The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 116 The Master Xunzi

The man arrived carrying a letter from the magistrate of Wuyang County. When Zhang Fu's servant went to deliver the letter, Chen Ping could only stand inside the hall and wait.

Zhang Fu's family was indeed wealthy, especially this courtyard, which, although not large, still retained a lot of nobility.

Chen Ping felt that his background and family circumstances prevented him from meeting people of a higher level, and his social interactions were limited to a few ordinary people.

However, Zhang Fujia had considerable connections in this Dongjun.

Then he heard the aged voice approaching from afar, and Chen Ping made a gesture of greeting.

Zhang Fuli saw the young man and smiled, "Wuyang County, how is everything?"

Zhang Fu was old, and his hair and beard were already gray.

Chen Ping understood the implication: the First Emperor's eastern tour passed through Sanchuan County, and the entourage was now outside Dongjun County. Zhang Fu and the magistrate of Wuyang County were old acquaintances.

As for himself, a down-on-his-luck and poor man, how could he possibly meet the wealthy Zhang Fu? Chen Ping smiled self-deprecatingly to himself; he was merely a messenger, which was why he could meet the other party.

Zhang Fu looked at the contents of the letter, then at Chen Ping in front of him, and began to ask questions.

However, during the questioning, Zhang Fu was also observing Chen Ping. This young man looked to be nearly thirty years old and spoke very properly.

When Zhang asked about the future...

Chen Ping, however, said that they should now serve Prince Fusu, who has a great reputation in Guanzhong and will surely become the next Qin emperor. He, Chen Ping, has ambitions and is determined to become a disciple of Prince Fusu.

Prince Fusu enjoyed a high reputation in Guanzhong. He was fair in rewarding and punishing, frugal, and never sought pleasure in material possessions.

In Chen Ping's mind, the most endearing quality of the young master was that he was a man of his word and always kept his promises.

Working under such a young master, Chen Ping is sure to be rewarded as long as he is capable and loyal.

For Chen Ping, choosing someone worth serving is of paramount importance.

Some people you serve but don't receive anything in return.

There are also some people who, even if you serve them, will not be given important responsibilities.

But Prince Fusu's character is just too good, and he meets Chen Ping's requirements too well. Chen Ping is willing to be loyal to such a prince no matter what. More importantly... that prince has excellent connections.

The fact that the young master was a disciple of Prime Minister Li Si and also on good terms with Xunzi's disciples was an extremely advantageous condition for Chen Ping.

Chen Ping also said that if he were in that position, he would definitely be a competent person.

Of course, Zhang Fu took these as mere boastful words. He believed that Chen Ping was indeed intelligent, otherwise the magistrate of Wuyang County would not have given him such advice in the letter.

Zhang Fu had extensive connections in Dongjun, including wandering knights, former nobles of the six states, and officials from various regions.

It was quite strange that Chen Ping's family was very poor, yet he was highly regarded by the local magistrate and the county magistrate of Wuyang County.

Judging from the other person's pitiful state, Zhang Fu suspected that this person was struggling to even feed himself in Dongjun.

Zhang Fu only had the man stay for breakfast before letting him leave.

Chen Ping left Zhang Fu's house. The letter had been delivered, but he had nowhere to go.

Not only was food and clothing a problem, but even finding a place to stay was a problem for Chen Ping.

However, upon further reflection, Chen Ping felt that his words and actions at Zhang Fu's house were quite appropriate. His speech, manners, and knowledge were all just right. Zhang Fu, who had extensive connections in Dongjun, must also be a man of great insight.

Zhang Fuding could certainly see Chen Ping's talent and learning.

Afterwards, Chen Ping did not leave immediately, but instead inquired about the place from the servants.

The First Emperor's entourage stopped for two days on the outskirts of Dongjun before setting off again for Mount Yi.

Just before the First Emperor left Dongjun, news came that Tongguan would be recruiting teachers in the future.

After the First Emperor left Dongjun, a family in Pingyin County was holding a funeral.

Coincidentally, Zhang Fu also knew the family that was holding a funeral.

Chen Ping and Zhang Fu met again at this household.

Upon seeing Chen Ping again, Zhang Fu looked him up and down and whispered, "Everyone says you're poor and lazy in Wuyang County, yet you're willing to do funerals here?"

Chen Ping gave an awkward smile.

Zhang Fu continued to talk with him. Chen Ping felt that it would be a great opportunity to serve Prince Fusu in the future. Moreover, the emperor's entourage left behind a message that Prince Fusu wanted to set up a school in Tongguan and needed teachers.

This matter was merely a rumor. Perhaps at the time... Zhang Fu thought Chen Ping's desire to serve Prince Fusu was just a slip of the tongue, but now... he heard this news from the emperor's entourage.

