Ri Shi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chinese | Li Si | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kanji | 李斯 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Romaji | Ri Shii | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Epithet | Keeper of Legalism Pillar of Ryo Fui (Defunct) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biographical Information
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Professional Information
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Appearance
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“ | It doesn't have to be me. Even if you and I die...the law will continue to live on and continue to evolve. For that is what the law is. The law is a wish! A way to guide both a nation and its people towards the ideal state that one envisions. | ” |
—Ri Shi to Shou Bun Kun. |
Ri Shi is the current head of administration and legalism in the State of Qin's courts. He was once Ryo Fui's right-hand as a member of the Four Pillars of Ryo Fui for the Ryo Fui Faction. After Ryo Fui's fall from power during the Ai rebellion, he was imprisoned for his actions and crimes, however, he was recruited and pardoned by Shou Bun Kun after the chancellor asked for his help and ability in Ei Sei's plan of unification and establishing the future foundation of legalism.
Later on, Ri Shi was revealed to have been a former student of Jun Shi, the famed philosopher and classmate of Kan Pishi, a prince of Han and famous legalist.
Appearance[]
Ri Shi is a middle aged man in his 40s with long, black hair is tied back in a ponytail and a small mustache. He usually wears a stern sharpen expression and a frown on his face, a look he has had since his youth, but will change depending on the situation.
For clothing, he wears a light coloring decorative robe.
Personality[]
Ri Shi is a man with a no-nonsense nature who speaks mainly about state matters with others but chooses his words. He has no issue in ordering the deaths of others through assassination who posed a threat to the Ryo Fui Faction and even stood up to Mou Bu's threats without a hint of fear.
Ri Shi is a very strict man capable of thinking on a bigger scale and is willing to deal with difficult tasks with a pragmatic and practical approaches. He is able to see the little signs and changes in behavior of others, getting a clear image of the person in front of him.
Aside from his stern nature, Ri Shi can also be sarcastic teaser as he sometimes plays the part of a straight man. This frequent trait was evident even in his youth as he enjoyed mocking his classmates. This trait still surfaces from time to time like when he rebuffed the angry Ei Sei Faction's wanting him to return to prison with a sarcastic tone and teases his wife.
Relationships[]
Wife[]
Ri Shi enjoys his wife's company and usually relaxes whenever she is around. They met when they were students of Jun Shi, along with Kan Pishi.[1]
History[]
Ri Shi was originally a legalist student under Jun Shi in the state of Chu. Unlike the rest of his classmates, he was not of noble birth having come from a poor background and was more focused on his studies in order to make a name for himself. While there, he was second only to Kan Pishi, a Han prince, in terms of grades with the two competing with each other until they graduated and returned to their home states.
At point, Ri Shi rose through the ranks of the Qin courts, and he caught the eye of Ryo Fui, a former merchant turned Chancellor, who took him underneath his wing. Ri Shi would eventually become a member of the Four Pillars of the Ryo Fui Faction mostly like after Shou Hei Kun.
Story[]
Training Arc[]
Ri Shi makes his first appearance along with the rest of the Ryo Fui Faction as they visit Ei Sei following the attempted assassination against the young Qin King. As they enter the royal throne, Ri Shi and the other officials show off their respective "air" which intimidate the members of the Ei Sei Faction,
Sanyou Aftermath Arc[]
Accompanying Shou Hei Kun to the region of Sanyou, Ri Shi is placed in charge of administration and his duty is to ensure the region adheres to Qin laws. Sometime later, he becomes puzzled as to the sudden influx of allies to their faction, he finds out that the Royal Harem has been manipulating things behind the scenes. Thinking over the new information, Ri Shi realizes the dangerous game that Ryo Fui is playing as news of this could destroy him. After killing the informant, he tells Ryo that reliance on the royal harem faction is a double-edged sword for their camp.
At the swearing in of the new chancellors, Ri Shi was expected to be elected as the "Chancellor of the Left" but is angered when the position is given to Sho Bun Kun. Sai Taku tells Ri Shi to be patient as his time will soon come to be a chancellor.
Bureaucrats Job Arc[]
After the failure of the rebellion of Rou Ai, the Ryo Fui Faction lost its power. So, it came, that Ri Shi was stripped all of his titles and privileges and was thrown into prison for his crimes against the state. There he returned to his days as a normal legalist and continually wrote up new drafts of the law until Shou Bun Kun came to ask him about the laws that could reign all of China. After listening to his answers and theories on the law, Shou Bun Kun begs Ri Shi to lend the king his strength and knowledge, he accepts the invitation of Shou Bun Kun to join the king's faction.
