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Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: The Humble Hu Hai! The Difference Between Zhao Zheng’s Son and Ying Zheng’s Son!

"I never expected… that you would be my eldest brother!"

Fusu straightened his posture, looking at Zhao Feng with a complex expression.

In the past

His subordinates had repeatedly targeted Zhao Feng, even seeing him as a mortal enemy.

At its core

Zhao Feng had risen too quickly.

He had caught the attention of ministers like Wang Wan, who believed that Zhao Feng would one day disrupt the foundation of Qin.

Ultimately

It was just an excuse.

They had already decided to oppose Zhao Feng and merely found a justification for it.

"You're not the only one who didn't expect it, I never imagined it either."

Zhao Feng chuckled lightly.

Now that he was here, he had completely embraced the role of Crown Prince.

As for dealing with Fusu

Zhao Feng didn't hold much resentment. Fusu was merely a pitiful man led by the nose.

Besides

Since the day Wang Wan and his faction began targeting him, Fusu had always exercised restraint. He had even taken the initiative to apologize to ease tensions, proving that he had never truly had a choice.

Zhao Feng understood his character deeply.

He was too rigid.

And thoroughly indoctrinated by the Confucian ideals of this era.

However

His abilities were not lacking. If used wisely, he could govern a region and ensure its stability.

"Perhaps…"

"This is fate."

"Father once had high hopes for me, but I failed to live up to them. And in truth, I could never fulfill his expectations."

"Your arrival is a remedy for what Father had envisioned for the future."

"With you here, the Qin Empire will be even more stable," Fusu spoke with a sigh of emotion.

"It's rare to see you so open-minded."

"I thought you would resent me for taking what was yours." Zhao Feng smiled.

"If it was never mine to begin with, then I have nothing to resent. From the start, I was burdened with too much the expectations of my father, the expectations of the court ministers."

"Even if I didn't move forward, they would have pushed me along anyway."

"Now that you're here, I no longer have to carry that burden."

Fusu let out a free-spirited laugh, appearing at peace with himself, even with a touch of relief.

"Among all your brothers, you are the most outstanding." Zhao Feng praised him.

"Compared to you, I am nothing."

Fusu shook his head. Then, with a hint of concern, he asked, "Now that the Empress has been established and the Crown Prince has been confirmed, the structure of the court is bound to change. Brother, how do you plan to deal with the old ministers?"

"If the old do not leave, how will the new arrive?"

"Clinging to outdated rules how can we hope to strengthen the nation?"

"Now that I have taken this position, I will bring change."

Zhao Feng responded with a faint smile.

Then, without further conversation, he strode towards the grand court hall.

"He's going to take action against the court."

"I hope Chancellor Wei and the others can understand…"

Fusu sighed inwardly.

He had grasped the meaning behind Zhao Feng's words.

"Damn Zhao Feng!"

Nearby, Hu Hai glared at Zhao Feng with unwavering resentment.

But

With just a sideways glance, Zhao Feng immediately noticed him.

"This guy has quite the ambition even now, he dares to harbor killing intent towards me?"

"Very well."

"You'd better come to me of your own accord. If I don't eliminate you, I'd be letting down the original course of history."

Zhao Feng smirked coldly.

He didn't take Hu Hai seriously at all.

An arrogant fool with no ability whatsoever.

This great empire of Qin had been utterly ruined by him.

If Zhao Feng had not appeared, and if Qin Shi Huang had known what Hu Hai would do in the future, he would have torn him apart with his own hands.

"His Majesty the First Emperor Arrives!"

"All ministers, prepare to receive him!"

A loud proclamation echoed from within the court hall.

Then

The great doors swung open.

The imperial guards stepped forward, standing in formation, barring the entry of any weapons.

Zhao Feng, however, walked in without hindrance.

As he passed, the guards bowed deeply to him.

He was now the Crown Prince the future Emperor.

They were his subjects.

Zhao Feng took his seat in the position reserved for Lord Wu'an.

The court officials entered in an orderly manner.

When the ministers were gathered

"His Majesty the First Emperor Arrives!"

The ceremonial voice thundered through the grand court hall.

"Your subjects greet His Majesty the First Emperor!"

"May His Majesty live ten thousand years!"

"May the Qin Empire endure for ten thousand years!"

The resounding shouts filled the hall.

As they did

Ying Zheng, dressed in his black dragon imperial robe and wearing his crown, ascended to his high seat.

Then, raising his hand slightly

"You may rise."

His powerful voice echoed through the hall.

It was clear

After reuniting with his wife and finally being together openly, Ying Zheng looked visibly healthier, his complexion more vibrant.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The court officials loudly echoed their approval.

At this moment, Ying Zheng's gaze fell upon Zhao Feng, who was seated in the position of National Guard Commander, and Hu Hai, who stood below the steps.

Meanwhile, Fu Su, demonstrating his intelligence, had taken his place among the civil officials. Yet Hu Hai still stood there, seemingly trying to assert his presence.

