HCT – Extra 8 The Great Ying Zheng’s Dream (5)

Ying Zheng woke up in a daze.

After waking, he sat silently for a long time before instructing the palace attendants to summon Marquis Tongwu, Wang Ben.

Wang Ben was the son of Marquis Wucheng, Wang Jian. For the great military achievements of destroying the three states of Wei, Yan, and Qi, he was granted the title of Marquis Tongwu.

Marquis Wucheng Wang Jian had already passed away. Because Wang Ben had already been ennobled, Qin Shihuang specially granted favor by allowing Wang Ben’s son, Wang Li, to inherit the title of Marquis Wucheng.

Thus the Wang family held two marquisates under one household—an extremely distinguished honor.

Wang Ben had inherited his father’s caution and timely retreat. By now, he no longer held any official post in court. He stayed in Xianyang to enjoy his later years and was occasionally summoned by Qin Shihuang to consult on military matters.

Meanwhile, Wang Li was currently serving as deputy general under Meng Tian, fighting the Xiongnu alongside him.

Wang Ben hurried into the palace, thinking the Baiyue tribes or the Xiongnu had caused some trouble again.

But instead, the First Emperor asked:

“Marquis Tongwu, if you were Lord Wu’an, Bai Qi, would you have refrained from killing the surrendered Zhao soldiers?”

Wang Ben: “??!”

The emperor summoned him with such urgency… only for casual conversation? This was…

Well, you’re the emperor—whatever you want to do is your prerogative.

Wang Ben pondered briefly and said, “If it were me, I likely would have had no choice but to kill the captured soldiers.”

He cleared his throat and explained to the emperor the situation of Qin during the Battle of Changping.

Before Changping, Qin had already fought Han in Shangdang for more than two years—supplies were scarce, soldiers exhausted.

And then Zhao suddenly intervened.

Compared to the newly arrived Zhao forces, Qin’s logistics and morale were already on the brink of collapse.

Although the Qin army appeared fierce and unstoppable, it was, in truth, a desperate struggle of a cornered beast.

To prevent Zhao from reaping the benefits, Qin had to win this battle. And to win, they had to remove Lian Po.

The veteran Zhao general Lian Po had clearly grasped Qin’s weakness.

In this battle, Zhao did not need to win head-on, nor could they hope to defeat Qin in a direct clash.

Zhao’s supply lines were short, and they had just joined the fight; Qin’s supply lines were long, and their soldiers had already been campaigning for two years.

As long as Zhao dragged out the battle and competed in logistics, Qin would inevitably collapse on its own.

After explaining the military situation of the Battle of Changping, Wang Ben finally said why Bai Qi had no choice but to deceive and kill the surrendered Zhao troops.

“At the time, given Qin’s condition, if they did not deceive Zhao into surrendering, and Zhao chose to break out with full force, Qin could still win—but with catastrophic losses. Wei, Han, and Chu would surely take advantage.”

Wang Ben sighed. “But once Zhao surrendered, Qin could not afford to feed so many prisoners, nor could they return them to Zhao.”

If they returned so many young men to Zhao… wouldn’t the battle have been fought for nothing?

A heaviness settled in Qin Shihuang’s chest.

He contemplated Wang Ben’s words for a long time before saying, “Was there truly not even the slightest possibility otherwise?”

Why was the emperor suddenly obsessing over events long past? Had they taken too many Xiongnu or Baiyue captives recently? But surely they could afford to feed them…

Wang Ben pretended to ponder again and said, “Given the circumstances at the time, they truly could not support so many prisoners. By the end of Changping, even the Qin soldiers would have begun to starve.”

Qin Shihuang recalled his uncle’s abilities from the dream and said, “What if someone could solve the food shortage?”

Wang Ben gave a bitter smile. “How could anyone solve the grain issue? Zhao’s king wouldn’t ransom the captives with grain. And even if he did, Qin would take the grain and not release the men—Zhao wouldn’t trust Qin.”

The corner of Qin Shihuang’s mouth twitched. “My Great Qin’s reputation is not that poor.”

Wang Ben simply looked at the emperor in silence.

