vstars Chapter 273 The Plan of Shusun Tong and Others
Chapter 273 The Plan of Shusun Tong and Others
The servant obeyed the order and, carrying the letters, tirelessly traveled through the streets and alleys. Following the steward's instructions, he visited each household. When the officials who received the letters unfolded them and their eyes fell upon the contents written by Chunyu Yue, their eyes lit up.
Chunyu Yue's letter was concise and clear, yet it contained profound meaning. The core message of the letter was only a few words long, but its general meaning was that he earnestly requested his friends to lend a helping hand in assisting Prince Fusu to be established as the crown prince.
For these people, although they didn't have much say or influence in the court, if they could perform the service of supporting the emperor, the situation would be completely different! After all, who wouldn't want to rise through the ranks and climb the ladder of success? Therefore, the first person to bravely step forward, even if their action ultimately failed, would surely leave a deep impression on Prince Fusu. When Prince Fusu successfully ascended the throne in the future, he would naturally receive all sorts of benefits. Thinking of this, these people's hearts burned with a fervor.
Meanwhile, Shusun Tong tirelessly traveled between the residences of several censors, quickly persuading several to participate in the matter with his silver tongue. However, not everyone was without reservations. One censor named Wu Yanli couldn't help but ask, "The current king has always been quite resistant to our Confucian doctrines. Will he truly listen to and adopt our opinions?"
Faced with such doubts, Shusun Tong's eyes were unwavering, and he responded without hesitation: "It's all up to human effort! As long as we work together and go all out, success is not impossible!"
He then added, “Although Your Majesty values Legalism, you also know that governing such a vast empire requires drawing on the strengths of many schools of thought. We can cite classical texts to explain the complementary relationship between Confucianism’s ideas of ‘benevolent governance’ and ‘people-oriented governance’ and Legalism’s ‘rule of law’. We can also mention Prince Fusu’s reputation among the people, so that Your Majesty understands that making Fusu the crown prince is an act that conforms to the will of the people.”
Upon hearing Shusun Tong's words, Wu Yanli frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. After a moment, he raised his head, looked at Shusun Tong with a firm gaze, and slowly said, "Brother Shusun, what you say is indeed not without reason. However, when it comes to offering advice, I still hope to be the first to step forward."
Faced with Wu Yanli's request, Shusun Tong showed a hint of embarrassment. After a short silence, Shusun Tong finally broke the silence and said softly, "I'm really sorry, Lord Wu. Actually, there are quite a few people like you who want to be the first to raise this issue. Among the officials I just visited, they all had the same idea."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yanli showed no surprise or astonishment. Instead, he smiled slightly and calmly replied, "That's only natural. After all, if this remonstrance succeeds, the person who first brought it up will undoubtedly reap many benefits. However, this matter is no child's play and must be handled with utmost caution. If anything goes wrong, not only will our own lives be in danger, but it might even implicate Prince Fusu."
Having said that, Wu Yanli strolled to the table, gently picked up a brush, and carefully dipped it in ink. Then, he lightly placed the brush tip on the bamboo slips and began to write diligently. As he wrote, he muttered to himself, “First, we must clearly outline our entire thought process, and carefully consider each word we use in our remonstrance. We might begin by recounting the King's illustrious achievements, fully affirming his great talent and exceptional wisdom. Then, we can point out the various hidden dangers and potential problems in a more tactful and subtle way. In this way, we should be able to get the King to accept our opinions without provoking his resentment or anger.”
Seeing Wu Yanli's earnest and focused expression as he meticulously analyzed every detail, Shusun Tong couldn't help but ponder. After careful consideration, Shusun Tong decided that it wouldn't be unreasonable to have Wu Yanli be the first to raise the issue of establishing an heir. Therefore, Shusun Tong calmed himself down and listened attentively to Wu Yanli's various ideas.
Wu Yanli would sometimes cite numerous classic allusions to support his points, and at other times, he would offer novel and unique insights. Shusun Tong listened intently, nodding in agreement and occasionally interjecting with a key comment. The two worked together diligently, striving to persuade the King of Qin with emotion without offending his imperial dignity, thus ensuring that Prince Fusu could be rightfully appointed as Crown Prince.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and before they knew it, the study was piled high with bamboo slips covered in dense writing. Meanwhile, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the inky twilight descended like a giant curtain, enveloping the entire city of Xianyang.
Seeing this, Wu Yanli slowly stood up, walked lightly to the desk, and gently lit the candle in the study. In an instant, the dim, flickering candlelight danced in the darkness like leaping sprites, illuminating two slightly tired but exceptionally resolute faces.
Wu Yanli gazed at the faint, warm candlelight before him, his eyes filled with earnest anticipation, and said slowly, "Brother Shusun, if this remonstrance can ultimately succeed, it will be a great blessing for our Great Qin; and an even greater boon for the people of the world!"
Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong gently patted Wu Yanli's shoulder, comforting him, "Success or failure hinges on this crucial gamble. Now that we've made up our minds, let's go for it! We must give it our all to make the most of this opportunity!"
The two then engaged in a deep and lengthy discussion about numerous details. Time passed slowly, and before they knew it, night had fallen and all was quiet. Late into the night, they reluctantly ended their long discussion and slowly left, each dragging their weary bodies away.
In the stillness of the night, Chunyu Yue lay quietly on his bed, his gaze fixed on the cold moon hanging high in the sky through the window. Moonlight, like water, bathed him, as if draping him in a veil of silver frost. His thoughts surged like a turbulent tide, and he silently prayed that their plan would succeed, thus finding a glimmer of hope for the future of the Qin Empire.
Meanwhile, Shusun Tong, Wu Yanli, and several other officials who learned of the news also remained awake. Some sat alone in their studies, others paced the courtyard, repeatedly rehearsing and deliberating the entire plan in their minds. Every step and every detail was carefully considered, for fear of any oversight or deviation. Everyone waited with a mixture of tension and anticipation for the dawn to break and the new day to begin.