The thousand-year-old family began with King Wu's conquest of King Zhou.

Chapter 53 Zhao Gao dies, Ziying surrenders

After killing the Second Emperor failed to allow Zhao Gao to ascend the throne, he faced a dilemma: who should become emperor?

Qin Er Shi's brothers were all killed, and no suitable successor could be found.

Only Ziying, who was related to the First Emperor by blood, could be considered as the successor to the throne.

However, Ziying was known for his benevolence and frugality, and his people supported him. Moreover, he had repeatedly advised Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) before, making him a shrewd and intelligent man who was not easy to deal with.

What should we do? The world cannot be without a ruler for even a day. Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and support Ziying.

Thinking of this, Zhao Gao felt quite frustrated, and even a little scared.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that he had already seized control of the government, and Ziying was weak and powerless; even if he became emperor, he would be powerless to change the situation.

Since things have come to this, let's first support Ziying as the new emperor.

So Zhao Gao summoned a group of court officials and princes of the royal family, and asked them, "The situation is very critical. Anti-Qin forces across the land have already attacked Xianyang. What should we do?"

Many ministers remained silent, but Zhao Gao's confidants all said in unison, "We are willing to follow the Prime Minister's arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao composed himself and raised his voice, saying, "Qin was originally a small state in the west. After the First Emperor ascended the throne, he waged war in the east and west, conquering the six states and unifying the world, hence his title of First Emperor. However, the six states that were destroyed were not content and have now risen up in rebellion, forming a situation of separatism. The former six states have all restored their former territories and broken away from the Qin Dynasty to establish their own independent states. Therefore, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and I have decided to enthrone Ziying as King of Qin."

With the plan settled, Zhao Gao then arranged for people to prepare to enthrone Ziying as king.

At the same time, someone was sent to inform Ziying to prepare for his ascension to the throne. Ziying had already heard about and witnessed Zhao Gao's various crimes when he was still a prince.

Now that Zhao Gao had placed him on the throne, he was in a very heavy mood during the few days of fasting. He knew that he was just a puppet, and that his family members had been killed by Zhao Gao's schemes. General Meng Tian, ​​Minister Meng Yi, and many princes and princesses had all been killed by Zhao Gao.

Unwilling to repeat the mistakes of Huhai, Ziying conspired with his personal eunuch Han Tan and his sons to eliminate Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao originally intended for Ziying to fast for five days before formally ascending the throne. When the appointed time arrived, and it was time for him to enter the ancestral temple to report to his ancestors, Ziying failed to appear. Zhao Gao and his entourage waited a long time without seeing Ziying, so Zhao Gao sent someone to invite Ziying to accept the royal seal and enter the temple to formally ascend the throne.

However, Ziying claimed that he was ill and unable to perform the ancestral rites, and refused to go.

When the messenger returned and reported this, Zhao Gao was furious but had no choice but to go and invite him in person.

As soon as Zhao Gao stepped into Ziying's room, the eunuch Han Tan and Ziying's sons rushed forward and tackled him. Han Tan reacted quickly and killed him with a single blow.

After killing Zhao Gao, Ziying went to the ancestral temple to hold a ceremony to inform his ancestors and formally ascended the throne as king. He then summoned his ministers to the palace, enumerated Zhao Gao's crimes, arrested Zhao Gao's entire clan, and executed them all.

After Ziying ascended the throne, he claimed that the Qin territory was smaller than before the unification after the outbreak of the popular uprising, so he could not be called emperor, but only king.

On the twelfth day, Zhang Ling had already besieged Xianyang.

Ziying was terrified, but he didn't believe Zhang Ling would rebel, so he sent a messenger to Zhang Ling and asked, "Does the King of Liang intend to rebel?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ling laughed heartily and said to the messenger, "Rebel? If I were to rebel, why would I have waited until today? Back then, Zhao Gao and Li Si forged an imperial edict at Shaqiu, ordering me to commit suicide. If I wanted to rebel, I would have done so then. Zhao Gao seized power, pointed at a deer and called it a horse, slaughtered members of the royal family, and persecuted loyal officials. If I wanted to rebel, I would have done so then too. My Zhang family has served Qin since my great-grandfather, Duke Liu. From my grandfather to myself, which battle wasn't fought for the Qin?"

