Diqin Designer

Chapter 38 The man of reform, Zhang Han!
The next day, the Qin Dynasty held court.

After dealing with the ministers' reports, Ying Zheng looked at the ministers in the palace and said, "Last night, I had trouble sleeping, and suddenly I thought of something. I will tell you today."

Shouldn't it be that I dreamed about it while I was asleep? How come I was not asleep and just thought about something?

But you are the boss, my king, and whatever you say goes.

The ministers perked up and prepared to listen to what Ying Zheng had thought of.

Ying Zheng said, "I think about history and find that since ancient times, there has been no country that has not been destroyed. The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties were all like this. Since the Spring and Autumn Period, the number of countries that have been destroyed is even more difficult to count. I wonder if the Great Qin will also be destroyed one day?"

When these words came out, all the ministers were shocked and all of them changed color. Some of them were about to speak: "Your Majesty, how can you have such an idea? Our Great Qin will surely be indestructible and last forever!"
But Ying Zheng stopped him sternly: "Listen to what I have to say!"

His majestic gaze swept over the ministers who were ready to make a move.

After shocking all the ministers, Ying Zheng said: "So I want to ask you, if the Great Qin is destroyed, why will it be destroyed? If we want our Great Qin to survive, how should we govern it?"

"I will leave these two questions for you to ponder. Please present your thoughts to me tomorrow!"

After saying this, without even looking at the reactions of his ministers, he announced the adjournment of the court.

After leaving Zhangtai Palace where the court meeting took place, all the ministers looked at each other, none of them understanding what was wrong with the king today, and suddenly raised these two questions.

These two questions seem easy. All they need to do is point out the problems that exist in the Qin Empire and explain how to solve and improve them. But for these elite people standing at the top of the Qin Empire, the king sitting on the throne only needs to speak, but they, the ministers, have a lot to consider.

They had to figure out why Ying Zheng asked these two questions, what kind of answers Ying Zheng wanted, and how they could answer in the best way to please Ying Zheng.

Moreover, is this an opportunity to improve his position in the court and strike a blow against others at the same time?

Under such circumstances, the ministers naturally had different ideas. After saying a few meaningless words in tacit understanding, they left one by one without revealing what they were thinking.

These two questions were indeed what Ying Zheng thought of last night. He wanted to understand the ministers' views on the Qin Dynasty and see if he could get reference from them. He also wanted to test the ministers.

In Zhangtai Palace, after all the ministers left, Ying Zheng said to a eunuch, "Tell the two questions to the princes, and present them to me tomorrow!"

Hu Hai is the youngest son of the First Emperor and will soon be ten years old. His other sons are older and all know the facts.

These two questions can not only test his ministers, but also his sons.

Not long after the eunuch received the order and left, a young man was led into the hall. He was the person that Ying Zheng had thought of using to carry out his plan last night.

This was a very heroic young man. After being led into the palace by the eunuchs, he bowed to the throne of King Ying Zheng and said, "Your Majesty, I, Zhang Han, pay my respects to you!"

At this time, Zhang Han was not yet a famous general in the late Qin Dynasty. He was still working in the Shaofu, a low-ranking official. He could not understand why a small official like him would be summoned by the king.

In fact, although his position as Shaofu was not high, he worked diligently and conscientiously, and always received top marks in performance appraisals. His colleagues and superiors also spoke highly of him.

Ying Zheng happened to have read his information and thought that he was a talented person who might become a pillar of the Qin Dynasty in the future, so he took note of it.

When he was thinking about who could carry out his plan last night, the name Zhang Han popped up.

This person always gets top marks in every performance evaluation and can maintain good relationships with his colleagues and superiors, which shows that he is capable. However, his official position is not high and his reputation is not great. Even if he disappears from the Shaofu, it will not attract too much attention, which meets his requirements quite well!

So, early this morning, Ying Zheng sent someone to summon Zhang Han to the palace for an audience.

After looking at Zhang Han for a few times, Ying Zheng said, "Get up and take a look first!" Zhang Han stood up, and immediately two eunuchs came over with a tray full of bamboo slips. It was obvious that the king wanted him to look at these bamboo slips.

What was written on the bamboo slips? Why did the king want him to read it?
Out of curiosity, Zhang Han took the first scroll of bamboo slips, flipped through it and looked at it for a few seconds. His expression changed, and then he seemed to be thinking about something and continued to read it carefully.

After reading the first volume of bamboo slips, Zhang Han couldn't wait to take the second volume, the third volume...

Even after reading all the bamboo slips, Zhang Han was still surprised by the plans recorded on them. He already understood why Ying Zheng summoned him into the palace.

If the contents of the bamboo slips were to spread, the entire Qin Dynasty would be shaken.

Because that means that the ruler of the Qin Dynasty, the ruler of the world, who now sits on the throne, has doubts about the Legalists who have governed the Qin Dynasty for hundreds of years.

This is definitely a major event that will shock the entire Qin government!

The king summoned him to the palace today, obviously wanting him to carry out the plan on the bamboo slips.

After thinking about it, Zhang Han felt that he really met the requirements. He had outstanding abilities but was not well-known, making him a perfect executor of the plan.

But this plan was quite risky for him. If it succeeded, he would be favored by the king and his career would be smooth. But if it failed, he would most likely die, either by the king or by the Legalists.

But when we are alive and facing such a great opportunity, how can we not give it a try?
This may be his best chance to make a breakthrough and enter the king's eyes.

Should I continue to work in the Shaofu and slowly gain promotion through merit?

Zhang Han decided to seize this opportunity.

Seeing that Zhang Han had finished reading, Ying Zheng asked, "What do you think?"

Zhang Han said: "The idea of ​​the person who came up with this method is quite perfect. The only problem is that the trial of this method must be kept secret. There must also be someone who can test this method. This person must be capable and not show it to the public!"

At this point, Zhang Han also came straight to the point: "Your Majesty summoned me to the palace today. Do you want me to be the one to try out this method?"

Ying Zheng lowered his eyes to Zhang Han and said, "Are you willing to try this method for me? If you don't want to, I won't force you. You just need to forget what happened today and don't tell anyone else. If you are willing, you should understand the consequences of agreeing!"

Zhang Han said: "I know, I am willing to try this method for the king, but I have some requests, I hope the king will approve it!"

Ying Zheng said: "Give him bamboo slips, writing brush and ink!"

An eunuch immediately brought bamboo slips and a pen.

Zhang Han wrote down his request on a bamboo slip, which was then presented to Ying Zheng by a eunuch.

After reading Zhang Han's written request, Ying Zheng looked at Zhang Han again and said, "You are very bold, but I approve it!"

Zhang Han's many requests on the bamboo slips can be summarized in one sentence: he is fully responsible for the matter, and he will be in charge of the military, political, taxation, and appointment and dismissal of officials in Shijian County. Except for King Ying Zheng, no one else is allowed to interfere.

Hearing Ying Zheng's straightforward agreement, Zhang Han was overjoyed and bowed to Ying Zheng: "In the past, Shang Jun lived up to Duke Xiao's trust, and I will certainly live up to the king's trust!"

That's right. The plan recorded on the bamboo slips was clearly another reform of the Qin Dynasty. Shang Yang was a reformer in the past, and Zhang Han is also a reformer today.

　Added a few paragraphs to "Chapter 37".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)