Qin Dynasty: Starting with clinging to Zhao Ji's thigh

Chapter 216 Han Fei's Assassination Attempt, the Threat of the Peasant School

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight was slightly cold, like a thin veil covering the earth.

The copper bells on the eaves jingled and rattled in the sudden north wind, and a few withered yellow crabapple leaves clung to the window frame, soaked by the rain and turned into dark brown fragments.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered in the bronze crane lamp, casting half of Ying Jing's face in shadow, adding to his mystery and profundity.

The calming tea that Jingni had brought to the table had long since gone cold, and a thin layer of moonlight, like frost, clung to the surface of the tea.

The embroiderer stood before the table, emanating a chilling aura that carried the smell of rust.

Her shoulders were still stained with the red soil unique to the Korean border, and the dripping water from her raincoat spread a winding trail on the blue brick ground, like a snake flicking its tongue.

On the table in front of Ying Jing was the intelligence report that the embroiderer had personally brought back from the border between Qin and Han. However, Ying Jing was not primarily concerned with the contents of the report.

"Is there no one left in the Luo Wang organization? Why did you have to make this trip in person?"

The embroiderer felt a warmth in her heart. The emperor had many more concubines around him, but his attitude towards her remained unchanged, still so considerate and attentive.

She removed the black silk gloves and wolf head mask, revealing her fair wrists and a cold, beautiful face, with a soft, gentle look in her eyes.

"Your Majesty need not worry. The embroiderer was simply restless and took a trip to the border. She will not encounter any danger."

Since arriving in this world, Ying Jing has spent the most time with the embroiderer. This time, after a short separation, he did not feel cold towards her. He simply pulled her onto his lap to sit down.

Since being pulled out of the darkness years ago, even though she rarely took the initiative, the embroiderer never resisted Ying Jing's intimacy, and even skillfully found the most comfortable position to sit in.

Ying Jing naturally warmed the embroiderer's cold hands with his breath and brushed away the dry grass stuck in her hair, but his gaze was already fixed on the intelligence on the table.

The tenderness he felt for the embroiderer vanished instantly, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes.

"Han Fei, oh Han Fei, you really do have a constitution that attracts disaster..."

When Ying Jing saw Han Fei off in Xianyang, he had a vague premonition that Han Fei's journey back to Han might not be so smooth.

He did not take this premonition brought about by his good fortune lightly, and specially dispatched six sword slaves to protect Han Fei.

As it turned out, Ying Jing's choice was absolutely correct.

If it weren't for the dispatch of the Six Sword Slaves this time, this parting in Xianyang would probably have been the last time we met.

"If it weren't for Your Majesty's brilliant strategy, Han Fei would have surely died this time. The assassination team he encountered was extremely large, with even a sect leader-level expert involved. Even the Six Sword Slaves couldn't completely withstand it. Fortunately, Xuan Jian provided timely support, and that young master Han Fei also had other experts protecting him, which is why he was able to escape unharmed."

The embroiderer sat on Ying Jing's lap, but showed little embarrassment, reporting quickly and accurately.

"There's another expert out there. Has the opponent used their ultimate move...?"

The only expert who could possibly protect Han Fei is Wei Zhuang, but Ying Jing is constantly monitoring the intelligence of Zi Lan Xuan, and Wei Zhuang has never left.

"Both teacher and friend, the Sword of Reverse Scale... The sword spirit of the Sword of Reverse Scale is indeed powerful, but it is not without its price..."

Ying Jing held the beauty in his arms, but one hand was unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

Has the assassin's identity been exposed?

Both Liu Jiannu and Xuan Jian are experts in this field, and Han Fei's wisdom should not be overlooked. As long as the assassin leaves any clues, they may be able to discover something from them.

"Although it cannot be confirmed, Young Master Han Fei, the Six Sword Slaves, and Xuan Jian all speculate that there is a high probability that members of the Farmer School were involved... When the assassin was injured by Xuan Jian and fled, he briefly used a combined attack formation, which seemed to have some resemblance to the Awakening of Insects from the Farmer School's Twenty-Four Earthly Formations."

This is just speculation, but in Ying Jing's view, the speculation that the Six Sword Slaves, Xuan Jian, and Han Fei all agree on can be basically confirmed.

"It seems that some people really can't hold back anymore."

Ying Jing's gaze suddenly turned toward the direction of Xianyang.

Changping Jun's relationship with the peasants was very secretive, but Ying Jing had never trusted him from the beginning. The Luo Wang (a secret police organization) kept a close eye on him and eventually discovered some clues.

In recent years, rural areas have developed rapidly, which is inseparable from the substantial financial support from Changping Jun.

Such a bloodless resolution of South Korea seems to have fallen short of someone's expectations, leading them to take the risky step of assassination.

"The earth nourishes all things, and Shennong is immortal; are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born with a special destiny?"

“The farmers are indeed a threat.”

The masters of the Farmer School are secondary; the key is that they have many disciples all over the world, and most of them live in seclusion in the fields and markets, not seeking fame among the feudal lords.

These peasant disciples, whether tilling the fields or trading in the markets, may seem ordinary, but when gathered together, they become a force capable of shaking the very foundations of an empire.

The very existence of such a force is a threat.

"Farmers have a great influence among the people..."

In this era, public opinion was not highly valued, and the struggles between feudal lords were essentially clashes between nobles.

But Ying Jing knew very well that if the power of those unappreciated commoners were unleashed, they could truly change the world!

Farmers, whose lineage traces back to the ancient Shennong, forged weapons, tasted hundreds of herbs, cultivated grains, understood music, repaired water conservancy, and mastered the calendar, maintaining a close connection with the common people.

They happen to possess the ability to potentially ignite the people!

Changping-jun's identity is special, so it's best not to make any moves against him for the time being.

However, before gathering the strength of the common people, even if the peasants had a great reputation, they were at most just a martial arts sect.

"To control the peasantry, or... to eradicate the peasantry!"

Ying Jing remained silent for a long time, his mind racing with thoughts, before finally making a decision.

Regardless of whether farmers have considered unleashing the power of the common people at this stage, possessing such power is itself a sin.

This sin has existed since the time of the farmers.

"It's time to activate the hidden agents we planted earlier."

Back in Korea, Ying Jing had already planted a hidden seed in the farmhouse.

"Order Han Chan to mix the improved millet seeds from Hanoi that have not yet been put into use into the farmers' granaries, and at the same time arrange for Luo Wang to increase its infiltration of the farmers."

Whether the power of the farming community, inherited from ancient times, can continue to exist depends on the success of this infiltration...

"In addition, South Korea added fuel to the fire by sending a message to Madam Mingzhu, instructing Bai Yifei to release Tianze."

"Yes."

The embroiderer didn't ask any further questions.

The emperor's orders are never wrong; she only needs to carry them out.

"The deposed crown prince of Baiyue, Tianze, has an indelible hatred with the state of Han."

"Han Fei needs a knife now, and Tianze's hatred... happens to be the sharpest knife."

The night wind howled, penetrating the doors and windows of the study.

The candlelight flickered in the bronze crane lamp, illuminating half of a cold and dignified profile.