The next day, the court of the Great Qin Dynasty.
Having dealt with the officials' petitions, Ying Zheng looked at the court officials and said, "Yesterday night, I found it hard to sleep. Suddenly, I thought of something. I will tell you all today."
Shouldn't it be dreaming while sleeping, how could it become not sleeping but thinking of something?
However, Your Majesty is the leader; whatever you say is as it is.
The officials stood up straight and gathered their thoughts, preparing to hear what Ying Zheng had thought of.
As Ying Zheng spoke, the officials listened attentively. "I have been reflecting on history," he began, "and have come to the realization that there has never been a nation that has not eventually perished. From Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the ones that followed, none have escaped this fate. Since the era of Spring and Autumn, more countries have fallen than we can count. Therefore, I began to ponder: one day will it be the turn of Great Qin to meet its demise?"
Upon hearing these words, the ministers were all taken aback and changed color. Some of them wanted to speak up immediately: "Your Majesty, how could you have such thoughts? Our Great Qin will definitely thrive for thousands of years and endure forever!"
However, Ying Zheng sternly ordered: "Listen to me finish!"
His stern gaze scanned the restless ministers.
After intimidating the ministers, Ying Zheng continued, "Therefore, I wish to ask all of you, what would lead to the downfall of Great Qin? And how should we govern to ensure that our Great Qin does not perish?"
"Let the two questions remain for you, Your Ministers, to ponder," Ying Zheng declared. "Tomorrow, bring your thoughts to me!"
Having said this, without looking at the reactions of the officials, he declared the end of the audience.
Leaving the Changtai Palace after the imperial audience, the ministers looked at each other in confusion, not understanding why the King had suddenly raised these two questions today.
Although these two questions seem simple, as long as you point out the problems of Great Qin and explain how to solve and improve them, it is not that easy for those who stand at the top of the Qin Empire. As officials, they have to think more about what the King, who sits on the throne, only needs to move his mouth.
They had to ponder why Ying Zheng had raised these two questions and what kind of answers he was looking for. They needed to figure out how to respond in a way that would best align with Ying Zheng's expectations.
And, is this not an opportunity to elevate their own status in the court and, by extension, to put down others?
Under such circumstances, the thoughts of the officials naturally varied. After saying a few unimportant things in unison, they each left without revealing what they had thought.
These two questions were indeed what Ying Zheng had pondered over the previous night. He wanted to understand the officials' perspectives on Great Qin, seeking references and insights from them. At the same time, he also intended to assess the abilities of his ministers through these questions.
Inside the Changtai Palace, after the ministers had departed, Ying Zheng told one of his eunuchs, "Pass these two questions on to the young princes and have them submit their thoughts to me tomorrow!"
Hu Hail was the youngest son of the First Emperor, who would soon be ten years old. The other sons were even older, and they all knew what was going on.
These two questions could not only test the ministers but also assess his sons.
The eunuch had just received his order and left not long after, when a young man was brought into the palace, the very person Ying Zheng had thought of last night to execute his plan.
This was a very robust young man, brought into the palace by the eunuch and bowing to the throne where Ying Zheng sat, "I, Zhang Hei, greet your Majesty!"
At this time, Zhang He was not yet the famous general of the late Qin Dynasty; he was still working at the Ministry of Revenue, holding a low position. He could not understand why, as a minor official of the Ministry of Revenue, he would be summoned by the King.
Actually, although his position as an official at the Ministry of Revenue was not high-ranking, he worked diligently and always received excellent ratings in political performance evaluations. His colleagues and superiors had good opinions of him.
Ying Zheng had just read through his records and thought he was a talent. He might become a pillar of Great Qin in the future, so he took note of him.
Last night, when Ying Zheng was contemplating who could execute his plan, the name Zhang He popped into his mind.
