Chapter Twenty-Seven: Spread the Word, the Sage of Ghost Valley Visits the Brothel

Ying Quliang’s brow furrowed deeply, unsure exactly how to test him. In the end, he simply waved his hand decisively and said, “What we shall test is how you apply your knowledge to strengthen the State of Qin.”

“Tomorrow, I will reveal the specifics of the test to all. Rest assured, we will honor the knowledge you have acquired.”

“Very well!”

“Then let us give the Qin ruler his due respect.”

The scholars from the East, seeing their sovereign’s prompt decision, all readily agreed.

Ying Quliang added, “However, if anyone wishes to forgo the test, we will not compel them to stay. Those who choose to leave will each be given twenty gold coins for their travel expenses.”

Twenty gold coins... A sharp intake of breath swept through the crowd. None could conceal their shock. Twenty gold coins was no small sum. The Qin ruler was surprisingly generous.

The eastern scholars turned their gazes to Han Bang, the ringleader.

Without a doubt, he was the instigator of this whole affair.

Han Bang’s face flushed red with embarrassment. He had stirred trouble for no reason, yet the Qin ruler repaid ill with kindness.

Had this been any other state, Han Bang would have been torn apart by now.

“I want to leave Qin—will you truly give me twenty gold coins?” Han Bang’s voice trembled as he looked to Ying Quliang.

Ying Quliang nodded. “Indeed. Send someone to bring twenty gold coins to the gentleman.”

Then he looked at Gongsun Jia, who did not hesitate to present the gold ingots.

Han Bang took the twenty gold coins with a satisfied nod. “Truly worthy of the Qin ruler—he is a man of his word.”

Turning to leave, Han Bang suddenly stopped after a few steps, spun around, and faced Ying Quliang resolutely.

“The Qin ruler is so magnanimous, yet I, Han Bang, was misled and came to disrupt his search for talent. I have no face to meet the scholars of the world and can only atone with my death...”

Before he could finish, a cold gleam flashed.

With a sharp sound, Han Bang plunged a dagger deep into his chest, blood spurting forth as his body crumpled to the ground.

One after another, those who had caused trouble alongside Han Bang turned ashen, overwhelmed by shame and anger, and took their own lives.

A heavy sigh escaped Ying Quliang. He had thought that Han Bang leaving with the money would be the best outcome.

Never had he expected Han Bang to sway hearts one last time before his departure.

Gan Long twitched at the corner of his mouth, genuinely suspecting Han Bang had been planted by Ying Quliang as a foil.

In any other state, such a man would have been ground to dust long ago.

Zhao Zheng, however, paid no mind to these developments. His brow knotted tightly, his gaze sharp as a hawk, sweeping repeatedly through the crowd.

“Something’s not right. Where is that man?”

Zhao Zheng frowned. Could his time displacement have caused some divergence in events?

By all logic, that man should have already entered Qin by now.

He had bribed the Overseer Jing, who was supposed to escort him to meet Ying Quliang. They had conversed thrice, and Ying Quliang had even appointed that man as the Left Minister, preparing to plan reforms.

Indeed, that man was the true prize the recruitment order had caught—Wei Yang, later ennobled as Shang Yang of Shangyi.

Yet Overseer Jing sent no word. Why was this?

“Sir?”

Ying Quliang’s call brought him back to reality.

“Ah? What is it, Your Majesty?” Zhao Zheng replied, returning to his senses.

“I ask again about the test,” Ying Quliang said.

Without hesitation, Zhao Zheng pointed to Gan Long. “Leave this matter to Dr. Gan; he is more skilled than I am. I have a more urgent matter to attend to. Your Majesty, I take my leave.”

Before finishing, he darted away like an arrow released from a bow.

“Hm?”

The three exchanged glances, faces filled with surprise. What could be more urgent than selecting talented men?

“Very well, then this matter shall trouble the doctor,” Ying Quliang sighed helplessly.

There was no other choice; he had to entrust this to Gan Long.

Ying Qian was only responsible for warfare, Meng Yun was a brute, and Zhao Zheng had fled. Despite his reluctance, Ying Quliang could do no more than hand this task to Gan Long.

