The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 164 Strictness Extends to Three Generations

Inside the main hall, Fusu repeated what he had said to Zhang Cang the day before.

After saying this, Fusu stood aside, letting his teacher do as he pleased.

Prime Minister Li Si expressed his thoughts in the main hall.

Ying Zheng said, "I have heard that the people of Chu are resisting being sent to teach in rural areas."

Li Si said, "I have heard that it is only some counties in Chu that are willing to accept teaching support."

"So, does that mean half the people in Chu are ineligible to take the exam?"

Fusu stepped forward and said, "Father, I believe that all convicts should be barred from participating in the imperial examinations, and their families should also be punished."

The hall was quiet, and the young master's words still echoed within.

Li Si and Feng Quji stood on either side in silence. This young master had studied Han Fei and Xunzi since childhood, so naturally, he valued the law the most.

Looking at his father's expression again, Fusu continued, "Since Qin unified the world, Father has treated the King of Han and the old nobles of Han well. But how have the old nobles of Han treated Father? The Tian family of Qi still wants to rebel against Qin. The scholars of Qi and Lu still want to restore the Zhou rites and the enfeoffment of land. Back then, General Meng Wu and General Wang Jian gave the nobles of Chu a way out, but not only did they not surrender to Qin, Xiang Yan, led by the Xiang family, also wanted to establish a new King of Chu to fight against the Qin army."

"Qin law has always been strict. It is precisely because of the strict laws that we have agriculture and warfare, and orderly production. Your subject firmly believes that there are some checkpoints that cannot be relaxed."

Ying Zheng, sitting at the head of the table, closed his eyes and frowned as he pondered.

Li Si stood still without saying a word.

Fusu said, “Father, the Tian family wants to rebel against Qin. Their descendants and even collateral relatives can participate in teaching in rural areas, but they are not allowed to take the entrance exam. Xiang Yan has only been dead for a few years. Should we forgive the descendants who still want to rebel against Qin? Have the blood of the Qin soldiers shed in the six states dried up? Your son has seen those old Qin soldiers who have fought for many years. General Wang Jian is still alive. Those old Qin soldiers with white hair and beards are still alive. What ideal did they have for going east to unify the world? Your son will never forget it.”

"Han Fei once said, 'When a tree is broken, it will be worm-eaten; when a wall is destroyed, it will be cracked...' Especially in the selection of talents, we must never allow criminals to enter officialdom, otherwise the law of the country will not be strict."

Standing outside the main hall, Tian An still wore a smile, seemingly oblivious to the conversation inside.

But the guards in front of the palace clearly heard it, and their expressions became more determined. What a fine saying! If the laws of a country are not strict, there is no way to build a country.

Li Si recalled the scene at the foot of Mount Tai. At this moment, he stood beside Prince Fusu and said, "I second your opinion. The laws of the country must be strictly enforced. Anyone who commits a crime must be investigated and punished, and will not be employed."

Fusu said, “Your subject has calculated that since the beginning of the Warring States period, there are still many people of Xiang Yan’s generation who are still alive after the defeat of Chu. If we go back three generations, any anti-Qin people or criminals in these three generations must be strictly investigated and not allowed to enter officialdom.”

Feng Quji looked at the emperor.

If it were before the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, perhaps the emperor and prime minister would have wavered and reconsidered.

Feng Quji felt that it was precisely at this time that the young master raised this idea. If it had been a few years earlier, when those Shandong scholars were still around, they would probably have been even more lenient.

Now, after so many years, the emperor and the prime minister have seen through the true colors of the Qilu Doctor.

The timing of your bringing this up, young master, is just right.

Feng Quji felt that Prince Fusu had really grown up. The prince used to be so small, but now he could decide important national affairs.

Ying Zheng asked in a deep voice, "Will they rebel?"

Li Si said, "Once the decree is issued, I'm afraid they will definitely rebel within five years."

Fusu said, "Then let them rebel."

Ying Zheng stood up and said loudly, "Very well, the Prime Minister and Fusu shall draft the procedures for this matter and issue the decree before the court adjourns."

The three of them saluted together.

Ying Zheng left Zhangtai Palace, and the emperor seemed to be in a good mood.

Fusu said, "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again, teacher."

Li Si said, "Your subject will certainly do everything in his power to assist you."

The emperor does not need to personally formulate the examination system; he only needs to know what the system looks like. This matter will be overseen by Prime Minister Li Si.

After leaving Zhangtai Palace, Prime Minister Li Si hurriedly went to the Prime Minister's residence.

Fusu and Feng Quji lagged behind by a distance.

Feng Quji sighed, "Teaching in rural areas and taking exams—this is the true meaning of standardizing the written language."

Fusu said, “It’s easier said than done. This matter is actually very complicated, and the nine ministers of the court will probably all be busy with it.”

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will not delay the issuance of the decree."

After taking two more steps, Feng Quji looked at Li Si's hurried back and whispered, "The more the court officials impeach Wang Ben, the more uncomfortable the Prime Minister feels."

"Why does the Right Chancellor say such a thing?"

"If Wang Ben is no longer the Grand Commandant, then Meng Tian should be the next one."

Upon hearing this, Fusu hesitated and said, "There is no suitable position other than the Grand Commandant."

