The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Time flies, more than a month has passed in a flash, and mid-May has quietly arrived.

According to news from Shangjun, the Emperor has departed again from Shangjun, bound non-stop for Jiuyuan. His entourage includes Prince Fusu, Left Prime Minister Li Si, Marquis of Tongwu Wang Ben, Imperial Chariot Officer Zhao Gao, Imperial Censor Feng Jie, Doctor Chunyu Yue, and Minister of State Zhou Qingchen, as well as numerous Confucian scholars and academicians. He is expected to arrive in Jiuyuan in five days.

After receiving the news, Meng Tian immediately summoned the main generals in the city - Meng Yuan, Bai Lin and Meng Yi, to discuss the welcoming arrangements.

Meng Tian looked around and spoke first, "Everyone, this reception is of great importance. We must prepare carefully and not make any mistakes."

Meng Yuan nodded in agreement and said, "General, you are absolutely right. I believe we should first formulate a detailed plan, including the time, location, and ceremony for the reception. We also need to properly arrange the escort team to ensure that everything goes smoothly."

Meng Yi thought for a moment and suggested, "I think we should also carefully arrange some decorations in the city. In addition, we can prepare a grand banquet."

Meng Tian smiled at everyone, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Very good, then proceed with the arrangements. Meng Yuan will be responsible for making plans and arranging the escort team; Bai Lin will be responsible for selecting the items; and Meng Yi will be responsible for the layout of the city and the preparations for the banquet. Everyone must work together to ensure the success of this welcoming mission."

Everyone accepted the order and said they would do their best to complete the task.

So they immediately started to act, each doing their own job.

Meng Yi began to order the soldiers to clean the streets and prepared a sumptuous banquet.

Five days later, the First Emperor's convoy arrived at Jiuyuan City like a giant dragon.

Meng Tian led everyone out of the city to welcome him. After the First Emperor got off the chariot, Meng Tian stepped forward to pay him a visit and introduced to him the situation of the defense of Jiuyuan and the construction of the Great Wall in the north.

The First Emperor wore a black robe embroidered with golden dragons. His face was as firm as steel, his eyes as deep as the abyss and as sharp as arrows, exuding a sense of majesty and dominance. He was tall and straight, standing like a pine tree, and his steps were steady and powerful, as if every step could shake the earth. His neatly trimmed beard added a touch of solemnity and majesty.

Then the First Emperor asked, "Meng Tian, ​​how far is it from here to Shahu Pass?"

Meng Tian said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Shahu Pass is twenty miles from Jiuyuan City, and it will take about half an hour."

The First Emperor nodded slightly. "Very good. I will go to Shahu Pass today to inspect the defenses there."

Meng Tian said quickly, "Your Majesty, the journey is long. Why not rest here for a day and set off again tomorrow?"

The First Emperor waved his hand and said, "It's alright, I'm not tired."

After saying this, he turned around and climbed onto the chariot, as steady as Mount Tai, and signaled the team to set off.

After receiving the Emperor's signal, Zhao Gao shouted, "Move forward, and march towards Shahu Pass."

Meng Tian did not dare to delay and hurriedly led everyone to follow behind like a gust of wind.

Meng Yi secretly looked at Zhao Gao and saw that he was of medium build, with a somewhat gloomy face, narrow and sharp eyes, like two sharp swords, and a barely perceptible smile always hanging at the corners of his mouth, as if he was planning something at any time.

Along the way, the First Emperor observed the surrounding terrain and fortifications, and asked Meng Tian about the situation from time to time.

Meng Tian answered all the questions one by one, and the First Emperor felt deeply relieved. He was sure that he had not misjudged Meng Tian. Meng Tian was still as dedicated and responsible as ever, so the First Emperor was relieved to hand over the Great Wall Guard to him.

The group arrived at Shahu Pass in a mighty manner. The commander of the pass had already received orders and was waiting to welcome them at the pass.

The First Emperor stepped up to the Great Wall at Shahu Pass. He wore a black dragon robe, a crown that reached the sky, and was as majestic as Mount Tai and as solemn as the stars. Standing at the pass, his eyes revealed a firmness and determination, as if he wanted to take in the entire vast territory.

At this time, the Great Wall looked like a giant dragon winding between the mountains, with bricks and stones interlaced, majestic and spectacular, like an indestructible fortress.

The First Emperor strolled along the Great Wall, his steps steady and powerful, and his ministers followed him respectfully.

Suddenly, the First Emperor turned and asked, "Fusu, what do you think of the Great Wall?"

Fusu thought for a moment and said, "Father, although the Great Wall can resist the Xiongnu invasion to a certain extent, the Xiongnu are, after all, a people on horseback, coming and going like the wind. The construction of the Great Wall not only consumes a huge amount of financial resources, but also sacrifices countless laborers, which is not conducive to the country's recuperation."

The First Emperor snorted coldly, but remained silent, feeling somewhat disappointed. "Fusu, Fusu, the internal situation of the Qin Empire is unstable. The construction of the Great Wall will not only expand the border northward, but also defend against random invasions by foreign tribes. Only by completing it as soon as possible can we stabilize the internal situation."