Qin Shihuang coughed lightly. “If someone—someone skilled at farming—told Lord Wu’an he could grow more grain…”

Wang Ben said, “Even if grain could be grown in the south, it would take half a year. How could Qin wait? Even if Qin had six months of supplies left, they wouldn’t gamble on an uncertain hope.”

Qin Shihuang said, “What if it only required two or three months?”

Wang Ben frowned. “Growing grain in only two or three months? What kind of crop would that be? Why would Lord Wu’an believe something so absurd?”

Qin Shihuang fell silent.

He held his forehead and sighed. “Yes… even if such a crop existed, Lord Wu’an wouldn’t believe it.”

Wang Ben said, “King Zhaoxiang was present at Changping as well. Even if Lord Wu’an wished to believe such an impossible claim for the sake of his own reputation, King Zhaoxiang would never permit it.”

Qin Shihuang’s eyes widened. “Great-grandfather was at the battlefield? Then the order to kill the captives…”

Wang Ben coughed heavily. “Naturally, it was Lord Wu’an’s own decision.”

Qin Shihuang’s lips moved, but eventually he only sighed. “Yes… Lord Wu’an’s own order.”

Wang Ben said, “If there had been any possibility of avoiding deception and slaughter, Lord Wu’an would never have done it. Deceiving surrendered troops is different from refusing to accept surrender. Once surrender is accepted, killing the captives destroys trust—no one would ever surrender again. That’s why the Battle of Handan was so difficult.”

Qin Shihuang again descended into silence. After a long while, he said, “Indeed. Marquis Tongwu, if someone had advised Great-grandfather not to kill the captives, and he refused their counsel… would that person still survive?”

Wang Ben said, “As long as he did not anger King Zhaoxiang, his life should not be in danger. The war between the two states had already ended. Messengers should not be executed.”

Qin Shihuang visibly relaxed, a smile appearing on his face—one he didn’t even realize he wore.

“Yes… his life would be safe.” Qin Shihuang said. “Thank you, Marquis Tongwu, for clearing my doubts.”

Wang Ben quickly said he did not dare accept such thanks.

After rewarding him with gold and silk, Qin Shihuang ordered that Wang Ben be escorted out.

Wang Ben left with the reward, utterly confused.

He quietly went to find Meng Yi, told him what had happened, and asked whether Meng Yi knew what the emperor intended.

Meng Yi was even more baffled.

“The Battle of Changping was nearly fifty years ago. The King must simply be curious—there can’t be much deeper meaning.” Meng Yi comforted him. “Besides, wasn’t His Majesty quite satisfied in the end?”

Only then did Wang Ben relax.

He laughed. “His Majesty even told me there exists grain that can be grown in two or three months. Wouldn’t that be celestial grain?”

Meng Yi felt a jolt in his heart.

Had the emperor truly learned divine knowledge?

He maintained a calm expression. “Perhaps His Majesty read about such miraculous grain in some ancient text. Although he executed the fangshi, he still has a desire for immortality.”

Wang Ben sighed. “True.”

Since they had touched on the emperor’s pursuit of immortality, Wang Ben didn’t dare continue asking—such topics were taboo.

Meng Yi, however, kept this matter firmly in mind, carefully observing Qin Shihuang.

And sure enough, the emperor’s mood had indeed turned strange again.

His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, as if weighed by great worry.

Even Prince Huhai no longer dared disturb him—he hadn’t visited the Xianyang Palace in days.

Instead, Prince Fusu, who had been scolded, went to the vegetable fields every day to farm, often encountering Qin Shihuang when the emperor wandered there to clear his mind.

Though the father and son were still strained, at least there were no longer confrontations. Meng Yi, who had been forcibly made Prince Fusu’s teacher, finally felt relieved.

Zhao Gao, however, was not pleased.

Yet even in his bad mood, he couldn’t find the source.

He saw Qin Shihuang almost daily but simply could not discern the reason for the emperor’s shift in behavior.

Had Qin Shihuang planned something with Meng Yi behind his back?

Was he, Zhao Gao, truly less trusted than Meng Yi?

The tiny flames of jealousy in Zhao Gao’s heart burned ever hotter. Even his glances toward Meng Yi carried faint malice.

Meng Yi noticed nothing.

