Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 202 The First Emperor [Second update, please subscribe]

Chen Zhong and Ying Zheng looked at each other, their expressions calm and helpless.

He pushed back the memorial that Ying Zheng had placed on the table, with a gentle look in his eyes: "Why does the king need to say this?"

"The Chen family has no ambition to be king, whether it is Chen Ye, our ancestor during the Xiaogong period, me now, or Chen Su, the current head of the Chen family."

"None of us have any ambition to be king."

"The clan has never come to see Mrs. Chen, at least not to me."

Chen Zhong raised his head and looked into Ying Zheng's eyes with his black and pure eyes: "Your Majesty, you can rest assured."

Ying Zheng burst out laughing when he heard this. He looked at Chen Zhong with a smile and said, "Teacher, don't worry. I don't doubt Mr. Chen, nor do I doubt you."

He shrugged his shoulders: "I've just been too bored recently and wanted to see how the teacher would respond to such criticism."

Ying Zheng opened the memorial in his hand and spread it on the table: "Look, this is just a memorial sent by Left Prime Minister Lu Buwei, but I feel that some of his suggestions cannot be implemented."

What's more, isn't the end of the enfeoffment system just around the corner?

After finally unifying the world, will we have to go through such a journey again?

"Your Majesty is the first emperor after the unification of Qin, and also the first emperor of Zhuhua and Xia, so he is called the "First Emperor", how about that?"

He himself is sometimes confused and unable to make correct judgments.

This is a law since ancient times.

This is what Wang Wan and some people who support the feudal system think.

Ying Zheng's eyes were filled with a slightly confused look. Even though he was born smart, he had never experienced those things in his original trajectory, and he always hesitated when facing such things.

This was not Wang Wan's choice alone, but the thoughts of some people in the court.

At this time, the Qin Dynasty had just unified and destroyed the six kingdoms. Some nobles of the six kingdoms were definitely unwilling to do so. Moreover, there was another biggest problem, that is, there were not enough "scholars" as a class, and there were not enough manpower to guard the local areas. There will definitely be chaos.

If the original nobles of the Six Kingdoms are used to guard the place, what is the difference between that and not destroying the Six Kingdoms?

In this case, if Qin implemented the feudal system, the forces in those places would face the newly emerged class of noble "princes", and the pressure on the central government would be greatly reduced.

He pressed his forehead.

"Teacher, I am not testing you at this time, but am truly asking."

He looked at Ying Zheng and said: "Your Majesty swept across Liuhe and unified the world. He is the King of Kings. Such achievements can only be matched by the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors" in ancient times, and neither the "Emperor" nor the "Emperor" alone can demonstrate it. Come out with the majesty of the king.”

And in fact, that's exactly what happened.

First Emperor?

Ying Zheng muttered this title slightly, and a light gradually bloomed on his face.

I? His Majesty?

The quarrel between the two parties was very reasonable, which made Ying Zheng a little hesitant, but he was the King of Qin so he couldn't show it.

The greater the emperor, the more like this.

Chen Zhong did not hesitate and continued: "The king's self-proclaimed title can be changed from "lone" and "widow" to "I". This word is more domineering, and the word "unique" is even simpler."

The Legalist disciples headed by Li Si were not willing, the Chen family was not willing, and Ying Zheng, the King of Qin who had unified the world, was even more unwilling.

The smile in his eyes was also slightly hidden.

Because he felt from the bottom of his heart that with the current situation in the Qin Dynasty and the enfeoffment system, it was the best choice for the princes and kings to guard all sides.

The remaining people who support the feudal system may do it for their own interests, such as the clan.

Chen Zhong didn't believe what Ying Zheng said, but he didn't show it.

In fact, Chen Zhong had already discussed the title with Chen Su, Chen Zheng, Lu Buwei and others, and had already made a conclusion in his mind, but he deliberately pretended to fall into the "Ying Zheng" scheme. Ying Zheng "tests" himself.

Ying Zheng's troubles and previous temptations were not only because of the clan, but also because of the constant quarrels among the officials in the court.

At this time, Ying Zheng was still a young man in his twenties and almost thirty years old.

"Then what do I call myself and what the officials call me?"

"The king can issue an order. From now on, only the emperor can call himself "I". If anyone else uses it, it is arrogance."

