Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Lord Changping raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Wenqing before returning to his throne. His tone was unhurried, as if he were genuinely devising a foolproof plan for everyone.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the heated argument between my colleagues and the Prefect Zhou just now was not a matter of right or wrong. They were simply each with their own agendas, all for the sake of Qin. Why make such a scene and lose face in the court?"

As he spoke, he gave Zhou Wenqing a slight nod, a gentle smile on his face, looking incredibly approachable.

Why is that? You're the one who should answer that.

Zhou Wenqing rolled her eyes inwardly, but managed a polite smile on her face. However, there was no warmth in her eyes, only coldness.

How did things get to this point? Shouldn't I ask you?

This series of attacks, one after another, was orchestrated and planned by you behind the scenes; if it weren't for that, Zhou Wenqing's name would be written backwards from now on!

Changping Jun seemed oblivious, failing to grasp the underlying tension in that forced smile, and continued speaking, first showering Zhou Wenqing with compliments:

"In order to establish the academy, Zhou Neishi was extremely dedicated and devoted himself to it. He personally took charge of everything from planning to construction. His contributions were seen by all the officials and ministers and could not be denied."

"Furthermore, the purpose of establishing this academy in our Great Qin is to educate the people, attract talented individuals, and pass on the laws. It is a fundamental matter that will benefit future generations, and it is by no means a dispensable decoration. We cannot simply abandon it and cut off the path of talent cultivation in Great Qin. On this point, I wholeheartedly agree with Zhou Neishi."

If they truly agreed, they wouldn't cause trouble. Zhou Wenqing was getting tired of listening. If he wasn't mistaken, everything before was pure nonsense; there would definitely be more to come later—

"but……"

As expected, Zhou Wenqing sneered inwardly as he listened to Changping Jun continue.

"The concerns of my colleagues are not unfounded. Now that the army has marched east to attack Zhao, the whole country is focused on the front line. Officials in the court and the countryside are all prioritizing military affairs. At this time, setting up schools in a hurry, although it does not involve military funds and food, will inevitably disturb the hearts of the people in the court and the countryside, making it impossible for them to attend to both."

"Moreover, the Jixia Academy of Qi has been famous throughout the world for a hundred years, and its foundation is there. Our Qin Academy is just starting out and its foundation is still shallow. If it is completed hastily and the school is established in a hasty manner, and the news spreads, the other states will probably laugh at our Qin for not being able to accomplish great things, and it will instead damage the national image. This is also the concern of my colleagues."

Should we each be punished equally? Zhou Wenqing raised an eyebrow. It's about time the true intentions were revealed. He wanted to see what tricks this prime minister was up to.

On his throne, Ying Zheng continued to tap lightly on the table with his fingertips, his eyes deep and thoughtful, waiting for him to continue.

Having laid the groundwork, Lord Changping slowly revealed his compromise: "In that case, I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to allow both sides to back down and find a solution that satisfies both sides."

"The academy must not be abandoned, and the law school should continue to be offered as usual. What Zhou Neishi said is absolutely right. Since the academy is newly established, students should first learn to read and understand principles. There is no need for great scholars to teach them yet, so there will be no waste in the use of personnel and resources."

"But in the long run, our Qin academies are still in their infancy. In terms of academic traditions and the gathering of talented people, they are far inferior to the century-old Jixia Academy in Qi. The methods for cultivating talents and conducting academic research and the improvement of regulations are also lacking."

"I think we should learn from the Jixia Academy. The reason why the six states valued Jixia was not only because of its magnificent buildings, but also because it gathered the best talents in the world and was well-versed in the teachings of all schools of thought. If our Great Qin only adopts its form but not its spirit, even with good teachers, it will be difficult to achieve great things."

"Your Majesty, I have a plan," said Lord Changping, bowing towards the throne, his voice growing increasingly steady.

"Why not invite Zhou Neishi to make a trip to the Jixia Academy in the State of Qi?"

"In this way, we can take the opportunity to befriend the State of Qi, stabilize the situation in the east, and allow our army to attack Zhao without any worries about the rear, so that we can focus all our efforts on attacking Zhao."

"Secondly, Zhou Neishi is quick-witted and meticulous in his planning. He is not only the initiator of establishing academies, but also deeply versed in the laws and governance of Qin. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant Zhou Neishi temporary leave of his post as Neishi and allow him to go to the Jixia Academy in Qi to further his studies, seek out talented individuals, and delve into the methods of scholarship. Once he returns with his expertise, he will be able to take charge of the Qin academy, making it even more well-organized, far surpassing Jixia, and renowned throughout the states. Wouldn't this be a win-win situation?"

"No!"

Those two words, like a thunderclap, cleaved Changping Jun's words in two.

Ying Zheng had sat up straight at some point, leaning slightly forward, like a tiger awakened from its trance. He squinted and stared directly at Lord Changping, his eyes like two sharp swords.

"Minister Zhou has always been in poor health." His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried barely suppressed anger. "The journey to Qi is long and arduous; how can he withstand the hardships of travel? What if something were to happen to him..."

