"Father, people like Zhou Qingchen and Chun Yuyue are indeed very close to Hou Sheng, Lu Sheng and other alchemists. In the doctor's palace, the Confucian scholars often discuss the matter of becoming a Zen monk."
Li Yu walked into the house with a heavy face and told Li Si the news he had just discovered.
"In terms of being well-informed, I really have to rely on those 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 the Zhongche Mansion Order a favor."
Li Si sighed to himself.
He is now a Tingwei, one of the Nine Qings, and has a high and powerful position, but he has not yet reached the point where he will become the prime minister in the future and take over all the power.
On top of 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 and did not have the ability to monitor the emperor's behavior and preferences. Naturally, he did not know that 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 make suggestions."
"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 concerns 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, is it a matter of conferring Zen status? Do you dare to dissuade him? The emperor now has the power to conquer the barbarians within the same realm. Once the idea of conferring Zen status 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 he 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 studied under Xun Qing for many years and have never been mentioned by anyone. Even the great Confucians of the time cannot say anything specific. Since these Confucian scholars want to win the attention of the emperor by granting 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 brought some books on law from me 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 came to getting a wife, my brother just shook his head."
The smile on Li Si's face solidified.
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.
Martial Lord 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 those in higher positions and had little to do with him. He did not pay as much attention to the emperor as he did to the princess.
How could it be like now, when he, Zhao Tuo, was a martial lord and a noble, and climbed to the top of the Qin State, but he had to worry about the fate of the Qin State all day long, eating and sleeping as peacefully 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 the fate of Fusu 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 handling government affairs. By doing this, your majesty is really a diligent monarch who has never been seen in history. Only in the history of such a holy king.
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, so 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 had 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 in northern Xinjiang and killed the Xiongnu, 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 were slightly focused. 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 had come up with.
He recalled the words of compliment he used when he presented his title to the emperor: "Your Majesty has conquered the whole country and unified the world, creating unprecedented achievements in the world. His achievements can only be matched by the combined power of the three emperors and five emperors in the past. However, the three emperors and five emperors have not yet been able to conquer the barbarians from all over the world.
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 who would have expected that Zhao Tuo did not 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 flashed across his face.
He hadn't said anything yet, so why did Zhao Tuo propose it himself?
Yes, this is the way Zhao Tuo came up with to deal with it.
Zhao Tuo, like Li Si, knew the character of the First Emperor very well.
Domineering and tyrannical.
There is one emperor throughout the ages who can rule everything.
Later generations 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 opponent. In this way, he could reasonably put forward two conditions on this basis.
Defeat the Yuezhi and occupy all the land west of Hexi.
The troops were stopped and the war was stopped, the country was stabilized, and the people from all over the country returned home.
It took more than a year to defeat the Yuezhi before.
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 wanted to confer Zen status. He never asked those Confucian scholars and alchemists to keep it secret. This was not something that needed to be hidden. He even spread it out to let sensible courtiers know, and took the initiative to raise it.
It would be better if you come out.
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 Yuezhi.
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.