Chapter 31 Lü Buwei: In the end, I still bore the brunt of it all... 3...
Taishu Jiu believed he was fully prepared and didn't intend to say he wanted to lead troops to quell the rebellion. He was just accompanying the army to conduct experiments, so surely that would work?
Qin smiled enigmatically, greeted Ying Zheng, and left, his destination unknown.
****
Zhu Qing'ai's main body began to check the help post she had made earlier. Due to the vast distance between the worlds and the delay in the system forum's network speed, she only saw some replies today.
Regarding the sudden transmigration of this world, the conclusion reached by numerous systems is consistent: it was purely accidental, with the possibility of human intervention being less than 0.00001%.
After seeing the result, Zhu Qing'ai didn't care anymore. Maybe Ying Ji had just gone on a grand adventure to another world.
She couldn't control this matter; she was just glad to know it was purely accidental.
****
Ying Zheng and Taishu Jiu packed their belongings and left the territory of the Grand Chancellor, riding in a carriage towards the palace.
When leading his men to Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng casually asked, "How did you know that Duke Wen of Zhou was plotting with the feudal lords to invade?"
“Wang Yuan told me that he had met him when he went to Xianyang City. He asked me about this matter, but I didn’t understand what he meant.”
He had heard Wang Yuan mention this matter briefly, but he didn't get any specific details. Wang Yuan only told him to be careful in Xianyang City recently, but he didn't understand the last sentence Wang Yuan said, so the two of them didn't talk about it again.
Ying Zheng nodded, understanding Taishu Jiu's situation. Wang Yuan was a deep and cunning person who spoke indirectly and not directly, so it was normal that Taishu Jiu did not understand the true meaning behind it.
Wang Yuan had mentioned this matter to him before, but he had to go to and from school every day, so it was naturally not his place to discuss and decide on state affairs. Unexpectedly, Wang Yuan went to see the Grand Tutor Taishu in private...
Is there a problem?
"It's nothing. Has Mr. Taishu figured out how to talk to the King? These 'fireworks' are easy to use. You don't necessarily have to come along, do you?"
Taishu Jiu quickly said, "No, I'll go with you... I need to record the effects of these 'fireworks' so that I can study and improve them in the future."
Of course it's for the points! If he doesn't go, he won't get any points, that won't do.
Ying Zheng then remembered that Taishu Jiu had said something similar about these fireworks not being mass-produced. He nodded and said, "That's one reason, but whether Your Majesty will agree is another matter."
After all, the Grand Chancellor's value to the Qin Dynasty far exceeded that of a war. If it weren't for Taishu Jiu's insistence, he wouldn't have brought people into the palace to see his father.
His father is more likely to refuse.
As the carriages passed by, Taishu Jiu could immediately see the dust kicked up on both sides. Although Qin law strictly prohibited littering, the streets were always covered in dust whenever carriages and pedestrians passed by, and the streets didn't look very clean.
Taishu Jiu raised his sleeve and fanned the dust in front of his eyes. He always felt that he wanted to improve everything he saw, but he was powerless to actually do it. He was just one person and not enough. Even with the craftsmen under his management, it was still not enough.
Only the Xianyang Palace, which is surrounded by buildings in the center of Xianyang City, looks bright and beautiful. The surrounding buildings become less and less appealing as you move outwards, not to mention the other city buildings.
Over the years, with the promotion of high-yield grains, ordinary people have become wealthier, but their houses are still built in the same haphazard way as before, and their daily consumption is the same as always. There are really no entertainment options available now.
How can we stimulate consumption and drive economic development? Tai Shujiu scratched his head in his mind. After looking at Fei Hui for a while, he still couldn't figure it out, so he put it aside for the time being. At this moment, it was more important to review how he should persuade Ying Zichu!
Taishu Jiu repeated the lines he had come up with in his mind several times, and then simulated the scene of meeting Prince Qin, putting his elaborate brain to the extreme.
If it fails, you can't blame anyone else; just blame his poor brain-shaping skills.
