Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 232, Section 231: The Golden Age Begins (Edited, please refresh to view)

Danpu really had no riding skills whatsoever.

He was at the Imperial Stud, where there were many fine horses, and he had the opportunity to practice while Xin was conducting these kinds of experiments.

But he had just arranged to practice with the palace servants of the Court of Imperial Stud, and had also made arrangements with everyone involved, when he saw Xin looking at him and asking:

"You've gone to all this trouble to come here from the Chief Secretary's side to help me, surely for the sake of the future?"

In a sense, he and Xin had been in the same situation, so he was particularly familiar with the ambitions in each other's eyes.

Danpu stood aside, saying, "Reporting to the Junior Secretary, I was just thinking that, in case we need to test these stirrups and horseshoes, perhaps..."

He hesitated, wondering if the junior official in front of him would give this opportunity to him, who was determined to improve himself.

Xin didn't intend to refuse, but—

"You're a eunuch, aren't you?"

Danpu lowered his head.

"Yes."

There were other eunuchs like him in the Xianyang Palace, but their total number was not very large.

But when one is truly desperate and even the chance to enter the palace is about to be lost due to one's weakness, survival becomes the primary objective.

He doesn't regret the choice his family made for him, but now, when he thinks about it, he can't help but feel a pang of sadness.

But Xin only asked the question, and then said:

“You should know that there are many military officers in the army. As a eunuch, even if you are skilled in horsemanship, the king will not be so kind as to let you join the army.”

"Besides, do you really want to abandon all that you've built up in the palace and go to fight to the death in the army?"

Danpu gritted his teeth.

Of course he didn't want to.

He was thin and frail, and his premature castration meant that his development did not resemble the robust masculinity that people in Qin admired today.

Once you join the army, you have to start from the bottom and endure a lot of bullying, patience, and hard work before you have a chance to get ahead.

But if he stays in the palace, he is now assisting the Grand Secretary who is doing real work, and he is also nominally under the Chief Secretary of the Red Maiden, and he was personally appointed by the Queen!
If we abandon this excellent opportunity and fail to take the shortcut, all our efforts and planning will have been in vain.

Therefore, he bowed his head and said, "This lowly man is unwilling."

Xin remained calm, and seeing that he seemed to understand, he didn't hesitate to say a few more words:
"In that case, your diligent practice of riding and archery at this time is nothing more than earning praise from the King and Queen."

"After the praise, you will be replaced by cavalry, and there will still be nothing impressive about you in the palace."

For someone who is determined to strive, the most terrifying thing is to be forgotten.

Because for any opportunity, the first thing is to let people know that you exist.

"But if you can't even control a horse or hold a bow, yet you can easily hold the reins and gallop at full speed..."

Xin laughed.

His face was thin, and his eyes shone brightly.

"If someone who is not skilled at riding mounts a horse, they will either fall off or be trampled, which could be life-threatening."

“You will still not be remembered, but your clumsy manner will ensure that when the king sees these horseshoes and stirrups, he will not forget your current awkwardness.”

"As for horsemanship..."

He looked at Danpu and said, "If the Queen presents such a generous gift to the country, will you still have the opportunity to come to the Taipusi Temple in the future?"

Danpu bowed deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

He laughed, his handsome face revealing a burgeoning ambition:
“My lack of riding skills is precisely what allows me to demonstrate to the Queen the convenience and importance of these things.”

The two shrewd strategists exchanged a glance, each desperately trying to seize their own opportunity.

……

And now, Danpu has indeed successfully taken up his post.

Although it was somewhat regrettable that the King was not present, the Queen arrived immediately, clearly showing that she was taking the matter very seriously.

His movements as he mounted the horse were still clumsy; normally, someone of his size would find it difficult to even leap onto a horse.

But now, all you need to do is grip the handle on the saddle, step into the stirrup, tighten your core, and lift your body... and you can sit on a horse, albeit awkwardly, with ease.

Of course, he also had his own little scheme at this time—because the horses that were paired with him were not the tall Hequ horses, but the medium-sized horses that were most common in Qin at that time.

His horse was rather thin and weak.

Only in this way can he get on the horse smoothly, even though he is unfamiliar with it.

Then, Danpu gripped the reins, gently squeezed his thigh against the horse's belly, and mimicked how the Taipusi people usually rode horses. Sure enough, the horse began to move with a clattering sound.

The movement gradually became more agile and quicker. Danpu turned to look, but from a distance, he couldn't see the Queen's expression clearly. However, he knew that she was still watching them intently, her gaze never wavering.

