In the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin, who was just over fifty years old, was critically ill under the successive attacks of hereditary high blood pressure of the Li family, dark wounds accumulated from half a lifetime of battles, and the heavy metal medication prescribed by foreign monks.

This ancient hero who had once been besieged front and back by Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass, still managing to break through skillfully one by one and achieving the illustrious fame of the Heavenly Strategy General, could not ultimately resist the erosion of time.

With deep attachment to the twenty-four generals of Lingyan Pavilion and the abundant achievements of twenty-three years of the Zhenguan era, he closed his reluctant eyes forever.

The moment Li Shimin closed his eyes, in the northern part of China, a thousand years earlier, Prince Fusu of the Qin Empire in Shangjun slowly woke up from a coma.

“My lord!” Meng Tian looked at Fusu with a worried expression.

With Meng Tian's voice of concern, a flood of memories surged into Li Shimin's mind.

After digesting the memories for a long time, Li Shimin understood his current situation.

First, he inexplicably became the eldest son of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Fusu.

Second, he was now in Shangjun and the fierce general with a lion-like nose and broad mouth beside him was Meng Tian.

Third, he had just received an imperial edict from Qin Shi Huang ordering him to commit suicide.

His temper flared up immediately.

Damn it, I just came back to life and you want me to die again?

Don’t even think about it! Not even if it’s Qin Shi Huang, let alone the Jade Emperor.

At this moment, the extensive histories he read to argue with that farmer Wei Zheng in his previous life became very useful.

Damn it, if what Sima Qian wrote in "Records of the Grand Historian" is correct, since I received the death edict, Qin Shi Huang should be already dead by now.

Not just dead, but probably starting to rot.

Perhaps Li Si and Zhao Gao are using salt-dried fish outside the camp to cover the stench!

“General Meng, what year and month is it now?” Ying Shimin urgently asked to confirm the time.

“My lord, it is the thirty-seventh year of the First Emperor, July of summer.”

Although Meng Tian was very worried about his lord, he subconsciously answered him.

The time is correct, history books say so!

Emperor Qin Shi Huang must have died on his eastern tour by now, and this edict is a forgery by Li Si and Zhao Gao.

But for Li Shimin, it doesn’t matter whether the edict is real or fake; even if it is real, he would never wait for death.

Having been passively renamed Ying Shimin, he stroked his chin and began to calculate his current situation.

His father, the First Emperor, was dead, he himself did not lack military power, and Meng Tian and his brother Meng Yi were his allies.

The most important point... he was the legitimate eldest son!

Last time he couldn’t get the big prize even after killing so many people. This time, he gets it right at the start—why would he be afraid!

Jiancheng, this time I’m the boss.

Thinking of this, Ying Shimin laughed heartily.

“My lord, are you alright?” About to be ordered to commit suicide and still laughing heartily, Meng Tian thought his lord had gone mad with anger...

“Huh? I’m fine.”

Fine my foot, you were just crying about unknown fathers and sons and wanting to commit suicide. Now you wake up and start laughing, who would believe you’re mentally sound?

“I still want to say one more thing! You are a noble person, even if this edict looks legit, you shouldn’t hastily commit suicide!”

After knowing the content of the edict, Meng Tian had already persuaded Fusu hundreds of times.

“Suicide? Who said I wanted to kill myself?”

Commit suicide my ass! I wasn’t the legitimate eldest son in my previous life and I didn’t wait for death. Now that I’ve reincarnated as the legitimate eldest son, why would I think of suicide?

Immediately organize the troops and think of a reason to launch a coup at Efang Palace!

Ying Shimin began to scheme his uprising.

“General Meng! How many troops are in Shangjun? I want to purge the Emperor's side!” His lord was extremely excited.

One sentence left Meng Tian utterly confused; he now thought his lord was completely irrational.

How could he act like a different person after just a coma?

“Purge the Emperor's side? My lord, what do you mean? Are you really alright?” Meng Tian was puzzled.

Living in the Qin era, Meng Tian of course didn’t know that the phrase “purge the Emperor's side” would become a legitimate synonym for rebellion in later generations.

Seeing Meng Tian’s confusion, Ying Shimin began his eloquent persuasion.

“The First Emperor swept through the Six States and established the hegemony over the nine provinces, a sovereign of unprecedented wisdom. General Meng, do you think so?” Prince Shimin asked sternly.

“His Majesty unified the Six States after six generations of efforts, aligned the wheel tracks, standardized the writing system—no doubt an unprecedented wise sovereign!” Meng Tian replied with a bow.

“So, does General Meng think I am disloyal, unfilial, muddled, or tyrannical?”

“Of course not! My lord is loyal, filial, and benevolent, admired by all officials and commoners alike!”

“Well then, as the legitimate eldest son of His Majesty, blood-related, and given His Majesty’s wisdom and my own virtuous nature, if not for treacherous officials causing discord between my father and me, how could His Majesty suddenly order my death?” Ying Shimin’s tone was firm, his gaze piercing.

“My lord, you are wise! But... without the Tiger Tally, raising troops would be akin to rebellion...” Meng Tian’s eyes were full of complexity.

As a feudal governor with significant military power, Meng Tian wasn’t a fool. He knew what Ying Shimin was implying. But raising troops without the Tiger Tally was rebellion, which Fusu as the heir could bear, but he as a minister could not afford.

“General Meng is overthinking. Since it’s confirmed there are treacherous officials, I, as the legitimate eldest son, must raise troops to protect the Emperor and purge the traitors. His Majesty’s wisdom would never blame us.”

“If the General still doubts, he can first detain the messenger in my name, then write a personal letter to your brother Meng Yi, who, as a high-ranking official, must be constantly by His Majesty’s side. If he replies saying His Majesty is fine, I will willingly accept my fate to die, but if he has no news, then His Majesty must have encountered great misfortune. If we raise troops then, it would be justified by circumstances.”

This strategy of advancing by retreating fully silenced Meng Tian.

Ying Shimin was already sure that Emperor Qin Shi Huang was dead and Meng Yi was likely imprisoned, making it impossible for any reply.

But to Meng Tian, these words were a stark reminder that the Meng family and Fusu’s fortunes were tied together.

Yet, he now felt like cursing.

Damn it, if you had thought this through earlier, why did you pretend to want to die? I thought you were really going to kill yourself. Turns out it was all an act?

“In that case, I will follow my lord’s lead!”

Meng Tian felt like cursing inside, but he expressed his loyalty with utmost determination.