across the Quartet

Rise and Fall Chapter Three

"Wei Zhuang is dead?"

Mr. Changping put down the bamboo slips in his hand in shock.The major general who brought the news was something he had known for a long time. His name was Xiang Liang. He was the second son of the great general Xiang Yan.

General Xiang Xiao said urgently: "The army before that battle was almost wiped out, and General Wei was not spared either. Afterwards, our army intentionally marched eastward, tempting Wang Jian's army to pursue, but the encirclement had not yet been formed, and the Qin people had already chased them; The battle on the banks of the Guohe River was at a disadvantage for our army, so we continued to retreat. The general is currently stationed in Qiyi, and the Qin people will continue to pursue him at any time and take Shoudu. Therefore, the general sent his last general to escort the young master to cross the river as soon as possible, and meet in Huainan. meeting."

"Huainan..." Lord Changping frowned, and asked, "How many defenders are there in Shoudu now? What are your plans, Brother Wang? Have you already crossed the Huai River?"

"Your Majesty is in Shouying, in charge of defense, and vows to live and die with the capital."

This matter is quite unexpected to Mr. Changping. "Brother Wang—— and the meaning of the general, do they all come from the resolution of the court?"

Xiang Liang said: "My lord, don't be suspicious. The general knows that my king had previously held grudges against your son's return to the country, but now that the country is in crisis, he should let go of the past and help each other. If the capital of the country... falls, then the son raises troops in Huainan, it will be our country. Last hope."

"Qi understands."

Lord Changping sighed, and said again: "Speaking of Wei Zhuang... has anyone actually seen his corpse?"

Xiang Liang nodded. "Our army's secret message among the Qin people has sent back a reliable secret report: Although the appearance of the corpse is somewhat damaged, General Wei's white hair and the famous sword shark teeth beside him will never be mistaken."

"Shark teeth! Has that sword also fallen into the hands of the Qin people?"

"Not bad. I heard that it was transported to Chencheng as a spoil of war."

Is this the end of that person?Mr. Changping had mixed feelings in his heart, he didn't know whether it was joy or sorrow.

He used to think that Wei Zhuang was his sworn enemy; this man was strong enough and sinister enough that a mere South Korean minister could play with himself and all the forces of Chu State; but for the sake of Chu State's In life and death, they have indeed cooperated again and again, which can be called fighting side by side.Especially this time Wei Zhuang led the army as the vanguard and attracted the people of Qin to fight, which was almost a feat of gambling.

"General Wei's thoughts have been speculated a little bit." Xiang Liang said suddenly: "Over the years, the Korean assassin group known as 'Quick Sand', no matter how secretive it is, it still left some traces. ...Especially after Chen Cheng's rebellion, it is impossible for Luo Wang not to be aware that there is such a force that has been targeting Qin, which has been hidden in the shadows since Han's death, hiding in Qi, Yan, Chu, Baiyue and other places Activities. Although the rebellion was successful at the time and allowed our army to win a big victory, it also exposed the strength of quicksand; after all, they were not many in number, and the number of masters was even more limited, and behind the net was the entire Qin State as support , if they intend to do their best to destroy this difficult prey, the Koreans will definitely be unable to resist. Now that Qin and Chu are not in a good position in the war, the investigation of the net will gradually touch the core of the quicksand. When they have a certain level of information, they will uproot the quicksand It is not impossible." He paused, and said: "At this time, unless the Lord of Quicksand dies suddenly and the rest is broken into pieces, it will not be a big deal, otherwise——what else can make Luo Wang give up his determination to cut grass and roots."

"What is this?" Mr. Changping said with both a smile and a smile, "The elk ran away with its horns off? The gecko ran away with its tail cut off? It's not like Qi didn't notice the encroachment of the net. But quicksand is a sharp sword coated with poison. No matter how poisonous the edge is, if there is no one holding the sword, it is nothing more than a dead thing. In a crisis, one should not hesitate to break the sword to protect its owner, rather than the owner killing himself to protect a sword."

