Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 310

With a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, Gao Jianli, who was beside him, looked at the sun and said, "The tyrant's chariot will arrive in two hours. Everyone, get ready. The Azure Dragon will also appear soon."

The group assassination attempt excited everyone present, but upon closer observation, one could detect a faint sense of melancholy in the leaders, such as commanders, kings, and generals.

These people are not professional actors, and their shrewdness is far from sufficient for such a situation.

Xiaoyaozi sighed inwardly, thankfully he still had Chisongzi and Tian Guang hidden away.

Suddenly, a piercing scream almost tore through the sky, immediately drawing everyone's attention:

They saw a huge white bird take flight in the distant woods, its pure white feathers gradually turning red, as if it had been attacked and had to fly away.

In the final scene, its entire body was half red...

This scene made everyone in the anti-Qin alliance look embarrassed: that was Liu Sha Bai Feng's mount, which, unsurprisingly, had been lying in ambush at a distance, ready to provide support at any time.

Now, the assassination hasn't even begun, and Bai Feng has already withdrawn from the battle, meaning the assassination attempt on Qin has actually been exposed...

"Gentlemen, we have no way out now. Even if we retreat immediately, the Qin tyrant has probably already laid a trap around us. Only by successfully assassinating them can we hope to throw the Qin army into chaos, and also hope to escape after completing our great mission."

After the half-red, half-white bird had completely disappeared, Xiaoyaozi used his inner energy to project his voice into everyone's ears: "We have come for the sake of all living beings!"

Bai Feng was indeed a backup retreat force, but it was entirely predictable how many people a single white bird could take away, since most of the people present were not qualified to ride the white bird away anyway.

Therefore, once this point is understood, nothing has changed except for the bad news that has already been revealed.

Now, their most important task is to conceal these two crucial hours to avoid being discovered by the Qin army. Ying Zheng's entourage will arrive in two hours.

Given Ying Zheng's personality, he would not slink away just because he knew someone was going to assassinate him. This was the only chance for the anti-Qin alliance.

The giant white bird's song and figure were truly eye-catching, and news of its injury and departure reached Ying Zheng half an hour later.

The mob lost its chance of escape from the very beginning, but His Majesty the Emperor showed no change in expression: he considered it to be a matter of course.

How could the vast empire he built with his own hands be unable to handle an assassination attempt that had been detected in advance?

"Project Azure Dragon, you were the one who created it, weren't you?"

Ying Zheng sat up straight, his gaze fixed on an inconspicuous city on the map of the Qin Dynasty affixed to the side of the carriage: Chen Ying.

'Even after you died, they were still restless. This time, I personally witnessed the demise of your twenty-year-long plan. From this point on, all your existence has become meaningless.'

'By then, you will be completely dead!'

boom!

Just as Ying Zheng was reminiscing about his deceased friends, a loud bang suddenly occurred not far from his carriage. The noise was so great that it threw the horses of the entire caravan into disarray, and the carriage began to shake violently.

Outside the carriage, the Qin soldiers guarding the route were shocked to discover a giant mechanical beast standing up from the forest on the side.

The assassination attempt occurred unexpectedly...

Chapter 378 Bait

According to etiquette, the emperor's chariot was drawn by six horses, while that of his ministers was drawn by four. Therefore, Master Ban's Azure Dragon only needed to attack the most luxurious chariot in the emperor's procession, the one drawn by six horses, to ensure the death of Ying Zheng.

However, perhaps because this common knowledge was too obvious, the emperor's entourage was also equipped with several auxiliary carriages, making it a total of six carriages, which forced Qinglong to make a choice.

Choose correctly, and the tyrant will be killed in one blow.

If I make the wrong choice, I wonder if I'll have a second chance to attack...

Before launching the attack, Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang tried to analyze which of the six chariots was most likely using their knowledge of Qimen Dunjia. However, the layout of the caravan this time was based on the Wenwang Later Heaven Bagua and added the Yin-Yang technique, making the position of each of the six chariots equally probable.

The Yin-Yang art has a close relationship with the Wenwang Bagua (Eight Trigrams), but they are not entirely equivalent. While the disciples of Guiguzi were knowledgeable and well-informed, their understanding of the core knowledge of other schools of thought was ultimately insufficient.

Ultimately, it was Gai Nie who, based on his understanding of Ying Zheng, pointed Qinglong towards a target.

The Azure Dragon, hidden underground, suddenly burst forth from the earth, opened its mouth, and fired an explosive shell. Wherever the shell passed, the six carriages, horses, grooms, and serving eunuchs were all reduced to tiny fragments...

