People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 320, Lü Buwei's Scheme: Planting a Seed for Ying Zheng (End of month, please vote!)
Xianyang, the residence of Marquis Wenxin.

Lu Buwei put down the secret letter in his hand and looked at his eldest son, Lu Yi, who was standing to the side.

When Lü Yi saw his father looking at him, he realized he had spoken out of turn and couldn't help but feel nervous. But his doubts still led him to ask his question.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, I was just curious about Father’s reasons for doing this,” Lü Yi said, bowing.

Looking at his eldest son, who was respectful and even fearful of him, Lü Buwei sighed helplessly. He had two sons: Lü Yi, the eldest, and Lü Hui, the younger.

The eldest son is honest and upright. He has learned a lot from his father over the years and is capable of maintaining the entire Wenxin Marquis's mansion. However, his abilities are limited to this and he has not made any further progress.

As for his second son, Lü Hui, although he was quite ambitious, he had a rather volatile temper and liked to resort to violence, so he was sent to his fiefdom.

"Are you wondering why I allowed the Luo Wang organization to assassinate the King in Xinzheng?" Lü Buwei said calmly.

The mission of Luo Wang in Xinzheng was indeed all arranged by him. Yan Ri, Hei Bai Xuan Jian, Jing Ni, and even Ye Mu were all pawns in his game.

But his goal was not to kill Ying Zheng, nor would he allow Lao Ai to actually kill Ying Zheng.

"Father has his own reasons for doing things, but I am puzzled. Since you allowed Lao Ai to instruct Luo Wang to take action, why did you only let Hei Bai Xuan Jian take action? Although Yan Ri and Jing Ni each have their own tasks, they do not interfere with each other."

"Moreover, although the other top-tier assassins are not in South Korea, they can still be mobilized, and it won't take much time to get them on the road."

"Besides, I don't understand why your purpose is to force Xu Qing, the imperial physician of Han, to return to Qin. You could have just asked Han for him directly, so why force him to come to Qin?"

Lu Yi looked at Lu Buwei and voiced his doubts.

Many of Lü Buwei's plans in Xinzheng were instructed by Lü Yi, so Lü Yi is now very confused about Lü Buwei's true attitude.

If the goal was to kill Ying Zheng, why not send more assassins? The Luo Net has more than just these three top-tier assassins; even six top-tier assassins would be enough to ensure Ying Zheng could never return to Qin.

If Lü Buwei had no intention of killing Ying Zheng, then why did he condone Lao Ai's actions and even send Yan Ri to help him?

"Xu Qing is the Imperial Physician of Han, and his fame is known throughout the states. If he resigns and leaves Han to go to Qin, it will only make him look like a traitor."

"If Ji Wuye had forced him to leave through court intrigue, he would have been forced to leave, which would have only garnered sympathy. However, I did not expect that he would actually dare to have an affair with the King of Han's favorite concubine."

Looking at the secret letter in his hand, Lü Buwei said with deep emotion.

He had arranged so many things in order to ensure that Xu Qing could enter Qin intact, but Ji Wuye, that fool, accidentally got hold of Xu Qing's weakness.

But at least this isn't something that can be brought to the public eye, so no one dares to publicize it. As long as Luo Wang stirs up public opinion, it's enough to cover it up for Xu Qing.

"Then should I follow the usual arrangement and have Zhen Gang arrange for Luo Wang to quell public opinion?" Lu Yi glanced at his father and asked tentatively.

If we're talking about having affairs with the imperial harem, his father's affair was no small matter either, and it caused a much bigger stir than Xu Qing's.

Therefore, Luo Wang has some experience in quelling such public opinion.

“You don’t need to get involved in this matter. I’ve already had Zhen Gang do what needs to be done,” Lü Buwei said.

Lu Yi nodded slightly, looked at Lu Buwei's aged face, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not ask the first question.

Since Lü Buwei only answered the second question, it meant that the other party did not want to answer the first question, so he could not press the matter further.

"Could it really be as the outside world says, that the King is actually his father's child, and the reason he tacitly agrees is to maintain his relationship with the Empress Dowager?" Lu Yi wondered to himself.

Thinking about how his father had taught and treated the king over the years, which was better than what he and his younger brother Lü Hui had received, and considering what he had heard about his father Lü Buwei's relationship with the current empress dowager and the late king in Xinzheng, Lü Yi became even more suspicious of his own thoughts.

“The day of the King’s coronation is drawing ever closer; there are only six months left,” Lü Buwei said softly.