For some reason, when Fusu said this, he saw sympathy in Feng Quji's eyes. The Right Chancellor had actually begun to sympathize with the Prime Minister.

Fusu said, "I have recently read many books about taxation, and I would like to ask the Right Chancellor about some things."

"minister……"

“I dare not let the Right Chancellor delay the affairs of the Censorate. The Right Chancellor should go first.” Feng Quji bowed and headed towards the Censorate. At this moment, he suddenly realized how understanding Prince Fusu was.

Half an hour later, as Feng Quji was looking at the files of the Imperial Censorate, a thick stack of papers fell in front of him, and there were several stacks, probably more than a thousand sheets of paper.

Feng Quji said, "These are..."

"These were all sent by the young master. They are all related to taxes, and he said there are a total of five thousand sheets of paper."

“Five thousand sheets…” Feng Quji picked up one of them, glanced at it and saw that it contained tax figures from previous years, and said blankly, “Did you write all of these, young master?”

"No, it was written by the young master and Prefect Zhang."

Feng Quji stroked his beard in surprise and asked, "Wasn't Prefect Zhang calculating the solar terms and calendar for Young Master Fusu?"

The newcomers were also panting heavily. They were officials from the Prime Minister's office, and were clerks under Cheng Miao. They were a little tired from their journey and explained, "Prefect Zhang is indeed helping the young master calculate the solar terms and calendar. In his spare time, the young master can also calculate the tax matters."

Feng Quji held his forehead in pain, wondering how long it would take to read all these papers.

Putting aside the effort it took, taxation was not something Feng Quji was good at.

Furthermore, based on what the young master said in the main hall today, it is most likely that the taxes will be extremely strict.

Feng Quji originally thought that the young master was just speaking casually, or that he was just expressing his feelings after reading a few books. He really did not expect that the young master Fusu was actually studying these things.

This is the prince of Qin, who has no other hobbies in this life but governing the country.

If such a prince were to become emperor, all the court officials would probably be exhausted.

Feng Quji frowned more and more as he looked through the papers. Prince Fusu was not only the Minister of the Imperial Household Department but also the Minister of the Imperial Stud. In addition, he also had to help the Prime Minister deal with the endless state affairs every day.

Where does the young master find the leisure to write so many tax accounts? How can one person's energy and a day be enough for the young master to do so much? It's truly unbelievable.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Prince Fusu only sat there for a short while before leaving.

Cheng Miao asked, "Are there more old officials in the court lately?"

Zhang Cang recognized the white-haired Wang Ben and nodded.

Cheng Miao added, “No wonder you want to teach in rural areas and take exams to select officials. It turns out you knew long ago that there would be a shortage of manpower in Xianyang.”

Zhang Cang continued writing on the document without replying.

Inside Gaoquan Palace, Fusu learned that Feng Jie had gone to see Wang Ben. Feng Jie had originally gone to reprimand Wang Ben on behalf of the emperor, but after Feng Jie reprimanded him, he was beaten out by Wang Ben.

As Fusu ate the dates, he watched his son riding on the back of a deer, thinking that his father-in-law probably didn't want to stay in the position of Grand Commandant for long.

It seems that once I, the young master, became the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, he had finished all his duties.

Once Wang Ben leaves the position of Grand Commandant, the Wang family will rely on me, Prince Fusu, from now on.

Wang Ben thus fulfilled Wang Jian's entrustment and handed over the descendants of his family to Prince Fusu.

Thinking of this, Fusu felt that the old man, Duke Pinyang, was truly a cunning old fox.

The reason for returning to Gaoquan Palace was that after General Wang Jian learned of Wang Ben's matter, he specially sent a message to apologize to Prince Fusu.

Fusu dared not let his father-in-law apologize, so he comforted the visitor.

Not only did he refuse to accept the apology, Fusu personally visited Wang Ben with some gifts.

Fusu entered the residence of Grand Commandant Wang and saw his father-in-law, who was dressed in loose clothes and sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Upon receiving a look from the young master, Tian An placed a bowl of noodles in front of the Grand Commandant.

Fusu looked up at the furnishings of his father-in-law's house. In fact, the furnishings here were very simple: a large courtyard and some weapons. The courtyard was rather small, not nearly as big as his old home in Pinyang.

Wang Ben opened his eyes, saw a bowl of noodles in front of him, and began to eat with gusto.

Fusu said, "My father sent me to take a look."

Wang Ben was still eating his noodles, his mouth busy. After swallowing the noodles, he bowed in the direction of Zhangtai Palace.

Fusu also saw a rhinoceros hide armor hanging on the wall, with some knife marks on it.

"This was when I was attacking Daliang. I was ambushed by a Wei soldier, but luckily this rhinoceros hide armor blocked the blow."

Fusu patted the leather armor and said, "It's really sturdy."

Wang Ben said, "Now there are fewer and fewer rhinoceros hides being sent from the south. The ones that were sold to the Western Rong people back then were all taken from the treasuries of various countries."

Fusu looked away from the rhinoceros hide armor and told his father-in-law that Tang'er was pregnant again.

It was faintly visible that the father-in-law, who usually lived a life of constant anxiety in Xianyang, had some tears in the corners of his eyes.

Fusu said, "Grandma Wang examined her and said she is already three months pregnant."

Wang Ben nodded repeatedly, saying, "Good, good...good."

(End of this chapter)