My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

In the early morning in Xianyang, the fog had not yet dissipated, but the whistles of steam trains had already awakened this massive industrial behemoth.

However, inside the Zhangtai Palace, the nerve center of the Qin Empire, the atmosphere was even more stifling than in a boiler room.

Looking at the mountain of memorials piled on his desk, Ying Zheng felt an unprecedented sense of suffocation.

If memorials from thirty years ago were like bamboo slips, piled up like mountains, then memorials from today are like sheets of paper, piled up like the sea.

"Request for Instructions on Pressure Standards for Steam Locomotive Boilers in Liaodong County", "Work Injury Compensation Dispute Case at Nanyang Rubber Plantation", "Investigation Report on the Death of Downstream Fish Due to Excessive Emissions from Daqin First Chemical Plant", "Liu Bang's Eighteenth Request to Include Hamburgers in Military Rations"...

Each memorial represents a problem in a specific field of expertise.

Ying Zheng rubbed his temples. In the past, he would have simply approved or disapproved with a stroke of his vermilion brush. But now, regarding the issue of "chemical plant emissions," if he casually approved it, the fishermen downstream might revolt next year; if he disapproved it, the chemical plant would shut down, which would reduce fertilizer production in that quarter and consequently affect the grain harvest.

Industrial society is like a sophisticated clock, where a small change can have far-reaching consequences. And this emperor is trying to turn a thousand gears with a single finger.

"Little G," Ying Zheng habitually looked at the floating blue sphere of light (currently, to save power, it only displays a single pixel), "If it were you, what would be the standard pressure for this boiler?"

"Your Majesty," Little G's weak voice sounded, "the standard is 3.5 megapascals. But I have two years and nine months left before I have to shut down. If you don't establish an automated system now, you will be worked to death by these memorials after I'm gone, or Great Qin will explode because of one of your wrong instructions."

Ying Zheng remained silent.

He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the steel forest he had built with his own hands.

"Li Si".

"Your subject is here." Li Si, with huge dark circles under his eyes, peeked out from the pile of memorials. He had been working overtime for seven consecutive days.

"Draft an edict." Ying Zheng's voice was as calm as the sea before a storm. "I want to... overthrow myself."

Li Si thought he had misheard.

When he saw the "Outline of the Constitution of the Great Qin" drafted by Ying Zheng, this great synthesizer of Legalism and prime minister of the Great Qin was so frightened that he could not even hold his pen.

"Your Majesty!" Li Si knelt on the ground, his voice trembling. "This...this is unacceptable! Legalism emphasizes 'power' and 'autocracy.' Are you going to establish a 'cabinet'? And a 'deliberative council'? And let merchants and artisans vote on matters of state? This...this is distributing imperial power among the people! This is destroying our own foundation!"

"Self-destruction?" Ying Zheng laughed, toying with a fine steel nut in his hand. "Li Si, look at this nut. If you tighten it too much, the bolt will break; if you loosen it too much, the machine will fall apart. Imperial power is the same."

Ying Zheng walked down the steps and helped Li Si up.

"I used to think I was a dragon, able to command the wind and rain. But Little G told me that dinosaurs went extinct because they were too big to adapt to environmental changes. Great Qin is now too big, so big that my brain alone can no longer contain it."

"But Your Majesty, once power is delegated, how can we guarantee they won't rebel?" Li Si still looked terrified.

"Rebellion?" Ying Zheng sneered. "Li Si, haven't you seen through it yet? If all the decisions of Qin are made by me alone, then all the mistakes will be my responsibility alone. At that time, the people will resent and hate me. But if the decisions are made together, then everyone will share the burden when problems arise."

Ying Zheng pointed to the outline: "I am not trying to decentralize power, I am trying to decentralize 'responsibility'. I want to put this uncontrollable 'beast of power' into the 'cage of the system'. And the key to the cage will no longer be my mood, but this 'Constitution'."

Looking into Ying Zheng's deep eyes, Li Si suddenly understood something:

This emperor, a figure of unparalleled power, was no longer content with merely ruling people's bodies. What he now sought to rule was the "logic" of this empire.

Three days later, in the east of Xianyang City, a huge circular building—the "Hall of Inquiry into Things and Deliberation on Politics"—was officially unveiled.

There is no dragon throne here, only tiered seats with a podium in the center.

The list of the first councilors can be described as a Qin Dynasty version of a "gathering of heroes":

There is Wang Ben from the military (representing the military-industrial complex), Liu Bang from the business world (representing emerging capital), Gongshu Pan from the Academy of Sciences (representing technocrats), and from the private sector... a large-scale pig farmer (representing agriculture).

At this moment, the council hall was as noisy as a vegetable market.

"I object!" Liu Bang slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke. "Why is a 45% special tax levied on 'luxury goods'? My 'Royal Supreme Burger' is a work of art, not a luxury item! This is a trampling on commercial freedom!"

"Objection overruled!" Gongshu Pan, sitting opposite him, pushed up his glasses. "The patties in your hamburgers are made with premium beef. If you're not going to pay taxes, then replace the patties with synthetic protein (soybean curd). Also, the Academy of Sciences' R&D budget must increase by 20% next year, or you can forget about upgrading your steam locomotives!"

