I am already immortal, why should I ascend to become an immortal?

Chapter 163: Ying Lou Lu Buwei: Discussing the world, what is unification, what is king (4.1k)

The Qinling Mountains run for thousands of miles, dividing the vast Qin Empire into two parts, north and south, from west to east.

To the north are vast plains and the vast Loess Plateau, wild and heroic.

To the south is the Jiangnan water town, which is similar to the Chu State, gentle and affectionate.

Although the landscape is different, this land nurtures the same simple and honest Qin people.

However, no one in the Central Plains knows where the source of the Qinling Mountains is.

All we know is that it comes from the Western Regions, one of the Eight Wildernesses.

The Qinling Mountains, which run across the Qin Dynasty, have a total of thirty peaks.

Among them, Zhongnan, Taibai and Wangshun are the main peaks.

They are more than a thousand miles apart from each other, and each of them has a circular mound (Temple of Heaven) for offering sacrifices to the sky.

This time, Ying Lou donated national fortune to Hangu Pass, and he went to the Zhongnan Mountains, one of the three main peaks.

A single person on horseback can reach the foot of the mountain in about a day, but if one sets out with a large ceremonial guard, it will probably take at least ten days.

Inside the bedroom at this time.

With the help of the eunuchs, Ying Lou had already put on the black dragon robe for offering sacrifices to the heaven.

Except for a little red at the cuffs and waist, the rest of this dress is jet black.

"Your Majesty, Queen Huayang sent me a message that she will not be going this time because she is not feeling well!"

Zhao Gao trotted all the way to Ying Lou, then knelt down to report.

"Well, tell Huayang that the Longguan clan only needs to send a representative this time!"

For Huayang, who was several months pregnant, climbing the mountain to offer sacrifices to the gods was indeed a bit difficult for her.

Besides, the Qinling Mountains should have been covered with snow by now, and the top of the mountain was even colder.

"promise!"

The golden sunshine in winter is not scorching, but it is also dazzling and gorgeous.

But it still pales in comparison to the ceremonial guard that accompanied the King of Qin on his tour to offer sacrifices to heaven and bestow blessings on the nation.

Inside the Epang Palace.

The long procession of carriages and horses and the civil and military officials had been waiting for a long time.

At the front of the team, the black-armored Qin soldiers, holding spears and sharp blades, rode on black horses and were responsible for clearing the way and protecting the safety of the King of Qin.

In the middle, there were hundreds of horse-drawn carriages carrying the King of Qin and his important ministers connected end to end.

Of course, in addition to these, there are many other members and eunuchs and palace maids in the rear.

They either traveled in carriages, sedan chairs, or on foot.

And at the end were still the black-armored Qin troops.

Even before the team set off, the grand momentum was already quite spectacular.

The moment when Ying Lou slowly appeared.

The long line fell silent in an instant.

Everyone knelt on the ground to welcome the current King of Qin.

But among these people, only Lu Buwei simply bent down.

"Your Majesty is about to reach the top of the Qinling Mountains to donate national fortune to the soldiers at Hangu Pass, and pray for good weather and prosperity for our Great Qin. Please have all officials accompany you and make no mistakes!"

After sitting on the black royal carriage pulled by six horses in Yinglou, Zhao Gao shouted to the sky with all his strength.

next second.

The ground shook under the tread of the Qin army's cavalry, and the wheels of the troops behind rolled, raising dust.

The black water dragon flag that covered the sky fluttered in the winter wind, and at this moment it seemed as if even the wind had to submit.

In Xianyang city at this time.

The wide street leading to the South Gate had already been heavily guarded.

But the people around who got the news still flocked to the scene from all directions. They knelt on both sides of the road, prostrated themselves on the ground, and shouted at Ying Lou's carriage.

After leaving Xianyang, the journey became boring.

Ying Lou sat in the spacious carriage, eating snacks while reviewing the accumulated memorials.

But even if the carriage was a little bumpy, the journey was long.

But after most of the day, Ying Lou did not feel tired at all.

"Your Majesty, this is the tea sent by the Prime Minister. It is said to be made from a red flower from the Western Regions. It can refresh the mind and replenish the energy. It is extremely precious!"

When the carriage was stationed for rest, Zhao Gao knocked on Ying Lou's carriage door and walked in holding a covered tea bowl.

"Let it go!"

Ying Lou didn't even raise his head. He continued to concentrate on the memorial in his hand and replied casually.

"Your Majesty, you have been working hard for the country all day. Now it is almost sunset. Do you want to get off the car and rest for a while?"

It has to be said that although the eunuch Zhao Gao is not very old, he is very good at observing people's words and expressions.

Even the tone of voice and word choice are extremely appropriate.

huh~~
Hearing this, Ying Lou, who had not gotten out of the car for a day, seemed to feel some back pain.

"Get off the car and take a look at the scenery of our Great Qin!"

Say it.

Ying Lou lifted the lid of the tea and took a look at the brightly colored soup inside.

"Lu Buwei, haha!"

