Upon hearing that the State of Yan was offering the topographical map of Dukang, the court officials were all visibly shocked.
"Dukang the granary of Yan."
"This is the most important grain-producing region in the world, second only to our Great Qin's Guanzhong and Shu regions."
"Dukang is vital to Yan's survival. Handing over its map to us is equivalent to surrendering the entire region. If we were to wage war against Yan, Dukang would be defenseless."
"Why would the King of Yan do this?"
"Is he truly afraid of Qin attacking Yan, so much so that he's offering this?"
"It seems that Yan is truly terrified of us."
"With this, Yan is no longer a threat."
Seeing that the Yan envoy was offering the most crucial part of their nation, many officials were astonished.
It was a move that none of them had foreseen.
Ying Zheng, the King of Qin, remained composed.
"King of Yan has shown great sincerity."
"Even the map of Dukang has been offered."
"With such goodwill, how could I refuse?"
"Present it to me."
"I wish to see this Dukang region myself." Ying Zheng waved his hand.
Zhao Gao stepped forward to retrieve the map.
However, below the steps, both Qin Wuyang and Jing Ke felt their hearts tighten.
"Your Majesty," Qin Wuyang spoke up.
"The Dukang region requires an expert to explain its details."
"May I suggest my deputy envoy, Jing Ke, to personally present it to you?"
"Additionally," he quickly added, as if fearing rejection, "the State of Yan has also prepared another grand gift for Your Majesty."
With a wave of his hand, Jing Ke stepped forward, holding a small box.
Ying Zheng's eyes narrowed.
"What is this?" he asked slowly.
Qin Wuyang raised his head and spoke each word deliberately:
"The head of Fan Yuqi the long-wanted traitor of Great Qin."
The moment these words fell, the entire court gasped in shock.
Even Ying Zheng's expression darkened.
"Fan Yuqi's head?"
"You mean... Fan Yuqi?!"
His voice carried a chilling murderous intent, filling the grand hall with an oppressive aura.
The court fell silent under this suffocating pressure.
Jing Ke stepped forward and raised his voice:
"Your Majesty, it is indeed Fan Yuqi."
"This is his head!"
He walked forward, carrying the box.
However, Zhao Gao quickly descended the steps, extending both hands to indicate that Jing Ke should hand the box to him first.
Seeing this, Jing Ke was filled with disappointment.
In front of so many people, and with a considerable distance still between him and the King of Qin, he knew that this was not yet his chance.
Reluctantly, he handed the silk-covered box to Zhao Gao.
But
The Dukang map was still in his hands.
And hidden within that map was a dagger.
Zhao Gao took the box and respectfully carried it up to Ying Zheng, placing it on the royal table.
Ying Zheng's eyes sharpened as he gazed at the box, his expression a mix of anticipation and excitement.
He slowly lifted the lid.
Inside, a blood-soaked severed head came into view.
It was a face that Ying Zheng would never forget.
"Fan Yuqi."
"So, you are finally dead."
"Back then, you nearly killed A'fang."
"Now, you still end up dead before me."
Ying Zheng's voice was cold, though there was a hint of regret perhaps because Fan Yuqi had not been captured alive.
"Throw this head into the mass grave. Let the dogs eat it."
He commanded.
Zhao Gao immediately retrieved the box, and a nearby imperial guard stepped forward to carry it away.
At that moment, Ying Zheng turned to Qin Wuyang and Jing Ke with a noticeably softer gaze.
"This gift from Yan..."
"I accept it."
Seeing Ying Zheng's change in demeanor, both Qin Wuyang and Jing Ke felt a surge of excitement.
They knew this was their chance.
Jing Ke stepped forward and knelt, holding up the silk-covered map box.
"Your Majesty," he said respectfully,
"This is the map of Dukang."
"I am honored to present it in person to Your Majesty and explain the details myself."
The Qin court officials scoffed at the scene.
"These Yan envoys are truly pathetic."
"They offer their most vital territory and still beg for an audience?"
"It seems the State of Yan truly fears us as if we were tigers."
"Perhaps we don't even need to send troops to conquer Yan. We could take control through persuasion alone."
"That may indeed be possible..."
As they watched Jing Ke kneel so submissively, the ministers not only looked down on him but also felt even more confident that Yan would soon fall.
They all knew Ying Zheng's ambitions.
And they all understood the state of the world.
No matter how weak and submissive Yan appeared, it would not change the unstoppable ambition of the King of Qin.
Nor would it alter Qin's determination to conquer all lands.
To unify the world.
To fulfill the dreams of generations of Qin people.
