Chapter 496 Uncle Lu, do you believe me?
Under Zhang Cang's thoughtful gaze.
Under the eyes of Fu Qiubo, Lu Jia and Mao Heng who admire his noble character and are not afraid of power .
Li Si held his head high like a proud rooster, following behind Ying Chengjiao without the slightest feeling of being a subject.
Ying Chengjiao randomly found a room to enter, glanced at the four people looking around in the hall, and said to Li Si who came in later with a stronger tone:
"Close the door."
Li Si, who had lost his official position and title, only took one step into the room, then stood in front of the door and did not go in again. He leaned against the door and spoke in a loud voice.
"There is nothing that cannot be said to others."
Qin II, who was about to take action, became angry and slapped the table with a loud bang.
"Is this how you treat your king?"
Li Si was neither humble nor arrogant, and his words were as rigid as his face, as if they were a decree.
"If the ruler regards his subjects as his own hands and feet, the subjects will regard the ruler as their own heart and soul.
"If the ruler treats his subjects like dogs and horses, then the subjects will treat the ruler like a fellow countryman.
"If the ruler treats his subjects like dirt, then the subjects will treat the ruler like an enemy.
"Your Majesty, please strip me of my title, remove me from office, and exile me to the vast ocean.
"Your behavior is worse than dirt. How do you want me to treat you? I didn't take a shield but a sword to stab you. It's because I'm afraid that my master will not like it. It's not that I don't want to, but I can't!"
Ying Chengjiao grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it hard, hitting Li Si's forehead, causing blood to flow.
"If it weren't for Xunzi, do you think I would release you from Xianyang Prison? Would you let me anger you in person once again?"
The angry Ying Chengjiao was like a lion. His roar made the four disciples who saw Li Si being beaten and wanted to come over to negotiate peace stop in their tracks.
Blood flowed from Li Si's forehead to his face and dripped onto his clothes, making him look miserable and embarrassed.
But he still refused to lower his head, and instead raised it even higher than before.
Ying Chengjiao laughed out of anger and shouted, calling on the accompanying official to take Li Si to the Imperial Medical Bureau for medical treatment.
Li Si refused to leave and was forcibly carried out of the door by two eunuchs.
Furious, Ying Chengjiao left the Chang'an Palace and boarded the four-horse carriage. Through a curtain, he said to Zhang Han, who was sitting on the shaft:
"Keep an eye on Li Si and don't let him die. Ask Xia Wuqie to treat him personally. I don't want to hear about a person being killed by a teacup tomorrow.
You want to use me and step on me to go down in history? Dream on!"
"only!"
Li Si was sent to the Xianyang Palace and taken to the Imperial Medical Bureau overnight, but he did not die.
In the hands of Xia Wuqie, the heir of a family of doctors, death is not an easy thing, let alone just the scary-looking superficial injuries.
The person didn't die, so naturally there is no story about a person being killed by a teacup.
But there is another story.
On the way to the Xianyang Palace, Li Si, who was escorted by the palace guards, was paraded around the streets of Xianyang like a prisoner in a prison cart. His face and clothes were covered in blood, and his miserable appearance was seen by many people.
The story of Li Si's uprightness and angrily rebuking His Majesty, who in anger threw the cup, naturally emerged. Li Si's good reputation began to spread in Guanzhong with the help of various aristocratic families.
They did not dare to confront Qin II directly, but they dared to set up the people whom Qin II disliked as an example.
Such little things may seem useless at the moment, but it is these useless little things, accumulated together, that can become a big event that is enough to overthrow the emperor.
If you want to break the camel's back, you must prepare countless straws in advance before the last straw comes.
A convoy left the north gate of Xianyang and headed northwest. The convoy was guarded by a hundred soldiers, all of whom were armed to the teeth.
This was the convoy that was escorting five Qin officials, led by Li Si, to the vast sea.
In order to show his magnanimity and the fact that he had no intention of murdering the five treacherous ministers, Qin II specially selected a centurion from the army and brought a hundred Qin soldiers to protect the five Qin ministers until they arrived safely in the Hanhai.
Instead of being led like a dog, he traveled in a horse-drawn carriage.
This was the highest treatment given to Qin's exiles since Qin Fuzi was enfeoffed as a Qin state.
No one thought that Qin II was kind-hearted.
Exile is exile, or exile to a vast ocean that is not Qin territory. The result is bound to be death. How to go is very important.
It was comfortable to sit in the carriage, but knowing that one was going to die, and having no physical problems along the way, wasn't it the greatest torment in one's heart?
Inside the car, Cai Yan looked at her husband with a fresh bloodstain on his forehead and gritted her teeth in hatred.
"I want to curse this tyrant to death!"
Li Si listened to the sound of the wheels pressing on the ground, touched the injured part of his forehead, and although he felt a little pain, he smiled.
"Don't be disrespectful to His Majesty. Your Majesty is helping me."
