If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1139 Marquis of Lieyang

"The exemption from taxes and corvée labor is only part of the ten-year reform and benevolent policies."

Next, I will formulate supporting policies.

However, one must take things one step at a time. Today, all we need to do is spread the news of the "Ten Years of Benevolent Governance" and the Second Emperor's ascension to the throne throughout the land, giving the people something to look forward to.

This will inspire the people of the world, giving them some hope for the Second Emperor and the new Qin Dynasty.

Xiao Yu turned her head to look at Hu Hai and said, "Your Majesty, let's end the court session here!"
You return to the palace to prepare your luggage and try to depart for Xingyang within five days.

What happened at the court meeting will soon spread throughout the land.

The news that you used your three-year imperial mandate to intimidate the Central Plains will also be known to all the rebel groups.

We need to get to Xingyang as soon as possible, before they come up with a solution.

Hu Hai asked worriedly, "What if the rebels attack Xingyang first?"

"The Qin Dynasty hasn't fallen yet, how could it be so fast?" Xiaoyu said.

"Everything will be arranged by our esteemed minister. My beloved ministers, court is now adjourned!"

Hu Hai stood up, called out to Zhao Gao, and left Zhangtai Palace first.

The courtiers respectfully saw him off, chanting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Lord Lieyang, Ziying, please wait a moment!"

Before they left, Xiaoyu called out the names of two of them.

"Ziying, wait for me outside Zhangtai Palace. I need to say a few words to Marquis Lieyang first."

Ziying bowed in agreement, then left Zhangtai Palace, one step behind the other officials.

Although the other nobles and princes were curious and glanced at Marquis Lieyang and Grand Tutor Yu out of the corner of their eyes, they did not stay to disturb them, nor did they tactlessly ask any questions.

When Zhangtai Palace was completely empty, without even a single eunuch left, Xiaoyu asked, "Does the Marquis know why I kept you here?"

Marquis Lieyang said blankly, "Because I command 400,000 elite troops in Guanzhong."

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "You have an army of 400,000, so why didn't you dare to shout at the mere vanguard officer, the Giant Spirit God, when 50,000 heavenly soldiers came to Xianyang, telling him to get out of the city, while I treated them like lackeys?"

Marquis Lieyang remained expressionless and said, "Your Ancestral Dragon Secret Technique is indeed powerful, but unfortunately it is only effective against celestial beings."

The gods are easily corrupted by the evil energy of the ancestral dragon, causing their divine bodies to become weak, their divine power to go out of control, and their divine laws to become disordered.

My Fire Crow Formation is not afraid of the Dragon's Fury.

The combined might of an army of 400,000 is comparable to the malevolent aura of the Ancestral Dragon.

Let alone 50,000 heavenly soldiers, even 500,000 heavenly soldiers, I would dare to fight them.

But a meaningless war brings no benefit even if won. I'm not mentally unstable; why should I risk my life for no reason?

Xiao Yu said, "I subdued you in one move before, and you're still not convinced? Heh, you're still too young and inexperienced."

"I am young?"

Marquis Lieyang could no longer contain himself and sneered, "When I swept across the thirty-six kingdoms, you were just a young girl!"

Xiaoyu sighed, "Not only has my strength increased faster than yours, but I've also aged far more than you."

Back then you could treat me like a naive young girl, but this year I can see you as a greenhorn.

Marquis Lieyang paused, then said thoughtfully, "Did you spend a lot of time in the First Hall of Yama?"

"That's not the point. The point is your limited knowledge; you're like a greenhorn. You know nothing about true power."

I can take down your 400,000-strong army in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, do you believe me?
It doesn't require the Ancestral Dragon, the Nine Cauldrons, or any great supernatural powers.

"I'll go out and meet them by myself, and I'll handle it easily," Xiaoyu said confidently.

"I don't believe it! We can try!" Marquis Lieyang said coldly.

Xiaoyu shook her head and said, "Even Li Si, I stayed despite feeling disgusted by him."

Your role is probably more important than his, and I don't want to ruin your reputation in the military in public.

"You've come a long way from being an unloved 'adopted son of the late emperor,' it hasn't been easy!"

Marquis Lieyang couldn't stand this senior's attitude any longer and shouted, "Yu Fengxian, you're too arrogant!"

Xiaoyu said calmly, "You are too superstitious about the power you have. Although the power of the masses is strong, it does not truly belong to you."

This is different from the idea that great power belongs to me.

Your power comes from authority, from the system; to put it bluntly, it is the Qin Dynasty that bestows power upon you.

Your 400,000-strong army all belongs to the Great Qin!
You certainly have many bodyguards who are willing to die for you, but what good are they?
With my divine eye, I can easily distinguish which soldiers and officers are loyal warriors of the Great Qin.

I didn't even need to produce the imperial seal and the edict of the Second Emperor.

Now that they have witnessed me riding the Qin Ancestral Dragon and breaking through the heavens, if I were to shout "For the Qin Dynasty!" in front of them, most of them would immediately kneel down and submit.

They don't need to take up their swords and rebel against you military commanders.