To secure eternal glory.
And in that great ambition
Who among them would not want to be a part of it?
But little did they know
Death was creeping ever closer.
Jing Ke's humility was evident. The state of Yan was equally humble.
Not a single minister in the court suspected he had any ulterior motives. After all, Qin's national strength was unmatched, and this was the most secure place in the entire empire the royal palace of Qin.
Who would dare to act recklessly?
"I would like to take a look at the map of Dukang myself," said Ying Zheng.
"Come forward."
Seeing the head of Fan Yuqi presented before him, Ying Zheng was in high spirits.
He casually waved at Jing Ke.
Upon hearing these words, Jing Ke's face lit up with barely concealed excitement.
However, standing in the hall, Qin Wuyang was filled with overwhelming anxiety.
"He must succeed! If he fails, not only will we die, but Yan will perish as well."
"Your Highness… you only considered the consequences of success but never thought of what would happen if we failed."
"If we fail, Yan will truly be doomed."
Fear gripped Qin Wuyang's heart.
He desperately hoped Jing Ke would succeed. If the mission was successful, even in death, he would have no regrets he would die as a hero of Yan.
But the thought of failure sent chills through his entire body.
His hands trembled.
However, all eyes in the court were focused on Jing Ke, and no one noticed Qin Wuyang's distress.
Jing Ke carried the ornate box step by step toward the throne, ascending the staircase. Each step felt like he was treading the path of the underworld.
Regardless of the outcome, he was destined to die.
But for the greater good, for the people of Yan, he was willing to sacrifice himself.
"This envoy from Yan is truly pitiful," sneered Hu Hai from the side of the staircase, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain.
Fusu, on the other hand, remained silent, quietly observing.
Under the watchful gaze of the entire court, Jing Ke finally reached the imperial desk.
He placed the box on the table.
Then, with slow and deliberate movements, he opened it.
Inside was a scroll, tightly rolled up.
Jing Ke carefully lifted the scroll.
He set the box aside.
The map was now directly before Ying Zheng.
"O King of Qin," Jing Ke said respectfully, "allow me to present to you the landscape of Dukang."
He began to slowly unfurl the map.
The terrain depicted on the scroll gradually came into view.
Ying Zheng's full attention was drawn to it.
Dukang Yan's major granary.
If Qin were to seize it, the empire's resources would be greatly enriched, providing enough food to support a larger army.
Jing Ke continued to unfold the map.
But just as he reached the final section
He moved.
Suddenly, he pressed down on Ying Zheng's hand.
"Hmm?"
Ying Zheng's brow furrowed, his expression shifting drastically.
Because he saw it.
At the very end of the scroll a dagger.
Jing Ke did not hesitate.
In one swift motion, he grasped the dagger, pressing down on Ying Zheng with his other hand, and thrust it toward the king.
The abrupt turn of events caught everyone off guard.
Even Zhao Gao was momentarily stunned before screaming in terror.
"Assassin! Assassin!"
Ying Zheng instinctively leaned backward.
Jing Ke's first strike missed.
Ying Zheng kicked out forcefully.
The impact sent the table flying, knocking Jing Ke back as well.
But Jing Ke was a trained swordsman, a warrior with formidable skill.
He quickly flipped back onto his feet, seized his dagger again, and leaped toward Ying Zheng for another strike.
This time
Ying Zheng had nowhere to escape.
At this critical moment, even his face paled slightly.
"My King!"
"Protect His Majesty!"
The court erupted into chaos.
Yet, not a single person dared to intervene.
Even Fusu and Hu Hai, the closest bystanders, seemed frozen in place, overwhelmed by shock and fear.
But just then
A sharp sound tore through the air.
A streak of cold light shot in from outside the hall.
Like a bolt of lightning.
In the blink of an eye
Splurt!
Jing Ke's body convulsed violently.
A searing pain erupted from his back, rendering him completely powerless.
The force behind the attack was so great that it sent him flying.
Crack!
Jing Ke was pinned against the wall behind the throne.
No matter how hard he struggled, he could no longer move. The excruciating pain twisted his face in agony.
At that moment
Everyone finally noticed.
A sword had impaled Jing Ke, nailing him to the wall.
Those who recognized it gasped in shock.
"It's General Zhao Feng's sword!"
"Longquan!"
Han Fei exclaimed.
"Thank the heavens for that strike! Otherwise, His Majesty would have been in grave danger."
"So close!"
"That was far too close!"
Seeing Jing Ke pinned against the wall, the entire court let out a collective sigh of relief.
