My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

Xianyang, the nerve center of the Qin Empire.

The carriage rumbled and the horses neighed. As the six-horse chariot, representing supreme power, slowly entered the gates of Xianyang, Ying Zheng did not feel the usual peace and tranquility of returning home.

On the contrary, as soon as the curtain was lifted, a strong smell of animal manure, rotten vegetable leaves and sweat hit the driver like a real tangible force.

In the past, Ying Zheng was used to this. It was the smell of everyday life, the unique aroma of a metropolis with millions of inhabitants. But now, after several days of being bombarded with "microbiology" by Xiao G, his mind filled with "E. coli," "Vibrio cholerae," and "parasite eggs," this once ordinary smell instantly transformed into the stench of death in his nose.

"Dirty".

Ying Zheng frowned, covered his mouth and nose with a silk handkerchief, and his eyes revealed undisguised disgust.

This isn't obsessive-compulsive disorder; it's his physiological aversion to "disorder." In the eyes of Legalists, chaos is evil. And the muddy streets and overflowing sewage of Xianyang today, in his view, represent a massive loophole in its management.

"Little G," Ying Zheng thought coldly to himself, "This is my capital? I feel like it's a giant... petri dish for bacteria?"

[Correct answer.]

According to analysis from air quality sensors (simulation version), the level of pathogens in the air of Xianyang City is currently 200% above the standard. Every puddle on the streets is a breeding ground for plague.

[Your Majesty, if you don't carry out your "sanitation campaign," this plague will inevitably come and claim lives sooner or later.]

Ying Zheng lowered the curtain, shutting out the outside smells, his eyes filled with gloom.

"Li Si".

Outside the carriage window, Li Si rode closely behind on horseback. Upon hearing the call, he immediately approached and said, "Your subject is here."

"How's the 'Great Qin Hygiene Law' you were asked to draft coming along?" Ying Zheng's voice came through the carriage curtain, muffled yet chilling.

Li Si hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the draft has been completed. However... some of the clauses are quite harsh, such as 'those who dump filth anywhere will have their faces tattooed,' and 'those who drink untreated water will be punished with three days of corvée labor.' I am worried that the people are too ignorant to implement it in a short time, and that it may cause resentment."

"Complaints?" Ying Zheng sneered. "Are they afraid of pain, or afraid of death? If they are afraid of death, I am saving their lives. If they are afraid of pain, then let them fear my laws even more."

"Pass down the order, no need for hesitation. First, designate a 'demonstration zone' in Xianyang. Fill in all those ditches where sewage is being dumped, and dig unified underground sewage channels. Anyone who dares to defecate in the street, make them crawl there and eat their excrement!"

Li Si trembled, his scalp tingling: "Yes...yes!"

The convoy drove through the bustling city and headed straight into Xianyang Palace.

As soon as Ying Zheng entered the palace gates, he sensed an unusual atmosphere. In the distance, thick smoke billowed from the direction of the Shaofu (the institution in charge of royal handicrafts), and the faint sound of metal clanging could be heard.

"Where is the fire going?" Ying Zheng's eyes narrowed.

A eunuch stumbled in, his face covered in soot: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! It's not a fire! It's...it's Lord Zhao, the Director of the Imperial Carriage Office! He's building a 'divine artifact'!"

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Gao? That liberal arts student who couldn't even solve physics problems actually built a "steam engine"?

Although the blueprints he gave Zhao Gao were just "conceptual drawings" dictated by Xiao G and drawn from memory, without even a sealing ring marked, if Zhao Gao could really build it, then this guy shouldn't be a treacherous minister, but should be the leader of the Mohist school.

"Prepare the carriage for the Imperial Household Department." A hint of amusement flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes. "I want to see what kind of monster he has created for me."

……

The Shaofu workshop was sweltering in the heat.

What was once a spacious open space now stands as a colossal object.

It was a huge bronze cauldron, as tall as a two-story building, with its lid welded shut, leaving only a thick, long bronze pipe exposed. Beneath the cauldron was a pile of burning charcoal, and dozens of shirtless craftsmen were frantically pulling the bellows, flames leaping up ten feet high.

