The thousand-year-old family began with King Wu's conquest of King Zhou.

Chapter 50 The Dune Coup, Hu Hai Ascends the Throne

As the mastermind behind the Dune Coup, Zhao Gao's background was actually quite humble, and accounts from ancient times to the present have varied.

There is no biography for Zhao Gao in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian. Whether it was because he was a despicable person or because he was not worthy of a biography, no one knows.

However, his life and deeds can be gleaned from the "Annals of Qin Shi Huang", "Biography of Meng Tian", and "Biography of Li Si".

Zhao Gao was a distant relative of the Zhao royal family. He had several brothers. Because their mother committed a crime and suffered a humiliating punishment, Zhao Gao and his brothers were born in a secluded palace and had a lowly status for generations.

The Hidden Palace, as explained in the "Yunmeng Qin Laws," is an official workshop that houses and employs convicts with physical disabilities who have been pardoned after being convicted.

Zhao Gao was not a true eunuch; he had a daughter who married Yan Gao, the magistrate of Xianyang, who had participated in the Wangyi Palace coup.

It's important to understand that the terms "eunuch" and "castrated eunuch" were different at the time. "Eunuch" referred to someone who served in the palace, essentially a close bodyguard of the king or emperor, while "castrated eunuch" referred to a eunuch who worked in the palace.

It is clear that Zhao Gao was a eunuch, and he even held a formal eunuch status.

According to the "Miscellaneous Records of the Inner History" in the "Yunmeng Qin Laws", "No one other than the son of a historian shall dare to study in the school; violating this order will be a crime."

The "Bamboo Slips from the Zhangjiashan Han Tomb" also state that the sons of historians were to study history. Historiography was hereditary, and only the sons of historians could become students and enter the academy to learn history.

Zhao Gao entered officialdom through the path of a historian. As the son of a historian, Zhao Gao's father was naturally also a historian. As a low-ranking civil official in the hidden palace, he was knowledgeable in law, skilled in calligraphy, and adept at writing.

As a state that valued hereditary succession, the practice of sons inheriting their fathers' jobs became the mainstream in Qin at that time.

Since Shang Yang's reforms, the Qin Dynasty established itself on agriculture and warfare, and governed by law. Soldiers were highly respected by society, and officials were deeply revered by the people.

For the people of Qin who wanted to serve in government, there were essentially two paths: joining the army or becoming an official.

When a boy reached adulthood at the age of 17, he was required to perform corvée labor and pay taxes, or enlist in the army to fight and earn merit. Alternatively, he could attend school, pass examinations, and become an official.

The academy was a special institution for training civil and legal officials. Students entered at the age of 17 and studied for three years, mainly learning literacy, calligraphy, and law. After completing three years of study, they would take a qualification exam at their local academy. Those who passed would be appointed as scribes and could serve as minor officials in civil and legal affairs. They could then participate in the primary selection exam in the capital.

The primary selection examinations were held in schools in various regions. Afterward, all the examination papers were sent to Xianyang, where they were reviewed and judged by the Grand Historian under the Shaofu (Imperial Household Department). The best candidates were promoted, and the worst were punished.

The top performer was appointed as a clerk in the county where he came from, while the worst performer was stripped of his clerkship. Three years later, those who were appointed as clerks would take a higher-level selection exam to select the best candidate to serve as a clerk in the Imperial Household Department.

It can be seen that although Zhao Gao was of lowly status, he was a wise man. He was unwilling to remain in a humble position forever, and the Qin state's system of appointing virtuous and capable people gave him hope.

So he studied the laws that were popular at the time, and became well-versed in prison law. He also had excellent handwriting. In addition, he was adept at navigating social situations and knew how to adapt to changing circumstances. Soon he gained the favor of Ying Zheng and was appointed as the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office. Although the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office was at a similar level to a county magistrate, he was a close minister who was in charge of the imperial carriages and horses and often came and went from the emperor's side. This was no small matter, because he could freely enter and leave the inner palace.

Zhao Gao quickly gained the appreciation and trust of Qin Shi Huang and Hu Hai. Not only was he pardoned for committing a serious crime, but he also wrote "Aili Pian", which, along with Li Si's "Cangjie Pian" and Hu Wujing's "Boxue Pian", was promulgated throughout the country as a model of small seal script.

Zhao Gao gained the trust of Qin Shi Huang, but he was not satisfied with all of this. He dreamed of climbing to a position above all others and becoming the master of power, and he plotted for this.

At that time, he had free access to the inner palace gardens and knew everything about them.

