Chapter 492: How dare Your Majesty humiliate us like this?
Ying Zheng obviously did not expect his eldest son to ask this question, and he was lost in thought for a long time holding the empty teacup.
If his eldest son hadn't asked him, he would never have thought about this question.
He was the one who made his brother king, but his brother's words at the wax sacrifice and his behavior these days were not what he wanted. That boy didn't seem to have changed after becoming king, he was still so naive.
On the day of the wax festival, if the immortal Guiguzi had not stopped him, he would have really lived a second life.
Regret or not regret.
Just a two-word answer made this great emperor frown, even more conflicted than the night he let Wang Jian lead an army of 600,000 to attack Chu.
Finally, he sighed inwardly.
What can he see in just over a month? He needs to watch for a while before he can give an answer.
The first month of Shang Yang's reforms caused unrest among the nobles of Qin. If Qin Xiaogong had stopped the reforms because of the temporary chaos, how could the Qin Empire exist today?
Time will give all the answers, just wait and see!
“It’s too early to say this now.
"I have to wait at least two years before I know for sure. I won't regret it, but..."
Ying Zheng felt a little disappointed and smiled bitterly in front of his eldest son for the first time.
The Crown Prince of Daqin did not feel that his father had fallen from the altar and lost his dignity. He only felt that his father was closer to him.
He slowed down his tone, hoping to calm his father down, and said softly:
"Just what?"
"But judging from what your uncle has done so far, he will not be the second emperor of Qin for more than two years, and you will be the third emperor of Qin."
Ying Fusu took the teacup from his father's hand and placed it on the table.
"Fusu thought so too.
"My uncle has acted perversely and has been inhumane, causing widespread dissatisfaction in Xianyang. The number of letters of surrender my son has received is more than the heavy snow in Yongcheng.
"That's why Fusu thought that my father's appearance at this time was what the people wanted and what my uncle wanted. My father is willing to govern but my uncle is not willing to govern. Why should we do what we don't want and hate each other?"
Ying Fusu returned secretly this time to see his father and invited his uncle to go to Yongcheng together, but his uncle refused.
His uncle told him that he could meet his nephew, but he didn't want to meet his son-in-law, since he didn't know him. Who was Ying Zheng?
If it weren't for this trip, Ying Fusu would not have known that the two brothers had such a conflict that they no longer wanted to see each other.
"So you are still young, just like a newly grown vegetable sprout, you only know that the soil contains nutrients, but you don't know that there is more power in it. What is the temperature of this room?"
Ying Fusu, who was only wearing a single shirt, pointed at the fur coat that he had taken off long ago and dropped to the ground.
“That’s enough to explain it.”
Ying Zheng felt deeply distressed.
"In the past, only the Xianyang Palace, Chang'an Junfu, Mengfu and other wealthy families could enjoy such warmth in winter, not afraid of the cold wind, drinking and watching the snow. When your uncle was in power, all the counties in Guanzhong were protected from the north wind overnight.
"Last year he only distributed it in Xianyang, and told me that there were not many honeycomb coals left, not enough for military use, and difficult to store. I thought that was the case, so I agreed to his request, and he distributed it to the people door to door.
"But now you can see that there are so many of these things, almost endless. How can they not be used for military purposes? Did you know that those Mohist disciples have already developed flying objects that can be powered by flames?"
Some of the excited words stopped, like a raging flood encountering a dam built with Jiutian Xirang.
"Father?"
Ying Fusu didn't know why his father hesitated to speak.
"I cannot tell you this. You are not the king yet."
Ying Zheng struggled for a moment, then said calmly:
"Just remember that the spread of honeycomb coal in Guanzhong is the wish of your uncle alone. If it were still your father or the emperor, this would never happen.
"Just wait and see. The Qin State will not be at peace until you take the throne. Your uncle has a lot to do, so much that the world will be dazzled and overwhelmed."
Is there anything in Qin State that I, the crown prince, cannot know?
Ying Fusu was still immersed in the surprise of being concealed.
Since he went to the northwest, the First Emperor would give him all the sealed bamboo slips of the Qin Empire as long as he asked for them.
In terms of his right to know, he was infinitely equal to the First Emperor. As the Crown Prince of the Qin Dynasty, he was the most powerful crown prince in all the Qin dynasties.
He thought that the Qin State had long been like the naked beauty in the tower, and had no defense against him at all.
Only today did he realize that the beauty still had some reservations.
"Fusu thinks otherwise."
The prince did not ask any further questions. He knew that since his father had said that he could not be told, he would definitely not tell it. He suppressed the strange thoughts in his mind and shook his head.
"If my uncle really wanted to become powerful, he wouldn't have asked me to go south. My father may not know that Fusu's trip was instructed by my uncle to prove his narrow-minded reputation."
