Han Feizi says: "Vertical means uniting many weak forces to attack one strong force. Horizontal means using one strong force to attack many weak forces."
Whether vertically or horizontally, it is all preparation for attack.
Like military strategists, the more chaotic the world is and the more intense the disputes are, the more active the strategists will be and the more useful their tactics will be.
At a time when all the philosophers hoped that their own theories would last for thousands of years and become the mainstream theory in the world.
The disciples of the school of diplomacy suddenly became weak, but they hoped that the art of diplomacy would no longer exist in the world.
Confucianist Chunyu Yue, Confucianist Fu Sheng, Legalist Li Si, Taoist Tang Bing, Ming scholar Yao Jia...
The disciples of hundreds of families all stared in astonishment at Dunruo, a strategist who was short in stature but had a very imposing manner.
Dun Ruo's words were even more unbelievable to them than his previous support for the county system.
What does it mean that the art of diplomacy is gone?
It means the disappearance of the doctrine of diplomacy, and Dun Ruo wants to cut off the inheritance of the diplomacy school.
"Disrespecting the teacher and destroying the ancestors!"
"Dehumanization!"
"Treason!"
“…”
The First Emperor did not express his opinion, and his ministers did not dare to curse loudly. They all cursed in a low voice, using all the curse words they knew.
Dun Ruo's action was tantamount to killing his own parents at the time, and he was despised by people all over the world.
But this world does not include the First Emperor.
The First Emperor stared at the rude Dun Ruo for a long while, then suddenly slapped the throne and laughed out loud. His laughter was so loud that the dust on the beams of the Xianyang Palace fell off.
"Hahahahaha! You are so weak that you refuse to bow to the king. You are indeed qualified not to bow to me! You are qualified not to bow to anyone in this world! Why shouldn't I dare to agree to your request? I will now allow you to be the last strategist in this world!"
The doctrine of diplomacy is a doctrine of division and struggle in troubled times.
The disappearance of the diplomats means that the world will remain united and there will be no more divisions.
The strategist Dun Ruo was the one who never showed respect to the First Emperor.
At the moment when the First Emperor said that he had the right not to bow to anyone, he frowned and put away the arrogance in his bones.
He knelt on his knees, spread his hands, and knocked his head, which had always been held high, on the steps of the Xianyang Palace.
There was no kneeling ceremony in Qin ritual. Dun Ruo, who had never bent his waist in his life, performed the most humble kneeling ceremony to the First Emperor.
"I, the minister of Qin, am weak. On behalf of all the people of the world and all the descendants of China, I bow to thank the First Emperor."
Gai Nie, who was guarding beside the First Emperor, looked extremely humble in his attitude and movements.
The sword master, who used to say "dog licker" or "why would a real man do this" in his heart, silently grasped the sword at his waist.
A real man should be like this!
Li Si was greatly shocked and felt ashamed of himself. He really wanted to ignore everything and run out and kneel on the ground with Dun Ruo.
But he was thinking about the coveted position of prime minister which was about to be obtained.
Thinking about my hard work over the past few decades.
Thinking about my wife and sons at home.
S, I can't do it!
"Hahahaha! Good! I accept it! You don't want a reward, but I will reward you! Promote Dunruo to the third rank, a mansion, ten thousand gold, ten pairs of jade, a hundred servants and concubines, ten beauties, and an annual salary of five thousand dan!"
The ministers were in an uproar, and all the civil and military officials spoke out against it.
"Your Majesty, you can't do that! Qin law stipulates that anyone above the fifteenth rank must have military merit to be promoted!"
"Dun Shangqing is already the sixteenth rank of the Great Shangzang. If he were to be promoted three ranks higher, he would be Guannei Hou. It is unreasonable to be granted the title of marquis without outstanding military achievements!"
"We fought hard for many days on the battlefield to obtain this title, but Dun Ruo only spoke for half an hour and it was much higher than ours. This is so unfair!"
The First Emperor slapped the throne and stood up suddenly, his face showing majesty without even being angry!
"Noisy!"
If the Xianyang Palace can be compared to a large iron pot with boiling water constantly bubbling.
The word "noisy" by the First Emperor was just a bucket of cold water poured into a big iron pot.
