The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 188 The Great Trial
Han Xin arrived at his lodgings soaking wet. Everyone here had a small hut, and the huts were lined up in a row, only big enough to fit a bed and a table.

It's small and cramped here, but thankfully there are windows at the front and back.

Most people who come to Tongguan from various places stay here from spring to autumn this year.

Han Xin had lived here for half a year and was already used to it.

The heavy rain continued, and Han Xin changed his clothes and sat by the window to continue reading.

The book was about geography. As Han Xin read it, he kept nodding. A general must understand astronomy and geography, otherwise how can he fight a war?
Spring in Guanzhong is very short. The snow begins to melt in late February, and there are a few rain showers in March. In April and May, Guanzhong is once again plagued by frequent thunderstorms.

By June, Guanzhong was already experiencing sweltering heat.

Many people who came to Guanzhong from other places experienced the scorching heat of Guanzhong, where there was nowhere to escape, for the first time.

Everyone inside Tongguan City was sweating, even the children who went to school were drenched in sweat at the end of their day's classes.

As the beginning of autumn approached, Xianyang issued another decree that the examination would be held west of the Jingye Canal, and craftsmen were already constructing the examination venue.

From then on, there would be an exam every two years, and students who were nineteen years old or older could take the exam or join the army.

This put the people who came to take the exam at ease, as they knew that even if they failed, they could still join the military.

Even if things don't go well, you can stay in Tongguan City and work as a handyman for another two years. What's wrong with having food and lodging?

At the beginning of autumn, the sweltering heat had not yet subsided. Xiao He followed Sima Xin to the examination hall to help arrange the seats.

While Xiao He and Cao Can were checking the seats, they overheard Sima Xin discussing something with a prefect surnamed Zhang.

This Prefect Zhang was an official from Xianyang who had been in Guanzhong for almost a year. This was the first time Xiao He had met an official from Xianyang who commanded such respect from Sima Xin.

Although Sima Xin was the Prefectural Magistrate of Tongguan, he had almost no friends and was never seen hosting banquets with a few close friends.

Every time Xiao He saw this person, he noticed that the man was either busy or preparing to be busy.

This Prefect Zhang was the first person who could make the Prefect smile, and they repeatedly mentioned the young master's instructions in their conversation.

Sima Xin was usually thorough and meticulous in his work, but he didn't talk much. He wouldn't tell anyone who was Prince Fusu's trusted minister, nor would he mention anything that hadn't been stated in government decrees.

Therefore, this prefectural magistrate was indeed able to manage Tongguan City well, because he was down-to-earth and thoughtful in his actions, and his words were always watertight.

Five days before the exam, the craftsmen built four huge examination halls along the Jingye Canal. A total of 1,500 people came to take the exam, and the four examination halls could accommodate a total of 2,000 people.

The Qin Dynasty's exam was actually quite simple; anyone who arrived and met the requirements could take the exam.

After all, not many people would travel thousands of miles to Guanzhong just because of a promise made by Prince Fusu.

Prince Fusu will not refuse to take the exam because of your social status. The conditions for taking the exam are also very simple. First, no one in your family for three generations can be a merchant or a criminal.

Seeing that Sima Xin still wanted to stay here to discuss with Zhang Fucheng, Xiao He took Cao Shen back to Tongguan City first.

As they walked, Xiao He asked, "Have you read all the books I've been asked to read these past few days?"

Cao Shen replied, "I've read them all."

"The Prefect said that although everyone can participate in this exam, regardless of whether they participated in the teaching support program, the exam questions will definitely be based on the knowledge taught by the teachers in the teaching support program."

Cao Can said, "In that case, it seems that only students who have been sent to teach in rural areas will be able to..."

Xiao He nodded and said, "That's right."

Cao Can looked around and, seeing that no one else had heard their conversation, said, "Does the young master really intend to use the examinations and rural teaching programs to unify the rites and customs?"

Those in power have grand ambitions; Prince Fusu will undoubtedly become a second Qin Shi Huang, for he is already doing just that.

Prince Fusu felt that since the Warring States period began, there had been enough schools of thought in the world, and there was no need for more in the future.

Only a handful of the descendants of these philosophers remain today.

On that day, Sima Xin, the prefectural assistant of Weinan, did not return. It was not until the third day, two days before the exam, that he finally returned.

The people of Tongguan City only just heard that the Prefectural Magistrate had been discussing important matters in Jingye County and had only just returned.

Xiao He did not inquire about the discussions regarding Jingye County, but instead continued to help organize the case files.

These past two days have been short for many, but very long for some.

For Fusu, every day was busy and fulfilling. That's how it is to govern a country. There are always endless things to do. This is how it is in the Qin Dynasty every year. Occasionally there are floods and occasional droughts.

Every year during the summer and spring floods, there are always a few places that suffer from severe flooding, and people have almost gotten used to it.

Occasionally, when a major flood occurred, Prince Fusu, who was in charge of taxation and grain distribution, would allocate grain and medical personnel to the disaster-stricken areas.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Wang Ben had not attended court meetings for a long time.

Even the First Emperor tacitly allowed this Grand Commandant Wang to continue in a semi-retired state.

