I transmigrated into the body of an orphan from Zhao, and the first thing I saw when I awoke in a mass grave was the future First Emperor.
“What can you do for me?”
“Does Your Majesty know that paper can replace bamboo slips, salt can remove bitterness, and the imperial examinations can replace hereditary aristocrats?”
Ten years later, I helped Qin’s armies sweep across the Six States, managed their provisions, developed gunpowder, and championed the imperial examinations.
The court accused me of wielding power over the realm, while the surviving people of the Six States wanted nothing more than to grind my bones to dust.
On the day the King of Qin became emperor, the officials urged him to bury all Confucian scholars alive.
I stopped the order in open court. “Your Majesty, unification depends on winning the people’s hearts!”
He rose with his sword in hand. “You hold the secret formula for gunpowder and have won over scholars from humble families across the realm. And you still dare defy me today?”
“Your Majesty suspects me.” I raised my head and loosened my robe. “Then please take my heart with your own hands.”
Outside the hall, heavy snow smothered the city. Inside, the officials held their breath as his icy blade parted the bamboo-paper booklet at my chest.
“You mean to give the people of this realm a future. How could you die today?”
