Chapter 533: The Charioteer

"Stop?"

Heifu looked at Chen Ping, and in his heart gave Chen Ping's proposal a fair assessment...

"Truly penetrating insight!"

Indeed, merely being a paperhanger won't do. Unification — this is a road no predecessor has ever walked. The carriage races wildly along this perilous, unpredictable path, surmounting bump after bump, but if it doesn't slow down and rest, sooner or later it will still end with wrecked cart and dead men. For this carriage to reverse, to hesitate, and then set out on the road again, it would take the Emperor Wu of Han a hundred years later...

For him, a transmigrator, recognizing this point wasn't hard, but for Chen Ping to perceive this danger while the empire was still at its zenith — truly a man of talent.

Heifu could only sigh that he had found the right person, had picked up a treasure, so at the banquet he shifted his knees closer to Chen Ping and bowed to him with clasped hands: "Chen Ping, explain your thoughts in detail!"

This was the forward-seat rite, a treatment of the highest regard between lord and minister. Chen Ping repeatedly protested he dared not accept it, bowed back toward Heifu, and then said: "For over five hundred years, the feudal lords have stood divided. Wars for land have filled the fields with corpses; wars for cities have filled the cities with corpses. The people's spring plowing and autumn harvests were abandoned; those who died of hunger, cold, and exposure are beyond counting."

"Now the realm is unified, the common people have been delivered from the suffering of war, and men's hearts long for stability and peace. Yet the court goes not a year without campaigns. Of course, this humble official also knows that even without the campaigns against the Xiongnu and Yuezhi, there would still be wars of southern conquest. But external wars do not cease, and internal governance is equally restless — great projects follow one after another. The Long Wall and the imperial highways may be let pass, but the palaces and the affairs at Mount Li, to satisfy His Majesty's desires, seize the people's resources and ruin the people's livelihoods. The labor required each year grows ever greater, so the common people and conscript laborers race along the roads, while the fields and farmsteads lie fallow and abandoned in the wilds. All under Heaven wish to rest, yet cannot..."

There were also problems like land taxes being too high, poll taxes being too frequent, and the value-added taxes on goods like wine and salt being too heavy. In sum, Chen Ping believed the malady of Qin governance was that government decrees were far too frequent and the burdens too heavy, leaving the common people not even a moment to catch their breath.

If this goes on, even oxen and horses will tire, let alone people?

Chen Ping came from the lower strata. Although his status and rank grew daily more exalted, his gaze remained fixed downward, and the more he looked, the more he frowned. In his home county of Yangwu, people had long been fed up with corvée labor to the point of exasperation; there had even been tragic incidents of infants abandoned at birth and left-lane households scraping privy soil to boil for salt. If the always prosperous Liang region had come to this, other places went without saying.

In his view, the Qin dynasty was already a patient — outwardly strong but inwardly hollow — winning victory after victory abroad while growing ever more empty within.

"A fine analogy," Heifu said with a smile. "If you were to prescribe a dose of medicine for this patient, what would you prescribe?"

Chen Ping offered the excellent remedy he believed in: "It should be governed by the Way of Huang-Lao!"

"Huang-Lao?"

Heifu understood. In his youth, Chen Ping had studied Huang-Lao, and the Qi region was precisely where Huang-Lao learning flourished most. The works of the Jixia Academy were largely Huang-Lao in thought, and during his time in Jiaodong Commandery, Chen Ping had also associated closely with local Huang-Lao scholars. He had, one might say, picked up again the learning he had cast aside in his early years, and his thinking had gradually shifted.

"This humble official believes that at this moment, the court's governance can no longer be as purely harsh and forceful as before. Since the Six States are already destroyed and the northern barbarians already broken, why not blend hardness with softness, and enrich and pacify the realm?"

To put it plainly, this meant advocating governance by non-action in politics and implementing light corvée and low taxes in economics. This was quintessential Huang-Lao thought.

Chen Ping held this approach in the highest esteem: "The Daoist school practices non-action, yet it is also said that nothing is left undone. The Huang-Lao learning within it, moreover, accords with the great flow of yin and yang, adopts the strengths of the Confucians and Mohists, extracts the essentials of the Logicians and Legalists, shifts with the times, adapts to changing things, establishes customs and administers affairs — nothing is unsuitable. In sum, its principles are concise and easy to implement; with few actions, much is achieved."

Yet Chen Ping was not identical to the typical Huang-Lao adherent. He believed that in dealing with the great houses of the Tian clan and other magnates, one still had to do as Heifu did — use the Legalist methods and wipe them all out. Only afterward could one use Huang-Lao's gentle warmth to nurture the scholars and let the people rest and recuperate. But this did not mean doing nothing at all; the government could also take the lead in doing things beneficial to the people.

Guan Zhong was the practitioner Chen Ping esteemed most: "The policy of state control over mountains and seas originated with Guan Zhong. But what differs from today is that in those days, when Guan Yiwu established the profits from regulating fish and salt, while fishing for profit for the state, he also used it to support the poor and emolument the worthy and able. Thus the people of Qi were all pleased, and the later Kings Wei, Xuan, Xiang, and Jian of Qi all followed this policy. Therefore the wealth of the people of Qi was foremost under Heaven."

"What you say is reasonable. Governing the state by Huang-Lao is indeed a fine remedy to save it from danger..."

Heifu clapped his hands in praise, but then sighed and said: "But Chen Ping, have you forgotten? Qi grew rich by Huang-Lao governance, and it also perished by Huang-Lao governance!"

The greatest problem with the Huang-Lao art is that once the populace grows accustomed to comfort, the state's efficiency drops. With so large a population and so wealthy a state, Qi, under Qin's ever-increasing pressure, was wretched and cowardly to the very end — that is the proof.

