In the second year of Emperor Qin III, spring.

Zhao Tuo, who was ordered to go to Yongcheng to worship God, returned to Xianyang.

His face was cold, as if he had not yet entered spring, and was still in the cold winter.

He walked through the streets of Xianyang, which was controlled by the lieutenant army, and entered the Qin Palace, but did not go directly to see the emperor, but came to the Tianbao platform in the depths.

The high platform stands tall and the wind howls.

A huge golden man stood here, facing the gale, looking haughtily into the distance.

The First Emperor wanted the big one.

Zhao Tuo and Fusu got him a big golden man, who was eight feet tall, which was a multiple of the emperor's favorite.

Its costumes and appearance are also made according to the first emperor, lifelike, so that people can see it, as if they saw the emperor of the ages standing in front of them.

Zhao Tuo walked to the front of the statue of the First Emperor, looked at the mighty emperor in front of him, and his feelings rose from his heart.

He sighed lightly: "Your Majesty, the children and grandchildren have been bewitched, they don't know the severity, and they almost broke the big thing. It's hard for me to get it like this now. ”

No one responded to him.

Zhao Tuo's personal guards were led by Peng Yue, standing dozens of meters away, not daring to approach.

Only the sound of the wind blew beside Zhao Tuo, whimpering, as if someone was whispering.

Zhao Tuo looked at the statue of the First Emperor and was silent.

When he went to Yongcheng this time, he did not expect such a change to occur in Xianyang.

The little emperor is only more than ten years old, and he has not yet been crowned pro-government, he Zhao Tuo is the minister appointed by the second emperor to support Gu, and it is normal to control national affairs and act on behalf of the emperor, and he does not feel that there is anything wrong.

If there is something wrong, it may be to prevent Li Yu, the Legalist court captain, from making trouble, and Zhao Tuo has suppressed him.

This made Li Yu resentful, and finally pulled out the mess.

Fortunately, Zhao Tuo's old ministry occupies a position of real power in Xianyang.

People like Shima, Black Buttocks, Zhong Liyi and others have been in the lieutenant army, the guard army, and the Lang Wei army for more than ten years, and they have taken deep roots, and many generals and soldiers in the army listen to them, even if they are lieutenants, wei wei and others, they have to rely on them to govern the army.

This made Li Yu and the little emperor throw a mouse, and did not dare to take the risk of calling Xianyang's army, intending to rely on the clan, and was finally taken down by Zhao Che and others.

Zuo Prime Minister Wang Xuan, Imperial Historian Feng Quji and others were very shocked when they learned about this that night, but at this time, the situation was completely controlled by the Zhao family, and they could not interfere.

On the grounds of the rebellion of the clan, Shima and others issued martial law orders through the Taiwei Mansion in charge of military affairs, and controlled the entire Xianyang City, especially the Qin Palace and the Mansion of the Marquis of Wentong, which were heavily surrounded, and even Wang Juan, Feng Qujian and others could not enter the palace to see the emperor.

Xianyang was controlled by the army.

Everything is waiting for Zhao Tuo to come back and solve it.

"Resolving ......"

Zhao Tuo whispered softly.

As soon as he came back to meet Zhao Che, Chen Ping, Li Shiqi and others, the two strategists told him about the difficult problem of the power struggle.

In the political arena, either you die or I live.

When it came to Zhao Tuo's status, this kind of thing had just happened, and if their Zhao family didn't make a ruthless move, they would definitely be liquidated by the king in the future.

Historically, no king has been able to tolerate such a courtier who has wielded military and political power.

Even if you can die safely, the family will not escape after death.

Huo Guang, Zhang Juzheng and others are an example.

Only by taking advantage of the situation can we be stable for generations.

Zhao Tuo was noncommittal.

He only chose to enter the palace to see the First Emperor.

One person and one portrait, silently looking at each other.

After a while, Zhao Tuo nodded at the huge golden man and sighed, "I know." ”

He did not go to see the third emperor, but went straight out of the Qin Palace.

A few days later, the lockdown of Xianyang City was lifted.

At the same time, there is an official verdict on what happened that night.

The princes of the Zhu clan were bewitched by traitors, and took advantage of the suburbs of the Marquis of Zhenguo to raid the mansion of the Marquis of Wentong, the Marquis of Zhenguo and the Qin Palace, intending to control the emperor and seek rebellion.

The emperor remembered the love of the bloodline, and the princes were instigated by others, so the net was opened, only abolished their sons' status, demoted to concubines, and confined in Lishan for the rest of their lives, and kept filial piety in front of the mausoleum of the first emperor to atone for their sins.

And those who followed the rebellion of the princes had no blood protection, and thousands of them were killed on the banks of the Weishui River to set an example.

In the whole incident, because Zhao Che, the lieutenant, reacted in time and deployed troops to suppress it, there was no loss in the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

But the Wentong Marquis Mansion was not spared, because the mansion was broken by the rebels, and Li Yu, the Marquis of Wentong, did not want to be humiliated and committed suicide in the mansion.

When the rebel army saw the death of Marquis Wentong, they slaughtered the Li family in anger, causing the Li family to suffer heavy losses and was almost wiped out.

Of course, those rebellious troops who rushed into the Wentong Marquis Mansion were also punished by being beheaded afterwards, which can be regarded as revenge for the Li family.

