A Complicated Mood for Ying Zheng: This Child is Like Me!

While Meng Wu was deep in thought, struggling with how to put pen to parchment.

On the imperial highway outside the city of Xianyang, a Qin Army messenger galloped into the city, heading straight for Xianyang Palace. Tucked into the bamboo tube on his chest was the official report detailing the Qin Army's capture of the pass.

Though the pass was a treacherous stronghold, the Qin Army had dispatched one hundred thousand men; taking it was a foregone conclusion.

Thus, this report was not an urgent dispatch. It had passed through the review of the Sanchuan Commandery governor, been compiled into a ledger of military merits, and then forwarded to Xianyang. Having undergone layers of verification, it had only just arrived.

Passing through Sima Gate and entering Xianyang Palace, the messenger dismounted and walked to the corridor of the Office of the Receptionist to hand over the report.

"Fang City Pass recovered, military report from Meng Wu!"

The Chief Receptionist verified the report, then held it aloft and hurried toward the rear hall of Zhangtai Palace.

The rear hall of Zhangtai Palace was deathly silent.

Twelve bronze pillars stood tall and imposing, and thin wisps of smoke rose from the agarwood burning in the bronze tripods.

Ying Zheng sat before the dais, his spine as straight as a sword. He wore no ceremonial crown, only a black deep-robe embroidered with dark patterns of the mysterious bird, which made his countenance appear all the more majestic.

He was barely over thirty, with a nose like an eagle's beak and long eyes like cold pools, looking exceptionally heroic and extraordinary.

He was frowning as he looked over the documents in his hand, attending to urgent state affairs.

Since the execution of Lao Ai and the demotion of Lu Buwei, he had finally seized complete control of the Qin State's governance.

Zheng Guo's construction of the great canal had stabilized agriculture in Guanzhong and ensured ample grain reserves.

With renowned generals like Wang Jian and Meng Wu at his disposal, Ying Zheng had begun attacking Zhao State several years ago, hoping to wash away the humiliations he had suffered there in his youth.

Who would have thought he would suffer defeat after defeat?

He finally realized that the time was not yet ripe to annihilate Zhao.

Thus, he prepared to destroy Han first to clear the path for an eastward expansion, then use Han territory as a springboard to conquer Zhao and wipe away his past shame.

Yet, Han, which had always bowed its head and declared itself a vassal to Qin, had suddenly acted out of character, offering stubborn resistance and daring to stand against Qin.

This infuriated Ying Zheng, leading him to order Meng Wu to launch a fierce assault on Nanyang.

"Report—"

"Fang City Pass recovered, military report from Meng Wu."

The Chief Receptionist below held the report up for an audience, his voice echoing through the hall.

Ying Zheng's brows relaxed. "Present it."

Zhao Gao hurried down from the dais, took the report, and presented it to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng opened the report, read a few lines, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"With Meng Wu as general, he is truly invincible."

"The enemy had ten thousand elite troops guarding Fang City Pass, yet our army broke through such a treacherous location with losses of less than two thousand. It was as easy as turning over one's hand to open the gates of Nanyang."

"Truly the work of a master general!"

The military report first recorded the general situation of the battle, such as the location, time, enemy strength, participating units, and the number of heads taken.

Next, it highlighted the soldiers with the highest number of kills, as well as those with special contributions, such as being the first to scale the walls, breaking the city, or capturing enemy generals.

"Eh? The greatest merit in this battle goes to a Squad Leader who just enlisted?"

"First to scale the walls, killed... two hundred and twenty-seven enemies? And even captured an enemy general alive?"

Ying Zheng stared in a daze.

He thought he had misread it, so he checked it twice more before confirming the number.

"Such divine valor, and a man like this is only a Squad Leader?"

He immediately turned to the section detailing individual military merits.

Upon reading it, he was stunned.

It read:

"...A commoner from Huaiyang Village, Yang City County, Squad Leader Zhao Cheng of the Assault Cavalry Battalion. First to scale the southern foothills of Fang City, killed two hundred and twenty-seven enemies, led his men to slay five hundred and forty, killed a deputy general, and captured the main general alive..."

"Yang City County..."

"Zhao Cheng..."

Seeing this name, Ying Zheng's brow furrowed, deepening with every passing second. Long-buried memories began to assault him.

Ying Zheng shook his head. 'Cheng' was a common character; many people bore this name. There was no need to overthink it.

Yet, why was it in that place?

Thinking this, his deep, dark gaze fell upon the silk scroll sent by Meng Wu.

After a moment of contemplation, he waved his hand, dismissing Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao remained silent, bowed, and departed.

Ying Zheng lowered his head in silence, lost in thought. The vast hall was deathly quiet, without a single sound.

After a long while, Ying Zheng silently opened the letter from Meng Wu.

"Your Majesty: Your subject Meng Wu bows his head, daring to report on border affairs.

Your subject has recently discovered a young divine general named Zhao Cheng. He is exactly sixteen years of age and possesses unparalleled courage.

