The best time to slander is when the other party is not present.
If he is not here, then there is no chance to refute, and whatever you say is right.
As a result, some courtiers became more active.
Among these courtiers, there were important officials such as Li Si and Wang Wan. Because of being hit one after another by Li Shui, he was unable to recover. On the surface, they have lost their fighting spirit, but in fact they hold a grudge.
So, they didn't mind doing something while Li Shui was away.
There were also some mid-level courtiers. Before Li Shui entered the court, they lived a carefree and free life. Go to court every day, collect money, drink wine, and sing. It was simply a magical day.
But since Li Shui came, they first gained a wave of wealth due to housing prices. Then they spent a lot of money to buy tickets for the series of large-scale events held in Shangjun Courtyard.
Later, Shangjun Courtyard continued to produce strange things, and the families of these courtiers fell into Lishui's consumption trap, and their monthly expenses increased more than ten times than before.
Now, what kind of night school do you need to attend? Otherwise, your knowledge will not keep up with the times and you will be dismissed if you fail to pass the assessment.
These courtiers suddenly discovered that the days were really dark.
It turns out that they are cattle and sheep roaming freely on the grass, as long as they can eat grass in peace. Now I suddenly realize that the Exalted Immortal is a wolf. Since he arrived, everyone has to think of ways to run and survive. If they are not careful, they will be left behind.
Therefore, these courtiers wanted to take advantage of Li Shui's absence to stir up trouble.
As for the lower-level courtiers, they also wanted to impeach Li Shui.
After all, they are at the bottom. If they want to climb to a high position in this life, they have little hope and can only rely on chance encounters. And banishing the immortal is the greatest adventure.
If you succeed, you can soar into the sky.
Even if they fail... Anyway, they are under the banner of serving the country and the people. Even if they fail, what can they do if they banish the immortal? They could explain that they had misunderstood the banishment.
If the banished immortals were to find trouble with them because of such a trivial matter, it would appear to be a bit narrow-minded.
In this way, if they succeed, their gains will be large, if they fail, their losses will be small.
Therefore, these people want to be the vanguard.
So... although the ministers in the court did not communicate with each other, they unanimously thought of going together.
Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Ying Zheng looked at the courtiers and said calmly: "Today's meeting has been going on for three hours. You must be tired. Please go down and rest for a while. We will discuss it again in two hours."
The courtiers responded in agreement and withdrew one after another.
Two hours was enough for them to eat something and then take a nap.
But these courtiers couldn't care less about rest, and they started to communicate in a hurry.
Soon, a few low-level courtiers who were bold and eager to be promoted had already written articles of impeachment.
The courtiers who were close to them secretly expressed that they would support them in the court.
As for Li Si, Wang Wan and others, they expressed their support with tacit approval.
Two hours passed quickly, and the meeting continued.
During these two hours, Ying Zheng sent three waves of messengers to the west, asking them to immediately inquire for information.
After the court meeting began, the wind direction changed.
The morning meeting was mainly about how to deal with the Peacock Kingdom and the Huns Kingdom.
During the afternoon meeting, the focus was more on Huaiguzi.
Those courtiers who took the lead did not hesitate to throw dirty water on Li Shui. They used various guesses, reasoning, and witty remarks to prove that Li Shui was a rebel.
Then these courtiers suggested that the Shangjun Courtyard should be sealed immediately and a thorough investigation of Huaiguzi should be conducted.
These courtiers believed that no one would stand up to investigation.
The Shangjun family has a huge business and a complex staff, so it is impossible to be absolutely clean. It is too easy to find evidence of Huaiguzi's rebellion. The courtiers are all experts in innuendo and over-association.
After these ministers impeached Huaiguzi, they were paying attention to the reactions of Zhou Qingchen and others.
In their view, Zhou Qingchen was a die-hard loyalist of Huaiguzi and would definitely refute it.
But what surprised them was that Zhou Qingchen was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Then they started to look at Ying Zheng's attitude. Ying Zheng was also indifferent, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Ignorance is the greatest contempt.
Ying Zheng said calmly: "The destruction of the Xiongnu Kingdom has been confirmed. As for whether the Peacock Kingdom has been destroyed, I have already sent an envoy. I believe there will be news soon."
"After the news comes, whether Huaiguzi has deceived me or not, the truth will be revealed immediately. There is no need for you to speculate here."
The courtiers had no choice but to respond.
They looked at each other, and many of them began to think: It seems that His Majesty has extra trust in Huaiguzi. As a result, it will be even more difficult to defeat him.
Do you really want to go to Shangjun Courtyard to investigate and see if he has any signs of rebellion?
