Da Qin: Conquer all heavens and all realms

"As for the harm to future generations..." Ying Zheng's eyes became sharper. "In my Great Qin, under the law, everyone bears the responsibility for their own crimes! The father's mistakes cannot be imposed on the son; the son's sins cannot be implicated on the father! This is the first general rule of the "Law Code of the Heavens"! If the 'cause' of one person causes harm to innocent people, this is injustice! My laws are meant to sever this chain of unfair fate! My laws are meant to protect the right of every living being to achieve happiness through their own efforts! Therefore, if the harm to future generations comes, I will save them! I will save the 'innocent' and uphold 'justice'!"

"Finally, those who harbor great evil in their hearts but have not yet committed any evil deeds..." Ying Zheng's voice became low and powerful. "The law judges 'actions', not 'hearts'! Thoughts are numerous and ever-changing. If we judge people based on their thoughts, then everyone in the world is a sinner! If you feel greedy today, should you be punished for corruption? If he feels angry tomorrow, should he be punished for murder? In this way, the law will become a tool to punish people's hearts, and there will be no peace in the world! My laws are the standard of behavior, not a cage for thoughts! Therefore, if you haven't committed any evil, I will not judge you! I will judge those real evil deeds that bring disaster to the people!"

"What I want to build is a world where 'actions' determine destiny, not a world where 'thoughts' determine destiny!"

"I want to tell all living beings in the world, no matter what your origins are, what your past lives were like, or what you think in your heart, as long as you obey the law and do good deeds at this moment, you will be a good citizen of the Great Qin, and you will be protected by the law and enjoy the glory you deserve!"

"This is my law!"

"This is the true order that I want to bring to the heavens and myriad worlds!"

As soon as the words fell, there was dead silence between heaven and earth.

Afterwards, an unprecedented sense of recognition and shock, originating from the hearts of countless beings, erupted like a volcano!

Those creatures who had just been rescued from the demonic tide by the laws of the Great Qin, and those mortals who had suffered oppression and injustice under the old order, all had tears in their eyes at this moment.

Yes! This is the law we want!

Don’t ask about your origin, don’t ask about your past life, just look at the present!

Only consider behavior, not thoughts, and clearly define rewards and punishments!

What a great mindset this is! What a bright future this is!

Manjushri Bodhisattva stood there in a daze, the twelve golden lotuses behind him flickered, as if an unprecedented intense struggle was going on in his heart.

Ying Zheng's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting hard on his Buddhist philosophy that had remained unchanged for countless epochs.

Guide people to good, rather than dwell on old grudges...

Take the blame yourself, rather than implicate the innocent...

Judge the behavior, not the heart...

Didn't he understand these principles? Buddhism also advocates "lay down the butcher knife and become a Buddha instantly," "equality of all beings," and the distinction between "aspiration" and "conduct." Yet, over countless years, the doctrine of karma and reincarnation has become deeply ingrained in people's minds, becoming the simplest and most effective tool for maintaining order.

But Ying Zheng wants to redefine all this in a more complex and humane way.

This is not a subversion of Buddhism, but a kind of... sublimation?

A sublimation that implements mercy and justice in a clearer and more powerful way?

After a long moment, Manjusri Bodhisattva sighed deeply, his sigh filled with complex emotions. He bowed deeply to Ying Zheng.

"Your Majesty's words are like a wake-up call, thought-provoking." There was no longer a trace of probing in his voice, only pure admiration and shock. "I... appreciate your advice."

"Karma and reincarnation are the laws of nature, meant to maintain balance. However, for countless epochs, they have become shackles that bind the human heart and create injustice. Your Majesty uses the law as a blade to sever fate, and justice as a yardstick to measure good and evil. This is immeasurable merit, this is supreme compassion!"

"I, a humble monk, on behalf of the Western Paradise, wish to observe how Your Majesty's 'Law of Reincarnation' operates!"

He did not mention the "Buddhist salvation" again because he had already understood that Ying Zheng's laws were themselves the most grand and universal "salvation".

Manjushri Bodhisattva did not say anything, marking the first confrontation between the Qin Heavenly Court and the Western Paradise, and Ying Zheng won.

The entire universe was in an uproar!

Those ancient gods and immortal sects who were originally watching and hesitating were all terrified at this moment.

They finally realized that this Great Qin Emperor was far more terrifying than they had imagined.

He not only has the power to subvert the old order, but also has the wisdom and courage to build a new order!

While Ying Zheng was looking at Manjusri Bodhisattva, his gaze was cast into the deeper levels of the Qingtian World. He knew that his answer, although it shocked the heavens, also left a huge loophole.

“There is no punishment for the evils of the previous life”, then who will bear the responsibility for the sins of the previous life?

"If disaster strikes, the descendants will not be saved." How can we eliminate the root cause of karma?

His laws can govern "this life" but not "previous life" and "next life".

If he cannot bring reincarnation under control, then his laws will ultimately be incomplete.

If those "evil people in previous lives" who were forgiven by him fall into the evil path after death, isn't that still unfair?

How can those "innocent descendants" protected by him find true peace if they are entangled by the karma of their previous lives?

Cause and effect is a closed loop.

If you only cut it halfway, there will be problems eventually.

"What I want is a complete and perfect order." Ying Zheng whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Since the old cycle is unfair, then I... will create a new one!"

He turned around suddenly -

"Preach my will!"

"Order Gongshu Ban to gather the skilled craftsmen from the Tiangong Mansion to build a 'Samsara City' using Xirang as the foundation and the stars as materials!"

"Order Li Si to extract the clauses on 'judgment' and 'salvation' from the 'Code of Laws of the Heavens' and add them to the 'Code of Laws of the Samsara'. All those who enter the cycle of reincarnation will be judged according to these laws for their merits and demerits in their previous lives, and their destination in the next life will be determined!"

"Order Zou Yan, the Yin-Yang Master, to calculate the trajectory of the souls and spirits of all living beings in the heavens and myriad realms, construct the prototype of the 'Underworld', set up the 'Reincarnation Department', manage the 'Book of Life and Death', divert the 'Forgetful River', and build the 'Bridge of Naihe'!"

"I will establish a hell beneath this blue sky!"

"I will personally take charge of the cycle of life and death in all the heavens and worlds!"

"From this day forward, life will be protected by my laws! Death will be judged by my reincarnation!"

"I am the only and ultimate order in this world!"

Ying Zheng's decree, like thunder, came from the Xianyang Palace and resounded throughout the entire Qin Dynasty.