Chapter 86 What I wrote today is what Chang'an Jun said
Your Majesty is not angry, but still asks for my opinion?
Meng Tian thought of his father's instructions to follow His Majesty's lead, and said, "Your Majesty's ideas are Meng Tian's ideas."
"Don't try to fool me. I want you to speak now." Ying Zheng held Meng Tian's hand and said, "If you, Meng Tian, don't dare to tell me the truth, who else can I trust?"
"Enfeoffment." Meng Tian said in a deep voice.
"You also want a fiefdom." The First Emperor did not use a questioning tone but a declarative tone when asking this.
"Yes." Meng Tian nodded. He considered his life as having gone to hell today.
"That's straightforward enough."
"Not only do I want this, but all the officials in the court want this. If we can't distribute the fiefs, and the officials are not devoted, then everything will be difficult to settle."
"I want both... Zhao Gao, do you want a fiefdom?"
Zhao Gao, tears still welling up in his eyes, bowed humbly and replied respectfully: "I only wish to serve Your Majesty and obey Your Majesty's name. I have no other desires."
Ying Zheng pointed at Zhao Gao and Meng Tian and said in the tone of a child who had won a bet: "Zhao Gao does not want a fiefdom, he only wants to work hard for me. You are not as loyal to me as Zhao Gao."
Meng Tian didn't even turn his head, with a sneer on his face, and said, "A fawning person is worthy of being granted a fiefdom? Even if he is granted a fiefdom, how can he be capable of governing it? It is not a good idea for Your Majesty to keep such a lucky person around."
Zhao Gao's body stiffened.
Although he softened for only a moment, Gai Nie who was behind him still saw it.
"Zhao Gao is a skilled warrior, and you are no match for him. If it weren't for his protection, I would have died at least ten times. With such great achievements, how can you say he was lucky enough to get in?"
"Mr. Gai patrols the country every day. I don't know how many assassinations he has prevented for Your Majesty. His contribution is no less than that of Zhao Gao. Why is Zhao Gao the only one who is promoted to the position of the Minister of the Imperial Chariots and enjoys the position of the Nine Ministers? The difference between the two is that Mr. Gai is taciturn and does not flatter. Zhao Gao was promoted to the position of the Minister of the Imperial Chariots by flattering others. He was a lucky person."
It had probably been a while since Meng Tian had spoken so freely, so once he started talking, he couldn't stop.
"It is better to hope that the remnants of the six kingdoms will behave themselves than to hope that a lucky person can govern the world. Your Majesty, the ministers are like soldiers. The ministers under the fiefdoms are soldiers of Qin, fighting for their own titles. The ministers under the counties are soldiers of the six kingdoms, fighting for their kings. How can the soldiers of the six kingdoms be as powerful as the soldiers of Qin? If the fiefdoms are carried out, the world will be governed in three to five years."
Ying Zheng nodded and said, "I know what you are thinking. You can go back now. Zhao Gao, summon Li Si to the palace."
"only."
Zhao Gao responded respectfully and went out to look for Li Si.
"only."
Meng Tian also responded, but did not move.
Seeing this, Ying Zheng smiled and said, "You haven't finished yet?"
Now that I have come to this, if I don't ask the eldest young master now, when will I ask?
"Your Majesty, may I ask how the eldest son is doing?"
Ying Zheng's eyes flashed with a strange look, and he said, "Are you asking about this, or does someone want you to ask?"
Meng Tian said sincerely: "That's what I asked."
Ying Zheng looked at Meng Tian, stretched out his hand to call a palace maid over, and ordered her: "Take Meng Tian to the Da Zheng Palace."
Then he patted Meng Tian on the shoulder and said, "Only you need to know about Fusu's affairs, and don't tell others."
"Yes." Meng Tian responded and then asked, "Is there anything I cannot say to you, my Lord?"
"No." Ying Zheng sneered, "If you can persuade him to come out, your rank will be promoted by one level."
Meng Tian was already the sixteenth rank of Da Shangzhe, and the next rank above was Siche Shuzhang, which means the leader of a team of four horses and the leader of all.
The highest military officer of the Qin State, Wei Liao, was currently the chief of the Si Che Army.
