Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 263, Section 262: Not Abandoning the Waiting in Vain
Auction of secret techniques from a glass workshop?

Ji Heng was somewhat surprised: This was the property he had given to Qin Shi. With the workshop in hand, it would become a treasure trove that would generate wealth in the future.

He considered the cake recipe a small profit, but the glass workshop was not. The queen had no family, no permanent property, and not even a confidant.

Why sell now?
Qin Shi laughed and said, "This workshop alone is really not enough to meet production capacity."

Glass windows, glassware, glass ornaments... and even more sophisticated glass experimental equipment.

Apart from the latter, the other three require a large amount of manpower, material resources, and time to meet the needs of today's elites.

Handmade glass is extremely inefficient, and with a monopolistic market, she can naturally reap a continuous stream of profits, but this battle will inevitably be drawn out over a very long period.

Ji Heng gave her such a secure life, surely not so that it would just sit in a warehouse and turn to dust.

Only through the circulation of money can great things be accomplished.

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng sighed and said, "I know that the Queen has a heart of pure love for our Great Qin."

Qin Shi smiled and said, "I know what kind of Qin the King desires. Now that we are husband and wife, it is what I should do."

In modern times, she loved money.

In peaceful times, money is enough to guarantee her quality of life and the pursuit of her dreams.

But now, only power matters. And she now holds the title of Queen, commands five private armies, and has numerous retainers…

We have power, but it's not enough.

Besides what Ji Heng could bestow, she also needed to develop it herself.

For example, Wen Xun and his disciples, as well as her planned examinations, cement construction, the development of the Silk Road, and trade with the Western Regions...

This would require a significant investment of money in the early stages. Some of the secret techniques of the Glass Craft Workshop were precisely what she needed to trade away. And now, using them to appease Ji Heng was a win-win situation.

At this moment, the Red Maiden reported from outside the carriage door: "Your Majesty, we have arrived at Shanglin Garden."

Qin Shi looked out the window.

The tenth month of the lunar calendar is a time of life and death for all things, when plants wither and decay.

Now, only evergreen pines and cypresses line both sides of the road, and in front, there are lush green bamboos, their shapes and forms delicate and beautiful.

And this stretch of deep greenery is the palace gate of Shanglin Garden.

This is the front hall of Yichun Garden. Only after stepping into this place can one officially enter the territory of Shanglin Garden. However, if one thinks this is the end of the journey, then one would be very wrong.

Heading along any path along the river in the garden towards the center, the enormous Jianzhang Palace is where they will rest.

The Jianzhang Palace has a spacious platform surrounded by flowers, trees and shrubs. The palace servants had already received word of the King's arrival, so Qin Shi and his party only needed to enter with a small entourage to see that the interior was furnished in the same way as the Ganquan Palace.

Moving without pain is truly one of the most pleasant things in the world.

But this was just the norm for Ji Heng.

He was full of energy, and even after more than an hour in the carriage, he did not feel tired. Looking at the sky, he ordered his men to change his clothes and prepare a bow.
"It is still early. I would like to take the General of the Palace Guard to hunt in the woods. Would the Queen like to eat venison?"

Let alone a deer, if Ji Heng were to actually capture a tiger, Qin Shi would dare to taste tiger meat.

At this moment, he smiled and said:
"The young men of the countryside toil in the fields to feed their wives, children, and elderly parents. Now, even the Queen needs the King to hunt for food."

"I hope Your Majesty will work harder and not leave the Queen waiting in vain."

Even if he, as the ruler of a country, truly gained nothing, his court officials would certainly not stand idly by.

Therefore, Qin Shi was not worried that the other party would return empty-handed, and spoke much more boldly.

Ji Henglang burst out laughing.

Bathed in sunlight, his usually stern features relaxed, like spring water melting ice, and his smile became radiant.

That confidence and sense of control that only a mature man possesses is especially captivating. Add to that his long legs raised high, as he leaps onto his horse, exuding youthful vigor and spirit!

Qin Shi's eyes were burning, almost glued to her, and her expressions and actions greatly pleased Ji Heng.

He was already much more relaxed during the holidays than usual, and this was especially true at this time:

"In that case, please wait a moment, Your Majesty. I will make sure my wife's belly is rumbling."

He spurred his horse forward, with the general and his guards surrounding him in layers. Beneath his lean hunting attire lay the broad back, powerful arms, and slender waist of a grown man.

Qin Shi stood outside the palace, gazing into the distance, his heart also trembling.

……

Ji Heng had his own things to do, and the Queen couldn't be idle either. She summoned the officials of Ganquan Palace: "Are my private soldiers still here?"

