After explaining how to solve the problems of the six aristocrats and the Great Qin Empire, it is almost time. All the problems can be summarized as domestic strife and foreign threats.
The foreign troubles are not very prominent. Today's Great Qin has just conquered the six countries, and its military might is at its peak. Can the northern Huns dare to attack or the southern Yue people dare to cross the border?
The main issue is internal. The Great Qin fell due to internal problems, not external ones, and the same was true for the Han Dynasty. Although during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the feudal lords vied for dominance, it wasn't yet a matter of fighting against foreign tribes?
Li Nian said: "Regarding 'Burning Books and Torturing Confucians', it was actually that the king and the Great Qin did not grasp the power of public opinion. 'Public opinion' is the words of the common people. It may seem unimportant, but when three become a tiger, words can also kill."
"The current power of public opinion in the Great Qin is mainly held by scholars and sorcerers. Therefore, they can mock the administration and criticize the king. Since the people cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, over time, the reputation of the king and the Great Qin among the people has naturally become as toxic as a serpent or scorpion."
During the late Ming Dynasty, the Donglin Party was also composed of such people. They liked to gather in groups to criticize government policies, as if they were speaking out for the common people to vent their anger. Each person was considered a loyal minister, but in reality, when the Manchu Qing Dynasty arrived, they surrendered faster than anyone else. That famous figure Shui Tai Liang was the leader of the Donglin Party.
These people control social public opinion and have a great hindrance to the execution of the Ming Dynasty's imperial edicts. The collapse of the Ming Dynasty is definitely partly due to the Donglin Party.
As one of the hundred schools of thought today, Confucianism is not yet the sole school of thought in later dynasties. Compared to other schools, scholars are relatively numerous among the Confucians. Therefore, Confucians naturally hold the majority of social public opinion in this situation.
Li Nian said: "It is not advisable to prevent people from speaking their minds, as the saying goes, 'preventing people's mouths is worse than preventing rivers.' However, it is also not advisable to let anyone speak freely because some will weave rumors that can cause panic among the people and instability in the country."
"Therefore, to avoid the impact of the 'Burning Books and Torturing Confucians,' Your Majesty must control public opinion and establish a mouthpiece that belongs to Your Majesty and the Great Qin. This mouthpiece is not for giving advice to Your Majesty, but for speaking on behalf of Your Majesty and the Great Qin to the people of all under heaven."
"Controlling public opinion means making the people understand what they can say and what they cannot say. Most importantly, it is to prevent rumors and establish relevant laws and regulations to make those who want to spread rumors know the consequences and dare not do so again; establishing a mouthpiece belonging to Your Majesty and the Great Qin is to seize control of the public opinion battlefield."
Hearing this, Ying Zheng laughed and said, "Isn't that the old saying 'If we don't take the public opinion battlefield, the enemy will take it'? Who said this?"
This question caused Li Nian to pause for a moment, and then he said, "That person is one of the founders of the country from the later generations from which I come."
"One of the founders? Perhaps the most important among them!" Li Nian hesitated before saying, "I wonder if the builder of this later generation has ever given an evaluation of Your Majesty. How would he evaluate it?"
Ying Zheng was thinking this in his heart but did not ask for the time being. He listened as Li Nian continued, "Your Majesty and the Great Qin will not seize control if others do. Thus, rumors will mislead the country and its people."
"In the later generations from which I come, there are media such as television, the internet, newspapers, and radio for spreading public opinion. In the case of the Great Qin, since paper is available, one could start a newspaper. However, the Great Qin people are not well-educated, so the effect might not be great. But it could be effective to have officials or specially appointed individuals preach to the people."
"Explain the benefits of the policies of the Great Qin to the people and clarify certain rumors. In addition, with people like Hou Sheng and Lu Sheng, the people would not easily believe them."
"That's all the suggestions I have for these issues, but I'm just talking. It will be up to Your Majesty and the Great Qin officials to decide on the basis of the Great Qin's situation."
Ying Zheng nodded. He actually had many more questions for Li Nian, especially about the process of being declared an emperor and how to reform the administrative system of the Great Qin.
This is a matter he has recently discussed with other officials and he very much wants to obtain reference from Li Nian, to see how it was done in later generations.
The six states have been conquered, the world is unified. Many leading generals have returned to Xianyang or are on their way. Many people are waiting for him to declare himself emperor so that they can grant themselves merits and awards.
Seeing that it was late outside and Li Nian looked exhausted, Ying Zheng said, "You have been tired today, so go back and rest. In five days, I want to know how emperors in later dynasties ascended to the throne and how the administrative system of each dynasty was structured."
Upon hearing this, Li Nian understood that Ying Zheng was getting closer to officially becoming an emperor, and that he had been involved in this historical event and even had an extremely important influence.
'And who knows if thousands of years later, my name will be remembered in the history of this world?'
Li Nian said, "I will comply! There is one more matter I wish to report to Your Majesty. I previously mentioned that I would write a 'health and wellness tips' document for Your Majesty. Today, I have brought it, please Your Majesty take a look!"
"In today's Great Qin, if there is anyone who truly wishes for the Emperor to live a long life, it has to be me. I truly care about the Emperor's health."
Because Li Nian is deeply aware that in the Great Qin, his life is tied to that of the Emperor. As long as the Emperor lives, he can live too; if the Emperor dies, he will likely be taken away along with him.
As a modern person, he doesn't like the feeling of being manipulated over life and death. However, he is unable to resist now; instead, he must rely on the Emperor. This is what feudal dynasties are all about!
"Since it has been brought, where is it now?"
Knowing that the sorcerers could not make him immortal and there was no elixir of immortality in the world, Ying Zheng paid great attention to Li Nian's advice on leading a healthy life. He wanted to live a little longer.
Upon hearing Ying Zheng's words, immediately two palace attendants came in with a tray, carrying a pile of bamboo strips. Ying Zheng picked up one scroll and opened it, revealing poorly written characters that were not very attractive.
The characters were not very ugly, as he was an adult and therefore better than the handwriting of a child who is just starting to learn. However, they were not as neat as those written by people who write frequently in Qin script.
Ying Zheng looked at the bamboo strips in his hand and then at the even greater pile in the tray, nodded, and said, "You have shown concern, you may now go back to rest!"
Li Nian paid a respectful bow to the Emperor and left the Palace of the Zhāng Tái.
Watching Li Nian leave, Ying Zheng looked at the bamboo strips in the tray again: "He truly does have a heart!"
Meng Yi agreed, "To write so many bamboo strips in a few days truly shows his sincerity."
Li Nian had only been learning the Qin script for a short while, and it was difficult for him to write. Moreover, converting the language used in later generations into something that the Emperor could understand was even more challenging. They didn't know that Li Nian had a search engine in his brain that could online convert it, so Li Nian only needed to modify and copy the translated content.
The workload was not small, but not as large as they thought. This act greatly increased Ying Zheng's favor towards him!
As Ying Zheng flipped through the bamboo strips, he casually asked, "Meng, in your opinion, who could be the heir apparent?"
Even though the Meng family is deeply trusted by the King, Meng Yi still felt the weight of this question. However, as the King asked, he couldn't not answer.
And at this moment, it's best not to be vague or ambiguous. It's necessary to firmly express one's position.
After today's conversation between the King and Li Nian, it seems that Prince Huai is doomed. Among the remaining princes, Prince Fusu has the greatest chance. Meng Yi said seriously, "I believe that Prince Fusu is suitable to be the heir apparent!"
Ying Zheng looked at Meng Yi and shook his head, without saying much.
