Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 327, Section 326: Youthful Spirit
When the Queen brings this up, the ministers become very alert!
Whether civil or military officials, they always need to maintain face. If their ancestors were prominent nobles, then they need to maintain it even more diligently.

Later generations may have preferred the idyllic countryside with its bluestone and red brick walls. But today, it is precisely in such large, flat, and open areas that true spaciousness is revealed.

Of course, there are also those who value aesthetics and feel that this is a bit rigid—but that's okay. If you don't use it in the courtyard, you still need it in front of your house. Otherwise, if other houses have it and you don't, wouldn't you lose big time?
Qin Shi stopped there, then watched as Xin stepped forward and proceeded to drive a horse-drawn carriage, push a wheelbarrow, pour water on it, set it on fire, and pound it with a sledgehammer... The once smooth cement ground was ravaged; it wasn't completely undamaged, but it wasn't severely damaged either.

"good!"

Ji Heng was the first to exclaim in admiration: "If this method of governance is used, how long can it be sustained?"

Xin bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the grass seeds below are growing, and heavy carts and horses are moving about above. They should live for about ten years. After that, they will need regular maintenance to ensure they last for thirty years..."

Given the current lack of sufficient experimental conditions, the fact that he could give this number already shows that he had carefully calculated it.

As for whether it's accurate or not...

The Queen was right when she said, "If you don't know what the outcome will be, then do it anyway."

Even if it is damaged within five years, would the king kill it?
Naturally, we should collect data as early as possible and make necessary corrections and additions.

Upon seeing this data, Ji Heng was overjoyed!
A section of road can be paved in just a few days, and after it dries and hardens, it requires frequent maintenance only after several years. Compared to today's dirt roads, the paving efficiency is vastly improved!
Looking at Xin, who had been promoted from a criminal, he finally nodded and said, "The Junior Secretary is indeed prudent in his actions."

Xin slowly bowed down.

He knew that with the king's words, no one would object to the queen's further promotions!
……

Madam Zheng offered prayers and sacrifices with utmost sincerity until she smelled the sweet aroma of milk tea, at which point she slowly withdrew from the hall.

Sure enough, a maid served her a steaming cup of milk tea and a reed tube.

She held it slowly, taking small sips, the full-sweet flavor filling her mouth, a huge sense of happiness and satisfaction washing over her, so much so that even the corners of her eyes and brows felt content.

It wasn't until the maid reminded her, "Madam, your waist has grown an inch since we had new clothes made recently," that she finally understood.

Actually, clothing styles these days aren't very form-fitting, so an inch more or less isn't that noticeable.

However, the Queen, who spent her days in the palace, did not favor such cumbersome clothing and slightly altered a few styles.

Her chief dressmaker devoted himself to studying it, wishing he could have the queen wear different styles of clothing every day...

Whether it's good or bad, beautiful or not, everyone can see it at a glance.

As a result, everyone in the palace followed suit. Even the palace maids who had some spare money would often secretly alter each other's clothes...

Of course, to avoid any confusion or overstepping of boundaries in their clothing, their changes to the style of their clothes were limited to a few minor details.

But according to the older women at Ganquan Palace, the Queen understands everyone's love of beauty and wants to allow the off-duty palace maids to dress more freely, as long as they don't embroider patterns that violate the regulations, they can do whatever they want...

For Qin Shi, it would be too hard for palace maids to spend their entire lives in this small palace city, especially if they had to wear work clothes even after get off work.

Moreover, if we're going to be open, we need to be open in every detail. Who knows, with all those countless palace maids and servants in this vast Xianyang Palace, how they might not be able to generate any economic activity?

Those old clothing materials, pearls, and brocades, must find a way to circulate.

In short, everyone in and outside the palace, men and women, admired beauty, and the servants noticed that Lady Zheng was getting fat.

As for Madam Zheng...

"So what if we're a little fat? Ever since the King met the Queen, he hasn't summoned us again. What does it matter if we're a bit chubby?"

Lady Chu did have a slender waist, but the king never seemed to appreciate her.

Of course, Madam Chu has also gained a little weight recently.

Thinking about it this way, Madam Zheng became even more at ease.

The Queen said that this milk tea should be drunk in moderation—oh dear, the royal physician also said that eating roasted meat every day is not good, as it will shorten one's lifespan…

But she doesn't know if she'll live to be 60.

In that case, let's drink it first.

Faced with the servants' urging, Madam Zheng gritted her teeth and said, "Tomorrow, I definitely won't drink it tomorrow."

She hastily changed the subject: "Why haven't I seen Wen'er lately?"