The carriage slowly came to a stop at the palace gate. Once inside the palace, one could no longer ride in a carriage. The two walked along the palace road, followed by two rows of attendants who carried items brought into the palace from outside the city. These items were inspected before being allowed into the palace.
When Ying Zichu met him, there was another person kneeling opposite him, none other than Lü Buwei, whom he was thinking about. He was discussing with Ying Zichu about launching an expedition to destroy the Zhou state (Eastern Zhou state).
Ying Zichu has decided that Lü Buwei will lead the army to conquer the Zhou state. He is currently discussing the specific arrangements, including the mobilization of supplies and the recruitment of personnel.
Food supplies were not a major problem. After years of accumulating resources following the promotion of improved varieties, Qin, while not exactly a sudden rich man, was certainly not short of food.
When the topic of provisions came up, Ying Zichu immediately praised Taishu Jiu, saying that without Taishu Jiu, there would have been no such well-supplied troops for the battle.
Lü Buwei agreed, and he also liked this Grand Chancellor who did not participate in political struggles and did not fight or grab.
Taishu, the Grand Chancellor, would not have any conflict of interest with Qin and could help Qin become stronger. Who wouldn't like such a talent?
"Your Majesty is absolutely right, but I still regret that the Grand Chancellor is unwilling to serve in the court."
Ying Zichu sighed and said, "This is also my regret. I wonder if Zheng'er can persuade Grand Tutor Taishu."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is exceptional. He is so mature and composed at such a young age. He must have been confident in what he said earlier."
Lu Buwei had barely finished speaking when a servant entered and reported, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and Grand Tutor Taishu request an audience and are currently waiting outside..."
Before anyone could finish speaking, Ying Zichu's face lit up with joy, and he said repeatedly, "Quickly, quickly invite them in."
Lu Buwei's eyes flickered slightly as he smiled and flattered, "It seems Your Majesty's wish is about to be fulfilled. I, Lu Buwei, congratulate Your Majesty in advance."
"Haha, bring two more seats."
They were kneeling on either side of a low table, and the square table with two seats didn't feel crowded; on the contrary, it showed the close relationship between the four people present.
Ying Zheng and Taishu Jiu walked in from outside, and the two bowed together:
"Your son pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Ying Zichu beckoned to the two of them: "Quickly, no need for formalities, come and sit down."
However, Taishu Jiu could not understand Ying Zichu's intention. After thanking Ying Zichu for the seat, he automatically chose the seat to his right and knelt down.
He frowned slightly; he was used to sitting in a chair at home, and it took him a while to sit upright again.
Ying Zichu noticed Taishu Jiu's subtle expression and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Mr. Taishu? Is there something troubling you?"
Taishu Jiu answered honestly, "It's nothing, I'm just used to sitting in a chair at home, so it's a little uncomfortable to sit upright all of a sudden."
"A chair? What's that?"
"I made this to sit on, to make my daily work easier. If Your Majesty would like it, I will send you a set later."
Ying Zichu smiled and nodded before getting down to business: "Sir, are you here to serve as an official in the court?"
Taishu Jiu shook his head: "I believe that I have no military merits, and if I accept Your Majesty's invitation, it would be inappropriate for me to hold a high position. Therefore, I thought of sharing Your Majesty's burdens and resolving this war between Qin and Zhou."
Ying Zichu's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. He asked, "Did someone say something to you, sir?"
He knew that Taishu Jiu had recently visited Xianyang City, but he didn't expect that someone would spread rumors about him just for that.
He did not doubt his eldest son Ying Zheng, and trusted Ying Zheng, believing that he would not say such a thing to Taishu Jiu.
“...Not really, it was my own idea,” Taishu Jiu emphasized again. “This newly created firework really needs to be tested, and I want to go with the army.”
Ying Zichu looked at Lü Buwei, whose heart was trembling upon hearing Taishu Jiu's words. If this man had truly accompanied the army, he was no ordinary ancestor.
Was he there to lead troops into battle, or to serve his ancestors?
