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Snow was falling heavily, and goose-feather-like snowflakes were falling from the lead-gray sky and onto the earth. The north wind was howling, passing through the numerous palaces of the Xianyang Palace, carrying the biting cold, and wantonly attacking every corner.

The majestic Xianyang Palace is now covered with heavy snow. The vermilion palace walls and golden glazed tiles are all covered with a thick layer of silver.

Inside the Yongchang Hall, the charcoal fire in the stove was crackling, occasionally emitting sparks, adding a little warmth to the cold hall. The floor of the hall was covered with a thick blanket, which was soft and silent when stepped on, but even so, the slight chill that came in through the gaps in the doors and windows still made people who had just stepped into the hall shiver.

Yi Huawei was wearing a dark purple court robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered with gold thread that gleamed in the firelight, and he had a black jade belt tied around his waist.

At this moment, he was standing in the hall, frowning slightly as he looked at the raging snow and wind outside the window.

Zhao Tong was wearing a moon-white brocade robe and a small golden crown on his head. He had a delicate face and a natural nobleness between his eyebrows and eyes, but at this moment, his young face was full of entanglement and reluctance. He stood quietly beside Yi Huawei, his hands unconsciously clenched the corners of his clothes, and he hesitated several times to speak.

"Father, is it too harsh for the more than 30,000 Qin nobles to be detained and imprisoned awaiting judgment?"

After a moment, Zhao Tong finally plucked up the courage, raised his head, and looked at Yi Huawei with trepidation in his clear eyes. Although his voice was childish, he tried to appear calm.

Yi Huawei slowly turned around and looked at Zhao Tong. His eyes were gentle but serious. He sighed softly and said, "Your Highness, do you know the profound meaning of the saying 'A kind person cannot command an army, and a good person cannot be an official'?"

Zhao Tong tilted his head slightly, thought for a moment and then replied:

"Tong'er, you know, this means that if you are too kind, you can't lead the army well, and if you are too kind, it will be difficult to make a difference in the officialdom. However, those more than 30,000 people are all nobles of my Great Qin. They were just confused for a moment. Maybe... maybe they can be given a lighter sentence."

Yi Huawei walked to a chair nearby, sat down slowly, and motioned Zhao Tong to sit down as well. After Zhao Tong sat down, he spoke again, "Your Highness, you only saw the identities of these 30,000 people, but you didn't see the huge disaster hidden behind their actions. The situation that Daqin has today has been the result of the efforts of many generations of kings, and the bloody battles of many soldiers. Now that your majesty is ill, you, the crown prince, are the heir to the throne. The future of Daqin will be handed over to you. Any attempt to shake the foundation of Daqin must not be tolerated."

Zhao Tong pursed his lips, his face full of reluctance: "But Prime Minister, many of them have made contributions to the Qin Dynasty, and some of their ancestors even followed the First Emperor to fight in all directions. If they are all imprisoned like this, it will probably chill everyone's hearts."

Yi Huawei frowned, and his tone became a little more serious: "Your Highness, merits are merits, and faults are faults, and they cannot be confused. The Qin Dynasty has never forgotten their past contributions, and Your Majesty has also rewarded them with many honors and wealth. But now they are secretly colluding to support Prince Fusu to become the emperor, which is already a crime of treason. If we are lenient to them today, then in the future more people will think that they can be easily forgiven for making big mistakes. In this way, where is the majesty of the laws of the Qin Dynasty? How can the country be stable?"

The wind and snow outside the hall seemed to be even stronger, and the north wind hit the doors and windows violently, making banging sounds.

Zhao Tong bit his lower lip, hesitated for a moment and said, "Prime Minister, although I have never met Uncle Fusu, I have heard from my aunt that he is also the heir of my father. He has always been kind and generous, and is deeply supported by many people..."

Yi Huawei's eyes flashed with a sharpness, and his voice rose a little: "Your Highness, the throne is inherited by our ancestors. How can it be changed at will by others? Prince Fusu is indeed kind, but the world cannot be governed well by kindness alone. Moreover, their collusion this time did not follow the orthodox law, which is a great rebellion. If they are allowed to succeed, the Qin Dynasty will inevitably fall into civil strife. By then, the people will be displaced and war will rage. How many innocent people will suffer?"

Zhao Tong lowered his head, placed his hands on his knees, and clenched them into fists. He still couldn't let it go. "Father, I understand what you mean, but it's really hard to think that I won't see so many familiar faces again. I think maybe we can give them a chance to reform and let them make up for their mistakes."

Yi Huawei looked at Zhao Tong's tangled expression and knew that this boy was kind-hearted, but he had not yet truly understood the interests of the court and the overall situation of the world. He slowed down his tone and said patiently:
"Your Highness, I understand that you are kind-hearted and cannot bear to see such a tragic situation. But think about it, if this precedent is set, how will similar situations be handled in the future? Once there is a loophole in the law, it will be like a flood that has broken through the dam and will no longer be able to be controlled. Moreover, these more than 30,000 people are involved in a wide range of affairs. Their families, students and former officials are spread all over the Qin Dynasty. If this matter cannot be settled with thunderous means, then the court of the Qin Dynasty will be undercurrents and there will be no peace forever."

