Inside the carriage, the First Emperor turned his head, very surprised, and said to himself: "The land of Han is eight hundred miles?"
He could understand the urgency of sending a fast horse 800 miles to the northwest because there were the Huns.
He could understand the need for a fast horse to travel 800 miles to the northeast in an expedited manner, as there were Donghu there.
He could understand that even Qi, located on the coast of the East China Sea, was rushing to get there by horse speed of 800 miles, as the emperor was far away.
But the First Emperor could not understand the land of Han.
Starting from Xianyang and going east through Hangu Pass, it would take less than a day to reach Han, which is faster than going to Shangjun.
What urgent matter could there be in Han that would require an 800-mile express horse to rush there? Would the Han people dare to rebel?
This thought flashed through the First Emperor's mind, but it was not yet complete.
He saw his brother suddenly stand up, his face full of joy, and pull open the curtain of the carriage.
"Come in!"
It seems that all matters in Han have been settled. It's hard for Uncle Lu.
Ying Chengjiao thought.
It turns out that it is related to this bastard. What did this bastard do under my nose?
If he wasn't promoting equality and democracy, and sent troops to kill all the local gentry, that would be difficult...
The First Emperor put down his pen on the desk and rubbed his temples with his hands. The slight sense of comfort eased his inner anxiety.
When the messenger outside saw that it was Ying Chengjiao who came out, his expression changed drastically and he was filled with inexplicable fear.
Ying Chengjiao was not surprised.
The news of his gambling with Zhang Liang must have spread throughout the aristocratic families in Han.
Until the matter is resolved, the entire Han area will be ruled by those aristocratic families and no secrets will be leaked.
But after the dust settled, it would be better to rely on Squid Riwan than to rely on those corrupt Korean nobles to conceal his identity for him.
Given the chaos in Han, it was understandable that the envoy was terrified of the culprit.
"Let's go back to Zhangtai first." The voice of the First Emperor came from the carriage.
No matter how urgent the matter is, a little time won't hurt.
"only."
"only."
“…”
The accompanying charioteers, eunuchs and palace maids should drink.
Ying Chengjiao got back into the carriage, the official escorted the messenger, and everyone returned to Zhangtai Palace.
After changing out of all his wax-sacrifice attire, the First Emperor put on his usual black Xuanniao crown.
After looking at himself in the bronze mirror, the First Emperor nodded with satisfaction. This greatest emperor in history did not like the suit for offering sacrifices to heaven.
"What did you do in Korea?"
Let you know what a peasant uprising is and the importance of public opinion.
Ying Chengjiao was dressed in white, standing beside the First Emperor, smiling without saying a word.
He didn't need to change his clothes, his sacrificial suit fell on Tian's face.
"I hope it's good news." The First Emperor sat down at the table, bent his legs and knelt on the ground, "Ask him to come in."
"only."
Gai Nie responded and brought the envoy who had returned from Han inside.
As soon as the envoy entered Zhangtai Palace, he looked somewhat uneasy and glanced at Ying Chengjiao from time to time.
Now Ying Chengjiao is definitely a powerful figure in the Qin State.
The Prime Minister and the Commandant of the State, the highest civil and military positions in the Qin Dynasty, were all held by one person. This was unprecedented in the Qin State and had a great impact on the middle and lower-level officials of the Qin Dynasty.
If a pig were placed in the position of prime minister or lieutenant general, he would be the Marshal of the Heavenly Peng in the eyes of middle and lower-level officials.
The envoy really wanted to ask if Chang'an Jun could step aside, but he didn't dare.
What is his identity?
Dare to let the Prime Minister and the State Commandant step aside.
Giving up the idea of ​​telling the story to the First Emperor in person, the messenger lowered his head deeply and handed the sweat-stained bamboo slips to Gai Nie.
That was the sweat on his hands caused by fear. He rubbed the water stains on the bamboo slips with his clothes before entering the palace. But within just a few breaths of entering the palace, his hands were sweating again.
I also considered the situation. It seems that the matter is not too serious and the dinner should not be delayed.
The First Emperor looked at the messenger's awkward and panicked expression and made a judgment.
The 800-li express delivery can be serious or not. For example, if the Huns invaded from the northwest, the messenger delivering the message would be extremely anxious.
As soon as he met the First Emperor, he told him everything like pouring out beans from a bamboo tube. There was no way the envoy from Han would have the time to weigh the pros and cons.
Feeling a little relieved, the First Emperor unfolded the bamboo slips and took a closer look. The first three big characters made his pupils shrink suddenly.
That was the person he hated to the core and wanted to kill as soon as possible - Lu Buwei.
[Lü Buwei appeared in Yiyang and became a disciple of Lord Chang'an. He caused riots in all cities except Xinzheng, such as Yiyang, Shangdang, etc.]
Crash~
Before he finished reading, the First Emperor closed the bamboo slips, raised his eyes and scanned the entire audience, making everyone dare not look at him.
The gaze of a feudal emperor who is full of murderous intent and holds the power of life and death is something that most people cannot bear, and most of those who bear it are dead.
