The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 207 Is this the worst time? No, this is the best time
October 2, the sixteenth year of King Jian of Qi.

The largest square in Jixia Academy, Yutai.

The name of Yutai comes from the ancient sage king Dayu.

In various schools of thought, Dayu is often regarded as a sage king, especially in Mohism, where he is most highly regarded.

It is named after King Yu, implying that the square is spacious and broad.

I hope that everyone who comes here to listen to this lecture can care about the world like King Yu.

Ying Chengjiao already knew the name of this square.

When he came to the Jixia Academy nearly two years ago, it was here that he discussed Taoism with Gongsun Long.

But it was not until this time that he learned the meaning of this name from Zou Yan.

Yutai has 3,000 seats and can accommodate 3,000 people.

Ying Chengjiao sat in the core circle closest to the platform, and almost all the disciples were around him, in front, behind, and on both sides.

He looked at the faces of his disciples.

There are people with sloppy appearance and unkempt appearance.

There are men who are gentle and refined, with a muscular body.

There are people who always have a frown on their brows and a sad look on their faces.

He already knew these people.

Last night was the second time we met.

It is these people who are concerned about China's future and want to use their lifelong learning to find a way out for China.

They impart knowledge and answer questions while constantly enriching themselves.

When they teach and discuss politics, they are trying to find the true and smooth path through constant verification with others.

Ying Chengjiao looked at the great scholar Kong Chuan beside him.

Kong wore simple clothes and a tall crown on his head.

He always smiles and laughs whenever he talks to anyone and rarely gets angry.

His temperament and character are very different from those of the orthodox Confucian scholar Kong Bin.

Apart from his strong physique and height that is much taller than ordinary people, he seems to have no connection with the Kong family.

Ying Chengjiao didn’t quite understand it before.

Confucianism and ink are incompatible.

Why was Kong Chuan, the sixth-generation grandson of Confucius, able to become good friends with Deng Lingxue, the great Mohist master of Chu?

After knowing each other for only a few days, the great master of Qi and Mo, was able to eat and drink together happily.

As the saying goes, the ways are different and don't seek each other.

Although Mozi studied Confucianism, it was precisely because he did not agree with Confucianism that he left and established his own school.

No matter from which perspective, the relationship between Confucianism and Mohism should not be very good.

Kong Bin’s attitude towards Mohism is exactly the attitude that Ying Chengjiao understands.

Noticing Ying Chengjiao's gaze, Kong Chuan lowered his head and said with a smile:
"Yingzi, do you have any questions? About clothes?"

Ying Chengyu shook his head.

It existed before, but not now.

Confucianism and Mohism have different paths.

But they are all working for China's future, to end this worst era ever known.

In later times, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were a time of brilliant culture and contention among various schools of thought.

But in the eyes of the various philosophers living in this era, this is not the case at all.

What they did can be summed up in two words - survival.

Almost everyone, the Taoism, Confucianism, Mohism, Legalism... summarized by later generations were all trying to find a way out for China.

All the scholars in the Jixia Academy were working towards one goal.

The reason why there are hundreds of theories is that no one knows which path will work.

The only way is to try it in the most stupid way and try all the routes.

This is what is called "having different paths but working together".

Ying Chengjiao's gaze swept across the faces of the disciples once again.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the foundation for almost all future disciplines in China was laid.

Looking at China and abroad, no country has ever been able to do this.

When the Chinese are on the verge of despair, they always unleash their potential that outshines the world.

The philosophers could feel the arrival of a new era and the end of the old era.

They are the remnants of the old era and should have been abandoned in the long river of history.

There are no ships to carry them; the new era requires people of the new era.

They are not resigned to their fate.

If you don’t have a boat, build your own.

They each do their best and work hard to build the ship in their hearts that can sail into a new era in the torrent of destiny.

They want to lead the remnants of the old era to the new era.

Ying Chengjiao had many insights.

Apart from him, even Zou Yan, who was able to sense the will of heaven, would not have such deep feelings.

Ying Chengjiao is someone who has personally experienced a similar era.

Two thousand years later, the New China emerged from the remnants of the Old China.

Before the founding of New China, heroes from all walks of life ran back and forth, seeking a way out for the dilapidated country.

At the beginning of the founding of New China, scholars from all walks of life gave up advanced scientific research conditions and high-ranking positions and generous salaries in foreign countries and resolutely returned to China, where they accomplished one feat after another that shocked foreign countries.

