The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 349 Revisiting the Xiongnu
In the summer, the Weibei area is already bustling in the morning. Before the midday heat arrives, the people here start their work early.

The pottery workshop in Pinyang County was expanded once again. The reason for this expansion was that Gongzi Heng finally moved into the large mansion where the Duke of Pinyang used to live.

This mansion is really big, so big that it requires a lot of servants to manage it.

However, the emperor did not give Prince Heng so many servants.

Before his death, the Duke of Pinyang had said that he would bestow this mansion upon his son, Fusu, and his wife's child.

Now, the child has grown up, and it's time for him to own this place.

The emperor fulfilled the last wish of the Duke of Pinyang. For the people of Pinyang County, the fact that the emperor was able to keep his promise to the Duke of Pinyang was the best thing in the world.

This story will be passed down to future generations and become a celebrated tale.

Gongzi Heng studied with Shusun Tong from a young age, and later went to Tongguan to study with the children of commoners. After that, he went to guard the Great Wall, went to Helan Mountain, and fought against the Donghu, traveling all over the Great Wall.

Later, he traveled all over the country with the censor Chen Ping, visiting all the counties and prefectures in the former territory of the six kingdoms.

But for Prince Heng, his father was also a towering mountain he could only look up to. His father had already begun to govern Guanzhong when he was just over twenty years old.

The relocation of hundreds of thousands of people, the construction of the Jingye Canal, and the planning of the Hexi Corridor were all major undertakings concerning the survival of millions of ordinary people.

Gongzi Heng felt that what he was doing now was nothing compared to his father's achievements back then, like a faint starlight next to the bright moon in the night sky.

"My father often says that he can never govern this country well, but to me, my father and grandfather's achievements are too great. I can never catch up with my father and grandfather in my whole life."

Gongzi Heng looked at the old man's portrait and spoke in a low voice.

Chen Ping, standing at the back, also looked at Wang Jian's portrait.

In the portrait, Wang Jian is dressed in the armor of a great general, sitting on horseback and giving orders.

Chen Ping didn't know who painted this picture.

Then, Chen Ping saw the signature in the lower right corner of the drawing: Gongsun Hong.

Chen Ping pondered the name. He had heard it before in snippets of conversation with Gongzi Heng, who seemed to be a close friend.

Gongzi Heng was unaware of Chen Ping's thoughts. He only felt that the feudal lords enfeoffed by the Zhou emperor were no longer around, and the old nobles of the six states had passed away.

What remained was an era of authoritarianism.

If we were to truly say what the Central Plains would be like after the Warring States period, when the seven kingdoms vied for supremacy, it would likely be a place where emperors centralized power.

That's how it is now, and it might even get worse in the future.

Gongzi Heng said, "Father often tells us to take a closer look at the lives of ordinary people. In fact, Father also said the same thing to Uncle."

Chen Ping remained silent, standing there lost in thought.

Chao Cuo hurried over and bowed, saying, "Young Master, Liu Fei has returned."

"Please come in quickly."

From the moment Liu Fei left Guanzhong, Gongzi Heng knew that Liu Fei would definitely return, because Gongzi Heng knew everything about Liu Fei, and Chen Ping also determined that Liu Fei would not stay in Pei County forever.

Therefore, now that Liu Fei has really returned, Chen Ping was right once again.

Liu Fei entered the courtyard and bowed, saying, "Young Master."

Gongzi Heng looked at the other person and said, "It's been a year. Have you taken care of things at home?"

"Reporting to Young Master, everything has been arranged, and he has already returned to his post at the Imperial Academy."

Gongzi Heng added, "Good, Master Wang thinks highly of you."

Liu Fei bowed once more.

Before long, Gongzi Li arrived with Gongsun Hong, and everyone gathered in the courtyard to eat hot pot.

Chen Ping was the oldest among them and a distinguished guest of Gongzi Heng, but he still felt somewhat uncomfortable sitting with a group of young people.

Summer is not the best time to eat hot pot. In the past two years, hot pot has only been enjoyed by the wealthy and powerful, while ordinary people use earthenware pots.

Chen Ping took a sip of mutton soup and said, "I still have important matters to arrange at the Imperial Censorate."

"Yes, Imperial Censor Chen took some raisins with him when he left."

"Thank you, sir."

Gongsun Hong hesitated and asked, "Are there many raisins in Guanzhong now?"

