Zhao Gao had said many times before that "the bandits in Guandong will not be able to do anything." Later, Xiang Yu captured Qin general Wang Li and others in Julu and continued to attack, causing the troops of Zhang Han and others to retreat again and again. They wrote to request reinforcements, and Yan, Zhao, Qi, Chu, Han, and Wei all declared themselves kings. Most of the areas east of Hangu Pass betrayed the Qin officials and responded to the princes, and the various princes also led their troops to advance westward. Pei Gong led tens of thousands of soldiers to capture Wuguan Pass and sent someone to contact Zhao Gao privately. Zhao Gao was afraid that the Second Emperor would be angry and kill him, so he claimed to be sick and did not go to the court. The Second Emperor dreamed that a white tiger bit the horse on the left side of his carriage and killed it. He was very depressed and puzzled, so he went to ask a dream interpreter. The dream interpreter said: "This is the work of the Jing River spirit." So the Second Emperor fasted in Wangyi Palace, prepared to offer sacrifices to the god of Jing River, and sank four white horses into the water. Afterwards, he sent another envoy to question Zhao Gao about the bandits. Zhao Gao was frightened, so he privately discussed with his son-in-law, Yan Le the Magistrate of Xianyang County, and his brother Zhao Cheng, saying that "The emperor did not listen to our advice, and now the situation is urgent, he wants to put the blame on us. I plan to replace the emperor with Prince Ying. Prince Ying was kind and frugal, and the people all listened to him. " He asked the Supervisor of Court Attendants to act as an his insider, pretending that there was a thief, and asked Yan Le to mobilize soldiers to hunt the thief down. He also kidnapped Yan Le's mother and placed her in his own residence. Yan Le led more than a thousand officers and soldiers to the gate of Wangyi Palace, tied up the guards, and said, "The thieves got in, why didn't you stop them?" The guards said: "The palace is heavily guarded, how could a thief get in?" Yan Le killed the guards and led his soldiers directly into the Wangyi Palace, shooting arrows as he walked. The eunuchs in the palace were terrified. Some fled, some resisted, and those who resisted were all killed. There were dozens of deaths. Supervisor of Court Attendants and Yan Le entered the palace together and shot arrows at the curtain where the Second Emperor was resting. The Second Emperor was furious and summoned the guards around him. The guards were afraid and dared not resist. There was a eunuch beside him who stayed with the Second Emperor and did not dare to leave. The Second Emperor fled to the inner room and said to his attendants: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Things have come to this point!" The eunuch said: "I didn't dare to say it, so I was able to save my life. If I had said it earlier, I would have been killed. How could I be still alive now?" Yan Le walked up to the Second Emperor and listed his crimes and said: "You are arrogant and cruel. Everyone in the world has betrayed you. Please make your own plans." The Second Emperor said: "Can I see the prime minister?" Yan Le said: "No." The Second Emperor said: "I hope to get a county and be a vassal king there." Yan Le did not agree. The Second Emperor said again: "I hope to be a marquis of ten thousand households." Yan Le also did not agree. The Second Emperor said, "I hope to be a commoner with my wife and children, like all the other princes." Yan Le said, "I am following the order of the Prime Minister to kill you for the people of the world. Although you have said a lot, I dare not report it to the Prime Minister." Yan Le ordered his soldiers to move forward. The Second Emperor committed suicide.
高前数言“关东盗毋能为也”，及项羽虏秦将王离等钜鹿下而前，章邯等军数卻，上书请益助，燕、赵、齐、楚、韩、魏皆立为王，自关以东，大氐尽畔秦吏应诸侯，诸侯咸率其众西乡。沛公将数万人已屠武关，使人私于高，高恐二世怒，诛及其身，乃谢病不朝见。二世梦白虎齧其左骖马，杀之，心不乐，怪问占梦。卜曰：“泾水为祟。”二世乃斋于望夷宫，欲祠泾，沈四白马。使使责让高以盗贼事。高惧，乃阴与其婿咸阳令阎乐、其弟赵成谋曰：“上不听谏，今事急，欲归祸于吾宗。吾欲易置上，更立公子婴。子婴仁俭，百姓皆载其言。”使郎中令为内应，诈为有大贼，令乐召吏发卒，追劫乐母置高舍。遣乐将吏卒千余人至望夷宫殿门，缚卫令仆射，曰：“贼入此，何不止？”卫令曰：“周庐设卒甚谨，安得贼敢入宫？”乐遂斩卫令，直将吏入，行射，郎宦者大惊，或走或格，格者辄死，死者数十人。郎中令与乐俱入，射上幄坐帏。二世怒，召左右，左右皆惶扰不斗。旁有宦者一人，侍不敢去。二世入内，谓曰：“公何不蚤告我？乃至于此！”宦者曰：“臣不敢言，故得全。使臣蚤言，皆已诛，安得至今？”阎乐前即二世数曰：“足下骄恣，诛杀无道，天下共畔足下，足下其自为计。”二世曰：“丞相可得见否？”乐曰：“不可。”二世曰：“吾愿得一郡为王。”弗许。又曰：“愿为万户侯。”弗许。曰：“愿与妻子为黔首，比诸公子。”阎乐曰：“臣受命于丞相，为天下诛足下，足下虽多言，臣不敢报。”麾其兵进。二世自杀。
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