Chapter 54 "Divine Messenger, please come with me to the palace..."
"Divine messenger, please come with me to the palace."
Meng Yi stood in the terracotta figurine area of the Lishan Mausoleum and spoke to Lin Fengzhi, who was lost in thought. As he spoke, he bent slightly, gesturing for her to enter.
His actions weren't forceful; the changes this seemingly miraculous woman had brought to Qin were enough to win the hearts of every loyal subject. Meng Yi had witnessed her miracles even before she rose to prominence. The sky filled with fireworks and the soaring rice yields still captivated him.
His gaze lingered subtly on Lin Fengzhi and the female terracotta figurine opposite her, and Meng Yi's heart stirred. The perfectly fired terracotta figurine possessed the spirit and characteristics of Lin Fengzhi, and its clothing closely resembled the garments she wore during the sacrificial ceremony at Xiangshan.
Even a less perceptive person can spot the similarities between the two, let alone someone as meticulous as Meng Yi.
Why make a terracotta figurine that resembles oneself? And why does it look so empty and blank? This is nothing like the spirited and energetic great shaman from the Xiang River basin.
Was she unhappy staying at the hot spring palace? Or had some official or laborer from Lishan offended her? Or was she simply homesick?
Looking at Lin Fengzhi's youthful face, Meng Yi denied all the questions he had raised.
The palace servants who served her at the Hot Spring Palace were carefully selected, meticulous and patient people. Xing Tu, a laborer from Lishan, received her favors, and who wouldn't regard her as a deity?
As for missing her hometown, Meng Yi pondered that she had brought several clansmen from Xiangshan; one had gone to another place to work as a textile official, and another was studying at the Xianyang Academy. If the longing was truly extreme, it wouldn't be unreasonable to have the entire Keluo clan relocate to Xianyang.
Meng Yi scrutinized her closely.
Her eyes were calm and weary, and her face showed a complex emotion that was somewhere between a smile and sadness.
Her composure and quietness make one want to explore whether there is heartache beneath her face.
Meng Yi lowered his eyes, suppressing his doubts.
"Your Excellency, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Lin Fengzhi noticed Meng Yi, her eyes sparkling, and she seemed to come alive.
“Thanks to the divine envoy, I have indeed been quite busy lately.” Seeing Lin Fengzhi’s puzzled expression, Meng Yi explained, “Since His Majesty returned to Xianyang from the divine envoy, His Majesty seems to have gained some insight and intends to revise the laws of Qin. Recently, he has summoned many people who are well-versed in the law…”
Meng Yi, as the First Emperor's secretary, was well-versed in law and was also an enforcer of the law, so he was naturally among the assembled crowd.
He had observed for several days and gleaned their meaning from His Majesty's softening attitude and the fact that most of the officials had remained silent.
The First Emperor often became lost in thought while reviewing the records of the Court of Justice's handling of cases.
His gaze rarely lingered on the common people at the bottom of society.
He didn't care whether others considered him a tyrant or a benevolent ruler, but he cared whether the Qin Dynasty could be passed down to future generations and whether his own lifespan could be extended.
Seeing that he seemed to have no successor, he had to rely on his prestige to pave the way for future generations.
Otherwise, if the next monarch does not have enough courage, who would dare to easily change the ancestral laws?
The First Emperor looked through the records again and again, counting how much usable and valuable manpower the Qin Dynasty had lost due to corporal punishment and collective punishment, and he couldn't help but feel regretful.
In wartime, all available resources need to be pooled together and put into action. However, as Lin Fengzhi said, times have changed.
Lin Fengzhi has shown him a new opportunity. The new world needs more forces involved, the more the better.
Why hasn't the textile industry been promoted nationwide?
Isn't it just a matter of insufficient manpower and raw materials?
If we continue to use the harsh laws and severe punishments of Legalism and take officials as our teachers, where will talent come from? If all schools of thought remain silent, who can create more useful tools? Who will cultivate more silk, hemp, and wheat seeds?
This is just textiles.
