"Please teach me, Master, how to reform the laws and how to break this deadlock!" Ying Zheng stood up, placed his four fingers on top of each other with his thumbs pointing upwards, and then bowed slightly, humbly seeking guidance.
"I am merely a seeker of the Way, capable of pointing out the problems, but I have no interest in being the one to implement reforms."
However, I can recommend a few suitable talents to Your Majesty.” Zhang Bairen also stood up, not readily accepting Ying Zheng’s courtesy.
"Please enlighten me, Master!" Ying Zheng replied sincerely.
"One of them was Guiguzi, the master of the Sword Saint Gai Nie!"
For seven hundred years, the rise and fall of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven Warring States has been accompanied by a common name—Guiguzi.
The leaders of all dynasties were known as "Guiguzi" because they lived in seclusion in Guigu Valley.
Throughout history, the Guigu Master only accepted two disciples in his lifetime: one specializing in vertical and the other in horizontal. The winner between the two would become the new Guigu Master.
Throughout history, the Guiguzi, though single-handed, was stronger than an army of a million. His anger could terrify the feudal lords, and his peaceful life could bring tranquility to the world.
Su Qin united the six states, wore the seals of prime minister of all six states, and forced Qin to abandon its plan to become emperor. Zhang Yi was a man of great talent and strategy, who dismantled the alliance of the six states and helped Qin dominate the chaotic world. Pang Juan was brave and invincible, which made the originally weak Wei state dominate the Central Plains. Sun Bin was an invincible strategist, who besieged Wei to rescue Zhao and killed Pang Juan. He wrote a great military treatise that has been passed down to later generations.
This generation of the successor of the School of Diplomacy only inherited the martial arts and swordsmanship, but not the knowledge of Guiguzi.
Therefore, if Your Majesty wishes to implement reforms, it would be best to obtain the assistance of Guiguzi.
Furthermore, if I may add a few more words, Guiguzi may have foreseen the future of the Qin state long ago.
Therefore, he secluded himself from the world and planned out his disciples' life trajectories.
The way of the vertical and horizontal swords is that the vertical swords unite the weak to resist the strong, while the horizontal swords rely on the strong to bully the weak. Logically speaking, Mr. Gai Nie should learn the horizontal swordsmanship, and Mr. Wei Zhuang should learn the vertical swordsmanship.
But the result was completely the opposite.
After all, Mr. Gai Nie had the world at heart, and he would surely choose the powerful Qin state to finally end the war.
Wei Zhuang, on the other hand, is arrogant and has a deep connection with the weakest state, Han.
Therefore, I hastily conclude that Guiguzi had foreseen this and did so intentionally.
In my opinion, if we don't find Guiguzi soon, this unparalleled sage should continue to live in seclusion and disappear from the world.
After Zhang Bairen finished speaking, Gai Nie's expression completely broke down.
After Zhang Bairen's reminder, Gai Nie, like Ying Zheng, had a sudden realization.
It turns out that his mentor had unknowingly planned his life's direction.
Swords wielded vertically and horizontally, embodying the way of traversing the world.
Does this mean that Wei Zhuang and I are truly so incompetent, only fit to learn swordsmanship, and unworthy to inherit the knowledge and doctrines of the School of Diplomacy?
Ying Zheng turned his head and saw Gai Nie's complicated expression.
He understood that look in her eyes.
It's truly unbelievable to have your future seen through at a glance, or to have someone casually enlighten you.
Fortunately, both of them were true heroes, which is why they were able to quickly accept, digest, and analyze the meaning and loopholes in Zhang Bairen's words.
However, it turned out that Zhang Bairen's analysis seemed to be without any problems.
“Mr. Gai Nie, if you wish for peace and stability in the world and for the people to be spared the suffering of war, you will have to entrust the matter of finding Guiguzi to you, the successor of Guiguzi.”
"Of course, I'll go with you then, otherwise you won't be able to find Master Guigu even if he hides." Zhang Bairen continued.
Gai Nie clasped his hands and bowed, replying to Zhang Bairen, "For the sake of all living beings, I am willing to take you, Master, to Ghost Valley to find our master!"
