Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Ying Zheng dies suddenly, Zhao Gao gains power
Li Si is a man with good handwriting, and he can be regarded as the originator of Chinese calligraphy.He developed Xiaozhuan, and also wrote a copybook "Cangjie Pian", which is full of Xiaozhuan, for scholars and people to learn, and to unify the languages of the six countries.Xiaozhuan became the official language of the Qin Dynasty, and it is still used in seals today.
The most revolutionary feature of Xiaozhuan is its "exquisite square and circle" - the ancient characters of the six countries in the past were twisted and crooked, punched and kicked, long in the east and short in the west, big and small, like tadpoles.Only starting from Li Si Xiaozhuan, it formed a square shape in the modern sense.As a result, Li Si became the master of Xiaozhuan calligraphy.Du Fu has a poem that says: "Kuang Chao's Xiaozhuan compels the Prime Minister of Qin, and the fast sword and long halberd face each other", which means that Brother Li Chao's seal script is approaching Mr. Li Si. , showing the fierceness of the pre-Qin people.
However, the ancient characters of the Six Kingdoms, which were punched, kicked, crooked, did not become extinct because Li Si created the "square characters" Xiaozhuan, and their brushwork was inherited by another person, forming the so-called official script.This was a small civil servant in the Qin government at that time, named Cheng Miao. This guy liked to describe, so he sublimated the ancient characters of the six countries of the punching and kicking school into official script, which competed with Li Si's Xiaozhuan and complemented each other.Xiaozhuan is exquisite in square and round, emphasizing the static beauty of square symmetry, while official script has no uniform outline, emphasizing the dynamic rhythm beauty of twists and turns.
Since then, Xiaozhuan has become the writing style of official official documents, and Lishu has become the writing style of daily writing, just like using Lishu when writing a diary or blog, and writing Xiaozhuan when writing an inscription for a newly opened restaurant.
Mount Tai is the general office of God in the world. In 219 BC, Li Si accompanied Qin Shihuang to come here, and set up a stone carving of Mount Tai, praising the great achievements of the old Qin.There are 147 characters engraved on three sides of the stone. They are all Li Si's small seal characters.In the Song Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu and Zhao Mingcheng collected the rubbings of the engraved stone, but only forty-seven characters survived.In the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, only twenty-nine characters remained.Later, the stone was simply burned by fire, and the burnt remnants disappeared.Later, someone found two remnant stones in Yunvchi in Mount Tai, with only ten characters on them, so they kept them in Dai Temple in Mount Tai, and built a pavilion to protect them out of the reach of bad guys.But when I was making the pavilion, I accidentally lost another character, so now there are only nine characters left.well!
Similar stone inscriptions have also been found in other places, and there is a word "Germany" on it, which shows that Qin Shihuang also talked about "virtue".The so-called "virtue" means virtuous government, lenient government and less punishment.It is usually said that Qin Shihuang is "cruel and tyrannical", as if he was about to kill someone in a blink of an eye, but I think there is no need to think so.When Li Si was about to die later, he wrote a letter from prison, stating that he had seven crimes, all of which were actually seven merits. , Die without forgetting. There are seven crimes.” This “crime” is immediately followed by the previous “crime” of unified weights and measures, all of which are meritorious.
This is a very important piece of material, which shows that after the unification of Qin Dynasty, the benevolent policy of "probation of punishment and thin taxation" was implemented, and Li Si listed it as one of the reasons (merit) for surviving in prison.
"Punishment with probation, less taxation" This is probably the virtue mentioned on the Mount Tai stone inscriptions, and it also belongs to typical Confucianism.Jiao, the number one scholar of the Ming Dynasty, said: "Qin did not use Confucian scholars and Confucian classics (referring to Confucianism)." .
As an emperor, the most intuitive understanding of the so-called cruelty is to kill people indiscriminately.However, the laws of Qin Shihuang's era were not harsh (it was Qin II who revised the law to become cool), and he never abused the people, let alone killing people for fun.Although later generations said that Qin Shihuang was brutal, they couldn't name even one minister who Qin Shihuang killed indiscriminately.He has always trusted Wang Wan, Li Si, Feng Quji, Wei Liao, Feng Jie, Wang Jian, Wang Ben, Meng Tian, Meng Yi, and Li Xin as important officials, and he has never changed (these people don't care about martial arts, in terms of personal ability, Each is a unique talent in the world).
In contrast, King Qin Zhao once killed the famous general Bai Qi and the famous prime minister Fan Ju; Zhu Yuanzhang killed Lan Yu, Hu Weiyong, Xu Da and other great heroes, no matter whether these killings were justified or not, they were all heart-rending "tiredness of holiness". In addition to killing Lu Buwei when he was young, Qin Shihuang did not kill Lu Buwei. No more ministers were killed.If Qin Shihuang is regarded as cruel, then the other famous emperors mentioned above are even more cruel.
We have reason to believe that, as a legalist figure, all actions of Qin Shihuang should be done according to the law, and he would not kill indiscriminately.Not only was there no indiscriminate killing of ministers, but there was also no record of indiscriminate killing of civilians.On the contrary, he once dispatched "those who govern prison officials with injustice" (those who adjudicate cases and sentence people unfairly and abuse punishment) to repair the Great Wall.In short, Qin Shihuang cannot simply be nailed with cruel words.
If you have to use derogatory terms to describe Qin Shihuang, I think "impatient and independent" is enough. "Impatience" means that he was eager to make achievements and develop projects, which made the people miserable and went into exile; The big and the small all depend on the top." The ministers became decorations.
That's all.
The so-called bad things Qin Shihuang did were nothing but cannon fodder for future generations of emperors on the road created by imperial autocracy.
No matter what the world says, in 210 BC, after shooting a big fish with an "ancient cannon" on the coast of Shandong, Qin Shihuang, a controversial figure in history, still fell ill.
Qin Shihuang was on his way back to the mainland westward, and his condition began to deteriorate.At this time, the state of the empire was no better than his condition.In the past, he was besieged by bandits in Xianyang, and he was hit by Zhang Liang's mortars once. He should be able to feel a kind of restlessness in the world through these channels.
But Qin Shihuang still has a chance to turn things around, and that is to appoint his eldest son Fusu, who has always been at odds with him politically, as his successor.Fusu is a more virtuous person, even the common people know it.Fusu opposed Qin Shihuang's impatience in governing the country, and he made several admonitions.For this reason, Qin Shihuang sent this crow's mouth to the north to follow Meng Tian to fight the Huns.
Now, if the son Fusu is selected as his successor, after he ascends the throne in the future, Fusu will inevitably correct Qin Shihuang's mistakes in governing: slow down the projects under construction, and withdraw some soldiers from the north and south (anyway, these soldiers and horses are in the north and south, and the GDP is very small. There is not much money to expand the frontier in low places, and the gains outweigh the losses), and at the same time open up the way of speech, allowing people to raise opinions and participate in political affairs, and have flexibility in the transition from the enfeoffment system to the imperial autocratic ideology and social structure, then after these fruitful efforts With adjustments, the tense social conflicts in the last years of Qin Shihuang's last years can also be brightened, and the spring will be the second time.
