Ying Fusu

From the Fushi Camp in Shangjun to the Shaqiu Platform in Julu County, it is nearly 1,400 li.

Fusu and Meng Tian led three thousand light cavalry, and it took them nearly four days to travel.

The journey from the imperial entourage, which was over a hundred miles from the sand dunes, back to Xianyang in Guanzhong was nearly 1,800 miles.

The journey was less than 400 li longer than when Fusu traveled from Shangjun to Shaqiu, but the imperial procession took more than 30 days.

Firstly, it was a remnant entourage, unlike the light cavalry led by Fusu—unable to gallop freely.

The procession included funeral carriages carrying coffins, carriages and horses used by high-ranking officials, and even palace maids, eunuchs, and clerks who followed on foot.

It's not going to be much faster at all.

Secondly, Fusu did not choose the most cost-effective and safest option for this trip: to return to Xianyang as soon as possible.

Instead, they openly and honestly erected funeral banners and carried the funeral procession along the way.

Just like the First Emperor's eastern tour, he passed through the region slowly.

In response, the brothers Meng Tian and Meng Yi, along with the commanders of the Imperial Guards and border troops, all offered subtle advice to Fusu.

Returning to Xianyang immediately is of utmost importance!

Fusu, however, insisted on passing through in a grand manner.

—In the original history, Zhao Gao and Li Si launched the Sand Dune Coup, ordering the deaths of Fusu and Meng Tian.

After the imperial edict ordering his death was issued, before the confirmed news of Fusu's death was received, the two decided to allow the emperor to continue his eastern tour in order to cover their tracks.

After Fusu died, the obstacle to Huhai's ascension to the throne was removed. The two were worried that their secret would be exposed, so they had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue their eastern tour under the name of the First Emperor.

And so it wasn't until the end of September that the imperial carriage finally returned safely to Xianyang.

Zhao Gao and Li Si, who had been leisurely and unhurried, suddenly changed their tune again—announcing the imperial edict, establishing a crown prince, and declaring national mourning.

Then they buried the First Emperor and installed Prince Huhai as the Second Emperor of Qin.

In less than ten days, after completing all the procedures, the two finally managed to issue an edict on behalf of the Second Emperor Huhai at the beginning of the year, on the first and fifteenth days of the tenth month: to change the era name to the first year.

Throughout the entire process, both men consistently displayed clear signs of plotting a coup and having something to hide.

—The death was kept secret during the "Eastern Tour".

—To cover their tracks, after the First Emperor's death, they pretended to have completed the second half of the "Eastern Tour" plan.

Upon returning to Xianyang, he couldn't wait to cook the raw rice into cooked rice.

It wasn't until the first year of the new reign that the two finally breathed a sigh of relief, freeing themselves to begin their power struggle.

...

All of the above are the behaviors of those who have gained the throne illegitimately and have a guilty conscience, as observed by Fusu from historical records.

Fusu did not know exactly what a second emperor who had "rightfully ascended the throne" should do.

But what Fusu could be sure of was that he definitely couldn't emulate historical figures like Zhao Gao and Li Si.

Historically, Zhao Gao and Li Si were guilty and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, prioritizing substance over reputation.

The real intention was to support Huhai as emperor.

To save face, it would be to rightfully support Huhai's ascension to the throne.

As for Fusu's actions this time, it cannot be said that he went against the grain.

As for the inner workings, Fusu already has them.

In the current situation, no one can shake Fusu's right to inherit the throne, and no one can challenge Fusu's "legitimate" status.

Saving face became Fusu's goal.

To find out exactly what to do, Fusu summoned the officials in charge of the Imperial Household Department and asked: According to the rites, what should be done when the emperor dies in the countryside and his remains are returned to the capital?

The official replied: According to the rites, the funeral procession should pass through the area, with brief stops along the way, allowing local officials to offer condolences.

However, the death of a monarch in the field often signifies political turmoil and social instability.

Therefore, in most cases, the ritual system had to be temporarily suspended, and the coffin had to be escorted back to the capital as soon as possible to conduct the funeral, establish an heir, and stabilize the court and the country.

