The Qin Dynasty entered the game with love.

Lu Buwei was already losing face, his eyelids twitched, and he said something that didn't reflect his true feelings: "What the doctor said is biased. I am doing this for the sake of the future of Qin, and I have no selfish motives."

Li Si immediately knelt down in the hall with a thud.

"Your subject Li Si dares to speak presumptuously, but I only ask that the King of Qin allow me to tell the truth."

Ying Zheng's expression remained calm, but his authority was even stronger: "Granted."

Li Si immediately launched into a passionate speech: "Your Majesty, may I ask you, did you report the truth about the matter of Mu Ai's adoptive father to the King of Qin some time ago?"

Lü Buwei's smile returned: "Who would believe such lies? To put such nonsense, which is circulated among the common people, into the court of civil and military officials will only make us a laughing stock."

Li Si continued, "Alright, let's not talk about that then. The state of Han has sent the hydraulic engineer Zheng Guo to build an irrigation canal. I wonder if Prime Minister Lü has informed His Majesty the King of Qin about this?"

Lü Buwei replied casually, "How could I dare to trouble the King of Qin with such a trivial matter? The state of Han is in decline, and this plan of Han is intended to drag down our manpower, material resources, and financial resources."

The reasoning is simple; surely the doctor can see it.

Li Si shouted: "No!"

Zheng Guo once went to study at the Jixia Academy with Li Si, and he was quite proficient in water conservancy.

Such a talented person, skilled in this field, was rejected outright simply because of their nationality, without careful consideration.

The Prime Minister is somewhat burying his head in the sand.

Lu Buwei withdrew his expression, already somewhat annoyed: "Then tell me, what should be done?"

Could it be that they are gathering talent to form a faction around you?

The retainers who followed Lü Buwei laughed along with him.

Li Si didn't take it to heart and spoke up for justice: "I, Li Si, am speaking about the matter, not the person. Although Zheng Guo is from Han, he is kind and honest."

I have sworn with my life that the irrigation canal I built is no ordinary canal, not even if all six states were combined.

Expanding the land by a thousand acres of fertile farmland would take five years, which the Qin Dynasty could afford. However, building irrigation canals was a foundation for a century-long project, something that could be left to future generations and benefit the Qin Dynasty for generations to come.

Ying Zheng didn't pay attention at first, but after listening to the whole thing, he had an idea in mind and didn't even have time to speak.

Lü Buwei spoke first, not feeling that there was anything wrong with his actions, and directly issued an order: "Minister Li Si is young and promising, and I am no match for him. Why don't we call Zheng Guo here and let him share his unique insights?"

"Someone, go and invite Zheng Guo."

Ying Zheng remained silent, his expression and posture unchanged, but the veins on his hands, gripping the throne tightly, were bulging, revealing his inner rage.

Li Si was furious and pointed at Lü Buwei's nose, cursing: "If you want to invite Zheng Guo, it should be the King of Qin who gives the order. How can you, a subject, give orders in front of the King of Qin?"

Lu Buwei bowed respectfully and said, "I was entrusted with the late king's dying wish to assist Your Majesty in governing the country before the King's coming-of-age ceremony. What is wrong with that? Who says I am wrong? Does Your Majesty agree with what I have said?"

The pressure was on Ying Zheng, who simply waved his sleeve and said, "Since the Prime Minister has made this request, I will naturally grant it. Go and invite the State of Zheng here."

When Li Si saw Ying Zheng speak, he fell silent, but his face was full of grief and indignation.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zheng Guo entered the palace.

"Your humble servant Zheng Guo greets the King of Qin. May Your Majesty be well."

Before Ying Zheng could ask a question, Lü Buwei spoke first.

“Zheng Guo, this Doctor Li recognizes your talent and learning. Why don’t you tell your story in front of the court officials?”

Zheng Guo dared not reply, and bowed, awaiting Ying Zheng's question.

