The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 169 The Demise of the Donghu

Ju was helping Brother Chen Ping drive the carriage when he bumped into Lou Jing.

Gongzi Gao was sitting in the restaurant when he saw Ju, who was also teaching in the Hexi Corridor. He waved to him, signaling him to come and have some mutton soup together.

Ju strode forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, young master."

"Sit down and have some mutton soup with me. It will warm you up a lot after you finish it."

The shopkeeper enthusiastically brought over the mutton soup, and Young Master Gao frowned and asked, "What happened between Lou Jing and Chen Ping?"

Ju Gang swallowed a mouthful of mutton soup and explained, "Lou Jing has taken a fancy to a woman, and last night that woman sneaked into Chen Ping's room."

"Hmm?" Young Master Gao hesitated, "Didn't Chen Ping get married?"

Ju nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Chen Ping's wife is still in Sanchuan County."

Gongzi Gao watched the two fighting fiercely in the snow and shook his head with a sigh.

"Brother Chen Ping was exchanging glances with the woman from the Western Regions before, and now he's with..."

As he spoke, Ju stopped again, his expression pained, and said, "I really don't want to get involved in the feud between Brother Chen Ping and Brother Lou Jing."

The two men, who were wrestling in the snow, were dragged into the city by the Qin army, where they might be beaten again.

Every time Lou Jing and Chen Ping caused trouble, Zhang Han would whip them. Now they were fighting privately in front of the city. Not to mention the strict military law in the Hexi Corridor, even in Guanzhong, if you fight privately, you will be imprisoned. If you use sticks and fight in a group, you will be whipped.

This time, these two will most likely get a beating.

Every time they were whipped, Zhang Han would personally do the whipping. Every time these two caused trouble, he would hit Chen Ping harder and be lighter on the others, which could be seen from the wounds.

Half an hour later, news came from the city that Lou Jing and Chen Ping had a private fight in front of the city and were flogged ten times and imprisoned for half a month.

The next day, when Gongzi Gao went to see the two again, Lou Jing was squatting in the cell looking sullen, while Chen Ping was sleeping on the other side.

Upon seeing that it was Young Master Gao, Lou Jing stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Please forgive my rudeness, but Chen Ping tried to take my woman away..."

When Chen Ping learned that it was Gongzi Gao who had come, he said, "I didn't rob her; she sneaked into my room."

Seeing that Lou Jing had already clenched his fist, and despite being nearly forty years old, Lou Jing was quite strong in a fight, Chen Ping took two steps back and said, "Don't make a move. That woman is not worthy of you. She is not good enough for you."

Lou Jing's expression improved considerably after hearing what the other party said.

Gongzi Gao said, "Recently, an imperial decree has been issued from Xianyang. My elder brother and Prime Minister Li Si are to hold an examination."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping stood aside, still pondering.

Lou Jing pressed further, "What kind of exam?"

“Selecting talented individuals, those who can govern the country, generals who can lead armies, including those who can compile books, those skilled in water conservancy, geography, farming, astronomy, or craftsmen.”

Lou Jing counted on his fingers, then scratched his head, realizing he didn't know any of these.

Then, Lou Jing turned to look at the person behind him.

Chen Ping, standing at the back, also scratched his head, looking troubled.

Lou Jing's expression seemed to ask, "Can you do these?"

Chen Ping smiled bitterly. What water conservancy, geography, and astronomy... that's astronomy.
On second thought, were all the officials in the Qin state that capable back then?
Gongzi Gao seemed to see their predicament and said, "Didn't you want to become officials in the Qin court?"

Lou Jing nodded; of course he wanted to.

Needless to say, Chen Ping came to teach in the rural area so that he could become an official in the Qin court and no longer have to be subservient to others. He slowly nodded to Gongzi Gao.

“I have many books that my elder brother brought from Xianyang. I’ve brought them for you. Take a look at them; most of them will be useful.”

"Young Master Gao is truly a good child," Chen Ping thought, deeply moved. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Young Master!"

With a gentle and kind smile, Gongzi Gao said, "If you want to thank someone, thank my elder brother."

Chen Ping bowed in the direction of Xianyang City.

The news that Prince Gao had gone to see these two men also reached Zhang Han's ears.

take an exam?

Zhang Han pondered to himself that Xianyang had only issued a decree, and he didn't know when the exam would be held. Chen Ping and Lou Jing were originally teachers in rural areas and were not under the control of the army.

If these two want to leave, Zhang Han really can't keep them.

Zhang Han tested the bow in his hand. Chen Ping had no courage to fight on the battlefield; he was very afraid of death. However, it was obvious that he wanted to become a subject of the Qin court by taking advantage of Prince Gao's relationship.

"Since it was arranged by Young Master Gao, there's no need to make things difficult for these two."

"Yes."

The next day, Gongzi Gao sent books to Lou Jing and Chen Ping.

Inside the cell, the two began to study diligently. Lou Jing studied very hard, sleeping only two hours a day. There was an oil can in the cell to refill the oil lamp at any time.

Chen Ping looked at a scroll of numerology, finding it particularly difficult to learn. After studying it for half an hour, he gave up and then sat down to watch Lou Jing, who was engrossed in reading it.

Lou Jing.

"Ok?"

"Do you really think anyone could get a government position in the Qin court by reading these books?"

Lou Jing's gaze remained fixed on the book. He asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Chen Ping said, "Leaving aside teaching in rural areas, how many people in this world can actually read all these classic texts and books on numerology, as well as celestial phenomena and calendars?"