Not knowing whether the anti-Qin alliance had completed the kill, Qinglong immediately adjusted his direction and aimed at the other six suspected chariots.

After a brief period of panic, the Qin army guarding the city immediately charged towards the Azure Dragon in an organized and fearless manner. The ballistae and various guarding mechanical beasts prepared in the convoy were also being assembled in a hurry. The Crimson Dragon signal flare was launched into the sky, and the entire legion acted in an orderly manner according to their respective duties.

Does this behavior mean that their emperor is still safe?

The hearts of Gai Nie, Wei Zhuang, and the others sank in the shadows, and they all emerged from their hiding places and rushed forward.

However, due to their small numbers, they did not charge into battle but instead guarded the Azure Dragon to ensure it could safely unleash its attacks.

Qinglong has ten explosive bombs. If all of them are fired, they can destroy ten six-horse chariots. This is the only chance to assassinate the Qin Emperor!

Inside the control room on Qinglong's chest, Master Ban was on edge, hesitant to fire the second explosive shell: he was observing.

Observe which carriage receives the most guards when faced with danger!

However, the Qin guards were well prepared, with uniformed Shadow Guards and Net assassins surrounding each of the six-chariot vehicles.

It's likely that even the Qin soldiers guarding him didn't know which carriage Ying Zheng was in...

There was no time to hesitate! Watching the Qin army closing in, Qinglong fired its second explosive shell, destroying another carriage.

Hearing the intense explosions outside, Ying Zheng's face darkened completely. He reached for the hilt of the Tianwen Sword, ranked number one in the sword manual, at his waist.

The intelligence network of Luo Wang has gone wrong!

The power of this so-called mechanical Azure Dragon is truly astounding!

As the first emperor of the world, his life is truly threatened today!

...

Six Sword Slaves led the main force of the Luo Wang organization to the ambush point reported by Yan Ri, based on information from intelligence members.

They ordered their subordinates at the "Kill" and "Earth" levels to stop far away, while the six of them concealed their presence and approached to observe the gathering place of the Anti-Qin Alliance and the Azure Dragon Mechanism.

Gai Nie, Wei Zhuang, Gao Jianli, Xiaoyaozi...

Great, all the main objectives have been achieved.

Zhen Gang's sharp eyes carefully scanned the tense atmosphere surrounding the targets, and he hesitated slightly.

Everyone's here, but a bit too much of them.

If it were just the strategists plus the Mohist master and the Six Sword Slaves, I wouldn't dare say they were guaranteed a win, but I wouldn't be too afraid either. But if you add Xiaoyaozi, the result will be different.

Although Xiaoyaozi is Yanri, Yanri is also one of their targets this time...

What Zhengang was worried about was that Xiaoyaozi might rebel first before they could take action against him... In that case, the assassination plan might be a trap set by Luo Wang rather than a real assassination attempt.

This was a question that Zhao Gao should have been considering, but now it was up to Zhen Gang to make the judgment himself.

'The Imperial Carriage Envoy only cares about the results of the mission...'

However, excessive thinking seems superfluous in the face of this inescapable rule.

Thinking of this, Zhen Gang gave Zhuanpo Miehun a look, and the two women nodded and quietly moved closer to Gao Jianli in the anti-Qin alliance.

As a distraction within the team, they can be the initiators of an assassination.

Zhen Gang planned to kill the leader of the Mohist school instantly, then send a signal to the assassins of the Luo Wang organization on the periphery to gather and ask Xiaoyaozi to join in the attack on Zongheng, so as to wipe out this group of rebels in one fell swoop.

As for why Gao Jianli was the primary target, it was because, compared to anyone else in the alliance, they had the highest probability of successfully targeting Gao Jianli!

Lin Jianli Xiaoyaozi had a much better grasp of his own back than the Six Sword Slaves had imagined: the moment the Six Sword Slaves arrived, he had already learned the outcome through telepathic communication with Chisongzi.

'The concealment here can't hold out any longer. As soon as the Six Sword Slaves make a move, they'll discover that this place is just a fake ambush location...'

'The key is to stall Luo Wang and create an opportunity for the assassination.'

Xiaoyaozi glanced calmly at Gao Jianli, the commander of the 'Zongheng' faction, not far away, then at the orderly Qin army on both sides of the main road and the still missing convoy at the end of the road. Suddenly, he turned around and said, "Open the Azure Dragon in advance and make preparations."

Chi Lian, Kuang Xiu, and the others were moved by this, but they did not show it on their faces. They simply gave their subordinates hand gestures to obey their orders.