A moment ago
The situation had truly been perilous beyond measure.
Had it not been for that single sword strike, Ying Zheng might have fallen to Jing Ke's blade.
As the court remained in stunned silence, a figure hurried in from outside the grand hall Zhao Feng, his face filled with urgency.
Seeing Jing Ke pinned against the wall, completely powerless to continue his attack, Zhao Feng finally let out a sigh of relief.
During that perilous moment, he had hurled his sword from the palace square.
His spiritual awareness had enveloped the entire court, allowing him to pinpoint Jing Ke's exact position with absolute precision. Otherwise, such an accurate strike would have been impossible.
Now, as Ying Zheng gathered himself, he looked around at the scene of chaos before him. His gaze fell upon Jing Ke, still impaled against the wall.
A look of lingering shock and relief surfaced on his face.
He had barely escaped death.
Perhaps, this was the butterfly effect at work.
In history, when Jing Ke attempted to assassinate Ying Zheng, it was a medical kit thrown by Xia Wuju at a critical moment that caused Jing Ke to stumble, preventing him from landing a fatal blow.
But now, Xia Wuju wasn't even present in the court, and there had been no medical kit thrown.
If not for Zhao Feng's sword, perhaps only Qin's divine fate would have determined the outcome.
"Ahhh…"
Jing Ke let out a scream of agony.
The sword had pierced straight through his body, the intense pain forcing a desperate cry from his lips.
Ying Zheng slowly rose to his feet.
He looked at Jing Ke.
"You… why did you want to kill me?"
His expression was one of confusion.
"A tyrannical Qin," Jing Ke spat, hatred burning in his eyes.
"You wage war, bringing suffering upon the common people. If you are not killed, countless more will die."
Even in unbearable pain, even as death loomed over him, his resentment toward the King of Qin remained unwavering.
It was not personal vengeance it was for justice.
At least, that was how he saw it.
"Over the centuries, how many lives have been lost in the endless wars between states?"
"Millions? Tens of millions?"
"I seek to end the chaos by unifying the world under one rule."
"To stop all wars and bring all of China under one banner."
"A temporary war weighed against eternal peace do you not understand which is greater?" Ying Zheng gazed at Jing Ke, disappointment evident in his eyes.
At these words, Jing Ke's expression faltered.
He had never considered it from this perspective.
But it no longer mattered.
What was done was done. There was no turning back.
"Kill me if you must," Jing Ke said, closing his eyes, unwilling to argue further.
Meanwhile, Qin Wuyang had been captured by the imperial guards.
"My king, are you unharmed?"
Zhao Feng strode forward, concern etched into his face.
Looking at Zhao Feng, Ying Zheng's expression softened. A rare trace of gratitude appeared in his eyes.
"Had it not been for your sword, I might have been slain by Jing Ke," he said with a faint smile.
"Thankfully, I made it in time," Zhao Feng responded with a relieved chuckle.
He had traveled day and night, pushing himself to the limit to arrive as quickly as possible.
Ying Zheng glanced once more at Jing Ke, still pinned to the wall.
Then, he turned toward the assembled ministers.
"The state of Yan is without honor," he declared, his voice filled with fury.
"They sent an envoy under the guise of diplomacy, yet attempted to assassinate me. If not for Zhao Feng's intervention, I might have lost my life to this assassin's blade."
"I decree"
"Let the treachery of Yan be made known to the world!"
"Let it be known to all under heaven!"
"The Qin Empire declares war on Yan!"
His roar resounded through the great hall, filled not only with anger but also with exhilaration.
For Ying Zheng, this was a perfect justification.
He had been contemplating how to find a reason to attack Yan.
And now, Yan had handed him the excuse on a silver platter.
Though the assassination attempt had been perilous, nearly costing him his life
It had, in the end, provided him with a righteous cause to wage war.
For Ying Zheng, this was a moment of relief and satisfaction.
"Yan is without honor! They attempted to assassinate our king!"
"We, the people of Qin, stand united!"
"Yan must be destroyed!"
The ministers erupted in an uproar of righteous indignation.
Just moments ago, they had been terrified, believing their king was about to be slain.
Now that Ying Zheng stood unharmed, they felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
For them, the consequences of Ying Zheng's death would have been disastrous.
Without him, the mighty Qin Empire might have fractured.
The recently conquered lands of the Three Jins (Han, Zhao, and Wei) would have surely descended into chaos.
Now, with their king safe and standing before them, their fears turned into fury.
And that fury was directed at Yan.
"To disgrace our king is to disgrace all of Qin!"
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