"Father, what should we do next? Should we make some preparations in advance?" Lü Yi gave Lü Buwei a cryptic look, the meaning of which was self-evident.

The relationship between Ying Zheng and Lü Buwei became increasingly delicate and complex. Once Ying Zheng came of age and assumed power, Lü Buwei, who held immense power in the court, would certainly be eliminated immediately.

The powerful minister lost his power, and facing a monarch who had been suppressed for ten years, his fate was self-evident.

"Don't worry about things that aren't your concern. Spend more time teaching your brother to stop acting impulsively," Lü Buwei said coldly, glancing at Lü Yi.

Faced with this sudden oppressive aura, Lü Yi trembled slightly and bowed, saying...
"Yes, the child knows."

"Go."

Lü Buwei waved his hand, and Lü Yi bowed and left.

As the door closed, only Lü Buwei remained in the study, the dim candlelight flickering, illuminating his aged face in and out of the light.

"I hope you won't let me down, and I hope I won't regret it in the end."

Lu Buwei muttered to himself with a complicated expression, but his eyes were fixed on the two characters "Wu Sui" in the secret letter in his hand.

Meanwhile, after four days of travel, Xu Qing and Ying Zheng's group finally arrived near the Wusui military camp at dusk.

Gaine reined in the carriage and spoke to someone behind the curtain.

"Your Majesty, we have entered the patrol area of ​​the Qin army's scouts. Should we send someone ahead to inform General Wang Yi so that he can make preparations in advance?"

Inside the carriage, Ying Zheng put down his chess piece, glanced at Xu Qing opposite him, and then spoke to the outside.
"No need. It's a military camp, a heavily guarded area. Once you step into the area, you'll be spotted by scouts very quickly, and someone will naturally inform you."

"We'll see what Wang Yi's attitude will be then."

"promise."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie continued to drive the carriage forward.

Xu Qing looked at Ying Zheng, whose expression was somewhat conflicted, and said...

"Is Your Majesty worried that Wang Yi's attitude will disappoint you? When faced with difficult choices, I usually choose to prepare for the worst."

"This way, even if things turn out badly, you'll be mentally prepared. If things turn out well, it will actually make you feel more at ease, which will help relieve tension, soothe your nerves, and is also good for your health."

"Sir's thinking is truly unique. Most people believe that one should maintain a calm mind to cope with any change, but you, sir, do the opposite," Ying Zheng said with a wry smile. "Without too many expectations, there will be no disappointment. At least you can prepare for the worst and make some preparations in advance. However, this is just a personal habit, and there is no superior or inferior approach," Xu Qing continued.

"I know, but sir, do you think Wang Yi will do something detrimental to me?" Ying Zheng asked in a deep voice.

"We'll only know for sure once we're in the army," Xu Qing said.

"Yes, we'll only know once we meet Wang Yi."

Ying Zheng looked at the chessboard in front of him and put the chess piece back into the box.

The carriage suddenly stopped, the chess pieces on the board shook a few times, and the sound of several horses' hooves rang out, attracting the attention of Xu Qing and Ying Zheng.

"It seems the scouts have arrived. I'll go and deal with them together with Brother Gai Nie," Xu Qing said.

Ying Zheng nodded slightly. Although Gai Nie's name was known to everyone in Qin, and he also had a token to prove his identity, he was not worried at all about having a conflict with the Qin army scouts.

"Who dares to trespass on military grounds?!"

The scout captain, clad in Qin army black armor, rode forward, raised his weapon, and sternly questioned Gai Nie and Xu Qing, who had stepped out of the carriage.

Xu Qing and Gai Nie exchanged a glance, and Gai Nie stood on the carriage and said in a deep voice.

“I am Gai Nie, the chief swordsmanship instructor of the Qin Kingdom. This is my identification.”

Gai Nie took out a gold token from his pocket and tossed it to the black-armored scout.

After receiving the token, the scout captain glanced at the rank on it and then looked at the detailed information on the back. Although he didn't recognize Gai Nie's face, he had heard of the title of Qin's first swordsman.

Moreover, the identity information and official rank recorded on the back of the token were exactly correct, which immediately startled the scout captain.

Who is Gai Nie? He is the swordsmanship instructor of the King of Qin. It seems that no one but their King himself is capable of driving his chariot.

"Do you recognize this token?" Xu Qing asked, holding up the Qin King's jade pendant in his hand.

Upon seeing the black bird pattern on the jade pendant, the head scout captain's pupils contracted, and he looked into the carriage. As Gai Nie lifted the curtain, a young, handsome, and extraordinary face came into view.

