My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

Chapter 25 You call this "sealing the wolf's lair"? This is called "enclosing la

At the summit of Yinshan Mountain lies Langjuxu Mountain.

This sacred mountain, which would later be regarded as the ultimate glory by countless military generals, is now being swept by a fierce north wind. The snow on the summit has not yet melted, and eagles are circling overhead.

Xiang Yu, clad in black armor, stood atop a giant rock atop the mountain, his Overlord Blade resting on the ground, blood dripping slowly from its groove, instantly freezing into red ice beads.

He gazed down at the vast grasslands below, a surge of indescribable pride welling up within him. At twenty-two, he commanded three thousand iron cavalry, breached the Xiongnu royal court, and inscribed his achievements on the Yanran Mountain. What a feat!

"Bring me the wine!" Xiang Yu roared, his voice drowning out the wind.

A guard handed Xiang Yu a bag of Qin wine. Xiang Yu tilted his head back and gulped it down. The strong liquor burned his throat like fire and cuts, but it only made the gleam in his eyes even more unrestrained.

"I will offer this sacrifice to Heaven here!" Xiang Yu pointed to the sky, "and tell our ancestors, tell this Eternal Heaven, that I, Xiang Ji, have driven away their wolf king!"

"And another thing!" Xiang Yu turned around, pointing at the eight thousand trembling Xiongnu prisoners below the mountain, a bloodthirsty red glint in his eyes. "Drag all those barbarians up here! In front of these mountains and the sun and moon, behead them all! Use their blood to 'seal' this mountain with a red roof!"

This is Xiang Yu's understanding of "sealing the wolf and residing in the Xu"—a violent, bloody, and ritualistic conquest.

The surrounding Chu soldiers raised their weapons and roared in response. In their minds, killing prisoners was the best way to show off their martial prowess and the best way to commemorate their fallen comrades.

"Wait a minute."

A very untimely, even somewhat disappointing, voice came through.

Han Xin, wrapped in a thick sheepskin coat and still holding the abacus that made him look more like an accountant than a general, slowly climbed to the top of the mountain. He panted, looking at his boots with concern—the leather had been worn out from climbing.

"Commander Xiang, offering sacrifices to Heaven is permissible. But killing people is unacceptable." Han Xin adjusted his wind-blown hair ornament, his tone as calm as if he were discussing vegetable prices.

Xiang Yu's brow furrowed, and a murderous glint flashed in his double pupils: "Han Xin, I've tolerated you for a long time along the way. I listened to you in battle because you're a smart man. Now that the war is over, I want to celebrate, and you want to interfere?"

"Do you even know what a 'jingguan' (a mound of corpses) is? What is 'martial arts'?"

Han Xin rolled his eyes and pulled out a well-worn copy of the "Regulations on the Management of State-owned Assets of the Great Qin Dynasty" from his pocket.

"I don't know what a Jingguan (a mound of fallen trees) is, but I know what 'loss of state-owned assets' means."

Han Xin frantically clicked the beads on his abacus: "Eight thousand able-bodied young laborers. According to the current market price in Qin, each slave is worth five thousand coins. Eight thousand would be forty million coins."

"Xiang Yu, with this stroke of your blade, you're not cutting off a head, you're cutting off forty million coins."

"Can you afford to pay for it?"

Xiang Yu was so angry his veins bulged: "Money, money, money! Are you obsessed with money? I fight for glory! For to be remembered in history!"

"Glory?" Han Xin sneered, pulling out a piece of Qin paper that had just been delivered by carrier pigeon, stamped with Ying Zheng's bright red jade seal.

"His Majesty had already anticipated this move. This is your 'honor'."

Xiang Yu snatched the paper away.

There were several lines of text written on it in a flamboyant style:

[To Xiang Ji:]

I am greatly pleased to hear of your great victory.

Your Excellency wishes to seal the Wolf-Dwelling Mountain; I grant your request.

