Chapter 38: The Reformer, Zhang Han!

The next day, in the Great Qin court.

After handling the memorials and reports submitted by the ministers, Ying Zheng looked at the gathered officials in the hall and said, "Last night, I found it difficult to fall asleep. A sudden thought occurred to me, and today I shall share it with all of you."

Shouldn't it have been a dream during sleep? How did it become lying awake and suddenly having a thought?

However, Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, and whatever you say goes.

The ministers perked up, preparing to listen to whatever thought had occurred to Ying Zheng.

Then they heard Ying Zheng say, "Reflecting on history, I have realized that since ancient times, no state has ever avoided destruction. Xia, Shang, and Zhou were all thus. Since the Spring and Autumn period, the number of fallen states is beyond counting. This has led me to wonder: will Great Qin, too, perish one day?"

Upon hearing these words, all the ministers were startled, their complexions changing instantly. Several were about to speak up immediately: *Your Majesty, how could you entertain such a thought? Our Great Qin will surely endure for a thousand and ten thousand generations!*

Before they could, Ying Zheng's stern voice cut them off: "Hear me out to the end!"

His majestic gaze swept over the restless officials.

Having subdued the court, Ying Zheng continued, "Therefore, I wish to pose a question to you all: If Great Qin is to perish, what will be the cause of its demise? And if we wish to ensure that Great Qin never falls, how ought it to be governed?"

"These two questions are left for you all to ponder. Tomorrow, present your respective thoughts to me!"

With that, without waiting for the ministers' reactions, he announced the dismissal of the court.

Leaving the Zhangtai Palace after the court session, the ministers looked at one another, completely baffled as to what had gotten into the King today to suddenly pose these two questions.

These two questions seemed simple enough—one only needed to point out the existing problems within Great Qin and explain how to resolve and improve them. Yet, for this group of seasoned veterans standing at the pinnacle of the Qin Empire, a casual word from the King sitting on the throne meant that they, as subjects, had a great deal more to consider.

They had to fathom why Ying Zheng had raised these two questions, what kind of answers he hoped to receive, and how they should respond to best align with Ying Zheng's intentions.

Furthermore, was this an opportunity to elevate their status within the court while incidentally striking down their rivals?

Under such circumstances, the ministers naturally had differing thoughts. With tacit understanding, they exchanged a few bland and harmless pleasantries before departing separately, none revealing what was truly on their minds.

These two questions had indeed been conceived by Ying Zheng last night. They were meant both to gauge the ministers' perspectives on Great Qin and to see if any useful references could be gained, as well as to thoroughly test the officials.

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, after the ministers had departed, Ying Zheng instructed an attendant, "Convey these two questions to all the princes and have them presented to me tomorrow!"

Huhai was the First Emperor's youngest son, who was about to reach the age of ten, while the other princes were older and fully capable of understanding affairs.

These two questions could be used to test not only the ministers but also his group of sons.

Shortly after the attendant left to carry out the command, a young man was led into the hall—none other than the person Ying Zheng had thought of last night to execute his plan.

He was a remarkably heroic and martial youth. Led into the hall by the attendant, he bowed to Ying Zheng upon the throne and said, "Your subject, Zhang Han, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

At this time, Zhang Han was not yet the famous general of the late Qin era; he was still working in the Imperial Treasury (Shaofu) with a humble official rank. He could not for the life of him figure out why he, a minor official of the Shaofu, had been summoned by the King.

In truth, although his rank in the Shaofu was not high, he worked diligently and earnestly, receiving top ratings in every performance review, and earned high praise from his colleagues and superiors alike.

Ying Zheng happened to have perused his records, deemed him a talent who might one day become a pillar of Great Qin, and thus remembered his name.

Last night, when pondering who could execute his plan, the name Zhang Han had popped into his head.

The fact that this man consistently earned top ratings in performance reviews while maintaining good relationships with colleagues and superiors proved his competence. Moreover, because his official rank was low and his fame was small, even if he vanished from the Shaofu, it would not attract too much attention—perfectly matching his requirements!