"That's my money!" Liu Bang clutched his chest, heartbroken. "You bunch of techies, spending money like water! Didn't that 'perpetual motion machine' project already prove to be a failure last month?"

"That's a necessary expense in scientific exploration!" Gongshu Pan's face flushed red. "Moreover, we've discovered the law of conservation of energy, which is more valuable than gold!"

In the corner, Wang Ben coldly wiped his sidearm: "What's all the noise about? If you keep arguing, I'll request that next year's military budget be doubled, so we can just take Rome and then you can sell as many hamburgers as you want."

Sitting in the high gallery, Zhao Gao watched the chaotic scene and stamped his feet in frustration: "Rebellion! Rebellion! How dare these people make such a racket in the court... no, in the council hall? What kind of decorum is this! How can His Majesty tolerate such a thing?"

However, he turned to look at Ying Zheng, who was sitting in the highest private box.

Ying Zheng was sipping tea, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he were watching an exciting cockfight.

"Zhao Gao," Ying Zheng said calmly, "you see, this is called 'game theory.' When they argue, they are exchanging interests. When they get tired of arguing and reach a solution that no one is satisfied with but that everyone can accept, that is 'policy.'"

"Your Majesty is wise..." Zhao Gao wiped his sweat, "but this servant feels that this is much more chaotic than the previous court sessions."

"A chaotic situation is good." Ying Zheng put down his teacup. "Chaos means it's alive. The old court, with its utter silence, was quiet, but it was dead."

**[Fusu's Perspective: A "Civilized Regent" Who Didn't Want to Be Emperor]**

Backstage in the council chamber, Fusu was adjusting his tie in front of a mirror.

Yes, a tie. To complement the new system, Wang Jianguo designed a set of "Da Qin official uniform" similar to a Zhongshan suit, removing the cumbersome long robes and wide sleeves, making it appear capable and rational.

Fusu's current title is no longer "Crown Prince," but rather—"Regent of the Great Qin Civilization."

This was a completely new position, one could even say it was tailor-made for him by Ying Zheng.

Are you nervous?

Ying Zheng entered at some point.

"Father," Fusu quickly turned and bowed, "Your Majesty... your hands were indeed a little shaky. The first article of this Constitution is 'Constitutional Monarchy, a figurehead monarch with real power.' From now on... you really won't need to review memorials anymore?"

"You need to oversee the overall direction; let the cabinet handle the specifics." Ying Zheng helped Su Zheng straighten his tie. "Fusu, do you know why I chose you?"

"Because I am the eldest son?"

"No," Ying Zheng shook his head, "because you're not 'ruthless' enough."

Fusu was stunned.

"I am too ruthless, suited to conquering the world and smashing the old order. But you are different. You are soft-hearted, reasonable, and you like to listen to people." Ying Zheng looked into his son's eyes. "In the industrial age, 'ruthlessness' cannot solve problems; 'communication' and 'compromise' are. The Qin machine is too complex; it needs lubricant, not a hammer. You are the best lubricant."

Ying Zheng took out a seal from his sleeve. It wasn't the Imperial Seal of the State, but a steel seal made of titanium alloy, engraved with atomic structure diagrams.

"Take this," Ying Zheng said. "This is the seal of the 'Civilized Regent.' From today onward, your task is not to rule anyone, but to keep an eye on this system, to prevent it from rusting or going astray. If one day the cabinet makes a decision that goes against science or humanity, you have the right to veto it."

When Fusu received the heavy steel seal, he felt as if he were receiving not power, but a mountain.

"Your subject... obeys the decree. However, this 'civilized oversight' sounds more like... a construction site supervisor?"

Ying Zheng laughed loudly: "Pretty much! You're the chief foreman of this huge construction site of Qin. Anyone who dares to cut corners or violate regulations, you'll smash their head!"

At noon, in the central square of the Gewu Council Hall.

Thousands of delegates, journalists, and citizens surrounded the square. Hundreds of camera flashes went off one after another (magnesium dust explosion), and smoke billowed around the area.

Ying Zheng wore a black crown robe, but without the heavy twelve tassels, making him appear even more upright.

He walked up to the microphone (yes, a steam-powered mechanical megaphone, loud enough despite the static).

"People of Qin."

The sound spread throughout the square and even reached every street in Xianyang via broadcast.

"For two thousand years, everyone has said that the world belongs to the emperor. I used to think so too. I thought I was heaven, I was the law."

The square was silent, save for the distant rumble of a steam train.

"But today, I will change this rule."

Ying Zheng took out the thick book "The Constitution of Qin" from his bosom and held it high.

"Power should not be the private property of the 'First Emperor.' It is the hammer in the hands of millions of artisans, the sickle in the hands of millions of farmers, the wisdom in the minds of scientists, and the abacus in the hands of merchants. It belongs to everyone who has contributed to this civilization!"

"From this day forward, Great Qin is no longer just my Great Qin. It is a Great Qin governed by law, a Great Qin based on science, and a Great Qin that belongs to you!"

