Chapter 5: The Legacy of Lu Buwei

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Prime Minister Li Si enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the young prince. Everyone in the palace believed that such a wise prince, well-versed in Legalist classics, would surely garner the support of many Legalist scholars in the future.

Humbly seeking guidance, the prince received thorough answers from Prime Minister Li Si.

After discussing the system of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, they began to explain the appointment of officials.

No questions were raised during the lesson; the prince absorbed the knowledge wholeheartedly and made it his own.

When leaving Gaoquan Palace, Li Si was in an exceptionally good mood. He discovered the prince possessed a remarkable skill: he took notes during lectures.

The next day, feeding the fish became an especially interesting activity. After paying respects to Empress Dowager Huayang in the morning, Fusu, having nothing else to do, busied himself with feeding the fish.

Yesterday, the teacher had said that official appointments should start by selecting the best from the old officials left by the Six States, while implementing Qin law.

Throughout the learning process, he remained humble and eager to learn, carefully understanding how the Qin people governed the world and how past experiences informed present judgments.

In short, the Great Qin was undergoing a process of redistribution and reproduction.

The primary contradiction in abolishing the feudal enfeoffment system was the selection and appointment of officials, which no longer relied on kinship ties to allocate resources.

Yet, Xiang Yan and others sought to restore their states, not unlike those old nobles of the Six States who wished to preserve their own interests, ensuring their kin continued to control such resources.

For the old aristocrats of the Six States, this ancient enfeoffment system accustomed them to enjoying vested interests through blood relations, so much so that it became habitual.

Now, the owner of the world was the Great Qin, which sought to break this longstanding custom; naturally, they resisted.

But Fusu recalled a great teacher once said, “Just because it has always been so, does that make it right?”

Li Si and the Emperor were still too idealistic in dealing with the old nobles of the Six States.

Seeing the prince suddenly frown while gazing at the fish pond, as if troubled, Tian An hurriedly bowed.

To recruit the old officials of the Six States, some had served Qi, others Han.

Now, to make them change their loyalty to serve Qin—setting aside their deep-seated prejudice against Qin—the question of their loyalty was still uncertain.

Fusu tossed the remaining bran into the pond, still pondering his teacher’s words.

Even if Qin offered full sincerity and rewards, would they truly devote themselves to Qin?

Han Fei once said, “A kind mother raises a prodigal son; a strict master will not have a strong servant.”

The same applied to recruiting the old officials of the Six States.

Haha, it might be better to believe that Xuanzang could truly transform the world than rely on the teacher’s sincerity to win over these officials.

The teacher and the Emperor still retained some mercy, allowing room for negotiation with the Six States’ nobles.

At this moment in Zhangtai Palace, the morning court session was still ongoing. Today’s session was proceeding smoothly until a man with graying temples stepped forward and spoke loudly, “Your Majesty, I have heard that the Prime Minister is instructing Prince Fusu?”

Ying Zheng’s gaze fixed on the speaker, recalling that this man was Chunyu Yue, a Qi native initially recommended by Li Si.

Seeing the Emperor remain silent, Chunyu Yue continued, “Your Majesty, Prince Fusu is your eldest son; surely he should not heed only one voice.”

His words echoed in the grand hall of Zhangtai Palace. Ying Zheng remained silent, calmly observing everyone’s expressions.

Chunyu Yue’s words directly targeted Prime Minister Li Si. Since Wang Wan’s departure, this new Qin Prime Minister had found a new opponent.

Chunyu Yue was known as a reckless scholar who had offended many while serving in Qi.

A Qi man recommended by Li Si had become a Qin subject and now openly challenged the new Prime Minister in court.

Li Si’s own protégé had turned into his adversary?

Facing Chunyu Yue’s questioning, Li Si smiled but remained silent.

Even after the morning court adjourned, Li Si did not respond. Only after the Emperor left did he summon Li Si for a private audience.

The Qin people’s morning meal usually took place near noon, with typically two meals a day to satisfy hunger.

