preface
In 256 BC, during the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, when wars were still raging, a boy named Ying Zheng was born in the royal family of the Qin state. He is intelligent by nature, resourceful and decisive, and is destined to create a new world in troubled times.
At the age of 15, Huan Zheng was made crown prince of Qin and began to contact imperial politics. Early on experienced royal infighting and annexation wars between countries, suspicion and cruelty gradually accumulated in the character of the victorious government. He believed that only iron-blooded means could unify the six countries and achieve great unification.
In 221 BC, the 37-year-old Yuzheng eliminated the last rival, the State of Qi, completed the great cause of destroying the Six Kingdoms of Qin, and established the first centralized empire, the Qin Dynasty, and proclaimed himself the First Emperor of Qin. For a while, the land of Shenzhou was silent, as if they were trembling in awe for the emperor with amazing courage.
After the unification of the Six Kingdoms, Qin Shi Huang implemented a series of reforms to consolidate his rule, including unifying weights and measures, currency, and writing, building the Great Wall, and building roads that led directly to the whole country. His ability and boldness impressed the people up and down.
At that time, it was rumored that Qin Shi Huang was the son of Heaven's Mandate and was destined to calm the chaotic times and dominate Shenzhou. At first, Qin Shi Huang was also convinced, but the good times did not last long, and as he grew older, he gradually realized that he could not escape the limit of his life expectancy after all. So this king who had achieved miracles began to obsessed with the art of immortality.
Lu Sheng entered the palace, and his internal organs were slightly confused
In 210 BC, just 11 years after unifying the country, Qin Shi Huang summoned a fangshi surnamed Lu at the Yongcheng Palace. This Lu Sheng claimed that he had just returned from a trip to the East China Sea, had seen the Penglai Wonderland where the immortals lived, and brought back the secrets of the immortals.
Qin Shi Huang was greatly encouraged when he heard this, and immediately ordered people to prepare rich gifts and invited Lu Sheng to enter the palace to face the saint.
"Your Majesty, you are the True Dragon Heavenly Son of Fengtian Fortune, as long as you take the medicine of our immortal family, you will definitely be able to ascend to immortal!" Lu Sheng knelt in front of the hall and complimented.
Qin Shihuang was overjoyed and quickly asked about the effect of the medicine. Lu Sheng shook his head and told many beautiful legends, and the words were mysterious and confusing. After hearing this, Qin Shi Huang thought thoughtfully, and the idea of believing it had already arisen in his heart.
After that, Lu Sheng often went in and out of the palace and became one of Qin Shi Huang's most trusted Fangshi. His rumors and slanderous words gradually influenced Qin Shi Huang's decision-making.
"If Your Majesty wants to live forever, you can't let your subjects know your whereabouts." Lu Sheng spoke one day.
Qin Shi Huang hesitated for a moment, but still ordered the construction of a corridor outside Xianyang City that surrounded the palace for tens of miles. If a hundred officials want to see the driver, they must first pass through this intricate maze before they can be approved.
Since then, Qin Shi Huang's whereabouts have become extremely mysterious, and his subjects rarely see the holy driver. There were many omissions in the imperial government, and the people also said in private: "Your Majesty and a group of small eunuchs and female officials have an open feast in the deep palace and dormitory, and even indulge in the pleasure of the room, and it has been a long time since the imperial court listened to the government."
Fang Shi offered medicine, and the emperor's body was poisoned
In the spring of another year, Qin Shi Huang continued to pray for medicine in Huashan. Suddenly, a Taoist priest claiming to be an immortal from the South Sea came to meet him, claiming that he was willing to offer a precious elixir called "Yuanshui".
The immortal said flatteringly: "Your Majesty can take this medicine and you will be immortal." It also has an embalming effect, and the body can be preserved after death. ”
Qin Shi Huang was overjoyed and quickly asked, "But what are the taboos?"
The Taoist priest replied respectfully: "This medicine has extraordinary spiritual effects, and the only contraindication is that you should not have close contact with people for a few days after taking it."
