allendalepharm Chapter 189: Every sentence is like a hammer blow, every word like a nail.
Chapter 189: Every sentence is like a hammer blow, every word like a nail.
The crowd parted automatically to make way. The thousand Han soldiers who had come with Han Fei stood tall and straight, their eyes burning with determination. They could not forget the bloody battle on the Han-Qin border, nor could they forget how this man had single-handedly broken through enemy lines and settled the situation with just three words.
Zhang Liang stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "Brother Lin, it's finally you who have come!"
"You're not speaking up for your own brother, aren't you just waiting for me to show up?" Lin Tian glanced at Zhang Liang, a slight smile playing on his lips. How could he not know what Zhang Liang was planning? When it came to debating with a group of scholars, all the scholars in the room combined couldn't match even a fraction of Zhang Liang's brilliance; yet from beginning to end, that man simply stood by and watched, waiting for the storm to break.
Han Fei watched Lin Tian approach, a smile spreading across his face, but his voice carried a hint of self-mockery: "Brother Lin, I've really suffered a heavy defeat this time!"
"Who are you?" Lü Buwei narrowed his eyes, looking him up and down, his tone filled with probing and suspicion.
Lin Tian did not answer. His gaze slowly swept over the Qin army formation—the armored soldiers on the city wall, the kneeling officials, the standing officers, and even the civilians who were standing on tiptoe in the distance. Everyone held their breath and stared intently at him.
Before he could speak, Ying Zheng strode forward, clasped his hands high, and bowed deeply. His voice was like metal striking the ground: "Listen, everyone: This is Mr. Lin Tian, my mentor and my dearest friend with whom I have entrusted my life!" He surveyed the assembled officials, enunciating each word clearly, "Today, I hereby announce to all—Mr. Lin Tian is the new Grand Preceptor of my Great Qin!"
Before he finished speaking, the entire court erupted in uproar.
The Imperial Advisor?! No one has received such an honor since Shang Yang a century ago. Even when Duke Xiao of Qin ruled alongside Shang Yang, he dared not lightly bestow the title of "Imperial Advisor"; yet today, Ying Zheng personally appointed him before the Xianyang Palace, under the watchful eyes of the people—this is no mere bestowal of an official title, it's clearly the raising of a flag!
"Your Majesty!" Lü Buwei's face darkened, his voice as cold as ice. "Do not be deceived or misled by petty villains!" He stared at Lin Tian, his gaze like a knife. "This man... has not even taken a single step into the inner sanctum of the various schools of thought!"
The phrase "the gates and walls of the various schools of thought" is a blatant satire: neither Confucianism nor Mohism, nor Daoism nor Legalism, it cannot even be considered a proper school of thought, yet it is qualified to talk about governing the country.
Ying Zheng's brows furrowed, and his imperial aura suddenly erupted: "Prime Minister Lü, do I need to report to you that I have a teacher?!"
"Your subject... dares not." Lü Buwei lowered his head, his tone respectful, but his hawk-like eyes held a hidden undercurrent of malice.
In the blink of an eye—
Yuanhong is unsheathed!
No one saw where the sword came from; they only felt a flash of cold light, and the tip of the sword was already firmly resting on Lü Buwei's shoulder. The blade reflected the sunlight and was chillingly cold.
Lin Tiansheng's voice was clear and resonant: "A swordsman."
Before the gasps of surprise could even escape the crowd, Ying Zheng decisively waved his hand: "Lin Tian shall be the Imperial Advisor."
Once the emperor's decree was issued, there was no turning back. All the officials understood perfectly: this man was not a favored minister, but a trusted and reliable advisor to the emperor!
Lü Buwei stood frozen in place, his face contorted with rage, yet his eyes showed no fear, only a sinister ruthlessness: "The Grand Preceptor of Qin is not some swordsman wielding a mere wandering swordsman!"
Lin Tian suddenly smiled, the sword shadow vanished in an instant, and he stood with his hands behind his back, his voice sharp: "Prime Minister Lü combines Confucianism and Mohism, and forges the Legalist School, hailed as the leader of the 'Eclectic School'—may I ask, is the 'Lüshi Chunqiu' finished yet?"
Lü Buwei's pupils contracted sharply, and his face turned deathly pale: "How...how did you know?!"
