mtl008 Chapter 486 If Jia Yang were a boy, how wonderful that would be!
Chapter 486 If Jia Yang were a boy, how wonderful that would be!
He couldn't help but recall the fear and unease that had gripped the six states two months earlier when news of Qin's demise spread. At that time, they only saw Qin's formidable military power, but they never anticipated that what was truly terrifying was the immense national strength that Qin had accumulated bit by bit during those seemingly peaceful days.
Especially after his younger sister's ingenious ideas, the Qin state today is practically unrecognizable compared to two years ago! Ying Gaoshan was filled with mixed emotions. To be honest, he had indeed been tempted by that supreme position. However, reality made him hesitate.
Before him, there was his elder brother Fusu, whose fame was widespread, and whose talent and prestige were remarkable; after him, there was his younger brother Huhai, who was deeply favored by their father and received much attention. Now, there is also his younger sister Jiayang, who is constantly changing the face of the Qin Dynasty with her amazing actions.
Ying Gaoshan knew all too well that he was far inferior to his older brother and younger siblings, both in terms of talent and favor. Faced with this situation, his ambition had long since faded.
Nevertheless, every time he saw the changes Jia Yang made for the Qin Dynasty, an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. He couldn't help but lament, how wonderful it would be if Jia Yang were a man!
Night quietly fell, and the entire city of Xianyang was swallowed by darkness, but the Chaohua Palace remained brightly lit, as if it were daytime. Ying Wuyou stood by the window, gazing into the distance, listening to the distant sound of the night watchman's drum, his thoughts surging like a tide.
Today, salt extraction technology has matured, which is undoubtedly a major breakthrough. However, Ying Wuyou was not satisfied with this; she knew that much work still needed to be done to make Qin even stronger. Improving iron smelting technology was one such task, crucial for enhancing Qin's military strength and agricultural production.
I've heard that there are high-quality iron mines in Shu. Perhaps we could send envoys to Bapu for in-depth exchanges and to explore the possibility of cooperation. Ying Wuyou pondered to himself, and some preliminary ideas gradually formed in his mind.
"Is the princess still not resting?" Just as Ying Wuyou was immersed in thought, Cui'er's voice suddenly came from behind her, interrupting her thoughts.
"I can't sleep, let me think about tomorrow." Ying Wuyou forced a smile and took the teacup. The warm tea entered her mouth, but it couldn't dispel the chill in her heart.
Cui'er gazed at her mistress's furrowed brows, a sense of worry rising in her heart. She softly comforted her, "Princess, why must you work so hard? Qin is now powerful and prosperous, and the other six states all treat us with great respect and dare not offend us easily. You should rest well and take care of your health."
Ying Wuyou slowly put down her teacup, stood up, and walked to her desk. She gently unfurled a map, the candlelight casting a golden glow upon it, making the vast territory of Qin shine brilliantly. However, her gaze did not linger on this splendor, but rather fell upon the land of Bashu on the edge of the map.
"Cui'er, do you think there are truly predestined things in this world?" Ying Wuyou suddenly asked, her voice revealing a hint of confusion and bewilderment.
Upon hearing this, Cui'er was taken aback. She had clearly not expected the princess to ask such a question and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Ying Wuyou seemed unconcerned by Cui'er's silence and continued, "General Meng Yi is seriously injured and remains unconscious. Although his wounds have fully healed, there is still no sign of him waking up."
Ying Wuyou gazed silently at the world map, lost in thought. After a while, she looked up, her gaze passing through the window to the distance. In the dark night, her thoughts drifted to Liu Bang. How was he now? Had he awakened?
At this moment, the sound of the midnight gong was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, as if urging her on, reminding her of the passage of time. Ying Wuyou couldn't help but think of King Ying Zheng of Qin.
Although Ying Zheng, the historical figure, unified the six kingdoms and established the Qin Empire, he died young, leaving behind endless regrets. Ying Wu couldn't help but wonder if the Ying Zheng before him would also leave this world prematurely, just like his historical counterpart.
“Princess, please don’t think too much.” Cui’er’s voice rang in Ying Wu’s ears, tinged with heartache and concern. “Qin Kingdom is what it is today thanks to you and the King. As long as we take one step at a time, we will surely realize the King’s grand ambitions.”
Ying Wu nodded gently. She knew Cui'er was trying to comfort her, but her worries did not dissipate. She knew all too well the course of history and the difficulty of the path to unification. Every step was like walking on thin ice; the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Ying Wuyou took a deep breath, picked up her pen again, and wrote on the paper: "Shu iron mine, Bapu alliance..." These were all strategies she had devised to realize Ying Zheng's ambitions.
The bluestone path west of Xianyang City gleamed coldly in the moonlight, winding through several rows of low houses before stopping in front of a small courtyard with white walls and gray tiles. An old locust tree in the corner swayed in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound, and dim candlelight shone through the window of the east wing, casting a slender figure on the mottled wall.
Lü Zhi's hand, holding the wolf-hair brush, trembled slightly, and the ink smudged on the paper. Her desk was piled high with documents from previous imperial examinations, sent by Ying Wuyou. The papers were densely covered with exam questions, candidates' essays, and scoring criteria. Last year's imperial examination, which shocked the world, shattered the Qin state's old system of hereditary official positions, allowing those from humble backgrounds to enter the court and become officials based on their talent. And now, she herself was involved in this crucial undertaking.
"Miss, it's time to rest." The maid Chunhua brought in hot tea, glancing at the mountain of books piled on the table, and couldn't help but advise, "You have a meeting with the Ministry of Rites tomorrow."
Lü Zhi placed her brush on the inkstone and rubbed her aching wrist. "You go to sleep first. I'll read a couple more scrolls."
Her gaze fell upon a booklet marked "First-Class Essays," the handwriting strong and vigorous, the arguments concise and to the point. Recalling Princess Jiayang's words that the imperial examinations selected not only literary talent but also practical abilities for governing the country, she picked up her pen again and wrote a few words on the paper: "Emphasis on combining practice with theory."
The sound of the night watchman's drum drifted from afar; it was already past midnight. Lü Zhi rose and opened the window, the cold night wind swirling a few withered leaves into the room. Gazing at the waning moon, her thoughts drifted back to Xianyang Palace half a month earlier. When Ying Wuyou handed her a scroll of documents, his eyes held an unusual seriousness: "Miss Lü, Qin needs fresh blood, and even more so, fair and impartial examiners. I believe you can handle this imperial examination well."