Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 169, Section 168: The Merchant Surnamed Wu
Meanwhile, in Dongjun.

He was demoted from the position of Grand Censor, one of the Three Dukes, to the position of Supervising Censor with a rank of "thousand shi" (a unit of grain measure). If the nine-rank system were applied, he would be demoted from the first rank to the sixth rank.

Wang Xueyuan achieved this in a short period of time.

Moreover, the king only ordered him to come to Dongjun to oversee the "falling star" incident, but did not grant him the corresponding authority as a military supervisor. Even the title of "Supervisor" seemed to be merely a nominal one...

Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still in the government office under the blazing midday sun. Finally, covered in sweat, he simply went out.

Once he leaves Xianyang, given his rank, he won't even be able to use ice anymore.

My dear wife, you have caused me so much suffering!

That being said, given the king's nature, if he performs meritorious service, he might very well be reinstated.

So despite the complaints, the tasks that needed to be done were still being carried out diligently. Seeing the servant rushing over, he quickly asked...

Are the post station chiefs in all the various locations still cooperating?

The servant was also covered in sweat. "My lord, I have been traveling for several days, but I still haven't been able to see the three village chiefs."

Wang Xueyuan frowned: "Why is that?"

He sneered: Although he had a gentle appearance, their king was never gentle.

The incident of the falling star in Dongjun has enraged him, but the local officials and the governor of Dongjun cannot hand over the person who secretly carved the inscription. There must be someone protecting him.

If it weren't for the future queen's shrewdness and kindness, and her ability to persuade the king...

Within a radius of five li, they will likely be wiped out completely.

These people are completely unaware that they have narrowly escaped death; they are simply trying to spread the word, yet they are still making excuses...

They really don't know what's good for them!

The servants were also covered in sweat.

With their superiors having been demoted, the number of clerks they can now command is pitifully small.

Moreover, the matters to be supervised should be widely disseminated.

Therefore, even the household servants were assigned numerous tasks.

Here, the sun blazes fiercely, yet there are no mountains. Riding on horseback, one sees only a flat plain, without even a shady spot.

One can imagine how disheveled and exhausted they must have been, traveling back and forth like this.

"They won't even send a drop of rain!" the servant complained.

Wang Xueyuan immediately rebuked, "You must never say such a thing to the head of this pavilion!"

Dongjun is different from Xianyang.

This fertile land stretches for thousands of miles and is a strategic location in the Central Plains that military strategists have fought over.

Therefore, it is also a very important grain-producing area in the Qin State today.

It's August now, and farmers are busy harvesting soybeans and preparing their fields for winter wheat planting later this month.

We're so busy, we simply can't spare any manpower.

This is one of the reasons why his work is progressing slowly.

But precisely because it was harvest season, the previous rumor about the meteorite inscription "When the King of Qin died, the land was divided" did not spread far.

This put his mind at ease.

If it rains during the soybean harvest season, the soybeans will swell and sprout, making it impossible for people to pay their taxes.

If the remnants of the six former states were to incite unrest, saying, "With the death of the King of Qin, the land will be divided," then perhaps they could cultivate a larger area and harvest more grain...

If trouble arises, Wang Xueyuan will be held responsible.

The servant nodded in agreement. He was truly hot and tired, which was why he had complained. Therefore, he spoke solemnly at this moment:

"Don't worry, sir, I would never dare to tell this to outsiders."

Wang Xueyuan's expression softened, and she asked, "You mentioned earlier that there are three pavilion chiefs you haven't met yet. Who are they?"

The attendant immediately reported, "I have already visited Qingfeng, Diqiu, and Nanle twice, but I have not seen them at any of these places."

Wang Xueyuan straightened his sleeves and wiped the sweat from his brow: "I'll drive the carriage myself."

Qingfeng, Diqiu, and Nanle are not far apart. The attendants boarded the carriage and rode forward. Wang Xueyuan couldn't help but open the windows and doors inside the carriage. Although the yellow dust hitting their faces was a bit disheveled, the weather was really too hot these days.

……

We set off at noon, and after three hours of travel by carriage, we finally arrived at the nearest pavilion, Nanle Pavilion.

At this moment, a minor official was still handling official business inside the post station, while two scribes were writing hastily on the other side, not even having time to look up.

Only when sweat dripped uncontrollably from his forehead did he quickly wipe it away.

Wang Xueyuan, feeling completely disoriented, got off the carriage and stepped into the post station, immediately taking out a talisman and sending it over.

Where is the head of Nanle Pavilion?

His position as a supervising censor was insignificant in Xianyang City, but in this rural area, he was already a very important official.

The minor officials immediately rose and bowed, no longer hesitant to speak frankly as they had before when addressing the attendants; instead, they pointed forward:
"Your Excellency, a merchant surnamed Wu is hosting a banquet for the village head at the tavern ahead, saying he has something to discuss with him..."

He whispered, "That doesn't look like an ordinary merchant. He brought over a thousand head of cattle, sheep, and horses with him when he came here..."

This would be considered a remarkable businessman by today's standards.

The weather is hot, the disease outbreaks among cattle and horses are unpredictable, and the journey is long and transportation is inconvenient.

If healthy livestock are specially brought here to be sold, there must be some ulterior motive.

Even King Heng of Qin, who did not value business, would treat such a talented person with courtesy.

Therefore, Wang Xueyuan inquired a few more times: "Do you know the name and origin of this merchant surnamed Wu?"

The minor official shook his head.

He added, "He also seems to have brought a beautiful woman with him."

A beautiful woman?

Wang Xueyuan was puzzled.

The head of the pavilion was not among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and his power was limited to the township and county level.

If he were truly a wealthy merchant who could freely trade thousands of livestock, why would he need to host such a grand banquet for him?

He was puzzled, but after finding out the direction of the tavern, he went there with his servants without saying a word.

—No matter what important matters they may have to discuss, at this moment, only the King's task is of utmost importance!

Meanwhile, inside the tavern.

The merchant surnamed Wu and the beautiful woman were inquiring about him, the censor.

The merchant surnamed Wu [Wu You] poured a cup of wine and said politely, "I heard that a new censor has arrived here. He was previously the Grand Censor."

"We ask for nothing more than that the village head could make a small introduction when he meets that sir."

"If you achieve anything, I will be very grateful."

It takes three days and nights to travel from Xianyang to Dongjun, but Wang Xueyuan has only been here for two or three days, yet the other side has already obtained such timely information...

Even the village head had never heard of this matter.

However, this is not difficult.

Nowadays, people are used to introducing different talents to different people. It is understandable that businessmen, who have a lot of wealth, would want to meet high-ranking officials, given their low social status.

The village head waved his hand and said, "It is the planting season. You two have traveled a long way to bring us cattle and horses, and you have not set high prices, so that the local people can buy or rent them together. You have already done us a great favor!"

"Just mention this to the Censor-in-Chief; there's no need for thanks."

After drinking the wine, he still had to hurry back to the post station.

Even after handling a few minor matters, he still had to keep busy with his own fields.

This busy August, there's really no time to spare right now!

Just then, a servant rushed in to report:

"Chief, the Imperial Censor has arrived."

There really was a merchant surnamed Wu in history.
-
From the "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Merchants": Wu Shi Luo was a livestock herder. When his herd grew large, he sold them off, seeking rare silks and other valuables, which he secretly presented to the Rong king. The Rong king repaid him tenfold and gave him more livestock, which grew to the point where he measured horses and cattle by the grain. Emperor Qin Shi Huang then ordered Luo to be treated like a feudal lord, and to attend court with other officials at regular times.