Gongzi Li replied, "Since the Qin army captured Cheshi, there have been many Western Region merchants selling raisins in Xianyang. The Prime Minister's office says this is for trade, but the price of this product is still very high."

Liu Fei said, "I think that once the Hexi Corridor is planted with grapes, we will be able to easily eat fresh grapes."

Gongzi Heng raised his wine bowl and said, "For the grapes."

Everyone raised their wine bowls and drank them down in one gulp.

Chen Ping walked outside the courtyard and took a bag of raisins from a servant standing nearby.

Sitting on the train back to Xianyang, Chen Ping ate raisins the whole way, lost in thought.

From dusk until late at night, Gongzi Heng looked at Chao Cuo and Gongsun Hong, who were already drunk. Liu Fei's wife was pregnant, so he had to go back first.

Servants had already stepped forward to start clearing away the dishes.

After a long silence, Gongzi Li said, "Brother, I can offer my help in developing Weibei."

Gongzi Heng said, "I have read Du Shuichang's records. He recorded that the days are long and the nights are short in the spring and summer in the northwest of Guanzhong, and the temperature difference between day and night is even greater, which is suitable for growing grapes."

Gongzi Li naturally did not think that his elder brother had taken over Weibei from Xiao He just to grow grapes there, and he sat upright, intending to listen to his elder brother continue.

Gongzi Heng continued, "In the past, in order to govern the counties, eliminate idlers, and encourage labor, the Prime Minister's office even invited so-called famous scholars to come up with solutions."

"But in the end, the county magistrates gained nothing and only made things more chaotic. In the end, they had to rely on the Prime Minister's office to help them gradually stabilize and things started to look up..."

Inside the room, Gongzi Heng continued speaking, while Chao Cuo and Gongsun Hong had already been carried away, leaving only the two young masters.

After listening to his elder brother's words, Gongzili said, "If needed, I will do my best to help."

The two brothers raised their wine bowls once more and drank them down in one gulp.

Gongzi Heng believed that as long as he asked, his younger brother would definitely do his best to help him, as the two brothers had been united since childhood.

Late at night, Gongzi Li looked up at Wang Jian's portrait, but he had no recollection of the Duke of Pinyang.

But Gongzi Heng remembered that his great-grandfather was a very kind old man.

The next morning, as Gongzi Heng was delivering Gongzi Li, the two brothers went outside and saw a carriage approaching.

The visitor was none other than Wang Ben.

Hearing that his grandson was hosting a banquet here, this grandfather would certainly not be absent.

Perhaps they will arrive in a carriage as soon as the gates of Xianyang open.

Upon seeing Wang Ben alight from the carriage, the two young masters bowed together, saying, "Grandpa."

Upon hearing the word "Grandpa" twice, Wang Ben smiled and said, "This year, Sichuan has sent us a lot of fine wine again, and I've had them all delivered."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Jars of wine were carried into the mansion, and Wang Ben added, "A cartload was also sent from Tongguan and delivered to the prefect's residence."

Actually, the two brothers don't drink alcohol except for occasional banquets, but they couldn't refuse their grandfather's offer.

Heng wanted to invite his maternal grandfather to sit in the mansion, but Wang Ben refused, and the old man returned to Xianyang by carriage.

Li also got into his own carriage and went back.

Compared to Weinan, Weibei was only developed by Xiao He in recent years. Compared to the nearly saturated Weinan today, Weibei still has great potential.

After tidying up his clothes, Gongzi Heng took a scroll of paper and went to Xianyang.

In the afternoon, Xianyang was covered with dark clouds, and the thick, leaden clouds seemed about to collapse from the sky.

A few drops of rain have already begun to fall, with large raindrops landing on the ground one or two at a time.

Gongzi Heng ran quickly to the eaves of the main hall of Zhangtai Palace, where a torrential downpour began, creating a large mist on the ground.

"Brother!"

Upon hearing the voices, Gongzi Heng turned around and saw his younger sister running towards him. The seven-year-old sister was wearing a long black dress and had a big smile on her face.

Heng bent down, opened his arms, caught his younger sister who was running towards him, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I can come whenever I want."

Seeing his sister's smile, Heng said again, "I've come to find Father Emperor."

Suqiu pointed inside the hall, her face displeased, and said, "He's still talking with several ministers. Father hasn't eaten since the court meeting began."

Have you eaten?

