NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72 – Tear It Down
"What do you think, Lord Fan?" Princess Chang Le whispered to Fan Li in a sneaky manner that only the two of them could hear.
"......The Princess is mighty."
Fan Li looked at the Severed Dragon Rock that had softened into a pile of mud, and hoped this technique could only be used for drilling through mountains and not on people. Otherwise, if it was equally effective on men, wouldn't it be able to permanently disable that part of the male anatomy?
The group continued forward.
Beyond the Severed Dragon Rock was an extremely spacious area. The height between the ceiling and floor was at least a hundred yards! At a glance, Fan Li discovered this was practically an underground city!
There was a city wall on the outside, with deep trenches and high ramparts. On the inside were palaces, with carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers, magnificent and splendid!
He could even see the giant signboard on the main palace, shockingly engraved with two words: Epang Palace.
"What's going on?" Fan Li exclaimed in bewilderment, "Isn't this the imperial tomb? Isn't the Qin Emperor's Tomb supposed to have thirty-six levels, corresponding to the thirty-six layers of heaven in the immortal realms?"
Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan also exchanged glances with each other.
They had just crossed the Severed Dragon Rock, yet already arrived at the imperial tomb? This clearly differed from the records about Qin Emperor Tombs in the classics. Could it be fake?
But if it were a fake tomb, why go through the trouble of using a Severed Dragon Rock as large as a mountain?
And there was the magnificently large underground palace before their eyes, practically more spectacular than even the Chu and Han imperial palaces!
Among the group, the self-proclaimed "Well Read Scholar" Yan Yuan stepped forward. He carefully inspected the palace ahead for a long time before uttering two words: "Epang Palace."
Fan Li secretly rolled his eyes. He thought: I can read the words myself!
But Yan Yuan continued: "This is definitely not Qin Shihuang's Suspected Tomb, it must be the burial site of the last Qin Emperor."
"Oh? What proof does Master Yan have?" Cao Cao curiously asked.
"The imperial tombs of past Qin Emperors all had thirty-six levels by convention. The first thirty-five were barriers, meant to protect the final layer with the underground palace. This is indeed recorded in the classics," Yan Yuan explained.
"But the last emperor Ziying succeeded the throne hurriedly. With Zhao Gao's rebellion internally and the regional lords' uprisings externally at that time, Former Qin's national strength had likely declined already, unable to construct a standard imperial tomb as per conventions."
Yan Yuan's explanation immediately gained everyone's approval.
"Moreover, Ziying's reign was short. The imperial tomb project was enormous. Even if Former Qin's treasuries were abundant, there was no way to complete a standard imperial tomb within that limited timeframe," Cao Cao supplemented.
The Epang Palace was right before their eyes, but Fan Li was in no hurry to enter. Merely a dozen li of tomb path had already cost the lives of a hundred Golden Core realm grave robbing commanders.
Who could guarantee the spacious Epang Palace didn't conceal lethal dangers?
Although Fan Li stood at the head of this group, everyone could only suggest ideas that still required his final decision.
Cao Cao said, "Lord Jin, I suggest sending a battalion to enter through the main palace gates and scout the terrain before mobilizing the main forces."
Liu Bei followed, "There may be traps and mechanisms at the main gates. It would be better to dig underground tunnels and infiltrate from below."
Sun Quan voiced his idea, "I think sending cultivators proficient in movement techniques to directly leap over the walls into the city..."
After everyone voiced their ideas, they expectantly looked towards Fan Li, awaiting his final verdict.
"Why must we go charging to our deaths inside?" Fan Li asked with one line, leaving everyone dumbstruck. He didn't even give them time to think before waving at the over two thousand garrison troops behind him and ordering:
"Tear it down!"
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan and even the scholar Yan Yuan still hadn't reacted.
What?
Tear down what?
"Hahahaha!" Princess Chang Le actually burst out laughing.
Demolishing the Epang Palace?
