The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 29: The Weak Have Great Power
Zhang Cang stood by and smiled at the young master and Wang Ben.

After Wang Ben and his servants left, Zhang Cang took out a scroll and said, "This is a book I recently compiled."

Fusu took the scroll and asked curiously, "It's rare to see the teacher compiling a book."

When Fusu untied the rope tied to the bamboo slips, what caught his eyes were the words of Xunzi.

Zhang Cang explained, "These are the words our teacher left behind when he taught us. I have written down some of them. Perhaps they will be of use to you, my lord."

Seeing that the young master was reading the book, Zhang Cang stood aside and looked at the fields in the distance.

"teacher."

"The minister is here."

Fusu thought for a moment and asked, "Does this book have a name?"

Zhang Cang said, "I haven't thought about it yet."

After that, the young master stopped asking questions, and Zhang Cang stood behind him.

Guanzhong is much more lively this year than last year. If you walk along the Luo River for a while, you will find that there are more people in the fields than last year.

Zhang Han stood majestically beside the field, holding a wooden hoe in one hand, and ordered the prince's servants to cultivate the fields.

Nowadays, people in all counties are working hard to farm, grow crops and increase population.

Seeing that it was the young master and Zhang Cang coming, Zhang Han hurriedly took a step back and bowed.

Fusu said, "Teacher, farming is not easy, and educating the people is even harder. As Xunzi said, without wealth, there is no way to nourish the people's sentiments, and without education, there is no way to regulate the people's nature. It is too difficult."

Zhang Cang looked at the young master in front of him with hope in his eyes and said, "Young master, you want to do it, so you find it difficult. If you don't want to do it, you will be like them, only thinking that what Xunzi said is the way to govern the country."

Zhang Cang saw from afar a group of children sitting in the fields studying. These children were reading poems and books with Shusun Tong, and Shusun Tong was telling them stories.

When he thought about teaching the people, it was more than just a difficult matter. Fusu felt his scalp tingling, "General Zhang Han!"

"The end will be here."

Zhang Han was as full of energy as ever.

Fusu asked, "General Zhang Han, do you find farming difficult?"

Zhang Han lowered his head in hesitation, seemingly unsure how to respond. He simply said, "I've had the children plant three hundred mulberry saplings at the foot of the mountain, and they've already sprouted."

Fusu nodded, thinking that General Zhang Han was a model of loyalty.

When leaving Shangyan Mountain, Fusu was still watching groups of people returning home in the sunset.

They often walk together as a family, with the middle-aged men in the family walking in front, followed by the women and the elderly, and finally the children following at a leisurely pace.

People of this era were full of ideals and ambitions, including Li Si, Shusun Tong, or Mr. Luli.

Mr. Luli is a compassionate person. He is so compassionate that he hopes that the Qin Dynasty can cherish the people of the world. For more than 800 years of the Spring and Autumn Period, no one knows how people in the world have survived. Now that the Qin Dynasty has unified the world, it is a little hard to believe.

These ordinary people returning home probably also have ideals in their hearts.

At night, the foot of Shangyan Mountain is still very lively. People who have worked all day are resting, but the children are still releasing their vigorous energy. Some children are fighting with a group of puppies, and a few children are running and howling.

The terrifying energy of these children is astonishing.

Li You was adding hay to the roof of a house, and Zhang Han was sitting in the house under the roof.

At this moment, Zhang Han was drinking a bowl of wine and eating mutton.

He had a thick beard on his chin and sat cross-legged, putting down his wine bowl and placing his hands on his knees.

Even though Li You and the Prime Minister did not get along, they were father and son after all, so Li You could learn what he wanted to learn without any worries.

But Zhang Han felt that he was different. He had been living under someone else's roof since he was young because his family was impoverished.

And I need to work hard to do everything well so that I can make progress step by step and make this family better again.

Zhang Han saw Li You jumping off the roof, and then Li You went out to play with a few other children.

Seeing this, Zhang Han lowered his head in disappointment, thinking that he could not compare with Li You.

Zhang Han was eager to start a family. He now needed a good wife, a wife who could grow up with him from a small house to a big family.

Originally, there was hope.

Zhang Han actually had an engagement, which was an engagement with Dong Fu in the past, but now the other party has gone back on his word.

Zhang Han usually doesn't drink alcohol, and can only have a sip or two after he is relieved from his shift.

In the past, Zhang Cang either did not live in the village, or if he did, he had to reach Xianyang before dawn.

Shusun Tong and Zhang Cang did not get along well. They held different views and could not sit at the same table. Seeing Zhang Han drinking, he walked into the room. Shusun Tong bowed and said, "General Zhang Han."

"Yeah." Zhang Han responded in a deep voice.

