Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 236 Seeing Qingxu, Seeing Heaven and Earth

"Are you Master Qingxu?"

Having heard what Xiang Liang had said earlier, Xiang Yu now guessed Qingxu's identity.

Seeing Xiang Yu's curious expression, Qingxu nodded.

Seeing Qingxu's actions, Xiang Yu mustered his courage and continued, "My grandfather told me about the master, and he spoke highly of him."

Having heard of Qingxu from so many people before, Xiang Yu was still somewhat nervous when facing him.

Tianming also subconsciously looked over. Both Gai Nie and Xiang Liang had extremely high opinions of the people in front of him. Now that he had met them, he naturally wanted to see what abilities these people had.

"Yeah~"

Upon hearing this, Qingxu chuckled softly.

He knew who Xiang Yu was referring to: Xiang Yan, the great general of Chu, who held immense power and influence in the state.

But this person never thought of betraying the regime. For someone who holds great power, such a decision requires an unimaginable amount of willpower.

"When I met the General, it was seven years ago. At that time, the State of Chu was not as peaceful as you imagine. Under the offensive of the State of Qin, the capital of Chu was moved to Shouying City."

"It was under those circumstances that your grandfather stabilized the overall situation of the Chu state."

When talking about what happened back then, a hint of reminiscence flashed in Qingxu's eyes.

The events of that year seem vivid in my mind, as if those people and things happened yesterday. But time flies, years change, and everything is gone.

"Your grandfather played a significant role in Chu's ability to hold out until the end, which may explain why the Southern Guild made the prophecy that even if Chu had only three households left, it would surely be Chu that destroyed Qin."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu gently clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Xiang Liang slowly exhaled. In fact, at the very end, the King of Chu had developed a deep sense of apprehension towards his father.

Xiang Yan's prestige in the Chu army was too high. Many soldiers only knew the Xiang clan and not the King of Chu. Therefore, in battles with other states, the King of Chu would deliberately target the Xiang clan. He had mentioned this to Xiang Yan, but Xiang Yan did not say much in the end.

"The world changes like the tides rise and fall; when one country perishes, a new one will rise. Such things are ultimately unavoidable."

“I once heard someone say that the world will eventually unite after a long period of division, and will eventually divide after a long period of unity. Qin was able to achieve unification because it had the right timing, the right place, and the right people. The fault of other countries was not in war, but in the fact that they could not defy the will of Heaven.”

Upon hearing this, Fan Zeng, who was standing to the side, paused in stroking his beard. This statement was a very novel perspective for him, one that he had never heard anyone else from the Hundred Schools of Thought mention before.

"The world, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of unity, tends to divide."

Fan Zeng pondered these words repeatedly, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.

Such insights are not something a Taoist practitioner could come up with; rather, they are the conclusions drawn by a wise man who looks down upon the long river of time from a higher perspective.

Furthermore, in his view, this conclusion is persuasive and verifiable.

“Master’s words are thought-provoking, and I admire them.”

Upon hearing Fan Zeng speak, Xiang Liang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but introduce him: "Master Qingxu, this is Mr. Fan Zeng, a remarkable figure in military strategy. He previously served as a strategist under my father."

Upon hearing this, Qingxu looked at Fan Zeng.

Throughout history, not many people have left their names; only a handful have made this person's mark across all dynasties. The person before us is one of them.

After the fall of Qin, the Chu and Han dynasties vied for supremacy.

If Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, had been willing to listen to Fan Zeng's advice, it's hard to say whether the world would have belonged to the Han or the Chu in the future.

"Master Fan, is there any deeper meaning behind Master Qingxu's words?"

Xiang Yu stood to the side, his right hand resting on his chin, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. He was quite interested in such views concerning the overall situation of the world.

But what is meant by division and reunification is not necessarily true; he still couldn't quite understand what was going on. In his view, there seemed to be no definite connection between division and reunification.

"On the surface, there seems to be no connection between the separation and the union, but upon closer examination, it is in line with the ultimate truth of the universe, which is infinite."

