Chapter 36: Lu Zi Enters Qin, and Qin Is Bathed in the Radiance of the Great Sun

According to reliable reports, this Master Lu of the Taoist school is personally escorting the state hostage back home. This means he is standing on the side of the Qin State. With his assistance, the unification of the world by Qin will be as easy as reaching out for an object.

As Lu Ge’s party just crossed the border of the Zhao State, they saw countless soldiers and armaments standing in formation from afar. The great banner bearing the character "Qin" snapped fiercely in the wind. Shen Zhong brought the carriage to a halt, preparing to report, but he saw that the curtain had already been lifted.

Lu Ge gazed into the distance and saw someone galloping toward them amidst a rolling cloud of dust. Before long, a lone rider arrived at the front. Lu Ge observed him carefully; the man was already gray-haired and appeared to be a veteran general of Qin.

"Bai Qi, acting under the King’s decree, has come to welcome Master Lu and the return of the hostage."

Bai Qi! He had encountered another famous historical figure. Lu Ge looked him up and down. Bai Qi looked no different from any other veteran general, save for a somewhat sharper gaze. He was nothing like the legends whispered among the common folk in Zhao, which claimed he had three heads and six arms, or a green face and fangs.

"So it is the Lord of Wu'an," Lu Ge said with a smile, cupping his hands in a salute. "A minor matter of escorting; why trouble yourself with it?"

According to history, this Lord of Wu'an was to be forced to commit suicide by the end of the year. In theory, he should be under house arrest at this moment. It was unexpected that he was still leading troops.

A smile appeared on Bai Qi’s face. "If it were merely to welcome the hostage, others would have come. But since Master Lu has entered Qin, this task of escorting could fall to none but me."

Originally, Bai Qi had been demoted to the rank of a common soldier and exiled to Yinmi. The King of Qin had intended to let others handle the reception at the border. However, as news reached Xianyang of how Lu Ge had wiped out tens of thousands of Zhao troops, the Qin court changed its mind. Bai Qi had killed hundreds of thousands, and Master Lu had killed tens of thousands—they were clearly cut from the same cloth. Letting Bai Qi handle the reception was truly the best arrangement.

It could only be said that Lu Ge’s arrival had brought many changes to this world. For instance, the King of Zhao had died prematurely, and perhaps Bai Qi would no longer be forced to end his own life.

While they spoke, Zichu had already walked over, with Lu Buwei trailing behind him like a lackey. "Greetings, Prince," Bai Qi said, bowing.

Zichu hurriedly steadied him. "The Lord of Wu'an has worked hard. My return to Qin relies upon you, my Lord."

After the exchange of pleasantries, the carriages set off once more. This time, however, they were escorted by ten thousand Qin soldiers led by Bai Qi. Naturally, no one with eyes would dare to come and stir up trouble.

***

After months of travel, they finally saw an ancient city standing before them: Xianyang, the capital of Qin. Zichu, holding Zhao Zheng in his arms, gazed at the capital he had longed for day and night, tears streaming down his face. "After eight years as a hostage in an enemy land, I have finally returned home today."

Lu Buwei stood behind him, his face full of smiles. His investment was about to bear fruit.

As the carriages drew closer to Xianyang, the escorting soldiers returned to their camps. "Is that the carriage of Master Lu up ahead?" a voice shouted from beneath the city gate.

Shen Zhong replied in a loud voice, "It is."

A commotion instantly broke out at the gate. "I heard that Master Lu has entered Qin, and the King is so delighted that he has come personally to the city gate to welcome him."

Lu Ge was somewhat surprised and squinted toward the gate. Lacking superhuman vision, he could only see a crowd of people gathered there. Divine arts cultivation and universal cultivation each had their strengths and weaknesses. Universal cultivation allowed one to possess true essence and magical power, which could gradually strengthen the body even without specialized arts. Divine arts, while powerful and capable of being cast without consumption, did not refine the physical body; without the protection of the arts, the physical form remained ordinary.