But sealing off the mountain doesn't require blood; it's too dirty and wasteful.

I hereby order you to erect a boundary marker on this mountaintop.

The inscription I have prepared reads: "The Northern Gate of the Great Qin Dynasty - The First Toll Station".

Also: those eight thousand prisoners, not a single one is to be killed. I want to use them to build a "Overlord Statue" for you at the foot of Yinshan Mountain. It will be ten zhang tall, made of poured cement, holding a long sword, glaring angrily at the grassland.

Let the Xiongnu people watch your statue for generations to come, and have it obediently herd sheep and mine for me right here.

This is what true glory lasts forever.

—Ying Zheng

Xiang Yu held the letter, his hand trembling.

"Tollbooth...?"

"A statue of the Overlord?"

Xiang Yu's mind was in a mess. One second he thought he was an unparalleled warrior, the next he felt like a gatekeeper?

But it must be said that Ying Zheng's "stroking the fur in the right direction" tactic was extremely accurate.

Killing eight thousand people might bring temporary satisfaction.

But building a ten-zhang-tall statue for the Xiongnu to kneel and worship every day? That...that sounds even more exciting!

"Ten zhang tall?" Xiang Yu gestured. "That would be... as tall as a ten-story building?"

"That's right," Han Xin added from the side, "and it's made of reinforced concrete, it'll stand for a thousand years. It's much more impressive than your mound of rotten heads."

"Furthermore," Han Xin pointed down the mountain, "to build such a large statue, we can't rely on our small force alone. We'll need those eight thousand prisoners. If you kill them, who will build the statue for you? Are you going to mix the mud yourself?"

Xiang Yu remained silent.

He looked at the blood-stained knife in his hand, then at the terrified eyes below the mountain.

After a long while, he sighed and sheathed his sword.

"That old emperor is ruthless."

"I won't kill them."

Xiang Yu waved his hand, pointing at the giant rock: "Men! Carve these words for me! Carve... 'The Northern Gate of Great Qin'!"

"But make sure the words 'tollbooth' are engraved smaller! It's embarrassing!"

……

Several days later, good news came back to Xianyang again.

Because the main hall was under renovation, Ying Zheng was sitting in a side hall of the Qilin Hall, looking at the "project progress report" sent back by Han Xin, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Little G".

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Xiang Yu, this fierce tiger, has finally learned how to 'herd sheep'."

"Turn slaughter into enslavement, and conquest into assimilation. This is the way to ensure the longevity of an empire."

Yes. Calculations show that the construction cost of the Yinshan Surrender City was reduced by 60%. Furthermore, thanks to the planned "Overlord Statue," Xiang Yu's work ethic was off the charts; he personally supervised the construction every day, forcing the Xiongnu to work overtime.

This is the immense power of "spiritual rewards."

Ying Zheng smiled, stood up, and walked to the window.

His gaze pierced through the layers of palace walls and landed on the huge construction site on the west side of Xianyang City.

That place was once the unfinished Epang Palace.

Right now, the largest "real estate development" in the history of the Qin Dynasty is in full swing there.

"Now that the wolf problem in the north has been temporarily quelled, it's time to change the blood inside."

Ying Zheng turned around and looked at Li Si and Liu Bang, who were waiting outside the door.

"Come in."

Liu Bang was now a prominent figure in Xianyang. He wore a well-tailored silk official robe with the "Xianyang City Magistrate" plaque hanging from his waist. Although his face still carried a hint of commoner's air, his eyes held the confidence of a great man.

"Your subject Liu Ji pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise."

Ying Zheng pointed to a huge planning map on the table.

"Liu Ji, I've put you in charge of 'investment promotion' for the new Epang Palace area. How's it going?"

Liu Bang chuckled and pulled out a beautifully illustrated book from his pocket, produced by Zhao Gao Printing Factory.

"Your Majesty, just you wait and see. I have divided this area into three sections."

