The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 181 Taking Over Someone Else's Life

The reason why Sanchuan County is called Sanchuan County is because there are three rivers in this area. The so-called Sanchuan is actually the Yellow River, the Luo River, and the Yi River.

Zhang Liang still remembers that he grew up in this area. The Three Rivers still exist, but the Han King's Palace is nowhere to be seen.

Wang Yu wore rough linen clothes. Although he was a respected volunteer teacher, the lives of these volunteer teachers were very simple, and they seemed to care little about wealth.

Therefore, Zhang Liang felt that the disciples taught by Shusun Tong were all very good.

"This is your new identity."

Upon seeing Wang Yu hand over a document and a document, Zhang Liang asked, "Who is he?"

Wang Yu replied, "His name was Han Yuan, and he was also from Sanchuan. I met him five years ago, but he died of illness while teaching in a rural area. He was the same age as you."

Zhang Liang first looked at the household registration statement on the document.

Wang Yu added, "Don't worry, this person is registered in Sanchuan County. I am the only one who knows about his death. The county has not been informed yet. Moreover, he has a mother."

"Mother?"

Wang Yu nodded and explained, “His mother is over eighty years old, but she is so ill that she can’t recognize people and won’t live much longer. Her previous children all died in the war, leaving only Han Yuan. I couldn’t bear to tell her that Han Yuan had also passed away. Now she needs someone to take care of her. Han Yuan was my best friend.”

Zhang Liang understood what the other party meant.

Han Yuan's identity is that of a volunteer teacher, but they usually travel far away and rarely return home.

Zhang Liang arrived at this dilapidated home and met the old man who had been waiting for his son.

Looking at this elderly man, Zhang Liang could use this identity to get to know the teacher who was teaching in the rural area better.

The old man was very old and could only lie on his sickbed, watching his son who had been away for many years and had only recently returned.

Half a month later, the old woman finally closed her eyes and passed away. Zhang Liang wore mourning clothes for her.

If Zhang Liang wanted to become a teacher in a rural area, he could only use someone else's identity and continue someone else's life.

They take over someone else's life and continue that person's life; their name will continue to remain on the list of volunteer teachers.

In Sanchuan County, there was a Confucian academy. This academy was very large, surrounded by neat houses, and had a large open space in the middle. Many Confucian scholars came and went here.

Zhang Liang looked around and saw that everyone seemed very busy.

I came to see Wang Yu again today.

When Wang Yu met Zhang Liang at the Confucius Temple, a strategically important location in Sanchuan County, he was quite surprised. Zhang Liang was truly audacious, but each time he acted boldly, he managed to escape unscathed.

Wang Yu truly admired Zhang Liang, who possessed both courage and strategic acumen.

"I want to go and teach in a rural area myself."

“That’s right, you can’t stay in Sanchuan County for long.”

The new identity was just a cover. Zhang Liang's portrait was displayed in various government offices throughout Sanchuan County. He was a major criminal who rebelled against Qin, and his portrait was even hanging in front of the Confucius Temple.

No one knew how the guards outside let him in, but everyone coming and going here was a teacher, so they didn't question him.

Wang Yu even suspected that the guards outside the door hadn't even glanced at Zhang Liang; they probably wouldn't have imagined that the wanted criminal they had been trying to capture for years would be here.

Wang Yu considers the cause of supporting education in rural areas her own responsibility, but at the same time she is willing to help Zhang Liang understand this meaningful cause of supporting education in rural areas.

The person currently in charge of Sanchuan County is Li Si's disciple, so Zhang Liang cannot stay here for long.

To avoid being questioned too much by officials outside, Wang Yu personally escorted him away, fearing that the more questions they asked, the more flaws Zhang Liang would reveal.

Wang Yu accompanied Zhang Liang to the outskirts of Sanchuan County before stopping and facing him, saying, "Han Yuan is a very persevering person. Even when he was suffering from illness, he continued to teach in the local area. However, according to the transfer order in the document, I have sent someone else to replace Han Yuan in the school he was teaching in Lu. You will go to Shu."

Zhang Liang bowed and said, "Thank you."

Wang Yu bids farewell to Zhang Liang.

Among the many anti-Qin figures, Zhang Liang had never done anything harmful.

As for the death of Lord Canghai, it was a case of a scholar dying for one who understands him; Zhang Liang himself felt grief and guilt.

After Wang Yu arrived in Sanchuan County, he heard many stories about Zhang Liang. Because of the relationship between Han Fei, the prince of Han, and Zhang Liang, although Zhang Liang was not a sage in the hearts of the people of Han today, he was quite famous among the people of Han in the past.

Upon returning to the city of Sanchuan County, Wang Yu went back to the Confucian Academy and met with Prefect Wu, who was there, to report on the remaining matters concerning the teaching support program.

After leaving Sanchuan County, Zhang Liang was finally about to enter Guanzhong in a carriage.

Only after entering Guanzhong can one enter Shu (Sichuan).

Sitting on an oxcart belonging to a fellow villager from Sanchuan County, Zhang Liang coughed softly.

The old man driving the cattle asked, "Why do you look so pale?"

Even in the cold wind, Zhang Liang looked frail and sickly. He said, "I have been ill since I was a child."

Zhang Liang spoke with a strong Han accent, so the old man driving the oxen helped him out. He said, "These past two years, the government troops have been relocating people every three to five years, and now there are fewer and fewer elderly people in Sanchuan County."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang nodded.

Li Si, the prime minister of Qin, had always wanted to divide the former people of the six states in order to strengthen the rule of the prefecture-county system, and Zhang Liang understood all of this.