He gritted his teeth, as if he could feel the gaze of the middle-ranking official, so he gritted his teeth again and flicked the whip in his hand lightly backward!
"Snapped!"

The sudden sound made the horse's ears twitch, and then it quickly galloped forward.

He gripped the reins, lying sprawled awkwardly on the horse's back, his body being jolted by the saddle, his bones feeling as if they were about to shatter, and he was in constant danger of falling off the horse!
But with his feet resting on the stirrups for support, and his body pressed close to the horse's, he gently wrapped his arms around the horse's neck in times of danger...

He didn't know if his movements were correct or if the cavalry were trained this way, but what he could demonstrate now was the most primitive and instinctive reaction of someone who had never been exposed to horsemanship before.

After circling twice, the horse realized that no one was riding or urging it on, and gradually came to a stop.

Danpu felt his stomach churning, his head spinning, and even his bones aching slightly.

He scrambled to his feet from his horse and fell with a thud into the yellow earth of the training ground.

Fortunately, it was loess soil.

Danpu lay on the ground, his cheeks and lips covered in dust, yet he laughed silently.

Then he struggled to his feet, knelt on the ground, and bowed deeply to the queen:

"Danpu, I have successfully completed my mission."

Upon learning of the Queen's arrival at the training ground, they hastily sprinkled water on the ground. Now, as the horses gallop, no dust is kicked up; only a slight earthy smell can be detected in the air.

Qin Shi stared at Xin for a moment, then turned his gaze to Danpu on the ground.

"What courage! What boldness!"

She praised, "Get up."

She remembered this young eunuch with delicate features and clever eyes.

The other party was a servant of Mao Sheng in the Dao Palace. He had only been transferred to Lan Chi for a short time, and now he was following Xin to help.

What is this? This is the chosen one in the workplace!
Having ambition is a perfectly normal thing, isn't it?
Everyone has the instinct to pursue a better life.

However, Qin Shi was not in a hurry to reward Danpu at the moment, and instead asked Xin.

"How many times has this been tested?"

Xin bowed and said, "Since the first batch of stirrups and horseshoes were made, we have been experimenting every day without interruption."

"This is now the 61st match."

Qin Shi laughed: "I knew I hadn't misjudged you—now you can think about the reward you want."

"Official position, wealth, whatever you want, I can give you."

Xin keenly sensed the certainty in the Queen's words.

He even speculated that, without his knowledge, the king might have granted the queen numerous additional powers. For example… the appointment and removal of certain officials?

His heart pounded at this speculation, for the brighter the Queen's future, the brighter his own.

But now, he simply bowed slightly and said, "I am merely following the steps and experimenting according to the blueprints given by the Queen. I dare not claim any credit."

"Moreover, the Queen has given me a second chance at life, and this is my duty."

Qin Shi looked at him and once again marveled at his incredible luck in finding such a hidden gem among a group of laborers.

She did provide the information and data, but across time and technology, even the horses were slightly different from the breeds bred in later generations.

They might meticulously adjust the data bit by bit, experiment again and again, and only present the results when they are perfect, all while remaining humble and not taking credit for the achievement...

Are there really many more people like this?

She smiled, and as expected, made no further promises, but instead gave the following instructions:
"Then after the New Year, you should start preparing for the [iron slag] matter I mentioned earlier."

Xin bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Your subject will do his utmost."

Danpu stood there, somewhat bewildered.

He understood that the Queen intended to reward the Junior Secretary, but after the man refused, the Queen seemed to want to transfer him away...

Why is this?
Given the Queen's discerning and unconventional character, even though he didn't understand, he knew that the other party was not the type to arbitrarily claim credit.

Moreover, Xin was originally an official under the Queen, and his achievements were the Queen's achievements—so why should he be transferred?

He was not well-read and his knowledge was limited to the inner palace, therefore he did not know:

Such a vital national asset could not possibly be entrusted to Xin.

It can only, and must, be controlled by Ji Heng.

Qin Shi then slowly walked to the center of the training ground and gently stroked the docile horse.

Its saddle has been modified to be more suitable for beginners.

She wasn't an expert in stirrups and horseshoes, but looking at them now, she couldn't see that the horses were suffering from any torment or discomfort; in fact, they seemed quite at ease.

It seems they were considering the long-term implications, not seeking immediate gains while ignoring the wear and tear on the horses.