He wanted to offer some advice, but Ying Zheng interrupted him, saying, "Your subject thinks that Mr. Taishu's fireworks are quite impressive. Why don't you take a look, Father?"
Taishu Jiu looked at Ying Zheng in surprise. He was actually speaking up for him. It was truly touching.
In his mind, he would be grateful if Ying Zheng didn't hold him back and instead tried to work against Prince Chu of Qin. He never expected that Ying Zheng would actually help him.
Ying Zichu pondered for a moment and said, "...Alright, Mr. Taishu, please demonstrate these fireworks first."
Taishu Jiu stood up, bowed, and said, "In that case, Your Majesty, please follow me out of the building to the open space for a stroll."
Ying Zichu readily agreed, and the four of them walked towards the open square in front of the main hall of the palace.
At this time, the giant trees had not yet been completely harvested, and the palaces built by the feudal lords were being constructed to be larger and larger. The open space in front of the main hall occupied even more space, so they could watch the fireworks effect directly from inside the palace without having to leave the palace gates.
Following the procedure, Taishu Jiu laid the fireworks flat and set them off.
The fireworks traced a parabolic arc through the sky, emitting a piercing cry along the way, before exploding with a loud thud, scattering sparks that almost covered a small section of the palace in the distance.
Ying Zichu asked the same question as Ying Zheng in surprise, his voice hoarse: "...Sir, has this been achieved in cultivating immortality...?"
Lu Buwei also stared intently at Taishu Jiu. The last time he had witnessed a terrifying celestial phenomenon was when he was welcoming Ying Zheng back to the country. The lightning, thunder, and torrential rain there were far more powerful than what he was seeing now, and the final sight of the black bird breaking through the heavens and earth was unforgettable.
Compared to this, Taishu Jiu's 'fireworks' are nothing special, but... this method of summoning thunder and fire comes from Taishu Jiu. He knows that no matter how clever Taishu Jiu was before, he was still just a mortal. Now... Lu Buwei looked at Taishu Jiu suspiciously. Could it be as the king said, that the Grand Chancellor has gone to cultivate immortality?
"Of course not, this is just using some knowledge from chemistry. If Your Majesty wishes, you can learn it too."
Ying Zichu's eyes lit up: "Is what you say true, sir?"
Taishu Jiu nodded in affirmation: "What I said is absolutely true. I would also like Your Majesty to support my research and allocate some alchemists to me."
"The matter of the alchemists is easy to discuss. I will then recruit some alchemists into the palace and send them to you, sir."
Ying Zichu was very concerned about this unfamiliar field of chemistry. He couldn't foresee the future where he would be discouraged from studying chemistry, and he remained enthusiastic: "How should I learn this field of chemistry?"
"When I finish my experiments with the army, I will write a special chemistry book for you so that you can study it."
Ying Zichu accepted the promise Taishu Jiu made to him, but he also noticed the premise in Taishu Jiu's words. After some hesitation, he agreed to Taishu Jiu's request to join the army and did not make things too difficult for him.
He thought that even with his miraculous weapon, the Grand General could easily defeat the enemy. The army that the Zhou remnants had barely managed to put together was nothing to fear!
Lü Buwei: ?
Wait a minute, how come he suddenly has an ancestor who wants to go to war with him after just one trip to the palace?
He pleaded with great distress, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! You know how important Mr. Taishu is to our Great Qin. How can you so easily send him to the battlefield?"
Taishu Jiu was very dissatisfied with Lü Buwei's obstruction. He gave an example: "Prime Minister Lü is also a pillar of our Great Qin, the Prime Minister of our Great Qin. His importance to Great Qin is self-evident. If the Prime Minister can lead troops, why can't I, a mere Grand Master of Ceremonies, accompany the army?"
Lü Buwei was speechless: "A mere trifle"
"Besides, I have important business to attend to." Taishu Jiu looked at Lü Buwei with a sincere expression, trying to move him with his sincerity.
Lü Buwei didn't want to receive Taishu Jiu's sincere gaze; he just wanted to know who would be responsible if something happened on the road.
