Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Ten Ferocious Heavenly Horned Ant

"Teacher, the various schools of thought in ancient China were not so easy to win over. They had their own ideas and would not be easily swayed by the state or power. For example, the Mohists have always maintained their independence."

King Zheng of Qin shook his head helplessly. If all the schools of thought were so easy to win over, Qin would not have only had the Yin-Yang School and the Gongshu School among the Hundred Schools of Thought by now.

The Taoist, Mohist, Military, Confucian, Legalist, Medical, Agricultural, Logician, and Diplomatic schools of thought at the height of their power were all proud and arrogant, and they disdained to become vassals of the state.

As a prominent school of thought in the world, it was always the feudal lords and kings who fawned over them. They never took the initiative to fawn over the feudal lords and kings. Not everyone was like the Yin-Yang School or the Gongshu School, spineless and submitting to Qin just because it was powerful.

In the eyes of these leaders of the Hundred Schools of Thought, the strength of the Qin state was only temporary. The Qin state had already produced six generations of wise rulers, so it was impossible for the next ruler to be a wise ruler as well.

The states of Han, Wei, Zhao, Chu, Qi, and Yan—all had glorious histories, but as soon as a tyrannical ruler appeared, the entire country would immediately decline.

These leaders of the various schools of thought could never have imagined that the Qin state would be so powerful, and that the next generation would indeed be a wise ruler who would eventually unify the country.

There is.

Don't assume that the Yin-Yang School foresaw that Qin would become the dynasty that would eventually unify the country. The Yin-Yang School didn't have that ability; they were simply drawn to a powerful state.

While the Moon God of the Yin-Yang School can indeed predict things by observing the stars, he can only predict minor matters and has no way of predicting major events such as the destruction and unification of a country.

As for the Gongshu family, they were simply suppressed by the Mohists and had no choice but to join the Qin state in order to leverage Qin's power to develop their own power.

"It's alright. I'll arrange a meeting with the head of a famous sect another day. I think he'll give me that kind of face," Dong Qing said, waving his hand.

Hearing Dongqing say that.

King Zheng of Qin trembled, almost losing his balance, his heart pounding.

He didn't expect Dongqing to help him like this; she really treated him like a student.

"Zheng, thank you, teacher."

King Zheng of Qin was well aware of Dongqing's current status. The four core theories of politics, military affairs, economy, and society have earned Dongqing a status comparable to that of the ancient sages and philosophers.

When Dongqing speaks, he is sometimes more effective than the King of Qin, after all, they are both cultured men.

In Qin King Zheng's view

If Dong Qing were to invite a prominent figure from the Hundred Schools of Thought to join the Qin state, there's a high chance he would succeed and persuade this leading scholar to join Qin.

Don't underestimate Dong Qing's current status and position.

His original intention was simply to come to this world to live a carefree life, cultivate his temperament, relax his mind, and experience this era.

But by a twist of fate, he inexplicably became a cultured person in this world, and even one of the most elite cultured people in the cultural circle.

Perhaps Dong Qing is not as great as Confucius, Lao Tzu, or other great philosophers of his generation, but his current status is not much different from that of Xunzi, a contemporary Confucian scholar.

The fact that people are now even calling him "Dongzi" demonstrates the impact of the four core theories of politics, military affairs, economics, and society on the world's cultural and ideological landscape.

The basic theories of social relations and social functions that Dongqing and King Zheng of Qin just discussed were actually being secretly recorded by someone nearby, waiting to be compiled into a book and spread throughout the seven kingdoms.

........

A few hours later.

Xianyang Palace, Ganquan Palace.

This is the palace where Zhao Ji, the Queen Dowager of Qin, resides. In principle, men are not allowed to enter and leave freely here. Apart from King Zheng of Qin, any other man who wants to enter here must sever his manhood.

However, Dong Qing was an exception; he could come and go as he pleased, and even stay overnight without any problem.

Of course.

Dongqing is a man who cherishes his reputation, and he would never spend the night at Ganquan Palace.

Inside the palace.

Dong Qing and Empress Dowager Zhao Ji sat facing each other, with no one else around. In front of them was a low table with refreshing tea.

