Chapter 110 Baihua surrenders [Jinjiang genuine exclusive release·Governing Baiyue...
Zhang Liang, walking towards him, saw the little devil star desperately inhaling and tightening his abdomen. Although he didn't understand why the little devil star made such a strange move, he pretended not to see it. Under the sharp gazes of the group of Qin soldiers standing beside him, he walked to a distance of three meters from the little fat boy, stopped, and bowed respectfully, saying:
"Zhang Liang pays his respects to the Emperor's eldest grandson and wishes His Highness great happiness and health."
It was the first time that Ying·the little fat boy saw the cold and stubborn "Liang Baihua" so pure and natural to salute him sincerely. He didn't even bother to tighten his belly. He stared at Zhang Liang with a little surprise and astonishment, tilting his head slightly. Could this be Zhang Liang after his favorability was raised to 90 points?
Seeing that Zhang Liang's face showed no sign of reluctance, the little fellow swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth, "Mr. Zhang Liang, I miss you so much," which were meant to offend Zhang Liang. Instead, the words that came out of his mouth were filled with a hint of sincerity:
"Mr. Zhang Liang, please excuse me."
"I haven't seen you for just a few months, and you've lost so much weight, Mr. Zhang Liang. It's obvious that you've been suffering in prison again."
Zhang Liang pursed his lips. "A few months?" That's more than half a year since we last met.
Since he had already made up his mind, he did not hesitate any longer and leaned over to the little fat boy again and said:
"Your Highness, I once harbored resentment for the destruction of my motherland, my eyes narrowed by hatred. When Your Majesty ordered me to relocate to Xianyang, I not only failed to see Your Majesty's leniency toward the nobles of the fallen nation, but on the contrary, I gathered followers in the suburbs and secretly cultivated anti-Qin forces. This was truly a disaster due to Liang's foolishness and lack of vision. I failed to see Your Majesty's grand plan for unification among the Seven Kingdoms, nor could I understand that the situation in Great Qin was increasingly improving."
"After receiving guidance from His Royal Highness Changsun, Liang has spent nearly two years in prison reflecting on his mistakes. He has come to realize the harm that anti-Qin forces pose to the empire, which has finally found stability. He has also grasped the unprecedented and ingenious nature of His Majesty's thought of unification. While the suspects in Hanyangli are guilty, the primary culprit lies with Liang alone. I hope His Royal Highness Changsun will be magnanimous and plead with His Majesty to spare the lives of the Hanyangli suspects imprisoned. Whatever His Royal Highness asks of me, I will do my utmost to accomplish it. Please grant your request."
Zhang Liang bowed deeply and lowered his head.
After hearing this, Qin Ying felt that Zhang Liang might have been possessed by another spirit.
He really didn't expect that when the two of them met this time, before he even opened his mouth, "Liang Baihua" would reveal all his cards.
Ying, the little fat boy, couldn't help but raise his little hand to scratch his ear. He felt that he had some problems. He was used to being criticized by Zhang Liang in a sarcastic way. Now that Zhang Liang suddenly changed his personality and became gentle and polite, he actually felt a little uncomfortable.
Qin Ying cursed herself in her heart, but her phoenix eyes became brighter and brighter as she looked at Zhang Liang.
Zhang Han, standing aside with a sword in his arms, looked at Zhang Liang who was leaning over with a cold look on his face. He felt that this Korean man was very cunning and had figured out the character of the emperor's eldest grandson who was soft-hearted and would not tolerate toughness!
He looked at him from all angles, up and down, but he couldn't find anything about this Korean man that was so worth the emperor's eldest grandson being so attached to him and wanting to keep this suspect again and again.
Unable to hear Zhang Han's inner complaints, the chubby Ying raised his two little hands to help the bent Zhang Liang up, and then patted Zhang Han with his little hands. The next moment, the perspective rose into the air.
Qin Ying stayed in Zhang Han's arms and carefully observed Zhang Liang's expression, then said with a smile:
"No one is perfect. Although Mr. Zhang Liang made mistakes in the past, he has come to his senses and remains an outstanding talent of the Qin Empire."
"As for Mr. Zhang Liang's former retainers..."
Hearing the little devil's deliberately lengthened tone while speaking, Zhang Liang's heart instantly rose to his throat.
Those who are imprisoned now are very important to him. Most of them are Han people. Even a few younger ones like Han Huo, their fathers were old guests who followed their father in Han Xiangfu more than ten years ago.
Since the country was destroyed and the family was ruined, this group of people have been together through thick and thin for so many years. Their relationship is not that of family, but it is better than that of family.