"How I know is unimportant." Lin Tian's gaze was sharp as a blade. "What is important is—I am not a reckless swordsman who only knows how to wield a sword, while you are nothing more than a merchant who treats royal power as a commodity and uses the crown prince as a bargaining chip." He paused, a smirk playing on his lips. "Great loyalty can appear as treachery, and great treachery can appear as loyalty. Prime Minister Lü, rest assured, my heart for the Great Qin is blacker than the ink on your ledgers—purely black, crystal clear. I am willing to give my all, devising flawless strategies and handling every matter without error."
Before he finished speaking, he pointed at Han Fei, his smile turning cold: "As for him? He is a close friend personally chosen by me, the Grand Preceptor of Qin. Want to touch him? You'd better weigh your options first—is your blade sharp enough? Is your life tough enough?"
Every sentence is like a hammer blow, every word like a nail.
Lü Buwei's Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Hatred had taken root and sprouted in his heart—he would not be able to eat or sleep peacefully until this person died.
The initial recruitment strategy had long since vanished, and Lü Buwei's initial covetousness for Lin Tian's "secrets" instantly transformed into a chilling murderous intent.
Lin Tian glanced at Li Si sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. In his heart, however, he had already decided on Li Si's fate—this man could not be allowed to live; keeping him alive for even a day would be like planting a time bomb.
"Great! Let's go! Follow the Imperial Preceptor into the city!" Lin Tian laughed loudly, flicked his sleeves, and strode forward. But after taking only three steps, he suddenly felt a tightness in his back, as if a cold arrow was pointing at him. He immediately stopped and retreated.
He stood firmly beside Ying Zheng, coughed lightly to cover his lapse in composure, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and said humbly, "Your Majesty, please."
This turn of events amused Ying Zheng, who burst into laughter. Today, his brows were relaxed, and he had never felt so carefree—his greatest threat was about to fall, and the overall situation was under his control.
All the civil and military officials held their breath, Lü Buwei's eyes were like hooks, and Li Si stood stiffly with his head down. Under everyone's gaze, Lin Tian and Ying Zheng walked side by side, leading the crowd to slowly step into the gates of Xianyang.
"Sir, there was a hidden meaning in your words just now! Please explain the reasoning behind them!" Ying Zheng couldn't contain himself and asked urgently.
"Well... the principle is this: when it's time to be serious, you have to be serious."
After the entire entourage had entered the city, Lü Buwei walked up to Li Si, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in a low, iron voice: "Li Si! From now on, your junior brother is probably not the person you should be most wary of, understand?"
"I will remember!" Li Si kowtowed, his forehead touching the ground.
"What a 'loyal and diligent servant of the country, meticulous and thorough' claim! Even Confucius, if resurrected, would not dare to boast like this. This boy is a source of trouble, and a devilish hand wielding the sword!" Lü Buwei thought to himself.
He replayed that moment in his mind: a flash of cold light, a chill on his neck, and the blade had already stopped just short of his skin—so fast that he didn't even have time to catch his breath.
Li Si rose, watching the procession gradually disappear into the city gates, then glancing at the court officials filing in, and murmured, "The favor this man has received rivals that Duke Xiao showed to Lord Shang back then."
Lin Tian and his party had only been in Xianyang for three hours when the weather suddenly changed.
The rain poured down, the wind howled, and dark clouds loomed over the city, instantly engulfing Xianyang in the storm.
This ordinary celestial phenomenon immediately drew the attention of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official, who rushed into the palace, prostrated himself, and reported: "The clear sky has suddenly darkened, and a violent storm is brewing. This is an unusual omen from heaven, indicating the presence of those who will disrupt the government!"
The words were not named, and each sentence was interpreted according to the celestial orbits, but who could not hear the implied meaning? In particular, the star official even solemnly burned bones for divination, and a small seal character "林" (Lin) was clearly revealed in the cracks of the ashes.
The animal bones were presented to Ying Zheng, and the star official immediately took his leave.
Inside the study of Xianyang Palace, the candlelight flickered.
Ying Zheng held the scorched animal bone in his hand, shook his head with a bitter smile, and said, "It is my incompetence that prevented me from protecting you, sir, and instead allowed villains to swarm and devour you."
Lin Tian traced the crack in the character "Lin" with his fingertip and chuckled: "Just a bunch of tricks. If I were considered 'anyone,' no one in the world would dare to breathe anymore—that old fox Lü Buwei underestimates me far too much."
"Does Your Excellency believe that it was Lü Xiangbang who was pulling the strings behind the scenes?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Who else could it be but this shadow hiding behind the curtain? I'd like to see what he has to fight me with!" Lin Tian's words were sharp as a blade.