As a nobleman, his gaze naturally didn’t linger on this palace-born eunuch who had risen to Chief of the Secretariat. Even though Zhao Gao managed the imperial seals and was the most trusted of the emperor’s confidants, Meng Yi remained politely distant.

What’s more, Zhao Gao had once nearly been executed but was spared by Qin Shihuang personally. Meng Yi had been one of the officials involved in his trial. He believed Zhao Gao owed him gratitude.

He never imagined that, in Zhao Gao’s mind, it was a grudge.

…

Qin Shihuang fretted for a day, two days, three days—

At last, news arrived from Changping: his uncle had succeeded in persuading them?!

A miracle!!!

Qin Shihuang joyfully ate an extra bowl of noodles.

Patting his full stomach, his mighty phoenix eyes narrowed with satisfaction.

As expected of his uncle! Even the Marquis Tongwu said it was impossible—yet his uncle had succeeded!

Feeling proud, Qin Shihuang summoned Wang Ben again.

“Marquis Tongwu,” he said, “about the hypothetical we discussed—the one where Great-grandfather listened to that man’s persuasion…”

Wang Ben immediately said, “Impossible!”

Qin Shihuang replied, “He did listen. Marquis Tongwu, can you guess why?”

Wang Ben shook his head vigorously. “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

Qin Shihuang said, “Perhaps he presented evidence convincing enough.”

Wang Ben said solemnly, “If there really were such evidence, King Zhaoxiang and Lord Wu’an would’ve dragged him back to Qin even if they had to tie him up! Even if they had to return all the prisoners from Changping to Zhao, they would still bring him back!”

Qin Shihuang looked even more pleased. “That is what I think as well.”

Wang Ben stared at the emperor suspiciously. Could there truly have been such a person? No, that happened forty-eight years ago.

Qin Shihuang was delighted.

Even the Marquis Tongwu had said that if the great ancestor had recognized his uncle’s value, he would have exchanged even the Changping captives to bring him back to Qin.

In that case, little Ying Zheng would have returned to Qin openly and honorably, with an uncle as support.

That was truly…

Hmm? Wait—what does that have to do with me?

Qin Shihuang’s expression darkened.

He suddenly remembered: all the benefits would’ve gone to little Ying Zheng. He didn’t have an uncle!

…

Even after realizing this, Qin Shihuang’s good mood was hard to suppress with logic.

On the fourth day, he went to bed early, waiting for good news from little Ying Zheng.

If the Zhao King learned that his uncle had rescued the Changping captives, he would surely reward him generously, right? His uncle would become famous with just this mission.

Qin Shihuang originally thought little Ying Zheng would jump and shout like last time, making enough noise to kill a man, venting his joy.

But to his surprise, this time little Ying Zheng wore a heavy expression.

“Elder Lin sent me and Aunt to Lord Lian’s fief. He said we might be in danger.” Little Ying Zheng’s brows were deeply furrowed. “Uncle achieved merit—why would Aunt and I be in danger?”

Qin Shihuang woke up baffled as well.

He summoned Wang Ben again. “Marquis Tongwu, if that man succeeded in convincing the great ancestor to release the captives, why would the Zhao King want to harm his family?”

Wang Ben: “…”

Your Majesty, your assumptions are getting more and more ridiculous! With something this outrageous, how am I supposed to know?!

Wang Ben said, “This… I really cannot think of a reason. The Zhao King should reward him.”

Qin Shihuang said, “But even Elder Lin— I mean, even Lin Xiangru and Lian Po think the Zhao King truly intends to harm his family.”

Wang Ben: “…”

Lin Xiangru and Lian Po have been dead for how many years?! Your Majesty, are you playing with me?

Wang Ben couldn’t take it anymore.

Driven by petty desire to drag someone else down with him, he said, “I only know military affairs. For court matters… why not ask Minister Meng?”

Qin Shihuang immediately summoned Meng Yi.

Meng Yi felt just as confused after hearing the situation.

But based on the principle of the emperor is always right, Meng Yi answered seriously, “Given the limited information, it’s hard to judge. If it is purely because of that merit, the Zhao King would absolutely not harm him.”

Qin Shihuang thought, How am I supposed to tell you the specifics? I can’t say he was my uncle…

After hesitating a long time, he said, “He was a commoner from a farming family, yet had marital ties with the Qin royal clan.”

