Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"Summon Zhou Wenqing and Prince Fusu to an audience!"

The attendant drew out the summons, and the palace doors slowly opened, allowing two figures to enter.

The assembled officials all turned their gazes toward the entrance of the palace.

A man in the lead, dressed in a dark blue robe, was slender and tall, with a calm and steady gait. He stepped over the high threshold of the palace gate, and the sunlight behind him gradually dimmed, revealing his face.

He was surprisingly young, around twenty years old, barely twenty, yet his features were clear and his gaze was calm. He didn't have the usual youthful exuberance, but rather a calm and composed air about him.

Beside him followed a child dressed in the same dark robe, who was not yet fully grown; this was none other than the eldest son, Fusu.

The two stopped at the same time about nine steps below the steps.

Zhou Wenqing calmly raised his hands, clasped together, and bowed deeply to Ying Zheng, who sat high on the throne. His movements were fluid and natural, and his voice was clear and steady, echoing in the suddenly silent hall.

"My name is Zhou Wenqing, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Almost at the same moment, Fusu also bowed respectfully, his youthful voice following closely behind: "Your subject Fusu greets Father."

"Rise, my dear minister. Fusu, you may also rise."

Ying Zheng's voice came from above, noticeably more gentle and smiling than when he was discussing politics with his ministers earlier.

He raised his hand in acknowledgment, his gaze falling on Zhou Wenqing with undisguised admiration and high regard. He then turned to the assembled civil and military officials and introduced him in a loud voice:

"My lords, this is the wise man I just spoke of—Zhou Wenqing, my beloved minister, who has contributed plows, salt, strategies, and saved countless lives, and whose merits to our Great Qin have lasted for generations!"

Zhou Wenqing straightened up as instructed, his posture still upright like bamboo. He did not show any embarrassment or pride because of this grand introduction. He simply lowered his eyes slightly and stood calmly in the center of the hall, letting countless gazes with different meanings scrutinize and examine him.

Ying Zheng calmly swept his gaze over the assembled officials below, whose expressions varied, letting the undercurrents surge and turbulent in their silent gazes for a moment.

He needed to let these officials digest this information, and he also needed to make Zhou Wenqing's image more deeply imprinted in everyone's eyes.

Only after the invisible commotion subsided did he slowly speak.

"Our Great Qin has always been clear about rewards and punishments, and those who have made contributions will be rewarded. Now, I have decided to appoint Zhou Wenqing as the Minister of Grain Supply, grant him the title of Junior Master of the Imperial Household, and provide him with a salary to recognize his merits. Furthermore, I appoint him as the tutor of Prince Fusu to teach him his studies and moral character."

His gaze shifted to the small figure below the steps: "Fusu, why don't you come and pay your respects to your master?"

These words were like throwing three massive stones into the seemingly peaceful Zhangtai Palace!

The Minister of Agriculture? This is a powerful and influential position that controls the economic lifeline of the country and ranks among the Nine Ministers. Only those with deep experience and loyalty can be appointed.

The title of Junior Superior Rank? This is the fifteenth rank in the twenty-rank military merit system, which cannot be obtained without significant military achievements or special contributions. Granting it to a scholar, although it is a reward for merit, is an extremely rare promotion.

As for the tutor of the young master, he was the tutor of the eldest son, Fusu, and his importance was self-evident.

Power, title, and prestige—these three weighty things were all bestowed upon a young man who looked to be no more than twenty years old and whose face still carried a touch of refined scholarly air.

"Buzz—"

Countless gazes once again focused on the figure in blue robes in the hall, but this time, the astonishment, doubt, disbelief, and even a hint of hidden absurdity were far stronger than the mere curiosity from before.

Some seasoned and prudent officials couldn't help but furrow their brows slightly, exchanging shocked glances.

Ying Zheng took in the myriad expressions below without changing his expression, fully aware of the impact this action would have.

