Being Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Brother Isn't So Hard

Zhao Rang, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, transmigrated. The good news: he was a nobleman’s son, with food and drink taken care of. He could keep his head down and survive! The bad news: it was the late Warring States period, and he was from Zhao, a kingdom that the First Emperor was about to wipe off the map. The good news: Ying Zheng was his biological older brother. The bad news: they had different fathers... Thinking of what had happened to Ying Zheng’s younger brothers in history, Zhao Rang slowly clutched his chest. The good news: Ying Zheng was only a few years old at this point, at the perfect age to be fooled. It shouldn’t be hard to get on his good side. Drawing on his professional mechanical engineering skills and decidedly unprofessional child-soothing abilities, Zhao Rang made a whole basket of toys. Then he smiled demurely at Ying Zheng. “This is the realm I’ve conquered for you!” The toddler-sized Ying Zheng was silent for a moment, then gave him a look full of contempt and pity. Zhao Rang: “...” Help! Why is this big shot so hard to handle even as a kid?! * The First Emperor of Qin united the six kingdoms and shook the world. He wielded absolute power, and his hands were stained with blood. The people around him came and went, gathered and scattered. Rulers and ministers grew suspicious of one another, and even close kin turned against each other. Only Zhao Rang stayed by his side. When Ying Zheng was lost and in pain, Zhao Rang would say in his ear, “Brother, I want to improve farm tools and redesign weapons. I want to build roads and dams...” Give me money! Give me money! Give me money! Ying Zheng: “...” * Many years later, Qin had thousands of miles of fertile land and a thriving industrial sector. Its military was a thousand years ahead of the rest of the world, its treasury grew ever fuller, and its territory ever larger. Ying Zheng smiled at the younger brother standing beside him. “So this is the realm you conquered for me!” Reading Guide: 1. This is an alternate history, not a strictly researched historical account. It contains plenty of colloquial language, and even some historical allusions and objects that cross into the past. Where history is disputed, the version that best serves the story will be used. 2. The author has a cat assistant who loves helping with the writing. If you spot any garbled text, please remind the author gently, dear virtual cat butlers. Heart! Theme: Sincerity is always rewarded