My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 624 Under Heavy Pressure (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"Qin Shi Huang - Bah, he's not even as good as the King of Qi."

"Every day, I do everything except personnel matters."

What Ying Zheng didn't know was that after he left, his "masterpiece" - the famous "Zhifushan Stone Carving" written by Li Si himself would not only experience rain, snow, wind and frost, but would also be cursed and rejected by the people.

Qi and Lu are the hometowns of gentlemen. There are many scholars in this place.

With the outstanding achievements Fusu made in Qi and Lu, he was respected by scholars all over the world.

Ying Zheng naturally couldn't wait to show off to the "scholars" in Qi and Lu. He hoped to establish himself in front of the world as a country that liked documents, was well-educated, and knew how to apply culture and education, but the effect was very poor.

The prefects of Qi and Langya counties were sitting at home, just taking a nap under the shade of a tree on a hot summer day, when they heard the children in Qi and Lu outside the wall making up songs to mock Qin Shi Huang.

The so-called composing ballads is actually just singing the jokes told by adults.

As mentioned before, Xunzi once gave lectures in Qi and Lu, and he had many students. Xunzi wrote a lot of books in his life, studying destiny, but he was a very down-to-earth scholar, and he also invented crosstalk.

This is the same industry that the acrobats who are now everywhere in the streets and alleys are engaged in.

The Qi and Lu regions were originally populated by intellectuals, and Xunzi helped the "villagers" forty years ago and invented the crosstalk that was so melodious. The combination of these two, plus the fact that Ying Zheng was doing more and more things.

There are more and more jokes about him.

"Look, look! There's a tree by the roadside. Its name is Wu Dafu!"

"Listen, listen! There is a stone tablet on the seashore. There are thousands of words on it, but not a single one of them is attributed to the Qin Emperor!"

That year, Ying Zheng brought a lot of "joy" to the people of the world. From this point of view, the common people still like this "funny emperor".

However, the generals and county governors who guarded the border changed their minds after listening to these ballads.

The number of county governors, county magistrates, Qin officials, and stationed troops in Qi, Langya, Julu, Xue, and Dongjun was less than one twentieth of the original residents.

They would listen to these ballads every day after dinner. It would be fine if they just listened to them, but the illegitimate children born to the concubines outside the court also began to clap their hands and sing these ballads on the mat.

According to the laws of the Qin State, officials and generals who were sent abroad were not allowed to marry outside the country, have a spouse privately, and even more so, have children. Imperial maids played an important role at this time, but they still gave birth to children.

As a last resort, they had to hide the bride and baby.

Working in a state where one has already committed a crime and faces dismissal and investigation if discovered is something that every county magistrate would feel frustrated about.

While taking a break, he suddenly heard a few jokes uttered by his youngest son, and the children outside the door also began to respond. Suddenly, the streets and alleys were filled with the children's secret signals.

The children pointed at the numbers in their own homes and shouted, "Look, look, I have five doctors at home, too!"

Where there are many people, there is a lot of joy.

The county magistrate himself was laughing so hard when he heard the news, so how could he report it?

At first they were trembling with fear, but later they heard people around them insulting Qin Shihuang in unison, and these old Qin people gradually stopped taking Ying Zheng seriously.

Because practice has proved that Ying Zheng cannot control such a faraway place.

Perhaps, the famous saying "The mountains are high and the emperor is far away" was created at this time.

To get back to the point, at the beginning, the old Qin people who were outside, the generals and county governors who were once promoted by Ying Zheng were all determined and vowed to suppress one side for Ying Zheng and realize that unattainable ideal.

But later, their loyalty and perseverance were gradually worn away by the dull life of eating three bowls of rice a day for 360 days, by the absurd behavior of Ying Zheng's "suspected drunken" tour of the country, by the feelings of homesickness and longing for home day after day, and by the reverse threat of the "Qin Law" that they used to suppress the common people. . . .

People are born with this kind of "weakness", it cannot be called a "defect", or "human nature is evil", "people are bad". There is nothing that can be done about it. If a person is given the same thing for ten years, he really can't persist.