He stopped laughing and said to the messenger, "Go back and tell Ziying that I, Zhang Ling, have come not to rebel against Qin, but only to kill Zhao Gao. Once Zhao Gao is dead, tell Ziying to open the city gates! I will guarantee his life!"

Zhang Ling said this with his own reasons. In his view, Qin had lost the hearts of the people, leading to chaos in the world, and was now beyond saving.

As long as they occupy Guanzhong and join forces with Liang State, the Zhang family might just be able to contend for the world!

As for what the ancestor said about the timing not being right? He couldn't wait any longer. He knew very well that he didn't have many years left to live. For the sake of the Zhang family, he had to do something, at least to get the Zhang family onto the chessboard!

The messenger agreed and hurriedly returned to the city to report.

Ziying stood atop the city wall of Xianyang, gazing at the massive, dark army outside the city, and remained silent for a long time.

The banner bearing the character "Zhang" fluttered in the north wind, and beneath it stood an old general, sword in hand, his hair and beard all white, yet his back ramrod straight.

That was the Marquis of Jingning, the King of Liang, the current head of the Zhang family, and the person whom Qin Shi Huang both feared and relied on the most.

Ziying suddenly remembered that he had seen Zhang Ling once in the palace when he was young.

At that time, the First Emperor was still alive. Zhang Ling had just returned to the capital from Yan and was summoned to the palace before he had even removed his armor.

The First Emperor pointed to Zhang Ling and said to himself, "This is Zhang's son, whose family has served as generals of Qin for generations. His loyalty and bravery are commendable."

Now that the First Emperor has passed away, Huhai is dead, and Zhao Gao has been executed, only Ziying remains, standing alone on the city wall of the vast Qin Dynasty. Meanwhile, the man whom the First Emperor once praised for his loyalty and bravery is leading a large army to block the city gate.

"Open the city gates," Ziying said with a long sigh, his voice filled with sorrow.

The gates of Xianyang slowly opened.

Ziying, in a plain carriage drawn by white horses, bound himself and surrendered, holding the Imperial Seal of the State in both hands, kneeling before Zhang Ling's horse.

Zhang Ling quickly dismounted, helped Ziying up, and asked, "Your Majesty, what is the matter?"

He paused, then said, "I have come not to rebel against Qin, but only to execute Zhao Gao. With Zhao Gao dead, Qin is plunged into dire straits. I will assist Your Majesty in restoring Qin's former glory!"

Ziying looked up at him, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You old man, aren't you ashamed to lie?"

Could it be that he's going to kill me?

Upon realizing this, Ziying immediately burst into tears and said to Zhang Ling, "Does the King of Liang intend to kill Ziying?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ling took a step back, straightened his clothes, and then knelt down properly, facing Ziying.

This action stunned everyone present. The old general, who held a large army and had just besieged Xianyang, actually knelt down before a Qin king who had surrendered himself in a plain carriage with white horses.

To their even greater surprise, after Zhang Ling finished his greetings, he didn't say another word. He mounted his horse, turned it around, and led his army away slowly.

Zhang Ling's retreat was not a true retreat; he merely retreated to Ba Shang.

He occupied the heart of Guanzhong, bordering Hanzhong to the west, controlling Hangu Pass to the east, with the Jing and Wei Rivers to the north and the Qinling Mountains to the south.

As long as these passes are held, Guanzhong will become an impregnable stronghold.

As for Ziying in Xianyang, he was merely a pawn in his game.

He needed Ziying to live, to continue being King of Qin, because as long as Ziying remained in Xianyang, the counties of Guanzhong would not harbor any disloyalty, and the former nobles of the six states would not be able to legitimately seize this prize. When the time was right, he would naturally return to take over everything.