The eldest prince, Fusu, was an upright and honest man with ambitions to govern the country and bring peace to the land, thus placing him above the other princes. However, he repeatedly advised the First Emperor to be lenient in his policies and reduce punishments, which angered the headstrong Qin Shi Huang, who ordered Fusu to serve as a military supervisor in the army led by Meng Tian in the north. At that time, Qin Shi Huang had not yet clearly designated an heir apparent, and Fusu also greatly disliked cunning and manipulative people like Zhao Gao.

So when he was sent to the northern border, Zhao Gao was secretly pleased. Fusu, who was talented and had the potential to inherit the throne, was alienated by the emperor. So Zhao Gao began to think about which of the princes was most favored by the First Emperor.

Unsurprisingly, the ten-year-old prince Huhai, who was the most favored by the First Emperor, became his target. Zhao Gao knew Huhai very well. If Huhai ascended the throne in the future, wouldn't he be able to control the power at will?

Zhao Gao seized the opportunity and tried his best to win over the mediocre Prince Huhai. He spent all his time by Huhai's side, playing with him and sometimes teaching him literature, calligraphy, and prison law.

Qin Shi Huang was very pleased with this, so he asked Zhao Gao to instruct Hu Hai on prison laws and calligraphy.

As the saying goes: the emperor loves his eldest son, and the common people love their youngest son.

Qin Shi Huang was indeed a typical example of someone who loved his youngest son, but this did not mean that the throne of the Qin Dynasty would fall to Hu Hai. At that time, Prince Fusu was gentle and kind, upright and honest. He was not only considerate of the people's conditions but also knowledgeable in military affairs and literature. He was the ideal second emperor.

In October of the 37th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign (210 BC), the First Emperor of Qin left Xianyang for his fifth and final inspection tour. The route he took was as follows: starting from Xianyang, passing through Wuguan Pass, following the Dan and Han River basins to Yunmeng, then eastward along the Yangtze River to Kuaiji (south of present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province). He ascended Mount Kuaiji, offered sacrifices to Yu the Great, and inscribed a stone tablet as a memento.

Qin Shi Huang's inspection tour served two purposes: first, to flaunt his power; and second, to perform the Fengshan ceremony to worship Heaven and to obtain the elixir of immortality, hoping to ensure the eternal stability of his empire and achieve immortality. The procession was grand and imposing, with Left Chancellor Li Si, Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office Zhao Gao, and Senior Minister Meng Yi accompanying him.

Zhao Gao was granted an important post by the emperor, "concurrently acting as the Director of Imperial Seals," responsible for the safekeeping of the emperor's jade seal and edicts. The young Hu Hai, fond of traveling, requested to accompany his father, the emperor. To please Hu Hai, Zhao Gao spoke highly of him to Qin Shi Huang, ultimately achieving his goal of having Hu Hai accompany him.

In July, as the imperial procession returned to Xianyang and camped at Shaqiu (present-day Dapingtai, northwest of Guangzong County, Hebei Province), Qin Shi Huang's condition worsened day by day. He began to sense that his time was running out and that the most urgent matter was to quickly determine his successor. He weighed his twenty-odd sons one by one, and felt that although Huhai was his favorite, no one knew a son better than his father, and that this son was incompetent and worthless. His eldest son, Fusu, although he often disagreed with him on political matters, was "resolute and brave, trustworthy and inspiring to his men," and with the assistance of the general Meng Tian, ​​he would undoubtedly be a wise and capable ruler.

Moreover, according to the primogeniture system, the throne should have been passed to him. Without further hesitation, Qin Shi Huang summoned Zhao Gao, who was in charge of the imperial seal and issuing decrees, and wrote an edict for Prince Fusu. At the time, Fusu was supervising the army in Shangjun (southeast of present-day Yulin, Shaanxi). Qin Shi Huang ordered him to entrust military affairs to Meng Tian and return to Xianyang immediately. In case of the emperor's death, Fusu would be in charge of the funeral arrangements. This effectively confirmed Fusu's status as the successor.

After the edict was sealed, the First Emperor ordered Zhao Gao to send an envoy immediately. However, the cunning Zhao Gao feigned agreement but secretly withheld the edict. On the day of Bingyin in the seventh month, the First Emperor died at the Shaqiu Platform.

Zhao Gao had his own plans. Having served in the Qin state for many years, he was well aware of the cruelty of court power struggles.

He understood that once the ambitious and talented Fusu became emperor, he would not fare well.

