Zhao Feng's confidence and arrogance!
Ying Zheng did not say anything more.
At the age of twenty-three, Zhao Feng had already been ennobled for his military achievements and had become the highest-ranking military official of Qin.
It wasn't just Zhao Feng anyone in his position would be arrogant.
"Now that Wang Wan is gone," Ying Zheng said with interest, "the position of Left Prime Minister is vacant. Who do you think should be promoted?"
Since he had already asked so many questions today, there was no harm in asking one more.
"My King," Zhao Feng replied solemnly, "this matter is no small affair. I dare not speak recklessly."
Ying Zheng smirked. "As if you haven't already spoken recklessly in front of me many times before?"
"The most qualified candidate is Wei Liao," Zhao Feng said truthfully.
"In terms of seniority, merit, and ability, he is certainly qualified."
"But his ambition does not lie here," Ying Zheng shook his head.
"Why?"
Zhao Feng was a little surprised.
Although Wei Liao was currently serving as the Minister of Finance (Shaofu), one of the Nine Ministers, it was still a level below the Prime Minister's position.
"Wei Liao did not come to Qin for fame or fortune, but for his ideals."
"When the world is unified, he will probably leave Qin." Ying Zheng sighed.
He was also reluctant about this, but there was nothing he could do to change it.
Zhao Feng, upon hearing this, was quite impressed. "Minister Wei is truly noble!"
Holding one of the highest positions in Qin, with great power and influence, yet he was not attached to it.
He had come to Qin purely to help fulfill the dream of unifying the world.
Zhao Feng couldn't help but think of the steadfast beliefs and convictions of later generations.
"If not Wei Liao, who else do you have in mind?" Ying Zheng asked again.
"If His Majesty truly wishes for me to answer," Zhao Feng said, "then I choose Han Fei."
"He is highly capable and is already one of the Nine Ministers of Qin."
"Among the court officials, he is the one I understand best. Aside from him, I am unsure of the others' capabilities."
"As for Li Si," Zhao Feng continued, "he is indeed talented and excels in governing Qin with Legalist principles, but compared to Han Fei, he is still slightly lacking."
Ying Zheng nodded, seemingly taking Zhao Feng's words to heart.
At the Court of Judicial Review (Tingwei Office)
"Hahaha!"
"You're back, You'er!"
"Prepare wine! Tonight, my son and I shall drink to our heart's content!"
Just as he returned home, Li You saw his father, Li Si, waiting for him in the hall with a broad smile.
"Yes, Master."
The house steward immediately went to prepare the wine.
"Father, what has made you so happy?"
Seeing Li Si's beaming expression, his excitement barely concealed, Li You couldn't help but ask curiously.
The news of Wang Wan's imprisonment had not yet spread widely.
After all, this concerned the Left Prime Minister one of the most powerful officials in the court.
Though he had been imprisoned, things could still change.
Most officials preferred to remain silent rather than risk offending someone who might return to power.
"You'er, my son, this is truly a double blessing today!" Li Si laughed heartily as he led his son into the main hall.
Once seated, father and son faced each other.
"You'er," Li Si said, "Wang Wan has been imprisoned!"
"Not just him twenty other high-ranking officials from his faction have also been arrested!"
Li Si's face was filled with satisfaction.
"What?!"
Li You stared at his father in shock, completely caught off guard by this news.
"Wang Wan is the Left Prime Minister, second only to the King himself!"
"How could he be imprisoned?" Li You asked, bewildered.
"Because of Zhao Feng," Li Si replied with a smirk.
"The Supreme General?"
Li You was even more confused. "What does this have to do with our Supreme General?"
"In the court, Wang Wan repeatedly targeted Zhao Feng. You are aware of this, correct?" Li Si asked with a smile.
"Of course."
Li You nodded, then hesitated before saying, "That is why I have always asked Father to speak in favor of the Supreme General when possible."
"After all, while the Supreme General is highly skilled in warfare, he has little foundation in the court. Being targeted by Wang Wan and his faction is certainly dangerous."
Li Si chuckled. "Wang Wan targeted Zhao Feng repeatedly, and Zhao Feng remembered every instance."
"This time, Zhao Feng returned from the front lines..."
"Carrying a chest full of incriminating evidence against Wang Wan and presented it in court!"
