In the spring season, the cold air in Guanzhong gradually dissipates, and the warm sunshine falls on the earth, making people feel warm.
In the majestic Qin Palace decorated with gold and jade.
As the supreme ruler of the empire, the First Emperor sat on the couch, and the burning brazier in the room brought some warmth to his body.
His face was cold and covered with frost.
The eunuchs standing in the room all lowered their heads. In this depressing atmosphere, they did not dare to speak loudly for fear of offending the emperor.
The situation at hand is not just a single day, but has lasted for more than a month.
"Your Majesty, it's time to drink medicine."
The minister ordered Zhao Gao to take the wooden tray held by the medical officer at the door and walk towards the First Emperor.
On the wooden plate, there is a bowl of steaming soup.
The First Emperor looked at the slightly blurry figure in front of him, his face even colder.
"Drink medicine?"
It was like the anger that had been building up for a long time suddenly burst out.
He growled: "I've been taking the medicine for so long, why is there still no sign of improvement? Xia Wuji, a quack, if I take it for another month, if there is no improvement, he should stop being an imperial doctor and hold it for me.
Take the medicine bag and go to Lingnan to fight the Yue people!"
Seeing the sudden rage of the First Emperor, Zhao Gao quickly lowered his head and maintained a respectful expression.
He sighed secretly in his heart.
The once mighty and wise emperor was becoming more and more irritable day by day under the torture of illness. Although he had not yet reached the point of killing people in anger, it had become necessary for them, his attendants, and medical officers such as Xia Wuche to be scolded every day.
After the First Emperor finished shouting, he seemed to feel much better, and watched Zhao Gao put the dark decoction in front of his case.
He picked it up and took a sip, his eyebrows furrowed deeply.
"It's too bitter, please add a piece of sugar to me."
Zhao Gao's eyelids twitched. The emperor was furious and he did not dare to say more.
Moreover, he had just tasted the medicine for the emperor, and it was indeed bitter in the mouth.
Zhao Gao took a step forward and was about to put a piece of brown sugar on the nearby wooden shelf and add it to the soup.
Just then, there were footsteps at the door.
An eunuch said at the door: "Your Majesty, the prince has asked to see you and has something important to report."
"Fusu?"
Since the last month, Emperor Shi Huang's physical symptoms have suddenly become much more serious. His lower limbs are occasionally swollen, he can no longer walk smoothly, and his eyesight has also declined significantly. The effects of Xia Wuji's decoctions, acupuncture and other treatments are getting worse and worse.
In this case, he handed over 99% of the government affairs to Prince Fusu. Except for a few major matters involving the lifeline of the country that needed to be reported to him, Fusu and the two prime ministers could decide most of the matters themselves.
I need to bother him again.
Now the First Emperor was in a bad mood because of his illness. He didn't want to see Fusu, but when he heard the word "important matters", he nodded and asked the eunuch to summon the prince.
Fusu walked into the hall with very brisk steps, an excited smile on his face, and his eyes even narrowed with a smile.
Zhao Gao saw it in his eyes and said to himself: "With such a smile, the prince is afraid that he will be scolded."
"My son, I pay my respects to my father."
Sure enough, when Fusu finished the ceremony happily, the First Emperor's face was already clouded.
I am suffering from physical pain and have to drink bitter medicine for treatment all day long. I am so depressed. Your son is almost laughing his face in front of me. It is really unreasonable.
Can't you feel my pain?
The First Emperor said coldly: "Fusu, what good thing makes you so happy?"
Fusu could hear the unpleasantness in the emperor's words, but he didn't care because he believed that the next news would make his father extremely happy.
"To inform my father, a messenger came from Yue today, carrying a report of success written by the general and delivered it to the Taiwei Mansion."
Fusu said excitedly: "The general has defeated Luo Yue and killed King Luo. Our army has completely occupied the land of Luo Yue. The entire Baiyue has been included in the territory of our Great Qin!"
The general destroyed Luo Yue?
