The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 78 The Prime Minister and Zhang Cang (Thanks to the leader of the Dawn Caveman Alliance for the reward)
When Wang Ben arrived, he brought with him a large number of escorting soldiers.

Fusu stood at the edge of the field and said, "I am grateful that you, Young Master, have come to inquire about this matter."

Inquiring about agricultural rituals was one of the duties of the Junior Treasury Officer.

Wang Ben bowed and said, "The First Emperor ordered me to come and see the fields here."

Bean sprouts are growing in the field, though they are growing rather sparsely and unevenly, but they have managed to sprout.

Wang Ben was very curious. After the agricultural ceremony, there was a heavy snowfall. The beans that the First Emperor planted should have all frozen to death. Even if Prince Fusu replanted them, the bean sprouts should not have grown so quickly.

Did the beans planted by the First Emperor not freeze?
Wang Ben was puzzled, but he did not ask. He then said, "The First Emperor has decreed that if the agricultural ceremony goes smoothly, I will escort the prince back to Xianyang."

Fusu said, "I really must go back. Please wait outside for a moment, I need to pack up."

Wang Ben nodded and led his men to wait outside Shanglin Garden.

Tian An had finished packing and was now saying goodbye to the donkey.

Fusu couldn't bear to see the old man in such a state, so he said, "Take this donkey to Xianyang as well."

Tian An frowned and said, "Young Master, how can Gaoquan Palace keep donkeys?"

Fusu said, "Just place it in Lü Buwei's old residence, and you arrange for two people to take care of it."

“Great!” Tian An nodded with a smile and said, “If we take it back to Xianyang, this donkey can grind soybeans day and night.”

On their way back to Xianyang, Li You and several armored soldiers led the donkey, which was resisting as if it did not want to leave and was struggling against its fate.

Finally, Tian An took out some salted dried meat and fed the donkey with small pieces of it while leading it out of the stable.

Fusu left five people behind to take care of these few acres of land.

Before leaving, Fusu checked everything to make sure he had taken all the necessary belts before leaving Shanglin Garden.

When Wang Ben saw the young master emerge, he bowed and asked, "Young master, have you returned to Xianyang?"

Fusu said, "Yes, let's go back."

The procession was rearranged, with Li You's group leading the way and Wang Ben's group guarding the prince's carriage, escorting him back to Xianyang.

Pinyang County, Guanzhong Plain.

With his white hair and beard, Wang Jian walked along the edge of the field, leaning on a cane. The crops had not yet been planted, but the wild grasses had already sprouted from the fields.

Wang Jian sat down by the edge of the field, gazing silently at the vast expanse of land.

The servants stood at the back. The old general was actually in very good health, even better than the current Grand Commandant. He had come out for a stroll today to relax.

This kind of spirit and energy can only be seen in the old general's hometown of Pinyang.

In front of the officials in Xianyang, the old general always pretended to be extremely weak.

Perhaps this was to reassure the First Emperor and those in the Qin court about the old general.

In fact, the old general didn't need to pretend like this, because he had long lost his military power and had almost nothing left in his family except for his land and money.

A cool breeze blew by, and Wang Jian's thinning beard and hair fluttered in the wind. He really had aged...

An old farmer led his ox over and said with a smile, "General, what brings you here today?"

The old farmer who spoke was also quite old.

Wang Jian said in a low voice, "Sigh, it's so stuffy at home, I came out to get some fresh air."

The old farmer sat down beside him, took out a cloth bag from his bosom, and inside the bag were pieces of millet cake. He ate one piece first, and then handed the rest to Wang Jian.

Wang Jian took the cloth bag, picked up a piece of millet cake, and put it in his mouth.

The old farmer said in a low voice, "When we were kids, you were the least playful. You always had a bamboo scroll in your hand. If someone took your bamboo scroll away, you would cry and make a fuss."

Wang Jian said with a smile, "When I was little, you older brothers all liked to bully me."

"Back then, you stood on that rock and shouted... 'Brothers, we're going to fight! Come with me to the front lines, earn military merits, get land, and support our parents and children...' Back then, we brothers foolishly followed you." The old farmer let the ox drink water by the ditch and continued, "As we walked... we fought for the King of Qin together. While I was still messing around, you became a general."

As he spoke, he looked up, his gaze fixed on the sky, as if trying to find glimpses of the battles they fought together in the clouds.

Wang Jian sighed, "If it weren't for my brothers helping me and the King of Qin to conquer Xianyang, there would be no Wang Jian here today."

The old farmer said, “When we were little, your family was the only one with books to read. When we took your books and bullied you, you would cry. When you cried, the elders in your family would come out and chase us away. Year after year, we old brothers followed you through thick and thin. It was because of you that we old brothers survived on the battlefield.”

Wang Jian said in a low voice, "There are still many who did not survive."