"I, Ying Zheng, hereby swear: to uphold the constitution and defend the truth. If I break this oath, may the whole world unite against me!"

A commotion erupted in the crowd, followed by a deafening cheer.

They did not kneel.

This is the first provision of the Constitution: abolish kneeling and bowing, and adopt handshakes or bows.

People waved hats, handkerchiefs, and even wrenches. Liu Bang, moved to tears in the crowd, clapped and said to Xiao He beside him, "Old Xiao! Did you hear that? Private property! His Majesty has acknowledged the inviolability of private property! My hamburger chain is secure!"

Li Si stood behind Ying Zheng, watching the frenzied yet orderly scene, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

He recalled Han Fei's dream—"The law does not favor the noble, and the rope does not bend." Unexpectedly, this highest ideal of Legalism was realized through industrialization and the use of steam and steel.

**[Epilogue: A New Track]**

After the ceremony, Ying Zheng returned to Zhangtai Palace.

He felt a bit tired, but the kind of tiredness was thorough, like he had just finished running a marathon.

"Little G," he said to the pixel, "how was it? Did my speech today have the right feel?"

"Yes." Little G's voice carried a hint of amusement. "According to the sound wave analysis at the scene, the adrenaline levels of the crowd are even higher than on the day you ascended the throne. Your Majesty, you have just completed a 'system reconstruction.' The system's stability has now increased by 300%."

"That's good." Ying Zheng leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Your Majesty, won't you take a look at the new memorials?" Zhao Gao carefully carried in a stack of documents. "These are the first batch of drafts just sent by the Cabinet, concerning the Anti-Monopoly Law."

Ying Zheng waved his hand without even opening his eyes.

"Send this to the Crown Prince's Palace for the Regent to see. Don't bother me with such matters again. I'm retiring."

"Retire?" Zhao Gao was stunned. "Then what will you do?"

Ying Zheng opened his eyes and looked eastward, towards the sea.

"I've heard that a black oil has been discovered in the East China Sea, which is even better than coal. I plan to go and take a look. And while I'm at it... I'll take a ride on one of those 'cruise ships' and go fishing."

"Also," Ying Zheng pointed to a blueprint on the table, the blueprint for the "Difference Engine" left by Little G, "tell Hu Hai that if he hasn't built this thing by the time I return, I'll break his legs. This time it's for real."

Zhao Gao shrank back, took the documents, and retreated.

Inside the main hall, Ying Zheng closed his eyes again.

He knew that the era of ruling by personal divine power was over.

At this moment, Meng Tian rushed in, holding a deployment map of the eastern patrol fleet.

Upon seeing Ying Zheng, the general of the empire's knees buckled, and he was about to perform the customary "prostration" when Ying Zheng kicked him in the shinbone. He had only uttered half of "This humble general greets Your Majesty" when Ying Zheng kicked him in the shinbone.

"Ouch!" Meng Tian winced in pain, looking at Ying Zheng in confusion. "Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

"Have you forgotten Article 1 of the Constitution?" Ying Zheng pointed irritably to the plaque that had just been hung on the wall, which read, "Stand up straight when you speak." "From now on, these knees are for Qin to use in battle, not for wiping the floor for me. Stand up straight!"

Meng Tian scratched his head and straightened up with an honest expression: "Your Majesty, this... this humble general feels uneasy talking while standing. It feels like I'm not wearing pants."

"You'll get used to it." Ying Zheng extended his right hand. "Come on, let's shake hands. This is a new rule called the 'Contract of Equality'."

Meng Tian trembled with fear as he looked at the hand that held the world in its grasp, but under Ying Zheng's stern gaze, he could only cautiously extend his calloused hands and gently grasp Ying Zheng's fingertips, as if he were holding a fragile egg.

"Hold on tighter!" Ying Zheng frowned. "Have you not eaten? A handshake represents trust. Are you trying to embroider with that limp handshake?"

"Yes!" Meng Tian shouted reflexively, and suddenly exerted force on his hand.

"Click."

Ying Zheng's expression changed instantly. His lips twitched, and he subtly pulled his hand back, then frantically swung it behind his back.

"Alright, alright... General Meng is indeed incredibly strong." Ying Zheng gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain of his dislocated finger bones, maintaining his imperial dignity. "From now on, you should use this handshake greeting on someone as thick-skinned as Xiang Yu. For civil officials... especially me, a bow will suffice. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll be crippled by your handshake before I even retire, and then I'll have to ask you for workers' compensation."

Meng Tian chuckled, feeling awkward but also experiencing a warmth he had never felt before. For the first time, he felt that the man before him was no longer an unattainable god, but a comrade-in-arms with whom he could fight side by side.

"Your humble servant obeys! That... over at the oil platform in the East China Sea, that scoundrel Liu Bang is setting up some kind of 'seafood stall' again, claiming it's to welcome His Majesty. Your humble servant will go and overturn his stall right away..."

"Wait a minute." Ying Zheng rubbed his swollen hand, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Don't lift it. Tell Liu Bang to save me a window seat. This time, I'm not only going to see the oil, but also to taste his touted 'Royal Supreme Garlic Oysters'."