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

Chapter 506, Who Was the Clever One Who Did This?

Xianyang, Zhangtai Palace.

Xu Qing strode into the palace where Ying Zheng handled state affairs. The eunuchs serving at the door bowed and greeted him upon his arrival.

Upon entering the hall, Xu Qing saw Ying Zheng sitting in the main seat with a solemn expression. He held a memorial in his hand and tapped it repeatedly with his fingers, as if he had encountered some thorny problem.

"Your subject Xu Qing pays respects to Your Majesty."

Xu Qing bowed to Ying Zheng, and Ying Zheng was awakened from his reverie by Xu Qing's voice.

"Sir, you've arrived. I hope this sudden summons hasn't disrupted your class?" Ying Zheng asked Xu Qing, his expression still not very pleasant.

"The morning lecture has ended, but why did Your Majesty suddenly summon me here?" Xu Qing asked, puzzled.

Ying Zheng glanced down at the memorial in his hand, rubbed his forehead with one hand, his face full of helplessness, and sighed deeply.

"It's nothing else. The report sent by the Imperial Guard says that the Gongshu family and Qin Mo have clashed again. They fought with mechanical beasts, causing quite a commotion. Fortunately, the Imperial Guard is remote and no one else knows about it."

"Qin Mo and the Gongshu family!? Who would have thought of bringing both of them to the Imperial Palace together?"

Xu Qing looked surprised and asked somewhat strangely.

Although Qin Mo had long since parted ways with the Mo family, no matter how much he disagreed with the main Mo family, he was still united against the Gongshu family.

By forcing Qin Mo and the Gongshu family to work together, aren't they deliberately trying to incite a fight between the two families?

Xu Qing was very puzzled. Who on earth was this brilliant strategist who did such a thing?
Faced with Xu Qing's questioning gaze, Ying Zheng coughed lightly, turned his head slightly to hide his embarrassment, and said somewhat awkwardly.
"It is I, the King."

Oh, so it's Ying Zheng. Well, that's nothing then.

Xu Qing felt speechless. At the same time, he was also very curious as to why Ying Zheng had sent the Gongshu family and Qin Mo to the Shangfang, so he continued to ask.

"What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty? Are you unaware of the conflict between our two families?"

Seeing Xu Qing's curiosity, Ying Zheng had no choice but to explain the whole story, saying awkwardly...

"I know that I was too confident. Back in Pingyang, you talked about how the Gongshu family and the Mo family had reached the pinnacle of mechanical arts, and you also explained efficient configuration to me on the way back."

"Therefore, I thought that if the Gongshu family's domineering mechanical arts were combined with Qin Mo's Mo family's mechanical arts, it would definitely greatly improve the Qin army's weaponry and agricultural tools and other equipment."

"After you went to Mount Taiyi, I ordered Qin Mo and the Gongshu family to move into the Shangfang Palace and serve the Qin state together."

"I thought that Qin Mo had devoted himself to serving the Qin state for the past hundred years and would be willing to obey the king's orders. And since the Gongshu family was captured and brought to the Qin state, they dared not object to my orders in order to change their status as slaves."

"It was only because I underestimated the enmity between our two families that this incident occurred."

After hearing Ying Zheng's explanation, Xu Qing glanced at Ying Zheng helplessly, truly at a loss for words.

As the King of Qin, Ying Zheng was used to speaking from a high position. He believed that all people and things within the Qin territory should obey the King's orders. Even if he was respectful to the various schools of thought on the surface, that was for the talented individuals among them, not for the schools themselves.

This contempt led them to underestimate the long-standing feud between the Gongshu family and Qin Mo, which resulted in today's events.

In the original story, Ying Zheng was the same. Because he didn't care and looked down on it, he watched the anti-Qin forces among the Hundred Schools of Thought develop, and only when they became uncontrollable did he take action to suppress them.

"Therefore, I summoned you here in the hope that you can step in and resolve this matter."

As soon as Ying Zheng finished speaking, he looked at Xu Qing expectantly. If there was anyone in Qin who could easily resolve the conflicts between the various schools of thought, it would undoubtedly be Xu Qing, not even Lü Buwei.

Xu Qing not only held a high position of power in the imperial court, but also enjoyed a prominent and renowned status among the various schools of thought.

Even though they were angry, Gongshu Jia and Qin Mo had to give Xu Qingdao some face and sit down to resolve the matter, considering his status as the future head of the Daoist family and the deputy head of the medical family.

Xu Qing had already guessed Ying Zheng's request when the other party mentioned it. Although the matter was difficult to handle, it was not without a solution.

"It's difficult to resolve the feud between the Gongshu family and Qin Mo, but it's not difficult to get them to work together in the Shangfang and contribute to the Qin state. However..."

Xu Qing's expression turned serious, and he looked at Ying Zheng and said in a deep voice.

"But what? As long as they can work together in the Imperial Palace and not cause trouble, that's fine. As long as you can do that, I will agree without hesitation," Ying Zheng said hastily.

Both families were indispensable technical talents for the Qin state. If they became hostile to each other because of his edict, or even suffered casualties, not only would Ying Zheng feel bad, but he would also lose face.

"But I need two imperial edicts from Your Majesty. With these two edicts, I will have a way to resolve this matter," Xu Qing said, bowing.

"An imperial edict?" Ying Zheng asked in confusion.

