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

Chapter 1077 Summoning Talents, Civil Officials Assemble!

Di Renjie was also an excellent candidate. This detective was not only good at solving cases, but also had unique insights into criminal law and talent selection. For the Qin Dynasty, which urgently needed to rectify its officialdom, such talent was exactly what it needed.

Huo Guang and Xie An were both figures who reached the pinnacle of power as ministers, and were also skilled in both literature and military affairs. Huo Guang wielded immense power during the reigns of Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan of Han, and indeed possessed the talent to govern the country; Xie An, on the other hand, turned the tide during the crisis of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, leading the Battle of Fei River. With them around, Gao Yao's power in the court would be even more secure.

With the civil officials chosen, military generals were still needed. Gao Xiang thought of several candidates: Ran Min, Lü Bu, Yue Fei, and Xue Rengui.

Ran Min, the "Martial and Mourning Heavenly King," issued the "Kill the Hu" edict during the Five Barbarian Invasions, saving countless Han people. While he was unqualified as an emperor, his bravery and military talent as a general were absolutely top-notch. In an era where the threat of the Xiongnu still existed, such a fierce general was needed.

Although Lü Bu had a bad reputation, known as the "slave of three surnames," his bravery cannot be denied. Throughout the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, the highest praise for a general was "comparable to Lü Bu," which is enough to demonstrate his strength. Moreover, the system stated that the summoned talents are 100% loyal and will never betray, which solves Lü Bu's biggest problem.

Yue Fei and Xue Rengui, needless to say, were both renowned military strategists and tacticians in history. Yue Fei was loyal to his country and disciplined his army strictly; Xue Rengui subdued the Tianshan Mountains with three arrows, displaying unparalleled bravery. With them, the Qin army would be even more formidable.

Exactly ten people. Gao Yao confirmed his choice, and the system indicated that the summoning would be completed within three days, after which these people would appear in this world in a reasonable manner.

Gao Yao closed the system interface and let out a long sigh of relief. With the help of these talented individuals, the burden on his shoulders would be much lighter. More importantly, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill could be taught to the army, which meant that the military strength of the Great Qin would experience a qualitative leap.

He took one last look at Yi Xiaochuan's body, then turned and walked out of the cell. The jailers bowed deeply upon seeing him. Gao Yao said calmly, "Give him a proper burial, according to the etiquette of a scholar-official."

"Yes, sir," the jailers replied.

Gao Yao wouldn't waste time arguing with corpses. Now that he'd achieved his goal, and there was no one left in the world who could stop him, he could proceed with decisive and complete unification.

Upon returning to the palace, Gao Yao immediately ordered his personal guards to clear away all the servants around him, leaving him alone in the palace. He then began attempting to summon these talented individuals.

In the autumn of the twelfth year of Jianxing, at Wuzhangyuan.

The night wind swept across the Wei River plain, carrying the desolation of late autumn. Inside the central command tent, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the increasingly gaunt face on the bed. Zhuge Liang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze passing through the crack in the tent flap, looking towards the northern land he had never set foot on in his life.

"Prime Minister, it's time to take your medicine." The guard held the medicine bowl, his voice choked with emotion.

Zhuge Liang waved his hand and struggled to sit up. The military reports, maps, and supply registers piled on his desk were as usual. Only the pen that had once been so powerful now felt incredibly heavy in his hand.

"The Northern Expedition... the Northern Expedition..." he murmured, his voice barely audible.

He launched four expeditions to Qishan and six northern expeditions. From the "Three Kingdoms" strategy in the Longzhong Plan to the entrustment of his son at Baidi City, where he pledged to "exert all his strength and loyalty," his life seemed to be a pursuit of an ever-receding goal. The late emperor's legacy, the glory of the Han Dynasty, and the expectations of the people—these heavy burdens weighed on his shoulders for a full twenty-seven years.

The sound of footsteps of night patrol soldiers echoed outside the tent, their movements precise and synchronized. These soldiers had followed him for years, from Yizhou to Hanzhong, and from Hanzhong to Qishan. They trusted him as they would their own father. Yet he was about to lead them down this road with no end in sight.

"Report—the Wei army has made another unusual move!" The scout's voice rang out from outside the tent.

Zhuge Liang tried to get up, but felt a sudden dizziness. He leaned on the table and coughed violently, his handkerchief stained with a glaring red stain.

"Prime Minister!" the people inside the tent exclaimed in surprise.

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave. Alone, he could finally remove that ever-present mask of composure. Fifty-four years old was considered advanced age in this era. But he still had so much left undone, so many promises unfulfilled.

The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the tent walls. In a daze, he seemed to see the thatched cottage in Longzhong, Liu Bei visiting it three times, the beacon fires at Chibi, and the late emperor holding his hand tightly on his deathbed…

"Liang has failed the late emperor's trust..." A long sigh escaped into the cold autumn night wind.

Just then, a soft white light suddenly illuminated the tent without any warning. Zhuge Liang looked up in surprise, only to see the light grow stronger and stronger, enveloping him completely. He felt a warm power surge into his body, and his long-standing ailments seemed to vanish in that instant.

"This is..." Before he could finish speaking, the white light suddenly contracted, and the tent returned to its original state.

But the bed was now empty.

Chang'an, the residence of the Duke of Liang.

Fang Xuanling leaned against his sickbed, gazing at the snowflakes falling outside the window. The winter of the twenty-second year of the Zhenguan era was exceptionally cold in Chang'an. He knew his days were numbered.

The attendant carefully draped a fur coat over him, but he waved his hand and said, "It's alright."

He served as prime minister throughout his life, assisting Emperor Taizong in establishing the prosperous reign of Zhenguan. From a minor official in the Prince of Qin's court to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he witnessed countless upheavals. On the eve of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he had an all-night discussion with Du Ruhui; at the beginning of the Zhenguan era, he argued heatedly with Wei Zheng; during the compilation of the Book of Jin, he personally oversaw the process, meticulously considering every word…

"Father, His Majesty has sent another batch of medicinal herbs." The eldest son, Fang Yizhi, entered carrying a brocade box.

Fang Xuanling nodded without speaking. He knew that Li Shimin was also ill. This emperor and his minister, who had been together for over thirty years, were now approaching the end of their lives.

His gaze fell on the calligraphy on the wall, written by Emperor Taizong himself: "Fang's planning and Du's decisive action." Du Ruhui had been gone for over twenty years; now, it was finally his turn.

"Yizhi," he called softly.

"Father."

"The way of being a prime minister lies in balance. You must assist the ruler while also being considerate of the people; you must adhere to principles while also knowing how to be flexible. You must remember these things."

Fang Yizhi knelt before the bed, tears streaming down his face: "Father's teachings, your son will remember them."

Fang Xuanling slowly closed his eyes. Scenes from the past flashed through his mind: the first time he met Li Shimin, the spirited young general; the Wei River Alliance, where he stood shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Taizong on the city wall; the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, when the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Eastern Turks, and all nations came to pay tribute…

"With the world at peace and the people living in happiness, I... have no regrets," he murmured to himself.

Just then, a soft white light suddenly illuminated the room. Fang Yizhi looked up in surprise and saw his father's body gradually becoming transparent in the white light.

"Father!" He reached out to grab it, but grasped at nothing.

As the light faded, Fang Xuanling had vanished from his sickbed.