Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 99, Section 98: The Overturned Cart
As the soldier questioned him, Mo instantly clutched his rough, worn-out hemp clothing.

All the laborers lowered their heads, but dared not hide a single word!

Even sadness welled up within me.

Because if Xin makes any mistake, his entire squad and platoon will likely be implicated!

The soldiers quickly headed to the cave dwellings where the laborers were resting.

In the sweltering heat, their lodgings were caves carved out of the mine walls. Because they were converted from old mines, the caves were rough and cramped, and it took the soldiers a lot of effort to drag Xin out.

He had just spent an afternoon kneeling on a gravelly beach in the sweltering heat a couple of days ago, and now he's struggling to survive, let alone his knees.

Then the leading soldier lightly ticked off a name on the roster, turned around and called out another name.

People were filled with anxiety.

Mo, squeezed in the crowd, looked at Xin's withered, disheveled hair, gaunt, pale face, cracked lips, and barely breathing condition...

He wanted to rush out instantly, but two large hands pressed down on his shoulders, one on each side, and held him firmly behind him!

Two exceptionally strong quarry workers stood firmly in front of him, blocking his path and preventing him from moving.

Mo struggled silently, his strength suddenly bursting forth, and large tears welled up one by one, yet he still couldn't utter a sound.

If viewed from the side, it is a silent yet soul-stirring pantomime.

But the reality is that everyone was trying to stop him out of good intentions, and he absolutely could not let this cause a dispute and be discovered by the soldiers, otherwise they would all be punished.

In the midst of the struggle, Xin Wei raised her head slightly, her dim eyes piercing through the gaps in the crowd, and then she smiled faintly.

Mo immediately fell silent.

He knew why Xin had been taken away again: it was because a nobleman from Xianyang Palace wanted to see them.

He knows where the benefactor is!

……

Qin Shi only waited for two quarters of an hour.

She hadn't waited in vain during those two quarters of an hour; instead, she organized many details and discussed them with everyone. When it was over, the iron official said solicitously:

"Lord Qin, those criminals are already kneeling outside."

Qin Shi followed him out.

One of them was swaying precariously, huddled in the back row. Judging from his figure and clothing, he was the same person she had seen being punished a couple of days ago.

She looked away: "Are the people in the back row the ones who have made more than one mistake?"

The iron official said, "That's right."

Despite being a lowly laborer or servant, he aspired to work as a craftsman.

Although the craftsman's status is also low, if everyone is like this and has no intention of working, how can he manage them?

In the Qin state, although the workshops and the "Laws of Crafts" offered rewards for this, those rewards were definitely not for these laborers!
"What were the reasons for these mistakes?"

There are many reasons for that.

Some tried to dismantle the bellows, others tried to burn charcoal themselves, and still others secretly collected firewood and tidied it into all sorts of random things...

In short, they are diverse and varied.

The person Qin Shi noticed was the one who was discovered dismantling the bellows and was severely punished.

He then attempted to make his own handicrafts, but was discovered to have picked up animal hides that were to be destroyed and remade them, resulting in a severe penalty.

The third time, he was severely punished for hiding semi-finished bellows, animal hides, and a pile of semi-finished timber in the mine. He was forced to wear shackles and kneel in the sun as punishment.

Almost none of them succeeded.

At first glance, it sounds just like those restless kids who can't stay at home—they have the ability to disassemble things but not the ability to put them back together, as if they don't have any real skills.

but--

This group of people could barely count the characters in a basket, and their understanding of things was practically nonexistent. Moreover, all their actions were undertaken during their leisure time from heavy labor, risking punishment, yet they still dared to try.

This isn't innovation; this is risking your life.

Yet, they continue to do these life-threatening acts again and again.

In particular, when it comes to their dedication to research, they are second to none.

The iron official stood attentively by his side, awaiting Qin Shi's thunderous wrath before establishing his authority.

A new broom sweeps clean, and if she doesn't kill a bunch of people, how can she demonstrate her absolute authority?

Even though no one questions the authority of those in power.

Qin Shi glanced at him—the iron official was extremely loyal to his lord and even had a good reputation for being kind to his subordinates.

However, they are extremely harsh on those who violate authoritative laws.

In this contradictory social system, everyone has their own stance.

At this moment, he looked at Qin Shi with eagerness and enthusiasm.

Qin Shi withdrew his gaze and commented calmly:
"For the sake of the difficult issues in his heart, he dared to risk his life, which is commendable."

"In that case, take them all back to Xianyang Palace."

That's what it's like to have power; she doesn't even need to give reasons or uses, just the conclusion.

Without hesitation, the iron official bowed immediately: "Lord Qin is benevolent!"

Amidst the ranks of soldiers and the kneeling crowd, Mo's small figure rushed over, but faced with his own men, he could only kneel down heavily, tears welling in his eyes.

His thin fingers gripped the rough ground, and at that moment he wanted to rush forward and shout, "It's not Xin Gan's!"
But if everyone is implicated...

Xin deserved punishment for his crime, and so did they...

He trembled all over, not even knowing who to blame for his resentment. This was their fate as laborers! They would either die on the way to build the Great Wall, or in an underground palace, or while building the imperial road...

However, he did not realize that Xin, who was now numb with pain, was kneeling in the back row and heard what the nobleman said—that he was surrounded by a group of rough people who knew very few words, but he had studied for two years!
At that moment, his dim eyes suddenly brightened with strength, a courage that seemed to spring from nowhere, and a spark of inspiration that leaped from his chest—

Right now, right here, at this very moment!

He suddenly raised his head to look directly at Qin Shi, then desperately strained his hoarse voice:
"My lord! I have a great treasure to offer!"

Different times, different places, yet people say similar things.

Qin Shi couldn't help but laugh.

Her good fortune allowed her to gain dignity upon their first meeting, while this man, if he didn't respond, would lose not only his dignity but also his life.

She stopped the soldiers who were about to leave, her eyes burning with desire: "What kind of treasure is it?"

The other person crawled forward on their knees with difficulty, their still-unhealed festering wounds scraping blood and flesh on the ground, but he seemed completely oblivious, only desperately trying to get closer.

Then, she took out a small wooden toy from her messy hair.

The toy was pitifully small, only slightly rounder than a duck egg, and the wood it was made of was of unknown origin, with uneven and mottled colors.

It's strange, yet inexplicably harmonious.

Mo, standing in the distance, was stunned.

Large tears welled up in his eyes, like a pool of cold spring water, yet at this moment, they were boiling with scalding heat.

At this moment, Xin's eyes shone with unprecedented pride and satisfaction.

"This is a water-turning cart."

"But as long as the water flows, it will always turn."

He held the carriage in both hands until the Red Maiden herself came down and took it from him, and then he bowed deeply:
"My lord, this was made by a laborer named Mo. I beg you to take it back to the Imperial Household Department and let him work as a craftsman for the rest of his life!"

Although the status of a craftsman is lowly, they still perform craftsmanship every time they serve, so they don't die from overwork too early!
Monthly ticket rankings... Oh dear, please don't let our rankings be too embarrassing!

Waterwheels, also known as "overturning carts," only appeared during the Eastern Han Dynasty.