Chapter 2: My Teacher Li Si

For instance, Han Fei's knowledge had already deeply integrated materialism and the practicality of imperial centralization; for someone who could learn such things in the feudal era, to have actually mastered such forward-looking, trans-era knowledge—is he really human?

This is not to say that the Legalist school is bad; looking at the foundation laid by generations of Qin people, and based on the identity of perhaps being the future successor, what should be learned must be learned.

Li Si and Han Fei studied under the same master, and he was able to better implement the "legacy" left behind by Han Fei.

Therefore, Li Si was a very handy high-ranking official of Qin to make use of.

In other words, for an empire to be strong and to survive, it cannot be without politicians.

"I hear that at yesterday's Court Discussion, the Commandant of Justice and the Prime Minister were arguing in the main hall again?"

Li Si gave an awkward smile, bowed once more, and said: "My governing strategy differs from the Prime Minister's, which is why we argued before the Emperor."

Fusu looked at the flames burning in the brazier and smiled: "Actually, continuing the Feudal System is not necessarily a good thing."

Li Si nodded and said: "What the Prince says is absolutely correct, but Wang Wan is, after all, the Prime Minister of Qin, and there are many in the court who support him."

At present, Li Si is only a Commandant of Justice, an official rank inferior to the Prime Minister, but the position of Commandant of Justice holds authority over laws and punishments, similar to the Ministry of Justice.

"Wang Wan is a conservative man, including his retainers or his colleagues in Qin, as well as those old officials who oppose you along with Wang Wan."

Li Si lowered his head once more, his expression adding a few more shades of respect.

Fusu continued: "Qin became strong starting with the reforms; why walk the old path of the Feudal System again? My father, the Emperor, should be more inclined toward the County System. Actually, the Commandant of Justice could well insist on his own ideas; in doing so, it would count as the dying wish of my teacher."

Li Si bowed with hands cupped.

In the eyes of the palace servants outside Gaoquan Palace, Prince Fusu and Commandant of Justice Li Si talked all night long, and it was not until dawn, when Huayang Taihou was to be buried, that Li Si finally left.

Three months after the burial of Huayang Taihou, it was already the spring of the second year, yet the climate in Guanzhong remained freezing cold.

The Commandant of Justice of Qin, Li Si, walked out of his home and was heading toward Xianyang Palace.

Li Si instructed the guest beside him: "Everyone in the world knows that Prince Fusu has a reputation for virtue."

The guest replied: "Now many people also know that Prince Fusu likes to read the books of the former Han Prince, Han Fei; perhaps the famous scholars of Han in the former lands of Han will also come to know of it."

The famous scholars the guest spoke of were mostly people like Zhang Liang.

Wang Wan had not gone to Zhangtai Palace for the morning court for a month, and the First Emperor also tacitly accepted the fact that this Prime Minister did not come to court, instead relying on Li Si more and more.

In fact, as early as several years ago, the new faction in the court led by Li Si and the old faction of Wang Wan had been struggling fiercely.

Wang Wan believed that governing the country today still required using the previous Feudal System, enfeoffing the First Emperor's sons in various places and setting up individual vassal states to govern them.

Because of this, those of Li Si's line always stood up to oppose the Prime Minister, Wang Wan, and the court was in an endless uproar.

However, in the end, the First Emperor still chose Li Si's suggestion, choosing the County System instead of the Feudal System.

Recently, Prince Fusu has taken a liking to raising fish, and the First Emperor, mindful of the Prince's filial piety, bestowed Gaoquan Palace upon the Prince to reside in while observing mourning for Huayang Taihou.

During the mourning period, the Prince only raised fish or read books in his daily life; he did not associate with famous scholars like Wang Wan's ilk, nor did he associate with the old nobles of the Six States, simply living inside Gaoquan Palace and rarely going out.

Li Si walked to the front of Gaoquan Palace and explained his purpose to the palace servants there; only after the people at the gate reported it was he permitted to enter.

Led by two Attendants to the backyard of Gaoquan Palace, there was an artificial hill here, with water flowing down from the hill and into a pond along a bamboo pipe.

The pond did not look very deep, and one could vaguely see fish swimming about.

Seeing the Prince reading by the pond, Li Si stepped forward and bowed.

Fusu smiled and had someone offer some pastries, then asked: "I hear Wang Wan has fallen gravely ill and cannot attend the morning court, and I also hear that many people have gone to visit him."

"Prime Minister Wang is of high virtue and prestige; if he says he is ill, then it is most likely true that he is ill, only not seriously."

Seeing Li Si standing upright to answer, Fusu continued: "I also heard from others that my father has adopted the Commandant of Justice's suggestion, and from now on, Great Qin will implement the County System."

Li Si replied: "I must thank the Prince for his advice to me two months ago, which gave me the confidence to remonstrate with the Emperor."

Li Si was already extremely protective of Legalist thought in his heart, and the First Emperor would eventually adopt Li Si's suggestion.

Since it was Li Si's remonstrance, then next, Li Si should be heavily relied upon; whether Wang Wan could keep his position as Prime Minister was another matter.

To outsiders, it appeared that Prince Fusu and Commandant of Justice Li Si had joined forces to topple the incumbent Prime Minister of Qin, Wang Wan.

One wonders what the First Emperor would think if he heard this rumor?

"When will Great General Wang Jian's troops return?"

"I... do not know."

Li Si lowered his posture even further; he could tell the Prince other things, but regarding Great General Wang Jian, even if he knew, he could not speak of it casually.

Seeing the Prince remain silent, Li Si added: "The Emperor has an edict, ordering me to instruct the Prince from now on."

Fusu looked at the fish in the pond and said: "Mm, I have also received the Emperor's edict; I shall trouble you, Teacher, from now on."

Li Si smiled knowingly and hurriedly bowed.

Being able to receive the title of "Teacher" from the Prince made Li Si feel warm inside, and he could not help but be even more delighted; having a studious Prince in Qin was certainly not a bad thing.

The new teacher's footsteps were indeed very hurried when he left, which was also normal; the next few years would be the peak of his life, where he would display his grand ambitions.

The pond behind Gaoquan Palace was stocked with ordinary fish, and the Prince would even order people to catch one or two to kill and eat; Prince Fusu loved to eat fish and also loved to raise them.

Fusu sat back down and continued reading; in Xianyang Palace, there were endless books to read—some of these books were confiscated from the Six States, and others were written by the officials of Qin.

Counting these capable officials who performed meritorious service for Qin... actually, the vast majority of them did not have a good ending.

For example, Zhang Yi, Shang Yang, and Bai Qi.

Generally speaking, the successive Kings of Qin in power had veto power over everything and also had the power to make the final decision; anything could not be implemented if the King of Qin opposed it.

And continuing to this day, just like Wei Ran, who held great power in Qin for over forty years—the King of Qin dismissed him just like that, and Wei Ran dared not have a single word of complaint.

As for Bai Qi back then, he was also killed just like that, and Bai Qi did not even try to escape.

To work for Qin, one had to see if one's fate was tough enough.

In the history books, even Li Si himself did not meet a good end.

This Great Qin Empire looked unprecedentedly strong now, but looking around, the people's livelihood was withered, and the fertile Guanzhong still awaited development; although the Zheng Guo Canal was good.

It was still not enough; the entire Great Northwest and the Central Plains still awaited development.

(End of chapter)