Chapter 919: The Three Emperors of Qin

ate his son properly. I am ashamed of Your Majesty and Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to grant the old minister permission to retire back home and spend my remaining years in peace. All I ask is f...Chapter 919: Three Emperors of Qin

However, the world praises Emperor Wu for establishing a powerful reputation for the Great Qin Empire since the founding emperor, and Emperor Wen for his 30 years of peace and prosperity. Yet, people are unaware that Emperor Jingren, who reigned between Emperors Wu and Wen, faced an empty treasury and impoverished populace at the beginning of his reign due to years of constant warfare. Moreover, he inherited a nation where everyone was forced into military service, engaged in perpetual war.

"During the reign of Emperor Jingzong, which lasted fifteen years, he not only restored civilian life and cleaned up the mess left by Emperor Wu but also ensured a surplus of thirty million taels of silver in the treasury when he passed the throne to Emperor Wen. With such a solid foundation, it was not difficult for Emperor Wen to establish the prosperous era of Wen He."

It can even be said that Wen and Shengshi owe half their success to Emperor Jingzong.

Li Chen listened and nodded in agreement.

In fact, many emperors praised by later generations may not have earned all their achievements.

For example, in ancient China before Li Chen's time travel, Emperor Wu of Han was powerful, but he could fight the heavens and the earth because he had a solid foundation built by his grandfather and father during the peaceful reigns of Wenjing. Otherwise, without money, how could he have fought any wars

While Emperor Wu of Han fought his entire life, he did establish the prestige of the Han Dynasty. However, he also emptied the Han treasury.

Another Kangxi-era flourishing period, if there wasn't an Emperor Yongzheng in the middle, it would have been over. Especially Qianlong, he was simply a spendthrift emperor, utterly useless, just enjoying the wealth accumulated by his grandfather and father.

Li Chen asked, "You said before that there were three emperors who could be described as prodigies. You've mentioned two, so who is the third"

The man let out a hearty laugh and said, "If the prince is willing to have a detailed conversation with me, perhaps we should find a more suitable place to chat slowly This place is where former emperors rest, and it would be disrespectful to disturb them."

"Very good."

Li Chen nodded in agreement, feeling even more curious about this extraordinary middle-aged man with his noble bearing and impressive conversation and knowledge.

Nevertheless, he still dutifully performed the rituals of offering incense to the ancestors of past emperors. After completing his incense offerings, he stood up and left the main hall of the Taimiao temple along with the middle-aged man, one after the other.

Outside, Su Zheting didn't know where to go.

Li Chen didn't mind, and he went with the man to a pavilion by the Yu Dai River. There they began to talk.

I have heard that the current crown prince is talented and intelligent, with the bearing of a wise ruler.

A man's opening line is a compliment.

Li Chen smiled and said, "That sounds very fake. Outside people say that I am a benevolent ruler, even if I don't show any signs of cruelty or bloodshed. They also praise my great talents and ambition. Saying that I have the potential to be a tyrant is more realistic, right"

The man seemed quite surprised by Li Chen's reaction and burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, he said earnestly: "For the current state of affairs, what the Qin Empire truly needs is an iron-fisted king. Compared to them, benevolent and wise rulers are only suitable for prosperous times, but they are incapable of saving a crumbling empire."

Li Chen said calmly, "You haven't told me who the third king you spoke of is"

The man said with a half-smile, "Your Highness is concerned"

"That's natural. Your previous evaluation of Emperor Jingzong impressed me greatly, so to speak, it seems the third emperor you mentioned is definitely not an ordinary monarch." Li Chen replied earnestly.

The man turned his head towards the direction of the palace. His tone was tinged with melancholy, but mostly with admiration and awe. He spoke in a soft voice: "This third one, is the current emperor, Emperor Taishang." stood in front of Gong Huiyu."I can hold for thirty breaths!" Gong Huiyu stubbornly said."What is the meaning"Li Chen asked, "If it's three hours, I can still run. Thirty breaths, I can't even run. F...