Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 291, page 290: Auction Invitation

News of Xianyang Palace did not reach Guanzhong so quickly.

Moreover, this is not a big deal.

Qin Shi received another message on the morning of the second day:
"Oh? The son of the Bai family from Guanzhong has come to join us?"

Although she did her homework every day, there was so much to learn that she didn't know much about the various clans in the Qin state; she was merely curious.

"Is the Bai family very famous in Guanzhong?"

Zhuang Tou instinctively wanted to say something flattering, but then remembered that although the queen's style was gentle and meticulous, it was actually quite similar to that of the King of Qin, so he became more honest and dutiful:
"The Bai family of Guanzhong is a powerful local clan with nearly 2000 private soldiers. Their influence extends throughout the Qin state, and they have both great talents and great merchants..."

At this time, it was normal for powerful families to keep private armies, and even the King of Qin did not stop them.

Firstly, the world is not very stable nowadays, and there are too many temptations from powerful families. Having a private army can actually help defend against foreign enemies when the local area is in trouble.

On the other hand, maintaining such a large number of people also requires substantial financial support.

The higher-ups are happy to see the other side's resources depleted in this way.

But the root of all this requires those in power to have enough magnanimity and confidence to control the army and the entire empire.

In short, there's no need to go into details; just by hearing the number of these private soldiers, Qin Shi could roughly estimate the situation.

With such a large family, and with their renowned younger generation coming to serve them, it seems that the queen's reputation is still quite good.

The saying "spend a fortune to buy a horse's bones" suggests that perhaps there really are thoroughbred horses available today.
"Is Lord Wen here today? If so, please ask him to come and take a look."

Wen Xun and his many apprentices came to Guanzhong, but they were not proficient in farming, so they did not stay there for long.

Instead, he took his students to investigate the local conditions in the surrounding area.

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the palace, the master and his disciples had come to realize the fundamental similarities between the Queen and the King of Qin.

Even though she can readily recite the wise sayings of those sages and great men, she herself does not rely on or favor them.

More often than not, she values ​​a person's actual abilities.

Those who are eloquent are judged by their communication skills; those who are inarticulate and dull are judged by their work ability; those who are good at calculations are judged by their ability to check accounts, set rules, and establish economic plans; some are good at governance; and some are flawless in their simulations...

These abilities, which they ranked below academics, were actually highly valued in her eyes.

Since that's the case, now that Wen Xun has come to Guanzhong again, he will naturally lead his disciples to investigate the local conditions in all directions, in order to find a suitable position for the Queen.

The Qin Dynasty was naturally pleased with this outcome.

If asked again now, the answer is that the person is not present.

But that's okay. What we need most right now isn't writers with great literary talent or thinkers.

She sat comfortably in the room. Although she was only staying for a few days, the hall of the farm had already been decorated and made very luxurious.

When Bai Qiusha entered from outside, she was immediately struck by the ebony screen with carved auspicious beasts and inlaid with gold and glazed glass.

The stained glass pieces on these screens are brightly colored, ornate, and elaborate. They are highly sought after, not only for setting screens, but also for making hairpins and ornaments for women, as well as wine vessels and teacups for men.

He took a deep breath: The patriarch was right, the queen was indeed extraordinary.

Thinking of this, his expression became even more tense.

Then they went inside and respectfully bowed down.
"I am Bai Qiusha from the Bai clan of Guanzhong. I greet the Queen."

"Rise and sit down."

A servant brought over a chair.

Bai Qiusha was slightly taken aback, but then remembered that this seemed to be popular in Xianyang now, so she calmly sat down.

The back is supported by a curved cork, and the slight touch against the spine inexplicably gives a sense of security.

It’s just…it’s just…

oops.

He felt somewhat ashamed.

When nobles travel, they wear flowing robes and travel in carriages with soft cushions; they certainly wouldn't sit anywhere like farmers, on the ridges, grass, or pebbles of fields...

He straightened his clothes, relieved that he was dressed warmly.

They in Guanzhong don't follow fashion trends like people in Xianyang; nowadays, what they wear...

Qin Shi could see his restraint, but she had been out of touch with the common people for too long and had forgotten that many people were still wearing open-crotch pants at this time.

Fortunately, the layers of clothing were thick enough that Bai Qiusha quickly got used to it.

Above him, Qin Shi was also looking him over.

The other person was a young man with a high nose bridge and large, bright eyes. He looked to be in his early twenties, with fair skin and a strong physique. If compared to others, he seemed more like a well-groomed young man.

