After the chairs were invented, the King of Qin liked to sit on the chairs when he summoned his ministers, while the ministers knelt on cushions as before.
Now he looked down at Zhu Xiang who was kneeling on the cushion and was silent for a while.
The palace servant standing beside them lowered their heads, their breathing stagnant due to the heavy atmosphere.
"You..." The King of Qin slowly opened his eyes, which had been closed for a long time. His loose and swollen eyelids trembled, revealing his still clear eyes. "You want to take Zheng'er to Shu?"
Zhu Xiang said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Zheng'er is still young, and he will not be able to learn in a few years. Before that, I hope to take Zheng'er to see different places and cultures."
The King of Qin looked at Zhu Xiang, and Zhu Xiang looked back at him without fear.
The King of Qin was in a very complicated mood.
He liked Zhu Xiang's uprightness, but also hated Zhu Xiang's attitude of never fearing him.
He had been the king for so many years, and even the Crown Prince and Ying Hou would hide fear in their eyes when facing him. Why was Zhu Xiang like this
After a long while, the King of Qin saw that Zhu Xiang was indeed not shaken at all, and he sighed deeply: "Some people have indeed made too many small moves recently, and I will punish them. Don't be angry, Zheng'er is still young and can't stand the long journey."
Zhu Xiang said, "With me here, Zheng'er won't be tired. As I said in my memorial, it is not difficult for Qin to unify the world, but it is difficult to govern. The customs and habits of the Central Plains are similar to those of Guandong, so it is easier for Qin to govern. However, the customs and habits of the Chu and Yue in the south are very different from those in the north, so it is most likely to cause chaos."
Zhu Xiang shook his body slightly. His legs felt a little numb.
"A country depends on grain, and the people depend on food. The situation in the south is stable, and the people are not in turmoil. In the end, it all comes down to food and clothing. Your Majesty has great prestige, so I can experiment in Shu to make the southerners who eat rice, soup and fish better off than before. As long as life is better now than before, no matter how different the local customs and practices are, the southerners will not miss the past."
Zhu Xiang said: "Shu is a remote area and has been subject to rebellions for several times. Only the prestige of a monarch who has been in power for decades can protect Zheng'er and I from traveling south."
The King of Qin's expression changed. In fact, he had already been convinced when Zhu Xiang submitted the letter.
Although he had occupied Shu and Chu for many years, he had never been able to tame these two areas. The implementation of Qin laws was very difficult and the two areas were in a semi-free-range state, with frequent civil unrest.
With Zhu Xiang's ability to comfort the people, perhaps he could really solve one of his worries.
But Zhu Xiang wanted to take Zheng'er with him... The King of Qin said again: "You can go, but Zheng'er can't."
Zhu Xiang said bluntly: "Zheng'er is young but has already attracted a lot of attention. I am very worried about him. It would be better for him to let him fade out of the court for a few years. Before I leave, I have one more thing to ask for your approval."
The King of Qin was confused: "What's the matter?"
Zhu Xiang took a deep breath and kowtowed: "I want to challenge all the alchemists in Xianyang to expose their scams!"
The King of Qin's heart stabbed, and he stood up suddenly, his chair making a harsh noise: "Zhu Xiang! Did you also believe the rumors and think that I would harm Zheng'er?"
Zhu Xiang said very quickly: "It is precisely because Your Majesty will not harm Zheng'er that I dare to make this request."
He pounded the ground with both fists, raised his head and straightened his spine and said, "Can we forgive the sorcerers who say that boy's urine does not endanger the safety of children?"
"Whether it's urine, hair, or nails, talking about yang and yin is essentially treating people as materials for alchemy instead of human beings!"
"Common people exchanging their children for cannibalism is a desperate attempt to survive. Even common people know that this has crossed the boundaries of humanity. Those sorcerers claim to be immortals. Today they say that children have vitality, and tomorrow they say that women have yin. When facing a wise king, they only dare to take hair and nails; when facing a foolish king, they dare to take flesh, blood, bones, and even the heart!"