After the meal, Fusu received word from a palace attendant that his teacher Li Si wanted him to wait outside Zhangtai Palace.

Walking toward Zhangtai Palace, Fusu asked Tian An, who followed two steps behind, “Is this the time after court?”

Tian An nodded.

“Is the teacher meeting with the Emperor?”

“After the morning court, His Majesty summoned the Prime Minister.”

Stopping before Zhangtai Palace, Fusu felt the warmth of the mid-day sun, just as winter’s chill was beginning to fade.

Like one awakening from a harsh winter, Fusu stood still, waiting for his teacher and enjoying the sunlight’s warmth.

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Reading Han Fei’s works so much instills a resigned but calm mindset.

“Prime Minister.”

Hearing Tian An’s voice, Fusu opened his eyes and saw Li Si emerging from Zhangtai Palace, putting on his shoes.

Fusu stepped forward, “Teacher.”

“The Emperor has ordered me to take you to several places.”

With that, Li Si finished putting on his shoes and led the way.

Xianyang Palace remained as imposing as ever. As they walked, Fusu asked, “Has the rebellion in Chu been quelled?”

Li Si nodded slightly, smiling, “You need not worry, my prince.”

Fusu said, “Like Xiang Yan, not worth concern.”

“Exactly.”

Outside the palace gate, Meng Tian awaited with an escort, revealing this was all arranged by the Emperor.

In truth, Fusu felt unfamiliar with his father. Only after speaking at Empress Dowager Huayang’s coffin did the Emperor realize his son had grown and needed guidance.

Today’s carriage was open-topped, somewhat resembling a war chariot with a large parasol above.

“During court, a man named Chunyu Yue said you shouldn’t listen to only one voice.”

Fusu replied, “Of course not. I read Xunzi, Mencius, and Zhuangzi.”

Li Si added, “You should not have only me as your teacher.”

Seeing the prince silent, Li Si continued, “Chunyu Yue is from Qi and has considerable insight into Confucian classics.”

Fusu said, “Teacher, I read Han Fei’s works, so Han Fei is my teacher; I read Zhuangzi, so Zhuangzi is my teacher.”

Hearing this, Li Si smiled more broadly.

The carriage passed through Shanglin Garden to a field in the northern part of Guanzhong, still in the farming season. They saw oxen plowing and a family sitting together in the field, eating their meal.

After eating, they rested briefly before resuming labor.

People’s lives were simple. The Qin valued martial prowess, so much of their food included wild game. Their staple grains were millet, wheat, beans, and sorghum, while vegetables included sunflower, amaranth, onions, and chives.

Among them, bean rice with amaranth soup was most common.

Bean rice was the staple for most Qin people.

For his nutritional needs, Fusu often ate fish, as its high-quality protein was vital for a growing youth.

After disembarking, they continued on foot. Nearby, several peers were arguing over a sack of beans, tearing open the cloth bag and spilling beans everywhere.

Compared to them, Fusu felt he had no rebellious phase; any such tendencies from his past life had long been tempered by worldly experience.

Li Si took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his wide sleeve and whispered, “This is from His Majesty for you.”

Fusu took the scroll and opened it, staring for a long time without returning to himself because three glaring characters stood out—Lü Buwei.

The scroll was a land deed, originally a reward from the King of Qin to Lü Buwei, granting three hundred hectares.

Li Si then took out a bolt of cloth from his sleeve, untied the string binding it, and said, “From now on, these lands belong to you.”

Fusu accepted the deed and felt at ease. Since the whole realm belonged to the King of Qin, granting a few acres was natural.

If possible, Fusu wished to have even more land—the more, the better.

“Why does Father give me these lands?”

Li Si said nothing, continuing to walk.

Before a village, Li Si took out another cloth scroll and said, “The people in this village were once Lü Buwei’s servants. After his death, His Majesty settled them here; now they belong to you.”

Fusu took the contract and glanced involuntarily at Li Si’s sleeve, wondering how many things the teacher concealed there.