Qin had twenty ranks of nobility. After the fifteenth rank, only military ranks could be promoted. And the further back one went, the harder it was to move up one rank.
To be promoted to the 16th rank Da Shang Zao, one needs to win a great victory in a battle of 100,000 men before being promoted to the 17th rank Si Che Shu Zhang.
And at this moment, all we need to do is persuade Ying Fusu to come out.
But when Meng Tian heard what the First Emperor said, instead of showing any joy, he felt a little depressed in his heart. He did not think that the First Emperor was trying to find a way to give him a title.
Your Majesty said this because you think persuading the eldest prince to leave the Zheng Palace is more difficult than commanding a battle of 100,000 men. What exactly did the eldest prince do wrong?
With doubts and worries, Meng Tian followed the palace maids to the Da Zheng Palace.
Ying Zheng looked at Gai Nie who was still standing proudly, and said, "If it weren't for Meng Tian's pointing it out today, I would have almost forgotten Mr. Gai's contribution. How about I make you the Shangqing?"
Gai Nie said coldly, "If Your Majesty really cares about me, please remove my position as the bearer of the seal and order and return it to Zhao Gao."
If Gai Nie hadn't said it, Ying Zheng might have really let Zhao Gao take on the job of issuing seals and decrees after a few days or a dozen days.
But after Gai Nie said that, Ying Zheng became a little unwilling - I have tolerated your silence for so long, but you can't tolerate me anymore.
Taking out a blank bamboo slip, Ying Zheng glanced at the inkstone, the ink in it had dried.
"Grinding ink."
"only."
Gai Nie responded and stepped forward to grind ink for Ying Zheng.
This time Gai Nie had no complaints, because grinding ink was indeed the responsibility of those who carried out the seal and talisman affairs.
While grinding ink, Gai Nie felt a little happy in his heart - finally, he didn't have to follow His Majesty around anymore. What kind of questions did he ask every day?
After the ink was ground, Ying Zheng handed the brush to Gai Nie, who dipped the brush into the ink .
"I said, you write."
"only."
Transcribing imperial edicts and orders for the emperor is also part of the job of issuing seals and decrees.
"From now on, you will be the senior minister in charge of the affairs of the imperial seal and the imperial decree, with an annual salary of two thousand stones. If Gai Nie does not rebel, you will be the one in charge of the affairs of the imperial seal and the imperial decree forever."
Gai Nie's mouth twitched as he copied Ying Zheng's words word by word on the bamboo slips. Each word was filled to the brim and one could tell at a glance that it was written with great force.
"Seal it."
"only."
It is the job of the imperial seal and also the one who handles the seals and decrees.
Gai Nie took out the imperial seal and stamped a big mark on the bamboo slips.
"Put it away."
"only."
Gai Nie was very unhappy when he looked at the eight big characters "Received the Mandate from Heaven, May You Live Long and Prosperous" on the bamboo slips.
The First Emperor forced Gai Nie, who was unwilling to do the job of issuing seals and talismans, to confer a title on himself and to do the job forever.
Originally, Zhao Gao would be able to resume his duties of issuing seals and decrees in a few days, or at most a dozen days.
He is currently at Li's Mansion, asking Li Si to go to Xianyang Palace.
"Brother Li, His Majesty summons you to the palace."
"Please wait for a moment, Brother Zhao."
Li Si was writing furiously on the desk and had already filled two large scrolls of bamboo slips.
Zhao Gao approached and glanced at the bamboo slips, and found that they were full of the benefits of the county system and the methods of its specific implementation.
Its level of perfection is almost the same as the feudal system that has been passed down for thousands of years. A flash of surprise flashed across his eyes.
Li Si was so wise that he single-handedly perfected the county system that was comparable to the feudal system.
"Brother Li is a man of great talent, unrivaled in the history of the world."
Zhao Gao's words were sincere. He was able to perfect a dynasty system by his own efforts. It is no exaggeration to describe such ability as unparalleled throughout the ages.
Even on the rigid face of Li Si, who was constantly writing, one could see admiration. He said, "I dare not accept this credit. I am just a copyist. What I wrote today is what Chang'an Jun said."
"What did Lord Chang'an say?" Zhao Gao asked in surprise.