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

Chapter 511, Xu Qing: Actually, Qin Mo has taken the wrong path (4,000!)
Following Xu Qing's instructions, Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan comforted and sent off the disciples who were moved to tears, and soon the crowded courtyard was left with only Xu Qing.

"No matter how many times I watch it, it's still shocking. I don't know how the Mohists and the Gongshu family managed to control these behemoths."

Xu Qing reached out and stroked the broken earth sapling in front of her, her tone somewhat sentimental, her eyes filled with undisguised affection and curiosity.

Whether it's the Gongshu family's Potu Sanlang, who conquers cities and fortresses, or the small Potu Qilang, who specializes in mechanisms, or the Mo family's Zhuque, Xuanwu, Baihu, and the Azure Dragon with the power to split mountains, why are these mechanical beasts able to move on their own, and what is their power source?
The answers to these questions were very intriguing to Xu Qing, especially the Po Tu Qi Lang. How could such a small creature, which seemed to be controlled by no one, so precisely destroy various mechanisms on its own?

Looking at Sabururo and then at the white tiger beside him, Xu Qing really wanted to dismantle them to see what kind of power supported their operation.

Just as Xu Qing was considering whether it was safe to dismantle it himself, he heard footsteps behind him, which made him give up his idea.

Turning around, I saw that Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan, who had gone to settle their disciples, had returned.

"Lord Zhaoming".

Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan bowed respectfully to Xu Qing, their eyes filled with gratitude. Xu Qing's words had just expressed all the grievances and bitterness in their hearts, and it was Xu Qing who brought them the merit and glory they deserved.

Although they weren't very familiar with Xu Qing, they already regarded him as a kindred spirit and benefactor.

"Have all the disciples been settled?" Xu Qing asked.

"It's all arranged. We craftsmen have finally seen hope. All of this is thanks to you, Lord Zhaoming. Please accept my bow."

Xiangli Guan bowed respectfully to Xu Qing again. Gongshu Chou, who was standing to the side, did not speak, but he also bowed deeply to Xu Qing, just like Xiangli Guan.

"No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the King. It is the King who has seen your efforts and contributions, and it is the King who has ordered that you be rewarded."

Xu Qing reached out and helped the two of them up, speaking calmly.

"Lord Zhaoming, you are absolutely right. We should thank the King; it is the King who has given us a new life and hope," Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan said in unison.

Seeing the gleam in their eyes and the hopeful smiles on their faces, Xu Qing knew the time had come. A calm smile appeared on his face as he said...
"Then I congratulate you both in advance. In the great cause of Qin's unification of the world, the Gongshu family and Qin Mo will be indispensable in providing weapons. I think that many nobles will emerge from both families, and it is not impossible that they will even be granted the title of Marquis."

"Not at all, we are all dependent on Your Majesty's favor."

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan waved their hands repeatedly. Although they didn't understand court politics very well, they knew that one shouldn't be too arrogant. Otherwise, if they, as craftsmen, were to obtain titles and be targeted by others, they would definitely be attacked.

Xu Qing smiled without saying a word, silently watching the two of them.

Seeing Xu Qing's reaction, Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan knew that the matter was probably not over yet. Therefore, Gongshu Chou asked...

"Lord Zhaoming, may I ask if Your Majesty has any instructions for us to stay?"

"It's not that His Majesty has any orders to give, but rather that I want to remind you two of a few things," Xu Qing said, his smile fading and his tone becoming somewhat serious.

"Lord Zhaoming, please speak."

Xiangli Guan's expression also became serious, and he and Gongshu Chou waited for Xu Qing to continue.

"I'm not talking about anything else, but the conflict between your two families in Shangfang. I know that there has been a long-standing grudge between your two families. Forcing you to work together must have made you resentful, which is why there was the previous conflict, and even the fight that ended up."

"Fortunately, this is the Shangfang, and His Majesty suppressed the matter immediately, so that outsiders did not know about it."

“You should be aware of the King’s situation. If outsiders find out about your private feud, you can imagine what will happen to you.”

Xu Qing looked at the expectant Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan, sighed softly, and then slowly spoke.

Xiangli Guan and Gongshu Chou looked at Xu Qing with complicated expressions. They naturally understood what Xu Qing meant by saying these words. He still wanted them to put aside their past grievances and continue to work together in the Shangfang.

"Lord Zhaoming, is there no other room for negotiation on this matter?" Gongshu Chou asked in a deep voice.

Xiangli Guan glanced at Gongshu Chou, then looked at Xu Qing. He also wanted to ask the same question, but Gongshu Chou beat him to it.

The debate over the concept of the orthodox tradition is not an ordinary struggle or hatred; it cannot be resolved in a few words.

Even if he and Gongshu Chou were willing, their disciples might not be.

Xu Qing glanced at the two of them, shook his head slightly, and then said in a heavy tone.