Fusu disliked Zhao Gao's obsequious attitude, and with the Meng brothers' assistance, he was bound to be neglected and ostracized.

Moreover, the Meng brothers did not have a good impression of him and had tried to kill Zhao Gao several times. Therefore, making the edict public would be extremely disadvantageous to them, so they must not let Fusu inherit the throne.

At this moment, Hu Hai, who was completely obedient to him, was right beside him. Only by supporting Hu Hai to become emperor could he guarantee his future position. Now was the perfect opportunity to change history. Since the "Imperial Edict" was sealed in the "Office of Imperial Seals and Statutes" and had not yet been sent out, it provided him with the convenient conditions to tamper with the "Imperial Edict".

Qin Shi Huang died in Shaqiu, a thousand miles away from the capital Xianyang. The mature and steady prime minister Li Si was very afraid because the emperor had not established a successor before his death, and the newly established successor, Fusu, was far away on the frontier and could not be contacted for a while.

Once news of the emperor's death spreads, the princes in Xianyang may very well develop a desire to inherit the throne. If they rise up one after another to vie for the throne, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Moreover, there is Zhang Ling in Xianyang who is claiming to be ill and not coming out of town. He might be more obedient while the First Emperor is alive, but what about after he dies?

No one knew what this illustrious Marquis of Jingning would do.

Therefore, after discussing with his ministers, he decided to keep the death of Qin Shi Huang a secret and block the news from various sources.

On the one hand, he urged Zhao Gao to send an envoy to Prince Fusu as soon as possible. On the other hand, in order to cover up the truth, he arranged for the emperor's body to be placed in a carriage, and for the eunuchs to continue to provide food and water as Qin Shi Huang had when he was alive, so as not to reveal any flaws. Moreover, he continued to approve the memorials submitted by the ministers as usual, so that everything would remain as if Qin Shi Huang was still alive.

Meanwhile, Zhao Gao was also trying his best to urge Hu Hai to seize the throne. Hu Hai had long dreamed of one day being able to ascend the throne, but he dared not act rashly because of the empty words of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness.

Zhao Gao's kind words stirred his long-suppressed ambition, but he still hesitated, sighing, "The news of my father's death has not yet been announced, the funeral has not been held, and there is still a Marquis of Jingning alive. How can we accomplish this great task?"

Zhao Gao, having already discerned his thoughts, confidently continued, "Timing! Timing is crucial for accomplishing anything. My lord, there's no need to hesitate any longer. Opportunity knocks but once. We've prepared ample provisions and mobilized our warhorses precisely to avoid missing this chance. Since you no longer oppose my suggestion, I'm willing to discuss this with the Prime Minister on your behalf. I'll go and discuss it with him now; this matter cannot be accomplished without his support. As for Marquis Jingning, Zhang Ling, he's currently seriously ill. Although his son, Zhang Bi, is accompanying him, he lacks wisdom. With a little effort in winning him over, the Zhang family will be safe!"

Hu Hai was more than happy to agree and immediately consented, tacitly allowing Zhao Gao to arrange the rest of the matters.

The only person Zhao Gao needs to win over now is Chancellor Li Si. Li Si is one of the founding fathers of the Qin Dynasty. He followed Qin Shi Huang for many years, assisting him in unifying the country and governing the nation, and therefore enjoys a high reputation in the court.

Zhao Gao realized that only by winning over Li Si could his usurpation of the throne be successful.

Therefore, he racked his brains to figure out how to persuade Li Si to agree to tamper with the imperial edict together.

Li Si was born into humble circumstances and served Qin Shi Huang precisely because he could not bear the lowliness and poverty. Although he now held the position of one of the Three Dukes and enjoyed wealth and honor, he was still worried about his future, fearing that one day everything before him would vanish.

Therefore, he decided to exploit Li Si's weakness and launch a combined offensive, using both soft and hard tactics.

Zhao Gao arrived alone at Li Si's resting tent. Upon meeting him, Zhao Gao began to speak frankly and confidently: "No one outside the family knows about the Emperor's passing. The edict and imperial seal he left for his eldest son, Fusu, when he was seriously ill are currently with me and have not yet been issued. The decision on who will be the crown prince rests entirely on the word of the Prime Minister and myself. The Prime Minister, you can decide what to do!"

Li Si was greatly alarmed. From these sudden words, he realized that Zhao Gao intended to usurp the imperial edict and change the emperor's position.

