Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 231 Young Master Fusu
"How could your majesty do this!"

In a mansion next to the palace,

Prince Fusu was sadly telling his newlywed wife about his inner distress.

"The world had just been unified, and he took such drastic measures. He didn't let people breathe a sigh of relief because of the disappearance of the six kingdoms... With such an approach, how could people be willing to support Qin?"

His wife,

That is, Heizhuang's daughter tried to relay to Fusu what she heard from her father and grandfather, hoping to calm his emotions and resolve the conflict between father and son.

The smart and beautiful girl said, "Your Majesty, are you trying to find a new way to govern the world?"

"The new Mandate of Heaven replaces the old Mandate of Heaven, and the new world replaces the old world."

"The Nine Cauldrons have become a jade seal made of the Heshi Bi, so the means of governance must also change accordingly!"

"But there has never been anything like this before. Your Majesty cannot learn from the wisdom of the predecessors and can only explore on your own."

But Fusu said, "A country is made up of countless people. The monarchs in the past governed the people. Isn't he governing the people now?"

"If people's hearts are stabilized, the country will naturally become stable!"

"And even if the system needs to change with the times, it can't be so drastic!"

Fusu recalled the various matters that the First Emperor had summoned his ministers to discuss after unifying the country.

In addition to praising the monarch and changing his title,

The First Emperor also specifically ordered his ministers to discuss:
Govern the world,

Should we use counties or fiefdoms?

At last,
Prime Minister Li Si and others won the debate, so the emperor ordered the implementation of counties throughout the country and the abolition of feudal fiefdoms.

Fusu was actually quite dissatisfied with this decision.

He was deeply influenced by Confucian teachings and believed that "feudalism" was a law established by ancient sages and that it must have its effect.

The reforms of the Six States in Shandong were also a combination of enfeoffment of counties and prefectures, rather than complete centralization.

Other than that,

He also naively believed that it would be detrimental to Qin's rule if the six states in Shandong were to be treated so violently just after they were conquered.

Although human hearts are like water and will flow and change, they cannot be transformed all at once.

Too hasty,
It will have a counterproductive effect!
then,

Fusu started arguing with his father again, arguing that unifying the country was an urgent matter, so much so that the soldiers who had made military achievements could not get the rewards they deserved.

Now, this new dynasty is not yet stable, and the First Emperor wants to force the people of the world to accept the Qin system. It is as fierce as a world-shaking flood.

Water can nourish both banks,
It can also flood both sides.
Fusu felt that the First Emperor could not have been unaware of this truth.

But he did it anyway.
Just like when he faced fierce opposition from Fusu, he still insisted on erasing his identity as Queen of Qin.

When I think of my mother,
Fusu became even more sad and cried in front of his wife.

now,

The King of Qin became the emperor and posthumously conferred the title of "Grand Emperor" on his father, but he never mentioned posthumously conferring the title of Empress on his deceased queen.

It can be seen that a few years have passed,

The emperor's mind remains unchanged.
He was determined to bury the woman who gave birth to his eldest son and accompanied him for many years in an unknown corner, making her a mystery in history.

The ministers saw this,

He didn't even dare to ask the emperor to enthrone a prince.

Fusu was therefore caught in an extremely embarrassing situation.

He is the eldest son.
But he is not the "eldest son".

It stands to reason,

Being so hated by his father, Fusu should have been expelled from the court long ago and become an inconspicuous one among the emperor's many sons.

But unfortunately,

The emperor erased his most important political identity, but still allowed Fusu to sit in the court and become the only prince who participated in politics.

This made the ministers unsure of the emperor's attitude towards his eldest son.

Fusu also suffered a lot because of his father's actions.

Sometimes, he hoped that he could play a role and contribute to the rule of Qin, but his opinions were often contrary to those of his father.

Conversations between father and son often turn into violent quarrels.

Sometimes, he wished he could just walk away.

It doesn't matter whether he is exiled or wiped out, as long as he doesn't have to stand in the court and endure the "painful torture" inflicted by his father.

“I really don’t know what to do!”

"I can't be filial to my mother, nor can I bring kindness to others and let them be taken care of... I can't do anything!" Fusu said sadly.

His wife didn't know what to say when facing the crying Fusu.

She just walked over gently, held Fusu in her arms, and stroked his hair.

……

In the palace,

The First Emperor also wondered in his heart, "What else can I do to Fusu?"

"Isn't what I gave him enough?"

His two uncles betrayed the State of Qin, a serious crime for which they should be punished by the extermination of their entire clan.

He just did not acknowledge Fusu's status as the eldest son, and he still gave him everything else that should be given.

No crown prince was appointed.

But he is the only prince who is allowed to discuss state affairs!
Why does Fusu continue to express opinions contrary to his own?

He should be grateful for his father's kindness and generosity!
Fusu has now married and is a full adult. Can't he understand the painstaking efforts of his father?

Fusu told him that he couldn't understand why he was so eager to unify the world.

But why didn't he think about how big the difference was between himself and the Qin kings of all generations?
The First Emperor put down the government affairs in his hands and closed his eyes.

He couldn't help thinking:
Fusu really looks like his gentle and docile mother. He is full of emotions, just like the romantic and thoughtful Chu people. He is very different from the Qin people who advocate vigor and strength.

But if the mother has a profound influence on her children, then why did the foolish Zhao Ji give birth to someone like me?
After Fusu had quarreled with him many times,

The First Emperor realized:
This child,

Not a pioneer.

If he fails to unify the world in his generation, then after Fusu succeeds to the throne, the cause that the Qin State has fought for for generations may wither in his hands.

Because Fusu did not have such strong ambition and means to seize the world.

The character of the First Emperor,

It also made him go further and further on the path of "pursuing the highest power in the world".

As for the affairs of the prefectures and counties,
The First Emperor believed:
Since the Qin State could accept such a system back then, why couldn't the six states in Shandong?
When the former was reforming, the remaining old forces were even stronger than those of the six states.

The six kingdoms today have been reformed to some extent, and many of them already have counties.

Why couldn't the survivors of the six kingdoms accept it?
Therefore, he does not think there is anything wrong with his decision.

Besides, now, everything has just begun.

"…Your Majesty, the young master is clamoring to see you."

While the First Emperor was deep in thought,
Zhao Gao walked over lightly and reported to him.

Prince Hu Hai,

Because he was born in the year when the Qin Dynasty unified the world, the emperor considered him a very blessed child.

In order to govern a larger and more complex empire, the emperor reduced the number of times he visited the harem.

Therefore, Hu Hai is very likely the only prince born in these years.

Therefore,

The emperor loved his youngest son very much.

After Hu Hai learned to walk, he always pestered his father and acted like a spoiled child to seek his favor.

He seemed to know from birth who he should depend on and who he should please since he was born in such an environment.

"Let him in!" The emperor allowed Hu Hai's request for an audience.

then,

Zhao Gao then stepped out, took the little prince from the servant and held him in his arms.

He lowered his head slightly and glanced at Hu Hai.

Hu Hai was playing with the tiger doll in his hand, making a "wow" sound.

Seeing this, Zhao Gao gave him a kind smile.

He said to the ignorant Hu Hai:
"Young Master, let me take you inside!"

To the Emperor's arms,
Go and touch the most honorable seat in the world.

Hu Hai responded to him happily, "Okay!"

"Then you must hold me tight!"

(End of this chapter)