"Empress Dowager, could you please not... In short, please don't invite me over unless it's absolutely necessary, okay? If word gets out, it won't look good on our reputations." Dong Qing's tone was very serious.

If there's nothing wrong, he really doesn't want to come here. If people find out that he often goes to Ganquan Palace, then the stain of Lü Buwei's name will fall on his head.

“Mr. Dongqing, you are Zheng’er’s teacher. As Zheng’er’s mother, I am simply concerned about Zheng’er’s studies. No one has the right to criticize me. Besides, everyone in Ganquan Palace is my person. Who would dare to gossip?”

The speaker was a beautiful woman with a stunning appearance and a hot figure.

The beautiful woman moved with a graceful and gentle grace, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, her bright phoenix eyes gazing tenderly at Dong Qing.

Her jet-black hair was tied up high at the back of her head into a jeweled bun, with a jade dragon and phoenix hairpin inserted diagonally.

She had a high, straight nose, bright red lips, and pearly white teeth.

Her delicate face was as beautiful as a lotus flower, and her neckline was very low, revealing her exquisite collarbone.

The expanse of snow-white skin and the deep cleavage were enough to make one's mouth water; the two peaks pushed the fabric of her clothes high, forming a perfect sphere.

Her hands were as white and tender as spring shoots, her neck as white as a cicada's, and her white dress, faintly visible, seemed to exude an ethereal aura under the candlelight, serene and composed, pure and refined.

Who was Zhao Ji, the Queen Dowager of Qin?

Later generations have said all sorts of things about her, but no one has said that she was ugly.

A poem says: Her cloud-like hair is lightly adorned with cicada-green hairpins, her eyebrows are lightly painted like spring mountains, her red lips are dotted with a cherry, her white teeth are arranged in two rows of white jade, her slightly parted smile is like Bao Si trying to seduce King You, her golden lotus feet move slowly, she is like Xi Shi bewitching the King of Wu, her beauty is beyond compare, her enchanting charm is beyond the reach of any painting.

"Your Majesty, are you truly alright? If not, I'll be leaving!" Dong Qing said calmly.

These words were spoken.

Zhao Ji was a little angry. Although she was over thirty, she pouted like a little girl.

"Go away, go away. As long as you leave, I won't give you the box about the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions. The box left behind by the Zhou royal family is the core of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions. Let's see how you explain it to that tigress of the Yin Yang School when you get back."

In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin (406 BC), Duke Wen of Eastern Zhou conspired with the six states to attack Qin.

King Zhuangxiang of Qin [Qin King Zheng's biological father] learned of this and ordered Lü Buwei to lead an army to first attack and destroy the Eastern Zhou state, and to relocate the Duke of Eastern Zhou to Yangrenju (west of present-day Linru County, Heilongjiang Province), so that his sacrifices would not be interrupted. He also gave the land of Yangren to the Duke of Zhou to continue his sacrifices.

Thus, the last remaining forces of the Zhou Dynasty were eliminated. Subsequently, the Qin army continued to nibble away at the Three Jin states, conquering large tracts of land and also obtaining the core box of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions hidden by the Zhou Dynasty, which was then kept by Empress Dowager Zhao Ji.

"Your Majesty, you can't go back on your word! I've already agreed to be the King's teacher, how can you lie to me?"

Dong Qing felt he had never been so speechless in his life. If he hadn't felt it was inappropriate, he would have wanted to just take it by force.

"Hmph, I am a woman. There's a saying that only petty people and women are difficult to deal with. You actually think you can reason with a woman?" Zhao Ji snorted coldly.

Chapter 734, Is this a myth?

"Your Majesty, that's not how it's said, and that's not what it means either. What's worse, you even got the order wrong. It's 'Only women and petty men are difficult to deal with. If you get close to them, they become disrespectful; if you keep them at a distance, they resent you.' It's not at all what Your Majesty means by 'Only petty men and women are difficult to deal with,'" Dong Qing complained.

This dialogue, which comes from the Analects, has been misunderstood by many people. Confucius was talking about a woman, not a woman, but women always seem to apply this phrase to their own lives.

“These are the words of Confucius. If that’s not what he meant, what else could it mean?” Zhao Ji said unhappily.

