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

Chapter 512, I am a disciple of He Guanzi, how could I possibly lie to you?

"The Gongshu family's goal is social stability, and you, Qin Mo, also want to end the war by unifying the world. However, you have both chosen to stop the war with war, and you have even deviated from your original intentions."

"Therefore, Qin Mo and the Gongshu family have no difference in their paths; your goals are the same."

Xu Qing looked at Xiang Liguan and said with great confidence.

"Huh? Is that really true?"

Xiangli Guan was completely confused at this point. He felt that something was wrong, but what Xu Qing said didn't seem to make any sense.

Xu Qing looked at the bewildered Xiang Liguan and couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

It would be a real challenge for Xiang Liguan, a pure engineer, to refute a logical argument like "a white horse is not a horse." Of course, Xu Qing only dared to exchange words with Qin Mo, who focused on mechanical arts. If there were any descendants of the Qin Mo debater, the flaws in his words would be immediately apparent, and he could even be refuted to the point of being speechless.

But there was no Mo Bian here, only the honest man Xiangli Guan.

"I am the future leader of Taoism. My teacher is He Guanzi, and Chi Songzi is my senior brother. Taoist scholars regard me as their leader. Although I dare not say that I am an expert in the various schools of thought, I have dabbled in them. On the basis of concepts and differences among the various schools, what I say is absolutely correct."

Xu Qing exuded an air of absolute confidence, leaving no room for criticism.

Xiangli Guan fell silent, his mind replaying Xu Qing's words. However, he was only skilled in mechanical arts and knew little about the Mohist school of thought, so he could not judge whether Xu Qing's words were correct.
However, considering Xu Qing's status as the leader of the Taoist community and a disciple of Master He Guanzi, he believed that Xu Qing would not dare to deceive him in this regard.

"Then what should be the difference between me, Qin Mo, and the Gongshu family?" Xiangli Guan asked.

"It's the technology, the forging skills, and even more so, whose mechanical arts are more unparalleled!" Xu Qing said decisively.

To completely deceive Muddy Guan and Qin Mo, it's not enough to just convince them to abandon their differences in philosophy with the Gongshu family; they also need to help them establish a new point of contention. After all, the Mo family and the Gongshu family have been fighting for so many years, it's impossible for them to suddenly shake hands and make peace.

Therefore, Xu Qing used the famous saying "a white horse is not a horse" to deceive Xiangli Guan by substituting concepts.

Gongshu Chou, who was watching the show from the sidelines, glanced at Xiangli Guan, who was filled with self-doubt, and suddenly spoke up.

"Actually, my Gongshu family doesn't have much hostility towards your Mo family or Qin Mo family, nor do we feel that our ideas conflict with yours. It's just that our ancestor Gongshu Ban lost to Mozi in mechanical arts, so my Gongshu family has always wanted to compete with you in mechanical arts."

"As for the so-called debate over ideologies and traditions, the Gongshu family has not cared about it at all."

Xu Qing and Ying Zheng both wanted the Gongshu family and Qin Mo to work together in the Shangfang. Gongshu Chou naturally understood that no matter how much he opposed it, he couldn't change the outcome. Rather than going against Xu Qing and Ying Zheng, he decided to suppress his resentment and take the initiative to work with Qin Mo.

As the saying goes, a wise man knows when to yield. By actively cooperating with Xu Qing and Ying Zheng, the two will surely remember Gongshu's contributions, and in the future, Gongshu will have a place in the Qin court.

In any case, the Gongshu family doesn't have the rules of the Mo family, nor does it have any so-called doctrines to inherit. Working with Qin Mo doesn't affect their competition. On the contrary, it allows them to openly and fairly compete with each other.

"Is that so? Or have I misunderstood?"

Xiangli Guan had already begun to doubt himself, staring blankly at Xu Qing and Gongshu Chou as he spoke.

"Master Xiangli, you can think about this carefully. The King and I are not in a hurry to get your answer. But you must understand that it was the King who arranged for your two families to work together, and the King is not deliberately making things difficult for you."

"Both of your families are skilled craftsmen of my Qin state, and your strengths complement each other. If you can work together in the Shangfang, it will not only improve efficiency but also promote technological progress."

"The more advanced your two families' technology becomes, the greater the contributions you will make in the war to unify the world under Qin. This will benefit not only the country and the people, but also yourselves."

Xu Qing's expression calmed down, and he continued to persuade Xiang Liguan.

"I understand. Once I have figured out the reasoning behind it, I will certainly give a reply to Your Majesty and Lord Zhaoming," Xiangli Guan said.

Seeing that his task was complete, Xu Qing chuckled and bowed to Xiangli Guan and Gongshu Chou.
"Alright, then I'll wait for your news. It's getting late, you and Patriarch Gongshu should go back now, I should go back too."

"Respectfully seeing off Lord Zhaoming," the two returned the greeting.

"Wait here."

Xu Qing turned and walked outside, leaving Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan behind.

After Xu Qing's figure disappeared, Gongshu Chou looked at Xiangli Guan beside him and said...

"Although I don't get along with you, I would like to remind you that there is no room for compromise on this matter. Rather than being stubborn, you should accept it openly, which will also bring more benefits to Qin Mo."

"The mechanical arts we study are not static; they have come to where they are today through the continuous attempts and innovations of our predecessors. People must learn to be flexible."