"The evidence was overwhelming."
"Wang Wan confessed on the spot and was immediately imprisoned by the King," Li Si said, his voice filled with glee.
"The Supreme General gathered evidence against Wang Wan?"
"What kind of evidence could have been so damning?" Li You was astonished.
"Land seizures, smuggling with foreign nations, trafficking government slaves, nepotism..."
Li Si grinned.
"Just these crimes were enough to imprison Wang Wan?" Li You was still in disbelief.
"If it were someone else presenting the charges, the evidence wouldn't have even reached the King before being intercepted."
"After all, Wang Wan held immense power."
"But the one accusing him was Zhao Feng."
"He has direct access to the King!"
"Not only that, but he brought the evidence before the King. The King immediately ordered Feng Jie to review it."
"The proof was indisputable!"
"All the court officials witnessed it, and since the King prioritizes the law above all else, even Wang Wan's influence could not change his fate."
"The Wang family is finished," Li Si said with a cold smile.
This impeachment...
Just as Li Si said, if the charges had been submitted to the Censorate, nothing would have come of them.
After all, Wang Wan was the Left Prime Minister, with power and connections.
The evidence would never have reached the King.
Government officials shielding one another was a reality in every era.
Even though Qin emphasized the law, the Censorate was not truly incorruptible.
Everyone had their interests.
This time, Wang Wan was taken down so suddenly because Zhao Feng blindsided him.
He directly accused Wang Wan in court, laid out the charges in full view of all officials, and gave Wang Wan no time to prepare or defend himself.
Thus, he was suddenly imprisoned.
Zhao Feng had caught him completely off guard.
"The Supreme General is truly formidable."
"He managed to take down the Prime Minister just like that..."
After hearing the full story, Li You was filled with awe.
"I am more grateful than ever that I sent you to the military, placing you under Zhao Feng's command."
"I never expected..."
"That he would give me such a wonderful surprise."
"That old fox Wang Wan is finally finished!"
"With him gone, perhaps I will have the chance to ascend to the position of Left Prime Minister," Li Si said, his ambitions now laid bare.
Although there were hundreds of officials in the court, each with their responsibilities, there was only one position as the head of the civil officials. The Left Chancellor was the highest-ranking civil official, while the Right Chancellor was slightly lower in status.
Li You nodded.
Having been exposed to court affairs since childhood, he naturally understood why his father was so elated.
His father and Wang Wan had always been bitter rivals.
It was a power struggle between the old aristocracy and the rising new elite, a battle for influence and interests that would not end until one side was completely defeated.
"Son,"
"You should have established yourself in the Wu'an military camp by now, correct?" Li Si asked with a smile.
"Yes." Li You nodded, his expression confident. "Most of the officers under my command now acknowledge me."
"A governor being transferred to a commanding position..."
"This was because His Majesty recognized my years of service to Qin. You were bound to face resistance upon entering the army, but you have not let me down."
"With you in the military and me in the court, no matter what happens, our Li family will not decline."
"But the most pressing matter now..."
"Is your marriage."
"Now that you're back, I must start looking for a suitable bride for you among the noble families of Xianyang," Li Si said with a serious tone.
Hearing this,
Li You immediately protested, "Father, I will decide my marriage."
Li Si frowned. "Are you still fixated on Zhao Feng's younger sister?"
"Although she is outstanding, she is already twenty-three. That is not a young age for a woman, and besides, she does not seem to have any interest in you. Why persist in a hopeless pursuit?"
Li You, however, was resolute. "Father, I have already made up my mind. I will only marry Zhao Ying in this lifetime. No one can change that, and I am close to succeeding. Soon, I will be able to marry Zhao Ying."
Seeing his son's determination,
Li Si sighed and shook his head. "Do as you please. However, I will only wait until you turn thirty. If you still haven't succeeded by then, you must obey my arrangements. The Li family must not be left without an heir."
"Father, I promise you."
For now, Li You readily agreed. Convincing his father to let him continue pursuing Zhao Ying was the priority. The rest could be dealt with later.
"If you truly manage to marry Zhao Feng's sister, it will be a great benefit to our family as well."
"I hope you succeed," Li Si said with a smile.
Unlike Li You's genuine feelings, Li Si had ulterior motives.
