In the Imperial Concubine Palace!
The whole family was enjoying fine food.
anwhile, inside Xianyang City.
Dozens of express riders were spurring their horses out of Xianyang, command flags stuck in their backs, having set out directly from the Left Minister's Mansion.
Obviously.
This was a Holy Decree to be proclaid to the world.
As these dozens of express riders galloped out of Xianyang City.
Inside the Pri Minister's Mansion!
A few officials, under the protection of the Capital City Army, were heading toward the bustling marketplace of Xianyang.
"What great event has happened?"
"So many decree‑bearing cavalry?"
"Look, soone from the Pri Minister's Mansion has co out; looks like there's an edict to be read."
"Co on, let's go have a look."
"Sothing big must have happened, for sure."
"I'm coming too."
"With such a formation, we ought to go see."
"It's definitely so major affair."
...
Many curious commoners all followed along toward the marketplace.
Very soon.
Inside the bustling marketplace.
A raised platform.
This was precisely the place where the Imperial Court proclaid major decrees.
First to be announced in Xianyang.
As the officials from the Pri Minister's Mansion stepped onto the high platform, they were ringed by Capital City Army soldiers for protection.
"I, Cai Ci, Imperial Censor under the Pri Minister's Mansion."
"Receive the imperial command."
"To proclaim the Holy Decree."
"This matter concerns all the people under heaven of Qin, concerns all the commoners under heaven."
"Now."
"The First Emperor presides over the court, and the Crown Prince manages affairs."
"The Crown Prince, for the sake of the realm,."
"Has set down four national policies for Qin, that by these Qin and Huaxia may be eternally united and never decline."
"First, the standardization of carriage tracks: to fix the avenues and carriage roads of the realm, so that all comrcial traffic under heaven must follow the sa standards."
"Second, the standardization of script: since the days of Shang and the Zhou Dynasty, the characters of the realm have not been unified; the various countries and various clans each have their own writing. Though they sprang from one source, they have diverged too greatly. For Qin to truly unite as one, the script must be made the sa; only thus can governnt orders be carried out without error, and only thus can Qin safeguard prosperity for ten thousand generations."
"Third, the standardization of rites and ethics: among the various countries under heaven, within our Huaxia Ethnic Group there are many smaller clans. Though the clan nas differ, all are counted as Huaxia, of our sa bloodline. For the unity of the clan and the unification of the world, rites and ethics must be standardized, so that the world all practices the rites of our Huaxia, without division; customs and culture must be unified, also for the sake of unification, so that in days to co Qin will be hard to fragnt again."
"Fourth, weights and asures: the realm is vast. Grain is asured in 'shi', yet in forr days each country's 'one shi' differed in actual weight; systems for length differed, systems for volu differed even more. Qin will unify the systems of asurent, the weights and asures of the realm."
"These national policies are proposed by the Crown Prince."
"The First Emperor has already approved them."
"The four national policies shall be implented by four senior ministers above the Nine Ministers of Qin."
"By these, the realm shall be fixed, and the everlasting prosperity of Qin shall be firmly founded."
Cai Ci held the Holy Decree in his hand and read it out in a loud voice.
In this era, not everyone was literate.
Whenever an edict was issued, officials would read it aloud, so that all the people under heaven might know.
For every edict and Holy Decree proclaid to the world was bound to affect all under heaven, and naturally the commoners who ca to listen had to understand its contents.
And as they listened to Cai Ci's words.
Of the commoners gathered around, so understood clearly, while others still wore blank looks.
"Standardized carriage tracks? Standardized script, standardized rites, weights and asures!"
"The Crown Prince truly is sagacious, to be able to propose such national policies. If these policies are implented, Qin will completely take hold of the realm, not rely by the edge of the blade and the threat of armies."
"After these national policies are carried out, within ten years all the people under heaven will beco true People of Qin, with no more forr countries."
"I didn't expect that besides being invincible in leading troops to conquer, the Crown Prince is also so outstanding in understanding governance and in formulating policies for ruling the world. This truly commands admiration."
"These four national policies each touch on the very foundation of Qin, on Qin's eternal prosperity."
"The Crown Prince is sagacious; I'm convinced."
"Indeed."
"The First Emperor himself is wise and heroic, leading Qin to unify the realm. Now the Crown Prince has abilities no less than the First Emperor."
"Qin will surely endure for ten thousand generations."
"Exactly."
"With the First Emperor and the Crown Prince, Qin is bound to prosper forever."
"You lot say all that, sounds impressive, but why don't I understand a word?"
"What's this about standardized carriage tracks and standardized script? I can't read, I don't get it."
"Let explain it to you like this."
"Standardized carriage tracks ans that from now on the roads of Qin are to be built to the sa pattern; the specifications for roads across the realm are all to be unified."
"Standardized script ans abolishing the various countries' characters and newly drafting a script to be commonly used throughout Qin."
"Standardized rites ans that cultural customs will all be restored to our Huaxia People as one body."
"As for weights and asures, that ans systems for weight and length will all be unified."
"Now do you get it?"
"So that's how it is."
"The Crown Prince's national policies are formidable. If they succeed, Qin will be truly unified, never again to be split apart."
"That's why we were all so moved. Qin's national fortune is truly flourishing; Heaven favors Qin, allowing Qin to welco two enlightened sovereigns one after the other..."
As the Holy Decree was announced.
Countless commoners around began talking all at once.
Those with so learning naturally understood what implenting these four national policies would bring to Qin, and they felt even greater reverence for Zhao Feng, for with these policies he had displayed remarkable ability in governntal affairs.
For Qin, to have its future Emperor Qin Ershi be a man of administrative talent rather than a re Military Commander was nothing short of ideal.
Once these national policies were implented, Zhao Feng's prestige would reach an unimaginable height.
"The Crown Prince's prestige will reach an even more unimaginable level."
"With these four national policies, Qin will undergo earth‑shaking changes."
Looking at the countless commoners discussing below the platform, Cai Ci was extrely excited as well.
Soon after.
Cai Ci spoke again.
"In addition to the implentation of the four national policies."
"The Crown Prince has two further auxiliary policies to promulgate and implent throughout the realm, already approved by the First Emperor."
"First, to complete the unification of script for standardized writing, all books under heaven are to be collected into the Capital. After the new characters are devised, they are to be recopied and promoted throughout the realm."
"Second, to collect all the copper and iron under heaven, to confiscate all the weapons under heaven; commoners are not permitted to possess blades or weapons. Those who violate this order shall be severely punished..."
...
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