The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 62 Lou Jing
After reading the letter sent by Meng Tian, ​​Xin Sheng hurried over and said, "Young master, I heard that the grain in Luoyang is ripe."

Upon hearing this, Fusu said, "The grain from Weinan will be ready soon too."

This year, Weinan not only planted grain earlier, but also planted more.

On the third day after the grain in Luoyang ripened, Tian An began to busy himself. He prepared a lot of food, including cakes, noodles and wine, and placed them in the fields. Then he bowed and paid his respects with a devout expression.

This is a ritual performed the day before the wheat harvest.

In fact, it's not just Tian'an who does this; people from all the villages and counties come out to offer sacrifices, hoping for a smooth harvest the next day.

From a distance, one can see many people walking around in the fields, and wisps of smoke rising from the ridges.

They worship Houji, an agricultural god who came from Jishan.

Fusu was sorting through some books, which contained farming experiences he had recently learned from some old farmers, such as not forgetting to hoe the land during droughts and not forgetting to water the garden during floods.

Even as night fell, you could still see many people moving around in the fields that were about to be harvested.

Fusu collected all the work records from the past six months into boxes, just like when he built the Xianyang Bridge. He meticulously recorded the work process, daily schedule, and documents, and sent these to Xianyang to be placed in the Xianyang archives for future review and inquiry.

As both a prince of Qin and the Vice Minister of the Imperial Household Department of Qin, he naturally had to be extremely careful in everything he did.

The next day, before dawn, Fusu woke up early and breathed in the morning air.

The successful replication of the Zheng Guo Canal on the Longshou Canal added 200,000 people to Guanzhong, further increasing the region's strength.

Of course, Fusu felt that things could be done better in the future, that Weinan could become more prosperous and support a larger population, and that Guanzhong should become more powerful. This would take time, and right now they were only just beginning to cultivate the land.

Zhang Cang and Cheng Miao arrived at the courtyard early, waiting for Prince Fusu to give the order.

The morning breeze was still a bit cool, but by noon it would likely be scorching hot. Fusu said, "Collect the grain."

Zhang Cang: "Yes."

Without saying a word, Cheng Miao hurriedly ran back.

As the eastern horizon begins to lighten, the clouds in the blue sky gradually turn white, and the sun rises fully, families, with their members—the elderly, men, women, and children—work together in the fields.

Seeing this scene, an elderly person wiped away tears from the corner of their eyes and said, "We've finally made it through this year by gritting our teeth."

Since the establishment of Jingye County, every year has been filled with anxiety and tension. When there was no harvest, the 200,000 laborers relied entirely on the surplus grain of Jingye County.

Everyone is now relieved.

This bountiful harvest will last for several days. The laborers who had nothing back then now finally have food and a home to settle down in.

Even five- or six-year-old children can follow behind their parents and pick up the ears of wheat on the ground. These children know from a young age that food is precious.

A carriage stopped on the straight road in Weinan County, and the person who stepped out of the carriage was Feng Jie, the Imperial Censor and concurrently the Minister of Justice.

Feng Jie had someone record the development of Weinan County. He saw a child picking up ears of wheat on the edge of a field. The child was barefoot and wearing a cloth coat. His small hands were gripping the ears of wheat tightly.

Feng Jie glanced at the child once more before leaving.

The child ran quickly toward his parents.

The man picked up the child and said, "After the harvest, I'll make you clothes to wear."

The woman smiled and said, "I went to several places, and they said they had some spare old cloth. I can exchange some of the old cloth for grain first."

When Zhang Cang saw Feng Jie, he smiled and said, "Imperial Censor Feng."

"Censor Zhang."

Feng Jie said, "The bumper harvest in Weinan has relieved the court of much pressure."

Zhang Cang naturally knew that the First Emperor had added many more troops to the Great Wall in the north, and that grain and fodder needed to be transported to the north.

Feng Jie continued, "Recently, the Prime Minister has been busy with matters concerning the North and South. Whether it's the Great Wall in the North or the Du Shui Changlu, I heard that he is still cultivating land in Guilin. The Prime Minister hopes that you can return to the Prime Minister's residence to assist him."

"After Cang finishes his current affairs, he will return to the Prime Minister's residence."

Feng Jie looked around but didn't see Prince Fusu, then said, "I'll head back now."

Zhang Cang bowed once more.

When it was time to harvest the grain, the entire county was almost empty. Everyone had gone out to harvest the grain. Zhang Cang sat in front of the county government office, and after seeing Feng Jie off, he felt like he had nothing to do.

Cheng Miao hurried over with two freshly baked cakes and gave one to Zhang Cang.

Zhang Cang ate his pancake and said, "We're going back to Xianyang."