Except for New China, no other country can use an abacus to type out the parameters for computer calculations or rub a mushroom egg with hands.

It took New China 70 years to complete a journey that took foreign countries hundreds of years and to return to the top of the world.

Ying Chengjiao raised his head and looked at Zou Yan's white figure on the high platform.

As his time was approaching, Zou Yan closed his eyes and rested, just like Gongsun Long two years ago.

He doesn't have the ability to build a new China.

But he has the ability to reshape China in this era.

He didn't know where the end of his road was, he only knew that it would last at least two thousand years.

Zou Yan said:
“These are the worst of times.”

Ying Chengjiao whispered to himself:
“No, this is the best of times.”

On the high platform, Zou Yan opened his eyes.

The old man looked up at the sky and muttered to himself:
"The time has come. It is God's will."

He suddenly raised his voice and said loudly:
"Yan has something to say to you all.

“There are five elements in the sky.

“Human beings have five virtues.

"The five elements and five virtues are earth, wood, metal, fire and water.

“When an emperor is about to rise, the heavens will first show auspicious signs to the people.

“During the time of Emperor Huang, the heavens caused the earth to produce things like giant earthworms and mole crickets, which were signs of the flourishing earth energy.

“The earth element was strong, so the color yellow was popular at that time, and everything was based on the characteristics of earth.

"During the reign of King Yu, the heavens showed that the grass and trees did not wither in autumn and winter, which was a sign of the flourishing wood energy.

“The wood energy was strong, so people at that time admired the color green and acted in accordance with the characteristics of wood.

"During the time of Shang Tang, the sky showed a golden weapon appearing in the water, which was a sign of the flourishing of the metal energy.

“The metal energy was strong, so the color white was highly valued and everything was done in accordance with the characteristics of metal.

"During the reign of King Wen of Zhou, a red bird carrying a red book landed on the temple of Zhou, which was a sign of strong fire energy.

“The fire energy was strong, so the color red was popular and everything was done in accordance with the characteristics of fire.

"Now the Zhou Dynasty is over, and the world is entering a new dynasty.

"The five elements and five virtues are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining. Water restrains fire, so what will replace fire will inevitably be water.

"The heavens will show abundant water vapor around the new dynasty, showing a miracle different from other regions.

"The new dynasty will worship the color of water and follow the characteristics of water in everything it does..."

The teachers and students in the Jixia Academy all listened attentively.

Most of them thought that Zou Yan was talking about the State of Qi.

The State of Qi borders the East China Sea.

Moreover, as early as fifty years ago during the time of King Min of Qi, he listened to Zou Yan's words and wore clothes in the blue color of water. Doesn't this correspond to the virtue of water?
Only Ying Chengjiao knew that it was not.

He had a heart-to-heart talk with Zou Yan last night.

He told his plan to this dying old man who had been traveling all his life looking for someone for the people.

The old man was helping him by giving this speech.

Zou Yan was in the State of Qi, which was bordering the East China Sea, and was giving lectures at the Jixia Academy, which was located near the Ji Gate, the west gate of the Qi royal palace.

He openly stated that the fire virtue of the Zhou Dynasty would be replaced by the water virtue, and that the surrounding areas of the future dynasty would be filled with abundant water vapor.

If we think normally, this is undoubtedly the State of Qi.

The royal family of Qi will be happy.

Zou Yan's argument provided a legitimate reason for their rule.

Especially since Zou Yan died after he made this statement, it adds a mysterious color to this statement.

In this day and age, mystery adds tremendous credibility.

Good and evil depend on each other.

After hearing Zou Yan's theory.

At present, Qi State’s combat power is not high and it is very easy to bully.

We should attack in groups.

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

Zou Yan's dying words would provide time for the Qin State, which was located in the west and closed its doors to the outside world, to mobilize the whole country to build the canal.

Moreover, after the Qin State moved eastward, this theory could still be applied to the Qin State.

When Zou Yan mentioned earth, wood, metal, and fire, he mentioned specific colors.

On the water, only the color of the water is mentioned.

The color of water, although in reality it is mostly blue.

But in the Yin-Yang theory, water belongs to Yin, and Yin is black.

Qin people mostly wore black and prohibited dirtiness.

When Zou Yan talked about earth, wood, metal and fire, he mentioned specific miraculous things.

On the water, it was only said that miraculous things would happen.

The East China Sea has been flowing for thousands of years and there is nothing magical about it.