He was a consistently upright man; how could he associate with someone like Zhao Gao? He resolutely refused, saying righteously, "How could you utter such treasonous words! I was originally of humble origin, and it was only through the Emperor's promotion that I achieved my current high position. The Emperor has now entrusted the fate of the nation to you and me; how can we betray him!"

Zhao Gao, a cunning man, seeing that direct persuasion had failed, changed his tone and asked, "Prime Minister, in your opinion, in terms of talent, can you compare to Meng Tian and Zhang Ling? In terms of achievements, can you surpass Meng Tian and Zhang Ling? In terms of strategy, can you exceed Meng Tian and Zhang Ling? Zhang Ling is nearing death, so he's not worth mentioning, but what about Meng Tian? In terms of the benefits he brings to the people, his relationship with the eldest prince, and the degree of trust he has gained, can you compare to Meng Tian? After the eldest prince comes to power, who will prevail between you and Meng Tian? Can't you even figure it out yourself?"

These words struck a nerve with Li Si. He remained silent for a long time before saying sadly, "I am inferior to Meng Tian in these aspects, so you cannot use that to make harsh demands on me!"

Zhao Gao feigned great concern and probed further: "The Prime Minister is a wise man, and he probably understands the stakes even better than I do. Once the eldest son ascends the throne, the position of Prime Minister will surely fall into Meng Tian's hands. At that time, will you still be able to die peacefully? Prince Huhai is kind and benevolent, and is truly the best candidate to succeed him. I hope the Prime Minister will carefully consider this."

After hearing these words, Li Si remained silent.

Seeing that Li Si was already swayed, Zhao Gao further exploited this weakness to continue sowing discord, saying with feigned seriousness, "I, Zhao Gao, am merely a menial laborer in the palace. I only gained my position in the Qin palace because of my knowledge of a little law, and I have been here for twelve years. I am well aware of the tragic fates of those dismissed prime ministers and meritorious officials in Qin. The wealth and status they gained did not last more than two generations, and their ultimate end was only one: execution."

As he spoke, he slyly observed Li Si's facial expression, trying to decipher his inner thoughts.

Li Si was certainly aware of the merits, demerits, and fates of his predecessors. Take Shang Yang, who helped Duke Xiao of Qin implement reforms, for example; his achievements in the history of Qin's rise to power are undeniable.

However, in the end, he suffered the fate of being "torn apart by five oxen and devoured by men." This bloody reality truly touched Li Si's heart. Zhao Gao, skilled in sweet talk and alarmist rhetoric, could easily discern Li Si's complex emotions from his expression.

But the Marquis of Jingning in Xianyang is only about to die, not already dead!

This is what Li Si was worried about.

Zhao Gao could naturally see what Li Si was worried about. He didn't mention Zhang Ling, but Li Si said, "Prime Minister, you know more about the emperor's more than twenty sons than I do. Prince Fusu is resolute and brave, with high prestige. After he becomes emperor, he will definitely appoint Meng Tian as prime minister, and you will not be able to return to your hometown with the seal of a marquis. I have been teaching Huhai law for several years under the late emperor's orders, and I have never found any fault in him. He is honest and kind, generous with his money, respects scholars, and is quick-witted yet reserved. He is also courteous to scholars. No prince in Qin can compare to him. He is the most qualified to inherit the throne. Please, Prime Minister, make the decision!"

Having said that, he adopted an expression that brooked no argument. Although Li Si was worried about his future, he dared not act rashly without any prior preparation and refused, saying, "I, Li Si, am acting in accordance with the Emperor's orders and the will of Heaven. Why should I have any other plans or decisions?"

Zhao Gao replied with an unusually arrogant tone: "Peace can turn into danger, and danger can turn into peace; safety and danger can be transformed. If you can't see through or understand this, what kind of wisdom or intelligence are you talking about?"

"I, Li Si, was originally an ordinary citizen of Shangcai City. The emperor appreciated and trusted me, appointed me as prime minister, and bestowed upon me the title of marquis. My descendants have also become high-ranking officials, enjoying generous salaries. Therefore, the late emperor entrusted me with matters concerning the safety and survival of the country. How can I fail to live up to the late emperor's kindness and trust? A loyal minister is good enough if he is not afraid to die, and a filial son is in danger if he is not diligent. As a subject, one should just do one's duty. Don't say any more. If you continue to disturb me with these words, it will make me break the law."