Xiang Liang looked slightly embarrassed. "Young Master is quite right. It was just the last general's random guess. Who knows what General Wei is thinking."

"Report - the chariots and horses are ready, waiting in front of the hall."

General Xiang Xiao waved his soldiers back and gave a military salute: "My lord, please go early."

At the turn of summer and autumn of this year, Gai Nie was still serving as a bodyguard and accompanied the King of Qin on a tour to the old place of Yingchen.In order to welcome King Qin's visit, the palace has been cleaned and decorated to give it a new look.Only the plum tree in the backyard is still there, its leaves are fertile and its branches are full of dark green.

Gai Nie walked back and forth in the Chu Palace, while confirming the distribution of the guards in the palace, while repeatedly checking the houses, plants, and rocks that might allow people to hide.A few days ago, when he was patrolling the inner city with his attendants, he found several Chu soldiers who were about to assassinate the King of Qin by accident, and thwarted their plan.After reporting to King Qin, everyone was rewarded.Afterwards, the killer who hadn't committed suicide was handed over to the net in order to torture more conspiracies.In addition, there was a problem recently with a team transporting supplies: dozens of soldiers were killed, and a treasure that was originally intended to be dedicated to the King of Qin was lost—it was said to be a famous sword obtained from a general of the Chu Army .

"Sword? What sword?" When Gai Nie passed a side hall, he happened to meet Zhao Gao who was asking the escort who came to report the incident.This person was obviously frightened a lot, but maybe because he has a military meritorious title, he can avoid the death penalty, so he can still calm down and hold himself.

"It's a strangely shaped sword. I heard it's called Shark Tooth."

Ge Nie's fingers holding the sword tightened slightly.

"How many assassins are there in total? Didn't any of you stay??"

"...Only here, one person."

Recalling the scene at that time, the escort officer's complexion became paler, as if being gradually eaten away by a sudden fear. "That, that's not human, it's just, it's just... a monster!"

Zhao Gao clicked his tongue impatiently, and ordered the escort to be taken down.Then he pretended to see Gai Nie suddenly, and turned his head a little, "Mr. Sword Saint, this is not easy."

"How do you say that, my lord?"

"What kind of monster, useless guy." The five long fingers painted with Kodan took turns clapping on the case, "I heard that Mr. has many old friends in the land of Jingchu. I just heard what he said, Mr. Do you have any clues?"

"It is true that I have been detained here. If we talk about old people, the one I am most familiar with is that Lord Changping." Gai Nie said, "This person has always been a hidden danger in the king's heart. If there is a chance, he will definitely To capture him."

"Naturally, naturally." Zhao Gao smiled pointedly. "Also, if this—a monster comes to assassinate your lord with that lost sword in hand, sir, you must absolutely stop him."

"Don't worry, my lord. Ge Nie has a duty, and it is his duty."

However Gai Nie knew that person and would not come.

He remembered the Chencheng rebellion more than a year ago, so he once again told the king of Qin in detail about the methods of Chu Wu and the chaos at that time, and explained the so-called "three-prison blood-smeared formation" and "Chiyou's great wilderness formation" in as much detail as possible. ", and the means by which sorcerers use "sacrifice" in exchange for the art of communicating with ghosts and gods.His original intention was to remind King Qin that he hoped to check all supplies inside and outside the palace city more carefully, including food, drinking water, utensils, incense and so on.Unexpectedly, King Qin seemed to be very interested in witchcraft at that time.

"Are there really ghosts and gods in this world? If not, how can there be the art of communicating with ghosts and gods?"

"This... maybe there is."

"As long as there are ghosts and gods, there should also be immortals. It is said in ancient books that immortals live the same life as the heaven and the earth. I don't know if it is true." Qin Wang said with a look of fascination on his face. "Gai Qing, when you patrol the city, if you find Chu witches, healers, or alien alchemists, don't take their lives lightly, you can hand them over to the national teacher for disposal."