After the matter was decided, the people of Xianyang, who had been panicked for a long time under military management, breathed a sigh of relief.

"It turned out that it was those ghosts of the clan sons, it was really hateful, and the harm was scared for a long time."

"That is to say, it's a pity that Wentonghou is really unlucky, his family was killed by the rebels, and it was miserable."

"Hey, it's not that our Zhao Xiaojun Marquis reacted decisively, if he hadn't dealt with it in time, let alone Wentong Marquis, maybe even the palace would have fallen into the hands of those rebels. The Zhao clan is really the pillar of the empire! ”

The bearded man with gray hair boasted to everyone in the restaurant, his face full of pride.

Compared with the people who have limited knowledge, although the ministers and ministers in the court of the Qin State do not know the truth of this matter, they can vaguely guess a rough idea.

One by one, they trembled and did not dare to say much about the matter.

Even if it is a loyal minister with a backbone, it is not easy to say much.

When the incident happened, the Marquis of Zhenguo was worshipping in Yongcheng on the emperor's edict, and this matter had nothing to do with Zhao Tuo.

First of all, Zhao's problem was ruled out.

And it was indeed the princes of the clan who sent troops to rebel, and no one could deny it.

No matter what the true purpose of the clan was, gathering so many servants to go out into the streets with swords in hand was already a violation of the law, let alone intending to attack the mansion of the princes, who would dare to defend them?

As for the death of Li Yu, Marquis of Wentong, because the army controlled the whole city at that time, the ministers did not know how he died, and even if there was a guess, they did not dare to say much, so they could only admit the explanation given by the Zhao family.

The matter was resolved, and Zhao Tuo continued to handle national affairs as usual as if nothing had happened.

But the court also fell into a terrible depression.

Because of the death of Li Yu, the Marquis of Wentong, Wang Juan, the prime minister of Zuo, Feng Quji, the imperial historian, and others were afraid of the Zhao family, and they did not dare to disobey Zhao Tuo's words in government affairs.

In addition, Li Yu, the court lieutenant who has always been at odds with Zhao Tuo, died, and the new court lieutenant was served by Zhao Gao, the servant recommended by Zhang Han, and there was no one in the court who dared to openly oppose the marquis of Zhenguo.

As for the third emperor, because of the death of his uncle Wentong Marquis Li Yu, this teenager has been frightened, plus he has not yet been crowned an adult, so he has no power to govern. can only watch Zhao Tuo handle national affairs on behalf of him in the court, and he doesn't dare to say much.

It's just that in the heart of the little emperor, remembering his mother's words, there is still hope.

"The Zhao thief is so powerful that he dares to destroy my Li family, but looking at his current appearance, he still doesn't dare to kill the king and usurp the throne. Wu'er was patient for the time being, first pretending to cooperate with Zhao Thief, and let him handle the state affairs, in order to survive, so that he would not dare to do something rebellious. Zhao Thief is not young, and my son is like the rising sun, as long as he survives, he will definitely be able to boil Zhao Thief to death, and when Zhao Thief dies, it will be the time for us to unite the courtiers and liquidate the Zhao family! ”

Mother's words echoed in the mind of the third emperor.

Yes, Zhao Tuo, the old thief, is forty-three years old this year, and the third emperor himself is only seventeen years old.

What he has is time.

But Zhao Tuo doesn't have many years to live.

Survive and kill Zhao Tuo, and the little emperor will have a chance to turn over.

Before that, he couldn't give Zhao Tuo a handle.

Under such an intention, the third emperor no longer shackled Zhao Tuo.

After Zhao Tuo tore his face, he was not polite, and grabbed all the power that he could grasp in his hands.

Especially the military.

Power comes out of the barrel of a gun, and he understands this very well.

In addition to the lieutenant army and the guard army, even Miyanaka Langwei was infiltrated by his henchmen.

As for the big families in the court, they also have their own attitudes.

After Taiwei Wang Ben died of illness that year, his son Wang Li inherited the title of Marquis of Wucheng and was recommended as Taiwei.

Wang Li once followed Zhao Tuo to destroy Qi and capture Henan, which can be regarded as Zhao Tuo's old department.

Zhao Tuo is also his eldest father and father's old department, and the relationship between the Zhao and Wang families is entangled, compared to the strange third emperor, Wang Li is naturally more inclined to the Zhao family.

"The eldest father and father both said that more things in the court are better than less things, and more things are better than less things, and now I still don't participate in the situation."

Wang Li sighed and shook his head.

Compared with Wang's neutrality, Mengyi's Meng Yi was very dissatisfied with Zhao's dictatorship.

It's just a pity that the new court lieutenant Zhao Gao recommended Meng Yi, a master of law, to Zhangye County, Hexi, as the county guard, on the grounds that Hexi barbarians are troubled and the law is difficult to pass.

For this recommendation, he will be Shaofu Zhang Han, Zhisu Neishi Wang Wu and others have agreed, and finally after Zhao Tuo played the emperor, Meng Yi was sent to Zhangye County as a county guard, to govern the Yue people and Qiang people there.

