xymnovel Chapter 391 A Touch of Desolation
Chapter 391 A Touch of Desolation
Zhang Fan remained silent for a moment, then looked directly into Ying Zheng's eyes, his tone becoming serious: "Your Majesty, I know my importance to Qin! But this northern expedition is one I must undertake!"
"Why?" Ying Zheng frowned.
"To figure out one thing!"
Zhang Fan said in a deep voice, "Why did the Xiongnu specifically ask for someone close to me?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Zhang Fan continued, "Your Majesty, consider this: Touman Chanyu is far away in the northern desert. How could he possibly know about a mere maidservant in my household in Xianyang?"
Moreover, he specifically sent an envoy to state in the official letter that he only wanted this woman!
Zhang Fan paced back and forth in the main hall, analyzing, "This doesn't make sense. Although Mi Yueyao is a daughter of the Chu royal family, Chu has been destroyed. What use is she, a powerless orphan, to the Xiongnu?"
Following Zhang Fan's train of thought, Ying Zheng's expression also became serious.
"I pressed her for answers, but she insisted that she knew nothing."
Zhang Fan stopped in his tracks. "I cannot be certain whether she is truly unaware or deliberately concealing the truth. Since the answer lies in the north, I must go there myself!"
I will not be able to eat or sleep in peace until this matter is thoroughly investigated!
"If even one potential threat remains by my side, I cannot live in peace!"
Seeing the resolute look in Zhang Fan's eyes, Ying Zheng knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise.
Once Zhang Fan has made up his mind, it is extremely difficult to change it.
Moreover, his analysis is indeed reasonable.
The Xiongnu's behavior was too unusual, and the Qin Dynasty could not afford to be unprepared.
Ying Zheng sighed helplessly. He walked back to his desk, sat down, and rubbed his temples.
"That's enough!"
Ying Zheng nodded. "Since you insist on going, I will allow it! But you must remember what I just said: stay in the central army camp! I will give the order to Wang Ben: if you lose even a single hair, I will hold him accountable!"
"Your Majesty, I obey your decree! Thank you for your kindness," Zhang Fan said, bowing.
Thinking the matter was settled, Zhang Fan prepared to take his leave.
Ying Zheng raised his hand, signaling him to wait a moment.
Ying Zheng leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, as if he were pondering something important.
After a while, Ying Zheng sat up straight, looked at Zhang Fan, and said, "Since you are going to the northern frontier... then let Fusu go with you."
"What?"
Zhang Fan was startled upon hearing this.
He suddenly looked up, his face filled with disbelief.
"Your Majesty, shall the eldest son accompany the army?"
Zhang Fan hurriedly said, "Young Master's status is noble, and the front lines are extremely dangerous. It's fine for me to go, but if anything were to happen to Young Master, it would be a matter that shakes the very foundation of the nation!"
Zhang Fan did indeed feel that it was dangerous.
He went to the front lines to find out the truth; he could stay in the rear.
However, placing the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty on a battlefield where hundreds of thousands of people are fighting is too risky.
Once the Xiongnu learn that the eldest son of the Qin emperor is in the army, they will surely concentrate their forces and launch a fierce attack.
Ying Zheng looked at Zhang Fan's shocked expression with a very calm face.
"You brat!"
"Precisely because he is the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty and the future crown prince, he must go," Ying Zheng said in a low voice.
"The Qin Dynasty was conquered by me leading a million-strong army. Without the fighting and bloodshed, there would be no unification today."
Ying Zheng looked out of the hall. "Fusu grew up in the palace from a young age, reading books and listening to the teachings of Confucian scholars. He is kind-hearted by nature, which is both a good thing and a bad thing!"
Ying Zheng stood up, his hands behind his back: "Governing a country requires an iron fist. To deal with the remnants of the six former states with their ulterior motives, and to deal with the Xiongnu on the grasslands, benevolence and righteousness alone are useless!"
Fusu is too gentle and kind; he doesn't understand the cruelty of war and needs to be tempered.
"Let him go."
Ying Zheng's tone was firm, "Let him go and see the real battlefield, see how the soldiers of Qin defend the border and kill the enemy, and see how the Xiongnu act!"
Only by witnessing these things firsthand can he develop the backbone to rule the world!
Zhang Fan fell silent after listening to Ying Zheng's words.
"But there are many generals in the army. Why did Your Majesty insist on having your eldest son accompany me on my campaign?" Zhang Fan asked.
"I don't trust those generals with this!"
Ying Zheng bluntly stated, "Wang Ben and the others only protect Fusu in their deep tents, fearing he might get hurt in the slightest. Fusu can't see or learn anything from them."
Ying Zheng looked at Zhang Fan: "I trust you with this. You're quick-witted, decisive, and not bound by rigid rules. Take him with you and let him see how you do things. I want you to guide him along the way!"
Zhang Fan took a deep breath.
This is a very demanding task!
After weighing the options, Zhang Fan's expression turned solemn. He took a step back and bowed to Ying Zheng.
"Your subject understands."
Zhang Fan nodded in agreement, "I will do my utmost to protect the eldest son and ensure his safety. I will never allow the eldest son to be harmed."
"it is good."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes. "You can discuss the specific details of the expedition with Wang Ben later. You may leave."
"Your subject takes his leave."
Zhang Fan turned around and walked out of Zhangtai Palace.
The sunlight outside shone on him, but he felt no warmth whatsoever. "Mi Yueyao, what on earth are you doing?"
The thought of the Xiongnu envoy's arrogant demeanor in the court, coupled with Mi Yueyao's usual unassuming and unassuming manner, fueled a surge of anger within him.
He took a deep breath, strode out of the palace gate, and mounted the waiting horse.
"drive!"
Zhang Fan cracked his whip, and the horse neighed loudly, reared up, turned its head straight for the west of the city, and galloped away angrily.
Zhang Fan kept considering various possibilities in his mind. Could it be that Mi Yueyao was really a Xiongnu spy infiltrating Qin?
Or is it that she possesses some extraordinary treasure left behind by the Chu Kingdom, which is why the Xiongnu are willing to pay any price to obtain her?
After a short while, Zhang Fan reined in his horse, and the horse stopped in front of a dead-end alley in the west of the city.
Ahead was a familiar wooden door, but the two hidden sentry posts outside were empty; the two female assassins who had been guarding it were nowhere to be seen.
Something is wrong!
Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat, and a very bad premonition rose in his heart.
"Bang!"
Without any hesitation, Zhang Fan raised his foot and kicked the wooden door hard.
The gate suddenly opened wide.
"Mi Yueyao!"
Zhang Fan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, shouted loudly, and rushed into the courtyard.
The courtyard was quiet, with a few withered yellow leaves swirling on the stone slabs.
There were no signs of a struggle, no bloodstains, and no unusual signs of struggle.
Zhang Fan strode open the door to the main room and scanned the room with lightning speed.
Everything inside the house was neatly arranged; the bedding on the bed was folded into a square, and the wardrobe was half empty.
Only a faint fragrance remained in the air, which was almost completely dissipated by the autumn wind that seeped in through the window.
The place is completely deserted!
A bit desolate!
Zhang Fan's tense nerves relaxed slightly. Judging from the situation, it didn't seem like he had been forcibly abducted, but rather that he had voluntarily evacuated.