"Satisfying, indeed!"
Zhang Yi laughed. He waved his hand, his expression once again regaining its heroic air. "Look, Master! Today’s Great Qin is a state of tigers and wolves! The six states east of the mountains dare not underestimate us. The Qin King’s command is something even the monarchs of other nations must treat with the utmost caution!"
"Such majesty... even the Son of Heaven in Luoyang lacks it!"
"But none of that concerns you anymore. You are just... an old man. An old man without any status,"
Shaodian Qingnu said softly, watching Zhang Yi's smile.
"I know!"
Zhang Yi nodded and added, "But I have no regrets! This is the State of Qin that I built together with my King!"
"In the future, no one in the world will ever dare to speak of Qin with anything but reverence!"
"That is enough for me."
"I don't understand the way people like you think,"
Shaodian Qingnu whispered. She waved her hand and said, "Come, eat some meat with me. This is the last time you'll eat meat with me. You won't be able to taste it ever again after this."
Hearing this, the smile on Zhang Yi's face remained unchanged. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Master!"
Shaodian Qingnu's roast meat tasted better than anything else in the world; even the chefs in the royal palace could not compare.
After all, she was a master who had lived for over two thousand years—more than a hundred generations!
Zhang Yi and Shaodian Qingnu ate meat and drank wine, though Shaodian Qingnu did not drink; only Zhang Yi did.
"It’s a pity you don't drink, Master."
Zhang Yi sighed, took another bite of meat, and remarked, "This meat is truly delicious! If only I could eat your roast meat in the future! Master, why don't you teach me your craft?"
"Even if I taught you, you wouldn't be able to eat it for long. How many years do you have left?"
Shaodian Qingnu replied casually.
Zhang Yi was surprised, then burst into laughter. "Master, could you please not say such heartbreaking things in front of us mortals? I am well aware that I don't have long to live."
The work of a vertical and horizontal strategist consumed immense mental energy, and after years of traveling by boat and carriage, his life was destined to be short.
"When I visit your grave in the future, I'll bring some for you to eat,"
Shaodian Qingnu said quietly as she watched him laugh. "If I still remember, that is."
After their final meal, Shaodian Qingnu and Zhang Yi went their separate ways.
Zhang Yi returned to his hometown and died of old age. Not long after, King Ying Dang, who had driven him away, died after breaking his shins while lifting a cauldron. He died young, leaving the State of Qin in a state of panic for a while. Eventually, they brought back Ying Ji, who had been a hostage in the State of Yan, and enthroned him as the new King of Qin.
The Great Demon King of the Warring States had been initialized.
Shaodian Qingnu sat before Zhang Yi's grave and told him the news.
"I know you're probably snickering down there. After all, that boy Ying Dang kicked you out, so you definitely didn't like him! I also think he died in a very undignified manner!"
"But he was still a king after all, so just have a little chuckle and give the kid some face. Be harmonious down there."
Shaodian Qingnu chattered on about many things, and the roast meat she had promised was spread across his grave.
However, as she was leaving, she still felt a bit reluctant.
Hongluan saw this and said, "I didn't see you being this reluctant when you dumped him off at the State of Qin back then. Now you're visiting his grave and showing this much sentiment?"
Shaodian Qingnu pursed her lips, looked back at Hongluan, and pointed at the meat in front of the grave. "Hongluan, can I finish it all before we leave?"
Hongluan stared at Shaodian Qingnu with wide eyes. She suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair into a mess. "Stupid snake! Who steals someone's offerings? If you want to eat, just go roast some more yourself!"
"But if they're left here, Zhang Yi won't be able to eat them anyway,"
Shaodian Qingnu said, holding her head.
"That's still not allowed!"
Hongluan snapped, scolding her. "You can't just do whatever you want because of your age! Show some respect for the dead, you stupid snake!"
"Oh, I see."
Shaodian Qingnu gave a small nod. Actually, she felt she was quite respectful toward the dead.
She had claimed she would dig up graves, but in all these years, she hadn't even moved a single shovel of dirt! She was very well-behaved!
After the death of King Wu of Qin, the Warring States period seemed to enter a relatively mundane era. Among the various states, the historical figures who once shone brightly gradually diminished. The school of vertical and horizontal diplomacy declined, and the struggles between the hundred schools of thought drew to a close. Everything was tilting toward the State of Qin.
In the era of Ying Ji, the State of Qin was the undisputed protagonist.
Among the Kings of Qin mentioned in history books, a large portion refers to him—the Meeting at Mianchi, Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao...
And many more like them.
The momentum of Great Qin’s eastward expansion became unstoppable, all because of him!
Shaodian Qingnu traveled the world. After discarding the name of Guiguzi, the name she heard most in the streets was Qin.
The vast and surging fate of the world was finally, slowly, converging toward Xianyang.
Shaodian Qingnu looked up at the sky and murmured, "Soon. A few more decades. Hongluan, I am one step closer to success."
"I know, you've been muttering about it every day since that Ying Ji took the throne!"
"Is he that impressive?"
Hongluan asked.
Shaodian Qingnu nodded. "Of course. If not for him, the foundation for the State of Qin to unify the world could not have been laid! He is the great-grandfather of that person."
The Great Demon King truly lived up to his name, outlasting several generations of kings from the six states.
He lasted until the world trembled at the mere mention of his name.
In the forty-seventh year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the Shangdang region of the State of Han was offered to the State of Zhao. The State of Qin was furious and dispatched troops to attack Shangdang. The armies of the State of Qin and the State of Zhao faced off at Changping, with over a million soldiers deployed between them. The world shook!
This confrontation was less a test of military might and more a contest of national strength!
Both Qin and Zhao threw their entire nations into the fray!
King Zhaoxiang even personally invited Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, to lead the campaign to Changping. He ordered that the news of Bai Qi's appointment as general must not be leaked, on pain of death!
And the result was exactly as the King of Qin desired: Bai Qi won.
He completely surrounded the four hundred thousand strong army of the State of Zhao!
To this end, Ying Ji personally traveled to Henei Commandery. He granted one rank of nobility to every male in the commanderies of Hedong and Henei over the age of fifteen and mobilized them all to the battlefield of Changping!
The State of Qin intended to wage a war with the strength of the entire nation!
At this moment, Changping was the focus of the world's winds and clouds, drawing all eyes.
Shaodian Qingnu was there, but not with the Qin army. She was among the besieged Zhao army, standing beside their general, Zhao Kuo.
She was curious about this youth who was said to fight wars only on paper.
In recent years, she had been living in Handan and had met Zhao Kuo quite early on. Thus, when Zhao Kuo was appointed general, she followed him here!
Today was the tenth day the Zhao army had been surrounded, and their provisions were nearly exhausted.
Zhao Kuo’s face was slightly pale. He looked at Shaodian Qingnu and said, "Qingnu, who exactly are you? This is such a perilous place where Zhao and Qin are at war, and our army is surrounded, yet you don't show the slightest hint of panic. Do you know that if I fail, we will all die?"
"I won't die."
Shaodian Qingnu gave a huff and swung her legs, stretching lazily.
"Zhao Kuo, do you know who your opponent is?"
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