After Montessori, Yang's Yang Xiong was a friend of Zhao Tuo, and Xin had many dealings with Zhao Tuo because of Xin Wu's relationship in the past, and he was not an opponent. Needless to say, Li Xin's Li of the Li family, only the Feng family was a little discordant with the Zhao family because of a woman marrying Li Yu, the Marquis of Wentong.

But Feng Quji, the head of the Feng family, is an old Jianghu who knows the proportions, and with him, the Feng family does not show hostility.

Wang Juan and Feng Qujian are old and have lost much sharpness, so for the sake of the family, they try to avoid conflicts with Zhao Tuo, making the entire Qin court completely become Zhao Tuo's hall.

He said one, and no one said two.

In this political environment, Zhao Tuo did not pay attention to the persuasion of Chen Ping, Li Shiqi, and even Hei Buttock, Zhong Liyi and others, he only put his mind on national affairs, and seriously eliminated old evils and innovated.

In the third year of the third reign of Qin, because there was no obstruction from Li Yu and other Legalist disciples, Zhao Tuo's Zhuzi School plan was successfully implemented in the world, and he ruthlessly collected the hearts of a wave of people in the world.

All the scholars except for the disciples of the Legalists said that the marquis of Zhenguo was enlightened, willing to inherit the knowledge of the princes, and was a virtuous minister in the world.

The promotion of the Zhuzi School has cultivated a group of intellectuals.

Some of the best of them were recommended to become officials, and the rest had their own paths, such as some people who were encouraged by the policy to go to the barbarian areas to carry out cultural propaganda in exchange for qualifications and better futures.

In short, in terms of ideology and culture, the Qin State is shifting from suppression to openness.

In the fourth year of Qin III, Li Xin, who led his army to Liaodong to conquer, returned.

He brought back the head of the traitor Maudun, as well as thousands of Hu captives, and personally solved the scourge he had left in the northeast.

Li Xin didn't know about what happened in Xianyang, and he didn't want to know.

Li Xin is in his fifties, almost sixty years old, and decades of conquest have made his face full of wind and frost, and his temples have been dyed white by frost and snow.

After the ceremony, Li Xin seemed to have completed all the tasks of his life, and two months later, his old illness relapsed and he was lying in bed.

"General Lee."

Zhao Tuo knelt in front of Li Xin's couch and couldn't help but burst into tears when he looked at the aging man in front of him.

Li Xin smiled and said weakly: "You are now a dignified marquis, you should have seen the matter of life and death, there is nothing to cry about." ”

Zhao Tuo said: "No matter what my Zhao Tuo's identity is in this life, General Li is my Zhao Tuo's Bole, if there is no general appreciation back then, how can there be today's Zhao Tuo here." ”

These words evoked Li Xin's memories.

He sighed: "I am overjoyed that you are in a high position and still remember these past events. It's just the word Bole, but I'm not worthy, in the final analysis, I, Li Xin, am just a stubborn general. ”

"In the battle of Chu back then, I didn't listen to your Zhao Tuo's advice, and I was arrogant, but I was victimized by the traitors, so that 200,000 troops were overthrown in Chu, which became the pain of my Li Xin's life. Although I can take your words and have the opportunity to make a comeback from Liaodong, the past will always be indelible in my heart. ”

Speaking of this, Li Xin shook Zhao Tuo's hand.

He looked at Zhao Tuo, as if he had exhausted his life's strength, and said: "Zhao Tuo, I just want to tell you that I Li Xin was wrong, I didn't listen to you back then, everything was my fault." ”

When Li Xin was dying, he sincerely admitted his mistakes to Zhao Tuo.

Zhao Tuo said in a mournful voice: "General Li, there is no need for this. ”

In front of Zhao Tuo, he admitted his mistakes back then, as if Li Xin completely unloaded the burden of his life.

He smiled and said, "Zhao Tuo, it is my Li Xin's luck to meet you in this life." ”

As the words fell, Li Xin's hand lost its strength, and his eyes slowly closed.

Zhao Tuo also closed his eyes, his face full of sadness.

In his mind, what came to mind was the scene of the return of the Yan Yan back then.

Outside Xianyang City, he stood beside Li Xin, triumphant in the same car, and enjoyed the moment of glory.

Li Xin is very important to him Zhao Tuo's life.

"It is also my Zhao Tuo's luck to meet General Li in this life."

Zhao Tuo muttered, his chest aching.

Li Xin's death seems to have opened the curtain of an era.

Qin III five years.

Wang Xuan, the left prime minister who was over 70 years old, could not resist the erosion of time after all, and died suddenly in the mansion.

The position of the left prime minister was filled by the imperial historian Feng Quji.

It's just that Feng Quji and Wang Juan are about the same age, and they are both seventy years old, which is already considered a high life in this era.

In the second year of becoming the prime minister of Zuo, Feng Quji also passed away.

The death of two Zuo Prime Ministers for two consecutive years filled the court of Qin with a sad atmosphere.

In a blink of an eye, it was the seventh year of Qin III.

Zhao Tuo was forty-eight years old, and the third emperor was twenty-two years old.

According to the etiquette system, after the third emperor held the crown ceremony in Yongcheng, he represented adulthood and could govern himself.

But Zhao Tuo turned a blind eye to all this, and after the emperor was crowned, he did not return the government to him, and still firmly grasped the power, and the army was full of Zhao's subordinates.

