The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 115 Xiaohan Ancient Road
When the restaurant door was kicked open, Canghai Jun tried to rush in several times. Even if he couldn't get out alive, he could kill a few Qin soldiers on the spot. Even if he died... if he could die a quick death, it would be a relief.

A smiling county magistrate entered the restaurant and pointed to a few people at the head of the group of generals.

The general looked at Canghai Jun and the many guests present, and said in a deep voice, "Take them away."

Upon hearing this, Canghai Jun, who had just been calm, suddenly sprang to his feet.

"Kill!"

With a loud shout, Canghai Jun lunged at several generals.

Shouts of battle erupted from the restaurant as the Qin soldiers guarding outside entered one by one.

Shortly afterward, when the chaos in the restaurant subsided, the ringleaders had been apprehended.

The local magistrate felt a deep sadness upon seeing the scene before him.

The magistrate naturally knew the identities of the people present. Normally, he would turn a blind eye to things. Originally, the Qin army only wanted to ask Canghai Jun a few questions, just a few questions.

But Canghai Jun made the first move, which made people feel sad.

Putting himself in the magistrate's shoes, he realized that he too would feel fear if he suddenly walked into a restaurant.

Unexpectedly, they actually dared to fight the Qin army.

Only after Qin soldiers came out one by one did the county magistrate dare to look at the restaurant. Several people were carried out, and Canghai Jun had two long spears stuck in his body, as well as several shocking wounds.

The Lord of the Sea is now sitting in the corner, bleeding profusely, and is dead.

The Qin army captured several prisoners alive, and the county magistrate felt sorry for the already tragically dead Canghai Jun.

Of course, after remembering his own position, the magistrate felt it was no pity, since they were the ones who rebelled against Qin.

Another county official hurriedly came to report.

Upon hearing this, the magistrate first dismissed the county official, and then remained in front of the eatery to await the Qin army's instructions.

The county magistrate felt very conflicted about what the county official had just said: the First Emperor did not pass through Sanchuan County, but instead took a detour.

Looking at the tragically deceased Lord Canghai, the magistrate felt a deep sorrow once more. If Lord Canghai had just held his breath, perhaps he wouldn't have had to die. The First Emperor never intended to pass through Sanchuan County.

The restaurant owner's legs went weak. He learned from the Qin soldiers beside him that the First Emperor did not leave through Sanchuan County, but instead went east along the river.

In other words, as long as Lord Canghai listens to Master Zifang and leaves this place sooner, Lord Canghai and the others in the restaurant can survive.

But the shopkeepers didn't understand why the First Emperor would send Qin troops to investigate if he didn't pass through Sanchuan County.

Afterwards, Qin soldiers came to question them.

The shopkeeper told the truth: he was originally a nobleman from the Han region. When the King of Han died, the old nobles of Han left one after another, but he stayed and changed his name to open a restaurant here.

He took in Canghai Jun and 27 other anti-Qin figures, including Zhang Liang. Canghai Jun and his group originally planned to ambush the First Emperor at Bolangsha.

As he said this, the shopkeeper smiled frankly, revealing a thought that had been weighing on his mind: "Qin Shi Huang has declared himself emperor. Does he think the people of the six states will accept him? Ha... no, there are still many, many people in this world who want to rebel against Qin..."

After saying this, he crashed into a sword that was being held by someone. The sword pierced his abdomen, and he stopped moving after a few breaths.

The rest of the people gave similar accounts to the shopkeeper, mentioning Zhang Liang the most.

As the procession passed through Sanchuan County, Fusu rode alongside his wife and children, protecting them. He did this for most of the day, only leaving them when absolutely necessary.

The prince himself was always surrounded by armored soldiers and cavalry, and he would not let them stray too far from his side.

Ying Zheng recounted Fusu's recent actions.

Upon hearing this, Li Si rode his horse beside the First Emperor's carriage and laughed, "Your Highness said that in governing a country, one must first ensure one's own safety. If Your Highness has protected yourself, you have protected the entire army. If anything were to happen to Your Highness..."

"Are you saying that Fusu protecting himself is protecting the entire army?"

Upon hearing the First Emperor's words, Li Si smiled and said, "Protecting yourself is very important."

As the emperor and his ministers were talking, another general rode up on horseback and handed them a scroll of bamboo slips.

Li Si glanced at the contents and then handed it to the eunuch on the carriage shaft, instructing him to deliver it to the First Emperor.

The bamboo slips were placed inside the carriage, and Li Si fell silent, awaiting the emperor's instructions.

"Li Si, come in."

Hearing the cold tone in the First Emperor's voice, Li Si was startled.

He dismounted his warhorse and ran quickly toward the emperor's carriage, then hurriedly boarded it and entered.