This person has always received excellent ratings in political performance evaluations, and he can maintain good relationships with colleagues and superiors, indicating his ability. As his position is not high-ranking and his name is not well-known, even if he were to disappear from the Ministry of Revenue, it would not draw much attention, which is very much in line with Ying Zheng's requirements!
Thus, early this morning, Ying Zheng dispatched a messenger to summon Zhang He to the palace for an audience.
Looking at Zhang He for a few moments, Ying Zheng said, "Rise, let's see what you have first!"
Zhang He stood up, and two eunuchs carrying a tray approached. On the tray were several rolls of bamboo slips, indicating that the King wanted him to examine these documents.
What does the bamboo slips record? Why does the king want him to see them?
Curious, Zhang He picked up the first roll of bamboo slips and flipped through them without looking at more than a few before his expression changed. Then, he seemed to be deep in thought, continuing to read seriously.
After finishing the first bamboo slip, Zhang He couldn't wait to take the next one, then the next, and so on.
It wasn't until he had finished all the bamboo slips that Zhang He was still amazed by the plan recorded on them. He had already understood why Ying Zheng had summoned him to the palace.
If the contents of the bamboo slips were to be spread, it would cause an earthquake throughout all of Great Qin.
Because it represents the doubt of the Great Qin's current ruler, the master of the whole land, towards the Legalist school that had governed China for over a hundred years.
This is definitely a major event that will shake the Great Qin court and country!
It is clear that today's summoning of Zhang He by the King is to send him to execute the plan recorded on the bamboo slips.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang He felt that his conditions were indeed suitable for the plan. He was outstanding in his abilities, yet not well-known, making him the perfect person to execute the plan.
However, the plan carried a significant risk for him. If he succeeded, he would be deeply in the King's favor, and his career would flourish. But if he failed, there was an eighty percent chance he would die, whether killed by the King or by those belonging to the Legalist school.
But in life, when faced with such a great opportunity, how can one not give it a try?
This may be the best chance for him to step through the dragon gate and gain the King's favor.
Was he going to continue doing menial work in the Ministry of Revenue, slowly accumulating merit to climb up the ranks?
Zhang He decided to seize this opportunity.
Seeing Zhang He had finished reading, Ying Zheng asked, "What do you think?"
Zhang He said, "The person who came up with this method has already thought it through very well. The only issue is that the trial of this method must be kept secret, and there must be someone capable of carrying it out. This person must be capable and not conspicuous among the crowd!"
Upon saying this, Zhang He was straightforward, "Your Majesty summoned me to the palace today, is it to have me become the one to try out this method?"
Ying Zheng lowered his gaze and looked at Zhang He. "Then, do you, Zhang He, willingly become the one to try out this method for me? If you don't want to, I won't force you. Just remember that today's incident must not be disclosed to others. If you do agree, you must understand the consequences of your agreement!"
Zhang He said, "I understand. I am willing to try out this method for Your Majesty. However, I have some requests that I hope the King will grant!"
Ying Zheng said, "Bring him the bamboo slips, ink, and brush!"
An eunuch immediately brought the bamboo slips and brush.
Zhang He wrote down his requests on the bamboo slips and had them presented to Ying Zheng by the eunuch.
After reading Zhang He's requests, Ying Zheng looked at Zhang He again and said, "You are rather daring, but I grant your request!"
The various requests Zhang He made on the bamboo slips can be summarized into a single content: He would take full responsibility for the entire matter. The military, political, and taxation of the trial county, as well as the appointment and dismissal of officials, would all be handled by him. Only the King Ying Zheng could intervene, and others were not allowed to interfere.
Hearing Ying Zheng's swift agreement, Zhang He was overjoyed and bowed to the King, "Just as Lord Shang did not betray Marquis Xiao Gong's trust in ancient times, I too will not betray Your Majesty's trust!"
Indeed, the plan recorded on the bamboo slips clearly signifies a great change for Great Qin, just as Lord Shang did in ancient times. Today, Zhang He is also a person who advocates for change.
