"You all heard the words of the Royal Envoy just now," Zhao Feng said to the five generals. "After the new year, recruits will be joining the army. The five of you should prepare to welcome them and see to the matter of reorganization."

"General Zhao," Zhao Tuo said with some surprise, "our Wei City army already numbers sixty thousand. If we add more troops, won't we have an army of eighty to ninety thousand men?"

"Since the Great King has issued a Royal Edict for this matter, he must have his own arrangements. As his subjects, we need only follow the royal command," Zhao Feng stated calmly.

For Zhao Feng, the more soldiers under his command, the better, as it increased the Attributes he could gain from his legions.

"This general understands," Zhao Tuo said, asking no more questions.

"Very well," Zhao Feng said, "all of you may go and make your own arrangements. If any matter arises, come find me directly in the Military Council Hall." He then turned and walked straight toward the hall. Zhang Ming led one hundred trusted aides to follow him, stationing them at various points around the building.

After entering the hall, Zhao Feng sat in the main seat as usual. While opening a military report, he gave a command in his mind. Claim reward.

A notification appeared on his panel. Host promoted to Vice Director. Awarded one First Order Treasure Box.

Open the Treasure Box, Zhao Feng immediately commanded.

Although there was only one Treasure Box, he was still full of anticipation.

Opening the First Order Treasure Box... Obtained one [Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom], the panel notified him.

Three Heavenly Fragrant Cardamoms... Is that a complete set now? A Spiritual Medicine capable of reviving the dead... Though he said this, Zhao Feng still felt a bit disappointed. This Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom was useless to him!

Am I supposed to save Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the future? At that moment, a terrifying thought suddenly emerged in his mind.

In history, Emperor Qin Shi Huang died at Shaqiu. While old age was a factor, the primary cause was his consumption of an excessive amount of immortality pills, which led to fatal heavy metal poisoning. If Zhao Feng gave him the Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom at that critical moment, he could save Emperor Qin Shi Huang's life and change the course of this world's history. It seemed the power to alter history was now in his hands.

Just as this idea surfaced, however, he immediately shook his head. Forget it. After all, my relationship with the King of Qin is just that of a sovereign and his subject. I risked my life for military merit to earn my rank and title. It was all won with my life on the line. If a Royal Edict were to come down, it could all be stripped away in an instant. Besides, the King of Qin's successors are terrible. I have no desire to risk my life for them. I don't think highly of either Fusu or Hu Hai. I'll just follow the course of history and wait for the End of Qin. Are kings and dukes, generals and ministers, destined by birth?

「Zhao State, Handan!」

Inside Longtai Palace, Guo Kai knelt on the ground, sobbing with snot and tears. At this moment, he wore no luxurious robes and looked no different from a beggar.

Zhao Yan looked at the man who had returned alive, his face filled with stunned disbelief.

"Prime Minister, how did you return alive?" Zhao Yan asked in a low voice.

Although the Zhao state's intelligence network couldn't compare to Qin's, he was well aware that Qin forces had intercepted and annihilated all five hundred of the royal guards along the Wei River. However, Qin had not publicly announced which state was responsible, nor did they mention the Zhao Country Royal Guard, claiming only that the attackers were bandits.

"My King!" Guo Kai wailed. "Your servant escaped from the State of Qin!"

"How did you escape? All five hundred royal guards were annihilated by the Qin Army. How could a man as physically weak as you survive?" Zhao Yan frowned. Though he lacked great ability, he possessed basic judgment and naturally felt suspicious of Guo Kai.

"My King," Guo Kai quickly explained, "I was not with the royal guards. I was planning everything from behind the scenes. After losing contact with them, I disguised myself and begged my way back to Zhao."

Hearing this explanation, Zhao Yan nodded. This was, after all, consistent with Guo Kai's character—skilled at self-preservation. Furthermore, Qin had never announced Guo Kai's capture. Moreover, based on his understanding of Ying Zheng, Zhao Yan knew that if Guo Kai had truly been captured, he would never have been released. Zhao Yan was keenly aware of how much Ying Zheng hated both him and Guo Kai for what happened in their youth. Ying Zheng's childhood tutor had also been brought to ruin by them.

With this in mind, Zhao Yan's suspicion of Guo Kai gradually faded. However, to be cautious, he probed further. "After you left for Qin, Prime Minister, Qin sent an envoy to our state of Zhao to propose an alliance. What is your opinion? Should I agree or not?"

Hearing this, a look of fury and hatred instantly filled Guo Kai's face. "My King, you must not agree! Qin is treacherous. For them to proactively seek an alliance, there is surely a trap!"

Seeing this reaction, Zhao Yan's last doubts were completely dispelled. He immediately stood up, walked over to Guo Kai, and gently helped him to his feet.

"You have endured great hardship, Prime Minister. To risk your life for my sake... having a loyal subject such as you is truly my blessing," Zhao Yan said with a smile.

"But your servant... I failed to complete the mission and caused the loss of five hundred royal guards," Guo Kai said with a look of shame.

"I have already received intelligence on your plans, Prime Minister," Zhao Yan said, smiling. "If not for that coincidence at the Wei River, you might have already succeeded. This is not your fault."

"Thank you, My King, for your grace in not blaming me," Guo Kai immediately bowed, a wave of relief washing over him.

"However, there was no trap in Qin's proposed treaty," Zhao Yan said with a smile. "I have already agreed with the Qin envoy. We will choose an auspicious day to go to Qin and sign the alliance treaty with Ying Zheng."

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