Western Zhao Invasion Arc[]
After being released from prison, Ri Shi retakes his place in the courts of Qin and Ei Sei pardons him for his past crimes. Later, he notices the distress on Shou Hei Kun's face and questions him on it. He was dispatched in the region past Retsubi, along with many Qin civilians, in order to stabilize it. Because of his previous experience with Sanyou, recent reports have all been about how efficient his operation has been.
Nature Of Humanity Arc[]
After Kan Pishi is invited to Qin by Ei Sei, he is asked to cooperate with him to improve Qin's law. However, he notices that he lacks willpower and wonders why he has come here.
When his spy, You Ka, returns from Zhao to make his report, he comes across Kan Pishi and spies infiltrating Ri Shi's mansion. He informs Ri Shi that Kan Pishi is certainly one of the leaders of Han's spy network and that this is the reason for his presence in Qin.
Ri Shi warns Ei Sei of these accusations, and during the night Kan Pishi's residence is searched and evidence of espionage discovered. He asks Ei Sei for permission to interrogate Kan Pishi.
Kan Pi Shi confessed and warned him that You Ka was dangerous. To his knowledge, he works for Zhao, Wei, Chu and Qi. He has promised to betray Qin and work as a double agent for them in order to acquire a huge amount of money and pursue his missions. It's hard to know which nation Youka actually works for. For the past year, Youka has been Ri Boku's subordinate. He knew about the trap set for Kan Ki and didn't inform Qin.
Just as he was about to report to Ei Sei, a messenger informed them that Kan Pishi had died in prison, even though he hadn't ordered him to be locked up. On returning home, he discovers his body and realizes that it was You Ka who killed him.
You Ka admits that he had Kan Pishi locked up in prison and supplied him with poison. He explains that he couldn't let him live when he knew his identity and had to silence him quickly.
He asks Ri Shi to fake Kan Pishi's death as a suicide and let him continue his operations for the sake of unification. You Ka and his network of spies are needed to maintain discord in the opposing courts and prevent the emergence of coalitions or alliances. He knew about Zhao's northern trap but intentionally ignored it in order to win Ri Boku's trust.
Despite his personal feelings, Ri Shi agrees to forgive You Ka's actions and send him back to Ri Boku to destroy Zhao from within.
Three Pillars Arc[]
When Shou Hei Kun came up the Three Pillar Plan Ri Shi alongside other officials is tasked with implementing the family registry which they are able to complete after months of hard work.
Abilities[]
STATS | |
---|---|
Strength | 56 |
Leadership | 85 |
Intelligence | 94 |
Experience | B |
Politics | 98 |
STATS | |
---|---|
Strength | 55 |
Leadership | 84 |
Intelligence | 91 |
Experience | B |
Politics | 97 |
STATS | |
---|---|
Strength | 55 |
Leadership | 84 |
Intelligence | 90 |
Experience | C |
Politics | 96 |
STATS | |
---|---|
Strength | Unknown |
Leadership | Unknown |
Intelligence | 90 |
Politics | 95 |
Politics[]
Ri Shi was mentioned to be the best expert in legalism in Qin and one of the greatest in all of China.[2] His expertise on the subject being considered on the same level as Kan Pishi[3] with the two of them being described as paragons of legalism during Warring States Period.[4] Him and Kan Pishi were believed to be the only two people capable of uniting the various legal systems of warring states.[5]
Quotes[]
- [To Shou Bun Kun] With my position as one of the Pillars now a thing of the past, I have returned to being a simple legalist. And what is there for a legalist to do, but to read and study works of the law...and then, think and draw up drafts of new laws?
- [ To Shou Bun Kun] I'm not surprised. A government based on the law that will over this entire land. What you speak of is something that touches upon the true essence of Legalism. It is not something that the likes of you would be able to see or comprehend.
- [ To Shou Bun Kun] The law is a wish! A way to guide both a nation and its people towards the ideal state that one envisions! After unification just what do you hope to happen to all the people living in these lands? How do you wish them to live their lives? What direction do you wish them to take!? Ponder the answer to those questions well! If you can do that then you will naturally begin to see the laws that you desire.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The only man who rivals Ri Shi in his knowledge of legalism is Kan Pi Shi aka Han Fei also known as Han Fei Zi.
- Coincidentally, they were both classmates who studied under Jun Shi.
- Ri Shi is often the straight man of the funny moments within the courts of Qin or his former master, Ryo Fui.
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References[]
- ↑ Kingdom Manga: Vol.70 Chapter 764, page 2 and Chapter 766, page 10
- ↑ Chapter 494 Page 5
- ↑ Chapter 757 Page 19
- ↑ Chapter 761 Page 3
- ↑ Chapter 495 Page 4