Liu Bang pointed to the different colored blocks on the map and introduced them with great enthusiasm:

"This plot of land, near the Wei River, boasts beautiful scenery. I've named it 'Longhu·Afang No. 1.' It will be exclusively sold to the wealthy merchants of the six former states. Its selling points are: 'Water views from every window, royal neighbors, the starting point of the Qin Straight Road, and seamless logistics throughout the land.' One mu (approximately 0.16 acres) will be priced at 500,000 coins!"

"This area is close to our soon-to-be-completed 'Royal Academy of Sciences' and 'Pavilion of Burning the Dead.' I've named it 'Hanlin Scholars'. It's exclusively for old nobles who want their children to serve in the court. The selling point is: 'Step outside the door to the Imperial Academy, everyone you talk to is a scholar, buy a house and get a guaranteed admission!'"

"As for this area..." Liu Bang pointed to the outermost ring, "This is the 'Great Qin Entrepreneurial Park.' It's rented to artisans and small vendors who want to open workshops or invent things. The first three years are rent-free, and low-interest loans are also provided."

Li Si listened in stunned silence.

"Enrollment quota? Low-interest loan?" Li Si wiped his sweat. "Liu, this... this is too much of a bluff! His Majesty only said he would build a university, not that he would give away enrollment quotas with the purchase of a house."

"Oh, Prime Minister, this is called 'expectation management'!" Liu Bang winked. "If people live close by, how can they absorb the same literary atmosphere? Besides, His Majesty certainly wants talented people to gather together. Wouldn't it make perfect sense for us to implement 'zoned enrollment' then?"

Ying Zheng looked at Liu Bang, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This old rogue learned the concepts of "school district housing" and "CBD" without any instruction.

"Granted," Ying Zheng said calmly. "Do as you say."

"However, simply selling land is not enough."

Ying Zheng's gaze deepened.

"I want to make this Epang Palace a 'treasure trove' for the Qin Dynasty, and also a 'money pit' for the nobles of the six states."

"Little G, send that plan to Liu Bang."

[Received. File transferring: "Daqin Commercial Complex Operation Guidelines"]

Ying Zheng pointed to his head:

"Liu Ji, I want you to build a 'city that never sleeps' in the center of the Epang Palace."

"Put all our glass, toilet paper, strong liquor, and those little gadgets that Hu Haixin came up with inside."

"Then bring in the cuisine, songs and dances of the six countries."

"I want those nobles to force their children to study in their 'scholarly families' during the day, and then squander their wealth in the 'city that never sleeps' at night."

"Squeeze out every last copper coin they've hidden in the cellar."

Liu Bang was thrilled, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Brilliant! Your Majesty's move is truly brilliant! This isn't building a palace; it's building a giant money-sucking funnel!"

"I'll take care of it right away! I guarantee those nobles will obediently hand over their money and be eternally grateful to Your Majesty!"

……

One month later, in the western suburbs of Xianyang.

The ruins of the Epang Palace, once overgrown with weeds, have now been transformed into a massive construction site.

But unlike the arduous labor of building the Great Wall, the atmosphere here is filled with the restlessness of money.

"Come on over! Don't miss out! Phase 1 of 'Hanlin·Shuxiang Mendi' is now open! The first 100 customers will receive a full set of 'Shuyunrou' toilet paper and a full set of 'Daqin Elementary School Textbooks'!"

Fan Kuai stood at the entrance of the sales office, shouting loudly.

A group of elegantly dressed former nobles from the six kingdoms were scrambling to get inside.

"Save me one! I want the one closest to the PhD student dorms!"

"I want two apartments! One for myself, and one for my retainer!"

"I heard this place will be called 'Great Qin Silicon Valley' in the future? I don't know what Silicon Valley is, but it sounds expensive! I'll buy it!"