At this time, Wang Juan, Feng Quji and other old ministers have all passed away, and Feng Zheng, who has just taken over, is also an old man in his sixties, and he does not have the courage to compete with Zhao Tuo.

Above the Manchu Dynasty, they are all Zhao henchmen.

The emperor's words are not as effective as Zhao Tuo's.

The third emperor had no choice but to be as patient as possible.

"Zhao Thief, you are already forty-eight, and I am only twenty-two, I want to see how many more years you can live!"

The third emperor gritted his teeth, eager to punish the Zhao family after seizing power.

Li Shu was also extremely angry, but she still had a way: "There are many Zhao henchmen in the court, I am afraid that once Zhao Tuo goes, his son Zhao Che will still seize power and will not stop." We are waiting for help, and marriage is a way out. ”

For this way out, the Queen Mother Li Shu even lowered her face and asked Zong Zhengzi to come forward and let the Son of Heaven marry Wang Li's daughter.

In the eyes of Li Shu and the third emperor, the Wang family is the only prince in the court who can be compared with Zhao Tuo, although Wang Li seems to remain neutral, but his father and ancestor are all old ministers of the Qin State, and they will definitely favor the emperor in their hearts.

As long as the emperor can marry Wang Li's daughter, if Zhao Tuo dies in the future, if the emperor wants to seize power, the Wang family is an arm.

Regarding Li Shu and the emperor's calculations, Zhao Tuo did not interfere, and even took the initiative to facilitate the matter.

The daughter of the Wang family became the empress, and the Wang family became a relative of the Qin family, which gave the third emperor and the empress dowager a little more peace of mind, and continued to wait for the day when Zhao Tuo died.

Emperor Qin III for eight years.

The Qin people found a large number of gold and silver mines on the Dongying Islands, and triggered a boom, and many people in Yan, Qi, Liaodong, Haidong, Rizhao and other places smuggled across the sea, wanting to go to Dongying to find gold and make a fortune.

There are savage tribes living on the Dongying Islands, and they often have conflicts with the Qin people.

Zhao Tuo took advantage of the situation to bring the Dongying Islands under the rule of Qin, but because of the geographical distance, it was necessary to cross the sea, which was very inconvenient. Therefore, Zhao Tuo set up a capital protectorate in Dongying, which was different from the county, and gave the officials sent to govern more free power to control the local Zhufan.

In this year, Xu Shi, a famous navigator of the Qin State, died of illness in Dongying.

Emperor Qin III for the ninth year.

The eldest son of the third emperor was born, and the emperor named him Zhao, and couldn't wait to make him the crown prince.

According to Chen Ping's guess, this name may come from the word "Zhao" of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.

During the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the royal power was also lost, and he was overshadowed by the Empress Dowager Xuan and the Marquis for more than 40 years, and it was not until he was 60 years old that he succeeded in seizing power.

Maybe the third emperor wanted to inspire himself with the deeds of this ancestor.

When Zhao Tuo heard this, he just smiled.

A month later, on the grounds that the Son of Heaven was the supreme and should enjoy the beauty of the world, he sent dozens of beautiful women from the Western Regions and Dongying to the palace.

For Zhao Tuo's approach, the third emperor was very indignant in private.

"What does this Zhao Tuo think of me! These barbarian women are also worthy of me? ”

In the tenth year of Qin III, several new princes were born in the palace.

The third emperor saw that it would take a long time to seize power, and it was difficult to release his depression, so he could only temporarily indulge in beauty.

In the same year, Li Shiqi, the most famous strategist under Zhao Tuo, was already over 70 years old and was on the verge of dying.

Before his death, Li Shiqi was in a very good state of mind, and smiled at Zhao Tuo, who came to visit: "The first half of his life was a contemptible person who had no size to merit, and he could only be a drunkard to entertain himself, until he met the prince, he showed what he had learned in his heart and made a great contribution to destroying the country." The grace of the prince and the marquis, it is toothless and unforgettable, and I also ask the prince to have a drink with me to say goodbye. ”

"Sir, sir, at this time, don't forget to drink."

Zhao Tuo smiled and asked Li Shang to fetch the wine and pour it for the two of them.

"You kid, why don't you pour me a full cup, even if your brother and I die, then I have to drink a full cup."

Li Shiqi glared at Li Shang and asked him to fill himself up, and then he smiled and raised his glass with Zhao Tuo.

"Drink this cup full, eat it contemptibly, and say goodbye to the prince!"

Li Shiqi laughed and drank the wine in his cup.

A moment later, Zhao Tuo's subordinate strategist elder, who had made many meritorious achievements, left the world.

Zhao Tuo silently watched Li Shang cry in front of the couch.

He is fifty-one years old this year, and his friends or old subordinates are almost in their fifties and sixties.

Time invades, I'm afraid no one can stop it.

Compared with Zhao Tuo's grief, the third emperor applauded happily when he heard the news.

"What the queen mother said makes sense, now that Li Shiqi is dead, it is equivalent to breaking the arm of Zhao Thief, and his subordinates Black Buttocks, Zhong Liyi and others are also close to the sixtieth birthday, and they will not live in a few years! I just have to wait for them to die to win, time is my greatest helper! ”

The third emperor pinned his hopes on relying on the years to defeat Zhao Tuo, and in the following days, he ignored the government and devoted himself to pleasure.

