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

Chapter 1469 Zhang Liang
"Grand Tutor, let's talk about the future later. Now let's get back to the main topic." King Lieyang neither studied law nor admired Confucianism, and he had long been impatient with what he was hearing.

The distribution of imperial authority was something he could no longer tolerate.

Feng Quji also spoke up: "Basically, the Grand Tutor and Prime Minister Li reached a consensus on the 'pruning strategy,' but they disagreed on the method of relocating the 'divinely appointed ministers' around the rebels."

Prime Minister Li believed that the old Qin laws should be invoked, while the Grand Tutor thought it best to directly tell the world what we wanted to do.

Let's set aside the law and focus on this matter.

Li Si sighed, “The discussion about the New Legalists just now was not without meaning.”

Having understood the Grand Tutor's people-oriented philosophy, I understood why she would openly 'do bad things'.

She believed that ordinary people possessed the wisdom and ability to exercise their own "human rights."

Feng Quji's white eyebrows furrowed: "Old colleague, we used to be so in sync. I could tell what you wanted to do just by looking at you. How come I can't understand a word you're saying now?"
He couldn't understand Li Si's thoughts, but Li Si could understand him and immediately asked, "Why did the Grand Tutor agree to my pruning strategy?"
She thought it made sense and was very reasonable.

She also felt that as long as the court openly and honestly explained its reasons for implementing this policy, all the people would understand.

Like her, the people understood and felt it was reasonable. Our policies were naturally not 'bad things' and had never gone against the will of the people.

On the contrary, eliminating the rebellious "divinely appointed ministers" could even be considered in line with the will of the people.

What the Grand Tutor has always been pursuing is the support of the people.

Feng Quji's old face twisted in distress. "But can the common people really understand?"

Li Si pondered and said, "In the past, the people were ignorant and apathetic, and they certainly wouldn't have understood or wanted to understand."

In the past two years, the imperial court has issued many proclamations to the people.

The letter to the people reveals many great secrets of the gods, the secrets of heaven and earth, and the theory of destiny. There are many things that even I, in the past, could not fully understand.

Do you think ordinary people can understand the contents of the proclamation to the people?

Feng Quji seemed to be thinking about something.

Whether the common people can understand it or not, just listen to what they have to say.

When he left the yamen in his carriage, he would pass through the streets and see the reactions of the people as the constables read out the proclamation.

When the proclamation regarding the Yan Wushuang case was released last time, he even overheard his maids, while dawdling, enthusiastically discussing how the gods' broken oaths led to reforms in Heaven, and speculating about what the future Heavenly Laws would be like.
To be honest, while they may be a bit naive, at least they can understand and discuss it.

Li Si lamented: "The enormous impact of the proclamation on the people proves that the ignorance of the common people is not something they are born with and is fixed."

Common people can be educated, and their knowledge and wisdom can be improved!
As long as you explain things clearly and your reasoning is sound, they will really understand.

Especially now.

The first proclamation to the people also required learned scholars to help analyze the secrets of the immortals.

The people, who have heard many proclamations to the nation, understand what "a minister appointed by Heaven" means without needing explanation.

Grand Tutor Yu finally understood why Ying Zheng still liked Li Si so much, despite Li Si's greed for money and power and his extravagant lifestyle.

This fellow is absolutely a model of a loyal subject; he's incredibly adept at understanding the emperor's intentions.

She could imagine the situation in the Qin court during the reign of Emperor Ying Zheng: Ying Zheng didn't need to say what he wanted to do; with just a hint, other ministers wouldn't notice, but Li Si would immediately grasp the key point and take the initiative to charge into battle for the king.

Feng Quji glanced at Grand Tutor Yu and saw that although she did not speak, her expression showed great agreement with Li Si's words, so he asked, "The current 'Eastern Sea Anti-Qin Alliance' has openly declared that the Great Qin has lost its Mandate of Heaven."

If we directly acknowledge "Heaven-ordained ministers" in our proclamation to the people, what will the people think?
Will they still obey the government and respect the court officials?

"What's the use of just making empty promises? The Qin Dynasty is implementing benevolent policies that the people will never refuse, and the Qin army is still guarding the borders and resisting foreign aggression for China."

