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

Chapter 487, The Great Unification of All Things

After discussing other matters with Ying Zheng, Xu Qing left Zhangtai Palace and headed towards the Doctor's Palace under the guidance of an attendant.

After passing through several passageways, Xu Qing arrived at the gate of the Doctor's Palace. However, before he could get close, he heard arguing coming from inside.

"Please don't be offended, Your Majesty. Ever since His Majesty established the Palace of Scholars, these scholars have been arguing in the palace all day long. At first, people passing by in the palace would be surprised and taken aback, but after a while, they got used to it."

The eunuch bowed slightly to Xu Qing and began to explain.

Xu Qing glanced through the gate at the scene inside. In the spacious courtyard, dozens of scholars were neatly divided into several groups. Some of these scholars were eloquent, while others were sharp-tongued, pointing their fingers at the noses of scholars from other factions and angrily rebuking them.

"I knew these people getting together wouldn't be any peace of mind."

Looking at the situation inside the Doctor's Palace, Xu Qing pinched his brow and complained.

Even though the various sects are scattered across the country, they can still travel long distances to each other's territories to debate. Now that these people have been gathered together, and they see each other all the time, it's already a good thing that they haven't started fighting in public.

"I heard they even got into a fight a couple of days ago," the eunuch muttered under his breath.

Xu Qing was speechless upon hearing this. He had disregarded his earlier words, thinking that Gongyangdi could temporarily quell the disturbance and prevent these people from causing trouble. However, it seemed that he had been overthinking things.

Although the Gongyang School of Confucianism is renowned, how many of the schools of thought among the Hundred Schools of Thought that have survived to this day are without a solid foundation? Which school hasn't produced a few great talents?
"It seems we need to bring Master Xun to the Qin state as soon as possible."

Xu Qing watched the two people pointing fingers and hurling insults at each other, and thought to himself.

If we're talking about who could command respect after the establishment of the Great Qin Academy, it seems to be only Xunzi. After all, he was the most accomplished in academics among the Heavenly and Human Realms, and he was also the most capable among the academic masters of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

"You can go back now. I can go in by myself," Xu Qing said.

"promise."

After bowing, the eunuch took his leave.

After tidying his clothes, Xu Qing walked straight into the Doctor's Palace. The scholars who were passionately debating noticed Xu Qing's arrival and stopped to look at him.

"Made by Daliang."

The dozens of scholars who had been at odds with each other bowed to Xu Qing in unison.

Seeing everyone's attitude, Xu Qing was somewhat flattered, but still respectfully returned the greeting.

"Greetings, everyone. How have you been since arriving in Xianyang?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. We are all well. Your Majesty's kindness to us is overwhelming."

The person standing on the outermost edge looked at Xu Qing with a mixture of excitement and admiration in his eyes, and said with a smile.

The others looked at Xu Qing with similar expressions of admiration and gratitude.

Under the influence of various schools of thought, including the Qin state, Taoism, the Gongyang School of Confucianism, and the medical school, Xu Qing, who was considered a model scholar and a benchmark for ministers, was unknowingly regarded by these scholars as a representative of loyal ministers, comparable to Yu Rang, who said, "If the ruler treats me as a national scholar, I will repay him as a national scholar."

Moreover, many of their sects had declined, possessing knowledge but no future. It was precisely because Xu Qing treated them with respect and invited them to Qin that they were able to rekindle their hopes for the revitalization of their sects.

Previously, they were prejudiced against the Qin state and would rather starve to death and have their sects die out than enter Qin. But after arriving in Xianyang, they realized that they had been really ungrateful.

"Please get used to it, everyone. I'm here to see Elder Gongyang. You can continue," Xu Qing said with a smile.

The crowd stopped bothering Xu Qing and made way for him.

After passing through the crowd, Xu Qing headed towards the palace where Gongyangdi was located. After Xu Qing left, the scholars who had been humble changed their expressions again, glaring at each other angrily, and began to debate with their sleeves rolled up.

"Bang bang~"

After knocking on the door, Xu Qing pushed it open and entered the hall. What came into view was a large number of books piled up in the center of the hall, and a dozen or so disciples of the Gongyang School of Confucianism were leaning against the tables, flipping through various classics with one hand and writing on bamboo slips with the other.

Gongyang Di was sitting in the head seat, writing something. Beside him was an exceptionally plump young man who was half-reclining on the seat, reading a book while holding pastries in one hand and bamboo slips in the other.

Xu Qing looked at the chubby man, a strange light flashing in his eyes, as if he was thinking about the man's identity.

"The Grand Master has arrived. Please come in quickly."

Gongyang Di also noticed Xu Qing, and quickly stood up, saying with a smile.

The other Gongyang Confucian disciples also came to their senses and were about to rise and pay their respects, but Xu Qing directly pressed his hand down and said...

"No need for such formalities, everyone. We brothers don't need these formalities in private. Please continue with your work." "Yes."

The dozen or so disciples sat down again and continued with their own tasks.

The chubby man next to Gongyang Di also glanced at Xu Qing with curiosity, his face showing a look of inquiry. After bowing to Xu Qing, he continued reading his book.

“Da Liangzao, let’s go to the inner room to talk,” Gongyangdi said.

