pjbooks Chapter 16 Li Si and Zhao Gao
Chapter 16 Li Si and Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao: If you want to die, don't drag us down with you!
Hu Hai: That's right!
When news of the First Emperor's fury reached the palace, Fusu rushed over and saw Li Si clinging to his father's leg and wailing. For a moment, he really didn't know what to say.
"Father, what happened that makes you so angry?!" Fusu intended to help Li Si up first, as this wailing and howling was not the behavior of a gentleman.
The First Emperor first handed the letter to Fusu, saying calmly, "Take a look, your good younger brother and good father-in-law."
Fusu glanced through it briefly and said in disbelief, "Li Si, how dare you treat your father like this!"
Li Si's face turned ashen, and he remained silent with his head down, fully aware of the truth behind his actions as recorded in history.
Even now, he would find it hard to resist the temptation of power second only to the emperor.
Clearly, Fusu and the First Emperor had also considered this point. Fusu sincerely asked, "Even so, will your fate be better than mine? In the hands of a near-tyrannical emperor!"
Li Si looked at the other two trembling men and smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, my crimes are so grave that even death could not atone for them. But Qin is in dire need of capable men. Could you give me a chance? I swear that I will follow Your Majesty after Your Majesty's death!" After saying this, he kowtowed to the ground.
The First Emperor remained silent. Lin Ke had only given a general account of the outcome, and her indignation was evident in her words. However, she simply could not forgive someone who had betrayed her.
The Qin Dynasty can't do without Li Si now, just as Lin Ke said, let him be thoroughly seasoned! And that Xu Fu is even more despicable! He still needs to be kept alive to research gunpowder! But these two can be dealt with first, let me vent my anger!
"Guards, order Zhao Gao and Hu Hai to receive thirty strokes of the cane and be confined to the Great Wall for forced labor, living with Bao Yu every day, and never to return to Xianyang! Also, order Li Si to receive thirty strokes of the cane and be allowed to live with Bao Yu for three months, and he shall not leave without an imperial edict!"
Li Si collapsed to the ground, knowing that this hurdle was over. As for the rest, it was already a sign of His Majesty's kindness to spare his life.
Zhao Gao and Hu Hai tried to argue, but they were soon dragged away and flogged by soldiers, just like Li Si.
……
After dealing with these matters, the First Emperor and Fusu arrived outside Zhangtai Palace.
"Father, what are you looking at?" Fusu looked in the direction the First Emperor was looking, and saw in the air: Ranking of Dynasties' Development
"Father, our Qin Dynasty is at the top of the list!! What are those numbers that keep changing next to it!? The dynasties below are constantly changing!" Fusu exclaimed in surprise.
After pondering for a moment, the First Emperor turned to look at Hu Hai and the others who were being executed.
"Historical records state that the Qin Dynasty's demise was orchestrated by these three individuals. Now that I know the outcome in advance, these three can no longer alter the imperial decree. Perhaps, fate has changed the course of events."
"As I predicted, the greater the change, the higher the ranking. The number following this should be the same as the points used to purchase last time."
Fusu nodded after listening. Just as his father said, it was a bit embarrassing. If he dropped in the rankings, people would really laugh their heads off.
The First Emperor turned his gaze to Fusu and couldn't help but think of what Lin Ke had said back then: "If my subjects suffer a little, I will be a little better off!"
Roll them all up for me! I want the entire dynasty to know that Qin is number one!
Fusu, lost in thought, trembled slightly, as if he were being watched. The poor child had no idea that he and Li Si would be working themselves to the bone in the future.
……
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han
Liu Che was discussing the expedition against the Xiongnu with Wei Qing. He also sent people to study the papermaking technique from last time, but he didn't know what the result would be, since it was many years after the time of Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Liu Che's gaze was drawn to the two packages that had appeared on the table sometime earlier. He glanced at the note Lin Ke had left behind, pursed his lips, and said sourly, "Needless to say, the First Emperor will definitely receive a huge portion!"
Wei Qing was already used to the emperor's temper and comforted him, "Your Majesty, how can we favor one over the other? The map we bought last time is very helpful for our campaign against the Xiongnu. We should start fighting them sooner rather than later..."
As Wei Qing was speaking, two large bags of things suddenly fell into his arms, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere in the hall.
Liu Che: I knew it! I knew it (in anger)!
Wei Qing: Your Majesty's will is mine!
Lin Ke: Actually, Huo Qubing (the Crown Prince) also had it!
Tang Dynasty
Li Shiming was feeling extremely depressed after being scolded by Wei Zheng when he was hit on the head by two large bags of paper.
Li Shimin's eyes turned red: "Who did it? Who did it!"
Empress Zhangsun, standing beside her, said helplessly, "Your Majesty, I think it's a gift from that little girl Lin Ke. Let's see what it is."
Li Shimin then noticed the note on it. Oh, it was paper! Humph! I have plenty of paper here. This paper is actually... Since she's brought a gift, I'll be generous and not hold it against her!
Empress Zhangsun wanted to burst out laughing at her emperor's arrogant attitude, but she had to maintain her composure as empress.
I want to send more Guanyinbi! That brat Wei Zheng won't give them any; let him scold me!
Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang was having a headache over the development rankings of various dynasties that appeared in mid-air when he was suddenly hit on the head.
Zhu Di leaned over to take a look and exclaimed in amazement, "Father, this paper is so soft! Give me a stack!" He then quietly picked it up and ran away when Zhu Yuanzhang wasn't looking, completely ignoring Zhu Yuanzhang's furious outburst behind him!