Chapter 203

Chapter 203: Qin’s Strong Stance, Li Si’s Confidence! Taking You on a Hot Air Balloon!

In just three days, Meng Tian, stationed at the border, received news from the palace.

The entire Qin army pulled up camp and headed towards Hangu Pass.

Rows of majestic warhorses and chariots lined up in grand formation.

At the same time, Qin swiftly mobilized its forces across the entire nation.

Wang Jian deployed an additional 300,000 troops, ready to support the frontline at any moment.

Just waiting for Qin’s new envoy to enter Han.

As long as the national advisor safely arrived in Qin, they could ensure the safety of Han’s princess and grand general.

If anything happened to the advisor in Han, Qin would trample over Han and drag their entire royal family to the grave.

For a time, it shook the entire world.

A 400,000-strong army, such a colossal force.

Since the Battle of Changping decades ago, it was the first time such a large-scale mobilization had taken place.

And all of this was due to one person.

The safety of this national advisor of Qin influenced countless hearts.

If this war broke out, it would likely change the entire world’s landscape.

Some even suspected this was just an excuse for Qin to invade Han.

Otherwise, why would their national advisor suddenly go to Han, kidnapping the princess and grand general?

Every battle, especially one concerning the survival of a nation, demanded a justified cause.

Qin had wanted to advance eastward for some time.

But Hangu Pass had been a bottleneck.

Once Han fell, Qin could surge forth like a flood.

With Han’s grand general kidnapped, how could they possibly fight?

Qin’s new envoy entered Han.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Han turned pale with fear.

Even counting the capital’s elite guard, Han couldn’t muster 200,000 troops.

Yet Qin mobilized 400,000!

If this force attacked Xinzheng, Han wouldn’t even have space to hold them.

The Hann Emperor didn’t expect the news to leak so quickly.

Despite his lockdown, the information still reached Qin.

And he was even more astounded by Qin’s resolute stance.

Why would a relatively unknown “047” advisor be worth such a major conflict for Qin?

The envoy to Han this time was an unheard-of man.

Li Si.

Even Li Si didn’t expect to be chosen as the envoy to Han by the Qin Emperor.

This was a critical opportunity.

If he succeeded, he would rise to great heights.

If he failed, it meant execution upon return.

Anyone could see the Emperor’s and Queen Mother’s extraordinary regard for the advisor.

With 400,000 troops in tow, Li Si felt confident.

The atmosphere within the Hann royal palace was extremely tense.

The confrontation had lasted an entire day.

Qin demanded the Han Emperor cease the pursuit of their advisor!

But Han insisted on the release of Princess Hongliang and their grand general first.

The Hann chancellor Zhang Kaidi deeply looked at the unwavering, unyielding envoy.

He said, “Envoy, it is not impossible to release Advisor Li.”

“But the condition is to release Princess Hongliang and the grand general first, and personally apologize to Han. Qin should also cede two cities as compensation.”

The kidnapping of the princess and grand general was a national humiliation.

If they simply let them go, Han would become a laughingstock.

Of course, Han wouldn’t agree to release them so easily.

This proposal immediately received Han’s officials’ approval.

Exchanging an advisor for twelve cities was a great bargain.

Li Si cast a calm gaze at Zhang Kaidi.

He replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Chancellor Zhang, our Queen Mother personally guaranteed that if Advisor Li returns safely to Qin, Princess Hongliang and General Bai would remain unharmed.”

“The National Advisor has returned, so naturally they have too.”

“As for the cession of twelve cities you mentioned…”

He slowly stood up and pointed west, speaking powerfully: “Go and ask the 400,000 soldiers of our Qin State at the border if they agree?”

“Ask the millions of our Qin State’s citizens if they agree!”

Zhang Kaidi gulped.

He hadn’t actually expected Qin State to really cede twelve cities.

His intention was that five or six would have been enough.

Asking for so many was intended to leave room for negotiation:

“Even if it’s not twelve cities, at least nine should be given as compensation.”

“Otherwise, where would Han’s face be?”

Zhang Kaidi’s words immediately gained the support of many people.

“That’s right, Princess Hongliang is of noble stature, and General Bai is a pillar of our Han.”

“If Qin State doesn’t offer cities as compensation, are they just going to let them suffer in vain?”

“Exchanging the life of your Qin State’s National Advisor for nine cities, I think is a fair deal, right?”

The morning assembly was in an uproar, they wanted to seize this opportunity to take a bite out of Qin State.

Li Si looked around and suddenly chuckled coldly.

He said loudly, “Everyone, haven’t you understood one thing?”

The crowd immediately fell silent, all eyes on him.

Li Si said calmly, “Our Qin State’s National Advisor is not your prisoner; on the contrary, it’s your princess and general who are.”

The crowd was suddenly stunned!

Zhang Kaidi’s eyes also narrowed.

He said in a deep voice, “Your National Advisor is in Han.”

Li Si snorted coldly, “Have you found him? Have you captured him?”