When Qin Shihuang heard this, he immediately ordered someone to take a small silver bottle and personally put a few drops of transparent yuan water to drink.
Who knew that this so-called elixir was actually highly toxic mercury water! Since then, Qin Shi Huang's body has always seemed to be uncomfortable, and his mood ups and downs have become more and more strange.
The ministers of the DPRK and China were all talking in private: "Your Majesty, this is the poisonous scheme of the Taoist priest!" They know what kind of elixir they are, but they are trying to confuse the saint and seek benefits. However, His Majesty obeys their rumors and credulously believes in their elixirs, and there will be a big problem now!"
Fu Su said that father and son got along with each other
Qin Shi Huang's eldest son, Fusu Gongzi Xiaoming, was a wise crown prince. He saw the treacherous intentions of Lu Sheng and the fangshi in the early on, and repeatedly advised his father not to trust them.
Once, Fusu raised the matter again at a court meeting, imploring Qin Shi Huang to take back his life and stay away from these fangs.
However, instead of accepting the advice, Qin Shi Huang became furious, belittled Fusu on the spot, and sent him to guard the border.
Fusu could only leave in pain. He was still worried inside. Before leaving, he knelt in front of his father and said, "Father, the courtier's words are good, and they are also out of filial piety. I hope Your Majesty thinks twice!"
Qin Shi Huang had a cold face and left without looking back.
Since then, the wise prince has gradually drifted away from the core group of the Qin Dynasty. Fusu also had no chance to admonish this father who wanted to live forever.
Behind the curtain, the ministers lived in panic
As Qin Shi Huang grew older, his personality became more perverse and suspicious. Many ministers of the dynasty lived in trepidation, fearing that the slightest carelessness in their words and actions would anger the emperor, whom his subjects called "the Son of True Dragon Heaven".
Once, when Qin Shi Huang was inspecting Liangshan, he accidentally glimpsed Prime Minister Li Si's many cars and horses. He was furious, believing that this was a manifestation of Lees's contempt for imperial power.
Li Si, who learned of this, was so frightened that he immediately reduced his carriage by half to show humility.
However, in fact, it was someone who informed Qin Shi Huang of this matter, intending to create a gap between King Qi and Prime Minister Cheng.
When Qin Shi Huang learned the truth, he killed all his attendants in a fit of rage. Since then, the entourage and palace maids in the deep palace have been walking on thin ice, for fear that if they make mistakes in their words and deeds, they will invite the scourge of killing.
The mountains and rivers are broken, and it is difficult to let go of love and hate
In 210 BC, the 49-year-old Qin Shi Huang died suddenly during an eastern tour. Subsequently, his second grandson Huhai seized power, killed several princes, and proclaimed himself emperor.
Three years later, the peasant rebel army led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose, and the Qin Dynasty collapsed in a storm.
Although Qin Shi Huang did not live forever as he wished, the empire he created achieved a new milestone in Chinese civilization. As the first emperor, he left behind political, economic and cultural achievements that laid the basic model for China's feudal dynasty for more than 2,000 years.
However, it also left an irrefutable defeat. The demagoguery of the Fangshi, the poison of the elixir, and the trepidation of the courtiers all indicate that the momentum of this dynasty is declining.
History is just after all. The merits and deeds of Qin Shi Huang still need to be commented on by future generations. But his stubbornness of not being willing to accept the end of his life may be the common weakness of every person with big ambitions.
As the historian Wang Guowei said: "Since ancient times, heroes are like beauties, and they are not allowed to see white heads in the world."
Qin Shi Huang had ups and downs in his life, and in the end he did not escape his fate as a mortal. However, his pioneering governance of this land of God has achieved a new era of civilization. This is the most precious historical treasure he left us.
epilogue
Life is only once, and each of us should not spend it in an ethereal dream like Qin Shi Huang. Instead, love every day of your life and cherish the time you have in front of you and your loved ones.
Because history can be glorious, it can be tragic, it can be hard to let go, but it will always go on. And each of us can only have one life.