My father bestowed death upon me, and I smiled as I drank the poisoned wine. The histories say only that Fusu, foolishly loyal, took his own life. They don’t know the cup held a sleeping draught. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a northern frontier camp, with Meng Tian and three thousand death-sworn soldiers standing before a map. “Zhao Gao wants to ruin our realm, and Hu Hai wants to take my throne.” I drove my sword into the spot marking Xianyang. “Then we’ll give this Qin a different future.”
I use modern training methods to temper the frontier troops and economic warfare to drain the Xiongnu dry. When Hu Hai’s envoys return to the camp, they are met by a forest of black-armored Iron Eagle Warriors. Before the Battle of Julu even begins, my great banner is already flying over Hangu Pass. Xiang Yu roars outside my tent, while Liu Bang bows his head at the steps.
But I want more than the throne. I abolish cruel punishments while retaining centralized rule, simplify the script and promote new learning, and bring the best of the Hundred Schools into Qin law. Steel warships already point toward the immortal islands overseas. The imperial seal is too small a prize. What I want to hold firmly is the direction of civilization.
Deep in the mausoleum at Mount Li, facing the mysterious star map left behind by the First Emperor and the “stranger” beside Hu Hai, a master of ingenious contraptions, I finally understand: this struggle has never been only about imperial power. I will become another version of Qin Shi Huang.
