Chapter 14: Politics...

He could tolerate being treated like salted fish after his death, and he could even tolerate Hu Hai slaughtering his brothers and sisters, but it was incredibly difficult for him to accept that the Great Qin would perish in the second generation!

He had invested so much heart and soul, building upon the foundations of his ancestors, swallowing the six kingdoms, and uniting the world under heaven, finally fulfilling the long-held aspirations of his forebears. Yet now, someone was telling him that after he was gone, the Great Qin would fall within two generations?

He had thought he had pushed the Great Qin to its most prosperous peak, yet it had not even managed to last for a few decades. How could he have the face to meet his ancestors in the afterlife?

"Zheng, we handed the Great Qin over to you, leaving you with such a rich inheritance, allowing you to swallow the six kingdoms and achieve an unprecedented feat, yet you have allowed the Great Qin to perish in the second generation under our watch..."

Faced with such inquiries from his ancestors, how was he to answer?

Although the Great Qin did not perish directly by his own hand, Hu Hai was his son. Failing to teach Hu Hai well and choosing an ineffective successor was his own mistake.

"Zheng, how did you produce a beast like Hu Hai? Why did you not properly designate an heir while you were alive, and instead let this wretch Hu Hai inherit the throne?"

If his ancestors were to ask him this, how should he explain it?

Stealing a glance at Ying Zheng, who stood lost in deep thought, Li Nian said, "Great King, in truth, the fall of the Great Qin in the second generation was the result of many contributing factors, not just due to Prince Hu Hai and Zhao Gao."

Upon hearing Li Nian’s words, Ying Zheng thought to himself, 'Does this "result of many contributing factors" that you speak of also include my own share?'

"The fall of the Great Qin in the second generation was a comprehensive outcome driven by multiple aspects. There are many theories expounded upon this in later ages, but regardless of the theory, they all share one common understanding: the Great Qin was destined to fall!"

This was just as difficult for Ying Zheng to accept as the news of the collapse itself. If it were not for his concern for royal dignity, he would have liked to rush down, grab Li Nian by the throat, and fiercely demand, "Explain to me clearly what you mean by the Great Qin being 'destined to fall'! Explain it properly!"

The Great Qin he had built with such painstaking effort was considered destined to fail—it was truly hard to accept!

Was his Great Qin so unwelcome? Were there truly so many people who wished for its destruction?

"The actions of Prince Hu Hai and Zhao Gao merely accelerated this process, bringing the result forward. If the Great King wishes to know the reasons for the fall of the Great Qin as viewed by later ages, this commoner can explain them to you. However, it involves many aspects and cannot be explained in a single moment."

Indeed, there was no need to rush. As long as this person remained in the Great Qin, he could be questioned at any time. Moreover, he had already obtained so much information from this individual that he needed time to think, digest it, and make certain decisions.

Suppressing his inner doubts and curiosity, Ying Zheng asked, "You told me of your origins today; what do you wish to obtain from me?"

Li Nian spoke frankly, "I will not hide it from the Great King: this commoner wishes to obtain a guarantee of safety and a comfortable life from you. I am but an ordinary person, afraid of death and pain, and fond of enjoyment. In the Great Qin, only the Great King can grant me these."

Ying Zheng replied, "That is honest enough. But you say you are merely an ordinary person, yet I find that hard to believe. How can a mere commoner know so many things?"

Li Nian explained, "Great King, the reason this commoner knows so much is related to the education of later ages. Secrets that appear vital to the Great King are known to everyone in later times. The nations of the future are very different from the Great Qin. If the Great King wishes to know, this commoner can tell you about the affairs of later ages."

'Secrets that we consider vital are known to everyone in the future? Does that mean everyone in the future is literate and knowledgeable about history?'

'What kind of world is the future, exactly?'

Ying Zheng pondered these thoughts. Although he had seen photographs and weapons from the future, those were but a tiny fraction—not even the tip of an iceberg.

He did not ask now, but instead said, "I have understood your request and will grant it. I hope you will not betray my trust!"

Li Nian was overjoyed. With Ying Zheng’s guarantee, as long as he did not actively court death, he would no longer be in danger of losing his life in the Great Qin—illness notwithstanding. According to history, he would be safe for at least another eleven years.

Changing the subject, Ying Zheng added, "But you must also know that because your origins are peculiar, I will not grant you freedom. Your movements will remain under my watchful eye."

Before deciding to reveal his origins, Li Nian had expected this, so he felt little disappointment: "This commoner understands. I do not wish to receive the Great King's grace in vain and am willing to contribute my meager efforts to help the Great Qin prosper."

This remark appeared to be a show of loyalty to the First Emperor, but in reality, it was Li Nian seeking permission—permission to take certain actions.

Henceforth, he would surely be under strict surveillance by the First Emperor. Without the Emperor's permission, he could do nothing—not even build a chair. How then could he improve his life in this era?

He had to obtain the First Emperor’s approval first!

Li Nian believed the First Emperor would agree, for as a man from the future, the Emperor would surely want to see the benefits that Li Nian’s actions could bring to him and the Great Qin.

As expected, Ying Zheng replied, "You have a good heart. From now on, you shall reside in the Liuying Palace. If you have any needs, you may report them to me."

This meant that he had granted Li Nian the Liuying Palace; he could do whatever he wished there, and if he needed anything—money, grain, or personnel—he only needed to tell the King, and the King would arrange for it.

He allowed Li Nian to act, but the resources required for those actions remained under his control; whatever Li Nian did had to be reported to him, and the process would be monitored by his own men.

'Even if he believes I come from the future, he will not trust me completely right away. He will still be on guard, but that is only natural! If the First Emperor believed me unconditionally, I would instead suspect that he was planning to chop off my head.'

Sighing inwardly, Li Nian expressed his gratitude: "I thank the Great King for his grace!"

Ying Zheng asked, "Is there anything else?"

Li Nian replied, "There are indeed a few more matters to report to the Great King!"

He had said enough for today, but there were indeed other things he needed to address with Ying Zheng.

Glancing at the power bank and mobile phone still held by Meng Yi, Li Nian said, "Great King, the mobile phone operates on electrical energy. This object is called a 'power bank,' designed specifically to provide electrical energy to the phone. However, the energy in the power bank is not inexhaustible. Therefore, when the phone is not in use, please allow this commoner to turn it off and disconnect it from the power bank."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng also looked at the phone and the power bank. He had originally wanted to study and play with the phone, but listening to this man, the device required something called "electrical energy" to function, and while the power bank could provide it, it was limited.

Ying Zheng asked, "The phone gets its electrical energy from the power bank, but where does the energy in the power bank come from? If the energy in the power bank is exhausted, can it not be replenished? Is it impossible to replenish the electrical energy for the power bank in my Great Qin?"

Ying Zheng’s question reminded Li Nian of something. This power bank was a so-called "solar power bank" he had bought online.

Before buying it, he had listened to the merchant’s exaggerated claims—that as long as there was sunlight, it could charge, and as long as one carried it, one never had to worry about the phone running out of power in the wild.

Only after buying it did he realize it was a complete scam. While it did have solar charging, the efficiency was like the grandmother of the merchant’s bound feet—stinky and long-winded; even in good weather, it might not fully charge in ten days or half a month.

However, now that he had arrived in the Great Qin, it seemed it might actually be of some use...