"Father, people like Zhou Qingchen and Chun Yuyue are indeed very close to Hou Sheng, Lu Sheng and other alchemists. In the Doctoral Academy, those Confucian scholars often discuss the matter of becoming a Zen monk."
Li Yu walked into the room with a heavy face and told Li Si the news he had just discovered.
"In terms of being well-informed, it really depends on the ministers. Although I guessed that the emperor wanted to be kind to the world, I couldn't figure out the specific reason. This time, I owe a favor to the Zhongche Mansion Order."
Li Si sighed to himself.
He is now a Tingwei, one of the Nine Qings, with a high and powerful position, but he has not yet reached the point where he will become the prime minister in the future and have all the power.
On Li Si's head were the left and right prime ministers, the imperial censor, the Taiwei and others.
As a foreign minister, it was impossible for him to know what happened in the Qin Palace. He did not dare or have the ability to monitor the emperor's behavior and preferences. Naturally, he did not know how the emperor was bewitched by alchemists and Confucian scholars during this period and was obsessed with the great cause of Zen. .
It was not until Zhao Cheng's subtle reminder during the card game that Li Si figured out the true purpose of the emperor's conferment of titles, and through the poker friends Li Yu made, he quickly found out about the collusion between Confucian scholars and alchemists.
Li Yu said with some worry: "Those Confucian scholars are really difficult to deal with. My father used the incident of Princess Hou Shang, a martial artist, to make the emperor deny their right to participate in and discuss politics in the court. As a result, these guys actually colluded with those alchemists and attacked them. The emperor proposed the idea of granting Zen status, and the emperor personally summoned Zhou Qingchen, and now he has restored their right to comment."
"Father, once you really implement the act of enshrining Zen, Confucian scholars can use this to regain the right to speak, which will be detrimental to our Legalists!"
Li Yu's worries are justified.
The theory of "Feng Chan" talks about the ancient holy kings who were ordered by heaven and after completing their duties as kings, they were granted "Zen" to pray for peace.
The core of it is what Confucianism often says is to learn from the ancient kings and learn from the ancient sage kings.
The First Emperor granted Zen status, which meant that he took a fancy to some things in Confucianism and intended to use them, which was very detrimental to the Li family and his son who advocated Legalism.
Li Si snorted and said calmly: "So what? It's a matter of conferring Zen. Do you dare to dissuade him? The emperor now has the power to conquer the barbarians in one place. Once the idea of conferring Zen is proposed, it will almost certainly be carried out. Matter. The emperor wants to grant titles to everyone at the court meeting. This is a precursor. In this case, who dares to dissuade him? "
Li Si's words were very certain. He had served the First Emperor for nearly twenty years and knew the king's character very well. Naturally, he had no intention of stopping him.
Li Yu said with some reluctance: "Do we really want to watch those Confucian scholars rise again?"
Li Si smiled, and lowered his voice and said: "Although the theory of granting Zen is popular in Qilu, it is said that there were seventy-two holy kings who performed the act of granting Zen in ancient times, but it is too vague and long-lasting, and it is difficult to distinguish the true from the false. As for how to grant Zen, I I have been studying under Xun Qing for many years, but I have never seen anyone mention it. Even the great Confucians of the time can't say anything specific. Since these Confucian scholars want to win the emperor's attention by conferring Zen status, let them do it. I want to see what they can do Come up with some etiquette, if something goes wrong, they will be responsible!"
Li Yu was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and said with a smile: "I see, my father is planning to retreat in order to advance. If the Confucian scholars make mistakes in the important matter of Feng Chan, and we take advantage of the situation to launch an offensive, the emperor will naturally not Spare them, my father is so tall!"
Li Si smiled slightly, thought of another thing, and asked, "I'm busy with government affairs these days, so I don't have time to pay attention to You'er. How has your brother been doing these past two days? Have you talked to him?"