During the battle at Fang City Pass, this youth shone brilliantly. He led two hundred Assault Cavalry Elite to forcefully scale the Southern Foothills of Fang City while two thousand elite enemy garrison troops held the strategic heights.

Zhao Cheng led the charge, scaling the cliffs. In the ensuing close-quarters combat, he personally took two hundred and twenty-seven heads, seized the pass, and planted his banner as a signal, holding his ground until reinforcements arrived to encircle the enemy...

When the enemy attempted to break out, Zhao Cheng once again cut into their formation alone, shattering their defenses and capturing the enemy commander alive. This allowed our army to crush the pass without the slightest effort.

He truly possesses the qualities of a god of war, a fierce general capable of standing against ten thousand men...

Even more peculiar: this youth has a heroic appearance, and between his brows, he bears a striking resemblance to Your Majesty.

Your subject has heard from physiognomists that those of noble blood often possess a heavenly countenance. Now that Zhao Cheng is born with such a look, combined with the courage of ten thousand, it is as if Heaven has bestowed him upon Qin...

Your subject Meng Wu bows again, in the winter of the seventeenth year of King Zheng of Qin."

Upon seeing the words "exactly sixteen years of age," Ying Zheng's brows knit together.

When he read, "this youth has a heroic appearance, and between his brows, he bears a striking resemblance to Your Majesty," Ying Zheng's long eyes turned as cold as lightning. He suddenly slapped the desk and stood up abruptly.

A dull thud echoed through the great hall!

"That bold common woman!!"

He stood behind the desk, his breathing heavy, and after a moment, he began to pace back and forth.

He muttered to himself incessantly.

"Zhao Cheng, Zhao Cheng... sixteen years of age."

"Yang City County, Huaiyang Village... I remember that village."

At that time, his father had just passed away, and he had recently ascended the throne, unable to rule personally due to his youth.

Within the Qin State, the Chancellor held absolute power and the Empress Dowager interfered in state affairs, while outside, the six states surrounded them, threatening them with the Vertical Alliance—it was a time of both internal and external strife.

Back then, he had already learned to endure and lie low. Facing the tyranny of Lu Buwei and the Empress Dowager's favoritism toward Lao Ai, he pretended to see nothing, never opposing their decisions, while laying plans in the shadows and waiting for the conflict between them to intensify.

At the same time, he was systematically studying Qin law, military strategy, and economics.

He personally inspected the storehouses and water conservancy projects, traveling to various regions to observe the plight of the people and verify his studies.

But that was where the problem arose. That year, he was inspecting the Sanchuan Commandery, which had been established only a few years prior, wanting to understand how to integrate the populace after Qin conquered enemy cities.

However, he was ambushed by assassins sent by the six states. Severely wounded and separated from his guards, he drifted to the outskirts of Yang City County, where he was saved by a common woman who hid him in her home.

During his recovery, the woman developed feelings for him. As a monarch, Ying Zheng could not reveal his identity, so he merely gave her a personal jade ring as a token of gratitude.

Who would have thought that the bold woman would mistake his feelings for her own, and while he was incapacitated by his wounds, she made the raw rice into cooked porridge!

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng closed his eyes deeply, unwilling to recall any more.

The woman was not exactly a beauty, but she had a kind face, a good heart, and was thoughtful and gentle—she was simply far too bold.

He was only fourteen or fifteen at the time, and his situation was dire. Under her care, he felt deep gratitude; he could not say he had no feelings for her, but there was a distinction between the royal clan and a commoner, and he could not acknowledge her status.

If discovered, his internal enemies would use it to attack him, leading to an unstable position.

Fortunately, the woman did not try to scheme for anything, keeping her mouth shut even when Wang Jian and the others found Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng could not offer her any promises or rewards, so he simply left behind the character "Cheng" (Sincerity) and departed.

The matter had been buried until now. Ying Zheng had not thought of it for years, only occasionally seeing the woman's face in his dreams.

But today, Meng Wu's military report was like a sharp sword, slicing through the sealed memories. A tide of recollections surged forth, leaving Ying Zheng filled with emotion.

"Zhao Cheng, Zhao Cheng..."

He picked up the silk scroll and read it again.

Reading it now, his mood was incredibly complex.

Technically, this was his eldest son, but under Qin law, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs was strictly enforced, and the royal clan and nobility still held great power over succession.

It involved too much, and it was all far too complicated.

So even now, he could not acknowledge Zhao Cheng or allow him to return to the clan, as it would likely bring about his ruin.

But fortunately, the boy was exceptionally brave, possessing the courage of ten thousand, and had already begun to make a name for himself in the army.

He read the scroll again, a faint smile tugging at the corners of Ying Zheng's mouth.

He read it once more, his brows arching slightly, a look of pride flashing in his eyes.

"Sixteen years of age, his archery and horsemanship are already divine, he led the charge to break the city and slay over two hundred enemies, and he even captured the enemy commander alive..."

He suddenly burst into laughter, a bold, hearty sound that shook the heavens and the earth.

"Hahahaha..."

"Meng Wu is right—this child is just like Me!"