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Across the Guanzhong region of the Qin Empire, a scene of prosperity spread like wildfire, quickly spreading to Hanzhong, Bashu, and Hedong counties outside the pass. At the same time, in the far southernmost part of the Qin Empire, several counties in Nanyue also showed a scene of bustling activity.

But the liveliness of the two is completely different.

Guanzhong was bustling with production and construction. The people were reclaiming farmland, building water conservancy projects, and developing commerce. The atmosphere was full of vitality. However, Nanyue was in full swing. There was a tense atmosphere of hunting down, conscripting soldiers, collecting grain, and conscripting laborers. A large number of manpower was concentrated to serve military operations and consolidate rule. Several counties in Nanyue were operating at high speed under this tense situation.

Panyu, the capital of Nanhai County, witnessed the Qin Dynasty's rule over Nanyue.

Looking back, in the 219th year of the First Emperor (50 BC), Tu Sui, as the main general, and Zhao Tuo, as the deputy general, led an army of 214 to start the road to pacify Lingnan. However, Tu Sui killed innocent people indiscriminately, which aroused strong resistance from the locals and eventually killed them. Qin Shihuang immediately appointed Ren Xiong as the main general to continue leading the army with Zhao Tuo. After four years of fighting, in the nd year of the First Emperor ( BC), Lingnan was finally pacified.

After the First Emperor basically pacified Nanyue, he established three prefectures: Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiangjun. Nanhai Prefecture covered the old Guangzhou, Shaozhou, Chaozhou, Huizhou, Zhaoqing, Nanxiong and the northern border of Gaozhou Prefecture in Guangdong, the eastern border of Pingle Prefecture in Guangxi, and the southeastern border of Wuzhou Prefecture. The three prefectures of Nanyue were vast, including large tracts of land in Vietnam and Myanmar in later generations. These areas were incorporated into the territory of Daqin and became an important part of Daqin's territory.

The 500,000-strong army that conquered Nanyue had a complex composition. More than 200,000 of them were old Qin people who moved to Nanyue with their families to guard the city, and the remaining 300,000 were slaves from various parts of Guanzhong and elite soldiers of the Chu State captured after the destruction of the Chu State. These people from different backgrounds gathered in Nanyue, opening the chapter of the Qin Dynasty's rule in Nanyue.

After pacifying Nanyue, the First Emperor once again ordered the migration of population. Nearly 100,000 households of the old Qin people and nearly 300,000 people from the Chu State were relocated to Nanyue in order to dilute the Baiyue barbarians who dominated the population in several counties of Nanyue. In every migration, the old Qin people were the first to rush. They left their familiar homeland of Guanzhong with their families and headed for Nanyue, where the weather was hot and the climate was humid.

During the migration south, tens of thousands of the elderly, the weak, women and children of the Qin people collapsed due to the harsh environment and the arduous journey, but the Qin people still resolutely carried out the edict of the First Emperor, heading south all the way to guard the southwestern border.

Because the Chu people had long since adapted to the hot and humid climate of the south, their migration to the south was relatively smooth with very few casualties.

Five or six years passed from the 32nd year of the First Emperor to the first year of the Second Emperor. The old Qin people who migrated south gradually adapted to the hot and humid climate of the south and began to actively develop production and build cities. They worked hard every day, and several counties in Nanyue underwent earth-shaking changes under their efforts. Farmland water conservancy facilities continued to improve, cities became increasingly solid, commerce and handicrafts gradually emerged, and a new social order slowly took shape in Nanyue.

Ren Xiong and Zhao Tuo faithfully implemented the First Emperor's policy of appeasing and pacifying the south. They knew that force could only bring temporary conquest, and only by winning the hearts of the people could long-term peace and stability be achieved. After five or six years of exchanges and integration, the native barbarians in several counties of Nanyue gradually reduced their rejection of the Qin Dynasty's rule. The exchanges between the two sides in economy and culture became increasingly frequent. The advanced technology and culture of the Qin Dynasty were introduced to Nanyue, and the unique culture of the barbarians was also understood by the Qin people, and the gap between the two sides was gradually eliminated.

Time goes by.

Long before he led the troops south, Ren Xiong was already in his sixties, and when Nanyue was pacified, he was already close to seventy. The hot and humid climate of Nanyue seriously damaged his health, and he suffered from multiple diseases, making it difficult for him to handle military and political affairs normally.

