47: Chapter 47: The mastermind behind the petition of thousands of Confucian scholars—the strategist Zhang Liang reappears!

"Fuhrer, Sun Daping leading over a thousand Confucian Scholars to petition has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

After scraping together two thousand gold, Chunyu Yue went to find Zhao Fusu to clear his name.

"Fuhrer, these two thousand gold are a small token of my regard."

Heart aching, Chunyu Yue had men bring out the two thousand gold.

As the Head of the Confucians, he had many disciples who paid tuition, so he was quite wealthy.

But taking out two thousand gold—equivalent to 3.6 billion—all at once, how could his heart not ache?

Yet he had no choice but to give it.

With Sun Daping's incident breaking out,

his position in the imperial court had become even more precarious.

Not just him, but all officials from a Confucian background would likely be implicated.

Once the Confucian faction's officials were entirely squeezed out of the National Assembly by Li Si, the Confucians would have no one left in the high ranks of the Great Qin Empire.

If that happened, let alone development, the Confucians would suffer an unprecedented blow, far worse than the First Emperor's Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars!

As the Head of the Confucians, Chunyu Yue could only spend money to avert disaster.

Even if Zhao Fusu chose to blame someone, it would be Sun Daping and his lot who suffered; it wouldn't affect the entire Confucian school.

Zhao Fusu saw Chunyu Yue presenting the two thousand gold.

His eyes instantly lit up.

It wasn't that he loved money so much, but rather that he was terrified of being poor.

He also planned to start an industrial revolution in Great Qin and become the biggest capitalist.

He needed a massive amount of money for investment.

"Teacher Chunyu Yue, how could I accept this?"

"You are my most beloved teacher; we've shared a bed, used the same chamber pot, and talked by candlelight until midnight. How could I have the heart to take your money!"

Zhao Fusu turned his head away, one hand pushing Chunyu Yue away while the other held his pocket wide open.

Zhao Fusu's behavior left the surrounding crowd dumbfounded.

Feng Quji sighed with emotion.

Young Master Fusu was truly a remarkable individual.

He saved face,

and he got the benefits.

Chunyu Yue was also momentarily stunned by Zhao Fusu's actions.

Good heavens, you've truly mastered our Confucian modesty to the extreme and even innovated upon it!

Your mouth says no, but your heart is very honest!

However, seeing that Zhao Fusu was willing to accept the money, Chunyu Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Li Si.

The corner of Li Si's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't speak.

Since the Fuhrer had accepted the money, he wouldn't make an issue of which foot Chunyu Yue used to step into the court in the future.

Zhao Fusu saw that Chunyu Yue, the Head of the Confucians, was quite tactful.

He had sent him a hundred million.

As for Sun Daping causing trouble, he simply wouldn't settle the score with the Confucian school.

Xianyang Palace

A young man wearing cotton clothes, holding a scroll of Taigong's Art of War, appeared outside Xianyang Palace. Mingling with the crowd, he watched the dense mass of Confucian Scholars surrounding the entrance of Xianyang Palace.

Guards of Xianyang Palace were already holding halberds, pointed at these unarmed Confucian Scholars.

Confucian Scholars of the Qin Dynasty usually wore swords.

But since Sun Daping led the crowd here for a petition, they had not brought any swords.

"Young Master Fusu, what will you do?"

"Will you choose to kill all these petitioning scholars, or will you listen to them, abolish the commandery-county system, and implement the enfeoffment system?"

This young man holding Taigong's Art of War was none other than the Sage of Strategy, Zhang Liang.

The collective petition of so many Confucian Scholars seemed to be related to Zhang Liang.

He wished for nothing more than a conflict between the scholars and the guards of Xianyang Palace.

It would be best if Young Master Fusu followed the First Emperor's example and subjected the Confucians to another 'Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars'.

In that case, the reputation for benevolence that Young Master Fusu had built up among the people would vanish instantly.

A tyrannical Young Master Fusu would only intensify the commoners' hatred for the Great Qin Empire.

In the crowd, besides the disguised First Emperor, He Zhi had also appeared here.

As for Zhao Gao, he didn't dare leave the First Emperor's manor by even a step.

He was terrified of being found by Zhao Fusu and having his throat slit.

Portraits of Zhao Gao were still posted in every street and alley. There was a reward for anyone who could find him.

After hearing the report from the Shadow Guards, the First Emperor immediately drove to Xianyang Palace.

He looked at the dark mass of people with a solemn expression.

In just half a day, so many citizens of Xianyang had come to watch.

The First Emperor did not believe there wasn't a mastermind behind this matter.

"Remnants of the Six States!"

The First Emperor's face was incredibly grim.

After he faked his death, these Remnants of the Six States finally couldn't wait to jump out from the shadows.

"Immediately send the Shadow Guards to investigate these petitioning scholars and see who they've been in contact with."

"Also, find out who incited these commoners to come here!"

"Once suspicious individuals are found, do not alert them yet."

"Follow the trail to find their hiding places, and then wipe them all out at once!"

Ying Zheng issued the command to He Zhi.

"Yes, Master."

He Zhi immediately arranged for the Shadow Guards to investigate.

Clatter, clatter...

Bronze-rimmed wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement.

A carriage slowly approached.

"Are there really this many people!"

Sitting inside the carriage, Zhao Fusu lifted the curtain and saw the dense crowd; in the distance, there were countless more heads.

Zhao Fusu's expression became increasingly solemn.

If this matter wasn't handled correctly, it could very easily trigger a civil uprising.

The Great Qin Empire's current situation was not suited for more trouble.

The price of grain in Xianyang had already reached a terrifying three thousand coins per dan.

If another incident occurred, to what level would the grain price rise?

It was said that the Little Mustache's speeches were very infectious, able to make millions of people follow him in his 'venture'.

Was it really just because his speaking ability was so good?

Zhao Fusu didn't think that was necessarily the case.

If you were already stuffed full, no matter how passionately the Little Mustache spoke or asked you to join his venture,

you would at most give him a thumbs up.

As for following him, forget it.

But if a loaf of bread cost five hundred thousand, the Little Mustache wouldn't even need to waste his breath before you'd be ready to follow him.

"Are kings and nobles born to their status?"

Current Great Qin was developing in that direction; the entire society was already a massive powder keg on the verge of exploding.

Whether it was the sky-high grain prices or the petition of a thousand scholars, if not handled well, they would become the fuse that detonated the entire Great Qin Empire.

As for how to handle the astronomical grain prices, Zhao Fusu already had a plan. That was to open up the market and allow market self-regulation to bring prices down.

Now, the issue to be dealt with was the petition of over a thousand scholars led by Sun Daping.

"Fuhrer."

Inside the carriage, besides Zhao Fusu, were Li Si and Feng Quji.

They had accompanied Zhao Fusu to Xianyang Palace.

Li Si's voice was cold as he said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"

"If these scholars are stubborn and incorrigible, it is not out of the question to follow the First Emperor's example and bury them all!"