The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 15 The Perfect Prince of Qin

Li You walked in a daze, probably because he felt very lost after quarreling with his father. The feeling of not being understood and not being taken seriously lingered in his heart and did not go away for a long time.

"My father won't listen to me finish a sentence."

Zhang Han followed beside him with a stern face.

Li You said again: "General, I am no longer the commander. I have things I want to do."

Zhang Han said, "You can't just say no to your military duties."

Li You stopped and looked at Zhang Han in surprise.

Zhang Han said, "Anyone who delays military affairs or violates military regulations will be punished by military law. If you want to refuse to take the post, you must..."

Seeing Li You's unhappy expression, Zhang Han finally realized what was happening and changed his tone, "With the Prime Minister here, you don't have to worry about being beheaded. The Prime Minister won't use your head to enforce military discipline."

Li You walked back to his residence with a numb expression. He lived with the servants and there was only an oil lamp in the room.

The so-called oil lamp is nothing more than a broken pottery bowl.

This is considered one of the better houses among the many servants' rooms, and it was originally the house that Zhang Han built for himself.

In addition to commanding the army, farming, and whipping prisoners, Zhang Han could actually build a decent house by himself that could shelter from the wind and rain. The talents of this general were outrageous.

It’s not bad to live in the same house with General Zhang Han. I will build a house for myself tomorrow.

Although life here is difficult, at least I like it here.

As night fell, the western sky was red. Li You began to teach the servants to read and write. The young master had three thousand servants, and Li You could only teach twenty people at a time. Therefore, he only selected twenty people from them, taught them, and then let them teach others.

Li You was very satisfied with his arrangement, but encountered difficulties at the beginning of teaching. These people could not read at all, let alone learn articles. Even if he wrote out small seal characters for them to recognize, they would even fall asleep. Or someone's child would cry and they would leave halfway through learning.

By nightfall, Li You's first day of teaching was over and people returned to their homes.

I don't know why, but recently everything has gone wrong. Nothing seems to go my way. Li You dropped the branch in his hand and stepped on it hard, complaining quietly, "Why is it so difficult? Why is everything so difficult?"

The cold wind was raging in the cold night, and in the city of Xianyang shrouded in darkness, the only sound was the wind howling in the streets and alleys.

In a residence of doctors from the six kingdoms, the First Emperor and Qin's Prime Minister Li Si invited many doctors from the six kingdoms and gave them residences, allowing them not only to live in better houses in Xianyang City but also to settle their families.

Although the First Emperor and Prime Minister Li Si treated them well and were tolerant enough.

But including Chunyu Yue, no one brought their families to Xianyang in Qin State, and most of them came alone, with a spirit of sacrificing their lives.

In a mansion, the flame of the oil lamp flickered, and the old man Fusheng from Qilu was still reading a book in his hand.

He has read this book borrowed from Prince Fusu many times.

Shusun Tong looked very worried.

"Where did you go drinking today?"

Hearing Fu Sheng's question, Shusun Tong first took a sip of cold water from the pottery pot, then stroked his beard with his hand and said, "A few good friends from the past."

When Shusun Tong said this, he looked obviously disappointed.

Fu Sheng continued, "I didn't expect you to have good friends in Xianyang City."

Shusun Tong sat up straighter, stroking his beard, and said, "Today I was having a feast with some good friends, and we talked about a man named Zhang Liang."

Fu Sheng asked, "Which Zhang Liang?"

"Zhang Ping's child."

Fusheng had never heard of Zhang Liang, but among the old nobles of the Six Kingdoms there was a group of nobles from Han who left there when the Qin army conquered Han.

Later, Fusheng heard from some of his students that the nobles were from Zhang Ping's line.

But after many years of war, no one knew where they went.

Shusun Tongdao said, "At the banquet today, there was talk of someone in the east rebelling against Qin. That person sold off hundreds of servants and all their property. Later, someone else said that the person who sold off his property was a descendant of Zhang Ping."

Fu Sheng's eyes were still fixed on the book, without any reaction.

"Alas..." Shusun Tong sighed deeply and said, "A few days ago, I heard that the Xiang family in Chu was also searching for the old nobles of the six kingdoms, hoping to unite and fight against Qin."

Seeing that Fu Sheng ignored him, Shusun Tong said to himself, "Now, some people are secretly forming an alliance, hoping to find an opportunity to restore the six kingdoms."