Therefore, Qin Shihuang decided to make Fusu his successor when his life was dying.This is like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's fashionable "crime edict" to stop the wrong political platform that exhausted the power of the people, so as to restore the dangerous trend of the dynasty.
It is a pity that history always goes in the direction of chaos, as if the entropy value in the universe is not large enough.The appearance of Zhongshuling Zhao Gao interrupted the extravagant dream of the Qin Dynasty for a second spring.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said such a meaningful sentence in his later years. He said: "The common affairs of the Han family were created at the beginning, and the barbarians invaded China. If future generations follow what I did, it will be a trace of attacking and destroying Qin."——It can be seen that he also knows that his hard work and fighting will endanger the fate of the empire, but he has no choice but to do so. Everyone gets what they want.In his later years, Qin Shihuang did not have such thoughts, and this is the reason why he decided to pass on the throne to Fusu, who disagreed with his political views.He insisted on his own political views, so he didn't need to support the Soviet Union when he was in office, but he hoped that in the next government, he would implement the policy of supporting the Soviet Union.However, the social contradictions faced by Qin Shihuang were greater than those faced by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In addition to making great achievements and laboring people and wasting money-this is the same as the problem faced by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. .And this is something that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not need to face.It was the latter who defeated the Qin Dynasty in the end.
Qin Shihuang's condition worsened rapidly, and he stopped at the sand dunes in Hebei Province less than half of his journey, because he really didn't have the strength to go on.
Sand dunes are actually a beautiful place.I took a detour to see it the other day.It used to be an ancient garden of King Zhou of Shang Dynasty, located in Pingxiang County, Handan, at the southern tip of Hebei Province. King Zhou of Shang once ordered men and women to run naked there.Later, on the basis of King Zhou's Yuantai ruins, King Wuling of Zhao built a building, a flowing water garden, as a base for cadres to recuperate and hold meetings, and starved to death there.This is a place that is beautiful as hell.One hundred years after the death of King Zhao Wuling, Qin Shihuang also came here admiringly with a dying illness.
I once drove around Pingxiang County for half a day, but I didn't see any sand dunes, and there were no remains of garden terraces. I only felt that the spring wind was blowing thin dry soil, and the sparse wheat on the Great Plains The seedlings rolled in and flew to the car window.The old peasants outside the car window wrapped their foreheads with white towels as if they could not bear the blows of the wind and dust.I thought, going out to run naked in this little wind and sand would definitely make my ass dirty.
The sand dunes more than 2,000 years ago may be very good, at least there are some separate palaces where Qin Shihuang can stay.
Zhao Gao appeared at this time.
Zhao Gao was dressed in a special way, with a small knife hanging on his belt—it was called a sharp knife, which represented that he was an intellectual. Whenever the emperor had any wishes, he would take out a wooden board and write them down respectfully with a brush.If you make a mistake, take a knife to cut it out and rewrite it—this is probably the origin of the word knife pen official.The small stone for sharpening the knife is called "sharp", which is also hung on his waist.But the writing brush is usually inserted next to the right ear.
Qin Shihuang asked Zhao Gao to come and write.Zhao Gao's handwriting is good, and he has published a copybook called "Yuan Li Pian". Like Li Si's copybook, it is a sample of Xiaozhuan for basic education in the country.
There are inkstones on the table of the sick bed.There were already inkstones at that time, and there were inkstones in Efang Palace.At present, there is an inkstone of Efang Palace discovered in Japan, which is said to have been brought by Xu Fu.There was ink floating in the inkstone, Zhao Gao dipped the brush in his hand, and dictated Qin Shihuang's words: "I'm about to die, I order, young master Fusu, temporarily hand over the military affairs to Meng Tian, come to Xianyang for the burial, and bury me..."
Zhao Gao dictated, according to the custom at that time, it was written on a wooden board, called "Diao".This slip is a wooden board with a square of one or two feet (so chi slip means letter).
Zhao Gao's writing on the slips was a bit slow, women drew small seal characters like thrushes, and it took a long time to describe each character.Qin Shihuang said: "Hurry up and write - I'm still waiting to die!" Zhao Gao quickly switched to official script, which was much faster.
After the letter is written, it is necessary to dip the official seal in ink and cover it.
In the late Warring States period, ink pads began to be available, so Zhao Gao could dip them in ink pads and cover them on wooden boards.This is the earliest printing press.The official seal used by Zhao Gao is unusual, it is made of jade.In the past, as long as the common people had money, they could use jade to make seals. Now Qin Shihuang has made a new rule that only the emperor can use jade.Princes, generals and ministers mostly use gold seals.The so-called "carrying gold and hanging purple, bowing before the master" means carrying a golden official seal on one's chest, and a purple seal hanging from the waist - like the chain of a BP machine, this is a very high official, such as Wang Li (Wu Marquis of Cheng) and Li Si (Marquis of Tong) carried such gold seals.
The silver seal and cyan tie are at the level of Jiuqing. For example, Zhang Han, the Shaofu of Jiuqing, should be the silver seal and green ribbon.And the emperor is the biggest, it is the jade seal (jade seal) and the red tie, which are incomparable.
After the letter was written, the jade seal was stamped on it.Then clamp the outside of the slip with two upper and lower wooden boards. In order to prevent the postman from dismantling it privately on the road, the outside of the wooden boards is tied crosswise with silk ropes, and sealing mud is pressed on the knotted parts of the ropes.After the seal was pressed up, according to the common practice at that time, Zhao Gao took out the tie of the seal from his waist, held the jade seal at one end of the belt, and buckled another seal on the seal - this is absolutely safe and absolutely confidential.
Seeing that everything was safe, Qin Shihuang died happily.The 50-year-old first emperor of China, the first generation of heroes who truly unified the vast land of China into an empire, who made great contributions to the five emperors, marshes, cattle and horses, and Mr. Qin Shihuang, who was all subjects wherever he went, was finally in Hebei. In the Li Palace in the sand dunes, he died, leaving behind a precarious dynasty and a group of ministers who looked at each other in dismay.
With Qin Shihuang's soul gone, how should we evaluate him?Whether it is "impatient, independent" or "cruel", no more rambling.Interestingly, the evaluation of Qin Shihuang by Confucian scholars in the past dynasties is not static.Generally speaking, before the Tang Dynasty, Qin Shihuang was generally said to be relatively poor. After the Tang Dynasty, intellectuals, starting from Liu Zongyuan, spoke of Qin Shihuang better, and the more modern the better, until the "eternal emperor and one emperor" began to appear. "The beautiful posthumous posthumous title.