The waters no longer tumble, and the court is no longer noisy.
"Guan Nei Hou, this is indeed inappropriate." The First Emperor pondered, observing the expressions of his ministers.
The voice came down.
All the ministers thought that the First Emperor changed his mind and lowered Dun Ruo's title for their sake.
Everyone had a look of rage on their face - you, Dunru, have harmed everyone, so don't expect to live a comfortable life!
Ying Chengjiao looked at the light in the First Emperor's eyes, speechless.
childish.
"Seal Dunruo as Marquis Che, and give him the title Zongheng!"
In the Great Qin Empire, since Wang Jian was granted the title of Chehou, the second Chehou was born—Zonghenghou Dunruo!
The ministers were stunned, bewildered and incredulous.
Your Majesty, shall we confer the title of Marquis Che on Dun Ruo?
We object, but the price is rising instead of falling?
Ying Chengjiao sighed.
I knew it was like this.
Li Si regretted it deeply.
Just kneel down.
"His Majesty!"
He stood up weakly, patted the dirt off his knees, and his proud demeanor returned.
"The weak should not accept the title, and the weak should not want the fiefdom."
The title of Marquis Che should come with a fiefdom.
For example, Wang Jian, Marquis of Wucheng, was granted Wucheng as his fief.
"Fiefdom?" Ying Zheng stared at his ministers and said, "In the future, the Great Qin will have no fiefdom."
The Xianyang Palace shook violently!
Wang Wan, Feng Quji and others seemed to have aged ten years.
There is a dead look on Wei's face.
Wang Jian nodded at Meng Wu, feeling fortunate that he had been stopped by Meng Wu just now.
Wei Liao, the national commander, touched the rough table with his old hands and said in a voice that only he could hear: "I have seen your Majesty's character for a long time. You have a bee nose, long eyes, a bird chest, a jackal voice, little grace, and a heart of a tiger and wolf. Li Si is to your Majesty like Shang Yang to Qin Xiaogong."
The twenty-seven doctors who had just stood up were from various families and most of them had similar thoughts.
If we had not earned millions of dollars and heard that we could not divide it, we would be disheartened today.
Since Your Majesty has noticed this matter recently, we will just wait for it to pass.
A large number of Qin officials also cast their eyes towards the seat where the eldest prince Ying Fusu used to sit.
I am still young, not as old as the left and right prime ministers, so I can afford it.
If Your Majesty is unable to divide the fiefdoms, then you can wait for the eldest son to ascend the throne.
Everyone had different thoughts and ulterior motives, but the ministers had already anticipated this result and were not surprised.
Only Ying Chengjiao was very surprised, he was even a little confused.
No fiefdom?
What about "one country, two systems"?
What about the parallel system of counties and kingdoms?
What about the Enfeoffment Order?
Although the county system has argued against the feudal system, if you don't use the Legalist school to make a roundabout way, most people will still think that Li Si is your alias!
Wouldn't the ministers be dissatisfied with you?
How can the dissatisfied ministers help you to rule the world quickly?
Apart from Fusu, isn't the Qin Dynasty still following the old path?
No! My brother must have been too excited by what Dun Ruo said! I made a slip of the tongue and forgot all this. I have to make it up!
"I don't agree!"
While the First Emperor did not say the words "county system" in person, Ying Chengjiao jumped up and shouted loudly, attracting the attention of the entire audience.
What is this guy trying to do?
That's right! Your Majesty, go to the counties! This guy doesn't even have a fiefdom!
The ministers' eyes lit up.
Raise a glimmer of hope.
They just thought Ying Chengjiao was very hateful, but now they think he is very cute.
"Oh? You have another opinion?"
"I don't care whether others give me the fiefdom or not, I must have it anyway!"
The ministers: Is this what people say? This boy is not cute at all!
But they said so in their hearts, and there was still a glimmer of hope in their eyes.
As long as one person has a fiefdom, basically everyone has it.
Although most of them knew in their hearts that the First Emperor would definitely refuse in a stern manner - with the First Emperor's autocratic power, there was no reason for him to change his mind for Ying Chengjiao.
"Since you want a fief, I will give you Yongdi."
