My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

Chapter 33 The First Emperor Wearing Long Johns, and the Birth of the "Spiritual Qin People&quo

The Cold Dew has passed, and the Frost's Descent is approaching.

Late autumn in Xianyang always carries a somber atmosphere. Golden ginkgo leaves carpet the imperial road, then are swept up by the cold wind, like countless withered butterflies crashing to their deaths on the construction site of the Epang Palace.

For the young and strong Qin soldiers, this was simply a time to put on an extra padded jacket; but for Qin Shi Huang, who was nearly fifty and suffered from severe bronchitis, this was the prelude to the most difficult "gates of hell" of the year.

The rear hall of the Qilin Hall has now been transformed into a huge "health and wellness greenhouse".

All the windows were replaced with double-glazed windows, and the gaps were sealed tightly with wool felt strips. The floor heater was burning warmly, and a faint smell of vinegar filled the air—this was a vinegar fumigation method developed by Xia Wuqie based on the theory of "sterilization." Although it smelled like pickling garlic for Laba Festival, Ying Zheng did not object to it.

At this moment, the ruler of the Great Qin was standing in front of a huge bronze mirror, looking at his reflection with a strange expression.

He wasn't wearing that majestic black dragon robe, but rather a... drab, tight-fitting knitted garment.

The garment clung tightly to his legs and body, outlining his no-longer-young but still muscular physique. While it provided excellent warmth, to people of this era, it was simply... indecent.

"Huhai." Ying Zheng turned around, looking at his youngest son squatting beside him with an expectant expression, his tone complex, "This is the 'winter-survival artifact' you presented to me as a tribute?"

Hu Hai was holding up the same set of gray clothes to himself.

"Father, this is a wonderful thing!" Hu Hai slapped his thigh excitedly. "This is the textile factory's latest 'high-elasticity wool lining.' It's also the elegant name I've given it—'Dragon Scale Thermal Underwear'!"

"Look how dense the stitches are! How soft the wool is! And I even had Zhao Gao add a tiny bit... a tiny bit of Lycra."

"Leica?" Ying Zheng frowned.

"Oh, it's made by boiling beef tendon until it's mushy and then extracting the gelatinous substance, which is then mixed into the yarn. Although it's not as good as that chemical fiber that Teacher G mentioned, it's super elastic! After wearing it, my back doesn't ache, my legs don't hurt, and I even have energy for court!"

Ying Zheng tugged at the tight fabric on his leg; indeed, it was incredibly elastic.

"Little G," Ying Zheng asked in his mind, "This thing... can it really be worn out?"

"Your Majesty, these are called 'long johns'."

[In the future, this will be a magical item that is "disliked by the fashion world because it's too unfashionable, but everyone secretly wears it in winter."]

For your chronic leg pain and arthritis, this is the best knee brace. Elegance is secondary; safety is paramount.

Ying Zheng sighed.

That's true. If you're willing to eat garlic and even attract lightning to survive, why would you care about wearing tight pants?

"Alright then." Ying Zheng put on a large outer robe, covering up the shameful "dragon scale garment." "You do have a sense of filial piety. However, don't let Li Si see this. I'm afraid that old fogey will kill himself on the spot, saying that I 'set an example by myself and lead the way in shamelessness.'"

Hu Hai chuckled, "Father, don't worry. This thing is worn underneath, so who would know? I've already sent a set to every official in the court and told them it's 'protective soft armor.' Those old men are all wearing it with great enthusiasm now. Prime Minister Li even praised me for being sensible yesterday."

Ying Zheng imagined the group of old ministers in the court, all wearing these tight-fitting thermal underwear under their solemn official robes, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

"Hilarious. Absurd."

Ying Zheng cursed, but his body honestly felt the warmth emanating from his skin.

"Let's go to the front hall. I heard that Fusu's 'Great Qin Infrastructure Group' has recently caused me some trouble again?"

……

The atmosphere in the front hall was not as warm as that in the back hall.

Li Si and Fu Su, these two "rivals" in the Qin political arena, are like two fighting cocks facing off in the center of the hall.

Li Si held a thick stack of household registration books in his hand, his face flushed and his neck thick with anger.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!" Li Si pointed at Fusu's nose. "Young Master, do you intend to turn Qin into a paradise for barbarians?"

"Look at this list! 'Aguda,' 'Kublai Khan,' 'Big Pancake,' 'Second Dog'... what kind of names are these?"

"You actually intend to issue 'Xianyang household registration' to these Xiongnu captives and convicts from the six states? To allow them to buy houses and settle down next to the Epang Palace? And even to send their children to Epang Palace University?"

"Those who are not of our kind are sure to have different hearts! These people have wolf blood flowing in their veins! Aren't you afraid they'll turn on you one day if you keep them by your side?"

Fusu had completely shed his former bookish air. He was dressed in a smart official's uniform, holding the abacus he loved so much, his expression calm, even carrying a hint of pity that said, "You've never seen the world."

