Ying Zheng: "The Crown Prince's will is my will!"
After witnessing the horrifying scene of his children and descendants being slaughtered by Hu Hai, and the chaos that engulfed the Qin court where truth was twisted, and deception reigned Ying Zheng felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
Relief that none of it had happened.
Even more so, relief that it would never happen.
Because his son was here!
"Tell me, what do you think the future of Qin will be?" Ying Zheng asked with some concern.
The vision had left a deep impact on him.
As the man who had unified all of China, his ambition was boundless he had always envisioned Qin lasting for ten thousand generations.
Yet, in that vision, his empire perished within two generations.
And worst of all, he had seen himself grow old and frail, dying in the remote sands of Shaqiu.
To personally witness his death… it was an indescribable feeling.
"Father," Zhao Feng spoke, his tone filled with confidence.
"You don't need to worry."
"The remnants of the Six Kingdoms? Nothing more than rats in the gutter not worth mentioning."
"As for the future of Qin, I have already planned it out. I will govern the nation, and you can simply focus on reviewing memorials and overseeing the empire. Leave everything to me."
"And as for your concerns about longevity? You don't need to worry about that either. I will ensure that you live forever. You will witness every step of Qin's transformation."
Zhao Feng smiled as he reassured his father.
"Now I understand one thing," Ying Zheng murmured, gazing intently at Zhao Feng.
"What is it?" Zhao Feng asked.
"Having a good son is truly invaluable. One who can share my burdens."
"Hahaha!" Ying Zheng burst into laughter.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng chuckled as well.
"Alright, Father."
"Just rest well. I'm here, so nothing you saw will ever come to pass."
"Get some sleep. When you wake up, everything will be fine."
With that, Zhao Feng turned and descended the steps.
"Feng'er," Ying Zheng called after him.
"Tomorrow is the grand ceremony for your recognition as my heir. You must take it seriously."
"Don't worry."
Zhao Feng waved his hand dismissively.
"This boy..."
A warm, relieved smile spread across Ying Zheng's face.
"He made sure I killed that traitor without any guilt."
"If not for him, I might never have seen the future of Qin."
With a deep sigh, Ying Zheng understood well that his son was doing all of this for him.
The officials had also witnessed the dramatic changes in the Qin court.
They saw the emperor die.
They saw how the edict was forged.
However, none of them dared to spread word of what had happened this was far too serious of a matter.
Wei Land - A Secret Underground Chamber
"In the end, we failed."
"It seems Zhao Feng is not so easily killed."
"This time, he deliberately used himself as bait to lure us into action… and we fell for it."
Zhang Liang sighed deeply.
"We sent over a thousand assassins, and they all perished at Zhao Feng's hands."
"A disastrous loss."
Xiang Liang's face was filled with bitterness.
But this opportunity had been too good to pass up.
Even knowing that it was likely a trap, they couldn't resist.
After all, Zhao Feng was now the Crown Prince of Qin the heir to the empire.
This had been their best chance to eliminate him.
In the future, such an opportunity would be nearly impossible.
They had no choice but to act.
"Perhaps… Zhao Feng is truly beyond our reach."
"And more importantly, his main target wasn't even us it was the forces within Xianyang."
"Right after the assassination attempt, Zhao Feng immediately ordered a lockdown of the city."
"I suspect that Xianyang has already undergone a major upheaval." Zhang Liang sighed again.
"Zi Fang."
"Then what should we do now?" Xiang Liang asked.
"Before Qin fully implements its new national policies, we must buy as much copper and iron as possible and forge weapons."
"Once Qin starts confiscating all metal, we will have no chance." Zhang Liang said grimly.
"But with our current financial situation, it's nearly impossible to acquire enough resources."
"Those former nobles are all playing it safe. None of them will support us."
"Damn it." Xiang Liang cursed.
"There's nothing we can do?"
"Once Qin's new policies take effect, our situation will only worsen. How can we ever restore our kingdoms?" Xiang Liang's heart ached with anxiety.
Restoring their kingdoms.
Avenge their fallen ancestors.
He had never forgotten these goals.
But now…
With Zhao Feng's rise, with him becoming the Crown Prince of Qin, everything seemed more hopeless than ever.
If Qin Shi Huang had already made the empire unshakable, ensuring stability across the land…
Then Zhao Feng's reputation alone was enough to terrify the remnants of the Six Kingdoms.
Those two names together Qin Shi Huang and Zhao Feng were enough to crush any thoughts of rebellion.
Even though they loathed Qin.
Even though they feared it.
They could do nothing but curse in the shadows.