"Everyone get out!" the First Emperor gave a decisive order.
"only."
"only."
"only."
“…”
Only Gai Nie did not respond, there was no need.
Based on his experience, the word "Du" in Qin Shi Huangdi generally does not include him.
But today Gai Nie is not anxious, as he has enough time to get some fresh air.
The messenger did not respond.
He came to report on the affairs of the Han territory. When the First Emperor saw such a major event, it would be natural for him to ask him for details later.
"Except Cheng Jiao, everyone go out." The First Emperor said coldly.
"only."
Gai Nie responded and walked out of Zhangtai quickly with light steps.
Although he had been outside for quite a while today, for Gai Nie, the more time he had to spend outside, the better.
"only."
The envoy was shocked and wondered why the First Emperor still trusted Ying Chengjiao so much after reading the bamboo slips.
He lowered his head and responded in a low voice, feeling fortunate that no one had said as soon as he entered the door that Ying Chengjiao was going to rebel, and he pretended to know nothing and left the Zhangtai.
The palace was filled with silence.
Ying Chengjiao didn't know that the First Emperor had such a big reaction because of the three words "Lü Buwei", and thought that he did so after seeing the recent situation in Han.
He came closer and asked, "Did you scare my brother?"
The First Emperor was serious and stared at Ying Chengjiao coldly, his eyes full of murderous intent.
"When did I ever let you have the illusion that I have a good temper!"
The First Emperor stood up suddenly, grabbed the bamboo slips in his hand, and threw them at Ying Chengjiao with all his strength.
Ying Chengjiao grabbed it and was somewhat surprised why the First Emperor was so angry.
Although what happened in Korea was serious and many people died.
But in the eyes of his elder brother, the emperor who had conquered the world and fought against the six kingdoms, this matter was not much different from a minor incident.
Could it be that my royal brother has keenly discovered the importance of peasant uprisings and the people's hearts and minds without my reminder?
Just as Ying Chengjiao was about to open the bamboo slips in his hand, the First Emperor was already approaching him step by step.
"Tell me." The Emperor's murderous intent was so fierce that it was even more chilling than the cold wind in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. "Why didn't Lü Buwei die?"
Ying Chengjiao’s smile froze.
The First Emperor snatched the bamboo slips from Ying Chengjiao's hand, shook them off with one hand, and pointed at the three big words "Lü Buwei" at the front with his other hand.
"Why isn't he dead yet!" The First Emperor growled like the roar of an angry dragon.
"Royal brother..."
Ying Chengjiao opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the First Emperor's angry voice.
"When Qin and Zhao were at odds, why did the King of Zhao want to kill my father? Lü Buwei bribed the gatekeeper of Handan City and helped my father escape from Handan. Can a carriage only hold one person? Can't it hold a child and a woman?
"Lü Buwei advised my father to abandon me and my mother in the enemy country. This is a grudge. When I succeeded to the throne of King Qin, Lü Buwei controlled the court. All military and political affairs were decided by him. The tiger talisman and the seal were in his hands.
"He has reviewed the memorials sent to my room. Why should I review them after he has reviewed them? I have to get his consent before I can change my reply. I am not the King of Qin. I am just a puppet in his hands. This is my second grudge.
"In the Qinian Palace, Lü Buwei openly rebelled and wanted to kill me. This is my third vengeance. I don't care if you subdue Jing Ke. A warrior is so angry that he would hit the ground with his head. But how dare you spare Lü Buwei's life? The "Lüshi Chunqiu" he compiled almost ruined the Qin Dynasty!"
The First Emperor explained the reasons for killing Lü Buwei from the perspectives of personal vengeance and national hatred to prove his inner determination and let his brother know that Lü Buwei must die.
Ying Chengjiao raised his head, looked into Ying Zheng's angry eyes, and said sternly: "My royal brother thinks that the Legalists are the best way to govern Qin, but Chengjiao thinks that the current Lüshi Chunqiu is the best way to govern Qin."
The Legalist philosophy of governing a country is to rule by law, with everything decided by the law and no human feelings involved.
The people are regarded as machines that only serve the imperial power, and the emperor has the highest right of interpretation.
The laws of the Qin Dynasty and modern laws cannot be generalized.
The Legalist doctrine is a purely utilitarian materialist ideological system. Its core content is mainly to discuss and debate how the monarch can strengthen his rule, emphasizing the art of criminal law and relying on the power of loyalty to the monarch.
The current version of "Lüshi Chunqiu" has been revised and improved by Ying Chengjiao, Lü Buwei and many of his followers.
Although the country is still governed by law in general, its core is very different.
"I don't have time to discuss this with you today." The First Emperor was still furious. "Speak with facts, Lu Buwei..."
"Brother, did you not look back?" Ying Chengjiao picked up the bamboo slips and said, "I have proved it."
Ying Chengjiao knew what the First Emperor's attitude was towards Lu Buwei, and knew that it would be difficult to reach a reconciliation with the First Emperor immediately regarding Lu Buwei.
He deliberately interrupted the First Emperor and pointed to the words on the bamboo slips and read them to him.