Zhao Gao sensed the First Emperor's discontent and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I believe the six kingdoms have only been unified for a few decades. The people's hearts are like a candle in the wind, and the internal forces of the Qin Dynasty are like poisonous snakes lurking in the dark. Therefore, we must build the Great Wall to defend against the barbarians from outside, so that we can have the energy to quell the internal forces."

The First Emperor nodded slightly and said, "What do you think, Mr. Meng?"

Meng Tian stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am a military commander. I do not understand the affairs of state. My sole responsibility is to protect Your Majesty and the people of Great Qin, and to destroy all enemies who come to attack. Whatever Your Majesty commands, Meng Tian will carry it out like an arrow from a bow."

The First Emperor nodded but said nothing.

Meng Yi heard the conversation between the First Emperor and Fusu, Zhao Gao and his elder brother not far away. He really felt that Fusu was too stubborn. He only thought about recuperation as the Confucian way and was not as far-sighted as Zhao Gao. Moreover, his elder brother was indeed cautious and expressed that he would only obey the orders of the First Emperor and would not get involved in matters other than military affairs.

As the First Emperor ascended to a height, gazing down upon the magnificent Great Wall and the vast expanse of the land, a surge of pride surged within him. He imagined his empire as solid as a rock, the Great Wall warding off foreign invasions and protecting the people like a steel wall. His gaze stretched far into the distance, seemingly traversing time and space, beholding a future of prosperity and prosperity.

When he saw the huge wheels on the hillside, his mind immediately flashed back to the new invention Meng Tian had reported—a means of transportation. He pointed at the wheels and said, "Mr. Meng, could this be the magical tool that can improve transportation efficiency?"

Meng Tian replied respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty, these items are placed on the hillside and at the foot of the mountain..."

The First Emperor gazed at the wheel and listened attentively to Meng Tian's explanation. He was overjoyed and instantly grasped the secret. Since the stone was mined at the bottom of the mountain, connecting the hillside and the foot of the mountain not only saved time in transporting the stone, but also saved labor. The laborers had more time to build the city wall, and the construction period was greatly shortened.

Li Si was overjoyed after hearing this and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, this is a great undertaking that benefits both the country and the people! It can be used not only to build the Great Wall, but also to build Mount Li, the imperial mausoleum, and transport goods between the banks of major rivers."

The First Emperor smiled slightly and said in agreement, "Mr. Li is absolutely right."

Li Si was a thin man with thick eyebrows like ink. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through everything, revealing his intelligence and decisiveness. His beard was neatly trimmed, adding a bit of majesty.

The First Emperor then asked, "Where is Meng Yi?"

Meng Yi, who was distracted, heard the call from the First Emperor and quickly stepped forward, bowed and saluted. He said in a loud voice: "I, the humble General Meng Yi, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

The First Emperor looked at Meng Yi. He was tall and imposing, with a sharply defined face. He wore a black battle robe and stood tall and straight like a pine tree. He immediately took a liking to him. Then, looking at Meng Tian, ​​the First Emperor couldn't help but sigh, "There's indeed a resemblance." He casually asked, "Meng Yi, did you claim in your military report that this thing was your invention? Who was your mentor?"

Meng Yi bowed and replied, "Thanks to Your Majesty's great blessing, while patrolling the border, I saw the low efficiency of the laborers and became anxious, which led to a sudden inspiration. My master is a hermit in the mountains, known as Gong Nizi. I was separated from my family at a young age, and after my adoptive father passed away, he was taken to the mountains to be raised for several years. My master dabbled in law, Confucianism, and Mohist thought. I am not very talented, but fortunately I have learned some unique skills."

The First Emperor nodded and said, "If I can entrust you with the construction of the 'straight road' connecting Yunzhong and Yanmen in the east of the Yellow River, and the 'bridge' across Pujin along the Fen River, would that be okay?"

Meng Yi bowed and said, "Your Majesty has commanded me to die for you!"

Then the First Emperor looked at Meng Tian with a smile and said, "Mr. Meng, when we return to Xianyang, let Meng Yi return to the Meng family clan."

Meng Tian bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Regarding Gongsun Ni Zi, Meng Yi was not making up stories. According to legend, in addition to Han Fei Zi, Li Si's teacher Xunzi also included Zhang Cang, Chen Xiao, Lu Jia, Gongsun Ni Zi and others. According to records, the rest of them were officials, while Gongsun Ni Zi retired to the mountains and disappeared without a trace, so he borrowed this person's name and did not want to conflict with Li Si.

As expected, when Li Si heard the name Gong Nizi, he became suspicious: "Could this be Gongsun Nizi? When he first became a disciple of Master Xun, Gongsun Nizi was well-versed in the three schools of thought: Legalism, Confucianism, and Mohism. Very good, we can try to win over Meng Yi."

After that, everyone came down from the Great Wall and returned to Jiuyuan City.