Zhao Tuo was a famous young talent in Guanzhong. At the age of 219, he was granted the imperial sword to escort the emperor and accompanied the First Emperor on his eastern tour. In the th year of the First Emperor ( BC), at the age of , he was appointed as the deputy commander and followed Ren Xiao to lead the army to fight in Lingnan. He was young and energetic, performed well in the army, and gradually gained an important position.

When the First Emperor was still alive, Ren Xiong rested in the prefecture of Panyu City, and handed over most of the daily military and political power of several counties in Nanyue to Zhao Tuo. Zhao Tuo thus became the actual ruler of Nanyue, and his decisions influenced the development direction of Nanyue.

In the 212th year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang ( BC), Zhao Tuo, who had been on the expedition to Nanyue for seven years and was years old, returned to Xianyang to report on his work. Emperor Qin Shi Huang agreed to Ren Xiong's request and formally appointed Zhao Tuo as the governor of Nanhai County and the general of Nanhai, entrusting him with the military and political power of the three counties of Nanyue. Ren Xiong only retained the position of general and rested in Panyu. This series of appointments further consolidated Zhao Tuo's leadership position in Nanyue.

Now, Zhao Tuo has been in Nanyue for twelve years. His wife and son are in Xianyang. His wife is Hu Hai's twelfth sister. The two got married in the 218th year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang ( BC). One year after the marriage, Ying Xian gave birth to their eldest son Zhao Mo. Soon after Zhao Mo was born, Zhao Tuo was ordered to march south to Lingnan.

According to the Qin Dynasty regulations, when a general went to war, his family was not allowed to leave Xianyang. This was to prevent the general from rebellion and to allow him to concentrate on the war. After the Nanyue was pacified, Zhao Tuo returned to Xianyang after seven years. At this time, Zhao Mo was seven years old. The father and son met, but they were a little unfamiliar due to the long separation. While in Xianyang, Zhao Tuo tactfully asked the First Emperor to allow him to take Ying Xian and her son to the South China Sea, but was rejected. Although the First Emperor trusted Zhao Tuo very much, and Zhao Tuo's status and honor were all granted by the First Emperor, he did not make an exception in this matter, and Ren Xiong's family was also in Xianyang.

After staying in Xianyang for two months, Zhao Tuo returned to Nanyue to guard it. Although he could not take his wife and children with him, the First Emperor allowed him to take his younger brother Zhao Guang to the South China Sea. Zhao Guang was fifteen years old at the time.

Originally, Zhao Tuo's trip to Xianyang in the 34th year of the First Emperor was his last visit to Guanzhong. Less than three years later, the situation changed dramatically. The First Emperor died during his eastern tour, Hu Hai succeeded to the throne, Fusu committed suicide, Meng Tian and Meng Yi died unjustly in prison, Feng Quji and Feng Jie committed suicide due to humiliation, and Li Si's nine clans were executed. The Qin Empire quickly collapsed, and with the death of Ziying, the Qin Empire fell.

After Ren Xiong's death, Zhao Tuo always held on to a corner of the southwest, and a few years later (204 BC) he proclaimed himself King Wu of Nanyue. Ten years later, Zhao Tuo surrendered to Liu Bang and was named King of Nanyue by Liu Bang. After Liu Bang's death, he proclaimed himself Emperor Wu. I wonder if Zhao Tuo ever felt guilty about the Qin Dynasty that was engulfed in flames.

At that time, Zhao Tuo had complete control over the situation in Nanyue. He knew that he had a solid foundation in Nanyue, with a huge military force and abundant resources. He had secretly expanded his armaments and strengthened his control over several counties in Nanyue. On the one hand, he continued to appease the indigenous barbarians and win their support through trade concessions and cultural integration; on the other hand, he reorganized the old Qin troops, eliminated those loyal to the Qin, and cultivated his confidants.

Even in modern times, after the death of Qin Shihuang, Zhao Tuo's rebellious heart gradually became apparent.

In ruling several counties in Nanyue, he no longer followed the Qin system and became autocratic. In terms of taxation, he raised the tax rate in some areas to concentrate more wealth in his own hands; the conscription policy also changed, focusing more on recruiting local young and strong men to strengthen his military strength. He increased his control over local resources, bringing minerals, forests and other resources under his management to accumulate capital to realize his ambitions.

