People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

They were dressed in rags, their faces pale and thin, some even with their families in tow. They held various broken bowls and earthenware pots that could hold rice and porridge, gazing longingly at the dozen or so large pots of steaming hot porridge under the porridge stall.

"Listen carefully, this is a gift from the Prime Minister that prevents the porridge from spilling when you insert chopsticks into it. You should be extremely grateful to the Prime Minister, understand?"

A yamen runner with a white turban draped over his shoulder waved a large ladle and shouted, "Your Excellency the Prime Minister is merciful!"

"Your Excellency is merciful!"

Every time a disaster victim received the thick porridge, they would chime in with a comment.

Cao Ze stood on the outer edge, gently inhaling the faint aroma of porridge in the air, mixed with the pungent smells of sweat and dust from being baked by the scorching sun, and...

"Li Si, do you know what this tastes like?"

Cao Ze witnessed the scene of disaster victims receiving porridge under the watchful eyes of Qin soldiers, and was deeply moved.

Li Si, trying to decipher Cao Ze's thoughts, said, "The taste of bitterness."

He overheard his senior fellow apprentice Han Fei say something unintentionally in Xinzheng: "When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer."

And this statement came from Cao Ze.

Cao Ze paused for a moment, then said, "It's not just the taste of 'bitterness,' but also the taste of decay..."

Coming from the modern era, in his worldview, this world has been decaying for thousands of years.

Decay? Li Si's heart stirred slightly as he pondered the meaning behind Cao Ze's words.

Is it the disaster victims who are corrupt, the officials who are corrupt, or the wealthy Qian family who are corrupt...?

Cao Ze's gaze swept over the dense crowd before him, landing on the banner hanging high above the soup kitchen that read "The Prime Minister's Compassionate Relief." Hearing the repeated exclamations of "The Prime Minister's Benevolence," he chuckled and said, "Is this what Lord Changping did during disaster relief?"

Li Si said, "Yes."

“Since Lord Changping came to Jingyang, he has opened up granaries and personally distributed food to disaster victims at soup kitchens.”

"The labor service on the Zheng Guo Canal was also treated the same way by Lord Changping."

Cao Ze pointed to the disaster victims and said, "Has it been a month?"

“Look at them, emaciated and with blank stares, do they look like they’ve received relief?”

Li Si remained silent.

"The Qian family's property was confiscated, but Jingyang is a wealthy county surrounding Xianyang, and the Qian family is not the only noble family there."

Cao Ze said, "You just said that when Lord Changping came to Jingyang, his first priority was not to provide relief to the disaster victims, but to visit the powerful noble families like the Li and Wu families, before he began to provide disaster relief and take action against the Qian family."

"Based on my understanding of Changping Jun, he would not arrange such a measure."

"The person who ordered the banners to be erected on the soup kitchen was either at odds with Lord Changping and wanted to flatter him to death, or someone wanted to curry favor with Lord Changping."

"Brother Li, do you think what I said is correct?"

Li Si cupped his hands and said, "You are right, sir."

"According to my investigation, after the Qian family's property was confiscated, prominent nobles in Jingyang County took action, seizing all of the Qian family's land, livestock, and other possessions."

Cao Ze said, "Based on what you said before, the reason why this drought has affected the entire Guanzhong region is not only because the Qian family embezzled disaster relief funds and grain and forced people into slavery."

"It is also due to the increasingly heavy taxes levied by the imperial court and the excessive exploitation by officials."

"Also, write another report on how to deal with those corrupt officials who treat the people like dirt, as well as the local bullies who prey on the people. Let me take a look at it then."

"When I return to the capital, I will present it to the king in person."

“This…” Li Si hesitated and said, “My lord, wouldn’t writing it this way unjustly offend Lord Changping?”

He thought to himself, "Changping Jun has just left, and you've already brought up a whole bunch of messy things. Not only will you offend Changping Jun, but with your position as Imperial Censor, won't all the officials in the court be in danger and try to distance themselves from you?"

Cao Ze looked at Li Si with a half-smile, "I'm the one who hates Lord Changping, what are you worried about?"

Of course he was worried about his future... Li Si smiled bitterly.

Was it too impulsive of me to bet on Cao Ze?

If I choose the wrong side, am I supposed to go back to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to write a book?

"My lord, no, Brother Cao, Li Si advises you not to do this as a friend. The most important thing for an official is to blunt his sharpness, resolve his disputes, harmonize his brilliance, and mingle with the dust."

Li Si said earnestly, "Brother Cao, you should think this over carefully."

It wasn't that he was overthinking things; it was simply that Cao Ze's identity was sensitive.

The Imperial Censor was originally appointed to supervise all officials.

Before Cao Ze took power, he first brought down Lü Buwei.

After taking power, he began to persecute Changping Jun.

