General Qin

"What a thief, how dare you deceive me!"

As night fell, in a temporary palace built not far from Surabaya, the First Emperor's face turned black and the veins on his forehead bulged.

When he thought about what happened during the day, he felt filled with panic.

For many years, since he destroyed the six kingdoms and united them into one kingdom, he has been revered as the most noble emperor in the world. No one has ever dared to disobey his orders, let alone bully him face to face.

The endless praises made the First Emperor's mentality continue to expand. Especially after being enshrined in Zen, he really regarded himself as the spokesperson of God in the world.

Deify, sanctify.

Exist as a true Son of God.

Under such circumstances, the First Emperor was deceived from Zhifu Island to Surabaya County by Zhang De, the governor of Sishui County, like a fool. Thinking about it now, this is simply a great shame and humiliation.

Of course, Qi Guiqi, the First Emperor himself knew very well that Zhang De did not dare to deliberately deceive him.

The Prince of Zhou fled eastward with a tripod. The First Emperor also heard about the incident of sinking a tripod in Surabaya. Wei Zhuang and others also said that this incident was indeed reported back to Xianyang by Qin's intermediaries more than thirty years ago. It was not It was Zhang De's deliberate fiction.

The county guard really believed this story, so he came up with the idea of ​​offering auspicious signs to flatter the emperor.

Zhang De's purpose in doing this was still to please the emperor and cater to the Sacred Heart.

"Zhao Tuo is right. Duke Huan of Qi likes purple clothes, so all the people in the country wear purple. King Chu Ling likes to have a slim waist, so all the people in the court are dark. After I was enshrined, I rewarded a few people who offered auspiciousness, so I let these People thought that offering auspicious auspicious signs was a way to please me, so they rushed to offer it, and that’s why things like this happened. If things go on like this, I don’t know what the entire Great Qin will become!”

The First Emperor thought that Zhao Tuo's advice to him in Linzi City had indeed come true afterwards, and he couldn't help but secretly sigh.

"Fortunately, there are people like Zhao Tuo who are loyal and upright and dare to remonstrate in the court. If they were all flattering people like Zhang De, how could our Qin Dynasty last long? This time I will severely punish this person and set an example to others. .”

When the First Emperor thought of Zhao Tuo, the anger in his heart dissipated a little, but he was still a little congested and needed to be discharged urgently.

If it were another monarch, he might find a woman to vent his frustration and anger.

But the First Emperor was different. He had only one way to relieve his depression.

Work!

When you enter a state of frantic work, you will naturally stop thinking about these annoying things.

"Send me a batch of memorials. I will stay up late to review them."

"only."

The serving eunuch immediately responded and went out to deliver the emperor's order.

After a while, there were footsteps outside the house.

"His Majesty."

A clerk in black gave a respectful greeting at the door and came forward with a wooden tray filled with folded paper documents.

Although the First Emperor was patrolling all the way, according to his order, all the counties and counties in the country must select some of the more important documents collected in Xianyang and send them over, carried by cavalry, chasing the emperor all the way, so that he could personally read and review them. .

Of course, this was possible thanks to Zhao Tuo's invention of papermaking. The amount of documents carried by one cavalryman was more than the slips and slips carried in one cart before, which was very convenient.

When he saw the stacks of papers on the plate, the First Emperor felt much better.

"In the past few days, I have been thinking about rushing to Surabaya to see Jiuding. I have been traveling day and night, but I have neglected my work and accumulated a lot of unread memorials. I should make up for it in these two days."

The First Emperor muttered to himself, and when the clerk brought the memorial over, he noticed that this person was Li You, the servant of the minister.

Li You respectfully placed the memorial on the table in front of the emperor.

The lights in the room flickered, and the swaying light made Li You's face, which had experienced the wind and frost of Jingchu and Bashu, become sharp and angular.

This is the face of a military commander!

Looking at Li You who was wearing the robes of a civil servant in front of him, the First Emperor recalled in his mind the scene eight years ago when Li You was wearing armor and a crown, serving as a general in the palace and serving as a night guard for him.

At that time, Li You was less than thirty, strong and vigorous, and he was a young man whom he valued very much. If not for this, he would not have had the idea of ​​​​betrotting his beloved eldest daughter to Li You in the first place.

Even though Zhao Tuo suddenly emerged and attracted the attention of the First Emperor.

But he did not dislike Li You because of this. He even gave Li You preferential treatment because of Li Si's relationship. For example, before Li Xin attacked Chu, he specially promoted Li You to a first-level title to avoid being overtaken by Zhao Tuo. Awkward.

The battle against Chu was a fair test given by the First Emperor to Li You and Zhao Tuo to see who was worthy of his daughter.

Little did they know that that inevitable war would turn into an unprecedented defeat because of Li Xin's arrogance and Xiong Qi's betrayal.

But only in crisis can a person's true strength be highlighted.

Taking advantage of the enemy's opportunity, Zhao Tuo crossed the Huaihe River and raided Chudu, then traveled thousands of miles back behind enemy lines. He achieved a great victory in the Battle of Surabaya and became a hero of the empire.