As he spoke, Yi Huawei stood up and walked to a map of the Qin Dynasty's territory in the hall. He stared at the map, as if he saw the countless people on the vast land of Qin Dynasty.

"Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, you will shoulder the rise and fall of the entire Qin Dynasty. This world is not just the world of Xianyang Palace, but the home of tens of millions of people. You must remember that every decision you make is related to their life and death, and their well-being. If you are kind to these people who are plotting rebellion today, the people may suffer from war in the future, and that is a real sin!"

Zhao Tong also stood up and walked to Yi Huawei's side. He followed his gaze to look at the territory map. He seemed to understand something in his heart, but there was still a trace of hesitation on his face: "Father, in your opinion, how can we let the people of Daqin know that we are not disinterested in friendship, but we have no choice but to act this way?"

Yi Huawei nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved that Zhao Tong could think of this, and smiled: "Your Highness, you asked a good question. After this incident, we can announce it to the world, clarify the crimes committed by the more than 30,000 people, and let the people know that this is to uphold the laws of the Qin Dynasty and ensure the stability of the country. At the same time, for those nobles and their families who have never participated in the rebellion and have always been loyal to the Qin Dynasty, the court can give more support and rewards to show that your majesty and the court are clear about rewards and punishments. In this way, the people can understand the fairness of the court, and stabilize the various forces of the Qin Dynasty, so that they know that as long as they are loyal to the country, the court will not treat them unfairly."

Zhao Tong nodded gently, with a thoughtful look in his eyes: "Tong'er understands, but my father-in-law has dealt with so many people this time... I'm afraid it will cause a shock to the world..."

Yi Huawei patted Zhao Tong on the shoulder and said earnestly: "Your Highness can think of this, and I am very pleased. The affairs of the court are like a game of chess. Every move must be carefully considered. If you are not careful, you will lose the whole game. You are still young now. You must learn more and see more of the world. Only then can you truly understand how to be a qualified monarch and protect the vast territory of the Qin Dynasty."

The wind and snow outside the window had not stopped yet, but the atmosphere in Yongchang Hall gradually eased.

Zhao Tong stood beside Yi Huawei, looking at the snow. Then, Yi Huawei told Zhao Tong many historical stories of the Qin Dynasty, including those that led to military defeats due to kindness, and those that were exploited by treacherous officials due to kindness, which eventually put the country into crisis. Zhao Tong listened attentively to each story, and understood more deeply the profound truth behind the saying "kindness cannot command the army, and goodness cannot be an official".

From King Wen of Zhou being imprisoned in Youli but enduring humiliation and eventually achieving great success, to Duke Xiang of Song's "righteous" defeat in the Battle of Hongshui during the Spring and Autumn Period, to the decisive measures taken by the previous kings in the face of internal and external troubles during the rise of Qin, Yi Huawei described the story vividly, and Zhao Tong listened attentively, raising his own questions from time to time, which Yi Huawei patiently answered one by one.

"Your Highness, let's talk about the defeat of 'Ren Yi' during the Battle of Hongshui during the Spring and Autumn Period. Duke Xiang of Song was ambitious, but he made a big mistake during the Battle of Hongshui and ended up with a miserable ending."

Yi Huawei frowned slightly: "When the Chu army came to attack, Duke Xiang of Song led the Song army to wait on the bank of the Hong River. The Chu army wanted to cross the Hong River to fight the Song army. When the Chu army crossed the river, the river was turbulent. The Chu soldiers had difficulty moving forward in the water. The team was in chaos. The ministers of Duke Xiang of Song were all veterans of the battlefield. They saw at a glance that this was a perfect time to attack, and they all advised Duke Xiang of Song and begged him to order an attack immediately."

Zhao Tong frowned when he heard this: "Why didn't Duke Xiang of Song listen? This is a godsend opportunity. If we attack now, we might be able to defeat the Chu army and keep Song peaceful."

Yi Huawei sighed softly: "Your Highness, Duke Xiang of Song has his own 'benevolence and righteousness' in his heart. He thinks that attacking the enemy while they are crossing the river is against the conduct of a gentleman and is against benevolence and righteousness. He has to wait until all the Chu troops have crossed the river, formed their battle array, and are ready for battle before he is willing to order the attack."

At this point, Yi Huawei's tone became heavy: "But he did not consider that the battlefield situation was changing rapidly. The Chu army was already large in number. After they all crossed the river and lined up, they were in high spirits. How could the Song army be their opponent? As a result, the Song army was defeated in this battle, and Duke Xiang of Song was seriously injured in the melee. Not long after, he died with hatred. As for the State of Song, after this battle, the national strength was greatly damaged, and the people also fell into the suffering of war, displaced, and their homes were destroyed. The peace of the past no longer existed."