Things turned out just as he had guessed.

In the following years, Zhao Tuo's old departments, who were over sixty years old, embarked on the road of death one after another.

"My black buttocks have relied on the support of the monarch and the marquis all in my life, otherwise how could the son of an urn and rope pivot sit in such a high position, but it is a pity that the prince is trapped by the righteousness of the monarch and the minister, otherwise as long as I say a word, my black buttocks will cut off the emperor with all my might, and help the prince or the little prince to ascend to the emperor's position."

Black Buttocks was full of regret before he died, but after seeing Zhao Tuo looking at him silently, Black Buttocks cried again.

"Junhou, I still want to go back to when we were fighting Yan, I just want to be a pawn under Junhou."

Crying and crying, the voice of the black buttocks stopped abruptly and was silent.

Zhao Tuo lowered his head and sighed softly.

Li Shiqi and black buttocks, just the beginning.

After this came Shibuma.

This Zhao Tuo's former closest partner has always been thin, and in the last stage of his life, he looks even more disfigured, as if he has changed a person, which makes Zhao Tuo the most heartbroken.

"Prince, I have a request."

Shima leaned on the couch and looked at Zhao Tuo weakly.

Zhao Tuo sat next to him and said softly: "We all arise together in the micro-end, and our affection is even greater than that of others. Don't talk about the word request, you have to be the same as when you were young, just say something to me. ”

Shiruma smiled and nodded, and said softly, "I want to hear the prince read that poem again." ”

Zhao Tuo was stunned, and his eyes became softer and softer.

He looked at Shiruma.

Shiruma looked at him as well.

It's like going back to that winter decades ago.

"Do you say you have no clothes? with the Son. Wang Yuxingshi, repair my spear. Enmity with the Son......"

In Zhao Tuo's voice.

Shiruma closed his eyes peacefully.

Tears slipped down the wrinkles on Zhao Tuo's face.

His once closest comrade-in-arms, gone.

Time is the easiest to throw people away, and in the fifteenth year of Qin III, Lu Juan also left.

He was full of gratitude to Zhao Tuo, but before he died, he kept calling the name of another person: "Liu Ji, you dog thief, where are you hiding!" I really want to find you and spit in your face! ”

Then came Zhong Liyi.

This man from Chu was quite free and easy, and before he died, he smiled at Zhao Tuo: "Junhou, Junhou, I Zhongliyi still remember that you were deceived into getting on the boat in that Huaishui back then, and this deception is a lifetime!" ”

Zhao Tuo also laughed and said, "Is that called deception?" I'll save you! Otherwise, you would have been gone with the Chu State. ”

Zhong Liyi left with a smile, he felt that the most correct choice in his life was to get on Zhao Tuo's boat.

In the sixteenth year of Qin III, the Huns entrenched in Mobei invaded the Southern Xiongnu and Yueshi tribes in Yinshan to graze in the south, and the Qin general Han Xin led his troops to go to Mobei, ploughed the court and swept the caves, broke the Huns, beheaded 30,000, and won a great victory.

Under this great victory, the Qin general Meng Tian, who had been presiding over major events in the southern Baiyue, died of illness.

In the same year, Feng Zheng, the prime minister of the Great Qin, died.

In the seventeenth year of Qin III, the former general Fan Xu under the command of Zhao Tuo died.

Before he died, he kept muttering that he was the star of the prince, and he never forgot what Zhao Tuo told him, Cao Shen and Xiao He about the three-star dream.

The eighteenth year of Qin III.

The state of Qin formally established its rule in the Western Regions and established the Western Regions Protectorate, which was served by Peng Yue, a disciple of Zhao Tuo.

Nineteenth year of Qin III.

Zhao Tuo is 60 years old, and his beard has already turned white.

Although he is old, because of his long-term health and exercise, his spirit is very good, and the power in the court is still grasped by him.

Especially with the death of the old ministers of the first emperor one by one, his influence in the court is very huge.

Chen Ping thought that the time was ripe and advised Zhao Tuo again.

"Now the prince has entered the year of the sixtieth year, and the emperor is at the peak of the spring and autumn period, if there is something unexpected in the future, then the Zhao family is in danger. It's better to take a step forward and ensure the stability of the Zhao family and us. ”

Zhao Tuo shook his head, rejected Chen Ping's proposal again, and conveniently released him as a county guard.

As for the fact that Zhao Tuo was sixty years old, the third emperor sneered, and felt more and more that his patience was right, and Zhao Tuo's life was almost over.

It's just that compared to his expectation of Zhao Tuo's death, the Queen Mother Li Shu couldn't hold on to it in the resentment and depression all day, and collapsed in the palace this year.

Before leaving, she instructed her son: "Hold back, Zhao Tuo is not a few years old, you must survive him!" ”

The Third Emperor responded with a wail.

Then he plunged into the gentle countryside and handed over the hope of seizing power to time.

After Zhao Tuo entered the year of Huajia, he saw his old friends dying one by one, and in addition to being sad, he also invited his old friends to meet him many times.

For example, Nongheng, the first person who made him feel warm after he came to this world.

