Chapter 4 Qin 4

Zhu Qing'ai watched coldly as these people finished their discussion and finalized their decision, then stopped paying attention. She then moved with Zhao Ji, mainly to watch Zhao Ji's father and Zhao Ji put on a show of fatherly affection.

As I watched, I couldn't help but sneer and comment on Zhao Ji's father: "Hypocritical."

After finally waiting for Zhao Ji's father to leave reluctantly, turning back every few steps, they saw Zhao Ji packing her belongings with several maids, and the group secretly went to their house in the suburbs.

The suburban house was naturally not as good as the Zhao family's main residence, but it was still better than ordinary people's lives. At least she had two maids to serve her, so Zhao Ji didn't have to go out to find work to support Ying Zheng.

After watching Ying Zheng play around for two days in the new courtyard, Zhu Qing'ai suddenly remembered that she still had a host and needed to go back.

I wonder how Taishu Jiu's studies have progressed while she's been gone these past few days.

Zhu Qing'ai rushed back to Xianyang, the capital of Qin, and saw Tai Shu Jiu studying diligently in a small courtyard in a secluded corner of the city.

Whether it's due to the system transforming him into a human or the superior qualities of this body, Taishu has a photographic memory for everything he learns; he's practically a genius.

Zhu Qing'ai wasn't disappointed. Now that she was a system, she also possessed the standard ability of photographic memory! (Actually, it just meant storing the data in a database. Unless the database was corrupted, she could retrieve the data at any time.)

She projected a chair, controlled her humanoid projection to sit in the chair, and quietly watched Taishu practice.

Her thoughts, however, wandered far away; she was pondering how to profit in this era.

She didn't come here to be a saint, so of course she has to prioritize interests. However, as a human being (and someone who considers herself human), she still has a relatively high moral standard. But whether she'll still have that standard when she gets involved in political struggles is another matter.

It may also evolve into a regime with flexible moral bottom lines, treating political enemies one way and the people another.

What she hoped for was simply to accumulate enough points as soon as possible to investigate whether she could use the physical items sold in the host's shop, although she had a feeling she probably couldn't...

Otherwise, if System 99 hadn't entered this body in the first place, she wouldn't have gained system privileges.

However, exploring other avenues and methods, or even abandoning humanity altogether, all require a substantial amount of points as a foundation.

Therefore, she urgently needed to find a way to accumulate some points in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. This era was very favorable to her. She knew the future trend and could simply close her eyes and bet on Ying Zheng.

If you let Taishu Jiu join Ying Zheng and become his earliest and most trusted subordinate, or even boldly become his teacher, it would be a meritorious act of supporting the emperor. In the end, you could help him display his talents and make a name for himself in history, which would be a sure win.

But Zhu Qing'ai was greedy. She felt that making a steady profit wasn't enough; she wanted to make a huge profit!

One bag of fries isn't enough for her, she's going to go straight to the KFC kitchen and grab some fries!

Because she had already checked the system forum, this kind of world with a corresponding history is not a history that has been set in stone, but a present that can be changed. There is nothing that cannot change history, so this is a parallel world.

If no one changes things, it has a very high probability of continuing along the same historical path; if someone does change things, then there are other possibilities.

Moreover, the energy generated by changing the world is enormous. As long as the world develops better after the change, it will not cause any bad results, nor will it violate the system's rules. Most importantly, she can make a fortune!

Choosing the Qin camp now is a safety net, and the real profit comes from the Qin Dynasty's unification and the abolition of the dynasty after only two generations.

Zhu Qing'ai felt that this was the perfect time; there were still many years before Qin Shi Huang grew up, so she could make proper preparations.

If we want to change the inevitable situation of the Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations, we must consider the reasons for its downfall.

Many people have analyzed the reasons for the fall of Qin, such as Jia Yi, Du Mu, and Sima Guang. In summary, they all concluded that Qin was tyrannical, cruel, and extravagant.

But actually looking back on this period of time...

