Chapter 370: The East Sea

When Su Fan led his army to within ten miles of Sanghai Cheng, officials had already come to welcome them.

The one welcoming Su Fan was the Prefect of Donghai Commandery, along with a group of chief officials from Sanghai Cheng.

"It is our Sanghai Cheng's honor that Agriculture Director Su could come to our Donghai."

The Prefect of Donghai Commandery looked to be only about thirty years old, wearing a cyan robe, dressed like a Confucian scholar, with a touch of elegance between his brows.

He was a truly elegant and handsome man.

Not only that, but Su Fan also sensed a faint sword intent from this person. The other party was not only a Confucian scholar but also a swordsman.

His cultivation was not low; he was at the Profound Mastery realm.

"Prefect Yang is too kind."

Facing a local high official, Su Fan did not show any arrogance, greeting and communicating with the other party with a humble face, while not forgetting the group of officials from Sanghai Cheng.

At the same time, in his mind, he was recalling some information about this Prefect.

Yang Lan, forty-five years old, from the State of Han. He came to Great Qin in his early years and rose from a mere official to his current position as a regional governor; his ability was definitely not poor.

This person was a disciple of the orthodox Legalist school, but it seemed that after coming to this East Sea, observing his behavior, he seemed to have leaned toward the Confucian school.

The Confucian and Legalist schools were somewhat opposed due to some of the theories of the current Xunzi and Mencius.

Who was Xunzi? He was a great elder of the current Confucian school, but some of his concepts were closer to the Legalist school; it wouldn't be a problem to say he was close to the Legalists.

His own two disciples were also Legalists.

This was also why some Confucian sects had many criticisms of Xunzi.

Of course, this could not affect Xunzi's status in the Confucian school.

This orthodox Legalist disciple before him was now behaving like an orthodox Confucian disciple, which made Su Fan somewhat curious.

In these few years, here in the land of Qilu, was it because of the influence of the Little Sage Virtuous Manor that he wanted to leave the Legalist school and enter the gates of the Confucian school?

This was not a good choice.

Great Qin always implemented Legalist thought. In the central government of Great Qin, those in power, apart from the Military School, were mostly Legalists.

Li Si and Meng Yi were both Legalists, and they promoted Legalism; most of the court was also Legalist.

The Confucian school had a great reputation among the people, larger than that of the Legalists.

But in the government offices of Great Qin, the voice of the Confucian school was really not strong, and there were no people in high positions.

Although Fusu's teacher was a Confucian, and even reached the level of Junior Tutor, it was just a title with no real power.

Su Fan also knew clearly that as long as Ying Zheng was on the throne, Great Qin would be controlled by the Legalists, and the Confucian school would have no chance at all.

Even if a sage appeared in the Confucian school, it would still be the same.

The current contemporary sage of the Confucian school, Xunzi, still could not influence Great Qin.

So Su Fan was curious: most officials in Great Qin would try every means to get close to the Legalists and label themselves as Legalists so that they could catch the eyes of their superiors and get promoted.

It was true that Great Qin's promotion of officials was not like the former Six States, which mostly relied on one's own ability.

However, those who could become officials—to say they had no ability, like people muddling through—that was definitely rare.

Most had ability, so why should they promote you?

Legalist disciples were like fish in water in the officialdom of Great Qin because several heavy ministers in the central government of Great Qin were all Legalist disciples.

People couldn't be without selfishness; selfless people did indeed exist, but it was very difficult to achieve.

Everyone would practice nepotism; after all, one's own people were easier to use. By the same token, if you, a high-ranking Legalist official, chose a Confucian disciple as your subordinate, the two people's concepts were different. When you gave orders, what would you do if the other party followed them in appearance but opposed them in secret?

Su Fan, who had entered the officialdom, was very clear about the current situation of Great Qin's officialdom.

Yang Lan, as a regional governor, was truly a high official here in the land of Qilu. A Prefect of a commandery could be considered a high official in Great Qin's officialdom.

However, when all was said and done, he was only a Prefect with a salary of two thousand shi, not in the central government.

If he changed his allegiance, his future outcome would not be very good; after all, there were no Confucian disciples in the central government.

It was almost impossible for him to rise, unless his ability was extremely formidable, or he had made an extraordinary contribution that directly caught Ying Zheng's attention.

Otherwise, being a Prefect would be his lot for life.

Not everyone could be like Su Fan, who became a central minister in just a few months.

This was also because his Agriculture Office had not been established for long enough. As time slowly passed, the influence of the Agriculture Office would grow larger and larger, and his status would become more and more stable.

But even so, now that he had gone to the local area, no official dared not to give him face.

Led by Yang Lan and a group of officials, they returned together to the Prefectural Office of Sanghai Cheng.

The first thing was naturally to hold a banquet to welcome them.

This matter belonged to normal human interaction, and Su Fan did not refuse; even Wang Zhan attended.

As for the army, they were arranged outside the city.

Tens of thousands of troops naturally could not enter the city at will.

While Su Fan and the others were holding the banquet in the Prefectural Office, in a hidden place in Sanghai Cheng, the people of the Mohist school were gathered together.

"How could he come to Sanghai Cheng? Could it be that he discovered us?"

Da Tiechui had heard the news today and was full of doubt.

"For us? Impossible. He is now the Director of the Agriculture Office, and his mission is to promote agricultural technology. People like us are probably not worth his..."

The relatively silent Gai Nie looked at the crowd before speaking. Among the crowd, apart from Zhang Liang, he was the one who understood the situation in Xianyang City the best.

He had a clearer understanding of the powerful figures of Great Qin.

Although the Agriculture Office was newly established, in terms of power and status, it was no worse than the departments of the Nine Ministers.

And as the head of the office, he could be said to be in a high position of power. To be honest, people like them really didn't count for much in the eyes of the true powerful figures of Great Qin.

On this point, Gai Nie had also felt it from that great battle before.

The power beyond the Profound Mastery realm made his mind wander, and he also understood what people like them counted for in the eyes of Great Qin.

Sending out an expert at the Five Qi Morning Origin realm at will could wipe them all out in one go.

As for escaping and hiding, as a former personal sword guard of Ying Zheng, he was very clear about Great Qin's intelligence capabilities.

If they really wanted to search for them, it wouldn't take long.

"Gai Nie, are you overestimating him too much?"

Da Tiechui couldn't accept it; hearing Gai Nie belittle them like this, he was a bit angry.

"The great battle a few days ago—have you forgotten? Although it's unclear which side it was, that kind of power was at least Five Qi Morning Origin, or even stronger. He has such a powerful expert sent by Ying Zheng to protect him. Do you think we people are worth his attention?"

Gai Nie's words made Da Tiechui freeze instantly. ===== CHAPTER 371 =====