Daqin: My weak and virtuous minister

"Brother Zhang, Si is here to see you."

Before entering the door, Li Si's cheerful voice came in.

"Why are you free to come here today?"

Zhang Yuanqing asked several young masters to go to the next room to study, and invited Li Si and the man he brought with him to sit down.

"The address for the academy has been chosen, and we're currently drawing up the design. I've brought it here today. Brother Zhang, please take a look and see if there's anything wrong."

"Is there anything wrong with what you, Li Si, do?"

Now Li Si had lost all the arrogance he had when they first met, and Zhang Yuanqing took the drawings with a smile.

"Brother Zhang, this is my fellow disciple, Zhao Ping."

"Zhao Ping greets the Marquis."

Ever since Zhao Ping came in, he has been secretly looking at this figure who is now a household name in Qin State.

Both talented and intelligent.

This is his own evaluation of Zhang Yuanqing.

This body does look unhealthy as everyone says.

"Stand up and sit down." Zhang Yuanqing smiled and looked at Zhao Ping with an extraordinary demeanor. "Since you are a fellow disciple of Li Si, you must be no ordinary person. Be more casual. I don't have so many rules here."

Zhao Ping bowed and said, "Who dares to call themselves extraordinary in front of the Marquis? Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment."

"That's right, Brother Zhang's talent is unparalleled in the world." Li Si smiled heartily and couldn't help but praise him.

"A-er, bring some cakes."

"This snack is newly made in the kitchen. It tastes good. You can try it."

As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing began to look carefully at the drawings that Li Si brought.

I have to say, Li Si is a really good guy. He works seriously and has his own ideas.

On the blueprint, according to Zhang Yuanqing's requirements, the areas for each college were carefully divided. The Agricultural College even had a plot of land dedicated to growing crops. The Medical College also had space reserved for medicinal plants. The Mohist School had a large area, with numerous experimental rooms. Other schools, such as Confucianism, Legalism, Yin-Yang School, and Taoism, were also divided into detailed areas.

"Your planning is impeccable."

After reading it, Zhang Yuanqing was impressed. He was indeed a person who could become the prime minister in history.

"Have all the schools agreed to send people to teach here?"

"Most of them are willing, but a few do not take it seriously and are unwilling to take out their collections." During this period, Li Si, Meng Yi and others spent a lot of time and energy to persuade each school. Fortunately, most schools of thought had a good attitude when they heard that it was Zhang Yuanqing who advocated the establishment of the school. Otherwise, it would have been really difficult.

"If they don't want to, forget it. Once the academy opens and they see the results, they'll naturally be anxious. Then they'll come to you and beg for help."

As he said this, Zhang Yuanqing smiled indifferently.

Li Si heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. "How do we decide on the candidate for the dean of this academy?"

Originally, Feng Quji, Meng Yi and the other two were discussing letting Zhang Yuanqing be the dean, but they were a little worried that he would not be willing, so they came here to ask him today.

"Naturally, the King will be the dean. All students graduating from Daqin Academy will be his disciples and will serve him."

"it is good!"

"However, there is one more thing that needs to be added."

Li Si stood up and walked forward curiously, looking at the drawings on the table. Zhao Ping also followed curiously.

"Here, at the gate, erect a stone tablet and engrave a few words on it."

"What?"

Zhang Yuanqing did not answer, but put away the drawing and handed it to Li Si, took out a clean white paper and placed it on the table, then began to grind ink.

Set a heart for heaven and earth

Make a living for the people

Continuing the unique learning for the saints

Create peace for all eternity

"Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."

Li Si murmured several times, "Hahahaha"

Looking up to the sky and laughing.

"I've learned my lesson."

"Ping has learned his lesson."

The two men stood in front of Zhang Yuanqing, straightened their clothes seriously, bowed their hands and bent over, and solemnly performed a student salute.

This frightened Zhang Yuanqing, and he quickly stepped forward to lift the two of them up.

"What are you doing? Get up quickly."

"Your Excellency is worthy of this gift."

"Yes, Brother Zhang can bear it."

If these four sentences are spread, all the scholars in the world will bow down to you, Zhang Yuanqing.

"Okay, don't be so serious." Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand indifferently.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang. I will definitely find the best craftsman to carve these four words."

"Please write it, Your Majesty."

Li Si was stunned and felt even more admiration in his heart.

"Of course, tomorrow I will go to the palace to meet the king with these four sentences."

Zhao Ping sighed again, how fortunate the King of Qin was to have the help of such a saint.

"What else did you come here for today?"

"I almost forgot about this," Li Si said, now only focused on those four sentences. After Zhang Yuanqing reminded him, he looked at Zhao Ping apologetically and said, "I came here today to recommend this fellow disciple of mine to you, Brother Zhang. His talent is not inferior to mine."

This is a very high evaluation.

Zhang Yuanqing raised an eyebrow, "Why not recommend him directly to the king?"

Given Li Si's current official position, wouldn't it be easy for him to recommend someone?

"Brother Zhang, you may not know this, but I, your fellow disciple, have long admired your talent. This time, I came to Qin just for you, so I brought him here."

Zhao Ping also stood up and said, "Your Excellency's talent is truly extraordinary. I really admire you and would like to learn from you."

!!!

Study with me?

What a great disciple!

No, those four little ones are already giving me a headache, I can’t have another one.

"Well, I do have something I need done recently. If you can do it well, I will personally recommend you to the king."

"Please give your orders, my lord."

"Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans are the foundation of a nation, and none of them can be dispensable. Qin's commercial laws are currently incomplete, and I would like you to compile a commercial law. Are you willing?"

"My Lord, tell me in detail."

When talking about law, Li Si also became excited and listened carefully to Zhang Yuanqing's words together with Zhao Ping.

"I intend to propose to the king the establishment of a Ministry of Commerce, subordinate to the Nine Ministers, to oversee all merchants."

!!!

Li Si and Zhao Ping looked at Zhang Yuanqing in shock.

"Don't be so shocked. If a country wants to be rich, it cannot do without merchants. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants must all be given equal attention. Only then can the country be strong. Establishing a Ministry of Commerce and improving the status of merchants is a must. Otherwise, how can a country be rich if it relies solely on agricultural taxes? If the country is not rich, the people will be poor. How can a country be strong if the people are poor?"

"Therefore, if the Qin State wishes to become more powerful, it must prioritize commerce. This requires more comprehensive laws to constrain merchants."

"Merchants are wealthy, so taxes must be much higher than agricultural taxes. Even merchants cannot touch vital goods like salt, iron, and copper. These are the lifeblood of the nation; touching them means death."

Li Si and Zhao Ping nodded continuously as Zhang Yuanqing spoke.

This is what it means to be suddenly enlightened and have a sudden realization.

"I need you to improve the specific laws for merchants here." Looking at Zhao Ping, Zhang Yuanqing's face was serious, no longer as casual as before.

Zhao Ping understood and stood up and said solemnly: "Pingding has lived up to your trust."