Zhao Gao's official position is "the order of the CRRC government to carry out the seal affairs", so the jade seal is hung around his waist as a treasure.He took the secret letter back to Hu Hai's office, and broke the sealing mud on the wooden rope with his hands. Hu Hai hurriedly shouted: "Oh my God! Teacher Zhao! You are going to commit a crime! How dare you use your power to pinch it?" Broken?!"
Zhao Gao said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. This is my hobby. I like to open the letter the most. After opening the letter, take a look, and then seal it. It is most beneficial to physical and mental health. Anyway, I have a jade seal. Just cover the seal with the jade seal again, and that's it."
After Zhao Gao showed the letter to Hu Hai, Hu Hai said in a daze, "It makes sense. My father made Fusu his successor. It's a matter of course. There's no better way to know a son than a father, and no way to know a minister like a king. My father let him take over, and we What is there to say!"
Zhao Gao said: "Otherwise, the power of the world is now in your hands. I just need to change the content of the letter, let you take over, and then re-seal the seal, the world is your world."
"However, as a younger brother, it is unrighteous for me to compete with my elder brother for the seat. My father is dead, and I tamper with my father's will, which is unfilial. I am average, but my talents are weak, and I am incompetent if I force myself to be the emperor! Those who rebel against morality will not accept it!" Hu Hai's ability to say these words shows that his usual education is not all the Legalist theory of rewards and punishments for profit. There was a clank in his words, and these three characters were all the core concepts of Confucianism.The Qin Dynasty's education for noble children also contained Confucianism.
"Hehe," Zhao Gao said, "How can controlling people and being controlled by others be the same day (kowtowing to others and letting others kowtow to you, the body feels different)." Then Zhao Gao gave an example to educate Hu Hai: "Shang Tang and King Wu of Zhou killed their masters, but the world praised them for being righteous (meaning that you are righteous if you snatch your brother's seat! Here Zhao Gao compares Fusu to Jie and Zhou). As for the filial piety you mentioned, the king of Wei State killed him Dad, Confucius still recognized him, and didn't say he was unfilial. Don't hesitate!"
Hu Hai saw that Zhao Gao moved Confucius out, as if Confucius was in favor of disobeying his father (of course, this view was deliberately given to Confucius by Zhao Gao), so the brain cells began to run short.Do you want to rebel against your elder brother? Do you want to go against your father's dying wishes?After exhausting many brain cells, Hu Hai finally sighed and agreed.But he said: "Now my father's body is still there, and the funeral has not been held, so it started to make trouble, isn't it good."
This child is really filial enough, and he knows to wait for his father to settle down before pinching his brother.Respectable!
Not only Hu Hai was filial, but Fusu was even more filial—the Qin Dynasty emphasized filial piety very much. In the bamboo slips of the Qin decree unearthed in Yunmeng, the same crime of fighting, if it was committed by children against their parents, would be severely punished.This shows that for "filial piety", Lao Qin repeated and repeatedly emphasized.So, when Fusu saw his father sending a letter to let him die, he said, "What can I say if my father told me to die?" Without saying a word, he immediately committed suicide.This is the result of the Qin Dynasty's "construction of filial piety" and its vigorous implementation.In the past, I only knew that "My Great Qing" ruled the world with filial piety, but in fact Qin did too.And filial piety is something of Confucianism.Qin also used some Confucianism.
Zhao Gao said: "The time is almost the time, there is no time to plan." It means, don't wait any longer to settle your father's body, you have to act now, time waits for no one.
How to act?Zhao Gao turned around and went out.
Zhao Gao went to Li Si, because this matter could not be done without the assistance of the prime minister.Suppose Prime Minister Li Si sent a letter to Fusu, exposing Zhao Gao's conspiracy to smash the seal and tamper with the imperial edict.Fu Su was convinced, knowing that the edict was false, he would no longer obey the edict and commit suicide, while Zhao Gao had to commit suicide in fear of crime.Zhao Gaoruo did not commit suicide, but according to Xianyang, Hu Hai was crowned emperor, and Fusu brought the frontier guards to kill him, and punished Zhao Gaoru for killing chickens.
There are various indications that Confucianism still influenced, infiltrated, and applied to the minds of the Qin ruling class to varying degrees.
Finally, let's talk about sealing mud.
The first emperor's testament letter was bound with a beautiful silk rope, with lovely sealing mud on the silk, and a precious jade seal affixed on it.This kind of clay seal, stamped with the official seal, is a very interesting antique, and now there are people collecting it, and it is not expensive, only a few hundred yuan each.But if it was the clay seal on this Qin Shihuang's treasured will letter, it might be worth millions.But don't worry, no one can make this fortune, because it has been crushed by Zhao Gao.
The Qin Dynasty was short-lived, and it is recognized that there are only about ten pieces of sealing clay in the Qin Dynasty, but in Qin Shihuang's office (near Zhangtai), a guy named Lu Dongzhi got more than a thousand sealing clay at once.All of a sudden.And these seals were used by Qin Shihuang himself.We know that Qin Shihuang was very diligent. He read 120 catties of memorials a day, and each bamboo slip had to be sealed in advance. Therefore, a large number of seals similar to today's waste envelopes or stamps were found near his office. The imprints of high-level officials such as "Prime Minister's Seal", "Left Prime Minister's Seal", and "Right Prime Minister's Seal".Moreover, as if to make it easier for future generations to collect, these clay seals have not been crushed, but carefully cut the silk ropes on both sides of the seal clay with a knife and scissors when disassembling, so they are intact.
We would like to pay our sincere respect to the hard-working Mr. Qin Shihuang with these precious sealing clay from two thousand or two hundred years ago.
How is the night?The night is still young, the light of the courtyard burns.
The palaces outside the sand dunes are all built on platforms, which are high.Entering from the palace gate (palace gate) on the platform, there is an empty court, which is very high (because it is on the platform).
In the court, firewood was lit left and right.This is Ting Liao.Standing in the court, looking into the distance by the light of the fire, the lonely land is cool and starry at night.
Zhao Gao walked through the swaying red court - this court, if it is for ordinary people to pass by, it is called the imperial court - turned and walked to the palace where Li Si was.After entering the hall, the two had a secret conversation. According to "Historical Records", there were a total of 700 characters, and there were six rounds of back and forth.Life is short, so let's just pick the gist and talk about it.
Zhao Gao was the first to speak: "The emperor has passed away! The book was given to Prince Fusu."
Of course this Li Si knew. At this time, Li Si was in his seventies and an old cadre. He cleared his throat and replied, "Uh... ah... I already know about this. Good!"
"We plan to change the edict and make Hu Hai his successor."
Li Si's face changed greatly, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Are you sure what you said?! Crack-crack-cough... Isn't this a big treason--" His face was flushed, as if thick smoke was rising from the coals of the furnace, and the smoke was a beard. Beard's bazooka aimed at Zhao Gao.