Winter wheat, army, salt, sugar, iron cavalry, millstone...
The world is undergoing tremendous changes. Old laws are indeed no longer applicable in such a time of great change.
After consulting with his ministers, who were well-versed in law, the pragmatic First Emperor concluded that changes were necessary.
As Lin Fengzhi said, the First Emperor also sensed the undercurrents under his rule, not to mention the explicit hints from Xuan Niao and Lin Fengzhi. He was confident that he could suppress the rebellious intentions.
But looking down, he couldn't help but have doubts; it seemed that his children might not be able to hold on.
Speechless, Ying Zheng had no choice but to look further down.
Among his grandchildren, the eldest was Fusu's daughter, Ying Yuanxi. The rest were still young, and it was too early to tell. Ying Zheng didn't show favoritism; all his grandchildren who were capable of taking care of themselves were sent to Xianyang Palace. Ying Zheng wasn't the type to enjoy taking care of children, so he simply visited them only when they were in class.
Ying Zheng glanced out the window with his hands behind his back, but didn't notice any particularly gifted children. The children, however, became terrified of him after spotting him.
Out of boredom, he threw himself back into his work.
Besides the First Emperor's intention to amend the laws and abolish corporal punishment and collective punishment, other officials who felt this surge of change gradually emerged.
Not everyone likes harsh laws and severe punishments.
Even officials who enforce the law do not necessarily like corporal punishment and collective punishment.
When judging cases, one is always on tenterhooks. Because of a small misjudgment or sentencing error, not only will the criminal be punished with having their nose cut off or feet amputated, but the official in charge may also be held accountable for "miscarriage of justice," and even their family members may be implicated.
The system of collective punishment hung like a sword of Damocles, forcing officials to rather make wrong and severe judgments than to punish leniently. The horrific scenes of corporal punishment also placed a heavy psychological burden on them. This was understandable; most people, seeing their fellow human beings being abused, would empathize and find it difficult to feel any positive emotions.
Thus, when the mighty monarch intended to abolish corporal punishment, these silent officials finally voiced their opinions.
Meng Yi was also surprised to find that there were quite a few people who agreed to amend the law.
He sought out a familiar minor official and asked for his opinion on changing the laws.
The minor official hesitated for a long time, thinking it over and over. He felt that Meng Yi would not stoop to entrapment, so he simply said frankly, "Minister Meng, if a colleague commits a crime, I may be implicated without knowing it; if someone escapes while escorting prisoners, the entire team of officials may be executed. If the system of collective punishment could really be abolished, why would I feel so insecure? I, as an official, am afraid, let alone ordinary people."
Meng Yi was strict in enforcing the law and strictly adhered to the rules. He had previously clashed with Zhao Gao because of this. After listening to the minor official's words, he suddenly realized that abolishing corporal punishment and collective punishment, and changing the harsh laws, had brought tangible and real benefits to ordinary people.
He joined the movement to amend the laws.
Although he was much busier with work, he gained a deeper understanding of the world of ordinary officials and even ordinary people.
Lin Fengzhi was surprised, but also felt that it was within expectations.
Ying Zheng was such a pioneering emperor who immediately corrected problems upon discovery. Even in a fit of rage, he would heed your advice if you could persuade him.
When Lao Ai rebelled, Qin Shi Huang's mother, Zhao Ji, readily granted him aid. After Lao Ai was quelled, Qin Shi Huang banished Zhao Ji from Xianyang and imprisoned her in the Fuyang Palace in Yongcheng, almost severing their mother-son relationship.
He also ordered: "Anyone who dares to remonstrate on the Empress Dowager's behalf shall be executed and have thorns pierced through their backs."
Despite his strict orders, some people still risked their lives to remonstrate. A total of twenty-seven ministers were executed for offering their advice.
Mao Jiao, a guest minister from the state of Qi, continued to risk his life to offer his advice. He did not directly criticize Ying Zheng for being unfilial, but instead analyzed the advantages and disadvantages from a political and strategic perspective.
