How to Cultivate a Ten-Thousand-Mile Empire for the Young Emperor Qin?

Chapter 114: Five hearts of favor

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Li Si's articles are all filled with his insights on Confucianism and legal classics.

In fact, he wanted to offer his advice directly to Zhu Xiang, hoping that Zhu Xiang would tell the King of Qin about his advice. But Li Si observed many scholars in the academy, and they did not like their disciples to show their pursuit of fame and fortune even if they themselves pursued fame and fortune. So he took it step by step and pretended to be a pure and innocent student.

Li Si was a little surprised that Zhu Xiang directly asked him to be an official instead of praising his academic insights.

Ying Xiaozheng stretched out his hand and Zhu Xiang handed the article to Ying Xiaozheng.

Ying Xiaozheng glanced at him and snorted, "It's just perfunctory words, meaningless."

Li Si: "..." He immediately became nervous. How had he offended this grandson of the King of Qin

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Zheng'er means that you only showed your knowledge and didn't offer any suggestions, so your words are meaningless. Do you have any other articles?"

Li Si took a deep breath. It turned out that he could offer advice directly!

Han Fei hurriedly explained to his friend: "Li Si is not a man who talks without substance. It's just that this is his first meeting with Duke Xiang of Zhu, and he doesn't want to appear too eager for quick success."

Li Si: “…” You might as well not explain! Aren’t you saying I’m hypocritical

Han Fei gave Li Si a look that said, "Don't worry, I'll help you."

Li Si felt that he had been tricked by Han Fei, but he still had to force an expression of gratitude.

Not to mention this life, even in his previous life, Zhu Xiang had mastered the skill of observing people's words and expressions when he was teaching and working in the countryside. Li Si's current disguise could not fool his sharp eyes, which could tell who showed a guilty look of cheating at a glance on the podium.

Zhu Xiang smiled and shook his head in his heart. It seemed that Li Si was just Han Fei's fake friend.

But this was the Li Si he knew.

Li Si got close to Han Fei, probably to use Han Fei to get close to himself.

Zhu Xiang was not angry. Li Si did not cause any harm to Han Fei, and his care for Han Fei was genuine, otherwise Han Fei, the awkward and vigilant little hedgehog, would not have regarded Li Si as a close friend.

No matter what the reason was for Li Si to become friends with Han Fei, as long as Han Fei's interests were consistent with his, Li Si would probably maintain this friendship.

Although Han Fei was very sharp in his writings, he was an indecisive "relative-supporting demon" in real life. With Li Si as a friend, Han Fei's future life might be easier. Zhu Xiang did not intend to cut off the friendship between Li Si and Han Fei.

"It doesn't matter if you don't have the article, you can just speak directly." Zhu Xiang said, "If you just want to study the classics, it's enough for you to listen to the lectures of the scholars in the Xianyang Academy. You came to see me, probably hoping that I would listen to your suggestions on state affairs, right?"

Li Si became nervous again.

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. If you excel in your studies, you will become an official. It is human nature to want to display your talents in the court. It is not something to be ashamed of. Why are you nervous?"

Han Fei said: "The scholars in the academy don't like students chasing after fame and fortune."

Ying Xiaozheng snorted again: "Aren't they coming to Xianyang Academy to pursue fame and fortune?"

Li Si looked at the chubby-faced Prince Zheng and gained a thorough understanding of this grandson of the King of Qin who had many miraculous rumors about him.

No wonder people say that if Prince Zheng had not died young, he would have become the King of Qin. In just a few words, Prince Zheng has shown his intelligence and rationality to become the King of Qin.

Zhu Xiang asked again: "Li Si, do you think Qin still lacks anything?"

Li Si took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that his chance had come.

Li Si stood up, bowed to Zhu Xiang, and said concisely and powerfully: "We should have the same writing system, the same wheel gauge, the same currency, and the same weights and measures!"

Ying Xiaozheng's eyelids twitched, and he raised his chin slightly with an expressionless face, staring at the young Li Si.

Zhu Xiang smiled and reached out to stroke Ying Xiaozheng's furry little head a few times.

Ying Xiaozheng, who showed the domineering attitude of the great Ying Zheng in the dream, was rubbed on the head by Zhu Xiang's rough hands. He lost all his domineering attitude and said angrily: "Uncle!"

"Zheng'er is very satisfied with your suggestion." Zhu Xiang said, "The Lord will also be very satisfied. The Lord is preparing to do this. Please write down your specific ideas and I will present them to the Lord for you."

Li Si raised his head suddenly, lifted his skirt, knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, Duke Zhu Xiang!"

Zhu Xiang pushed Ying Xiaozheng on the back.