"There is no room for negotiation on this matter. You should understand that His Majesty has not yet come of age, and many in the court are eyeing him covetously. His Majesty has finally established his authority and is gradually reclaiming royal power. If he were to change his orders so frequently, wouldn't it seem like a joke?"

"The matter of the Imperial Workshop is of utmost importance. If there are any major changes or renewed disputes, it is highly likely that those with ulterior motives will seize upon it and use it as leverage to attack the King."

"At that time, not only will the king be affected, but your two families will also be severely punished."

Seeing Xu Qing's solemn expression, Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan couldn't help but feel worried. They had just received their titles and escaped their status as slaves, and a bright future was beckoning them.

If the conflict between the two families causes all of this to vanish into nothingness, it would be worse than death for them.

"Well, Lord Zhaoming, you are also a member of the Hundred Schools, so you should know about the matter between our two families. This is not something that can be resolved overnight. Even if I were willing, the disciples in my sect might not be willing to obey," Xiangli Guan said helplessly.

"That's the truth."

Gongshu Chou also sighed deeply, his face full of helplessness.

"Since His Majesty has asked me to resolve the matter between your two families, I have naturally made preparations. The conflict between the Gongshu family and the Mo family ultimately stems from their differing views on the direction and path of applying mechanical arts. What exacerbated this conflict was the contest between Mozi, the founder of the Mo family, and Gongshu Ban, the founder of the Gongshu family, during the Chu-Song War."

"But the Gongshu family and Qin Mo of today are not the same as the Gongshu family and Mo family of the past. In fact, the paths you are committed to are also different."

Xu Qing coughed twice, took a step back, put one hand behind his back, and said in a serious tone, "Ah!? Lord Zhaoming, what do you mean by that?"

Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan were filled with doubt and confusion. What did they mean by saying that their paths had diverged?
Since you've asked so earnestly, then I'm going to give you a proper explanation.

Xu Qing glanced at the two puzzled people and said with a serious expression.
"The Mohists advocated 'universal love' and 'non-aggression,' so they believed that mechanical arts should be used for defense and peace, to facilitate the agricultural life of the people. The Gongshu School, on the other hand, was different. The Gongshu School's domineering mechanical arts focused on offense and efficiency, serving the needs of war."

"Ultimately, the conflict between your two families boils down to two words: war and peace, doesn't it?"

"Yes."

Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan nodded slightly and responded.

"But why did the Mohist school split into three, and why did Qin Mo choose to enter the Qin state and serve it? Master Xiangli, you should still remember, right?" Xu Qing looked at Xiangli Guan and continued to ask.

Xiangli Guan didn't understand why Xu Qing asked that question, but he still nodded in response.

"That's natural. After the death of the founder Mozi, the Mohist school split into three factions due to the different views of his three disciples on the Mohist philosophy."

"Deng Lingzi led the God-Slaying Swordsmen and his disciples, who were originally knights and wandering knights, to the State of Chu, which is the lineage of the Mohists. They advocated chivalry and justice, adhered to non-aggression, and used their own abilities to help weak countries resist strong countries. They used the Mohist mechanical arts and the intimidation of the God-Slaying Swordsmen to force other countries not to start wars without authorization."

"Xiang Fuzi led his disciples, who were well-versed in the Mohist school, to the State of Qi, and called themselves the Mohists of Qi. They traveled to various states, teaching the Mohist philosophy of universal love. They opposed using violence to solve problems and hoped to achieve peace through gentle means."

"As for the rest, he is Xiang Liqin, the ancestor of my Qin Mo lineage. According to the internal division of the Mohist school, my Qin Mo should belong to the lineage of Mohist craftsmen. We focus on studying mechanical arts, and the reason we help the Qin state is because only the Qin state's system at that time was closest to our Mohist school's final vision."

"All wars between nations in the world arise from injustice, driven by the interests and greed of their rulers. It is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature; as long as people live, they will always have greed."

"As long as human greed exists, wars between nations will never end. Therefore, my Qin Mo lineage believes that instead of relying on lobbying and threatening powerful nations to force them not to start wars, it would be better to support one nation and destroy all others in the shortest possible time."

"As long as there is only one country left, there will naturally be no more war in the world, and I, Qin Mo, will be able to promote the Mohist philosophy and realize my ultimate ideal after the world is at peace."

Hearing Xiangli Guan's explanation, Xu Qing and Gongshu Chou nodded repeatedly.

The reason why the Mohists divided the country into three was not a secret, but Xiangli Guan explained it in more detail than what was rumored outside, especially the reason why the Qin Mohists chose to support the Qin state.

"Then I ask you, Master Xiangli, if Qin Mo chooses to unify the world in the shortest possible time, will he do so through war?" Xu Qing asked in a deep voice.