He himself doesn't lead troops to the front lines, but Taishu Jiu is taking this thing to test, and it's obvious that he can't stand too far back.
That's where the risks come in, which is why he strongly opposes it!
At one point, Lü Buwei even suspected that Taishu Jiu had come specifically to target him, but then he thought that Taishu Jiu was not a member of any faction and had no past grudges against him, so he put aside this suspicion.
Little did he know that his thoughts at that moment had actually been guessed correctly by accident: Taishu Jiu, or rather, Zhu Qing'ai who was guiding him from behind, was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him and suppress him.
Zhu Qing'ai had no grudge against Lü Buwei and thought he was a talented person. But it was precisely because she had no grudge against him and thought he was a talented person that she hoped someone could be above Lü Buwei.
With the two sides fighting like this, as long as Lü Buwei behaves himself a little, he can avoid being purged and continue to work for Qin.
Taishu Jiu's personality makes him difficult for emperors to suspect. It's already quite remarkable that he can understand the political struggles in the court. It's not that he's idle and there's no need to doubt him.
He was a fairly suitable candidate; otherwise, Zhu Qing'ai couldn't think of anyone who could sit in a high position without arousing Ying Zheng's suspicion.
Ying Zichu was in power for only three years, and she didn't take him into account when she was considering the matter.
****
Lü Buwei looked at Ying Zichu, hoping that the king, who had always stood by him, would give him a definite answer.
Ying Zichu coughed lightly: "Ahem, what the Grand Chancellor said is not without reason..."
"With such a divine weapon, we are certain to win this battle, and we will win quickly. It is relatively safe. If you want to come along, you can."
Lu Buwei felt wronged, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He was truly bitter inside. "Your Majesty, why did you change your attitude so suddenly? Didn't you just say that this battle was extremely important and needed to be carefully planned?"
Why did you change your mind so quickly? The Grand Master said he wanted to go, and you actually let him go?
Ying Zichu tried his best to ignore Lü Buwei's gaze. He knew he was causing trouble for his prime minister, but! The Grand Chancellor had given him far too much!
Who doesn't yearn for immortality in this world?
Ying Zichu had already automatically come to think of chemistry as the path to immortality. He wouldn't have believed it if other alchemists had told him, but he believed it when Taishu Jiu told him!
Taishu never said that studying chemistry could grant immortality. Jiu only thought it was because of his amazing eloquence that Ying Zichu firmly stood by his side. So he smiled gently at Lü Buwei and said, "I will be grateful for the Prime Minister's care in the future."
He bowed very politely, as if he were entrusting the matter entirely to the Prime Minister.
Lü Buwei returned the greeting with a smile, but inwardly he was cursing. He even struggled with his words, saying, "Actually, if the Grand Master has instructed me on how to use this, I can also experiment on your behalf."
Lü Buwei had already tried his best, but Taishu Jiu was not satisfied and insisted on going himself.
Ying Zichu was more concerned about how many fireworks there were, whether more could be made, and whether there could be fireworks with even greater destructive power.
He thought this and asked this question. Taishu Jiu said, "That's why I want some alchemists. My research progress is too slow if I do it alone, and I have many other things to do... I might forget about it if I get busy."
"As for the number of fireworks, there are only so many. To recreate them, we need to thoroughly study how this accident occurred, and we will need many more alchemists working together."
By bringing all those alchemists to work 996 hours a day to study chemistry while also doing odd jobs, it can prevent important officials in the court or the King of Qin from suddenly taking elixirs. It's a win-win situation.
Ying Zichu immediately agreed: "Please rest assured, sir. When you return victorious, all those alchemists will be sent to you without exception."
At this point, Lü Buwei could only accept his fate and resign himself to having to bring a Grand Master of Ceremonies with him on future battles. He figured he would have to share half of the credit that was originally his with this man. But what could he do? Such a talent had to be treated with respect.
Not only did he have to be appeased, but he also had to find a way to explain the battlefield situation to Taishu Jiu before setting off, and then give him an emergency drill.
