Chapter 36 Ji Yu is very good, I like it very much.

Qin looked at Ying Zheng in surprise, paused for a moment, and said, "There's no need to force it..."

She then changed the subject: "Ji Yu is very good, I like her very much too."

Ying Zheng then affirmed, "What Mother likes must be good."

From Qin's own perspective, what Qin would like to do is something that can help Qin become stronger.

Just like liking him, he doesn't feel there's anything utilitarian about it; on the contrary, he feels a sense of pride.

Besides, Mother actually loved all the Qin people, but she loved some of them even more.

Ying Zheng had no doubt that his mother also liked Taishu Da Liangzao, who was originally from the State of Qi. Everyone has a love for talent, and who wouldn't like such a person?

Qin raised his index finger: "Silence, someone's coming..."

Ying Zheng turned around and saw that it was Wang Yuan who had come looking for him. This man was still thinking about his position as the Crown Prince's most trusted confidant. He quickly walked a few steps to stand in front of Ying Zheng.

"Your Highness, the laboratory has been cleaned up, and Grand Tutor Taishu has arrived. He heard about what happened here and rushed over immediately."

Ying Zheng glanced subtly in the direction of 'Qin', then nodded to Wang Yuan: "In that case, please invite Master Taishu to go..."

Wang Yuan quickly replied, "I have already inquired and found out that the place for meetings within the school is called a conference room."

Ying Zheng nodded and said, "Then please come to the meeting room with all the ministers."

****

Taishu Jiu was supposed to come here to teach his students anyway, so saying he came because he heard about the accident is a bit of an exaggeration; he himself isn't that well-informed.

Even when Zhu Qing'ai informed him, he only received the message when he was almost at school, and he rushed to the laboratory as soon as he received the news.

When he arrived, he saw the embarrassed Ji Yu and didn't know what to say. He gave her a dry compliment, then criticized her after a couple of sentences. He really couldn't understand how humans could be so daring. This was gunpowder; it was normal to make it, but it was not normal to set it off indoors!

So he immediately informed Ji that he had won the scholarship for this academic year and ordered him to write a sincere 2,000-word self-criticism, not to just make up the numbers.

Before Ji Yu could even laugh out loud, he immediately put on a mournful face and said, "Wei, I understand."

"Add another thousand!" her grandfather, the old teacher who taught students to read at the school, said.

"Huh?" Ji Yu looked at Tai Shu Jiu, wanting to beg him for help. She still had some things about gunpowder that she hadn't figured out yet, so how was she going to write this three thousand-word self-criticism!

Tai Shujiu glanced at the stubborn old man, remained silent for a moment, then looked at Ji Yu with a helpless expression and said, "Alright, go and write it. After you finish, go to the finance department to collect your scholarship."

"Yes." Ji Yu lowered his head, thinking about how to make his self-criticism sound concise.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she decided to consult Xu Fu, who had already written a self-criticism.

She remembered clearly that the class monitor had been reprimanded and punished for secretly making pills in the chemistry lab before, and was also made to write a self-criticism. She believed that the class monitor would be willing to help her after being exposed to the same thing twice.

Xu Fu, who was maintaining order outside, felt an itch in his nose. Why did he keep feeling that someone was thinking about him?

****

After about an incense stick's time, everyone gathered in the conference room. The layout of this conference room was very similar to that of later generations. Apart from the lack of bright lights and white walls, it seemed to have nothing missing.

Two rows of tables faced each other, with only two seats at the head of the table. Ying Zheng sat on the right, and 'Qin' sat on the left.

After Ying Zheng, the highest-ranking nobleman present was Taishu Jiu. Ying Zheng saw that 'Qin' also occupied a seat, so he thought about how to find an excuse to let Taishu Jiu sit in the lower seat.

Before Ying Zheng could speak, Taishu Jiu took the initiative to go to the first seat on the left, and then the accompanying officials divided up the remaining seats.

Ying Zheng was clearly pleased with Taishu Jiu's self-awareness, but he still tried to persuade him to stay: "Why did Mr. Taishu sit there? Why don't you sit next to me?"

Qin raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "He dares to come, and you're just going to let him sit?"

She rested her chin on her hand, watching the interaction between the two with a half-smile.

As if suddenly gaining emotional intelligence (actually not wanting to compete for a seat with Qing'ai's pseudonym), Taishu Jiu stood up, bowed, and said, "What virtue or ability do I have to dare to sit on Your Highness's left? In our Great Qin, the left is the place of honor, and that position is probably only fit for Your Majesty. I am humbled."

Ying Zheng then stepped down the steps: "It was my oversight, sir. Please forgive me. Please sit down."

Everyone then took their seats. The first seat on the lower right was occupied by Lü Buwei, who was still surprised that the Grand Tutor seemed to have suddenly gained a brain.

This doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would happen when someone threatens him with a sword...

Ying Zheng ignored the various ulterior motives of his subordinates and went straight to the point about the school.

"Do you all still think that setting up this school is a waste of time? Putting aside the gunpowder, this paper is also an excellent material."

"If they continue to oppose the establishment of schools, I will have to question the motives of those who are obstructing us."

Hearing Ying Zheng's words, which were tantamount to a threat, the ministers obediently stood up and said they dared not.

Having seen what the school teaches today, they are indeed somewhat relieved. The school only teaches craftsmanship and Taoist arts, which pose no threat to them. Even if these people are literate, the important knowledge is still in their hands.

