Chapter 160 Section 2 How to Die

At the beginning, when Lai Ai was captured, Ying Zheng was overjoyed.Ying Zheng has held grudges against Lai Ai for a long time, and wished he could immediately chop her into pieces and chop them into mincemeat, so as to dispel the hatred in his heart.Li Si fought hard, thinking it was impossible.In a fit of anger, Ying Zheng asked sharply, "Isn't Lai Ai's crime worthy of death?" Li Sidao: "Lao Ai committing a rebellion is a capital crime." Ying Zheng flicked his sleeves and said, "Since it's a capital crime, why not kill him?" Li Si said calmly: "What my king holds is the prestige. What the minister guards is the law. The Holy Lord uses the law to measure punishment, but he doesn't control himself, and the law measures merit, but he doesn't control himself. Although Lai Ai is bound to die, there is no doubt that the minister From my point of view, it is better for the king to punish him with prestige than to kill him with law."

Yingzheng is very impatient, I have been king for nine years, and I don't even let me get addicted to killing?So he said, "Lao Ai will die anyway, what's the difference?" Li Sidao: "A husband who makes laws abolishes selfishness. Law and privateness cannot coexist. Those who abide by the law rule, and those who favor selfishness make chaos. Today, my king wants to kill Lai Ai because of selfishness. The source of the monarch and the people is also the source of the clean. The flow is clear, but the source is turbid and the flow is turbid. My king abandons the common law and follows his own will. Even though he kills Lai Ai, his ministers are afraid that the law will not be restored. It is a delusion that the subjects of Qin all value selfishness and despise common law. If the way is practiced, the way of governing the country is ruined."

Ying Zheng calmed down, and Li Si's words were not entirely unreasonable. Li Si said again: "Furthermore, my king intends to kill Lai Ai, and Lai Ai is just dead. However, the crime is not revealed, the evil is not clear, and the corpse is suddenly laid down. People may be suspicious and confused, not for the sake of peace of mind. , to warn the world. The minister killed him with the law, and he was able to judge the whole story of his crimes. The gangsters conspired, and then made it known to the world, so that all the subjects could know, fear, warn, and warn. What kind of punishment should be imposed on Lai Lu's retrograde behavior? , the law has a document, and it is not necessary to wait for the minister to say more."

Ying Zheng was still unhappy, and said: "The widow can't kill Lai Ai, but the law can kill her. Which is more precious, the widow or the law?" This question is difficult to answer, but it cannot be left unanswered.Mencius said: The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least.Mencius placed the status of the king at the bottom, which can be described as fierce.Li Si is a person who knows current affairs, he dare not denigrate the king's status in front of Ying Zheng.Moreover, his thought and philosophy are already different from Mencius, and he basically belongs to Legalism.In the legalist system, the status of the king is higher than that of the country and the people.Therefore, Ying Zheng's question put Li Si in a dilemma.Yingzheng is like the cafeteria for him to eat, and the law is like the rice bowl for him to eat, both sides are reluctant to give up and cannot afford to offend.

Li Siwei pondered for a while, and said: "The king is respected, and the law is the law. The law is the most precious, and the law is the most suitable for things. The law is the most important, so the king is respected, and the king's respect is the country's security; Orders are low and laws are light, so the monarch is also humble, and the country is in danger when the monarch is humble. Therefore, every country that is rich and respectful does not respect the law. The law is the people, and the king and his ministers all follow the law. This is called great governance. The people are one with the king, and the affairs are judged by the law. Forgive me, I'm blunt, so I can't answer."

Ying Zheng nodded, quite satisfied with Li Si's answer.Li Si struck while the iron was hot, so he continued to promote his own theories, saying: "I used to learn from the old master Xun. When the master talked about the Qin system, he thought that it would be governed if it was lost, and it would be governed by making appointments in detail. , The land is small and the country is weak, how can this be achieved? Xiaogong Shangyang’s reforms are also the merits. Since Xiaogong, Qin has passed through six generations. The law is one and solid, the people can know it, and the people can trust it. , do not lead outside the rope, do not push inside the rope, do not hurry outside the law, do not invade the inside of the law. Throughout the world, only Qin can punish the wrongdoing without avoiding the doctor, and rewarding the good without leaving the common man. What the law adds, the wise man Unable to resign, the brave dare not fight. This is why Qin is stronger than today, and the six countries bow their heads and no one dares to resist."

Yingzheng said: "Your guest's words are very good. I would like to hear, how do you want to treat Lai Ai with the law?" Li Si knew that Ying Zheng was still a little upset, so he had to taste some sweetness first to calm him down.So he said: "I have no other plan, but follow the law. Please give me an example: Lai Ai broke the law that day, and she should be punished according to the law. She was spared by relying on the protection of the prime minister. However, the law exists, although it has been around for a long time." It must be ruled. Ministers must investigate the past, and punish the crimes that should be corrupted first. Lai Ai has many crimes, and every crime must be punished. It is almost the same. Lai Ai's party members, ministers will also do the same."

Yingzheng was secretly delighted, eunuchs would be able to resolve hatred better if she was eunuched before killing her, a good idea!Okay, Li Si, you can take your time.Remember, you must be slow. If you are too fast, I will be in a hurry with you.Ying Zheng thought so in his heart, but he praised: "Your guest understands the principles of the law very well, and I will be educated." Having said that, although Li Si's tongue-in-cheek prolongs Lai Ai's life for a few months, it also makes Lai Ai suffer a few months more for no reason.