"Prime Minister, times have changed."

Fusu shook the abacus loudly.

"The 'Aguda' you mentioned was originally a centurion of the Xiongnu. But now, he is the ace bricklayer of the 'Third Construction Team of Qin.' He can lay five hundred bricks a day by himself, and they are all perfectly straight, without ever slacking off."

"Why is he working so hard? Because he wants to make money, to buy a one-bedroom apartment next to the 'Entrepreneurship Park,' so he can marry that widow from Wei who sells roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) there."

"And then there's that 'Second Dog,' who was originally a thief from the State of Zhao. But now he's a maintenance worker at our textile factory. Only he can repair those complicated shuttle looms. He now earns two thousand coins a month, more than a minor official."

Fusu stepped forward and looked directly into Li Si's eyes.

"Prime Minister, you said that their hearts must be different. But what I see is a group of people who love Qin even more than the old Qin people."

"Because on the grasslands, they were slaves, constantly at risk of freezing or starving to death. In the state of Zhao, they were commoners, trampled underfoot by the nobles."

"Only in Daqin, as long as they are willing to work, they will have food to eat, a place to live, and even warm woolen trousers to wear."

"They are more afraid of the Qin Dynasty falling than anyone else. Because if the Qin Dynasty falls, they will lose their houses, wages, wives and children, and everything else."

"This is what I want to say: What is a Qin person?"

Fusu's voice echoed throughout the hall, resounding with conviction.

"Being born in Qin does not necessarily make one a Qin person. Those who dedicate their hearts to Qin and contribute to its development are the true Qin people!"

The main hall was deathly silent.

Those old ministers who were originally prepared to agree with Li Si looked at each other in bewilderment, unable to find any reason to refute him.

A community of shared interests.

This was a concept two thousand years ahead of its time, but at this moment, Fusu presented it to everyone with the most straightforward data.

"Slap, slap, slap."

A slow but powerful round of applause came from behind the screen.

Ying Zheng, dressed in a large black robe with thermal underwear underneath, slowly walked out.

"Well said."

Ying Zheng walked to the dragon throne and sat down. He did not rush to express his opinion, but instead picked up a cup of hot water and took a sip.

"Li Si".

"Your Majesty, I am here." Li Si said somewhat dejectedly. He knew that as long as His Majesty applauded, the matter would be basically settled.

"I understand your concerns about safety. After all, too many foreign tribes have infiltrated Xianyang, which is indeed a potential threat."

"However, Fusu is right. Qin cannot rule the world with just a few million old Qin people. We need fresh blood."

"I plan to establish a 'citizenship test'."

"An exam?" Li Si and Fu Su were both stunned.

"Yes. Want to get a Xianyang household registration? Want to buy a house in the Epang Palace? Sure."

Ying Zheng raised three fingers.

"First, you must pass the 'Qin Language' exam. If you can't even speak it fluently, don't even think about entering the city."

"Secondly, you must have a skill. You must be able to build walls, do accounting, or forge iron. The Qin Dynasty does not support idlers."

"Third, and most importantly."

A sly glint flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes.

"They must pass the 'Qin Values' test."

"For example: 'If the Xiongnu Chanyu and Qin Shi Huang both fell into the water, who would you save first?' The questions should be designed as: 'What should you do if someone slanders the laws of Qin?' 'Is there a reward for reporting a neighbor who is hiding weapons?'"

"Little G," Ying Zheng thought to himself, "give me a set of questions. The kind that... can completely brainwash people."

[Received. Generating the "Qin Empire Citizenship Qualification Test Paper (Elementary Version)".]

[Core Logic: Subtly instilling the concepts of "the supremacy of Qin," "the spirit of the rule of law," and "the glory of whistleblowing."]

Ying Zheng looked at the two thoughtful figures below and waved his hand.

"Let's do it this way."

"Those who are willing to become Qin citizens will be issued a 'temporary residence permit.' After three years of assessment, those with no criminal record and who meet the tax payment requirements will be granted 'permanent residency.'"

"Give them hope, but don't give it too easily. People tend to cherish things more when they are harder to obtain."

"As for those stubborn ones..." Ying Zheng sneered, "then let them continue to carry bricks on the construction site for the rest of their lives."

……

A biting wind howled at the construction site outside Xianyang.

But in a sheltered shed, the atmosphere was bustling with activity.

Dozens of Xiongnu people and convicts from the six states sat together, holding those ugly but extremely warm "Qin Dynasty long johns" in their hands, reluctant to put them down.

"Aguda, you really bought it?" A thin Hun looked at the burly man with envy.

The burly man named Aguda had already cut off his signature braid and styled his hair in a Qin-style topknot. He was clumsily putting on his long johns.

"I bought it! It cost me a month's wages!" Aguda patted his thigh. "It's so warm! Much better than our sheepskin coats! This thing fits snugly against the skin and keeps out the wind!"