After finishing his words, Gongshu Chou left without waiting for Xiangli Guan's reply.

In the vast courtyard, only Xiangli Guan remained.

"Flexibility? One shouldn't be a fool or deaf father-in-law." Xiangli Guan glanced at the mechanical beasts in the courtyard, the confusion and doubt on his face had long since disappeared, and his eyes gleamed as he muttered to himself.

He was indeed confused by Xu Qing's words, and he admitted that Xu Qing's words made him doubt himself, but that did not mean that he could easily change his firm beliefs. However, he also understood that Qin Mo's working with the Gongshu family was an unchangeable fact, so rather than stubbornly refusing to admit it, he might as well go with the flow.

Besides, Xu Qing has already given him a way out, so is he really going to be so ungrateful?

"He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding; he who takes another's money is bound to do his bidding." Since he had received the benefits, he had to cooperate with Xu Qing and Ying Zheng's plan, which would be entirely beneficial for Qin Mo as well.

After exchanging a few words with Li Xin, Xu Qing led Zhao Gao away from Shangfang and headed towards Zhangtai Palace.

Zhao Gao followed behind Xu Qing, frequently looking up at him with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Are you asking whether the Gongshu family and Qin Mo have agreed to work together?" Xu Qing stopped and asked Zhao Gao.

"This servant is terrified. I was merely curious and did not intend to inquire about anything," Zhao Gao said, bowing.

"No need to be nervous. If you want to know, I will tell you. From beginning to end, the Gongshu family and Qin Mo had no room to refuse. What they lacked was a suitable reason, a reason that could move them and make them pretend to be stupid for the time being."

Xu Qing glanced in the direction of Shang Fang and said calmly.

Whether Xiangli Guan was truly confused by him, or whether the other party was truly wavering, was not important, nor did he care.

He had already offered sufficient conditions, and Gongshu Chou and Xiangli Guan made their choices clearly. The former openly chose to support him, while the latter expressed his opinion by feigning ignorance.

They say that old people are shrewd and experienced, but Xiangli Guan's crude acting skills are no match for him.

Zhao Gao looked at Xu Qing with some doubt. He was not well-read and obviously could not understand the meaning of Xu Qing's words, but he silently made a note of the sentence and prepared to study it carefully when he got back.

"Let's go, there will be good news tomorrow."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he continued walking towards Zhangtai Palace. Zhao Gao silently followed behind him, constantly pondering the words he had just spoken.

The next day, in the Zhangtai Palace.

Ying Zheng looked at the memorial sent by the Imperial Household Department in his hand, his face full of surprise. After blinking hard, he carefully looked at the contents of the bamboo slips again, still looking incredulous.

"Incredible, absolutely incredible. The gentleman actually did it, getting the Gongshu family and Qin Mo to agree to work together in just two imperial edicts and half a day."

Ying Zheng looked at the imperial edict, his eyes gleaming, and he kept sighing with emotion.

Gai Nie, standing to the side, also showed a look of surprise. The grudges and feuds between the Gongshu family and the Mo family were a long story, comparable to the old grudges between the Mo family and the Yin-Yang family. Yet, Xu Qing resolved it so easily.

Even Gai Nie, whose mind was usually calm and composed, could no longer remain calm at this moment.

"Lord Zhaoming is indeed an extraordinary person, even more remarkable than his teacher, Master He Guanzi," Gai Nie exclaimed.

"Yes, it seems that anything impossible can be accomplished as long as you take action. I wonder how you managed to get the Gongshu family and Qin Mo to work together in the Shangfang."

Ying Zheng put down the memorial, his eyes gleaming, his face still showing a look of emotion.

If it weren't for the joint memorial from Shangfang Ling, Gongshu Chou, and Xiangli Guan, even someone who trusted Xu Qing immensely wouldn't have believed this news. But the reality is that Xu Qing possessed such miraculous abilities that he accomplished the impossible.

"Perhaps, sir, you have reached the legendary realm of immortals, which is why you possess the ability to turn the rotten into the miraculous and the impossible into the possible," Ying Zheng thought to himself.

Gai Nie looked at the memorial on the table, and while surprised, he couldn't help but feel a little shaken. He once again questioned his and Wei Zhuang's initial decision to specialize in swordsmanship.

If they had chosen other fields, such as military strategy, diplomacy, or politics, their current circumstances might be very different.

"Teacher, where is the master now?"

After expressing his feelings, Ying Zheng looked at Gai Nie and asked.

Gai Nie also snapped out of his daze, and after thinking for a moment, he said...
"Today, Lord Zhaoming did not go to instruct the military doctors, nor did he lecture Gongyang Ru. It seems that he went to the palace where the Yin-Yang School was located."

"The Yin-Yang School? Why did you go to the Yin-Yang School's palace, sir?" Ying Zheng asked in surprise.

“During this period, Lord Zhaoming frequently visited the Yin-Yang School and met with the Eastern Lord of the Yin-Yang School,” Gai Nie continued.

Ying Zheng looked at Gai Nie with even more confusion, his heart filled with bewilderment, not understanding how Xu Qing and Dong Jun had gotten together.

The Yin-Yang School and the Taoist Heavenly Sect don't get along, so why did Xu Qing, the future leader of the Heavenly Sect, suddenly find himself in the palace of Dongjun Feiyan of the Yin-Yang School? Is there some story between the two of them?

(End of this chapter)