Lü Buwei's face turned gloomy and terrifying, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Ying Zheng nodded in agreement: "Since the Imperial Censor has recommended such a talent, why not give him a proper explanation?"

Zheng Guo accepted the order and took out the map he was carrying.

He pointed to the map and said, "This is Zhongshan (also known as Zhongshan). The canal starts here, drawing water from the Jing River to the west, and the head of the canal is at Hukou, because the northwest of this area is high and the southeast is low."

Then, water is diverted eastward along the southern foot of the mountain to connect with the Luo River, a total length of over 300 li.

It not only relieves the floods between the Jing and Luo rivers, but also irrigates more than 4 hectares of farmland, yielding a harvest of one zhong per mu, and dredges the two rivers.

The Jing River contains sand, which can be used as fertilizer to transform the saline-alkali land downstream into fertile soil—a win-win situation.

Ying Zheng listened carefully and thought the method was feasible, but he still wanted to find someone familiar with water conservancy to give his opinion.

Lü Buwei stroked his beard and gave a wink to several officials he knew well. Immediately, someone jumped out.

"I think this is inappropriate. Zheng is a person from the state of Han, and he is skilled in water engineering. If he interferes, wouldn't the foundation of our Qin Dynasty be reduced to ashes?"

"Please hear me out. This is a scheme devised by the State of Han. If the State of Qin builds the canal, they will not dare to attack Han for at least ten years!"

"I also have something to say. It is really biased for Minister Li Si to recommend his close friend. I support the King of Qin to expel the two of them from Qin."

"Your subject requests permission to expel Zheng Guo and Li Si from Xianyang City."

"Your subject requests permission to expel Zheng Guo and Li Si from Xianyang City."

"Your subject requests permission to expel Zheng Guo and Li Si from Xianyang City."

Ying Zheng looked at Lü Buwei's cronies in the hall and was horrified. He shouted, "What are you doing? Are you trying to force me to abdicate? Not to mention Li Si and Zheng Guo, since Qin issued the decree to recruit talents, there has never been a case of not hiring people because of their nationality."

Regarding talent recruitment, since we should not shy away from recommending virtuous individuals, and since the ministers feel this plan is inappropriate, let's put it on hold for now. Since there's nothing else to discuss, let's adjourn the court session.

Lü Buwei stepped forward: "Your Highness, what do you think of my 'Lüshi Chunqiu'?"

Ying Zheng rose and said, "I think this matter should be discussed later. Court is adjourned."

After the officials withdrew, Zheng Guo followed Li Si and anxiously asked, "Is everything alright? The King of Han is going to tear me apart with five horses!"

Li Si stopped abruptly, and Zheng Guo bumped into him: "Brother Si, what's wrong?"

Li Si looked at Zheng Guo: "Do you want to live?"

"Of course, who doesn't want to live?"

Li Si mysteriously pointed to his waist: "There is someone who can help you."

Zheng Guo asked in confusion, "Brother Si, what do you mean by this?"

Li Si angrily pointed at Zheng Guo with his index finger: "You...you really are a blockhead."

Zheng Guo thought for a moment, then his face lit up with joy. He caught up with Li Si and asked, "Brother Si, are you referring to the eldest princess?"

Li Si waved his hands repeatedly: "No, Li Si never said that. Brother Zheng, don't try to pin this on me."

Zheng Guo bowed in thanks, but then realized he had no way to see the princess, so he followed her.

Li Si was speechless, looking at the sky and the ground but ignoring the Zheng state across the way.

"Brother Si, let's help each other to the end. This princess never goes out, which leaves me helpless."

Li Si was truly furious with his close friend. Was his brain just for show? The princess wouldn't come out; there was nothing to attract her. Once that thing was found, she would come out.

Finally, in anger, he uttered two words: "Beauty."

After saying that, he turned around and got into the carriage, not giving Zheng Guo a chance to catch up.

Zheng Guo pondered the matter carefully, then suddenly realized what it meant and got up to go to the physician's residence.