Lou Jing replied casually, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping shook his head helplessly, "I'm afraid that person is you, Lou Jing."

Half a month later, General Zhang Han ordered the prison cell to be opened. There were no other prisoners in the Wuwei City prison except for the two of them. This did not mean that the place was well-governed.

Instead, General Zhang Han didn't want those who had committed crimes to be able to sleep in this prison; those who had committed crimes were all taken away to repair the city walls.

As for why the two were here, it was because General Zhang Han had given these two volunteer teachers preferential treatment. It wasn't until he walked out of the prison cell that Chen Ping learned that Gongzi Gao had actually been appointed as a scholar by Xianyang, and that all the earliest volunteers had also become scholars.

Chen Ping glanced at Lou Jing, who was reading a book beside him, and said, "Young Master Fusu said that those who are fond of wine should not drink alcohol."

Lou Jing looked up from the book and said, "I will never drink again."

Chen Ping thought he was just saying it.

The snow has stopped, and the Hexi Corridor is finally bathed in sunshine today.

During this time of year, the Hexi Corridor experiences very little sunshine, while the north is even colder.

Chen Ping entered Zhang Han's camp.

Zhang Han, upon seeing the visitor, asked, "Do you know you were wrong?"

Chen Ping bowed in greeting.

Lou Jing said, "Lou Jing knows he was wrong."

Zhang Han took a deep breath, sat cross-legged with his hands on his knees, and looked at the two of them, saying, "Let's go back."

The two bowed and said goodbye. After Lou Jing left first, Chen Ping suddenly turned around and faced Zhang Han, saying, "General, I have something important to report."

"explain."

“I have heard that the new Xiongnu Chanyu, Modu, is currently in contact with the Donghu.”

Zhang Han said, "That is indeed true."

Chen Ping lowered his voice and said, "General, we must be wary of this."

"This is Meng Tian's business."

"No! This concerns the entire northwestern border defense."

Zhang Han's previously impatient expression turned serious again, and he questioned, "Is that so?"

Chen Ping hurriedly bowed and said, "Why did Touman Chanyu join forces with the Xiongnu King of Chifeng to cut off the Qin army's connection with the Donghu?"

Zhang Han frowned as he looked at the other person.

Chen Ping continued, "After the Northern Expedition, many of the major Xiongnu tribes have been severely damaged. Now is the time for them to retreat to the northern desert and develop their population in peace."

Zhang Han nodded again.

"Modu killed Touman Chanyu to seize power, and now he is contacting the Donghu in order to unite with them. What the Xiongnu need most right now is revenge."

After listening to the other party's words, Zhang Han asked, "Do you think Maodun wants to unite with the Donghu people?"

"Exactly."

"I see."

Zhang Han simply gave a perfunctory reply.

Chen Ping hurriedly said, "General, this Maodun is very ambitious and should not be underestimated."

"Guards, drag him out."

When Lou Jing realized that Chen Ping had not left the main tent with him, he knew that Chen Ping must be offering advice to General Zhang Han again.

Over the past five years, Lou Jing has lost count of how many times Chen Ping has offered advice to Zhang Han.

Now we see Chen Ping being carried out by General Zhang's subordinates.

Seeing Chen Ping fall in the snow, Lou Jing felt much better.

Chen Ping hurriedly got up from the ground, wanting to point at the main tent and scold Zhang Han for not listening to his advice, but he swallowed the words back.

He felt a little intimidated when facing Zhang Han.

Lou Jingdao said, "The General will make his own decision; you don't need to offer advice repeatedly."

Chen Ping straightened his clothes and said, "I never imagined I could become an official like you by relying on my studies."

Lou Jingdao: "So you want to make a name for yourself?"

In terms of wisdom and strategy, Chen Ping believed that apart from Zhang Han, no one in the entire Hexi Corridor could rival him.

In terms of reading and talent, Chen Ping was indeed no match for Lou Jing, who possessed genuine talent and learning. Comparing himself to someone like Lou Jing in exams was like comparing his own weaknesses to Lou Jing's strengths, which was simply asking for trouble. Chen Ping did not want to be like Tian Ji in the horse race.

Moreover, Chen Ping had already figured it out in the past few days.

Xianyang had only issued a decree, and it would likely be the following year before the decree spread throughout the country. It was uncertain when it would actually be implemented. Rather than waiting in vain, Chen Pingning chose a faster method.

Two months later, according to the twenty-four solar terms of Prince Fusu, this time of year should be the beginning of winter.

At this very moment, news reached the Hexi Corridor that the new Xiongnu Chanyu, Modu, had indeed made contact with the Donghu.

Just as Chen Ping had predicted, Maodun sought out the Donghu.

But Chen Ping was wrong. Maodun did not seek an alliance with the Donghu, but rather offered them a fine horse as a pretext for alliance. On a stormy night, he attacked the Donghu royal court.

Maodun Chanyu annihilated the Donghu royal court in one night, burying several tribal chiefs of the Donghu royal court in a mass grave east of the North Sea.

Maodun Chanyu then took control of 50,000 Donghu people in five days.

Upon receiving this news, Chen Ping was extremely shocked. The ruthless Modu Chanyu who murdered his father and seized power was indeed ruthless. The blitzkrieg against the Donghu was too fast, so fast that he controlled the Donghu territory in just five days.

Chen Ping finally received military orders and was assembled under the command of this great general.

The crowd was discussing what Maodun might do next.

At that moment, Chen Ping stood in the corner and said, "He won't attack the Great Wall at this time of year."

(End of this chapter)