253: Those who fail to meet the deadline will be executed according to the law!

"Missing the deadline means execution!"

Lin Yue hadn't seen these provisions in the qin law. Instead, it was recorded in the "Corvée Law" that if someone conscripted for corvée duty didn't want to go, they would be fined the cost of two armors. Being three to five days late would only result in a simple reprimand; six to ten days, a fine equal to a shield; and more than ten days late, confiscation of one armor was sufficient. If heavy rain was encountered, one only needed to obtain a certificate from a nearby Government to be exempt from that corvée duty.

Lin Yue even felt this point was somewhat humane, completely different from the strict Great Qin he had imagined.

As for the military service Chen Sheng and the others were performing, "missing the deadline means execution" could be said to be a very common situation. The most important thing for an army is obedience. If everyone was late, how could the battle be fought?

But then again, even in the army, it was rare for everyone to be executed, because no general would do that. If everyone was killed, who would fight? Would he charge into battle himself?

So, usually, only the person who arrived latest or the leader would be executed.

Missing the deadline leading to execution has been recorded since the late Spring and Autumn period. Tian Rangju's immediate execution of Zhuang Jia, a favored minister of Duke Jing of Qi, was because he missed the deadline.

The Han Dynasty also had regulations for execution for missing deadlines, but when Zhang Qian and Zhao Shiqi missed their deadlines, they simply bought their way out of punishment, being demoted to commoners, and were usually not directly beheaded.

Let alone the situation of beheading all nine hundred-plus people, which would undoubtedly cause a large-scale mutiny!

This made Lin Yue suspicious of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang. The two first created momentum by writing on a fish's belly and having a fox cry by a bonfire, then incited the nine hundred subordinates, using both threats and inducements. Finally, they rallied the entire nation to revolt under the pretext of Second Emperor of Qin's tyranny and the tragic deaths of Fusu and General Xiang Yan!

In Lin Yue's view, the fundamental reason for these two ambitious Qin Dynasty officers to revolt was their fear of the increasingly harsh laws enacted after Second Emperor of Qin ascended the throne. They feared their own uncertain future!

And their uprising, in Lin Yue's opinion, was not a so-called peasant uprising, but a premeditated military rebellion!

However, his single sentence, "Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born into their positions?" indeed unfurled a great banner of resistance against tyrannical rulers across the land of Huaxia! It opened a door for the common people suffering greatly!

Just then, Zhao Yun walked in to report:

"My Lord, all the White Horse Righteous Cavalry have arrived and are now waiting outside the Encampment."

"Understood. Then let us depart." Lin Yue rose, put the "qin law" into his spatial ring, and followed Zhao Yun out... Night, Xianyang City.

Over three hundred cavalrymen escorted a Eunuch to the city gates!

The side gate of Xianyang City emitted a piercing "creak! creak!" sound as the group quickly passed through.

Warhorses trotted on the silent streets, making rhythmic "clip-clop, clip-clop" sounds.

Xianyang Palace was brightly lit. The Eunuch walked in unimpeded, his slightly corpulent figure stretched long by the moonlight.

Meanwhile, a Eunuch inside Xianyang Palace quietly arrived outside a palace hall. From within the hall came a series of light sounds: "The Jin Dynasty enfeoffed twenty-seven Sima as kings, which soon led to the Rebellion of the Eight Princes. The prolonged warfare brought irreversible damage to the Jin Dynasty, and various northern tribes are still brewing new unrest..."

This was The First Emperor's unshakeable study time for the past half year, once every six days, two hours each time. But due to the urgency, the Eunuch could only bow and softly say, "Your Majesty, Han Cheng has returned."

The sound within the palace hall abruptly ceased, followed by a clear, cold voice: "Sir, that will be all for today. I shall await you here again in six days."

The Eunuch then pricked up his ears but heard no reply, only His Majesty's voice coming again: "If Sir wishes, I will have someone secretly escort Sir to explore Xianyang City and witness its prosperity."

Immediately, a steady, powerful sound of footsteps approached. The Eunuch quickly retreated to the side, bowing his head in wait.

"Creak!" The palace door opened, and a tall, yet majestic man stepped out. His black dragon robe danced in the gentle breeze. The man glanced at the Eunuch and walked out... "Your Servant Han Cheng, greets Your Majesty!" Han Cheng prostrated himself in a grand bow, his plump buttocks raised high, appearing somewhat comical.

"Rise. Where are the blueprints?" Ying Zheng said with an even voice.

Han Cheng quickly handed the blueprints to the Eunuch in front of him, who then passed them to Qin Shi Huang.

Ying Zheng examined them carefully for a while, then waved his hand at the Eunuch, who silently withdrew.

Only after the faint sound of footsteps outside faded away did Ying Zheng speak lightly: "Did you see him?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Servant did. For the three days Your Servant was out making the blueprints, Colonel Lin Yue accompanied him," Han Cheng replied, maintaining his prostrate posture, without raising his head.

"What do you think?" Ying Zheng glanced at Han Cheng, then asked.

"Your Servant believes this person is a good general. His White Horse Righteous Cavalry are well-trained and strictly disciplined, surpassing most cavalry I have seen.

And although this young man can sometimes be whimsical, he is mostly steady. What's even more commendable is his equal attitude towards everyone, something Your Servant has not seen in a long time." Han Cheng gave a definitive answer after a brief recollection.

"Equality?" The First Emperor murmured, then asked, "I'm asking about his view of Great Qin."

"Your Servant is foolish and cannot discern any dissatisfaction he has with Great Qin. Great Qin is at its zenith, with all four classes subservient, how could anyone harbor disloyalty towards Great Qin?" Han Cheng asked, puzzled.

"What about those few copies of the "qin law"?" Ying Zheng asked, his expression unchanged.

"Your Servant has already given them to him and explained each law in detail. After reading them, he told Your Servant that he had a different perspective on Great Qin," Han Cheng continued.

"A different perspective?" Ying Zheng sneered,

"Tyrannical Qin, tyrannical Qin?

Qin governs by law; everything has a legal basis.

People inevitably have seven emotions and six desires, so Great Qin advocates rule by law to maximally prevent favoritism and corruption.

I want everyone in the world to see if Great Qin's laws are truly as brutal as the world claims!" Ying Zheng's clear, cold voice echoed through the grand hall, sounding deafening!

"Your Majesty is sagacious!" Han Cheng's buttocks jutted out even higher as he spoke with a face full of excitement.

"You did well this time. You may withdraw," Ying Zheng said in a deep voice.

Han Cheng seemed to hesitate until Ying Zheng's voice came again: "Do you have something else to say?"

"Lin Yue gifted this Servant a pill. This medicine belongs to the virtuous, and Your Servant, knowing his own meager fortune and shallow fate, dares not claim it," Han Cheng said, kneeling on the ground and holding a small box above his head.

Ying Zheng gave him a rare glance, then his smile was somewhat playful: "Why did he give you this pill?"

"To better approach him, Your Servant took the opportunity to swear brotherhood with him," Han Cheng said.

"Keep it. Consider it a reward from me. Use it when you leave the Palace," Ying Zheng's clear, cold voice came again, and Han Cheng couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.