第一章 道家太上！始皇二年，嬴政与当世道家隐圣相遇

Chapter 1 The Taoist Tai Shang!

In the second year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, within the grand hall of the Zhangtai Palace in Xianyang, a court official addressed the emperor, 'Your Majesty, Lord Yin...'

Emperor Qin Shi Huang interrupted the official as he put down the bamboo scroll in his hand, asking, 'Lord Yin, the Tai Shang of the Taoist sect, why would he quietly become a tombkeeper within my Great Qin?'

Emperor Qin Shi Huang wanted to educate his eldest son, Prince Fusu, and sent him to the Mu Tomb to pay respects to the founder of the Great Qin Empire.

Recently, Prince Fusu had been frequently visiting the Mu Tomb. Thus, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered his court official, Meng Yi, to investigate the matter.

As a result of the investigation, the elusive Tai Shang of the Taoist sect, who was a descendant of Guan Yinzi, the founder of the Wenshi sect, and also the current holder of the Taoist sect's mystical cow ear tag, was finally found.

'Your Majesty, during the Spring and Autumn period, the founder of the Taoist sect, Laozi, left behind several legacies, including one of his disciples named Guan Yinzi, who was also known as the Tai Shang of Wenshi, the True Man of Huanan, and the Hidden Saint of Zhongnan,' Meng Yi said, and then continued, 'This Lord Yin must be the descendant of the Hidden Saint Guan Yinzi and the current holder of the mystical cow ear tag of the Taoist sect.'

Emperor Qin Shi Huang immediately had an impression of Lord Yin. He knew of Guan Yinzi, the founder of the Wenshi sect, who was also the main teacher of the first generation of Guiguzi, the founder of the Zongheng sect, and passed down the 'Wenshi Zhenjing,' a nine-volume scripture that was still circulating in the world.

In the Warring States period, the Zongheng school was known as one that could make the lords of the various states tremble with anger and keep the world at peace when they were in control.

Lord Yin, who was the direct descendant of Guan Yinzi, was undoubtedly extraordinary. It was no wonder that Prince Fusu had been going to the Mu Tomb frequently.

'The Taoist sect advocates being reclusive, and Lord Yin, who is known as the Hidden Saint, is probably just seeking a quiet place at the Mu Tomb,' Emperor Qin Shi Huang said, his sword eyebrows slightly furrowed.

He now unified the world, and there was much to be done. He needed a peerless expert who could guide him in the right direction.

However, the Taoist sect advocates being reclusive and inactive, and if he were to invite Lord Yin to serve him openly, he would probably disappear without a trace the next day, just like how Laozi disappeared after spending only a few days writing the 'Daodejing' at the Hangu Pass.

'Your Majesty, I believe that since Prince Fusu has a destiny with Lord Yin, it is heaven's arrangement, and Lord Yin will come naturally,' Meng Yi organized his words and continued, 'but if Your Majesty wants to invite Lord Yin to serve as an official forcibly...'

'As the Tai Shang, if Lord Yin enters the world, it will be equivalent to announcing the death of the Taoist sect, after all, 'being reclusive and inactive' is the foundation of the Taoist sect's teachings. I understand,' Emperor Qin Shi Huang said.

Actually, Emperor Qin Shi Huang did not believe in the Heavenly Dao very much in the past. He was able to unify the world by relying on the authoritarianism of the Legalist school.

However, he also realized that relying solely on the Legalist school's high-pressure stability was insufficient to govern the entire Huaxia region.

'Have you seen a sacrificial ox? It is adorned with embroidered clothing and fed with good grass and beans. However, when it is led into the temple, even if it wants to be a lone calf, how can it do so?' Emperor Qin Shi Huang said as he stood up quickly, 'Let us go and see whether this Tai Shang of the Taoist sect has inherited any of the true teachings of the great Dao from Laozi and Zhuangzi!'

Meng Yi quickly stepped forward to support him.

The classical Chinese that Emperor Qin Shi Huang spoke was an allusion to a story from the philosopher Zhuangzi. In the story, a man went to Zhuangzi to ask him to take up a position in the government. Zhuangzi replied that he had already seen a sacrificial ox, which was adorned with embroidered clothing and fed with good grass and beans. However, when it was led into the temple, even if it wanted to be a lone calf, how could it do so?

To Zhuangzi, worldly fame and fortune were like the embroidered clothing, and if he became an official, he would be no different from the sacrificial ox.

Therefore, Zhuangzi would rather live a simple and plain life than be burdened by the affairs of the world. This was also the consistent philosophy of the Taoist sect during the Spring and Autumn period.

In addition, Emperor Qin Shi Huang returned to Xianyang at the age of ten and ascended to the throne at the age of thirteen. He did not begin his rule until he came of age at twenty-two.

During these ten years, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had been reading ancient and modern classics and studying the thoughts of various philosophers.

It was difficult for ordinary talents to enter the eyes of the emperor.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang was seeking a person who was similar to Zhou Gong, the Duke of Zhou, who assisted King Cheng of Zhou, and Lord Shang, who assisted King Wu of Zhou.