“Prime Minister Zhang, negotiations require leverage.”

“What leverage does Han have to bargain with Qin State?”

“You want Qin State’s cities?”

“Okay.”

“Send your army to fight for them.”

“The gates of our Qin State are there, past Hangu Pass, there are twelve cities.”

“Not only are there twelve cities, but also 400,000 well-equipped soldiers.”

“Let’s see if Han has the appetite for it, and if you have the steel teeth to chew through our Qin State’s 400,000 soldiers.”

Li Si’s demeanor was solemn, and his words sharp.

A few sentences hit Han’s sore spot directly.

“How dare you utter such wild words in Han’s court!”

“Arrogant to the extreme, uncivilized and rude, how did Master Xun teach you this way?”

“Do you think Han is a place where you can come and go as you please?”

A general roared angrily, “Execute this man as a sacrifice to the flag!”

He was a loyal member of the Bai faction, and now that Bai Xianwu had been captured, they were the most eager for vengeance.

Emperor Han’s heart skipped a beat.

Executing Li Si would mean declaring war on Qin State.

Zhang Kaidi said nothing, not stopping them.

He just stared at Li Si.

This obscure envoy was simply too arrogant; letting those military officers intimidate him was also good.

But unexpectedly, Li Si showed no fear.

He strode to a guard’s side and drew the long sword from his waist.

He turned and walked towards the general.

The crowd was suddenly shocked.

“What do you want to do?”

“Drawing a sword in Han’s court, I have every reason to kill you.”

“Guards, come quickly!”

A group of Hann guards rushed over and surrounded him.

But Li Si’s steps were steady, walking towards the general.

With a clang, he thrust the sword into the ground in front of the general.

The general was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t yet figured out what Li Si intended.

Li Si then stretched out his neck, resolutely saying, “My head is here, if you want it, take it!”

All the civil and military officials of Han were stunned.

The Han Emperor, sitting high on the throne, was also dumbfounded.

The general looked at the trembling sword on the ground, then at Li Si’s resolute expression.

He couldn’t help but swallow.

The hall was silent.

Zhang Kaidi’s white eyebrows furrowed tightly.

Just a lowly envoy could intimidate Han’s entire court.

How many more such people did Qin State have?

After a long time.

Seeing no one dared to respond, Li Si slowly retracted his neck and straightened up.

With a resounding flick of his sleeve, he said, “If you don’t dare to do it, don’t scream here!”

After speaking, he suddenly turned around and said loudly, “Since I dared to come, I’m not afraid of you killing me!”

“Li Si, a mere petty official, low in rank, incompetent.”

“If you want my life, just take it.”

“But you have to understand, if you kill me, the next one to come won’t be just an envoy, it will be the 400,000-strong Qin army, the iron cavalry of my Qin state!”

Li Si’s words were assertive.

The hall was so silent that a pin could be heard falling.

His words were loud and clear, full of energy.

Because he wasn’t representing himself, but the entire Qin state.

Behind him were millions of Qin citizens and hundreds of thousands of Qin soldiers.

This was his confidence!

Zhang Kai’s eyes flickered, his heart trembled.

This Li Si will definitely not be an ordinary person in the future.

He looked towards Emperor Han.

Sitting high on the throne, Emperor Han was already drenched in sweat.

Li Si’s attitude was exactly the attitude of the Qin state.

They were not here to negotiate, but to force him!

What Emperor Han cared about was the Canglong Seven Constellations stolen by Li Mo.

But now it seemed that if he didn’t agree to Qin’s demands, not to mention the Canglong Seven Constellations, he probably would lose the entire country.

Just like Li Si said, they didn’t have any bargaining chips.

He couldn’t even be sure if Li Mo was still within the borders of Han.

Despite the national lockdown and searches, he couldn’t find any trace of him.

It was as if he had vanished from Han.

Emperor Han helplessly glanced at Li Si and slowly said, “Give me a few more days, this matter requires careful consideration.”

He wanted to buy a few more days. If he could find the Qin state preceptor to retrieve the Canglong Seven Constellations, that would be the best outcome.

If he couldn’t find anyone in a few days, he would have to comply with Qin’s demands.

Li Si asked solemnly, “How many days?”

Emperor Han pondered for a moment, “Seven, no, ten days.”

Li Si decisively shook his head and refused, “Impossible, three days, maximum.”

To give you ten more days to make a decision.

If he couldn’t report back within three days, even the Empress Dowager would skin him alive!

Emperor Han was taken aback.

Isn’t this bargaining too harsh?

“Five days?”

Li Si shook his head again, leaving no room for negotiation, “Three days at most.”

Emperor Han took a deep breath, his expression darkened.

“Then…three days it is.”

Some time is better than none.

What if good news comes in three days?

Emperor Han never expected it.

Before the three days were up, news arrived from the border.

But it wasn’t good news.

Instead, it was news that left him and all of Han in shock.