Not one of them dared to openly resist.
"Father…"
"Will I truly never be able to avenge you?"
For the first time, Zhang Liang felt true despair.
A man once hailed as a legendary strategist, is now completely powerless against the might of Qin.
Xianyang, Qin Empire
Today, the imperial palace was filled with solemnity and grandeur.
In front of the ancestral temple where the past kings and ancestors of Qin were enshrined
All the officials had gathered.
The elder members of the royal clan were present.
Even retired war veterans who had once earned noble titles were in attendance.
Today…
They were all here to witness Zhao Feng's official recognition as the Crown Prince, and his name being recorded in the royal genealogy.
"His Majesty arrives!"
"The Empress arrives!"
"The Crown Prince arrives!"
"The Crown Princess arrives!"
With three resounding announcements, the ceremony began.
Dressed in a black dragon robe, his head adorned with an imperial crown, Ying Zheng stepped forward, holding the hand of Empress Xia Dong'er, who was dressed in her formal palace attire.
Behind them
Zhao Feng, likewise clad in a black dragon robe, walked with confidence, his head crowned with six jade beads dangling from his ceremonial headdress.
Now that Qin Shi Huang was no longer merely a king, but the first Emperor of all China, his status had surpassed that of any monarch before him.
As the Crown Prince, Zhao Feng was entitled to royal robes and a prince's crown.
Beside Zhao Feng, Wang Yan walked gracefully in her resplendent palace attire, her breathtaking beauty only enhanced by an aura of nobility.
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty, the Empress!"
"We pay our respects to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"
As the four of them arrived, the civil and military officials, imperial concubines, royal princes, and princesses, as well as meritorious retired soldiers from among the common people, all bowed in respect.
"Rise, all of you," Ying Zheng said with a smile, raising his hand slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Everyone responded in unison. Many of them looked at the four figures before the ancestral temple with excitement in their eyes.
"I never expected this."
"My daughter has become the Crown Princess."
Wang Jian gazed at his daughter, who was now adorned in the elegant attire of a Crown Princess, and his face was filled with joy.
Among the court officials, if anyone was known for being adept at self-preservation, it was undoubtedly Wang Jian. Yet now, this very Wang Jian had become the patriarch of one of the most esteemed families in the Qin dynasty.
He had become the Grand Marshal of the Empire, his son had risen to the rank of Supreme General, and his daughter had been crowned the Crown Princess.
Without a doubt, fortune had favored him greatly.
"Today,"
"My son, my daughter, and my grandchildren shall undergo the ceremony of ancestral recognition and lineage restoration."
"All of you shall bear witness, and so shall the world."
With a powerful voice, Ying Zheng declared as he waved his hand.
At his command, Han Fei stepped forward, holding an imperial decree, and announced in a loud voice, "Summon the ancestral records, summon the jade plaques!"
In response, members of the imperial clan emerged solemnly from the ancestral temple.
Before the eyes of all present, a brand-new genealogical record was unfurled.
This record bore the names of all the children of Ying Zheng.
Previously, before Zhao Feng had officially been recognized, the title of the eldest son belonged to Fusu.
But now, in the column of the eldest son, the name recorded was Zhao Feng -Zhao Yingfeng.
Beside Zhao Feng's name was that of Zhao Ying -Zhao Yingying.
Below Zhao Feng's name, another entry has been made:
Eldest son: Zhao Qi
Son: Zhao Wu
Eldest daughter: Zhao Ling
All of Zhao Feng's children had been formally entered into the genealogical records.
"Proceed with the ancestral recognition ceremony."
"The recognized descendants shall now pay homage to the ancestors of Great Qin."
The elder of the imperial clan announced solemnly.
At his words, Zhao Feng stepped forward, followed closely by Zhao Ying.
Behind them, all of Zhao Feng's children lined up in an orderly manner.
In the presence of the entire court, Zhao Feng faced the ancestral tablets of the past rulers of Qin within the temple.
Then, he knelt.
"I, Zhao Yingfeng, the thirty-eighth generation descendant of the Great Qin lineage, pay my respects to the ancestors of my dynasty!"
With that, Zhao Feng bowed three times to the ancestral tablets.
"I, Zhao Yingying, the thirty-eighth generation descendant of the Great Qin lineage, pay my respects to the ancestors!"
Zhao Ying also knelt and performed the same ritual.
Following their lead, the children of Zhao Feng also knelt.
Even the youngest ones, who did not fully understand the ceremony, mimicked their older siblings.
"I, Zhao Yingqi, the thirty-ninth generation descendant of the Great Qin lineage!"