He was very nervous about these people's lives.
Qin Ying also noticed the anxiety and worry in Zhang Liang's eyes. He naturally knew how important those suspects were to Zhang Liang. He didn't keep him in suspense and looked at Zhang Liang seriously.
"Mr. Zhang Liang, you also know that the Qin Dynasty governs according to the law. The Qin laws are strict and no one can show favoritism before the law."
"For so many years, you and your followers have been secretly gathering together. Although you haven't done anything outwardly daring or malicious, you have been trying every possible means to pass the exam to become a Zhidianlang in order to commit a crime against my grandfather. Your followers are all your accomplices!"
Hearing the iron-faced and crisp words of Little Devil Star, Zhang Liang's heart sank instantly. Just as he was about to plead with Little Devil Star again, he heard Little Devil Star say:
"But my grandfather is a man who values talent. Although you and your followers had impure intentions back then, you are indeed people of certain abilities."
"Grandfather has already told me that, for Han Feizi's sake and Mr. Zhang Liang's dedicated service as a civil servant, he is willing to allow him to return to the service of the Qin Empire. However, Mr. Zhang Liang's retainers may be spared the death penalty, but their crimes will be punished. If they are not punished, then wouldn't those remnants of the fallen Qin in Chu be suffering unjust deaths?"
Zhang Liang's heart, which had sunk to the bottom, rose again when he heard Little Demon Star's heavy breath. He cautiously looked at Little Demon Star's face and asked tentatively:
"Your Highness, I wonder how this inescapable crime will be punished?"
Qin Ying frowned and thought for a moment, then turned to look at Zhang Han who was holding him.
Zhang Han immediately understood that he was going to be a bad guy, and immediately said in a cold voice with a blank expression:
"Meng Yi, the Internal Secretary, was ordered by Your Majesty to go to Chu to purge the remaining rebels who opposed the Qin Dynasty. Those guilty of serious crimes were executed on the spot, while those with less serious offenses had their faces tattooed and were sent as prisoners to build the Great Wall."
Zhang Liang's expression became nervous when he heard this, which was almost what he had expected in prison.
But everyone has selfish motives...
Prisoners have no human rights at all. They are sent to build the Great Wall to do the hardest and most tiring work. They can die if they are not careful. How can he watch himself start a new life in Xianyang City, while his retainers who were willing to follow him and create a great cause together because they trusted him, die as prisoners in the project of building the Great Wall.
His pale face flushed slightly, and he suppressed his embarrassment and regret. He knelt on his knees, lowered his head, which had been proud for decades, and pleaded hoarsely to the chubby child who was held high in the arms of the senior official in front of him:
"Your Highness, I know this matter has put you in a difficult position, but those retainers in Hanyangli are only following your orders. I dare not ask for anything else, but I only hope that Your Highness can plead with His Majesty to spare the tattoos on the suspects' faces, retain their status as commoners in Hanyangli, and send them to build the Great Wall without monthly wages. As long as their lives can be spared, I will undoubtedly use all my talents and abilities to loyally assist Your Highness."
Hearing this, Qin Ying looked at Zhang Liang, who had put away his arrogance and looked up at him pitifully with red eyes, and couldn't help but blink his almond-shaped eyes.
really--
No matter what era, the cool "little white flower" looks best when she cries with red eyes.
He touched his chubby little chin with his little hand, frowned and thought for a while, then patted Zhang Han's arm. After standing on the ground again, he stretched out his two little hands to help Zhang Liang, who was begging him, up from the ground. Like a little adult, he shook his head and sighed in a conscientious manner:
"Alas, Mr. Zhang Liang is indeed loyal and righteous to his followers, but my father has no good feelings towards the remnants of the anti-Qin rebels. Even if Ying goes to ask my father for help, it seems a bit weak."
Zhang Liang understood the elegant meaning of the music and immediately climbed up the pole and said:
"I wonder if Your Majesty has had any worries lately. Although I am foolish, I also want to share your worries."
When Qin Ying heard this, she immediately put her hands behind her back, knitted her brows in extreme distress, and walked back and forth in front of Zhang Liang several times, making Zhang Liang nervous. Then she looked at Zhang Liang and sighed:
"To be honest, Mr. Zhang Liang, I've been having a bit of a nagging issue lately, and I haven't figured out how to resolve it yet."
"I am ignorant and would like to hear the details."
Qin Ying nodded and said:
"The story is this: the Lingqu Canal, which was opened in the south to attack the Baiyue, was recently completed. Once the Lingqu Canal was completed, our army's food and fodder became available, and the battle against the Baiyue became even more intense."
