Chapter 11

"Diligence in governance is the most basic requirement, but even being diligent doesn't make one a good Emperor. Take King Fuchu of Chu, for instance — he was diligent enough, yet he slaughtered nobles and commoners alike! Can he be considered a good Emperor?"

"The people of Chu have long since cursed him to utter ruin!"

"To become an Emperor praised by all is even harder!"

"After all, with so many conflicting interests, how could one possibly earn the praise of everyone in the world?"

"You want to rule by killing — that's fine, you do have the ability. But have you never considered the consequences of acting this way?"

"In years past, though Chancellor Lü Buwei bullied Guaren, the man possessed true talent and learning. Guaren has always believed that one of his sayings made a great deal of sense!"

"If you slaughter all the soldiers and civilians of the six states, no one will till the fields. What meaning would such a realm hold, even if unified?"

"Therefore, Guaren agrees with his abolition of the military merit system, changing the recording of merit from killing to the taking of land!"

"Guaren believes that in doing so, he benefited both the state and the people!"

"Likewise, if an Emperor rules well, he wields supreme authority. But if he rules poorly, it means the nation's destruction and the extermination of its people!"

"Don't think that just because you now possess a fierce warrior like Li Yuanba!"

"But… you must understand, you will die, and this Li Yuanba will die as well. While you live, no one dares touch you!"

"But what about after you die?"

"After your death, the whole world will rebel against you — what then?"

"Could it be… that Great Qin under your hand will only last this single generation?"

"No! This is not the Great Qin Guaren desires!"

"The Great Qin Guaren desires is a Great Qin of ten thousand generations!"

"The sons and grandsons of Great Qin, endless and without end!"

"That is why your father-Emperor built the Great Wall and constructed Epang Palace!"

"This was to lay the foundation for a Great Qin of ten thousand generations!"

"And you? Can you guarantee this?"

"Can you let the foundation of Great Qin endure for ten thousand generations?"

At this moment, after Seeing Ying Zheng finished speaking, his gaze fixed intently on Facing Ying Su!

Facing Ying Su likewise looked toward Seeing Ying Zheng!

Facing Ying Su could understand his words.

Moreover, he agreed with them utterly!

Indeed, just as he said, just as Lü Buwei said, ruling by killing can only address the surface, not the root!

Kill too many, and retribution will surely come.

Even if no one dares touch you while you live, you will die, won't you!

Once you're dead, will the people of the realm still not dare rebel against you?

Facing Ying Su agreed with all of this!

And regarding some of Seeing Ying Zheng's actions, he likewise agreed!

Just as he said, building the Great Wall and constructing Epang Palace — all of that was aimed at the ten-thousand-generation foundation of Great Qin!

Even though no returns can be seen now!

In the future, the returns will be enormous!

Even… later generations would thereby establish the soul of a people!

Facing Ying Su deeply agreed with these words.

But… none of this was the point Facing Ying Su truly cared about!

What he truly wanted to know was what Seeing Ying Zheng intended to do.

Yet… within these words, there was not the slightest hint of that!

He simply stopped guessing, waved his hand directly, and said:

"Just say it outright — what must I do for you to be willing to pass the throne to me?"

Seeing Ying Zheng's gaze was bright and piercing. He stared at Facing Ying Su for a long while, then said angrily:

"Your succession edict — Guarenbu Society will not acknowledge it!"

"Because that is not Guaren's intent. Even if you stamp it with Guaren's private seal, Guarenye Society will proclaim your act of rebellion to the whole world!"

"I'll tell you plainly — as long as you don't kill Guaren, no matter how many seals you stamp, it will be useless!"

"But you are right about one thing — I don't understand you, and I'm not clear on your abilities either. Therefore, I cannot simply hand over the succession to you!"

"However… I am willing to give you a chance. You shall serve as regent for three months. If after three months you truly satisfy me, then I will pass this throne to you!"

"Likewise, during these three months, I will let you experience just how difficult being Emperor truly is!"

"What do you think?"

As he asked, he could not help but quietly let out a breath of relief!

Yes, after all this buildup, he had finally spoken these words.

And this, too, was a compromise he had pondered over for a long time before devising!

Likewise, this was the very limit he could accept.

First, give Facing Ying Su a chance and observe his performance himself!

Second, he would also use these three months to see how Li Yuanba might be resolved!

In this world, every person has a weakness!

Li Yuanba?

He must have one too!

Once Li Yuanba is resolved, would there still be any worry about taking down a Facing Ying Su?

This is retreating to advance!

It is also called a delaying tactic!

In his view, if Ying Su truly wanted to gain his approval, there would be no reason for him to refuse this proposal!

However, the moment he spoke these words, Ying Su laughed:

"Father Emperor, oh Father Emperor!"

"It seems you still have not recognized the situation!"

"The current situation is not that I am begging for your approval!"

"But rather... I am seeking a path to survival for those loyal founding merit-holders of Great Qin who are faithful to you!"

"Take Wang Jian, General Meng Tian, and others; if I truly acted according to my methods, would they not launch a rebellion to quell the crisis?"

"If they launch a rebellion, would I kill them or not?"

"If I kill them? You would feel heartache!"

"If I do not kill them? If I do not kill those who rebel against me, then what authority does this Emperor have left!"

"My actions are precisely to prevent them from doing something foolish, to ensure they survive!"

"Do you truly naively believe that without your approval, I cannot become Emperor?"

"Rest assured, I will definitely become Emperor by my own methods!"

"As for your claim that ruling the country through killing will disturb the people's hearts?"

"Hehe... let it be disturbed, so what?"

"With Li Yuanba in my grasp, who dares rebel against me?"

"Great Qin will perish after me?"

"It does not exist, because... before I die, I will definitely kill everyone harboring rebellious intent!"

"I will not even leave them the opportunity to rebel; how then can they rebel?"

"Are not the people of the world like leeks, where one crop is cut and another grows?"

"Moreover, do you truly think I am foolish enough to kill indiscriminately?"

"Lu Buwei once spoke correctly: the world is bustling for profit, and the world is clamoring for gain!"

"If I can make everyone in the world profit, then who, full and idle, would think of rebelling against me day after day?"

"Therefore, Father Emperor! You worry too much!"

"Even without your approval, I can firmly secure the imperial throne!"

"But in the initial period of securing the imperial throne, because the people's hearts are not yet submitted, there will surely be rivers of blood!"

"And by my method, killing until rivers of blood flow, I can equally secure the position of Emperor!"

"And in this initial period of securing the imperial throne, I dare not guarantee who else will die, but those loyal to you who must suppress the rebellion for you will surely die!"