Zhao Feng's current status is extraordinary.
The Zhao and Wang families were deeply tied together, holding command over half of Qin's military power.
As the Grand Justice (Tingwei), Li Si was a high-ranking official, but he was still a civil minister. If he could establish a connection with Zhao Feng through marriage, it would undoubtedly be advantageous for his future.
"Father,"
"My pursuit of Zhao Ying is not for the benefit of our family, but because I truly love her," Li You firmly corrected.
"As long as you love her, that's all that matters."
"I also hope that you find someone you genuinely love," Li Si replied, no longer pressing the matter.
"Wang Wan..."
"He is finished."
Thinking of this,
Li Si couldn't help but feel excited.
Just then
"Master,"
"The young lady has returned home."
The steward's voice echoed from outside the hall.
Hearing this,
Li You's expression shifted, and he immediately stood up.
A moment later, a graceful woman in elegant palace attire slowly walked into the hall.
"Rou'er,"
Li You called gently.
"Greetings, Father."
"Greetings, Elder Brother."
Li Rou bowed respectfully to Li Si and Li You.
Li Si turned to look at his daughter, his face showing a hint of guilt.
"Rou'er,"
"How has Fusu treated you?"
"You've lost weight."
Seeing his sister's appearance, Li You walked over, his tone filled with concern.
"He has done nothing to me. We treat each other with courtesy and respect," Li Rou replied gently.
"Why have you come home this time?" Li Si asked, his expression turning cold.
Li Rou's sudden return, at such a coincidental time, immediately made Li Si suspicious.
Li Rou stepped forward and respectfully said, "My husband has sent me to beg Father to spare a bloodline of the Wang family, to grant them a way to survive."
If anyone else had come to make such a request,
Li Si would not have even granted them an audience and might have outright rebuked them.
However, when it came to his daughter, Li Si felt a deep sense of guilt.
Because of him, she had been neglected in Fusu's household and left to live in loneliness.
"Rou'er,"
"Wang Wan has already confessed."
"I have already submitted my memorial to His Majesty. Moreover, the punishment was personally decided by His Majesty himself I have no power to change it."
"All the officials witnessed this in court."
"As for Wang Wan's bloodline, he has four sons who are currently not in Xianyang."
"If Fusu truly wishes to save them, he must send his people to find them."
"By tomorrow, their names will be on the wanted list." Li Si sighed and explained.
Hearing this,
Li Rou knelt and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Father."
She understood that this was her father giving her a way to report back to Fusu.
Leaving the royal palace,
Zhang Ming drove a six-horse carriage, surrounded by elite guards.
The path ahead was clear and unobstructed as they left the palace grounds.
"Master,"
"Our sources have reported"
"Although the entire Wang family has been imprisoned, four of Wang Wan's sons were not in Xianyang at the time and are still outside."
"Moreover,"
"Each of them is protected by Wang family's death guards."
"As soon as they hear the news of Wang Wan's imprisonment, they will likely flee to foreign lands," Zhang Ming reported respectfully.
"Inform Ying Bu."
"Leave no survivors from the Wang family," Zhao Feng ordered coldly.
"As you command." Zhang Ming immediately obeyed.
From the moment Wang Wan went to great lengths to target him repeatedly, at that, he and Zhao Feng had become mortal enemies.
Zhao Feng naturally had no sympathy for him.
If the weeds are not completely uprooted, they will grow again with the spring breeze.
Zhao Feng understood this principle well.
Leaving Wang Wan's descendants alive would only create future enemies for himself. Though Zhao Feng did not fear them, the constant buzzing of flies would be an annoyance. If the problem could be solved now, it should be dealt with immediately.
Soon enough, the carriage traveled unimpeded.
They arrived at the mansion's entrance.
As Zhao Feng's eyes swept over the scene, he noticed Chunyu Yue standing at the side of the mansion gate.
"Master," Zhang Ming reported respectfully after glancing outside. "Chunyu Yue is waiting outside."
"In the past, when I had yet to return to Xianyang, he spoke with great arrogance in the court," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
"The king has issued a decree."
"He must personally come and apologize."
Zhao Feng chuckled lightly.
Then, without hesitation, he lifted the curtain of the carriage and stepped down gracefully.
