The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 18 Shusun Tong

Snow and wind fell on Xianyang City. Chunyu Yue looked at the carriages that were leaving one after another. In each carriage sat a doctor from Qi and Lu, and they were all well escorted by the Qin army.

Looking back, Zhou Qingchen also boarded the carriage.

Chunyu Yue said: "When you go north, obey the Qin army and do not disobey military orders."

Zhou Qingchen sat in the carriage without saying a word, and let the Qin army drive the carriage to take him out of Xianyang.

Chunyu Yue bid farewell to these people with a solemn expression, and then he saw that there was another person standing next to him, also looking at the carriage going away.

This person was Shusun Tong, the doctoral student invited to Xianyang by Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Prime Minister Li Si.

Chunyu Yue said: "I hope these people can return safely after they go."

Shusun Tong stroked his beard and stood facing the wind, saying, "They will be back. Li Si just wants them to see the situation in the north, not to kill them."

Chunyu Yue continued, "I heard that you have met Prince Fusu?"

Shusun Tong sighed and said, "I've seen it once."

"It's a pity that the young master has never seen me."

Shusun Tong added, "I have a few old friends to see today."

Chunyu Yue looked unhappy and wanted to say something else, but when he turned around, he saw Shusun Tong walking away quickly.

The city of Xianyang looked very desolate in the snow.

Fusu felt that when night fell, Xianyang City would feel very warm, because at night, lights were on in every house in Xianyang City.

Dark night enveloped Xianyang, the sky was filled with wind and snow, and there was snow on the windowsills of every household.

The tiny lights shining from people's windows seemed unusually warm in this cold night.

Fusu walked down from the Drum Tower beside the city wall. Standing on the Drum Tower and looking at the lights of thousands of homes, he felt great.

The soldiers who came to relieve the guard saluted immediately when they saw the young master.

Fusu nodded and said, "Thank you for your help."

The soldier bowed again.

Since Shang Yang's reforms, the Qin people have been good at pursuing the improvement of their self-worth. In fact, this has nothing to do with whether they are Qin people or not. It would be the same for anyone else. Hundreds of years have passed, and people are too eager for a channel to rise.

Fusu thought of his own servants, several women who would fight against each other for a high-efficiency spinning wheel.

Li Si's promotion from a chief justice to prime minister was an improvement in his self-worth.

Tian An handed over a scroll and said, "Sir, this is the list sent by General Zhang Han."

Fusu took the list and checked it, then said, "Go to bed early."

Upon hearing this, Tian An left the young master's bedroom.

In this life, Fusu has become accustomed to a life where he doesn't know what time he goes to bed and what time he wakes up every day.

Only when Fusu woke up every day and asked Tian An did he know what time it was.

Perhaps he slept too late last night. Fusu woke up, washed up, and asked Tian An, only then did he realize that it was now Chenshi.

But now that I'm on vacation, I don't have to worry about when I wake up.

After washing up, Fusu wiped his face vigorously with a cloth soaked in hot water, then he let out a long breath in the cold air, and the hot air turned into a cloud of mist.

After washing up, Fusu prepared his own breakfast.

The weather today is still gloomy. Fusu sits by the stove, waiting for the rice porridge to boil.

A eunuch came hurriedly, "Sir, someone wants to see you."

When the teacher came to see them on weekdays, these eunuchs would directly say that the prime minister was here.

Fusu drank a bowl of hot water and asked, "Who wants to see you?"

"It's a man called Shusun Tong, who said he came to return a book."

Fusu held the bowl in one hand, the hot water in the bowl still steaming, and said again: "Please let someone in."

Gaoquan Palace was busy in the morning. Palace servants were coming and going, cleaning the place and clearing the snow from the ground.

The snow in the palace looked even thicker. Shusun Tong walked along the cleared path and came to the front of the palace.

Prince Fusu was sitting in front of the hall, and in front of him were three stoves, each with pottery bowls of different sizes on it.

Shusun Tong held up the bamboo slips with both hands and said, "Sir, this is the book that Master Fusheng borrowed from me earlier. I've come to return it."

Fusu gestured to Tian An to take the scroll, while he opened the lid of the ceramic bowl, put some chopped fish into the bowl, and cooked it for a while.

Shusun Tong observed the young master's actions with some curiosity and blinked in confusion.

Shusun Tong's hair and beard were gray, and judging from his hair and beard, he was over fifty years old. Judging from his complexion and slightly chubby cheeks, he was probably forty years old. It is really difficult to tell the age of ancient people today.

