Chapter 342: Court Debate
Ying Zheng said slowly, "Taifu Han is here too! In that case, you two may have a debate today. However, it would be unfair if only I and the Queen Mother were here to listen. Come, summon all the ministers back to the palace so they can hear who is more right."
He clearly just wanted to express his support for Ying Zheng's decision, but he didn't expect to encounter the current situation. Zhao Yuanxi stared at Ying Zheng and couldn't help but admire his boldness.
If the debate was held in private, winning or losing would not have much impact, but now it is put out in the open for the ministers to judge, and this debate is very likely to determine the future fate of the Qin State.
If he loses, it will be more difficult to change the law, but the risks and benefits are equal. If he wins, no one can stop him.
In the hall, Ying Zheng leaned back slightly, leaning on the backrest of the throne, looking at the people below with interest.
Zhao Yuanxi sat down on his right. Seeing his relaxed look, he whispered, "Aren't you afraid of losing?"
"If you lose, then argue again!"
???
Zhao Yuanxi was sure he had heard correctly, and with a smile in his eyes, he asked, "Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
"Allowing them to debate is giving them a chance. Regardless of success or failure, the reform will not stop. I haven't said I will stop if I lose, but they won't lose either."
The ministers who had just left the palace were suddenly called back by His Majesty. Seeing the situation in the palace, they were a little surprised and returned to their seats one by one until the last person suddenly appeared.
Zhao Yuanxi's pupils shrank slightly and he looked at Ying Zheng in surprise.
Zhang Liang did not expect that he would have the chance to step into the palace again. He looked up at the emperor sitting high up. Although he could not see the emperor's face clearly, he could feel that person looking at him.
That’s right, wasn’t he the one who invited me here?
He lowered his eyes slightly and found his teacher Han Fei. He took a few steps forward and saluted in front of him. "Your humble servant Zhang Liang pays homage to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
"Since you are a disciple of Grand Tutor Han, you naturally received his personal instruction. Today, Grand Tutor is debating with someone. If you can help Grand Tutor win, you will be pardoned. However, if you lose, you do not have to stay in Xianyang."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The palace maid added a seat for Zhang Liang next to Han Fei.
The ministers were somewhat puzzled and didn't understand what the emperor was trying to do. When Zhang Liang was suddenly dismissed from office, few people knew the reason, and even those who knew did not dare to reveal it.
Now that the Chief Censor was suddenly recalled, the ministers couldn't help but wonder if the Emperor was planning some big move.
Seeing the emperor's attitude, those who were originally wavering naturally chose to side with the emperor. After all, whether the Qin law changed or not would not affect them at all, and they would continue to serve as officials.
Han Fei didn't expect Zhang Liang to come. Thinking of the past grudges between Zhang Liang and the emperor, he couldn't help but feel worried.
Zhang Liang smiled at Han Fei, "Don't worry, teacher."
He was no longer interested in being an official, but since this was what the Queen Mother and the teacher wanted to do, he was willing to do his best to help.
The original two-on-three became three-on-three, which was indeed much fairer and no one raised any objections.
"The Queen Mother is so surprised, does she think I can't tolerate Zhang Liang?"
Don't you have any idea whether it can be accommodated? Zhao Yuanxi kept wondering.
However, Zhang Liang's return to the court is indeed good news, at least it will benefit the children in the academy.
The core of this debate is whether the current Qin law is suitable for the Qin State and whether the Qin law should be revised.
Li Si had never thought that his real confrontation with Han Fei would actually be in the Qin court. There was a blazing fire in his eyes, and he seemed determined to win.
The two looked at each other, the atmosphere suddenly became serious, and the surroundings became quiet.
"In the past, Shang Yang's laws transformed Qin from a small state in the western frontier into the common ruler of the world. For over a hundred years, Qin has adhered to these laws without a single flaw. Now, Imperial Tutor Han is threatening to reform them, reducing sentences and adjusting corvée labor, weakening the authority of Qin's laws. How can Qin rule the world in this way?"
Han Fei was not very fluent in speaking, and this kind of instant debate was obviously at a disadvantage for him. He had no choice but to write down the main points of what he wanted to say and hand it over to Zhang Liang and Zhang Cang to elaborate on.
"Shang Yang originally established the Qin laws to strengthen the Qin State and to control the world. Now the world is in the hands of the Qin State. To rule the world by conquering the world is not a long-term solution. Today's laws should be used to govern the country and bring lasting peace to the world."
"Can't the current Qin laws bring lasting peace to Qin? If the Qin laws can't be used to govern the world, how could our Qin have allowed its people to live in peace all these years?"
"Shang Yang's reforms lasted a hundred years, and Qin also waged war for a hundred years. How can there be peace? Qin laws can be used to govern a country, and they governed a country in troubled times, but not the Qin of today. The only long-term solution is to punish the crime appropriately."
Li Si said, "Qin has the Xiongnu to the north, the Baiyue to the south, and the remnants of the Six Kingdoms still linger. Without strict laws, how can we intimidate the world? Has Grand Tutor Han also been influenced by the Confucian sophistry of benevolent government and forgotten his original theory of the Five Vermin? Reducing sentences today, exempting them tomorrow will inevitably lead to lax laws and unrest in the world."
Zhang Liang said, "Then Li Tingwei also believes that strict laws are unnecessary when the world is at peace. Without the support of the people, the remnants of the six kingdoms can only linger in the corner. Now, Qin wants to conquer the hearts of the people. Shang Yang's Qin Law can be used to destroy the six kingdoms, but it cannot win the hearts of the people. Now we must reforge this sword and make the people of the six kingdoms obey it. This time, we will conquer the hearts of the people!"
Zhang Liang: "Let the people obey the law, not fear it; let them follow the will of their hearts, not force them to take up arms in rebellion."
…
The debate between the two sides was really intense. Li Si inferred based on past experience that only strict laws could govern the world, while Han Fei inferred based on human nature that people in the world needed a respite in order to stop the war.
The past is right, and the future is unknown. It is really difficult to make a decision for a moment.
But everyone could see that Master Han clearly had the upper hand.
Moreover, historical experience has proven that what was correct in the past does not necessarily mean it will be correct in the future.
Zhao Yuanxi understood that they didn't want to reform because they were worried about the unknowns. She turned to look at Ying Zheng and posed the question, "I've heard what Han Taifu and Li Tingwei said, and they both make sense. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Since he was the one who set this situation up, it's time for him to make the decision.
Ying Zheng frowned, pretending to be deep in thought. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Qin Law is the foundation of our Qin State. It cannot be easily shaken."
The conservatives who had originally felt that they were losing suddenly had their eyes brightened. Is His Majesty still on their side?
"But everything should keep pace with the times and not be stuck in the past. My dear ministers, you are only making assumptions now."
"If that's the case, let the facts tell us the outcome. Take Handan County as an example. If the new law is implemented and unrest breaks out frequently within the county, then the court judge will prevail and the Qin law will remain unchanged. However, if the county remains peaceful, then the new law will be implemented nationwide."
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