novelhk Chapter 878: Assassination attempt against Lu Zhi in Xianyang!
Chapter 878: Assassination attempt against Lu Zhi in Xianyang!
Xiao He's keen insights and speculations were being confirmed by a series of signs. He clearly realized that deep within Xianyang, seemingly controlled by the Chu army, there were far more than just the Chu army's former spies lurking. Even more disturbing was the fact that Yi Xiaochuan, with his mysterious whereabouts and unpredictable origins, had already planted countless subtle plots and foreshadowings here countless times before the reincarnation cycle began.
Throughout countless reincarnations, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan's strategic focus and vast majority of his energy have always centered around Xianyang and its surrounding areas. From Xianyang during the Qin Dynasty to Chang'an in later generations, and even to the more distant city of Xi'an, this region has always been the core of his strategy. The fundamental reason for this is the protection of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, nestled deep at the foot of Mount Li—a timeless obsession that transcends time and space. Consequently, the personnel he painstakingly cultivated and deployed were, in all likelihood, constantly lurking near Xianyang, awaiting orders or an opportune moment.
However, in this life, Gao Yao's sudden appearance completely disrupted everything. This "anomaly," a seemingly unpredictable event, forced Yi Xiaochuan, who had been hiding behind the scenes, to personally confront this enormous threat. Even so, Yi Xiaochuan never relaxed his control over Xianyang. His network of both covert and covert agents remained entwined throughout the city and surrounding areas, their numerous hands like a spider web in the dark night, silent yet omnipresent.
To some extent, Gao Yao's unintentional contribution to the current situation is undeniable. Although the allied forces of the former feudal states engaged in looting after their invasion of Xianyang, they ultimately did not remain there for long, nor did they consider Xianyang a crucial battleground, quickly abandoning it. This makes Xianyang today a stark contrast to the tragic historical capital, burned to the ground by Xiang Yu. The extent of the damage has been mitigated by at least 70%.
Looking back at the original historical trajectory, Xiang Yu's blaze destroyed much more than just the Epang Palace. The blaze raged for months, and the ash that fell blanketed the entire city, polluting water sources and destroying grain stores. The people were left without water or food, their survival becoming desperate. Combined with the direct casualties inflicted by the allied forces' burning, killing, and looting, the civilian death toll in Xianyang and the surrounding areas reached hundreds of thousands. It was a truly devastating disaster.
But in this life, everything quietly changed. Perhaps due to the mutual suspicion and mutual restraint among the allied forces, or perhaps due to Gao Yao's unexpected intervention that affected the situation, Xianyang, though ravaged by war, was far from uninhabitable. Although most people lived in poverty, struggling on the brink of subsistence, they at least managed to save their lives and their homes.
This barely surviving situation provides the perfect hiding ground for the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan's forces. In troubled times, human flows are complex, and people's livelihoods are destitute, yet not hopeless—a perfect breeding ground for secret organizations to incubate and spread. Yi Xiaochuan understands this well, and he will never withdraw the forces he has deployed for a thousand years from Xianyang; instead, he will continuously strengthen this fortress.
The mysterious Yi Xiaochuan was well aware of Gao Yao's ambition—to annex the entire world. Xianyang, as the heart of Guanzhong and the seat of the emperor, was a battleground for both sides, without exception. Coupled with the fact that the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was a forbidden area that could not be lost, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan would not reduce his investment in Xianyang. Instead, he would continue to deploy more personnel, strengthen control, and wait for Gao Yao to fall into his trap.
Now, with Xianyang's gates sealed and heavily besieged, the city is cut off from both inside and outside. It's precisely in this extremely unique situation that all lurking forces—whether spies sent by the Chu army or the hidden chess pieces laid by Yi Xiaochuan over a thousand years of planning—will inevitably seize the opportunity. They will fan the flames from the shadows, seize benefits from the chaos, and even risk stirring up even greater disturbances, because this is the moment of chaos they have long awaited...
Deep within the Xianyang Palace, in a secluded courtyard long forgotten by the world, an unusually tense atmosphere permeated the air. The crumbling palace walls obscured the view from the outside world, withered vines entwined the broken stone pillars, and moonlight filtered through the sparse eaves, illuminating the swaying figures on the ground.
At first, only two or three dark figures crept in, ghostlike and silent. They exploited the darkness and the complex structure of the palace buildings, sneaking in from different directions and through unknown paths. Gradually, the figures gathered in increasing numbers, their identities confirmed through low, terse exchanges of words and gestures. Within moments, hundreds of people had gathered in this supposedly deserted courtyard.
Recalling the former splendor of the Xianyang Palace, its vast 3.72 square kilometers, its vastness and sprawling palaces were a truly magnificent spectacle. In its heyday, it could easily accommodate a -strong army without even feeling overcrowded. But now, with the passage of time and the end of the imperial ambitions, the palace, while its skeleton remains, has long lost its former majesty and popularity. Currently, fewer than a thousand people remain at the Xianyang Palace, nearly half of whom are women and attendants, mostly from the Prime Minister's residence. Actual personal guards, numbering no more than three or four hundred, scattered across the vast palace grounds, appear overstretched and sparsely protected.
It was against this backdrop that this group of individuals, each with a complex identity and a shared goal, successfully gathered here, concealing their tracks. Their objective was clear: to assassinate Empress Lü. While the people of Xianyang were undoubtedly in turmoil and rumors abounded, everyone knew that Gao Yao's 30,000-man army was no mere figment of the imagination. These soldiers were not improvised conscripts from the prefectures, but rather a rigorously trained and well-equipped regular army. Their loyalty to Gao Yao was unwavering, almost rock-hard.
Now, command of this 30,000-man army rested firmly in the hands of Li Zhao. Li Zhao, a direct descendant of Gao Yao, was undoubtedly loyal to him, and the possibility of his betrayal was virtually nonexistent. The army's lower-level officers were mostly from the Baiyue tribe. These warriors were brave and simple, deeply bound to Gao Yao's interests. Trying to persuade them to defect with mere words was a pipe dream. The number of officers truly capable of defection was extremely small.
After days of instigation and covert planning, the organizers finally managed to gather this group of men. Among them were remnants of the old Qin dynasty who still harbored illusions, descendants of the nobility whose interests were damaged by the power transition, and powerful and charismatic individuals simply dissatisfied with Gao Yao's rule. They utilized secret passages laid and maintained by the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan in his early years to evade palace guards and infiltrate the depths of the Xianyang Palace without a trace. Yi Xiaochuan, with his millennia of experience, had a thorough knowledge of every brick and tile, corridors and hidden passages of the Xianyang Palace. Finding several unobservable routes was a simple task for him.