"Some people also think that there's nothing wrong with the current situation. Qin has given them wives and children a stable life. Rebelling against Qin is not easy. Even after the six kingdoms are restored... what difference will it make from before? There will still be endless wars."

"I've been meeting so many people these days, and hearing so many things. I shouldn't have gone to see them. Seeing them would only disturb my mind." Shusun Tong raised his head slightly and said, "I shouldn't have gone to see them."

"Oh no!" Shusun Tong slapped his forehead and said hurriedly, "The young master's book has not been returned yet."

Fu Sheng had read this scroll many times. He placed it on the table and whispered, "What kind of person do you think the young master is?"

"Well, after coming to Xianyang, I heard something about it."

After saying this, Shusun Tong cleared his throat before continuing, "Prince Fusu of Qin was quite sensible even at a young age. During the years when Queen Dowager Huayang was seriously ill, the young Prince Fusu taught himself medicine and took care of her. Doctors at the time said that Queen Dowager Huayang lived several more years thanks to Prince Fusu's care."

"A few years later, the Empress Dowager Huayang passed away, and the First Emperor bestowed Gaoquan Palace upon the prince. The prince then became a disciple of Li Si, the Minister of Justice. Now Li Si is the Prime Minister. Prince Fusu is studious, humble, polite, and a good learner."

"Many things a learned young man can learn with just one reading or hearing. Even now... at the age of sixteen, he is still as studious as ever, constantly reading, studying government affairs, and treating his servants well. He lives a simple life. I heard he has no mansions for pleasure outside, and no toys for entertainment in the palace."

Fu Sheng said: "Qin State has such a young man, which is really enviable."

Shusun Tong added, "It is indeed rare for Qin to have such a young man."

"He will be the next King of Qin." Fu Sheng then changed his tone and said, "He should be the next emperor. If so, the young master will surely have many supporters. I have read in this book that the young master is learning about farming, knowing what crops to plant in different fields, and how the seasons affect the yield."

Shusun Tong lay on his side on the couch, closing his eyes and preparing to fall asleep. Before falling asleep, he said, "Prince Fusu doesn't look like a child."

Fusheng picked up the bamboo slips again and looked at them, thinking of Shusun Tong's words. He didn't know whether his words "not like a child" were a sign of joy or sorrow.

In the cold winter, freezing rain fell in Guanzhong again, and everyone in Xianyang City was looking forward to the return of General Wang Jian.

Fusu divided the workers who dug the canals into small teams of three. The women started working early to get food, while the old and young were still working in the wells and canals.

Don't be impatient when digging wells and canals. It may take ten days or half a month to dig them through, so it's better to dig them more carefully.

After finishing the task at hand, Fusu walked outside the study and saw a litter of puppies huddled in the corner, leaning against each other for warmth.

Fusu picked up one of them. The puppy was black and gray all over, and could only whimper but couldn't make any sound.

As if sensing something, the group of puppies surrounded him and the young master's feet were soon submerged by them.

"Sir, General Wang and General Zhang Han are here."

After hearing Tian An's words, Fusu put down the puppies and carried them one by one into the woodshed. He counted them carefully and found that there were ten in total, not one missing.

There was also a big dog in the warm woodshed. It was the big dog that gave birth to puppies. It didn't seem to like the puppies that were making trouble. Fusu noticed its gaze. Those dark eyes seemed to say that taking care of the puppies would be tiring.

Fusu ignored its gaze and ruthlessly closed the door of the woodshed, leaving only a small gap.

When he turned around again, the two generals were already in front of him.

Fusu explained, "Winter is here, and everyone is bored. Except for our Shangshan Township, there's nothing to do in other counties. Haha... I have nothing to do either."

Zhang Han stood with his body bowed, silent and with a serious expression.

Wang Ben smiled knowingly.

Fusu walked in the village and found that there were changes in the village. They had arranged the houses in order and the road was smoother.

Nu'er was writing with a group of children. When she saw the young master passing by, she stopped and saluted.

After the young man walked away, she continued to teach the children how to write.

There are also three ducks and six laying hens here.

Livestock all need food, so we don’t dare to raise too many here. Now that food is in short supply, we don’t dare to expand breeding.

As Fusu walked along, he saw several women tidying a row of stoves. The cakes taken out of the stoves were those that had not been eaten today. These cakes were still hot, but in the cold wind, they would cool down in a moment.

The women took the bread outside to exchange for food. Such delicious bread could be exchanged for a bag of millet or some beans.

From a cost perspective, there is no loss in any change.

"General Wang, when will the old general come back?"