Yongdi...
This guy really can't make His Majesty change his decision.
The ministers sighed, they all thought Ying Zheng's words were a joke.
Yong was the location of the Qin State's ancestral temple and altar. Its status in the Qin State was even higher than that of Xianyang.
The place in the world that is least likely to be divided up is Yong.
Ying Chengjiao's expression froze, and as he looked at the half serious and half joking face of the First Emperor, he finally understood what the First Emperor was planning.
Brother, do you want to break the bet? No way, I want Zhao Xianglu to die of old age in Yongdi!
"Yong is where the tablets of our . It is the ancestral land of the Qin State. How dare I take it? Your Majesty, you are not sincere at all." Ying Chengjiao complained.
This guy has some self-awareness.
The ministers thought to themselves.
I knew it was like this.
A hint of disappointment flashed across the First Emperor's eyes.
"You need to be sincere. Okay, I will give you sincerity!"
The First Emperor's crown and robes fluttered without wind, and he shouted loudly, like a spring thunder!
The ministers' hearts beat faster and they all saluted the first emperor in history.
Although the final outcome was known, since the First Emperor had not made a final judgment, they always had a glimmer of hope - what if His Majesty chose the feudal system?
Ying Chengjiao stared at the First Emperor. He could still make jokes to stop the First Emperor, but it would be meaningless.
As long as the First Emperor made up his mind, he could achieve his goal by returning to the Zhangtai Palace to draft an imperial edict. Ying Chengjiao couldn't always follow the First Emperor.
Brother Emperor, you won't be so careless about national affairs, right?
"There are two ways of governing: feudal fiefdom and county system! Now you have decided that the county system is the winner. The Qin system is the county system!"
The verdict was announced.
A few are happy, while the majority are sad.
The ministers were filled with sorrow, and they forced themselves to be strong, saying against their will, "Your Majesty is wise.
Li Si was extremely excited and shouted loudly, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Dun Ruo stood proudly, his seven-foot body like a giant, and said with his hands behind his back: "This is a very good move."
Wang Wan, Feng Quji, and other high-ranking Qin officials tried to hide their disappointment, and placed their hopes on Ying Fusu, who had been ill for a long time, and said with renewed spirit: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Wei Zhuang's face turned pale, and his originally strong body suddenly became weak and powerless!
If it weren’t for Wang Wan and Feng Quji holding him up, Wei Zhuang would have fallen down in the hall!
In those days, Shang Yang and the old Qin nobles were fighting, and Duke Xiao of Qin chose Shang Yang. The old Qin nobles were defeated, and the blood of the old Qin nobles dyed the surging river red!
When Bai Qi and Fan Ju were competing with each other, King Zhaoxiang of Qin chose Fan Ju.
Bai Qi was defeated. The butcher who had never been defeated on the battlefield, Qin Wu'an Jun, who had fought for the Qin Dynasty all his life, committed suicide in Wu'an Jun's mansion with the Qin King's sword!
Now, Wei Zhuang and Li Si were competing with each other, and the First Emperor chose Li Si, and Wei Zhuang was defeated.
In the struggles that have been put on the table throughout the ages, the losers have only death to lose!
The Hu prime minister was almost out of breath, and he smiled sadly and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
No matter what all the ministers thought in their hearts, at this moment, they all verbally acknowledged the First Emperor.
But the First Emperor's gaze did not linger on any of his ministers. He only focused his eyes on Ying Chengjiao.
When the First Emperor saw his brother gritting his teeth and looking as if he wanted to beat him up, he felt relieved .
"You don't cooperate with me, and you want me to cooperate with you?" The First Emperor said in a normal voice.
However, because the platform was too high and the court was too noisy, the only people who could hear what the First Emperor said were Gai Nie and Zhao Gao.
Gai Nie tightened his grip on the sword.
Your Majesty is so impulsive that I really want to kill him with a sword and let this young master come up.
Zhao Gao turned his head and looked at Gai Nie.
This plague god seemed to want to draw his sword just now. Who did he want to kill?
Ying Chengjiao read what the First Emperor was saying through lip reading, and he became furious and filled with evil.