The old farmer nodded and said, "Sigh... So many years have passed, but our old brothers in Pinyang will still listen to you and trust you."

Back then, Wang Jian followed the King of Qin back to Xianyang and quelled the Xianyang Rebellion. After that, Wang Jian was highly valued by the King of Qin.

These are the memories of these old comrades. Back then, everyone was full of ambition, but the glory of their youth is gone.

The old farmer whispered, "I really wish I could be young again."

"Hehehe..."

Wang Jian suddenly smiled.

The old farmer continued, "Back then, my brothers and I followed you into battle. A few years later, you led our sons into battle. When you fought against the State of Chu, you took our grandsons into battle. Who are you going to fight now?"

"Sigh..." Wang Jian sighed, "I'm not fighting anymore, I can't fight anymore."

The old farmer asked suspiciously, "The people from Xianyang want you to fight, can you refuse?"

Wang Jian sighed, "I'm not going to fight anymore. If we keep fighting... my old bones won't come back."

"Ha ha!"

The old farmer laughed and said, "Alright, you can't fight anymore."

Wang Jian said, "I heard your grandson has gone to war again?"

"My eldest grandson is guarding the Great Wall in the north, his son is still being raised at home, and my youngest grandson went to fight in the south with others. They say he seized a lot of land, gold, and farmland there. Last month, he sent a letter home saying that he wants to settle down in the south and then take his wife and children back to Guanzhong."

As he spoke, the old farmer remained calm, likely because he had experienced much and had consciously put life and death aside on the battlefield.

They all fought their way to the top, and everyone was used to hearing about other people's children dying on the battlefield. If their own child were to die on the battlefield, they wouldn't be too heartbroken.

Looking behind Wang Jian, the old farmer asked, "Where's your little granddaughter? She's always the one following behind you."

"She's getting married; she'll be married off in a few days."

"You're so fond of your little granddaughter, how can you bear to marry her off?"

Wang Jian smiled and said, "She's grown up, she'll have to get married eventually."

"Whose child did she marry?"

Wang Jian thought for a moment and replied, "A family from Xianyang."

The old farmer whispered, "They must be a very wealthy family, perhaps a general in the army in Xianyang?"

Wang Jian said, "That kid's family is very wealthy. What is my Pinyang? That kid is also very capable, much more capable than this old man like me."

“It’s good that she’s married to someone from Xianyang; it’s not far from Xianyang.” After saying this, the old farmer picked up the ox again, saying, “The oxen in Guanzhong are stubborn; you can’t pull them away.”

After tugging on the rope a few times and seeing that the ox still wouldn't obey, the old farmer whipped it several times before the ox slowly caught up.

Xianyang has been bustling with activity lately, as the young master is about to return for his wedding, and everyone in the palace is busy preparing for it.

After Prince Fusu returned to Gaoquan Palace, the place became even busier.

Upon returning to Gaoquan Palace, Tian An first went to the memorial tablet of Empress Dowager Huayang. After tidying his clothes and washing his face, he came to the tablet, burned incense, and kowtowed.

Inside Zhangtai Palace, the eunuchs stood quietly to one side. The young master had stayed in Shanglin Garden to help the First Emperor with farming, and after returning, he hadn't rested much. Moreover, with his wedding imminent, he was still assisting in state affairs.

Ying Zheng said, "After you get married, you should assist Wang Ben in handling the affairs of the Shaofu. Wang Ben is, after all, from a military background. He has held the position of Shaofu Ling for so many years, which has been difficult for him. Li Si has told me more than once to choose someone else to replace him."

Upon hearing this, Fusu stopped writing. Seeing that his father was still looking through the bamboo slips, he did not look up.

The general idea is to help Wang Ben more.

If he could succeed Wang Ben as the Minister of the Imperial Household, he would be able to influence the nation's development.

The Shaofu Ling was one of the Nine Ministers, in charge of the state's land and the emperor's private property expenditures.

This position is certainly very good, and being able to participate means that I am not far from being promoted from Assistant Minister of the Imperial Household to Minister of the Imperial Household.

This is the difference after the coming-of-age ceremony.

Before the coming-of-age ceremony, even if one held an official position, one still needed the help of Zhang Cang, Wang Ben, and Cheng Miao to complete a task.

Now, they can hold real power, truly wielding it without relying on others.

Ying Zheng continued, "Now, everyone in Guanzhong knows about the affairs of Weinan Commandery. It is a good thing that you can win people's hearts. Li Si said that the counties of Weinan were created by you, my son. If someone else were to take charge of Weinan, they would probably not be able to win people's hearts. From now on, the affairs of the six counties of Weinan will be entrusted to you."

"My son, take your orders."

Today, Weinan's six counties are: Jingye, Dali, Huayin, Tongguan, Liyi, and Xiagui.

Ying Zheng said, "Tomorrow at the court meeting, I will issue an edict that you will marry the royal family when summer begins."