They only need to stand quietly to the side. Once the morale of the troops is disrupted and their military formations are lost, you will be fighting me one-on-one.

"Where do you think I'll carve the character 'feather' on?"

Marquis Lieyang's expression froze, and the anger on his face was replaced by solemnity.

He wanted to retort loudly, but he couldn't open his mouth.

The wound on the back of his hand bearing the character "羽" (feather) hasn't healed yet!
"I don't want to do that, not because I find it troublesome. What trouble is there? It's just a matter of a cup of tea."

As I said before, it's truly remarkable that you've achieved what you have today, and that's no small feat.

I want you to maintain your prestige in the army, because the Ying clan needs one of their own to lead the army.

Xiaoyu looked at his face and softened her tone, saying, "You are different from the other nobles."

They were either unwilling to leave the Qin court for fame and fortune, or they had not yet found a way out.

You genuinely want to save the Qin Dynasty of the Ying clan.

"What do you want? To make me submit to you?" Marquis Lieyang sneered.

He disliked her tone and attitude.

She seemed like a wise elder, using words to tame a hot-tempered, impulsive young man.

This made him extremely frustrated and indignant.

Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "I became prime minister only to govern better, not to become a powerful minister."

If one does not become a powerful minister, there is naturally no need to recruit subordinates or cultivate a faction.

I left you alone and had a heart-to-heart talk with you for two reasons.

First, I hope you can be more mature and calm, like a normal politician, like the late Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Don't let personal emotions influence your judgment and behavior.

Secondly, I'm going to assign you a task.

Upon hearing that she indeed regarded him as a naive fool, Marquis Lieyang nearly exploded with rage.

Her next sentence, "like Qin Shi Huang," calmed him down.

In his memory, Ying Zheng was indeed calm and wise, a true political creature.

If the late emperor were in his position facing Yu Fengxian today, what would his reaction be?
"What mission?" Marquis Lieyang asked in a hoarse voice.

Xiao Yu said, "Go to Xingyang to serve as the 'National Commandant' and concurrently as the Grand Marshal of the Army."

Marquis Lieyang trembled violently, and asked incredulously, "You want to hand over all the military power of the Great Qin to me?"

Xiao Yu nodded and said, "That's one way to put it, but as you know, the military commanders in Great Qin are starting to disobey orders."

Whether you can truly control the army depends on your own abilities.

My advice is that you should try to avoid conflicts with the military commanders of the four major army groups in the east, west, south, and north.

Don't even think about concentrating all the elite troops of China in one place.

"Having military power doesn't necessarily mean controlling the entire army." "I'm not a fool; I know what to do!"

Marquis Lieyang exclaimed excitedly, then said with a complicated expression, "Why? I am not Hu Hai, who will be manipulated by you. I would never call you 'Uncle Father'."

Xiao Yu said irritably, "Isn't Hu Hai a puppet that you two put together?"

In his entire life, he only met with me alone twice.

She then added, "When the late emperor unified the country, he faced two choices in governing it."

One was to enfeoff princes and send the princes to the six kingdoms in Shandong to guard the lands in the four directions on behalf of the emperor.

Secondly, the current county system places power in the central government, meaning there are no kings within the territory of China, only the Emperor!

Judging from the circumstances at the time, the Emperor made a great mistake.

The prefecture-county system is very good, excellent, and represents a new direction for humanitarian development.

But now the situation has changed. When county magistrates and prefects betrayed the Qin Dynasty, they probably only felt a tiny bit of hesitation and unease.

Marquis Lieyang exclaimed in surprise, "You intend to bestow titles and honors upon the princes and kings?"

Xiaoyu sighed, "A few years ago, we could have tried, but now it's probably too late."

Go to Xingyang first. Before the 400,000 troops from Guanzhong leave, let me select the most loyal people to Qin and leave them in Guanzhong.

Maybe there will be 300,000 left?

Take them all to Xingyang.

After arriving in Xingyang, he tried his best to extend his reputation and prestige to several nearby counties.

If you can keep things under control, I will select a few capable princes to replace the local governors and become kings with real power.

You are all princes of the Ying clan, so at least when facing rebellion, you can trust each other.

With Hu Hai stationed in Xingyang, if the surrounding dozen or so prefectures were all controlled by the princes of the Ying clan, perhaps the situation in the Central Plains could be stabilized.

“If it’s really as you say, with more than a dozen counties under the control of the Ying clan, the Central Plains will be as stable as Mount Tai. It’s not just ‘maybe’!” Marquis Lieyang suddenly seemed more energetic.

He still didn't like Yu Fengxian's attitude towards him.

But her arrangements and strategies showed him a feasible path, a path that leads to success.

—Perhaps I am not suited to be a "Regent General" who oversees the whole situation, while Yu Fengxian is knowledgeable about destiny and has no selfish motives. At least she is more reliable than Li Si and Zhao Gao. In any case, the former king of Qin trusted her, not others.

Xiao Yu said, "If you think like that, you're underestimating the heroes of the world."

You will be stationed in Xingyang as the Commandant, in charge of military affairs. Under no circumstances should you go out to quell the rebellion on your own.