Zhu Xiang was breathing heavily, his face flushed with anger.
"I know that everyone wants to live forever, so after the rise of the alchemists in Yan and Qi, they traveled all the way west to Qin to cheat people."
"Times of chaos are always hard, but the chaos caused by the alchemists is not as bad as natural disasters and wars. I am a humble man with low words, and I have never thought of provoking anyone. I just want to focus on guiding farming, and I will save as many common people as possible."
“But they should never target Zheng Er!”
Zhu Xiang's eyes were red: "I am not a saint. If anyone touches my family, I will make them regret it even if it costs my life."
"If we kill one of the sorcerers, they will continue to cheat. I will destroy their foundation and cut off their lineage."
“Even if the practitioners of alchemy will not disappear, I will make them go from being the guests of honor of the nobles to being rats that can only survive in the gutter. No matter where they go, there will be people of insight who will stand up and rebuke them.”
"Your Majesty, if there really are gods, then I am the one most likely to be granted by the gods." Zhu Xiang rolled up his sleeves and exposed his arms. "Your Majesty, you can ask them to try and see if drinking my flesh and blood will give them immortality, if I will bleed to death, and if a natural disaster will occur after my death."
The King of Qin glared at Zhu Xiang and asked, "Are you threatening me?"
Zhu Xiang said, "Your Majesty, you are Zheng'er's great-grandfather. Although it is presumptuous to say such words to a monarch, in my heart, you are indeed my family and my elder. I am only angry that the sorcerer has violated human ethics and harmed innocent people."
"Now all knowledgeable people in the Seven Kingdoms hate witchcraft. If Your Majesty orders me to refute the sorcerers, the way of alchemy, and the theory of ghosts and gods, the Seven Kingdoms will only respect Your Majesty even more. Only those who are not afraid of life and death, and ghosts and gods, can be a heroic ruler."
The King of Qin was stunned, and then felt an indescribable complex emotion.
He often felt such complicated emotions when facing Zhu Xiang.
He knew that Prince Zhu had muttered in private that the king was also a human being, and the prince was also a human being. All human beings have feelings and yearn for human relationships, but there was no one they could trust.
Zhu Xiang, however, has a kind heart like a child, which makes people feel at ease.
In this world, perhaps only Zhu Xiang dares to say to himself, I regard you as a family member and elder.
Only Zhu Xiang would think that "I regard you as a family elder" is a higher recognition than "I respect you as my monarch."
People in the court often said that Lin Zhi acted too crazy. In the eyes of the King of Qin, Zhu Xiang was a complete lunatic!
He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, opening and closing his palm several times.
In Zhu Xiang's vision, the King of Qin appeared and disappeared in the favorability list several times.
"Zhu Xiang, aren't you afraid of death?" asked the King of Qin.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid." Zhu Xiang said, "But there are always times when people are not afraid of death."
The King of Qin took a deep breath and said, "It's just that the magicians have targeted Zheng'er. Not only did they not dare to think of harming Zheng'er's life, they didn't even do anything. Are you going to be so fearless just to vent your anger?"
Zhu Xiang said: "Mencius said, 'Life is what I want, and righteousness is what I want. If I cannot have both, I would rather sacrifice my life for righteousness.' Protecting my family is my righteousness. Once harm has been done, it is too late to regret."
The King of Qin lowered his hand from the hilt of his sword and shouted, "Zheng'er, come out."
Prince Zhu staggered out from behind the curtain holding Zheng'er.
He had been holding Ying Xiaozheng tightly and covering Ying Xiaozheng's mouth. He was so scared that his heart almost jumped out of his throat and he could not walk properly.
"Prince, Zheng'er?" Zhu Xiang was surprised at first, then smiled bitterly, "Sorry, I scared you."