Gai Nie glanced at the woman standing on the side of the throne with a palace gauze over her eyes, and saluted and promised.

"Except for alchemists, what should the residents of the city do?"

King Qin covered his face with frost, and waved his sleeves. "The people of Yingchen are capricious and cannot be trusted. Select [-] households from the city and move them all to the foot of Mount Li. I remember that General Zhang is short of manpower."

"Your Majesty, with such a long journey and the weather getting colder, I'm afraid there will be many fleeing on the way."

"If one person escapes, one team will be killed. If five people escape, one team will be killed. Let me see if they dare."

Gai Nie was silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, I dare to say something."

"Gai Qing has always been a straight person." Qin Wang grabbed a handful of black and white chess pieces with a half-smile, and slowly laid them out on the chessboard in front of him. "you say."

Gai Nie said: "The laws of Qin are strict. If you advance, you will be rewarded, and if you retreat, you will be punished. Therefore, the soldiers and the people will die and spare no effort. But this kind of law is only suitable for restraining the army, not the people. Because for the soldiers in the army, they need to 'move' , but for the common people, it is hoped that they will "not move". When the people are ordered to "do nothing" by severe punishments, and their livelihoods are in extreme danger, the people will die if they advance or die if they retreat, then they will be like soldiers on the battlefield Same, have to 'move'."

The King of Qin narrowed his long and narrow eyes dangerously, but his gaze was still on the chessboard. "Is Gai Qing teaching the few how to govern the people?"

Gai Nie lowered his hands and said, "Don't dare, I was once the head of Guizhou and also joined the army, so I feel that the two are different, and it is not appropriate to use one method to drive them."

The King of Qin pondered for a moment, then dropped a son. "Governing a country is like treating a person's disease. Suppose someone has a sore on his body. If you are afraid of his pain and refuse to dig it out, you will harm this person. Only by enduring the pain for a while can you save his life."

"But you can't dig out the good meat and fill the wounded place."

"——What is good meat and what is rotten meat? How can Gai Qing know?"

Ge Nie was immediately stopped by the question and didn't know how to answer it.

Qin Wang looked at the replay of the chess game, and there was a hint of joy in his eyes. "The game I played with Li Si that night, until now, I have finally figured it out." He suddenly looked up at Gai Nie, picked up a scroll of bamboo slips on the case, "Hold the law to deal with the situation, and recite the law." The power is chaotic. Without the persuasion of rewards, the power of punishment, and the interpretation of power and law, Yao and Shunhu say it but people distinguish it, and it is impossible to rule the three schools.——This book is really a pearl of words, words of gold and jade. Gai Qingruo If you are interested, I can borrow you to transcribe this volume in the widow's hand."

"... Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xianyang.night.

After finishing his day's business, Li Si returned to the mansion as usual; first he had a conversation with his wife and children, then after dinner, he came to the study alone, intending to read some beloved books quietly.After the lights were lit, he suddenly felt that there was something unusual about this familiar house.Could it be that those lawless thieves dared to steal into the house of the Great Qin Tingwei who was in charge of punishment and laws?

No, it's not that something is missing, but something is added.

A strange brass tube was inserted into the pen holder that he used every day.He carefully unscrewed the copper pipe, only to see a thin roll of silk hidden in it, on which were written names and numbers line by line with bright red lacquer sap.

In the blink of an eye, Li Si thought of a long-standing theft.He gasped, his eyes were trembling, and his heartbeat seemed to have stopped for a moment.

This book is Yao Jia's account book.

"Master Li, I was surprised when we met for the first time."

A deep and graceful male voice came from behind his neck.Li Si only felt the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, but luckily his tone was still calm when he spoke. "Your Excellency is an assassin who came to take Li's life? I don't know which country he is from?"

