The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

After bidding farewell to Lü Su, Qin Yi and Ying Bu set out on their journey northward. They traveled along Pei County and, after several days of travel, finally arrived at Zibo City, the capital of Linzi Commandery.

Zibo, with its rich history, had long been a vital city in the State of Qi. It was a leader in both population size and commerce. The market was bustling with activity, a scene of prosperity.

Qin Yi and Ying Bu strolled through the market, taking in the city's bustling atmosphere. After walking for a while, Qin Yi suggested, "Let's find an inn to stay in." So, the two began searching for a suitable place. They soon found a pleasant inn and booked two rooms. After checking in, they enjoyed a delicious meal.

With everything in place, Qin Yi and Ying Bu set out again to gather information. They toured the city and, through conversation with the locals, gradually learned that the situation in the north was relatively stable, with no signs of foreign invasions. Furthermore, to strengthen northern defenses, Qin Shi Huang dispatched an additional 300,000 troops to Jiuyuan Commandery and dispatched Meng Tian to patrol the border. Meanwhile, to the south, he ordered Zhao Tuo to lead 400,000 troops to garrison the Baiyue region and ensure stability in the south. This information gave Qin Yi a clearer understanding of the current situation.

Turning around and seeing it again, Ying Bu exclaimed, "There's a Fan's Trading Company store here! There's none in Pei County!"

Qin Yi chuckled after hearing this, and then began to explain, "The Fan family's trading company ships goods from north to south, whether it's Xianyang and Handan in the north or Daliang in the south, which are historic cities. Furthermore, the Fan family's trading company can be found in the capitals of various counties and even in hubs like Chujia Town, which are located on important transportation routes. After all, these places have a large flow of people and many business opportunities. In comparison, Pei County is like a tiny place with a relatively small population and limited business scale, so there is naturally no need to set up a store. You see, paper has gradually become popular, and even government notices have been replaced with paper."

Before long, the two reached the southern part of the city, where civilians lived. Compared to the northern part, the streets here were noticeably dilapidated and shabby. From afar, they saw a man in tattered clothes, his face as haggard as a candle in the wind. He carried a battered longsword on his back, struggling to make his way through the market. He was tall but incredibly thin, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

A group of thugs blocked his path. The leader, a man with a face full of flesh, looked at the tall, thin man defiantly. They mocked his downfall, their words filled with contempt and insult. The tall, thin man watched them silently, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped his sword.

The thugs became more and more arrogant, pushing and shoving the tall and thin man, trying to ignite his inner anger. The tall and thin man's face turned pale as paper, but he still suppressed the anger in his heart.

Suddenly, the leading thug pushed the tall and thin man hard, then stepped on his sword and shouted arrogantly: "You bastard, either draw your sword and kill me, or get under my crotch!"

Qin Yi watched the scene unfold before him, a familiar feeling welling up in his heart. Suddenly, he remembered that this was exactly the scene where Han Xin suffered the humiliation of being humiliated, and he couldn't help but feel excited. Han Xin was a master of military strategy, commanding troops with divine grace, and he had won countless battles with fewer troops.

A trace of pain and helplessness flashed across the tall and thin man's eyes. Amidst the laughter of the crowd, he slowly bent down and fell to the ground.

The market was completely silent, then bursts of laughter could be heard again. Qin Yi dodged and supported the tall, thin man. He said to the leading thug, "I advise you to leave some room for error so we can meet again in the future. As the saying goes: It's better to bully an old man than a poor young man. One day, a dragon will marry a phoenix, but I don't believe you'll live your life with holes in your pants. By then, I'm afraid it will be too late for you to regret it."

The tall and thin man perked up after hearing this, muttering softly, "It's better to bully an old man with an old beard than to bully a poor young man. One day, a dragon will marry a phoenix, but I don't believe in living with holes in my pants all my life."

The leading thug laughed wildly and said, "Where did this wild man come from? Is he blind? How dare he stop me from having fun? Don't he want to live? How can a man like him who is willing to endure the humiliation of being kicked in the crotch become something great?" Then the thugs next to him laughed out loud.

It didn't take long for Ying Bu to step forward before the thugs knelt down and begged for mercy, declaring they would never do it again. Qin Yi, considering they were unfamiliar with the area and didn't want to make a big fuss, winked at Ying Bu and let them go. The onlookers also dispersed.