I worked so hard to come up with two foolproof plans for you, and you're just throwing a tantrum at me, eh?
Bang!
Ying Chengjiao angrily threw a table onto the nine steps of Danchi, shocking the ministers who were congratulating the First Emperor.
What's wrong with this guy?
"You are a fool, this is the land of the Duke!"
The ministers were dumbfounded.
This guy is really brave...
Gai Nie let go of the sword.
Your Majesty is better...
Zhao Gao glanced sideways in confusion.
Why didn't Chang'an Jun want to kill the plague god after he made trouble?
Does this plague god have some crazy disease that makes him want to kill people without even seeing them causing trouble?
I will ask the imperial physician later if there is any way to cure him. How can such a perverted person protect Your Majesty?
Don't go crazy and chop off His Majesty someday...
"Where is the official?" the First Emperor shouted angrily.
"I'm here!" Two officials guarding the corner of the hall came in with spears in hand.
"Kick this bastard out of Xianyang Palace!"
"only!"
The two officials walked towards Ying Chengjiao and stretched out their hands to grab Ying Chengjiao's arms.
"Get out of here! Naigong will leave on his own!"
Ying Chengjiao shook him off impatiently and strode out of the Xianyang Palace.
As he was about to leave the palace, he turned his head and glared at the First Emperor, saying, "I will definitely come back!"
The ministers made malicious speculations.
This guy has been so active in participating in court affairs recently. Could it be that he has no money to go to the tower, so he comes to attend the court meeting?
Plop~
Before the ministers could react.
The left prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, Wei Zhuang, knelt on the ground. This blue-eyed foreign prime minister prostrated himself and said, "I have dared to peek at the sacred artifact, and I will not complain even if I die! I beg Your Majesty to consider my humble achievements and spare the lives of my three clans!"
Wei Zhuang knew that he would die, and he only hoped to preserve his three clans and leave behind his bloodline.
Seeing the left prime minister, who was second only to the emperor and above everyone else in the Qin Dynasty, act in this way, all the officials felt as if they were the last one to die.
But no one spoke, no one dared to speak, unless they wanted to die with Wei Zhuang!
This is the price of breaking the window paper and tearing off the fig leaf.
The first bird to stick its head out gets shot!
If you lose, you die!
The First Emperor looked coldly at Wei Zhuang, this great contributor who made the Hu people afraid to cross the Great Wall for ten years and enabled the Qin Dynasty to pacify the six kingdoms without any worries, and who was promoted by him to the position of Left Prime Minister.
"Mr. Wei, I only have one question for you. As long as you tell the truth, I will grant your request no matter what you say."
Wei Zhuang originally thought that since he had committed such a heinous crime, the First Emperor would certainly exterminate his entire clan.
He was just trying his best to make this request, but he didn't hold out much hope. He didn't expect that the First Emperor would agree so easily.
It was definitely a pleasant surprise for him that he was the only one to die while all the lives of his family members were saved!
Wei looked like he was reborn, as if he had regained his heroic spirit on horseback! He answered loudly, fearing that the First Emperor would regret it, and said, "Your Majesty, if you ask anything, I will answer you truthfully. If it is not the truth, the gods and men will forsake me, and I will be punished by heaven and earth!"
"I ask you, which one is more suitable for the Qin Dynasty, the feudal system or the county system?"
Wei Zhuang did not expect that the First Emperor would ask this question. In order to protect his family, he instinctively wanted to please the First Emperor and answered the county system.
But looking at the serious look in the eyes of the First Emperor, thinking about the fact that the First Emperor had never broken his promise, and thinking about the solemn oath he had sworn himself.
"The feudal system! The county system created by Li Si is flawless, but it is nothing more than a theory on paper! Zhao Kuo of Zhao State, in terms of military strategy, defeated the famous general Lian Po but defeated the famous general Zhao She. In the actual battle of Changping, he was defeated by Wu Anjun in one blow and could not withstand a single blow. What is the difference between Zhao Kuo's military strategy and Li Si's county system! It is difficult to judge its effectiveness without putting it into practice!"