Qin Shi stroked the horse's mane again, and as the horse sniffed closer, he finally smiled and said:
"Let's return to the palace. After we've rested, I will personally go to Zhangtai Palace to see the King and plead for your merits."

In the training ground, everyone stood there in a daze.

A moment later, faint cheers suddenly rose, and everyone's face lit up with excitement.

……

The Queen always reported all matters, big and small, in the palace to Ji Heng.

But as he had previously instructed Zhou Juqian to explain, with the year-end approaching and numerous affairs to attend to, even the most stern monarch couldn't very well ask his ministers to enter the palace during the New Year to help him with state affairs.

Therefore, even the lectures were suspended for the past two days.

The equipment of stirrups and horseshoes could not be completed in a short time. With the end of the year approaching, Qin Shi did not intend to delay in order to receive a New Year's reward.

So after having lunch, he sent someone to inform them.

Today, in Zhangtai Palace, in front of all the officials, she will once again reaffirm her status and authority as queen, and reiterate her contributions and efforts to the Qin state.

……

Zhangtai Palace was in complete chaos at this moment.

The king is a workaholic who knows no hardship, and he has extraordinary energy. He works until late at night every day.

But the officials below him did not have such remarkable energy.

Prime Minister Wang Furao always followed the king's lead, and in terms of workload, he would never dare to compare.

That's how it is to be an official in the Qin state. There are no weekends off, no holidays, and you have to leave early and return late every day. The whole country is as efficient as a machine in operation...

Only when you're actually in the situation do you realize how unbearable it is.

But nowadays, no one's position is irreplaceable. Even though it's incredibly tough, having such a powerful ruler could also lead to achievements that go down in history...

Everyone could only grit their teeth and persevere for that elusive pie in front of them.

Now that the Queen has arrived, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The prime minister, in particular, was crying out in his heart.

He had witnessed Qin Shi's confident and dignified demeanor upon his initial arrival, and he knew the other's character well—

Unless it is something important, they will never come to disturb Your Majesty in handling state affairs.

I even heard from the palace servants that the Queen would accompany the King to handle state affairs at night, with the lights burning for a long time.

The Prime Minister trembled at the thought of this, wondering how many more years his old bones could hold on.

He sighed inwardly: hoping that the Queen would allow the King to rest for a moment, and let these old bones catch their breath again.

Qin Shi also arrived at Zhangtai Palace.

Everyone bowed to her, but her eyes were only on Ji Heng. Seeing that he only frowned slightly, she was convinced that Ji Heng had come for something important.

This tacit understanding and implicit trust deepened her smile.

Seeing this, Ji Heng felt a slight sense of helplessness, yet it also seemed as if the Queen was just like that.

"What brings the Queen to Zhangtai Palace?"

Qin Shi smiled, his expression just as it had been when he stopped this huge convoy in the middle of the road.

"I have come specially to present treasures to the king."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ju beside her and Wang Fu below the steps both immediately raised their heads to look at the Queen.

Ji Heng keenly noticed their actions, and at that moment, he raised an eyebrow.

He looked at Zhou Ju.

Having served Ji Heng for many years, the other party naturally knew him somewhat. Therefore, he smiled and said:

"When I first met the Queen in front of the imperial road, the first words she spoke to me and the Prime Minister were just like these now."

Ji Heng had heard these details from everyone when his fever subsided, but now, hearing them again and seeing the Queen's smiling face, a different emotion flowed through him.

He also raised his eyebrows, the furrows of his brow caused by numerous political affairs gradually relaxing, and even a hint of relief appeared on his face.

"Oh? I wonder what kind of treasure it is."

His subtle cooperation pleased Qin Shi greatly, and her smile deepened, but she spoke directly:
"The treasure is currently at the Zhangtai Palace training ground. Your Majesty is invited to come along and witness the beginning of the golden age of our Qin Kingdom."

Ji Heng's hands clenched instantly.

The Queen's words were always so pleasant to hear.

he thought.

However, behind every pleasant word lies a real benefit.

Now, she actually dares to claim that "a golden age has begun"!
His chest began to pound with excitement, and his tense body trembled slightly, as if a major event that would affect the future of the Qin state was truly about to occur.

However, at this moment, the usually aloof and composed monarch simply exhaled deeply and slowly, then nodded, and as always, with the same magnanimity he showed to the queen, stood up without hesitation.

"In that case, I will go ahead myself!"

　Still going strong today!!! My modern farming daily life - [Song Tan's Chronicles], who hasn't read it yet?

　　(End of this chapter)