From Li Yan's answers to Su Xu, Ying Zong also saw Li Yan's attitude, Li Yan hates Confucianism very much!
'Li Yan's interaction with Su Xu was also to show the emperor one thing: he does not favor Confucianism. It must be that later in history, something the Confucianism did that caused him to feel this way.'
Ying Zheng was very curious about what the Confucianism had done in later history to provoke Li Yan's dislike so strongly, and if he were not at court, he would have wanted to summon Li Yan immediately to ask about it.
Continue reading on, and when Ying Zhu saw Su Xu ask Li Yan, "Master Li, what do you think is the best way to rule the world?" he became even more curious. He wanted to know how Li Yan would respond. Would he rule the country according to Legalism, Taoism, or even Mozi's teachings?
Ying Zheng believed that Li Yan must have some kind of philosophy or ideology to govern the state. Otherwise, how could the subsequent states be governed? How could they manage and control the people under their rule?
However, Li Yan's response was that he did not believe that the Hundred Schools of Thought could govern a state.
Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows again, this kid really thinks like that, believing that none of the hundred schools of thought can govern a state, and he doesn't even like one of them.
Doesn't that mean that he, Qin, with its governance based on Legalism, has issues in the eyes of this kid?
Perhaps...
Indeed!
Ying Zheng recalled Li Yan's words to him that the later generations believed that the Qin Dynasty would be destined to perish, and its downfall was the result of multiple factors working together, with Zhao Gao and Huhai's actions merely accelerating the process.
Are there any reasons related to Legalism among the "multiple factors"?
What if there were reasons related to Legalism?
From the time of King Xiaoqin, Qin has always relied on Legalism, which allowed it to achieve today's status. It has not caused any problems up to this point, so how could there be reasons related to Legalism?
If Legalism is not suitable for governing the Qin Dynasty, then what other school of thought should be used to govern it?
Ying Zheng restrained the urge to immediately summon Li Yan, as he knew that Li Yan would certainly know the answer. However, Ying Zhu wanted to think about it himself first, as he believed that blindly following others could easily lead one astray.
As a person, one should have their own thinking and discrimination ability. As a monarch, this is even more important. If a monarch loses their ability to think independently and make discerning judgments, it won't be long before they are manipulated by others.
Ying Zheng carefully folded the bamboo slips and continued to listen to the ministers report their matters.
What they saw just now made people like Li Si and Zhao Gao more and more puzzled: What was written on the bamboo slips that made the king pay so much attention to it?
Little did they know that the news from Li Yan was at the highest level in Ying Zheng's court. Any hint of movement needed to be reported immediately.
The imperial session ended, and Li Si and Zhao Gao were to go to their respective offices. However, Zhao Gao intentionally or unintentionally walked together with Li Si.
Seeing Zhao Gao approach, Li Si slightly narrowed his eyes, but did not show any other emotions.
Zhao Gao whispered, "The Chancellor knows where the bamboo slips that the king read during the imperial session came from?"
Li Si looked at Zhao Gao coolly and said, "Even the Commandant of the Imperial Carriage doesn't know, how could I, Li Si, know? If the king wants to inform us, we will naturally know. If he doesn't want to tell us, it's best for us not to know. What do you think, Commandant?"
Zhao Gao smiled faintly, bowed to Li Si in gratitude and said: "The Chancellor is right. I will definitely remember the Chancellor's words in my heart!"
Li Si glanced at Zhao Gao again, then sweeping his sleeve, he left. Watching Li Si's retreating figure, Zhao Gao's smile vanished, and after pondering for a moment standing still, he also left.
Soon, Zhao Gao and Li Si's brief private conversation became known to Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng muttered to himself, 'These two really have something fishy going on!' Now that they dare to speak in private after the imperial session, how could he trust them once he was gone? They wouldn't just plot a coup?
From the later history that Li Yan informed him about, what these two did is not much different from rebellion.
In fact, this is Ying Zheng's psychological reaction. The fact that he has formed an opinion about Zhao Gao and Li Si led him to think in this way. Otherwise, it's quite normal for the two officials to talk a bit together after a meeting, isn't it?
On the other side, in the Six Ying Palace, Su Xu finished his classes for today. In reality, he didn't teach anything today. It was all a series of Q&A sessions between him and Li Yan.
Even as he left the Six Ying Palace, Su Xu was still pondering Li Yan's questions and his words, his mind swirling with thoughts about whether the Zhou Li (Rituals of the Zhou Dynasty) was flawed, or whether there was no problem with it...
Just as he was about to leave the palace, an eunuch suddenly stopped him and said, "Dr. Su, please wait!"
Su Xu was puzzled. The eunuch spoke in a low voice, "His Majesty has ordered that today's matters must not be spoken to others. Anyone who breaks this will be subject to five punishments and will have his family exterminated!"
Su Xu's eyes widened instantly, and a shiver ran down his spine. He had just finished talking to that person not long ago, and the king already knew?
The eunuch had specifically ordered someone to wait here and ordered him to keep it a secret!
The background of that person was probably much more significant than he had thought. He had even planned to recruit that person to their side of the Confucianism today.
"Please inform the king that I will not leak any secrets!"
originally thought that after returning, he would discuss Li Yan's questions on Zhou Li with others, such as Chunyu Yu, to see if they could find a reasonable explanation from the Confucian classics. But looking at the current situation, he felt a chill.
Dare to do so, and he will be dead and his family will be wiped out tonight.
After receiving Su Xu's assurance, the eunuch said, "Remember to teach on time tomorrow, Dr. Su. Do not make Master Li wait."
The implied meaning of this sentence is: You not only have to keep secrets, but also you have to work normally. Don't even think about quitting your job.
Su Xu naturally understood this, and quickly said: "Su Xu understands. He will certainly come on time!"
The eunuch then allowed Su Xu to leave.
As he walked for a long distance, Su Xu turned back to look towards the direction of the Six Ying Palace, sighing in regret before continuing on his way home!
In the Six Ying Palace, Li Yan was holding a piece of charcoal and drawing on a wooden board. There were more than a dozen artisans standing before him, showing their utmost respect.
Li Yan was drawing a plow on the wooden board.
As an agricultural tool, the plow appeared early in Chinese history, but it was definitely not perfect at the beginning. It was only through daily use and gradual improvements that people discovered its shortcomings and gradually refined it.
Li Yan was now skipping the process of evolution and improvement, allowing the Qin Dynasty to directly possess more advanced plows.
The type of plow Li Yan was drawing emerged during the Song and Yuan dynasties, having been improved and refined based on the Qu Yuan plow of the Tang Dynasty.
As they watched the plow pattern taking shape on the wooden board, the artisans of the Ministry of Finance also recognized that it was a plow, but this type of design, they had never seen before.
How could such a plow be better than the one they currently use?
If that were true, all the farmers in the entire Qin Dynasty should be grateful to this young master.
Agriculture is very important and labor-intensive, and people in that era understood this very well. Even if it only made farming a little easier, it would still be invaluable.
This means that with the same amount of effort, they can cultivate more land and produce more food. Food is the foundation of life, and with food in hand, one's heart is at ease.
After drawing the plow, Li Yan had another wooden board brought over, this time to draw the tools needed for papermaking.
Papermaking not only requires tools but also needs a site. A pond is needed for water soaking and bleaching, and a furnace is needed for steaming...
After drawing the tools and site maps needed for papermaking, Li Yan also drew sketches of iron pots, tables, chairs, and benches. To work first and enjoy later, providing excellent service to the government before enjoying anything is essential. One should not confuse priorities and sequence.