"General Zhang Han seems to be worried?"

Zhang Han also poured a bowl of wine for Shusun Tong and said, "Please."

Shusun Tong refused disrespectfully, took the wine bowl and drank it happily, "I wonder if I can listen to your concerns."

Zhang Han said, "These are all old things. I have an engagement."

Shusun Tong nodded slightly, listening to Zhang Han's story about a marriage with the Dong family, and said with a smile: "Since it is an engagement, how can I go back on my word? Besides, you are now building a canal for Prince Fusu, how dare they look down on you?"

Zhang Han lowered his head and said, "Home... haha, it's not as good as it used to be."

Shusun Tong looked at Zhang Han and said, "I can help you with this matter."

"really?"

Shusun Tong smiled lightly and said, "I have plenty of friends in Xianyang."

Zhang Han stood up and saluted, saying, "Thank you for your help."

The next day, Shusun Tong rode a donkey cart to Xianyang City and came to Dong's mansion.

Just like in previous visits to Xianyang, he was warmly invited into the mansion by the other party's servants.

Shusun Tong did not meet the owner of Dong's mansion, but he met a young man from Dong's mansion. This man was named Dong Yi, and he served as a school commander in the army.

When Dong Yi met Shusun Tong, he first said some flattering words.

Shusun Tongdao said: "I heard that your family has a marriage plan that involves General Zhang Han."

Dong Yi understood the other party's intention and said with emotion: "After the army returned, many generals were promoted, but Zhang Han..."

Shusun Tong continued, "Just because Zhang Han didn't join the army to attack Chu, you regretted the marriage?"

Dong Yi hurriedly explained, "Old sir, my sister has been interested in General Zhang Han since she was young, but my father did not want her to marry Zhang Han, whose family had fallen on hard times."

"Alas." Shusun Tong sighed, "Zhang Han is currently overseeing the construction of canals for Prince Fusu. It may seem insignificant now, but General Zhang Han's achievements in the future will surely earn your family special respect. If you don't keep your promise now, you'll inevitably be criticized in the future. If you keep your promise."

At this point, Shusun Tong changed his tone and said in a low voice: "If your Dong family doesn't marry off your daughter because of Zhang Han's poverty, Zhang Han will achieve success in the future and it will also be a blessing for your Dong family. On the contrary..."

"Just pretend that I haven't come here."

Shusun Tong shook his head and sighed again.

Dong Yi did not dare to neglect Shusun Tong and bowed again, saying, "I will inform my father."

Zhang Han did not receive a reply from the Dong family until Shusun Tong returned to the village. Three days later, while working in the fields, Zhang Han received the news that Dong Yi had personally brought a letter home, and the two families agreed to hold their wedding in the autumn.

Until night, Zhang Han, feeling happy, was pulling the plow in the field.

At the foot of Shangyan Mountain, Li You was chewing an apricot, holding a basket of other fruits. When he saw Zhang Cang, he gave him two. "They were sent from Luoyang."

Zhang Cang took the apricot, but didn't eat it. His eyes were still looking ahead.

Li You saw that it was almost night, and there was only a little light left in the west, and he could barely see the white clouds in the sky.

At this hour, Zhang Han was still carrying a plow and working in the fields.

Li You asked, "Censor Zhang, are we out of cattle?"

Zhang Cang said, "Those with cattle are resting now."

Li You took a deep breath and squinted at the hazy figure in the distance. "General Zhang Han, aren't you going to rest yet?"

Zhang Cang put his hands behind his back and said calmly, "If he's happy, let him plow two more acres of land."

Li You took another bite of the apricot and chewed it hard, looking at Zhang Han who was still plowing the field and was speechless for a long time.

After Grain Rain, the temperature in Guanzhong rises particularly quickly. By May, it is so hot that people sweat profusely at noon.

In Shanglin Garden, there is a model, which is the model of Xiwei Bridge.

Ying Zheng, wearing a loose coat, looked at the model in front of him and said in a deep voice, "How many civilians do we need to recruit, and how long will it take to complete it?"

Feng Quji, who was standing nearby, replied, "We have prepared sixty craftsmen and five hundred laborers."

Ying Zheng looked at the model of the bridge. There were three words written on the side of the bridge, which were called Xianyang Bridge.

Fusu felt that the only thing he could do as the chief of the water conservancy department was to give the bridge a name.

My father and the right prime minister are discussing construction matters.

Fusu was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, sitting lazily on a newly made bamboo chair, not wanting to move.

"Brother!"

Hearing a childish call, Fusu looked sideways and saw his younger brother Gao, who was seven years younger than him.

Young Master Gao is now nine years old. He is wearing clothes that are a bit too big for him, and there are two eunuchs waiting on him.