Inside the carriage, the light was dim, and there were curtains. The First Emperor did not sit behind the curtains, but in front of them.

The bamboo slips that had just been handed over were slammed to the ground. Ying Zheng angrily said, "The people of Han began plotting against Qin ten years ago!"

Li Si hurriedly said, "Fortunately, we've captured them all."

Ying Zheng pointed at the bamboo slips and said angrily, "Back then, when Neishi Teng attacked Han, King An of Han surrendered. I treated their King An of Han and the nobles of Han well. Back then, these nobles wanted to raise an army in Xinzheng to restore their country. Now, I treat the people of Han well, and the nobles of Han... they still want to rebel against me!"

When the King of Han was defeated, the First Emperor repeatedly showed leniency towards King Han An and the people of Han. However, the First Emperor's leniency only led to the Han nobles becoming even more tyrannical.

The First Emperor didn't care about the man named Zhang Liang; he only cared about how to govern the country well.

Ying Zheng cursed a couple of times, then sat down again and calmed down, rubbing his forehead as he said, "Was bypassing Sanchuan County Fusu's arrangement?"

Li Si nodded.

"Was the investigation of Sanchuan County also arranged by Fusu?"

Li Si nodded once again.

"If I had really gone on the eastern tour last year, would I have been assassinated?"

Li Si had no choice but to remain silent.

Ying Zheng said in a deep voice, "Indeed, scholars from six states have expressed their hope that I would make an eastern tour. It was Fusu who persuaded me."

Just as Li Si was about to speak, he heard another voice.

"Summon Fusu and Feng Jie."

Li Si walked to the carriage shaft, gave a few instructions, and then returned to the carriage.

A moment later, Fusu and Feng Jie entered the carriage.

The First Emperor's carriage was very spacious, and even with four people sitting in their respective directions, it did not feel crowded.

The First Emperor sat in the center, with Fusu and Li Si standing on either side, and Feng Jie standing to the side.

"Fusu, have you been suspicious of the matter in Sanchuan County for a long time?"

"Your subject was only thinking of taking precautions."

Li Si hurriedly added, "Back then, Zhang Liang intended to rebel against Qin and united with the old nobles of Han in Luoyang. At that time, he happened to have the idea of ​​making an eastern tour. If he had actually made the eastern tour, he might have fallen into a trap. Once you leave Hangu Pass, you will be in Sanchuan County. If it were me, I would have done the same."

"Should this matter be investigated further?"

Feng Jie said, "We must investigate, especially Zhang Liang's whereabouts."

The Court of Justice was in charge of criminal justice in the Qin Dynasty and also had the power to arrest criminals; he had quite a few people under his command.

After disembarking from the emperor's carriage, the procession continued.

Fusu mounted his horse and returned to his seat, beside his wife and children. Young Master Heng began to cry inside the carriage, but his wife comforted him, and the crying subsided.

Fusu then saw Feng Jie get out of his father's carriage, and only then did he see the Prime Minister.

"Court Commandant".

Feng Jie had just sat on the shaft of his carriage when he heard the call. It turned out that the young master had arrived. He turned around and bowed, saying, "Young master."

"Did Father give any more instructions?"

"Hmm." Feng Jie recalled the conversation inside the carriage and, having nothing to hide from the young master, sighed, "Prime Minister Li Si advised the First Emperor to send away all the scholars from Qi and Lu and abolish private schools."

"Did Father agree?"

"The emperor neither agreed nor rejected it." As he said this, Feng Jie glanced around.

Fusu said, "I'm sorry to have bothered you. Minister of Justice, please get some rest."

Feng Jie bowed once more and stepped into the carriage.

Fusu, still lost in thought, rode his horse to the side, pondering the recent events and the various events surrounding the eastern tour.

The First Emperor and his prime minister Li Si had run out of patience with the scholars from Qi and Lu. Li Si advised the First Emperor to expel the scholars from the six states and abolish private schools.

The emperor did not immediately agree to Li Si's advice, leaving some room for maneuver.

The next day, the First Emperor ordered that stones be laid on the ruts along the way. The Xiaohan Ancient Road was the border between the three kingdoms of Qin, Wei, and Han, and it was also a place where wars frequently broke out over the years.

Countless bones are buried along this ancient road.

The First Emperor wanted to travel back and forth across the Central Plains using the wheel tracks. If the wheel tracks were used as a seal, then the vast land and rivers would be the inkpad, and the emperor would use the wheel tracks to stamp the territory of this empire.

People will remember the First Emperor's eastern tour, and they will also remember how majestic his entourage was during the tour.

As for the investigation of the former nobles of the Han people in Sanchuan County, it was handed over to the Minister of Justice, Feng Jie.

However, Fusu felt that he could not get involved in this matter, as the Qin court valued officials as role models and each had their own duties.