He slammed his hand on the table, his gaze suddenly sharpening, his voice rising abruptly, "Prime Minister, what are you plotting!"

These were already extremely restrained words from Ying Zheng in his great anger. If it weren't for the fact that he would become prime minister in the future, and if he hadn't taken a few more steps to explain, he would have directly exposed Changping Jun's sinister intentions.

Lord Changping immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty, I dare not! I am terrified! I was only acting in the name of the country..."

One person kneels, and everyone is shocked. The ministers in the hall all lower their heads, and countless other officials also kneel on the ground, as if they had been prepared, all pleading for Lord Changping.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is utterly loyal; I beg Your Majesty to see the truth..."

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister's words are not wrong. Please calm your anger..."

"Your Majesty, discord between the ruler and his minister is a grave taboo. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider..."

Now Li Si could no longer contain himself. He immediately stepped forward, his voice quick and urgent: "Your Majesty is wise! This must not be!"

"The war against Zhao at the front is raging. Every single matter, from provisions and supplies to the mobilization of laborers, requires Zhou Neishi's personal oversight. If there is even the slightest mishap in the rear, the army at the front will be crippled. This must not be allowed to happen!"

"Li Tingwei is mistaken!"

Yet another person stepped forward from the queue, knelt down, and shouted:

"The provisions and supplies for the front lines have already been arranged by Zhou, the Minister of the Interior. The transportation routes to various counties, the number of provisions stored in the three granaries, and the conscription and organization of laborers—everything is meticulously planned. Even if Zhou were to leave Xianyang, he could follow the rules without making a single mistake. This is Zhou's talent. I hope Your Majesty will trust Zhou's abilities, and also trust ours!"

That voice... Zhou Wenqing's heart sank slightly, and he looked in the direction of the sound.

As expected, he was the one in charge of the Inner History Bureau.

Even after the last cold snap, there were still some who managed to escape. This person is truly well hidden!

Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes, his fingers tightening slightly inside his sleeve.

"So what?" Li Si immediately retorted sharply, staring at the man. "Everyone knows that Zhou Neishi is frail. Even if he weren't involved in politics, he shouldn't have been sent to Qi!"

He abruptly turned to look at Changping Jun, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes burning with rage.

This person is so determined to transfer Zhou Wenqing away from Xianyang that he is willing to expose even a spy he has been hiding for so long. He will not give up until he achieves his goal.

Li Si steeled his resolve, gritted his teeth, and raised his voice:

"If Your Majesty and the others insist on sending someone to Jixia Academy to study, I am willing to go! As I oversee all affairs of the academy and am one of the persons in charge, it is only reasonable for me to go on behalf of the Inner Historian!"

"The Court of Justice must not!"

Immediately, someone interrupted, their voice sharp, someone who had been waiting nearby: "Commander Li still needs to oversee the Ministry of Law and supervise the construction of the academy. If he leaves Xianyang, who will take over the Ministry of Law? This is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Why not?" Li Si demanded, his neck stiff and face flushed red. "Han Zi can temporarily take over..."

"Master Han Fei has just entered the Qin court and his position is not yet secure. Without the assistance of the Minister of Justice, he may find it difficult to maintain order!"

Another person immediately stepped forward to echo him, followed by a third and a fourth, like a well-organized battle formation, each offering their own words, blocking Li Si's path and leaving him no room to argue.

The already tense court instantly erupted again, with arguments, agreement, and rebuttals swirling together in a chaotic and noisy mess.

In the queue, Doctor Wei's gaze swept between Zhou Wenqing and Li Si before settling back on Lord Changping's impassive face. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly raised his foot, about to take that step—

That's enough.

A clear shout, not loud, yet carrying a commanding calm, forcefully pierced through the clamor of the hall.

The noise abruptly stopped, and the hall fell silent instantly as everyone's eyes turned to it.

Zhou Wenqing stepped forward slowly, his robes brushing the ground, and bowed deeply to Ying Zheng on the throne. His posture was upright, his tone calm and even, yet every word was clear:

"Your Majesty, I wish to go to the State of Qi, learn from its strengths, seek out talented individuals, and return to revitalize the academies of our Great Qin."

------

I forgot to mark it yesterday. There shouldn't have been a self-designation like "本官" (ben guan) in the pre-Qin period. It only gradually became popular as a self-designation for officials after the Tang and Song dynasties. I have tried my best to avoid using it throughout the text.

The correct way to refer to oneself when addressing a monarch is generally "臣" (chen, subject); when addressing superiors or colleagues, one generally refers to oneself as "下吏" (xia li, lower official) or by one's official title; and when addressing subordinates, one generally refers to oneself as "我" (wo, I/me). That phrase—

"Are you implying that I'm blurring the lines between internal and external affairs, and misappropriating military funds for domestic matters?!"

It should be—

"Are you implying that I, the Inner Secretary, am blurring the lines between internal and external affairs, and misappropriating military funds for domestic matters?!"

However, this doesn't feel as comfortable and imposing as reading "this official," so after much deliberation, I decided to use "this official" since it's unavoidable here.

Just to make that note.