Even she hadn't imagined this crazy idea. Fan Li's belly was really filled with wicked schemes. No wonder he'd become Prime Minister of Great Chu. She really liked him!
Only now did Yan Yuan react. His face immediately cramped as he said, "Lord Jin, the Epang Palace is majestic and magnificent. If we tear it down just like that, wouldn't it be a waste?"
"A waste?" Fan Li glanced at him disdainfully.
"If the palace contained traps, mechanisms and spell formations, they would naturally rely on the palace's architecture to function. By tearing down the buildings, can't I dismantle all the hidden weapons?"
Yan Yuan blanked out for a good while before numbly nodding. "But..." He still felt pained at heart.
Yet Fan Li simply waved his hand: "I understand these architectural relics are precious, but they can't compare at all to my garrison troops' lives."
The over two thousand officers and soldiers preparing demolition tools were all roused upon hearing this.
"We pledge our lives in service to Lord Jin!!" Their imposing manner resounded throughout the entire underground palace!
Fan Li also cooperated by turning around to face the officers and soldiers, grandly waving his right hand.
"Troops have worked hard."
"We serve Lord Jin!"
And so, an earthshaking demolition project commenced. In merely half a day, a massive hole had been torn open in the palace's eastern wall.
Some soldiers returned to report, "Reporting to Lord Jin, ten five element spell formations and twelve mechanism traps have been dismantled after tearing down the eastern wall!"
Fan Li nodded. "Troops have worked hard. Were there any casualties?"
"Only two men failed to dodge in time and suffered light burns from a fire formation. The rest emerged unharmed!"
Fan Li was very satisfied with this result. "Pass down my order. Take care to avoid reckless charges. Proceed steadily. First tear down the outer walls, then demolish the palace. Don't stop until it's razed to the ground!"
"Yes!"
Although the garrison troops weren't considered masters, their execution ability could be called unparalleled in the world!
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan and Yan Yuan watched dumbfounded, never imagining Fan Li would use such methods.
Razing an imperial tomb's palace to the ground?
Yan Yuan sighed again and again, expression filled with regret.
Yet in Cao Cao's mind, only three words popped up – I learned something!
"Gentlemen, the demolition is a process requiring patience, there's no need to rush for quick results. Tearing down the buildings isn't our final objective." Fan Li spoke with an old wise air. Then he raised his head again. "The sky is already darkening. We should set up camp early and rest, to avoid disturbing the troops' work."
The sky?
What sky?
Beneath their feet was soil, and more soil above their heads.
Everyone glanced at each other speechlessly, but also knew Fan Li made sense.
With their status and identities, how could they roll up their sleeves alongside the soldiers to move bricks and dig dirt? They could only wait until the garrison troops finished the job.
Over three dozen troops were left behind to serve as guards. Hearing Fan Li mention setting up camp, they promptly busied themselves with the task.
After the encampment was erected, Fan Li immediately ducked inside, not to sleep, but rather sitting cross-legged in meditation. Seeing his focused, diligent appearance, Sage Ruler Qing Qiu and Princess Chang Le didn't disturb him. However, Fan Li's consciousness had shifted to one of his clones.
The capital, Peng City.
One of the two Fan Li clones slowly opened his eyes. "How are things in the capital?" he asked.
Inside Fan Manor's secret cultivation room specially prepared for Fan Li actually had three people. Aside from the two clones, there was also Wu Gang.
"There's something odd about Xiang Ning." Wu Gang replied.
"Oh?" This actually surprised Fan Li somewhat.
He was on guard against the Empress Dowager and Xiang Chong, but didn't expect Xiang Ning would also become problematic.
"What's going on with her?"
Wu Gang pondered for a moment, seemingly finding it difficult to describe. After a while, Wu Gang said, "She has been immersed in reading recently, not seeing any officials, and has not attended court for many days."
Immersed in reading? Fan Li found this perplexing. "What is she reading?"
"The title of the book is quite strange, it seems to be called... 'Female Virtue'?"
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