Gradually, pain and frustration made the expatriate Qin officials and the common people of the six countries become one.

Under such circumstances, the Qin Empire's expatriate officials and generals had to rethink what to do in the future, such as setting their sights on a crown prince.

In history, there have been many factual examples that can be verified.

For example, Feng Jing, one of the meritorious officials of the Han Dynasty and the son of Feng Wuze, was actually the one who was sent to serve as a resident general.

Incredibly, Feng Wuze was an important official who accompanied Qin Shihuang on his tour of the country. Feng Wuze once climbed Mount Tai with Ying Zheng and completed such a great event as the Fengshan Ceremony on Mount Tai!
This shows the status of Feng Wuzhe in Ying Zheng's mind, but this cannot change the path of Feng Wuzhe's biological son Feng Jing to betray the Qin Empire.

Even the Feng family in history would go down this path, let alone others! Their family did not have the prominent position in the court like the Feng family. Many people were almost unknown all their lives, and there was no interest in the court to affect them. It was natural for them to betray the Qin State!

As a Qin official, he had already committed a crime. And the people's disgust towards Qin Shi Huang had reached a peak. This made the Qin officials feel that the empire was in danger.

But don’t forget that the Qin Empire itself had a crown prince.

And according to the intelligence they had, the prince was still normal at the moment. And according to the rumors they had heard about Prince Fusu in Xianyang, and many people had worked with Fusu in the Qin-Chu War.

The grassroots officials of Qin State once hated, did not understand, and rejected Fusu, but after facing the harsh reality, they finally turned to understanding, approval, support, and even admiration for him!

Under heavy pressure, these Qin officials began to unite in other places to discuss something that Fusu had proposed many years ago - to amend the Qin law.

As the saying goes, if it's none of your business, then just ignore it.

When Fusu proposed to revise the Qin Law, he was opposed by many Qin legalists. In the minds of the Qin people, the Qin Law had extremely lofty significance.

Because of the Qin Law and the state institution operation model established in Xianyang by successive generations of the Qin State, it barely realized Shang Yang's ideal a hundred years ago - to change the situation where "no punishment was imposed on officials".

But now, when the Qin officials themselves became part of the criminals outside, they could only wait to be tried at any time. At that moment, their mentality changed. They began to understand the feelings of the common people when they were sentenced to be prisoners.

The Qin officials never dreamed that they and the people of the six countries actually disliked each other because of the Qin Law, but eventually came together because of the Qin Law.

That’s right, it was the Qin officials who wrote the Qin Law, which was too detailed, like a mesh, too complicated, and ultimately imposed a heavy burden on the people and even increased the burden on social operations!

Qin official!
This contrast made many descendants of military generals and meritorious officials who left the Imperial Academy feel helpless and sad.

In Linzi City of Qi County, after Fusu left with thousands of scholars and disciples, this place became a gathering place for rotten fish and shrimp.

We will not discuss here the impact that Fusu's concentration of the nation's elites in Xianyang City had on other parts of the world.

Let’s just talk about the Linzi City in Qi County of the Qin State. In the past, it was a mixture of good and bad people. Although it was a mess, at least there was a dragon!

Now the dragon is gone and only the snake is left.

These snakes are entrenched in one area and no one can suppress them. They use their intelligence and the advantage of being well-read to walk on the edge of the law every day.

This brought heavy burdens to the grassroots Qin officials.

So at the same time, under pressure and problems from many aspects, Qin officials, county governors, and generals from all over the country began to bring up the old issues again.

In Handan City, a strategic location, several unknown Qin officials stationed there held an informal meeting after drinking. However, the content of the discussion at this meeting caused an uproar in the Qin State.

Who made the initiator Qin Li himself?
Qin Li'an, a native of Ba County, Qin State, said, "More than a decade ago, the prince said that the Qin Law needed to be revised. At that time, I just thought that the prince was too well-read. Now it seems that he really had foresight."

Qin official Gao: "Now the common people of the six states are suffering from the harsh Qin laws!"