Although Li Si refused again, Zhao Gao still persisted, saying, "I've heard that a sage always acts according to the changing circumstances. Seeing the tip, one knows the root; seeing the direction, one knows the destination. Things are not permanent; how can we stick to old methods? Now, the power and destiny of the world are in the hands of Prince Huhai, and I, Zhao Gao, have no worries about not achieving my ambitions. However, on the other hand, it's foolish for someone in the countryside to try to subdue someone in court; it's insubordination for someone in a subordinate position to try to subdue someone in a superior position. Therefore, when frost falls in autumn, the grass and trees wither; when the ice melts in spring, and the water ripples, all things grow. This is an inevitable result; why is the Prime Minister so slow to grasp the situation?"

Upon hearing this, Li Si shook his head repeatedly, saying, "I have heard that the State of Jin deposed Crown Prince Shen Sheng and installed Xi Qi, resulting in three generations of unrest; Duke Huan of Qi and Prince Jiu fought for power, killing each other and causing deaths; King Zhou of Yin ignored loyal advice and killed his relative Bigan, resulting in the downfall of his state and the destruction of his family! From these examples, we can see that all of these actions went against the will of Heaven and cut off the lineage of our ancestors. I am an upright person; how could I participate in such conspiracies that would overthrow the state?"

"When superiors and subordinates are of one mind, things can last. When internal and external forces cooperate, things will be consistent in word and deed. If you, Prime Minister, listen to me, you can be ennobled forever and your descendants will be granted the title of heir. If you do not follow the path I have envisioned for you today, it will bring disaster upon your descendants, which would be a truly disheartening thing! A capable person can turn misfortune into blessing. What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Zhao Gao's words, a combination of persuasion and coercion, were very effective. They reminded Li Si of his original intention when he entered Qin: "Nothing is more shameful than being lowly, and nothing is more tragic than being poor."

He realized that all the wealth and glory he had fought for his entire life could vanish in a moment of mishandling. He couldn't help but sigh, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Why did I have to encounter this chaotic world? I don't want to end it all with death, so where can I entrust my fate?"

Li Si was in a state of utter confusion at this moment; he knew all too well what it felt like to be a minister who had fallen out of favor!

Moreover, this was what he feared most. "Personal desires come first," and Li Si was no exception.

After a fierce internal struggle, he finally yielded to Zhao Gao, looked up to the sky and sighed, tears streaming down his face: "In this chaotic world, self-preservation is the only priority!"

Zhao Gao, overjoyed that his scheme had succeeded, immediately produced the imperial edict and conspired with Li Si to alter it. In the end, they falsely claimed that it was Qin Shi Huang's order to establish Huhai as the crown prince; they also forged two other edicts and sent them to Shangjun, ordering Fusu and Meng Tian to commit suicide on charges of "disloyalty and unfilial piety".

A document was sent to Xianyang, ordering Zhang Ling to commit suicide on charges of deceiving the emperor and being arrogant.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Fusu was struck dumb, utterly devastated. He wept bitterly, turned back to his tent, and prepared to commit suicide by sword. Meng Tian, ​​who had a close relationship with Qin Shi Huang, became suspicious of this unexpected edict and advised him, "His Majesty is currently on tour and has not yet designated a crown prince. The princes are undoubtedly eyeing him covetously, harboring secret ambitions. His appointment of you and me as supervisors of the border demonstrates the depth of his trust in us. To suddenly send an envoy with a death warrant today—how can we be sure it's not a trap? It would be better to plead your case and find out the truth before you die."

The envoy had long been instructed by Zhao Gao, Huhai, and others, and was simply urging them on from the sidelines.

Fusu, always benevolent and filial, no longer cared whether it was true or false. He said sadly, "If the ruler wants the subject to die, and the father wants the son to perish, what else is there to ask for?" After saying this, he drew his sword and committed suicide.

Meng Tian refused to die without a clear explanation, so the messenger imprisoned him in Yangzhou (north of present-day Zichang County, Shaanxi Province), transferred his military power to his deputy Wang Li, and appointed Li Si's confidant as the military commander before he returned to report.

When Hu Hai heard that Fusu was dead, he felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and had the idea of ​​releasing Meng Tian.

Unexpectedly, Meng Yi returned from offering sacrifices to famous mountains and rivers on behalf of Qin Shi Huang at this time. Zhao Gao had long harbored resentment towards him and was also worried that the Meng family would regain power in the future, so he decided to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

So he slandered Meng Yi to Hu Hai, saying, "The late emperor had long wanted to select a virtuous crown prince, but it was not done because Meng Yi repeatedly stopped him. Such a disloyal and misleading person should be killed to prevent future troubles." Hu Hai believed him and sent people to detain Meng Yi in Dai (northeast of present-day Yu County, Hebei).

