Chapter 9: Book Burning

Liu Ji suddenly received a very important task, and this task was most likely assigned by the county order, because the county order harbored hatred for Liu Ji. This task is not simple, it requires a long journey and a lot of work, that is, escorting a group of prisoners to the capital Xianyang to serve their sentences.

The capital Xianyang has never been so busy, with bustling crowds everywhere and the appearance of demolition and construction everywhere, a prosperous scene. Some are aristocratic heroes who have just moved from all over the country, and they have just arrived and have not yet settled down. Some are criminals who have been escorted from all over the country to undertake the construction of major civil engineering projects in the capital Xianyang.

Ying Zheng, who was sitting in the palace, had never been so happy. Seeing all this prosperous scene, he was even more sure that his thinking was correct. He ordered the construction of two imperial palaces, one above ground and one underground, the one on the ground was called Afang Palace, and the one on the ground was called Lishan Mausoleum. At the same time, a magnificent military defense project - the Great Wall of China was also built. The famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses are part of the Lishan Mausoleum, and together with the Great Wall, they were hailed as the wonders of the world. If Afang Palace had not been destroyed later, it would have become a world wonder on a par with the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

Ying Zheng felt unprecedented confidence in the imperial industry he had created and the system he had created, which he considered to be a merit that surpassed the five ancient emperors. Each statue of a general in the Lishan Mausoleum is carved based on the current official position, and the terracotta warriors and horses are a simulation of the new system, and they are the bureaucratic system of the underground palace. Ying Zheng wanted to live forever with his imperial system and bureaucracy.

But Yingzheng may be overly optimistic. His painstaking efforts were not recognized by all his subjects. At a large official banquet, a Confucian doctor sharply criticized the Qin Dynasty's new policies. He did not think that Ying Zheng's merits surpassed those of his predecessors, and he pointed out that many of Ying Zheng's practices were wrong from the perspective of Confucian theory. Confucianism always believes that the ancient primitive era is the most peaceful and warm time for human beings, and everything at that time is the best. What the Qin Dynasty is doing now is not as good as before, because it is completely different from the previous system. In particular, the implementation of the feudal system is, in the eyes of Confucian believers, a heinous and heinous government. Because the monarch is the son of heaven, and his children and grandchildren are no different from the puppet, if there is any big problem in the country in the future, who will rely on to save it. The monarch truly became a loner. (Now His Majesty has the sea, and the children are horsemen, and there are Tian Chang and Liuqing's ministers, and there is no auxiliary brush, how can they save each other.) Those who can last for a long time without learning from the past are unheard of. ）

The Confucian doctor's name was Chun Yuyue, and he strongly defended his beliefs. He was indeed motivated by loyalty, aiming for the long-term peace and stability of the Qin state. His concept is essentially no different from that of Prime Minister Wang Juan, both of which are aimed at maintaining the sub-feudal system.

This is not a simple and specific policy issue, but a fundamental "major issue of right and wrong" involving the Qin Dynasty's national system. It involves an overall evaluation of the political model of the Qin Dynasty and the merits and demerits of Ying Zheng himself, and it can even be said that it involves the basic evaluation of the basic system and ruling strategy of the Qin Dynasty. At that time, the prime minister Wang Juan was not able to change at the imperial court meeting, and at this time, the county system had been implemented throughout the country, could he change history as a doctor with a meager status? On such an important occasion and in such a sharp way, and raising such a major political issue, Chun Yuyue's remarks embarrassed Ying Zheng and other high-level officials present, especially the reformers led by Li Si.

Liston felt the seriousness of the problem and that the policy had already been implemented, and when he raised objections at this time, he had no intention of slapping the central government in the face. Ying Zheng showed the imperial bearing he deserved, he did not get angry, nor did he judge the crime in court. Ying Zheng knows that the controversy has not been completely eliminated, because the impact of this system is so great that no one dares to jump to conclusions. In accordance with the normal deliberative system, he again submitted it to the council of ministers.

Li Si resolutely upholds the policies issued by the central government. He believes that the Qin State has never resisted change from beginning to end, and change has always been the main theme of the Qin State. Confucianism is the greatest obstacle to change and the sinner who hinders the development of history. He called for unifying thinking, raising awareness, and exercising strict control over ideas and speech. This is because these high-ranking officials and social elites do not uphold the policies of the central government, but instead advocate reactionary rhetoric, which will inevitably affect the state power. (It was not easier to implement feudalism than it was when a republic was introduced...... ）

Eventually, one of the most notorious decrees in history was issued, and that was the Book Burning Order. With the exception of Qin history books, all other private collections of history books and Confucian classics were burned and only allowed to be retained by the central government for academic research purposes. The books burned included all the histories, classical works, and philosophies of the hundred schools of thought except for the Qin state, and the books on medicine, divination, and agriculture were not burned. (The minister invited the historian to burn it if it was not Qin Ji, and it was not a doctor's office, and those who dared to have a collection of poems and books in a hundred languages in the world would be burned by the captain.) ）

In less than 30 days, most of the banned books were reduced to ashes, and only the royal library preserved a relatively complete collection.

Liu Ji, who was still on the way, didn't care about these national affairs, and the feudal system or the county system didn't seem to have any impact on him. He doesn't care who is the master of the country, or the master of the city. Anyway, the public grain always has to be handed over, but it is a question of whether to pay more or less.

Escorting prisoners is not an easy task, and Liu Ji is not a cautious, conscientious and responsible person. He didn't feel that his duty was very important, and he didn't pay attention to the number of prisoners along the way.

Walking and walking, most of the prisoners scattered or ran away, and only a few honest prisoners still followed Liu Ji stupidly.

"Forget it, let's disperse, everyone disperse, I'll disperse too." (The public is gone, and I am gone)

Liu Ji liberated the rest of the prisoners. He never thought about his future, and this time was no exception. He didn't realize the harm his actions would bring to him, but even if he knew, he would. The position of pavilion chief, he didn't feel that there was anything to be nostalgic for.

Liu Ji, who is 46 years old, still has achieved nothing. He hadn't found his calling in this world yet, and at night he always had a deep sense of loss, which became even more depressed as he was drunk. He felt that not only his family did not understand him, but also his work unit did not understand him, and society did not understand him.

Alas, just go into the grass and forget it. Liu Ji, who has entered middle age, has become a fugitive. He left behind his wife and children, wandered in the wilderness of Mangdang Mountain, and lived a life of exile.