If Ying Zheng really wanted to gather the wealth of the six states in Xianyang, why didn't he just kill the nobles of the six states and confiscate their property when collecting weapons? Why did he have to bring the people to Xianyang as well?

Is it because they feel they're having too much of a good time that they want to cause trouble by letting the nobles of the six kingdoms run rampant under their noses?

The nobles of the six states were not very important to him, but their absence from the territories he had cultivated for many years was very important to him.

It is said that the Qin state rose to prominence because of Legalism, but also perished because of it. After unification, the channels for promotion through military merit disappeared, and there were no other channels for promotion. The harsh Qin laws caused the people to rebel. However, Zhu Qing'ai believes that the harsh laws accounted for most of the reasons, but not all of them. They acted as a catalyst, accelerating the rise of the old aristocratic forces.

Furthermore, the fact that the throne is passed down through bloodlines, yet the ruler governs a country whose basic administrative units are divided by geography (the prefecture-county system), creates a contradiction that is unlikely to last.

It can be said that the purpose of almost all dynasties in this long history was to make the people below ignore the irrationality of blood-based rulers ruling territorial countries.

When this irrationality can no longer be concealed, a debate will erupt: "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

It wasn't until modern times that the contradiction between blood-based rulers and geographically-based rulers was truly resolved, because the profession of emperor no longer existed, and there was no longer a system of father-to-son succession.

The Zhou dynasty maintained the world through patriarchal clan system, enfeoffment system, and clear class distinctions. This was also the Confucian system of nepotism, which was essentially a community of interests.

Duke Xiao of Qin appointed Shang Yang to abolish the hereditary system of official positions and stipends, which made Qin powerful. However, this did not mean that nobles in all parts of the country were willing to give up their privileges.

Even when Ying Zheng was alive, many Confucian scholars disagreed and found fault with him.

Was it really because Qin lacked manners? More likely it was because Qin failed to establish a clear hierarchy in the world according to their interests. Their interests were harmed, so of course they wanted to criticize Ying Zheng relentlessly.

How to suppress clan power is something that needs to be prepared for now.

It is suggested that the law be reformed to abolish arbitrary collective punishment; however, treating the people with leniency requires a suitable identity...

Zhu Qing'ai looked at Taishu Jiu, who was reading diligently. Loyal ministers wouldn't do, powerful ministers wouldn't do, and treacherous officials wouldn't do either...

But a nation can have a voice. Unlike a fake god who can't give advice directly, a nation can. She decided to create several aliases for herself. The beautiful woman in the withered green dress from before will be called 'Zhao'.

Afterwards, she will appear before Ying Zheng as 'Qin'. If she can be considered as using words to hint and instigate, then Taishu Jiu is the executor who will carry out her ideas.

Suppressing clan power and ensuring the better implementation of the prefecture-county system is not actually that difficult for the Su-Tong alliance.

Marx already addressed the question of how to suppress clans in *The Poverty of Philosophy*: "Men establish corresponding social relations according to their material production, and it is these same men who, in turn, create corresponding principles, ideas, and categories according to their social relations."*1

When resources are scarce, people will band together based on blood ties to compete for resources and pray for survival. Clan is extremely important at this time.

Conversely, when resources are plentiful, social relationships tend to weaken. In modern society, however, it is rare for relatives to have clan influence.

Simply put, the goal is to make the pie bigger so that the lower classes don't have the idea of ​​banding together to rebel. Without the idea of ​​rebellion, they won't blindly support the old aristocracy in restoring the old social system. Without the commoners they consider lowly as soldiers, the old aristocracy won't have the resources to rebel.

As for what to do when the cake can't get any bigger... Zhu Qing'ai said that children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and it's up to future generations to solve.

Moreover, she thought rather maliciously that since some 'later generations' believed that Ying Zheng brought the former nobles of the six states to Xianyang to confiscate their property, then why not just confirm it and confiscate their property?

Since I'm going to get criticized anyway, I might as well go all out and confiscate their property. Let them criticize me; future generations will have their own way of criticizing me.