Meanwhile, in Xianyang, after receiving the forged imperial edict, Zhang Ling couldn't help but sneer. He said to Zhang Sili and Zhao Sineng beside him, "If His Majesty truly wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have made me commit suicide. He would have beheaded me in front of the entire court as a warning to others. Granting me suicide is Zhao Gao's tactic. He's afraid of me, afraid that if I raised my voice in Xianyang, those battle-hardened veterans would follow me into the desert. So he wants me to die quietly, without a sound, preferably without even leaving a trace."

Zhao Sineng's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "This subordinate will go and kill that messenger!"

"What's the use of killing a messenger?" Zhang Ling turned his head. "The fact that Zhao Gao dared to send this fake edict means that things have settled down at Shaqiu. Fusu is dead, Meng Tian is imprisoned, and Li Si has sided with Zhao Gao. That brat Huhai has probably already become emperor."

He turned his head, looked at Zhang Sili and Zhao Sineng, and suddenly smiled.

"They thought I was dying." Zhang Ling slowly stood up, took off the old robe he had worn while pretending to be sick, revealing the soft armor he was already wearing underneath.

His movements were slow, but his back was ramrod straight. The Lord Jingning, who had been the first to charge into battle at Changping, had returned. "He feigned illness for over a year and drank countless bowls of bitter medicine, all for this day. With Huhai ascending the throne, Zhao Gao will inevitably manipulate power, plunging the world into chaos. This is a time of great opportunity."

"However, the current situation is bleak, and it is not advisable to act rashly!"

"Then, Your Majesty, are we just going to let ourselves be manipulated like this?"

"No, we will secretly return to Hanzhong. Hanzhong is the ancestral home of the Zhang family. Since our great-grandfather, Duke Jujiu, was granted Hanzhong as his fief, the people of Hanzhong have always been loyal to the Zhang family. When the world changes, the Zhang family can send troops to Chencang Road to punish the disobedient!"

Zhang Sili and Zhao Sineng exchanged a glance, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and said in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Zhang Ling hesitated for a moment, then instructed, "Sili, you stay here. Guard the mansion in the name of Lord Ningguo. Drink and hunt as usual, and make it seem as if I am still in Xianyang. Once things have calmed down, use the pretext of unrest in Shu to lead your troops to occupy Hanzhong. Si Neng, come with me tonight, taking only twenty personal guards. Do not alert anyone."

The three of them discussed the details in hushed tones until the candle burned out and the sky began to lighten.

When the gates of Xianyang opened, a caravan of merchants mingled among the vendors and laborers of the morning market and slowly left the city.

The guard yawned, glanced at the pass token, and waved for them to pass.

No one noticed that the old man sitting on the oxcart wrapped in an old felt was the only surviving founding marquis of the Qin state.

As the carriage curtain fell, Zhang Ling glanced through the gap at the Qin-character banner on the Xianyang city wall. He looked at it once, then looked away and never looked back.

At this point, Zhao Gao was overjoyed to see that the obstacle had been removed. Zhao Gao advised Huhai to quickly return and inherit the throne.

Due to the hot weather, Qin Shi Huang's body had begun to decompose, and a foul stench emanated from the carriage.

To cover up the stench, Zhao Gao ordered a large quantity of salted fish to be purchased. The group finally returned to Xianyang in a grand procession, whereupon he officially announced the news of Qin Shi Huang's death to the officials, read out the imperial edict, appointed Huhai as the crown prince, ordered him to oversee the funeral, and then ascended the throne.

When Li Si read the imperial edict, he remained calm and his tone was firm. The officials had no doubts and regarded him as the most prestigious senior minister among the founding heroes. Crown Prince Huhai ascended the throne as Qin Er Shi. Civil and military officials all took up their respective posts, except for Zhao Gao, who was promoted to the position of Langzhongling (a high-ranking official in the imperial guard).

The only thing that none of the three expected was that Marquis Jingning, Zhang Ling, and Li Zuo were nowhere to be found.

A month later, Lord Ningguo Zhang Sili and Lord Xunquan Zhao Sineng, citing unrest in Shu, led the Longxi army back to Hanzhong.

The fact that these two appeared together in Hanzhong can only mean one thing: Zhang Ling is still alive and doing well in Hanzhong.

Faced with this battle-hardened Marquis of Jingning, who enjoyed great prestige in the army, Hu Hai and his men dared not pursue his disobedience and even bestowed upon him the title of Grand Commandant.