The minds of these courtiers became active.
In the ensuing court meeting, they did not make any more troubles. Everyone obediently followed Ying Zheng's request and put forward some suggestions on state affairs.
What would happen if the Peacock Kingdom really perished? How should two places far apart be governed?
What if the Peacock Kingdom did not perish?
It wasn't until the courtiers brainstormed and came up with two feasible plans that Ying Zheng was finally satisfied. Then he waved his hand, ended the court meeting, and let the courtiers leave.
After the court meeting was over, Fu Yao found Ying Zheng and asked worriedly: "Father, do you really believe that Master is treason?"
Ying Zheng looked at Fu Yao and asked, "What do you think?"
Fu Yao thought for a while, then shook his head firmly: "Master will never rebel."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly and said to Fu Yao: "Anyone may rebel. Even between father and son, there are often killings."
Fu Yao added: "However, the master does not have any intention to rebel. I have been with the master for a long time and know him well."
Ying Zheng sighed and said, "You have to know that people are not static. Just because a person didn't want to rebel before, doesn't mean he won't rebel in the future."
"When I was living as a hostage in Zhao State, I never imagined that one day I would become the ruler of the world."
"People have different ideas due to different encounters. As their status gets higher and higher, their ambitions will get bigger and bigger."
Fu Yao said sadly: "So, does your father believe that Master is treason?"
Ying Zheng smiled: "I don't believe it. But... I don't trust him completely. Fu Yao, you have to remember that an emperor cannot trust anyone absolutely."
Fu Yao was silent for a while, then nodded and left.
Ying Zheng looked at his back and sighed in his heart: Fu Yao is like me.
He was very sure that Fu Yao understood. This child is young. Although he has the innocence of a child, he is not childish. At least he is much more pragmatic than the eldest brother who is full of benevolence and justice.
Thinking of Fusu, Ying Zheng remembered Fusu's suggestion in the court today.
"Marriage? He can think of it." Ying Zheng snorted coldly, then waved his sleeves and swept the books on the cases all over the floor.
The young eunuch serving next to him shrank his neck in fright, wondering why His Majesty suddenly lost such a temper.
…………
Outside Xianyang City, not far from Shangjun Courtyard, there is a temple called Baima Temple.
The name of the temple was given by Lishui. The monks in the temple had no objections, so it was decided.
This is the first temple in the Qin Dynasty. Wang Ben, Hu Hai, and some monks from the Peacock Kingdom live inside.
Unlike the monks of later generations, Wang Ben and others did not live a leisurely life. They did not just chant sutras several times in front of the Buddha statue, burn incense, tell fortunes, and read palms with aristocratic ladies.
Buddhism at this time was more akin to a philosophy.
Wang Bi and others are busy every day, translating Buddhist scriptures.
Sanskrit and Qin are very different. Wang Ben worked hard to translate Buddhist scriptures beautifully without losing the original meaning. This process was very difficult because people who did not have a deep understanding of Buddhism would never be able to do this.
Hu Hai was imprisoned here and was forced to help Wang Ben.
Hu Hai is very smart. In just a few months, he has understood Buddhism deeply, which made the monks from the Peacock Kingdom admire him.
But Wang Ben knew very well that these were just appearances.
Hu Hai has been paying attention to the situation in Xianyang City.
According to Ying Zheng's order, Hu Hai was not allowed to leave the White Horse Temple. However, the guards at White Horse Temple are not as strict as the imperial palace. Hu Hai can learn about the situation outside through the handyman who buys vegetables.
Today, Hu Hai was very happy to hear that the court officials were impeaching Huaiguzi.
Hu Hai rubbed his hands excitedly.
As for whether the courtiers could bring down Huaiguzi, Hu Hai had no hope at all. Over the years, Huaiguzi has stood firm despite the ups and downs in the court, which has made Hu Hai give up.
What he was really thinking about was whether he could fish out a fish in this muddy water.
If you want to fish in troubled waters, you must get out of White Horse Temple. Even if the body cannot go out, the reputation must go out.
Hu Hai thought about it, and then opened the door of Wang Ben's room.
Wang Ben is now the abbot of Baima Temple.
The title abbot was also given by Li Shui.
Wang Ben was reading Buddhist scriptures. When he saw Hu Hai arriving, he nodded to him.
Hu Hai bowed and said respectfully: "Abbott, I wonder how many believers came to White Horse Temple today?"
Wang Ben felt slightly unhappy: Don't you know how many believers came today? Why bother asking me?
However, Wang Ben still said calmly: "No one came."
