The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 104 A Whistling Arrow

Neither Zhang Cang nor Cheng Miao responded immediately to the young master's question. After lunch, the young master left.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Zhang Cang was still dealing with the aftermath of his meal.

Cheng Miao was still eating a pancake while looking at the documents.

Once everyone else was out of the Prime Minister's residence, Zhang Cang put down his pen and asked, "How many times has the young master mentioned the Western Rong?"

Cheng Miao was still chewing on a biscuit and didn't reply.

Zhang Cang added, "In recent years, national affairs have been very demanding."

Cheng Miao placed the half-eaten pancake aside, intending to eat it later. He put down the document in his hand and said, "Young Master has been thinking about the Hexi Corridor for a long time."

Zhang Cang asked in a low voice, "How can I help you, young master, obtain the Hexi Corridor?"

Cheng Miao sighed and said nothing more.

Yes, who knows such things? Cheng Miao himself didn't think he had that kind of talent.

Zhang Cang continued to busy himself with his own affairs, remaining silent.

Human abilities are limited, and Zhang Cang really wanted to explain to the young master that he truly lacked the ability to conquer cities and territories.

Five days after the First Emperor left Xianyang, a messenger arrived from Yongcheng with news that the First Emperor had paid homage to the past Qin kings in Yongcheng and was on his way to the west.

Two days before the First Emperor left Yongcheng, Li You received a message from Wang Ben and had already arranged campsites and granaries at the next location.

Therefore, when the army escorting the First Emperor arrived at this camp, a day's worth of rations had already been prepared for the army.

Li You and his troops have already moved on to the next location.

For several days in a row, the First Emperor's entourage traveled quietly across the Loess Plateau in Longxi.

Some say that when the First Emperor came to the west, the black flags covering the mountains and plains of Longxi covered the top of the dry plateau. What was once a small horse-herding tribe in the western frontier in the eyes of the Zhou emperor now had such power.

The First Emperor's entourage traveled for more than half a month before arriving at Shanggui.

Li Youzheng was in charge of transporting grain supplies, and he used Shanggui as a transit point for the grain.

It would take a fast horse three days to travel from Xianyang to Shanggui. The First Emperor took more than half a month to travel from Yongcheng to Shanggui, which was not slow, considering it was a large army.

After the First Emperor entered Shanggui, Li You was having cartloads of grain transported out of the city and sent to Ji County, another place the First Emperor was going to visit on his western tour.

"Commander Li, the Emperor summons you."

Upon hearing this, Li You had no choice but to order the transport of grain to stop and follow the guards to see the First Emperor.

Shanggui is a wealthy county in Longxi, and the richest county at the eastern gateway of Longxi. The county government office is much more spacious, with many armored soldiers standing around it. Even the county magistrate can only stand outside and wait.

Li You was invited into the county government office.

At that moment, Ying Zheng was listening to the report from Du Shui Changlu in the county government office.

Li You stood aside, bowed, and waited quietly.

Shanggui was to begin sowing winter wheat the following winter, as Du Shuichang explained to the First Emperor.

I also heard from the water chief about the advantages of the water conservancy in this area, as well as the Western Zhou dike that remains here.

Shanggui is located on the upper reaches of the Wei River. There is also a canal for diverting water from Taogou. Du Shuichanglu came here not just to farm, but also to dig canals.

Li You remained standing to the side, listening to Du Shuichanglu's views on digging the canal.

According to what Li You knew, after Du Shuichang arrived in Shanggui, he had been corresponding with Prince Fusu of Xianyang. A few days ago, Prince Fusu sent a letter to Du Shuichang. It was said that there were six scrolls of bamboo slips, which must be a very important matter.

Du Shui Changlu said that Prince Fusu asked him to grow grain at Fangmatan in Shanggui and named it Maijishan.

Furthermore, it involves the reclamation of farmland in six townships south of the Wei River, the reconstruction of the Longhe Canal, the storage of spring floodwaters, the protection of summer planting, the relief of autumn drought, and the prevention of winter frost...

As for the others, and what Du Shuichang said, Li You couldn't understand them.

When Li You heard Du Shuichang mention grapes, he immediately perked up, realizing that Du Shuichang wanted to plant grapes here.

Du Shuichang wanted to build the valley floor of the Wei River. In the past, this area was a place where the Western Rong people and Qin people lived together, and the local customs and traditions even had some Rong influence.

After Du Shui finished speaking, he left this place.

Li You, who was standing to the side, perked up.

"Are all these things you're doing arranged by Fusu?"

Li You replied, "I was instructed to make preparations half a month ago."

"Hmm..." Ying Zheng looked at the bamboo slips in his hand and nodded, "You've done a very good job with these things."

Li You breathed a sigh of relief.