Ying Xiaozheng glared. "Why are you pushing me?"

Zhu Xiang gestured with his chin. "Hurry up and help!"

Ying Xiaozheng pouted, jumped off the chair, bent down with a stern face, and held Li Si's arms: "Please stand up. I hope you will not let your uncle down."

Ying Xiaozheng came to help him personally, and Li Si burst into tears of gratitude: "Yes!"

He kowtowed to Ying Xiaozheng, and then kowtowed again to Zhu Xiang before standing up.

A look of pride appeared on Han Fei's face, as if he was the one being valued.

Li Si knew that Han Fei was a gentleman to his friends, so he had discussed his ideas with Han Fei long ago. Han Fei was sure that as long as Li Si came up with this suggestion, it would surely attract the attention of the King of Qin.

Han Fei also felt sad.

My friend is very capable and can show his talent. I am more capable than my friend, but I don’t have the opportunity to show my talent.

Because if he showed his talent in Qin, Han would probably have shortened his life by many years.

Anyone with eyes knows that if Qin wanted to destroy the six states, it would definitely destroy Han first. Who made Han not only have a small territory, but also have stupid kings and officials, and occupy a major transportation route

But since Li Si was valued, he was still happy for Li Si from the bottom of his heart.

He originally discriminated against Li Si's background.

Li Si was just an ordinary scholar who had once worked as a lowly official in the State of Chu. As a prince of the State of Han, Han Fei had some prejudice against people of humble origins.

Even though Zhu Xiang was born in a humble family, there was only one Zhu Xiang, and Han Fei did not regard Zhu Xiang's case as a universal one.

But Li Si moved him with his sincere friendship and real talent. Han Fei now put aside his prejudice, treated his friend sincerely, and was delighted that Li Si was about to rise to prominence.

His prejudice against people's origins also changed quietly and imperceptibly.

Li Si looked at Han Fei proudly, hoping to see bitterness on Han Fei's face.

Then, Han Fei gave him a brilliant, joyful smile without any gloom.

Li Si silently withdrew his gaze, feeling that his dark heart was hurt.

Perhaps Han Fei thought that as long as he wanted to be a high-ranking official, he would have wealth and honor at his fingertips, so he was not jealous of himself. Li Si thought silently.

Putting these two together will definitely make for more fun in the future.

"If we want to have a unified writing system, we need a simpler writing system. Not only should we have a unified writing system, but it is also important to have a unified pronunciation. The Qin State should formulate its own elegant language. Whether or not to formulate a set of phonetic symbols needs to be carefully considered." Zhu Xiang said, "It is best to use the decimal system for weights and measures, which is easier to calculate. How to promote currency and what materials to use are all big questions."

Li Si pretended to listen. He was secretly shocked. Is Duke Zhu Xiang also thinking about this

Zhu Xiang said earnestly, "You may spend the next ten or even several dozen years of your energy on this matter, but you should not neglect your studies, let alone your moral cultivation. Your biggest problem is that you value profit too much. I am not saying that it is wrong to value profit and power, but profit and power are like sand in your hand. The tighter you hold it, the faster the sand will slip away."

Li Si broke out in a cold sweat. He had the illusion that Zhu Xiang saw through him.

"People who care less about power are more likely to rise to higher positions, just like people who are not afraid of death are more likely to survive on the battlefield. I hope you can understand this." Zhu Xiang said, "In addition to Confucian books, you can also read more books by Laozi and Zhuangzi."

Li Si couldn't help but tremble in his voice: "Yes, I will follow your instructions."

Zhu Xiang said to Han Fei, "What I taught Li Si is the same for you. Li Si values power too much, and you value the Han royal family too much. Too much is as bad as too little, and it will backfire. I hope you two understand this."

Li Si and Han Fei said in unison: "Yes."

Zhu Xiang knocked on the table. "Let's stop talking about serious matters for now. I want to hear about your experiences over the years. What do you think of the Qin State, the Imperial Academy, and life? Feel free to chat."

Zhu Xiang said to Ying Xiaozheng: "Zheng'er, you start a conversation."

Ying Xiaozheng nodded. He knew that his uncle was letting him practice observing a person's inner thoughts through conversations with them.

Ying Xiaozheng thought about it and started by asking about the lessons at the Xianyang Academy in a child's tone.

Ying Xiaozheng had a pleasant conversation with Han Fei and Li Si, and the conversation lasted until nightfall.

Zhu Xiang let Li Si sleep in Han Fei's house and return to the Xianyang Academy the next day.

He did not keep Li Si because Li Si could not get too close to himself and Zheng'er before he hid his excessive desire for power, otherwise it would bring trouble to himself and Zheng'er.