"If this momentum continues, perhaps by next year our army will be able to capture the last two remaining territories of the Baiyue, Ouyue and Luoyue. However, what is troubling is the court's subsequent arrangements for governing the Baiyue."
"The expansion of the Qin Empire's territory is naturally a great thing, but the Baiyue region is blocked by the Five Ridges and is filled with miasma. Even though we have conquered it, it will be extremely difficult to hold on to it."
"In order to maintain permanent control over the Baiyue, the court officials split into two factions. One faction was more radical and suggested to my father that the court's prison system be very sound. After our army conquered the Baiyue, all males taller than a wheel in the land of Baiyue should be tattooed and used as prisoners. They would be forced out of Baiyue and sent to build the Great Wall, the imperial mausoleum, or the Afang Palace in Xianyang. These Yue people were originally uncultured barbarians, so there was no need to show them too much pity. Since they had the audacity to kill so many of our Qin envoys, they must pay the price in blood now!"
"But officials from another faction said that although the Baiyue people were barbarians, not all of them were bad. If we really used a blanket criminal system and arrested all the men in the Baiyue, it would only make the women of the Baiyue more resentful of the Qin Dynasty. In the long run, the resentment among the Baiyue would spread, and how could we expect them to be loyal and convinced? We should adopt a policy of appeasement and treat everyone equally. We should divide the Baiyue land into several large counties, send high-ranking officials from Xianyang to serve as county governors, and then win back the chiefs of the Yue tribes or the lords of small cities. By controlling these Yue leaders, we can further slowly assimilate the Yue people and win back their hearts."
"Alas, this matter may seem simple, but it concerns the future governance plan of the Qin Empire regarding the territories beyond the Great Wall. The two factions of officials in the court have been arguing for several days, and my father has also been deliberating, but he hasn't been able to come up with a good plan for the time being."
Zhang Liang pursed his lips. After listening to what the little devil said, he finally understood the crux of the matter.
Although the six states outside the Hangu Pass fought to the death with the Qin State inside the Hangu Pass year after year, the seven powers were ultimately suppressed by a common "Zhou Dynasty".
Even though the last Zhou emperor Ji Yan had already existed in name only in Luoyi during the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, all the people of the Seven Kingdoms recognized themselves as "descendants of Yan and Huang" and that the culture deep down in their bones was of the same origin. Even though the six kingdoms had perished, in recent years, with the court's continuous propaganda of "the Seven Kingdoms are one family", the people of Han, Wei, Chu, Yan, Zhao, and Qi had become more and more accepting of Qin laws and had become more and more aware of their identity as new Qin people.
However, the barbarians of the Baiyue tribes had no knowledge of the "Zhou Dynasty". Now that Qin Shihuang was in power, it was the first time in history that this hot and humid land filled with miasma was incorporated into the territory of China. To the Yue people, the Qin people did not seem to be of the same race as them at all.
Given the huge gap between the inside and the outside, it would be extremely difficult to assimilate this wild land.
Zhang Liang had already found the key to the problem, but he didn't directly propose a solution. Instead, he looked at the short and stocky Little Demon Star and asked curiously:
"Your Highness, what do you think?"
Qin Ying raised her eyes and said:
"I don't belong to either camp. The first camp is too radical, and the second camp is too conservative."
"Those who hold radical views say it's simple. They don't consider that although the population of Baiyue is far smaller than that of Daqin, it still has hundreds of thousands of people in total. If all the men of Baiyue were captured, it would not be a small number. Such a large number of people, if all of them were used as prisoners to build the project in the Seven Heroes, would greatly punish and deter the Yue people to a certain extent, and it would also solve the problem of insufficient local labor and even weaken the resistance of Baiyue to a certain extent. However, this method is too difficult to implement. Not to mention the huge logistical effort required to bring all these Yue male prisoners out of Baiyue, the climate of Baiyue is completely different from that of the north. If the weather turns cold, these Yue people transported to the north to build the Great Wall may freeze to death! Moreover, if these Yue people gather together and are forced into a corner, they may join the prisoners who build the Great Wall to cause trouble, which may also have a bad impact on the northern defense line."
"This is a thankless arrangement, and it's the main reason why I don't agree with the first faction."
Zhang Liang's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he stared at the little devil's head with uncontrollable amazement. Even if this child was blessed with love, he couldn't think so comprehensively, could he? Not to mention he was less than four years old. He felt that even a forty-year-old standing here would find it difficult to logically consider all the pros and cons of a plan and express them clearly.