What do the officials think?

If these two can do whatever they want, then they can die just as easily.

Cao Ze said calmly, "I understand, it's about blending in with the world."

"But Brother Li, you must understand that there is no such thing as having it all."

He pointed at the disaster victims and said, "Either they suffer more, or we, the meat-eaters, suffer more."

Li Si seemed to have a completely new understanding of Cao Ze.

In his memory, Cao Ze had always been much like him, shrewd and calculating, and rarely did things that were thankless and difficult.

Why is he acting so strangely now, adopting a posture of concern for the country and its people?

Knowing that Cao Ze is this kind of person, he would definitely think it over and over again, and might not even consider working under Cao Ze.

Cao Ze's actions were really bad. While acting impulsively might feel good, the consequences were unpredictable.

One person trying to contend with a hundred officials, even if he wins a temporary victory and temporary fame, what good is that? The communication between the court and the operation of the Qin Dynasty all depend on these people.

Li Si finally couldn't hold back and asked the question that had been bothering him.

For a secretary like him to not even understand his superiors is truly a failure.

"It's very simple. When you're poor, you should cultivate your own virtue; when you're successful, you should help others."

Cao Ze smiled and patted Li Si on the shoulder again: "Back then, we were beset by internal and external troubles and didn't have the ability. Now that we're rich and powerful, there are some things we can try to do."

What he didn't tell Li Si was that one of his purposes in coming here was to find fault with Lord Changping.

This prime minister, whose heart is with Chu while he is in Qin's camp, should be kicked out immediately so that a younger person can have a seat.

Li Si was speechless. Was that all?

He always felt that Cao Ze had something he wasn't telling him.

Meanwhile, Liu Ji from the peasant family, along with Zhu Jia and Zhu Jia's adopted son Zhu Zhong, arrived in Jingyang County.

“Zhong’er, why are you so gloomy? If you have something on your mind, you can tell your brother Liu Ji instead of your father.”

Zhu Jia stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head and sighing repeatedly.

Zhu Zhong's appearance became increasingly feminine, and upon closer inspection, one would notice that his Adam's apple had become smaller.

"...Godfather, I am fine."

Zhu Zhong lowered his head, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes.

He has completely pledged allegiance to Zhao Gao and recently recognized Zhao Gao as his godfather.

Why did he risk everything, even castrating himself, for this?

He still wants to trample that bitch Tian Mi under his feet, take what belongs to him, and kill Cao Ze and the others who insulted him!

Liu Ji laughed and said, "Brother Zhu, Brother Zhong is heartbroken. Isn't it embarrassing for Brother Zhong to ask such a question?"

He patted Zhu Zhong on the shoulder and said, "It's just a woman. Women are like clothes; you can buy them anywhere."

"When we get back to Xianyang, I'll take you to the best brothel in Xianyang. I guarantee it will make you lose all your allure to women."

Without a second thought, Zhu Zhong shook his head and said, "I'm not going."

If Liu Ji, that unreliable blabbermouth, were to spread the word about his self-castration, how could he possibly stay in the farmhouse?

He also wants to become the leader of the hall, or even the chief of the knights!

Liu Ji chuckled, "Quite innocent, huh?"

Witnessing the ragged refugees in the city, Zhu Jia lamented, "The world is still so bleak, when will it end..."

This scene has never stopped since he can remember.

Liu Ji shrugged. "Hey Brother Zhu, isn't it normal to suffer from disasters? It's already good enough that there hasn't been a major epidemic. Can you stop sighing all the time?"

They came to Jingyang on the orders of the chivalrous leader.

However, the leader of the Xia clan did not assign any tasks, but simply told them to wait in Jingyang for the other disciples of the Farmer's Clan.

Zhu Zhong tentatively asked, "Father, what did the chieftain of the chivalrous sect send us to Jingyang for?"

The mask on Zhu Jia's face changed color, and he pondered, "It seems to be related to Zheng Guoqu."

"If I'm not mistaken, the next thing Xia Kui will ask us to help the Qin state build the Zheng Guo Canal."

Aside from the hall masters, no one else knew anything about Xia Kui's bet on Changping Jun.

Zhu Zhong secretly memorized it.

His godfather said he would help him climb the ranks in the farming family, but in return, he had to constantly gather intelligence from within the family and pass it on to his godfather.

Cao Ze and Li Si were returning to the inn when they suddenly saw three people—two adults and one child—approaching from not far away.

He paused for a moment.

Li Si's ability to read people was no less than that of the peasants.

"Sir, is there something wrong with them?"

Cao Ze pulled Li Si aside to avoid them.

"Interesting, the farmers have come."

It's hard not to recognize that short, chubby boy from the Zhu family.

Not to mention that the future Emperor Gaozu of Han was right beside him.

"farmhouse?"