Wang Ben and Meng Yi tried very hard to hold back—but failed. They looked at the emperor, whom they feared most, with the expression: Are you joking with us?

Your Majesty, listen to what you just said! A farmer marrying into the Qin royal clan? Even as a concubine that would be impossible!

Qin Shihuang saw their expressions. Even with his usual self-control, embarrassment flickered across his face.

How was he supposed to explain this? He couldn’t say, He is My Majesty’s foster father.

“In short, let us assume it is so!” Qin Shihuang declared, relying on the privilege of being emperor.

Wang Ben and Meng Yi exchanged helpless glances.

Very well. You are the emperor. What you say goes.

Meng Yi also began hypothesizing. “If he had ties to the Qin royal clan… Could it be that his wife was a fallen Qin princess? The Zhao King, knowing he was a great talent, feared he might defect to Qin, so he intended to kill his wife and child…”

Halfway through, Meng Yi shook his head. “No, impossible. That would create a deadly grudge. Wouldn’t that only push that talented man into Qin?”

Wang Ben said, “Perhaps due to that marital connection, the Zhao King listened to slander, believing he intended to defect. So he tried to eliminate his family first. At that time, which Zhao King was ruling?”

Meng Yi replied, “King Xiaocheng of Zhao.”

Wang Ben thought carefully. “King Xiaocheng shouldn’t have been that foolish.”

Meng Yi said, “Before the Battle of Handan, King Xiaocheng was quite foolish.”

Wang Ben said, “Then it is possible he wanted to control that man’s family, then force him… Ai, but I still can’t believe King Xiaocheng would be that stupid. Since the man risked his life to persuade Lord Wu’an to release the Zhao captives, he must have been loyal to Zhao. Even royals serving in other states is quite common—so simply marrying a Qin princess shouldn’t have provoked such paranoia.”

Qin Shihuang hesitated a long time, then said, “Then what if it wasn’t due to marrying a princess, but because his adopted son was a Qin hostage prince…”

Wang Ben: “?!”

Meng Yi: “?!”

Meng Yi finally couldn’t help but admonish, “Your Majesty, speaking like this about the Supreme Emperor… is inappropriate.”

Qin Shihuang: “?!”

He froze for a moment before understanding Meng Yi’s meaning.

He was born later than little Ying Zheng, and his own father had left Zhao later as well. So in his timeline, the Qin hostage prince during the Changping period was still his father.

Qin Shihuang immediately stopped hesitating. “Then let us assume this: that the virtuous man was the foster father of My Majesty’s father!”

Wang Ben and Meng Yi almost shouted, Why don’t you simply say it was Lu Buwei?!

If Lu Buwei were still alive, they truly would have said it out loud.

The two ministers inhaled deeply and could only continue according to the emperor’s wild assumptions.

There was no choice—he was the emperor.

“If his kin was a Qin hostage prince,” Wang Ben said, “and since Zhao and Qin had only recently ended hostilities, the Zhao King would not dare kill the Qin hostage. That would trigger war again. I truly cannot imagine the Zhao King doing this.”

Meng Yi sighed bitterly. “Your Majesty, I also cannot.”

Qin Shihuang said, “Then let us assume they only imprisoned them, not killed them.”

Wang Ben and Meng Yi felt faint from frustration. They almost spat blood at the emperor.

Your Majesty, can you please stop assuming things?!

…

Qin Shihuang tormented the two ministers until they repeatedly begged for mercy, saying they truly could not come up with anything. Only then did he reluctantly dismiss them.

In the corner, Zhao Gao had bitten through his handkerchief.

Your Majesty, what are you discussing with Wang Ben and Meng Yi? Why am I not included?!

Zhao Gao felt he was falling out of favor. He immediately went to see Prince Huhai, urging him to act cute before the emperor and speak more good words on Zhao Gao’s behalf.

Then he went to find Li Si.

“Minister Li, the emperor summons Wang Ben and Meng Yi every day, while you know nothing. I fear His Majesty is distancing himself from you. You must be careful.”

Hearing this, the politically untalented Li Si immediately became alert.

Just as Zhao Gao wished, Li Si began approaching Wang Ben and Meng Yi, trying to inquire what important secrets the emperor was discussing.

