met free Chapter 185 A Combined Approach to Confucianism and Legalism
Chapter 185 A Combined Approach to Confucianism and Legalism
Lin Tian understood that Han Fei was struck by the overwhelming aura of killing intent. After a moment's thought, he answered decisively: "Sweeping across the six kingdoms, invincible." — In terms of the current situation, this was indeed the case; even if the Chu-Han Contention were to break out in the future and the Qin dynasty were to fall, at this moment, the remnants of the six kingdoms and their exhausted governments would hardly be able to shake the Qin dynasty in the slightest.
Traveling west from Hangu Pass, it would still take five days to reach Xianyang. However, the official road along this route was well-maintained, wide, and sturdy, allowing carriages and horses to travel as if on a smooth road.
"From the time of Duke Xiao's reforms, the Ying clan had already laid the groundwork for conquering the eight directions. Which of these major roads wasn't built for transporting grain and fodder and deploying elite troops? Truly, the four words 'speed is of the essence in war' were etched into the rammed earth." Lin Tian gazed at the yellow earth official road before him, widened and polished like a mirror over the years, and said in a slightly somber tone, "The more ambitious the rulers of each generation, the more determined they became. If Qin had not risen to power, it would have been against all reason."
Zi Nu lightly spurred her horse forward, riding alongside Lin Tian. She turned her head to look at him: "Are you perhaps a Qin person? How come you speak of the old Qin affairs more familiarly than the old officials of the court? You even know the secrets of Duke Xiao's edict and King Huiwen's nighttime discussion so readily."
Lin Tian smiled faintly, but thought to himself, "It's nothing more than eating the leftovers of future generations."
He couldn't say that aloud, so he simply made up an excuse: "My master is well-versed in history and classics, and he taught me these things word by word."
—Upon closer reflection, it makes sense; it was indeed what the gentleman said.
"Huh? This is the first time I've heard you mention Master." Zi Nu's eyes brightened, her interest piqued. "Why have I never heard you mention him before?"
"That's because of Miss Zi Nu. She's always been oblivious to me!" Lin Tian said with a smile.
"...Nonsense."
Nongyu reined in her horse and slowed her pace, catching up a few steps behind the two. She looked up and saw Lin Tian chatting and laughing leisurely ahead, while Zi Nu's eyebrows were slightly raised. The two rode slowly, their conversation light and cheerful. The inexplicable flutter she had felt upon first entering Zi Lan Xuan suddenly subsided, like the moon emerging from the clouds—yet her gaze never left Zi Nu for a moment. Her clear eyes quietly followed her sister's profile, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corners of her lips: So that's how it is.
Inside Xianyang City, the sun was high in the sky, about to set.
Deep within Lü Buwei's mansion, Li Si, the Minister of Justice, was being led into the inner hall by Xuan Jian.
"Your Excellency, please wait a moment. The Prime Minister is handling important matters in his study in the backyard. I have already informed him. Please have a seat here for a moment." Xuan Jian's voice was deep as he led Li Si to sit down at a side table. Before he finished speaking, a servant was summoned to serve him a cup of clear wine.
Li Si's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the several scrolls of bamboo slips stacked on the table. Seeing this, Xuan Jian said calmly, "These are several scrolls of bamboo slips left behind by a guest who visited the Prime Minister yesterday. The Prime Minister has not yet read them, so they are temporarily placed here."
"Prime Minister Lü is well-versed in both Confucianism and Legalism. What this guest has presented must be no ordinary doctrine. I humbly request permission to take a look."
"Please do as you please, my lord." Xuan Jian stood quietly to the side, his sword at his sides, his robes motionless.
Li Si's fingertips brushed across the bamboo slips, unfurling them one by one. Xuan Jian's lips subtly parted, his smile extremely faint, yet unfathomable.
These scrolls were placed here by Lü Buwei himself at Lü Buwei's behest.
He had long anticipated that Li Si would arrive today.
The bamboo slips contain Han Fei's own Legalist treatise, each word as if cast in stone, each scroll complete and flawless. They were all copied by the palace's top craftsmen according to the original appearance, with the bamboo being lustrous and the ink deep and rich.
Li Si's expression darkened. He closed the scroll, looked up, and stared directly at Xuan Jian: "May I ask who this guest who delivered the letter is?"
Xuan Jian remained calm and answered steadily as instructed by Lü Buwei: "It was sent by a palace attendant, Marquis Changxin, Miao Du. He said that His Majesty reads it every day and cherishes it like a priceless treasure, so he specially presented it to the Prime Minister for appreciation, which will also help in the grand plan of assisting in governing the country."