Ying Zheng saw through what these people were thinking and felt that most of them were selfish and did not care about 'Qin'. Sure enough, he was the only one who loved his country the most.

What followed was a boring meeting, which Qin found drowsy. When it finally ended, she got up and left.

****

Zhu Qing'ai's figure disappeared from the spot, and she sighed loudly in her heart, "Sure enough, leaders of any era never stop talking. Even Ying Zheng is no exception!"

Although his words contained far more meaning than those of later leaders, and were full of wit and hidden meanings, they were still too hypnotic for her.

Leaving the area where the acting was necessary, Zhu Qing'ai casually flipped through the mission log and calculated that Ying Zichu still had two years left... How could she make the most of those two years...?

It's important to understand that when Ying Zheng ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, he couldn't directly rule in his own right. Compared to having his father backing him up now, ascending the throne on his own would be more frustrating. But even if he was temporarily hampered, the job of King of Qin would definitely still be more promising.

No one wants to be the crown prince for fifty years.

****

Ying Zheng returned to Xianyang Palace. Although it would be more convenient to recruit retainers outside, he was still young and not yet old enough to move out of the palace and live alone in the Crown Prince's residence.

Moreover, his mother couldn't bear to part with him, and his younger brother Chengjiao was also attached to him. If he really moved out, he would probably have to take a little burden with him, and Madam Han would not agree to it.

Ying Zheng sat in the chair in his study, staring at the bamboo slips in his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Qin appeared, conjuring a virtual chair and sitting opposite Ying Zheng. She asked, "What's wrong? Did you have any ideas after going to the school?"

"If you want to suppress the nobility, you have to support another power."

Qin remained noncommittal, saying, "But their influence is deeply entrenched, and it would be very difficult to do it under their noses."

"The government knows that with them around, it will be difficult to unify the country."

Qin chuckled softly: "You noticed."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly: "Whether they choose enfeoffment or unification, I am not surprised. Even if... even the people within 'Qin' may not truly support unification. Some of them are doing it for fame and to leave a mark on history, while others are doing it for profit. They think that Qin is just a powerful vassal state that has risen and fallen over the years. They want the current balance among the states, and even if they support my Great Qin's eastward expansion, it is not their true wish."

"Wanting to showcase one's talents is perfectly acceptable, but if anyone dares to stand in my way, then I will kill them!"

'Qin' had no doubt that Ying Zheng would do such a thing. His last words were already tinged with murderous intent. Since the other party had already brought up this matter, she thought it best to discuss it further.

"So who do you think should be helped?"

Ying Zheng blurted out: "The people selected through the military merit system are quite good. For their rights to be legitimate, they must support the King of Qin."

"But what if one day there are no more battles to fight?"

Ying Zheng: "This..."

He was moved by his mother's belief that he would unify the world, but he couldn't help but wonder how the world could truly be at peace, based on his experiences in Zhao and what he had experienced after returning home...

He believed that as long as there are people, there will inevitably be conflict, and war will never truly disappear.

Suddenly, 'Qin' brought up something that seemed completely unrelated: 'What do you think about educating all the people of Qin?'

Before Ying Zheng could answer, she continued, "I know the royal family, including the teachings your great-grandfather gave you. Of course, the ignorant masses are easier to govern."

Ying Zheng lowered his eyes and said, "Of course, my great-grandfather said the same thing."

"Are there enough officials in Qin territory?"

In Qin, anyone who could read and write and was familiar with and could apply Qin laws could become a minor official. However, under these circumstances, the literacy rate among the people of Qin was still worrying.

Those who can read and write, and understand written language, are still the upper echelons.

Ying Zheng frowned, understanding what 'Qin' wanted to say, but he still answered honestly: "It's not enough. The vast majority of commoners are illiterate, and villages are mostly governed by clans..."

“Yes, they listen to their clans and can’t hear or see official orders. If the King of Qin issues any orders, they have to go through them,” Qin paused, “Even if we don’t talk about these things, if we unify the six states in the future, with the number of literate people in Qin, can we really govern the world?”

"What's the point of unification if those positions are still held by people from the old country?"

Qin's statement was exaggerated, but Ying Zheng knew it was true and an unavoidable problem. However, his upbringing taught him that commoners should be ignorant, and that they would be difficult to manage if they became literate.

He wanted to agree with Qin's words, but his instincts made him struggle to refute them.

Seeing that Ying Zheng was thinking and struggling, Qin unleashed her ultimate weapon. She lightly touched the air with her delicate hand, and what appeared this time was not the entire border of her country, but a light golden sphere.

As the sphere gradually enlarges, the landmasses on it become visible, mostly shrouded in mist, with only small sections illuminated.

"When I was bored and had no one to talk to, I took a short trip. The six kingdoms are not the whole world, and even the barbarians like the Quanrong are not the farthest place on earth. The end of the sea is not the end, but another land..."

She clicked on a small patch of land that lit up, where strange buildings and still crowds caught Ying Zheng's attention.

She enticed him, "Now, which side do you think is easier to manage?"

-----------------------

The author's note: Keeping the populace ignorant is certainly easier to manage, but it still requires administrators. No emperor could truly abandon the policy of keeping the populace ignorant, but which side to keep ignorant is a choice. As for the foreigners being kept ignorant... my daughter: What's it to me? (whistling JPG)

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Author: He's just a kid in his early teens! How could you lure him away with empty promises?!

Daughter: Yes, yes, I know I was wrong, I'll do it again next time.

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