The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 13: The Style of Zhang Zi

In late October in Guanzhong, Fusu, who had not slept all night, stood by the newly built canal, waiting for Fusheng, who had taken away the notes, to come here again.

It must be winter in Guanzhong, otherwise the northwest wind wouldn't be so cold.

Seeing the young master frowning and looking at the sky, Tian An, who was standing beside him, said, "Young master, I'm afraid it's going to snow."

Fusu asked, "How do you see that?"

"It's always been like this in previous years. When the northwest wind is strongest, if Guanzhong is clear, there will definitely be snow tonight."

Tian An talked about his simple life experience, which he gained from observing the climate in Qin State for most of his life.

Another group of people came riding on horses, and it was Meng Tian.

After General Meng Wu returned, Meng Tian appeared and disappeared from time to time.

Now that General Meng Wu is about to retire, this year-end... is probably the busiest time for Meng Tian.

The man came closer, dismounted, saluted, and said, "Sir, the Emperor summons you."

Fusu raised his head slightly, took a deep breath, got on the carriage prepared by Tian An, and headed west of the Wei River under the escort of Meng Tian.

The carriage was moving very fast. In order to keep up with Meng Tian's warhorse, Tian An waved the whip again and again to make the carriage go as fast as possible.

Fusu thought, could it be that the two Confucian doctors showed their notes to my father?

But then I thought about it again and felt that it was not right. I shouldn’t show it to my father.

The notes recorded some trivial matters of people's livelihood, and the biggest impact was that it made people think that Prince Fusu paid attention to farming.

Because the carriage was moving very fast, the curtains were blown up by the wind, and the scenery on both sides of the straight road could be seen as it rose and fell.

Fusu could probably think of some of his father's experiences in his childhood, as well as the various incidents that took place in the Xianyang Palace later.

These experiences made my father very cold and made people feel distant from his family.

The Xianyang Palace was too large, and as the eldest son of the First Emperor, he rarely saw his father.

I haven't seen my father's other children being very active in front of him.

Before that, after the death of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Xiaowen of Qin reigned for only three days, and King Zhuangxiang of Qin reigned for only three years. That period was the most chaotic period for the Qin State. It was also during this chaotic period that my father, King Zheng of Qin, ascended the throne and has been in power until now.

Perhaps my father was a man with an extremely strong heart. He was able to send troops to conquer the six kingdoms, depose Lu Buwei, seize power, pacify the royal family, and destroy the six kingdoms. How strong a person must he be to achieve such an achievement?

Fusu could only guess this way, thinking in his heart how to face his father or the interrogation he would face.

When the carriage arrived at the Wei River, Fusu had already made both the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario arrangements.

Fusu calmly got off the carriage and saw the ceremonial procession by the river.

There were probably several thousand soldiers guarding the surroundings, and many palace maids and eunuchs could be seen walking towards the river.

Tian An was still standing by the carriage, as quiet as a wooden sculpture standing in the wind.

Fusu followed Meng Tian all the way to the wooden fishing platform.

This fishing platform is very large and can probably accommodate dozens of people.

Fusu stepped on the wooden stairs and could hear the creaking sound between the wood.

Walking up to his father with Meng Tian, ​​Fusu saluted and said, "Father."

Ying Zheng was eating a date, holding his temple with one hand, sitting sideways with his eyes closed, and breathing quietly.

When the wind blew, the Emperor's temples would flutter along with it.

At the front of the fishing platform, there were more than ten eunuchs holding fishing rods to help the First Emperor fish.

"I heard you like fish?"

"I have been eating less meat and more fish lately."

Ying Zheng opened his eyes slightly, glanced at his son, waved his wide sleeves, put one hand on the armrest, and said, "You have grown taller."

"I'm sorry to have worried Father."

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his nostrils, then closed his eyes again and said in a deep voice, "Have you met those two Qin doctors?"

"Have you seen it?"

"That day..."

After a pause, Ying Zheng swallowed his saliva and continued in a deep voice, "Chun Yuyue said in Zhangtai Palace that you are a prince of Qin. A prince of Qin needs a teacher to guide him. How can you only listen to the advice of Li Si's family?"

Hearing this, Fusu subconsciously looked around but didn't see his teacher.

"What do you think of what Chunyu Yue said?"

"I have only just begun to learn the writings of the various philosophers, and I cannot comment on the knowledge of others. My teacher is the Prime Minister. I once thought that if Han Fei were still alive, he would be my teacher."

Ying Zheng still sat with his eyes closed, breathing steadily.