Li Youze returned in embarrassment, clearly distinguishing himself from the others.

At that time, the First Emperor had already decided on the candidate for his son-in-law, but he did not give up on Li You. After reducing his rank, he still gave Li You the opportunity to go to the battlefield and make meritorious deeds.

result……

All the generals won, except Li You.

The theory of Shuqi once frightened the emperor, but Li You's subsequent victory in Nanjun made him feel relieved, which eventually led to a defeat in the southwest.

This allowed the First Emperor to fully recognize the conclusion of "Li Youshuqi" and decided that Li You would never be allowed to go to the battlefield again in the future.

This man could really defeat his invincible Qin army!

Fortunately, after the defeat of the Southwest, Li You also gave up the idea of ​​going to the battlefield to perform meritorious service. Li Si even promoted it, and finally found the post of Minister of Public Affairs.

The First Emperor knew about this and acquiesced in it.

"Before Li You went to the battlefield, he stayed in the palace as a guard for many years. He traveled with me several times and never had any problems. It can be seen that this strange theory should only be used on the battlefield, but it is not a problem when doing things in the palace."

The First Emperor felt reassured that Li You was the minister's servant, and even observed a lot about him.

However, during this period of time, the First Emperor discovered that although Li You was still as conscientious and diligent and loyal as before, he always had an air of twilight about him, which was far different from the heroic Zhonglang household general back then. .

Think about it, eight years ago, when Li You was less than thirty years old, he was promoted to the fifth official, served as a middle-ranking household general, and was also hinted to be the son-in-law of the King of Qin. It can be said that he has a bright future, and he is naturally high-spirited.

But now, Li You is already in his thirties, his marriage is not settled, his career is in ruins, and his reputation is also very bad. After being defeated several times, he was forced to give up his military position and become a civil servant, but he was still as arrogant as before.

"Your Majesty, this is a document sent by the imperial censor of Xianyang, this is a memorial from the Nei Shifu, and this is a memorial from Shangjun..."

Li You lowered his head and sorted the stacks of documents into categories.

The First Emperor shook his head secretly. He could hear the numbness in Li You's voice.

Li You served as a household general, a military commander who commanded five thousand people on the battlefield, and even a county lieutenant with a rank of two thousand stone.

No one who has had such an experience would be willing to be a 600-ton minister and spend all day with these documents.

If it were anyone else, the First Emperor would be displeased and even depose him directly.

But this person is Li You.

The emperor hinted that he would marry his eldest daughter to Li You. Although he did not formally commit, he still had the intention of taking him as his son-in-law, and he naturally took a fancy to this young man. In addition, Li You had been working as a guard for many years as Zhonglang household general, worked diligently, and often appeared in front of him, so he had some feelings in his heart.

Not to mention, Li You also has an old father who is deeply trusted by the emperor.

"He was born with an odd number and is not suitable for fighting on the battlefield. This is his destiny. It is not his fault."

The First Emperor sighed in his heart and couldn't help feeling pity when he looked at Li You, who was looking down at him.

He didn't want a young man he originally liked to become such a loser full of twilight.

Li Xin can rise from failure, but it may not be impossible for Li You.

He wanted to give Li You another chance.

Of course, it is not an opportunity to go to the battlefield.

"Li Qing."

The First Emperor called.

Li You, who was sorting documents with his head lowered, heard the emperor's voice. He quickly put down the documents in his hand and said respectfully: "I'm here."

The First Emperor stared at him and said, "You were born in Lang Wei, and now you would like to be a Zhonglang again and serve me by my side."

Li You was stunned.

Zhonglang.

The rank of six hundred stones is equivalent to that of his current position as Shangshu Pushe Zhilu, but its importance is far less.

Not to mention compared to the Zhonglang Hushang he once served as.

But Li You could not help but burst into tears.

After being severely beaten on the battlefield, Li Youcai discovered that the years he spent as a guard in the palace were the happiest times in his life.

"I am willing, and I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."

Li You immediately knelt on the ground and bowed to the First Emperor.

His originally dull eyes were filled with tears and sparkled with light.

Zhonglang, that was the starting point when he first entered the palace!

Even though we are going round and round, we have to start from the starting point again.

But Li You is confident that with his qualifications and hard work, he will be able to climb back to the position of Zhonglang household general sooner or later, and even the position of Zhonglang general is not impossible.

The most important thing is that he is willing to be a lieutenant and a bodyguard by the emperor's side.

This is thousands of times better than being a Shang Shu Pu She who manages documents.

"This is His Majesty's favor for me!"

Li You's heart trembled, feeling the endless favor from the emperor.

But suddenly, the word "Shu Qi" came into his head, and his expression changed.

Li You lay on the ground and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, everyone in the world says that many ministers are strange. If they are in military positions, I'm afraid..."

"Nothing happened. You were once the lieutenant in the palace before, and Su Wei and I have not had anything happen to you for several years."

The First Emperor shook his head, and then said proudly: "Besides, I am the emperor, so why should I be afraid of strange words?"

"I can hold it down."