When saying this, Wang Ben felt a little emotional.
In the past, when I was in the Peacock Kingdom, there were monks and believers everywhere.
When the master of Jialan Temple was giving a sermon, not only the monks were listening, but also many ordinary people came to listen.
The grand occasion that day was really enviable.
How come we arrived in Da Qin... and there was no one there?
Hu Hai asked again: "Let me ask the abbot again, how many people came to be ordained and ordained today?"
Wang Ben said calmly: "No."
From the establishment of White Horse Temple to now, there has not been one.
There was only one Buddhist believer in the Qin Dynasty, Wang Ben. As for Hu Hai...that doesn't count as believing in Buddhism at all.
Hu Hai sighed and said: "Let me ask the abbot again, can you finish translating the vast Buddhist scriptures in this lifetime?"
Wang Ben slowly shook his head.
Hu Hai said: "Today in the Qin Dynasty, there are no monks and no believers. Once the abbot becomes an abbot, a hundred years later, won't the seeds of Buddhism be cut off in the Qin Dynasty?"
Wang Ben was slightly startled, he really had never thought of this.
He looked at Hu Hai: "What? I heard what you mean. Do you have any suggestions?"
Hu Hai nodded: "Yes. If the abbot can listen to my suggestion, I think Buddhism can spread throughout the Qin Dynasty within a few years."
Wang Ben became interested and asked, "Please tell me."
Hu Hai said: "First, expand its influence. Nowadays, many people have no idea what Buddhism is. I think we should find a way to publicize it."
"For example, some stories in Buddhist scriptures are quite interesting. They can be taken out individually and placed on newspapers. After reading these stories, people can roughly understand what cause and effect is, what reincarnation is, and what nirvana is..."
Wang Ben nodded slowly: "That makes some sense."
Hu Hai added: "Secondly, Buddhism originated from the Peacock Kingdom after all, and the customs of the Peacock Kingdom are very different from those of Great Qin. Some things in Buddhism are more difficult for the people of Great Qin to accept. We might as well Qinize it. "
"Qin Hua?" Wang Ben looked at Hu Hai in confusion.
Hu Hai said: "Exactly, use the customs of the Qin Dynasty to reinterpret the Buddhist scriptures, and delete or rewrite the parts of the Buddhist scriptures that do not conform to the customs of the Qin Dynasty."
Wang Ben was shocked: "Isn't this slandering the Buddha?"
Hu Hai chuckled: "Does the abbot think that Buddhism is unchanging after its birth? If it is unchanging, why are there different sects in the Peacock Kingdom?"
"Buddha left Buddhist scriptures, and the interpretation of Buddhist scriptures must be combined with human understanding. Why can't the understanding of our Qin people be correct?"
"It's possible that the Buddhist scriptures we saw were rewritten by the Peacock Kingdom in order to conform to their country's customs. We are just clearing the source now."
Wang Ben shook his head firmly.
Hu Hai said: "Abbott, if you don't do this, there will be two consequences. First, Buddhism will disappear from now on. Second, some less pious people will tamper with it wantonly. Although the Buddhism will be spread in Daqin, it will not be good for the Buddhist scriptures. , but it is a catastrophe. Instead of letting them tamper with it, it is better for the abbot to do it."
Wang Ben was silent for a while and said calmly: "Let's discuss this later."
Hu Hai smiled and said, "I have one last strategy."
Wang Ben said: "What?"
Hu Hai said: "The Buddha's name is Siddhartha Gautama. This name seems a bit strange to the people of Qin. Moreover, among the people of Qin, some in the Central Plains are orthodox and others are barbarians."
"The Buddhist teachings from the Peacock Kingdom cannot be accepted by them. This is also the reason. How can the Qin Dynasty, which lives in the middle of the world, accept the ideas of barbarians?"
Wang Ben hummed: "Your idea makes sense. But how to solve this problem?"
Hu Hai smiled slightly: "I have a plan to cling to celebrities."
Wang Ben: "Oh?"
Hu Hai said: "After reading scriptures these days, I found that the era when Buddha lived was roughly similar to Lao Dan and Confucius. It was an era when sages emerged in large numbers."
"As for these wise men, most of their lives are clear. Only Lao Dan, after riding a green ox out of Hangu Pass, there is no trace again."
"After he left Hangu Pass in the west, would he have gone all the way west to the Peacock Kingdom, changed his name to Buddha, and then founded Buddhism?"
"Lao Dan's Taoism is famous in the Qin Dynasty. If Buddhism was also founded by Lao Dan, wouldn't it be such a big obstacle if the people accepted it?"