The so-called "steam engine" was actually a huge windmill connected to the other end of the copper pipe.

As the water in the cauldron boiled, white steam billowed out like a raging dragon, crashing against the windmill blades and emitting a piercing shriek. The windmill spun wildly, driving a millstone underneath to spin rapidly.

Zhao Gao, dressed in black ash and with scorched hair, stood on a high platform, waving a command flag and shouting like a madman, "Burn! Burn it all! Make the fire bigger! Let His Majesty see this divine power!"

Upon seeing Ying Zheng's imperial entourage arrive, Zhao Gao scrambled over, his face beaming with pride: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This servant has fulfilled my mission! This 'Steam Princess'... oh no, this steam engine, it's built! Look, it's moving by itself! It's incredibly powerful!"

Ying Zheng got out of the carriage, stood with his hands behind his back, and squinted at the violent device in front of him.

It really happened. And the scale of the operation was indeed massive.

But in his eyes, this thing didn't look like a machine; it looked more like a torture device about to explode.

"Little G," Ying Zheng asked in his mind, "is this the Industrial Revolution you were talking about?"

[Scanning in progress...]

[System Review: My God. This is practically "industrial suicide."]

【analyze:

1. No safety valve: This is basically a super pressure cooker. There is no pressure gauge. It relies entirely on the copper walls to withstand the pressure.

2. Extremely low energy conversion rate: approximately 0.01%. The amount of coal burned is enough to heat the entire Xianyang city for a day, all for the sake of turning that millstone?

3. Structural Hazard: Judging from the sound, the copper wall is already showing signs of metal fatigue. Based on PV=nRT (the ideal gas law), this thing will turn into a bomb in 30 seconds.

[Suggestion: Your Majesty, run! Or lie down.]

Ying Zheng's expression changed drastically.

He doesn't understand PV=nRT, but he understands G's "countdown".

"Protect the Emperor!"

Ying Zheng abruptly retreated, waving his sleeves, his voice booming like thunder: "Everyone back off! Lie down!"

Zhao Gao was stunned: "Your Majesty? This is truly divine power..."

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar shattered all of Zhao Gao's illusions.

The enormous bronze cauldron finally succumbed to the terrifying internal pressure and exploded before everyone's eyes. Scalding steam mixed with bronze fragments shot out in all directions like a rain of pear blossoms.

The huge blast wave sent Zhao Gao flying, crashing heavily onto a haystack several feet away.

The workshop of the Shaofu was in complete disarray, with screams echoing throughout.

Fortunately, Ying Zheng reacted quickly and retreated to a safe distance. With the protection of the heavy shield guards, he was unharmed. However, looking at the scene before him, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Is this what they mean by "traveling a thousand miles a day"?

This is clearly an attempt to send me to my death!

The dust has settled.

Zhao Gao, his face covered in blood, staggered to his feet, his ears ringing. Looking at the ruins before him, he was utterly terrified. It was all over. He'd messed it up.

He fell to his knees amidst the rubble with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! This servant... this servant doesn't know why it exploded! It must be... it must be the craftsman's fault! Or perhaps the heavens are jealous of this divine artifact!"

Ying Zheng slowly walked up to Zhao Gao and kicked away a piece of scorching hot copper at his feet.

He did not immediately become angry, but remained surprisingly calm.

This explosion taught him a lesson:

Overtaking on a curve can lead to a rollover.

While Little G possesses countless amazing skills, Great Qin's foundation is too weak. Without basic theory and materials science, directly applying such high-precision technologies is meaningless except for making noise.

Although Zhao Gao was tasked with building the steam engine with the intention of blowing him up, wasn't he also harboring a sliver of hope, expecting to achieve his goal of mastering the divine artifact of the future in one fell swoop?

He was too hasty and eager for quick success, which is a major taboo in military strategy.

"Zhao Gao." Ying Zheng's voice was devoid of emotion.

"This servant...is here." Zhao Gao trembled, waiting for the order to "drag him out and behead him."