"That's good. I've known for a long time that you are such a strong-willed person." The prince felt warm in his heart when he heard Zhu Xiang's words.
Ying Xiaozheng came down from the prince's arms, his little hands trembling slightly.
He bit his lips several times until they bled, suppressed the trembling of his body, walked to Zhu Xiang, knelt down in front of the King of Qin, and said nothing.
The King of Qin asked, "Zheng'er, do you have anything to say to me?"
Ying Xiaozheng raised his head, his eyes also red: "My uncle said that I am still young and should hide under the wings of the elders to learn how to deal with the storm. Zheng'er has nothing to say, and I will follow the elders' words."
The King of Qin said, "You are Prince Qin."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "Even if I am a hostage, the worst case scenario is that I will leave Qin when I am still a child. I am only a little kid."
The term "chui tou" means "to wear your hair before the age of nine" and "tied up your hair" means "to tie ...
Even with the guidance of his dream self, Ying Xiaozheng never thought that showing his intelligence at this age would lead to such an accident!
"Zheng'er has been a hostage since birth. He was abandoned by his biological parents when he was one year old. When he was three or four years old, his uncle was almost killed and he had to hide with his aunt. Now he is not yet old enough to be enlightened by Master Qin..." Ying Xiaozheng took a deep breath and kowtowed, "Please, Grandfather Zeng, make the decision for me!"
When Prince Zhu heard Ying Xiaozheng's words, tears rolled down his cheeks.
He knelt down and said, "Father, let Zheng'er follow Zhu Xiang into Shu and be a child for a few years. Qin has father, king, me, and Xia Tong. It's not Zheng'er's turn to worry about anything. Wait until he has his hair tied up, and then you can worry about him."
King Qin said calmly: "Dazhu, you are not fit to be king."
Prince Zhu smiled naively and said, "No, my Lord and Father, although I am indeed not like you, there are many kinds of kings, but I think I can be a good king. As a king, it is only the four words 'protecting the country and loving the people', I can do it."
The King of Qin said, "This is the first time you have promised me that you can be a good king."
Prince Zhu said: "Yes."
The King of Qin looked at his son, who also had an old face, and suddenly lost interest and no longer had the mood to question him.
"You can do whatever you want. I don't care." The King of Qin waved his sleeves and said, "I am tired. I will take a rest for a while. During this period, the Crown Prince will govern the country."
"only!!"
"Uncle, Zheng'er is tired and doesn't want to walk. He wants to ride on your neck."
"Can't I carry you on my back?"
"no."
"Ah." Zhu Xiang carried the suddenly willful Ying Xiaozheng on his shoulders, holding his short legs and said, "Are you scared?"
"How is that possible?" Ying Xiaozheng held Zhu Xiang's head and said arrogantly, "Grandfather, uncle underestimates me."
Prince Zhu said cheerfully: "You are just a tiny thing now, I can look down on you."
"Hmph." Ying Xiaozheng rested his chin on Zhu Xiang's head and snorted angrily.
Prince Zhu held his hands in his pockets and said, "After you entered Shu, I had nowhere to rest."
Zhu Xiang said, "The prince can still come to my house. Xue will stay in Xianyang."
Prince Zhu stopped and asked in surprise: "You actually left Xue Ji behind?!"
Ying Xiaozheng hit his uncle on the head with his chubby palms: "Aunt, come with us!"
Zhu Xiang chuckled and said, "I persuaded Xue to go with me, but Xue said she wanted to stay in Xianyang. Someone needs to stay at home in Xianyang to take care of the family, and the elders need someone to take care of them. More importantly, Xue is leading a group of noble ladies to set up a women's weaving and embroidery workshop to study how to weave cotton cloth. She thinks it's better for her to stay in Xianyang than to go to Shu with me and Zheng'er. I respect her."
After Zhu Xiang told Xue that he wanted to take Zheng'er to Shu, Xue suffered a sleepless night and refused to go with him.