Ying Lou picked up the tea bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

The red tea flowed down the throat into the stomach, and just a moment later, Ying Lou felt a warmth flowing through his whole body.

The day's fatigue is swept away.

"Reward the Prime Minister with a hundred gold coins!"

After placing the tea bowl on the table, Ying Lou smiled contemptuously.

"promise!"

Get off the carriage.

Ying Lou put his hands behind his back and looked up into the distance.

The winter sunset in Guanzhong sprinkled on every inch of Qin's territory, painting the earth a deep orange-red.

Although the winter wind was a bit cold, Ying Lou let the cold wind blow on his face at this time.

"Your Majesty, may I have dinner with you?"

Sudden.

At the back of the carriage, Lu Buwei, wearing a thick yellow leather suit and playing with a pair of bronze balls in his hands, was seen striding towards Yinglou, surrounded by four or five servants.

He still had that heroic smile on his face.

However, when he spoke, he did not behave like a subject.

"Of course!"

Although Lu Buwei's momentum was aggressive, it would be absurd for the King of Qin to be afraid of his subjects.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Lu Buwei bent down slightly, stretched out his big hand and made an invitation gesture.

Because Lu Buwei was the prime minister, his convoy was very close to Yinglou.

After just a few steps, the two arrived in front of a white tent.

"All of you step aside. I will personally serve the king his meal!"

After Lu Buwei chuckled lightly, he opened the curtain and let Ying Lou in.

As soon as I walked into the tent, I saw a long mahogany table filled with delicacies from land and sea.

There are many ingredients among them, which are rare things that Ying Lou has never seen before.

And on the table, there was a full bucket of red tea that Ying Lou had just drunk.

"Your Majesty, come and taste this. This is a delicacy I brought from the Western Regions called Purple Marten. There are no more than ten people in the entire Central Plains who have tasted this thing!"

Say it.

Lu Buwei sat down first and cut a large piece of roasted meat, which looked like rabbit, for Ying Lou.

"The Prime Minister is thoughtful!"

Ying Lou rolled up his sleeves and sat directly opposite Lu Buwei.

Then he picked up the piece of meat on the plate and put it into his mouth and started chewing.

There was no worry on his face about whether the meat was safe. "You are too polite, my king!"

Unlike cutting a small piece for Ying Lou, Lu Buwei directly grabbed the whole roasted purple sable with his hands and stuffed it into his mouth.

This gluttonous behavior is not elegant at all.

"Your Majesty, these are all ingredients from the Western Regions or the six kingdoms. They are all delicacies. This wine is also specially brewed with safflower from the Western Regions. I just wonder if Your Majesty, in your current state, can drink from us?"

Lu Buwei finished a whole purple sable in just three bites. After rubbing the oil stains on his hands on his clothes, he picked up the bronze wine bucket and scooped two full bowls for Ying Lou and himself.

Although Ying Lou could have had a couple of drinks at this time, everyone in the entire Xianyang city knew that the King of Qin hardly drank at all due to health problems.

And Lu Buwei's action was tantamount to a provocation to Ying Lou.

"Okay, but I have never seen such a precious thing before. Drinking just one bowl may not be enough!"

Say it.

Ying Lou picked up the wine bowl and drank the strong liquor in one gulp.

"Haha, your Majesty has a good alcohol tolerance!"

Although he was a little surprised, Lu Buwei did not show it.

Instead, he laughed twice and drank the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

After three cups.

Neither of them spoke first, but each of them ate the food on the table.

only.

While behaving elegantly and chewing slowly.

He devoured the food in no time.

"My king, what is your ambition?"

After having a good meal and a good drink, Lu Buwei was the first to break the silence.

He asked Ying Lou with a smile on his face while stroking his beard.

However, questioning the King of Qin as a subject is such a disrespectful act that perhaps only Lu Buwei would dare to do so.

"The whole world will be unified, the four seas will belong to Qin, the eight wildernesses will submit, and then, the flowers of prosperity will bloom!"

After finishing the last bite, Ying Lou put down the chopsticks in his hand, raised his head and spoke softly.

The bright eyes met Lu Buwei's beast-like gaze, not feeling at all inferior.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Upon hearing this, Lu Buwei raised his head and laughed so loudly that people outside the tent could hear it clearly.

Although no one knew what was happening inside, none of the guards dared to enter.

"My king, do you know what it means to unify the world?"

"My ancestors have been merchants for generations. I have been traveling between countries with my father since I was four years old. I have been to almost all the seven countries in the Central Plains. Although I have not traveled all over the world, I have been to a few of them."

"The heaven and earth are really huge. If you only rely on this naive idea, you will end up in complete failure!"

Lü Buwei, who was as wealthy as a country, was indeed, as he said, just a businessman at the bottom of the hierarchy among the “scholars,” “farmers,” “workers,” and “merchants” before he met the previous king.

However, Lu Buwei himself did not shy away from this matter. Even after he became the prime minister of the Qin State, he never concealed his former identity.

"Think first, then act. If you don't even dare to think, how can you talk about unifying the world!"

