Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 124, Section 123: Idle Talk at the Post Station
In the twenty-third year of King Heng of Qin, in the first month of Guiyue.

Five days have passed since the news of the falling star in Dongjun.

On the wide, deserted eastern road, the central section of the royal road was off-limits to horses. The messenger led a large entourage of riders, their steeds galloping at full speed, proceeding respectfully along one side of the road.

Walking under the pine trees spaced three zhang apart, the hot summer wind blew on his parched lips, and the messenger's heart was just as burning with anxiety.

The king's order must be delivered within three days, and it is now late at night on the second day.

He carried the secret order along the way, passing through Hangu Pass, Luoyang, Mengjin... and now, he was finally about to reach Dongjun!

But before that...

"Uu——"

He loosened his grip, allowing the tired horse to gradually calm down, and then pointed to the post station ahead: "Rest for half an hour, eat and change horses."

The soldiers readily agreed and then hurried off toward the lights ahead.

The weather was so hot that the horses could not be delayed, so there was a post station every 30 li. After passing two or three stations, they had to change horses.

In this way, the king can travel four hundred li a day, ensuring that his decrees are carried out without hindrance.

"Send word to the king: quickly exchange horses with us and send some food."

The post station was not new, and even somewhat shabby. The campfire flickered on the wall, just like the anxious hearts of everyone there.

The elderly village headman quickly got up, checked the official documents one by one, and then urged the kitchen to start working.

Before long, someone moved the horses to the backyard, and then quickly equipped them with saddles, water, beans, and salt.

In the front yard, someone quickly brought out a pot of steamed millet rice and another pot of boiled sunflower vegetables. Because the messenger was of high rank, he was also given an extra half pot of soybean paste.

The pavilion chief earnestly urged, "Please, everyone, have some."

Only then did the soldiers in leather armor relax, and then they glared at the millet porridge and grumbled, "We've been working hard all day, what kind of food is this to fill our stomachs!"

"Exactly! It's a pity I have the royal decree, otherwise I could have gone into the forest to hunt some meat tonight."

“The meat we caught ourselves is still a bit fishy and hard to chew. I once heard my brother say that he was once given a bowl of roasted meat in Xianyang Palace. The pigs there had been castrated when they were young, so the meat was much better than what we eat.”

If Qin Shi were to hear this, he would probably not agree.

Although there is now systematic experience in pig castration, the pork is still not tender and flavorful enough because the breed has not been domesticated.

However, for ordinary people today, it is already an unparalleled delicacy.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt their mouths water.

However, based on their military rank, each person was only entitled to four catties of millet per day.

If future generations knew this, they would probably exclaim in astonishment: Four catties of millet!

How can someone eat four pounds of millet in a day?

Moreover, whole grains are nutritious and filling, which is very healthy!

But even now, this millet still carries the weight of some of the husk and grit.

Moreover, the calorie consumption during a forced march is already enormous, and these 4 jin of millet were not prepared with oil or salt!
The only thing that could be considered salty was the half-bowl of soybean paste that everyone ate together.

This stuff, even after steaming or boiling, doesn't keep you feeling full after intense exercise. You can eat two bowls of it with steamed or boiled vegetables, and within an hour, your stomach will be rumbling again.

but.

Anyway, we get through each day the same way. The food is much better than before for those with military rank, right?

Everyone complained, but they still ate with great relish.

Seeing that everyone was enjoying their meal, the pavilion chief thought for a moment and then served an extra plate of pickled scallions.

The messenger thanked him casually, then couldn't help but ask, "Is it only two more post stations from here to Dongjun?"

The pavilion chief nodded: "That's right."

Seeing that they had something to talk about, everyone chimed in: "After passing Hangu Pass, this place is truly prosperous!" "Exactly! Unlike our Xianyang, there are vast plains and fertile fields here. If we didn't have to serve in the military, we could harvest several bushels of millet and wheat flour a year."

"I've heard the land here is more fertile..."

"Otherwise, I heard that during the Zhou Dynasty, after King Wu conquered King Zhou of Shang, he clearly established his capital near Xianyang, but later moved it to Luoyi..."

"Luoyi is too peaceful now, it will be difficult to defend if war breaks out..."

"Hey! The six states have already been pacified by my Qin state, what's the point of fighting? If we lived in Luoyi, wouldn't our allotted land be here? This is prime land!"

"I don't want to, my family has lived in Xianyang for generations..."

"Hey, we two brothers weren't far from Dongjun when we fled famine back then..."

Everyone chatted about this and that, learning bits and pieces of knowledge they had gleaned from the nobles, and the conversation was quite lively.

The village head listened silently. When they mentioned Dongjun, he recalled the treasonous words that had been circulating for the past two days, and he couldn't help but tremble.
"Gentlemen, you have come here not because of... but because of..."

He pointed to the sky.

Everyone fell silent instantly.

The messenger laughed: "Don't panic."

Such an inconceivable event has occurred in the Qin state, and Heaven has issued such a perilous warning—

The news of "the King of Qin will die and the land will be divided" was spreading so terrifyingly among the people. When he received the order and prepared to set off, he already felt that his life was in danger. He was afraid that if anything went wrong, he would be beheaded by the king's casual order.

Unexpectedly, after only half an hour, the Imperial Censor arrived with a new royal decree.

Instead of feeling angry, I felt a sense of ease and joy!

That's really strange.

How could Your Majesty tolerate this and turn a blind eye?

He did not know the specific contents of the imperial edict, and all the letters were sealed in his personal luggage, never leaving them behind.

But in any case, it's always a good thing that the king is happy.

Otherwise, this group of people would probably be living in fear right now, and wouldn't have time to complain about the food.

His emotions quickly put the village head at ease, but then his heart tightened again:

"I've heard that in Dongjun, they still haven't found out who it was..."

Could this truly be a warning from heaven?
If not, and the perpetrator of this crime has yet to be apprehended, given their king's fearsome reputation, the people of Dongjun...

The pavilion chief was able to take up his post here, so naturally he must have relatives in Dongjun as well. At this moment, he must be feeling really nervous.

He now looks thin and old, quite pitiful. In recent years, the Qin state has been at war year after year, and every family has lost sons and daughters on the battlefield.

Few members of the messenger's clan survived either.

He sighed, and finally picked up only the riding whip: "His Majesty is magnanimous and does not wish to punish the people..."

As these words were spoken, one could see the deep disbelief on the village head's face—

Indeed, with Qin Wang Heng's reputation, who could say he was magnanimous and benevolent? Even I find it rather unusual.

He couldn't help but laugh again: "Are the horses ready? If they are, bring them out; we still have a long way to go."

Wang Ling must arrive in Dongjun before dawn!
As the horses galloped, dust rose along the eastern road, and the pavilion chief, standing at the entrance of the post station, could only see a sky full of stars and the flickering campfire on the horses.

The Eastern Road was a royal road. According to regulations, only the royal carriage was permitted to travel in the middle of this road.

The Eastern Road was 50 paces wide, with a pine tree planted every three zhang (approximately 10 meters) between it.

Luoyi is present-day Luoyang.

After King Wu of Zhou conquered King Zhou of Shang, he established his capital southwest of Xi'an, Shaanxi, calling it Haojing, also known as Zongzhou. Later, it was breached by the Quanrong, and King Ping of Zhou moved the capital to Luoyi, also known as Chengzhou.