Hearing the young master's question, Wang Ben replied, "It's cold in Guanzhong. My father is spending the winter outside Hangu Pass. He will return to Xianyang when the weather warms up."

Fusu nodded and said, "The old general is old, and he really needs to rest well."

Leading the two generals to the fish pond, Fusu took two bamboo scrolls from the bookshelf and handed them to them. He then said, "Including the land we reclaimed this year, we have a total of 510 hectares of land. It's time to prepare for next year's farming."

Zhang Han bowed and said, "I am willing to obey your orders, sir."

People always need to plan ahead. This winter, we should think about next spring, and next spring, we should consider preparations for next autumn.

Fusu has long been accustomed to thinking about things in the next hour, thinking about things in this way.

"Starting next year, we will divide the existing farmland by household, with each household receiving land based on the number of people in the household. Uncultivated land will also be divided by household. Whoever can cultivate an extra acre of land will harvest an extra acre of grain."

Fusu then warned, "I don't eat much, don't worry about me."

Zhang Han smiled rarely, bowed and went to do his job after receiving the order.

Fusu tidied up the bookshelf and saw Wang Ben still standing in front of him. He asked puzzledly, "General Wang, is there anything else?"

Wang Ben said: "Li Youta..."

"What's up with him?"

Wang Ben asked in a low voice, "He is digging a well. The Prime Minister asked if I could take him back."

"Li You..." Fusu thought for a moment and said, "He has been ill recently. General Wang, don't worry about him."

"What disease?"

"Heart disease."

Wang Ben remained silent for a long time, and after much hesitation, he finally asked, "Li You is ill and cannot return to Xianyang?"

Fusu said: "Li You is too stupid, why bother with him."

Zhang Han, who had just left the young master's study, heard the words in the study after taking only two steps.

Zhang Han also thought that Li You was a fool, and had become more and more stupid recently. He always did some very stupid things and often talked to himself. He was not serious when teaching the young master's servants to read and write.

Sometimes Zhang Han couldn't bear to watch it anymore, so he taught them how to read and write on behalf of Li You.

The young master's servants were naturally different from others. Perhaps the young master thought that the servants were literate, and literate servants were more valuable.

The freezing rain fell intermittently, and there was a heavy snow at night. Fusu returned to Gaoquan Palace.

There were sporadic snowflakes drifting into the hall with the wind, and there was some thin snow accumulation inside and outside the hall door.

Fusu took another look and the eunuch, who was already drowsy, hurried to clean up.

Tian An came over with a bowl of hot mutton soup and said, "General Meng Tian has arrived in the north. The Xiongnu have presented him with 50,000 sheep, and the flocks have all been sent to Xianyang City."

"Which Xiongnu tribe sent it?"

"It was sent by a Xiongnu tribe. I don't know who it was, but the army should have recorded it in the military journal."

Fusu took a sip of the mutton soup, feeling the warm soup flowing through his stomach, and the chill brought by returning in the wind and snow was gone.

Tian An said, "I've had someone go and ask about it. The county magistrates of the counties near Shangshan will not care about the cultivated land."

"I enslaved my servants to cultivate the land and enrich myself." Fusu sighed and said, "I am afraid that some people will say that I am a tyrannical prince of Qin, and I am worthy of the title."

Tian An said, "Those who talk about the young master should be killed."

Fusu smiled and drank a bowl of mutton soup, still chewing some mutton in his mouth.

The sheep were sent from the freezing north by Meng Tian. Fusu wrote a letter, asking Meng Tian to inquire about the current situation on the grassland and whether there was a Hun named Maodun.

After writing the letter and sealing it with wax, Fusu instructed, "Send it to Meng Tian tomorrow."

Tian An nodded.

Until late at night, Fusu was still reading the Legalist classics. A gust of cold wind made the candlelight on the candlestick flicker slightly.

The next morning, it was still snowing heavily in Xianyang, and Mr. Fusheng had not yet returned the books.

After Fusu woke up early, he ate his breakfast while reading a book. The book recorded knowledge related to craftsmen, especially bridge construction.

Recently, the young master has become more and more fond of reading, sometimes he spends almost the whole day reading.

Tian An said, "If you want to learn how to build bridges, you might as well take a look at this scroll."

Fusu took the bamboo slips handed to him by Tian An. The Qin State once had two experts in water conservancy. One was Zheng Guo who built the Zhengguo Canal, and the other was the county magistrate who built the Dujiangyan in Shu County.

(End of this chapter)