The magic of water is the Dujiangyan Irrigation System that is almost completed in Bashu, and the Zhengguo Canal that has been under construction for nearly two years in Guanzhong.

Qin State, Guanzhong.

On the Weibei slope next to the Baimaodi, there are densely packed camps, with a total of more than 500 camps, and the camps are still expanding.

Each camp has a leader of 2500 people, who is in charge of 1,000 people.

There are more than 500 camps, which means more than 500,000 people.

Originally, people who came to control the water recruited people from cities and villages on both sides of the Jingshui River.

Jingshui River is a major river involved in this water conservancy project.

If the Jing River is well managed, the Qin people living on both sides of the river will benefit the most.

But under the order of the King of Chu, Prince of Qin, except for the area of ​​50 miles around Xianyang and the land of Bashu.

All cities and villages of Qin State.

Leave behind the necessary farming and weaving personnel, and the old and young to look after the house.

Men and women between the ages of twenty and forty were recruited in batches to help control the floods.

In other countries, people have long complained about this.

Only the Qin State was not angry, but extremely happy.

1. Controlled by Qin law.

The Qin State, which had practiced the rule of law for a hundred years, was far superior to other countries in controlling its people.

2. The Qin State provided food and money.

The Qin people who came to control the flood had only food but no money before their service. After their service was completed, they were allowed to stay and had both food and money.

In the current era when people generally did not have enough food and clothing, the Qin government's move not only did not lose the people's support, but strengthened the people's support. Before 2000 AD, the Chinese people's demands were all about having enough food and clothing.

Spiritual value? Only when you are well fed can you have spirit.

The Lu's Chamber of Commerce, which had stores all over the world, completely disappeared from this world and became a victim of Qin's fight against heaven.

If you feed them and give them money, people will come.

The Weibei slope, which is more than 400 miles long from east to west and dozens of miles wide from north to south, has turned into a vast sea of ​​people.

Li Si, who came here under the order of Lu Buwei half to supervise and half to grow up, stood on a high place, looking at the huge crowd, with a heroic heart.

He opened his arms and felt like he was embracing the world.

He, a tiny mouse, finally found the real granary.

As long as he is well fed, he will show a talent that will shock the world.

"Brother, I will definitely beat you this time. You chose the wrong place." Li Si looked towards the east with an unpleasant smile on his face: "Korea, no."

At night, we arrived at the main camp at Weibei Slope.

After a busy day, Zheng Guo ate voraciously and signaled Li Si with his eyes that he had something to say quickly or fart quickly.

Although Li Si had been here for more than half a year, Zheng Guo and Li Si were still unfamiliar with each other.

Zheng Guo only wanted to focus on flood control and not on human relationships.

More than 500,000 people listened to Zheng Guo's command, which was a rare and unforgettable opportunity.

Apart from King Yu, throughout history, has there been anyone who could control floods as well as King Zheng did?

If this cannot cure the water problem, he cannot bring welfare to the people in Guanzhong, he cannot restore the reputation of water engineers, and he cannot take back the title of the number one water engineer on Li Bing's head.

It is not a pity that his entire family of Zheng Guo died.

"Prime Minister Lu asked me to ask Lord Zheng if there are enough people?" Li Si tried his best to smile.

Zheng Guo's eyes widened, and he swallowed the rice he had barely chewed, and shouted in disbelief:
"I said it's not enough, can you still recruit?"

"Indeed." Li Si nodded.

Zheng Guo looked at Li Si's extremely serious face for a moment, and said firmly:

"not enough!"

"How much is enough, sir?" Li Si asked calmly.

"Six hundred thousand... No! Seven hundred thousand!" Zheng Guo reported a number that he thought was impossible.

"Prime Minister Qin said that he could give you one million." Li Si looked calm, but he was excited in his heart.

One million!
In all the history books he had read, there was no record of such a large project taking place in the world.

Zheng Guo breathed rapidly, grabbed Li Si's hand, and breathed heavily:

"Boy! Are you trying to trick me?"

Li Si could have avoided it but didn't, and he stayed close to Zheng Guo, as if he couldn't smell the stench on Zheng Guo:

"If Prime Minister Qin dares to give it, does Your Excellency dare to accept it?"

"What dare you not do?"

"Sike, I want to remind you. If the flood control period for a million people is almost the same as that for a half million people, not only will you lose your own head, but there will be no one left in your clan."

The people of Zheng were not angry but happy.