Zhao Tong frowned, looking thoughtful. After a long while, he said, "Mr. Prime Minister, although Duke Xiang of Song did this out of righteousness, it is indeed a bit pedantic. War is inherently cruel. If we only emphasize benevolence and righteousness, how can we win?"

"Your Highness is absolutely right. This is what I want to emphasize to you. Whether you are an official or a soldier, you must make the right decision at the right time and not be bound by some one-sided moral concepts."

Yi Huawei looked at Zhao Tong with approval and said earnestly:

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"On the battlefield, opportunities are fleeting. If we miss a good opportunity because of unrealistic righteousness, the consequences will be disastrous. It will not only affect the life and death of soldiers, but also the safety of the entire country."

After a pause, Yi Huawei continued, "Your Highness, look at Zhao Kuo. He has been familiar with military books since he was young, and he is very knowledgeable when talking about the art of war. Everyone thinks he is a talented general. Born into a family of generals, he has been influenced by the strong military atmosphere at home since he was young. He can recite those military books by heart, and when he talks with others about arranging troops and marching to fight, he is eloquent and has unique insights. When others listen to him, they all think that he must be a talented general who can gallop freely on the battlefield and make great achievements."

Zhao Tong nodded slightly and said, "To be able to study the military book to such an extent, I think he must have put in a lot of hard work, but I don't know why he ended up..."

Yi Huawei took over the conversation and said, "Your Highness, Zhao Kuo has only theories but lacks practical experience. Theories are good, but on the battlefield, situations are ever-changing. How can we deal with them with ease just by relying on the rules in the books? What's more fatal is that he is stubborn and self-righteous, blindly confident in his own abilities, and unwilling to listen to other people's advice."

Yi Huawei walked to the table nearby, picked up a teacup, and gestured, "In the Battle of Changping, he took over the situation of confrontation between the Qin army. As soon as he arrived at the army, he drastically changed the previous combat strategy, completely ignoring the advice of those experienced veterans. He thought that with his vast knowledge, he could easily defeat the Qin army, but reality gave him a heavy blow..."

Yi Huawei put down his teacup, a trace of regret in his eyes: "Wu'an Jun Bai Qi was a famous general who had experienced hundreds of battles. Seeing Zhao Kuo like this, he set up a plan, pretending to retreat, and lured Zhao Kuo to lead his army to pursue. Zhao Kuo didn't know it was a plan, and thought that the Qin army was afraid of fighting. He was very excited and chased after them with his army, but ended up being surrounded by the Qin army. This time, the Zhao army was trapped, without food for many days, and the army was in chaos. In the end, they had no choice but to surrender. You also know what happened next. More than 400,000 people were killed."

"Your Highness. War is no joke. Once a wrong decision is made, the fate of the entire country will be affected. These 400,000 surrendered soldiers are almost all the young and strong laborers of Zhao. After this battle, Zhao had no one to farm the fields and no one to guard the city. The national strength declined instantly and it was no longer able to compete with other countries. From then on, it never recovered."

Yi Huawei said slowly, "And the same is true for officials in the court. Every decree issued and every personnel appointment and dismissal is like deploying troops on the battlefield. You have to be extremely careful. One mistake could plunge the country into crisis, the people suffer, and the country into turmoil."

Yi Huawei pointed to the Korean region on the map and said, "Your Highness, there was once an important official in Korea named Xia Lei. He was upright and kind, and implemented a series of benevolent policies in the country, always thinking about the people. Seeing that the people were burdened with heavy taxes and had a hard life, he overcame all objections and persuaded the King of Korea to reduce the taxes of the people, so that the people could have more food at home and have enough food. In years of disaster, he actively organized relief, opened warehouses to release grain, and personally went to the disaster area to comfort the affected people, so that those displaced people could have a place to stay and rekindle their hope for life. Therefore, he was deeply loved by the people."

"I know, just like you, my father!"

Zhao Tong nodded slightly and said, "Such a wise minister is indeed rare. It should be a blessing for the country of Han to have him."

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly, sighed and said, "Your Highness, kindness alone is not enough to ensure a stable foothold in the court. When Xia Lei faced the political struggle in the court, he was too kind to use ruthless means against his political enemies. His political enemies were all ambitious people who would do anything to achieve their goals. Seeing that Xia Lei was so kind and could be deceived, they became even more aggressive and designed to frame him.

In the end, Xia Lei was killed by an assassin in the court he wanted to protect. His death instantly plunged the Korean court into chaos. Without his checks and balances, the various forces began to fight for power and profit, using every possible means. The people's livelihood, which had improved slightly thanks to his benevolent policies, fell into trouble again, and the national strength declined day by day. This is a portrayal of a good official. If an official only knows how to be kind, but does not know how to use means to deal with those with ulterior motives when necessary, he will not only fail to protect himself, but also put the country in danger. "

(End of this chapter)