"My dear empress, my cousin should ask the historians to praise me more."
Ying Zheng did not consider matters from the perspective of caring for the common people. Just like being in a game of chess, he had to think about which piece his various policies would cause to be overworked. If a piece was damaged, his country's strength would also decline.
The subsequent impact was also extensive.
For example, regarding the matter of agriculture that Xiao Heng mentioned, if the forced conscription continues, the cultivation of land will inevitably be delayed, which will ultimately affect the country.
Especially now that the states have been unified and the population is several times larger than before, the disadvantages of repeatedly conscripting a single person clearly outweigh the advantages. In addition, with the development of firearms and grenade throwing devices, Qin's combat power has increased dramatically, and there is no longer a need to use human wave tactics.
The era of universal conscription may truly be over.
After discussing the matter with Xiao Heng several times, a month later, Ying Zheng officially issued an edict to adjust the conscription system. All males over the age of twenty in the country had to serve in the military, and their military service required them to serve six months as a temporary soldier, two years as a regular soldier, and six months as a garrison soldier.
The total military service period is three years, and the same person may not be conscripted again within fifteen years. If war breaks out after the period expires, conscription is not mandatory.
Those whose families have elderly, weak, sick, or disabled members who are unable to live alone may be exempted from military service.
At the same time, a policy of replacing military service with money was implemented, but the amount was raised to an infinitely high level, requiring a thousand catties of gold to exempt one person from military service.
Once this decree was issued, everyone understood that the system of replacing military service with money was designed to exploit the wealthy from the very beginning, and had nothing to do with the common people and the poor. Moreover, the money extracted from the wealthy would be used to improve the treatment of soldiers during their military service.
This decree marked the complete end of the Qin state's century-long brutal forced labor system.
For several days in a row, it was said that some people were so excited and happy at night that they didn't go home, but sang and danced in the streets. The popular saying that "it's better to die than to give birth to a son in Qin" was no longer mentioned.
Humans are such a simple species. The Qin state had been cruel for many years, but now that it was suddenly treating them better, it brought them countless gratitude and love, as if the hatred and resistance of the past had never existed.
Although a curfew still exists, making loud noises in public or walking on the streets at night are no longer considered deadly rules.
The regulations, including those for markets, which required vendors and customers to behave in an orderly manner and not to speak loudly or hawk their wares, have all been deleted.
The Qin laws no longer excessively interfered in the lives of their subjects, choosing instead to find a balance between control and freedom.
This is what Xiao Heng meant by "governing by non-action".
He combined the strengths of Confucianism and Taoism with the advantages of various schools of thought, believing that by giving full play to the autonomy of ordinary people within the framework of criminal law and reducing intervention and coercion, ordinary people would naturally submit and live in harmony.
However, Ying Zheng was not at ease with "governing by doing nothing". He was used to intervening and coercing, and always felt that someone would betray him in the corners he could not see. Therefore, the supervision system was strengthened again, but this time there was only surveillance and no supervision.
Many officials thought Qin Shi Huang was insane, a control freak, but since he had relaxed the restrictions, no one dared to openly criticize him. After all, actions speak louder than words, and no one is perfect when it comes to intentions.
Ying Zheng's control freak and neurotic tendencies are also fully reflected in Banban; he wants to know exactly what she does every day.
His desire to control her was subtle, hidden beneath a seemingly gentle exterior.
He doesn't directly control her, but guides her in various ways so that she makes the choices he wants. At least Banban never feels that her cousin is controlling her. She is happy and joyful every day by his side. Positive and proactive control is no different from life guidance.
During this tour, Ying Zheng made a special detour to visit Liu Ji.
They arrived suddenly, just in time to witness Liu Ji and the neighboring prefect arranging a fight. The cause was some trivial matter; they had disliked each other for a long time. Liu Ji had a hidden agenda: he said it was a fight, but he didn't bring any weapons like sticks.
Is he trying to appear weak?
No.
He reported it to the authorities.
The neighboring prefect had just raised his spiked club when he was caught red-handed. The other party was dumbfounded and became so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. Liu Ji, on the other hand, looked like a law-abiding citizen. The prefect almost glared his eyes out. On the way back to the government office, he was speaking in a cacophony of insults against Liu Ji, and every single one of them was different.
Liu Ji, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, waved at him with a sly smile, a truly shameless scoundrel.
Under the new Qin law, the criminal justice system had the highest decision-making power. No matter what your rank was, if you were caught violating the law on the spot, you would be arrested first and then dealt with.
After a thorough interrogation, if it is found to be a wrongful conviction, the person will be released.
Liu Ji smiled smugly, then turned his head and saw the king standing right behind him.
He immediately admitted his mistake: "..."
The last time he was this nervous was when he and his son, after swindling and cheating, returned home crouching low, only to find his wife, Lü Zhi, sitting expressionlessly in the dark in the main hall, without turning on the lights.
The Liu family.
Banban met the famous Empress Lü Zhi. She originally thought that history had been changed and the fate of this couple would also change, but she never expected that they would still come together.
Yun whispered in her ear to explain in detail, and she finally understood why Lü Zhi had married Liu Ji.
To escape his enemies, Lü Zhi's father, Lü Gong, moved from Shanfu to Pei County. As a powerful outsider, Lü Gong was eager to form an alliance with the local forces to consolidate his position.