Xue thought that although she missed Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er and wished she could stay with them all the time, she also gradually realized the burden on Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er's shoulders, and she wanted to share it with them.
She is Zhu Xiang's wife and Zheng'er's aunt.
After Xue interacted with the noble ladies in Xianyang, she got to know their lives.
When officials were sent out, the women who stayed in Xianyang not only took care of their elders and children, but also had to pay attention to the court and communicate with the wives of the rich and powerful. They also had to manage the family business, manage the manor and shops, and make the family assets more abundant, instead of sitting on the salary and rewards of the men and eating nothing.
Xue now has the task of improving weaving on her shoulders. Although Zhu Xiang does not lack this reputation, who would dislike having too much reputation
Xue heard that because Zhu Xiang was good at farming and saved countless lives, the kings of various countries would treat him well. If she could help Zhu Xiang promote cotton cloth and save more lives, their family would be safer.
Xue is just a very traditional woman. She doesn't have any big ambitions, let alone any advanced and progressive ideas. She even thinks that she cannot survive without Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er.
She was just thinking from the perspective of a wife and a mother. She left the protection of her husband and stayed on the "battlefield" of Xianyang to support her husband and children and protect the home for Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er who had entered Shu.
But Zhu Xiang was still very happy because Xue finally found what she wanted to do.
"Leave Zheng'er to me to take care of, and leave the elders to you to take care of." Zhu Xiang hugged Xue and said, "Take care."
Xue's voice was trembling, but her tone was firm: "Okay!"
Zhu Xiang told this to Prince Zhu and Ying Xiaozheng, and said with a happy smile: "Perhaps in the history books, besides Zheng'er and I, Xue will also be remembered."
Ying Xiaozheng said in a muffled voice: "Leave it to me!"
Prince Zhu poked Ying Xiaozheng's chubby leg and said, "You are still young, it is not your turn. Zhu Xiang, you have a good wife."
Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Of course, if it weren't for Madam, I would have died in my sickbed. Prince, shall we have mutton hotpot today?"
Prince Zhu immediately said: "Okay!"
Zhu Xiang paused: "Should I tell the Lord?"
Prince Zhu said, "I'll send someone to tell them, you go back and prepare first."
Zhu Xiang nodded: "Okay. Let's go, Zheng'er, pick the lamb!"
So he went to the sheep-raising area in the palace, asked Ying Xiaozheng to point out a few lambs, and then he led the lambs away in a swagger.
The King of Qin, who was sulking in the palace, learned that Zhu Xiang not only disobeyed him but also took away his sheep. He was so angry that he overturned the table, changed his clothes and ate the sheep.
You have to be angry and you have to eat mutton hotpot.
But Zhu Xiang, who had just disobeyed him and dared to ask him to eat shabu-shabu, was really crazy. Lin Zhi was far inferior to Zhu Xiang.
When the elders in Zhu Xiang's family learned of Zhu Xiang's plan, although they thought that Zhu Xiang would not be in danger after careful consideration, they were still terrified.
When they saw Zhu Xiang leading a few lambs from the palace back and saying that the King of Qin and the Crown Prince were coming to eat mutton hotpot, they were all speechless.
When they learned that Zhu Xiang threatened to undermine the Taoist foundation of the alchemists and even threatened the King of Qin with his own life, they were even more speechless.
How did Zhu Xiang manage to invite the King of Qin to his home to eat mutton hotpot right after threatening him
Bai Qi thought of Changping and couldn't help but sigh: "Zhu Xiang, your fear of death means you are afraid of death while looking for death everywhere?"
Xunzi was so angry that he clenched his fists and said, "Did you not memorize a single word of the manuscript you prepared before meeting the King of Qin?"
The other elders were swearing at others, trying to stop fights, and the house was a mess.
Han Fei, who was inexplicably pulled to the table with the younger generation, felt overwhelmed.
He stammered to Meng Wu, who was eating on time, "I, I don't think I should be here!"
