NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 4: CHAPTER 4
Meng Yi held the linen paper tightly, his expression still brimming with excitement as he left with Lao Zhao and Lao Wang. They stepped into a secluded alley, their steps hurried but steady.
From all directions, figures in black armor emerged in perfect coordination, their silent movements exuding a formidable presence. These were the Xuanwu Guards, elite warriors sworn to the direct service of Qin Shi Huang, their unwavering loyalty sharper than their swords. Encircling the three men in an impenetrable formation, they escorted them swiftly toward Xianyang Palace, ensuring no prying eyes followed.
Inside the grand imperial carriage, its interior lined with exquisite silk, the three figures sat in contemplation. The scent of fine cedarwood and ink lingered, a testament to the vehicle's craftsmanship. Lao Zhao, better known as Qin Shi Huang, gazed at the linen paper in Meng Yi's hands, his expression thoughtful.
Zhao Yu…
Ever since their first encounter, Qin Shi Huang had found himself inexplicably drawn to the young man. There was something familiar, something unspoken, that made him feel an odd sense of kinship—almost as if…
He quickly dismissed the thought.
Yet, Zhao Yu's innovations continued to astound him—the longevity tree, the wooden chairs, the ingenious hot pot, and now paper. These were not the works of an ordinary commoner. The more Qin Shi Huang pondered, the more intrigued he became.
Breaking the silence, he turned to Wang Jian, the legendary general who had crushed the Zhao, Yan, and Chu armies.
"General Wang, what do you think of the longevity fruit tree?"
A rare moment of hesitation flickered in Wang Jian's weathered eyes. He was a man of war, a strategist who relied on solid evidence, yet Zhao Yu's existence defied reason. If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed the longevity tree as superstition. But Zhao Yu…
Wang Jian clasped his hands respectfully. "Your Majesty, I dare not speak recklessly. However, Zhao Yu is not an ordinary man."
Qin Shi Huang nodded, his sharp gaze shifting to Meng Yi, the chancellor whose wisdom had helped shape the legal foundations of the empire.
"And you, Meng Aiqing?"
Meng Yi tightened his grip on the paper, his mind racing with possibilities. If Zhao Yu's paper could be mass-produced, it would revolutionize knowledge itself!
He inhaled deeply before replying, "Your Majesty, I would rather believe than doubt. In three months, the truth will be evident."
Qin Shi Huang smirked. It was the answer he had expected.
Raising his hand, he issued a decree. "Commander Yin Xue."
A shadow outside the carriage knelt immediately.
"Your Majesty."
Qin Shi Huang's voice carried the weight of an empire. "Mobilize five hundred Xuanwu Guards. Protect Zhao Yu and the longevity tree day and night. Any suspicious activity—kill without mercy."
"Understood." Yin Xue's response was swift, his loyalty unwavering.
The Xuanwu Guards, once the fearsome Iron Eagle Warriors of Qin's unification wars, were now the silent enforcers of the Emperor's will. No one in the empire, not even the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, could evade their reach.
…
A Visit to the Past
At that moment, Zhao Yu stood alone before a simple grave, a jar of aged Qin wine resting beside him. The crisp autumn wind carried the scent of fallen leaves, stirring emotions he rarely let surface.
Mother…
His gaze lingered on the engraved name. His mother had never spoken of his father, only leaving him with cryptic words:
"Yu'er, your father is the greatest man in the world. He has never owed anyone."
"Do not hate him."
His father… was in Xianyang City.
And yet, his mother had endured hardship alone, refusing to seek him out, choosing instead to leave behind only a distant memory.
Zhao Yu sighed, raising the jar in a solemn toast. "If he was truly so great, why didn't he come back for you?"
He took a deep drink, allowing the bitterness to settle. Then, shaking off his thoughts, he returned home, rolling up his sleeves.
Tonight, he would cook.
The wild boar in the pen had grown to a monstrous size—over 800 pounds. It was time.
…
The Arrival of Uninvited Guests
Just as Zhao Yu finished digging potatoes, a familiar voice echoed from outside.
"Lao Yu! We're back!"
Qin Shi Huang strode in confidently, followed by Wang Jian and Meng Yi. This time, however, they came prepared—a thousand coins in hand.
Smiling, Qin Shi Huang gestured at Meng Yi, who stepped forward. "We can't keep eating your food for free. Take this as compensation."
A thousand coins!
Zhao Yu blinked. In the Qin Dynasty, a hu (ten dou) of rice cost only thirty coins!
With this much money, a family could live comfortably for years!
His grip tightened around the bag of coins before he chuckled, slipping it into his sleeve. "Old Zhao, for your generosity, I'll kill the pig myself. Tonight, we'll have wild boar and potato stew!"
Hearing this, Qin Shi Huang's eyes gleamed. He had been secretly craving Zhao Yu's cooking!
Wang Jian, however, furrowed his brows. "Lao Yu, be careful. Ye She is fierce."
Ye She—wild boars of this era—were no ordinary livestock.
They were ferocious creatures, with thick hides and dagger-like tusks. A single adult Ye She could reach 1,500 Qin jin (approximately 770 kg in modern terms).
Even experienced hunters only attempted to kill them in groups of four or five.
More terrifyingly, Ye She could sprint up to 280 li per hour, and their bite force could crush a human skull.
Even tigers avoided them.
A wooden fence was all that stood between Zhao Yu and the beast.
As he approached, Ye She tensed, its primal instincts sensing danger. It slammed its tusks into the barrier, the impact sending violent tremors through the enclosure.
Boom!
The fence splintered, barely holding together.
The beast's beady eyes locked onto Zhao Yu.
Behind him, Qin Shi Huang and Wang Jian tensed. If Zhao Yu was injured, it would be disastrous!
Zhao Yu, however, remained still.
Then—without hesitation—he raised his palm.
BOOM!
A dull crack echoed across the yard.
In a single strike, Ye She collapsed, blood seeping from its shattered skull.
It never moved again.
…
Silence.
A stunned Qin Shi Huang stared, his mind blank.
Wang Jian, who had led countless battles, was frozen.
Meng Yi gripped the linen paper so tightly that it wrinkled.
They had all seen war. They had seen men slaughtered on the battlefield, had faced warriors with strength beyond normal men.
But this…
A wild Ye She, slain in one palm?
Wang Jian's breathing grew ragged. He had once led hundreds of Qin soldiers to hunt these beasts. Even then, it was a struggle.
Who… who was Zhao Yu?
Taking a deep breath, Wang Jian's burning gaze locked onto the young man.
He had to recruit him into the Qin army.
Zhao Yu… must be trained as his successor!