Zhen Gang, who was hiding in the shadows, saw the anti-Qin alliance in the forest pull down a lever under a tree, and the ground, which was originally normal, began to open slightly to both sides. Just as the majestic head of the Azure Dragon of the mechanism appeared, he decisively swung his sword and killed the disciple who was operating the mechanism.

We must not let the Azure Dragon of the Machine emerge!

This anomaly startled the anti-Qin alliance. Everyone turned their attention to the direction of the sword energy and became alert. At the same time, Zhuanpo Miehun, who had already arrived at Gao Jianli's position, immediately threw out the thin chain that was pulled out from the hilt of his sword and locked it in place. Gao Jianli panicked instantly, and his strength slipped, causing the 'Water Cold Sword' to be taken away.

Such smooth sailing is a bit...

Without a second thought, Zhen Gang drew his broadsword, used the tree for leverage, and leaped towards Gao Jianli, who had lost his weapon.

At this moment, among the other sword slaves, Luan Shen jumped down from the treetops and killed several ordinary disciples to attract the rebels' attention. Duan Shui drew his sword from the side to block Gao Jianli's dodging position. Wang Liang released a small signal flare to summon the Qin army on the main road and the assassins from the forest net, while keeping watch on the direction of Guigu Zongheng, ready to interfere with their rescue at any time.

With a swift movement, before the true steel sword even arrived, the blocking force of Duan Shui easily cleaved the bewildered 'Mo Family Grand Master' in two...

'This isn't the real Gao Jianli!'

Just as Zhen Gang's eyes widened and he made an accurate judgment, it was too late to sheathe his sword: Xiaoyaozi had already thrust Xueji at him.

Is it still a trap...?

He parried with his sword raised, and with a clang, he felt a powerful internal force attacking him through the True Steel Sword.

Zhen Gang and Xiaoyaozi are both top-tier assassins in the Luo Wang organization, but their individual strength differs considerably...

Fortunately, the other six sword slaves arrived very quickly. The tip of the Broken Water Sword, which had just killed the enemy, was once again pointed at Xiaoyaozi's back. The Soul-Turning Demon threw out chains from both sides again to try to lock Xueji up.

Xiaoyaozi knew he couldn't withstand the pressure and forcefully kill Zhen Gang. He rationally sheathed his sword, made a sword finger gesture with his left hand, and silently recited the Daoist scriptures, transforming his inner energy into the golden characters "Xiaoyao You" that floated on his body.

This move, 'After the Snow Clears,' defends against attacks that cut off water flow and destroy the soul.

With a whoosh, after a single exchange, a crimson dragon signal flare rose into the sky in the distance of the main road, throwing the Six Sword Slaves, who had regrouped, into disarray. Looking at the dazed 'Zongheng', even those who were not good at thinking immediately understood the truth: His Majesty the Emperor had been attacked, and this place was bait to hold back the main force of the Luo Wang!

Even if the assassination attempt by Qinglong fails, the fact that the main force of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) cannot arrive in time to rescue the emperor will certainly make Ying Zheng dissatisfied with Zhao Gao!

'But once this seed of discontent is planted, how long can the filth of the Net remain hidden from the Qin state?'

Xiaoyaozi slung his sword behind his back, chuckled, and said to the Six Sword Slaves, "You've been playing the role of the oriole for too long; today it's time for you to be the cicada that gets tricked."

"Yanri! How dare you betray Luowang!" Zhen Gang looked at Chi Lian, Wushuang, Kuang Xiu, Dao Zhi and others who had surrounded him, and called out Xiaoyaozi's identity in a deep voice.

This call did have some effect, since only a minority of the anti-Qin alliance knew Xiaoyaozi's true identity, and some people looked on with surprise and suspicion.

Especially those wandering knights and ordinary disciples, they didn't even know that this place was just bait, and they always thought that they were the main force to assassinate the tyrant.

They were just as confused as anyone else about what had happened.

Xiaoyaozi stroked his beard and straightened his back: "Heh, sowing discord. The real Azure Dragon has already launched an attack on the Tyrant's convoy. Does the Luo Net even have time to defeat us and get there?"

The unusual activity in the forest attracted the attention of the Qin soldiers on guard on both sides of the main road. They were about to surround the area, but as soon as the Crimson Dragon signal appeared, the black-armored Qin soldiers, under the command of their generals, decisively abandoned their pursuit of the forest anomaly and rushed towards the signal's location.

The assassins from the Luo Wang organization were rushing out of the forest; their combined strength far surpassed that of the anti-Qin alliance present, but how much time could they afford to waste here?

When Chisongzi and Tianguang appeared wearing masks, their profound aura made the Six Sword Slaves' hearts sink even further.