novelSusiti Chapter 6 Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born with a special destiny?
Chapter 6 Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born with a special destiny?
The atmosphere in the study remained heavy.
Hu Hai had already been taken to a side hall by the guards to "confine himself to do his homework," and Zhao Gao had also hurriedly left with the inexplicable imperial edict to "build a steam engine." At this moment, only Ying Zheng and the dimly lit blue screen remained in the large study.
Ying Zheng stood before a huge map of the Qin Empire. It was drawn on expensive silk and marked with the thirty-six commanderies of the Qin Dynasty.
Previously, when he looked at this picture, he saw a vast territory and the glory of a unified empire.
But today, after hearing the truth about the "demise after only two generations," the map became a giant powder keg in his eyes.
"Little G," Ying Zheng's finger traced the Huai River basin on the map, "You mentioned Chen Sheng and Wu Guang earlier. Were these two descendants of nobles from the six states? Were they relatives of Xiang Yan? Or were they retainers of Lord Xinling?"
In his view, the one who could overthrow the Qin Dynasty must be the powerful and influential old nobles.
Neither.
[Retrieving the files of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, the First Rebel Team of the Qin Dynasty.]
[Occupation: Farm laborer (cultivating land for a landlord), garrison leader (a squad leader managing 900 garrison soldiers).]
[Family background: Poor peasants. Three generations of poor peasants. Extremely poor.]
Ying Zheng frowned, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Two...farmers?"
"Two farmers, could they possibly overthrow my empire? I have a million-strong army and renowned generals like Wang Jian and Meng Tian, yet I've been defeated by two peasants?"
The screen flickered, and a bold red formula popped up:
$$Hunger + Harsh Laws + Despair = Violent Revolution$$
Your Majesty, you may lack a concept of the word "hunger."
Even the worst meals in your palace consist of meat broth and refined rice. But in the lower classes of Qin, the common people eat "huo" (bean leaves) and drink muddy water.
They had to work 14 hours a day, pay over 60% in taxes, and were constantly being conscripted to build the Great Wall and imperial tombs.
The reason Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled was not only because they were poor, but also because of a deadly law.
Which one?
According to the Qin Dynasty law, any conscripted soldier who is delayed in arriving at his designated location due to rain, regardless of the reason, shall be beheaded.
[A torrential rain fell, blocking the roads, and they knew they would be late. Being late meant death, and so did rebelling. Since death was inevitable either way, they might as well shout out a timeless proverb—]
Suddenly, the resounding slogan popped up on the screen, its font blood red, accompanied by a breathtaking special effect:
"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"
Ying Zheng's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at those eight characters.
"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" He kept repeating this sentence, feeling a chill run down his spine.
This statement was more damaging than an army of one million from six kingdoms. It directly denied bloodline, destiny, and the sanctity of the "First Emperor."
"What a fine line, 'Are they born with a special destiny?'" Ying Zheng took a deep breath, his voice slightly hoarse. "So, my enemy is not the six states, but the people's hearts and minds in this world."
He turned around, staring intently at the light screen: "Now that I know the future, none of this can happen. Little G, since you come from the future, you must have 'immortal food' enough to sustain countless lives, right? I've heard that immortals eat dragon liver and phoenix marrow; do you have any seeds... that can grow into thousands of kilograms of grain just by scattering them?"
Ying Zheng thought of the simplest solution: feed them.
【Have. 】
In my database, there is a figure revered as the "Father of Hybrid Rice," Grandpa Yuan Longping, whose rice yield can reach 1000 kilograms (2000 jin) per mu.
There's another amazing crop called sweet potato, which is drought-resistant and can grow in poor soil. Just leave it in the ground and it will grow, with an even more incredible yield per acre.
A look of wild joy flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes.
However, the merciless skull reappeared on the screen, this time with a helpless shrug:
[As I said before: I cannot do it.]
I am artificial intelligence, a piece of code. I have no physical form, no Doraemon's pocket, and I can't conjure physical seeds. I can't even conjure a real grain of rice.
While I can't provide the seeds, I can offer you the "technology."
The current agricultural level of the Great Qin Dynasty is roughly in a transitional period from slash-and-burn agriculture to ox-plowing. Moreover, your plows are as straight as sticks, requiring great effort from the oxen and failing to turn the soil deeply.
[Generating blueprints for you: "Curved Plow (Improved Version)"]
[Generating a tutorial for you: "Composting Technology: How to Turn Manure into Gold"]
A complex mechanical diagram appeared on the screen. It was a uniquely shaped plow with a curved shaft and a plowshare that allowed for adjusting the depth of the plow.
[The curved-shaft plow: a cutting-edge technology from the Tang Dynasty.]
Advantage 1: Flexible turning, making it more suitable for small plots of land.
Advantage 2: Saves 50% of effort. Previously, two oxen pulled a plow; now, one ox is enough.
【Advantage 3: Deep tilling brings up deep-seated nutrients and also helps control weeds.】
[With the use of composting (instead of directly applying raw manure), the Qin Dynasty's grain production could conservatively increase by 30%.]
"Thirty percent..." Ying Zheng stared at the blueprint, his mind racing with calculations.
The Qin Dynasty harvests approximately 20 million shi of grain annually. If production increases by 30%, that would be 6 million shi! This is enough to feed an army of 500,000 men, or to feed a million laborers building the Great Wall!
"pen and ink!"
Without further ado, Ying Zheng grabbed a brush and began to trace the blueprint on the silk. Although he wasn't a craftsman, he was an expert, and with a few strokes, he understood the ingenuity of the curved plow. The clever application of the lever principle amazed even someone like him who knew nothing about physics.
After finishing the last stroke, Ying Zheng put down his brush, a resolute glint in his eyes.