"...the noble families in Han hoarded grain and refused to sell it. Grain prices skyrocketed a hundredfold. The common people in major cities rioted. All the noble families were defeated by the common people. There are no noble families left in Han."
The First Emperor, who was filled with rage, narrowed his eyes when he was struck by the word "Qian Shou" that Ying Chengjiao pointed at. Reason returned to his mind from his strong murderous intent to kill Lu Buwei as soon as possible.
How could the common people do such a thing?
The First Emperor only found the second half of the memorial shocking.
Walking back to the desk with a gloomy face, the First Emperor spread out the bamboo slips and read those few lines of words over and over again.
This look and this reaction made Ying Chengjiao, who wanted to immediately explain to the First Emperor what impact the peasant uprising would cause, what phenomena it would cause, and how important public opinion was, shut up in time.
My brother, what you see yourself is much better than what I can explain.
When he walked to the opposite side of the First Emperor's desk, he saw Ying Chengjiao sitting on a cushion, which was rare.
There was a thoughtful look in the eyes of the First Emperor. His murderous intent did not dissipate, but was temporarily pushed back by more important matters.
After a while, the First Emperor asked Ying Chengjiao.
"Is this your proof?"
"Yes." Ying Chengjiao answered quickly, "Is my brother frightened?"
"Some." Although the First Emperor was reluctant, he nodded slightly with a cold face and said, "You make me more determined to rule the country by the Legalists. The people cannot be left to their own devices."
"What if we send Youzhi?" Ying Chengjiao said, "Hasn't peace returned to Han now? Those hereditary nobles will interfere with local governance.
"This is the main reason why the Qin Dynasty cannot digest the country. Without them, my brother only needs to send troops to Han and he will soon be able to take over Han and participate in the Thirteen-Number Plan next year."
The First Emperor sneered and said with disdain: "This is a good thing, but it is the only good thing."
The First Emperor tapped the bamboo slips with his fingers, his face looking very unhappy, and said: "I am now convinced that you did not act on impulse, but had planned it long ago. You did this in Han without my knowledge, and overthrew the local nobles with the people. Have you ever thought about what consequences this matter would cause if it were to be spread out?"
The first peasant uprising in history...
"Of course I have thought about it." Ying Chengjiao smiled faintly and said, "I just didn't expect that my brother would also think of it."
" Zhao, Wei, and Han divided Jin, and the ministers killed their masters, breaking the order of the emperor, princes, and ministers. Since then, the Zhou emperor has completely declined. My father destroyed the princes of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and then he could sit back and watch without any worries, which eventually led to my Ying family taking over the world.
"Now you have led the people to riot, killed the Han nobles, and overthrew the nobles and commoners . Once this matter gets out, the people of the world will lose their awe of the nobles. If this continues, the world will be in chaos. Is this what you want to see?"
"That's right." Ying Chengjiao narrowed his eyes, with a sharp look in his eyes.
"I want to defeat the nobles. The first step is to make the common people lose their fear of them. Nobles are also human beings, and they will die if they are stabbed by a sword. If I say that you and the nobles are equal, it will be useless. We must make them oppose the nobles and let them defeat the nobles."
The First Emperor said coldly, "But they will become the new nobility. The equality you envision does not exist at all. As long as there are people, there will be gaps. Mozi had the same idea as you back then, and the Mohist school he founded fell apart after his death."
"No, they will not become the new nobles." Ying Chengjiao said decisively.
"You have observed people's hearts and nature for ten years. How can you have such naive ideas?"
Could it be that everything this young man said in his sacrifice to heaven was based on human nature? It was ridiculous!
At the beginning, the First Emperor did not understand why Ying Chengjiao had the idea of ​​eliminating all the nobles, but he supported him because of his trust in Ying Chengjiao.
But he didn't expect Ying Chengjiao to act so quickly. Before the wax festival was over, all the nobles in Han were killed.
"What is an aristocrat? They are literate, can read, and are reasonable. If they have a conflict with commoners, they only need to pay money to settle the dispute. They can serve as officials in the court and wear clothes that commoners cannot wear."
Ying Chengjiao pointed at himself with his index finger, expressionless.
"And what I want to do is to make sure that everyone in the world can be literate, read, and understand reason, so that they can all serve as officials. However, if they break the law, they will be treated equally, and there will be no restrictions on clothing and carriages. If this is aristocracy, then everyone in the world is aristocracy."
"ha?"
The First Emperor laughed.
In addition to literacy, reading, and understanding, isn't this the Qin State of today? This guy has been going around for a long time and still wants to enlighten the people.
"If that's what you think, then there's no need to go through so much trouble. Just block the news from Han and implement Qin's laws throughout the country."
Implement this version of Qin Law? Forget it, I don’t want the world to become completely militaristic…
"It's too late. I left eight words in Korea."
What’s in these eight words?
The First Emperor sneered.
Ying Chengjiao picked up the brush on the table and wrote eight words on the bamboo slips stroke by stroke.
【Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different races?】
The First Emperor sat up in shock, overturned the table, and pointed at Ying Chengjiao with a look of horror.
"You, you, you bastard, you..."
I couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.