For example, if a young man in his twenties has a long beard, and you don’t shave him, just by looking at his bearded face, you would guess that he is over 30 years old.

Looking at the appearance of the ancients, Fusu also discovered that there were many people with white hair and beard in middle age. Could it be that a person with white hair and beard was only in his thirties or forties?

Noticing the other person's gaze and the above thoughts were what Fusu had been thinking about in just a few breaths.

Facing the other party's curious gaze, Fusu said, "Why, is it strange that the prince of Qin cooks for himself?"

Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong bowed again hurriedly and explained, "Your Majesty...I just think it's rare."

Fusu said, "Actually, cooking is a very interesting thing, especially when it comes to spending time and having a sense of accomplishment. Just think that I, the prince of the Qin Dynasty, have too much free time."

Shusun Tong smiled in surprise again and said, "The princes of the Qin Dynasty are indeed different from the princes of the six kingdoms back then."

I have to say, it's very pleasant to listen to this person speak. There are still some good talkers among Dr. Qilu.

Fusu picked up the fish porridge and put it aside to cool for a while, then took down the soy milk that was cooking on another stove.

"This is called soy milk. It's made by the people of Shangyan Mountain. Grinding it is very tiring."

Tian An understood what the young master meant and moved the table up.

In front of Shusun Tong there was a bowl of soy milk and a bowl of fish porridge.

Fusu ate by himself and looked at the bamboo slips placed aside.

Shusun Tong looked around again, and every eunuch and palace maid here was looking at him with a smile on their face.

Seeing that the young master had almost finished his bowl of porridge, Shusun Tong picked up the bowl and took a sip of the hot porridge. The warm porridge tasted a bit salty and mixed with some fish meat.

The porridge was so delicious that Shusun Tong's eyes widened. He swallowed all the porridge in the bowl in big gulps.

Then he picked up the soy milk beside him, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Shusun Tong burped contentedly, then realized he had been rude in front of the prince and bowed with shame. Fusu said, "That's fine. I don't care about etiquette... Well, no wonder you say the Qin people are crude."

Shusun Tong said: "I don't think the Qin people are crude."

Fusu's eyes were still fixed on the book as he continued, "Back then, whether it was the people of Yan, Zhao, Qi, or Chu, they all said that the Qin people were ignorant of etiquette."

Shusun Tongdao said: "I think that what is called etiquette is not about being bound by words and deeds, but about the system. The so-called etiquette system..."

After saying this, Dr. Qilu began to talk incessantly about etiquette.

In fact, most of what he said is not important. It is often meant to confuse you, and then you will forget why you asked the question.

Fusu continued, "I heard yesterday that the Prime Minister ordered you, the Qilu scholars, to go north, and you were still yelling and cursing at your teacher's door?"

Shusun Tong thought for a moment and quickly replied, "I was visiting a good friend yesterday."

Fusu had seen what happened yesterday with his own eyes, and he wanted to make things difficult for the doctor.

It has to be said that he is a very cunning and smart person. He didn't offend anyone with his words and simply produced an alibi.

The implication is, I wasn't there, I don't know what happened, I was having dinner at a friend's house.

That's about it...

Fusu asked, "Do you have many friends in Xianyang?"

Shusun Tongdao said, "Actually, those people are not all my friends. They are old friends of my teacher. Most of them admire my teacher's reputation and hope to send their children to Qi to study. This is to curry favor with me. To be honest, my lord, as long as I am in Xianyang, I have people inviting me every day."

Therefore, the descendants of Confucius are still of great value.

Everyone wants their children to have a famous teacher, and the best academic background in this era is most likely that of Shusun Tong’s teacher, Kong Yu, a descendant of Confucius.

Fusu had never met Kong Yu, but judging from these things, the ancients of this era already attached great importance to the effect of famous teachers.

The ancients were never stupid, just like Shusun Tong. He never refused anyone who came to him, but whether he would agree to study with him was another matter.

Therefore, the problems faced by the ancients are also worthy of study and have profound value for reflection.

Fusu continued, "My teacher is the current Prime Minister. He was a disciple of Xunzi, so I can be considered his disciple. However, I am not very knowledgeable, and my teacher is busy with state affairs and is unable to help me. However, there is something I am wondering if you can help me with."

Shusun Tong said, "Sir, please feel free to speak."