Li Yu frowned and said, "Brother has given up the idea of martial arts. He has also asked me to get some books on law in the past two days. It seems that he has indeed made up his mind to pursue the path of grammar. But as long as I say When it comes to getting a wife, my brother just shakes his head."
The smile on Li Si's face froze.
Li You, are you still unwilling to marry?
…
Although the Xianyang Palace to the north of the Wei River took a long time to build and is not as luxurious as the newly built Ji Temple in Weinan, it is still tall and majestic. Especially after large-scale renovation and expansion during the reign of King Qin Zhaoxiang, it is full of a sense of majesty and solemnity. Atmospheric feeling.
Wugong Hou Zhao Tuo followed the two middle men who led the way and walked along the road inside the palace.
Walking on this familiar road again, Zhao Tuo couldn't help but sigh.
He still remembered that after returning from the battle to conquer Yan seven years ago, he was appointed as Zhonglang and stayed in the Wei Palace. At that time, Zhao Tuo's task was to patrol the Qin Palace along this road, going back and forth. How many times have I walked this road?
At that time, Zhao Tuo was still young and his title was not high. National affairs were handled by the superiors and had little to do with him. He paid less attention to the emperor than to the princess.
How could it be like now, when he, Zhao Tuo, was a martial arts lord and climbed to the top of the Qin State, but he had to worry about the fate of the Qin State all day long, and his food and sleep were not as stable as before.
Looking back now, Zhao Tuo's happiest days in Qin were when he was a middle-aged man.
"The emperor summoned me to the palace this time, probably for the purpose of enshrining me in Zen, right?"
As Zhao Tuo walked, he was thinking in his heart. Thinking of the domineering character of the First Emperor, his head hurt.
If you think about Fusu's fate in history, you will know that the First Emperor was not a figure who could stand up and oppose.
However, after thinking hard these days, he came up with a solution that was not a solution, and he just wanted to try it later.
After a while, Zhao Tuo came to a side hall and saw the First Emperor who was handling government affairs here.
"Your Majesty, Zhao Tuo, pays homage to your Majesty."
Zhao Tuo stepped forward and saluted.
The First Emperor looked up at him and pointed to the side: "Sit down."
After Zhao Tuo sat down, he smiled and said: "Every time I come to the palace, I only see your Majesty dealing with government affairs. By doing this, your Majesty is really an industrious monarch who has never been seen in ancient times. Only in the world can such a saint as your Majesty be Under your leadership, we, the Qin Dynasty, will be able to unite under one roof and achieve unparalleled achievements. However, your majesty’s diligence may affect your health. I would like to ask your majesty to take more care of your health. I wish your majesty a long life.”
After Zhao Tuo flattered him, he showed some concern, which made the First Emperor's face relax.
He shook his head and said: "You, Zhao Tuo, are my Great Qin Wugong Marquis. When did you learn these flattering words? Don't say these in front of me in the future."
As the First Emperor said this, a smile appeared on his face.
No one doesn't like to hear flattering words, especially the First Emperor who has the music officials perform carols every day.
After Zhao Tuo's opening, the atmosphere in the entire palace became much more relaxed.
The First Emperor also put down his government affairs and chatted with Zhao Tuo about the situation in northern Xinjiang.
This was the first time he and Zhao Tuo met alone after the Northern Expedition. Without Sujiasha and other outsiders present, the two chatted in a relaxed manner, not like a strict monarch and minister, but more like the relationship between elders and juniors.
This scene made the eunuchs standing around marvel in their hearts, and they all secretly said that the emperor did not treat other courtiers like this on weekdays, and the treatment given to Marquis Wu Gong was indeed special.
After a relatively relaxed chat, the First Emperor finally brought the topic to the serious matter this time.
"You defeated the Yuezhi and annihilated the Xiongnu in northern Xinjiang, Li Xin defeated Donghu, and Feng Wuze conquered Dongou. You did a good job and I am very satisfied."
"Now that the world is unified and all barbarians have surrendered, Zhao Tuo, what do you think of my achievements?"