You can criticize me if you want, but time will tell. Your reputation will be ruined and rotten in a thousand years!

So you've got money to start a rebellion, huh? Well, your money's going into the national treasury, hehe.

Fortunately, the planned compulsory education schools now have start-up funds. Education is fundamental to development, and whether they can keep up depends on grain production.

Using the money of the nobles of six kingdoms to buy fame for oneself—it sounds so satisfying.

She then unleashed the powerful weapon of the imperial examination system. When the benefits gained by the new interest group are greater than those of the past, clan and lineage will be forgotten. She had no doubt that someone would demonstrate on the spot what it means to be filial and generous.

Of course, all of this is contingent on productivity keeping up; otherwise, it's all just empty talk.

Therefore, we must first increase grain production, then develop productivity and education at the same time, and then, based on the imperial examination system, nationalize the land and distribute it to the common people to launch a series of combined measures to crush the old aristocracy.

Even if the succession of the throne through bloodlines and the system based on geographical origins contradict each other, this can be maintained temporarily. She didn't consider maintaining it in the long term at all. After all, she came here to make a fortune, not to prolong the life of the imperial system. It would be good if Qin lived a few more years. Wouldn't it be better if the imperial system collapsed after a few generations? The developed productivity and ideas would be enough to transform society.

Even if things can't change, development is still the right thing to do. If these ideas can become a reality, then even if it is still a feudal dynasty, it will have to start treating the common people in this way. If they are worse off than the previous dynasty, then why not rebel against you and restore Qin? The improvement of the lives of the common people is undeniable.

With this in mind, Zhu Qing'ai had already devised a 'pathway' for Tai Shu Jiu.

She said to Taishu Jiu in a consultative tone, "Why don't you learn how to farm?"

"Farming?" Taishu Jiu instantly realized, "Host, are you talking about exchanging high-yield grain production for high-ranking official positions and generous salaries?"

Taishu Jiu said he was very familiar with this. Although all the hosts he had brought before had failed for various reasons, exchanging high grain yields for official positions was a practice he was all too familiar with.

Zhu Qingai shook her head: "Not entirely. We can't just produce high-yield grains. You need to study how high-yield grains can adapt to this era. Otherwise, if we leave, the degradation of high-yield grain varieties will be a disaster. My idea is to have you develop in the direction of scientific research for the time being."

"The grain yield here can be increased little by little. There's no need to rush to achieve the same high yield as modern grains, since it's not intended to be offered to King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Ying Ji, anyway."

Her considerations were that King Zhaoxiang was too old and his lifespan was not suitable, Ying Zhu was too short-lived, having only been King of Qin for a year and died three days after his official coronation, and Ying Zichu... was too old to be easily deceived and would also die young.

Her target is still the two-year-old Ying Zheng. Youth is good, youth is easy to fool.

At two years old, without even rounding up, they're practically blank slates.

Even if she couldn't gain favor by using the Qin alias at the beginning, she still needed to make a strong impression by using the Zhao alias, deeply embedding the concept of national consciousness in Ying Zheng's mind.

Taishu Jiu nodded, feeling that he understood his host's considerations, and showed a gratified expression. It seemed that he had not misjudged the person; his host was truly kind and had taken these things into account.

He said with a serious expression, "Don't worry, host, I will honestly and diligently farm."

Zhu Qingai blinked, feeling that he had misunderstood something, but it should be fine, right?

She selected to issue a task in the system panel and, with a mischievous grin, named the second main quest series "The Shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain".

She encouraged him, "I've already bought the land. You can start planting when the season comes. You can start by studying agricultural knowledge now."

Taishu Jiu thought it was quite good to have someone make the plans and give the orders. If he were to do it himself, he would probably just pick a previous host as a template, replicate that route, and then that would be the end of it. After all, all the hosts he had previously led had perished...

Looking into Taishu Jiu's clear eyes, Zhu Qing'ai was still a little uneasy. She tentatively asked, "Do you understand what the Zhongnan Shortcut means?"

