Chapter 89: Discussing the World

"Why does the Qin Wang think I will assist you?"

Su Xuan’s words were calm. He did not lower his attitude because the person before him was the Qin Wang, Ying Zheng; he maintained his detached demeanor.

Ying Zheng spoke his inner suspicions bluntly, "If you did not wish to assist me, Mr., you would not have acted to save me earlier after learning that the Net was preparing to make a move against me!"

The half-mask he wore on his face had already been removed after arriving in the private room.

Since Su Xuan already knew his true identity, there was no need for him to continue hiding anything in front of Su Xuan.

Looking at Su Xuan, he quoted eight characters from the "Tao Te Ching" written by Laozi: "To take, one must first give!"

In his view, after learning his identity, Su Xuan chose to help and kill Xuan Xuan Jian—this was the "giving." Su Xuan bestowed a favor first, all for the sake of a greater goal.

However, Ying Zheng did not develop any strange thoughts because of this.

On the contrary, that someone of Su Xuan’s caliber—both in strength and methods—would take an interest in him, a Qin Wang trapped in a cage, made him happy. At the very least, he was not truly... useless.

Even with the Marquis of Wenxin, Lu Lu Buwei, externally, and the Marquis of Changxin, Lao Ai, internally.

In this vast world, there was, after all, someone who knew him, the Qin Wang.

Gai Nie was one, Li Si was one, and now, there was one more.

Su Xuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Since Ying Zheng had spoken so clearly, he had no intention of hiding it either. "The Qin Wang guessed correctly. I chose to save you because I do indeed have a plan!"

Gai Nie, behind him, looked at Su Xuan in surprise.

Ying Zheng’s expression also tightened. He asked Su Xuan, "I wonder what you seek, sir?"

Su Xuan did not answer this question directly, but continued, "I can help the Qin Wang resolve the crisis from the Net, help you return to Qin safely, and even help you break free from the shackles of the two marquises, Changxin and Wenxin, to formally take personal control of the government, and even... help you take this... world!"

Su Xuan spoke calmly. Upon hearing the word "world," Ying Zheng’s body shook again, his expression one of shock.

This was because Su Xuan’s words had pierced his secret thoughts and revealed his greatest inner goal.

He had only mentioned these thoughts to Han Fei earlier, inviting Han Fei to join him in achieving an unprecedented great cause. Unfortunately, Han Fei had refused.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, calmed his inner shock, and said to Su Xuan, "You have a very bold tongue, sir!"

If it were just resolving the crisis of the Net, that would be one thing; Su Xuan’s strength was unfathomable, and he could kill a Heaven-grade assassin like Xuan Xuan Jian with a wave of his hand.

Even if the Net was filled with experts, they presumably could not do anything to Su Xuan.

But the subsequent words were somewhat arrogant.

Whether it was helping him break free from the shackles of the Marquis of Changxin and the Marquis of Wenxin to wield state power, or helping him conquer the world, it all seemed too arrogant.

Especially conquering the world; until now, it had been nothing more than Ying Zheng’s ambition.

He knew deeply that as long as he did not hold state power, he could not formally realize such an ambition.

"Is my tongue bold? I don't think so!"

Su Xuan said calmly, "Since the Qin Wang has the ambition to unify the world, you must have your own judgment on the situation of the world; otherwise, you would not have developed such thoughts."

Ying Zheng nodded.

Although he had lived in the palace for a long time and had not yet taken personal control, he had always been very opinionated—or rather, ambitious.

He had long since seen through the situation of the world.

For him, what was lacking now was an opportunity to show his skills.

If he ruled Qin, it would be the beginning of him setting out to realize his inner ambitions.

Su Xuan smiled faintly, and the next moment, he suddenly opened his palm.

Ying Zheng did not understand his meaning, and immediately after, he saw brilliant light emerging from Su Xuan’s palm. In an instant, it condensed into a huge, bright mirror, floating on the table between the two.

Ripples appeared in the mirror, which then transformed into a map.

"Qin Wang, please look!"

Ying Zheng stared at it and immediately recognized what map this was—it was the map of the current world.

Qin, Chu, Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Qi!

All seven states were on it.

"The Qin Wang thinks I am boasting when I say I can help you conquer the world, but in reality, this matter is not difficult. Or rather, even without my help, it is not difficult for Qin to unify the world."

After Su Xuan finished this sentence, he began to explain the reasons.

"First, Qin has commanderies such as Ba, Shu, Hanzhong, Wan, Ying, Shang, Hedong, Taiyuan, and Shangdang. Outside the Hangu Pass, there are Xingyang and the old lands of the two Zhou states. In terms of territory alone, although there are six states in the east, Qin actually already possesses an overwhelming advantage over them."

As Su Xuan spoke, certain places on the bright mirror he had condensed gradually lit up, pointing out where the places he mentioned were located.

"The land of Guanzhong is fertile, but it suffers from a lack of water sources, making it difficult to irrigate. However, as far as I know, Han Guo sent a water conservancy master named Zheng Guo to Qin many years ago to help Qin build canals. If this canal is completed, the land of Guanzhong will become ten thousand acres of fertile fields, and agricultural production will become even more abundant."

Hearing the name Zheng Guo, a strange look appeared in Ying Zheng’s eyes.

The Zheng Guo Canal was a water conservancy project started in the early years of his reign, when the famous water engineer Zheng Guo, sent by Han Guo, successfully lobbied him and the Chancellor, Lu Lu Buwei. It was only during the later construction process that Qin gradually discovered that this project was actually a "fatigue-Qin" strategy used by Han Guo, intending to use the construction of water conservancy to consume Qin’s manpower and material resources so that it would have no time to pay attention to Han Guo.

After the Zheng Guo affair was exposed, Ying Zheng had once thought about executing Zheng Guo, but in the end, it was Zheng Guo’s words that persuaded him.

Zheng Guo said: "At first, I was a spy, but the completion of the canal is also a benefit to Qin. I have extended the life of Han for a few years, but I have built a ten-thousand-generation achievement for Qin."

Ying Zheng felt that what Zheng Guo said made a lot of sense, so he tried every means to save Zheng Guo. The Zheng Guo Canal continued to be built, and it had been nearly ten years now, nearing completion.

However, Ying Zheng was not sure if it could achieve the "ten-thousand-generation achievement for Qin" that Zheng Guo claimed after completion. He did not expect that Su Xuan would have such a high evaluation of Zheng Guo and the Zheng Guo Canal.

He then heard Su Xuan say: "Ba and Shu produce copper and iron, Dian and Bo produce slaves, and the northwestern Rong and Di produce cattle and horses. These important resources support Qin in being able to wage war against the six eastern states year after year. The land of Guanzhong accounts for about one-third of the world, with a population of no more than three-tenths, yet it holds six-tenths of the wealth. Sitting on such geographical advantages, even though there are six eastern states, how can they be Qin’s opponents?"

"In addition to these geographical and economic advantages, Qin’s system is also superior to that of the six eastern states."