The fact that Li Si could say such words proves that he really wanted to give him a million people!
The old plumber's bloodshot eyes shone redly:

"You can get two million people! I can finish it in two years!"

A thoughtful look appeared in Li Si's eyes.

Zheng Guo, who had been holding Li Si's hand tightly, was a little frightened.

He was just talking.

How many people are there in Qin State?

We have allocated two million to control floods in Guanzhong. Doesn't that mean we don't need to cultivate the land anymore?

Besides, where did the Qin State get so much money and grain?

The number of people involved in flood control is equivalent to the number of people fighting a war for a long time.

"No." Li Si finally shook his head, with a look of regret on his face: "My Lord, you want too much."

Zheng Guo took a deep breath and glared at Li Si fiercely:
"Boy! Are you trying to scare me? Act like you can really fool two million people!"

Li Si sighed:

“Two million people is naturally not possible.

"But if the Hu people in the north don't make any unusual moves, adding another 200,000 people shouldn't be a problem."

Zheng Guo's face showed anger.

Can Qin really mobilize another 200,000? Come on! The more people, the better!

The old plumber slammed the table, pointed at Li Si's nose and shouted:

"Don't think that I don't know shit!"

Lifting up his feet, he revealed his dark, muddy soles:
“I have traveled all over the world with this foot, and even the Hu people have seen it.

"There are three states neighboring the Hu people: Qin, Zhao, and Yan.

"King Wuling of Zhao conquered the Hu people, recruited them, and often went to war with them.

"The State of Yan continued to build cities in the land of the Hu people, advancing one city after another, and there were many frictions with the Hu people.

"Compared to Zhao and Yan, your Qin State has the easiest time dealing with the Hu people, and you often buy horses from them.

"For so many years, the Hu people have not made any unusual moves.

"When I was building canals and dams for your Qin State to benefit your Qin people, the Hu people started to make trouble?

"Don't the Hu people know that your Qin State cannot mobilize any troops?

"The Qin State only blocked the Central Plains from receiving news, but not the desert?"

Li Si sighed bitterly:
"What are you talking about, sir? How could our country be so negligent towards the Hu people?
"It's not just Qin that does business with the Hu people.

"What the Hu people know, other nations will soon know as well.

“The reason for the unusual movement is the replacement of generals at the border of Zhao State.

"Li Mu returned to Zhao's border and took charge of all affairs.

“This Zhao general is very weak and dares not go to war with the Hu people.

"He closed the city gates tightly and refused to come out no matter how much the Hu people outside the city gates hurled insults at him.

“The people of Zhao do not fight.

"Many of the Hu people who used to fight against the Zhao people have fled to the border of our Qin State."

Zheng Guo ate voraciously while Li Si was speaking.

After hearing what Li Si said, the old water worker cursed angrily:
"This Li Mu! He is such a disgrace to King Wuling of Zhao! How could Zhao let such a person be in charge of the border?"

"Who said it wasn't true?" Li Si was also very dissatisfied: "Three years ago, Li Mu was a general at the border, but he was transferred back to Handan because of his weak style. I don't know why the King of Zhao transferred him back again this time."

Zhao State, Dai Land, Yanmen County.

Most of the Hu people outside the Zhao State were Xiongnu.

Half a year ago, when Li Mu returned to the land he had been away from for a long time, he immediately announced the abolition of all the orders issued by the previous commander.

All the people in Yanmen County must act in accordance with the military orders he had previously issued.

The military order is as follows:

[Every time the Xiongnu invaded, they would use beacons to warn people, and then they would immediately gather their troops and retreat to their camps to defend themselves, and they would not go out to fight.]

【When the Huns retreated, anyone who dared to chase the enemy would be beheaded.】

Half a year passed like this, and there was not much loss of manpower, horses, and supplies in Daidi, and almost nothing was lost.

But face...

Not only did the Xiongnu think Li Mu was too cowardly, but even the officers and soldiers guarding the border of Zhao State thought that their commander was timid and afraid of fighting.

The border guards of Zhao State could not stand the insults from the Huns outside the pass, so they submitted three memorials to the king over the course of half a year, requesting that the king of Zhao replace his generals.

Three years ago, they replaced Li Mu for the same reason.

They thought that this time they could get what they wanted as usual, so how could the people of Zhao not be brave?

King Dan of Zhao received the memorial.

I saw it, but pretended I didn’t.

