Chapter 25

Not only was there a matter at hand, it had come with a very clear purpose.

What for?

Selling paper!

That's right!

This was the dilemma Facing Ying Su faced!

If he wanted to sell the paper cheap, he could sell it to just about anyone!

Yu Yu Huatian, Cai Lun, Zheng He could all do it!

But he didn't want to sell the paper cheap—he wanted to sell it at a high price, to earn enough off expensive paper to last him two or three years at least!

And if he wanted to sell at a high price, then Yu Yu Huatian, Cai Lun, Zheng He were all unsuitable!

Not only were they unsuitable, he himself was unsuitable too!

After all, he was the Emperor—an Emperor, showing his face in public to sell paper, doing business with his ministers—spoken aloud, it would sound like an absolute joke!

It would utterly cheapen his imperial dignity!

So, he could only find someone else to do the selling!

And that someone had to be a person of status and rank!

After all, in every age, the rich all cluster together.

Moreover, they judge people by status—having someone of standing do the selling would not only fetch a high price, it would also take far less effort!

After sizing people up for a long while, Facing Ying Su settled on Li Si!

This man was a true talent!

No matter how petty he was, no matter how jealous of those more able than himself!

One had to admit, he really was a talent!

Who was the executor when Great Qin unified the script of all under heaven? Li Si!

Who proposed and executed the building of the Qin Straight Roads and Qin Express Roads, making the gauge of carts uniform so carriages and horses could travel freely throughout the realm? Li Si!

When the First Emperor unified all under heaven and established the Junxian system, who proposed rolling it out across the land and became its executor? Still Li Si!

When the First Emperor created the system of Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, who proposed it and became its executor? Still Li Si!

A man of this caliber—would you dare say he isn't a talent?

Though he was criticized for bringing about Han Fei's death, who could claim his ability was lacking?

If one looked at ability alone, Facing Ying Su believed that even if he couldn't rank as an SSS-level figure on par with Zhang Zhang Juzheng or Lord Xinling, he was absolutely infinitely close to an SSS-level figure!

Therefore, after choosing and choosing again, Facing Ying Su decided to have him help sell the paper!

Ability was not lacking, and neither was status or rank.

What other person could possibly be more suitable?

None!

Oh!

He'd forgotten the most important point—he held no loyalty toward Facing Ying Su!

In fact, he could almost be said to stand on the opposing side!

But Facing Ying Su could understand someone standing against him.

After all, who was Li Si?

He was a man who had followed the First Emperor in conquering the realm—how could such old retainers not be loyal to Seeing Ying Zheng?

Beyond loyalty, there was ability too!

Others might not understand Seeing Ying Zheng, but how could he not understand Seeing Ying Zheng?

Deep in his heart, he believed Seeing Ying Zheng would surely return, would surely reclaim the imperial throne!

He didn't want to dig his own grave.

Facing Ying Su understood his thoughts perfectly!

For the same reason, Facing Ying Su did not bring up the matter of selling paper right away, but instead casually mentioned something else:

"Prime Minister, my lord, what do you think of Great Qin's current national strength?"

"Ah?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Li Si froze—he hadn't expected that, after all this time, the first thing Facing Ying Su said that sounded like proper business would be this!

But he didn't delay at all, dropping straight into a bow: "Great Qin's national strength today is mighty and prosperous, surpassing any one of the Five Hundred Vassal States or any of the Seven Warring States!"

"The Five Hundred Vassal States and the Seven Warring States?"

Facing Ying Su understood he was referring to the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period!

After all, in this era, the concepts of "Spring and Autumn" and "Warring States" did not yet exist!

The terms "Spring and Autumn" and "Warring States" came from the Western Han period's Strategies of the Warring States; even the concept of the Four Great Generals of the Warring States originated from that book.

Therefore, in this era, no one spoke of "Spring and Autumn" or "Warring States"!

When speaking of the Spring and Autumn period, they said "Five Hundred Vassal States"!

When speaking of the Warring States, they said "Seven Warring States"!

Li Si saying that today's Great Qin surpassed any state of the Spring and Autumn or Warring States period was not at all wrong!

But Facing Ying Su quickly caught the loophole in Li Si's words, and instantly, his gaze turned cold:

"Are you saying that Great Qin's national strength today still cannot compare with the Great Zhou?"

ps: Begging for flowers, begging for review tickets!

021. The Lu Shi Chunqiu and Shang Yang's reforms—which is the true instrument of governing a state?

"What?"

The moment the words left his lips, Li Si was half-dead with fright.

He hurriedly prostrated himself, saying, "Your subject... absolutely had no such intention!"

Facing Ying Su smiled: "Then tell me, how does the national strength of our Great Qin compare to that of the Great Zhou?"

Li Si wasted no time in replying: "Our Great Qin army can sweep across the Great Zhou! Even at its peak, the Great Zhou could not match our Great Qin army!"

Facing Ying Su smiled: "And what about comprehensive national strength?"

"This..."

Li Si stood dumbfounded, unable to utter a single word for a long time!

Facing Ying Su's gaze turned cold, his voice icy: "Speak!"

Li Si immediately kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!"

Facing Ying Su smiled: "When did I ever say I wanted to kill you?"

Li Si did not answer, but continued to kowtow and cry out: "Please, Your Majesty, show mercy!"

Facing Ying Su stared at Li Si for a long while, then shook his head: "Speak the truth; I, the Monarch, forgive you of all guilt!"

Yet, Li Si remained silent!

Facing Ying Su said: "The words spoken today are known only to you and me; there is absolutely no third person!"

Li Si trembled as he spoke: "Although our Qin Army far surpasses the Zhou Army, the... comprehensive national strength, such as the people's livelihood, is not even... not even half of the Great Zhou's peak!"

Once these words were spoken, Li Si's body trembled even more violently!

Facing Ying Su smiled, looking at Li Si: "To dare speak such plain truths, you truly are bold!"

And Li Si wore a smile even uglier than a cry!

Indeed, the same question depends on who asks it.

If the First Emperor, Seeing Ying Zheng, had asked, there would be no doubt that the Qin Dynasty would crush the Zhou Dynasty in every aspect!

Although the First Emperor himself did not believe such words, knowing that Li Si was merely flattering him!

But the First Emperor would be pleased upon hearing such words, so naturally, he would not punish him!

But Facing Ying Su is different!

He previously did not understand Facing Ying Su!

Nor was he clear on Facing Ying Su's character!

Yet, in the verbal probing just now, he had already clearly sensed Facing Ying Su's desire to hear the truth!

If he truly dared to distort the facts before Facing Ying Su, he feared Facing Ying Su would not spare him!

So, there was no choice; he could only speak the truth.