Suqiu pouted, displeased, and said, "We haven't eaten yet. I want to eat with Father Emperor." Tian An heard the voices outside the hall and came out of the hall, saying, "The food has been prepared. We will eat after the discussion inside the hall is over."

Heng took out a piece of pastry from his pocket and handed it to his younger sister, saying, "Have a bite of rice cake first."

"Mmm." Suqiu took the rice cake, took a bite, and chewed it.

First, after confirming that there were indeed five ministers discussing matters inside the hall, Heng held his younger sister and looked at the heavy rain outside the hall.

The heavy rain came suddenly and quickly, and what was originally a sweltering day became much cooler.

After a while, the heavy rain turned into a light drizzle.

The conversation inside the hall seemed to have ended, and the officials gradually came out.

I recognized the first four: Right Chancellor, Zhang Cang, Cheng Miao, and Lord Wu.

The people who came out of the hall bowed and said, "Young Master."

Heng put his sister down and bowed to everyone.

Heng, the last person to emerge from the main hall, was somewhat surprised and asked, "Magistrate Lou?"

Lou Jing bowed and said, "Young master, it's been many years."

"Yes, how have you been lately?"

"I am well."

"If I had known you were in Xianyang, I would have had Chen Ping bring you to my residence for a banquet."

Upon hearing this, Lou Jing was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Didn't Chen Ping mention me to you, young master?"

Gongzi Heng said, "No."

Lou Jing nodded and said, "Your subject will take his leave now."

"Yes, I'm going to see my father."

After the ministers hurried into the light rain, Prince Heng led his sister into the palace.

Then, lunch was served.

My father's lunch was always very simple: a flatbread and a bowl of mutton soup, or two dishes.

Since the young master and princess were present today, Tian An had the feast prepared even more lavishly.

While his younger sister was eating mutton, Heng was also eating noodles.

When eating at home, we always avoid discussing business and try to speak as little as possible.

After the meal was finished, Gongzi Heng took out his own scroll of paper, bowed and said, "Father, this is your son's plan for the future development of Weibei."

Fusu had the papers brought up and immediately opened them.

Tian An remained standing to the side; the emperor's intention in arranging the two princes was quite clear.

Gongzi Heng was bound to continue Xiao He's construction in Weibei; otherwise, he wouldn't have had Gongzi Heng assist Xiao He so early on.

As for Gongzi Li, he has loved reading since childhood and entered the Imperial Academy at a young age. Now, Gongzi Li is serving as the prefect of Weinan. In the future, Gongzi Li may take over the Imperial Academy.

The emperor was looking at the blueprints handed to him by the young master, and then asked the young master to sit down beside him.

The father and son spoke in hushed tones, and even the little princess stared at the blueprints with her bright eyes, her curious gaze following the emperor's narration.

Gongzi Heng left with a smile on his face, seemingly quite confident about the future development of Weibei.

After the young master and princess left, Tian An stepped forward to clear away the dishes.

Fusu said, "I have allowed Heng to open a papermaking workshop in Weibei, as there is a growing shortage of paper in Guanzhong."

Tian An asked, "Should we give orders to the people in the workshop?"

Fusu waved his hand and said, "No need, let him handle it himself. Let him figure out how to handle things in the future."

Tian An nodded.

Fusu walked out of Zhangtai Palace. It was still drizzling outside, and thunder occasionally rumbled from the thick clouds.

The air was much fresher after the rain. Fusu stood outside the palace, looking at the distant horizon, and thought of the spring floods in Chu this year, when Yunmengze once again suffered from floods.

This flood submerged hundreds of acres of farmland. This was the matter that Xiao He discussed with Zhang Cang and Cheng Miao. Xiao He had already sent an urgent letter, as he was going to Dongting County to manage the flood and had submitted the documents ahead of time.

Years of bumper harvests have led to a significant increase in taxes, and the Qin court has been able to manage grain distribution more easily. At least now, the grain reserves in Guanzhong are sufficient to meet the needs of the population of Xianyang for a year.

Fusu recalled his teacher's concerns about the border defense. Just two days ago, a document was delivered to the Prime Minister's residence, saying that the grain stored in the beacon towers of the Great Wall had become stale and could only be used to feed livestock.

Fusu also had someone inform his teacher of this news. Perhaps his teacher would be very happy to hear it. You know, back then, his teacher almost broke ties with the scholars who were sent to Qin to relocate people and defend the border, in order to resist the Xiongnu.