Ying Zheng continued, "When you were preparing provisions and mobilizing troops in Shu, you were a military officer. After you returned from Shu, Li Si still appointed someone to serve as a military officer in Xianyang, which made things difficult for you."

"I have no objection."

Ying Zheng glanced at the child, who was about the same age as his son, and said, "You heard it too, Fusu is going to do a lot of things in Longxi."

Li You nodded, but in front of the First Emperor, he had to be careful even when breathing.

"Li Si said you have no military merits, but it seems to me that you have been very prudent in your actions in Shu."

"This...this humble general dares not..."

"After I tour the west to Xianyang, you will be appointed as the Commandant of the Chariots and Cavalry."

"The last general takes orders."

"You must take good care of Su."

"You will finally understand."

Outside the county government office, Wang Ben stood guard at the gate, the cold wind blowing his graying beard and hair. Hearing footsteps, he realized that Li You had come out.

Wang Ben noticed that his steps were trembling slightly, probably due to nervousness.

At this very moment, Wang Ben was most able to empathize with the situation. Prince Fusu had Li You assign the task of managing the transportation of grain and fodder to the First Emperor, and Li Si actually dared to let his son accept such an arrangement.

It must be said that Li Si was quite magnanimous.

Wang Ben followed the First Emperor from a very young age, fighting alongside his father in battles. Military power in Qin was absolutely centralized in the hands of the King of Qin, both in the past and now in the hands of the First Emperor.

When he was young, Wang Ben was in the army. The thing he heard most often was: "How many generals have died at the hands of the Qin kings throughout the ages?"
Wang Ben still remembers that the First Emperor personally went to Pinyang County to invite his father to lead troops to attack Chu. It seemed that the First Emperor was respectful to scholars, but Wang Ben remembered very clearly that when his father was talking with the First Emperor, his father's back was soaked with sweat.

Those who transported grain and fodder to the First Emperor had to endure his interrogation.

Prince Fusu had Li You transport grain supplies because he wanted to cultivate Li You into a trusted confidant, a fact that Wang Ben could see.

The prince never concealed anything, and it was precisely because he never concealed anything that the First Emperor was very at ease letting his son Fusu cultivate his power base; this was almost a tacit understanding between father and son.

Wang Ben gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, his gaze fixed on Li You's retreating figure, and exhaled a breath of warm air in the cold wind.

Since he was the one who would assist Prince Fusu in the future, he would inevitably attract the attention of the First Emperor.

Moreover, he was the son of Chancellor Li Si. Since Li Si was loyal to the First Emperor, Li Si's son was obligated to be loyal to Prince Fusu.

What kind of person was the First Emperor? After his coming-of-age ceremony, the First Emperor returned to Xianyang. On that day... the blood in Xianyang could never be washed away.

Wang Ben couldn't even remember how many people died in Xianyang back then, and even Lü Buwei... the First Emperor killed him without hesitation.

At the very least, Prince Fusu was a virtuous and capable young man.

This made Wang Ben feel that his father had indeed made the best decision of his life. In Xianyang, Fusu was practicing archery in Lü Buwei's old residence.

The young master practiced archery as if it were to relax; he casually fired a few arrows, seemingly unconcerned whether they would hit the target.

Gongzi Gao came carrying a cage. He smiled and said, "Brother, this bird is very beautiful. Someone presented this bird to my younger brother Hu Hai. I also find it quite novel. Let me show it to you, brother."

Fusu drew his bow and nocked an arrow, asking, "Who sent it?"

Gongzi Gao placed the cage on the table. When he opened the cage, the bird did not fly away. He replied, "It is a eunuch named Zhao Gao."

Upon hearing this, Fusu released the bowstring from his hand.

The arrow whistled through the air, and before the bird could utter a single cry, it left behind a few feathers.

The moment the arrow whistled past, Gongzi Gao was startled. Two breaths later, he saw the beautiful bird that had been pierced by the arrow, and some blood was still flowing out.

Young Master Gao is sixteen now, so a dead bird wouldn't surprise him too much.

But when his elder brother suddenly shot an arrow, he was startled.

Fusu smiled again and said, "Those playthings that disturb our minds should all be treated this way."

Upon hearing this, Gongzi Gao's expression turned solemn, and he bowed, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, brother."

Sending a parrot to Xianyang shows how difficult it was. These short-tailed parrots are common in Sichuan. After it was transported to Xianyang, it must have been bought at a high price and presented to Hu Hai.

Zhao Gao?

Fusu silently recited the name in his heart. It is true that one should be wary of people, but one cannot be wary of them all the time.

Zhao Gao is not in danger now, but who knows what will happen in the future?

A person's character is hard to fathom, even if they loudly proclaim their loyalty.

