Chapter 251 Even Your Majesty can’t stop it!
"As far as the nobles in the world are concerned, I am not that arrogant." The First Emperor said softly.
Wang Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Both publicly and privately, he did not want to see the day when rebellion arose in various parts of Qin and the government's policies became difficult to implement.
"Get up and do what you should do." The First Emperor took the lead and walked down the stairs.
"only."
Wang Wan supported himself on the ground with his hands and stood up. He wiped the sweat beads from the wrinkles on his forehead at a height of three meters, and followed the First Emperor down.
Below the high platform, Gai Nie and Zhao Gao were on full alert, waiting for the First Emperor and Wang Wan.
The First Emperor looked at the platform and said to Gai Nie, "You can even cut cement with one sword, so I think this stone will be no problem for you. Let's destroy it now."
After saying that, he stretched out his hand, indicating that Gai Nie could start now.
Gai Nie had no expression on his face, but the silence in his eyes was evident as he said, "I am incompetent."
Although this platform is built with inferior stones and is not that hard, the diameter of the stone platform is five or six meters and the thickness is extremely high.
Although Gai Nie was a skilled martial artist and swordsman, and could cut a concrete slab with one sword, he could not cut a solid column made of inferior stone with a diameter of five or six meters.
"Why? Is it because you are not full?" The First Emperor glanced at Gai Nie and Zhao Gao.
"That has nothing to do with it."
Gai Nie replied without emotion, staring at the First Emperor with indifference, thinking that whether he was full or not, he could not cut down the platform with one sword.
Zhao Gao immediately lowered his head and said in a trembling voice: "I am guilty."
"It's just a joke, what's the crime?" The First Emperor glanced at Gai Nie who was standing proudly, and said, "Remember to wipe the oil stains off the corners of your mouth next time."
"only."
The old prime minister was a few steps behind the First Emperor, but he took in the words, expressions, and movements of the three people, and lowered his head slightly to hide the emotions in his eyes.
What exactly happened in the rebellion back then? Why did Your Majesty tolerate the rebel Lu Buwei to live? Was it just because of Chang'an Jun?
Your Majesty is so kind to Gai Nie, is it because Gai Nie was originally a retainer of Chang'an Jun?
I didn't know why Chang'an Jun made such wild remarks at the wax festival before, but if everything was instructed by Your Majesty, then it would work.
Your Majesty wants to use Chang'an Jun to test the bottom line of the nobles and centralize power again. It is reasonable for you to criticize me with words today.
Whatever, my children and grandchildren are free and blessed, why should I worry about it...
The old prime minister shook his head inwardly, and after he calmed down, the smile on his face became much more natural.
"Zhao Gao, I don't want to see this platform again tomorrow." The First Emperor patted the stone pillar and said.
"only."
Zhao Gao responded respectfully.
After looking up at the sky, the First Emperor turned around and went back.
God, I can’t die yet.
Gai Nie, Zhao Gao, and Wang Wan were all half a step slower than the First Emperor, and followed him at the same pace.
"I'm hungry. Tell the kitchen to prepare food." The First Emperor walked with big strides.
After taking two steps, no one responded.
Zhao Gao, who had been following behind, looked at Gai Nie gratefully and replied respectfully, "Yes."
This plague god could do some good things. He knew that Gao had been away for quite some time, so he gave Gao a chance to serve him. The roast pigeon, sake, and venison were not given in vain.
Gai Nie touched his full stomach, listened to Zhao Gao's response, and received Zhao Gao's grateful gaze, feeling very satisfied.
It’s great to have Zhao Gao, the bootlicker, back. Nie doesn’t have to do anything.
As long as His Majesty does not mention Nie by name, he will not respond and will leave everything to Zhao Gao. He still has to thank Nie.
One day later.
Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Please have a look, Prime Minister."
In the face of Wang Wan's astonishment, Li Si handed over the latest imperial edict issued by the First Emperor.
Although Lu Buwei was once Li Si's master, Li Si was not one to be inferior to others. How could he be conquered by Lu Buwei so quickly?
Most of the imperial edicts written by the First Emperor had to be sent to the world through the Prime Minister's Office. Before issuing them, the Prime Minister's Office would check whether there were any problems with the imperial edicts.
In the past, the Prime Minister's Mansion was called the Prime Minister's Mansion. Li Si and Wang Wan were the highest-ranking officials, so this job was given to Li Si and Wang Wan.
Now it is renamed as Xiangbang Mansion, and Lu Buwei is the most important one, so the task has been transferred to Lu Buwei.
Lu Buwei didn't even glance at the bamboo slips. He lowered his head with bloodshot eyes and carefully searched the list of Qin officials for officials who could be sent to serve in Han.
There are dozens of cities in the vast country of Korea, and one city needs three senior officials, which means a total of about a hundred senior officials are needed.
Lu Buwei, who had not attended court for ten years, only knew the top officials of the Qin Dynasty and knew almost nothing about those who could not attend the court.
So he had to look through the thick list one by one, screening based on the officials' resumes and political achievements.