She smiled:

"Bai Qiusha, this is the place to recruit talents. Since you have come here voluntarily, I will first thank your tribe on behalf of the common people for the supplies they have donated..."

"Don't dare!"

Bai Qiusha felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

Although the Queen spoke modestly, all land under heaven belongs to the King.

What he brought was taken for granted, and the Queen would never dare to thank him.

Qin paused, not dwelling on the matter, but getting straight to the point:

Do you have any talented individuals who would be worth recruiting?

Those grains and salt were merely a means to demonstrate his sincerity.

The Queen received him personally because of the sincerity shown by the Bai family, not because of him personally.

Bai Qiusha naturally understood, and thus respectfully replied again:

"Your Majesty, I have possessed a remarkable memory since childhood, am well-read, skilled in swordsmanship, knowledgeable in bronze inscriptions, and have an excellent command of seal script. I also have a good understanding of world affairs. I have studied the works of ancient sages under renowned teachers..."

He spoke these words with confidence and candor, a style quite different from the prevailing atmosphere of excessive modesty today.

However, Qin Shi was very happy.

If you have the ability, then you have the ability; show it openly and honestly.

Even if it's not as good as he described, she won't blame him.

However, most people hesitated, being both humble and arrogant. For example, Wen Xun's disciples had their talents only discovered after a period of time, which was a real waste of time.

Bai Qiusha's confidence is not without reason.

When he arrived, he had already seen the common people queuing up. Most of them were just trying to get a bowl of food, and some of them were really not worth mentioning.

For example, he had several strong bodyguards among his personal guards.

Some can shoot slingshots, while others cultivate the land meticulously, resulting in excellent crop yields...

Some even have intricate carvings on the peach pits...

When I asked him to come and see, these things were really not presentable.

Therefore, he became increasingly confident in demonstrating his abilities to the Queen at this time.

However, while Qin Shi admired him, he wasn't particularly interested in these abilities.

To put it bluntly, there are far too many people in the world with that kind of ability.

If you randomly pick any family member from the court officials, most of them will have this ability.

However, she was selecting officials based on ability and competence, not on their ability to serve in the imperial court; there is a difference between the two.

So he just smiled faintly:

"is it?"

Bai Qiusha understood the undisguised indifference in those words.

He bowed slightly, knowing better than to say anything more, and simply sat there silently. He dared not look at the Queen above, and could only listen as she opened the scroll in her hand and began writing something with a charcoal pencil.

It could happen in the blink of an eye, or it could happen after a long time.
He then heard the Queen say:
"Anyone with your talent could achieve that level, including Mr. Wen Xun and his many disciples. Doesn't your Bai family have any more outstanding talents?"

Nowadays, people who read too much are bound to become somewhat arrogant. Those who, like Xin, can command with ease and are exceptionally perceptive of the emperor's intentions are certainly few and far between.

Qin Shi asked this not because he looked down on him.

Instead, I wanted to let the other party know that just because I didn't apply on purpose, I would definitely be chosen.

Unexpectedly, although Bai Qiusha was exceptionally capable, she was still a young woman who was fully supported by her clan. Upon hearing this, she did not focus on the Queen's disrespect, but anxiously asked, "Is Mr. Wen also here?"

Ok.

Qin Shi was speechless.

Academic worship is everywhere.

It seems that Wen Xun's signboard has indeed been effective.

However, he and his disciples dispersed to recruit talents in more distant places, and it is unknown how much success they have achieved so far.

As soon as Bai Qiusha finished speaking, she sensed something was wrong, and immediately sat up straight and lowered her head slightly.

But then the Queen chuckled softly:
"You like Wen Xun? Then if you want to stay by my side, you need to think carefully about what irreplaceable abilities you have."

That's really difficult.

Bai Qiusha was originally very confident.

If even Master Wen's disciples are under the Queen's command, what makes him so special?

Fortunately, he was indeed sharp-minded and possessed a broad knowledge. After a brief moment's thought, he quickly bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, I am a member of the Bai family. When I came here, the head of the family instructed me: If Your Majesty needs anything, the entire Bai family will be at your service."

If we can't compete on sheer strength, we'll compete on supporting services.

The Bai family has a lot of people, to say the least.

The rustling sound of Qin dynasty pens stopped abruptly.

Young people are quite quick-witted. If you really want to use their skills, there are many situations where they can be put to good use.

"Is that so?" She laughed. "Just to be commanded?"

Speculation is also a kind of business, and one should only listen to the sweet talk of businessmen for the time being.

However, since the message had already been sent, she naturally wouldn't refuse it.

"Yes," Bai Qiusha affirmed.