Do you understand the core of this mission series?

A note from the author:

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I've cut the copy out of length; doesn't it feel much cleaner now? (Huh?)

*

Novels are all about daring to imagine (eyes shift). The Qin Dynasty in this story has a slightly stronger aggressive element (eyes shift).

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*1. People establish corresponding social relations according to their material production, and it is these same people who, in turn, create corresponding principles, concepts, and categories according to their social relations. (From Karl Marx's *The Poverty of Philosophy*)

*2 "After we leave, they will build you schools and hospitals, and they will raise your wages. This is not because they have a change of heart, nor because they have become good people, but because we were here." This is a famous quote from Ernesto Guevara (June 14, 1928 – October 9, 1967), commonly known as Che Guevara. He was an Argentinian revolutionary and leader of the Cuban Revolution.

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Some people like to say that Wang Mang might have been a time traveler. My point is: please, that's an insult to society.

He governed the country purely according to Confucius's teachings, but his series of unorthodox actions ultimately led to the collapse of the economy, which resulted in Liu Xiu's restoration of the Han dynasty.

How can the Zhou rites and the Zhou system compete with the new Qin system, my lord? Times have changed. Even now, we are still divided by provinces and cities, not by clans. If the Zhou rites were really that useful, then why didn't any powerful state in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods believe in Confucius? Wang Mang, who believed in Confucius, perished.

Therefore, even if there are changes in the text, they are based on the Qin system. Confucianism can be added slightly as a supplement, but relying entirely on Confucianism has never been considered. Believing that Confucianism before Dong Zhongshu could govern a country... well, whatever makes you happy. The fate of those who go against the grain is similar to that of Wang Mang.

Let's reread what was mentioned in the pile of materials next door.

As early as 1973, Chairman Mao expressed a different view on the "Ten Critiques" in his poem "Reading On Feudalism - Presented to Elder Guo," written to Guo Moruo. He wrote: "I advise you to refrain from criticizing Qin Shi Huang; the burning of books and burying of scholars alive should be discussed. Though the First Emperor is dead, Qin still exists; the Ten Critiques are not good articles. For a hundred generations, the Qin dynasty's rule has been followed; Confucianism, though renowned, is actually worthless. Thoroughly study the Tang dynasty's 'On Feudalism,' and do not follow Liu Zongyuan back to King Wen."

"Those politicians who achieved success throughout history, and made contributions in the early feudal period, were all Legalists. These people advocated the rule of law, punishing those who broke the law with execution, and they favored the present over the past. Confucians, on the other hand, were full of talk about benevolence and morality, but were actually corrupt and immoral, advocating the favor of the past over the present, and were essentially turning back the clock." - This is what Chairman Mao said.

Chairman Mao was a revolutionary, a politician who emphasized valuing the present over the past and creating new things. Deep down, his thinking leaned towards Legalism. However, he did not completely reject Confucianism. He often criticized Confucianism, perhaps related to his practical considerations of "eliminating the old and establishing the new." After all, he was not a pure historian. He was already 80 years old when he wrote "A Seven-Character Quatrain: Reading 'On Feudalism' and Presenting it to Elder Guo."

This was the last historical poem he wrote, and also the last poem he ever wrote in his life.

P.S.: I didn't criticize Confucianism, I was just repeating what [unclear] said.

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Regarding the rule of kinship-based and territorial-based states, the First Emperor initially hoped to achieve centralized power through the prefecture-county system to eliminate the remnants of the previous Zhou system. However... he lived a relatively short life, and the laws enacted during that era of unbridled growth were indeed abnormal. As we all know, Emperor Wu of Han succeeded in this. He wiped out some of the remaining forces and used Confucianism as a tool, but unfortunately, he went mad in his later years.

Even though we live in modern times, are there still countries ruled by blood ties or by geography? Yes, there are, and they're quite close to us. Are they stable? They're pretty stable, I guess. Take the Northern Dynasties, for example. Reading their history is quite shocking... (I was quite shocked, it felt like my brain was shrinking).

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