Finding suitable candidates for officials in Han was a huge project for Lu Buwei, who was no longer young both physically and mentally.
Feeling guilty about Han, Lu Buwei did not sleep yesterday and stayed up all night in the Prime Minister's Mansion. He has not yet finished his search.
Hearing Li Si's words, he buried his head and said tiredly: "Didn't I say yesterday that it is beyond my ability to check for omissions and make up for deficiencies? All memorials and imperial decrees are still decided by you two."
Ten years ago, Lu Buwei, who was the prime minister but actually acted as regent, did not obey anyone except Ying Chengjiao.
He didn't like to follow others, even if that person was the First Emperor, because he and the First Emperor had different paths.
If he were to be in charge of tasks such as preparing memorials and reading imperial edicts, Lu Buwei, a malnourished scholar who sneered at the harshness of the Legalists, estimated that he would probably be dissatisfied with everything.
If you don't like something and can't change it, you might as well not look at it. Out of sight, out of mind.
Besides, he had not been to court for ten years, and Lu Buwei himself knew that he was unfamiliar with everything.
He has a hard time even selecting and appointing officials in Korea, so he doesn't have the ability to take charge of everything.
Wang Wan's face looked much better after hearing this.
Regardless of what Lu Buwei's intentions were, the result of his actions was to give up power, which showed that he had no intention of using Li Si and Wang Wan as prime ministers for show.
This was definitely a goodwill signal to Wang Wan, considering that Li Si had already defected to him.
Because as long as Lu Buwei was willing and with Li Si's cooperation, the Prime Minister's Office could theoretically be completely independent of Wang Wan's operation.
"I am sorry for offending you yesterday. I hope Prime Minister Jiang will not blame me." Wang Wan took the initiative to apologize and responded with goodwill.
In the midst of his busy schedule, Lu Buwei raised his head and exchanged a few words with Wang Wan with a smile. The ice that was originally faintly visible in the back hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion melted away without a trace.
Lu Buwei, who was eager to send an official, pointed at the bamboo slips under him and ended this high-level conversation.
"I'll do the work first."
"Prime Minister, please take care of yourself." Wang Wan said immediately.
Lu Buwei continued to delve deeper into the matter.
Li Si took the bamboo slips to Wang Wan, and the two of them checked the imperial edict issued by the First Emperor together. They talked in a low voice for a few words, and both agreed that the edict could be issued.
Both prime ministers were efficient men, and they immediately sent the contents of the latest imperial edict issued by the First Emperor to the world.
【Anyone who talks about simplified characters will be killed, anyone who teaches others knowledge will be killed, and anyone who writes non-simplified characters will be killed.】
Lu Buwei, who exercised the power of prime minister on behalf of Ying Chengjiao, had been in the prime minister's mansion from beginning to end, but did not see the imperial edict.
If he saw it, he would definitely stop it.
Cutting off the way people can speak freely and punishing people for their words is absolutely not feasible in the future development of him and Ying Chengjiao.
…
Xianyang Prison.
A luxurious single cell prison.
Bao Bailingzhi stood respectfully in front of Gan Luo, who was playing with a cheap glass bead in his hand, and reported the situation outside carefully.
"Every day, dozens of memorials impeaching Chang'an Jun and the Left Prime Minister are sent to the Prime Minister's Office. Our people have witnessed with their own eyes that the Prime Minister's Office has submitted all the memorials. All the submitted memorials have not been returned, and Your Majesty has kept them all. I don't know why."
Gan Luo was lying on his back. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "I don't know what this means? Do you not know or do you not want to know? It's clear that His Majesty is not on our side."
Sitting up, he supported his chin with his left hand, raised his right palm flat in front of his eyes, and stared at the glass bead in the palm of his hand.
"Bao Bailingzhi, is this bead good?"
Bao Bailingzhi walked forward flatteringly, put his face less than a foot away from the bead, and looked at it carefully.
He said, "Although the color of this pearl is not pure, it is difficult to make glass into a pearl shape. And since you are so noble, I am willing to pay twenty gold to buy this pearl."
Gan Luo nodded with satisfaction, closed his hands, put away the beads, and casually threw them to Bao Bailingzhi.
Bao Bailing's face showed surprise. He took it in his palm and rubbed it again and again. He put the inferior glass bead in his arms as if it were a treasure handed down from generation to generation.
"Thank you, sir."
"Your Majesty is so generous." Gan Luo stretched his body, pinched his chin, and crossed his legs as he analyzed, "Your Majesty doesn't know what Ying Chengjiao is going to do. He probably regards Ying Chengjiao as the second Shang Yang and wants to centralize power for the second time. I'm quite curious about your Majesty's expression when he knew that Ying Chengjiao still wanted to limit the monarch's power. What a pity."
More than ten years ago, Ying Chengjiao finally told him that kings can also make mistakes and cannot unite all the people in the world in one person.
No family can produce a sage ruler from generation to generation, so the power of the ruler must be limited.
"If Ying Chengjiao were to go so far as to restrict the power of the monarch, then the tree on my grave would be so tall that no one could hug it, right?"