Fan Zeng stroked his beard and sighed. Everyone may have a different view on a matter because everyone has different experiences, and their perspectives and visions are also different. Qingxu's words show that his vision is far-reaching and his perspective is broad, which is awe-inspiring.

"In essence, a country can only exist in two states: division or unity. There are only two possible outcomes: division or unity."

"But the division and unification of a country is not like that. Since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Zhou emperor existed in name only, and the various vassal states attacked each other and even went to war. This is a state of division. This state lasted for more than 500 years until the Qin state completed the unification, which ended this situation of constant conflict. This state can be called unification."

"Between separation and reunion, there seems to be no clear boundary, nor any reason, but the reality is not so. The Confucian scholar Xunzi once said in his essay 'Wang Zhi': 'The ruler is the boat; the common people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but water can also capsize it.'"

"The rise and fall of a nation may seem to depend on the king alone, but it is more closely related to the people under his rule. When the world is in constant strife, the people live in dire straits. Yu'er spent her early years in the military, so she should have some understanding of this situation."

"The longer the war lasts, the louder the people's call for peace will be, and the stronger their resistance to war will be. This is an inevitable trend of the world, like a rolling river, unstoppable."

At this point, Fan Zeng sighed inwardly, realizing that such thinking was not mainstream among military strategists.

Military strategists believe in using war to stop war and seeking peace through war. Only in this way can peace be achieved. War will inevitably result in death, but the difference lies in the number of casualties on each side, with the victor suffering fewer losses.

As for morale, it's up to the commanders to figure out how to motivate their troops, and there are many methods that involve their own family and friends.

But no one can guarantee that they will come back alive. When their loved ones die on the battlefield, those who remain will become increasingly disgusted with the existence of war, and over time, the call for peace will grow louder and louder.

"Therefore, Master Qingxu said that Qin unified the country with the right timing, geographical advantage, and popular support. The fault of the various states was not in war, but in the fact that the will of Heaven was hard to defy."

Upon hearing Fan Zeng's explanation, Xiang Yu and Tianming exchanged a glance, feeling both puzzled and impressed. They understood part of it, but not the other part.

However, they all understood one thing: this seemingly young man was incredibly capable, even the old man Fan Zeng greatly admired him. Xiang Liang, standing nearby, shook his head inwardly upon hearing this. He had heard his father mention this before; he had asked Qingxu a similar question years ago, and Qingxu's answer had been the same.

It's important to understand that at that time, the Qin state had not yet completed its unification, and had not even begun to destroy the Han state. Under such circumstances, Qingxu predicted what would happen next, demonstrating a vision and perspective far greater than they could have imagined.

"And what is the master's opinion on the Qin state?"

After a moment of silence, Fan Zeng couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this question, Qingxu glanced at the old man with some surprise, only to see a glint of light flash in the old man's slightly cloudy eyes.

While strategists like Fan Zeng may not be of much use when traveling the martial world, they pose a far greater danger to ordinary Grandmasters once they are on the battlefield.

One of the enemy's tricks could kill tens of thousands of people.

Why would Mr. Fan ask this question?

When Fan Zeng saw that Qingxu did not answer his question but instead asked a question in return, he sighed softly.

"Master Qingxu's judgment on the state of the nation and the country is far superior to that of ordinary people. In my opinion, he is probably even superior to Master Nan. Therefore, I would like to ask how likely our actions are, or whether they are even meaningful."

The State of Chu has been destroyed for several years. These people have been traveling around for years in an effort to restore their country, but as time goes by, their gains have been meager.

For a person to have the motivation to keep moving forward, they need to see hope. But right now, they can't see anything. Under Ying Zheng's leadership, the Qin state is as stable as Mount Tai. Even the assassination attempt arranged by Yan Dan was thwarted by Gai Nie.

From an outsider's perspective, it seems as if some unseen force is protecting Ying Zheng, preventing others from succeeding, a situation that inevitably inspires despair.

"Is it important?"

Qingxu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up in response.

"If I told you that you would ultimately gain little from this matter, would you then cease your actions? And vice versa?"

Fan Zeng shook his head, a hint of relief suddenly appearing in his eyes.