After all, a young man who had just entered the court and had no qualifications was suddenly appointed to a high-ranking position among the Nine Ministers, in charge of the nation's finances; and in the Qin Dynasty, which valued "merit-based titles," he was granted the high-ranking title of "Young Master," which countless soldiers might not be able to achieve even after fighting for half their lives... This was truly unheard of and almost defied common sense.

But Ying Zheng... was happy to do so.

Not to mention that these rules and regulations, as well as the qualifications and thresholds, were set by the monarch. They can serve as standards, and naturally, exceptions can be made for virtuous and talented individuals.

Given Zhou Aiqing's extraordinary talent and the lasting benefits he has made, it would be disrespectful to judge him by the standards of ordinary promotion.

Only by bestowing such a generous reward can he fulfill his promise to "treat him with the respect due to a national hero".

In Ying Zheng's mind, if it weren't for the fact that Zhou Wenqing was too young and that a sudden promotion to a high rank might cause a stir, he would have thought that even a "Grand Master" rank would not be unacceptable.

Ying Zheng had anticipated that there would be discontent and turmoil, so he specially summoned Fusu and ordered him to pay his respects on the spot.

Once the title of "Prince's Tutor" is swiftly established in the grand court through the king's words and the etiquette of a prince, becoming a fait accompli, the other two honors will be established as if they have a foundation, and opposition will be difficult to directly challenge.

What he wanted was this lightning-fast speed.

Following his father's last words, Fusu swiftly stepped forward, turned to Zhou Wenqing, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply in a solemn manner, his voice clear and resonant:

"Disciple Fusu greets Master, and hopes that you will continue to teach me in the future."

This bow was clean, efficient, and perfectly executed, instantly solidifying the title of tutor to the prince in front of everyone. The eldest prince had already gladly bowed, and the king had understood the appointment. To object at this point would not only be a slap in the face to the king but also a sign of disrespect to the prince.

Zhou Wenqing accepted the bow in full view of everyone and helped Fusu up.

Now he understood why the king had made his son get up before dawn.

Open opposition is out of the question, but...

Upon seeing this, Lord Changping, Mi Qi, stepped forward calmly. He did not directly address the matter of Prince Shi, but instead appeared quite amiable, speaking slowly: "Your Majesty values ​​talent and rewards merit, which is the act of a wise ruler. We are also delighted that Your Majesty has obtained such a worthy talent."

He first set the tone to avoid offending the monarch, then subtly changed the subject, "However, Mr. Zhou is exceptionally talented and has made remarkable achievements. While we admire him, we are also curious about his background and which great master he studied under. To be able to teach such a man of great talent, his family background must be extraordinary."

His question seemed polite, but it was actually sharp.

Zhou Wenqing remained calm, his voice neither humble nor arrogant: "My ancestors were also scholars, but our family had long since fallen on hard times. By my time, we were no different from ordinary people. As for my teachers..."

He paused briefly, then spoke frankly, "Wenqing was often sick as a child, so he stayed home to study and learned about various schools of thought. In his early years, he was fortunate to be enlightened by a recluse in the countryside, who taught him classics and guided him through his confusion."

"It is a pity that the gentleman was indifferent to fame and did not allow Wenqing to reveal or publicize his teachings. He has long since passed away, and his name is no longer known. What I have learned since then has mostly come from the writings of my predecessors. I have pondered and comprehended them on my own and have only occasionally gained some insights. I hope that the Prime Minister and all the other officials will forgive my crudeness."

Wouldn't that mean having no background and being almost no different from ordinary people?

As soon as these words were spoken, the murmurs in the hall had not yet ceased when a figure could no longer contain himself and stepped forward—it was none other than Wang Wan, the Minister of Justice.

"Your Majesty," Wang Guan said, having first assessed the situation, "Mr. Zhou presented 'Snowflake Salt,' its purity and whiteness are indeed witnessed by our own eyes. It is truly a marvel, and this merit is well-deserved..."

but--

Zhou Wenqing silently picked up on the word in his mind, and sure enough.