Chunyu Yue, who had been waiting at the entrance, wore a conflicted expression on his aged face. To him, coming here to apologize was an extreme humiliation. However, with the royal decree in place, he had no choice but to comply.
As soon as he saw Zhao Feng step down from the carriage, Chunyu Yue forcibly swallowed his resentment, took slow steps forward, and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Grand General."
"What is your business?" Zhao Feng asked coldly.
"In the past, before Grand General had returned, I spoke ill of you in court. Today, I have come to express my apology."
"I ask for Grand General's forgiveness."
As he spoke, Chunyu Yue bent even lower in a posture of submission.
Zhao Feng glanced at him, his eyes carrying a trace of mockery. "Chunyu Yue, as an adult, you should understand what can be said and what should not be said."
"You should not apologize to me."
"You should apologize to the soldiers who died on foreign battlefields."
"The warriors of Great Qin fought with their lives on the line not to be slandered by a shameless man like you."
"I do not accept your apology."
With that, Zhao Feng did not spare him another glance. He simply waved his sleeve and strode into the mansion.
Watching Zhao Feng's retreating figure, Chunyu Yue straightened his body, his face filled with even greater humiliation.
How could Zhao Feng not see through his thoughts?
It was nothing more than obedience to the king's decree he had no real intention of apologizing.
Whether he apologized or not was his business.
Whether Zhao Feng forgave him or not was another matter entirely.
More importantly, it was up to the fallen soldiers themselves.
"Father is back!"
As soon as Zhao Feng stepped inside, the voice of his son, Zhao Qi, rang out.
"Father, carry me!"
"Take us horseback riding!"
Zhao Ling also ran forward in tiny steps and jumped into Zhao Feng's arms.
"Father just returned. Let me rest for a few days first," Zhao Feng said gently.
He was very fond of his children and naturally doted on them.
"Qi'er, Ling'er."
"Your father just got home. Let him rest first," Wang Yan walked over, her expression stern.
Seeing their mother, the two little ones finally took a step back, looking a bit fearful.
"I'm going to rest in my room for a while. Prepare dinner at the mansion tonight Han Fei will be joining us," Zhao Feng said warmly to Wang Yan.
"Understood, husband," Wang Yan nodded.
After giving his instructions, Zhao Feng walked towards his chamber.
Yesterday, he had just returned.
Today, he received his new title.
Then, he had spent most of the day in discussions with the Qin King, leaving him with little time for himself.
This time, he had been bestowed the title of "Lord of Wu'an" and granted two additional ranks.
Along with that came two second-tier treasure chests and one third-tier treasure chest.
Naturally, Zhao Feng was eager to open them.
Once he reached his chamber, he sat back against the bed and immediately issued a command: "Open all treasure chests."
"Opening second-tier treasure chest."
"Acquired spiritual material: 5,000 pieces of Void Stone."
"Acquired low-grade Heaven-class weapon: 'Tianwen Sword'."
"Opening third-tier treasure chest."
"Acquired 'Map of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons'."
A notification appeared on the interface.
Seeing the message, Zhao Feng's attention immediately locked onto the map.
"The Map of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons?"
"What is this?"
"Aren't the Nine Cauldrons in the Qin royal palace?"
"What is the purpose of this map?"
Zhao Feng was puzzled.
In the past, after King Zhaoxiang of Qin had destroyed the Zhou dynasty, he transferred the Nine Cauldrons to the Qin royal ancestral temple.
Although one cauldron had been lost during transportation, the remaining eight were all in the Qin palace.
He had never seen them before, but he had certainly heard of them.
But now, this map marked the locations of the eight cauldrons in the Qin palace.
With curiosity, Zhao Feng retrieved the map.
At that moment, an ancient-looking map appeared before him. Unlike parchment, it was crafted from some unknown treasure-refined material. The moment Zhao Feng summoned it, the map directly unfolded before his eyes.
The details of the map were displayed in Zhao Feng's vision.
"This place... seems to be Baiyue?"
"It's not the Qin royal palace?"
Zhao Feng studied the map for a moment, murmuring to himself.
At first, he had assumed the map described the Qin palace.
But now, it seemed he had been mistaken.
However, with the sudden appearance of this map, it is labeled as the "Map of the Nine Provinces Cauldrons"
That raised a very important question!
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