The Moon in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 16: Zhong Cang Returns to Qin
Zhong Cang bowed to Ying Zheng and said, "I will wait for an opportunity to bring the Madam and the young Master back when I return."

"I have known for a long time that I will return to Qin soon, and I have written down all I have learned in my life. It is all in the study. You can check it yourself after I leave. You will understand it with your ability. After I return to Qin, I will also persuade you to send you another teacher."

"The young master has already mastered the art of self-cultivation. From now on, it will be a matter of hard work. You must persevere every day. His bones are still young, so he should combine work and rest and not over-train his body. It takes a century for a person to build up his strength, and it requires a combination of techniques and medicine. There is no rush now, because by then, the young master will have returned to Qin."

"Teacher, I am very grateful for your kindness. I will not slack off in my teachings and will do my best every day. When I return to Qin, please check my homework. I will not let you down."

"Okay, I will go back first and wait for the young master to return home."

Zhong Cang acted decisively, packed up his things simply, and went to meet Zhao Ji to say goodbye without further delay.

Zhao Ji felt that the matter happened suddenly, and after reading the letter, she could not keep Zhong Cang, so she gave him fifty gold coins as travel expenses, and ordered the maids and servants to pack their bags, prepare carriages and horses, and send Zhong Cang back to Qin with courtesy.

Zhong Cang refused, saying that speed was of the essence and the matter was urgent, so Zhao Ji could only prepare two horses. At Zhao Ji's strong request, she only exempted the servants and carriages, and ordered Chang Lu and Qing Qin to personally escort Zhong Cang back to Qin, each with two horses, and return to Qin as quickly as possible.

Outside the door, Zhao Ji told Chang Lu and Qing Qin: "Be sure to pay attention to safety on the road, protect Mr. Zhong Cang, and take a good rest for a few days after escorting him back to Qin before coming back. You don't have to rush, but you must come back. The hostage house cannot do without you two."

Chang Lu and Qing Qin bowed and said, "We will return as soon as possible."

Ying Zheng bowed deeply to Zhong Cang and said, "Teacher, please take good care of yourself. I wish you success in your studies."

He also warned Chang Lu and Qing Qin: "Be careful on the road and have a safe journey."

Zhong Cang bowed deeply to Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng: "Take care, Madam and Young Master. Goodbye."

Everyone said goodbye reluctantly. Ying Zheng watched Zhong Cang and the other two leave at the door for a full moment before returning home at Zhao Ji's urging.

Zhao Ji held Ying Zheng's hand and said as they walked, "Zheng'er, now that Mr. Zhong Cang is gone, you can stop working so hard now."

"You haven't spent enough time with your mother in the past year. Let's play mahjong together, hehe."

Ying Zheng glanced at her and said, "The key to achieving great things is self-control. If no one is watching over you, you will become lazy and slack. How can you achieve great things? Have fun by yourself. I am not the only one you need."

Zhao Ji was furious (`), stretched out her hand to pinch the little face: "Big things, big things, you are so small, how can there be any big things in the whole day."

Ying Zheng broke away from Zhao Ji and said, "I don't have any now, but I am working hard now so that I can do great things in the future. If I don't prepare well and learn skills well, I won't be able to grasp the opportunity when it comes. Opportunities wait for no one."

He threatened viciously: "If you dare to be a stumbling block on my road to success again, I will not forgive you and will ignore you for three days."

"Hmph╭(╯^╰)╮, fine, whatever you say is what it is. You are so serious, not as cute as when you were little."

Ying Zheng pulled Zhao Ji's hand and coaxed her:

"Okay, mother, I will try to spend more time with you. Don't be angry. It won't look good when you are angry. Go play mahjong. I'll go see what Mr. Zhong Cang left for me."

After saying that, he turned and left. Zhao Ji looked at Ying Zheng's small back, stamped her feet, causing a turbulent wave, and cursed: "You little heartless man, just like your father."

Ying Zheng turned a deaf ear to him and walked faster. He waved his hand and called Geng Ying: "Let's go play mahjong."

Ying Zheng gently pushed open the door and walked into Zhong Cang's bedroom. The room was just like Zhong Cang himself, meticulously maintained and tidy.

Several bookshelves were filled with scrolls. On the rightmost bookshelf was a scroll that read "For the Young Master". Ying Zheng took a scroll and opened it. It was like Zhong Cang's daily teaching tone, recording what Zhong Cang had learned and thought.

Ying Zheng brushed the scroll and said, "Thank you, teacher. You will not be disappointed in my future."

Before you know it, another year has passed.

Throughout his life, King Zhaoxiang of Qin was either trying to seize the Three Jins or preparing to seize the Three Jins, and then the State of Chu. He had an obsession with land that ordinary people could not understand.

This year, King Zhaoxiang of Qin attacked the State of Wei again and robbed several cities. The once great Wei had no choice but to surrender and become a vassal of Qin. King Huanhui of Han also had to go to Qin to meet the emperor like a subject.

Such things have become commonplace in the past thirty years.

As Qin became more powerful, even if the hostages were in an enemy country, their living conditions became better and better. Having a strong country as your back is so important, and a certain hostage from Yan who did not want to reveal his name was not so comfortable.

Zichu did not send any teachers in the past year.

King Zhaoxiang of Qin was old, and in recent years he had been quietly arranging his funeral affairs. There have been great changes in the Qin court in the past year.

The only talented people under Zichu's command have already been recruited, and now there is really no talent to be transferred to serve as teachers for Ying Zheng.

There is no point for those people with no talent to be teachers to Ying Zheng, and it may even mislead the students, so Zhong Cang dissuaded them.

Zichu and Zhao Ji only exchanged a few letters, and Zhongcang and Ying Zheng also wrote a few letters.

A lot of money was also given, so there was no shortage of all kinds of property.

Now Ying Zheng is almost six years old. He has already finished reading the books and notes left by Zhong Cang. Although he has finished reading them, the "Tao Te Ching", "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Book of Lord Shang" taught by Zhong Cang are all profound and fundamental books on governing a country. Governing a country is governing people, and learning how to govern a country is learning how to govern people. These books are always new when you read them.

Ying Zheng also often sorted out his thoughts, combined them with reality, and sought truth from facts. He had already made detailed plans for how to govern the Qin Dynasty in the future, and moved towards his ultimate goal step by step.

As for martial arts, he also progressed step by step, and improved steadily as he grew older. He also changed his daily boxing and kicking exercises into sword practice, and asked Yan Jin to teach him some basic sword techniques to increase the intensity.

In such a world of swords, how can you not learn swordsmanship? Which man doesn't want to possess superb swordsmanship?

It’s a pity that now is not the right time to own a world-famous sword.

But don’t worry, you will have the best of everything in the future.

Talent determines a person's upper limit, but only diligence and persistence are the key to success.

Success depends on heaven, while planning depends on man. If man does not plan, how can success be achieved even with destiny?
Ying Zheng was not a man who would sit back and wait for destiny, even though he had it.

Ying Zheng was a man who was diligent, self-disciplined, and extremely talented. In these long and boring days, he would go crazy if he couldn't find a place to feel happy. He forced himself to find joy in learning, the joy after conquering others' loyalty, and the joy that gradually became stronger.

However, Zhao Ji's mood is the opposite. She has been in a very bad mood recently.

(End of this chapter)