"I, Zhao Yingling, the thirty-ninth generation descendant of the Great Qin lineage!"
"I, Zhao Yingwu, the thirty-ninth generation descendant of the Great Qin lineage!"
...
"We pay our respects to the ancestors of Great Qin!"
The voices of Zhao Feng's children rang out in unison, clear and solemn.
"The names have been inscribed into the genealogical records."
"Bestow the identity jade plaques!" Han Fei announced.
The members of the imperial clan, carrying jade plaques, stepped forward and respectfully presented them to Zhao Feng first.
"Your Highness, this is your identity jade plaque."
Zhao Feng took the plaque and examined it, it was a fine jade pendant. On the front, it bore the character Ying, and on the back, Feng, signifying his place within the imperial lineage.
Following this, Zhao Ying and all of Zhao Feng's children received their respective jade plaques.
"The ancestral recognition ceremony is complete."
With the distribution of the jade plaques, the ceremony had officially concluded.
After all, Zhao Feng had already been established as Crown Prince, and this was merely a formal acknowledgment.
"From this day forth,"
"I shall be known as Zhao Yingfeng."
Zhao Feng turned to face the court.
"Your Highness!"
"Congratulations on your ancestral recognition and restoration of lineage!"
The civil and military officials all bowed and congratulated him in unison.
"Congratulations, Host, on completing the ancestral recognition and lineage restoration. You have been rewarded with a Tier-Four Treasure Chest," a notification suddenly appeared before Zhao Feng.
"A treasure chest reward?"
"As expected."
"In Chinese tradition, ancestral recognition is of great significance. Perhaps this is also a form of intangible fortune."
Zhao Feng pondered to himself.
Now, he had two Tier-Four Treasure Chests in his possession.
"All ministers, proceed to the Hall of Political Affairs for deliberation," Ying Zheng commanded.
…
Inside the Hall of Political Affairs, the court was in session.
Ying Zheng sat on the throne.
Zhao Feng stood on the steps below.
"Ministers,"
"How goes the implementation of the national policies?"
Ying Zheng's gaze swept across Han Fei and the other officials.
The execution of the four national policies was critical to the foundation of Great Qin.
"Your Majesty,"
"After nearly a month of effort, I, along with the officials of the Chancellor's Office, have developed a prototype for a new Qin script. I now present it for Your Majesty's review."
Han Fei produced a silk scroll bearing the newly designed characters.
"Present it."
Ying Zheng waved his hand.
A nearby attendant immediately stepped forward, swiftly and respectfully presenting the document.
With Zhao Gao gone, the palace attendants serving Ying Zheng had been reselected. One of them, who had previously been targeted by Zhao Gao, had now risen to become the Director of the Inner Chamber of the Harem.
Of course, this was deliberately arranged by Ying Zheng to clear out the people Zhao Gao had once planted within the palace.
The results were promising.
Ying Zheng unrolled the cloth scroll and examined the new characters written on it. Nodding in satisfaction, he said, "Not bad."
"These characters are simpler than our Qin script and those of other states, and they bear resemblance to the characters used across the land. Any literate person among the Hua Xia people will be able to recognize them."
"Chancellor Han, you have worked hard," Ying Zheng praised.
"It is my utmost duty to carry out the task assigned by Your Majesty and the Crown Prince. I will spare no effort," Han Fei responded with conviction.
"If these characters are suitable, I will devote myself to perfecting them and aim to complete the new script within three months."
"Approved."
Ying Zheng waved his hand.
"What about the rest of you?" he asked, turning to the other high-ranking officials.
"Your Majesty,"
"The standardization of axle width is progressing in an orderly fashion. This requires the cooperation of local government officials and must be implemented step by step."
"The unification of customs and ethics is also being gradually enforced."
"The standardization of weights and measures is currently being carried out by Qin officials overseeing commerce and civil affairs. The goal is to unify the measurement systems throughout the empire."
Li Si, Wei Liao, and other ministers reported in succession.
"Very well."
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction.
"What is the progress on the collection of books, bronze, and weapons from across the land?" Zhao Feng inquired.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness,"
"This matter has been relayed to all government offices. The collection of books and weapons is being organized at the county and prefecture levels."
"In addition,"
"We require assistance from the military. The strength of government officials alone is insufficient for such an enormous task," Han Fei reported.
"State Guardian," Zhao Feng called out.
"I am here." Wang Jian immediately stepped forward.
"You must oversee this matter personally. If resistance arises during the collection of books and bronze weapons, you are to mobilize troops to provide reinforcements."
"The Four Major State Policies and the collection of books and bronze are crucial to the foundation of our empire."
