stonecrandall Chapter 987 Accompanying the Child, Aiming for the Stars!
Chapter 987 Accompanying the Child, Aiming for the Stars!
Gao Yao observed everyone's reactions with satisfaction, but his face remained impassive. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a metallic quality as it echoed through the silent arena: "This object is called the Heaven-Shaking Thunder, a secret weapon researched by the Ministry of Works. You have all witnessed its power. I have already ordered the mass production of this divine weapon to defend against foreign aggression and to secure the interior and the borders!"
He paused, his gaze sharpening like a knife as he swept across the entire room: "From this day forward, all my officials must be of one mind and one heart, and diligently perform their duties. Externally, with this weapon, my sons and daughters can wield it to sweep away the disloyal and display their might beyond the borders! Internally…" His voice suddenly turned cold, "...if anyone harbors rebellious intentions, secretly forms cliques, or neglects their duties and disrupts the court, do not blame me for using this thunderous method to cleanse the world!"
The menacing tone in his words, coupled with the earth-shattering explosion just moments before, sent a chill down the spines of all the officials, regardless of their factional affiliations. They bowed deeply and responded in unison, "Your Majesty, we humbly obey your command! We will do our utmost to serve you!"
The display of black powder achieved the intended deterrent effect.
Following this, Gao Yao held a small-scale hunting competition and generously rewarded those who performed exceptionally well. Once the atmosphere eased somewhat, he used the excuse of being busy with state affairs to send most of his officials back to Xianyang. He himself, however, used the excuse of wanting to spend more time with his young son to stay at the hunting grounds, stating that he would return to the palace later.
This act of accompanying a young child is a carefully crafted pretext.
Once the main force had gone far away and the dust had settled, Gao Yao's gentle expression quickly faded, replaced by his usual deep and decisive demeanor. At his command, the three thousand elite imperial guards, already prepared, swiftly set off to escort Gao Yao's carriage. Instead of returning to Xianyang, they turned and headed straight for Mount Li in the southwest!
Exploring Mount Li and finding the exact entrance to Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum was another, more secretive and crucial, purpose of his trip!
Mount Li, this royal mausoleum shrouded in countless legends and taboos, has always been a heavy burden on his heart. He knows that the enigmatic Yi Xiaochuan, with whom he shares a fated entanglement, must also be paying close attention to this place.
Before this, even though Gao Yao was anxious, he dared not risk his life. He knew all too well the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan's unpredictable and ever-evolving methods. Even with his personal guards, he worried that the other party might have some unforeseen contingency plans. If they encountered each other, he was not confident that he could escape unscathed from the pursuit.
But things are different now. He wasn't surrounded by dozens or hundreds of followers, but a full three thousand fierce and well-equipped Qin elite soldiers! This was a force capable of launching a medium-sized battle. Gao Yao refused to believe that, under such absolute overwhelming power, the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan, who had been hiding his true intentions, could pull any tricks! This army of three thousand was his greatest source of confidence in personally venturing to the treacherous land of Mount Li!
After the carriages rumbled to the designated area at the foot of Mount Li, Gao Yao immediately ordered his trusted general Duan Wei to lead his elite personal guard to conduct a thorough search of the area within a radius of twenty li, expelling all irrelevant people and checking for any suspicious traces.
Meanwhile, a large number of soldiers were deployed to set up sentry posts at various high points and key transportation routes, forming a tight security network. For a time, the Lishan area, though seemingly calm, was in fact firmly under Gao Yao's control, like an iron barrel.
After setting up the surveillance, Gao Yao finally turned his attention to his children. He wasn't using them as a cover; it was also a rare opportunity to enjoy family time with his many children, to let them escape the constraints of the palace, and to play freely.
Gao Lin, his eldest son, is now nearly thirteen. In this era, he's practically an adult, and if Gao Yao hadn't been keeping him in check, he might even be old enough to be engaged. He's composed and measured in his words and actions, already showing signs of maturity beyond his years. The other children are still quite young, mostly between three or four and eight or nine years old, innocent and carefree. Gao Yao didn't bring the younger infants; the wild environment is too complex and ultimately too risky.
"Lin'er!" Gao Yao waved.
"Father!" Gao Lin stepped forward quickly, bowed respectfully, and his posture was impeccable.
Gao Yao looked up at the clear blue autumn sky and bright sunshine, reached out and patted his eldest son's slightly broad shoulders, his tone much gentler: "The weather is very nice today, you are responsible for taking your younger siblings to play to their hearts' content. You are the eldest brother, you have to take responsibility."
"Please rest assured, Father!" Gao Lin straightened his back, his little face tense. "Gao Lin will do everything in his power to ensure that my younger siblings are in no danger!"
Seeing his son's tense and commanding demeanor, Gao Yao couldn't help but sigh. The court's education and environment had prematurely robbed the child of his innocence, making him overly cautious and timid. This was not what he wanted.
He smiled, his tone softening, yet carrying an undeniable air: "The guards and maids will take care of the dangerous matters; you don't need to worry about them too much. I'm putting you in charge so that you can accompany them and play the games they truly enjoy. Now, I have a few requests for you."
"Huh?" Gao Lin was taken aback, and quickly said, "Father, please speak."
“First,” Gao Yao held up his index finger, “don’t lecture your younger siblings on any grand principles or force them to memorize poems and classics. The point of coming out today is to unleash their natural instincts! Let them discover and find what interests them. You just need to be there for them and answer their questions, understand?”
"Hmm... Your subject understands." Gao Lin nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
“Second,” Gao Yao held up a second finger, “if they want to climb trees, let them climb as long as it’s safe; if they want to ride horses, find some gentle ponies, have someone lead them, and let them ride. Boys and girls alike, don’t hold back today, just play freely! Afterwards, I will ask each of your younger siblings individually if they had a good time and if they were happy. This is your test today, do your best!”
Upon hearing the word "test," Gao Lin's spirits lifted, and his expression immediately became even more solemn. He replied loudly, "Yes! Your subject will certainly not fail Father's trust!"
Watching his eldest son depart to gather his nine younger siblings of varying ages, Gao Yao's lips curled into a faint smile as he watched his little brow furrow slightly as he tried to appease everyone. Letting children manage other children might allow them to find some joys they couldn't find in the palace.