After Lü Buwei’s death, his legacy remained in Qin.

As the most renowned merchant of the Warring States period and the figure behind the “a single word worth a thousand gold” story, Lü Buwei was indeed extraordinary.

Yet for Ying Zheng, killing Lü Buwei was easy.

He once wrote a letter harshly scolding Lü Buwei, essentially saying, “Someone like you dares to be my regent?”

Lü Buwei committed suicide afterward, without the Emperor explicitly ordering his death—just a letter of rebuke was enough.

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A merchant collaborating with a political strongman rarely ends well.

Lü Buwei set the precedent; later, during the Han dynasty, Sang Hongyang and others followed the same fate, merchants repeating Lü Buwei’s end.

“Teacher, why do you give me these?”

Li Si then pulled out a flatbread from his sleeve, tearing off a small corner and handing the larger portion to Fusu.

Fusu took the bread, watching as Li Si leisurely ate the small piece.

After finishing, Li Si replied, “All this is the Emperor’s arrangement.”

“Why does Father give me these?”

Li Si continued, “Today, Chunyu Yue said you should not heed only my voice.”

“Hmm…”

“So from now on, you may recruit retainers. You are sixteen years old now; you may gather talented people from all over the realm to assist you. Having retainers means you need to support them, requiring vast lands to produce grain and many servants to take care of them.”

Fusu pondered these words and the contracts in his hands, suddenly recalling Lü Buwei’s three thousand retainers.

Lü Buwei maintained three thousand retainers. As Chancellor of Qin, he had them compile the Lüshi Chunqiu, giving rise to the “a single word worth a thousand gold” tale.

Lü Buwei truly epitomized the merchant class at its peak.

Fusu picked up a single bean from the ground and looked again at the many kneeling people facing the earth.

“Teacher, may I have more?”

Li Si was momentarily surprised; the smile so often on his face vanished briefly.

But in an instant, his smile returned. As long as the prince did not scheme for power or rebellion, granting more was just a matter of the Emperor’s word.

He asked, “Do you feel this is too little?”

Fusu pointed to the distant bank of the Chan River, “There is a piece of wasteland there.”

Li Si nodded, “As long as you want it, I will arrange it.”

Returning to Xianyang City, Li Si brought Fusu to a residence near the palace—the best location in Chang’an.

Li Si pushed open the old wooden door, “This was Lü Buwei’s former residence. Here, you may gather retainers. Chunyu Yue said you should not listen to only one voice. With this place, you can hear a hundred voices.”

Years ago, Li Si had studied under Lü Buwei here, living with many retainers for a long time.

Back then, he had to watch others’ moods and Lü Buwei’s expressions.

Now, he was the Prime Minister of Qin.

Li Si had never lost his ambition.

As they walked, Li Si recounted many details about the residence.

Only when night fell did Fusu return to the palace with a pile of contracts, intending to carefully organize what he had obtained.

After Lü Buwei’s death, everything here had been sealed.

That night, Li Si remained in the residence, entering a room once used to store books for the three thousand retainers—a room filled with bamboo slips.

Among them were books brought by scholars from Chu, Qi, Yan, and Wei.

After Lü Buwei’s death, the retainers left, but the books remained.

“Long time no visit,” said a voice behind.

Li Si turned to see Deputy Chancellor Feng Quji.

Before the prince or the Emperor, Li Si always smiled; with others, he was more serious.

Feng Quji said, “Chunyu Yue petitioned the Emperor, hoping he would let famous scholars from the Six States teach the prince. But you have the Emperor allow the prince to raise retainers. Are you still unwilling to let the Six States’ scholars educate him? Do you want to be the prince’s sole teacher?”

Li Si looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, “The famous scholars of the Six States cannot teach the prince. What the prince learns, they cannot teach.”

“I hear the prince is eager to learn.”

“When the prince is older, I will personally assist him.”

Feng Quji thought he understood Li Si but remained cautious, for the Emperor had yet to reveal the cause of Han Fei’s death.