The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 236 Footprints of the Eastern Tour (Supplementary Chapter)

Listening to Gongzi Gao's words, Fan Zeng stood aside without saying a word. Apart from glancing at Lang out of the corner of his eye, he continued to keep his eyes closed and remain silent.

Xu Fu continued to tell Prince Gao how he led his men to capture the Tian brothers in Qi County.

Back then, the Tian brothers still held considerable influence in Di County, but Tian Dan fell seriously ill in the dungeon.

According to Xu Fu's explanation, Tian Rong was actually a very thoughtful and meticulous person who hid for many years without being discovered by the Qin army.

But when Tian Heng learned that his elder brother Tian Dan was seriously ill in the dungeon, he led several hundred strong men to storm the county government.

Xu Fu interrogated some of the people who had started the rebellion with Tian Heng. The prisoners confessed that Tian Rong had initially tried to stop Tian Heng from acting impulsively.

However, it was true that Tian Dan was seriously ill. Xu Fu sent someone to fetch a doctor to treat Tian Dan, and during this time someone reported Tian Heng's whereabouts.

More than 600 people rose up with Tian Heng. Tian Heng promised them that once his elder brother Tian Dan died, he would make Tian Dan's son the King of Qi and establish his own fiefdom, making all his followers great generals.

The promise was made, but the 600 people were not a united front; someone still leaked the news.

Xu Fu lamented, "The world has never lacked ambitious people, but it lacks those who are ambitious yet still cautious. Tian Heng is unlikely to achieve great things."

Xu Fu set a trap for Tian Heng.

Seeing that the county government was poorly guarded, Tian Heng led his men to break in. He did see Tian Dan, but that was the last time he saw him.

Tian Dan, barely clinging to life, glanced at Tian Heng.

By the time Tian Heng realized what was happening, Xu Fu had already led a large contingent of Qin troops to surround the county government.

This time, Tian Heng led his brave warriors in a fierce battle against the Qin army in the county government. In the end, Tian Heng was almost covered in wounds. He fought his way out of the county government, but also fell heavily outside.

Xu Fu whispered, "The people of Pingyuan County found Tian Rong. While being pursued by the county people, Tian Rong jumped into the water while fleeing to Dong'e County. He was too weak to swim to the other side and drowned."

Lang and Fan Zeng walked to the outside of Langya Terrace.

"Haven't you always wanted to see Prince Fusu? He is Prince Fusu's younger brother."

Fan Zeng countered, "Hmm, does he have some of Prince Fusu's demeanor?"

Lang disliked Fan Zeng's rhetorical questions. Every time the old man felt he was in the wrong, he would ask a question in return.

Seeing that Lang was walking down Langya Terrace with a displeased expression, Fan Zeng followed and said, "If you have some free time now, why don't I go to Guanzhong with you?"

Lang continued walking forward, not wanting to pay any attention to the old man.

Fan Zeng said, "Why are you ignoring me?"

Seeing that the other party had followed, Lang said again, "Aren't you worried that your disciple is on the list of those captured by the Qin army along with Xiang Liang?"

Fan Zeng said, “What’s the use of worrying? Once my disciple is also captured, the Qin army will come to capture me. Because of my disciple, I will be captured and taken to Xianyang, where I will be able to see Prince Fusu.”

The old man was very open-minded and didn't even care about the life or death of his disciples.

Lang walked on the beach, his robes fluttering in the sea breeze. Suddenly, he realized that the old man really didn't care about his disciple's life or death. He ate well, slept well, and had even gained some weight.

"Gongzi Gao wants to compile a history book. Don't you want to see the history of Chu that Gongzi Gao is writing?"

Fan Zeng sighed and said, "What's so interesting about this? It's too embarrassing to talk about the things that happened in Chu. Hmm... even I feel ashamed."

After Gongzi Gao arrived at Langya Terrace, the wind and snow intensified, and a cold, continuous snow fell in Qi County.

This was the first winter that Prince Gao spent in Langya County.

As night fell, Leng Liuxue was blown by the strong wind and landed on this beach.

Young Master Gao sat by the oil lamp, writing about the deeds of the Tian brothers.

When Gongzi Gao picked up his brush and dipped it in ink, he found that the inkstone had frozen over again.