Fusu continued, "But now I feel that the so-called inheritance of a master, whether it's the Prime Minister, Han Fei, or even Xunzi, is limited in what people can learn. The knowledge I can learn is also limited."

"I can disregard the opinions of one party, but I cannot blindly follow the opinions of others, just as when the Qin State wanted to move east."

Ying Zheng slowly opened his eyes and looked at his son.

"If my ancestor, King Huiwen of Qin, had listened to the old Grand Tutor's advice, defended his old territory, and followed the old system, rather than implementing Shang Yang's laws, how could there have been the Qin State of later times, and how could there have been the Great Qin of today?"

These words were so powerful that Ying Zheng was speechless for a moment.

Seeing that his father looked normal, Fusu had no choice but to bow and greet him.

The old general Meng Wu beside him sighed quietly. What the young master said was exactly what the First Emperor was thinking. Everyone said that the Qin State conquered such a vast world, but everyone wanted to say something about how the world was governed. After hearing it too much, people got tired of it.

What the prince said now hit the heart of the First Emperor. I am afraid that from now on, the First Emperor will no longer ask who Prince Fusu will learn from or which school of thought he will study.

Yes, what else is there to ask? It is enough that this young master of Qin is so wise, knows how to make choices, and can distinguish clearly.

After this year, this young man will be sixteen years old.

Ying Zheng said, "You should have taken Zhang Yi as your teacher, but it's a pity you're a hundred years too late."

Everyone on the fishing platform listened to the words of the First Emperor. The First Emperor was talking about Prince Fusu's defense, which was quite similar to the style of Zhang Yi in the past.

Taking another look at his son, Ying Zheng said in a deep voice, "No need to salute."

Fusu then lowered his hands and asked, "Father, did Zhang Yi really beat Huizi back then?"

Hearing this, Meng Wu smiled knowingly.

Ying Zheng glanced at Meng Wu, who almost laughed out loud, and said in a serious tone, "Back then, Zhang Yi almost beat Huizi to death."

Fusu understood and nodded.

I just asked casually because what was recorded in the book in Xianyang Palace was different from my own understanding.

Ying Zheng looked at the Xiwei River in front of him and whispered, "I want to build a bridge here. Li Si said he could arrange it. Then I asked him if my son could do it. Li Si wanted you to meet more famous people from the six countries. I thought the canals you built were good, so I will build this bridge for you as well." Fusu looked up. The location of this place was probably the location of the Xianyang Bridge in later generations, but Fusu also remembered that the Xiwei River was very wide. Maybe the Yellow River bed was not as high as it is in later generations.

"My son, take your orders."

"Well, go back."

Fusu bowed again, took the token handed to him by General Mengwu, and walked down from the fishing platform.

The token in his hand is made of copper, with the words "Taipu" written on it.

Shouldn’t the Minister of the Imperial Household be in charge of horse affairs?

Fusu frowned and walked to his carriage, holding the token in silence for a long time.

It feels bad to have your thoughts influenced by others, especially when it comes to who to teach you. The Fusu in front of the First Emperor is no longer the same Fusu as before.

In terms of learning, Fusu has been studying for many years, or rather, many, many years. The knowledge he has learned is so broad and the knowledge points are so numerous that even he himself cannot count them.

Maybe one day when you encounter some problems, you will remember that you have learned this knowledge point before, and then take up the knowledge you have learned, re-verify it, and re-practice the relevant knowledge. That's about it.

Tian An noticed that the young master looked unhappy. Could it be that he had an unpleasant conversation with the First Emperor?

He hurriedly bowed and acted as if he was ready to obey orders.

In fact, there was nothing unpleasant about this conversation. It should have been very pleasant.

We also got the major project of building the Xianyang Bridge over the West Wei River.

"Go back to the palace."

Hearing the young master's words coming from the carriage, Tian An hurriedly sat back on the shaft and waved the whip to drive the carriage.

For several days in a row, Fusu did not see Li You and Wang Ben again, and he had no sight of Fusheng and Shusun Tong. The old man probably forgot that he had borrowed a book from Prince Fusu and had not returned it yet.

The Qin Dynasty is still very busy. Fusu has not seen his teacher for a long time. Since the disaster after the autumn rain this year, the teacher has not come to Gaoquan Palace again.

And that old general Wang Jian has not returned to Guanzhong yet.

The emperor seems to be in a posture of not caring about the old general, and he almost asked directly whether you can come back or not?
Haha, of course father wouldn’t say that.

If General Wang Jian really comes back, he will be welcomed with great ceremony.

