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

Chapter 1212 Xingyang Court
Sima Ling was the secret service of the Qin Dynasty, similar to the Han Dynasty's Da Shui He, the Tang Dynasty's Bu Liang Ren, and the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei.

The Sima Ling department was under the jurisdiction of the Taiwei Mansion.

Sima Ling's direct superior was Zhongche Sima, who was in turn a subordinate of Guowei Liao.

Therefore, Sima Ling's incompetence, which led to Grand Tutor Yu's disdain, can be considered a dereliction of duty by the State Commandant's Office.

At this moment, the Grand Commandant was quite embarrassed and said, "Actually, I have also noticed these problems."

Five years ago, Prime Minister Feng secretly ordered the prefects of each prefecture to supervise the Sima Ling under their jurisdiction.

He also issued a decree to the commandery officers of each prefecture, instructing them to periodically review the work of the Sima Ling.

Basically, every quarter, the documents kept by Sima Ling must be thoroughly checked. If any problems are found, they must be reported to Xianyang immediately.

In order to supervise the prefects and military commanders, the Imperial Censor would send imperial censors to various prefectures and counties to investigate local government affairs.

There are annual assessments, and a major exam every three years.

This is also true; didn't Xiao He achieve the top score in the county examination for "the best official in Sishui County"?

He was even recommended by the censor to serve in Xianyang, but Xiao He declined.

Even a minor official like Xiao He had the opportunity to meet the imperial censor and participate in the court's assessments. The assessment process was open and fair, and the results were even sent to Xianyang for archiving.
This shows that the Qin Dynasty's system was actually quite complete and had no obvious loopholes.

In theory, the Qin system should not have had any obvious loopholes, after all, it had only been passed down to the second generation.

Qin Emperor Ying Zheng spent his entire life perfecting the Qin system.

If systems have a lifespan, then the Qin system at this point was like a "young man," full of vitality. It was destined to create the magnificent "Great Han Empire."

By the end of the Han Dynasty, the Qin system had reached middle age and was no longer effective, requiring major reforms.

Unfortunately, the system cannot overcome fate.

When destiny is lost and people's hearts change, even the best system needs people to implement it.

Grand Tutor Yu sighed, “The fact is that Sima Ling in the Central Plains is indeed rotten to the core.”

The county magistrates and prefects failed to fulfill their supervisory duties because they too had become corrupt.

Everyone is corrupt, so the Xianyang court has no idea how corrupt they are.

Expecting them to risk their lives to suppress the rebels would likely disappoint the court.

Perhaps we should be more pragmatic and just let them do some low-level, non-strenuous tasks.

For example, implementing benevolent governance and exempting people from hard labor and torture.

For example, like today, they're waging a propaganda war for the imperial court.

Guowei Liao looked worried and said, "Those Celestial Masters betrayed their promise and stole the True Form Diagram and the Divine Cauldron. They are indeed hateful."

It's truly satisfying to destroy their reputation and even implicate their teachers and sects like this.

But now the situation in the Central Plains is unstable, and Chen Sheng has already occupied Chen County. Why put our energy into a battle of egos?
Chen Sheng had been openly rebelling for several months.

The Grand Tutor never even went to the imperial court in Xingyang, nor did he issue a single instruction regarding the Chen Sheng affair.

Xiaoyu asked, "Why is it that out of more than 600 newly appointed Celestial Masters, 80% are traitors? They clearly know the consequences of breaking their oaths."

Guowei Liao said, "They know that Qin has lost the Mandate of Heaven and are afraid of being implicated by Qin."

Xiaoyu said, "So, from the very beginning, they had already chosen their side."

They and their relatives and friends probably all chose to stand on the opposite side of the Qin Dynasty and support the true emperor.

In other words, even before today's grand trial, and even before Chen Sheng's uprising, they were already destined to become the great enemy of the Qin Dynasty in the future.

If that's the case, why wait until the future, until they truly cause immense harm to the Qin Dynasty on the Central Plains battlefield, before considering dealing with them?

The Grand Commandant paused, then murmured, "So the 'Grand Tutor Selection' was a setup from the very beginning?"

The Grand Tutor, with his keen insight into destiny and far-sighted vision, tried his best to attract more immortals who were willing to enter the tribulation.

They were all willing to come to Guanzhong to participate in the Huashan Daoist Debate, vying for the position of Grand Tutor. Therefore, it was impossible for them to remain tranquil and inactive, meditating and chanting scriptures to avoid the great calamity.

If they join the calamity, they will surely become our enemies.

It would be better to lure them into a trap beforehand, make them betray their oath to Heaven, and encourage them to steal the True Form Map and the Divine Cauldron.

Once they have completely lost their sense of morality, they will be at the mercy of the Grand Tutor.

Even though the Grand Tutor fed them Ancestral Dragon Qi Pills and treated them like cattle, the Heavenly Court didn't send down divine punishment, and no great immortal from the Xuanmen sect descended to the mortal realm to stand up for them.

Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "Grand Commandant, you overestimate me. According to your line of thinking, is the conflict between Li Si and me a charade, deliberately setting a trap to capture the immortals who intend to enter the tribulation?"