"These facts are more useful than any slogans," said Grand Tutor Yu.

Li Si also said, "Perhaps the slogans of rebellion can initially have an impact on the local people, but everyone's life is their own."

Those traitors frantically recruited soldiers, and those who commanded tens of thousands of troops were countless.

For example, Chen Sheng's five armies each had at least 100,000 troops.

But there are only so many men in the Central Plains. If hundreds of thousands or even millions of able-bodied men join the rebel army, who will grow the food?
The impact of war on ordinary people today is even greater than the forced labor imposed by the imperial court in the past.

Although China experienced minor disasters this year, the overall harvest is much better than last year.

The Qin rain master was always able to control the rainfall in the Central Plains.

This year has turned out to be a year of great disaster. According to my estimate, the grain yield after the autumn harvest in the entire Central Plains region will be less than 30% of last year's!
How can we replenish food supplies if they are reduced by 70% at once?
Only the people under the rule of the imperial court can eat their fill, and only by shouting "Heaven's Mandate" can they fill their stomachs?

Having enough to eat is the greatest blessing.

Meng Yi said thoughtfully, "The ten-year benevolent policy has been implemented for two years, and the court has not collected grain for two years."

The granaries in each prefecture and county must not have much grain left, and they cannot withstand the onslaught of an army of 100,000. No wonder they wanted to capture Aocang.

If the Central Plains remain in chaos for a few more years, won't there be countless people starving to death?

Feng Quji hesitated for a moment, then said, "I heard from a Qi cultivator friend that there will be immortals from the Fulong Court who will imitate the old story of the Investiture of the Gods and use great supernatural powers to transport grain from foreign lands to the Central Plains."

Meng Yi paused for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Instead of wasting our luck and using the 'Vajra Zen Evil Method' to transport grain from overseas to the Central Plains, it would be better to transport the grain from the Central Plains to the Great Wall."

Give me enough provisions, and I can invade the Northern Desert, rendering the Left Wise King powerless to advance south.

Feng Quji said, "They support the Dragon Court, and all the losses will definitely be paid by the so-called 'Hidden Dragon.' Once they seize the world, they will lack nothing."

Li Si said, "Transporting grain from the sea also costs money. Before spending even more to sell grain from abroad, they will definitely choose the cheaper option of robbing grain!"
"Prime Minister Feng, just you wait and see. This autumn, a large number of disaster victims will surely flood into Xingyang." Grand Tutor Yu said, "You can discuss the internal affairs of the court when you return. Now that the 'Eastern Sea Anti-Qin Alliance Case' is over, I will send you back."

Marquis Lieyang hurriedly said, "Grand Tutor, the rebels have all transmigrated. Shall we try again?"

“There’s no need. The grand strategy you formulated before the new year will still be effective this year,” said Grand Tutor Yu.

Before the New Year, the kings of the Ying clan and several ministers reached a consensus: to suppress other rebel kings as much as possible, but to actively help Chen Sheng cultivate his prestige, so that this "old dragon" who had lost his mandate of heaven could block the rise of other potential dragons, especially the true Son of Heaven whose identity was unknown.

In this journey through the small world, Fuqiu Gong and his companions not only helped the hidden dragons of Shenzhou develop their potential, but also used "minor leaders" such as Chen Sheng, Xiang Liang, and Tian Rong to attract the attention of the Qin Dynasty, so that the true hidden dragons who would destroy Qin could secretly grow.

This actually doesn't conflict much with the strategy of the Qin Dynasty.

Fuqiu Gong wanted to buy time for the true Son of Heaven to grow, and the Qin Dynasty also wanted to delay as much as possible.

The overall strategic goal of the Great Qin Dynasty this year is simply to weather the hurdle of "the third year of Emperor Huhai's reign".

Even next year, the Qin Dynasty's strategy remains to prolong Huhai's reign, allowing him to live longer and Xingyang to hold out longer.

Essentially, it's all about stalling for time.

However, Grand Tutor Yu will definitely hold another mass time travel event at the end of this year. Even if it's just to buy time, strategic optimization and tactical adjustments are needed to adapt to the new situation in the Central Plains next year.