"Do not leave Xingyang; only appoint the military commander as the general in command."

Marquis Lieyang frowned and said, "You don't understand military affairs."

I was able to become the temporary commander of the Eastern Navy because I have consistently led them to victory in battle.

If one day I stop fighting and sit in the rear commanding, while they fight on the front lines.

Regardless of whether they win or lose, I will soon find myself unable to control them.

Or rather, in order to command them, I must promise them more benefits and bestow upon them more rewards, until the rewards exceed my and the court's capacity to pay.

Xiao Yu sighed, "You understand military affairs, and Li Si understands political affairs, but neither of you understands the will of Heaven!"

Do as I say!
If a military commander really becomes too powerful to control, it would actually be a very good thing, and I would only be happy.

"Are you out of your mind? How could something like this be a good thing?" Marquis Lieyang exclaimed excitedly.

Xiao Yu said calmly, "The Qin general without the Mandate of Heaven has replaced the hidden dragon who possesses the Mandate of Heaven. Isn't this a great joy?"
With the same 400,000 troops, dealing with you will only take me the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

If the rebels form a coalition of 400,000 men, even with my own 400,000 men and yours, we will have to retreat.

Because you have no destiny, it only takes supernatural powers to kill you.

I have enough supernatural powers.

They have a destiny; killing them means facing an extremely terrifying destiny.

That destiny is protected by a large group of powerful Golden Immortals, and even the Heavenly Court will protect it.

To destroy the Mandate of Heaven, one must consume an equal amount of the Mandate of Heaven within oneself.

Just like when I forcefully killed Zuo Guli Wang Xiuge, who possessed a destiny bestowed by Heaven, I paid the price of the "Nine-Nine Great Heavenly Tribulation."

Marquis Lieyang fell into deep thought.

After a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "Is this great calamity of heaven and earth just like the last calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, where the struggle for supremacy between dynasties is merely a facade?"

Grand Tutor Wen and Grand Duke Jiang were nominally the commanders of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

But is the course of this great calamity entirely controlled by Biyou Palace and Yuxu Palace?

Xiaoyu nodded and said, "You've finally grasped a bit of the essence of destiny!"

Only Biyou Palace can rival Yuxu Palace.

Clearly, at best you're just a 'Bigan' (a notorious but incompetent person).

But I, Grand Tutor Yu, can be the 'Biyou Palace'.

Marquis Lieyang's expression changed several times as he asked, "Can you deal with the 'Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void Palace'?"

Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Aren't I dealing with them right now? Who do you think cares most about fate?"

The game of destiny has already begun.

My first move was to send Hu Hai, who had only held the imperial title for three years, to guard Xingyang; my second move was to govern with benevolence for ten years.

However, neither of these two moves was aimed at the rebellion of the six states in Shandong itself.

They probably think I'm delusional and don't feel threatened at all; they were even overjoyed when they received the news.

Because Xingyang was closer and not as fortified as Hangu Pass, they were eager and ready to kill the Qin emperor.

The imperial court doesn't collect taxes or labor service, which is perfect for them to do, as they can conscript more soldiers.

But the chess players behind them must be feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Without labor service, even the military rations for large-scale expeditions cannot be transported. Without taxes, there is no stable source of food."

"The taxes we levy are not on the people's silver, but on the grain and cloth they produce," said Marquis Lieyang.

Xiao Yu said, "Your task is to guard Xingyang. Xingyang is right next to Aocang, so why would you need to worry about military supplies or transportation? You just guard the granary."

Even if from now on, the imperial court reaps no harvest.

"The grain reserves in Ao Cang alone are enough to feed a million-strong army for ten years!"

Ao Cang from Xiaoyu's previous life in the "material world" was already extremely abnormal.

Zhang Han's hundreds of thousands of troops roamed the Central Plains, and as long as the supply line to Ao Cang remained intact, they never lacked food for several years. After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Ao Cang and Xingyang fell into the hands of Liu Ji, who again led hundreds of thousands of troops to roam the Central Plains, wreaking havoc. It wasn't until the end of the Chu-Han Contention that they began to experience food shortages.

And the Qin Ao Cang in this "mythical world" is even more perverse.

The Qin army's problem was never a lack of food, but rather the excessive losses during the transportation of grain.

Not only was the grain itself greatly damaged, but the loss of laborers was even more unbearable.

However, if we only guard Xingyang, we don't need to worry about transportation issues.

"I have no shortage of food while guarding Xingyang, but what about the Great Wall Army in the north, and the garrison battalions in various counties?" Marquis Lieyang asked.

Xiao Yu said, "I have other plans for the Great Wall Legion. Your mission is simply to be stationed in Xingyang and keep the Central Plains in check."

If the four military commanders are willing to listen to you, then you can manage them.

If they don't listen, there's no need to fight to control them.

The elite troops of the prefectures and counties do not need to go on long expeditions; it is enough to do a good job of preventing theft within the prefecture.

Ten years of benevolent governance, including tax and labor reductions, is only the beginning; the ultimate goal is to achieve comprehensive burden reduction for the Qin Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)