Ying Zheng was not angry because his son shook his head. Instead, he was pleased that Ying Fusu could think independently and have firm beliefs.
A qualified king may not have top intelligence, because he has countless capable ministers to provide him with advice.
However, you must have your own opinions and strong judgment.
Among the countless paths given by the ministers, he was able to find the one that was most suitable for the growth of the Qin Empire.
"In the past, Prime Minister Zhang Yi was very powerful. He proposed to replace Zhou in the court and command the world in the name of the kingly way. Sima Cuo, who was unknown, proposed to conquer Bashu and occupy the land of abundance with countless food and grass. Most of the court officials agreed with Zhang Yi's view, and few supported Sima Cuo.
"However, King Huixian was not blinded by Zhang Yi's fame and achievements. He knew that a strong country was the only way to achieve success. Zhou had the title of Son of Heaven, but did the princes really respect him as the Son of Heaven? If Qin replaced Zhou, the best result would be that it would only have a false title.
"In the past, you were easily influenced by others. You believed whatever others said and didn't think about the matter itself. I was always worried that you would be manipulated by those ruthless officials. Now, I am not worried anymore. Only by thinking hard and thinking more can you make fewer mistakes.
"Your judgment of your uncle is based on what you know. It's not surprising that you have such thoughts. It's the same for your father. There are some things that your father cannot tell you. Although no one informed me of your trip, I knew you would have this experience when your uncle didn't want you to return."
Ying Fusu sat upright and said sincerely:
"What I said was the result of discussions with Han Zi and other ministers, not just my own thoughts. I really don't know where I am wrong. Please enlighten me, father, and tell me what you can say."
"Although Han Fei is a royal family, it is difficult for a small country to have a big heart. This is a problem of the Korean royal family, not his own fault. Please talk to your father first. What do you think your uncle's intention is for not wanting you to attend the funeral?"
"Although my uncle's succession to the throne is perfectly legitimate, my father's cause of death was too strange, and with Fusu, the crown prince, still alive, some people will have doubts no matter what. In the eyes of others, my uncle didn't want me to return to the capital for the funeral because he was afraid that I would use this as an excuse to lead the northwest army south and seize the throne. The letter written by Han Zitao that spread throughout Xianyang is the best proof that what we think is correct. My uncle did it on purpose to establish a good reputation for me. I said that I came back alone, but my uncle, as the emperor, still refused. I can't escape the words of timidity and narrow-mindedness. My uncle still wants me..."
Ying Zheng spoke softly and interrupted.
"Your uncle is trying to stop you a hundred miles outside Yongcheng, adding fuel to the already hot-tempered Qin."
"Did father and uncle conspire together?"
Ying Fusu was quite surprised today.
He remembered clearly that at the end of the letter his uncle wrote to him, there were clear and unmistakable words written: "Burn after reading, only you and I know", so he thought that his father didn't know before.
"Your uncle has never even seen me, so how could he conspire with me? This is just because I know your uncle well. Your uncle is used to doing this. He would act arrogantly all the way south to save lives. He would also sacrifice his reputation to kill more people.
"From the beginning to the end, the people who deserved to be killed in your uncle's eyes were not the same as those who deserved to be killed in my eyes. In terms of cruelty, your uncle was ten times more cruel than your father. Those officials who drowned in Xianyang Prison were not convicted for their words, but for trivial matters such as killing a few common people and occupying some good farmland.
"I have known all these things for a long time. Before the tower was demolished, I knew 99% of the secrets of the noble men in Xianyang. But I don't care. As long as they can do their job well, their contribution to Daqin is greater than the mistakes they have made. Your uncle, huh, he wants to kill them all.
"What your uncle is going to do is to benefit the people and hate the nobles. The conflict between him and the nobles is irreconcilable, and it is thousands of times more cruel than what Shang Yang did. He will carry out a thorough cleansing based on his likes and dislikes. What is handed over to you is a Qin State that I want to see but dare not see."
He wanted to see that the blueprint Ying Chengjiao had drawn for him was really beautiful.
He didn't dare to look because he didn't dare to believe that his little brother could really succeed.
This world has always been the world of the nobles since ancient times!
Is it possible to eliminate all the nobles?
Ying Fusu swallowed his saliva.
"Then uncle can just sit on the throne forever, isn't that good? Why must he push me up? Is uncle afraid of backlash from the nobles? Didn't father say that uncle should be killed?"
Ying Zheng sneered.
"That brat was afraid, but I forced him to the throne. It's useless for him to be afraid! He can only go on, unless he gives up his dream. As for why you must come up, he is lazy. After he has done what he wants to do, he is not willing to stay on the throne."