Prince Gao said to the eunuch beside him, "From now on, anyone who gives such amusement objects to their younger siblings shall be dealt with in this manner!"

Having received his instructions, the eunuch quickly left.

When Gongzi Gao looked up again, he saw his elder brother giving instructions to Tian An, and then Tian An left.

Upon seeing his elder brother beckoning, Gongzi Gao stepped forward and said, "Brother."

Fusu said, "Shusun Tong wants to take advantage of you again, doesn't he?"

The young master laughed and said, "He always complains that the tofu he makes is not tasty."

"Tian An has stored a lot of tofu here. Have someone take it with you when you go back."

"Okay, thank you, brother."

“Study hard in Jingye County. When you turn twenty, your elder brother will arrange a career for you.”

Upon hearing this, Gongzi Gao's eyes seemed to light up, and he said happily, "Thank you, brother."

Outside the residence, a palace eunuch stood with a smile on his face, dressed in thin palace clothes. He didn't seem to feel cold at all; he looked like he was waiting for something good.

Then, just as he expected, a tall eunuch walked towards him, followed by a number of other eunuchs.

Zhao Gao looked to be in his forties. He bowed and said, "Attendant Tian."

Tian An looked around first and asked, "A new face, I've never seen you before."

“I have only recently entered the palace. Fortunately, someone in the palace saw that I was literate and well-versed in laws and regulations, so they ordered me to go to Jingye County to take care of the young masters.”

Tian An strode forward and said, "Come with me."

Zhao Gao walked differently from Tian An, who always walked with his back straight, even in the palace.

But Zhao Gao kept his back bowed, with a fawning smile on his face, looking like he wanted to curry favor with Tian An.

Zhao Gao followed Tian An's footsteps, not knowing where they were going, but continued to follow. He then asked, "Where are we..."

Tian An smiled and said, "Young Master said he would reward you."

Zhao Gao's smile widened.

The group arrived at the backyard of the mansion, and several eunuchs from behind entered the courtyard one after another.

Immediately, someone brought over a pushcart.

Just as Zhao Gao was about to ask another question, several people suddenly grabbed his hands and feet, pinning him to the ground as he struggled, saying, "Attendant Tian, ​​this is..."

Tian An said, "You shouldn't have offered it to the young master."

"Attendant Tian... I beg Attendant Tian..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Gao saw someone take out a dagger.

Zhao Gao's body trembled uncontrollably, "I..."

Before he could speak, the dagger was plunged into his throat.

To prevent the ground from getting dirty, several eunuchs held down his neck to stop the blood from flowing freely.

The eunuchs stood around the trembling Zhao Gao, watching him die in silence, and then loaded his body into a cart.

"Tian Changshi, Zhao Gao's files."

Tian An took the file and glanced at it. Upon seeing the family members, he instructed, "Don't leave a single one alive."

"Yes."

Then, Tian An walked to the stove where the tofu was heating up, pulled a piece of firewood from the fire at the bottom of the stove, took it to a distance, and burned the dossier in his hand as well.

From then on, there was no such person as Zhao Gao, including his relatives.

For Prince Fusu and Tian An, erasing a person's traces is easy. Perhaps for the young princes, they will forget that Zhao Gao even existed before long.

At dusk, Prince Gao and a group of men left Xianyang with a cartload of freshly made tofu, which was still steaming hot.

Fusu was walking back to the palace.

Tian An followed from the side and said, "Young Master, everything has been taken care of. Zhao Gaoyuan is the descendant of a criminal who was implicated and made a slave. He was brought into the palace with his body crippled. Because he is literate and knows some Qin laws, he is appreciated by the people in the palace. Young Master is studying in Jingye County. I thought it would be good for Young Master to have more literate people around him, so I sent him to Jingye County."

Fusu never expected Zhao Gao to appear in this way. He thought that getting his younger siblings out of the palace would solve everything.

It just adds a few twists and turns, but it won't stump someone like Zhao Gao.

Then someone else came to report, and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, Tian An quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master, everything is ready. His relatives are all gone."

Fusu nodded, his steps unchanged.

The following day, after learning that Prince Gao had returned to Jingye County the previous night, Fusu beat Prince Huhai so badly that his skin was torn and bleeding, and he was unable to walk for several days.

Every morning at court, Prime Minister Li Si would arrive at the Prime Minister's residence on time.

Fusu was always half an hour earlier than the Prime Minister. Today, he saw the dossier sent by Xu Shi, in which he wrote about the relationship between monsoons and storms at sea.

However, it contains some very cutting-edge coastal meteorological knowledge.

This person's background and identity are recorded in the Prime Minister's residence, and all the scholars from Qi and Lu who come to Qin are also recorded.

He was originally a descendant of a noble family in the Qi region, whose family accumulated wealth through their maritime skills.

(End of this chapter)