The construction of Xianyang Bridge was not easy to do because there was no manpower and no money.

The token given by my father is engraved with the words "Tai Pu" (Grand Master of the Imperial Household), which is a token only given to the Minister of the Imperial Household, one of the Nine Ministers.

"Sir, the Emperor has not yet decided on the candidate for the Minister of the Imperial Household."

Fusu looked at the tall bookshelf in front of him, wondering whether there were many books about horse politics in the Xianyang Palace.

There were so many things to do that he had to take one step at a time. Fusu put the token aside and picked up a roll of bamboo slips, which recorded the grain he had previously borrowed from various families.

Back then, he had to support 3,000 servants, and the grain was borrowed from Meng Tian and his men. Fusu wrote the amount of grain he had transferred on two bamboo slips and ordered, "Return the grain to each household."

Tian An took the bamboo slips and left quickly to tell someone to do the job.

After spending half a year together, Fusu had a rough idea of ​​the characters around him.

In fact, we all grew up in Guanzhong, but our experiences were different.

Li You moved many dead bodies in Hedong, which is probably the most unforgettable memory of his life.

As for Wang Ben, there is no need to mention him. He is the same age as Meng Tian and just as loyal, but he is more generous and can be bold yet measured when talking to others.

Wang Ben had a dismissive attitude towards life and death, probably because when he was Li You's age, he had been fighting on the battlefield with the Qin army for many years.

What Li You experienced was nothing to Wang Ben.

When Li You thought of the epidemic in Hedong again and cried after drinking, Wang Ben just smiled and passed it off.

Wang Ben was first and foremost a general of the Qin army, which was cruel and ruthless. Secondly, he was Li You's brother or eldest brother.

The reason is that their respective fathers were a general and a prime minister of Qin respectively.

It is normal for their offspring to surround Prince Fusu.

Wang Ben killed many rebels in Nanjun, and after killing them, he happily brought back wine and drank it.

That's why Li You said Wang Ben was cold and ruthless after getting drunk.

As a soldier in the army, Wang Ben's personality and way of dealing with things have become typical of the Qin army. The Qin army is like Wang Ben.

If you want to know what kind of generals Qin State is like, just look at Wang Ben.

Fusu felt that Li You was of the same age as him, and fifteen or sixteen years old was the age when people valued feelings the most and were the purest.

Therefore, I naturally became familiar with Li You. People of the same age... are the easiest to become close friends.

That night, the drunk Li You was speaking his heart out.

It is hard to imagine that a man like the Prime Minister could have such a pure and innocent child.

Zhang Han was also a very simple person, even simpler than Li You. If you asked him to do something, he would concentrate on it and complete it on time and in full.

……

Five days ago, Tian An said that it would snow in Guanzhong, but the snow never came.

It was not until the sixth day that Guanzhong finally welcomed its first snow in winter.

The people of Qin all say that the current prince is wise and virtuous. His fields have a good harvest. Not only does he pay taxes, but he also donates 60% of the remaining grain to the Qin army.

Some people say that the prince wanted every soldier in the Qin army to have enough to eat because Prince Fusu was kind and wise.

Some people also said that the prince took out the extra grain to show his loyalty to the First Emperor. After all, Prince Fusu had 3,000 servants and 2,000 prisoners in Shangyan Mountain. If the prince still hoarded grain with such a large number of people, someone would report him for treason. Therefore, some people said that Prince Fusu's donation of grain to the Qin army was an extremely wise move.

Some even said that it was Prince Fusu who was winning people's hearts.

But under the control of Prime Minister Li Si, these discussions about Prince Fusu soon disappeared in public places in Xianyang City.

Shangyan Mountain is covered with snow after the snow, which is very beautiful.

Xianyang this year is neither busy nor not busy. After the winter, the entire Guanzhong area has become much quieter. On the vast Guanzhong Plain, few people are walking around, and most people spend the winter at home.

Shangyan Mountain was briefly forgotten by people again. Fusu enjoyed this feeling of being forgotten. He built a small library and a pond for raising fish at the foot of Shangyan Mountain.

Then move all the books from the Xianyang Palace here, so that I can read books all the time and eat fish in my spare time. Life will be enough.

It would be great if this is how we spend the winter.

It's just if...

Today, Fusu originally planned to read books all day and then return to the palace after dark, but as luck would have it... someone disturbed his interest.

Fusu looked at Li You, whose eyes were covered with dark bags, and wondered for a moment if this poor child had some psychological problems.

(End of this chapter)