Having nothing better to do today, Wang Ben came to the Prime Minister's residence for a stroll. He asked Cheng Miao, who was standing beside him, "What have you been busy with lately, young master?"

"Collecting taxes."

Cheng Miao replied naturally.

"Taxation?" "Yes, as the young master often says, taxes are the foundation of a nation, and there must be no mistake about them."

Wang Ben nodded.

Fusu was indeed busy collecting taxes, and there were some delays or errors in the tax collection in some places, which needed to be corrected. For example, the Zhuo family in Shu, who were originally nobles of the Zhao state and were good at the salt and iron industries.

Their family had made many tax omissions, and Fusu wouldn't let them off the hook just because their family would produce a woman named Zhuo Wenjun in the future; he would deal with them as before.

First, we seized their family business. They dared to make a fortune in the salt and iron industry right under the nose of the Qin Dynasty. We've been very unhappy with them for a long time. Merchants should be taught a lesson.

This time, Fusu finally found a reason to deal with them.

After writing the document, Fusu had it sent to Shu County. He believed that within half a month, the Zhuo family would lose all their property.

The person who handled this matter was Feng Jie.

Feng Jie believed that lawbreakers would eventually rebel against Qin. In Feng Jie's view, abiding by the law was the most important thing, and those who broke the law should be punished.

Feng Jie sometimes had a sense of prevention. He felt it was more important to make officials abide by the law and to increase the cost of breaking the law. He needed to punish their descendants, especially if an official suddenly became rich. Once it was found that he was suspected of embezzlement, his family members would be sent to hard labor.

Those who held official positions were subject to harsher punishments, and their families and children were imprisoned along with them, not even eligible for exile.

In this way, his family members would advise him not to embezzle.

Once someone embezzles public funds, their family members and children will surely hate the officials in their household.

Then, Fusu had to prepare for the second thing, which was related to a legend, namely, the legend of Mars guarding the heart.

The rumored conjunction of Mars and Antares is expected to occur next year. Fusu is considering how to use the celestial sphere to turn the crisis into an opportunity, but he also wonders if a meteorite will actually fall from the sky and hit Dongjun.

Even on the day of the Autumn Equinox, before it was fully light, groups of people began to emerge from Tongguan.

They were to proceed to the examination hall under the protection of the Qin army.

The examination venue was not located within Xianyang City, but rather on an open area north of Weinan County, where Qin craftsmen built a cluster of houses to serve as the examination site.

Outside the examination hall, a series of rules were written down.

Anyone who violates even one of the rules will be expelled and disqualified from taking the exam.

Xiao He and Cao Can entered the examination hall under the guard of the Qin army. The entire examination hall was unusually quiet, surrounded by Qin soldiers. Those who entered the hall seemed to have to be careful even when they were breathing.

These Qin soldiers were all armored and armed; this place looked more like an execution ground than an examination hall.

Xiao He sat in his seat, which was very small and could only accommodate one person.

On the table were an inkstone and a brush, as well as a piece of yellowed paper with no writing on it.

As the exam papers were handed out one by one, a three-foot-long sheet of paper landed on the table, with rows of text written on it, containing a total of twenty questions.

Today's exam is an argumentation test. The first question is whether the former nobles of the six states should enjoy the same preferential treatment they had before, and continue to maintain the distinctions between commoners and the former nobles. Please argue your point.

The title also used the word "please," which reminded Xiao He of Sima Xin's words and his observations in Guanzhong. The people of Guanzhong believed in the principle of earning what one has worked for and despised those who did not work for anything, as well as merchants.

If the old nobles continue to enjoy the same privileges they had when the six kingdoms still existed, they are reaping benefits without sowing.

Xiao He immediately began to answer, while the people around him were also writing.

The second question follows: How should one persuade anti-Qin figures about the harshness of Qin laws, and should those who violate the principle of unification be punished?

The further Xiao He read through these questions, the more he realized what kind of ministers Prince Fusu needed.

As the ruler of this country, it is only natural that you would be asked such a question. Only by understanding and upholding the importance of national unity can one become a subject of the country.

If you can't even do this, you might as well start rebelling against Qin sooner rather than later.

Xiao He had already finished writing two questions, but when he got to the third question, he talked about officials' corruption and punishment.

Xiao He had served in the county government in his early years. Sometimes, when some of his former colleagues made minor mistakes, he would let them off as long as they were within the bounds of the law.

Especially his friend Liu Ji, the head of the Sishui Pavilion.

Xiao He was an official of Qin and naturally supported Qin law. As the prince said, "If the law is not strict, the country will not be stable."

Xiao He also knew how to answer this question.

The next question asks how an official should handle a situation where anti-Qin figures want to re-establish their own kingdoms and claim the title of king.

Xiao He believed that these questions would eventually be brought up and told to the world.

Everything written on the exam paper will be collected.

You wrote down how to deal with anti-Qin figures in the future, and you can't deny it.

At the other end of the examination hall, Han Xin was sitting on a waist-high stool for the first time, shaking his legs and looking down.

He smiled as he wrote his reply.

These questions seemed very simple to Han Xin.

(End of this chapter)