In Panyu City, Zhao Guang was Zhao Tuo's favorite younger brother and had a special status. Since official positions had to be conferred by the imperial court, and the Qin Dynasty had already fallen, he had no actual official position, but he had a huge influence in several counties in Nanyue. Everyone knew that he was Zhao Tuo's younger brother, and no one dared to look down on him. Those who wanted to please Zhao Tuo surrounded Zhao Guang and flattered him. In this environment, Zhao Guang gradually became arrogant and used his special status to seek personal gain. He was rampant in Panyu City, but no one dared to stop him.

Zhao Tuo was not unaware of Zhao Guang's behavior, but out of love for him, he did not stop his minor mistakes, which made Zhao Guang even more unscrupulous. His misdeeds caused dissatisfaction among some people, but these dissatisfaction could not be expressed under the suppression of Zhao Tuo's power.

As time went by, Zhao Tuo's power in Nanyue became more and more consolidated. He began to contact surrounding forces and tried to establish an alliance. He met secretly with some Baiyue tribal leaders to discuss cooperation. These tribal leaders saw Zhao Tuo's strength in Nanyue and were willing to cooperate, hoping to gain more benefits under his protection. The two sides reached an agreement to jointly deal with possible threats from the Central Plains. Inside Nanyue, Zhao Tuo actively cultivated military forces. He selected young and promising generals who were loyal to him and trained them strictly. He established an elite army that was well-equipped and well-trained, and this army completely obeyed his command. At the same time, he built fortifications throughout Nanyue to strengthen border defense. He understood that once his ambitions were exposed, the Central Plains forces would inevitably attack, and he must be prepared.

Zhao Tuo's ambitions were not limited to the several counties of Nanyue. He sent people to explore the terrain, population, resources and other conditions in the surrounding areas, coveting more land and planning to expand his power when the time was right. His ambitions spread among the high-ranking officials of several counties of Nanyue. Some people were worried, but more people chose to follow him. They saw Zhao Tuo's strength and potential and hoped to profit from his rise.

However, history took a turn three years ago.

After the death of Qin Shi Huang, Hu Hai succeeded to the throne and appointed Yi Huawei as prime minister. Yi Huawei implemented a series of policies, which gave the Qin Dynasty a new momentum of development and a thriving state. This change forced Zhao Tuo to temporarily restrain his ambitions and bury them deep in his heart.

But Zhao Tuo did not give up and continued to plan in secret. He strengthened the construction of the intelligence network and planted spies in the Central Plains and surrounding areas to grasp the changes in the situation in a timely manner. He secretly discussed countermeasures with his trusted generals and studied how to continue to develop his power in the case of the revival of the Qin Dynasty.

In Nanyue, Zhao Tuo responded to the Qin's orders on the surface and maintained his loyalty to the Qin. He sent a certain amount of supplies and soldiers to the Qin according to the new regulations, but he made some adjustments in quantity and quality. He left the best supplies and the most elite soldiers in Nanyue in case of emergency.

At the same time, Zhao Tuo continued to consolidate his rule in Nanyue. He vigorously developed agriculture and handicrafts in the local area and improved the living standards of the people, thereby winning more people's hearts. He also increased investment in education and cultivated a group of loyal talents to fill management and military positions at all levels.

Zhao Guang also restrained his behavior in Panyu City. Zhao Tuo warned him to keep a low profile and avoid attracting the attention of the Qin court. Although Zhao Guang was reluctant, he listened to his brother's words. However, he continued to live a luxurious life in secret and used his influence to seek some subtle benefits for himself.

In his cooperation with the Baiyue tribes, Zhao Tuo was more cautious. His meetings with the tribal leaders were more secretive and the content of the exchanges was more in-depth. They not only discussed military defense, but also began to plan how to gain greater benefits from future changes in the situation. Zhao Tuo promised the tribal leaders that once the time was right, he would lead them to a broader world and share prosperity and wealth.

In terms of military training, Zhao Tuo increased the difficulty and intensity. He required the army to not only be proficient in conventional warfare, but also master special tactics that adapt to the complex terrain of South Vietnam. He organized many military exercises to simulate various possible war scenarios and improve the army's actual combat capabilities.