Prince Qian was in high spirits, discussing travel routes, security plans, and the allocation of provisions with Lin, the private army captain under the Queen, every day...

They were full of vigor and high spirits.

Besides, he would be leaving Xianyang soon, so how could he possibly care about his mother?

But Wen'er only took over the auction from the Queen, and it's been quite a while since we've seen her.
Ah dear—Madam Zheng thought with a hint of worry:
Wen'er is always a thoughtful person, and she wonders if this job is difficult or if she has cried again.

cry?
Princess Wen now feels her throat is on fire, let alone crying.

Nevertheless, after giving her a sip of the cooling medicinal soup, she still had to give her instructions again:
"This glass tree isn't big enough. Quickly ask the young master if the glass workshop has offered a larger one. This is the entrance to the auction, so we need something extremely impressive."

Although she had originally accepted the business of organizing the auction, she still felt somewhat unwilling.

At first, she maintained an arrogant and reserved demeanor, but the Queen overheard her and summoned her again, quietly asking:
"Wen'er, do you want to be an unknown, reserved, and noble princess of a weak dynasty that was killed after only two generations, or do you want to be the Grand Princess of Qin, whose name will be recorded in history and whose influence will be significant at the beginning of a unified dynasty's thousand-year golden age?"

The sheer excitement and allure, the shock and awe it evoked left Princess Wen speechless and dumbfounded.

She didn't even care about being recorded in history; she only exclaimed in shock, "The Second Emperor has been beheaded? How can the Queen look down on my Qin state so lightly?"

"Our Qin state has conquered the world, unified the six kingdoms, and now enjoys a glorious and prosperous reign. My father, the king, commands respect across the four seas—"

But before she could finish her rebuttal, the Queen sighed again:
"But this is precisely the predicament that my Qin state is facing now."

The young queen, whom she had once disregarded, gave a wry smile, her eyes filled with determination yet tinged with regret:

"Your father may seem stern, but he loves you children very much. Parents who love their children are always willing to support them and protect them."

"But in reality, the Qin state is also in a difficult situation now."

"As you know, for any prosperous era to last, the ruler's vision, the treasury's abundance, the gathering of talented people, and the succession of a good ruler are all indispensable."

"But now, your father is working tirelessly on state affairs, yet none of his many children can share his burdens."

"The wealth accumulated by our Qin state over generations has been exhausted in the wars to conquer the six states. Even if there are other riches from the conquests, the Lingqu Canal and the Straight Road need to be built, but the Great Wall of the Xiongnu cannot be stopped, and the border troops cannot be paid even a single grain of rice... Your father never let you know about these difficulties."

The Queen's voice was soft, and although she had invited her to meet, they only spoke privately indoors. The way the Queen openly and frankly explained the secrets of the kingdom to Princess Wenxin filled her with respect, yet also left her speechless with astonishment.

In her heart, her father was as majestic as a mountain, and the Qin state was as powerful as the eternally inherited Tai'a—no, now it was the Taiwei Sword.
How could it be as the Queen said, as if a jade mountain were about to collapse, as precarious as a pile of eggs?

But the queen's expression was solemn and resolute:
"And most importantly, the successor."

The Queen gave a wry smile: "Wen'er, do you really think that neither your elder brother nor Chenghu can inherit your father's unprecedented ambition for dominance?"

Princess Wen did not speak.

At this moment, under the Queen's words, she could only lower her head in shame.

Having a father who is a great and powerful ruler throughout history makes his children feel that they are far beyond his reach.

This thought, which had been kept secret, was now exposed by the Queen, making her feel embarrassed and burdened.

Qin Shi sighed.

Although she exaggerated in her words, Ji Heng did indeed have a loving heart for his children.

Otherwise, given the state of his princes and princesses, if they were born in the Tang, Song, Ming, or Qing dynasties, they would have been easily controlled by others.

A powerful monarch always feels he can control the world and often disdains to share his worries with his children.

But it is precisely the young who have the greatest ambitions and the most energy.

If you tell an adult, "The country is about to entrust you with an important task: to protect the country," their first reaction will be, "Oh, me?"

Another question is—"Is it a permanent position? What is the salary?"

Only young people would act without hesitation, full of youthful vigor:
"I am willing!"

Despite their many shortcomings, aren't Princess Wen and Prince Qian just like that?

Because of the Queen's words, Princess Wen, even though she still looked down on these business dealings, gritted her teeth and persisted.

The Queen had explained to her in detail the country's current financial difficulties, and said that she was willing to sell these precious Kunlun secret techniques so that her father could better govern the country...