"Even if they time-traveled, the situation in the Central Plains won't change much this year. Well, if we don't change our tactics, the situation won't change much."

Grand Tutor Yu reassured everyone with a few words and then dismissed the dream meeting.

In early August, summer had ended, and the rice ears in the fields were golden yellow and ready for harvest.

Southwest of Mangdang Mountain lies Dang County, which belongs to Dang Prefecture.

With a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, Liu Laosan squatted on the edge of the paddy field, staring blankly at the rice paddies that stretched for more than ten miles.

"Brother Liu, didn't you say you were going to invite me for a drink? Why are you here?" At this moment, a scholar with a beautiful face, resembling a woman, carrying a wine jar in his left hand and a bamboo scroll in his right, strode towards Liu Ji.

"Oh dear, I was thinking about something and forgot... cough cough, I was planning to go to the west courtyard tonight to find you, sir, so we could drink wine and listen to you explain the 'Art of War by Taigong'!" Liu Ji quickly got up, bowed, and pulled the scholar to sit down on a slope.

The scholar's eyes flickered slightly as he asked, "Brother Liu, have you heard the new proclamation from the Great Qin and are you worried?"

Liu Ji took the wine jar from his hand, gulped down a mouthful, and said, "It's not just about the petition to the people, it's also about my old man."

After a moment of hesitation, he still told the truth, "My father and brothers have been relocated to Beidi County by the imperial court."

Originally, Master Kongkong promised me that he would find an opportunity to rescue my father, because we couldn't let the imperial court continue to use him to blackmail me.

But after the Taoist priest found him, my father refused to leave.

He said the imperial court allocated land to them; my sister-in-law, my second brother, and my father each had 150 mu of land, as well as a big yellow ox and a "Huhai plow".

He didn't want to cause any more trouble; he just wanted to stay in the north and farm peacefully.

The scholar exclaimed in surprise, "Grandpa, what are you planning to do? It's just a few hundred acres of land, dry land in the north, it's worthless."

"Those three oxen were probably stolen from the grasslands by the Mongol army; they're actually unsuitable for plowing."

Liu Ji said, "The Taoist Kongkong only agreed to bring my father back."

The scholar suddenly realized.

Liu Taigong wasn't short-sighted, nor was he subdued by the Qin Dynasty; he was simply helpless.

The Liu family, a large household, now lives as "border residents" in the north. They have fields and oxen, so they are doing quite well.

But if Liu Taigong runs away, the others will probably have a hard time.

"Since the Taoist Kongkong is willing to save people, why only save Grandfather?" he asked in confusion.

“He said that making too much noise would disturb the spirits of the northern lands,” Liu Ji said.

The scholar comforted him, saying, "Brother Liu, there's no need to worry too much. According to my calculations, as long as the Qin Dynasty exists, the Xiongnu will not be able to cross the Great Wall."

Once the Qin Dynasty is gone and the allied forces enter Guanzhong, the Shendao followers will no longer act as 'accomplices' to the tyrants, guarding the border people for the imperial court.

Liu Ji asked in confusion, "A few days ago, Jingju summoned us to discuss the overall situation in the Central Plains."

Zifang also suggested that he invite the Xiongnu to go south to Shanggu and cut off the connection between the Great Wall army and the Zhao region.

Why are you saying today that the Xiongnu could not cross the Great Wall?

Zhang Zifang laughed and said, "The reason we asked the Xiongnu to contain the Great Wall army is because King Fusu of Zhao had a close relationship with the Meng brothers and the two sides were also close to each other."

Only by severing the connection between the Great Wall army and the Zhao territory could General Zhou Shi, or the King of Qi or the King of Wei, have a chance to restore the Zhao state.

However, the Xiongnu could not enter the Great Wall because the Qin Dynasty had Grand Tutor Yu.

Grand Tutor Yu was still in the north at this time.

I received news that Grand Tutor Yu only made a brief appearance outside Yanmen Pass, and the Left Wise King Modu broke camp overnight, leading 80,000 cavalry back to the northern desert.

Hehe, you should know that this is the season when autumn is in full bloom and horses are fat.

"If we miss this window, the Left Wise King's tribe will pose no further threat to the Great Wall this year."

(End of this chapter)