The Imperial Guardian Liao showed a hint of doubt, "Could it really be so?"

Xiaoyu said irritably, "If that's really the case, you should also be one of the planners."

You and Li Si, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, have completely outwitted all the gods and immortals.

The Grand Commandant looked puzzled and said, "If I was also a participant, that would make sense. But if it was all just a coincidence, then it doesn't make sense."

Now, the Qin Dynasty has lost its Mandate of Heaven. All these coincidences, seemingly ordained by fate, will only bring misfortune upon the Qin Dynasty.

I have lived for over 18,000 years, witnessed the division of Jin into three states, saw King Wen of Wei establish his hegemony, and then saw King Wu of Wei squander his fortune. I have seen far too many similar examples.

When a nation is rising, its fortunes are flourishing, and all coincidences bring good luck; when a nation is declining, all coincidences only lead to misfortune.

This is the fate of a nation.

Xiaoyu said, "What you said is only the result, not the root cause."

A country prospers because its monarch is wise and decisive, and its ministers are virtuous and loyal.

With the concerted efforts of a wise ruler and virtuous ministers, even the greatest difficulties can be overcome; and with the unity of mind of the ruler and ministers and proper planning, even the smallest opportunities can be transformed into great national fortunes.

When the monarch is incompetent and the court is corrupt, even minor difficulties become insurmountable barriers; when immense opportunities are presented, if one lacks the ability to seize them, one can only lament, "The nation's fate is sealed; Heaven has decreed my demise."

“But we are not a wise ruler and virtuous ministers, united in purpose.” After a moment of hesitation, Guowei Liao looked at Yu Taishi and said as if he had realized something: “We are ignorant of fate, unaware of life and death, and we are about to perish and our nation is destroyed. Yet we are still greedy for power and suppress dissent.”

Without the Grand Tutor, our actions will become the reason for the rapid demise of the Qin Dynasty.

But Grand Tutor Yu understood the will of Heaven and knew destiny.

Even if we have internal conflicts, we can still turn adversity into advantage.

Now, ignoring Chen Sheng in Chu and focusing all its energy on the case of the treacherous Celestial Master, could it be that it's also part of a grand strategy?

Xiaoyu glanced at him, her eyes filled with helplessness, and said, "Taking the initiative and making plans in advance is what it means to play a grand game."

Now that the Qin Dynasty has lost its Mandate of Heaven, the more proactive it is, the more likely it is to make mistakes.

At this moment, there were too many powerful immortals and deities staring at the Great Qin.

If I'm plotting something, no matter how well I hide it, they'll be able to see through it.

Take Chen Sheng, for example. I tried to plot against him directly, but my plan was seen through by the sages. My power was inferior to theirs, and I would only end up in a miserable state.

There's only one reason why we're now waging a war of public opinion against deities—it's a very important war of public opinion, and we can win it.

As long as we don't make mistakes, the imperial court will naturally have the moral high ground.

Holding high the banner of morality, they roam freely in the battlefield of public opinion. No matter how high the level of cultivation or how great the power of a great master, they cannot utilize it.

Guowei Liao thought for a moment and said, "Grand Tutor, since you have a plan, whether it's proactive or reactive, it would be best to inform the Xingyang court so they are aware of the situation."

In the past, when Empress Dowager Zhao was in power, the emperor was not virtuous, the ministers were not loyal, and the entire court of civil and military officials hindered her in various ways.

Now the Second Emperor honors you as his father, and Li Si and Marquis Lieyang are also completely convinced of your worth.

With their cooperation, things will at least be easier for you.

"Very well, I'll go see them now."

Xiao Yu gave Ying Ziying a few more instructions before leading the Grand Commandant to escape along the Wei River to the city of Xingyang.

Without notifying the city gate guards, the two sneaked into the palace.

Then they saw Hu Hai wearing a thin shirt, his chest exposed, playing hide-and-seek with a group of scantily clad, beautiful palace maids.

"Father, is that really you?" Upon seeing Grand Tutor Yu suddenly emerge from underground, Emperor Huhai blinked, his powdered face turning deathly pale. His knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, crying out, "Father, please forgive me! I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly!"

The palace maids, who had been laughing and joking, hurriedly pulled at their clothes to cover themselves, prostrated themselves on the ground, and begged for forgiveness, saying, "We have been disrespectful and rude, please forgive us, Grand Tutor."

"You guys go out first."

Grand Tutor Yu waved to the palace maids and then ordered the eunuch to summon Prince Lieyang and the other Grand Councilors.

"Your Majesty, are you aware that Chen Sheng has already captured Chen County?"

She sat in the main seat, while the Grand Commandant sat in the guest seat, and Hu Hai knelt on the ground.

Hu Hai composed himself, trying to appear solemn and serious, and said, "Reporting to my father, after Chen Sheng's uprising, I have been unable to eat or sleep for several days and nights."

He once summoned his guards fifteen times in a single day to inquire about battle reports from the front lines.

When Prime Minister Li saw this, he thought that my panic and loss of composure would cause panic among the people, as if Chen Sheng had already stormed into Xingyang.