Fusu bowed and said, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for bestowing this marriage upon you."

"You chose this marriage yourself, so there's no need to thank me."

After finishing today's political affairs and waiting for his father to leave, Fusu also left Zhangtai Palace.

The following day, Fusu did not attend the court meeting, as he needed to complete the pre-wedding sacrificial rites, and today he was to kneel before the memorial tablets of the Qin kings of all dynasties.

When Tian An arrived in a hurry, he smiled happily and said, "Young master, the imperial edict issued by Zhangtai Palace stipulates that you will marry the daughter of the Wang family of Tongwu Marquis during the summer solstice."

Fusu closed his eyes and faced the memorial tablets of the Qin kings of past dynasties with a devout expression.

It seems that the kings of Qin throughout history also approved of this marriage. Their memorial tablets remain as quiet as ever, and even when wind and rain blow into the hall, their memorial tablets remain as stable as a rock.

Conversely, if the memorial tablet suddenly falls down and lands on the ground...

Fusu needs to think carefully about how to explain things to his father, or perhaps he should think carefully about his future.

Fortunately, the ancestors remained very quiet.

Another spring rain began to fall outside the palace. In recent years, the amount of spring rain in Guanzhong has not been large. This year's spring rain was as if God had casually sprinkled some water in Guanzhong.

The spring agricultural rituals are postponed for two months until the beginning of summer.

After the agricultural ceremony, Fusu stayed in Shanglin Garden for a month, and the wedding took place the following month, around the time of the Beginning of Summer.

After paying homage to the past Qin kings, Fusu and Tian An went to Lü Buwei's old residence.

There was a stable in the mansion, with only one donkey kept there. Tian An hired three relatively loyal servants to look after it.

While Fusu sat by the stable reading a book, Tian An drove the donkey to pull the millstone.

One by one, the beans are poured into the millstone, and what comes out is tofu pudding.

A eunuch guarding the door rushed over, bowed, and said, "Young master, the official in charge of the household has sent a document."

Fusu said, "Bring it in."

One by one, officials entered the mansion and handed over their documents. Fusu flipped through them one by one. Most of them concerned land rent, carriages and horses, relocation of people, and matters related to river repair and field paths.

The position of Junior Chamberlain is quite high; he is considered the right-hand man of the Junior Chamberlain.

Although his power wasn't that great, the person with the most power was still Prime Minister Li Si.

After finishing his day's work, Tian An carried a small bucket covered with a cloth. The bucket was filled with tofu pudding, but not much; it wasn't even half full.

After returning to Gaoquan Palace, Tian An took a satisfied sip of tofu pudding and said to the eunuch beside him, "Take half of it and send it to Tongguan, to Xin Sheng."

The eunuch nodded in agreement.

Another eunuch rushed over, saying, "Young master, a letter from the Prime Minister."

Fusu was feeding the fish when he heard this, so he put all the wheat bran in his hand into the fishpond and took the Prime Minister's letter with his free hand.

The letter began with congratulations to Prince Fusu on his upcoming marriage.

Then the Prime Minister said in his letter that although Weinan is not as large as half of Guanzhong, it occupies a strategic location west of Hangu Pass...

The gist of it is that the First Emperor ordered his son Fusu to oversee Weinan, a territory that was not as large as half of Guanzhong, but if Guanzhong were divided into six parts, it would be equivalent to one-sixth of Guanzhong.

It occupies one-sixth of the land in Guanzhong and one-third of the population.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister's words contained much advice, advising Prince Fusu not to be complacent and to remain humble. Xunzi once said that those who are wise and humble will surely be virtuous, and those who are skillful and measured will surely be modest.

There are also admonitions such as cultivating oneself through propriety.

In short, the Prime Minister hopes that the young master will not be complacent, but will be more humble and studious.

The prime minister was certainly a good prime minister, and also a very good teacher.

If it were Zhang Cang, he wouldn't have offered such advice. Zhang Cang is a very independent person. Having known Zhang Cang for so long, compared to the Prime Minister...

Zhang Cang only does what he is supposed to do. Once he has finished what he is supposed to do, he always observes the fate of others with indifference, respects their choices, and never interferes in their lives.

So, when Mao Heng was starving to death in Luoyang, Zhang Cang did nothing but inform him of the situation.

However, they never sent Mao Heng a single grain of food.

A month passed quickly, and spring in Guanzhong was as short as ever.

On the day of Lixia (the beginning of summer), burning of stubble is prohibited.

Officials traveled around the counties of Guanzhong, checking the health of the oxen and informing the people of each county, pavilion, and township, urging them to strengthen dikes, prevent blockages, and prepare for water during farming.

……

Thank you to the Alliance Leader "Dawn's Caveman" for the generous donation. The Alliance Leader will be adding an extra chapter. I usually write slowly, so I'll be extending my donation for this extra chapter.

(End of this chapter)