Having the technology wasn't enough; they also needed to untangle the knot that had driven Chen Sheng and Wu Guang to rebellion.
"Someone! Summon Li Si!"
……
Li Si arrived very quickly.
Ever since witnessing Yang Que being beheaded by the "data graph" at the morning court session, the Prime Minister of Qin had been restless all day. He had a vague feeling that His Majesty seemed to have grasped a new and terrifying insight.
Upon entering the study, Li Si respectfully bowed and said, "Your subject Li Si greets Your Majesty."
Ying Zheng sat behind his desk, not calling him up, but coldly watching him. His gaze was as if he were looking at a dead man, or as if he were looking at a useful tool.
After a long while, Li Si was so engrossed in watching that cold sweat poured down his back.
"Li Si," Ying Zheng finally spoke, "I remember you were in charge of revising the 'Corvée Law'?"
"Your Majesty, that is indeed true," Li Si replied cautiously. "Rule of law is the foundation of the Qin Dynasty."
"Then let me ask you," Ying Zheng said, pointing to the Huaiyang area on the map, "if nine hundred garrison soldiers are unable to reach Yuyang on time due to continuous heavy rains and washed-out roads, what should be done according to the law?"
Without hesitation, Li Si said, "According to the law, missing the deadline is punishable by death."
This is an ironclad rule of Legalism: without rules, nothing can be accomplished. In the past, Li Si would have upheld this law without hesitation.
"Execute?" Ying Zheng sneered, throwing the scroll of newly copied drawings in front of Li Si. "Nine hundred men, you executed them all?"
"This..." Li Si hesitated. "The law is impartial. If we set a precedent, everyone will use the excuse of heavy rain to be late. What will become of military orders?"
"madness!"
Ying Zheng slammed his hand on the table, the sound like a thunderclap.
"You only know the severity of the law, but you don't know that when people are desperate, they cry out to heaven; when they are in extreme pain, they scream!"
"Nine hundred lives, each armed with spears and halberds! If you tell them 'being late means death,' will they obediently stretch out their necks for you to chop? They will kill officials! They will rebel! They will shout 'Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?'"
Li Si trembled and looked up at Ying Zheng in shock.
Your Majesty... how could you say such a thing? The previous emperors were even more superstitious about harsh laws and punishments than he is now! How could such a Confucian sentiment as "when in extreme pain, one cries out" possibly come from the mouth of the First Emperor?
"I command you to draft an edict immediately." Ying Zheng gave Li Si no time to think, speaking rapidly, "Revise the 'Corvée Law.' Those who miss their deadlines due to force majeure such as natural disasters, heavy rains, or floods shall be spared the death penalty! Apart from fines or an additional month of corvée labor, indiscriminate killing is prohibited!"
"In addition, shipments will be sent to various counties and prefectures, especially the Dazexiang area!"
Ying Zheng deliberately emphasized the three characters "Dazexiang".
Although Li Si was filled with doubt, he also understood the seriousness of the matter. He quickly kowtowed, "Your subject... obeys the decree! Your Majesty is wise; this is a benevolent policy!"
"It's not over yet."
Ying Zheng pointed to the blueprints on the ground.
"This is the divine instrument of Shennong that I obtained in my dream, called the 'Curved Plow.' Take it and order the Imperial Household Department to produce one hundred of them overnight, to be tested first in Guanzhong. If it proves effective, it shall be promoted throughout the land within three months!"
"Li Si, if this plow can't be pushed forward, or if it's used by those below as a tool for embezzlement..." Ying Zheng's eyes flashed with a cold light as he said meaningfully, "then your position as prime minister will probably be in jeopardy. After all, I've heard that there are many people who want this position."
Li Si felt a chill run down his spine.
He recalled His Majesty's use of the "round pie chart" during the morning court session, and then he heard those words. Could it be that His Majesty had begun to doubt his loyalty?
Fear instantly overwhelmed him. At that moment, he had only one thought: Do it well! He had to do it well!
"Your subject will certainly devote himself to the cause until his dying breath!" Li Si grabbed the blueprints as if they were his lifeline and backed out of the study.
After Li Si left, the study returned to silence.
Ying Zheng looked at the light screen and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
"Little G, will this... stop the fire?"
All I can say is that they cut one of the leads.
But as long as the firewood remains (and the people remain poor), the fire will eventually start.
Ying Zheng snorted coldly and looked out the window at the endless night.
"It's alright." He gripped the Tai'a sword at his waist, his eyes burning with an inextinguishable ambition.
"As long as I live, this fire will not reach Xianyang."
"I want to see whether your 'history' is stronger, or my sword is stronger."
At this moment, inside the side hall.
Hu Hai was lying on the desk, biting the pen, his hair a mess.
A question was written on the bamboo slip in front of me:
[Logic question: If you don't work hard at farming, you'll starve to death; but even after paying taxes, you'll still starve to death after working hard at farming. As a farmer, what should you do?]
Hu Hai looked at the options:
A. Continue farming.
B. Suicide.
C. Find an even more ruthless boss.
D. __________（Please fill in the blank）.
After thinking for a long time, Hu Hai wrote two words crookedly after option D:
"Zhao Gao?"
After writing it, he felt it was wrong, so he crossed it out and changed it to:
"Looking for Father Emperor?"
At this moment, Zhao Gao was deep in thought, facing a pile of bronze scraps and charcoal, holding a "concept drawing of a steam engine" drawn by Ying Zheng from memory (actually a version made up by Xiao G).
"This is just a kettle for boiling water... how can it travel a thousand miles a day?" Zhao Gao stared at the boiling kettle, its lid popping open, lost in an age-old mystery.