"Don't be so excited, this matter can only be settled between the prince and me."
"You are really talking about the subjugation of the country! Don't mention it again."
"As long as you agree and change a new edict, everything will be settled!"
Li Si raised his voice involuntarily: "Please don't think of me anymore, okay! My answer is just one word - no! I'm sorry, one word is - no!" Li Si was so excited that he could speak incoherently, kneeling He also shrugged - lifted his buttocks.
Although Li Si made a fuss, Zhao Gao was not discouraged.Over the years, Li Si has lost the vigor he had when he was young in "Admonishing and Chasing Keshu", there are fewer things against the dragon, and there are more examples of conforming to Qin Shihuang, such as the debate on the county system, the proposal to burn books, Consciously or unintentionally, he stood in the position of Qin Shihuang, quite catering to Shangyi's characteristics, not like a veteran minister.In other words, he is not very good at sticking to his principles.
Zhao Gao said: "Hehe, ask me a question! With the ability of Junhou (Here Li Si is called Junhou, because he is the highest rank among the 20 ranks of the Qin Dynasty - Marquis, called 'Tonghou'), and Meng Tian met. For example, who is stronger and who is weaker in terms of credit, planning, word-of-mouth among the people, and relationship with Fusu?"
Li Si talked for a while, pouted his beard and said, "It seems like it's not as good as Meng Tian."
"Hmph, yes. After the young master Fusu succeeds to the throne, he will definitely appoint Meng Tian as the prime minister. Then, I suspect that you will not be able to return to your hometown with the seal of Tonghou (golden) in your hands."
"Huh?" Li Si was taken aback.Indeed, once Fusu proclaims himself emperor, Li Sibao will give up his position if he is not in order.In the past, when Li Si went to the toilet, he saw that the rats in the toilet were impoverished, while the rats in the granary were full of fat, so Li Si concluded: "Whether a person is a virtuous or not, just like this rat, depends on the ecological environment he lives in." It makes sense: it doesn't matter whether you are virtuous or not in an absolute sense.If he was in the imperial court of Fusu, Meng Tian would be the number one sage, and he would not look sage himself, but would become a poor mouse (the one in the public toilet).If he was in the court of Hu Hai, and Hu Hai was supported by Li Si's imperial edict, then Li Si would be the number one sage, a rich man and a mouse (in the granary).Therefore, whether you are good or bad depends on your environment.After thinking about it, Li Sisi decided that it would be better to be a hamster.
But then he changed his mind, thinking that even if Fu Su and Meng Tian used things, he would not be so miserable. Even if it was so miserable, he would admit it and let it go. Will, as the prime minister, can you resist the will of the master?After thinking for a long time, he breathed out tiredly and said, "Oh, I obey the Lord's edict and obey the fate of the heavens. There is nothing else to say about how love will be in the future!"
"Your knowledge is too short! Now, you seem to be safe, but in fact you are very dangerous. You can't control your own safety. How can you be considered a saint?"
"Enough, enough! Don't say any more." Li Si was afraid that if he continued, he would change his position, "Go back quickly, if you say more, my high blood pressure is about to break out. Look, it's already eighteen thousand millimeters of mercury."
Zhao Gao looked at Li Si's conflicted and painful look.Li Si's head seemed to be really hurting, so he quickly took some rheumatism pain relief ointment, and then he calmed down (because he was too excited, and the medicine he took was not right).Li Si gasped for a while, and said: "You, forget it, you are not the idea of a minister. Listen to me, in the past, Duke Xian of Jin was more likely to give birth to the crown prince, and the third generation of Jin State was uneasy. The brothers of Duke Huan of Qi fought King Zhou killed his own relatives, and the country was turned into ruins. This is God punishing their acts against the heavens. I, Li Si, am just a person, how can I overcome the will of the heavens?"
Hearing Li Si's words, Zhao Gaowen felt that the other party's position had been loosened, and he was just raising technical problems, so he smiled slightly: "We are partners, right? As long as we work together, it will be easy to support Hu Hai. From then on, I will protect you forever." If you have a feudal marquis, you will be called lonely in the world (marquis and kings can call themselves lonely), and your wealth is boundless. Otherwise, if you don’t listen to me, Fusu and Meng Tian will come, Hu Hai and I will have no future, and you will have to be punished by Meng Tian. If you are laid off, your children and grandchildren will be hard to protect. In short, you must help me in helping Hu Hai."
Zhao Gao finally uttered the classic lines of the big villain when he threatened the other party in the movie: If I lose, you are game over, if I win, everything will go on as normal.
Li Si had nothing to say.What Zhao Gao said is very reasonable: if you help Hu Hai, you will win, and both Li Si and Zhao Gao will be the beneficiaries.Otherwise, if Hu Hai couldn't stand up and came to Fusu and Meng Tian's faction, then Zhao Gao would become a useless eunuch, and Li Si would also become an outdated rat. Both of them would be losers.
The interests of Li Si and Zhao Gao are bound together.
What should Li Si do?
It is about your own future and the future interests of your family.
After a turbulent ideological struggle, Li Si finally succumbed—not so much succumbing to Zhao Gao's coercion, as he succumbed to his love for the post of prime minister and his desire to continue to be rich and prosperous.Li Si walked to the railing of the palace platform, stood in the wind blowing at dusk, couldn't help weeping, and sighed, "What a shame! I, Li Si, have been in troubled times, and Yiling has been in trouble until today. I can't die, but Antuo!" Li Si was already mentally deranged at this time, and his last two sentences were beyond our comprehension and could not be translated.It roughly means that it is really better to die, but I still have to live, and to live I have to plan for the next step, and to plan for the next step, I have to betray the master's will, which is really better than death. "what.Li Si really felt the weight of life and death.
But Li Si's tears are also tantamount to agreeing to Zhao Gao, because, no matter what, he still wants to live, not only for himself, but also for future generations.
Li Si couldn't restrain his desire to preserve wealth and honor, this was his helplessness.A person who desires will become weak.So he obeyed Zhao Gao's idea and put the future of the empire at risk.Maybe he realizes this, so he weeps too much.His weeping is probably the premature death of the future destiny of the empire.
The realization of his selfish desire is at the price of frustration or even destruction of the country's destiny. As a generation of prime ministers, if he has a little conscience, how can he not weep for it?
Zhao Gaohuan happily revised the imperial edict, and wrote a "Prime Minister Si accepts the imperial edict of the first emperor", stating that Hu Hai was made the crown prince, and then wrote a false letter to Fusu.Afterwards, Lao Qin's body was loaded and transported away.