Cheng Miao sat to one side, eating a pancake, and looked at the fields, asking, "Is the young master also going back?"

Zhang Cang took a bite of the pancake, nodded, and asked, "Who made this pancake?"

Cheng Miao explained, "It was done by Shusun Tong."

Zhang Cang nodded slightly again. All the officials had been sent out to collect land taxes, so the entire county government office was empty.

Cheng Miao said, "Then I must return to Xianyang. The Right Chancellor sent me to help you, young master. Now that you have made some progress, I must go back."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cang suddenly remembered that Cheng Miao was from the Right Chancellor's faction, while he was from the Prime Minister's side.

It seems that both the Prime Minister and the Right Prime Minister are helping Prince Fusu.

Cheng Miao's next sentence dispelled Zhang Cang's misunderstandings and doubts.

He said, "As long as what you do wins the hearts of the people and makes more people support you, the more virtuous you are, the more the Prime Minister and the Right Prime Minister will do their best to help you."

Zhang Cang strongly agreed with Cheng Miao's statement.

Cheng Miao then asked, "Have all these laborers been registered in the household register?"

Zhang Cang nodded, and then said, "These laborers have changed; they are not the same as before."

"Hehehe..." Cheng Miao laughed and said, "Aren't they still the same? With both hands and feet."

Although Cheng Miao was middle-aged, he was a man without ambition. He only did what he wanted to do, and when he encountered something he couldn't do, he would simply say he couldn't.

Of course, someone like him wouldn't see anything.

Therefore, talking to someone like Cheng Miao is quite boring. Anyway, after returning to Xianyang, Cheng Miao will go back to the Imperial Censorate, and I will go back to the Prime Minister's residence to serve the Prime Minister.

However, the reason why Zhang Cang became friends with Cheng Miao was because he was a man of few words and little concern.

At Tongguan, Fusu was looking at the newly harvested wheat. The wheat was of good quality and smelled very fragrant. As far as the eye could see, there was a golden field, which was a treasure.

Qingbi plans to build a bridge in Huayin County, connecting Dali and Huayin. After the busy farming season, these laborers will be needed to come to Tongguan to build the fortress, minimizing the distance and making it easier to transport stone and timber.

Fusu was able to see people working in the fields with their families and eating in the fields.

Wheat was loaded onto carts and brought to their homes. After paying the land tax, what remained was their wealth.

Xin Sheng went out to take a look, and when he returned on horseback, he reported: "Young master, all the counties in Guanzhong are harvesting grain, and all the counties have had a bumper harvest this year."

Fusu nodded and said, "It really wasn't easy."

Tian An sighed, “What you say is absolutely right, young master. This is no easy feat. Last year, this place was still a desolate wasteland, and those laborers had to endure hunger and cold to come to Guanzhong.”

"Hahaha!" Xin Sheng laughed three times and said, "Who would have thought that so much grain could grow here?"

For the remaining days, Fusu was still working on the planning of Tongguan City for Qingbi, which included building a bridge and repairing the road from Tongguan to Huayin. To build a city, the transportation problem had to be solved first.

It's quite difficult to build something from scratch, step by step. While writing down future plans, he also had to copy each draft and send it to Xianyang.

Tian An was already packing his luggage to return to Xianyang. After loading his belongings onto the cart, he asked, "Young master, are you taking these books with you?"

Fusu looked back at the bamboo slips covering the wall and replied, "No need, leave them here."

Tian An nodded.

These books were all written by myself, and the important knowledge points were all in my mind. The important files had been packed up and were ready to be transported to Xianyang.

Tian An brewed a cup of hot tea and said, "I have heard an interesting story."

Fusu took the teacup, sipped his tea, and said, "What interesting thing happened?"

“Last year, when those laborers had just moved to Guanzhong, they were worried that their young children would suffer from cold and hunger, so they entrusted their children to Jingye County. Many of these children were being raised by Shusun Tong.”

Fusu nodded.

"Now, his uncle, Sun Tong, has set up a table by the canal in Jingye County. If the laborers want their children back, they have to give Jingye County twenty dou of wheat."

Fusu said, "Twenty dou of wheat is quite a lot."

"Yes, the amount of grain these children ate in Jingye County is what the laborers have to hand over if they want to take the children back. They say that the amount of grain in Jingye County can only be more, not less."

"Has anyone handed over the grain and taken their child home?"

While tidying up the furniture and putting the clean clothes in the box, Tian An said, "If we take the children back, they will eat the food from home. Shusun Tong also said that we can wait until these children get married before they return to their parents. But if we do that, they will become people of Jingye County."

Fusu continued listening.