"There must be no room for error."
"Anyone who dares resist must be severely punished," Zhao Feng declared coldly.
"I understand." Wang Jian bowed deeply.
"Father,"
"I have another matter to discuss," Zhao Feng said, turning to Ying Zheng.
"Speak, my son," Ying Zheng replied with a faint smile.
"Kui Zhuang has been imprisoned, and the officials involved in the assassination attempt have also been apprehended. This leaves vacancies in the court that need to be filled."
"In addition,"
"I wish to establish a new high-ranking position Shangqing."
"A new Shangqing?"
"Who do you intend to entrust with this position?" Ying Zheng asked with interest.
"Indeed," Zhao Feng nodded. "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools before he can do his work well."
"The Shangqing I intend to establish will not only be an official title but will also oversee a crucial responsibility."
"This responsibility is called 'Gong' Industry," Zhao Feng explained.
Ying Zheng nodded. "Continue, my son. I am listening."
"For eight hundred years, the Central Plains remained divided. Why was our Great Qin able to unify the world?"
"Ministers, what do you think?" Zhao Feng glanced around the court.
"Our Great Qin's success is due to the success of our reforms. The military merit system allowed every citizen to rise in rank and achieve greatness."
"Even Your Highness, in the past, climbed through the ranks using the military merit system before reuniting with His Majesty," Li Si responded.
"The military merit system was a key factor. It made our Qin warriors fearless and unstoppable," Wang Jian added after a moment of thought.
"But what truly made the difference was Qin's military technology."
"The State Guardian's words are correct."
"I believe this is what the Crown Prince means by 'A craftsman must first sharpen his tools before he can do his work well.'"
"Qin's weapons and military equipment were superior to those of other states."
"Our bows shot farther, our spears were sharper, our shields were stronger, and our catapults had greater range," Han Fei agreed.
"Exactly."
Zhao Feng nodded. "The department I am establishing will be dedicated to industry and craftsmanship not only for military equipment but also for the tools and resources that benefit our people, including the production of writing materials and books."
"This position and responsibility require a truly capable person."
"Who among you is willing to step forward? Merit will be the only criterion." Zhao Feng's voice rang through the hall.
The court fell into silence.
Many ministers showed signs of eagerness but hesitated.
It was clear that this newly created Shangqing role was of great importance, and whoever took it would be closely watched by the Crown Prince.
However, if they failed in their duties, punishment would be severe.
By now, the court officials were well aware of Zhao Feng's methods. He was by no means soft-hearted.
Realizing this, even those who were interested in the position began to hesitate.
"Your Highness,"
"I have a candidate to recommend. He is highly skilled in industry and administration," Xiao He stepped forward and said.
"Who?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.
"The Governor of Shaqiu, Chen Ping."
"He previously served in Wei's government. I saw great potential in him, so I promoted him to the position of Governor of Shaqiu last year. I have come to understand his abilities well," Xiao He reported.
"Shaqiu."
"It truly is a land of fortune for our Great Qin."
"It gave me my son, Zhao Feng, and also produced talented men like Yan Bing, Xiao He, and now yet another remarkable individual," Ying Zheng laughed heartily.
"Chen Ping, the renowned strategist who played a pivotal role in Liu Bang's rise and the improvement of Han military technology has already emerged," Zhao Feng thought to himself.
Then, he spoke aloud:
"Since Minister Xiao has recommended him, I shall appoint him."
"Hear my decree."
"Summon Chen Ping to the capital. I appoint him as Shangqing, in charge of industrial affairs not only military technology but also civil projects." Zhao Feng declared.
"I accept the decree," Xiao He responded immediately.
"In addition,"
"Announce to the world,"
"Issue a talent recruitment order."
"Any citizen of Great Qin who possesses a valuable skill craftsmen, blacksmiths, engineers, scholars anyone with expertise in metallurgy, waterworks, or literacy may travel to Xianyang, where I will personally evaluate and select the most talented individuals." Zhao Feng continued.
The court turned to look at Ying Zheng.
"There is no need to seek my approval."
"I will say it again."
"In Great Qin, the Crown Prince holds full authority over military and governmental affairs."
"The Crown Prince's words are my words."
"His orders are my orders."
Ying Zheng's tone left no room for doubt.
"We shall obey the imperial decree."
The ministers responded in unison.
"Very well."
"The world is newly unified, and the top priority is to stabilize the state and secure the livelihood of the people."
"The Four Major State Policies form the foundation. Ministers, you must work together to implement them."
"We will follow Your Highness's command," the ministers declared.
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