7. Adversary to Confucianists
Shi Huang's unwillingness against the Confucian teachings, explainable already by political causes,
won surely more strength through his feelings for the Taoism. That this brutal man of actions could have a sense for action less contemplation isn't very likely,
but he was very superstitious and listened with great respect to all who represented the teachings of Lao Zi (founder of Taoism) even if they were pure charlatans.
During one of his travels it is said that he met with such a character who sold medicine on the shore of the Yellow Sea,
and that he talked with this man over supernatural things and especially of the elixir of life for three days and three nights,
but after that, the man mysteriously disappeared and left a letter to the emperor where it said that he should look for the elixir on the Immortal's Islands eastwards on the Yellow Sea.
The emperor immediately equipped an expedition which consisted of 3,000 young men and the same amount of young women, which departed with a few hundred ships,
unfortunately they were never heard of again, and disappointed in his wait for the elixir he became obsessed with the thought that his spiritual advisors were just a bunch of charlatans and quacks.
He also killed a couple of hundreds of them later on.
He took the charlatans lives in a way that was indeed farfetched, as one might think, it is told that he started to grow pumpkins in a valley that was known for its infertility,
he then invited all of the 460 mystics and conjurers to the valley, he then asked for their advice on what to do with the infertility of the valley.
So, when these unfortunate people were investigating the bottom of the valley, he had the valley filled with rocks and dirt, thus burying the people alive.
This happened in the year 212 BCE.
This hunt for immortality would shorten Shi Huang's life rather than contribute to his immortality,
all these potions were hardly good for the health, they could have ingredients of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances.
It is also said that Shi Huang died from a case of mental illness.