These words were like a thunderbolt from the blue, and Dong Qing took a deep breath.

"Empress Dowager, the woman in question is one who is arrogant because of the emperor's favor. Such a person is unlikely to cultivate his own righteous spirit, nor can he nurture his body, mind, nature, and destiny. Therefore, one must maintain a proper distance when interacting with him. Getting too close can easily lead to rudeness and breaking the rules, while staying too far away can easily invite resentment."

"You think you're so clever? I'm a villain. I'm arrogant because I'm favored. You'll never get the box." Zhao Ji was very unhappy, but her expression seemed to say, "Come on, coax me."

"Empress Dowager, just tell me straight, what do you want me to do?" Dong Qing sighed, looking up at the sky.

Seeing the man's pitiful and helpless expression, Zhao Ji smiled slightly, but quickly masked it.

"After I finish telling the story last time, I will give you the box. It shouldn't be too difficult to do, right?" Zhao Ji said calmly.

"It's not difficult, it's just worrying..." Dong Qing said meaningfully.

"Rest assured, I will never break my promise."

Zhao Ji got up and sat down next to Dong Qing, gazing at him expectantly with her beautiful eyes.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, please don't get so close to me, it's inconvenient. Last time I talked about Chapter Ninety-Seven, Lin Daiyu burned her poems to sever her infatuation, and Xue Baochai got married. Let's continue from here."

Dong Qing coughed awkwardly a few times, gently pushed away Zhao Ji who was pressing against him, and began to seriously talk about Dream of the Red Chamber while looking at the transparent screen that outsiders could not see.

This transparent screen was released by a special soul tool and hung on Dongqing's waist. To outsiders, it was just an inconspicuous white warm jade pendant.

This special soul tool can store information and knowledge, similar to a USB flash drive. You could call it a USB flash drive soul tool, but it's not comparable to an ordinary USB flash drive.

It can not only store information and knowledge, but also project them onto the retina.

This is the latest laboratory product from the Soul Guidance Device Research Department of the Heaven Dou Empire. It is still a long way from civilian use. Each one is worth hundreds of millions of gold soul coins. Currently, only Dong Qing and Emperor Qinghe [Qian Renxue] possess it.

Again.

As long as there is support from above, those below will naturally follow suit.

Since Emperor Qinghe [Qian Renxue] ascended the throne, he has vigorously supported the development of soul tool technology. Soul tool technology has been advancing rapidly, like a rocket.

The reason we can now provide basic living allowances to every citizen of the Heavenly Dou Empire is that...

Thanks to the development of soul tool technology, the productivity of the Heaven Dou Empire has been greatly improved.

In fact, as long as productivity increases...

At the same time, various taxes can also be collected.

If those in power want to, providing basic living allowances is absolutely no problem. It can not only improve the happiness of the people, but also prevent many people from starving to death.

Starving to death in an era of incredibly powerful soul-guided device technology?

This is something that Emperor Qinghe [Qian Renxue] is extremely unwilling to see.

.......

Five hours passed.

"Why...why are women...why are women always so unlucky?"

Zhao Ji gripped Dong Qing's clothes tightly, punched him in the chest a few times, and then hugged his arm, sobbing softly.

"Empress Dowager, the box, I need to go back," Dongqing urged.

"What's the rush? It's not like I'm not going to give it to you," Zhao Ji sobbed softly.

A short while later.

Zhao Ji wiped away her tears, glared at Dong Qing, stood up gracefully, tidied her appearance, and walked alone into the depths of Ganquan Palace.

Just when Dongqing thought she was going to lie to him again, she came out with an ordinary-looking copper box and threw it at him with a look of disgust.

"This box contains the secrets of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon. Legend has it that whoever holds the secrets of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon will have the power to rule the world. Don't you care at all?" Dong Qing asked curiously.

"Among the various schools of thought, only the Yin-Yang School cared about the secrets of the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions and controlled the power of the world. If they could truly control the world, the Zhou royal family would not have been destroyed by the Qin cavalry." Zhao Ji curled her lips.

She didn't care at all about this box, which belonged to the Zhou royal family and was the core of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions, nor did she care about the secrets behind the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.