Although this blame falls on King Jian of Qi and Hou Sheng, at the time, even if the masses had been mobilized, the people of Qi, long accustomed to ease, would certainly have been no match before the wolf-and-tiger troops of Qin.

Qi's flourishing prosperity in economy and culture could not be transformed into military strength. In a chaotic age, it was fated not to survive.

Thus Qin and Qi — one governed purely by Legalism, the other purely by Huang-Lao non-action — were practically the two extremes of political systems. And now, though one knows Huang-Lao can save the age, to recommend this policy to the First Emperor and win his approval? It is sheer fool's talk!

"I have heard that the people of Qi love to watch horse races and chariot races. Now, seven chariots race across the field. The Qin chariot, its blade taking an unorthodox edge, followed the path of Legalism and thus surged far ahead, defeating the other six chariots and taking first place. The man in the chariot has already concluded that this road is the right one. If at this moment you tell him he must stop, turn around, and take another road — how could he possibly listen?"

What's more, the First Emperor's character closely resembles that of the later Emperor Wu of Han — he is straining every sinew, eager to accomplish great things, still fretting that the horse and carriage aren't fast enough, still waving his hand and lashing the whip with all his might. How could he possibly be willing to stop, or even turn around? Expect him to believe in Huang-Lao? Impossible — impossible in this life!

At this moment, however, Chen Ping rose from his mat, stepped aside, and bowed deeply to Heifu: "My lord commandery chief is correct. So long as the present emperor sits on the throne, this carriage cannot possibly stop!"

Heifu was first taken aback — he had not expected Chen Ping to dare utter such bold words. His expression immediately changed. He sprang to his feet, strode to the tightly shut door of the room. Outside, two guards stood watch. Heifu opened the door and ordered them to move farther away and allow no one to approach. Only then did he close the door himself, turn back, point at Chen Ping, and rebuke him in a low voice:

"Audacious! Those are words that would see your clan exterminated!"

"What I speak is the truth."

Chen Ping was unafraid: "My lord commandery chief, in recent years His Majesty has grown daily more urgent in his search for the Kingdom of the Queen Mother of the West, and no longer laughs off the alchemists who boast of immortal islands and elixirs beyond the sea. If a man's body is healthy and he does not fear death, why would he need to seek the way of immortality? This humble official ventures to guess that though His Majesty is still in his prime, his health is likely far worse than before. In ten years' time, the high seat in the Zhangtai Palace will probably be occupied by a Second Emperor!"

As expected — though his lips spoke of Huang-Lao and his ambition was to "bring benefit to the whole realm when in high office," Chen Ping was still Chen Ping. Once the dagger was bared, every sentence carried the scent of conspiracy.

"If history does not change, there won't even be ten years left..."

Heifu thought to himself, but his face remained stern: "And what of it?"

"My lord commandery chief, when the man dies, his policies die with him."

Chen Ping's eyes blazed: "Though the emperor is hailed as one of ten thousand years, he will die in the end, and the chancellor who holds the reins of court governance will likewise be replaced!"

Heifu laughed and shook his head: "Chen Ping, ah, Chen Ping, every word you now speak is enough to convict you. Are you truly not afraid to die?!"

Chen Ping, however, struck his chest and declared: "When a minister schemes for his lord, what crime is there?"

The form of address had changed. Chen Ping now regarded himself as minister and Heifu as lord. A man of Wei, though he had become a Qin official, he was still Heifu's subordinate and private retainer. The one he served was Heifu, not the court.

And Chen Ping was thus absolutely certain that Heifu would never blame him, because every word he spoke was for the sake of the lord to whom he had pledged his loyalty!

As expected, Heifu said no more. He looked at Chen Ping and let him finish.

"My lord has once said, 'Are dukes, marquises, generals, and ministers born of certain stock?' Yet I believe that being enfeoffed as a marquis is merely exalted in status and honor, but once one reaches that degree, it does not necessarily confer any real power. Moreover, in this world, many lords and marquises can exist at the same time, but at any single moment, there can be only one Right Chancellor who holds great power in his grasp!"

"The Chancellor — above, he assists the Son of Heaven in regulating yin and yang and following the four seasons; below, he brings all things to their proper fulfillment. Abroad, he pacifies and shepherds the four barbarians and the feudal lords; at home, he draws the hundred clans close, enabling each minister and grand officer to fulfill his appointed duties. The host of officials clear the path for him; his rites surpass all other ministers. He sets state policy, countersigns edicts, and is second only to the Son of Heaven. One may say he is beneath one man and above ten thousand! The Son of Heaven sits within the carriage, while the Chancellor holds the reins for him. The direction this carriage takes — naturally, he has the power to intervene!"

"Ten years ago, in Huyou Village of Yangwu County, my lord asked whether I, Chen Ping, had the ambition to govern all under Heaven. I admit it — I do. Since my lord commandery chief could see this, could it be that you yourself lack this ambition?"

Chen Ping bowed again: "My lord, Chen Ping's ideal is to help you ascend to that position! And thereby change the direction of this carriage!"

He lowered his head. Heifu could not see his eyes, nor could he tell whether these were Chen Ping's true words from the heart.

Heifu thus remained silent. Directly before him was a large bronze mirror used for straightening one's attire and cap. It did not reflect Chen Ping's eyes, but it captured Heifu's entire face within it.

Heifu discovered that in the mirror, his own face revealed a trace of a smile whose meaning was unclear...

Chen Ping kept his head lowered for a long time, counting twenty breaths. Only then did Heifu walk to his side, pat him on the shoulder, and sigh deeply:

"You are right. To govern all under Heaven as Chancellor — that is my ambition!"

PS: The second chapter will be relatively late, before midnight. Are my updates slowly getting earlier? This is a good sign...

(End of chapter)