This is perhaps an inevitable fate that every dynasty faces at its end.
The decline of many dynasties began with a pandemic.
【Although their decline has many underlying reasons, the root cause and the immediate cause are two different concepts.】
【In many cases, the occurrence of all things needs a trigger.】
【And the outbreak of a pandemic is a very good trigger.】
【As agricultural civilization reaches its peak, expansion is inevitably chosen.】
【And with expansion, naturally brings the pathogens that do not belong to the original ecological system.】
【This is probably the principle of "at the height of a flourishing era, its decline must follow."】
The pandemic began to thrive in the State of Qi.
The State of Qi was originally land of the State of Qin, but because of its own independence, it became independent.
The independence of the State of Qi at that time was largely due to the widespread epidemic and weak military defense in this area.
Now, the State of Qi has received its due recompense.
The epidemic began to thrive in the State of Qi, and this epidemic underwent mutation after spreading across the nine districts, presenting a very unusual phenomenon:
It has an extremely high mortality rate, but due to its excessively high mortality rate, it often disperses completely before it has time to spread.
Mangdang Mountain and Lake have experienced such an epidemic, but because the main production mode of Mangdang Mountain and Lake is collection and hunting, and the terrain is relatively complex, it is difficult to spread.
But in the Qi region, it's different.
The Qi region is flat, facilitating transportation, and it even occupies a highway that was originally used by the old Qin to traverse the entire territory, making transportation extremely developed.
The epidemic broke out here.
People seemed to have never even thought that such an epidemic could exist; it is very rare across the nine districts.
"The epidemic in the capital city was caused by the widespread and savage epidemic, which led to many deaths among the people. The suffering was unbearable. Patients experienced excruciating abdominal pain, persistent high fever, rashes on the skin, weak limbs, and restless nights. Although the imperial court sent medical help to treat them, the results were insignificant. Local doctors were also at a loss and could only pray for divine intervention. When people heard about it, they were terrified and fled as fast as possible."
This is the report of the court of Qi during the epidemic.
This epidemic seems to have started spreading from Qi, but no one knows when it began.
The Chu State declared the breaking of relations with Qi very early on, so there was no direct contact between the two sides.
It may be that fortune was on their side, so the Chu State escaped disaster.
But the Great Qin was different.
The Great Qin has always had trade relations with Qi, dealing in weapons.
The first outbreak of the epidemic in the Great Qin was a carriage carrying bows and arrows to sell in Qi.
The carriage carried about ten people, who were smuggling Qin bows into Qi.
The epidemic broke out in Qi after coming into contact with people in the market.
But the travelers didn't take it seriously, and on their way back, they were discovered by the officials at the checkpoint because of the putrid smell of the corpses.
The customs officers fell ill.
From then on, the epidemic began to spread.
The epidemic spread widely and far, infecting the entire nine districts.
The epidemic slowly shattered the military formations of the Great Qin.
The military formations are different from civilians, and small farmers have a highly self-sufficient economy, so there is no need for external exchanges, thus the epidemic can be contained.
But in the military formations, all are in groups.
The military formations quickly collapsed, and the emergency at the borders of the State of Qin became known to no one in the world.
In the court.
Zhao Pei'an looked at his mobile phone:
He knew that this was the follow-up impact brought about by his earlier, desperate attempt to prolong the life of the Great Qin.
The collapse of the Great Qin has begun.
On the phone, the model is vivid and lifelike:
......
In the court, it is Qin Shi Huang sitting.
Below the throne, Li Si was at the head, followed by civil and military officials.
The Great Qin has been holding successive court sessions recently, all because the epidemic in the Great Qin has been getting increasingly severe:
They must try to save the Great Qin's realm before the news spreads further.
Qin Shi Huang sits on the throne, a man of over seventy years old who is visibly aging.
All the civil and military officials can see that the morning court sessions with Emperor Qin Shi Huang may very well be his last.
He has even summoned the Prince Fu So back.
On the throne, Li Si has already turned grey.
This is the last court matter that this seventy-year-old man may have to do.
By the throne, Zhao Gao looks energetic.
He is still young.
He is in his forties. Having lived the same life of health and cultivation as Emperor Qin Shi Huang for many years, he does not show any signs of aging.
Li Si stands in front of the crowd, his voice still calm:
"Emperor, I still have three plans..."
"No need!"
Emperor Qin Shi Huang waves his hand.
The officials in the court can all see that his spirit is now vague.
Just now, Li Si offered at least four or more plans—
If including completely abandoning the epidemic-stricken areas as well, which includes quarantine hospitals, burning and purifying the infected areas, reinstating strict penalties, dividing epidemic-stricken areas, and other methods.
But these strategies are basically telling Emperor Qin Shi Huang repeatedly:
The Great Qin is over.
After the reforms of Li Si, the Great Qin had already become prosperous and flourishing.
At least, everyone has land to cultivate, and farmers no longer complain.
But—
Suddenly, a pandemic completely destroyed everything:
Now, the problem has once again been put forward in front of the Great Qin:
If the choice is to tackle the epidemic, it would be necessary to reinstate severe laws and penalties to ensure strong national organizational capabilities, but the ultimate result could be overthrown by people across the realm.
This is a conclusion that can be seen.
But if the choice is to continue using the new laws, the epidemic will be uncontrollable.
With the social control capabilities of an agrarian society, where imperial power does not reach the countryside, the final outcome would certainly be like this.
Now the problem is:
Should the Great Qin choose to seize this realm but let the people live or die on their own;
Or save the people but end up with a realm that is no longer under the Ying family?
The two can only choose one.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang, of course, wants his own realm:
Six generations of ancestors, the Ying family, have gradually transformed from a stable boy in the Western Zhou Dynasty to the master of the realm.
To hand over the realm like this would not not be laughed at by the world.
Doesn't it bring shame to the ancestors?
But Emperor Qin Shi Huang knows that if he said this, he would definitely be opposed by Li Si.
This time, no matter how good the elixirs are, they cannot save the Great Qin.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang looks at Li Si, who wants to speak but hesitates, and he remembers the idealistic young man again:
He really just wanted the realm to be a little better, didn't he?
It seems that Emperor Qin Shi Huang feels a bit sorry for him:
Li Si, from the moment Emperor Qin Shi Huang came to power, he had doubts about Li Si, until his later years, he realized that Li Si was indeed loyal to him.
Li Si can be said to treat Emperor Qin Shi Huang as a family member.
"Alright, let's just compensate Li Aiqin for it."
Even if he continues to govern with benevolence, what can it do?
Doesn't Ying Zheng know that with the current level of taxes, once he dies, whoever succeeds him, whether it be Fu Su or Huai Hai, will be overthrown in rebellion?
It's better to trust Li Si once, and compensate him as compensation.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang waves his hand, "Starting from today, the Prime Minister Li will be temporarily relieved of his duties."