Although Liu Ji was born a commoner and held only the position of a pavilion chief, he befriended many county officials. After returning to Pei County, he used the names of Ying Zheng and Banban to do many things that were convenient for him. The news that he had gained the favor of the emperor and empress spread widely, and Lu Gong naturally set his sights on him.
After learning more about him, Liu Bang discovered that Liu Ji was magnanimous, had outstanding leadership skills, and a bright future. So, using the art of physiognomy, Liu Bang was praised for having the appearance of a nobleman, and it was determined that his official career would not stop at the level of a village head.
This is a political gamble.
Lü Zhi was a tool used by Lü Gong to bet on Liu Ji.
Through his marriage to Lü Zhi, Lü Gong was able to embed himself in the power center of Pei County.
Women at that time all went through this, and it's hard to say whether they were pitiful or not, because they themselves didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Empress Lü and Liu Ji supported each other throughout their journey. Liu Ji's successful official career was inseparable from Empress Lü's secret help and support. She was not just a simple wife of a prefect who managed the inner palace. She was intelligent and beautiful, and she was adept at managing the family business, educating her children, and dealing with relationships with officials.
She was enthusiastic, polite, and knew how to conduct herself appropriately.
Banban saw many things in her that she could learn from and emulate.
Lacking the brutal political struggles and pressure to survive, Lü Zhi was no longer forced to grow thorns, and under the peaceful and benevolent rule of the Qin Dynasty, she was much more at ease.
However, she was still an extremely intelligent and opinionated woman. It is said that she could help Liu Ji analyze the interpersonal relationships within the prefecture and offer him advice on governing the region.
Such shrewdness and competence will never be buried in obscurity.
Before leaving, Banban said casually, "Currently, talent selection exams are held every year across the country... Although no women participate in the exams, there are no gender restrictions. I have observed that you, Madam, are quite adept at handling local affairs and supporting Liu Ji. Many men cannot compare to you."
Empress Lü was slightly taken aback, but quickly changed her expression, smiling and curtsying, adopting a humble and shy demeanor, "This concubine is unworthy of the Empress's praise."
He smiled slightly, revealing what he considered a reserved and dignified expression, and patted her hand gently.
Back in the carriage, Ying Zheng asked, "What did you say? You looked so cunning and calculating."
Banban: "?"
"Really?" She quickly raised the small bronze mirror and touched her face, smugly admiring herself. "Cunning and scheming, me? Sigh, I am just that kind of cunning person. Others dare not easily provoke me, for fear of being schemed against by me."
"..." Ying Zheng was speechless for a moment, then asked again, "What did you say?"
Banban's eyes darted around, she tossed aside the bronze mirror, and in a soft voice, snuggled closer, "Cousin, there are no gender restrictions for the exam, women can participate too, right?"
"You sent Lü Zhi to participate in the selection process?" He frowned slightly.
“Yes, yes, I’ve already promised, cousin, you can’t let him lose face,” Banban said coquettishly, trying to persuade him. “I am the empress, I can’t go back on my word.”
Seeing her acting so spoiled, clinging to him adorably for decades, he relaxed his brow.
"No wonder you were laughing like that." Ying Zheng pinched her cheek. "I'll grant your request. I won't let you lose face. But even if we remove the gender restrictions, I'm afraid no women will participate. My cousin will probably be doing something in vain."
"That's great!" Banban cheered, jumping into his arms and snuggling in, showering him with kisses on the chin in return for his generosity. "You don't need to worry about that. Just because there's no one here now doesn't mean there won't be in the future."
She cleverly quoted Xiao Heng, saying, "Xiao Heng said that we should govern by non-interference and not interfere in the lives of ordinary people. We should respect them, right? What if there are men who want to manage the inner palace, women who want to go to the battlefield, or women who want to enter and leave the officialdom?"
"Is that what he means?" Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows, seeing through it but saying nothing.
"Yes, yes!" Banban responded readily, then noticed his teasing expression and added reservedly, "My own way of dissecting it... shouldn't be wrong, right?"
"That's right, that's what I mean." Ying Zheng followed her words and indeed didn't embarrass her.
He didn't refute her, and even went along with her, which made Banban feel a little guilty for lying to him, and she secretly observed his expression several times.
He was reading a book, and occasionally he would glance at her. She would then lean close to him affectionately, pouring him tea, peeling chestnuts, and feeding him fruit.
After several times, she realized he was secretly laughing behind her back.
She immediately bristled, but then realized she had no legitimate reason to be angry, so she punched him several times, saying, "My cousin is teasing me."
"Who is mocking whom?" Ying Zheng retorted.
"I..." She pouted and nestled obediently beside him, "Why doesn't my cousin object to anything I say?"
"Because you're not doing this for yourself." This time, Ying Zheng didn't tease her. His gaze was fixed on the book, as if these were unintentional words. "My cousin is wholeheartedly devoted to the Qin Dynasty, how could I object?"
Banban was overjoyed and leaned forward to ask him, "Cousin, do you think I will become a great empress who will be remembered for all time?" She was afraid that someone would speak ill of her, saying that she had taken him for herself and forbade him to take concubines. "After we return to the palace, you should ask the historians to praise me more."
"Alright." Ying Zheng sighed helplessly, drawing out the last syllable, and pulled her into his arms. "I will, you are already a good empress."
She was beaming with pride from the praise, and very sensibly replied, "Then cousin, you can continue reading. I won't bother you any longer."
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Author's note: Here I am! I went out this afternoon, so there won't be an extra update today~ Here's a red envelope for you!
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