The Qin scout captain jumped, quickly cupped his hands in salute, his voice trembling slightly, filled with disbelief and shock. After a moment's hesitation, he hurriedly said:
"This... Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

His voice trembled slightly, and the scout captain was filled with doubt. They were on the border, a place fraught with danger, where war with South Korea could break out at any moment.

Why would their king come here? Could he be traveling incognito?
"Summon Wang Yi to see me!"

Ying Zheng's expression was calm, exuding an imposing aura without anger. He looked calmly at the scouts present and spoke slowly.

"promise!"

The scout captain dispelled his doubts and said in a deep voice.

He left a few men to escort the convoy to the military camp, while he led the rest of the men back to the camp to report the situation.

"The Pingyang Heavy Armor Army truly lives up to its reputation as the elite of the Qin army. Even their patrolling scouts are highly trained. Judging from the aura they exude, they have at least experienced several major battles."

Xu Qing looked at the scouts guarding outside and said.

It's easy to tell whether a soldier is a new recruit or a veteran. Veterans who have been through the battlefield always carry a faint but unmistakable aura of killing intent, a result of years of fighting.

"The Pingyang Heavy Armored Army was trained by General Wang Yi and has participated in many major battles such as Changping, Handan, and Wusui. His military discipline has always been known for its strictness, so it is only natural that the soldiers are like this."

Speaking of the Qin army's elite forces, Ying Zheng couldn't help but feel a bit proud. The reason why the Qin army was able to repeatedly defeat the six states and possess its current territory was largely due to the Qin army's bravery.

The most obvious difference in the strength of the armies of the seven kingdoms was the strictness of their military discipline. Only strict discipline could ensure that orders were obeyed and that soldiers were fearless in the face of death.

After so many battles, the surviving veterans would become elites, and by leading new recruits, a truly elite army would begin to take shape. The Qin army relied on this model left by Shang Yang to have a series of elite units.

"Indeed, the Qin army can be called a sharp sword, opening up new territories for Qin. Does Your Majesty know what is the reason for maintaining the Qin army's high morale?" Xu Qing asked.

Ying Zheng glanced at Xu Qing with a puzzled look. Any scholar could answer this question eloquently, but he knew Xu Qing had a reason for asking, so he said...

"Naturally, it is the military merit and farming reward left by Lord Shang. The nobility is divided into twenty levels based on military merit, and the corresponding reward can be obtained according to the number of enemies killed."

"The soldiers, eager for a reward, often fought bravely against the enemy without ever retreating."

"What Your Majesty says makes sense. Some soldiers join the Qin army to get enough to eat, while others want to get ahead. But whatever their reason, they all rely on the twenty-level military merit system."

"If the system cannot be implemented, then no matter how good the system is, it will not be able to motivate soldiers to fight bravely. The military merit system hides another principle: fairness."

“A fair chance is what soldiers want. This applies to the army, and even more so to the imperial court,” Xu Qing said slowly.

“Fairness? But there has never been true fairness in this world,” Ying Zheng said, frowning slightly.

"That being said, there is relative fairness. Whether they are soldiers, scholars, farmers, or merchants, as long as they are given hope and opportunity to improve themselves, they will support the person who gave them that opportunity."

"This upward mobility could be a better life, a higher status, or something else entirely; ultimately, it's about valuing their thoughts and using that to guide them."

Xu Qing looked at the puzzled Ying Zheng and began to explain the importance of social mobility, while subtly inserting his own opinions into the explanation.

The collapse of many dynasties began with the solidification of class structure, which often started with the annexation of the means of production. In ancient times, this meant the consolidation of land. When Xu Qing told Ying Zheng this, he didn't intend to change this consolidation, because it was something that couldn't be changed in this era.

What he wanted was to plant an idea in Ying Zheng's mind: an idea of ​​valuing the people and being tolerant.

With this idea in mind, there's no worry that after unifying the world, it will give the people a chance to recuperate. Even if it can't achieve the non-interference governance of Huang-Lao, it can still give the people a chance to breathe.

Hearing Xu Qing's words, Ying Zheng's brow slowly relaxed. He roughly understood what Xu Qing meant, and then said...
"Sir, I understand your meaning. You want me to see what the soldiers and the people are thinking. As long as their interests can be protected, they will support me."

Xu Qing nodded slightly. Although Ying Zheng's words were straightforward and blunt, at least that was the gist of it.

(End of this chapter)