bookrebus Chapter 202 Eastern Tour - Departure
Chapter 202 Eastern Tour - Departure
Time passed quickly, and several days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Meng Mansion.
Meng Yi summoned Kuai Che, Xiao He, Han Xin, Li Ziwei and Meng Xin.
In the study, several people sat opposite each other.
Meng Yi spoke first, "Your Eastern Tour will soon begin, but I've received word from Prime Minister Li that Your Majesty's health has long been weakened. Since last year, first the meteorite fell from the sky, then the Mars in the Heart incident, causing panic throughout the Shandong region, the former lands of the Six Kingdoms. Therefore, Your Majesty intends to use this Eastern Tour to deter those with ulterior motives. Furthermore, there's another matter: Xu Fu has found the so-called elixir and is about to return. Your Majesty's Eastern Tour is precisely for this purpose."
"However, if the elixir is real, Your Majesty will definitely recover. But if the elixir is fake, Your Majesty will be in danger." Meng Yi looked at everyone and said.
Meng Xin frowned and asked doubtfully, "General, is there really such a thing as immortality in this world?"
Meng Yi was silent for a moment, did not directly answer his question, but just shook his head slightly.
Kuai Che, who was standing by, had just joined their circle and it was not convenient for him to say much at the moment.
At this time, Xiao He spoke up, "Your Majesty has taken so many elixirs, yet your health is growing weaker. This shows that the idea of immortality is pure delusion, and those alchemists are merely fawning on the powerful. It's a pity that Your Majesty is so gullible that he favors the likes of Prince Hu Hai and Zhao Gao."
Meng Yi nodded, agreeing with Xiao He's point of view. "You are absolutely right. Life, aging, illness, and death are natural phenomena that cannot be changed by elixirs. Therefore, this eastern tour is extremely risky, and we need to be fully prepared."
When the people in the room heard this, they all stood up and responded in unison: "We will follow the general's orders!"
Meng Yi looked at the people in front of him and felt very relieved.
Now, he had a wealth of talented people under his command: the resourceful counselor Kuai Che, the capable and resourceful Xiao He in the rear, the brave and skilled commanders Han Xin and Ying Bu, and the skilled generals Meng Xin and Li Ziwei, both skilled in martial arts. This lineup gave him greater confidence.
Meng Yi looked at Xiao He and Han Xin seriously, his eyes revealing determination and trust.
He said slowly, "Da De, Zhong Yan, Xianyang is a strategic location. The safety of your residence and farm is of paramount importance. You must remain vigilant at all times and keep an eye out for any unusual activity."
Xiao He and Han Xin exchanged a glance, then hurriedly bowed their hands in acceptance, saying in unison, "As you command, Lord! We will fulfill our mission and guard it well."
Then, Meng Yi turned his gaze to Kuai Che and said earnestly, "Sir, this operation needs to be carried out in secret. I hope you can lend a hand to Ziwei."
Kuai Che stood up, bowed to Meng Yi, and solemnly accepted the order, saying, "General, rest assured. Kuai Che will do his best to live up to your trust."
Meng Yi nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Li Ziwei and said, "Ziwei, the master's safety is now in your hands. Please protect him well."
Li Ziwei bowed and replied, "As you command, General! I will protect you at all costs."
Finally, Meng Yi looked at Meng Xin, a smile flashing in his eyes, and said, "Brother Xin, you will come with me this time."
Upon hearing this, Meng Xin's face lit up with joy, his heart filled with excitement. He quickly stepped forward, bowed to Meng Yi, and received the order, saying in a resounding voice, "As you command, General! Brother Xin will follow you closely and fight bravely against the enemy!"
.........
Finally, at the end of March and the beginning of April, it was time for the First Emperor's team to set off on his eastern tour.
At dawn, the gates of the imperial city of Xianyang slowly opened, and the eastern tour team prepared to depart in a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The First Emperor, dressed in a dark red dragon robe and a crown, stood tall and majestic.
Following closely behind him were important officials such as Li Si, Zhao Gao, Hu Hai, and Yao Jia. Each of them was dressed in court robes and looked solemn.
Feng Quji and other civil and military officials had been waiting at the city gate for a long time. They lined up neatly on both sides of the road and saluted the First Emperor.
Feng Quji stepped forward and said respectfully, "We are here to respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty on your eastern tour. We wish Your Majesty a safe journey and a safe return."
The First Emperor nodded slightly, glanced at the crowd, and then said, "I am on this eastern tour to inspect the people's sentiments and consolidate the borders. You must do your best to govern the country well."
Everyone responded in unison: "We will obey your Majesty's orders! We wish your Majesty a safe journey."
The First Emperor nodded in satisfaction and boarded a luxurious carriage. Pulled by six steed horses, its body inlaid with gold, silver, and jewels, it was exceptionally ornate. Hundreds of guards and palace maids, armed with weapons and musical instruments, accompanied the Emperor.
After the First Emperor boarded the carriage, officials such as Li Si, Zhao Gao, and Hu Hai also got on.
After everyone was seated, Tu You gave an order and the convoy moved forward slowly, the wheels rolling and making a dull sound.
"Your Majesty, this eastern tour is a long one. Please take care of yourself," Li Si said, looking at the exhausted Emperor Qin Shi Huang. He knew the Emperor was in poor health, but he didn't dare to express his concern.
The First Emperor took a deep breath, smiled slightly, and said in a firm tone: "I know, my dear Li, there is no need to worry. This eastern tour is not only to inspect the people's sentiments, but also to ensure the stability of the Qin Dynasty. I have made up my mind to personally find the legendary elixir of immortality and witness its magical effects." After speaking, the First Emperor's eyes became firm and full of expectation.
"Your Majesty cares about the world, which is a blessing for our Great Qin!" Zhao Gao immediately echoed with a flattering smile on his face.
Hu Hai also quickly said: "I wish to stay by your father's side forever, learn how to govern the country, and serve the Qin Dynasty!"
The First Emperor looked at Hu Hai, with a glint of relief and kindness in his eyes: "Well, Hu Hai, you have grown up. I am very pleased."
The convoy moved farther and farther away, raising a cloud of dust, and finally disappeared into the distant horizon.
Everyone watched the convoy leave in silence.
Feng Quji then turned around, gazed at the civil and military officials behind him with a sharp gaze, and said in a firm tone, "I hope that everyone will perform their duties with all their heart and soul, and live up to the trust placed in you by His Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials showed respect and responded in unison, "Rest assured, Prime Minister Feng, we will do our utmost to perform our duties and will not slack off in the slightest."
Seeing everyone's positive response, Feng Quji showed a satisfied smile on his face and nodded slightly to show his approval.
At this moment, an official stepped forward and said solemnly, "Your Majesty's eastern tour is truly a matter of great importance to the nation. As your subjects, we must do our utmost to ensure national stability and the well-being of our people."
As soon as these words were spoken, they were immediately approved and echoed by other officials.
"That's right. We must remain vigilant at all times and never let our guard down."
"That's right. We must all work together and do our utmost to help His Majesty solve his problems and protect the Great Qin Empire together."
Listening to the passionate words of the crowd, Feng Quji's eyes flashed with pride. He emphasized again loudly: "You are all talented pillars of the court. Now that His Majesty is on an eastern tour, we still need to rely on you ministers to overcome the difficulties together, protect the capital, and wait for His Majesty's return."
After saying this, Feng Quji waved his hand and signaled everyone to disperse. Then, the civil and military officials dispersed from the city gate in an orderly manner and returned to their respective posts.