Forget about him, even Ying Zheng in history would hesitate between the system of prefectures and counties and the system of enfeoffment. Not all those in the court who supported the system of enfeoffment did it for "interests", such as "one of the Thirteen Ministers" Wang Wan", he firmly supported the enfeoffment system.

He looked at Chen Zhong: "In your opinion, which one is better, the enfeoffment system or the county system?"

Furthermore, the history of reunification was advanced by a full ten years.

"Your Majesty, I have some suggestions regarding the names you mentioned."

The First Emperor, the First Emperor of Qin?

It's indeed a good title.

However, a group of Legalist disciples headed by Li Si and Han Fei firmly promoted the implementation of the county system on the grounds that this was something that must be experienced to build a "unified feudal dynasty".

He looked at Chen Zhong and said with emotion: "The teacher still understands me."

"It is better to combine the emperor and the emperor into one and become the emperor."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, but what he paid more attention to was not this, but the official system and the overall Da Qin system.

"Just listen to it."

After Chen Zhong finished speaking, he chuckled and said, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"

He did not feel uneasy, angry, or sad because of Ying Zheng's suspicion. No matter who he was, Chen would never be sad because of the king's suspicion, because a qualified king would never completely trust anyone. of.

He looked at Ying Zheng and said softly: "The ministers' address to the king can be changed from king to majesty, and the prince and others can be called 'your highness'."

Which system is better?

this is a problem.

In other words, no system is better or worse, it just depends on which system is more suitable for the Qin State today.

People on both sides have valid concerns.

Ying Zheng sighed again. In fact, he supported the county system because he did not want to see the finally unified world divided again.

Chen Zhong was naturally able to see his disciple's thoughts. He just looked at Ying Zheng and said softly: "Your Majesty."

He has changed the title: "The feudal system and the county system each have their own shortcomings. There may not be a perfect system in the world. Each system will reveal its advantages and disadvantages in the long river of history."

Chen Zhong said softly: "The shortcomings of the enfeoffment system have been revealed, that is, the world may once again fall into division and war."

"The unification of the Qin State is a very difficult and unrepeatable road."

"Can any country take this kind of path again in the future?"

Chen Zhong's thinking is very reasonable, because the unification of Qin is really an "impossible coincidence". In a turbulent and divided country, where there has never been a unified state, the Qin Dynasty broke out of the siege and established itself as a county. With the county system governing the country, there will no longer be "many countries" in this world, but only one country.

Such behavior can be said to be unprecedented.

If the enfeoffment system is implemented today, will future kings continue this system? Will there never be a so-called "great unification" among all the Hua and Xia?

To put it simply, at this time, Qin is trying and making mistakes for the next hundred or thousand years, which is also an example.

As the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning.

Only if the Qin State resolutely walks out on this path and tries to verify whether this path is correct, can the future Hua and Xia be better.

Ying Zheng raised his head, his eyes flashing darkly: "Teacher, please tell me."

"What are the disadvantages of the county system?"

Chen Zhong sighed and said softly: "The disadvantage is actually very simple, that is, you can't really control the place."

He frowned: "The land of China is too big. In such a vast land, your control over the local area will naturally be weakened. In this case, you can use the local "county guard" or "county magistrate". , will allow them to form a natural alliance."

"perhaps."

"Maybe it will threaten the rule of Great Qin."

Chen Zhong said it was possible: "Especially now that the Qin Dynasty has just been unified and people have not yet formed a habit."

"If you want the people of the world, or those "scholars" and "nobles" to completely accept it and become the nobility of Qin, it will take at least fifty years."

"Furthermore, in fifty years, there may be one or two generations of Qin kings, and the family will also be updated."

"As time goes by, these scholars and nobles will be labeled as Qin."

Chen Zhong gave an example; "For example, the current generation of Zhao people still remember their homeland, but what about the next generation? The next generation of Zhao people will live in the "unified Qin State" as soon as they are born, regardless of whether they No matter how the ancestors described it, they naturally have nothing to do with Zhao Guo."

"This is the charm of time."

"If the county system is used, then there will not be any turmoil or any accidents in the past fifty years. If there are any,"

Chen Zhong didn't finish his words, but the meaning behind his words was obvious.

He sighed quietly and said, "You're right."

