Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield Chapter 744 Chapter 306: Kill Liu Ji! Obtain the Supreme Treasure! Zhao Feng Is Shocked! The Supreme Treasure That Will Change Qin’s Power Structure!...
Previously on Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield...
The edict from the First Emperor, along with the Crown Prince's national policies.
Centered on Qin's capital Xianyang, these spread out to every prefectural city and town throughout the realm.
Four national policies.
They shake the entire world.
Everyone feels shocked by these national policies.
For Qin's ordinary folk, putting these four national policies into effect will render the whole Qin nation far more stable and unshakeable.
Yet for the lurking remnants of the Six States in the dark, these four national policies—plus the supporting measure to confiscate all copper and iron weapons—bring nothing but catastrophe.
Han territory.
A secret hideout.
Over a dozen figures gathered around a cloth map, their faces etched with deep grimness.
"Zhao Feng."
"Utterly ruthless and merciless."
"Erasing the scripts of our nations, destroying the cultural legacies of our states."
"Gathering up the world's copper and iron, starving us of weapon supplies."
"He's driving us straight into a corner with no escape."
Xiang Liang gnashed his teeth, seething with fury and loathing.
All present shared that burning rage.
"Zi Fang."
"How do we handle this?"
All eyes turned to their strategist, Zhang Liang.
"Zhao Feng's scheme."
"It's an overt ploy, impossible to counter directly."
"Once this policy takes hold, the very foundations of our states are uprooted." Zhang Liang let out a heavy sigh.
"Are we supposed to stand by powerless?"
"If Qin pulls this off, how can we ever revive our nations? How will revenge be possible?"
Anger and defiance surged through the group.
The talk of revenge and restoring fallen states.
In truth.
Not all saw it that way.
What they craved was reclaiming their lost status and splendor.
"With Zhao Feng's four policies in place."
"The nation will mobilize fully, and they'll surely guard against our moves."
"What's more, I foresee that Qin will soon enforce the county system across the land."
"Word has come that Emperor Qin Shi Huang has decreed no one may speak of the feudal lord system again; violators face execution, proving his intent to centralize all authority."
"Should Emperor Qin Shi Huang enact the county system, carving up our lands into Qin's counties—one county ruling its domain—our path ahead grows even thornier." Zhang Liang spoke measuredly, concern lingering on his features.
"Zi Fang."
"What's your view now?" Xiang Liang fixed his gaze on Zhang Liang.
"Everyone."
"I've just gotten some intelligence."
Zhang Liang announced, pulling a sealed report from his robe.
"This report came straight from Qin lands."
"In half a month, Zhao Feng will pay respects at Qin's ancestral temple, entering the imperial genealogy."
"Since Empress Dowager Huayang of Qin resides in Yong City, Zhao Feng plans to escort her personally back to Xianyang," Zhang Liang explained.
"Zi Fang, do you mean we ambush and assassinate him en route?"
"Take out Zhao Feng?" Xiang Liang caught on instantly.
"The news hasn't leaked widely, nor has Zhao Feng's departure date been fixed."
"But the report indicates he won't travel with a large escort." Zhang Liang supplemented.
"Do you think this intel was fed to us by Qin's top officials?" Xiang Liang mulled it over.
"Plenty in Qin crave Zhao Feng's demise, not just us." Zhang Liang sneered.
Hearing Zhang Liang's assessment.
Xiang Liang paused, then voiced, "Zhao Feng just got named Crown Prince, and now he heads to Yong City out of nowhere—could it be a trap? Luring us into striking?"
Zhang Liang gave a wry smile. "General Xiang, we face only two paths: one, sit idle as Zhao Feng departs Xianyang, lets him bring back Qin's Empress Dowager Huayang unharmed; two, dispatch assassins to waylay and slay Zhao Feng—if we succeed, Qin plunges into turmoil, keeping our spark of hope alive."
"And this dilemma binds not only us, but those in Xianyang plotting his end too."
"Naturally."
"It's up to all of you—watch passively, or dispatch forces to strike?"
Evidently.
Zhang Liang shrank from dictating this call.
For Zhao Feng's abrupt exit from Xianyang screamed bait.
It looked like abandoning the ironclad defenses of Xianyang on purpose, dangling himself to provoke attacks.
This gambit.
Zhang Liang saw it plainly.
His foes in Xianyang pierced it too.
Still.
No options remained.
Failing to strike now meant facing Zhao Feng's purge later with zero recourse.
An overt scheme like this.
They offered the chance, left the decision yours—if Zhao Feng must die, then move.
"From Chu, I pledge four hundred crack troops."
Moments later, Xiang Liang committed.
"Then."
"Wei sends five hundred elites." A Wei survivor declared.
"Zhao contributes three hundred."
"Yan, two hundred."
...
After thorough debate.
The Six States' holdouts reached consensus.
Bait or not, overt ploy or trap, they had to seize it.
Lacking this shot, future ones vanished.
At the same time.
Within Xianyang City!
At Huai Zhuang's manor.
"The young lord has utterly despaired."
"He departs for Yanmen tomorrow."
Huai Zhuang murmured slowly, his tone laced with regret.
"All know how Zhao Feng dealt with the outer Prime Minister; it's clear to us."
"These years, we've opposed Zhao Feng relentlessly, and now as Crown Prince with mastery over troops and strategy, will he let us live?" Huai Zhuang turned sharply to his companions.
"Huai Xiang, has it truly come to this?"
"Failure means certain implication, and the Crown Prince will wipe us out completely."