Perhaps Lao Qin was very dissatisfied with Zhao Gao, Li Si, and Hu Hai's rebellious, disloyal, and unfilial actions, so he vigorously emitted sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, organic acids, cadaverine, putrescine, PCBs and other corrupt organic substances in the car. The taste, smoked Zhao Gao, Li Si and his party enough.The ministers didn't know that Qin Shihuang was dead, and they all wanted to go over to pay their respects, but they were pushed back by sulfur dioxide.The ministers held their breath and looked suspicious.Zhao Gaogao found someone to get 120 catties of salted fish (called abalone in ancient times), loaded them on the car, and used the disgusting methyl indole emitted by the salted fish to fight the poison with poison and mess up its smell.
The whole convoy becomes a big pigsty.
What kind of gas would come out of Qin Shihuang's body?I asked someone who studies chemistry, and he said that sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a relatively thorough oxidation product of organic sulfides, which requires strong conditions, such as heating and combustion.Being exposed to the sun like the old emperor is not strong enough, I guess I have to rely on Zhao Gao and the others to set the fire.It should be other sulfur compounds coming out.Organosulfur compounds are the most smelly series of compounds in the world - "stinky".A few drops of mercaptan can smoke an entire mine of people out of the mine.Therefore, it is used as a sharp weapon for emergency evacuation of mines.
He believes that cadaverine and putrescine should mainly come out, and an example will show how stinky these two things are.A few professors from the chemistry department of a certain school had nothing to do to synthesize something, they needed a few milligrams of putrescine, and ended up making it in a fume hood.Although many absorbing measures were taken, the entire chemistry department building was sealed off for three weeks just at the point of leakage.When passing by, everyone covered their noses.It really stinks, and it may be an exaggeration to say that it stinks ten miles against the wind, but it is definitely an invincible killer within a hundred meters.
There is a saying called "Salted fish turning over", which is a metaphor for resurgence.But Lao Qin was lying in his pigsty cart, unable to turn over again.Lao Qin is also conscientious and conscientious. His last parade lasted for nearly a year. At the age of fifty, he can be said to be undaunted by wind, frost and fatigue.Now I'm on a business trip for two days, and I feel tired all over.The hardships and bumps during the ancient journey, the unacceptable environment, as well as the ancient microorganisms, miasma, bacteria and SARS virus, finally made this strong man in Shaanxi, who was in his thirties, stabbed down the righteous man Jing Ke with one sword and made Qin Ying, who was injured eight times. Zheng, today's Qin Shihuang, was overthrown in the hot summer wind, and he could no longer stand up.Qin Shihuang also died in the line of duty.
Had it not been for such a hasty and unexpected death due to fatigue, the life span of the Qin Dynasty might not have been so short.Relying on Qin Shihuang's great prestige and reputation at home and abroad, as long as he is alive, people will not dare to make mistakes easily.If he lived for a few more years, the transition from enfeoffment to imperial autocracy would be more solid, the cohesion of the Six Kingdoms would be stronger, and he would have enough time to deal with the issue of successors. Fight for it, maybe things will be different.In short, Qin Shihuang was regarded as an early death.It should be noted that Liu Bang is only three years younger than Qin Shihuang, and he has not yet entered the stage of history at this time.Even Zhuge Liang lived longer than him (fifty-four years old).
On the sand dune road in 210 BC, there is an ominous atmosphere full of historical regret, confusion and surprise.
As Lao Qin's car left, creaking and walking slowly, let's stay in place for a while and talk about philosophy (because we can take a plane later and catch up with them).
Here we talk about "potential".
Shang Yang talks about "law", Shen Buhai talks about "skills", and Shen Dao talks about "power"-this is a well-known thing (the ancients were full of original spirit, and everyone talked differently from each other).Han Feizi was born late, so he had to integrate the "magic power" as the culmination of Legalism.
We all understand the law and technique.The law is to clarify rewards and punishments, and to mobilize people by seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages.The technique is to monitor. It is best for the monarch to be secretive, not to show his face, and pretend not to listen, not to see, or not to know on the surface, so that the people below can't figure it out.In fact, they secretly engage in some methods to monitor and test their subordinates.
So what is momentum?What does potential mean?
In fact, language is no longer easy to touch and describe.We can only use metaphors.
Li Si used to go to the toilet when he was young (of course, he did not change this habit later).It's just that when Li Si was young, the toilets he used were relatively poor - because he was still a commoner official in Shangcai County at that time, and he lived in Luxiang like people like Xiao He.The public toilets in Luxiang are similar to those in some Hutong toilets today, and there are often big rats running rampant.So Li Si often went with the dog on a leash.The big mouse really gave face, and ran away when it saw the dog.
Li Si held the rope around the dog's neck with one hand, and helped himself untie his lower garment and squat down with the other.The dog stared intently at the mouse, and then looked at Li Si's ass.No matter what, the big mouse was so frightened that it trembled and did not dare to invade.
Then, Li Si went for a walk in the granary (walking means doing things, and it is called running errands in modern times, because Li Si is a petty official). The old rats are just like that, sitting on the pile of grain, with a big belly, shiny fur, and calm.You dare not smoke it, unless you want to set the granary on fire.This rat lives in a very good welfare society, well-clothed and well-fed, protected from wind and rain, and the warehouse manager is on guard for him.
In short, Li Si sighed: "Man, it all depends on the situation you are in."
Well, our parable is over.
This big rat in the granary is considered to be in a position of power.In this "potential", even if you are a fool, an unworthy, stupid rat, you are still full of brains and fat.As for a mouse that has lost its "potential"—for example, if it is reduced to the toilet, even if you are a genius rat with superior skills, good at jumping, good at jumping, good at thinking, and octathlon, you will still suffer from hunger and cold, and the food you eat will not be the same. Hygienic, gave birth to deformed children, and was bullied by big dogs.
Therefore, the Legalists said that the monarch must not lose his "potential", that is to say, authority (rewards and punishments, etc.).If you delegate rewards and punishments, appointment of officials, and examinations to others, then you will die in an ugly way, and your courtiers will take you out of the way.Therefore, the monarch must firmly grasp his "potential".