As soon as the news came out, Zhao Gao was stunned and understood why the prince was smiling so happily just now.
After a brief silence in the room, the First Emperor's laughter rang out.
"Okay, okay! My general defeated Luo Yue. This boy Zhao Tuo can always make me happy. When he comes back, I will definitely reward him!"
The First Emperor had a smile on his face and had long forgotten the unpleasantness just now. He kept saying: "My great Qin has conquered Baiyue, and the barbarians from all directions have been captured by my ministers. The whole world belongs to me!"
"Congratulations to Your Majesty, Your Majesty, General, captured Baiyue, and the barbarians from all directions bowed their heads and surrendered. Your Majesty's achievements are unprecedented in history!"
Zhao Gao knelt on the ground and led a group of eunuchs to kowtow and congratulate the emperor.
"Yes, my achievements are unprecedented in history."
The First Emperor nodded and murmured in his heart: "All of this was brought to me by Zhao Tuo."
After Fusu presented the good news at this time, he saw the decoction placed on the table.
He stretched out his hand to touch the medicine bowl and saw that it was still warm, so he hurriedly said: "General, you can defeat Baiyue. Father, you should also take care of your health, waiting for the general's triumphant return. Father, this medicine is still warm, please drink it."
.”
"Okay, okay, I'll take the medicine."
The First Emperor picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one gulp. The smile on his face seemed to say that the bowl of medicine was so sweet to his heart.
Zhao Gao stared at this scene blankly.
He hasn't put any sugar in it yet.
…
The news that General Zhao Tuo had killed King Luo and pacified Baiyue quickly spread throughout Xianyang City under the propaganda of the government.
Everyone cheered, saying that the general was mighty.
The top officials of Qin State congratulated the emperor and generals on their great achievements in opening up new territories.
The lower-class people in Guizhou were happy that the war was over, and many even cried with joy. With the pacification of Baiyue, their sons who followed the general in the southern expedition will also come back, right?
In such an atmosphere of ecstasy among the people.
While following the customary rule of conquering the world, the First Emperor also issued rewards for generals and other meritorious officers.
"Martial Lord Zhao Tuo conquered Luo Yue and opened up territory for our Qin Dynasty. He specially granted food to thousands of households, millions of dollars, and thousands of acres of land."
"His son, Zhao Che, the chief of the left concubine, was given a first-level title by his father and became the chief of the right concubine."
Similar to the rewards he received before, Zhao Che became the right concubine chief under the emperor's conferment.
This nine-year-old child's title is as high as that of the Great Qin general Li You. Many people who know the past are secretly comparing the two with the intention of making fun of him.
Compared with the promotion of his son, the martial arts prince Zhao Tuo was not promoted to the title of lord.
The emperor only rewarded him with food fiefs again. Adding the previous number of food fiefdoms, Zhao Tuo's food fiefdoms reached a full 10,000 households, and he could be called a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.
"The emperor must be waiting for the triumphant return of the Martial Lord, and will personally give him the title of lord when the time comes."
"O princes, I have the highest title in the Qin Dynasty!"
Many people were discussing privately, and some even began to speculate on what kind of title the emperor would bestow on Marquis Wu Gong.
At this time, the First Emperor's eyes turned to the east.
"The remnants of the Xiang family forged household registrations and joined the army with the intention of assassinating my Zhao Tuo."
"First there is the hatred of Pengcheng, and then there is the thorn of Luo Yue. Do you really think I can't catch you rebellious officials and traitors?"
When the First Emperor thought that Zhao Tuo had almost died at the hands of Xiang Ji, his heart was filled with fear and anger.
If Xiang Ji's assassination was successful, wouldn't my Zhao Tuo be gone?
Anger burned in my heart.
"Pass on my edict and appoint Li Xin as general to command the soldiers of Donghai, Sishui and Jiujiang, and clear the land of the three counties for me."
"The Xiang family and other remnants of the Six Kingdoms, as well as all those who helped them, must die!"