Zhang Han also looked at the little prince with pride. He felt that every time he saw the little prince, he would remember that this was the most outstanding contribution that the eldest prince had made to the Qin Dynasty in his life!
"The other faction's approach is much more lenient and easier to implement. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, disagrees because he's worried that the high-ranking officials sent to Baiyue will take advantage of the natural defenses of the Five Ridges and one day become local tyrants in Baiyue."
Zhang Liang hit the nail on the head.
Qin Ying sighed and nodded. The second faction's method seemed similar to the Qin Dynasty's plan for governing the six former kingdoms outside the Great Wall. In both cases, high-ranking officials were at the top, and the grassroots level was still ruled by Han people governing Han and Chu people governing Chu. However, on the land of the Seven Kingdoms, notice walls could play a significant role, and the people of Baiyue could not speak the Qin language at all and did not recognize a single Qin character. They trusted their chieftain. If the Qin royal family's control over the Baiyue weakened, and the high-ranking officials assigned to the Baiyue directly locked up the Five Ridges and established themselves as Zhao Tuo in his previous life, wouldn't that be in vain?
Zhang Liang pondered this in his mind for a moment, then bowed to Qin Ying and said,
"Your Highness, Liang already understands your concerns."
"Although I am not talented, I do wish to share your concerns with you, Your Majesty. If Your Highness trusts me, please give me three days. I will integrate the opinions of officials from both factions in the court and devise a set of regulations for Your Majesty. If the regulations are favored by Your Majesty, please be lenient with my retainers for their sake."
Qin Ying heard Zhang Liang turn the topic back to the suspects in prison. Without saying anything more, she looked up at the sky, pointed at the small courtyard around her with her little hand, and said to Zhang Liang:
"Since Mr. Zhang Liang is willing to help Grandfather, I am naturally happy from the bottom of my heart."
"This small courtyard is the house rented by Mr. Zhang Liang himself. I have already sold it for Qin Banliang, and the title deed has been completed. These four servants were selected by me from the eldest son's mansion. Mr. Zhang Liang does not need to return to prison. You can stay here for the day."
Hearing the young emperor's words, the two male and female servants who had come to greet him hurriedly bowed to Zhang Liang and said,
"I pay my respects to Mr. Zhang Liang."
Seeing this, it was impossible for Zhang Liang to say that he was not touched at all. Although the Demon Star was a demon, he could really win people's hearts.
He glanced at Zhang Han's cold expression, and couldn't help but look at the little devil standing beside Zhang Han's legs and asked softly:
"Your Highness, Liang is now the leader of the rebels. Is it true that Liang doesn't need to go back to prison anymore?"
Qin Ying couldn't help scratching her ears again when she heard this. Was it tinnitus? Liang Baihua was talking awkwardly, so why did her throat suddenly seem to be clamped?
Zhang Han saw through Zhang Liang's dishonest and seductive behavior at a glance, and glared at Zhang Liang with sharp eyes, but saw that the eyes of this cunning Han man became even redder, as if he had bullied him. He was stunned, and after he reacted, he was instantly furious. Was this man trying to provoke him in various ways?
Because of his short stature, he was in a blind spot and couldn't see the two adults above him exchanging glances and making witty remarks. After rubbing his ears with his hands, the little fat boy looked up at Zhang Liang and smiled:
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhang Liang. Grandfather has explained how to deal with suspects in Hanyangli. As long as it's not something too outrageous, I can do it first and report it later. It's getting late today and curfew is almost here, so I won't stay here to disturb you."
"Sir, please have a good night's rest and quickly write a set of rules for governing the Baiyue people. Once you're done, give them to the soldier at the gate, who will deliver them to the royal city for Ying to see."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang leaned forward and said with a smile:
"Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Highness. I will definitely seize this opportunity to share your Majesty's worries and write the governance charter with all my heart."
Qin Ying nodded and told Zhang Han to leave, but then she heard Zhang Liang ask:
"Will the young prince come again?"
Qin Ying was stunned when he heard this. He subconsciously glanced at the suspended system panel and saw that Zhang Liang's favorability bar had risen to "99%". He was delighted and immediately replied, "Come on, Mr. Zhang Liang, please think about writing the charter. I will come to see you when I am free."
After saying this, Zhang Han leaned over and picked up the fat boy Ying, and rushed out of the wooden gate of the courtyard in two steps. When he got into the carriage, he looked back for some reason and saw Zhang Liang leaning against the door. The light from the setting sun, blocked by the eaves, divided Zhang Liang's handsome face into two parts, one bright and one dark.
