Qin Dynasty: Starting with clinging to Zhao Ji's thigh

"Printing technology?"

A glint of light flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes as he sat high on his throne.

Papermaking had already brought him quite a surprise, but he didn't know what wonders this printing technology had.

How could it enable knowledge to spread widely throughout the land and attract talented people from all over the world to Qin?

"Third brother, please tell me in detail."

Ying Jing had not originally planned to use the printing technology so soon, but he always preferred to be prepared and had made some preparations.

He took out a small square seal from his wide sleeves, then a small box of ink, took the book back from Lü Buwei, and turned directly to the blank page at the end.

Snapped!

A perfectly square character "景" (jing) appeared on the page of the book.

"Brother, do you understand?"

Ying Jing wore a confident smile.

However, many people in the court were still looking at the seal in his hand with some confusion.

Of course they know about this, but what does it have to do with printing?

Only Ying Zheng, Lü Buwei, and the others looked at the Qin seal script on the paper, seemingly lost in thought.

However, they remained silent, waiting for Ying Jing to finish speaking.

So... Ying Jing took out another seal from his pocket.

"Snapped!"

On the page, the character “嬴” appeared before the character “景”.

Having seen this, everyone basically understood.

But Ying Jing continued, "This seal can only be used to seal one character. But what if all the characters in the world were made into similar seals?"

"Then, as needed, place them in a frame and arrange them in different orders, apply appropriate ink, and finally print them on paper."

"Then we can easily get all the books we want."

Finally, Ying Jing spread his hands and said, "This is printing technology."

Simple?

The principle is actually quite simple; the key is that you just can't think of it.

With the mechanical skills of the Gongshu family or the Mo family, once the principles are understood, it is very easy to complete the production.

"Hey, I never knew you could use a seal like that!"

General Meng Ao patted his head.

It wasn't just Meng Ao; many people in the court were feeling frustrated at that moment.

They had all seen seals before.

But no one ever imagined that such a small seal could contain energy that could affect the entire world.

"Third brother, you have truly given me another wonderful surprise!"

Ying Zheng, sitting on the throne, was also overjoyed.

He suddenly stood up, his eyes sharp as knives, and surveyed the assembled officials.

"Prince Jing has successively presented the techniques of papermaking and printing. With these two techniques, which of the Confucian scholars from the six states of Shandong would dare to say that my Qin state is a barbaric and uncivilized land? Talented people from the six states will flock to my great Qin like carp crossing the river."

"Now, is there anyone who opposes Young Master Jing's decision to be granted the title of nobility?"

The courtiers fell silent, unsure of what to do.

These are indeed two technologies that benefit the country and its people. Prince Jing himself is a prince of the Qin royal family. Such a great achievement deserves to be enfeoffed as a lord.

However, this would mean that the military merit system that the Qin state had upheld since Shang Yang was being challenged.

As for Cheng Jiao...

Military merit is not just about the number of enemy heads killed; occupying territory, making strategic decisions, and even rescuing comrades can all be counted as military merit.

Cheng Jiao's act of ceding a hundred li of land from the State of Han to Qin can be considered by many to be a military achievement.

"Your Majesty, I have a solution that satisfies both sides."

In the silence, it was finally Lü Buwei who spoke first, breaking the silence.

Lü Buwei knew that with the advent of papermaking and printing, and Ying Zheng's clear stance, there was no way to oppose Ying Jing's decision to confer titles upon him.

Besides, there's the Empress Dowager here!

In other words, as the Empress Dowager gradually relinquished power to Ying Zheng, she rarely attended court sessions anymore. Otherwise, given her personality, her attitude would probably have been even more forceful than Ying Zheng's.

However, Gan Luo's conversation with him last night gave Lü Buwei an idea.

Clad in a black robe, Ying Zheng remained expressionless: "Speak."

Lü Buwei knew that Ying Zheng was unhappy about him adding another variable to the situation, but he still continued to speak: "Does Your Majesty still remember Lord Gangcheng?"

Ying Zheng frowned slightly; the young king was also somewhat confused about what Lü Buwei was up to.

“Gangcheng Jun Cai Ze once served as the Prime Minister of Qin, but he resigned after only a few months. Later, at the urging of Prime Minister Lü, he went to serve the State of Yan for three years and facilitated the entry of Prince Dan of Yan into Qin as a hostage.”

Lü Buwei continued, “What Your Majesty says is correct. According to the agreement with Yan, Crown Prince Dan of Yan will be sent to Qin as a hostage. In return, Qin will send a person of sufficient importance to Yan as prime minister. In this way, the two countries can make peace and work together to conquer Zhao.”

A cold glint flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes: "Does Prime Minister Lü intend for my third brother to be sent to Yan as a hostage?"

Lü Buwei was slightly taken aback.

He had no such idea! Nor would he dare to even consider it.

"Your Majesty is too kind. General Zhang Tang has already agreed to come to Yan."

"However, the Zheng Guo Canal has not yet been completed, so it is not advisable to start a war lightly. Perhaps we can send an envoy to Zhao and use the pressure from Yan to persuade the King of Zhao to cede territory."

Ying Zheng understood: "Prime Minister Lü means to send my third brother as an envoy of Qin to Zhao."

“Your Majesty, that is precisely my intention. If Prince Jing can persuade the King of Zhao to cede territory, it will be in accordance with the precedent set by Lord Chang’an, which is in line with the military merit system of our Qin state.”

"With the addition of the two great achievements of papermaking and printing, let alone the fiefdom of Shanyang, it would not be impossible for Your Majesty to expand it further."

It must be said that Lü Buwei truly deserves to be called a legendary figure who rose from a mere merchant to become the Prime Minister of Qin.

In a short period of time, such a solution came to mind.

Since Ying Jing's enfeoffment as a king could not be stopped, he should be transferred away from Qin so that he could no longer influence the Queen Dowager.

He might be able to find a way to contact Zhao Ji while he has this opportunity.

Moreover, he dared not assassinate the Qin prince in Xianyang.

However, the situation would be quite different in the state of Zhao.

"What does Third Brother think?"

Ying Zheng did not immediately agree, but instead turned his gaze to Ying Jing.

"To be sent as an envoy to the State of Zhao? To persuade the State of Zhao to cede territory?"

Isn't this the story that made Gan Luo famous?

Did I steal the deal?

Ying Jing was slightly taken aback.

Prime Minister Lü was a good man!

He'll get angry with anyone who speaks ill of Prime Minister Lü!

Isn't this just handing over credit?

Moreover, Wei and Zhao are adjacent, so he might even be able to take a trip to Wei. I wonder what the current situation is between Jing Ni and Hei Bai Xuan Jian.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Prime Minister Lü's suggestion is very reasonable. Although I am not talented, I am willing to make contributions to our Qin state."

Ying Zheng sat back on the throne and nodded slightly: "I hereby appoint my brother Ying Jing as Lord Changxin. There is no need for Shanyang anymore. His fief is Henan. When you return, I will grant you the right to govern yourself."

I knock!

A fiefdom of Hanoi? The right to self-government?

Ying Jing was completely dumbfounded!

Historically, Lao Ai only controlled the Shanyang region. Zhao Ji didn't even dare to claim the entire Hanoi region as his fief!

Moreover, what's the difference between a feudal lord who has the right to self-government and a feudal lord?

Apart from having a slightly smaller territory, their power was practically no different from that of a king in a vassal state!

Brother Zheng, it's my narrow-mindedness that's the problem!