Qin Liyi was also shocked. "Not only the common people of the six countries, can we, the old Qin people, escape this law? The war is over, and the old system should have ended long ago."

A young Qin official who had just turned 20 was so excited that he started knocking on the bowl, "Just think about us Qin officials. We are sent abroad for three to five years. When we return home, we don't even know how many children our wives have given birth to."

"It's so hard to find a confidant outside, but it's shameful in the eyes of the law."

Several older Qin officials looked at Hao and smiled strangely, "You kid, you're itchy, aren't you?"

"Who wouldn't feel itchy? That's not humane!"

This major issue has been mentioned before.

The Qin State's annexation of the six states was actually a shock and integration of the cultures, etiquette, customs, and moral concepts among the seven peoples.

This influence was mutual, not just a one-way export from Qin to the other six states.

The local nobles and common people of the six states would use their huge group advantage to teach the "Qin officials' sons and daughters" who had just graduated from the academy how to behave.

This is a major change in Chinese history that has not happened in a thousand years.

After the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, China's history and culture, science and technology, and civilization all developed to an unprecedented level, leading the world.

The Qin State also swallowed up the advanced Legalist thought and absorbed the Mohist technology and social organization system, forming a super war power.

In this super war power, the people of the seven countries that were annexed by force had to forcibly blend and merge with each other. When Ying Zheng ordered the continuous delivery of his "ant workers" to other places and constantly dispatched the aborigines of the six countries to move east and west, the Qin people were deeply baptized by the civilization of the six countries.

Their original values ​​of the supremacy of law and order suffered a severe impact from then on.

Their war-loving character also changed after they met the Qi people who loved "peace" and liked to "do business and live a comfortable life".

However, their overbearing and overheated minds, which would start a war at the slightest disagreement, began to gradually calm down under the melodious music of Wu and Chu and the stringed instruments of Zheng and Wei.

The Han Empire took root and sprouted on the fallen body of the Qin Empire.

The people of the six countries were using something invisible to quietly change the Qin Empire.

The legal principles that the Qin people emphasized and the human relations and emotions that the six nations valued began to forge the predecessor of the Han nation.

And this is the best plaster that will bring new vitality to the Qin Empire in the future.

At this time, the Qin State was like the crazy "Xing Tian", who had lost his mind but was still "dancing with Gan Qi". The people and their thoughts of the six countries no longer openly opposed the Qin State, but became a rope hidden in the grass, tripping the giant Qin State.

The Qin State was entangled.

This was the best time for Qin to reform, because the world was in chaos and everyone hoped that a strong leader would emerge to change the chaotic situation.

The Qin officials discussed it a lot.

"Why don't we write a letter to the Crown Prince to show our support for him? As the Imperial Academy's chief academic officer, he is in the Xianyang Palace, and he has the Emperor's trust. Wouldn't it be great if he could propose to amend the Qin Law again?"

Everyone looked at Qin Lihao, frowning, "We sent the letter, can the prince receive it?"

Qin Lihao slammed the table and said, "I heard that the prince does not think highly of his high position, and the people he chooses to be around him are all from the countryside. People from the countryside can be close to the prince, so why can't our Qin Li's letter be delivered to the prince?"

Historically, in times of national danger, it is always those who are passionate and knowledgeable who have the least concerns and contribute the most.

Encouraged by Hao, other Qin officials also joined the letter-writing movement.

Students, indeed, have few concerns. They do not care about their own safety, nor do they consider Fusu's situation.

Anyway, they sent the letter when Qin Shihuang was still alive and well, full of energy and vitality.

At this time, Fusu had just been told by Ying Zheng, "I am about to go on another eastern tour to the sea, and you will follow me this time."

Ying Zheng, no. Zulong likes the sea and wants to play on it.

Fusu was naturally very happy, as he was almost going to get moldy staying in the palace.

Fusu actually had some guesses about the ups and downs outside, but he saw no sign that the time was ripe, so he could only wait quietly at home.

However, some people's determination can be completely worn away by the dull years.

But Fusu didn't.