"Your Majesty, your actions have led the world to believe you are jealous, unkind, and unfilial, like the tyrants Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang. If other states cease to admire Qin because of this, who will come to submit? I am worried for you!"
Mao Jiao's words enlightened Ying Zheng. He realized that "filial piety" was an important political and moral standard at the time. Even if Zhao Ji was at fault, her lack of filial piety towards her mother would seriously damage his image as the ruler of a country, making the people of the six states think he was a tyrant, thus hindering his great cause of unifying the world.
In short, he still needs the banner of filial piety.
He readily accepted the advice and, despite his reluctance, personally went to Yongcheng to bring his mother, Zhao Ji, back to Xianyang. He settled Zhao Ji in Ganquan Palace and restored her status and privileges as Empress Dowager.
Lin Fengzhi thought absentmindedly, "That's wonderful."
The harsh Qin laws were finally about to make an exception for the hardworking people.
"Speaking of which, since the winter wheat harvest, Prince Fusu has also been studying the laws of the Qin Dynasty and has visited the Xianyang Academy many times to listen to lectures by Zhang Cang and others."
Lin Fengzhi had also heard about this. No matter what, the reason she stayed in Xianyang was to use her knowledge to change and build the Qin Dynasty, in addition to finding a way back.
Hearing that the Qin Dynasty is united as one, it feels like we've returned to the eve of our efforts to unify the six kingdoms. Everyone is striving towards a clear goal, and the next day we'll see a surge of hope.
This same spirit and drive appeared once again in the Qin Dynasty.
"Fusu?" Lin Fengzhi was puzzled. What had led Fusu, a believer in Confucianism, to come into contact with and deeply study Legalist thought?
Moreover, in Lin Fengzhi's memory, Fusu was still the same Fusu who had offended the First Emperor and been confined to his home because of Chunyu Yue. After not hearing any news for several months, had he actually turned to Legalism?
Meng Yi's expression slightly hardened; the divine messenger no longer cared about the changing political landscape. Previously, even amidst countless shifts within the Xianyang Palace, he would proactively receive relevant information.
Now, after Fusu has been studying Qin law at the Xianyang Academy for over a month, she seems to have only just learned of this matter.
What about her clansmen who studied at the Xianyang Academy? Doesn't even Qi care anymore?
Meng Yi's heart was filled with turmoil, but he smiled and said, "Young Master is delighted that His Majesty intends to abolish corporal punishment."
Fusu advocated appeasement and worried that harsh laws would lead to instability among the people. Abolishing collective punishment and corporal punishment was entirely in line with his ideals.
Furthermore, the incident involving winter wheat by Ying Zheng thoroughly awakened him, making him deeply realize that Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, and Mohism all existed for the continuation of the Qin Dynasty. This was not limited to Confucianism or Legalism alone.
However, the benevolence deep within him was not diminished by the setbacks caused by the winter wheat incident; on the contrary, it became even more fervent and sincere as he drew closer to the people. He saw more deeply the people living on this land and understood their suffering.
He was not as capable or resourceful as his father, but he considered himself superior to his father in the one thing: seeing the common people, understanding them, and wanting to treat them well.
For this reason, he did not hesitate to endure the subtle ridicule from some court officials and members of the imperial family, and requested the First Emperor to allow him to join the ranks of those who abolished corporal punishment and collective punishment.
Lin Fengzhi's gaze softened. She glanced at the dignified and solemn terracotta warriors, saw the many laborers making the terracotta warriors, and even further away, people silently toiling away.
She seemed to want to say something, but in the end she said nothing, only saying, "Let's go, let's enter the palace."
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Author's note: I am very sorry for disappearing for a month and letting down all the readers who have been waiting.
In September, my job responsibilities changed. I'm adapting to the new job. At first, I couldn't balance work and writing.
I apologize again to the readers who have been waiting.
This is the first time I've written so much that it's reached 200,000 words, and it's nearing completion. I will continue writing according to the outline.
Finally, as an apology, I'll be sending out some red envelopes (cash gifts); you can leave a comment.
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