"And..." Aguda mysteriously pulled out a wooden plaque, "I'm a person with status now. This is a 'Good Citizen Certificate'! The person in charge said that as long as I work for two more years and pass that exam, I can become a real Qin citizen!"

"Then I'll be able to buy a small courtyard house in the city and won't have to go back to the grasslands to starve!"

Those around him looked on with envy.

On the grasslands, they were ants who could be eaten by wolves, freeze to death, or be used as cannon fodder by their leaders at any time.

Here, although it's tiring and you have to be disciplined, it's a real "life".

There are hot steamed buns, warm clothes, and hope.

"I want to buy too!" the skinny Hun gritted his teeth. "I want to be a Qin citizen! Anyone who dares to block my path, I'll fight them to the death!"

This is the effect that Ying Zheng wanted.

When a foreigner begins to fight desperately to protect the interests of the Qin Dynasty, the Great Wall is no longer just a stone wall, but is built in everyone's heart.

……

Construction of the Epang Palace did not stop even in winter. Thanks to the availability of cement and warm clothing, the progress of the project was not significantly affected.

However, a new crisis is quietly approaching.

As the weather gets colder, the sound of coughing has increased in Xianyang.

It wasn't a disease of the wealthy like Qin Shi Huang's, but rather the flu.

Moreover, with large numbers of people gathering in construction sites and dormitories, such dense living environments have become ideal breeding grounds for the virus.

On this day, Xia Wuqie requested an audience with a face full of sorrow.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. The construction site... is starting to get hot."

"It's not malaria, it's typhoid fever."

"Hundreds of people are collapsing every day. Although there is garlic and hot water, the cold is too intense, and many people cannot survive."

Ying Zheng sat in the greenhouse, listening to the report, his heart clenching suddenly.

What he fears most now is the "plague." Because this thing is unreasonable and doesn't discriminate between the rich and the poor. Once it breaks out on the construction site and spreads to Xianyang, even he, the First Emperor, won't be able to escape it.

"Heating," Ying Zheng suddenly said.

"What?" Xia Wuqie didn't understand.

"I say that they are sick because of the cold. They are huddled together for warmth and are infecting each other."

Ying Zheng stood up and paced around the room.

"Little G, I remember you mentioned something called a 'heated kang' in the north?"

Yes, Your Majesty.

[A heated bed: using the smoke from cooking or burning firewood, which is piped under the bed to heat the mattress.]

This is the most thermally efficient and lowest-cost heating method. It's much better than those coal-consuming fireplaces.

Moreover, high temperatures can kill bacteria, and dryness can prevent disease.

Ying Zheng looked at Xia Wuqie.

"Send word to Fusu."

"Stop building those impractical high-rises. First, build 'dormitory beds' for the workers."

"But not on the floor, but on the stove."

Ying Zheng took the pen and drew a simple diagram of the structure of a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove).

"A hollow bed was built with bricks and mud, connected to the stove. When cooking, the smoke and fire would rise from under the bed, heating it up."

Tell Fusu that this is a political mission.

"Within half a month, I want every worker in the Great Qin to sleep with a warm bottom!"

"And one more thing!" Ying Zheng added, "Masks. Have the textile factories use the leftover scraps to make those face coverings. Give everyone two, and make them mandatory. Anyone who dares to take them off will have their wages docked!"

Xia Wuqie looked at the strange "heated kang" blueprint and heard the new word "mask". Although he didn't quite understand the principle, he knew that His Majesty had found a solution from the heavenly book again.

"Your Majesty... I will take care of it immediately!"

……

This winter was a peculiar one for Daqin.

On the construction site of the Epang Palace, rows of strange, long houses emitting white smoke appeared.

That was a "heated brick bed dormitory".

Every night, thousands of laborers would huddle together on the warm, cozy communal beds, touching the warm brick surfaces beneath them and emitting comfortable groans.

"Wow... this is amazing. No need to burn charcoal, the bed heats up by itself?" Aguda lay on the kang, feeling that his life had been worthwhile.

"What's so special about this? I heard His Majesty invented it especially for us." A fellow worker next to him said with admiration, "His Majesty is truly a god descended to earth."

During the day, everyone on the construction site wore colorful "masks" made from scraps. Although they looked like a group of masked bandits, the constant coughing was indeed much less.

Although the flu was still present, the panic of mass deaths was effectively kept at bay by these heated kang beds and tattered cloths.

Ying Zheng stood on the high platform, wearing a silk mask embroidered with black dragon patterns, looking down at the busy but orderly construction site.

"Little G".

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I suddenly feel that being a 'health expert' is more effective at winning people's hearts than being a tyrant."

[Your Majesty, this is not called health preservation, this is called "public health management."]

You are building a... simple, but effective social security system.

Even two thousand years from now, this will remain the government's core competitive advantage.

Ying Zheng smiled, though the smile was hidden behind his mask.

"As long as people can live, who cares what it's called?"

"As long as these people are still alive and warm, my Great Qin will not grow cold."