The young man in front of them was right. No matter what he said, they would not stop. Even if there was no hope ahead, they would persevere to the end.

Upon hearing this, the others exchanged smiles, their eyes hardening with conviction. Based on their experiences, Ying Zheng and the Qin state he founded were not a competent empire.

Especially in matters such as enslaving the common people of the six states, Qin law was extremely harsh and inhumane.

Then Qingxu spoke again.

"In this world, everything is governed by cause and effect. Every cause has an effect, and every effect has a cause. The Qin state adopted Han Fei's laws, but it emphasized the law without knowing how to adapt. In the short term, this approach could indeed create an invincible army, but the implementation of the law would inevitably offend many powerful figures. While Ying Zheng was still alive, these people might not dare to do anything, but once Ying Zheng was in trouble, they would no longer tolerate the words 'fairness and impartiality'."

"Furthermore, harsh laws will be difficult for the common people to adapt to, and there is much discontent among the remnants of the six former states. This is the root of the trouble. After unification, what an empire needs most is to allow its people to recuperate and rebuild. This is the only way to ensure the stability and prosperity of the country. But look at the present situation..."

Speaking of this matter, a trace of regret that was hard for others to detect flashed in Qingxu's eyes. He had met Ying Zheng several times before and had also given him advice, but the First Emperor after completing the unification had reached an unprecedented level of control and decisiveness.

He doesn't listen to anyone except those who offer suggestions that align with his own ideas. As for now, the other party keeps sending people to invite him, it's just to satisfy his own selfish desires!
Under the whole world, is it not the king's land, and the coast of leading the land is not the king's ministers.

This is Ying Zheng's true thought now. Of course, it's not wrong for him to have this thought. Compared to previous monarchs, he has indeed achieved a height that those people could not reach.

Upon hearing Qingxu's words, Fan Zeng's eyes lit up. He could sense that the young man before him was not entirely satisfied with the King of Qin.

Moreover, the other party is no ordinary person, but a grandmaster, a grandmaster who is feared by the entire martial arts world, or even the entire world.

"What does the master mean?"

Qingxu withdrew his gaze and gently shook his head, no longer continuing the topic. There was no need for him to be too explicit about these matters.

In the present Qin state, it was alright when Ying Zheng was alive. With his power after unifying the seven states, he could naturally suppress all dissenting voices and those with ulterior motives. But for an ordinary person, life is ultimately predetermined.

Once he falls, even if he doesn't intervene, the Qin state will inevitably face disintegration; this is an inevitable reality.

Everyone has a different understanding of the world and their own expectations of it. Those who share the same ideals will eventually come together, join hands, and work together to create an ideal world.

Unfortunately, he couldn't persuade Ying Zheng, and Ying Zheng couldn't persuade himself either. From Ying Zheng's perspective, he was the king who ended more than five hundred years of chaos, and everyone should obey his arrangements to build the Qin Dynasty into an unprecedented empire. But Qingxu was different. With knowledge that surpassed that of this world by more than two thousand years, he knew that a feudal imperial system was ultimately not the best choice, and that time would eliminate such a system.

He was also accumulating strength, thinking of changing this era. He made his own choice, and in his opinion, this choice was better, which also meant that Ying Zheng could not convince himself.

Ying Zheng laid out his plans for the world according to his own ideas, while Qingxu also made his moves on the six states according to his own ideas. This was an unprecedented game, and many people were drawn into this game by the two of them.

"This master."

"Since you're so capable, do you know if my uncle will be in any trouble?"

Tianming touched his little head, looked up and asked a question.

Seeing this, Qingxu chuckled softly.

“Gai Nie is fine. With Miss Rong here, he will be alright. However, compared to Gai Nie, you have quite a few problems.”

Upon hearing this answer, Tianming's large eyes suddenly lit up, and then he asked again in a soft voice.

"What's wrong with me? But I don't feel like there's anything wrong with me."

Seeing that the other party did not seem to be faking it, Qingxu sighed softly.

"You've forgotten some things, some things you shouldn't have forgotten, but forgetting those things isn't necessarily a bad thing."

(End of this chapter)