Chapter 23: Did Legalism Also Play a Part in the Fall of the Great Qin?

From the exchange between Li Nian and Su Xu, Ying Zheng also discerned Li Nian’s attitude—he held the Confucian school in very low regard.

“Li Nian’s manner of questioning Su Xu is a clear sign to me: he dislikes Confucianism. There must have been something in later history that caused this disdain,” Ying Zheng mused.

He was deeply curious about what the Confucian school had done in later times to provoke such feelings from Li Nian. If he weren’t currently attending court, he would have summoned Li Nian immediately for questioning.

Continuing to observe, when Su Xu asked Li Nian, “Young master, what do you think is the proper way to govern the realm?” Ying Zheng’s curiosity grew. He wanted to know how Li Nian would answer—would he advocate ruling by Legalism, Daoism, or even Mohism?

Ying Zheng believed Li Nian must possess some ideological doctrine for governance; otherwise, how could later states have been governed? How were the people under their rule managed and restrained?

Yet Li Nian’s response was that none of the Hundred Schools of Thought were suitable for ruling a country.

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow once more. Well, well, this young man truly thought that none of the schools could govern, and he dismissed every one of them.

Did this mean that, in Li Nian’s eyes, the Qin state’s governance by Legalism was also problematic?

Perhaps…

There really was a problem!

Ying Zheng recalled what Li Nian had told him—that later generations believed the Qin dynasty was destined to fall, and its destruction resulted from multiple factors, with Zhao Gao and Hu Hai’s actions merely accelerating the process.

Did these “multiple factors” include Legalism?

If so, what would those reasons be?

Since the time of Duke Xiao, Qin had consistently relied on Legalism, which had brought it to its current strength, and no issues had arisen until now. So how could Legalism be a factor?

If Legalism could not govern Qin, then by what doctrine should the state be ruled?

Ying Zheng restrained the urge to summon Li Nian immediately. Li Nian surely knew the answers, but Ying Zheng preferred to ponder the matter himself first. If one always listened to others, one was easily misled.

One must have one’s own capacity for thought and discernment; a ruler even more so. Without these, a king is no more than a pawn to others’ schemes.

After carefully storing the bamboo slips, Ying Zheng resumed listening to the ministers’ reports.

His recent actions had not gone unnoticed by Li Si and Zhao Gao, who grew increasingly suspicious. What was recorded on those bamboo slips to command such attention from the king?

Little did they know that Li Nian’s information was of the highest importance to Ying Zheng, and any slightest disturbance must be reported promptly.

***

The court session ended, and Li Si and Zhao Gao headed toward their respective offices. Zhao Gao, however, deliberately walked alongside Li Si.

Seeing Zhao Gao approach, Li Si narrowed his eyes slightly but showed no other expression.

Zhao Gao lowered his voice and asked, “Do you know where the bamboo slips the king reviewed during court came from?”

Li Si gave him a cold glance and replied, “Even the Director of the Chariot Pavilion does not know. How would I? If the king wishes to inform us, we will know. If not, it’s better we remain ignorant. What do you think the Director of the Chariot Pavilion would say?”

Zhao Gao smiled faintly and bowed in thanks. “You speak wisely, Minister. I will keep your words close to heart.”

Li Si glanced at Zhao Gao once more, then swept his sleeve and left. Zhao Gao’s smile faded as he stood there contemplating before departing as well.

Soon after, news of their brief conversation reached Ying Zheng’s ears, prompting him to think, “These two are truly suspicious!” Now they dared to have secret talks right after court. What schemes might they hatch once I am gone?

According to the later history Li Nian shared, the deeds of these two were little different from rebellion.

This was partly Ying Zheng’s own bias against Zhao Gao and Li Si; otherwise, would it not be normal for two ministers to converse briefly when they happen to cross paths?

Meanwhile, at the Six Heroes Palace, Su Xu concluded his lessons for the day, which in truth had been little more than a Q&A session with Li Nian.

Even after leaving, Su Xu’s mind remained tangled with Li Nian’s questions and words—pondering whether the Zhou Rites truly had flaws or not.

Just as he was about to exit the palace, an attendant suddenly stopped him.

“Dr. Su, please wait!”

Su Xu was puzzled but listened as the attendant whispered, “The king commands that today’s matters must not be disclosed to anyone. Violators shall suffer the five punishments and the extermination of three clans.”

Su Xu’s eyes widened, chills running down his spine. He had just spoken with that person not long ago, and the king already knew? Furthermore, the king had sent someone to wait here to enforce secrecy!

That person’s influence was likely far greater than Su Xu had imagined. He had even considered bringing that person into their Confucian fold today.

“Please inform the king, I shall never betray this confidence!” Su Xu declared.

He had originally intended to return and discuss Li Nian’s questions about the Zhou Rites with Chunyu Yue and others, seeking a reasonable explanation from Confucian classics. Now, he felt a wave of dread.

If he dared to do so, he would be doomed to die tonight, his entire clan wiped out.

After receiving Su Xu’s assurance, the attendant added, “Dr. Su, remember to conduct tomorrow’s class on time; do not keep the young master waiting.”

The underlying meaning was clear: not only must you keep this secret, but you must also continue your duties diligently—no slacking off.

Su Xu naturally understood and hastened to reply, “Su Xu understands and will arrive punctually.”

Only then did the attendant allow him to leave.

Walking a fair distance away, Su Xu glanced back toward the Six Heroes Palace, sighed, and continued toward his home.

***

Inside Six Heroes Palace, Li Nian held a piece of charcoal, drawing on a wooden board. Before him stood more than a dozen artisans from the Ministry of Works, all respectfully attentive.

Li Nian was sketching a plow.

As an agricultural implement, the plow had appeared early in Chinese history, though initially imperfect. Over time, people identified its flaws through everyday use and gradually improved it.

Li Nian was now skipping the evolutionary process, providing Qin directly with a more advanced plow.

The model he drew was one that appeared during the Song and Yuan dynasties, an improved and refined version based on the Tang dynasty’s curved-beam plow.

As the wooden board gradually took shape, the artisans recognized it as a plow—though they had never seen such a design before.

Could such a plow truly be more effective than the current ones?

If so, all farmers in Qin should be grateful to this young master.

The importance and laboriousness of farming were well understood in this era. Even a slight easing of the workload was a monumental benefit.

Because this meant that with the same effort, they could cultivate more land and grow more grain. Grain was the foundation of survival; having ample food meant peace of mind.

After completing the plow sketch, Li Nian ordered another wooden board brought forth. This time, he drew designs for papermaking tools.

Papermaking required not only tools but also a proper site—a pond for soaking and processing the fibers, and kilns for steaming.

Upon finishing the diagrams for the papermaking tools and site, Li Nian proceeded to draw designs for iron pots and furniture—tables, chairs, benches.

Work must come before enjoyment; only by serving the rulers well can leisure be truly appreciated. One must distinguish clearly between priorities and pleasures.