I have a space station

“Lü Buwei, do you know your crime?”

After the court session, Ying Zheng summoned Lü Buwei to a side hall.

“Your Majesty, I am unaware!”

“Was the affair between the Empress Dowager and you spread by you?” Ying Zheng asked.

“?” Lü Buwei's heart skipped a beat.

Ying Zheng had known about this matter many years ago, yet he only brought it up now.

He had a bad feeling. With Lao Ai dead, his own end was likely near.

However, he deeply understood the ways of the court. He knew that the only way to save his life at this moment was to offer all his property and resign from his official position to return to his hometown.

Only in this way could he hope that Ying Zheng, remembering his hard work and great contributions, would spare his life.

“I confess my guilt! I beg you to consider my sincere loyalty and allow me to retire and return to my hometown,” Lü Buwei said, trembling as he knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground.

“Very well! Since Chancellor Lü has made up his mind, then I shall grant it.”

Lü Buwei's old home was in the State of Wei, but the State of Wei had already been destroyed. His current home was Luoyang, which was granted to him by Zichu.

Of course, it wasn't that Ying Zheng didn't want to kill him, but he couldn't kill him yet.

Lü Buwei had cultivated a wide network of influence in the court for many years. Executing him directly would cause many troubles.

After Lü Buwei was dismissed from his position as Chancellor, Ying Zheng issued the "Order of Expulsion".

A large-scale search was conducted throughout the country for officials from other states. This strategy was mainly to completely eliminate the remnants of Zoroastrianism and Lü Buwei's forces.

In particular, many low-level Zoroastrian followers, under the guise of contributing to the development of the Qin state, were secretly engaging in sabotage.

The issuance of this decree caused widespread panic among all those who came to the Qin state seeking development.

Li Si, being a protégé of Lü Buwei and a native of the State of Chu, was naturally on the list of those to be expelled. Unwilling to see his years of effort come to naught, he relied on his close relationship with Ying Zheng and, trembling with fear on the road to expulsion, wrote a memorial entitled "Admonition Against Expelling Guest Officials":

“In the past, Duke Mu of Qin employed Baili Xi and became a hegemon; Duke Xiao of Qin employed Shang Yang and the state became rich and powerful; King Huiwen of Qin employed Zhang Yi and broke up the alliance of the six states; King Zhaoxiang of Qin employed Fan Ju and enabled the Qin state to achieve imperial ambitions. All the kings of previous generations established their achievements by relying on guest officials. May I ask, where have these guest officials let down the Qin state? If these rulers had not accepted guest officials, how could the Qin state have become so wealthy and powerful today?”

“Therefore, Mount Tai does not reject soil, so it can become great; rivers and seas do not reject small streams, so they can become deep; a king does not reject the multitude, so he can manifest his virtue. Therefore, the land has no boundaries, the people have no foreign countries, the four seasons are abundant, and the gods bestow blessings. This is why the Five Emperors and Three Kings were invincible… … ”

Ying Zheng felt that he was a talented individual and summoned him back. However, the Order of Expulsion was not immediately revoked.

This purge lasted for nearly four years.

It must be said that one should read less of inspirational chicken soup.

Although Ying Zheng's decision to recall Li Si accelerated the unification of the six states, it ultimately led to his own tragic end. Even the direction of the entire Qin Empire was changed because of this.

After Li Si returned to Xianyang, in order to prove his worth, he advised Ying Zheng:

“Since the time of Duke Xiao of Qin, the Qin state has become increasingly powerful, while the other states have gradually weakened. Now the time is ripe, it is a great opportunity to unify the six states and complete the imperial enterprise, and we must not miss it.”

To this end, Li Si helped Ying Zheng formulate a series of major policies to unify the six states.

One of these was to bribe officials in various countries and send out a large number of spies. To disintegrate them from within, so that the various countries could not unite.

From this, it can be seen that Li Si's way of doing things was the same as Zhang Yi, Su Qin, and others. It can also be seen that Li Si's schemes were definitely inseparable from Guiguzi.

It must be said that Li Si's methods were stable in controlling the overall situation and deeply understood human nature.

Before long, King Jian of Qi came to the Qin state to pay his respects to King Ying Zheng of Qin.

The reason why it was said to be paying respects was because the Qi state's government was already controlled by his uncle, Lord Hou Sheng.

And Hou Sheng had been bribed by Qin spies with gold and silver treasures many years ago.

Since the State of Qi did not border the State of Qin, it adopted a strategy of befriending it.

After many years of management, King Jian of Qi had been completely fooled by his uncle, Hou Sheng.

During this meeting, Ying Zheng also stated that he would not take any military action against the State of Qi.

And if other countries invaded the State of Qi, he would also send troops to support it.

King Jian of Qi was very happy, thinking that he had made a good elder brother.

… …

Afterwards, Lü Buwei returned to his fief.

But the name of Chancellor Lü was not for nothing, and visitors still came in an endless stream.

However, the purge of guest officials had not yet ended, and Ying Zheng temporarily ignored him.

235 BC.

Qin suffered a severe drought.

Many hidden remnants of Zoroastrianism took the opportunity to engage in sabotage everywhere.

Ying Zheng mobilized his heavenly troops and suppressed them with thunderous force.

Since then, Zoroastrianism has completely disappeared within the borders of the Qin state.

Soon after, Ying Zheng issued a decree, revoking the "Order of Expulsion".