Tian An continued, “Jingye County is severely lacking in population. With your three thousand servants, the five hundred hectares of land are not enough to feed everyone. Shusun Tong is thinking of raising more people, which means that he will leave the children in Jingye County after they grow up and start their own families.”

At this point, Tian An sighed, "By then, how could those who stayed in Jingye County and started families leave their children to return to Dali County?"

Fusu smiled in surprise.

"Shusun Tong is quite shrewd. He did nothing, yet he managed to increase the population of Jingye County by such a large amount." Tian An paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Shusun Tong is also trying to relieve the young master's worries. Naturally, the more people in the young master's private property, the better."

Fusu said, “Shusun Tong has read the books I left in Jingye County. He knows the value of a living person. People are a very important productive force. Although he is a disciple of the Confucian family, he is a person who is good at adapting.”

Tian An said, "What you say is true, young master. Shusun Tong is good at adapting, but you should also be wary of such a person turning against you."

"At present, Shusun Tong will not easily betray his cause; the people of the Xianyang Doctor's Mansion have long regarded him as a traitor."

After Fusu finished writing, he put down his pen and instructed, "After I return to Xianyang, I will leave the matter of Tongguan to the old general."

"The last general takes orders."

The old general was very familiar with the villagers of Tongguan, and the soldiers were also used to it.

It wouldn't be good to let the villagers of Tongguan face a group of unfamiliar soldiers again; there's a chance that various conflicts might arise after the personnel are changed.

Fusu disliked the possibility that some unnecessary conflicts and problems might arise in the original plan.

Xin Sheng said loudly, "Did the young master really leave these books behind?"

Tian An said, "Yes, I saved it for you."

Xin Sheng said, "That's great."

Tian An said, "This courtyard is also under your care."

"it is good."

Xin Sheng readily agreed.

Fusu looked up and saw a flock of birds flying across the sky; they should be heading towards Mount Hua.

For the remaining days, Fusu's life was no different from usual.

To outsiders, this young master seemed to be waiting for something.

Zhang Han arrived at Tongguan once again, followed by a dog that was pulling a small cart.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Zhang Han unloaded the meat and vegetables from the cart. "Young master, this humble general will now return."

"Well, I'm done."

Hearing the young master's voice coming from inside the courtyard, Zhang Han bowed in front of the courtyard even though he hadn't seen the young master, and then left.

These newly arrived people in Guanzhong were not exempted from taxes; they had to hand over the land tax on the grain they harvested in their first year of farming.

Taxes are fundamental to a country and cannot be easily exempted. A country needs to function, and once something is started, the burden will only increase again and again.

Therefore, Fusu wished he could make the Prime Minister and General Wang Jian hand over their stipends in rice as taxes.

The construction of Xianyang Bridge was just a small-scale project, and the construction of Jingye Canal was only a superficial attempt. However, during his six months living in Tongguan, Fusu realized the importance of having grain in hand.

The Qin Dynasty could not arbitrarily set the precedent of exempting taxes, and it also needed to collect taxes with extreme care, making up for those taxes that were easily overlooked.

In some respects, exempting meritorious officials from taxes does not necessarily lead to an increase in productivity.

Therefore, Fusu thought very deeply about how to govern the country in the future. This was still a very basic agricultural civilization, and since it was an agricultural civilization, agriculture was the most important foundation.

Five days have passed since the grain harvest began, and almost all the grain in the counties of Weinan has been harvested.

Zhang Cang led his group to the small courtyard in Tongguan and announced loudly, "Young master, the land taxes have all been collected."

Fusu gazed at the long procession in the distance, seeing the endless grain carts stretching as far as the eye could see. Today, he would take these land taxes back to Xianyang.

Fusu mounted his horse and led his troops towards Xianyang.

"This humble general will certainly not fail in your trust, young master."

General Xin's voice came from behind, full of vigor.

Fusu waved his hand without turning back, and continued walking towards Xianyang.

After traveling for a while, when they passed through Huayin County, Fusu asked, "Where is Cheng Miao?"

Zhang Cang said, "He went back to the Imperial Censor's Office first."

"These past six months haven't been a waste of time."

"Your subject has received Lou Jing's letter."

"What did he say?"

“If Prince Fusu is a wise ruler, he is willing to serve him.”

"Why did he change his mind?" Fusu recalled, "I remember he said he was only willing to fight for a place among the various schools of thought in this chaotic world."

Mao Heng said he had been cut off from food.

"Running out of food?"

“That wealthy family no longer wants to support him. Neither of them knows how to farm or do any work. If they don’t come to serve you, young master, they will really starve to death.”

Fusu laughed and said, "No wonder the teacher said that the old nobles of the six states were not a threat. It turns out they don't know how to farm and will really starve to death."

(End of this chapter)