People have long understood the principle that professionals should be in their professional positions.

The Chief of the Imperial Household Department only does what the Chief of the Imperial Household Department is supposed to do.

The journey lasted for half a month, and everything was calm and peaceful.

Pingyin County is located at the western end of the eastern Henan Plain. The next leg of the First Emperor's journey was to cross this plain to reach Mount Yi.

It is a distance of 600 li from Hangu Pass to Mount Yi.

The carriage slowly traveled across the plain, and when it reached the Yellow River, Fusu saw vast fields.

Today, there are not many saline-alkali depressions on both sides of the Yellow River in the eastern Henan Plain, and the fields are still planted with grain.

At this time of year, the Guanzhong Plain upstream is in the flood season of the Yellow River, and even on the banks of the Yellow River in eastern Henan, the water flow is still rapid.

The eastern Henan Plain is one of the most fertile lands in the Central Plains and a major grain-producing area.

The convoy stopped by the Yellow River, and Fusu was pinching some soil and examining it carefully.

The Central Plains indeed has many important grain-producing areas, whether it is the south, the eastern Henan plain, North China, or the black soil of Liaodong.

Suddenly, his thoughts drifted far ahead. When Fusu thought of Guanzhong, he realized there was still a lot to do.

From Sanchuan County all the way to Pingyin County in the eastern Henan Plain, the Minister of Justice Feng Jie sent several groups of people to search for Zhang Liang, but still found nothing. It was as if he had disappeared from the world.

Fusu left the banks of the Yellow River and walked to the carriage shaft, where he drew areas on the map, circling off pieces of land.

However, while drawing, I overheard the doctors from Shandong discussing Zhang Liang.

It also mentions Zhang Liang's background and connections.

Zhang Liang's assassination attempt at Bolangsha failed before it even began. Canghai Jun was indeed dead, and those who were captured all said that Zhang Liang had planned an assassination, but it had not yet been carried out.

More than ten anti-Qin figures died in Sanchuan County, and according to the scholars from Qilu, Zhang Liang was almost considered the vanguard of the anti-Qin movement.

That's true; Zhang Liang was indeed the first person to dare to set up an ambush on the First Emperor's eastern tour.

The First Emperor's entourage stopped on the banks of the Yellow River, which aroused great curiosity among the people of Pingyin County.

Many people stood at a distance watching the First Emperor's entourage. Among them were some people chatting and laughing with a few young men, one of whom was Chen Ping.

Chen Ping was traveling from Sanchuan County to Pingyin County when he happened to encounter the emperor's entourage resting there.

Chen Ping was handsome and had originally been traveling for studies. He came to Pingyin County this time to arrange a marriage.

Several eligible girls had wanted to marry him, but Chen Ping hadn't taken a liking to any of them.

Not far away, a woman was crying.

Chen Ping remained unmoved by the woman's cries, his gaze still fixed on the convoy in the distance, protected by rows of armored soldiers, whose faces were obscured.

The girl behind me cried for a long time, and probably got tired, so she left.

Chen Ping still didn't pay attention.

It's unclear how many women have cried for Chen Ping. He doesn't fancy many girls, but that doesn't stop him from being a notorious scumbag among his peers in Sanchuan County or Pingyin County.

Furthermore, Chen Ping is a man of high aspirations, and he looks down on women from ordinary families.

"I've heard that Prince Fusu is currently inviting many guests?"

"Where did these guests come from? Prince Fusu's only guest is Shusun Tong."

"I'm afraid none of us will become your guests."

"I've heard that the young master dug a canal that feeds 200,000 people."

"Haven't you heard? The Qin army is still arresting those who oppose Qin."

"How to catch it?"

"It is said that idle men who do not engage in production or farming will be arrested and questioned."

The people of his age were all talking amongst themselves. When they heard that the Qin army was arresting anti-Qin figures, especially idlers, Chen Ping looked a little flustered and quickly left the place.

He entered Pingyin County, where there lived a wealthy family. The head of the household was named Zhang Fu, who was originally from Wuyang County in Sanchuan Prefecture.

Chen Ping lingered at the door of this house, pondering whether or not to pay a visit.

Just as they were hesitating, the door suddenly opened, and a servant opened it.

This put Chen Ping in a dilemma. After a moment of silence with the other party, he quickly stepped forward and took out the letter from the magistrate of Wuyang County.

After hearing his purpose, the servant welcomed the guest inside.

Chen Ping still feels a bit scared now that a man named Zhang Liang had tried to assassinate the First Emperor.

I only felt more at ease after entering this home.

I heard that the Qin army is arresting anti-Qin people everywhere in Sanchuan County. If I hadn't been traveling and studying, I might have been considered an anti-Qin person, just like Chen Ping, who doesn't do any productive work and is always idle.

(End of this chapter)