"One edict is a pardon that removes the Gongshu family from their slave status and grants them commoner status. As for the second edict, it is a reward edict that bestows titles upon Commander Qin Mo and the head of the Gongshu family. With these two edicts, I have a way to resolve this matter," Xu Qing said slowly.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng looked at Xu Qing with even more confusion. He could understand the first edict, which pardoned the Gongshu family's status as slaves. This was equivalent to winning people's hearts, so the Gongshu family naturally had nothing to say.

But what was the purpose of this second imperial edict? Granting artisans titles was unprecedented. While artisans weren't exactly lowly, they were still appendages of the government or nobility, essentially servants, and their status wasn't very high.

"Sir, I understand the first edict, but what is the meaning of the second edict?" Ying Zheng asked hesitantly.

"Your Majesty will soon understand that the only way to resolve this matter is through these two imperial edicts."

Xu Qing didn't offer much explanation and continued to stick to her own ideas.

Faced with Xu Qing's resolute attitude, Ying Zheng, trusting Xu Qing, no longer hesitated. Although granting artisans a noble title would attract much criticism, since Xu Qing dared to make such a request, he believed that Xu Qing had a reason for doing so.

As for the subsequent criticisms, they all naturally disappeared once he came of age and took power.

“Very well, since you insist, I will grant your request,” Ying Zheng said.

"Then I thank Your Majesty. However, I also hope that Your Majesty can remember what happened today. Some things seem simple, but behind them are often intricate and complex, involving a wide network of people. They cannot be resolved simply by the authority of an imperial edict or a command."

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. No matter how small the national affairs are, they are all important. Only by peeling back the layers can we be quick and decisive when necessary, but slow and deliberate when not necessary."

"Proceed slowly and gradually. Human strength has its limits. Never be greedy for speed, or you will do more harm than good."

Xu Qing looked at Ying Zheng and said in a serious tone.

Ying Zheng's ability and magnanimity are beyond doubt. However, although he was not exactly ambitious, he had the same flaws as all wise and capable rulers: he wanted to solve everything in his own hands so that he could leave his descendants a country without any problems.

Trying to accomplish in one generation what would have taken generations is like taking too big a step and ending up with a disaster.

After Qin unified the country, Ying Zheng did consider reforming Qin, but he was too hasty and took too big a step, which not only caused the reform to fail but also directly affected the stability of Qin.

Hearing Xu Qing's advice, Ying Zheng nodded seriously and said...

“I will keep your words in mind and remember the lessons learned from this matter.”

Once, Zengzi asked Confucius, "What is a wise ruler?" Confucius replied, "A person who wants to see his own reflection needs a bright mirror; a ruler who wants to know his own faults needs loyal ministers."

"It is my good fortune and the good fortune of the Qin state that Your Majesty is able to accept advice so readily."

Xu Qing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

There's a proper way to offer advice. It doesn't mean you have to point your finger at the king and yell at him. Otherwise, apart from Li Er, no one else might be able to hold back. After putting pressure on Ying Zheng, you also have to make some promises and praise him to make him feel better.

As for whether Confucius and Zengzi actually said these things, how could Confucius possibly have said those things in the Zizhi Tongjian? But that's not important. As long as it strengthens his own point of view and argument, that's fine. After all, he and Xunzi were close friends despite their age difference. Anyway, Xunzi did it, so it doesn't matter if he does it.

Back in high school, who didn't add a few non-existent lines to Xun'er's name?

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's lips twitched slightly, not because he was speechless at Xu Qing's words, but because he wanted to suppress the smile on his face.

Others might say he has the makings of a wise ruler, and he might take it as flattery, but Xu Qing said he would genuinely believe it.

"I will keep your guidance in mind. From now on, you will be a mirror for me, reflecting my own shortcomings."

Fearing he couldn't suppress his smile, Ying Zheng got up from his seat, walked over to Xu Qing, and spoke earnestly.

"If Your Majesty does not find me unworthy, I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties as a Palace Attendant," Xu Qing said.

Ying Zheng nodded solemnly, then looked up at the clear sky through the wide-open palace doors and said somewhat absentmindedly.

"The weather has been sunny and calm these past few days, without a trace of wind or rain."

Xu Qing also turned to look at the sky outside, and said thoughtfully.
"Yes, it's been too calm lately. It's really unusual for the weather to be like this at this time of year."

Ying Zheng nodded in agreement, his expression becoming solemn, a strange glint in his eyes.

Gai Nie, who had been standing behind a pillar inside the hall, also emerged from the shadows. Looking at Xu Qing and Ying Zheng, whose expressions were serious, he tightened his grip on his sword.

Gai Nie naturally understood what the two meant. They seemed to be talking about the weather, but they were actually talking about Lao Ai.

Winter is almost here, yet the weather remains unusually mild. The same is true of Lao Ai; for the past two weeks since Xu Qing returned to Xianyang, he has been completely unassuming, as if he's a different person altogether, showing none of his former arrogance.

Something unusual is bound to happen; beneath the calm surface, a devastating blizzard may be brewing.

"Sir, should we move it forward?" Ying Zheng asked in a low voice.

After thinking for a while, Xu Qing shook his head. He could only decide whether to move up the plan once he received accurate information from Zhengang.

"Let's not rush, let's wait a bit longer," Xu Qing said.

"Ah."

(End of this chapter)