The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Since the First Emperor had given Li Si the task of recruiting craftsmen and prisoners for labor in the court, after leaving the court, Li Si took a team of followers and guards and went directly to the construction site of the Mausoleum of Emperor Li in Mount Li.

Li Si sat in a spacious carriage and looked out the window at the bustling streets of Xianyang City. The shops and stalls on both sides of the street were filled with all kinds of goods, and the crowds were bustling and lively.

"Sir, the prosperity of Xianyang City today is truly amazing!" The butler exclaimed as he looked at Li Si.

"Yes, after unifying the six kingdoms, Xianyang City, as the center of the world, naturally prospered." Li Si replied with a smile.

The carriage slowly passed through the gates of Xianyang City and out of the city walls. On both sides of the road outside the city were endless farmlands and villages. Crops thrived in the fields, and in the villages, houses stood in a patchwork arrangement, with smoke curling up from chimneys.

Li Si looked at the scenery outside the window and secretly admired in his heart that this mountain was truly a place of great feng shui.

"Sir, look at Mount Li, it's so majestic and spectacular!" said the butler, pointing to Mount Li in the distance.

"Well, Mount Li has beautiful scenery and is a good place." Li Si nodded and thought to himself.

As the carriage moved forward, they saw Mount Li in the distance. It was majestic and magnificent, with lush greenery and beautiful scenery. Li Si secretly admired the mountain, saying it was truly a place of great feng shui.

The carriage continued to move forward and finally arrived at the construction site of the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum.

When everyone saw Li Si coming, they all bowed and Li Si responded with a smile.

After Li Si dismounted, Zhang Han stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Prime Minister Li. Your humble servant, Zhang Han, is the Stone Chamber Commander."

Li Si nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Zhang Shiling. I have been ordered to come here to see the progress of the imperial mausoleum."

Zhang Han replied respectfully, "Prime Minister Li, the imperial mausoleum has begun to take shape, but it will still take time to perfect the details."

Li Si looked at the grand building in front of him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Zhang Han gave a detailed introduction to various aspects of the project, including the architectural structure and decorative style.

The construction site was bustling with activity, with craftsmen working furiously, some digging foundations, some carrying stones, and some carving structures.

Li Si dismounted from his carriage and walked to the construction site. He was overwhelmed by the sight of the massive mausoleum. His gaze was captivated by the massive stones and exquisite carvings, and he marveled at the craftsmen's wisdom and skill.

At the foot of Mount Li, thousands of craftsmen busily shuttled between construction sites. Dressed in coarse linen and armed with various tools, some were carrying huge stones, some were carving exquisite stone sculptures, and some were digging deep tomb passages.

"Hey, over here!" a craftsman shouted.

"Okay!" another craftsman responded.

The construction site was bustling with activity. The sounds of stonemasons hammering, carpenters sawing, and laborers shouting intertwined, echoing across the valley. Huge blocks of stone were hoisted by ropes and pulleys, slowly moved to their designated positions, and then meticulously joined by craftsmen. Each stone was meticulously polished and carved to ensure flawless perfection.

Inside the mausoleum, artisans are painting exquisite murals. Using delicate brushstrokes and vibrant colors, they depict the First Emperor's achievements and legendary legends. The figures in the murals are lifelike, seemingly telling the story of the times.

"This mural is so beautiful!" Li Si exclaimed as he walked here.

"Yes, this is the treasure of our Great Qin!" said a craftsman proudly.

Deep within the mausoleum, laborers were excavating the passage and burial chamber. Using crude tools, they chipped away at the solid rock, their clothes soaked with sweat. The walls of the passage and burial chamber were covered in exquisite designs and inscriptions, the product of the ingenuity of contemporary craftsmen.

"Hey, be careful!" a laborer warned.

"Okay! Got it!" Li Si replied with a smile.

There are many ancillary buildings around the mausoleum, such as palaces, temples, warehouses, etc. These buildings are also magnificent, showing the superb level of Daqin architectural art.

After emerging from the underground palace, Li Si, hands clasped behind his back, asked thoughtfully, "Zhang Shiling, I've noticed that these craftsmen, despite shouldering heavy workloads, haven't complained at all and are proactive in their work. I wonder why?"

Zhang Han bowed respectfully and replied, "Prime Minister Li, since the transfer of 50,000 Xiongnu prisoners of war last year, most of the hard and tiring work has been assigned to them, thus reducing the workload of the craftsmen and laborers. In addition, we have improved the food quality, which has significantly boosted the enthusiasm of the craftsmen and laborers. If another 50,000 Xiongnu prisoners of war can be sent, the construction progress of the imperial mausoleum will surely be greatly accelerated."

Li Si nodded slightly in agreement, then asked, "Do you know who came up with the idea of ​​using prisoners of war instead of corvee labor?"

Zhang Han replied gravely, "Prime Minister Li, I have heard that this proposal was made by General Meng Yi. It is said that General Meng once said, 'Those who are not of our race must have different hearts. Those who offend the Great Qin will be punished, no matter how far away they are.' I deeply admire this."

Li Si nodded slightly and said, "Zhang Shiling, I'm afraid we don't have 50,000 prisoners of war, but we do have 50,000 prisoners. I wonder if you can manage them well?"

Zhang Han's heart skipped a beat when he heard this number, but he quickly regained his composure and replied respectfully, "Prime Minister Li, although 50,000 prisoners is a large number, as long as there is enough food and strict management, we should be able to control the situation. However..."

Zhang Han frowned, then pondered for a moment. He raised his head, looked at Li Si with a determined gaze, and said sincerely, "Prime Minister Li, I am deeply honored by your trust in me, but I am only a small official in charge of the construction and management of the craftsmen and stone materials. Such a position is not convincing. If I were to take on such an important position, I am afraid it would arouse public suspicion and dissatisfaction."

Zhang Han was fully aware of the weight of his responsibility. Failure to properly handle these prisoners would not only hinder the project's progress but could also lead to even greater trouble. However, he also understood that this was a rare opportunity, and that successfully completing this task would positively impact his career.

Li Si nodded in satisfaction, seemingly satisfied with Zhang Han's answer. He continued, "I'm not wrong in judging people. I see you have a noble bearing and a clear mind. You'd be a formidable general on the battlefield."

Zhang Han's heart was moved by these words. He realized Li Si's appreciation for him. He looked at Li Si gratefully and said firmly, "Thank you for your trust, Prime Minister Li. I will definitely live up to your expectations."

Li Si nodded slightly, expressing his satisfaction. Then, he changed his tone and said seriously, "Don't worry. His Majesty has ordered me to supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum. From now on, you will take on the responsibility of supervising the construction of the imperial mausoleum. If you have any questions, you can come to me directly!"

After hearing this, Zhang Han was delighted and quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Prime Minister Li, for your trust. I will obey your orders." He knew that this meant he had more power and resources and could do his job better.

Li Si looked up at the imperial mausoleum's underground palace, pondering his next plan. He turned to Zhang Han and said, "Zhang Han, after the 50,000 prisoners are delivered, you must also ensure an adequate food supply. Also, strengthen the security of the construction site. No mistakes can be made."

Zhang Han replied confidently, "Don't worry, Prime Minister Li. I will make all the arrangements."

Li Si nodded and said, "Okay, report to me in time if you have any problems." After that, he took a carriage and left the imperial mausoleum construction site.

Zhang Han watched Li Si's departing figure and vowed to himself that he would perform well and live up to Li Si's expectations. He immediately gathered his men and began to plan the next steps.