"Qin is a great country that has never existed in the history. If the vassal states dare to speak out, it can last at least a thousand years. Qin should seek stability and not seek novelties. The county system, without experience, may allow Qin to last for ten thousand years, or it may collapse in a dozen years. We, Qin, cannot afford to take the risk!"
"You really dare to tell the truth." The First Emperor sneered and shouted, "Li Si, come forward."
Li Si's heart was pounding and his dark face turned blood red.
He had a premonition that what he wanted was coming!
"I am here!"
"I now appoint you as the Left Prime Minister and temporarily take over the position of the Court Judge."
"only!"
There was a hint of tears in Li Si's "only".
After going through untold hardships and numerous twists and turns.
I, Li Si, finally got the position of Prime Minister that I had always dreamed of.
From today on, I am no longer Li Tingwei, but Li Si, the Left Prime Minister!
"Kuai Zhuang."
"I am here, your Highness!"
Wei Zhuang closed his eyes and bowed his head.
His left prime minister has left him, and his life will soon leave him!
Wang Wan closed his eyes, Feng Quji closed his eyes, Wang Jian closed his eyes, Wei Liao closed his eyes, and all the ministers closed their eyes...
Wei Zhuang died for the feudal system, or it can be said that he died for their common interests.
They couldn't bear to watch it.
I can't bear to see this Hu prime minister with his head and body separated and at the end of his rope.
"You are ignorant of the general situation, and your crime is unforgivable! You will be promoted to a higher rank, rewarded with 100 gold coins, 10 pieces of cloth, and removed from office to return home!"
Wei Zhuang suddenly looked up, his face filled with shock.
Can I live?
The ministers suddenly opened their eyes, their faces filled with shock.
Your Majesty not only did not kill the Left Prime Minister, but also promoted his title and granted him 100 gold and 10 pieces of cloth to let him return home?
"Don't you understand my order?" The First Emperor spoke unkindly.
But Wei Zhuang felt that the words of the First Emperor at this moment were even gentler than those of the fourteen-year-old concubine he had taken in two months ago!
"Your Majesty, you won't kill me?" Wei Zhuang said tremblingly.
He knew he shouldn't ask this question, but he couldn't help it, he really wanted to know why!
Political struggles throughout the ages!
Losers must die!
"You have done a lot for the Qin Dynasty. Why should I kill you? Is it because you do not follow my will and are different from what I think?"
Ying Zheng glanced at his ministers and said in a cold voice: "If the meritorious officials cannot escape unscathed, how can Ying Zheng stand in the world? Withdrew from the court!"
Wei Zhuang, the left prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, a Hu prime minister, did not cry when he fell off his horse at the age of eight, did not cry when his ribs were cut off in a battle with the foreign Hu people, and did not cry when he suffered countless contempts and discrimination in the Qin State. He was in tears.
"I respectfully send you off to Your Majesty!"
The sound is very loud.
"Your Majesty, I, Wang Wan, respectfully bid farewell to you!"
"Your Majesty, I, Feng Quji, respectfully send you off!"
"Your Majesty, I, Li Si, respectfully send you off!"
"Your Majesty, I, Wang Jian, respectfully bid farewell to you!"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I would like to send you off to you, Prince Ben!"
"Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off!"
"Your Majesty, I, Feng Jie, respectfully send you off!"
"Your Majesty, I, Yao Jia, respectfully send you off!"
“…”
This day was centered around the Xianyang Palace.
All the clouds within a radius of ten miles were dispersed by the shouts from the Xianyang Palace, and there was no cloud in the ten miles!
On this day, the First Emperor walked a long way from the Xianyang Palace, and he could still hear the words of farewell to His Majesty behind him!
On this day, all the eunuchs, palace maids, and palace attendants in the Xianyang Palace listened to the farewell ceremony to His Majesty for a full quarter of an hour!
Ying Chengjiao, who was hiding in a tree, waiting to go to the First Emperor to question him, rubbed his eyes.
"Damn, that's so impressive!"
Midnight, Zhangtai Palace.
"Your Majesty, I am here to see you in Chang'an."
"Get lost! I'm not here to see you. I'm here to question you!"
Ying Chengjiao pushed away Zhao Gao who was reporting respectfully and threw away the bamboo slips in the hands of the First Emperor.