The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Besides, on the morning of the next day after Meng Yi was transferred to the post of Minister of Works, the morning light shone through the clouds onto the earth, covering the entire Xianyang city with a faint golden glow.

At this time, Li Si was enjoying a rare rest time at home.

Since he was currently in charge of the construction of the Mausoleum of Emperor Lishan and had no time to attend to state affairs, the First Emperor issued a decree allowing him to enter the palace to see the emperor during the grand court session held every five days.

Therefore, Li Si is able to rest at home today.

At the same time, Meng Yi was also in charge of the construction of the Mausoleum of Emperor Li in Mount Li, so he got up early, rode a horse, and galloped towards Li Si's mansion, ready to discuss something with his uncle Li Si.

The sound of horse hooves echoed through the streets, and the sunlight shone on Meng Yi's body, as if he were covered with a layer of golden armor.

As time went by, Meng Yi gradually approached Li Si's residence. When the guard at the gate saw Meng Yi, he immediately saluted respectfully and then quickly opened the gate to welcome him.

Meng Yi dismounted, handed the reins to a guard, and strode into the mansion. He crossed the courtyard and arrived at Li Si's study. He knocked gently on the door, and after receiving permission, he pushed it open and walked in.

The study was filled with a faint scent of ink, and the desk was filled with various bamboo slips and books.

Li Si was sitting at his desk, concentrating on reading an article. Hearing Meng Yi's footsteps, he looked up, smiled, and nodded.

"Junior brother, you come to see me so early, is there something important?" Li Si put down the article in his hand and asked gently.

Meng Yi walked up to Li Si, bowed, and said, "Uncle Master, I came here today because I do have something important to discuss with you."

Li Si smiled and waved to Meng Yi, motioning him to sit down first. He then personally poured Meng Yi a cup of hot tea, and the two sat face to face, beginning an in-depth conversation.

Li Si spoke first to offer comfort, "My nephew, while the position of Lieutenant is high and powerful, it's not a place you can stay in forever. The position of Junior Official is a step below Lieutenant, but it's a perfect opportunity for you to work with me on the construction of the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum. This way, you can stay away from the infighting and disputes of the court, so you don't have to worry too much."

Meng Yi smiled faintly and replied, "Uncle Master, don't worry. I'm not here because of my demotion. The court is currently plagued by infighting and strife, and the forces involved are complex and intertwined. I'm taking this opportunity to leave Xianyang and escape this chaotic situation. I just didn't expect so many people to regard me as a thorn in their side!"

Li Si laughed heartily, a look of satisfaction on his face. He nodded repeatedly and said, "My dear nephew, you are truly a pillar of our country! Whether it's literary talent or martial arts, you are proficient in everything. Such an outstanding person will naturally be remembered and hated by those with evil intentions."

After a pause, Li Si continued, "Do you know who is targeting you this time, nephew?"

Meng Yi slowly spoke, "During the grand court session, Confucian scholars, led by Chunyu Yue, stood up in the palace, pleading for severe punishment from His Majesty. Zhao Gao remained silent, and Feng Jie claimed he only obeyed His Majesty's orders. It seems Zhao Gao was the mastermind behind this, and the Confucian scholars were being used as pawns."

Li Si nodded and said, "My dear nephew, have you ever thought about this? Zhang Liang was hiding in Xiapi, and Feng Jie had no spies. How did he capture him?"

Meng Yi suddenly realized something and said, "Uncle Master, I heard that a while ago, Zhao Gao, through Prime Minister Feng, had planted many of his trusted aides in various government offices. This Zhao Cheng is in the Imperial Court, and the secret agents are also under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court. In this way, the Feng family and Zhao Gao have reached a consensus, and this time the two families are joining forces!"

Li Si nodded slightly in agreement, but then shook his head and said, "Yes and no. The Feng family didn't actively target you. Instead, they maintained a neutral position and simply provided convenience for Zhao Gao, who was secretly fanning the flames. Otherwise, how would those Confucian scholars have gotten such information? And there might even be remnants of the Six Kingdoms hidden among them, stirring up trouble."

Meng Yi frowned, lost in thought. He understood the complex interplay of forces behind this incident, involving not only Zhao Gao and the Feng family but also the remnants of the Six Kingdoms and other factions. This made him realize that this conspiracy was more complex and dangerous than he had imagined.

Meng Yi smiled faintly, took a sip of tea, and continued, "Uncle Master, I have been transferred to another position. I came here to discuss the construction of the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum with you. Your Majesty's importance to the imperial mausoleum is well known to everyone, and we must ensure that everything is carried out to the highest standards. However, burying living people with them is truly inappropriate. After all, these are the elite troops of my Great Qin."

Li Si frowned slightly, lost in thought. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "My dear nephew, what you say is quite reasonable. Although these are the elite of the Qin Empire, the custom of burying living people with the dead has existed for over a thousand years. Moreover, being buried with Your Majesty is a great honor for the people of the Qin Empire! But since you've raised this question, do you have any specific ideas?"

Meng Yi thought for a moment and replied, "My nephew suggests we create a batch of terracotta figurines for your majesty's reference. Not only can they depict the lifelike faces of the Qin elite, but they can also be preserved for thousands of years without the risk of decay. This would satisfy your majesty's needs while avoiding the negative consequences of burying living people."

Li Si's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands on the table, excitedly saying, "Great! This way, we won't violate the ancestral system, and we can also solve the problem of burial companions. However, this matter is of great importance, so we need to consider it carefully."

Meng Yi nodded in agreement and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "This matter indeed requires caution. We should first draw up a detailed plan and then present it to His Majesty."

The two immediately began to discuss the specific implementation details. Li Si frowned, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Nephew, we need to consider various factors to ensure the feasibility and safety of this plan."

Meng Yi nodded, and Li Si continued, "My dear nephew, in addition to this, we also need to consider the cost and time of making the terracotta figurines. If the cost is too high or the time is too long, it may affect the progress and quality of the entire project. At the same time, we must also consider how to ensure the quality of these terracotta figurines to meet Your Majesty's requirements."

After careful consideration, Meng Yi made a suggestion: "Uncle Master, we can select some highly skilled craftsmen to participate in the production to ensure the quality of the pottery figurines and improve their durability and preservation."

After an in-depth discussion, the two men finally finalized a detailed plan, which included the production, transportation, and protection of the terracotta warriors, striving to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Meng Yi then stood up, cupped his hands, and said respectfully, "With the full support of my uncle, I believe His Majesty will approve of this plan."

Li Si also stood up, a smile on his face, and said softly: "Well, go ahead. I look forward to your good news."

Meng Yi continued, "Master, you are truly wise. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Li Si also stood up to see him off. He walked over to Meng Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said solemnly, "If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Don't rush things. We must ensure the quality and safety of the project."

Meng Yi nodded slightly, indicating that he understood, and then turned to leave the room. Li Si watched him leave quietly, thinking to himself.