Today, Heng is over 60 years old, with gray hair, and looks like an old farmer.

He had a large group of children and began to enjoy the joy of family.

During the years of Zhao Tuo's campaign, he was a peasant official under the Zhisu Neishi Mansion, specializing in various agricultural techniques, and his life was dull and his mentality was very peaceful.

This made it difficult for Zhao Tuo to overlap him with the young man of Zhao who was not in the same position as the Qin army.

"Thanks to the past kindness of the prince, if it weren't for the prince, I am afraid that I would have died tragically in Xianyang because of Jing Ke's incident."

Speaking of the past, the gap between the two people who originally appeared because of class quickly narrowed a lot, and they sighed one after another.

Jing Ke stabbed Qin.

It was forty-five years ago.

Because the status gap is too big, after talking about the past, he was silent and didn't dare to say more.

Zhao Tuo sighed secretly.

The years go by, and after all, it makes people go farther and farther.

In the twentieth year of the reign of Qin III, the Metropolitan Protectorate established by the Qin State in the Western Regions clashed with the Dawan Kingdom, and the Qin envoys were killed, and several small states under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Protectorate were invaded.

Zhao Che remembered his heroic words in the past and personally led the troops forward.

At this time, Zhao Che was already in his forties, his children were already adults, and his younger brother was in Xianyang, so he didn't need to worry about him leaving, once Zhao Tuo left, the Zhao family would be in danger.

Between the twenty-first and twenty-fifth years of Qin III.

Death has once again swept over the old people.

Zhao Tuo's former subordinates Su Jiao, Zhao Guang, Xi Qigu, Zhang He, Bai Rong and others passed away one after another.

In addition, even the old court captain Zhao Gao couldn't hold on.

"My brother, I, Zhao Gao, have been able to be a court lieutenant in my life, and I am in Jiuqing, all thanks to you. I have always remembered that you saved my life from Meng Yi back then, but I also saved you from the Zhao family, but I didn't let you down. ”

Before Zhao Gao died, he met Zhao Tuo, and his face was full of smiles.

This made Zhao Tuo sigh very much.

Zhao Gao, the great traitor in history, with the participation of his Zhao Tuo, did not embark on that road in the end, but became the court lieutenant of the Qin State, and dedicated the second half of his life to the construction of the Qin State, which is really an indescribable feeling.

After Zhao Gao left.

His disciple Gongzi Hu Hai did not last long.

This pleasure-indden son was still a little depressed before he died.

"I really listened to the teacher's nonsense, and I thought that my sister-in-law would abolish Qiming and let me be the emperor. It's hateful, I, Hu Hai, didn't even have the life to be the emperor! ”

In this year, Zhao Tuo was sixty-six years old, and Emperor Qin III was forty years old.

Zhao Tuo, who has practiced the art of health preservation all year round, is still alive and vigorous, walking like a fly.

And the third emperor, who was obsessed with beauty and drank all day long, was weakening day by day.

The hollowed-out body finally couldn't hold on anymore the following year.

"Why! Why is Zhao Thief not dead yet! ”

Emperor Qin III was sick on the couch and let out an angry roar.

The women in the palace were all trembling with fright from the voice, and no one dared to answer.

"Damn, why can't I survive this thief Zhao Tuo!"

The Third Emperor collapsed in anger.

When the Son of Heaven died, Zhao Tuo behaved very calmly, presided over a grand funeral for Fusu's son, and supported the crown prince Zhao to ascend the throne for Emperor Qin IV.

For this new little emperor, Zhao Tuo, as the "Minister of Tuogu", did not suppress him too much, but sent him more beauties and various wines brewed in Shaofu.

The young son of heaven has lived in the shadow of Zhao Tuo since he was born, and even his father was suppressed with trembling and powerless to resist.

The fourth emperor had no idea of resisting at all, not to mention that he had not yet been crowned, and he did not even have a reason to be in power, so he followed the example of his father and plunged into the gentle country, looking for the dignity of the Son of Heaven in it.

Emperor Qin IV for three years.

Zhao Tuo was seventy years old, and it was in this year that he was hit hard.

After the departure of countless old friends, he thought he could accept everything, but when he faced the imminent death of his wife who had been with him for most of his life, he was still full of sadness.

"Zhao Tuo, promise me not to usurp the throne, at least you and Che'er can't."

Before Ying Yin Yan died, she thought of her father and brother.

She didn't want her husband and son to steal the country and become as notorious as the Tian clan of Daiqi, and it would also make them shameless to meet the First and Second Emperors.

But she is very clear about what may happen in the future, so she does not force it.

Zhao Tuo smiled and said softly: "Don't worry, as long as I am here, this world will not change hands." ”

"I believe in you."

Ying Yinyan smiled and nodded, looking at Zhao Tuo's white hair and wrinkled face, she stretched out her hand.

Zhao Tuo leaned his head over.

Ying Yinyan used her thin hand to comb the hair around Zhao Tuo's ears, and her movements were gentle, just like she had been for decades.

She said softly, "I'm gone, you have to take care of yourself." ”

Zhao Tuo cried.

"Whoa."

He held Yingyin's hand, and tears fell like rain.

"Don't cry, I'm so glad I met you, I've been glad to have been happy all my life."

