Chapter 924 Queen Yamatai Himiko

Chapter 924: 924 Queen Yamatai Himiko

Half a month later, outside the palace gates, Xu Shu, accompanied by guards, rode a bicycle towards the palace.

After showing their tokens, the guards checked them and let them pass.

Xu Shu passed through the heavy gates of the imperial city, through the long palace corridors, and finally arrived at Weiyang Palace.

The Han dynasty inherited the Qin system, but with much more humanity and human touch, no longer as rigid in its thinking.

The Qin dynasty also inherited the laws of the Han dynasty, but focused more on restraining powerful clans.

These powerful clans could not be completely eradicated, but they could be suppressed, and their absolute power would not be allowed to be abused.

The powerful clans were being dealt with one by one, land was being annexed, and the army was of paramount importance, not to be controlled by anyone.

The army needed absolute loyalty to the emperor, which also prevented powerful clans from turning against them.

Lu Ming yawned as he entered the study. Although the Qin dynasty had just been established, an unspoken rule already existed.

Hold small meetings for important matters, large meetings for minor matters, and closed-door meetings for exceptionally important matters.

"Small circles decide important matters; large meetings are for show."

"Meetings with many people are unimportant; important meetings have few people."

"Small issues are addressed in large meetings, big issues in small meetings; crucial issues are not addressed in meetings, and meetings are held for things that don’t solve problems."

The importance of a meeting is inversely proportional to the number and scope of participants.

Personnel appointments are always decided by the Nine Ministers sitting together, assessing who meets the requirements, whether there are any special instructions from the Emperor, and then engaging in political maneuvering.

Small matters are often addressed in large meetings by simply reading from prepared documents, a process that can last one or two hours.

With many participants, the meeting content often feels like empty talk and platitudes.

Why hold small meetings for important matters?

After all, only a few people play a decisive role.

Moreover, in small meetings, everyone can fully express their opinions and attitudes, clearly stating whether they agree or disagree.

Once these few people agree, others will not object. This is the advantage of centralized power; the head of a department wields absolute power.

"Your subject, Xu Shu, greets Your Majesty."

Xu Shu bowed respectfully to Lu Ming, enjoying the privilege of being exempt from kneeling.

"Alright, enough of this formality.

Speak, what is it?"

Lu Ming had just left Xu Shu’s mother’s palace; he hadn’t expected that Xu Shu would enter the palace so soon after he had favored her. What a coincidence.

"Your Majesty, Queen Himiko of Yamatai in Yingzhou requests an audience.

She wants our Great Qin to conquer the shogunate forces in Yingzhou and wipe out Yingzhou.

She is willing to make Yamatai a vassal state of Great Qin for eternity."

Xu Shu briefly recounted the events, wasting no time.

He understood the emperor’s style well: get straight to the point.

If the emperor didn’t initiate a casual conversation, then don’t waste words.

He knew this, and so did Prime Minister Jia Xu. Whether others knew it was hard to say, but they had certainly been scolded.

This piqued Lu Ming’s interest, and he stroked his beard.

He didn’t like having a beard, but many women suggested it would make him more attractive.

His mother had also personally persuaded him, always switching sides after her own mother had finished speaking.

"Yamatai?

Himiko?"

Lu Ming sat on the dragon throne, which was made of pure gold, though it wasn’t actually made of gold; he preferred a soft cushion.

"Take note of the strategy for Yingzhou."

Xu Shu took out a booklet and a pencil.

He found this much more convenient than calligraphy.

And this practice was followed by almost everyone in the Ministry of War.

The military camps were also implementing reforms and popularizing reading; those who were illiterate could not become officers.

This was a strict rule, and no one was exempt.

Even a troublemaker like Ma Chao had to obey, because if he wasn’t promoted, he really wasn’t; he had experienced firsthand the strict discipline of the military.

"Yingzhou consists of four islands. The people there have stole our Chinese culture, but have twisted and perverse it.

They have small courtesies but no great principles, they fear power but do not cherish virtue.

We should, like Goguryeo, support a portion of them for enslavement, plunder their resources to enrich our Qin state.

As for the Japanese pirates, there is no need for pity, but neither should we suppress them excessively.

Even dogs know to give them bones; you can figure that out yourselves."

"Women from Yingzhou can be chosen as wives for soldiers, and they will be dutiful."

Lu Ming spoke eloquently about his handling of the Japanese. The so-called elimination of the Shogunate was certain, but he would also support collaborators to exploit the Japanese.

The Japanese fear force, not reason; reasoning with them is like casting pearls before swine.

His will is the will of everyone.

As for choosing women, Xu Shu understood immediately.

The emperor chooses women; whether he plays with them or how he plays with them is not his concern.

"Your Majesty, I have memorized it."

Xu Shu nodded.

"Repeat it for me."

Lu Ming suddenly made a request.

Xu Shu answered without hesitation.

"Yingzhou consists of four islands. The customs of the people here are twisted and perverse, having stolen our Chinese culture."

"They possess petty courtesy but lack righteousness; they fear power but do not cherish virtue.

We should, like the Goguryeo, support a portion of them for enslavement, plunder their resources to enrich our Qin state.

As for the Japanese pirates, there is no need for pity, nor should we excessively suppress them.

Even dogs know to be given a bone; you can figure this out yourselves.

Women from Yingzhou can be chosen as wives for soldiers, and they should be dutiful."

"Good, proceed accordingly.

Summon Himiko to the palace. You will arrange the specific timing of the attack.

Also, discuss the arrangement of officials with the Prime Minister. Remember, I do not wish to see any instances of soldiers becoming too powerful. You and the Prime Minister must consider this.

Go, you will oversee the specific details."

Lu Ming finished speaking and began to dismiss them.

"Yes, Your Majesty." "

Xu Shu nodded and took his leave. He was busy too, and had grown accustomed to this.

His lord had always been like this; if he could ignore something, he certainly wouldn’t.

But he wasn’t like those Huang-Lao scholars who didn’t care about anything.

He would control the overall direction, but wouldn’t concern himself with the details, only looking at the results. He wouldn’t overstep his authority to give orders. Working for such an emperor was very comfortable.

After Xu Shu left, Lu Ming stroked his chin and called over Kim Hee-sun and Seo Jang-geum.

Generally speaking, concubines wouldn’t come to Weiyang Palace. This was where the emperor conducted his business; concubines in the harem didn’t interfere in court affairs—that was the rule.

The chaos caused by Empress Lü hundreds of years ago, and the Lü clan’s princes, were still fresh in everyone’s mind. Wu Zetian would later surpass her, but that just hadn’t happened yet."