Chapter One Hundred and Three: Return to Pei County

Not only was Li Si waiting for Yang Wenhao’s answer, but Li Lingyun was as well.

Although Li Lingyun had once said that Yang Wenhao’s choice would be her choice, in truth she still hoped he would join the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.

After all, her father was there. If Yang Wenhao joined as well, her father would surely be pleased.

Yang Wenhao smiled faintly, took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and said, “Lord Li, I have always been a carefree sort. This official post of mine was granted only because His Majesty favored me. Otherwise, I would still be running the Water-Moon Grotto Heaven.”

“I heard that Prince Fusu came to see General Yang a few days ago,” Li Si said.

Yang Wenhao shook his head. “Prince Fusu did indeed visit me once, but he has not come again since.”

At that, Li Si nodded and cupped his hands. “Then I shall not disturb General Yang further. If you ever encounter difficulties, you may come to my Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.”

“Yun’er, see Lord Li out.”

After Li Lingyun escorted Li Si away and returned, she saw that Yang Wenhao was still seated there, drinking tea. She could not help asking, “Master, if you neither join the Hall of Brilliance in Talent nor the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, people may speak ill of you.”

Yang Wenhao shook his head. “Let them speak if they wish. Of course, only if they have the luck to keep speaking.”

Do not be deceived by the fact that Yang Wenhao was now merely a general responsible for guarding Xianyang City. Compared with the true Grand General Meng Tian, he was far, far inferior in rank.

After all, one commanded only two thousand soldiers within Xianyang, while the other led the armies of the entire Qin Empire and had three hundred thousand Meng clan troops under his banner.

But if one compared their true ability, Yang Wenhao was in no way weaker than Meng Tian. So long as he wished it, he could lead his two thousand personal troops straight into the imperial palace. He could even proclaim himself king, and installing a new emperor would be even easier.

Yang Wenhao had also confirmed one thing: once Huhai ascended the throne, that would mean he had supported Huhai’s rise to emperor, and his mission would be complete.

So before the First Emperor died, he had to make his decision. Would he let the whole Qin Empire fall into a leaderless abyss, or would he establish a new emperor?

“General Yang, this is a secret imperial edict from His Majesty.”

Yang Wenhao hastily rose to receive it.

A secret edict and an imperial decree were not the same. A secret edict required far fewer formalities, whereas an imperial decree demanded the full rites between ruler and subject.

Taking the secret edict from the chief eunuch, Yang Wenhao opened it and soon fell into deep thought.

“General Yang, His Majesty asks that you locate that celestial star as quickly as possible,” the chief eunuch said.

Yang Wenhao gave a slight nod. “Please tell His Majesty that I will bring the celestial star back as soon as possible.”

Afterward, Yang Wenhao called Li Lingyun over.

“What is it, Master?” Li Lingyun asked.

“Take some men and search for Cui Wenzi,” Yang Wenhao said. “Once you find him, be sure to bring him back.”

“Understood, Master.”

Yang Wenhao then immediately selected troops and set out for the Eastern Commandery.

During this period, many things had happened, but Yang Wenhao had simply sat atop the mountain, watching the tigers fight below.

Yi Xiaochuan had even been imprisoned because of it, but Yang Wenhao knew he would not die. He had always remained neutral.

Some people had wanted to make trouble for Yang Wenhao, but every one of them died violently by the following day, and no trace of the killer could be found.

As a result, most people no longer dared to provoke him.

This time, he led his army out to find the celestial star.

However, he did not head to the Eastern Commandery first. Instead, he went to Pei County.

Pei County was not especially far from the Eastern Commandery, though it was by no means close either. The deadline of one week had already arrived.

At present, Pei County was in utter disorder. Most of the able-bodied men had already been seized to work on the Great Wall, while some had fled with Liu Bang.

At mention of Liu Bang, Yang Wenhao merely smiled faintly. That was all the ambition he had.

Pei County was neither large nor small. It could not be called prosperous, only passable at best.

“General, Pei County lies ahead,” a deputy general rode up and reported with clasped hands.

“Onward. We enter Pei County.”

Riding at the head of his troops, Yang Wenhao led them into the county.

As soon as they entered, the county magistrate rushed over upon hearing the news.

Seeing thousands of Qin black-armored soldiers, he was filled with astonishment.

And when he saw Yang Wenhao at the front, astonishment turned to shock.

He had met Yang Wenhao before. And yet, in such a short time, the man had already achieved such accomplishments.

“Magistrate Chen, long time no see,” Yang Wenhao said with a faint, knowing smile.

“I would not dare,” the Pei County magistrate said hurriedly, bowing. “May I ask whether the general has come to seek Lord Lu?”

Yang Wenhao nodded slightly. “Return to your post. I shall visit Lord Lu myself.”

“Yes, sir.”

The county magistrate was merely a minor official. How could he dare defy Yang Wenhao’s order?

Yang Wenhao then instructed his deputy general to lead the remaining soldiers to set up camp outside the city.

He himself took several soldiers and headed to Lord Lu’s residence.

When they arrived, though only a few years had passed, the Lu household remained exactly as it had been, unchanged in the slightest.

The two servants guarding the gate became highly vigilant when they saw Yang Wenhao and his soldiers.

“Go and report that Yang Wenhao has come to call,” Yang Wenhao said.

At that, the servants were shocked. Even if they had never met Yang Wenhao before, his name was thunderously famous.

A short while later, several figures emerged from Lord Lu’s residence.

Two men and two women. Yang Wenhao recognized three of them: Lord Lu and his two daughters, Lu Zhi and Lu Su.

When Lord Lu saw Yang Wenhao dressed in this manner, he was greatly startled and hurried to bow. “Young Master Yang.”

Yang Wenhao smiled. “Lord Lu, there is no need for such ceremony. This time I am out on His Majesty’s orders, and I have come by to pay you a visit.”

Lord Lu nodded. Behind him, Lu Zhi and Lu Su were both gazing at Yang Wenhao with undisguised affection.

There was another person, however, whose face darkened with hostility at the sight of the two sisters.

Yang Wenhao looked at the man with quiet amusement. “You seem to bear me a great deal of ill will?”

The man froze, clearly not expecting Yang Wenhao to be so perceptive, nor to say it so directly without the least hesitation.

Lord Lu turned and introduced him. “Young Master Yang, this is the son of the Pei County magistrate, Young Master Chen.”

“Ah.”

Yang Wenhao gave a slight nod, then his expression turned cool. “Young Master Chen, will you leave on your own, or shall I have my men escort you out?”

The moment he spoke, the soldiers behind him immediately surrounded the man.

Lord Lu’s expression changed slightly, while the young man named Chen flared with anger. “My father is the magistrate of Pei County.”

“I know.”

Yang Wenhao waved a hand. “Throw him out.”

“Yes, sir.”

The soldiers showed no mercy. They seized Young Master Chen at once and were about to throw him out of the Lu residence.

He was nothing more than a frail scholar. How could he resist these sturdy personal guards, each as strong as a horse?

Seeing him being hurled out, Lu Zhi’s expression brightened with delight.