"Sir, please." Xu Qing nodded and said.

Gongyang Di led Xu Qing into the inner room. The two sat at the table by the window, where the gentle and warm sunlight shone down, making them feel cozy and comfortable.

"Guanzhong is indeed colder than Qi. The gloomy weather for the past few days made it even colder. Today the weather is really nice."

As Gongyang spoke, he poured Xu Qing a cup of tea.

"The weather in Guanzhong is indeed like that. In winter, it will be even colder with the addition of cold winds. However, the climate in Qin has been relatively calm in the past two years, and there will be no snow disasters or freezing disasters."

After thanking him, Xu Qing casually replied before continuing to ask...
What are those disciples doing in the main hall? Copying scriptures?

"His Majesty has ordered that the power of Qin be used to help my Gongyang Confucian scholars compile a book. These disciples are referring to the classics and historical materials in the Qin State Library to compile the Gongyang Spring and Autumn Annals, which is passed down by my Gongyang Confucian family," Gongyang Di said.

Upon learning that Gongyang Ru had begun writing a book, Xu Qing was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his face as he continued to ask...

"Writing a book? Has the old gentleman figured out the outline and structure of this Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals?"

"The framework is based on historical materials from the Spring and Autumn period, using questions and answers to explain the doctrines of the Gongyang School of Confucianism with subtle and profound meanings, among which..."

Gongyang Di didn't hold back and began to explain to Xu Qing how Gongyang Ru planned to write a book. Gongyang Ru had had the idea of ​​writing a book for a long time, but he couldn't complete it by relying on his own efforts, so he hadn't started yet.

With the help of the Qin state, they were able to put their previous plans into practice.

Listening to Gongyang Di's explanation, Xu Qing nodded repeatedly. After the other party finished speaking, he looked at him and said...
"Sir, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Gongyang was taken aback at first, then nodded and said...

“Great Minister, speak your mind. If it weren’t for you, I, Gongyang Ru, would still be huddled in the State of Qi. You are free to speak your mind among my Gongyang Ru.”

"The writing of the Gongyang Confucian classics is indeed beneficial to the future inheritance of the Gongyang Confucianism, but among the many political ideas you mentioned, such as unification and respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, I think we can put the rest aside for now and focus on completing the theory of unification first," Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

"Unification? Is this what Your Majesty desires?"

After a moment of silence, Gongyang asked in confusion.

After arriving in Qin, Gongyang Di met with Ying Zheng every day, explaining the teachings of the Gongyang School of Confucianism to him. Among these teachings, Ying Zheng was most interested in the theories of unification and the Three Dynasties.

After understanding Ying Zheng and the goals of the Qin state, Gongyang Di also understood why Ying Zheng cared so much about these two concepts. The goal of the Qin state was to conquer the six states in the east and unify the world. What Ying Zheng wanted to do was to become the monarch who created an unprecedented country.

Seeing Gongyang's confusion, Xu Qing's expression turned serious, and he said solemnly.
"This is not the king's request, but my request. The great unification I am talking about is not simply the reform, rectification, and legislation for future kings advocated by the Gongyang Confucian scholars. Rather, it is a comprehensive integration encompassing thought, institutions, society, culture, and many other aspects."

Even though Gongyang Di was over seventy years old and his mind had long since reached a state of calm and tranquility, he was still shocked by Xu Qing's idea and showed a look of surprise.

"This this."

Gongyang Di was at a loss for words, staring at Xu Qing with surprise and curiosity in his eyes.

He found it hard to imagine how a young man like Xu Qing, who was not even twenty years old, could come up with such a grand idea. Even the Gongyang Confucian scholars, who had passed down the concept of unification for generations, had only thought of reforming the system.

For a moment, Gongyang Di began to doubt himself. He wondered if Xu Qing's original teacher was really a disciple of the Gongyang family, which was why he could think so far ahead.

“I know that completing such a comprehensive work would require a great deal of manpower and resources. Even if we provided the Gongyang Confucian scholars with enough people and resources, it might not be possible to complete it. But the future of the Qin state desperately needs such a unified theory based on the Gongyang Confucianism,” Xu Qing said.

"Great Minister, it's not that I want to refuse, but there's simply no one among the Gongyang School of Confucianism who can fulfill your vision. Looking back at the disciples of the Gongyang School throughout the ages, I'm afraid only our ancestor could understand your ideas," Gongyang Di said with a wry smile.

Was it that he didn't want to complete such a monumental work? No, it was because he understood that no one among the Gongyang Confucian scholars was capable of doing so. After all, some knowledge cannot be acquired simply by reading books; it requires talent and the ability to draw inspiration from the learning of predecessors to develop and expand upon it.

Gongyang Di believed that for the current Gongyang Confucian scholars, it would be enough to successfully write down their knowledge; as for its development and expansion, that would have to be left to future generations.

Xu Qing had expected Gongyang Di's refusal. After all, the Gongyang Spring and Autumn Annals actually appeared in the Han Dynasty, created by Hu Wusheng and Dong Zhongshu, who were both men of extraordinary talent. In particular, Dong Zhongshu transformed the Gongyang Confucianism and made it a prominent school of thought in the world.

The interpretation of the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals spanned the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)