“That’s natural,” said Sangori Kan.

"Then how is this different from the Gongshu family's advocacy of using mechanical arts to serve war? That's why I say the differences between your two families have long been different."

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Xiangli Guan immediately became anxious and hurriedly explained.
"No, no, no, Lord Zhaoming, you misunderstand. I, Qin Mo, only want to exchange for lasting peace with the least casualties and war. This is fundamentally different from the Gongshu family's wholehearted service to the war."

"Then how do you know that the Gongshu family's purpose is only for war?" Xu Qing said quietly.

When asked this question, Xiangli Guan was dumbfounded. The Gongshu family was an even more arrogant arms dealer than the Mo family. For arms dealers, wasn't the longer and more frequent the war, the better?
Gongshu Chou was also stunned at this moment, looking at Xu Qing with some confusion.

"Master Xiangli, there are no outsiders here. You can have a good talk with the head of the Gongshu family and see if the Gongshu family's domineering mechanical arts, which focus on serving war, are merely a means to stir up trouble in the world?"

As Xu Qing spoke, he looked at Gongshu Chou, a faint glint in his eyes and a cryptic smile on his face.

Gongshu Chou gave Xu Qing a meaningful look. Now that things had come to this point, how could he not understand what Xu Qing meant?
At this moment, he understood why, in addition to granting him and Xiangli Guan titles, the King of Qin also wrote an edict pardoning the Gongshu family—it was a way to win him over.

Do you really think that such a small benefit would make the dignified head of the Gongshu family go against his conscience? How could that be? Do you really think he has no bottom line?
"Yes, in fact, the purpose of our Gongshu family is not simply war, but we share the same ideals as your Qin Mo."

"My ancestor, Gongshu Ban, was from the State of Lu. Why did my Gongshu family ultimately choose to serve the State of Chu and help Chu attack the State of Song, which was then the wealthiest and most powerful in the world?"

"It's just that the State of Chu at that time was the hegemon of the world, with a vast territory, well-trained soldiers and ample provisions. If it were combined with the mechanical arts of my Gongshu family, it could replace the Zhou emperor in inspecting the various states, so that the states would no longer dare to attack each other."

Gongshu Chou looked on with emotion, stroked his beard, and shook his head as he spoke.

Bottom line? Are titles and clan freedom important? Besides, the Gongshu family is a clan, unlike the Mohist school of thought. They don't have any so-called doctrines or philosophies; they only have the simple inheritance of mechanical arts. They are a more pure artisan family than the Mohists.

Xiangli Guan stared wide-eyed at Gongshu Chou, who was sighing deeply. How could he not know that the Gongshu family had supported the State of Chu for this very reason?

Seeing that Xiangli was completely bewildered, Xu Qing didn't give him a chance to think and continued...
"In my opinion, you, Qin Mo, are very similar to the Gongshu family, not only in your ultimate goals but also in your experiences."

"In order to help the State of Chu maintain its hegemonic status and thus stabilize society, the Gongshu family focused on domineering mechanical arts, emphasizing power and gradually forgetting their original intentions."

"And what about you Qin Mo? You wanted Qin to unify the world and end the chaos, to realize the Mohist ideal of a united, equal, and loving society without war. But after you entered Qin, in order to achieve the unification of the world, you also devoted yourself to mechanical arts and provided weapons for Qin."

"But you have forgotten your original intention and neglected to promote Mohist thought in Qin. If you continue like this, even if Qin unifies the world, you will not achieve your ultimate goal."

As Xu Qing spoke, a look of emotion appeared on his face. The Mohist school could be described as the most ideal sect of this era, and even the three branches that emerged after the Mohist school split into three were the same.

Chu Mo wanted to use himself as a pawn, but the Chu Kingdom was destroyed and war ensued. Deng Lingzi led the core disciples of Chu Mo to their deaths, thus ending the Chu Mo lineage. The Mo Xia went north and formed Yan Mo, which is the Mo family of today, and completely became a Jianghu sect.

The Mohist school in Qi fared even worse, attempting to end wars by persuading others to abandon force—a move that can only be described as foolishly naive.

The Mo Bian lineage paid the price for this naiveté. At least Chu Mo still had descendants, though few. But the Mo Bian debated and competed with the Yin Yang School, Confucianism, and Agricultural School at the Jixia Academy, eventually leading to the complete extinction of their lineage. Even the knowledge and classics accumulated by generations of disciples were not many.

As for Qin Mo, he finally helped the Qin state unify the world, but because he forgot to promote Mohist thought, the Qin state was filled with Legalist thought, and in the end, he did all the work for others.

After the Qin Dynasty ended with the death of its second emperor and Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, Qin Mo, as a remnant of the Qin Dynasty, gradually died out, causing this mobile phone lock technique to disappear completely from the annals of history.

(End of this chapter)