Ying Yin Yan smiled and closed her eyes.

The departure of his wife hit Zhao Tuo for a period of time.

But he survived because he had more important things to do.

Zhao Tuo insisted on health preservation and exercise, even if he was over seventy years old, he was still deaf and clear-sighted, firmly grasped the rights of the country, he was an ancestor in the Zhao family, with great prestige, and many children and grandchildren.

Without his special arrangement, the Zhao clan had firmly occupied all the power institutions of the entire Qin State.

During these years, the identity of the emperor gradually faded, and it seemed that he became a mascot who was only responsible for sacrifices.

The world only knows that there is a town marquis, but does not know that there is a son of heaven.

But Zhao Tuo still adheres to his bottom line, as long as he is there, no one can touch the throne of Great Qin.

At the same time, the years are still harvesting the life of every old era.

In the fourth year of Emperor Qin, the Marquis of Wucheng of Qin Taiwei left. will be a pawn of the Shaofu Chapter.

In the fifth year of Emperor Qin, Zhangye County Shoumeng Yi died. Qin general Cao Shen pawn.

In the sixth year of Emperor Qin IV, Xiao He died in the reign of Su Nei. Qin General Li Shang died.

In the seventh year of Emperor Qin IV, Qin General was appointed as a pawn.

People died one after another, but Zhao Tuo was still alive.

At the age of seventy-six.

His son-in-law, Han Shin, reached the last moment.

"Woman, do you know what the scene is that you will never forget in this life?"

Zhao Tuo smiled: "Could it be the scene when you saw me outside Huaiyin City." ”

Han Xin shook his head and said with a smile: "What I can't forget is actually the night when the woman and the puppet king Xiong Qi fought, when I was lying on the mountain and watching secretly. I saw that the embattled was rising, and the Chu army scattered and fled, at that time, I knew that the woman must be the strongest general in the world, and I Han Xin will never forget that scene. ”

Zhao Tuo was a little stunned.

Embattled.

It turned out that the shock to Han Xin was so big.

After Han Xin finished speaking, he suddenly sighed again: "But I still have one regret that I will never forget." ”

Zhao Tuo said softly: "What a regret it is, you Han Xin can't forget it until now." ”

Han Xin smiled bitterly: "The woman still remembers Liu Bang, when he reported the traitor Xiang Zhi, and was ordered to go to the south to hunt down A Tu Gu, but this time he has disappeared since then, and his reward of hundreds of gold is still in my house, and I have always kept it for him." Alas, this money can't be handed over to Liu Bang, and I, Han Xin, will never forget it after all. ”

"Liu Bang."

Zhao Tuo squinted his eyes.

The last time he said this name was decades ago, and he was in a trance.

"Maybe he died in the south, but maybe he settled down in the south and didn't return to Daqin."

He sighed faintly.

Liu Bang, Xiang Ji, these names sound like a world away.

Han Shin left this world with regret.

Following Han Xin, Chen Ping, who had offered Zhao Tuo's enterprising plan, also left.

Before he died, he sighed: "I hate not being able to see the prince ascend to the throne, if the prince is willing to listen to my plan, everything will be worry-free." ”

Zhao Che left when Zhao Tuo was seventy-nine years old.

"Che'er, have you ever regretted not taking the emperor's place?"

Zhao Tuo stood in front of the weakened Zhao Che and asked his question.

Zhao Che smiled and said: "Father, you are wrong, my biggest ambition in this life is not to be an emperor, but what I once said to Waiweng, I, Zhao Che, want to be the general of Great Qin's expedition to the west!" ”

Zhao Tuo smiled and nodded.

His son destroyed the Dawan Kingdom in the west and exalted his power in the Western Regions, which can be regarded as the completion of his dream.

After Zhao Che's death.

Zhao Tuo personally carved the inscription for him.

The tomb of Zhao Che, the general of the Great Qin Expedition to the West.

In the second year after Zhao Che's death, Emperor Qin IV, who had been addicted to wine for more than ten years, also came to the end of his life.

His son, Emperor Qin V, who was in his teens, ascended to the throne.

Only this time, Zhao Tuo did not use the same means as the third and fourth emperors, but married Zhao Che's granddaughter to the fifth emperor.

"I know what you want to do, Junhou, Junhou, you really played a big game of chess."

Zhang Cang, who was full of white hair, came to Zhao Tuo's side with a huge belly, and smiled at Zhao Tuo with a shriveled mouth.

Zhao Tuo pointed to his mouth and smiled: "You guys really live a long life, I heard that you have lost all your teeth, and you rely on human milk for food." ”

Zhang Cang shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I'm almost dead, but thanks to my survival until now, I know what you think, why bother?" ”

Zhao Tuo said calmly: "Everyone is pursuing different things. ”

Zhang Cang shook his head and sighed: "It's a pity, it's a pity, if you are ruthless, maybe my apprentice will be able to become the emperor, and I, Zhang Cang, will inevitably have the title of emperor in the future generations." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Tuo became angry and scolded: "You fat guy is embarrassed to say, if you hadn't taught Che'er badly, let him find dozens of concubines, and damaged his body, he might be able to live to our age." ”

"Junhou, you have wronged people, you see that I have hundreds of wives and concubines in Zhang Cang's mansion, and I haven't lived until now."