Wang Ben and Meng Yi had “tight lips.”

Actually, not very tight. But even when they told the truth, no one believed it.

Who could believe the emperor summoned them only to make them follow his assumptions and weave stories?

Within a single day, Zhao Gao, even through Li Si, learned nothing.

Then Qin Shihuang’s dream-series continued updating, and his mood changed again.

“Zhao Dan is truly a vile man!” Qin Shihuang cursed furiously. “I will dig up his coffin and execute him!”

Ah?!

The summoned Meng Yi and Wang Ben stared at one another.

King Zhao Xiaocheng had been dead for many years—what had he done to provoke the emperor into wanting to desecrate his grave?

But the Six States were restless now; angering the old Zhao nobles would be dangerous. They hurriedly stopped him, begging him to reconsider.

Qin Shihuang restrained himself.

Forget it. It was the Zhao Dan in little Ying Zheng’s world. Let little Ying Zheng dig him up.

Another day passed, and Qin Shihuang cursed again: “I will tour the East! I will personally dig up his coffin and execute him!”

Meng Yi and Wang Ben nearly cried.

Your Majesty, what is happening to you?! You’re scaring us! Please reconsider! If you dig up the Zhao King’s ancestral tomb now, what if the old Zhao nobles rebel?!

Qin Shihuang gnashed his teeth. “Then let them rebel! If I unified the world once, I can unify it again!”

Wang Ben advised, “Of course Your Majesty can. But if you intend to desecrate his grave, you must have a reason. Why only now, after so many years, do you wish to destroy the Zhao ancestral tomb? If Your Majesty has no proper reason now, please reconsider.”

Wang Ben knelt and kowtowed.

Meng Yi also knelt and kowtowed.

He now missed Prince Fusu terribly.

Prince Fusu! Stop farming! Now is exactly the time you are needed to speak reason!

When Prince Fusu stubbornly lectured in court, everyone laughed at his foolishness.

When Prince Fusu wasn’t in court, everyone began missing him.

This court needed a Prince Fusu.

Qin Shihuang could endure well.

By nightfall, he calmed down.

Forget it. In this world, Zhao Dan had been dead for many years. It had nothing to do with uncle anyway.

He didn’t have an uncle. The uncle belonged to little Ying Zheng. If there were revenge to be taken, it should be little Ying Zheng’s task.

Qin Shihuang lay down and fell asleep.

Then he saw snow falling like drifting threads, saw a prisoner cart buried under snow, saw the Zhao people attacking Handan City and the prison in order to save his uncle.

He saw assassins sent by Zhao Dan, saw Li Mu and Aunt rushing to save his uncle, saw the prison guard who died protecting him.

And he saw that key hidden in a throat.

【“Are there any survivors?”

“Are there any survivors?”

“Are there… any survivors?”

Zhu Xiang called out, but no one answered.】

Through little Ying Zheng’s eyes, Ying Zheng watched his uncle and aunt dress the bodies of the fallen guards.

Then Zhao Dan appeared.

In little Ying Zheng’s world, Cai Ze was also a close friend of the uncle. Cai Ze had somehow persuaded the great ancestor and was now a Qin envoy. Meanwhile, Lord Wu’an Bai Qi had already led Qin troops to the gates of Handan, threatening to exchange the entire city for Zhu Xiang.

Faced with the terror of Lord Wu’an at his doorstep, Zhao Dan rushed to find the uncle.

Was that terrified expression out of concern that if uncle died, Qin would have the excuse to attack Handan?

【“Water can overturn a boat, but it can also carry it! Any state or dynasty that views the people as ants will inevitably perish!”
…
“Very well, I will go.”】

Ying Zheng woke trembling, deeply shaken.

“What mad words are these?”

He laid on his bed without rising, covering his forehead with his forearm, murmuring to himself.

He had originally felt murderous hatred for Zhao Dan, though Zhao Dan had long been dead.

But now, what he felt far more was fear and emptiness.

Fear of what? Emptiness for what? He couldn’t say.

“Once uncle enters Qin, he will rise like a dragon, facing no setbacks. And you along with him.” Ying Zheng’s expression twisted subtly, tinged with sour envy. “You’re truly blessed.”