"However," Wang Wan's tone suddenly sharpened, "aside from this jar of salt, what about the other achievements Your Majesty just mentioned? How effective were they? Were they widely implemented throughout the Qin region to demonstrate their effectiveness? Were they thoroughly verified by the relevant officials to prove their worth? We... have not personally witnessed any of them."

"I fear that it will be difficult to win over the people, and I also fear that... it will set a precedent for lightly granting power to the state, which could undermine the laws of the country and the military merit system. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Sure enough, Zhou Wenqing raised an eyebrow.

All that has been said so far was probably just a prelude; these last few sentences are probably what Wang Wan is truly concerned about.

Wang Wan had long anticipated that he would jump out; this man was one of the representatives of the old nobles in the court and the families with military merit.

Li Si was highly valued as a guest minister, and Wei Liao was treated with courtesy because of his military talent. This already made people like him feel that their established status was being challenged and diluted. Now, another Zhou Wenqing has emerged!

This person was even younger and of humble origin, yet the rewards he received were far more astonishing, reaching the very core of power... How could he possibly remain unmoved?

Zhou Wenqing was prepared for this. He did not directly refute Wang Wan, but calmly turned to Ying Zheng on the throne: "Your Majesty, what the Minister of Justice said is indeed reasonable. Rewarding merits and punishing demerits must be based on solid evidence in order to convince the people. This is the key to governing a country."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Wang Wan, whose face was grave. "Wang Tingwei questioned that Wen Qing's agricultural strategies and medical supplies had not yet been widely disseminated and verified, and their effectiveness was not yet evident. Therefore, he believed that Wen Qing was not yet worthy of such a heavy reward."

"Then, may I ask you a question, sir: if one day these agricultural policies do indeed fill the granaries of Guanzhong, and the new medicines do indeed increase the survival rate of wounded soldiers, and the policies you have proposed are also beneficial to the country... then will I be considered worthy of this position and title, having made meritorious contributions?"

This question directly shifted Wang Wan's current doubts to future verification, avoiding the important issues and causing Wang Wan to be slightly taken aback.

His original intention was to resolutely oppose this unconventional promotion that undermined the rule that only sons of meritorious families could hold important official positions. However, Zhou Wenqing skillfully deflected the issue, steering the conversation toward the logic that "if merit is proven, then rewards should be given."

If he denied it outright, he would appear arrogant and unreasonable; if he admitted it, it would be tantamount to partially acknowledging the potential legitimacy of the reward. He was speechless for a moment, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and he remained silent in thought.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Zhou Wenqing smiled slightly, seemingly understanding and agreeing, but his tone held a sharp edge:

"I understand Your Excellency's concerns. You simply feel that, apart from the salt, the other contributions I have made so far are not enough to warrant such a generous reward, is that right?"

Wang Wan's expression changed slightly, and she snorted. The reason was hard to explain, so it could only be considered an admission.

"In that case," Zhou Wenqing suddenly raised his voice, his gaze sweeping over the ministers in the hall before finally settling on Ying Zheng, each word clear and distinct: "Wenqing is willing to offer one more item here. This item is unrelated to weapons, agriculture, or medicine for healing."

He paused deliberately, drawing everyone's attention.

"If this thing is completed, laws and decrees will reach all corners of the land, classics will enter every village and alley, culture and education will flourish, and the foundation will be forever solidified. This thing, Wenqing tentatively calls it: something that can help the Great Qin's 'cultural lineage continue forever'!"

The moment the words "the cultural heritage will continue" were uttered, the entire hall fell silent, with only the sound of breathing.

Zhou Wenqing bowed to Ying Zheng again, his sleeves fluttering slightly, exuding an air of arrogance. His demeanor was elegant and composed, his youthful ambition undisguised.

"If this achievement is attained, Wenqing's contributions will span the three fields of education, agriculture, and medicine. At that time, even if Wenqing holds the position of Junior Master, he can confidently say that it would not be presumptuous!"