"This must be your first time on the battlefield, sir. Why don't you visit Buwei's residence in a couple of days and we can have a long talk?"
"Of course, then thank you, Prime Minister Lü."
"You're too kind, Grand Chancellor." Lu Buwei's expression remained unchanged as he continued to exchange pleasantries with Taishu Jiu with a smile. In his heart, he was thinking that he would arrange more personal guards around this man so that the expedition could be delayed a little, but Taishu Jiu must not be allowed to get into trouble.
The group finally reached an agreement and had time to go forward and inspect the scene left behind after the fireworks had burned.
From a distance, he thought the fireworks were just impressive but not very lethal. But when he got closer and looked at the palace where the sparks had fallen, Ying Zichu discovered that the fireworks hadn't left a single trace.
Only then did he gain a real understanding of fireworks. He frowned and asked, "Isn't the reason fireworks are called fireworks because they have no power?"
Taishu Jiu: "That's right. These fireworks have no lethality; they're just for fooling people. We can only use them a few times to deceive the enemy."
"Can it replace the smoke signal? This looks more conspicuous and can be carried around, which is much more convenient than the smoke signal."
Most importantly, this thing has color, which allows it to convey far more information than a beacon fire.
Taishu Jiu shook his head. Fireworks are fireworks, not signal flares. If you want to transmit information, it's best to use professional signal flares. He bought fireworks because he thought that they would cover a large area when laid flat, which would be suitable for persuading the King of Qin to allow him to accompany the army, and also allow him to ask the King of Qin for people to develop gunpowder-related technologies.
"It's probably not very suitable, but with some modifications, it could be better adapted for marching. However, I've never seen a real march or a real battlefield, so I'm a bit clueless about how to modify it."
Ying Zichu couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. He was still worried that he would change his mind. He kept emphasizing the various benefits of accompanying the army: "Since I have already promised you, I will not go back on my word. You can rest assured that I will definitely let you accompany me when we go on a real expedition."
****
Everyone present was satisfied, except for Lü Buwei.
Lü Buwei wanted to sigh. Has anyone considered him? You all make it sound so easy. He'll be the one leading the troops and in full charge. Of course, if anything goes wrong, the blame will fall on him.
Only when Lü Buwei was injured did the world achieve the jpg.
Oh, right, he had to take back his earlier thought; he no longer liked this unassuming and unambitious Grand Master.
After exchanging pleasantries, the gathering finally ended. Lü Buwei returned to the Prime Minister's residence with a weary heart. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he ordered his trusted aides to investigate. He was determined to find out how the Grand Tutor knew about this matter and why he insisted on accompanying the army.
He's a schemer himself, and he doesn't believe there's no reason behind this.
Lu Buwei's confidant accepted the order and withdrew, immediately assigning men to investigate the matter thoroughly.
****
The next day
Before Lü Buwei's men could even figure things out, Taishu Jiu arrived with gifts.
Taishu Jiu didn't have much to give as a gift, but he brought his own improved calligraphy brush and a thick stack of newly made paper. It's said that it's never wrong to be generous with gifts, so after he handed the items to Lü Buwei's attendant, Lü Buwei's smile actually deepened.
“Mr. Taishu has arrived so early without giving any prior notice. I, Buwei, have failed to greet you properly.”
Taishu Jiu waved his hand dismissively: "It's nothing, I don't care about that."
Lü Buwei did not consider the deeper meaning of those words. He believed that Taishu Jiu meant what he said literally and had no other intention. He also felt extremely relaxed talking to such a person.
Although I sometimes get choked up by their blunt remarks, it's better than constantly guessing what the other person is really thinking and always being on guard against whether the person I'm talking to is digging a hole for me with their words.
Lü Buwei brought up the matter of the army's departure in a few days and then spoke of provisions: "Thanks to you, sir, our Qin Dynasty has such abundant provisions. I thank you on behalf of the soldiers."