Neither approach is inherently right or wrong; both are the most beneficial choices for the ancestral temples and the state under different objective conditions.

Therefore, Meng Tian and other officials stopped trying to persuade Fusu.

—We have the confidence to do so!

The eldest son, Fusu, had the confidence to leisurely return to Xianyang after conducting a funeral procession in accordance with all the proper rites.

However slow they were, they were ultimately no slower than Zhao Gao and Li Si, who had completed the latter half of their eastern tour in history.

On the 16th of the seventh month of autumn, we set off from the camp more than a hundred li away from the sand dunes.

They traveled on and off, until the 19th day of the eighth month of autumn, when the First Emperor's entourage finally returned to Xianyang.

"Your subject, Right Chancellor Feng Quji, along with all the officials of the court, respectfully welcomes the remains of the First Emperor..."

Outside the city gate, officials and nobles lined both sides of the straight road. The moment they saw the deceased emperor appear, they all knelt down.

As the imperial carriage slowly approached, Right Chancellor Feng Quji choked with sobs as he paid his respects, and a chorus of sobs rose from the crowd.

"Your Majesty~"

"His Majesty……"

...

Along the way, Fusu, who was traveling by carriage or on horseback, was also dressed in mourning clothes, with tears in his eyes, and stepped forward from the side of the deceased's carriage.

Reaching out to help the old Prime Minister Feng Quji to his feet, he gently patted Feng Quji's hand and said, choking back tears, "The past few months have been arduous for Prime Minister Feng..."

As he spoke, Fusu turned slightly and looked at the carriage carrying the coffin.

She had barely opened her mouth when she couldn't help but sob softly.

"Father, Father Emperor..."

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In the current situation, no one can shake Fusu's right to inherit the throne, and no one can challenge Fusu's "legitimate" status.

Saving face became Fusu's goal.

To find out exactly what to do, Fusu summoned the officials in charge of the Imperial Household Department and asked: According to the rites, what should be done when the emperor dies in the countryside and his remains are returned to the capital?

The official replied: According to the rites, the funeral procession should pass through the area, with brief stops along the way, allowing local officials to offer condolences.

However, the death of a monarch in the field often signifies political turmoil and social instability.

Therefore, in most cases, the ritual system had to be temporarily suspended, and the coffin had to be escorted back to the capital as soon as possible to conduct the funeral, establish an heir, and stabilize the court and the country.

Neither approach is inherently right or wrong; both are the most beneficial choices for the ancestral temples and the state under different objective conditions.

Therefore, Meng Tian and other officials stopped trying to persuade Fusu.

—We have the confidence to do so!

The eldest son, Fusu, had the confidence to leisurely return to Xianyang after the funeral procession had been conducted in accordance with all the proper rites!

However slow they were, they were ultimately no slower than Zhao Gao and Li Si, who had completed the latter half of their eastern tour in history.

On the 16th of the seventh month of autumn, we set off from the camp more than a hundred li away from the sand dunes.

They traveled on and off, until the 19th day of the eighth month of autumn, when the First Emperor's entourage finally returned to Xianyang.

"Your subject, Right Chancellor Feng Quji, along with all the officials of the court, respectfully welcomes the remains of the First Emperor..."

Outside the city gate, officials and nobles lined both sides of the straight road. The moment they saw the deceased emperor appear, they all knelt down.

As the imperial carriage slowly approached, Right Chancellor Feng Quji choked with sobs as he paid his respects, and a chorus of sobs rose from the crowd.

"Your Majesty~"

"His Majesty……"

...

Along the way, Fusu, who was traveling by carriage or on horseback, was also dressed in mourning clothes, with tears in his eyes, and stepped forward from the side of the deceased's carriage.

Reaching out to help the old Prime Minister Feng Quji to his feet, he gently patted Feng Quji's hand and said, choking back tears, "The past few months have been arduous for Prime Minister Feng..."

As he spoke, Fusu turned slightly and looked at the carriage carrying the coffin.

She had barely opened her mouth when she couldn't help but sob softly.

"Father, Father Emperor..."