Not only the monarch has "potential", but the ministers also have their own potential.Li Si relied on the "potential" of Qin Shihuang, and the old Qin gave him glory, wealth and power.如果换去了扶苏的朝廷里供职，那他就算是没有“势”了——就像赵高一样被去势了。因为，扶苏不会借势给他，而只会借势给蒙恬。
赵高也要有自己的势——虽然肉体上被去了势，但他还是有志气，要打造自己的势。所以他哄抬胡亥登上君位，就算是为自己造出来一个势。往后就可以站在这样的“势”上（借着胡亥的权威），安全而且富贵，乃至可以作福作威了。
“势”就好像一个土台子，你自己没有土台子，或者土台子不够好，你可以像赵高那样搭一个出来，造一个势给自己用，站上去就舒服了。吕不韦包装异人，也算是为自己造一个势的台子，让自己最终当了相国。还有“红顶商人”也是这样。这就是所谓“造势”，基本属于自力更生。实在造不出来，还可以借别人的势，即借别人的土台子，上去站站，也满舒服。譬如一个企业，比如你资金和技术不行，可以借某个高校的名义，借了这个势，出去骗客户，就容易多了。否则的话，光有本事和技术，累得半死，终好比厕所里的耗子，辛苦也吃不成大胖子。
而一个饭馆，挂几张领导人握手题词的照片，也算是基本小打小闹的借势了吧。
“势”对任何一个人都非常重要。在不同的经理岗位上，有的人就能发大财，有的人就拮据得要命。不是他们智力不一样，而是所处的岗位、所处的势不同。不在于你个人本事怎样，智力如何，学历是否高，相貌是否酷，关键是你处在什么样的“势”上。所以你一定要设计好自己的职业生涯，寻找到你所可以站上去的势。找到之后，你就算是可以“乘势”了。若实在你没有“势”，你就可以去趋炎附一个势来。Ha ha.比如娶个名人寡妇什么的。女的就嫁个珠宝商。这种趋炎附势，实是属于借势。陈胜起义，也要借了公子扶苏的势，以扶苏为号召。项梁则借楚怀王的势。这都跟娶名人寡妇差不多。而蒋介石依托英美，也是为了乘势。不“乘势”则不足以“成事”。
所以古人云：“君子终日而行，不离辎重。”就是说，君子一定要紧紧抓住自己的势，站在势上，轻松而且无往而不克，终日而行，绝不能一时一刻丢掉自己的势（土台子）跑下来。
“势”有好坏高下之分，你尽量要处在好的和高的上去。譬如，大耗子，最好就去仓库这个好势上去生存，不要去公厕那个坏势。
“势”也不是一成不变的，好的势可以转化成坏的势，有势又可能变成无势。譬如说，一旦秦始皇驾崩，原本有“势”的李斯就算没“势”了。原本他是丞相，站在秦始皇这个大“势”上，呼风唤雨，全国皆惧。现在老秦这个“势”台子崩了，他就要重新考虑自己的“势”的问题了。接下去，他是要站在胡亥的台子上呢，还是扶苏的台子上呢？
不需要多作分析，扶苏的台子即便好，他肯定也上不去——因为蒙恬家族的人已经站在上边了。只有积极帮助胡亥，将来获得胡亥的感激，胡亥允许他站在胡亥的台子上去，也就乘上了势了。
李斯于是也就这么决定了。
这就是李斯的“仓中鼠”理论，也可以叫“势理论”。不在于你贤与不贤，更主要在于你站在哪个“势”的台子上——譬如对老鼠而言，是站在仓库这个势的台子上，还是公厕这个势的台子上。
不过，李斯还是忘记了一条。胡亥这个“势”的台子上面，已经站了一个赵高了。赵高允许李斯也站在这个台子上平分秋色吗？事实最后教育了李斯，赵高还是把他从台子上踹下去了。直摔得身败名裂，三族无遗。
唉，李斯真的是没办法啊。扶苏的势台子上，已经站着蒙恬；胡亥的台子上，站着赵高。去哪里都不好办！如果你是李斯的幕僚，你该怎么建议李斯的去就呢？
李斯好想到火星上去啊。或者帮个火星人搭个台子，扶那个火星人为君，然后好让自己也站上去。
我们也确实奇怪了，早在秦始皇还健在的时候，李斯就应该考虑未来出路的问题，提早找到未来的势，提早搭台子。李斯不知未雨绸缪，没有事先找到自己的下一份奶酪——有远见的大臣，应该在君主的接班人身上早点插手，当然这样做也是风险极大——终于陷于被动。在沙丘宫里他左右为难，无势可乘，坐困愁城。
到这时候再着急，已经晚了。李斯的悲剧，这时候已算是揭开序幕。他这个肥老鼠，原先居住的仓库，突然失火烧毁了。好可怜的无家可归的老鼠啊，只好借挤赵高檐下。
扶苏，不同于一般的花花公子，他少年英武但天性退让，喜欢与忠臣孝子如蒙恬之徒来往，现担任蒙恬三十万边防军军政委（监军），长期驻扎上郡（陕北延安一带），蒙恬驱逐匈奴，尽得河套之地，大有边功。“国人多闻其贤”（陈胜语）。连赵高都夸他“信人而奋士”。
所谓“奋士”，就是使士奋的意思，善于激励别人。他为什么能够激励别人呢？因而他“信人”——对人信任，给别人机会，故大家都愿意为他出效死力。扶苏遂得众人之心。跟着他的人都很爽，就像服用了兴奋剂一样。
这一天，扶苏正和同志们在上郡卖力工作，使者拿着赵高的假木板信来了。拆开一看，是老爹的口吻：“朕巡行天下，如何辛苦。而公子扶苏，与将军蒙恬将数十万之众，十有余年，士卒多耗死于外，却无尺寸之功。”
意思是一尺一寸的土地也没抢来。
其实非也。蒙恬一直打到宁夏、内蒙古境内，尽得河套地区。河套地区呈“几”字形，其上部分，套住陕西北部、内蒙古南部及宁夏西北的部分地区。这块地方，匈奴人趁着七国混战，一度将它占领。蒙恬不但尽行收复河套之地，甚至打到河套以外，迫使单于又向北退却七百余里，又得地四十四县，新置九原郡（在河套外）。秦不仅仅是像后代那样抗击匈奴，而是主动进攻匈奴——这只有在秦汉盛唐做得到。为了保住这些新占领地，蒙恬又在北方大修长城，西起甘肃岷县，东至辽东，弥连六国旧长城，延袤总共万余里。
诏书接着说：“没有功也就罢，扶苏反倒数次上书直言诽谤我的所作所为。扶苏为人子不孝，其赐剑以自裁。”