Qin Ying turned around and got into the carriage.
The carriage rolled forward, and when it entered the royal city, Zhang Han, who was riding beside the carriage, suddenly saw the little grandson of the emperor standing by the window inside the carriage and asked him curiously:
"Zhang Han, do you think Zhang Liang is acting a little strange today?"
Zhang Han paused his right hand gripping the reins when he heard this, turned his head and glanced at the little emperor's grandson, his ears slightly reddened, and he spoke in a muffled voice,
"Your Highness, in my opinion, since you are of such high status, it would be best if you did not have too much private contact with Zhang Liang."
Qin Ying tilted her head and wondered:
"What does this mean?"
Zhang Han was not one to gossip about others behind their backs, but since this matter concerned the emperor's eldest grandson, he still suppressed his shame and whispered:
"Your Highness, you are young, and although you are intelligent, you do not understand human nature."
"Zhang Liang lived a distinguished aristocratic life in Xinzheng City during his youth. Later, when his country was destroyed and his family was ruined, he squandered his wealth and painstakingly cultivated anti-Qin forces in the suburbs of Xianyang. He had expended so much effort to reach the point where he could approach Your Majesty, but before he could do anything, Your Majesty had him snared."
"Before you were arrested and imprisoned, you used such sharp words to ruthlessly shatter the family glory that had made him proud and cherished for decades. Afterwards, you were thrown into prison for almost two years."
"How could an average person endure this series of misfortunes?"
"so--"
Qin Ying asked in confusion.
Zhang Han clenched the reins tightly in his hands, his toes curling frantically in his boots. Enduring endless embarrassment and shame, he said in a very low and heartbroken voice:
"So, little prince, don't be fooled by the Korean man's outward appearance. He is actually a pervert on the inside!"
"Look at his behavior today. He's completely like a seductive fox. I can tell at a glance that he's trying to replicate Han Feizi's influence on Your Majesty. Zhang Liang is clearly trying to seduce Your Highness!"
When Qin Ying heard this and looked at Zhang Han, who looked as if he had been struck by lightning and the sky was falling and the earth was splitting, she felt as if she was petrified from head to toe.
Is this the gap between the two thousand years?
He dared to say that people in later generations could tell from a casual observation that Zhang Liang's character was pure and unpretentious, and the "high-born little white flower, beautiful, strong and tragic" that impressed the overbearing boss. But when it came to Zhang Han's mouth, it became "the seductive fox."
provoke!
Ying·The little fat boy hurriedly sat back in his seat, rubbing the goose bumps on his arms frantically. He felt that Zhang Han really needed to read more books. His speech had no literary talent and he couldn't even make a good metaphor. The movement of rubbing his arms made the soft flesh on the little fat boy's belly jump "duang~duang~duang~" with the rolling of the wheels. He really didn't know whether it was the flesh jumping or his heart that was making noises.
…
Slowly the sky became completely dark.
Zhang Liang, who had been imprisoned for almost two years, finally lived a normal life tonight.
After dinner, he walked around the courtyard under the bright moonlight to digest his food, while integrating some information about the Baiyue region that he had learned from the classics of Chu when he was a doctor.
The land of Baiyue was the expeditionary territory that Qin Shihuang advocated to take. He knew very well that the success of this governance charter would determine his future status in Ying Zheng's mind.
Zhang Liang walked slower and slower, but his heartbeat grew faster and faster, until he was sweating all over. He then returned to his room for a quick shower, then lit a candle, spread out a piece of paper, picked up his brush, and began to write with a calm and focused mind:
[Your Majesty, the suspect Zhang Liang believes that in order to control the Baiyue region, we must proceed with the following four steps...]
The candlelight flickered and stayed lit all night long.
On the morning of the third day, a thick booklet called "Regulations for the Governance of the Baiyue Land" was delivered from the East City and West Market to the residence of the eldest son of the royal city.
After Qin Ying got the booklet, she glanced at it with shining eyes, then excitedly went into the palace to read and delivered the booklet to Zhangtai Palace.
At four o'clock in the morning, as the First Emperor finished his court meeting in the outer hall, he saw Lü Zhi approaching quickly with a thick book in her hands. She leaned over and reported:
"Your Majesty, this is the charter for governing the Baiyue land that His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, presented to you during your morning court session."
Upon hearing this, the First Emperor reached out to take it, opened it, and when he saw the concise words, clear logic, and sharp language above, his narrow and long eyes widened. He held the book in his hands and read it for more than two quarters of an hour.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