Cai Yan was puzzled. Removing your official title, exiling you to the vast sea, and breaking your head, is this a favor? Was her husband beaten stupid?
"If you believe me, don't ask.
"In a few years, Si will bring you back to Xianyang City, and his title and official position will be higher than they are now."
Cai Yan leaned in Li Si's arms.
"Of course I believe in my husband. I will follow him wherever he goes. But the vast ocean is bitterly cold, and I'm afraid our children can't stand it..."
Listening to Xijun's worried and sad words, Li Si thought to himself that it was horrible that an illiterate woman could learn to speak and write in simplified Chinese within a year.
Combined with movable type printing and paper, the number of officials trained in the Korean school in two years was comparable to the number of scholars trained in Korea in twenty years.
"Don't worry, we won't go to the vast sea."
In the back hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, everyone except Jiang Shang was cleared out, including the Left Prime Minister Zhou Qingchen and the Right Prime Minister Feng Quji.
The people in the Xiangbang Mansion have long been accustomed to it.
Since the imperial seal was secretly transported to the Prime Minister's Mansion and since the Zhangtai Palace was transformed from a place where the King of Qin governed the country into a palace of debauchery, the back hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion became the place where the highest government affairs of the Qin Empire were held.
This is the second time that the diligent Qin II has returned this month.
Zhou Qingchen, who had just become the Left Prime Minister, looked inside with envy. He was really envious of Jiang Shang, the Prime Minister most trusted by His Majesty, who was left alone.
He remembered that when the previous king was alive, His Majesty had recruited him in the court, hoping that he could become a guest in his mansion.
If he had agreed at the beginning, he should have a place in the back hall now.
"Li Si is gone?"
Lu Buwei, who was actually envied by Zhou Qingchen, put down the memorial in his hand and asked softly.
Ying Chengjiao nodded.
"Leave."
"He's a smart man. He saw what you were going to do and doesn't want to accompany you in eternal infamy."
"Yeah, he's really smart."
Ying Chengjiao smiled.
"He is very tight-lipped in front of others and behind their backs. Uncle Lu used to say that he was a businessman like you , and also said that he was a gambler. Now it seems that he was wrong."
"I have traded my two years of friendship with you for an exile. I bet that you are a nostalgic person and will not kill anyone. I have never made a mistake in judging people except that I have never been honest with you."
Ying Chengjiao gave a thumbs up and said perfunctorily:
"Yes, yes, Uncle Lu is the best. Then Uncle Lu, guess whether Li Si is going to Fusu or Jianglu."
"Shangjun. He is a man who will not be satisfied with empty reputation. All the real benefits lost today will be doubled back in the future."
As Lu Buwei spoke, he took out a piece of memorial from the neatly folded documents and handed it to Ying Chengjiao.
"Li Si's departure has caused such a big commotion, which has also helped you to divide the people. The court has already stabilized initially, you can't be lazy anymore, take a look at this memorial from Marquis Wucheng."
Ying Chengjiao took it over.
"When my brother was the emperor, you didn't let him do anything and you monopolized all the power. Now that I'm the emperor, I let you monopolize all the power but you refused and insisted that I run the government.
"Uncle Lu, I just want to be as relaxed as my father and be a hands-off king. You should be more diligent. The seal is in your hands."
Lu Buwei ignored him and did not respond.
Ying Chengjiao shrugged and had to concentrate on reading the memorial.
In less than a cup of tea, Ying Chengjiao had finished reading it, and his smile became even more intense.
The memorial first congratulated the new emperor on his ascension to the throne, then said that Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji County, had attempted to rebel and had been executed, and that Wei Liao, whose fiefdoms were mostly in Kuaiji County, also seemed to have evil intentions, so the memorial requested that the emperor lead troops to execute him.
"You can still laugh?"
"Of course I can laugh. I was prepared for Wang Jian to start a rebellion, but the Marquis of Wucheng actually took the initiative to lead troops to quell the rebellion. It was a pleasant surprise."
"Qi is far away, and the specific situation is still unknown. How can we know that Wang Jian did not intend to rebel, and Yin Tong discovered his rebellious heart, Wang Jian killed him to silence him, and the evil person filed a complaint."
"Then according to Uncle Lu's opinion, what should we do?"
"Of course, we should send someone to Qi to meet Wang Jian, and then decide everything after he comes back."
Ying Chengjiao thought for a moment and shook his head.
“No need.
"The troops of the six counties of Qi, namely Donghai, Langya, Jiaodong, Jibei, Linzi and Kuaiji, were all under the command of Wang Jian.
"Give Wang Jian the power to recruit his own troops and horses, regardless of the number of troops he has received. He can do as he sees fit."
Lu Buwei's expression suddenly changed.
"Nonsense! Qi was never invaded by war in the first place. If Wang Jian wanted to rebel, it would only take him a few years to conquer Hangu Pass with his 600,000 Qin soldiers who defeated Chu!