This pleased Gan Long greatly. With the test in his hands, he alone would decide how it was conducted.

He could quietly slip in a few officials from the noble clans, assign some middling posts to scholars from the six states—just enough to show token respect.

Wouldn’t that keep the key positions of Qin firmly in the hands of the aristocratic clans?

As for the rest, he could find any excuse to dismiss them and let Ying Quliang clean up the mess.

A gleam of satisfaction shone in Gan Long’s eyes.

Wonderful! With that scoundrel Zhao Zheng gone, handling affairs becomes one word—refreshing!

…

Zhao Zheng hastened along, but when he reached his destination, he froze.

“???”

The three characters “Jinyu Workshop” leapt into his eyes.

Jinyu Workshop? Wasn’t this a brothel?

Brothels already existed during the Warring States period, dating as far back as the Spring and Autumn era when the Prime Minister Guan Zhong of Qi established the first known brothel in history.

The esteemed Left Minister of Qin, the Sage of Guigu, indulging in a pleasure house—if this spread, his lifelong reputation would be ruined!

After much hesitation, Zhao Zheng gritted his teeth and resolved to endure the disgrace.

Just as he was about to step into the Jinyu Workshop, a pale hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed his arm firmly.

“Hey! Isn’t this our illustrious Left Minister?” Ying Shu’s teasing voice came from behind. “What’s this? Even the Sage of Guigu has a fondness for this den of debauchery?”

Zhao Zheng rolled his eyes fiercely and replied irascibly, “Do you think I came here by choice? It’s all your good men who turned the Mo family’s territory into a brothel!”

Indeed, this brothel was the Mo family’s base in Liyang City.

At last, Zhao Zheng understood how the Mo family’s intelligence network was established.

Perhaps every state in the realm was covered by Mo family brothels?

After all, the beauty trap was the best means of gathering intelligence.

“Really?” Ying Shu was momentarily stunned. The Mo family’s base was a brothel?

Zhao Zheng sighed and handed her a wooden token on which the Mo family’s base address was inscribed—precisely the Jinyu Workshop before them.

He then headed into the brothel, with Ying Shu close behind.

“Come in and have some fun~”

“Miss, we even have book boys here~”

An old madam immediately swayed her hips and approached, the scent of powder and perfume making Zhao Zheng wrinkle his nose.

“No, no—I’m here to see your manager.”

Goosebumps rose on Zhao Zheng’s skin as he produced the Mo family token.

At the sight of the token, the madam’s sycophantic smile froze, replaced quickly by reverence.

“You are an honored guest; please follow me.”

With that, she led Zhao Zheng and Ying Shu further inside.

One had to admit, the Mo family’s brothel was indeed splendidly run, its luxury rivaling even Gan Long’s mansion.

Carved beams and painted rafters, pearl lamps aglow, soft gauzy curtains fluttering, gold and silver vessels dazzling in the light.

This was what it meant to be a true noble clan.

A fusion of technology, wealth, influence, and military might.

The madam led them to a secluded private room, where a young man dressed in brocade with a refined countenance was listlessly leafing through bamboo slips.

“Young master, someone is here to see you.”

The madam respectfully addressed the youth.

Startled, the young man looked up and froze, the bamboo slips dropping with a “clack” to the floor.

Why was it Zhao Zheng? How had he found this place?

Zhao Zheng waved the token lightly and pulled out a chair, sitting down heavily.

The youth’s breath hitched as he hastily rose, all traces of laziness gone from his face.

“I am Mo Hao. What orders does the Left Minister have?”

Hissing, this token seemed to signify considerable status.

Now, a significant favor was owed.

Zhao Zheng put the token away and asked Mo Hao, “Are you aware of the current situation in the State of Wei?”

Mo Hao nodded. “Naturally. What does the Left Minister wish to know?”

“Do you know a man named Wei Yang?” Zhao Zheng asked directly.

Mo Hao furrowed his brow. “Wei Yang was the disciple of Gongshu Cuo. Earlier, there was news that Young Master Ang recommended Wei Yang to serve as Prime Minister. But…”