"Is it because the Prime Minister is old that he thinks this idea is too absurd?"

Ying Lou refused to give in.

"Haha, I underestimated the king!"

Lu Buwei filled a bowl with strong liquor brewed from safflower from the Western Regions and drank it all.

"The Central Plains is unified, the whole world is unified. Such a vast land and numerous people are beyond the control of a mere child sitting on the throne of the Seven Kingdoms!"

"My lord, do you really have the means and awareness to do this?"

Calling the kings of the seven Central Plains countries children is an extremely contemptuous attitude. Indeed, no one in the world dares to speak like this.

"I am the King of Qin and I have my own awareness. As for this method, is the Prime Minister mocking my incompetence?"

Ying Lou smiled faintly.

Although he is not as big as the strong and sturdy Lu Buwei, his straight spine makes Ying Lou slightly surpass the other in momentum.

"Or, Prime Minister, do you think you have the awareness to surpass the kings of the seven kingdoms and the means to unify the world?"

Sudden.

Ying Lou's expression changed, and he directly stated the two people's originally vague intentions on the table.

"Of course I have the means and awareness to do this!"

Lu Buwei looked straight at Ying Lou and then stroked his beard gently.

He no longer hides his ambitions.

"Your Majesty, let's not talk about the four seas and eight wildernesses. Just the seven countries in the Central Plains have vast lands and a large population. There are many religious sects spreading their ideas, and the princes and nobles are deeply rooted. Do you think you can conquer the world with just military force?"

"The first Zhou emperor a thousand years ago couldn't do it, and the Zhao State, which crushed the other six countries with its military force a hundred years ago and dominated the world, couldn't do it either!"

"Even though the Chu State was nearly destroyed and was even forced to move its capital to Ying, it still dominates the country today! Your Majesty, relying solely on military force will not allow us to achieve our ambition of unifying the world! The thinking of the Qin kings of all generations was wrong from the very beginning."

Lü Buwei's words undoubtedly denied the idea of ​​successive Qin kings to unify the world with absolute military force.

But then again, what else can we rely on to unify the world if not absolute military force?
"Prime Minister, the strength of the military is the foundation of a country. Aren't you being too arrogant?"

Ying Lou narrowed his eyes.

At this moment, in his heart, the image of this prime minister, who was second only to the emperor, seemed to have become a little vague.

"Strong military power is indeed the foundation of a country, but unifying the world is another matter."

"It is easy to unify a vast territory, just like the emperor did back then, but it is only a matter of time before it falls apart. The Qin State cannot do it, nor can the other six states. Even the emperor cannot do it. The wheel of history has already proved this!"

Although what Lu Buwei said was true, and it has been verified by history.

But when it comes to unifying the world, Ying Lou has his own ideas that are different from everyone else.

"How does the Prime Minister think we can unify the world?"

Ying Lou and Lu Buwei used to have dinner together, but now it has turned into a discussion about the world.

The differences in their thoughts were placed on the chessboard like chess pieces.

Although there is no smoke of gunpowder, it is no less than a grand war involving millions of people.

After tonight.

The losing party will lose all his spiritual faith.

The road ahead will be difficult.

“This is the unification of the world!”

Lu Buwei laughed.

After saying that, he took out an ordinary Qin copper coin from his arms.

"Qin Banliang?"

Ying Lou frowned for the first time tonight. He didn't understand what Lu Buwei meant.

"Yes, it's just an ordinary copper coin, but what can this thing do?"

"If it is made into a weapon, it will break easily. If it is made into a farm tool, it will break easily. It can neither be used to feed the stomach, nor to keep warm, nor to treat illness. It is the most useless thing in the world!"

It is indeed a bit unbelievable that Lu Buwei, whose family has been in business for generations and possesses huge wealth, could actually say such words.

"It's just such a useless thing, but what does it represent? Does the king know?"

Lu Buwei raised a question.

"resource!"

Ying Lou said these two words without hesitation.

"Yes, resources! The food, clothing, shelter and transportation of ordinary people, the 'heaven', 'materials', 'land' and 'treasures' of the Xuan Dao doctrine, the extravagance, corruption and debauchery in the eyes of the princes and nobles, and even the military strength and power of a country are all inseparable from them!"

"After unifying the world, the stability and permanent rule of the kingdom depend on resources."

"And to become the king of the world, you must control the world's resources!"

After Lu Buwei finished speaking, he used his thick fingers to break the copper coin in his hand.

　(Close this chapter) I’m really sorry, there are indeed a lot of things I want to write in these chapters.

　　My original plan was to update 6,000 to 7,000 words tonight and finish writing this segment.

　　But I only slept for 50 minutes last night, got up at six in the morning, was busy all day, and started typing at eight. My head is a little swollen now, I really can't take it anymore.

　　The chapter about Ying Lou and Lu Buwei's discussion on the world will be completed in the next chapter.

　　If you are not interested in this segment, you can skip subscribing.

　　(Note: These two chapters may read a bit bland, but there are a lot of ideas in them, I hope you can understand them)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)