Qin Yi picked up the long face next to him and handed it to the tall and thin man.

The tall and thin man quickly leaned forward and bowed, "My name is Han Xin. Thank you for your help."

Qin Yi smiled and said, "Don't mention the word 'benefactor' anymore. My name is Qin Yi. I didn't save you. It's mainly because you have great ambitions, are able to bend and stretch, and endure without giving up."

Han Xin suddenly felt like he had found a kindred spirit. He said, "Mr. Qin's words, 'It is better to defraud an old man with an old beard than to defraud a young man in poverty. One day a dragon will marry a phoenix, but I don't believe in living a lifetime with holes in my pants,' were like a revelation, waking me from a dream."

Qin Yi helped Han Xin up and said with a smile, "Brother Han, you're welcome. They're just some hooligans, nothing to be afraid of. But why are you so down and out?"

Han Xin sighed and told Qin Yi about his experiences. He came from a poor family, but he was studious and ambitious. However, in an era where family background was valued, he suffered from indifference and bullying.

Qin Yi patted Han Xin on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Brother Han, don't be discouraged. A hero's origins are not judged. As long as you have real talent and knowledge, you will eventually rise to prominence."

Han Xin nodded gratefully, with a determined light in his eyes, and thought to himself: Mr. Qin is indeed different from ordinary people. He actually trusts me so much.

Qin Yi enjoyed a lively conversation with Han Xin, discovering his unique insights into military strategy. The two of them bonded over the course of their conversation, seemingly losing track of time. Qin Yi secretly sighed, "Han Xin is truly remarkable. If I could gain his assistance, I would be even more powerful in the future."

As night fell, Qin Yi invited Han Xin back to the inn, and the three of them had dinner together. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Qin Yi decided to be frank. He told Han Xin the purpose of his trip and expressed his hope that Han Xin would accompany him on the journey north.

When Han Xin heard this, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself: The future of going north is uncertain. Should I really go with them?

Qin Yi understood his concerns and quickly said, "Brother Han, the border is in great need of talents right now. With your talents, you will surely make a difference. Besides, Ying Bu and I also need the help of ambitious people like you."

Han Xin was silent for a moment, thinking to himself: Mr. Qin is right. Perhaps this is my chance to show my ambition. Finally, he nodded in agreement. He decided to trust Qin Yi and his own abilities.

Qin Yi and Ying Bu smiled at each other, both feeling that this trip to Linzi was well worthwhile.

That night, after Qin Yi asked Han Xin to wash up, he looked at Han Xin, who was of similar height to him, and took out a set of his own clothes for him to change into.

The next day, Qin Yi didn't rush to leave, but instead asked Han Xin to pack up briefly. The two followed Han Xin to his home. Although there wasn't anything valuable, it was clean and tidy. Han Xin packed a few changes of clothes, then locked the door and asked Qin Yi and the others to wait for a while.

Han Xin walked straight to the riverside and knelt before the old woman washing silk floss. He said, "Thank you for saving my life. I will follow you north to make great achievements. I will repay you in return when I return home."

The old woman said, "I saw that you were handsome, like a prince, and I couldn't bear to see you starve, so I gave you food. I wasn't expecting any reward from you!"

After hearing this, Han Xin kowtowed again to express his gratitude and then said goodbye to the old woman.

Ying Bu said, "Han Xin is a man who knows how to repay kindness."

Qin Yi nodded, then took out a string of Qin Banliang coins, about forty in total, and walked over to put them in the hands of Han Xin who had returned. He also looked at the old woman and gestured.

Han Xin looked at Qin Yi gratefully, ran to the old woman, put the money down, kowtowed again, and then turned and left.

As they walked toward the inn, Han Xin recounted his story. They learned that Han Xin had often fished alone in the river below the city to make a living. When he caught nothing, he went hungry, leading an extremely difficult life. As time went on, an old woman, observing Han Xin's desolation and misery, took pity on him. One day, she shared half of her lunch with Han Xin. Han Xin, starving, devoured it like a hungry tiger. This continued for dozens of days.

(Note: Prices were very low from the late Warring States period to the Qin Dynasty. In normal years, a dan of millet cost only a few dozen coins, and a dou of millet only required three Qin half-liang coins.)