Li Si suddenly smiled, his expression warm and gentle: "This was written by my junior brother Han Fei, and it is purely based on the law. Qin values the rule of law, and my junior brother's words are comparable to the teachings of Shang Yang." He flipped through two more volumes, his fingertips pausing at the vermilion annotations, his smile deepening, "What is even more remarkable is that Your Majesty personally explained and added your own insights, showing such diligence, truly embodying the spirit of the late king."
"Ha... Since Li Tingwei knows that this theory comes from Han Fei, he must have also heard that your junior brother has already passed Hangu Pass and will arrive in Xianyang soon?"
A hearty laugh suddenly rang out from the depths of the inner hall, and Lü Buwei stepped out from behind the screen with light steps, his sleeves fluttering slightly, his eyes sparkling with spring. Li Si hurriedly put down the bamboo slips, lowered his head and tucked his sleeves in, and bowed deeply and respectfully: "Si greets Prime Minister Lü."
Lü Buwei nodded in agreement, his tone calm: "Yes, this matter has already spread throughout the court. A few days ago, an urgent report arrived from Hangu Pass. As for the official edict, it was probably only the day before the king's arrival in Xianyang that it was rushed into the palace gates by post horses."
He slowly ascended to the main seat, sitting upright like a pine tree, but his gaze, like a blade tempered with warm water, slowly fell on Li Si's face: "Your Excellency, may I ask—what is the talent of your fellow disciple Han Fei, who also came from the Xunzi school? I have heard that his arguments on law and reason are as sharp as chisels, and even Confucius praised him with admiration."
Li Si lowered his eyes and replied, "I am truly no match for him. My junior brother Han Fei possesses profound wisdom and insight; the laws he establishes and the strategies he presents are like sharp blades cutting through ice, directly addressing the foundations of the state. I dare not compare to his keen insight and meticulous thinking."
"Ha!" Lü Buwei clapped his hands and laughed, his smile radiant, the lines at the corners of his eyes smoothing out like ripples on spring water. "Such a talented man entering Qin is surely a godsend! If he can carry on Shang Yang's legacy, rectify the laws, assist the King in governing the country, and even become his tutor and confidant, who knows what might happen! When he arrives in Xianyang, we will certainly hold a banquet and burn incense to welcome this pillar of society."
His voice was warm and his smile genuine, as if he were truly overjoyed at the impending arrival of Han Fei.
But Li Si's expression suddenly darkened, his back straightened like a bow, he clasped his hands together and raised them above his forehead, bowing deeply: "I hereby report to Chancellor Lü—Han Fei is absolutely unacceptable!"
A cold glint flashed in Lü Buwei's eyes, like a hawk locking onto its prey; the sinister and sharp glint disappeared in an instant, yet a slight smile remained on his face: "Oh? What makes you say this, Minister of Justice?"
Xuan Jian, standing quietly to the side like a pine tree, kept his eyes closed and head bowed, his breathing long and even, like a clay or wooden sculpture, seemingly oblivious to the commotion in the hall.
But the instant Li Si opened his mouth, his eyelashes trembled slightly, and his thoughts swept across the deep valley like a gust of wind—
"Everything is just as you predicted, my lord: Lü Buwei will surely use Li Si to eliminate Han Fei; and Li Si will certainly not care about our old friendship. The secret letter sent last night should have already fallen into your hands. You are a master of foresight, but even the most accurate chess game needs the sound of a piece being placed—this first piece of information is the key to your deduction of what will happen next."
Xuan Jian, who quietly left the mansion last night, eventually found several shadowy figures hiding in the city. With a blood pact as proof, he entrusted them with a secret message sealed to his tongue to be delivered under the cover of night.
The recipient of the letter was Lin Tian.
This was the first true message he had delivered since infiltrating the Lü residence, and also the first expression of loyalty he had entrusted to Lin Tian.
He never hesitated. Even though every step he took was fraught with danger, and a single misstep could mean certain death, he remained fearless—for behind him stood the unyielding and steadfast young master. Lin Tian had given him not only trust, but also courage; not only entrustment, but also a debt of gratitude. He was willing to repay this debt with his life.
At this moment, Xuan Jian remained calm and composed, his eyelids still closed and his shoulders still, but his ears had already quietly opened, taking in every whisper and pause between Lü Buwei and Li Si—all because they mentioned Lin Tian.