Taishu Jiu quickly stepped forward to help the person who was about to bow down. He couldn't understand why people had to say such high-sounding words, but that didn't stop him from playing along.
"Prime Minister Lü, you are the pillar of Qin. Qin cannot do without you. How could I ask you to bow down?"
The two exchanged compliments to show their friendship before getting down to business. Lü Buwei, after all, was the one who took over Ying Zheng's army, and his understanding of the military was far superior to that of Taishu Jiu.
He first told others what they should pay attention to, and then said, "The march may not be as comfortable as the daily journey, please bear with me, Mr. Taishu."
"Prime Minister Lü, there's no need to worry. I'm not one to indulge in pleasure or entertainment. We'll do whatever is appropriate."
Fearing that Lü Buwei might not be at ease, he added, "Prime Minister Lü, you don't need to worry about me. I consider myself to be quite skilled in martial arts. If you don't believe me, I'll demonstrate my swordsmanship for you!"
Lü Buwei: "...Master Taishu also knows swordsmanship?"
Wearing a sword is quite popular nowadays. Wealthy people like to wear a decorative bronze sword at their waist to show their status. Wealthy people who wear swords can also wield them a few times. But when it comes to swordsmanship, not everyone who owns a sword has superb swordsmanship skills.
The muscles the other man had developed from farming were genuine, and he believed that Taishu Jiu could lift the bronze sword. However, swordsmanship was not a simple matter, so when Taishu Jiu claimed to know swordsmanship, he was indeed skeptical.
Taishu Jiu nodded confidently: "Of course, I think my swordsmanship is pretty good."
Lü Buwei was also somewhat curious. What was it that this Grand Chancellor couldn't do? (Oh, he can't 'speak'? Oh, never mind then.)
"But please, sir, perform a sword dance!"
Lu Buwei's love for talent resurfaced, and he retracted his previous statement that he disliked the Grand Chancellor. He led his men to the courtyard where the Grand Chancellor often practiced swordsmanship, and pointed to the thick, scarred wooden stake, saying with a mixture of pride and humility, "I also love swordsmanship. Although my talent is average, I can still leave deep marks on it every time. Mr. Taishu, you may also give it a try."
Taishu Jiu drew the sword he had specially worn that day from his waist, first performing a sword dance to warm up, then shouted and swung the sword at the wooden stake.
When Taishu Jiu brandished his sword, Lü Buwei was still in the mood to clap and cheer, but when he actually swung his sword and struck the wooden stake, Lü Buwei could no longer laugh.
Because Taishu Jiu lived up to his physique, which had reached level eighty, the wooden stake... was chopped in two...
"..."
Lü Buwei: Huh?
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Author's note: Lü Buwei: I was so moved I cried qaq.
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Some extra chapters, this time there's really no one in debt! (Hands on hips)
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Actually, for the ancients themselves, there was no distinction between Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou. They all called themselves Zhou. The prefixes for east, west, south, north, and front were added by later generations to make it easier to distinguish which Zhou dynasty it was. For example, the Shu Han regime established by Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms period was called "Han" (Liu Bei claimed to be a continuation of the Han dynasty). He himself did not say that he was Shu Han or Shu Kingdom. When his contemporaries called them Shu Han or Shu Kingdom, it was mostly a derogatory term, besides directly referring to their territory as Shu, which was equivalent to not acknowledging their legitimacy as the Han dynasty. (Prefixes will probably be added occasionally in the text, because it is indeed easier to identify them, haha.)
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In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin (249 BC), Duke Wen of Eastern Zhou conspired with other feudal lords to attack Qin. King Zhuangxiang learned of this and ordered Lü Buwei to lead an army to conquer and destroy Eastern Zhou. The Duke of Eastern Zhou was relocated to Yangrenju (west of present-day Linru County, Henan Province), but his ancestral sacrifices were not interrupted. The land of Yangren was given to the Zhou ruler to continue his sacrifices. With this, the last remaining forces of the Zhou Dynasty were eliminated. Following this, the Qin army continued its encroachment on the three Jin states, conquering vast territories.
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