The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

"What, you coward from Jiangdong, still want to argue?"

Cao Cao sneered.

"That's why they say a rat will always be a rat; their perspective is just different from ours."

Zhao Kuangyin rarely dared to openly ridicule people, so it was an honor for Sun Quan to be among them.

"I don't believe it; they're just trying to make him look good!"

Sun Quan gritted his teeth.

Many of his sensible ministers were already racking their brains to come up with reasons to leave first.

Judging from the current situation, I reckon at least a few more people are going to suffer!

"It's just a small matter of standardizing the written language and currency, what's so difficult about it!"

"I can do this kind of thing easily too!"

"If he were truly a wise ruler, why would the people of the world rebel against him?"

"The uprising of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang received widespread support. Doesn't that prove he was a tyrant?"

"No matter what you say about his crimes being in his own time but his merits being for posterity, it's useless and can't change the fact that Ying Zheng was a tyrant!"

As he spoke these words, veins began to bulge on his forehead.

"Oh, you're saying that the people under your Jiangdong rule are living a good life?"

"Open your beady eyes and take a look! Apart from the noble families in your court, what good life do the common people really have?"

Cao Cao snorted coldly.

"Moreover, does the term 'tyrannical Qin' really refer to the First Emperor?"

"Use your brain and think it over!"

Just then, as if the sky had heard these words, the writing updated almost simultaneously.

Does the term "tyrannical Qin" truly refer to the First Emperor?

Excessive taxation?

Heavy taxes?

But under the rule of the seven kingdoms, did they not have to pay taxes or perform corvée labor?

Clearly, both exist, but none are as heavy as those of the Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng knew all this, but he had his own things he wanted to do.

He needed money to build the Great Wall to defend against foreign enemies, and he needed troops to fight the Xiongnu in the north and pacify the Baiyue in the south.

He wanted to do everything he wanted to do while he was still alive.

Therefore, at least under his control, he could not lower taxes or exempt people from corvée labor.

But his decision to have Confucian scholars teach Fusu also reveals his intentions.

He took responsibility for bearing the blame, completed all the necessary tasks, and handed over the responsibility of benevolent governance to Fusu.

Whether it was lowering taxes or exempting people from corvée labor, Ying Zheng believed that Fusu, guided by Confucian teachings, would naturally do it.

He had plans regarding the issue of excessive taxation and extortion.

On this point alone, he was indeed a tyrant, and no one can deny that.

He must be a tyrant!

"He had thought everything through, but unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes."

Li Er sighed softly.

How could Ying Zheng at that time have foreseen that the benevolent ruler he left for Qin would have no chance to inherit the throne?

Ultimately, the Qin Dynasty only lasted for two generations, leaving behind only the impression of a tyrannical Qin in the minds of countless people.

"It's not complete yet. The reason why the Qin Dynasty is called the tyrannical Qin Dynasty is not only related to taxes and corvée labor, but more so to its brutal laws."

Having experienced the years of Qin rule, Liu Bang naturally understood this even better.

Although taxes and corvée labor were heavy, they were not unbearable.

The last straw that broke the camel's back was, in fact, the extremely harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty!

Tianmu clearly agrees with his statement.

Another reason why the Qin Dynasty was called the tyrannical Qin Dynasty was precisely because of the Qin laws.

After Shang Yang's reforms, the essence of Qin law can be summarized in just four words.

A strong nation but a weak people!

Compared to the lenient laws of the other six states, the laws of Qin were extremely harsh.

But Ying Zheng knew that in chaotic times, only severe punishments could solve the problem.

To achieve unification in all senses, the first step is to govern each and every one of them with severe laws!

They forcibly made the people of the six states accept the same written language and ethical standards, and standardized currency, weights and measures, and so on!

Only after the people of the six kingdoms have adapted to life after unification can the laws be gradually relaxed.

This process may take more than ten years, or it may take several decades.

Even under Fusu's rule, though he was able to implement benevolent policies and exempt people from taxes and corvée labor, he still could not loosen the law.

Only when the people of the six states truly submit to his will all his efforts be considered a success.

"Therefore, when Emperor Gaozu entered Xianyang, he abolished the Qin laws and only set three rules, which won the support of the vast majority of the people, including the old Qin people of the past."

Li Er felt somewhat regretful.

The Qin Dynasty, which fell into the hands of Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai), was destined to perish.

He wasn't lamenting the fall of the Qin Dynasty, but rather feeling sorry for Ying Zheng.

It can be said that every step Ying Zheng took was groundbreaking.

Even if everything had gone as he predicted, the Qin Dynasty might not have perished after only two generations.

"There's nothing to regret. The Qin Dynasty is a castle in the air riddled with holes, and Fusu couldn't save it. He was kind-hearted but lacked the courage to act."

Old Zhu had faced challenges from Qin Shi Huang.

He probably knows more about the situation in the Qin Dynasty than most people do.

He knew how much pressure Ying Zheng was under for all of this.

Standardize cart tracks, unify written language, standardize ethical conduct, unify currency, weights and measures, as well as unify culture and thought.

These things may only be said in a sentence, but when you actually do them and put them into practice, the pressure you face is enormous.

Why did Ying Zheng make consecutive eastern tours and build the Epang Palace to demonstrate the power of the Qin Dynasty?

Could it be that he didn't want to stay in the palace peacefully, handle government affairs, and incidentally ingest poisonous mercury pills?

Is it because he wants to travel long distances, or because he can't stay idle?

If he were truly a tyrant who levied exorbitant taxes and only cared about his own enjoyment, how could he possibly be willing to torment himself like this!

"Everything was done to use its power to suppress the Qin Dynasty, make them obediently follow the Qin laws, and make them accept the unification brought by the Qin Dynasty."

"Once the person sitting on the throne can no longer control the people of all the countries under heaven, then the whole world will rebel!"

During the challenge, Lao Zhu truly felt that the remnants of the six kingdoms were eyeing him covetously from all sides.

If they show the slightest sign of weakness, they will swarm forward and tear this achievement to shreds along with the Qin Dynasty.

"Later on, even the people of Qin took the initiative to open the city gates to welcome Liu Bang, mainly because their path to promotion had been cut off."

"This is a drawback of the military merit system and Shang Yang's reforms. After Shang Yang's reforms, the only way for the Qin people to turn their lives around was to join the army and fight."

"Back when the Qin Dynasty had not yet unified the country, even though the taxes were heavy, the people of Qin still had hope. As long as they fought on the battlefield, they could bring their families to turn their lives around. Therefore, the Qin army was the strongest among the seven kingdoms."

"But after unification, the people's opportunities for advancement were completely blocked. How could they still be willing to support the Qin system?"

Therefore, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, even if everything went according to the First Emperor's plan...

The Qin Dynasty was unlikely to last.