Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

The courtyard suddenly became eerily quiet.

The wind seemed to have stopped, and even the rustling of leaves had disappeared.

Li Si's pupils suddenly contracted, and for a moment he stopped breathing.

He never expected that Zhou Wenqing would dare to make such a direct and resolute declaration of "not serving Qin" in front of the King of Qin!

But he clearly already...

Li Si was deeply shaken. He clenched his fist tightly, his lips trembling slightly, but he remained silent.

Fusu was equally shocked. His eyes widened and were fixed on his master. For the first time, he seemed to understand what it felt like for his master to have a heart attack. His heart was pounding wildly, almost breaking free of the restraints on his ribs!

Thank goodness, the master doesn't know, so Father... shouldn't blame him, right? Fusu thought anxiously.

Although Ah-Zhu didn't understand what had happened, the unusual solemnity and determination in his words, as well as the sudden drop in the atmosphere, made him instinctively uneasy. His small body tensed up, and he didn't dare to breathe.

Ying Zheng's face remained expressionless; he simply stared at Zhou Wenqing with a gaze as deep as an ancient well, as if trying to see through him from skin to bone, from words to heart.

Zhou Wenqing looked back calmly, his eyes clear and firm, without the slightest fear or provocation, as if he had a calm that said, "Where the Way exists, I will go even if there are thousands of people against me."

However, the back of his clothes was already soaked with cold sweat.

This is a direct rebuke of the King of Qin's dignity...

If it weren't for the fact that his identity as "Zhao Zhong" hadn't been revealed yet, Zhou Wenqing really wasn't sure if he would have the courage to look the King of Qin in the eye at this moment.

Even so—

Wow~ No wonder he's Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor's aura is so strong!

The situation remained deadlocked. Zhou Wenqing felt uneasy, his throat tightened slightly, and he couldn't help but cough lightly.

Almost instinctively, Ying Zheng reached for the teapot that had been kept warm on the small table beside him.

After realizing what was happening, he paused slightly, then picked up the teapot, poured water, and steadily pushed a cup of perfectly warm tea in front of Zhou Wenqing.

The faint aroma of tea, like a warm breeze, silently dispelled the almost solidified heavy atmosphere in the courtyard.

Li Si's tense muscles relaxed again, and Fu Su also slowly exhaled. A Zhu looked to the left, then to the right, pursed his lips, not quite understanding, but he felt it was best not to speak for the time being.

Zhou Wenqing felt a warmth in his heart. He took the teacup with both hands, lowered his eyes, took a sip from the rim, and then nodded slightly to Ying Zheng to express his gratitude.

Ying Zheng gestured that it was unnecessary, and slowly opened his mouth, his voice devoid of emotion: "Brother Zicheng, were you too absolute just now? The laws of Lord Shang are the foundation of a strong Qin. Do you mean that after unification, we must abandon the very foundation?"

"It's not about abandoning the fundamentals." Zhou Wenqing shook his head, took a deep breath, and calmed his mind completely before slowly meeting Ying Zheng's gaze.

"Wenqing is by no means denying Shang Yang's achievements, nor is he denying that law is an important instrument for governing the country. What Wenqing doubts is the four words 'exclusive veneration' and 'unchanging'."

"Oh?" Ying Zheng's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Zhou Wenqing gently placed the teacup back on the table, then turned to Li Si, "Brother Gu'an, you are well-versed in Legalism. May I ask why Shang Yang implemented his reforms?"

Li Si answered almost without thinking: "At that time, the Qin state was located in the western border region, its old system was rigid, the royal family was constantly fighting among themselves, the land system was in chaos, the national strength was weak, and it was surrounded by powerful enemies, its survival was imminent."

"Exactly." Zhou Wenqing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the two who were listening intently.

"The laws of Lord Shang were a powerful remedy tailored for the Qin state, which was weak and seeking survival at the time. Its core was to reward agriculture and warfare, enrich the country and strengthen its military, and to consolidate national strength through strict laws. This spirit of seeking change and survival should never be lost, which is called 'change leads to progress'."

He then changed the subject: "But what about the future? By the same token, the future Qin Dynasty will no longer be a feudal lord confined to a corner of the world, but will be the supreme ruler of the world, encompassing all four seas and sweeping across the land. Therefore, the laws and regulations must also change accordingly."

A glint flashed in Li Si's eyes, and he leaned forward slightly: "So, Brother Zicheng, you don't oppose Legalism?"

"Of course." Zhou Wenqing gave him an affirmative look.

So Brother Gu'an, don't worry, your position is still very secure!

"Laws and regulations are like the sinews and bones of a nation. In the past, the Qin state was physically strong and needed strong sinews and bones to fight and survive. In the future, the territory of the world will be vast and the body will be huge. If the sinews and bones are still so rigid and inflexible, it will be difficult to coordinate and operate, and it will be easy to become rigid and cause problems. This is not to remove the sinews and bones, but to let the sinews and bones grow with the body and become more resilient and flexible."

"Then how can we make our muscles and bones more flexible?" Ying Zheng immediately asked, his eyes shining brightly, clearly having taken the question to heart.

"We must proceed step by step." Zhou Wenqing met Ying Zheng's gaze. "This is what I mean by exclusively respecting Legalism and drawing on the strengths of others."

"The Legalists excel at establishing rules and clarifying rewards and punishments, which form the backbone of the state and cannot be shaken. However, if we want the people to truly submit to the rule of law, this alone may not be enough."

He paused briefly, then explained clearly, “We can take the essence of Confucianism’s benevolence and forgiveness, so that people not only fear the law, but also know propriety and righteousness and do good. This is not replacing the law with Confucianism, but rather covering the rigid bones with warm flesh and blood, making them full of vitality.”