Meng Wu was puzzled: "Zhu Xiang and Xunzi both asked you to help take care of Zheng'er, so where are you if you're not here?"
Han Fei was shocked. What does taking care of Zheng'er have to do with this? !
Lin Zhi covered his mouth, yawned, and tilted his head to Zichu and said, "Xia Tong, several generations of our family are missing only you, you should reflect on yourself."
Zichu, who was forced to stay in bed due to illness and needed someone to support him when he went out to eat meat, turned his head and made a note of Lin Zhi.
Li Mu watched this scene quietly, thinking about what to do after entering Shu.
When the old King Qin entered, the mutton hotpot was ready and the feast was about to begin.
Each person has a pot of mountain spring water with only ginger, garlic and onion slices added to the bottom. Meat sauce, bean sauce and other seasonings can be added to the dipping sauce made of leeks and sesame seeds. The thinly sliced lamb can be lightly dipped in the pot and eaten with the sauce. The lamb meat has no smell and is extremely delicious.
The old King of Qin looked up at Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang gave the old King of Qin his usual smile.
"It tastes good." said the old King Qin.
Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, my Lord."
A huge stone fell from everyone's heart.
Lian Po threw away his beard and started eating the meat.
A few days later, a high platform was set up in the Xianyang Academy, but it did not look like a debate.
They pointed at the alchemy furnace on the high platform, with expressions of surprise and confusion on their faces.
There was once a rumor that Duke Zhu Xiang wanted to expose the alchemists' scams, but the students did not quite believe it.
No matter how powerful Zhu Xianggong was, he couldn't see through all the magic of the alchemists, right? If it was so easy, how could the magic be favored by all the monarchs and nobles
Moreover, behind the alchemists were sorcerers who had inherited the art of witchcraft, divination and astrology for nearly a thousand years, and there were even special official positions for them in the Zhou Dynasty.
Nowadays, every monarch has a sorcerer around him. They predict good and bad luck, observe the stars and weather, predict the outcome of wars, and decide when to start a war.
The sorcerers emerged from witchcraft and, according to the needs of the nobles, they ate the six kinds of air, visited immortals and gods, made elixirs and took medicines in order to seek immortality.
During the Qin-Chu War, King Huiwen of Qin specially invited a sorcerer to cast a curse. Qin was located outside the Great Wall, where sorcery was most prevalent.
Therefore, when the alchemists arrived in Qin, even though the King of Qin was skeptical about alchemy, he still treated them well.
Now the Warring States period is coming to an end, and various schools of thought such as the Mohist School and the Agricultural School have declined and basically no longer engage in political activities. They have been completely tamed by the monarchs and gradually become "technical occupations."
The alchemists were flourishing. If they had not had no political views and only sought wealth and fame, they would probably have joined the ranks of Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism.
Although the students all admired Duke Zhu Xiang, how could Duke Zhu Xiang alone declare war on an entire school of alchemists
They were both confused and expectant.
There is nothing more exciting than fighting alone against an army of thousands.
Set up the blackboard and the laboratory bench.
Zhu Xiang came to the high platform with a group of Qin soldiers. His black clothes fluttered and his hair was as white as snow, just like the banished immortal with white hair and a youthful face in the legend.
He did not make an exciting speech to denounce the absurdity of the alchemists as the students had expected.
He also ignored the words of the Taoist priest and only urged him to show his unique skills.
Although it was only a few days, the alchemist had already made preparations.
Their representatives took turns to come on stage and show Zhu Xiang the extraordinary abilities they had acquired in their search for immortals and gods.
They made fire out of nothing; Zhu Xiang also made fire out of nothing;
They put the talisman into the water and words appeared; Zhu Xiang put a blank piece of paper into the water and a landscape painting emerged;
They condensed water into floating ice and summoned white mist; Zhu Xiang wrote the steps on the blackboard while Ying Xiaozheng happily played the ice-condensing game, then poured jam on the semi-soft ice and put it into his mouth;
They began to panic and gritted their teeth and took out the elixir that could turn stone into gold and change color. Zhu Xiang used the examples of smelting iron and bronze to teach them how to smelt gold and silver, and what kind of color changes would occur when various metals reacted with each other.