Zhang Fu really needs to think this through carefully.

Furthermore, there was indeed a weight on his mind that he hadn't been able to lift, and that weight was his granddaughter who had married several times and been widowed several times.

Zhang Fu thought for a moment and then asked, "Where do you live now?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping looked embarrassed and had no choice but to take Zhang Fu to his residence.

Chen Ping's place could hardly be called a residence; it was just a dilapidated hut without even a wooden door.

After thinking it over carefully, Zhang Fu patted Chen Ping on the shoulder.

The following day, news spread throughout Dongjun that Zhang Fu's granddaughter was to marry Chen Ping.

Zhang Fu's granddaughter had been married several times, but several of her husbands had died. No one in Dongjun was willing to marry her, but Chen Ping didn't care and was very willing to marry her.

Three days after the funeral, Zhang Fu took Chen Ping back to Wuyang County in Sanchuan Prefecture and held a wedding ceremony.

The day after the wedding, Chen Ping asked Zhang Fu for help from the magistrate of Wuyang County to recommend him to teach in Tongguan.

Zhang Fu was quite wealthy. Chen Ping, who was once down on his luck and poor, received help from his father-in-law after getting married. He then acquired a decent house and his social circle expanded.

Mount Yi is located in the southeast of Dongjun, and to the locals, it is also called Dongshan (East Mountain).

The emperor's entourage stopped at the foot of the mountain, where the emperor prepared to rest. Many ministers were also walking in twos and threes, talking.

The closer to the land of Lu, the more active the Shandong PhDs become, and even students have come to visit.

Besides the active participation of the Qilu PhDs, many soldiers also relaxed considerably.

As usual, Fusu did not wander around, but sat by his wife and children's carriage, cooking noodles.

The weather is no longer as hot as it was during the sweltering summer, the climate has become more pleasant, and people's moods have naturally improved.

Fusu took the child from his wife's arms and handed the child to Tian An to hold. Then the couple ate the freshly cooked noodles.

Tian Anhuai held the young master Heng with a smile on his face, but as he smiled, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes again.

Ying Zheng walked along the lake at the foot of the mountain. He paused briefly and, along with Li Si, glanced to the side and saw their son in the direction of the convoy.

Just then, Fusu was seen sharing his noodles with his wife, and the young couple were surprisingly harmonious.

Ying Zheng looked up at the mountaintop again. Li Si stood silently to the side. The First Emperor's life was full of hardships, especially the first half of his life, even his childhood was spent in constant fear of losing his life.

If Prince Fusu's life could have been better, smoother, and warmer, wouldn't that have been a kind of compensation for the First Emperor, who had experienced uncertainty since childhood?

Yes, the young master is living such a happy and fulfilling life now that even the First Emperor has a smile on his face.

It seems that the wounds left in the emperor's heart in the past have been somewhat healed at this moment.

"Let's go up and have a look."

Upon hearing this, Li Si's expression turned serious again, and he followed the First Emperor up Mount Yi.

Mount Yi is a large mountain range with many beautiful landscapes and ponds. It is said that many people from all over Shandong Province would live in seclusion here.

Fusu also looked up at his father, who was about to climb a mountain with Prime Minister Li Si.

This convoy, which came all the way from Xianyang, passed through the Guanzhong Plain, crossed Hangu Pass, and now crossed the eastern Henan Plain to reach Yishan Mountain.

"Is the young master also going mountain climbing?"

Fusu glanced at the child in Tian An's arms and said in a low voice, "Let's not go. It's fine to sit here and watch."

Tian An nodded.

Until nightfall, news came from Mount Yi that the First Emperor had ordered his prime minister, Li Si, to carve a stone stele, inscribed with the words: "The emperor established the nation, its beginnings in the past… He pursued the Rong ministers, who, following the imperial edict, soon destroyed the six tyrannical powers. In the twenty-sixth year, he was honored with a high title, his filial piety evident. After offering sacrifices… this stone was carved to commemorate his achievements."

Fusu read the entire document. It was actually an edict from the First Emperor, written in Small Seal script. This edict signified the end of the warring states and the end of the Zhou Dynasty.

The script used was Small Seal script, which was meant to warn the world that standardizing writing and cart axles was something Qin would inevitably do.

Fusu told his wife to take the children to rest first, while he stayed by the carriage, waiting for his father to return from the mountain.

Fusu then looked at Wang Ben beside him and said, "The next trip will be to Mount Tai, right?"

Wang Ben nodded and replied, "Zhang Cang has already arrived at Mount Tai with the grain."

Fusu then looked at the large lake at the foot of Mount Yi. The lake was beautiful, and one could see the moon and stars reflected in its waters.