I had just decided to relax a bit, Father-in-law, and your arrival today is truly unfortunate.

At this time yesterday, I was practicing water escape techniques in the backyard!

"Your Majesty is the emperor; you cannot practice Taoist arts." The Imperial Censor believed he was blatantly lying.

"I don't practice the Five Elements Escape Technique, but rather the Water Escape Method from the Immortal Martial Arts Manual. If something happens in Xingyang, I can use the Yellow River to escape... cough cough... I've mastered some martial arts skills, so they might be of some use in case of trouble," Hu Hai said sheepishly.

Grand Tutor Yu looked around and asked, "Where did Zhao Gao go?"

Not only was Zhao Gao no longer by Hu Hai's side, but several of Hu Hai's personal eunuchs were also replaced.

Hu Hai's expression was strange. He crawled a few steps on his knees, approached Grand Tutor Yu, and whispered, "After a secret discussion with Prince Lieyang and Prime Minister Li, I sent Zhao Gao out of the palace."

Although they didn't kill him, they kept him under surveillance to prevent him from running around.

Grand Tutor Yu sighed, "You don't have many capable people around you to begin with. Zhao Gao served the late emperor and is exceptionally capable. Sending him out of the palace is like cutting off your own arm."

Hu Hai was first taken aback, then asked in confusion, "But Zhao Gao... he's not a good person."

Grand Tutor Yu said, "At this time, there are 100,000 troops in Pengcheng, Sishui County. Are there any of your trusted confidants in the army?"

If you had trusted confidants, why would you need to inquire about frontline battle reports more than ten times?

"It is King Lieyang who is arranging the campaign against the rebels," Hu Hai said.

Grand Tutor Yu said, "You are the emperor, so you should at least send a trusted eunuch to the front line as a military supervisor."

You've witnessed Zhao Gao's Taoist arts and martial arts skills; they're at least equivalent to three or four ordinary immortals.

Hu Hai had indeed witnessed it, and not just once or twice. During his dream journeys, he didn't know how many times Zhao Gao had beaten him to death.

They all left behind indelible psychological scars.

Upon seeing Zhao Gao, he would exhibit various stress reactions. So he conspired with Li Si and the Prince of Lieyang to find an opportunity to drive Zhao Gao away, or even kill him outright—but Li Si dissuaded him.

“Zhao Gao is skilled in magic and shrewd, but what if he doesn’t obey me? Father, I’m afraid when he’s near me. I’m not the Emperor, I can’t subdue him,” Hu Hai said helplessly.

"If your abilities are insufficient, elixirs will suffice!" Grand Tutor Yu spread out his right hand, a "golden elixir" emitting a faint glow in his palm. "Do you know what this is?"

Hu Hai wanted to shake his head, because he truly didn't know.

But staring at that "golden pill," his heart pounded and his blood seemed to boil.

In a way, he felt that it was closely related to him.

"Could it be the Ancestral Dragon Qi Pill that's been making headlines lately? I sense that it contains the dragon energy of the Great Qin Dynasty."

Xiao Yu nodded slightly. "If you give this Qi Pill to Zhao Gao, he will no longer be able to harm you. On the contrary, you can control him at will."

Hu Hai's eyes lit up, and he said eagerly, "Father, could you give me a few more? Zhao Gao has brothers, sons-in-law, and a whole family!"

“There’s no need to waste it. As long as Zhao Gao is loyal, his whole family will be loyal as well,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

Hu Hai turned to the eunuch at the door and shouted, "Quickly summon Zhao Gao and tell him to come over immediately."

After the eunuch left to carry out his orders, Grand Tutor Yu laughed and said, "If you keep calling him like that, I'm afraid he won't come."

"He's already trapped like a turtle in a jar, a prisoner in jail. How can he possibly disobey the imperial decree?" Hu Hai exclaimed in surprise.

Xiaoyu smiled without saying a word.

"Military Commander Li, the Prime Minister, has arrived!" The palace eunuch suddenly announced loudly.

"Grand Councilor Feng has arrived!"

The Grand Council was located within the palace, relatively close to Hu Hai's bedroom. In fact, Hu Hai was not in his bedroom at this time.

This palace, named "Golden Bell Hall," had an office in the front hall and its sleeping quarters in the back. Hu Hai, that scoundrel, indulged in debauchery in his "office" during the day.

The two prime ministers led a group of military ministers into the hall. When they saw Hu Hai kneeling on the ground, they were initially surprised. But when they noticed the powder marks on his face and his thin clothes, they immediately understood what had happened and were no longer surprised.

"Greetings, Grand Tutor Yu!" They lined up neatly and bowed to Grand Tutor Yu, who was at the head of the table.

"Please sit down, Your Majesty. You may also rise and find a seat," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Hu Hai quickly got up and rushed to sit next to her.

Only then did the ministers bow to him and find their own seats.

After they were all seated, King Lieyang, dressed in armor and with a long sword at his waist, hurriedly entered the room.

He escaped from the military camp outside the city using earth magic, which took him a little longer.

(End of this chapter)