Zhu Xiang said: "You can find a craftsman to know these things."
Zhu Xiang asked, "Anything else?"
The Taoist priests' faces turned pale and they wanted to refute. But Zhu Xiang did not argue with them and only asked them to show their true abilities. Under the watchful eyes of the Qin soldiers, and surrounded by the nobles, students and even the civilians of Xianyang City, they could not even make a sound.
"No more?" Zhu Xiang said, "I still have some."
He lit up the Kongming lantern, which should be the Zhuxiang lantern now. The lantern slowly floated into the air, and he explained the principle of levitation to the audience.
He called a few students to the stage and repeated the experiment he had done, asking them to copy the alchemist's tricks;
He explained the flame color reaction, and used black gunpowder to create a "thunderbolt" that even alchemists could not replicate, and then made the first fireworks, wishing the King of Qin a long life and the Qin Kingdom eternal prosperity;
He brought a few chickens, ducks and rabbits to the stage and told about the control experiments he had conducted on cinnabar and other alchemy materials. He also asked the imperial physicians and folk doctors to come on stage to observe whether they had the same symptoms as he described and whether they had received patients with the same symptoms.
He was not afraid of the expressions of the alchemists and the imperial doctors, saying that boy's urine was useless and they could do experiments on their own. Similarly, human blood and human flesh were useless, and eating too much would make one crazy. This is the law of biological evolution in nature, to avoid cannibalism...
Zhu Xiang held the teaching stick and spoke eloquently as if he had once stood in a university classroom.
There was no debate with anyone, no exciting speech, he just stood on the podium as in his previous life, imparting his knowledge to the students.
The King of Qin supported his chin with one hand and tapped his knees lightly with the fingers of the other hand.
He clearly said that he would let the crown prince govern the country while he himself would have a rest, but in the end he still sat in the stands.
"Spread the word about the reason for Zhu Xiang's anger." The King of Qin said calmly, "There is a rumor among the alchemists that they want to use boys to make elixirs. Zhu Xiang was enraged and determined to destroy the alchemist school."
"only."
The King of Qin said, "Expel these alchemists from Qin. Pass on my decree that the King of Qin does not believe in the art of immortality."
"only!"
"What are immortals?" Zhu Xiang looked at the sun and ended his lecture. "Are immortals the ones who drill wood to make fire? Are immortals the ones who taste hundreds of herbs? Are immortals the ones who control floods? If immortals don't care about natural disasters or man-made disasters, and only grant immortality to the rich and powerful, then it's better to kill them."
He dropped the chalk.
"If there is an alchemist who claims to have magical powers in the future, please ask him to come to Qin to find me."
"If he doesn't dare to come looking for me, the magic is just a deception."
He ordered people to light paper lanterns, and the paper lanterns, one by one, swayed and flew into the evening sky, dotted like fireflies.
Even the alchemists looked up, with expressions of awe and melancholy.
"If there are immortals, I am probably the one who is closest to them in the world." Zhu Xiang said to the Taoist priest before leaving, "No matter how hard I struggled in Zhao State, I could not save the people. My black hair turned white, and I could only curse the king in my heart for being incompetent and not thinking about saving the people."
"Do I look like a fairy to you?"
Zhu Xiang took off his hairpin, and his white hair fell down.
"Don't attribute the common people's self-rescue to the grace of the gods."
Afterwards, the alchemists left Qin and Zhu Xiang entered Shu.
The rulers of the six states were shocked and expelled the alchemists from the palace one after another, but the alchemists did not dare to curse Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang exposed the magic, but they believed in their hearts that Zhu Xiang was a god.
(End of this chapter)