“赐剑以自裁”几个字触目惊心，扶苏读到这里，就哭了。于是他对使者说：“请你先等一下，我去内室里待一会儿。过一会儿，我自杀完了再出来。”
“用我们帮忙吗？”
“不用，虽然没自杀过，缺乏相关经验，但我还是试着自己来吧。”
《史记》上说，扶苏“为人仁”，意思是为人和气。说完，为人仁的扶苏，拎着宝剑就进了内室，准备自杀。
蒙恬却没那么和气，急惶惶一脚踏进内室：“公子！请先不要这么干！一旦脖子抹完了，诏书却是假的，您就没法恢复了。还是先检查一下诏书吧。”
“诏书没有问题的，外壳的封泥有皇帝印玺。”
“印玺也未必总在皇帝身上带着。最好写信请示一下，跟陛下核对无误再自杀不迟。现在就凭一介使臣跑来，您就自杀，安知其非有诈呢？”
这时候，外面的使者开始嚷嚷了：“公子——公子——扶苏？在吗？自杀完了吗？还差多少啊？不行还是我进来吧？怎么没声音了？我进来啦——”
使者这么一催促嚷嚷，扶苏就急了，他大约不喜欢辱死于使者之手，所以急着抱起宝剑说：“不要再啰唆了。父亲让儿子死，儿子有什么好去核对的？我得抓紧时间了，拜拜了！”
蒙恬赶紧抱住宝剑，急叫：“公子不行啊！”
“你让我死吧，快！”
“不是，我是说你这样死不掉的，宝剑拿反了！”
“哦！呵呵，你先不要笑，这里也有你呢。你不知道匡正我，诏书说，你也属于为人臣不忠，也赐你死呢！”
“啊？！”蒙恬立刻晕菜了，两眼翻白。趁着蒙恬一愣的机会，扶苏“扑哧”一声把剑尖插进了自己的脖子，血喷三尺，匍匐而亡！
蒙恬抱尸大哭。
当时的人确实讲求“孝”啊。即便蒙恬劝扶苏重新向上请示，也只是核对一下赐死的命令，而没有想去求情或者与君父辩解的意思。这可真是，父叫子死，子二话不说。唉，当时的人，真是拿他们没办法啊。
终于，扶苏贵为天子子嗣，就这么辱死于奸人之手了。
使者走进内室来，说：“蒙恬先生，现在该您了。”
蒙恬一看，轮到自己了，但他强烈要求核对一下，再死不迟。于是使者答应把他铐起来，暂时关进监狱。这是很没面子的事情，很多人宁可囫囵吞枣地死了，也不愿蒙受下狱之辱。
出门的时候，怕忠于蒙恬的士兵们吵闹干涉，或者是怕蒙恬丢面子，使者就用衣服盖在蒙恬的两手上，然后使者把手搭着蒙恬后背一起出去。门口的警卫还以为他俩是出去看电影呢，敬了个礼，没管。
蒙家三代都是一流名将，蒙恬的爷爷蒙骜在我的《青铜时代的终结战争》中有“小白起”之称，联翩东犯中原及山西，得列城前后九十余，断天下南北之腰，形成对列国的分割包围态势。爸爸蒙武曾独立大破楚军，后追随王翦再次大破楚军，杀楚将项燕，一直南征百越之地，如泻水直铺平地。蒙恬则东攻大破齐人，向北攻击匈奴，收取河套，置郡九原，北筑长城。可以说，老蒙家三代人南征北战、东挡西杀，对秦王朝有造就之功。
鉴于老蒙家数有大功于秦，在咸阳已经继位的胡亥——从此改叫秦二世，打算释放蒙恬。但赵高死活不肯。作为权臣，他是不会从国家利益考虑的，而是唯恐蒙氏家族出狱后，会反扑报复自己（当然，这也是他小人之心，度君子之腹）。于是秦二世命令使者，在监狱里把蒙恬正法。
一般蹲监狱的人，都喜欢找点书看，学学《基本电工》啊，《摄影技巧》啥的，准备出去后当个电焊工、导演之类的有益于社会的人。蒙恬大约也开始狱中自学。中国书籍的源头就是《尚书》。他从最原始的这本看起。如果不受外界干涉的话，一直看到老，争取读到《吕氏春秋》为止，成为司马迁那样的通儒大鳄。
可惜，乌鸦一样的使者们翔集进他的牢房，此时他才看到《尚书》中的《金》一篇。
于是蒙恬放下书简，跟使者交流了读书的心得体会，他说：
“我给你们讲一个周公的故事吧。这故事有点长，请你们假借我片刻，一会儿就完。从前，周公旦喜欢背着筐，让襁褓之中的小孩周成王坐在筐里。周公旦坐在王位上，身后背着这孩子，代替这孩子周成王听政。小孩周成王被背在后面，长期见不到阳光，终于得了'见光死'的病。
“小孩周成王病得奄奄一息，马上就要被天神召去当书童用了。周公旦于是剪掉自己的指甲，投入河里，向天神陈情说：'我周公旦多才多艺，最适合侍奉天神了。小孩周成王五音不全，才艺表演五个红灯，恐怕侍奉不了您天神。您还是把我召了去吧！这不，我特意把指甲剪了，您吃我的时候，不牙碜'。
“经过这么一番祷告陈情，天神备受感动，居然撤销了对小孩的诅咒。小孩周成王的病奇迹般地好了。过了些年，小孩周成王长大成人，正式听政，履天子之席，却受流言蛊惑，大怒之下，要杀周公旦，说周公旦谋反。周公旦不傻，卷着行李跑去了楚国。
“不久，周成王去国家图书馆里看文件，却看见了一个金属盒子（金），打开观瞧，里边装的正是周公旦当初向天神陈情时的讲话稿。读完，顿时感动得泪眼模糊，赶紧把周公旦请回来重新在老干部处安置。”
“我说这个故事的目的在于，天子也是会犯错误的，犯了错误只要及时纠正就行。周成王及时纠正了，大周朝照样繁荣不息。商纣王没有及时纠正，身死而国亡。我之所以迟迟没有自杀，忍受着耻辱，就是想给当朝皇帝一个及时纠正错误的机会。并不是我蒙恬贪生怕死，你们知道吗？”
蒙恬讲的很有文化啊。其实蒙恬满喜欢读书写字，他还改进了毛笔的结构，当时流行兔毛笔，蒙恬做成了鹿毛作芯、羊毛为边的笔，笔力刚柔相济。
蒙恬又说：“我们老蒙家，三代为秦君效力，功劳信义堪称楷模。现在，我虽然身陷囹圄，但只要打个喷嚏，外边在找我的兵士们立刻就会冲进来搭救我。我那三十万大兵，只要我现在愿意，别看我是在监狱中，照样可以使他们一夕之间就可全部倒戈，足以背衅秦的江山，颠覆秦二世的政府。但是我不会这样做，因为不敢辱先人的教诲，不敢忘先主的恩德（从前秦始皇'甚尊宠蒙氏'）！所以我自知必死，也守义不移（秦始皇会用人啊！用这样的人对了，宁死而不叛）！
“但我还是想对天子有所进谏——也就是我刚才所讲的这个周公的故事，请你们把它传话给当朝天子。他听了之后，如果他还要再杀我，我死亦无恨了！”