Zhang Bairen nodded, and then continued, "Next, the person I want to recommend is the great Confucian master—Xun Kuang!"
When it comes to governing a prosperous era and stabilizing a country, Confucianism is the foremost doctrine.
Xun Kuang was the most senior and accomplished Confucian scholar, a great Confucian scholar after Confucius and Mencius, and the mentor of Li Si and Han Fei.
Therefore, although he belonged to the Confucian school, he was in line with the Qin Dynasty's national policy of rule of law.
However, this person, like Guiguzi, probably did not want to serve as an official in the court and offer advice to the country.
The reasons were twofold: first, Han Fei died in Qin; and second, there was suspicion about Li Si.
As for the third point, it should be that during the Qin Dynasty's unification, excessive killing and warfare were not accepted by Confucianism.
However, in my opinion, there is still a chance to explain it clearly.
Although Li Si was not as talented as Han Fei, he was not capable of killing Han Fei.
Because I can doubt anyone, but I will not doubt His Majesty.
Your Majesty governs the country by law. If Li Si had killed Han Fei, he would never have become the Prime Minister of Qin.
Of course, if I'm wrong, then just pretend I didn't say anything.
In short, whether or not Xun Kuang can be won over depends on whether His Majesty and Li Si can clearly explain the death of Han Fei back then!
Hearing Han Fei's name again filled Ying Zheng with deep emotion.
He once went to Korea under the alias Shang Gongzi and met Han Fei.
Furthermore, he greatly admired Han Fei.
Because Han Fei's writings were practically a guiding light for Ying Zheng, reflecting his thoughts.
However, Han Fei was determined to save the country, so he was unable to combine the two swords, a regret that Ying Zheng still feels to this day.
"Han Fei, if he were still alive, he should have a way to solve the current problem," Ying Zheng sighed softly.
"Next, I would like to recommend the military strategist Li Mu!"
This person is the best candidate to defend the border and deter foreign enemies!
Before Zhang Bairen could finish speaking, Ying Zheng spoke up.
"Master, please wait a moment. Isn't Li Mu already dead?!" Ying Zheng asked.
Zhang Bairen shook his head slightly, then replied, "No, he is still alive and well, and he is still fighting against the foreign races outside the border."
The Qin Dynasty, though currently strong and well-equipped, is only good at defense and lacks offensive capabilities.
Only Li Mu was familiar with the fighting style of the alien races, knew their weaknesses, and was deeply feared by them.
Because his fame was built up little by little with the heads of foreign tribes!
As the Marquis of Wu'an of Zhao, Your Majesty should be very aware of his talents.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng nodded silently.
Indeed, Lord Wu'an, Li Mu, was one of the most outstanding generals among all the states. In the eyes of the world, without Li Mu, the State of Zhao would have perished long ago.
Because of Li Mu's presence, even if Wang Jian personally led the troops, he could not gain the slightest advantage.
This Lord Wu'an of Zhao was even hailed by the Qin people as the God of Military Formations!
“But even if Li Mu were still alive, he would not forget the hatred between his country and his family, and would not choose to serve the empire!” Ying Zheng expressed his doubts.
Zhang Bairen replied, "Besides the title of God of Military Formations, Li Mu has another title, which is the Wolf Hunter!"
His sense of righteousness went far beyond the nation; it was about the survival of the people.
Your Majesty can dispatch outstanding generals to persuade and convince others to surrender, appealing to the people and upholding righteousness.
I believe it will have some effect.
If that doesn't work, you can send someone to find him and have them train in battle against the wolves in front of him every day to see if he will take action, or if he will be willing to rescue or guide the valiant soldiers of Qin.
In the anime, Li Mu saved Meng Tian, choosing not to disregard the lives of the people of the Central Plains because of Meng Tian's status as a general of the Qin state.
He even taught Meng Tian military tactics and experience within the peach grove.
This old general was a man of integrity and uprightness.
Ying Zheng nodded slightly, noting down Zhang Bairen's suggestion and solution.
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