Shusun Tong appeared at the court meeting the next day.
After I sat down, I saw Shusun Tong. Shusun Tong cast a grateful look. Without saying much, I announced the start of the court meeting.
I opened my mouth and said: "Yesterday there was no conclusion regarding the burial date of the late emperor. I thought about it carefully after I went back. I would like to set the burial date of the late emperor in early spring. What do you think?"
Feng Quji was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, if the late emperor is buried in early spring, I'm afraid that the Lishan Mausoleum will not be completed by then."
Li Si echoed: "I am also worried. With the current progress of the project, I will definitely not be able to complete the construction of Lishan Mausoleum in early spring."
I looked solemn and said: "What I mean is that Lishan Mausoleum will also be completed in early spring. The construction of Lishan Mausoleum has been basically completed. By early spring, the mausoleum will be capped!"
If nothing unexpected happens, a storm is coming!
Sure enough, after Li Si heard what I said, his expression suddenly changed, and he didn't care about conflict with me. He bowed and said: "Your Majesty, you must not do it. The Lishan Mausoleum is the tomb of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, and it is the foundation of our Qin Dynasty for all generations. The origin of the problem is that the emperor drew up the construction drawings when he was in power, and now he has rashly capped it off. I'm afraid... I'm afraid that the people will talk about it! I hope your majesty will think again."
Ying Zheng is Li Si's god. Even if he dies, Li Si will not tolerate anyone being disrespectful to him!
Immediately afterwards, Taishi Ling Bai Lei also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, what Prime Minister Li said is true. The emperor's burial date should be based on observing the stars and choosing an auspicious day. How can it be decided hastily? I ask your Majesty to take back the order!"
I responded: "The reason why I consider this is to comply with the last wishes of the late emperor. Before his death, the late emperor took me and Prime Minister Li to the Lishan Mausoleum. When I saw the people of Lishan, the late emperor once lamented, 'The people of Lishan are so beautiful.'" His strength was about to be exhausted. From that time on, the late emperor wanted to reduce the number of corvees and live with the people, but he passed away before he could take any action."
"Not only do I hope that the Lishan Mausoleum will be topped out in early spring, but I also want to stop the construction of Afang Palace and slow down the construction of the straight road!"
Naturally, Ying Zheng didn't say anything about the depletion of people's power, but when we were in Lishan, I stayed alone with Ying Zheng for a while. No one knew what Ying Zheng said. Now I have to use Ying Zheng's name. Let's see if we can scare these people and make things less difficult.
At this time Shusun Tong stood up.
I insisted on appointing Shu Suntong as a doctor yesterday just to let him play some role in today's discussion of the suspension of the two major projects. Confucianism has always been dissatisfied with Yingzheng's large-scale construction projects, so he will definitely support my decision.
Shusuntong stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I think it is feasible to stop the construction of Afang Palace. Now the Xianyang Palace can meet the needs of the country. Adding more palaces will only waste money and food."
Before I could feel gratified, I didn't expect Shusun Tong to change the subject: "But I think it is inappropriate to hastily cap the Lishan Mausoleum. The affairs of the emperor are related to the country, and matters of life and death are even more important. The death of Qian Shou. Even if we follow the etiquette and rules, the emperor should follow the rules when he returns to heaven. How can we be so careless?"
I never expected that Shusun Tong would actually oppose me on this matter. If I had known this, I should have met with him to discuss it after I retired from the court yesterday. I was really smart but I was mistaken!
Before I could say anything, Li Xing, the censor, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that your Majesty's intention is not inappropriate. Colleagues, if the emperor is still alive, according to what your majesty said, he will live in harmony with the people, stop large-scale construction projects, and Nothing wrong.”
Censor Zhongcheng Zhou Zhe agreed: "I agree. Nowadays, the number of civilians building Epang Palace has reached 200,000, and the Lishan Mausoleum has reached an astonishing 400,000 people. Although the previous case of Ying Yue was caused by the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, it always exposed the power of the people. It is a question of inadequacy. Your Majesty’s intention is not only to comply with the sentiments of the people, but also to inherit the last wishes of the late emperor. I think it is feasible."