Zhao Tuo adopted a strategy of division and surveillance for those loyal to the Qin in several counties of Nanyue. He used rewards and promotions to win over some people and make them work for him; for those who were stubborn, he arranged for someone to monitor their every move to prevent them from informing the Qin.

In the Central Plains, Daqin continued to develop under Yi Huawei's governance. A new legal system was implemented, the economy gradually prospered, and military strength was also increasing. Yi Huawei also paid more attention to the management of border areas and strengthened supervision over Nanyue. He sent more officials and envoys to Nanyue to understand the local situation.

After these officials and envoys arrived in Nanyue, Zhao Tuo received them warmly on the surface and showed them the prosperity and stability of Nanyue. But secretly, he kept a close eye on their actions to prevent them from discovering his rebellious intentions. He arranged for his men to skillfully deal with the envoys' inquiries and investigations to ensure that no handle fell into the hands of the Qin Dynasty.

As time went on, Zhao Tuo discovered that the revival of the Qin Dynasty was not smooth sailing. Although Yi Huawei was capable, there were also some contradictions and problems within the court. Some nobles and officials were dissatisfied with Yi Huawei's policies and secretly resisted. Zhao Tuo was keenly aware of these internal contradictions and he thought it was an opportunity.

He began to look for forces that could be used in the Central Plains. Through some businessmen and people from the underworld, he established indirect contacts with the opposition forces within the Qin Dynasty. He provided them with some intelligence and support, hoping to intensify the contradictions within the Qin Dynasty and create more favorable conditions for his own ambitions.

In Nanyue, Zhao Tuo continued to strengthen his rule. He made more detailed plans and utilization of local resources. He established special workshops to process some special resources into high-value products, which on the one hand met the needs within Nanyue, and on the other hand sold them to surrounding areas through secret channels to obtain more wealth.

He also carried out some reforms in culture. He further integrated the Daqin culture with the Baiyue culture to create a unique Nanyue culture. He promoted this new culture by holding various cultural activities, enhancing the Nanyue people's sense of identity and belonging to the local area, and making them more loyal to his rule.

In terms of military defense, Zhao Tuo set up multiple lines of defense in the border areas. He not only relied on the army, but also organized local people to participate in border defense. He established an effective early warning system to respond quickly in the event of an invasion by foreign enemies. At the same time, he also stored a large amount of supplies in the border areas to ensure self-sufficiency in times of war.

Zhao Guang gradually became involved in some affairs in Panyu City. Zhao Tuo began to let him take charge of some civil affairs management work, hoping that he could grow in practice and also share some pressure for himself. Although Zhao Guang was young, he showed a certain talent in management and promoted the economic development of Panyu City through some innovative means.

However, Zhao Tuo knew very well that once his connection with the internal opposition forces of the Qin Dynasty was discovered, he would be in great danger. In addition, his various disloyal actions in Nanyue had aroused the vigilance of some Black Dragon Guards. These Black Dragon Guards repeatedly submitted documents to their superiors, strongly demanding a more in-depth and detailed investigation of Nanyue.

After receiving these letters, Yi Huawei immediately paid attention to the South Vietnam issue.

The purpose of this trip south was, on the one hand, to allow Yu Shu to reunite with her parents, and on the other hand, and the most important aspect, was to conduct a thorough investigation of Zhao Tuo's situation.

Yi Huawei knew that this matter was of great importance. If Zhao Tuo really had evil intentions, it would be a huge hidden danger for the Qin Dynasty. Before leaving, he carefully studied the contents of the memorials and analyzed the abnormal behavior of Zhao Tuo in Nanyue mentioned in them, including the changes in Nanyue's military deployment, the control of economic resources, and the subtle changes in the attitude of the local people towards the Qin Dynasty.

Yi Huawei selected a group of smart and capable Black Dragon Guards, some of whom were good at intelligence gathering, some were proficient in military analysis, and some were familiar with local government affairs. He gave them a detailed mission and asked them to conduct investigations quietly after arriving in South Vietnam without alerting the enemy.

Yi Huawei also considered the possible obstacles. Zhao Tuo had been operating in Nanyue for many years, and his power was intertwined. It was easy to get rid of Zhao Tuo, but the difficult part was how to disintegrate Zhao Tuo's power without bloodshed. (End of this chapter)