"Now,"

"The Crown Prince has been established."

"There is no longer a need for the imperial sons to attend court sessions."

"Hu Hai."

"You are no longer required to attend court."

"Step down."

Ying Zheng directly addressed Hu Hai.

With just one sentence, Hu Hai was left standing awkwardly below the steps, his face flushed red.

But how could he dare to disobey?

"Your son obeys the decree."

Hu Hai had no choice but to bow and retreat from the court, feeling humiliated.

However, once he turned around, his face was filled with hatred and unwillingness.

"As for Fu Su."

"Among the Nine Ministers, where do you wish to serve?" Ying Zheng asked, looking at Fu Su.

"I will follow my father's arrangement," Fu Su immediately replied.

"You have a benevolent heart."

"You care for the people."

"Now, I give you two choices: First, you may choose a position among the Nine Ministers and serve as an auxiliary official."

"Second, I will grant you a command over a prefecture for you to govern." Ying Zheng spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang and other senior officials showed anxious expressions.

If Fu Su chose to stay in Xianyang, he might still have a future.

After all, Ying Zheng was still in his prime, and the future was uncertain.

What if Zhao Feng were to meet an untimely end?

Fu Su would then have another chance.

But if Fu Su left Xianyang, everything would be uncertain he would essentially be losing his opportunity entirely.

Hearing Ying Zheng's offer of two choices, Fu Su stepped forward without hesitation and said, "Your son chooses to govern a prefecture."

"In Xianyang, there are already many officials handling affairs, and I would only be idle. However, if I go to govern a prefecture, I can improve the lives of the people there. I am willing."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang and the officials who supported Fu Su turned pale.

Seeing Fu Su's choice, Ying Zheng nodded with satisfaction. "Very well."

"I support your decision."

Fu Su bowed deeply. "Thank you, Father. If possible, please grant me governance over the most impoverished prefecture. I am willing to give my all for its improvement."

"Prime Minister Han."

Ying Zheng turned to Han Fei.

"Reporting to His Majesty."

"The Yanmen Prefecture in the Dai region, bordering foreign tribes, is one of the most impoverished areas," Han Fei responded.

"Then I shall choose Yanmen Prefecture," Fu Su immediately declared.

"Fu Su, are you certain?"

"Yanmen is thousands of miles from Xianyang and is located in the poor and rugged northern frontier." Ying Zheng still had some concerns.

"All this time,"

"Father has nurtured me, hoping I would become capable, but I have repeatedly disappointed you and failed to meet your expectations."

"Now that I have this opportunity,"

"I hope to contribute to Father's vision and, within my abilities, improve the lives of the people of Great Qin."

"I beg Father to grant me this request."

Hearing Fu Su's words, Ying Zheng was deeply moved and finally nodded. "Since this is your decision, I will allow it."

"However, Yanmen Prefecture borders foreign tribes and is not safe."

"I will send one thousand Imperial Guards to accompany you for protection."

"This is non-negotiable."

Fu Su bowed. "Your son thanks, Father."

After expressing his gratitude, Fu Su stepped back.

He completely ignored the expressions of disappointment from the officials who supported him. Perhaps he had already made up his mind when he made this decision.

"Fu Su is still intelligent."

"By doing this, he has severed Wei Zhuang and the others' hopes, giving them a final chance to survive."

"He knows that if I take action, I leave no loose ends."

Seeing Fu Su's decision, Zhao Feng simply smiled calmly, fully understanding the implications.

However, while Fu Su had made his choice, there were still those who refused to accept it.

"Your Majesty."

"This humble official has a petition to present."

Chunyu Yue stepped forward and spoke loudly.

Seeing that it was Chunyu Yue, Ying Zheng frowned. However, in the imperial court, officials had the right to submit petitions, so Ying Zheng could not simply refuse.

"Speak," Ying Zheng said coldly.

"Today,"

"Under His Majesty's rule, Great Qin has fulfilled the wishes of past Qin kings and the old Qin people, successfully unifying the world."

"However,"

"The world is vast and requires governance."

"Though the empire is under control, hidden currents still flow beneath the surface, and remnants of the Six Kingdoms stir in secret."

"This humble official believes"

"We must follow the ancestral system and enfeoff the royal princes to guard Great Qin and ensure its stability."

"To prevent foreign rulers from harboring disloyalty and treasonous intentions,"

"This humble official suggests that His Majesty enfeoff his sons, granting them dominion over various regions to uphold Great Qin's rule."

Chunyu Yue spoke passionately and without hesitation, clearly having prepared this speech well in advance.

Moreover, compared to the ancient Zhou dynasty's enfeoffment system which allowed many foreign rulers

Chunyu Yue had changed the wording.

Now, instead of granting lands to outsiders, the enfeoffment would be given only to the sons of the First Emperor.

On the surface, this sounded reasonable.