With such a broad mind, as a princess of Qin, she naturally couldn't hold back.

She wants to become the Qin princess who will be remembered in history!

Therefore, all these auction setups serve only one purpose—

Sell ​​at a high price, stubbornly stick to selling at a high price.

As for the nobles and merchants, although the greatest treasure in the world was the Qin King's treasury, their ancestors came from various states, and some of them had seen some rare treasures.

Princess Wen felt that the glass flower tree in front of the door was not impressive enough when she thought about it.

Although she was stunned when she first saw it, even the glass cups in the palace that she couldn't bear to smash seemed shabby...

However, this secret technique of glassmaking is also the focus of the auction, so it will naturally be displayed as brilliantly and elaborately as possible.

She is the eldest princess of Qin, and now she is in charge of this matter in every detail. Not only are they full of enthusiasm under the Queen's promises, but also everyone will do their best because of her status.

Therefore, at a single command, some people immediately went to the Imperial Household Department, while others thoughtfully prepared carriages and horses, heading straight to the glass workshop.

Princess Wen's throat was dry and sore from shouting. She had stayed up until the third watch of the night last night thinking about the palace's furnishings. Even though she was an energetic young woman, she was feeling tired and exhausted at this moment.

However, at that moment, another servant came to report:
"Princess, at the auction venue set up by the Queen, more than ten wealthy merchants have already come to pay their respects—may I ask whether we should accept their invitations? And how should we adjust the seating arrangements?"

There is a distinction between the noble and the common people. Although the queen granted them a pardon, the merchants could never be placed on the same level as the nobles.

Princess Wen took a deep breath, having already put aside the tears she had shed at Ganquan Palace.

Forget wiping away her tears, she drank the medicine in one gulp, her calves feeling slightly swollen, but she straightened her sleeves again:
"Come with me to the scene."

He thought to himself, half annoyed and half proud: "I had heard about the auction preparations before, but I didn't expect the progress to be so rushed once it was under my control. Could it be that no one else had entrusted it to me before, and my involvement has made it even more powerful?"
With this thought in mind, Princess Wen moved with a light step, and even her throat seemed to feel less sore.

Why is the auction being rushed?
It's very simple, the cement is made!

Once it's done, it needs to be promoted as soon as possible. Promoting it to all major locations not only takes time, but also requires a lot of money and labor.

It is now the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, and most parts of the Qin state have not yet entered the coldest period. Taking advantage of this opportunity to quickly expand the cement road is a godsend.

Otherwise, waiting for blizzards and cold weather will severely affect the setting and laying of cement.

If we wait until the weather warms up, then farmers will be busy planting again—food is a matter of national importance, and everything else must give way to it.

This delay means another month or two of work will be delayed. And once the millet is planted, those who need to serve will have to go back to their duties...

Speed ​​is of the essence in warfare, and the same applies to promotion.

However, since this vital transportation route is now related to national defense, it cannot be distributed among merchants as it was with coal-carrying wheelbarrows in the past.

Therefore, getting the money as soon as possible and pushing the cement out is of paramount importance!
Princess Wen didn't know the key points, but that didn't stop her from feeling an immense sense of responsibility. At this moment, she was busy in a flurry of activity, her feet practically flying.

Outside Xianyang City, Bai Qiusha, the "Propaganda Secretary," who was extremely busy, finally managed to find some time to meet with the family head.

"Master, Qiu Sha is late. She is carrying out a royal mission..."

"I understand! I understand! Qiusha, the future of our tribe rests on your shoulders. Under the Queen's command, you must do your utmost. Is there anything we lack now?"

There are so many things missing!

Upon hearing this, Bai Qiusha almost blurted out that she wanted people and money—

Alas, the Queen is just as busy with state affairs as the King. Although he is responsible for the history of propaganda and wants to promote these various plays throughout the world, every time he asks the palace for funding and food, the other party is also too busy to pay attention to his humble request.

Although it was delayed for a few days, the corresponding money and food were allocated according to the regulations. But with only two mouthfuls of millet per person per day, how could they properly pass on the various performances of the "Son of the Dragon God"?

However, the Queen kept asking about the progress. Bai Qiusha wanted to take credit for it, so at the suggestion of Danpu, the eunuch of Ganquan Palace, she decided to use the resources of her own clan to submit a perfect report first!

But now, recalling the shock of these past few days, he only gripped the patriarch's weathered hand tightly:

"Master! The Queen is truly no ordinary person!!!"

　Coming!
　　(End of this chapter)