What's going on here?
Li Lin stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to understand why the First Emperor had suddenly come to visit.
However, after glancing at Ying Lin, the old clan official beside the First Emperor, whose face was quite grim, he seemed to understand something.
"Your Majesty, when did I ever say I wanted to run away? I was born a citizen of Qin, and I will die a ghost of Qin. I will dedicate my life to the cause of Qin and its great conquest!"
"If you have no intention of running away, then why did you write to me saying that you would choose to flee as the best of the thirty-six stratagems?"
[Alas, it turns out His Majesty misunderstood me. It's obvious he hasn't read my "Thirty-Six Stratagems" carefully, hence his literal interpretation.]
"Your Majesty, what I mean by this comes from the last of the Thirty-Six Stratagems in my book on military strategy. It means that the best of the Thirty-Six Stratagems is to retreat. However, this does not mean to actually leave, but rather to retreat in order to advance. This has a similar effect to the strategy of Duke Wen of Jin retreating three times."
"So that's how it is. I was given a false alarm!"
The First Emperor was relieved, and his old-fashioned expression seemed to have returned to its previous serious demeanor.
"I have already found out who was behind the assassination attempt on you outside Hangu Pass last time. It was the Imperial Clan Minister Ying Lin. Now, I have brought him before you. You may kill him or torture him as you please!"
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but please allow me to consider it carefully!"
Li Lin waved his hand, not in a hurry to express his opinion. He knew that the First Emperor had misunderstood him and thought that he wanted to escape, which was why he had hurriedly brought the old Imperial Clan Minister Ying Lin over.
The purpose, you know.
She simply wanted to keep him with her.
Can.
If he were to actually kill Ying Lin, it would be a loss of face for the First Emperor.
The emperor wanted to use Ying Lin as a stepping stone.
Moreover, the emperor could use the method of killing Ying Lin to keep him, but that does not mean he could decide Ying Lin's life or death.
Li Lin weighed the options carefully, but still couldn't quite gauge the First Emperor's intentions.
[As things stand, whether I choose to kill Ying Lin or not, his influence on me is negligible. Moreover, he is old; although politically astute, he's simply too old to keep up. Furthermore, he's currently the leader of both the conservative and meritorious factions. If I kill him, both factions will surely find a proxy. If that proxy is young and capable, and has the energy to fight me, I doubt I can successfully implement the reforms.]
[But Ying Lin won't do that. He's old and his energy is waning. I can easily nip his plan in the bud before he even takes action. Between two evils, let's spare his life and do him a favor today; it might come in handy later.]
"Well? Minister Li, you've been thinking about this for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Have you come to a conclusion yet?"
"Your Majesty, to be honest, I really want Lord Ying to die!"
"Prime Minister Li! Prime Minister Li, I was wrong before, I was really wrong before! I was deceived by that fellow Taishi Teng. He tricked me again and again, and I was persuaded by him, which is why I took such a treasonous action to intercept and kill you!"
Ying Lin had been staying by the First Emperor's side, behaving himself obediently and not daring to beg for mercy.
But now that Li Lin has already said those hurtful things about him dying, how can he continue to remain silent?
This is a matter of his life and fortune.
In the Qin Dynasty, he could command the wind and rain, so why did he have to die?
He had no time to appreciate, savor, or enjoy the vast amounts of gold and silver jewelry and endless delicacies in his home, nor the stunning beauties in his inner quarters.
Why would you want to die?
Therefore, he was extremely agitated at this moment, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.
Where is the former majestic presence of Lord Zongzheng?
"Old Master, we were originally partners. After the establishment of the Great Qin State Bank, you also had a share. Given our relationship, why did you try to ambush me? Did Taishi Teng's silver tongue really sway you, you old codger? I don't believe it!"
"Oh dear, Prime Minister Li, Prime Minister Li, please be magnanimous! I was truly confused!"
"What a fool! The injuries on Li's body are all caused by your muddle-headedness, and you want this kind of compensation?"
"Prime Minister Li, Prime Minister Li, I will waive my investment in the money shop. Consider it a gift to you for your medical expenses."
"Heh, is the life of the Prime Minister of the Great Qin Dynasty so lowly? Can a mere few tens of millions of coins be used to dismiss him like this?"
"Prime Minister Li, you are like my own grandfather! What do you want? I will do it for you even if it costs me my life!"
"That's easy to say, but you'll have to pay extra!"
Li Lin smiled, revealing a pair of cunning eyes.
The First Emperor witnessed the entire process of Li Lin's extortion. He remained silent, but couldn't help but find it amusing: "This rascal, all he knows is money. He's completely obsessed with money."
My relatives may lack other things, but when it comes to money, they have as much as they want.
After all, his family owned more than a dozen mines, and in earlier years they had been granted the right to mint coins by the late king.
For ordinary people, tens of millions of dollars might be an amount they could never accumulate even after several lifetimes.
But for me, a relative, it's only been a few months.
"Prime Minister Li, how much more money would you like?"
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