The old man smiled, stopped his grandson's little hand that was getting closer and closer, and looked at the bright flames in front of him, lost in thought.

The soldier and his horse conquered so much territory for Qin throughout his life that even he, an old man, would be called the champion of Duke Meng according to his age. He did not survive this winter.

Killing winter is the old man killer.

But with this pot of briquettes in front of us, no more old people in Xianyang will freeze to death this winter.

What burns is not only fire, but also hope.

The next day, the imperial doctor came to see Suo, and craftsmen came to renovate Suo's house, making the bed hollow and connecting it to the flue.

"This thing is called a kang. You can put honeycomb briquettes in it. It will be very warm and cold and will not invade. I don't want to refuse. Chang'an Jun said: 'This is what I deserve.'"

On this day, Xunzi and his disciple Zhang Cang silently followed Ying Chengyu, delivering briquettes to one household after another.

This winter, the court sent a bag of briquettes to every household in Xianyang.

Ying Chengyu was not the only person delivering briquettes on the road, but many people.

Xianyang, which was originally lifeless, became even colder and colder in winter, but it was initially ignited by bags of briquettes.

The price of briquettes, which is comparable to charcoal, is not expensive. As long as you don't know right and wrong, every household can afford it.

The chimneys of residential houses emit black smoke, but in exchange, Xianyang City is full of vitality.

Every house in Xianyang has fireworks.

Fireworks in winter represent hope and life.

Relying on the fire of hope, these lives gathered together their gratitude to the First Emperor and their recognition of the Qin State. This is the people's heart.

The next day.

Xunzi's residence.

It's still the same brazier, with expensive charcoal on the bottom and cheap firewood on top.

Xunzi still fiddled with it.

"Can you change your mind about your Majesty now?"

Zhang Cang nodded silently, speaking from his heart.

Having witnessed with his own eyes what Ying Chengyu had done, he could not go against his conscience.

"Mr. Chang'an, why don't you go by yourself?" Zhang Cang said nitpickingly, "Is this just a show?"

"A show? You have heard a lot of new words from your Majesty. Your Majesty still needs to put on a show? Who can show it to? The King of Qin, or some noble family, stretch out your hand."

Zhang Cang shrank his neck, shook his head vigorously, and quickly put his hands behind his back.

"This disciple just said something casually, shouldn't he be beaten?"

Xunzi held a ruler in his hand, with an expression of calmness and authority on his face that left no room for doubt, and said in a serious tone:

"Reach out."

Zhang Cang stretched out his hand with a grimace.

The long and thick ruler flew through the air, and the wind made a loud noise. It was obvious that this move was definitely not light, and it landed heavily on the fat hands with a "snap" sound.

"ah!"

Zhang Cang felt as if he was electrocuted, his whole body bounced up, and he shook his hands vigorously, but the severe pain and numbness still lingered.

Xunzi waited for his disciples to stop, then sat back down with a frown on his face.

"Come again."

Zhang Cang started playing again, the muscles in the corners of his eyes twitching, and he prolonged his voice imploringly.

"teacher!"

Xunzi was unmoved. He held up the ruler and said in a deep voice:

"Come again."

Zhang Cang's forehead was covered with sweat and he wanted to rush out of the door, regretting what he said.

If he had known that a word would cost so much, he would have kept his mouth shut.

It was hard to disobey the teacher's orders, so he finally reached out his hand.

Pa~

Pa~

There were two soft sounds in a row. The second and third blows were far less severe than the first, and they were more like perfunctory things.

But Zhang Cang was so frightened that he closed his eyes tightly and did not dare to look when he was beaten. It was not until after the beating that he opened his eyes in disbelief and looked at the teacher in confusion.

[Teacher, why are these two blows so light?]

Xunzi put down his ruler and knew the doubts in his disciple's mind without him having to say anything, so he explained:

"The first blow was purely punishment.

"Although the second and third blows are also punishments, the purpose of being a teacher is not all punishment, but your courage. Although you are afraid, you can still reach out. Courage can allow you to reduce the punishment."

Zhang Cang said with a sad face:

"Yesterday, I said that to the teacher, but the teacher didn't get angry with me. He praised me for being good and thinking. Why did the teacher get so angry today just for saying a word about Lord Chang'an? The disciple couldn't figure it out. It's just because the teacher is Lord Chang'an.

Are you a retainer?"

Xunzi looked evil.

"Tell yourself, did you think about it when you said that? The reason for arguing is to seek the truth. Although what you said yesterday is contrary to me, I know that you are doing it for the truth.

"And what about today? You are not speaking for the sake of the truth, but for the sake of your face, for the sake of winning or losing. If you argue just for the sake of debate, if you don't argue for the truth, you should fight!"

Zhang Cang lowered his head and stopped talking. He could not refute the teacher.

"The people don't know about briquettes, they don't think about briquettes, they can live without briquettes, and they won't have any demands. Tell me, should this briquettes be given to the people?"

"should."

Zhang Cang whispered.

Although he knew that when he said this, he overturned his views yesterday, but as a disciple of Xunzi, no matter which family or sect he belongs to, conscience is the most basic.

"But I think Chang'an Lord can do better and provide it to the people for free."

Xunzi raised the ruler again, Zhang Cang's ears were sharp, and his face trembled with fright when he heard the movement, and he hurriedly waved his slightly red and swollen hands and said:

"Cang is not lying this time! Cang asked Lord Chang'an! This thing is not expensive!"

"Hmph!" Xunzi said coldly: "You have learned so many weird words from your Majesty, why haven't you learned any good ones? Things you get for free will not be cherished. Didn't your Majesty tell you this?

!”

"In the balcony, he always told me that he was sitting on the lotus again and that the old [man] was pushing the cart. How could he make any sense to me..."
Chapter completed!