"Brother, eat the melon." Gao held half a melon in both hands.

Fusu took the melon, took a bite, and nodded, "It's very sweet."

Seeing this, Master Gao smiled foolishly and sat beside him very happily. "I heard that you like reading, so I want to read too."

Noticing the admiring look in his younger brother's eyes, he probably thought his elder brother was a very capable person.

Fusu chewed the melon in his mouth, and after swallowing it, he said, "Go to Shangyan Mountain and look for Shusun Tong."

"it is good!"

Because it was very hot today, Gao's cheeks were sunburned and a little dry.

Fusu drank a mouthful of cold water and instructed: "In the future, if you have younger brothers and sisters who need to study, you should take them all to Shangyan Mountain to become the disciples of Master Shusun Tong."

Upon hearing this, Young Master Gao imitated the adults and saluted. In his still childish voice, he replied, "I obey your orders. Father and I will govern the empire, and I will take good care of my younger brothers and sisters."

Fusu smiled with satisfaction. This younger brother was very sensible.

The emperor was listening to Feng Quji's story, nodding from time to time.

Afterwards, Fusu met Feng Quji and introduced Jianlu to him. Jianlu then explained the key points related to water conservancy to his father.

All this was expected.

Fusu looked at the model again. The bridge designed by Jianlu was very scientific. It was designed with boat-shaped water-dividing piers to reduce the impact of water flow.

Gao held the melon in his hand and ate it, then raised his head and asked, "Brother, why did the emperor build this bridge?"

Fusu said: "To resist the Xiongnu."

Gao nodded as he continued eating.

From a geographical point of view, the Xianyang Bridge connects the east and west banks of the Wei River, which can accommodate troops and transport food and fodder. At the same time, it can also strengthen trade. Merchants can go directly to Xianyang through the Xianyang Bridge, which will also prosper Xianyang.

If a checkpoint is set up here, it can also serve to defend Xianyang.

The vision behind building this bridge is indeed far-sighted.

People today are no less skilled than people of later generations in the application and expansion of geography, military tactics, and commerce.

According to Jianlu's words, Guanzhong has entered the dry season, and this dry season will last until June.

"Fusu, you must assist Prime Minister Feng well."

"Fusu obeys your orders."

After bidding farewell to his father and leaving, Fusu continued to play his role as the water chief and participated in the construction of the bridge.

The next day, with the arrival of laborers and craftsmen, the construction of Xianyang Bridge began.

This was the first time that Fusu took the initiative to participate in the construction of the country. A bridge spanning the two sides of the West Wei River was about to be born with his participation, and the Xianyang Bridge, which influenced future generations for more than two thousand years, was about to appear.

How could Fusu not feel excited?
Du Fu of later generations wrote poems about the sufferings of war on Xianyang Bridge, Wang Wei of later generations wrote "Farewell" on Xianyang Bridge, and Wen Tingyun wrote "Misty Rain in Guanzhong" here.

The summer in Guanzhong is hot and long, and the laborers in linen clothes walk barefoot on the muddy riverbed.

Every time Fusu saw the power of the working people, he felt particularly passionate in his heart.

At the riverbed, people shouted loudly and powerfully, "One! Two! Pull!"

With a loud shout, ropes tied to the huge pillar suddenly rose from the muddy riverbed.

Although people are weak, Yugong can move mountains. The people of this land have the most powerful hands.

Just as June arrived, it rained and the bridge construction work was temporarily stopped.

The wise Prince Fusu carried a basin of freshly baked cakes and distributed them to the people who were sheltering from the rain under the straw huts.

People took the cakes and bowed, and some wanted to kneel down and kowtow, but Fusu hurriedly supported them.

There were also officials from the Censorate by the river. They stood by the river and recorded Prince Fusu's words and deeds, and these words and deeds would soon spread among the censors in the Censorate.

Fusu ate the cake and looked at the bridge which was in the critical stage of construction. He had not seen Prime Minister Li Si for two months and had not returned to Xianyang recently. He stayed by the West Wei River.

Fortunately, the rain was not heavy and stopped the next day.

Fusu was sitting in a newly built hut, while Tian An was standing outside, frowning as he looked at the sky which had just cleared up again.

Inside the house, Fusu first looked at the urgent report sent by Zhang Han, which was all about the current situation in Shangshan. Except for the addition of a new son, Gao, there were no other changes.

Fusu calmed down and continued to look at Jianlu's project plan, and whispered to Zhang Cang, the temporary director of the construction office and the teacher of the censor, who was standing beside him.

After the construction plan is completed, it needs to be submitted to the right prime minister for approval.

By noon, the scorching sun once again shone on the earth, and the silt on the riverbed began to turn white and solidify at a speed visible to the naked eye.

(End of this chapter)