Thus, early this morning, Ying Zheng had dispatched men to summon Zhang Han into the palace for an audience.

After looking Zhang Han over for a moment, Ying Zheng said, "Rise. Read these first before we speak."

Zhang Han stood up, and two attendants immediately carried over a tray laden with a stack of bamboo slips. The King's intent was clearly for him to read these slips.

What was recorded on the bamboo slips? Why did the King want him to read them?

Filled with curiosity, Zhang Han picked up the first scroll of bamboo slips. After opening it and reading just a few lines, his expression shifted dramatically. Then, taking on a thoughtful look, he continued reading intently.

Having finished the first scroll, Zhang Han eagerly picked up the second, the third...

By the time he finished reading all the bamboo slips, Zhang Han was still astonished by the plan recorded within them. He now understood why Ying Zheng had summoned him to the palace.

If the contents of the bamboo slips were to leak out, the entire Great Qin would be shaken to its foundations.

For it meant that the master of Great Qin and master of the realm currently sitting on the throne harbored doubts about Legalism, the philosophy that had governed Great Qin for over a hundred years.

This was undoubtedly a seismic event that would rock the imperial court and the whole of Qin!

The King summoning him into the palace today clearly meant he was intended to execute the plan outlined in the bamboo slips.

Reflecting on it, Zhang Han realized his conditions fit remarkably well: outstanding capability and an obscure reputation—he was the perfect executor for the clandestine plan.

Yet the risks this plan posed to him were immense. If successful, he would be favored in the King's heart and embark on a smooth official career; but if it failed, he would most likely die, whether executed by the King or assassinated by the adherents of Legalism.

Yet, living in this world, when faced with such a magnificent opportunity, how could one not take a gamble?

This might well be his greatest chance to leap through the dragon gate and catch the King's eye.

Was he supposed to continue lingering in the Shaofu, slowly grinding away to accumulate merits for promotion?

Zhang Han decided to seize this opportunity.

Seeing that Zhang Han had finished reading, Ying Zheng asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Zhang Han replied, "The person who conceived this method has thought it through quite thoroughly. The only issue lies in the fact that the trial implementation of this method must be kept strictly confidential, and it requires someone capable of executing it—someone who possesses both great competence and an inconspicuous profile!"

At this point, Zhang Han stopped beating around the bush: "Did Your Majesty summon me into the palace today because you wish for me to be the one to trial-run this method?"

Ying Zheng lowered his gaze, fixing it on Zhang Han: "Are you willing to test this method for me? If you are unwilling, I will not force you, but you must forget everything that happened today and never speak of it to others. If you are willing, you must all the more understand the consequences of your consent!"

Zhang Han answered, "Your subject understands. Your subject is willing to test this method for Your Majesty, but I have a few requests and hope Your Majesty will grant them!"

Ying Zheng commanded, "Bring him bamboo slips and a brush!"

An attendant immediately stepped forward with bamboo slips and a writing brush.

Zhang Han wrote down his requests on the bamboo slips, which the attendant then presented to Ying Zheng.

After reading Zhang Han's written requests, Ying Zheng looked back at him and said, "You are quite bold indeed. However, I grant them!"

Zhang Han's multiple requests on the bamboo slips could be summarized in a single premise: he would have sole and absolute authority over the matter. The military affairs, administration, taxation, and the appointment and dismissal of officials in the trial county would all be under his exclusive control; apart from Ying Zheng, the King, no one else was permitted to interfere.

Hearing Ying Zheng readily agree, Zhang Han was overjoyed and bowed deeply: "In the past, Lord Shang did not fail the trust of Duke Xiao; your subject will likewise not fail the trust of Your Majesty!"

Indeed, the plan recorded on those bamboo slips was evidently another major reform for Great Qin. In the past, Lord Shang was the man of reforms; today, he, Zhang Han, was also a man of reforms.