After the first emperor praised him, he asked a question and stared at Zhao Tuo's face.
coming!
Zhao Tuo's eyes narrowed slightly. Without Zhao Gao's reminder, he might not have understood the true meaning of the emperor's question.
Now that he knew everything, the First Emperor had already "uncovered everything", so Zhao Tuo could only bite the bullet and try the method he came up with.
He mentioned the flattering words he used when he presented his title to the emperor: "Your Majesty has conquered the sea, unified the world, and created unprecedented achievements in all generations. His achievements can only be matched by the three emperors and five emperors of the past combined. However, the three emperors and five emperors have not yet been able to conquer the barbarians from all directions. Therefore, your Majesty’s achievements are truly the only one in all eternity.”
The First Emperor's eyes narrowed with a smile, ready to ask his next question.
But Zhao Tuo didn't expect to finish his words. Before the First Emperor spoke, he said in one breath: "Therefore, I believe that when the Yueshi are defeated, our Great Qin will completely occupy the land west of Hexi, stop the war, and stabilize the country, so that After all the common people from all over the world have returned home, and your Majesty’s achievements have reached the point where nothing can be added to them, you can follow the example of the ancient holy kings and declare your destiny to heaven! Declaring to the world the destiny of our great Qin!"
Zhao Tuo spoke in a high-pitched voice and looked at the First Emperor with excitement, as if he wished the emperor could be granted Zen status.
The First Emperor blinked, a look of astonishment flashing across his face.
He hadn't said anything yet, so why did Zhao Tuo propose it on his own initiative.
Yes, this is the way Zhao Tuo came up with it.
Zhao Tuo, like Li Si, knew the character of the First Emperor very well.
Domineering and powerful.
There is one emperor throughout the ages who can rule everything.
Later generations even said that after the reunification, he became increasingly arrogant and independent.
There is no use in confronting such a person.
The First Emperor wanted to be granted Zen status, but no one could stop him. He was even more stubborn than Li Xin back then.
Therefore, Zhao Tuo's idea is to use the art of war to take the initiative and create an advantage for himself.
Before the First Emperor opened his mouth, he first touted it, took the initiative to propose the idea of conferring Zen status, and joined the First Emperor's camp instead of becoming an opposition. In this way, he could reasonably put forward two conditions on this basis.
Defeat the Yueshi and occupy all the land west of Hexi.
The troops were stopped and the war was stopped, the country was stabilized, and the common people from all over the country returned home.
It took more than a year for the previous one to defeat the Yueshi.
It is even more difficult to say that the latter one will stabilize the country and make Li Shu return home.
In short, as long as the First Emperor agreed, he could delay the matter for at least a year, and within this year, he might be able to get rid of the group of alchemists.
After the First Emperor was astonished, his eyes became more playful and he looked at Zhao Tuo in front of him.
Zhao Tuo took the initiative to offer Zen status.
Did he really know what he was thinking and guess that he had the intention to become a Zen monk, so he took the initiative to propose it?
Or have you heard the news leaked by those Confucian scholars and alchemists?
However, the First Emperor did not intend to investigate this matter in detail, because he knew that there were many people who he wanted to make Zen, and he never asked those Confucian scholars and alchemists to keep it secret. This is not something that needs to be hidden. It would be better to even spread the word and let the sensible courtiers know. It would be better to bring it up proactively.
Now, no matter how Zhao Tuo came up with the idea of Feng Chan, he finally brought it up on his own initiative, which was in line with the First Emperor's wishes.
However, the Feng Chan mentioned by Zhao Tuo actually had to be after defeating the Yueshi.
As for the second condition, he simply ignored it.
The First Emperor closed his eyes and thought.
Zhao Tuo looked at him expectantly.
Only the sound of breathing could be heard in the hall.
After a while.
The First Emperor opened his eyes, looked at Zhao Tuo, and shook his head.
"too long."