The Qin state preceptor had crossed the Hangu Pass and returned to Qin territory!

Two days ago.

A horse-drawn carriage swayed its way to the Hangu Pass.

The carriage had two peculiar features.

One was the large bamboo basket mounted on the roof.

It was almost as big as the carriage top itself.

The other was the driver.

The driver was a blind man.

Dressed in fine clothes, he looked quite distinguished.

The carriage slowly came to a stop in an open area.

First, a young girl in a pink palace dress jumped out.

Hongliang stretched her slender waist and complained discontentedly, “Why did you have to put all that useless stuff inside, leaving no room for us to sit.”

Li Mo laughed, “Didn’t you say you wanted me to find something fun for you?”

Hongliang pouted, clearly unhappy.

“You always lie to me. What’s fun about a bunch of rags?”

Yan Lingji followed her down, looking at the distant mountains.

She exclaimed, “Hangu Pass? Why are we here?”

Hongliang was also surprised.

They had wandered around Han for days, switching from waterways to land and back to waterways.

Playing and evading pursuers all along the way, they avoided the search parties and cities.

Unexpectedly, they had arrived at Hangu Pass without realizing it.

“Are you planning to cross the pass?”

She asked wide-eyed.

Leaving Han wasn’t just about avoiding pursuers and blockaded cities.

but can’t get out of the pass.

Hangu Pass is surrounded by steep mountains.

Sheer cliffs thousands of feet high are almost impossible to climb.

Moreover, in front of the pass, 100,000 troops of Han are stationed.

Now the Emperor of Han has ordered a nationwide lockdown, so without a permit, no one can get out of here.

The most crucial point is that they are also carrying Bai Xianwu!

The 100,000 border guards of Han are all Bai Xianwu’s men.

Trying to take someone away under their eyes is nothing short of a dream.

Moreover, inside there are her puppets, those people won’t obey the king’s orders.

Even if the Emperor of Han orders them to release her, they won’t rest until they rescue Bai Xianwu!

To them, Bai Xianwu, captured by the Master of Qin, is their true master.

“Of course, we’re going to pass through, otherwise, why would I bring you here?”

Li Mo grabbed Bai Xianwu’s ankle and dragged her out of the carriage.

With a clanging sound, he threw her onto the grass.

Bai Xianwu lay there like a wooden stump, not reacting at all.

For so many days, Fei Yan checked her major acupuncture points every day.

Giving no chance for unexpected incidents to occur.

Fei Yan looked at the steep Hangu Pass, then looked at Li Mo and softly said, “Since husband has brought us here, there must be a way to get through.”

No matter when or where, she always has confidence in her husband.

Hongliang curled her lips and muttered, “Bragging, really think our 100,000 Han troops are just for show.”

“Let’s see what you’ll do once they discover you!”

She was actually a bit worried inside.

If they got caught by the troops, wouldn’t that mean she couldn’t go to Qin?

Li Mo pulled out a big bundle of thick cloth from the carriage.

Then he took down a bamboo basket from the roof.

He buried his head and fiddled with it for a while.

Fei Yan and Yan Lingji guarded the surroundings to prevent scouts from appearing.

Hongliang walked back and forth like a landlord, her hands behind her back, near Li Mo.

Watching him tie hemp ropes to the bamboo basket.

She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing, building a house?”

Li Mo responded busily, “Can’t you see? I’m preparing something to cross Hangu Pass, to elope with you, Your Highness.”

Hongliang had really gotten attached to them.

Several times on the way, they offered to let her go back, but she refused to leave.

It was the first time they had seen such a hostage.

Showing no awareness of being a hostage!

Hongliang rolled her eyes and said, “With just this? A broken basket and some tattered cloth?”

Li Mo smiled, “Yes, with just this.”

Yan Lingji looked over.

She stared at the laid-out cloth and the ropes attached to it for a moment.

She felt these things looked familiar.

As she twisted her arms and approached Li Mo, she tilted her head.

She asked, “Why does this look familiar to me?”

Li Mo tied the last rope and stood up, asking back, “Do you remember what I made for you at the Xianyang Inn during the Lantern Festival?”

Yan Lingji’s eyes turned, “A lantern.”

Li Mo corrected her, “A flying lantern.”

Hongliang, utterly confused, interjected, “There are no flying lanterns!”

Yan Lingji shrugged at her, “It really flies. You can ask him to make you one when we return.”

Hongliang became interested immediately.

She blinked her eyes and looked at Li Mo expectantly.

Li Mo pointed to the ground and said with a smile, “No need to return, I’ve already made it.”

Both of them looked at the bamboo basket and cloth on the ground.

Yan Lingji suddenly lit up, finally realizing why it looked familiar.

It was a large version of the improved lantern Li Mo made before!

She was stunned and said in disbelief, “Are you really planning to use this big lantern to fly us over?”

Li Mo corrected again, “Such a big thing is not called a lantern. It’s called a hot air balloon!”