In the more than a year after he last transferred Li Mu back, the Zhao army sent troops to fight every time the Huns invaded.

The Zhao army suffered repeated defeats and suffered heavy casualties.

It was impossible to farm or raise livestock on the border, and all supplies had to be supplied domestically, which put great pressure on the State of Zhao.

Only then did King Dan of Zhao realize that although Li Mu was cowardly, he was honest.

When Li Mu was guarding the border, he was self-sufficient and did not lose any land.

As for being embarrassed...just let it be!
King Dan of Zhao invited Li Mu to go to Yanmen again.

Li Mu was advised by his father to stay indoors and insisted that he was ill.

King Dan of Zhao was controlled by his minister Li Mu. He was angry but could not express it.

The State of Zhao had many generals, but apart from Li Mu, none was as cowardly as him.

But the border of Zhao State still needs a coward like Li Mu.

King Dan of Zhao was extremely reluctant and asked Li Mu for help three times.

Li Mu, who had the right to speak, made a request:

"Your Majesty must employ herdsmen. Shedsmen can obey orders, but they will definitely follow the previous regulations.

"Besides, the governor is in a border county and will not return unless the survival of Zhao is at stake. Can the king allow this?"

Zhao Wangdan was very angry.

Doesn't this mean that he, the king of Zhao, has no control over Li Mu, the general of Zhao?

If he won't return unless it's a matter of life and death, doesn't that mean he can't remove Li Mu from the position of border general?

King Dan of Zhao thought about it and finally agreed after being persuaded by his uncle Zhao Bao, his favorite minister Guo Kai, and his son Zhao Yan.

Li Mu's ability to manage the border counties of Zhao State well is better than anything else.

On the city wall of Yanmen County.

Li Mu hunched one arm over his chest, looking down at the dozen or so Xiongnu riding horses under the city, and listening to the insults directed at him:
"Come down, Zhao dog! Come and eat the Warriors' shit!"

"If your commander Li Mu is afraid of us, then send his wife and mother down to the city. We will stop coming when we have had enough fun!"

"Don't people from Zhao have birds anymore? A maidservant adopted son, that's what they call him in the Central Plains, right? Hahahaha!"

The dozen or so personal soldiers following Li Mu all had bloodshot eyes.

One of the one-eyed soldiers fought against the Huns seven times without dying, and had thirteen Hun lives on his hands.

The one-eyed soldier clasped his hands and shouted:
"General! If there were thousands of people challenging us, it would be fine! But there are only seventeen of them! Let Nai Gong go out of the city and kill them!"

The soldiers around all looked anxious, hoping that the general would agree.

Li Mu remained unmoved, without turning his head, and said calmly:

“Add one more military order.

"Anyone who dares to talk about war at any time will be killed."

"You can't stand it anymore!" The one-eyed soldier roared, pointing at Li Mu and cursing loudly: "You are unworthy of being a Zhao man!"

He held the spear in his hand and jumped down from the top of the city wall in two steps. His roar resounded through the sky:
"Your father is here! Grandsons, lead the way to death!"

The one-eyed soldier fell to his death, and his blood splattered on the Huns.

I'd sacrifice my life to splatter your blood.

Li Mu's face was as hard as a rock, and his eyes were as cold as ice:
"No pension for violating military orders."

The soldiers' faces turned pale and they knelt down and begged Li Mu to give the pension of the one-eyed soldier who died in battle to his wife and children.

Li Mu, whose arm was disabled, turned around, his face as hard as steel, and roared:
"I give you meat to eat, I let you train, and you want to die?

"Anyone who tries to intercede will be punished with the same crime!"

The personal soldiers were intimidated by Li Mu's aura and dared not speak for a moment.

Li Mu continued to look into the distance, where was the desert.

He knew that the officers and soldiers in the border counties had a very bad impression of him, Li Mu, and they wanted to replace him immediately.

But he also knew that these officers and soldiers would never mutiny.

Because he gave these officers and soldiers a way to survive, and a good way to survive.

Being able to eat meat to your heart's content once every half a month, even within the State of Zhao there were no such good conditions.

As long as there is no mutiny, as long as they follow the military orders issued by Li Mu, and as long as they complete the training set by Li Mu.

Huns? Huh...

At the same time, a wave that few people noticed swept past Li Mu on the city wall, passed through the Huns in the desert, and explored towards the distance.

The source of this fluctuation is the Jixia Academy in the Qi State in the far east.

(End of this chapter)