The other party bowed and said, "I am practicing diligently every day in the Shanglin Garden. Would the Queen wish to summon me?"

The Queen's private army was naturally not suitable to stay with other military camps for long—not to mention, the rewards, incentives, and treatment she provided individually would inevitably cause trouble if they were in the same camp as others, not because of the scarcity but because of the unequal distribution of resources.

However, the remaining 8000 people in Xianyang City were also a considerable group, so for safety reasons, they were also assigned to a martial arts training area in Shanglin Garden, just like the other guards.

What Qin Shi regrets now is that he has no trustworthy generals to command the training.

She didn't need her generals to be a powerful elite force. Instead, all they needed to do was maintain their physical fitness and discipline.

It's just a matter of habit.

The thought that his own private army was starving made him feel uneasy, which is why he was motivated in that way.

However, with such a generous reward, relying solely on the previous captains and military commanders, even though they were indeed loyal, was not appropriate without one of their own.

Furthermore, a private army is not limited to 2000 men; it can range from 10,000 to as few as possible. The Qin dynasty will now give a glimpse into the military's prowess, and next year's examinations will also include a military examination to select talented individuals.

Therefore, she nodded: "I will summon you tomorrow and have the captain and others prepare."

The monthly incentive money is already quite substantial. If they still don't earn enough face in front of the king because of this, they will likely face inescapable punishment if they fall into Ji Heng's hands.

The official was also very cautious, and at this moment he solemnly bowed:
"promise!"

……

After the official withdrew, the Red Maiden brought over a teacup: "The Queen has been trying to persuade Your Majesty not to worry about work now, but she herself has become busy with state affairs."

Qin Shi was taken aback: Yes!

She chuckled, "It was my fault—at this time of year, are the soldiers also resting and going home? My sudden visit might disrupt the plans of the captains."

The thing that workers hate most is being called in by their boss during the holidays. Unfortunately, she had just done that.

The Red Maiden paused for a moment, then sighed, "Your Majesty is joking. Common people can gather for New Year's sacrifices, feasts, and prayers, but soldiers cannot."

"During important holidays, they have to do their best. At this time, even family letters cannot be easily sent. Leave is not granted unless there is a major death in the family."

"Even if the Queen does not summon him, the King will still come to Shanglin Garden to watch the soldiers perform martial arts."

Qin Shi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "I was confused."

These were explained to her by the official when she took charge of the private army, but she had forgotten them due to the many other things that happened.

Not only did they not get a holiday, they also had to undergo training, inventory weapons, and maintain the beacon towers. They only had a small feast on New Year's Day to worship the God of War.

It was called a banquet, but it was nothing more than adding a piece of meat to the bowl, or adding another bowl of millet.

That's all.

This is precisely why the rewards given by the Qin Dynasty to motivate everyone were so exciting for the officers and lords.

Chicken, duck, mutton, and pork—those are delicacies reserved for special occasions during military festivals! With such a lucrative opportunity right in front of them, how could they not give their all?

Qin Shi, however, pondered this carefully:

Does she need a highly combat-capable special forces unit like the Wei Wuzu, or does she need a group of soldiers who are as easy to command as her own and can be used anywhere?

The former has some training materials and the ability to provide the basic nutrition needed for high-intensity training.

But as the Queen of Qin, unless she rebelled or the city fell and she was defending the country, when would she ever be able to use such a highly skilled military force?
If such a talent truly exists, Ji Heng will likely find it difficult to sleep soundly.

—The emperor's affection and tolerance for her were based solely on the premise that she was safe enough.

So, what about the soldiers she wants—soldiers who obey orders without question and can perfectly execute her wishes?
She needed manpower to develop, raise, cast, execute, and finish up... Military management was strict, making it the perfect choice for these tasks.

Thinking of this, her mind became even clearer.

However, right now, Akane is right, a holiday should look like a holiday!
"Summon the palace chefs to the corridor to prepare. The king is about to return victorious from his deer hunt. Let us enjoy the scenery, drink wine, and eat roasted meat here at noon today."

Everyone, from top to bottom, got busy.

In the distance, the sound of horses' hooves echoed through the woods, royal banners fluttered in the wind, and a group of figures appeared and disappeared in the forest.

Qin Shi lifted her skirt and quickly went down the long steps to meet Ji Heng, who was wearing a black cloak with silver bird patterns embroidered on it.

He took the reins and steadily rode the tall, winding horse. When the horse neighed and came to a stop, he gave Qin Shi a gentle smile.
"I have already hunted two deer, and I suppose I have not left the Queen waiting in vain."

　Here it comes! The Queen's holiday of eating and drinking!
　　(End of this chapter)