"As for the Mohists..." Zhou Wenqing suddenly laughed, "Don't you see the curved plow and fertilizer?"

"Using practical tools and technologies can also benefit the common people and make the country prosperous and the people strong."

He concluded: "In short, it is the essence of the various schools of thought. Take the best from them, discard the worst, integrate them and make them our own. In this way, our bones and muscles will be strong, our blood and qi will flow smoothly, our minds will be clearer, and our country will surely prosper."

"When the people of Qin are prosperous and peaceful, with strict yet reasonable laws, widespread education and a pure social atmosphere, the people of the six states will see it for themselves and yearn for it. Compared to them, how could they not be willing to submit?"

"If we consistently adhere to the will of the people, the world will be won over, and the stability of our nation will be assured!"

"color!"

As soon as Zhou Wenqing finished speaking, Ying Zheng clapped his hands and exclaimed, "What a wonderful victory! May the world's hearts be won over, and may the empire be forever secure!"

His eyes shone brightly, and his heart surged with emotion, as if the magnificent picture of the glorious imperial enterprise had suddenly become clearer.

Zhou Wenqing was secretly delighted; this was the allure of making grand promises.

Li Si also showed excitement, but after a moment, as if he suddenly remembered something, his excitement turned into a trace of obvious worry.

He glanced at Ying Zheng cautiously, and carefully suggested, "I also think that what Brother Zicheng said makes a lot of sense, but... it seems to have a slight similarity to the 'Lüshi Chunqiu' transmitted by Lü Buwei."

Sweat was already beading on his forehead. His pointing this out now was not out of malice, but rather out of deeper concern.

He feared that if he did not clarify the matter now, and if his brother Cheng were to actually enter the imperial court, these words might be misinterpreted by those with ulterior motives and linked to the already fallen Lü Buwei, and used to attack him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

It would be better to take advantage of this moment, when we are still insignificant "scholars" and "merchants" respectively, to draw a clear line between ourselves and prevent future troubles.

The moment the four characters "Lüshi Chunqiu" were uttered, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze for a moment.

The admiration on Ying Zheng's face had not faded, but it was suddenly covered by a thin layer of ice.

Father...Father!

Fusu was so frightened that he forgot his manners and rushed to Ying Zheng's side. He gently tugged at the corner of Ying Zheng's sleeve, looked up at him with his face full of worry.

They all understood all too well what the name "Lü Buwei" meant: a dramatic power shift, a colossal figure whose shadow lingered even after his fall.

Zhou Wenqing's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. He even nodded slightly and said, "Brother Gu'an is learned and has a good memory. What you say is true. The 'Lüshi Chunqiu' is a collection of the words of various schools of thought at that time. It does have the intention of being inclusive. I have also read it and found many insightful observations in it."

He first frankly acknowledged the superficial connection, then looked directly at Ying Zheng and clearly stated: "However, Wenqing believes that although the two seem to follow the same path, they actually lead to different destinations. Their appearances may be similar, but their spiritual cores are completely different."

"Oh?" Ying Zheng's expression softened slightly. "I'd like to hear the details."

Zhou Wenqing calmly said, "The *Lüshi Chunqiu* was completed during the height of Lü Xiang's power. Its initial purpose in compiling it was perhaps to gather the best of knowledge, to demonstrate magnanimity and to govern the country, intending to provide a comprehensive reference for governing the country. Its system is complex and strives for completeness. However..."

He paused briefly, his tone calm, "The drawback may be that it seeks perfection but not necessarily excellence, and emphasizes words but may act lightly. It is more like displaying a variety of medicinal herbs in a palace. Although there is a dazzling array, it may not be able to prescribe the most effective remedy for a specific ailment. Moreover, at that time, the unification of the world was still uncertain, and many of the discussions inevitably contained elements of theoretical speculation and idealistic deduction."

"What Wenqing has presented today seeks to solve the practical problems of governance: how to pacify the newly subjugated people? How to win the hearts of the people? How to ensure that the laws and regulations not only maintain the strength of Qin but also are effective and enduring throughout the land?"

"Therefore, Wenqing's idea of ​​taking the essence and discarding the dross, and integrating them, boils down to the word 'application.' It means adhering to Legalism as the unshakable framework of the national foundation, and then carefully selecting the valuable aspects of other schools of thought that can supplement the framework, enrich the national strength, and solve practical governance problems. These aspects should be incorporated into specific laws and regulations, education and implementation, and the development of agriculture and industry. This is a practical strategy that is problem-oriented and aims to strengthen the country and ensure the safety of the people."

"In comparison, the *Lüshi Chunqiu* is like a castle in the air, while what I say is based on practical experience. What do you think, Brother Gu'an?"

At that moment, Li Si suddenly understood. He immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Zhou Wenqing, and spoke sincerely.

"Brother Zicheng's analysis is insightful and penetrating, revealing the fundamental truths. My ignorance has been completely dispelled, and I am truly convinced!"

"Brother Gu'an, please get up quickly, you're too kind to Wenqing." Zhou Wenqing quickly stepped forward, firmly supported Li Si's arm, and lifted him up.

The two stood facing each other, exchanging humble words such as "Brother Zicheng, your insight is profound" and "Brother Gu'an, you flatter me," but both kept their eyes on the King of Qin, waiting for his reaction.

Ying Zheng's gaze remained fixed on Zhou Wenqing's face, his deep eyes gleaming.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, but not to Zhou Wenqing or Li Si, but to Fusu, who had been watching him nervously.

"Your father and your husband have important matters to discuss privately."

He paused, then said in an unquestionable tone, "Qiaosong, take Azhu out to play for a while."

What kind of reaction is this?

Zhou Wenqing and Li Si were both startled at the same time, and they abruptly looked away from each other and turned to look at Ying Zheng.