"Do you know why this exploded?"

"This servant is... dull-witted."

"Because you're stupid," Ying Zheng said coldly, "and also because I was too hasty."

Ying Zheng turned around and looked at the still-smoking ruins. He felt a growing sense of vigilance and awe towards the unseen "Little G." Science is more rigorous than Legalist laws and regulations; it allows no room for deception.

"You may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment." Ying Zheng delivered his verdict. "Zhao Gao, since you enjoy starting fires, from this day forward, all the 'blast furnaces' in the Imperial Household Department will be under your control. I will no longer allow you to build steam engines; those things are too advanced."

"Go and make paper for me."

"Making...paper?" Zhao Gao looked bewildered.

"Yes." Ying Zheng took out another blueprint that Little G had just generated from his sleeve—"Cai Lun's Improved Papermaking Technique (Bamboo Pulp and Tree Bark)".

"Bamboo slips are too heavy. I have to read 120 jin (60 kg) of them every day, and my wrists are about to break. I need a medium that is as light as a cicada's wing and as white as frost and snow, which can hold ten thousand words."

"This thing won't explode." Ying Zheng stared at Zhao Gao. "If you can't even make this, or if the paper you make is unusable..."

"Then I'll throw you into that blast furnace and turn you into ashes."

Zhao Gao was overjoyed at being granted a pardon. Although he didn't know what "paper" was, he was fine as long as it wasn't that exploding copper pot!

"This servant obeys! This servant will serve you to the death!"

After dealing with Zhao Gao, Ying Zheng's mood did not improve.

He returned to his study in Xianyang Palace, dismissed his attendants, and sat alone in the dark hall.

"Little G".

Yes. That fireworks show was amazing.

"Stop being so glib." Ying Zheng rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness and deep anxiety. "I've discovered today that this matter of 'technology' is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Even if I understand the principles, turning it into a tangible object is as difficult as climbing to the heavens."

"Since the path to a strong nation must be taken slowly, then the path to eliminating threats must be taken quickly."

Ying Zheng suddenly opened his eyes, the weariness in them vanishing, replaced by that familiar, chilling killing intent.

That was the First Emperor's instinct—to eliminate all potential threats.

"You said before that my Qin Dynasty perished because of an 'uprising'." Ying Zheng stood up and walked to the huge map. "Besides Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, who else do you think could be my mortal enemies? Who else in this world is truly my mortal enemy?"

[Searching for "The List of Heroes at the End of the Qin and the Beginning of the Han Dynasties"...]

[Highest threat level: Two.]

[First Place: Xiang Yu (currently 22 years old)]

[Location: Wuzhong, Kuaiji Commandery (present-day Suzhou)]

【Special Features: Grandson of Xiang Yan, a famous general of the Chu state; possessing immense strength, a military genius; in the Battle of Julu, he famously destroyed his own boats and buried the main force of the Qin army of 200,000.】

"Xiang Yan's grandson..." Ying Zheng pressed his finger heavily on the location of "Kuaiji" on the map, his nails almost piercing the silk. "Even if Chu has only three households left, it will surely be Chu that destroys Qin. He is indeed a remnant of Chu. This man deserves to die!"

Second place: Liu Bang (currently 46 years old).

[Location: Pei County, Sishui Prefecture.]

[Position: Sishui Pavilion Chief (roughly equivalent to the head of a township police station).]

[Characteristics: A street urchin, fond of drinking and women, and an idler. But he is also the future... cough cough, Emperor Gaozu of Han, the one who will succeed you on the throne.]

Ying Zheng was stunned.

He turned his head, staring at the screen with an absurd expression: "What did you say? A...village head? A hooligan?"

Xiang Yu could understand; they were sworn enemies, nobles, and had influence.

But Liu Bang? An old scoundrel in his forties who was still a low-level official, freeloading off others? How could such a person possibly succeed me as the emperor's eternal dynasty?

"What abilities does this person possess?" Ying Zheng asked, puzzled.

His greatest strengths are his shamelessness and his ability to use people effectively.