Gan Luo smacked his lips, feeling a little regretful.
Bao Bailing's face beside him was pale, which was different from the fake smile he had just put on; this time it was a genuine smile.
How dare Chang'an Jun restrict the monarch's power? How can I listen?
"What? Are you scared? You can tell His Majesty directly." Gan Luo raised his eyes, looked at Bao Bailing's face, and said with interest: "When the time comes to overthrow Ying Chengjiao, you will be the first meritorious official. Since Wei Yang established the twenty ranks of military merit, no one has ever been awarded the twentieth rank, Chehou.
"Your Majesty has been on the throne for more than ten years, and this dynasty has conferred titles on two people, which shows that Your Majesty is not stingy with rewards. Your Majesty also said in the court that all meritorious officials should be able to leave unscathed. Perhaps, you are the third Chehou."
Gan Luo's words were so attractive that Bao Bailingzhi's breathing became rapid and he could hardly control himself.
No one could refuse Chehou, the highest title among Qin officials.
Bao Bailingzhi took a few heavy breaths, then stroked his chest and said with a bitter smile: "Lingzhi didn't hear anything."
Gan Luo smiled contemptuously.
"You are a coward."
Bao Bailing pretended not to hear anything.
There was only one reason that made him escape from Che Hou's temptation.
If he could become Marquis Che, why didn't Gan Luo report it?
Bao Bailingzhi doesn't have much talent, but he is definitely not a fool.
When Gan Luo saw that Bao Bailingzhi stopped talking, a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, and asked nonchalantly, "How did you get in?"
Bao Bailingzhi was a little stunned.
We have people here too. They came in as soon as I told them to. Has your Excellency forgotten that we have people working here?
He then carefully recounted the process of entering Xianyang Prison.
He found an insider, got the key, went to Xianyang Prison, and opened the door.
After finishing his speech, Bao Bailingzhi felt that what he said was all nonsense.
“It went very smoothly.”
After listening to this, Gan Luo frowned and talked to himself.
"Given my elder brother's style of beating snakes to death, how could I let you in so easily?"
Xianyang Prison was a prison for important criminals, and no one was allowed to visit or enter or leave without permission.
"I don't know." Bao Bailingzhi answered honestly.
Is Shang Qing having some crazy thoughts...
He felt that being able to go in and out of Xianyang Prison was nothing, and it was not the first time he had done such a thing.
"I didn't ask you." Gan Luo said impatiently, "I know you know nothing."
Bao Bailingzhi stood there sincerely, not daring to say a word.
The scene fell into silence for a moment.
Gan Luo didn't say anything, but was thinking while holding a piece of hay in his mouth.
Bao Bailingzhi didn't dare to speak and waited for Shangqing to finish thinking.
After half a cup of tea, Gan Luo suddenly asked, "When will I die?"
This sentence scared Bao Bailingzhi so much. The head of the Doctoral Office had never thought that Gan Luo, who led the family, would die.
With his tongue tied, he said: "Shang, Shang, Shang Qing will not die."
From Bao Bailingzhi's words, Gan Luo knew that his case, which had solid evidence and all the witnesses and physical evidence, had never entered the trial stage.
As long as he doesn't enter the trial stage, he won't die.
Brother, if you don't want to kill me, why did you arrest me? What tricks are you thinking?
Gan Luo's face was gloomy. For the first time, he couldn't figure out what his childhood brother was up to.
He thought that he was being captured and beheaded, and that killing him would make the aristocratic family leaderless and serve as a warning to others.
But for now, it seems that his life safety is greatly guaranteed.
If a Qin official of his rank died, Bao Bailingzhi, as a doctor, would definitely hear the news, unless the First Emperor sent someone to assassinate him.
Before Gan Luo was imprisoned in Xianyang, he was informed by the Right Supervisor of the Supreme Court and made many plans for himself, preparing to be released during the trial.
However, Li Si, who was in charge of the Supreme Court, delayed hearing the case, so all his plans could not be carried out.
Before entering the Xianyang Prison, he thought he would be able to get out soon and immediately negotiate with Ying Chengjiao during the trial stage.
If he knew that Ying Chengjiao would leave him alone after putting him in Xianyang Prison, he would definitely not enter so calmly.
"It's time for someone in the tower to die."
Gan Luo's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
“I don’t know.”
Bao Bailingzhi shook his head.
Gan Luo stood up, kicked Bao Bailing on the leg, and said in disgust: "Get lost!"
Bao Bailingzhi endured the severe pain in his legs, bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, and backed away from the Xianyang prison.
"return."
Hearing Gan Luo's call, Bao Bailingzhi, who had walked to the prison gate, turned around and limped back to Gan Luo.
"The Lord has other instructions."
Brother, you are kind and righteous, but I am not.
You are doing so well now that I am confused, so don't blame me for making it difficult for you to maintain your position.
Not only will I kill people in the building, but I will also make you the target of public criticism, and even Your Majesty can't stop me!
A fierce look flashed in Gan Luo's eyes. He roughly tore open Bao Bailing's clothes and took out a glass bead from it.