使者也很动感情，说：“我们没有那个权限，不敢传话。”
唉，遇上这么个使者，活活把人气死了。没有权限不早说啊！
蒙恬喟然而叹：“我何罪于天？就这样一点错都没有地，却死了吗？”他觉得，能有个理由而死，也算死得不窝囊。
良久，蒙恬慢慢说道：“是的，我有罪固然当死，我修万里长城，破坏了生态平衡（“绝了地脉”嘛），我也算是有罪，可以因此而死了吧！”
他勉强给自己找了一个可死的理由之后，仍不免心情郁悒。但是，找不出更该死的理由了，蒙恬遂大呼一声，吞药于肚，再不发一语，终于变色身颤而气绝。
此之时，大漠风沙呼啸，天地为之走石，三十万战士闻之，心怜蒙恬无罪，无不切齿扼腕，欷虚欠握拳而泣。
蒙恬自甘放弃性命和兵权，拱手把江山交给了秦二世。秦二世、赵高免去了三十万边防大兵的威胁，遂敢为所欲为，直到把大秦朝的山川败光。蒙恬迂守于三世积信累功于秦的先人之教，忍气吞声而死，死守着小忠，而忘记了大忠。虽死，仍不得辞其咎。
蒙恬的弟弟蒙毅，地位比蒙恬还高，是秦始皇的国家事务助理（“内谋”），出门与秦始皇同乘一车，叫做参乘（贴身副官），进宫就谋事于秦始皇御前。即便朝廷里文官之首的相和武官之首的将，在御前议事的时候，也不敢与蒙毅争，这一部分是因为他有能力，一部分也是秦始皇“亲近蒙毅”，封其上卿。《史记》说：“秦始皇的外事交给蒙恬，内事交给蒙毅。”
有一次，赵高曾经犯了什么“大罪”（可能是偷了宫女的内裤），蒙毅毫不客气地把他判了个死刑。后经秦始皇宽赦而免。赵高那时候地位尚卑，秦始皇觉得他“敦于事也”（办事努力认真），于是赦免了他死罪。这虽然有点枉曲法令的嫌疑，但是也可以见出秦始皇对于有才干的人，是比较宽容的。
这回赵高逮着机会了，立刻要法办蒙毅。赵高说：“蒙毅当年力主让扶苏当太子。请陛下杀之。”秦二世却不肯，犹豫了一阵，大约并不甚计较，或者是觉得蒙氏是国家的栋梁，杀了等于自断手臂。于是赵高日夜诋毁蒙毅，寻求蒙毅的罪状，把蒙毅蒙得又黑又坏。秦二世想，既然是这么坏的人，还跟我不一条心，那就杀了吧。
倘不是秦二世过于年轻，又信用赵高这样变态的朋友，或许不会杀蒙氏兄弟吧。
看来，交朋友（特别是当做信用的师友来对待的朋友）岂不需慎重乎？还是少和社会上的“变态”交朋友吧。
秦皇族里有个叫公子婴的，曾劝谏秦二世不要杀蒙毅。子婴把蒙毅的死，比做赵王迁之杀李牧，正是亡国和败家的开始。
蒙恬在死前也提到了商纣王：纣王杀比干而不知改悔，商朝遂亡。你们杀我，也等着亡国吧！
事实也印证了这一点。蒙氏家族的灭亡，是秦王朝衰亡的开始。
倘使蒙恬不死，以其北驱匈奴，攻城野战如暴风骤雨之兵锋，对于不久之后关东六国反叛者蜂起的局面，即便不能完全平靖，但引兵塞函谷关以固守，退保从前秦诸侯国割据一方的地位，蒙恬总应该是做得到。
司马迁对蒙恬之死也颇有留意。他特意参加了一个旅游团去北方，走着看了蒙恬留下的秦长城。今天，经历千年风雨，很多秦长城的夯土立壁，依旧坚硬如石地耸立在荒漠边缘。司马迁看到的秦长城当年应该更加雄浑，把山峦和谷壑都改造了，使他不由得发出惊叹：老秦真是轻用民力啊！否则怎么能造出这样令人不可想象的怪兽呢？
司马迁对长城不以为然。
司马迁于是又论蒙恬之死道：“蒙恬身为秦朝名将，不能强谏秦始皇休息民力，而'阿意兴功'（意思是，阿谀顺从上意，蒙恬主修长城这个政府形象工程，夸始皇之功）。为了修长城，他折腾海内，终于得罪遇诛，不亦宜乎。（活该啊）”
司马迁在此责怪蒙恬，没有“强谏”秦始皇。
司马迁在给王翦作传的时候，也责备王翦不能强谏秦始皇。为什么司马迁总是汲汲于责怪他们不能强谏呢？
这就使我们不得不想到司马迁所生活的汉武帝时代。
汉武帝好大喜功——跟秦始皇一样。他北征匈奴，搞得天下户口减半，民不聊生，只好人吃人——“人复相食”（据《汉书》），形势非常严峻。司马迁位卑言轻，不能去越职议论。他更恼怒的是，当朝将相们，也尸位素餐，不置一词，不敢提出任何异议。
司马迁越来越着急，越来越牢骚，于是借古讽今，责怪秦之重臣（王翦、蒙恬）不能“强谏”，以讽当朝重臣。
后来，看看还是没有效果，他就自己上了。
但是，他没有机会越职言事啊（他是“太史令”，只能讲讲古代的事）。正好，赶上汉武帝就李陵事件问他看法。司马迁可逮着机会了，可以讲当代的事了，于是哗啦哗啦说了好大一段，夹杂着压抑已久的不满，终于给自己博了一个“诬罔”（就是乱说）的罪名，交给司法部门处理。出来之后的司马迁，变得半阴不阳，丢了半条命，这才算踏实了。
可见，进谏是多么的难啊。即便遇上汉武帝这样的“圣主”，不小心触错了他哪一根“圣筋”，进谏者一样也被投豺喂虎了。
这里我们发现一个问题，就是历史往往不是一面客观的镜子，写历史的人带着自己的情绪去观察和记录历史。他自家的表情，往往投射到历史的现实中并且改变历史的容貌。
司马迁为了表达对当朝皇帝汉武帝大兴事功的不满，于是在给蒙恬作传的时候，只字不提长城的客观价值，而是全力进行贬斥，大力挖苦老秦修长城是“固轻民力也”。
也就是说，他对当朝皇帝不满，但不敢说一个字，只好朝古人（秦始皇）放箭。
接着，他又朝蒙恬放去一箭，挖苦他“不以此时强谏”。
司马迁忧国忧民的心思可以理解，但对蒙恬的点评则多少有点意气用事，求全责备。
但无论如何，朝古人身上射箭，以讽当代之政事，是汉朝人常用的办法。
董仲舒在《汉书·食货志》中曾发言说：秦朝的劳役，是“三十倍于古”，田租“二十倍于古”，我在前文中曾引用了他的这组数据，读罢感觉老秦对人民的骚扰侵夺，令人不寒而栗，实在是太不像话了！
但是，董仲舒的这组数据，以及他得出该数据的算法和依据，其实大有问题。
按《汉书·食货志》原文：“当时汉武帝与外边的四夷过招，代价极大，内部又大兴功业，役费并兴，而去民本（意思是老百姓跟着他瞎忙，种地的根本事业反都顾不上了）。”于是，董仲舒上书劝告汉武帝——并在上书中，董仲舒说出了秦的那组可怕的数字。
有学者论，