In the great hall of the Qin palace, the ministers fell silent. The First Emperor's face was covered in frost.
Meng Cheng realized his greatest mistake. He should not have considered the matter from a practical perspective, but from the emperor's.
But.
He was unwilling!
He was not merely a disciple of the Confucian School, but a descendant of the Meng Clan.
His ancestor Mengzi was a Confucian sage, ranked below the Two Sages Luo and Kong, and had even married a daughter of the Luo Clan's principal line.
Because Mengzi's teachings allowed too little regard for sovereigns, even within the Confucian School, many had gradually begun rejecting his doctrines after absorbing his teachings on righteousness.
Yet the Luo State Ruling House had supported them throughout.
When Qin State attacked Luo, he had wanted to die alongside Luo State.
But the Marquis of Luo had persuaded him to leave, saying that his extensive learning could greatly benefit the world, and that he should not die in vain in Zhao City.
He was a man whose state had fallen. He should have spent his remaining years deep in the mountains, writing books and expounding his teachings.
But for the sake of the realm and the Confucian School, he had still come to Xianyang to meet the First Emperor.
Facing the furious First Emperor, Meng Cheng showed no fear and declared, "Your Majesty.
"This commoner has a question.
"Do you wish to be the emperor of the Qin people?
"Or the emperor of all under heaven?"
The First Emperor paused, then said gravely, "Naturally, the emperor of all under heaven.
"Over a decade ago, I said, 'I am now the king of Qin State. In the future, I will be the king of all under heaven!'"
Meng Cheng immediately replied, "You were