Nowadays, there is no shortage of food on the border, and the military-agricultural system has given the border defenses a great deal of confidence.

After a thunderstorm, the Guanzhong Plain returned to its sweltering heat the following day.

I originally thought that the field registers would be submitted smoothly this time, but it turns out that even though the summer harvest is approaching, only a few counties have managed to submit their field registers.

Once the land is designated in the land map, it cannot be changed. Land is land and cannot be used for building houses, filling in land for road construction, or occupying land without authorization.

The Guanzhong Plain needs to preserve its arable land. The fields in Guanzhong are crisscrossed, but they are also difficult to resist the struggle for people's hearts. Every bit of land is a bowl of food, and no one dares to lose even a bit.

"Father, what is an Eastern Tour?"

Upon arriving at Gaoquan Palace, Fusu heard his daughter's question and explained to her, "The Eastern Tour means leaving Hangu Pass and going east to see the world."

The courtiers mentioned the matter of an eastern tour more than once.

After the emperor's eastern tour, the court officials seemed to want to make it a tradition so that future emperors would all make the eastern tour.

She then asked, "Will Father Emperor make an eastern tour?"

Fusu asked, "Do you wish to go on an eastern tour?"

"miss you!"

Fusu said, "In a few years, I will take you on an eastern tour."

Wang Tang'er sat to the side, still arranging the fabric. Suddenly she smiled, then looked worried. Her husband really loved their daughter; he could even agree to such an important matter for her.

After her daughter had finished washing up and gone to bed, Wang Tang'er sat down next to her husband and whispered, "Are we really going on an eastern tour?"

Fusu nodded and said, "There are benefits, but we need to prepare a few years in advance. We should follow the route Father Emperor took back then and set up granaries and accommodations along the way."

Seeing the worry on his wife's face, Fusu said, "Some people have asked me to perform the Fengshan ceremony. I still remember that after Father Emperor performed the Fengshan ceremony, the scholars of Qi and Lu shed a lot of blood."

Feeling the warmth of her husband's hand, Wang Tang'er held his hand and said, "Now everyone loves the new emperor, and they will welcome the new emperor on his eastern tour."

Looking at the determination in his wife's eyes, it seemed that no matter how difficult the journey to the east was, she was willing to walk with him all the way.

Fusu said, "Well, let's wait a few more years. Currently, the soldiers in the northwest have had friction with the Western Regions and have repeatedly launched military campaigns. In the north, a large number of Xiongnu people are willing to submit and have moved back to the south and north of the Gobi Desert. This will pose another problem for the governance of the north and the harmonious coexistence of the people in the two regions."

"Furthermore, I think we should wait until Heng and Li are capable of handling things independently before I can leave Guanzhong with peace of mind."

Wang Tang'er said, "Wait until the child is a little older."

In September of the seventh year of the new emperor's reign, just after the summer harvest in Guanzhong, a message was sent to Xianyang: a Xiongnu man in the northern desert claimed to be the son of Modu Chanyu, saying that Modu Chanyu's death was due to his arrogance and cruelty, and that he had brought it upon himself.

After the court meeting concluded, Chen Ping asked Lou Jing, "Did the Northwest Frontier Army receive this news beforehand?"

Lou Jing shook his head and said, "No."

Chen Ping frowned and hesitated before asking, "Modu has another son?"

Several years have passed since the Northern Expedition, and people have almost forgotten the threat posed by the Xiongnu.

Feng Jie said, "This man proclaimed himself the Old Chanyu, was willing to submit to the emperor, and even said he would send his son to Xianyang as a hostage, hoping that the emperor would give his people a pasture."

Chen Ping hesitated again and asked, "Send Xianyang as a hostage?"

Lou Jingdao asked, "Do the Xiongnu people think that you, Chen Pingxi, have such a penchant for bringing other people's children to Guanzhong as hostages?"

"I don't have this hobby."

Chen Ping denied it quickly and decisively.

"That's what you did when you dealt with Zhao Tuo and Tu Ju."

Feng Jie suddenly added a sentence.

Ignoring the teasing of the two people beside him, Chen Ping asked again, "The emperor has entrusted this matter to me, so naturally I must find out when the Xiongnu envoy will arrive."

Feng Jie replied, "We've just passed Shangjun, we're almost there."

……

P.S.: My eyes are hurting again today, so I'll be posting one chapter for now and need to rest early. I'll update as usual tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)