Chapter 80

Because if Li Si wants to protect them, he must advise them not to resist the new policies!

With the nobles under Li Si taking the lead, some wavering nobles will act as fence-sitters and pay up along with them!

Zhang Liang kept speaking!

And Huang Chao praised him again and again!

Even... he felt that if he had had Mr. Zifang back in his day, he would not have failed in his rebellion.

At that moment, his admiration for Zhang Liang grew even greater, and he bowed to Zhang Liang with utmost respect:

"Thank you, Mr. Zifang, for teaching me!"

Seeing Huang Chao in such a state, Zhang Liang sighed repeatedly!

Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was doing!

Was he really opposing Qin? Or was he helping the Qin state grow stronger?

As things stand now, every strategy he offered Ying Su was brilliant, every one a brilliant plan to strengthen the nation!

He felt some hatred toward himself for this!

After all, this was the Qin state that had destroyed his own country!

But... whenever he thought late at night about what he was doing, a sense of happiness filled his heart!

As a strategist, who does not hope that their strategies will be adopted and highly valued?

And Ying Su valued him just like that!

Every single thing he said, Ying Su carried out.

This feeling of happiness was simply wonderful!

Alas!

What a sin!

What a sin, 553!

Zhang Liang sighed aloud once more!

On the other side!

At the Prime Minister's residence of Li Si!

At this moment, the Prime Minister's residence was crowded!

How many people?

Countless, densely packed!

They almost filled the entire guest hall!

And these people, without exception, were all Li Si's trusted confidants!

They were also the noble forces behind Li Si!

Undoubtedly, Li Si's rise to become Prime Minister could not have happened without their support!

Likewise, without a doubt, they were all nobles cultivated after Shang Yang's reforms, following the Qin state's governance by law!

These people firmly supported the Legalist school; almost every one of them regarded Shang Yang as their idol!

Such a force, even if Ying Zheng saw it, would make him tremble!

There was no way around it; the Qin state had governed by law for far too many years, and had upheld the Legalist school for far too many years!

Over all these years, the Legalists had already cultivated a deeply rooted force!

Even Lü Buwei, who once held overwhelming power at court, feared such a force!

Likewise, it was precisely because of this force that Lü Buwei, no matter how much he envied Li Si's talent, dared not easily harm him!

And the Li Si of today was no longer the insignificant figure of the past who needed to rely on these nobles to survive in the court.

The Li Si of today, as the Prime Minister of Great Qin, had long been cultivated by this group of nobles into a towering giant tree, capable of protecting their interests at every moment!

Likewise, because of this relationship, in all matters in the past, they had always listened to Li Si!

Moreover, they had helped Li Si in every possible way!

When battling Prince Fusu and opposing the feudal system!

It was they who sided with Li Si, opposing Chunyu Yue, opposing Prince Fusu, Meng Tian, and these others!

When the First Emperor was considering whether to continue governing by law, it was again they who sided with Li Si and advised the First Emperor!

They and Li Si complemented each other!

Without them, there would be no current Left Prime Minister of Great Qin!

Likewise, without Li Si, there would be no glory for them!

Therefore, no matter the situation, they would stand firmly on Li Si's side!

Even if Li Si sided with Ying Su, they would follow without hesitation!

But... today...

"Prime Minister, you are close to Your Majesty; please advise Your Majesty. Forcing nobles to pay taxes is utterly against heaven and earth; it truly cannot be done!"

"Nobles paying taxes is unacceptable by the laws of heaven; paying taxes is the duty of common people; what does it have to do with us?"

"Our ancestors shed blood and sweat; our ancestors all established great merit for the Qin state. Forcing us to pay taxes, even if our ancestors knew of it from the netherworld, they would not find peace!"

"Prime Minister, please advise Your Majesty; this matter cannot be done!"

At that moment, many nobles bowed to Li Si and shouted!

Hearing these words, Li Si trembled all over with rage!

At that moment, his gaze was cold and harsh, and his voice was icy as he said:

"Spreading the head tax onto land, changing the head tax into a land tax, this is a national policy jointly formulated by Your Majesty and me for the prosperity of our people and the strength of our Great Qin, for the long-term stability of our Great Qin!"

"Today, I, Li Si, have called you here for no other purpose; though it may seem like a warning, in truth, I wish to protect you!"

"Do not attempt to resist the new policies; the only path of resistance is the path to death!"

056. The Executioner Huang Chao, Slaughter All Descendants of Bai Qi! Rivers of Blood Flow!

"What?"

The moment Li Si spoke, everyone present was instantly stunned!

Originally, they thought Li Si had summoned them here because he did not support this so-called field and acreage tax, intending to discuss countermeasures with them and mount a resistance!

And even if they did not resist, he should at least stand on the same front as them!

But... now Li Si actually says this?

Moreover, he even claims that this new policy is a national strategy he discussed and formulated together with Facing Ying Su?

Is he trying to persuade them to pay taxes?

For a moment, everyone was utterly shocked!

Some even cast glances cold as frost at Li Si and spoke in a chilling voice:

"Li Si, what do you mean by this?"

"Persuading us to pay taxes? This is turning heaven and earth upside down!"

He spoke in a chilling tone.

In an instant, many nobles looked at Li Si with killing intent surging in their eyes!

Seeing them like this, Li Si felt a chill in his heart!

After all, he and they had shared a friendship of many years!

Both sides had even cultivated tacit understanding over many years!

Yet now, they actually intend to oppose him?

However... thinking about it, it makes sense!

Back then, they supported him because he was representing the law; the figures of the Legalist school were outstanding and could bring them benefits!

But now, since this would harm their interests, how could they still support him?

For a moment, he frowned deeply!

But... there was no particularly good solution!

Facing Ying Su's implementation of the field and acreage tax was itself aimed directly at the nobles.

As for himself, he was fundamentally unable to stop any of this.

As for the nobles...

After pondering for a long time, he opened his mouth!

"What kind of person the new Emperor is, and just how ruthless he truly is—this does not require me, Li Si, to elaborate; you can all see it clearly for yourselves!"