"His son Wang Ben is stationed in the northeast and has repeatedly submitted petitions to conquer the Donghu. If the father and son join forces, with the northeastern border troops led by Wang Ben and the troops of Qi..."
Lu Buwei took a deep breath and was frightened by what he said.
The most capable fighters in the Qin Empire were not the now famous Meng Tian from the northwest, but the father and son Wang Jian and Wang Ben.
Among the six kingdoms, five were destroyed by these two father and son. They were the only family in the Qin Empire with two marquises in one clan!
Ying Chengjiao did not show the slightest sign of fear and his expression was calm.
"Can we stop it?
"Uncle Lu should know best how many rebel forces in Qi are ready to make a move, or have already made a move.
"The three brothers Tian Heng, Tian Dan and Tian Rong will soon start fighting under the banner of restoring Qi. Zhang Liang's Han Kingdom, which is determined to restore the Han Kingdom, will also use Qi's land to revive.
"There is also the Xiang family, who have been elusive for years and frequently travel between Qi and Chu.
"Uncle Lu, tell me, how can we stop it?
"If my brother dies, the world will be in chaos. There is no way to stop it."
Lu Buwei cursed angrily that Ying Zheng died at a really bad time, but he still firmly opposed it.
The reason for opposition is simple: all these rebel forces combined are not as scary as Wang Jian.
Even though he knew that there were two famous generals, Li Mu and Lian Po, Lu Buwei did not want to give Wang Jian a chance.
“In the dead of winter, it is impossible to go on an expedition.
“Rather than letting the remnants of the six kingdoms prosper and grow stronger, it is better to trust Wang Jian. There are only so many soldiers and horses. The more Wang Jian recruits, the fewer remnants of the six kingdoms will be recruited.
"Distant water cannot quench nearby fire. Let those remnants of the six kingdoms who only fear my brother see the sharp edge of Marquis Wucheng. The people of Qi have not shed blood before, but they will make up for it this time.
"That's it. Write back."
Lu Buwei pressed his left chest, where his heart was beating faster and faster.
"What if Wang Jian gathers all the Qi people and marches westwards to attack Hangu Pass?"
Ying Chengjiao replied:
"If this is true, then the countless remnants of the six kingdoms in Qi will either be eliminated by Wang Jian or brought under his command. Then, we can destroy them all in one fell swoop."
Lu Buwei emphasized his tone and gave a profound reminder.
"I don't know whether your confidence comes from Li Mu, Lian Po, or Meng Tian.
“But the military has no fixed position, and water has no fixed shape.
"No one dares to guarantee victory against Wang Jian, not to mention the presence of Wang Ben.
"Li Mu's victory is because he has taken advantage of the defenders. If the two were reversed, would he dare to say that he can take down Wang Jian's city?"
Ying Chengjiao spread his hands.
"Look, you don't follow my decision and you even ask me to do more work. Aren't you just putting me in a position of power?"
Lu Buwei took a deep breath and said bitterly:
"I just don't want to be ashamed to face your father after I die!"
As he spoke, he spread out a piece of yellow paper and wrote a reply to Marquis Wucheng according to Ying Chengjiao's instructions.
He has said everything he needs to say. Since the young King of Qin, who has become the King of Qin, is still stubborn, he has no choice but to support him.
He believed in Ying Chengjiao, and had believed in him since the day when the child played with the glass ball.
“You’ve been too murderous lately.
"Have you forgotten that you were so arrogant and domineering all the way back from the northwest just to kill fewer people?"
Ying Chengjiao lay down on his back with his arms and legs spread out, closing his eyes.
“Those people deserved to die, they should have died twenty years ago.
"They annexed land, forced women into prostitution, and drove people to the point of desperation, then signed them off with a pound of millet and made them slaves...
"The only use of their heads is to help me intimidate the ministers."
The brush kept writing on the paper, and Lu Buwei felt a little worried.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to kill me.
"You would never say that the Qi people had no bloodshed before, but you said so this time.
“You should have reverence for life, that’s what you said yourself.
"You are the king now, and although you still do things for the people, it seems that the status of the people is much lower in your heart."
After a long time, without any response from Ying Chengjiao, Lu Buwei stopped talking and continued writing.
Only after he finished writing did he turn to look at Ying Chengjiao. He saw Ying Chengjiao with his arms over his eyes, breathing steadily, as if he had fallen asleep.
The old man sighed.
The matter of Han Di was the pain of his life. The tablets that filled his house made him feel like needles stabbing his heart every time. He didn't want Ying Chengjiao to suffer the same fate in his later years.
If you take a wrong step, you will regret it for the rest of your life.
"Uncle Lu, do you believe me?"
Lu Buwei laughed.
"If I didn't trust you, would I write this letter for you? Would I implement the plan according to your instructions?"
It was easy for Ying Chengjiao to say that the system of slaves and concubines should be abolished, but how to abolish it?
All the noble families released their slaves and concubines? Then how should they be placed?
All these specific steps had to be taken care of by Lu Buwei.