When Fusu looked up again, he saw a line of torches heading down the mountain.

After standing there for a long time, Fusu met Li You, and then his father, the emperor, and Prime Minister Li Si, who were walking back from behind, as well as a group of scholars from Qi and Lu.

Fusu stood aside and bowed to welcome his father back. As his father and Prime Minister Li Si walked past, they came to a group of scholars from Shandong.

They didn't look too good.

Most of these Shandong scholars had read through the inscriptions on the mountain.

The First Emperor never intended to use the rites of the Zhou emperor to ascend the mountain. The implication of the First Emperor's edict was to tell them not to use the Zhou emperor's name in their speech anymore.

Perhaps, on their way here, they were still considering whether the First Emperor would change his mind.

With the First Emperor's edict from Mount Yi, these scholars from Shandong and Shandong must have given up hope.

Two days later, the First Emperor's entourage arrived in Lu, which was later renamed Xue Commandery after Qin unified China.

When King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang dynasty, this place was established as the state of Lu.

Later, during the Spring and Autumn Period, as dynasties rose and fell and states fought each other, the name of this place changed several times.

Even now, the First Emperor designated it as Xue Commandery, making it a commandery.

When the First Emperor's entourage arrived here, many scholars from Shandong Province volunteered to visit Kong Fu and the birthplace of Confucius.

The First Emperor remained seated in his carriage, offering no response, while Li Si dealt with the scholars from Qi and Lu.

Faced with everyone's requests, Li Si said, "You can go to visit him, but Mount Tai is right in front of us. If one of you goes to visit Kong Fu, you must bring another disciple of Confucius to Mount Tai to witness the ceremony."

Some people have left, while others are still hesitating.

Some people were asking Chunyu Yue what he meant, worried that this was a trap set by Li Si, who might lead them to the foot of Mount Tai.

If Li Si were to give an order and kill all of Confucius' disciples and even them, what would become of them?

Perhaps Li Si only wanted to kill all the disciples of Confucius.

Li Si then said, "If you can bring Kong Fu here, the emperor can appoint him as Junior Tutor."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the many Shandong scholars became even more troubled. Everyone knew that Li Si was a student of Xunzi, and they could easily guess what the implication was.

Should we allow Li Si to humiliate Confucius's descendant?
Li Si is capable of doing such a thing. How many lives has Li Si taken?

Fusu had been observing from the sidelines. He whispered to Cheng Miao, "They would never invite Kong Fu."

Tian An said in a low voice, "Young master, when Xunzi was at the Jixia Academy, he often had debates with the students from Lu. They were the disciples of Confucius at the Jixia Academy, and they were particularly intolerant of Xunzi's views."

“But Xunzi didn’t care about the ridicule at the time, and he still insisted on his own ideas.”

Just as Wang Jian lamented back then, he regretted that he attacked the State of Chu too late. If he had attacked Chu earlier, he might have been able to capture Xunzi alive and bring him to Qin.

General Wang's idea is good. If that's the case, and Xunzi died in Qin, the cause of his death might be embellished.

As the scholars from Qilu left in twos and threes, they knew that these people would all return to witness the First Emperor's Fengshan ceremony.

Even if they don't come back, the Qin army will capture them and bring them back.

Xue County is located north of Mount Tai. From here, you can see the majestic Mount Tai, which is so beautiful under the blue sky and white clouds.

Looking southeast from Xue County, there is a vast, continuous mountain range that has stood on the land for thousands of years.

Not many Qi-Lu scholars left, as they were certainly unwilling to invite Kong Fu to meet the First Emperor. Some even advised Kong Fu to flee Lu to avoid persecution by the First Emperor and Li Si.

Because the scholars from Qi and Lu felt that their situation in Qin was not good, the First Emperor and Li Si would also persecute the other scholars from Qi and Lu.

Fusu sighed, thinking to himself: This is not persecution. Qin treated them kindly. They brought this upon themselves.

The mention of inviting Kong Fu inevitably reminded Fusu of the intellectual development during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when the thoughts of the three sages, Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi, permeated the entire era.

As the Prime Minister approached, Fusu said, "Teacher seems to be in a very good mood."

Li Si sighed, "Finally, we've reached the foot of Mount Tai. I feel at ease now."

It was the teacher who strongly advised the First Emperor to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. Now that we have actually arrived at Mount Tai, the perfect moment is right before our eyes.

Li Si said, "I did not intend to make things difficult for those scholars. It is they who think of me as that kind of person."

Fusu said, "My late teacher Xunzi also studied under Confucius and Mencius. How could my teacher possibly humiliate Confucius's grandson?"

Li Si nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)