medicine, which allows such a place, where petals fall in abundance, to grow lushly and bloom in the relatively cold northern region all year round.

In the middle of the night, after the Moon Goddess arrived here, she could vaguely sense that this peach blossom forest contained the Dao of Heaven and Earth and the stars, and was different from the laws of Yin and Yang.

It is a technique that is derived from the Twenty-Four Divine Poems of Farmers and applied to crop cultivation.

It was quite strange, but the Moon Goddess had no time to study these things in detail. Her gaze passed through seven or eight peach trees, looking at the unforgettable figure of the woman inside, who had her back to her.

"You're not avoiding me this time because you also realize you were wrong."

The Moon Goddess parted her crimson lips slightly and walked into the peach blossom forest, standing only a foot apart from Dongjun Yanfei.

"Just because I was wrong doesn't mean you were right."

Yan Fei didn't turn around, but quietly watched the peach blossoms sway and fall to the ground. There were many peach trees here, and with each blink of an eye, one could see the subtle changes in the shape of the blossoms under the gentle breeze.

Petals that have endured change to its limit will fall.

"Aren't you going to come back to the Yin-Yang School with me?"

The moon goddess's veil swayed slightly in the night breeze, but her gaze remained fixed on that figure's back.

Yan Fei raised her hand, her five slender, white fingers slightly bent at different angles. The violent internal energy emanating from her palm absorbed all the delicate petals of the peach garden, forming a flower ball:

"I still have my mission, and no matter how many times you come, the result will be the same."

"This time, it's different."

The moon goddess's hands, clasped around her abdomen, formed a hand seal, and the Yin-Yang technique condensed at the tips of her index and middle fingers.

She stepped forward and pointed it at Yan Fei.

Yan Fei turned around slowly, but not quickly either. The moment she was fully turned around, she was right next to the Moon Goddess.

The flower ball in Yanfei's hand collided with the Yin-Yang forbidden technique of the Moon Goddess. One was solid and the other was sharp, and in the end, they canceled each other out!

Hundreds of peach blossoms burst open, but not in a splashing manner; rather, they seemed to fall naturally from the peach trees, drifting and covering the entire peach grove.

Yan Fei smiled slightly, her eyes narrowed.

But the Moon Goddess bit her lip, her face cold and stern...

Each of those fluttering peach petals contained within Yan Fei's mastery of Yin-Yang magic. She was now surrounded...

"You are exceptionally intelligent, so learning the Yin-Yang Curse Seal Forbidden Technique is indeed not difficult for you."

With a wave of her jade hand, Consort Yan caused the peach blossoms in mid-air to instantly freeze in place.

"Last time you were defeated by me with the Cold Gallbladder Curse from the Eight Yin Meridians. I expect that when you come again, you will definitely retaliate with the Cold Gallbladder Curse in order to prove your progress."

"Therefore, I have specially prepared the Spirit-Locking Incantation Seal from the Eight Forbidden Techniques of Yang Meridians. This incantation only requires a medium; I have chosen peach blossoms, and it is used in reverse yin-yang ratio with the one you used, which can effectively counter the Cold Gallbladder Curse."

"You lost again."

She turned her body back to the moon goddess: "It's not surprising. You are excellent, but you have always been subordinate to me."

"When I was lost in the illusion, I relaxed my practice of Yin-Yang techniques, which is why you saw the hope of catching up with me."

"But unfortunately, even after you emerge from your illusions, you'll still never be as good as me!"

Yanfei had managed to ambush the Moon Goddess with a single move, using a ruthless forbidden technique. If she were to launch another attack, she would have been able to kill her 'good sister,' but Yanfei did not do so.

The Moon Goddess was certainly inferior to her, but if she killed her and angered the Eastern Emperor, Yan Fei was unwilling to bear the consequences at this moment; her grudges were not yet settled...

The Moon Goddess gazed motionless at the peach blossoms hovering and enveloping her. Beneath her veil, her purple pupils blazed with an even more intense and volatile rage, which, combined with her previous anger, caused the moon to wane, the waning crescent growing ever larger...

As Yanfei departed, three hours later, the distant sunlight prematurely illuminated a patch of the sky, and the peach blossom petals engraved with Yin-Yang techniques finally lost their color, withered, and fell to the ground, turning into dust.

With a gush of bright red blood, the Moon Goddess couldn't help but unleash her Soul Dragon Soaring Technique, shattering all the peach blossoms in the entire peach grove before leaving before the Crown Prince's guards arrived.

"I need to completely transform my Yin-Yang techniques and then defeat her!"

Wiping away the remaining blood from the corner of her mouth, the Moon Goddess returned to the inn and spent a whole day recuperating. Still feeling it wasn't enough, she continued to recuperate for three more days before changing into more normal clothes and stepping into the Dew Autumn Pavilion.

"No one's here?" The Moon Goddess, like a sharp crescent moon, hadn't sensed anyone's presence on the third floor of Luqiu Pavilion for three days...

With a slight frown, she captured a front-desk disciple of Luqiu Pavilion one night. After some coercion, she learned that Hall Master Lu had gone to Zhao State at the beginning of the year, and as for where he was now, even a lowly disciple like herself did not know.

With a cold snort, she used hypnosis to knock the front desk disciple unconscious. Without hesitation, the Moon Goddess headed south to Zhao that very night.

The unfortunate disciple groggily awoke, just as he was relieved that the female demon was gone, when suddenly another woman's figure appeared in his pupils:

"What did that purple-haired woman ask you?"

The second woman who appeared this time had a ghostly blue flame burning in her hand, making her look more like a demon.

Choking back tears, staring at the flames, swallowing hard, the front-desk disciple didn't resist and answered the questions truthfully...

Within minutes, Yanfei emerged from the alley and quietly arrived at the Moon Goddess's inn, only to find that she had already left. She fell into deep thought: