The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 208: The Great Nine Provinces Theory, Ying Zi, the Priest of Jixia Academy
Qi State, Linzi, Jixia Academy.

After Zou Yan talked about Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, he felt that his time was up and his mind began to wander.

Although the old man still looks like an immortal, he is actually very weak inside.

He smiled.

Even I don't know why I am smiling.

Maybe it's a relief.

Or perhaps the lifelong pursuit finally came to fruition before death.

The old man looked at the youngest person in the audience—Young Master Cheng Jiao.

More than half a year of academy life and a year and a half of brutal battlefield allowed the second seed planted in Ying Chengjiao's heart to take root, sprout, and grow vigorously.

It produced the fruit of a gentleman who cares about the people.

The old man pointed at the ten-year-old boy and said in an old and heroic voice:
"After I die, Ying Zi will be the chief priest!"

[This is the last bit of effort Yan will make for the common people...]
There was an uproar in the square.

The teachers and students of Jixia Academy all looked incredulous and could not believe their ears.

From Zou Yan's words, they could hear that Zou Yan was about to pass away, and that Ying Chengjiao, the son of Ying, who had just turned ten according to the Qin calendar, would become the new chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy.

No matter which of the two pieces of news it was, it made their hearts waver.

A buzzing sound rose in the square, as if three hundred thousand bees were flapping their wings together, making a huge noise.

Ying Chengjiao was instantly stared at by countless gazes, with every bit of his body and hair exposed in public, as if he was naked.

The young man stood straight, with no fear on his face and a calm expression.

If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. He understood this truth when his grandfather died.

It was Ying Chengjiao's destiny to make Qin unify the world.

From now on, it is also his, Ying Chengjiao's, destiny to end this chaotic era.

Zou Yan on the stage looked up at the sky.

The sky is blue and the sun is shining brightly.

The white clouds float by, unchanged for thousands of years.

He had to look at the sky every day in his life and feel the will of heaven every day.

Those sorrows and griefs prevented him from being free and kept his heart immersed in a sea of ​​suffering.

He could choose not to feel God’s will, but he doesn’t.

This is the path he chose.

Since the world calls him Zou Zi, he can bear the joys, sorrows, anger and happiness of this world.

Since you are a son, you should do son’s things.

There was a flash of madness in the old man's eyes:
"Since you are a dying person, you still need to follow the rules!"

He closed his eyes and raised his hands high, using all his energy for the first time in more than 20 years.

Get closer to the sky and feel its will.

Zou Yan's intention spread on the Yu Terrace and went in all directions, so much so that even light could not catch up with it.

In just a moment, Zou Yan's ruddy face suddenly turned as pale as paper!

He looked up to the sky and spat out a mouthful of blood! Then he jumped three feet high!

The originally smooth white hair lost its luster, and broke into pieces and flew away under the breeze.

There was no smooth transition in all this.

In the blink of an eye, the old man looked completely different!
"This is impossible! This is impossible!" The old man opened his eyes, but could not see anything.

He is blind.

The old man was staggering, and the world that had been noisy just a moment ago suddenly became silent.

In the square below the stage, people were still chattering about something.

The old man is deaf.

Zou Yan seemed to have a sense of taste, with his dry and broken face crying and laughing at the same time, full of madness:
"This is impossible... The Nine Provinces established by King Yu should be the world... There are only Nine Provinces in the world...

"The sky is round and the earth is square... It's impossible for the sky to be round and the earth to be round...

"Earth conquers water... So the earth surrounds the sea... How can the sea surround the earth..."

The old man talked nonsense for a while, and his voice was amplified by the ingenious design of Yutai, echoing in the square.

This time the square really quieted down slowly, and everyone thought that the chief priest was giving a lecture again.

But this time the teaching was too obscure and difficult to understand. They could understand every word, but had no idea what they meant when put together.

The students sitting near the core area looked at the scholars, trying to find the answers from their faces.

But he found that the other scholars also looked confused and ignorant, just like them.

Oh no, not always.

Yingzi is different.

Ying Chengjiao's face was filled with horror and his expression changed drastically.

[The sky is round and the earth is round... Zou Zi knows that the world is a ball? Does Zou Zi mean that the world is a ball?]
The young man looked at Zou Yan without looking at anyone.

The last person who gave the young man such a feeling was Bai Qi, whose murderous aura was condensed and did not dissipate, affecting the temperature of the underground Xianyang Prison.

On the Yu stage, Zou Yan cried and laughed loudly, jumped up and danced.

Because of his big movements, the loose robe fluttered, exposing Zou Yan's shriveled body to the sun.

In Qi State, which attached great importance to etiquette, this was a serious mistake.

The people in the audience looked away and lowered their heads, feeling ashamed for the old man on the stage.

They lowered their heads to limit their sight, but their ears were not limited, and the old man's words came into their ears:

"I get it! I get it! I get it!
"I know what China is! I know what this is all about! Hahahaha! I get it!
"So-called China! It only occupies one eighty-first part of the whole world.

"We are in the Red Land of China!

"The nine states within the Red County Shenzhou are the same nine states that King Yu divided!

"But this Kyushu is not the Kyushu of the whole world! It is only the Kyushu of the Red County Shenzhou! This is a small Kyushu!

"Outside of China! There are nine more places like the Red Country Shenzhou. This is the Kyushu! This is the Great Kyushu!
"Each state in the Great Nine Provinces is surrounded by a small sea, and neither humans nor animals can communicate with each other...

"Hahaha! Yes, that's it, that's right!
"This kind of state is the real state! Only the state surrounded by the small sea can be called the Nine States! Hahahaha! There are only Nine States in the world!
"There are nine states like this in the world. Outside the Great Nine States, there is a vast ocean surrounding them. That is the edge of heaven and earth..." (Note 1)

Zou Yan shouted for a while, then his voice suddenly stopped and he fell on his back on the Yu platform.

No more sound.

Afterwards, the teachers and students of the Jixia Academy unanimously agreed that Jijiu had gone mad and was suffering from a mad attack at the last moment of his life.

The State of Qi held a grand funeral for Zou Yan.

The ceremony was so grand that it was only one level lower than the funeral of the Empress Dowager.

This not only showed Qi's respect for the philosophers, but also was a way to thank Zou Yan for the theory of water virtue he proposed at the last moment.

The Tian family of Qi, which was seeking to usurp the throne, needed to find theoretical support for its rule.

Zou Yan's funeral was directed by Chunyu Yue, the chief minister of Qi.

King Jian of Qi and high-ranking officials of Qi came one by one to see Zou Yan off for the last time.

The end of the funeral.

In front of Zou Yan’s tomb.

The newly appointed Jixia Academy chief academic officer Ying Chengjiao stood in front of the tombstone.

Next to Ying Chengjiao was Zhao Xuanlang, who was crying loudly.

After the two of them came everyone in the Jixia Academy.

Ying Chengjiao looked at the tombstone in front of him that was carved from white jade. The epitaph on it was carved by Xiang Fuxi, the great master of Qi Mo.

The young man thought about the old man's final madness and whispered in a voice that he couldn't even hear:
"I guess... you're not crazy... you just know the truth about the world."

The tenth day of the tenth month in the sixteenth year of King Jian of Qi.

Ying Chengjiao officially became the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy, and King Jian of Qi came in person to congratulate him.

When the Chu and Wei states attacked the Qi state.

King Jian of Qi stayed in the Jixia Academy with his daughter Tian Yan for one day, but did not review a single bamboo slip.

There was no sign of anxiety on his face.

I look great, feel healthy, and enjoy everything I eat.

Ying Chengjiao's residence was moved to the residence of the chief priest near the center of the Jixia Academy.

Inside the residence.

"My daughter has caused Yingzi a lot of trouble before. Please don't blame me." King Jian of Qi pulled Tian Yan over and smiled at Ying Chengjiao.

Almost two years have passed, and Tian Yan has become more and more beautiful.

A flower has begun to bloom.

As the body grows, the mind also grows.

The girl blinked her big eyes, looked at the boy who had lost his cuteness and grown into a handsome man, and lowered her head shyly.

The state of Qi was ravaged by war.

Being able to kill and daring to kill, although not a plus in the girl's mind, is no longer a minus.

"Your Majesty, you are too kind." Ying Chengjiao did not look at Tian Yan, but said to King Jian of Qi politely, "The Seventh Princess is naturally beautiful. She is a beautiful sight in the academy. How can she be a nuisance?"

King Jian of Qi looked delighted, thinking that Ying Zi did not seem to be as opposed as before, so the marriage was likely to go ahead.

Although legally, Ying Chengjiao and Tian Yan are already engaged and will definitely become husband and wife in the future.

But King Jian of Qi was a little anxious after having fun.

Isn’t the purpose of engagement to get married?

Then why not just get married?

Young Master Chengjiao is already ten years old, and his daughter is almost thirteen. What's wrong with them getting married?

King Jian of Qi always smiles:

"Okay, okay.

“My daughter often says that Ying Ziwen is able to serve as a priest and his military ability to defeat the State of Yan, and he is the best man in the world.

"Being able to marry Yingzi is her lifelong wish, haha."

The seventh princess hit her father like a spoiled child, then hid behind him with a red face.

From beginning to end, there was not a single rebuttal.

"Uncle." Qi Wangjian said to Taishi Sheng who came with him, "Let's find a good day to marry Yingzi and my daughter."

"Yes." Taishi Sheng nodded with a smile.

Then he bowed to Ying Chengjiao:

"Congratulations, Yingzi."

Ying Chengjiao had an unusual expression on his face, but he did not comment. He first glanced at the official uniform worn by Taishi Sheng.

The Xiezhi, which originally symbolized fairness, had disappeared, proving that Taishi Sheng was no longer the Chief Justice.

After the Queen Mother passed away, King Jian of Qi appointed the Queen Mother's younger brother as the Prime Minister of Qi, and his own uncle as the Prime Minister of Qi.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister is busy with all kinds of affairs. Please don't worry about such trivial matters yourself." Ying Chengjiao said with concern.

Tai Shi Sheng was very happy. Zou Yan, the previous chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy, would not be so polite to him.

As early as when he was the Minister of Justice, he had a very good impression of Ying Chengjiao.

With just one sentence from Ying Chengjiao, the good impression that had been building up from nearly two years ago was renewed.

Taishi Sheng stroked his beard with one hand, smiling proudly, and waved his other hand:
“My day wasn’t busy at all.

"Yingzi's marriage is a top priority." Ying Chengqiu glanced at Qi Wang Jian's expression and didn't notice anything unusual, so he knew what was going on.

[Qi State lost territory one after another.]
[The King of Qi and the Prime Minister of Qi acted in this way...]
[You two must be careful and stay safe. The State of Qi must be under your control.]
"Cheng Jiao thanks the King of Qi and the Prime Minister for their kindness, but at my age..." Ying Cheng Jiao smiled bitterly, "I am still too young."

Nowadays, men get married at the age of fourteen or fifteen, and women at the age of twelve or thirteen.

Qi Wangjian looked indifferent:

“It’s not small anymore, it’s already big enough.”

"King of Qi." Ying Chengjiao interrupted King Jian of Qi and said solemnly, "This is against etiquette. As the chief priest of Jixia Academy, I will never do such a thing."

King Jian of Qi was speechless. How could he have forgotten about this?

The young man in front of him was not one of those dandy boys in Linzi who engaged in dog and cock fighting, but the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy.

The chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy was fond of learning and attached great importance to etiquette.

"Okay..." Qi Wangjian sighed, and then he calmed down in the next moment and said with a smile: "Then wait another two years."

"It's three years." Ying Chengjiao said seriously, "It's not even October yet, so I can't get married during the New Year. I won't be thirteen until October 1st of the year after next, so I can get married after that, so it's three years."

King Jian of Qi stood up straight, with a hint of majesty on his face:
"Qin's New Year is on October 1st, but Qi's is on January 1st.

"Since Yingzi is in Qi, he should follow the local customs. He will be one year older after the first month of the year.

"Two years later, Yingzi turned thirteen and married my little girl."

Ying Chengjiao looked at King Jian of Qi who did not tolerate any refusal, then lowered his head to look at Tian Yan who secretly poked his head out.

When Tian Yan met Ying Chengjiao's gaze, her head suddenly shrank back.

Ying Chengjiao's mouth twitched and he nodded:
"Ok."

The boy didn't know what to say.

Can the rise and fall of a country really depend on marriage?
Qin would go to war with Chu and Wei for a so-called marriage? Isn't that ridiculous?
Besides, even if it's a marriage alliance, there is still some use in getting married now.

Chu and Wei are attacking Qi fiercely, so they might hesitate a little bit when they hear the news.

What’s the point of getting married after two years?
Did the King of Qi want to fight a protracted war with Chu and Wei on his own land until he married Tian Yan and forced Chu and Wei to withdraw their troops?

“We can congratulate Yingzi this time.” Taishi Sheng clasped his fists for the second time.

Ying Chengjiao smiled bitterly and nodded, returning the greeting to Taishi Sheng, and said as if speaking from the bottom of his heart:

"If you don't attract envy, you are a mediocre person. Your Excellency, don't worry about what others say.

“Confucius said that we should love our own family first, and then love others, so what’s wrong with nepotism?

"Isn't it that the Prime Minister is not really trying to help the King of Qi?"

Taishi Sheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was deeply moved.

Even his biological father Taishi Qiu did not approve of him and said that he would bring harm to the State of Qi.

In addition to King Jian of Qi and his followers, another person who supported him was Ying Zi, the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy.

Tai Shisheng suddenly felt that he had been greatly wronged, and his eyes became blurry:

"Yingzi's words... Sheng will remember them in his heart!"

If others supported Taishi Sheng, he would be moved, but not this much.

Ying Chengjiao is different.

Ying Chengjiao is now the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy.

No matter how knowledgeable those who opposed Taishi Sheng were, could they be better than the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy?

King Jian of Qi also felt a little aggrieved.

He has been scolded so badly for such a long time, but the State of Qi encourages face-to-face stabbing.

Those ministers criticized King Jian of Qi so much that he wanted to change his prime minister several times.

Although the plan was not implemented because King Jian of Qi could not save face with his uncle and he forgot about it while having fun.

But King Jian of Qi always had the idea of ​​changing the prime minister in his mind.

Now, after hearing what Ying Zi said from the Jixia Academy, King Jian of Qi instantly gave up the idea and felt that he had done nothing wrong.

He raised his head, pretending to be sober while everyone else is drunk, and the whole world is turbid while I am pure, and said with emotion:
"If all the officials in the court could understand the greater good like Ying Zi, and understand my good intentions, I wouldn't have to work so hard."

Ying Cheng cursed in his heart.

[What's hard for you? Are you tired? ]
"Yingzi!" King Jian of Qi suddenly looked at me with a blazing gaze: "How about I appoint you as the left prime minister? And my uncle as the right prime minister! If I have you two, there is no need to worry about the prosperity of Qi!"

Tai Shisheng, who originally had a very good impression of Ying Chengjiao, had a stiff expression on his face.

He is now the prime minister, holding all the power. Why would he want one more person to take away his power?

Taishi Sheng looked at Ying Chengjiao unhappily, his expression obviously becoming much gloomier.

Ying Chengjiao looked at King Jian of Qi, who said "hurry up and agree", and Taishi Sheng, who said "dare you agree", and felt that he really didn't need to do anything in Qi, and it would be best to let nature take its course:
"Cheng Jiao is incompetent and inexperienced, far inferior to the Prime Minister, and is not qualified for such a great task."

Seeing that King Qi Jian was not giving up, he wanted to continue the discussion.

Ying Chengjiao took a step forward and turned sideways to prevent Taishi Sheng from seeing his face.

While he was giving Qi Wangjian a warning, he said hurriedly:

"I am still in the Jixia Academy and can still help the King of Qi.

"When the King of Qi summons Cheng Jiao, he should just go. Why bother about the position of Prime Minister?"

King Jian of Qi then noticed that his uncle, Taishi Sheng, looked unhappy, and belatedly said:

"Yes, yes, that's right, that's right, that's right..."

Taishi Sheng's expression immediately turned from gloomy to bright, his worries were all written on his face, and he felt very good about Ying Chengjiao.

King Jian of Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

In order not to affect family harmony and to make his uncle Tai Shisheng believe that he is dedicated to the public.

King Jian of Qi decided to talk about official business to show that he really cared about the country and the people:
"Ying Zi, how can we make Chu and Wei withdraw their troops?"

Ying Chengjiao pondered for a moment and said:
"I heard that the King of Chu had a son.

"If Qi could send an envoy to congratulate him, and express his happiness for him, it would be an act of repaying evil with virtue.

"I guess the King of Chu won't fight again."

King Jian of Qi and Tai Shi Sheng looked at each other and nodded carefully.

"Ying Zi really helps me share my worries."

"Send people to Chu to bring more gifts."

Ying Chengjiao: “…”

The young man looked at the king and the prime minister and forced a smile, almost unable to control his expression.

[It is not unfair that Qi was destroyed...]
Chu State, Yingdu, and the Palace of the King of Chu.

King Yuan of Chu has been extremely happy recently.

After the Queen Mother of Qi died, internal turmoil broke out.

The State of Chu took the opportunity to attack the State of Qi. In the excitement, it even forgot to find a name for itself. When being condemned, it could only yell "I am a barbarian".

Is it important that there is no name?
The King of Chu thought it was unimportant.

The State of Qin has been blockaded, who can sanction the State of Chu now?
I originally thought that Qi was very powerful.

Unexpectedly, the Chu army was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. It won victory after victory and almost never suffered a defeat.

King Yuan of Chu believed it deeply.

The land obtained is real.

Reputation is what people in the Central Plains value. What does it have to do with these barbarians?
Not only that.

Chunshen Jun also made great progress in the management of canals.

The land granted to Chunshen Jun is now well managed and production has increased by 30%.

He was glad that he did not let some young man sow discord between them and chose to continue to fully trust Chunshen Jun Huang Xie, which enabled him to gain such a great deal.

Speaking of gains, King Yuan of Chu’s greatest gain was not land, but his son.

King Yuan of Chu, who had no offspring, finally had a son.

The newborns look like monkeys.

King Yuan of Chu named his son You based on his appearance when he was born.

In this era, You was the name of a kind of monkey in the Chu State.

"You ah You, please grow up quickly..." Prince Yuan of Chu sat on the bed, holding the almost one-year-old baby in his arms, unable to let go.

The bed was covered with bright red bedding, exuding a festive scent.

The red light of the quilt illuminated a gorgeous figure, whose hand was dishonestly touching Chu Wangyuan's body.

Her name is Li Yan, You's biological mother.

Before giving birth to a son, although she was the most beautiful among the concubines in the harem of King Yuan of Chu, her status was not high and she was just an ordinary concubine.

After giving birth to a son, her status soared.

In name, he is second only to the queen, but in actual power he is as powerful as the queen.

"Your Majesty~" Li Yan took off his clothes and wrapped his body around King Chu Yuan like a snake.

Chu Wangyuan stood up holding his son, and said without even looking at Li Yan:
"Get dressed."

Li Yan pouted, her waist so thin that it could be held with both hands, and said dissatisfiedly:

"Ever since You'er was born, the king has been avoiding me. Why is that?"

Chu Wangyuan sneered:
"I am the king of Chu.

“Now that I have You’er, I will naturally not be dissolute and drain my body anymore.

"I don't want to end up like King Xiaowen of Qin."

He stretched out his finger and teased his son who couldn't speak yet:

"You'er, don't you think so?

"Before you grow up, your father will take good care of this huge Chu State for you..."

Seeing that Prince Yuan of Chu was devoted to his son, Li Yan felt thirsty.

The girl bit her lower lip and said as she put on her clothes:
"My king, I'm going to see my brother and take a look."

Before Li Yan finished speaking, King Chu Yuan waved his hands again and again:
"Go! Go! Go."

Li Yan wrinkled his nose and snorted.

He put on his robe and walked out escorted by his servants.

In Yingdu, Li Yuan’s mansion.

Li Yan arrived escorted by a large group of people.

Li Yuanying, who had learned the news early, stood at the door, but he was not very happy in his heart.

Li Yuan was originally a retainer of Chunshen Jun Huang Xie.

Because he presented his sister Li Yan to King Yuan of Chu, and Li Yan gave birth to a son for King Yuan, he was praised by King Yuan and entered the court of Chu.

Logically speaking, he should be very happy about his sister Li Yan's arrival...

Li Yuan led his sister into the house with a smile on his face.

After letting the people who came with Li Yan rest in the front hall, Li Yuan led his sister into the backyard, scolding with a gloomy face as they walked:

"Why are you here again!"

Li Yan ignored his brother.

Her footsteps were as light as flying, and like a butterfly, she flew into the backyard with ease.

…………

[Note 1: In the previous chapter and this chapter, Zou Yan's theory of the five elements and the theory of the nine states were not fabricated by the author, but were actually proposed by Zou Yan.]

(End of this chapter)