If even a man of such great talent as Mr. Wen is willing to serve the Queen, then beyond the abilities the head of the household has deduced, the Queen must possess other undisclosed strengths.

Given this, the Bai family will be at his beck and call. Unless the Queen rebels, the worst outcome will be nothing more than maintaining the status quo.

If a prince could be born...

With this in mind, his words became even more resolute.

Qin Shi smiled, genuinely admiring the other party.

At this moment, he was equally blunt: "I want the right to use your Bai family's 10,000-mu estate in Guanzhong for one year, and I want all the tenant farmers in the estate to come to Su Su Estate to learn the new planting methods."

"If there is a harvest in the autumn, all the harvested grain must be offered to Xianyang and stored as seeds for the following year."

Local powerful families inevitably possess large amounts of land and human resources.

Qin Shi made this request, but Bai Qiusha did not hesitate at all. She stood up from her chair and bowed deeply.

"As the Queen commands."

Qin Shi stared at him intently, then sighed again: "Not bad, you have guts."

"That shows real sincerity."

"But in this world, the things you get for free are the most expensive."

"How about this," she thought quickly, and after a moment's thought, she came up with a suitable exchange:
"I'll exchange it for an auction invitation."

"After returning to Xianyang, I will organize an auction in the name of Xianyang Palace, which will contain countless secret recipes, ancient books, and finished products from various workshops..."

Although she spoke slowly, her tone was extremely firm, giving Bai Qiusha no time to think.

He had only drawn half the picture of the pie when he abruptly asked, "Is the screen in the hall pretty?"

This was carefully wrapped and packed in layers, and it was only thanks to the smoothness of the shipping that it was transported here.

The fact that such items were specially transported over was certainly not solely for the sake of the scale of her queen's residence.

Without hesitation, Bai Qiusha blurted out: "Noble and magnificent, extremely beautiful."

Then the Queen chuckled again: "Then, the auction held by Xianyang Palace will include this glass workshop and several secret glassmaking techniques."

Bai Qiusha was suddenly stunned.

Then the queen seemed to be talking to herself:

"But this is just an invitation. Perhaps your reserves aren't enough, and you'll end up empty-handed at this auction..."

"If that's the case, isn't it somewhat inappropriate for me to requisition tens of thousands of acres of your fertile land?"

What's wrong with that?!
Bai Qiusha almost shouted it out!

It's just a few acres of fertile land. The Bai family is known as a powerful clan in Guanzhong, not because they did charity.

Moreover, the grain stored in various places is not lacking at all, and there is no shortage of the produce produced by this estate.

The queen only said it was for seeds. If there were newer and better seeds, wouldn't it be a great convenience for them with so much land?

What's more, there's also this invitation!

Why are local tyrants considered local tyrants?
Because their power base is concentrated in local areas, it is particularly difficult for them to expand outwards and advance their careers.

It relies on marriage alliances and ties. It takes generations of effort to bring these relationships closer.

But when it comes to profit, nothing beats the tangible things in one's hands.

They are quite famous in Guanzhong, but they are not quite as well-known in Xianyang.

This auction invitation was personally bestowed by the Queen, as all merchants in the world know—

Lady Ba and Wu Shang served the Queen well, so they were allowed to enter Zhangtai Palace during the New Year's Day court audience and even wear gold hairpins, which was very encouraging!
If the Bai family were given such an opportunity, let alone just the right to use ten thousand acres of fertile land for only one year, or even if they were given nothing at all, just hearing the two merchants' excited words would make merchants from all over the world rush over with their wealth!

They didn't come, not because they didn't want to, but because they weren't qualified to come.

They have not yet received any news about the auction.

It must be in the process of being prepared.

This gave the Bai family a greater advantage in preparation.

What's more, what's more, even the secret techniques and workshops for glassmaking will be auctioned off...

At this moment, Bai Qiusha's hands trembled slightly with excitement. She wished she could immediately bow down and then ride her horse home to tell the head of the family about this!

Oh.

He then realized with frustration: he couldn't ride a horse today because he wasn't wearing proper clothes.

But anyway, he's willing!

The entire Bai family is willing! A thousand times willing!

Even if you don't get anything at the auction, the hidden gains are beyond what can be measured by any secret techniques or gold and silver!
He took a deep breath and solemnly replied, "Please wait a few days, Your Majesty, while I report this matter to my Hui people. Within three days, I will present you with ten thousand acres of fertile land."

"If Your Majesty requires anything, I will gladly die for you!"

　It's gotten to several hundred thousand words in no time...

　　(End of this chapter)