For any ordinary emperor, this would indeed be an attractive proposal.

After all, even if turmoil arose in the future, the ruling families would still be the direct descendants of the First Emperor Great Qin's rule would continue.

At this moment

"I second Lord Chunyu Yue's petition."

"Under His Majesty's rule, Great Qin has unified the land. It is appropriate to follow the ancestral system and enfeoff the royal princes."

"Indeed."

"If His Majesty enfeoffs his sons, they can serve as the guardians of the empire."

"With the royal princes governing, and His Majesty decreeing that no outsiders may become kings, Great Qin will endure forever."

"We, the officials, second the petition…"

One minister after another stepped forward, loudly voicing their support.

Now that Chunyu Yue had taken the lead, these officials naturally followed suit to amplify the momentum.

For many of them, this was their final gamble.

If they succeeded, they could follow the prince they supported to his fiefdom and hold high-ranking positions.

Compared to staying in Xianyang, they would gain far more power and benefits.

This was what they truly desired.

For their interests, they had no choice but to take this risk.

However

They underestimated Qin Shi Huang. They underestimated his deep-seated aversion to the feudal enfeoffment system.

Among the Nine Ministers, not a single one voiced support.

That alone spoke volumes.

Yet those advocating for the system seemed oblivious, blinded by the allure of power.

"If history were different,"

"If Qin Shi Huang had changed his stance, if Fusu had ascended to the throne, perhaps the Qin Dynasty could have lasted longer."

"But Qin Shi Huang despises the feudal enfeoffment system. What he wants is an empire ruled by imperial authority, not divided by feudal lords."

"And now that I am here, this matter will never come to pass." Zhao Feng smiled faintly, seeing through their schemes at a glance.

But

With so many officials standing in support of enfeoffment,

Qin Shi Huang swept a cold gaze over them before declaring, "The Qin Dynasty, upon this land, will never implement the feudal enfeoffment system."

"As long as I sit on this throne, it will not happen."

As soon as these words fell,

The faces of those advocating enfeoffment turned pale.

"Does Your Majesty intend to disregard ancestral traditions?"

"Feudal enfeoffment would stabilize the Qin Dynasty!"

"Moreover, by enfeoffing only imperial princes and banning foreign clans from gaining kingship, the Qin Empire will endure for eternity!" Chunyu Yue argued loudly.

"When the Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed its lands, chaos reigned for 800 years do you not see that?"

"You may say that only my sons would be enfeoffed, not outsiders."

"But over time, who can guarantee they will remain loyal?"

"Do you wish to see my descendants turn against one another?"

"Do you want this empire to be plunged into turmoil once more?"

Qin Shi Huang's voice thundered across the court,

A dominant, overwhelming presence filled the hall.

Under this pressure,

No one dared lift their heads to meet his gaze.

Chunyu Yue's face darkened, unable to find a rebuttal.

"Draft an edict."

"From this day forward"

"Anyone who proposes enfeoffment again will be executed immediately."

Qin Shi Huang waved his hand, his voice ice-cold.

With this decree, he completely eradicated any possibility of a feudal enfeoffment system.

Seeing this,

Chunyu Yue's confidence crumbled, and he withdrew in frustration. Those who had supported him quickly followed suit, not daring to speak further.

The imperial decree had been issued.

Who would dare challenge it?

Qin Shi Huang was ruthless

He would not hesitate to have them executed.

At this moment

Qin Shi Huang turned to Zhao Feng, who sat calmly beside him and smiled warmly.

"Feng'er."

"You have now begun to preside over the court as Crown Prince do you have any political proposals?"

The sudden shift in tone revealed the depth of his affection for Zhao Feng.

Under the watchful eyes of the court,

Zhao Feng slowly rose and responded, "Your Majesty."

Hearing him address him as 'Your Majesty,'

Qin Shi Huang's face lit up with joy.

"Hahaha!"

"Feng'er has finally called me 'Your Majesty'!"

"Excellent, excellent!"

"This means he has fully accepted his identity!"

"Later, I will have a ceremony arranged for him to formally acknowledge his ancestors at the imperial temple."

Qin Shi Huang laughed in his heart, overjoyed.

"Your son,"

"Does indeed have a proposal concerning the stability of the Qin Dynasty and its legacy for generations to come," Zhao Feng said.

"Speak, Feng'er," Qin Shi Huang urged with a smile.

"Standardization of carriage width, script, moral conduct, and measurement units," Zhao Feng proclaimed loudly.

Upon hearing these twelve words,

Every minister's expression shifted slightly.

They immediately understood the significance of this proposal.

If implemented, the Qin Empire would undergo an earth-shattering transformation.

Qin Shi Huang's expression changed slightly, then his face lit up with excitement.

"Feng'er, continue."

"Explain it in detail."

"Your father will fully support you."

At that moment,

Every official in the court clearly understood

Who was Zhao Zheng's son, and who was truly Qin Shi Huang's son?

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