It was morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear!
People say that the winter sun is warm, but in spring, the sun is also warm!
Now, Ying Su had ascended the throne and declared it to the world. Although it had only been five days, it was impossible for everyone in the Qin Dynasty to know about the new emperor's ascension in such a short time.
However, the people of Xianyang City were definitely aware of it.
Therefore, everyone changed their words and began addressing the former Sixth Prince as Emperor.
However, this did not include Li Si's mansion!
Li Si strictly ordered everyone in his mansion not to discuss the Sixth Prince, and even more so not to call him Emperor!
He was afraid!
He was afraid that the First Emperor would return in his might, bringing disaster upon him!
At this moment, when he heard the housekeeper's report, he was so startled that he almost stumbled!
“The Sixth… the Sixth Prince?”
“He… he's here?”
“Is he here for revenge?”
“Or for a reckoning?”
Li Si trembled, his heart filled with confusion, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately ran towards the entrance to greet the visitor!
Upon seeing Ying Su, he immediately bowed: "Greetings... Emperor!"
He spoke, addressing him as such.
Seeing Li Si's demeanor, Ying Su burst into laughter: "Prime Minister, if I remember correctly, this is the first time you've called me Emperor!"
Li Si was sweating profusely: "This subject... is terrified!"
Ying Su waved his hand: "No need to be so formal, I just came over for a stroll, to look around!"
He spoke with a smile, walking directly towards Li Si's mansion.
However, even though Ying Su was acting very friendly, how could Li Si truly believe him?
After all, he was a man who dared to rebel with only one person by his side!
More importantly, his rebellion had been successful.
He had forced the First Emperor to abdicate and personally read out the proclamation of Ying Su's ascension to the throne.
That was the First Emperor!
A man who could force the First Emperor to such a position was no ordinary person.
Therefore, Li Si didn't believe Ying Su's so-called stroll around.
He guessed that Ying Su's visit must be for something!
Just... whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, it was hard to tell!
He even felt that he was in great danger today. If he wasn't careful, he might lose his life!
Chunyu Yue's death had only been five days ago!
How could he forget?
How could he forget!
Li Si's mansion was huge!
Not only was it large, but the garden layout was also very beautiful!
It was now springtime, with flowers blooming everywhere, and the branches just turning green. It was a beautiful sight!
Ying Su admired Li Si's home as he strolled, praising it for its beauty.
Li Si, on the other hand, stood by, trembling with fear. Although he was doing his best to entertain Ying Su, his heart was filled with anxiety!
He just hoped that Ying Su would get to the point soon.
If this continued, he couldn't bear the torment any longer.
So... did Ying Su have something on his mind today, or not?
Of course, he did!
Not only did he have something on his mind, but he had a very specific purpose for coming.
What was it?
To sell paper!
Yes!
This was the dilemma Ying Su was facing!
If he wanted to sell the paper cheaply, he could easily do so!
Yu Huatian, Cai Lun, and Zheng He could all do it!
But he didn't want to sell the paper cheaply. He wanted to sell it at a high price, at least to make a profit for two or three years!
But if he wanted to sell it at a high price, then Yu Huatian, Cai Lun, and Zheng He wouldn't be suitable!
Not only were they not suitable, but he himself wasn't suitable either!
After all, he was the emperor. An emperor going out to sell paper, doing business with his ministers, it would be a joke if it got out!
It would completely undermine his imperial authority!
Therefore, he had to find someone else to sell it!
Furthermore, he had to find someone with status and imperial authority to sell it!
After all, no matter what era it was, wealthy people always clustered together.
And they were also discerning. Having someone with status sell it would not only fetch a higher price but also require less effort!
After searching for a long time, Ying Su had found Li Si!
He was a talented person!
No matter how petty he was, no matter how envious and resentful he was!
But it had to be admitted that he was truly talented!
Who was the one responsible for unifying the script of the Qin Dynasty? Li Si!
Who proposed and oversaw the construction of the Qin Straight Road and the Qin Chariot Road, making the wheels of the carriages the same width and allowing horses and chariots to travel smoothly throughout the country? Li Si!
Who proposed and oversaw the implementation of the county system, which unified the entire country under the First Emperor's rule? It was still Li Si!
Who proposed and oversaw the establishment of the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers system under the First Emperor? It was still Li Si!
How could you say that he wasn't talented?
Although he was criticized for killing Han Fei, who dared to say that his abilities were inadequate?
If we were to talk about abilities, Ying Su believed that even if Li Si couldn't be an SSS-level figure like Zhang Juzheng and Xinling Jun, he was definitely very close!
Therefore, Ying Su had carefully chosen him to help him sell paper!
He lacked neither ability nor status.
Who could be more suitable than him?
No one!
Oh!
He had forgotten the most important point: Li Si wasn't loyal to him!
In fact, he could almost be considered to be on the opposite side of him!
However, Ying Su could understand why he was on the opposite side.
Who was Li Si?
He was a man who had conquered the world alongside the First Emperor. How could these old men not be loyal to Ying Zheng?
Besides loyalty, he had ability!
If others didn't know Ying Zheng, how could he not know him?
He believed from the bottom of his heart that Ying Zheng would return, that he would return to the throne!
He didn't want to dig his own grave.
Ying Su fully understood his thoughts!
For the same reason, Ying Su didn't bring up the matter of selling paper immediately. Instead, he casually mentioned something else:
“Prime Minister, what do you think of the current strength of our Qin Dynasty?”
“Ah?”
Li Si was taken aback by Ying Su's words. He hadn't expected that after all this time, the first thing that sounded like a real matter that Ying Su had mentioned was this!
However, he didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately bowed: "Our Qin Dynasty is now powerful, far surpassing any country during the time of the Five Hundred Feudal Lords and the Seven Hegemons!"
“Five Hundred Feudal Lords and the Seven Hegemons?”
Ying Su understood that he was referring to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods!
After all, in this era, there was no concept of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods!
The Spring and Autumn period was referred to as the Five Hundred Feudal Lords!
And the Warring States period was referred to as the Seven Hegemons!
When Li Si said that the current Qin Dynasty was far superior to any country during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, he wasn't wrong at all!
However, Ying Su quickly caught the flaw in Li Si's words. Instantly, his gaze turned cold:
“Do you mean to say that the strength of our Qin Dynasty is still inferior to that of the Zhou Dynasty?”
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