Xianyang Palace.
"What?!"
Are you sure there will be a natural disaster and famine?
Ying Zheng's eyes bulged, and his once handsome face became extremely ferocious and terrifying.
The wicked man sighed, nodded heavily, and said softly, "Your Majesty, no one can guarantee such a thing, but the probability of it happening is extremely high."
Ying Zheng was struck dumb, staggered back a few steps, and fell onto the cushion. His once bright eyes instantly became empty.
"Why must natural disasters and famines befall me?"
"After more than a decade of humiliation and setbacks, I finally seized power, but before I could even begin to realize my grand ambitions..."
Ying Zheng visibly became sorrowful, his eyes filled with an unyielding sadness. "Can...human beings truly overcome fate?"
At this moment, he felt somewhat disheartened, his mind flashing back to all the experiences he had had over the years, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"The Qin state had you, Meng Ao, Wang Jian, and Li Si..."
"I originally thought that the long-cherished wish of six generations would be fulfilled in this generation."
"What is it... and why?"
"Why did this have to happen just when I had taken sole power?"
Unlike in modern times, ancient times were more influenced by metaphysics when it came to views on natural disasters. He had even seen the unrest among the people, and the fact that they were criticizing him behind his back.
The six kingdoms... will absolutely not let this opportunity slip by!
They will surely spread the word that everything was caused by him, the king.
The devastation and suffering were so intense that it seemed to be right before his eyes.
"Your Majesty, didn't you say you didn't believe in fate?"
The wicked man patted his forehead, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. History books are like celebrities, with too many halos and mystiques attached to them.
Little did people know that they, like ordinary people, had emotions and desires.
They all feel the same way: thirsty and want to drink water, hungry and want to eat, and equally anxious, fearful, and panicked when faced with difficult problems.
Can human strength overcome nature?
The wicked man smacked his lips. Having come from a later era, he knew the terror of nature and its incredible power. But the way of Heaven is fifty, taking one and leaving a sliver of life.
"Natural disasters are irreversible, but they can be minimized to the greatest extent possible. Let them suffer the disaster, we'll just live our lives!"
These words brought a glint of light to Ying Zheng's face, and he hurriedly asked, "You have a way, you must have a way. Yes, nothing has ever been difficult for you."
Upon hearing this, the wicked man scratched his head, feeling incredibly pleased to be trusted and praised so highly by the First Emperor.
He cleared his throat and said arrogantly, "Your Majesty is right about that; there are plenty of ways for a wicked husband to make money!"
"First, we should closely monitor places where celestial phenomena deviate from common sense, make plans in advance, and if necessary, consider relocation. This is one approach!"
“Our Qin state has a strong military force, which is a heavy burden on the people. They can bear it in normal times, but they will inevitably be unable to bear it in the event of disaster. It would be better to use war to support war and to let the soldiers live a more comfortable life. This is the second reason.”
"third!"
“The gentry and powerful have committed many unjust acts, attacking landlords, killing local tyrants, confiscating grain and property, and rapidly implementing the policy of merging the poll tax into the land tax and changing the agricultural tax policy.”
"At this critical moment, we will open the granaries and distribute grain, supplemented by looting and plundering to make a fortune. This will definitely prevent the people from starving to death. Once we get through this, everything will be fine!"
Ying Zheng listened intently, nodding repeatedly. Many of his husband's views were remarkably similar to his own occasional thoughts, which delighted him so much that he exclaimed with delight.
"Your Majesty, at this time, you won't show mercy recklessly, will you?" The wicked man glanced at Ying Zheng, just in case, he wanted to put some pressure on him in advance.
"kindness?"
Ying Zheng's expression suddenly changed, and he cursed, "The natural disasters of his ancestors are about to come, and I still care about the lives of others? The people of Qin can die peacefully, so why should I care about the lives of others?"
It can be said that even the greatest emperor of all time was a tyrant.
The wicked man suddenly realized that the reputation of this tyrant was probably largely a fabrication by the remnants of the six kingdoms.
Since coming into this world, he has never seen a hardworking Qin person curse the royal family, even though they are living a miserable life!
"Very well, Your Majesty, please give the order!"
The wicked man immediately revealed a hint of joy and said with a grin, "First, order General Meng Ao to conquer three thousand li of Yelang, bringing all the plains under his control, and station troops there to guard them, gradually expanding outwards."
“At critical moments, people from Sichuan and Chongqing can be sent to Yelang for refuge.”
"Order that the land tax be converted into a poll tax starting at dawn tomorrow. Order all local prefectures and counties to prepare for war. Anyone who dares to resist the conversion of the land tax into a poll tax will have their property confiscated and be held jointly liable."
At this point, he chuckled, "Finally, he issued an order for the Imperial Guard Commander, E'fu, to mobilize soldiers from across the country to coordinate the matter of going out to make money."
This series of words left Ying Zheng momentarily speechless, and in the end, he simply threw the seal of office to his wicked husband.
"Take it. Give me whatever orders you want and do them!"
"I don't ask about the process, I only look at the final result."
Ying Zheng's eyes gleamed as he said, word by word, "If you lose, be prepared to come with me to Mount Li. You've decided to take this place."
The wicked man curled his lip and said disdainfully, "Don't even mention guarding the gate, I'll stand right next to your coffin lid and hold a lamp for you!"
"Hahaha...Alright, it's a deal then!" Ying Zheng laughed loudly, his laughter filled with certainty and trust.
Zhao Gao, who was serving nearby, gasped in shock, his heart filled with turmoil. He knew that Ying Zheng valued his wicked husband, but he never expected that the two had such a good relationship.
Such disrespectful words, yet Ying Zheng showed no displeasure, and even smiled with a hint of satisfaction?
"The wicked general... among the Qin court officials, there will probably be few like him throughout the ages!"
On the other side.
Yelang, an unnamed place.
Meng Wu, shirtless, kept scooping water from the wooden bucket and pouring it over his father, Meng Ao, while carefully wiping his back.
"Father, our army has swept across three hundred miles and firmly grasped this land. Isn't it time to send someone back to report the victory to the King?"
Meng Ao, who was enjoying his son's service with his eyes half-closed, opened his eyes slightly upon hearing this and laughed, "To be honest, you're not as shrewd as Wang Ben."
"You really are just like your father, always a step behind that country bumpkin Wang Jian."
Meng Wu scratched his head, a hint of shame on his face. He was a few years older than Wang Ben, yet he was still overshadowed by him, which was indeed somewhat embarrassing.
Meng Ao turned around and patted his son's shoulder. "It's not your fault. People are born different. It's not a big deal. If we really got serious, that wicked husband would have driven someone crazy."
Meng Wu smiled and murmured, "Meng Tian has followed that wicked husband, and I wonder how many skills he has learned. Our third generation of the Meng family must not lose to that rascal Wang Li."
"so!"
Meng Ao nodded and said in a deep voice, "What's three hundred li? If we take it back, that little brat of a wicked husband will laugh at us. If we're going to sweep, we'll sweep three thousand li."
"But..."
"Is it inappropriate to make decisions without the king's permission?" Meng Wu hesitated, fearing that his father, who had been cautious all his life, might make a mistake at the end.
Unexpectedly, Meng Ao smiled mysteriously and said confidently, "Just watch, it won't be long before a royal decree arrives."
It has to be said, he's really shrewd and cunning; he guessed almost exactly what I was thinking!
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