Zhang Cang rolled his eyes, and sighed again as he spoke: "But I know that I am dying, Prince, if I, Zhang Cang, die, there will be few people in this world who can talk to you like this." ”

Zhao Tuo shuddered.

Half a month later, Zhang Cang died in the arms of his wife and concubine.

The last friend left, and the terrible loneliness hit Zhao Tuo like a tidal wave.

He carried it.

Zhao Tuo waited until the child named Xun was born.

This is the eldest son of the fifth emperor and the son of Zhao Tuo's great-granddaughter.

The confluence of bloodlines not only continued the royal inheritance of the first emperor, but also ensured the safety of the Zhao family for generations.

Unlike the previous emperors, Zhao Tuo took the child out of the palace and trained it himself.

In the passage of time, Zhao Tuo raised this child to grow up day by day.

Eighty-five years old.

Ninety years old.

Ninety-five years old.

One hundred years old.

The old people of yesteryear are dying one after another.

Zhao Tuo moved forward in the passage of time, and he taught this child all the things he had learned and all the thoughts he had learned in his life.

Until the collapse of Emperor Qin V, the child raised by Zhao Tuo himself ascended to the throne with the support of the Zhao family by virtue of his status as the eldest son.

The burden that has been pressing on Zhao Tuo for decades can be regarded as truly let go.

He gave all his power to the new emperor.

In the last stage of his life, Zhao Tuo came to the Qin Palace again.

"Gaozu, please be careful."

The sixth emperor was a young man with a lofty instrument, and he personally helped Zhao Tuo to slowly ascend to the Tianbao platform.

He should have called Zhao Tuo is maternal great-grandfather, but because of the relationship raised since childhood, he was extremely close to Zhao Tuo, and he was called a great-grandfather.

When Zhao Tuo heard this, he shook his head at the Sixth Emperor.

"Xun'er, only the Second Emperor is your ancestor, I am not."

Zhao Tuo corrected this title, the sixth emperor smiled, and did not say much, he was raised by Zhao Tuo himself, spent the first half of his life in the Zhao family, and was full of feelings for Zhao Tuo and the Zhao family.

The sixth emperor carefully helped Zhao Tuo to the stage.

Zhao Tuo let go of his hand and came to the stage tremblingly.

"Gaozu, it's windy there."

The sixth emperor was worried and wanted to put on a robe for Zhao Tuo, but was rejected by the old man in front of him.

Zhao Tuo waved his hand and staggered to the towering giant golden man.

Because there is a special person to maintain it every year, the statue of the First Emperor is still golden in the sunset, looking majestic and majestic.

Zhao Tuo first looked at the scenery under the stands.

Tianbaotai is towering, and the Qin Palace and Xianyang City seem very small.

At this moment, Zhao Tuo suddenly had a strong sense of loneliness.

"My enemies are dead."

"My friends, they're all dead."

"I'm alive."

He sighed softly.

Wait until you come out of your grief.

Zhao Tuo turned around and tried to keep his eyes open, staring at the statue of the First Emperor in front of him.

"Your Majesty."

He called softly,

In the setting sun, Zhao Tuo seemed to see the statue of the First Emperor in front of him come to life, and his golden eyes looked at him.

Zhao Tuo said softly.

"Your Majesty, look at the world. I, Zhao Tuo, have not failed Great Qin, nor have I failed His Majesty. ”

Under Zhao Tuo's decades of governance, the Qin state has become extremely prosperous and powerful.

Its territory is vast, west to the green mountains, north to Mobei, east and Yingzhou, south to Baiyue.

Even in Qinghai and Tibet, there are signs of Qin people.

Among the four seas, all the ethnic groups of all nations respect the Qin people.

Within the counties of Kyushu, the government treasury is full, the grain is overflowing, and the money rope is rotting.

All the people of Qianshou are full of laughter, and there is no suffering from cold and hunger.

As for technology, there is even gunpowder to open mountains and crack rocks, and hot air balloons fly into the sky......

In terms of governing the country, Zhao Tuo was able to stand up his chest and report his efforts to the First Emperor.

As for other aspects.

Zhao Tuo looked at the Sixth Emperor in the distance.

"Nine hundred years ago, Qin and Zhao were the same family."

"Nine hundred years later, Qin and Zhao are once again one family."

"Your Majesty, your descendants are still the emperors of the Qin State."

"And I, the Zhao family, can rest with Qin and the country, and help each other to the end."

"I, Zhao Tuo, am a Qin general, and the Zhao family will always be a Qin general."

Zhao Tuo said softly.

He saw the golden statue of the First Emperor nodding to him in the light.

Outside the high platform, the sun sets.

Zhao Tuo showed the last smile of his life.

In the sixth year of Emperor Qin, Zhao Tuo, the marquis of Great Qin Town, died in Xianyang at the age of 120.

Plenty of time, longevity, and great power can solve most of the problems.

Thank you for your support all the way, and wish you and Zhao Tuo a long life.

There will be a chapter in the follow-up that will be 2,000 years later.,Probably next week with the closing speech.。

The content should be related to the public fragments, Zhao Tuo, Liu Bang, Zhang Liang and Li You, as well as the archaeology of the Qin Tombs.