pdf-ebookys Chapter 166 The secret must not be leaked
Chapter 166 The secret must not be leaked
The King of Qin sat there, his brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought. His gaze was fixed on the distance, his mind replaying Ying Wuyou's proposal to build an academy. This was no small matter; the interests involved were intricately intertwined, like a densely woven web.
The King of Qin knew that bringing this matter to the court would inevitably cause a huge uproar. Various forces and viewpoints would clash and debate, potentially even leading to fierce arguments and conflicts. However, as Ying Wuyou had said, Qin was currently facing a severe shortage of talent, which was undoubtedly a major problem that needed to be solved.
After Qin unified the country, its vast lands would await effective management and governance. But who should be sent to oversee each region? If one person were stationed in one place for an extended period, wouldn't this eventually lead to the emergence of regional warlords? If this were to happen, it would undoubtedly jeopardize the very foundation of Qin's rule.
Take the Mohist school as another example. Their unique carpentry skills held a pivotal position in the field of architecture. What would happen if there weren't enough skilled craftsmen to build magnificent palaces in the future? The blacksmithing industry was equally crucial. The armor of soldiers was key equipment for protecting the country, so how could it be controlled by just one of the Hundred Schools of Thought? It would be best to keep this technology firmly in the hands of the imperial court.
Beyond this, an even more thorny issue was that most of these philosophers from the Hundred Schools of Thought were unruly and difficult to control. They frequently acted independently, uniting to resist the court's administration. This would inevitably have a significant impact on the stability and development of Qin. Especially after unifying the six states, it was uncertain whether those philosophers from the Hundred Schools of Thought who originally belonged to other states would obey the court's edicts and commands. All these problems were intertwined, like a tangled mess, and the King of Qin urgently needed to find a proper solution.
The King of Qin frowned, looking at Ying Wuyou with a solemn expression, and slowly said, "This matter is of great importance, and I need to consider it carefully again."
Ying Wuyou nodded respectfully and replied, "Yes, Father. Your subject knows this matter is of utmost importance, and I leave everything to Father's decision." After saying this, he remained silent.
After a moment, seeing that the King of Qin remained silent, Ying Wuyou asked softly, "Father, if there is nothing else to instruct, may I take my leave?"
The King of Qin nodded slightly, indicating his agreement. Relieved to have received permission, Ying Wuyou stood up, bowed to the King of Qin, and then turned and strode steadily away from the palace.
The King of Qin remained alone in the empty palace, lost in deep thought. Time ticked by, as if the whole world had frozen in that moment. Finally, after a long while, the King of Qin raised his head and said firmly, "Go and summon Meng Tian to me."
Fu De, who had been waiting by his side, quickly replied, "Yes!" and then turned and hurriedly left.
Not long after, Fude returned and stood silently not far away. He didn't think much about what had happened. He knew he wasn't as quick-witted and intelligent as Zhao Gao, but it was precisely because of this that he was fortunate enough to succeed Zhao Gao as the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office.
After all, compared to clever and quick-witted individuals, a loyal and obedient minister like himself was more reassuring to the monarch. Therefore, Fude understood that as long as he learned to play dumb at the appropriate times and did his job well, that would suffice. As for the other complex and tedious political affairs and various power struggles, he firmly believed that with the wisdom of the King of Qin and the strategies of the ministers in the court, they would surely be able to handle them properly, requiring no excessive concern from him. Thus, Fude chose to continue to fulfill his duties and play his insignificant role.
Not long after, the King of Qin emerged from his reverie, hearing heavy footsteps. Looking up, he saw Meng Tian, tall and imposing, striding quickly before the King, kneeling on one knee, and saying, "This humble general greets Your Majesty!"
The King of Qin slightly raised his hand and waved it gently, signaling the person in front of him to rise. Then he said slowly, "I have two important matters to entrust to you today."
Meng Tian, standing tall and straight like a pine tree, clasped his hands in a respectful bow and replied in a deep voice, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders!"
The King of Qin gazed into the distance, paused briefly, and then continued, "The first matter is that Jiayang is short of manpower. I have already granted her two hundred guards, acknowledging her outstanding contributions. However, she has some special requests; she wants to personally select these guards. In a moment, you will lead her to make the selection. Remember, when she is making her selections, you must carefully select those who are quick-witted, agile, and highly skilled in martial arts. Only in this way can Jiayang be kept safe and can they better serve me."
Upon hearing this, Meng Tian nodded solemnly and replied, "This humble general will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust and will carefully select and never let go of any capable person."
The King of Qin nodded and smiled with satisfaction, continuing, "The second matter is that you must go to the prison and retrieve a batch of prisoners. Remember, choose those who are unlikely to be released in the next few years. And don't be stingy with them; arrange for them to work in the mines. As for the specific mining locations, Jia Yang will inform you later. This matter is of utmost importance. Currently, only I, Jia Yang, and you know the details. You must not let this slip, lest it cause unnecessary trouble and unforeseen events. Do you understand the stakes involved?"
Although Meng Tian was surprised, he did not show any unusual expression on his face and calmly replied, "This humble general will obey the king's order and will keep his mouth shut. He will never let a fourth person know about such a secret."
The King of Qin said, "Alright, you can go now. I will have Jia Yang come to find you later."
Meng Tian cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "This humble general takes his leave." After saying this, he slowly turned to leave, but his steps seemed somewhat hesitant. He knew that Princess Jiayang would appear here soon. So, he stood silently outside the gates of Xianyang Palace, waiting quietly.
Meng Tian felt deeply grateful to Princess Jiayang. Although he did not know why Zhao Gao had suddenly poisoned the king, leading to the king's order to execute Zhao Gao by dismemberment, he was certain that Princess Jiayang was involved in some way.
Zhao Gao had always been a major concern for Meng Tian. He knew Zhao Gao was treacherous and cunning, and he had always been wary of him. However, Zhao Gao always pretended to be gentle and obedient in front of the King of Qin. Meng Tian had repeatedly warned the King of Qin to be wary of Zhao Gao, but the King of Qin simply did not believe him. Meng Tian had always worried that Zhao Gao would one day bring trouble to the Meng family, but he never expected that Zhao Gao would die so soon. With Zhao Gao's death, the Meng family breathed a sigh of relief.