Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 877: Internal and external troubles in Xianyang City!

"Your Majesty, what you see is an external threat. What I worry about is within the walls of the palace." Xiao He's tone was calm, yet it carried a solemnity that could not be ignored. "Our army has only recently captured Xianyang. Although we have gained control of the overall situation, our foundation is not yet stable. Previously, under General Wang Ben's years of management, the old Qin forces in the city are deeply entrenched, and many remnants remain. They are ostensibly submitting, but do they still harbor thoughts of restoration? Who can guarantee that no one harbors evil intentions?"

"This……"

Gao Yao was momentarily speechless, his relaxed expression completely vanishing. It wasn't that he hadn't considered this, but the situation had been so critical that he hadn't had time to delve into it. Now that Xiao He had pointed it out, all sorts of possibilities flooded his mind. The probability might not be high, but as Xiao He had said, the situation had changed. When a city is under siege, with no external reinforcements, the loyalties within are put to the most brutal test under the pressure of survival. Would those silent "old Qin people" quietly open a side door late one night? Would they tamper with the defenders' meals? Would they launch a sudden attack, colluding with both insiders and outsiders?

He seemed to have seen the undercurrent surging beneath the calm surface of the water, and his face couldn't help but darken.

Seeing Gao Yao realize the gravity of the situation, Xiao He continued his analysis, his words becoming more pointed. "Furthermore, precisely because the city is now populated by the families of civil and military officials, predominantly women and children, they worry about the safety of their husbands, fathers, and brothers, and are filled with anxiety, making them vulnerable to exploitation. If there were spies lurking among them, spreading rumors and shaking the morale of the army and the people—exaggerating the strength of the Chu army outside the city, or falsely reporting our own defeats on the front lines, or even promising guaranteed wealth and status... with a mixture of intimidation and temptation, there's no guarantee that some, driven by the desire to protect their families or for personal gain, might harbor ulterior motives and even defect to the enemy. Your Majesty, a woman's kindness, while often a sign of compassion, could become the ant hole that breaks the dam and destroys all our plans in this critical moment."

As night fell, only the crackling candlelight shone. Xiao He's words were like hammers, hammering down on Gao Yao's heart. While powerful external enemies could be resisted with walls and swords, the cracks within were impossible to defend against. Only then did Gao Yao truly understand that his strongest fortress might be quietly corroding from within.

"Now, we can only hope that reinforcements will arrive soon, perhaps even in time to aid Xianyang. More importantly, we must find a way to permanently resolve the dilemma of the Chu army being able to march upon the city and threaten Xianyang at any time."

Gao Yao sighed softly, a hint of fatigue barely concealed in his tone. Xiao He's analysis had been like a sharp thorn, piercing his once-reassuring heart and forcing him to confront the danger of Xianyang's internal collapse.

He cast his gaze towards the dark night outside the tent, as if he could penetrate thousands of mountains and rivers and see the towering yet undercurrent-surging imperial capital.

At the same time, in Xianyang City.

Thanks to Gaoyao's swift control and forceful intervention, history deviated from its original trajectory here—Xiang Yu's Chu army was denied the opportunity to set fire to the Xianyang Palace. Although the allied forces initially looted the city, causing heavy losses of palace treasures and varying degrees of damage to several halls, the main structure was miraculously preserved. The former Qin Palace, with its carved beams and painted rafters, towering halls and pavilions, stood silently on the south bank of the Wei River, a symbol of supreme power.

It was for this reason that Lu Zhi, Yu Shu and other family members were able to move into this huge palace complex as soon as the chaos subsided.

The Prime Minister's Mansion, where she had long resided in Nanhai County, was also prestigious, but it was a world apart from the Xianyang Palace here. When Lü Zhi first entered the palace, she even felt a sense of disorientation. The Prime Minister's Mansion, which she had once thought spacious, now seemed cramped in her memory. If one were to truly compare, twenty Prime Minister's Mansions combined might not even be able to match the front courtyard of the Xianyang Palace.

The vastness of the palace was undoubtedly a source of grandeur and honor, but it also brought with it unprecedented administrative challenges. The few servants and guards brought from the Prime Minister's residence were like a drop in the bucket, instantly drowning out the vast palace complex. Although the sisters shared the same palace, their respective residences were separated by vast distances, and a visit often took a quarter of an hour on foot.

Yet, in this extraordinary period, this physical distance unexpectedly became a blessing. The subtle pressure of having to dine together daily and see each other constantly in the mansion suddenly disappeared, reducing unnecessary friction and comparisons and giving everyone a chance to breathe.

The dramatic change in their environment also brought with it new responsibilities. Lü Zhi and Yu Shu quickly recovered from the shock of entering the palace and took the initiative to shoulder the heavy responsibilities.

With Gao Yao leading his troops away, he entrusted all defense and troop deployments for Xianyang to his trusted general, Li Zhao. Li Zhao had served Gao Yao for a long time, a proven veteran of both loyalty and ability. This assignment to defend Xianyang was both a tremendous vote of confidence and an opportunity for him to excel.

Coordinating city affairs and supporting logistics required a decisive and composed leader. Lü Zhi naturally assumed the role of "mistress." Despite her missteps, Gao Yao knew that her overall perspective and practical ability far surpassed those of ordinary people. She began meeting regularly with Li Zhao to discuss crucial matters such as the details of the city defense, the distribution of supplies, the placement of personnel, and stabilizing public sentiment. Her shrewdness and decisiveness played a crucial role at this time.

Yushu, with her characteristic meticulousness and tolerance, took charge of the internal affairs of the vast Xianyang Palace. From dispatching palace servants and ensuring daily expenses, to soothing the other female members of the family and maintaining basic order within the harem, a myriad of tasks weighed heavily on her shoulders. She quietly managed everything, striving to keep the empty palace functioning under the shadow of war, becoming a stable rear base rather than a source of chaos.

However, amidst all these seemingly orderly arrangements, the undercurrent that Xiao He was worried about was quietly growing.

In a corner of the huge shadow of the Xianyang Palace, some palace servants and eunuchs loyal to the old Qin Dynasty exchanged uneasy glances in a low voice; in the streets, rumors about the strength of the Chu army and the difficulty of reinforcements began to spread secretly, constantly teasing the nerves of the surrendered ministers and the people who were already weak in spirit.

Although Li Zhao was loyal to his duties and patrolled day and night, he was inevitably unable to cope with the complex human nature within this huge city. Although Lu Zhi could suppress the fluctuations on the surface, she could not see every trace of collusion behind the scenes.

Everyone was on edge, awaiting news from the front, and also waiting for unknown variables. The safety of Xianyang hung on a thread, not only on the sturdiness of the city walls, but also on the ever-changing public sentiment.