He just gave Li Si some suggestions, such as not using different numbers when unifying weights and measures, but just using the decimal system. Twenty-four zhu equals one liang, sixteen liang equals one jin... It's too troublesome to calculate.

As for the rest, let Li Si do it on his own.

Qin Shihuang's most important contribution, the policy of unifying the writing system, wheel tracks, weights and measures, and currency, was all proposed by Li Si. Zhu Xiang believed that Li Si in this time and space should be able to do the same.

Compared to what Qin Shihuang did in just ten years after the unification, if we start from Qin Wangzhu and conquer a piece of land, and then slowly implement some unification strategies, the people should be more receptive to it.

Although the unification of writing, wheel tracks, weights and measures, and currency was very important, Zhu Xiang would not take all the important matters into his own hands. He had his own urgent tasks to do - while taking care of Fan Ju, Zhu Xiang wrote a strategy on how to launch a trade war against the State of Chu.

He deleted and revised many versions but was never satisfied, and was so worried that his hair fell out. By the time Fan Ju recovered from his illness, Zhu Xiang had not finished writing the document.

A major national policy does not need to be rushed, and Qin State did not have that much grain to sell for the time being. Zhu Xiang put down his pen and returned to the fields to count the farmers' autumn harvest, summarize this year's agricultural production, and formulate next year's agricultural planting plan.

During this period, the avatar of Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng in Zhu Xiang's favorability list turned gray.

He bowed to Zhao Guo from a distance and sighed deeply.

Although Zhu Xiang could not remember how old Pingyuan Jun lived in his previous life, he vaguely remembered that Pingyuan Jun died at about the same time as King Zhaoxiang of Qin.

After all, he lived longer than Lord Pingyuan in this life.

This may be because although there was no Battle of Handan in this time and space, the State of Zhao was more decadent than the State of Zhao in another time and space where there was the Battle of Handan, which made Pingyuan Jun more worried.

Zhu Xiang knew that after he, Lian Gong, and Li Mu left Zhao, Pingyuan Jun had been ill for a long time, but he still served as the prime minister of Zhao during his illness and assisted the King of Zhao diligently.

After Xinling Jun fled Zhao, Pingyuan Jun seemed to be ill again. Perhaps it was this illness that took away Pingyuan Jun's life.

Pingyuan Jun is now well-known among the seven kingdoms and is a very good prime minister.

This had never happened in Zhu Xiang's previous life.

Although Pingyuan Jun in Zhu Xiang's previous life had also served as prime minister, he was not known for his virtue in political affairs. He was just a generous nobleman who welcomed many guests.

Now Pingyuan Jun himself has a reputation as a virtuous man.

Like King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Pingyuan did not leave a parting gift for Zhu Xiang like Lin Xiangru did.

The favorability between Lord Pingyuan and Zhu Xiang remained the same as before, neither rising nor falling; King Zhaoxiang of Qin increased his favorability to two hearts, and gave Zhu Xiang high-quality millet, which was almost like a joke.

But neither of them gave Zhu Xiang any gifts.

Zhu Xiang guessed that it might be because the person they missed most when they were parting was not him.

Lin Gong was thinking about his death, and after his death he would appear in his dreams to ask him how he was doing.

Thinking of this, he must take good care of himself, not to let his elders and friends worry about him, and miss him when he leaves. He would rather not receive any gifts, and not want to make people who care about him worry before he dies.

Of course, it would be best if there was no separation.

Just as Zhu Xiang was thinking this, a name suddenly appeared on the favorability list, and it shot straight to the top of the list. The system added colorful fireworks effects to the five shining hearts of favorability, which almost blinded Zhu Xiang.

Zhu Xiang rubbed his eyes and pressed his fingers on the void.

On the favorability list, the little female portrait looked gentle and amiable even with the pixels, revealing a smile that Zhu Xiang was very familiar with.

Snow Princess?!

"Uncle! Uncle!" Ying Xiaozheng rushed over like a whirlwind and hit Zhu Xiang's waist.

Many years later, he almost hit his uncle and caused a lumbar disc herniation again.

"Ouch... Zheng'er, go slower, my waist is so old!" Zhu Xiang held his waist and cried out in pain.

“Uncle!” Regardless of the serious injury Zhu Xiang suffered, Ying Xiaozheng jumped up from the spot and hung on Zhu Xiang. “Aunt made a super amazing spinning wheel! It can spin cotton and linen! Uncle, go and take a look! It’s super amazing!”

Zhu Xiang: “Ah?!”

How great is it? The kind that will go down in history

Zhu Xiang glanced at the favorability list.

(End of this chapter)