In the midst of this frenzied crowd, the head of the Zhao clan of Chu was sweating profusely, pushing his way to the front, waving a large stack of newly exchanged "Qin coins" in his hand.

"I'll pay in full! In full!" roared the head of the Zhao family.

He figured it out.

Rather than holding onto those copper coins that can't be eaten or drunk and are depreciating in value, it's better to exchange them for this real "royal land".

This is Xianyang! Right under the emperor's nose! As long as the Qin Dynasty stands, this house will always be valuable!

Seeing this, Liu Bang, standing on the high place, laughed so hard his mouth twisted into a crook.

"Xiao He, oh Xiao He, look at these people!" Liu Bang pointed down below. "Before, to restore their kingdom, they all wished they could devour Qin Shi Huang. Now, to buy a house, they'd practically call Qin Shi Huang 'father.'"

Xiao He sighed, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"That's human nature. His Majesty used benefits to buy off their ambitions."

"When their entire fortune and lives are converted into real estate in Xianyang, they will never want the Qin Dynasty to fall into chaos again."

"Because when the Qin Dynasty fell into chaos, housing prices dropped."

……

On the other side of the Epang Palace construction site is the construction site of the "Great Qin Royal Academy of Sciences".

There are no noisy sales offices here, only serious craftsmen and busy Mohist disciples.

Zhao Gao was leading a group of people in testing a new building material—concrete.

"Where are the steel bars? Are they in place?" Zhao Gao roared. "Prince Hu Hai said this building is for scientific research; it must be sturdy! If it collapses, we'll all have to fill the gaps!"

Thick iron bars were woven into a net and laid inside the mold.

"fall!"

The mixed cement mortar poured down, submerging the wire mesh.

This is the first "reinforced concrete" building in the Qin Dynasty—the Royal Library.

Ying Zheng, disguised as a commoner, stood at a distance, watching the gray behemoth that was rising from the ground.

"Little G".

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I suddenly realized that the 'Sealing the Wolf and Dwelling in the Mountain' was really meaningless."

"Xiang Yu carved a few lines of words on the mountain, but they were blown away by the wind."

"But I am here, in this city built of reinforced concrete..."

Ying Zheng reached out his hand, making a grasping motion towards the construction site.

"It will lock up the wealth of the Qin Dynasty, lock up the wisdom of the Qin Dynasty, and lock up the hearts of the people of the world."

"This is the true 'seal'."

[Your Majesty, your understanding surpasses that of 99% of ancient emperors.]

You are transforming a classical militaristic empire into a hybrid of state capitalism and a science and education-driven national development model.

However, a word of caution: taking too big a step can lead to trouble. Your concept of "school district housing" has been overhyped; be careful of a real estate bubble.

Ying Zheng smiled dismissively.

"Foam?"

"As long as I still have the sword in my hand, as long as the road to the north is still open, and as long as Xiang Yu is still here to provide me with laborers."

"This bubble will never burst."

"deliver an imperial order."

"Stop Chunyu Yue's research on pig manure. I'll appoint him as the first Chancellor of the 'Epang Palace University'."

"Tell him that as long as he can teach students who understand arithmetic, physics, and how to make cement, I will allow him to... erect a statue of Confucius in the school."

This tactic is called "killing someone by destroying their spirit," or "playing to their whims."

When Chunyu Yue received the imperial edict, he was squatting by the pigsty, lost in thought.

Upon hearing that a statue of Confucius could be erected and that he could rightfully teach and educate people, the old Confucian scholar burst into tears, knelt down facing the direction of Xianyang Palace, and kowtowed three times.

"Your Majesty... is wise!"

Thus, the "civil and military achievements" of the Great Qin Dynasty were strangely and perfectly combined amidst the clamor of the construction site.

In martial arts, there is Xiang Yu who sealed the wolf's lair.

Some Confucian scholars went to teach in the factory.

During the Shang Dynasty, Liu Bang speculated on land.

There was a worker named Zhao Gao who burned cement.