Ying Zheng looked at Chen Zhong: "Teacher, I understand what you mean. Do you want to say that maybe we can use the enfeoffment system first, and then slowly implement the county system as time goes by?"

Chen Zhong nodded: "Yes."

"In other words, the two systems of counties and feudalism can be combined, but"

Ying Zheng smiled slightly: "But similarly, while the combined new system has the advantages of the county system and the enfeoffment system, it will inherit the shortcomings of the two systems and will be infinitely amplified, right?"

Chen Zhong nodded.

Ying Zheng stood there with his hands behind his back, his back bleak.

After a while, he suddenly laughed: "Teacher, let's implement the county system."

He turned around, with a vague hint of domineering in his brows, and said softly: "Qin's wish to unify has been fulfilled, and today the Qin State is even more prosperous."

"No, I think, as the first person to unify the land of China, and as the First Emperor, I have to do something."

"It is inevitable that the county system will replace the feudal system. This is correct judging from what the teacher just said that the county system will replace the feudal system fifty years later."

"If I don't try this now, if Qin is destroyed one day, will future kings still have the courage to try it?"

Ying Zheng stroked the Kanyu map behind him with a firm and domineering expression: "If Qin dies because of the system of prefectures and counties, then it will be Qin's destiny."

He turned his head and looked at Chen Zhong behind him: "The agreement between the Chen family and King Zhaoxiang is still there. Even if the Qin State is destroyed, it will not be exterminated by future generations. So let me do something for the land of China. .”

"This is what Qin should do."

Ying Zheng had a bright smile on his face, and he exuded a different kind of charm at this time.

This is the domineering spirit that belongs exclusively to the one emperor, the first emperor, and the ancestral dragon throughout the ages.

"At the very least, while I am alive, even if there is any change in the world, those thieves will not dare to move."

He said jokingly: "I hope I can live to fifty years later. In that case, Qin will not have any accidents."

Chen Zhong looked at Ying Zheng with admiration and admiration in his expression.

This is his disciple, this is Ying Zheng, the First Emperor who unified the world!

His body was slightly bent and he said with a little firmness, "My lord, I will obey your Majesty's order."

In the eleventh year of the Qin Dynasty, it was spring.

Chen Zhong, the Prime Minister on the right, wrote a letter saying: King Qin Yingzheng unified the world and swept across the Liuhe. This is an unparalleled achievement and should be praised by the king.

None of the ancient sages can compare with him. He combines the virtues of the three emperors and the merits of the five emperors. He is unprecedented and unprecedented, so he is called "Emperor".

Furthermore, because the First Emperor's virtues were not as bad as those of his predecessors who were lonely and widowed, the terms "lone" and "widow" were abandoned and called "I" instead, which was used by the people to abolish me.

The ministers call him Your Majesty.

King Yingzheng of Qin heard this and said humbly, he had just done some small actions, how could he be worthy of such an honor?

That's why I quit.

More than a month.

Left Prime Minister Lu Buwei wrote to invite him again, but King Qin Yingzheng still declined.

Later, in the eleventh year of the reign of King Qin, Xia.

When it rains heavily in Xianyang City, a black bird comes out of Qishan Mountain and climbs the Five Mountains. There are many auspicious signs between heaven and earth.

The stone from Mount Tai rolled down into the mortal world. When the villagers discovered the stone, it had the five characters "First Emperor Ying Zheng" engraved on it. Therefore, they felt that it was destiny and dedicated it to the First Emperor in the name of auspiciousness.

Therefore, the ministers, led by Chen Zhong, Lu Buwei, and Chen Zan, wrote again to request.

This time, King Qin Yingzheng agreed.

In the summer of the eleventh year of the Qin Dynasty, the King of Qin took the title of emperor. King Qin Yingzheng became the first emperor and the first emperor of the great ancestor. He named his father, King Zhuang Xiang, the emperor of the great ancestor. He called himself "I", and the ministers called him your majesty.

In the same year, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty changed his name to the first year of the Qin Dynasty.

Since then, the title of emperor has appeared for the first time in China.

Chen Mansion

Wang Wan sat in front of Chen Zhong, with an anxious look on his face: "Mr. Chen, how can you let His Majesty do whatever you want?"

"Don't you know the shortcomings of the county system?"

(End of this chapter)