"I have three thousand servants at the foot of Shangyan Mountain, and more than three hundred children under the age of ten. I want to find a teacher for them. I wonder if the old gentleman can teach them."

Seeing that Shusun Tong did not immediately agree, Fusu said: "If they can learn well from you, Master, I will send them to the north to fight the enemy. If they succeed, I will restore their household registration and let them serve as officials in the Qin Dynasty."

Shusun Tong still did not agree.

Fusu continued to paint a big picture, saying, "In this way, you will have 300 disciples, and these 300 people will all be officials of the Great Qin. If 35 of these 300 people can become important officials of the Great Qin, then you, old master, will also be famous throughout the world."

When Shusun Tong heard this, his expression changed slightly. He bowed very respectfully, but became alert in his heart. This prince of Qin was really powerful.

"Could you allow me to consider..."

"Half an hour."

"This……"

"Old sir, if you don't want to, I won't force you."

Originally, it was Fusheng who borrowed the book from the young master, and his uncle Shusun Tong came to return the book. How could the favor that Fusheng owed the young master fall on his head, and he also met a young master with such a sharp tongue.

After thinking about it, the young master has already mentioned all the benefits, and he already owes me a favor.

Shusun Tong was really tight-lipped. Finally, he couldn't find any reason to refuse, so he had to bite the bullet and said, "I obey your command."

After saying this, Shusun Tong regretted it so much that his intestines turned green. If he did not agree, the young master would have people talk about his teacher Kong Yu, and the consequences would be even more disastrous.

The prince of the Qin Dynasty was still a young man, and Shusun Tong really did not expect that the wise prince Fusu would make such a request.

Fusu looked at the sky and said, "Tian An."

"exist."

"Arrange a carriage to take the old gentleman to Shangyan Mountain. Now that we're there, we can still have classes in the afternoon. Ask General Zhang Han to arrange accommodation and teaching time."

After a few words, Prince Fusu sent the old man out.

Even when he was sitting in the carriage, Shusun Tong was still regretting why he agreed.

Tian An was naturally happy. The young master found a teacher for Shang Yanshan's children in just a few words.

Tian An went to Gaoquan Palace and reported back: "Sir, I am afraid that this old teacher will not teach well and will not teach well."

Fusu was still calculating his personal property when he added, "It doesn't matter. If you can't teach well, just find someone else. Has the army sent any miscellaneous items to Shangyan Mountain recently?"

Tian An took a scroll of bamboo slips from the bookshelf and replied, "General Zhang Han has recorded everything."

"Wow..."

Fusu opened the bamboo slips and checked each item. Under the Qin law, correspondence must be recorded carefully, including every detail, such as every piece of wood and every foot of cloth delivered to Shangyan Mountain by the army.

Firstly, this is to brief the military and reassure them, and these correspondence records are also to protect themselves from gossip.

Tian An added, "Sir, you haven't visited the mansion arranged by the Prime Minister yet."

Fusu asked, "Is anyone still visiting that mansion now?"

"Sir, no one has visited since winter. People have almost forgotten about it."

Fusu nodded slightly and said, "Tidy up the bookshelf."

Tian An nodded and personally tidied up the bookshelf for the young master. There were marks on which book should be placed in which compartment and which type of book should be placed in which column. Books could not be placed in the wrong place or randomly.

At noon, Tian An heard the eunuchs talking and came to report, "Sir, someone went to visit the Prime Minister today."

After Shusun Tong arrived at the place, Fusu still had to wait for Zhang Han's report. While feeding the fish, he asked in confusion, "I remember that the teacher has not seen guests since the court was closed."

"This person entered the Prime Minister's residence and was even invited to a banquet by the Prime Minister."

"who?"

"My Lord, his name is Zhang Cang. Rumor has it that he is a good friend of the Prime Minister and a student of the same school as the Prime Minister, also a disciple of Xunzi. He serves as the Imperial Censor in Xianyang and was originally recommended to Your Majesty by the Prime Minister."

Fusu was still reading the classics of Xunzi, which included Xunzi's evaluation of Mencius.

Fusu asked, "Zhang Cang is the Imperial Censor?"

"My lord, although Zhang Cang is the Imperial Censor, he is in charge of the documents and files. Officials who need to review files or consult classics must obtain Zhang Cang's approval. The Xianyang Palace's collection of books is also under Zhang Cang's care. The Emperor has praised him for his erudition and vast knowledge."

Xunzi had many disciples, but each one of them was truly different.

(End of this chapter)