The carriages rolled on and finally reached the gate. Ying Ji, the ruler of Qin, strode forward, brushing aside his attendants, his face beaming with a smile. "Master Lu is before me, and I, Ying Ji, offer my respects." Upon reaching the carriage, Ying Ji bowed deeply.

Lu Ge lifted the curtain, jumped down, and helped him up. Since you treat me with respect, I shall naturally return it. If the King of Zhao had possessed even half the grace of Ying Ji, things would not have ended as they did.

"Your Majesty is too kind," Lu Ge said.

Ying Ji gripped Lu Ge’s hand tightly and laughed. "With Master Lu’s arrival, I have already arranged a banquet to wash away the dust of your travels. I pray you will ride with me into the palace." As he spoke, he gestured forward, where the royal chariot had been waiting for a long time.

Lu Ge felt a moment of daze. This kind of humility from a ruler toward a scholar was something he had only seen in books and on television. He had not expected to experience it himself. *Well*, he thought, *if I hadn't taken young Zhao Zheng as my disciple, perhaps the King of Zhao would have been like this too.*

Lu Ge nodded and looked toward the carriage behind. Ying Ji followed his gaze and saw a man standing in the distance, holding a child. Seeing Ying Ji look over, the man hurried forward. "Your grandson, along with his young son, pays his respects to his grandfather."

Ying Ji examined Zichu and then looked at Zhao Zheng in his arms. "Not bad. You have suffered during your eight years in Zhao. Has this child been named yet?"

Zichu hurriedly replied, "He has. He is called Zhao Zheng."

Ying Ji frowned. "Why call him Zhao Zheng? From now on, he shall be called Ying Zheng. I am sick of hearing the word 'Zhao'." Zichu nodded repeatedly, not daring to say a word.

***

It didn't matter to Zichu whether he was called Ying Zheng or Zhao Zheng. "You may also ride the royal chariot into the palace," Ying Ji said, then turned back to Lu Ge, his face instantly breaking into a smile. "Master Lu, please."

The speed at which he changed his expression was something Lu Ge could only describe as a masterstroke.

The group boarded the royal chariot, while the others continued in their carriages toward the palace inside the city. Along the way, they were followed by officials and watched by crowds of citizens. On the chariot, Ying Ji chatted incessantly with Lu Ge, occasionally teasing little Ying Zheng. As for Zichu, he was treated like an invisible person.

Lu Ge could clearly see that while Ying Ji may have had some affection for Zichu, it was certainly not much. Allowing him on the chariot was purely for the sake of little Ying Zheng, as a way to win Lu Ge over. If the boy were not his disciple, the father and son would likely still be huddled in the carriage behind them. It was truly a case of royal heartlessness; everything depended on interests.

However, Lu Ge understood. The royal family was like this in every dynasty.

In the Xianyang Palace, the music of strings and flutes rang out, and palace maids moved about in an endless stream. Within the great hall, Ying Ji pulled Lu Ge to sit alongside him, with officials gathered below.

"The arrival of Master Lu in Qin today is truly a great blessing. My ministers, let us all offer a toast to Master Lu." Ying Ji raised his cup first, and the officials followed, all bowing toward Lu Ge. Lu Ge raised his cup and drank it in one gulp.

After some merrymaking, Ying Ji, slightly intoxicated, took Lu Ge’s hand. "Master Lu, you do not know the hardships we have endured. The talented scholars of the world are all unwilling to come to our Qin. Now that you have arrived, our Qin has finally been bathed in the light of the sun, emerging from the darkness. I intend to appoint you as the Chancellor of Qin; I wonder if you would be willing?"

Lu Ge was stunned. Appoint him as Chancellor? The position of Chancellor was highly prestigious—truly one person above ten thousand.

"No, no, no," Lu Ge said, waving his hands in refusal. "My talents are insufficient for such a position. Your Majesty, please do not make things difficult for me."

Ying Ji insisted, "Master Lu, you are too humble. I have heard you studied under Lao Dan; how could you lack talent? You must know that the nations of the world today largely honor the teachings of Huang-Lao. This position of Chancellor is yours and yours alone."