You kill with a sword, he kills with his brothers. You rely on authority, he relies on acting. He's a typical pragmatist, more flexible than the Legalists, and more adept at pretense than the Confucians.

Ying Zheng remained silent.

To him, the word "shameless" was the greatest insult to an emperor. But he also knew that people with no bottom line were often the most difficult to deal with.

"Xiang Yu of Kuaiji, Liu Bang of Pei County."

Ying Zheng silently recited these two names in his heart, as if he were chewing on two tough bones.

"Little G, I hereby issue an edict ordering the prefect to arrest these two men and bring them to Xianyang for dismemberment."

Not recommended.

First, Xiang Yu enjoys immense prestige in Jiangdong, and his clan is deeply entrenched. Arresting someone now without any pretext will only incite them to rebel prematurely. If that happens, Jiangdong will descend into chaos, with remnants of the six former states rising up in response, and the situation will spiral out of control.

Secondly, Liu Bang is currently just a scoundrel. You want to arrest him? What's your reason? Because he'll become emperor someday? If that gets out, everyone will think you're crazy. Besides, Liu Bang is a cunning old fox, slippery and ruthless. If you arrest him, there will be Zhang Bang, Li Bang, and so on.

The inertia of history is terrifying. Killing these two people will only create new heroes.

"So I'll just watch?" Ying Zheng scoffed. "Watch them grow stronger?"

Of course not.

Now that you know their background, you have a God's-eye view.

[Regarding Xiang Yu, you can "praise him to death." Transfer him away from Jiangdong, or give him a nominal position, keep him under your watchful eye to temper his wild nature, or... send him to fight the Xiongnu? Let his excess military prowess wreak havoc on foreign tribes?]

[Regarding Liu Bang, you can "check the water clock."]

"Check the water meter?"

Send your "Black Ice Guard" (Qin Dynasty intelligence agency) there.

Don't arrest him. Monitor him, analyze him, and isolate him.

For example, since he's fond of wine and women, investigate whether he's embezzled public funds for drinking? Does he have any moral issues? Use the Qin law to punish him openly and fairly. Make him unable to even remain a village head, and disappoint his advisors like Fan Kuai and Xiao He.

As Ying Zheng listened, the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

That was the smile of a schemer.

"What a blatant way to get back at him!"

Ying Zheng walked back to his desk, picked up his brush, and wrote two secret edicts.

The first order was given to Dunruo, the commander of the Black Ice Platform.

"Immediately dispatch elite spies to Kuaiji and Pei County to monitor Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Report their words and actions daily without error. Also, investigate Liu Bang's embezzlement and ensure the evidence is conclusive."

The second dish was given to Meng Tian.

"Military affairs in Shangjun are temporarily suspended. The focus should be on training troops. If any young men from Jiangdong come to join us, we must carefully screen them and divide and weaken them."

After writing the secret edict, he affixed the imperial seal.

Looking at the bright red ink, Ying Zheng seemed to see two invisible nets closing in on the heads of those two clueless "future emperors".

"Little G".

【exist. 】

"I do not wish to review any memorials tonight."

[Oh? The sun has risen in the west? What do you want to do then?]

Ying Zheng stood up, opened the window, and looked at the pitch-black night outside.

"I want to hear where that man named 'Han Xin' is right now. I need someone to lead the troops. Meng Tian is too honest, and Wang Jian is too old. I need a sharper sword to cut down people for me."

[Han Xin?]

[Searching... He should be fishing by the river in Huaiyin right now, enduring the humiliation of being forced to crawl between someone's legs, and probably even getting food from the washerwoman.]

That's a true "military genius." If you can master him, the Xiongnu are nothing but weaklings.

"Fishing? Or freeloading?"

Ying Zheng laughed heartily, his laughter filled with boundless joy.

"Excellent! What a brilliant military strategist!"

"My Great Qin will not only collect all the weapons in the world, but also all the talents in the world!"

"Issue a decree! I'm going on an eastern tour! This time, I'm not going to seek immortality; I'm going to... go fishing!"

That night, the lights in Xianyang Palace remained lit all night long.