On a hot summer day, Fusu wore a single layer of clothes and sat on a mat under a bamboo tent, with ice wine, grapes and fruit juice placed around him.

Madam Gan Tang was wearing a pink dress and holding her adopted son Yao, playing with a jade pendant.

Yao is already three years old.

He had a pair of big eyes like black grapes, and held a handful of jade rings in his hand. He first nibbled them, then shook them non-stop, and finally threw them heavily to the ground, breaking them into a pool of pieces.

As long as he is awake, he will keep making noise.

Yao's legs were eager to try, and he wanted to go out for a walk many times, but he was always restrained by Madam Gan Tang's arms.

Because he would smash the jade pendant on his father's head...

Fusu lay on one side, flipping through the Bamboo Annals.

The cool breeze is blowing, and this kind of leisurely and beautiful time is not often available.

"Everyone likes the beautiful story of Yao and Shun's succession, but the prince only likes to watch the real story of Yao and Shun's succession. Doesn't this make history feel chilling?"

Madam Gan Tang couldn't help but ask.

Although Fusu looks like a calm and clear-minded person, he actually likes to read books that make people feel dark.

It is inevitable that people are confused about what Fusu really feels in his heart.

"Someone once said that beauty is only a momentary feeling. Only truth is eternal beauty, and truth is never beautiful. But I am different. I like truth. Although the truth is bloody, it has a different kind of beauty."

"There is a different kind of beauty in blood? Don't lie to me, Prince."

Fusu looked at Feng Wanwan. The blood was not beautiful, it was a kind of, very special, very...

Forget it, she won’t understand even if I tell her.

"This kind of beauty is not beauty in the secular sense."

Yao stared with wide eyes, and after hearing what Fusu said, he turned his head away decisively.

"Prince, there is a letter."

Fusu and Lady Gan Tang were both very surprised.

Because Fusu had never received a letter from anyone in his life.

Letters are used for private communications, and no one has ever written a letter to Fusu.

Although Fusu was surprised, he still opened the letter that had been checked by the eunuchs and confirmed to be correct.

The letter was signed by four Qin officials, who listed their own names.

I wrote thousands of words.

The words expressing admiration for Fusu took up two or three hundred words.

Then the main text explains the intention, "Now the world seems to be unified, but in fact the empire is in crisis. The prince is foresighted and breaks the standard of Qin Li selection, allowing the sons of the fifth-level military merit system to enter the school as Qin Li."

"We are deeply grateful to the Crown Prince."

"During these years of garrison duty, I have always been dedicated to serving His Majesty the Emperor, handling legal documents, and have always been conscientious and careful, not daring to do anything rash."

"..."

"It's a pity that the Qin laws are so strict, like the mesh of a fishing net. They are so complicated that they become a prison. I'm afraid that the Qin State will be trapped in the quagmire because of the Qin laws and will not be able to extricate itself."

"Government orders and laws are in constant conflict. The people are complaining."

"..."

"The prince proposed a series of ideas on reforming the Qin State, revising the Qin Law, and formulating a new ideology for governing the country. These ideas should have achieved great results. At that time, the prince was under great pressure, but he dared to put them forward openly."

"It's a pity that we were young at the time and didn't understand the prince's painstaking efforts. Now that I'm outside the Great Wall and have seen the accumulated problems with my own eyes, I'm afraid the prince must take the lead and initiate reforms, following the example of Shang Yang, otherwise the country will be in danger."

"The four of us are just insignificant people. We should not disturb the prince's peace, but the local crisis is severe. The government orders and laws are mixed, thieves are everywhere, and innocent people are harmed."

"It was then that we suddenly realized. The prince is very foresighted. I hope that it is not too late for us ignorant people to realize it."

"I beg the Crown Prince to share the worries of His Majesty the Emperor and serve the people of the world."

"I would like to follow the prince to make up for the loss."

After reading the letter, Fusu looked at the signature again and again.

"Is the situation so serious? A few unknown Qin officials actually sent someone to deliver a letter to me."

Or is this a conspiracy? I have never made any enemies in the court.

"How did this letter get here?"

(End of this chapter)