I looked at the two of them. Both of them were subordinates of Feng Jie, the imperial censor. It was intriguing that they stood up together.
Afterwards, everyone talked to each other, and the Xianyang Palace was very lively. The number of supporters and opponents was roughly the same, but the opponents were led by Li Si, who was obviously louder.
Listening to the bustle of people in the hall, I waved my hand, and Qiwan immediately said loudly: "Quiet!"
The hall suddenly became quiet.
I looked at everyone and slowly said: "I would like to ask the princes in the palace, if you have to make a choice, which one is more important, the State of Qin or the Emperor of Qin?"
Everyone said in unison: "The Sheji Ancestral Temple is the most important thing!"
I stood up and stepped forward, suddenly speaking angrily: "Since the country is the most important thing, do you know how the country is now?"
Without waiting for anyone to reply, I continued: "Li Si, as the Zuo Prime Minister of the Qin Dynasty and commanding the nine ministers, don't you understand the current national conditions and people's sentiments of the Qin Dynasty? 200,000 civilians were requisitioned to build Afang Palace, 400,000 civilians were requisitioned to build the Lishan Mausoleum, and the Great Wall The construction of Zhidao, Zhidao and Chidao requisitioned 400,000 people from various counties, not to mention other water conservancy projects and palaces still under construction, as well as the people who provided money and food for these people. Roughly speaking, among the 32 million people in our Qin Dynasty, Nearly 2 million people are exhausted from hard labor! They account for six hundred of the population of our Great Qin!"
"My lords, you have stayed in Xianyang all day, well fed and clothed warmly, but what about the people in the world? There were heavy snowfalls at the beginning of the year, and how many people died of starvation and freezing in several northern counties in Liaodong, West Liaoning, and Yunzhong? You Do you know? With the current labor situation, within a few years, the world will be full of complaints and even revolt! By then, Bai Lei, can you use observation of the stars to keep the people fed and clothed? Shusuntong, can you use rituals? To put down the rebellion in the world?"
"The late emperor unified the world and unified the four seas. Is it for pleasure? It is for the stability of the world! The people have a place to live, have food to eat, and have clothes to wear. Only in this way can our country, the Qin Dynasty, last forever and be safe forever! "
"Today I tell you clearly that not only Afang Palace, Lishan Mausoleum, and Zhidao, except for people's livelihood and military projects such as water conservancy, the Great Wall, and Chidao, all other projects that cannot benefit the people of the world must be stopped. All projects that are not related to the country will be suspended. The corvee of life and death must be stopped!"
After saying these words, I also felt a little excited. What the people need is really simple. They don't starve to death or freeze to death. Their request is nothing more than that.
After listening to my words, there was silence in the palace for a long time.
Li Si stood up slowly, his eyes slightly red, and said: "Your Majesty is wise, but I was confused for a moment and could not understand your Majesty's good intentions. I have followed the emperor since the world was not unified. At that time, the emperor often warned me that the unification of the Qin Dynasty will only In order that the people of the world will no longer be displaced and suffer from the pain of war. Now that the world has been at peace for a long time, I am slacking off. I am willing to obey the emperor's orders and obey your majesty's wishes!"
Feng Quji said: "Your Majesty is wise and the Qin Dynasty will last for ten thousand years!"
Everyone said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise, and the Great Qin Dynasty will last forever!"
Then I will leave it to Li Si and Feng Jie to investigate the construction projects and labor conditions, and formulate new laws on corvee in the "Qin Code".
I had long expected that this matter would not be smooth sailing, but I had to do it. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were still waiting to rise up! Reducing labor can always temporarily kill the cradle of rebellion.
However, Ying Zheng's death made those heroes or Xiaoxiao hiding in the dark get ready to take action!