It was the coldest day after the snowfall, but there weren't many people at Hangu Pass today.

Upon arriving at Hangu Pass, Zhang Liang saw his own portrait. He was even thinner than in the portrait. He entered the pass without much questioning. Zhang Liang stated Han Yuan's name and hometown, and with the verification of his identity as a volunteer teacher, he was quickly allowed to enter the pass.

The old man from Han, who was driving the oxcart, could only take Zhang Liang this far.

Looking at this most dangerous pass in the world, the bones of soldiers from six kingdoms buried here are too many to count.

Zhang Liang passed through Hangu Pass and walked upstream along the river. There were many other people ahead of him who had just entered through Hangu Pass. Whether the Guanzhong region was really as good as rumored could only be known by seeing it with his own eyes.

When Zhang Liang arrived at Tongguan, it was already night. Because the city gates were closed and a curfew was in effect, he had to spend the night outside the city.

Zhang Liang found a stable to stay in at an inn outside the city. There he met a young man wearing armor who was eating meat.

The other party also saw Zhang Liang and asked with a smile, "Where are you from?"

Zhang Liang bowed politely and said, "Sanchuan Prefecture."

"My name is Lü Matong, and I am a colonel in the Northern Army."

Upon hearing this, and learning that the person in front of him was a Qin soldier, Zhang Liang had to become vigilant, but he remained calm and sat on the hay in the stable, preparing to rest.

"Are you a teacher in a rural area?"

Zhang Liang, who had just lain down, looked up at the other person again, and then saw a corner of paper peeking out from his bundle. He nodded slightly and said nothing more.

But shortly after I closed my eyes, the aroma of meat wafted into my nostrils.

When Zhang Liang opened his eyes again, he saw a large leg of lamb placed in front of him, and then he saw the young captain with a smile on his face. "What are you doing?"

Lu Matong looked around and said, "I received military orders to go to Sichuan to garrison. The army also said that a teacher from Sanchuan County would accompany me to Sichuan."

Zhang Liang's smile remained unchanged, but he hadn't expected this. Wang Yu hadn't told him that he would be traveling with the Qin army.

Sitting up again, Zhang Liang asked, "How do you know it's me?"

"Haha." Lu Matong suddenly laughed and said, "There are only three teachers who came to Tongguan today, and you are the only one from Sanchuan County. Your surname is Han and your name is Han Yuan. Your mother passed away half a month ago. You were originally teaching in Lu and only returned last month. Because your mother was seriously ill, Wang Yu, a scholar from the Sanchuan County Academy of Teachers, transferred you from Lu back to Sanchuan County."

Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Liang forced a smile, not expecting that this Qin soldier knew so much detail.

Upon closer reflection, it's not surprising. The whereabouts and transfers of every volunteer teacher are recorded, so it's quite impressive that this person can say all that.

Lu Matong spoke with a distinct Guanzhong accent.

"After we meet with the prefect of Weinan tomorrow, we will go to Shu."

"it is good."

Zhang Liang immediately agreed.

Zhang Liang, who had wanted to rest, was sleepless again at night, but Lü Matong's snoring was as loud as thunder.

The next day, Zhang Liang woke up early and had breakfast with Lü Matong.

Zhang Liang disliked eating oily bread and meat for breakfast like Lü Matong.

After looking around, Zhang Liang asked the shopkeeper for a bowl of tofu pudding, a dish only available in Guanzhong. A bowl of tofu pudding cost one qian, which wasn't too expensive.

This was Zhang Liang's first time eating tofu pudding. He had heard that there was also delicious tofu, but he didn't have the time to try them all right now. He could only follow Lü Matong to see the prefect of Weinan.

The prefectural governor of Weinan was Sima Xin. Zhang Liang walked into the bustling city of Tongguan, still savoring the taste of tofu pudding.

The tofu pudding was indeed delicious; this was the first time Zhang Liang had ever tasted such good food.

As soon as the sunlight shone on the schoolhouses in Tongguan City, the sound of reading aloud arose. Zhang Liang saw groups of children in the city, with students sitting in the schoolhouses listening to lessons. Outside the schoolhouses, there was also a group of boys and girls listening to lessons.

Lu Matong asked, "Is this your first time visiting Tongguan?"

Zhang Liang said, "When I first came to Guanzhong, there weren't this many students there."

Fortunately, Zhang Liang had read Han Yuan's file and knew that before becoming a volunteer teacher, he had come to Guanzhong to study with Wang Yu.

Sometimes, taking over someone's life requires understanding that person's identity and experiences. While learning about this new identity, Zhang Liang is also gradually getting to know the cause of teaching in rural areas.

Along the way, he was questioned by officials, and when they learned that he was a volunteer teacher, the local officials and soldiers treated him with great respect.

Even when they arrived at the Prefectural Magistrate's residence and stood before Sima Xin, Sima Xin showed them the utmost respect.

"I'm afraid you won't adapt to the climate and water in Sichuan."

Lü Matong said, "When I fought the Xiongnu in the north, I wasn't afraid of getting sick from the unfamiliar climate."

Zhang Liang also said, "It's alright."

Sima Xin nodded, then wrote two more documents and handed them to the two men, saying, "That's fine."

As Zhang Liang walked out of the prefectural governor's office with the travel documents in hand, he saw a large group of children running towards the eatery.

Looking at the scene, Lü Matong said, "There must be a lot of children here."

Zhang Liang nodded.

"Most of the children from Guanzhong come here to study, so let's not compete with them for food. Let's eat some dry rations and hurry on our way."

(End of this chapter)