The intruder laughed lightly. "Master Li misunderstood. You might as well turn around and come over. What you are holding in the underhand's hand is not a sharp blade."

Li Si turned around stiffly, and saw a tall man standing behind him at some point, covered from head to toe under a black robe, and wearing a copper animal pattern mask on his face.The man had a long sword stuck in his waist, but his hands were spread out in front of him, and a dry plant was lying in the palm, to show that he was not hostile.Li Si looked carefully at the blade of grass in the man's hand, and a strange emotion suddenly caught his breath.

Hook kiss.

"... Your Excellency came from afar, if it is not an assassination, what is the meaning?"

"Hehe...Of course, I need to ask you." The man clenched his fist lightly, as if deliberately showing off, and the branches and leaves in his palm turned into powder. "I have an old story - an old man wants to ask Mr. Li. It just so happens that both this old man and Mr. Li seem to have studied under the Confucian Xun Qing."

Li Si's forehead was dripping with sweat, but he gradually grasped the opponent's intentions. "You mean, Han Fei, Li's younger brother? Could it be that you are also Korean?" He glanced at the silk book on the table and said, "It seems that Master Yao's account book was stolen strangely back then, and it was indeed the Koreans'. Credit."

"Don't dare to do it." The masked man said, "After Han Fei was invited by the King of Qin, he had no relatives in Xianyang. I am afraid that you are the only senior brother who can be called an old friend. How can Han Fei rely on only one person to escape from the guards?" This extremely confidential object was stolen from Yao Jia’s mansion? This is obviously due to someone’s help.”

"Don't talk nonsense!!!" Li Si was terrified when he heard it, and he shouted loudly regardless of the skill that the man showed just now. "Li is the Great Qin Tingwei, how could he help South Korea's traitors! If it wasn't for the investigation of the stolen items later, Li would not even know about the case!!"

"Oh? It seems that someone is worrying too much. Then the second thing, I heard that the last person Han Feizi saw on his deathbed was also Mr. Li. Didn't he leave a word back then?"

"Never!" Anger overwhelmed his fear for a moment, Li Si slapped the table heavily, "Who are you?! What is your relationship with Han Fei?!"

The masked man was unfazed, and still said calmly: "I am indeed a Korean, originally a subordinate of Han Fei. Han Fei established the 'Gathering and Dispersing Quicksand' in our country, and ordered us to use it in the name of strengthening Han. Kill the traitors in the country. After entering Qin, he entrusted someone to hand over this account book to me, and we followed his last order to eradicate the people recorded in this account one by one. Let’s go. But even if we kill a mountain of people, we cannot avoid the fate of subjugation. After Han was destroyed, we also served other kings; unfortunately, Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, and Chu are all destroyed by Qin. I lost my last place of refuge. Originally, I thought Master Li was a personal friend and ally of the former master Han Fei. After Chu was destroyed, he might have given important instructions to my subordinates. Now it seems that my subordinates are too worried."

"You are really worrying too much." Li Si frowned, "I am not in an alliance with Han Fei. I respect the talent of my junior, but I cannot agree with his obsession with South Korea. I wanted to join forces with him to serve Daqin, but it was a pity that he He was rejected many times. He died suddenly in prison, and Li was very sad."

"Then, Master Li really doesn't need to be subordinate." The masked man said with a sigh, "It's a pity that Quicksand has since become a group of ownerless wolves, and they really don't know what to do other than turning grass into bandits."

Li Si couldn't help being moved when he heard what he said with sincerity. "Han Fei was your former master?"

"good."

"Since you don't care about the difference between countries, why not serve the Great Qin and contribute to the empire?"

The masked man smiled and said: "The quicksand can't be seen. According to the laws of the Great Qin, everyone should suffer the five punishments and die. However, if Master Li has any orders in the future, you can still come to me. Read the words of the old master. For the sake of love, I am willing to do the work of a dog and a horse."

"...Who are you?"

"My name is Zhuang Zhou."

TBC