"Han Zi said that my uncle is building momentum for me to leave a way out. If the situation gets out of control and the people of the Qin Empire lose confidence, I can show up and take over the throne to turn the tide."
"Whether it's leaving a way out or being lazy, it doesn't matter. There's only one outcome. Just wait and see. Your uncle's play has just begun..."
The Crown Prince of Daqin led a hundred cavalrymen south from Shangjun, but was stopped in a county town a hundred miles away from Yongcheng.
The man who intercepted the enemy was riding on his horse in a sloppy manner, looking like a ruffian rather than a commander. He was none other than Liu Bang, who had insulted the prince in public.
Even the fine iron armor could not hide his rogue appearance. Ying Chengjiao, the newly promoted general of the Qin Dynasty, rode forward and sneered:
"The prince and the dog are not allowed to enter the country."
The Qin prince Ying Fusu was so angry that he rushed forward with his spear in hand.
Fortunately, he was stopped by his personal soldiers and brought back to the camp.
The personal soldiers could see clearly that the 10,000 men on the opposite side were filled with murderous intent, and their hands holding their weapons were clenched tightly.
This is the look of someone who is ready to obey orders and fight.
"Liu Bang! You want to kill the prince?"
The personal soldiers shouted at Liu Bang who was riding his horse forward. The sound was so loud that it could be heard in the county town and in the capital of Qian within two miles of the city gate.
Liu Bang reined in his horse angrily and watched the hundred riders gallop away towards the northwest.
The prince turned back halfway on his way south and encountered dozens of assassination attempts along the way.
Soon, the news reached Xianyang, and the court was shocked.
Although the person who carried out this mission was General Liu Bang, how could Liu Bang lead 10,000 men without Your Majesty's authorization and in a time of peace?
They lived in dire straits in Xianyang, fearing that they would be suddenly arrested and drowned in Xianyang Prison. They always hoped that the benevolent prince would restore order.
And now, their only hope was almost killed by the vicious and cruel Qin II!
You are not thinking about suppressing the rebellion of the six states, but about pacifying the crown prince and securing your throne as emperor. When you drown us, no one will speak for us, right?
The ministers became anxious.
On December 13, the morning court was held, which had not been held for more than a month.
This was the first time that the Qin State was forced to hold a grand court meeting because of a joint memorial submitted by all its ministers.
Every grand court meeting before was convened by the King of Qin on his own initiative.
The ministers got up early and rushed to the Xianyang Palace in the dark before dawn and entered the Xianyang Hall.
They waited and waited, and almost an hour passed, but there was still no sign of Ying Chengjiao on the throne.
They came out at five in the morning and were starving. For some reason, the charcoal in the Xianyang Palace had not been lit, and only the candles were burning.
They were cold, hungry and miserable.
But they gritted their teeth and did not complain, for they knew that this must have been done intentionally by the vicious Qin II in order to make them give up.
But they have nowhere to retreat.
If they don't speak up for the prince today, who will speak up for them tomorrow?
The sun was shining brightly and many Qin officials were so hungry that they were confused. Only then did Qin II arrive late, yawning.
Sitting on the throne, Ying Chengjiao, not wearing a crown but wrapped in a snow-white fox fur coat, had disheveled hair and looked like he had just woken up.
"I reviewed your memorials until the morning hour last night. I took a short nap before coming to the court meeting. You won't blame me, will you? I don't think I can be blamed entirely for this. Who made you write so many memorials?"
Most of the ministers got up at the hour of Yin, and at this moment they were all gnashing with hatred.
Most of their recent memorials were about criticizing Liu Bang, or expressing their dissatisfaction with the ministers who died unjustly, or resigning, or requesting a court meeting.
Which King of Qin would dislike too many memorials? How could the Qin State, which had been blessed with wise rulers, produce such a scoundrel!
Have you ever approved a memorial? The imperial seal was sent to Jiang Shang!
Don't want us to talk, impossible!
"Why is it so cold in this palace? Why is no one giving you more charcoal?"
Ying Chengjiao roared.
The eunuch standing beside him bowed.
"Your Majesty, the charcoal has run out."
Ying Chengjiao slapped his forehead.
"Oh, yes, I was so busy worrying about state affairs that I forgot about it. Don't be angry, gentlemen. I don't have charcoal when I sleep, and I get up every day with snot in my nose."
An old minister stood up tremblingly, his face ashen, and pointed at Ying Chengjiao tremblingly.
"How dare Your Majesty humiliate us like this? Every household in Xianyang has honeycomb coal, which keeps them warm. There is no charcoal in the palace, so is there no honeycomb coal?"
Ying Chengjiao chuckled, but the eunuchs around him felt a chill.
"How can I give such a lowly thing as honeycomb coal to you noble gentlemen? How can those common people be compared with you gentlemen?"