No one knew how deep the night was; the wind and snow outside were so strong that the windows seemed about to be blown off. Gongzi Gao picked up the scroll that Xu Fu had handed him once again and looked at it carefully.

As he flipped through the files of Langya County, Gongzi Gao saw the records of his father taking his elder brother on an eastern tour and the things his brother did in Langya County.

The snow lasted for two days before stopping, but fortunately Xu Fu had prepared food and a lot of frozen fish in advance.

Otherwise, Gao wouldn't know what to eat during the two days he was trapped in Langya Terrace by the heavy snow.

Gao Xiang tried to push open the door of the Langya Terrace main hall, but found it difficult. He pushed harder and snow fell into the hall through the crack in the door. First came the sunlight, then the cold wind sneaked in through the crack.

Gongzi Gao pushed the door open with all his might, until the heavy wooden door was finally pushed open, revealing that the snow outside had reached his ankles.

Breathing in the fresh air outside, Gongzi Gao walked out of the main hall through the snow, where many people were already clearing the snow.

Gongzi Gao wanted to follow in his father's footsteps on his eastern tour and see what his father and brother had done on that trip.

As more people began to move around the beach, Prince Gao descended from Langya Terrace and chatted with the local people.

Today, the young master deliberately did not have anyone follow him or guard him. Instead, he dressed in ordinary people's clothes and talked with the county residents.

The six states are no more. Their former sites have been demolished and replaced by the county government and military camp of the Qin Dynasty.

The feudal lords of the six states are all gone. Some were killed, some were executed, and some died at the hands of their own ministers. As for the former nobles of the six states, many may have died, while others may have lived on in anonymity.

But all of this has turned to dust, and any further investigation... is merely the narration of others.

If Prince Gao insists on searching for everything about his father, he will discover that what his father pursues is a very lofty ideal.

However, Gao had never heard his father mention his ideals, nor did he know what else his father was pursuing.

Even before reading his elder brother's books, he had no idea what an ideal was.

If you investigate everything about Li Si, you will find that what is related to Li Si is his ambition, his desire to display his talents, and his vigorous implementation of the emperor's decrees after he became prime minister.

If one were to investigate the former nobles of the six kingdoms, one would find that there are many grudges and grievances among these former nobles, and these grudges and grievances have continued to this day.

Gao didn't know why Xiang Liang killed Han Zhong. Han Zhong was clearly just a scholar from Qilu. Perhaps after the disbandment of the Qilu scholars, Han Zhong went to join Xiang Liang.

Perhaps Han Zhong was just unlucky; he trusted the wrong person.

But if Han Zhong had also joined Xiang Liang in rebelling against Qin, his death wouldn't have been unjust. However, at least before his death, Han Zhong hadn't rebelled against Qin.

It was perfectly normal for the Qin army to investigate the cause of death of the Qi-Lu scholar, as he was a subject of the Qin Dynasty.

Murdering a doctor from Shandong University is a grave crime.

Xiang Liang will also die.

Gongzi Gao also wanted to know everything about Xiang Liang. He wanted to observe Xiang Liang's life and his final fate from an outsider's perspective.

After General Xiang Yan passed away, how did Xiang Liang survive to this day, what did Xiang Liang and his Xiang clan do, and how do the surviving old nobles of Chu view Xiang Liang?

Gao had far too many questions in his mind.

“My brother’s words are very important. I should listen more to the voices of the people. We must listen to the voices of the common people. Only the common people are the purest, and we can see for ourselves whether they are doing well or not.”

Therefore, when writing history books about the period before the fall of the states, Gao could write them through various volumes, but when writing history books about the period after the fall of the states, he needed to write them through the language of the common people.

At noon, Gao arrived at the seaside where Lang taught, where there was a village.

According to the county annals of Langya County, this place used to be a village inhabited by Yue people. However, after the emperor and his elder brother came here, they preserved the place and allowed the Yue people to continue living there. The place was still under the jurisdiction of Langya County. They were Yue people, but they were also Qin people.

Gao met a girl who looked to be about his age, and they started talking. The girl's name was Qu'er.

"磲" also means beautiful seashell.

Gao did indeed see countless seashells in front of Lang's house. In the past, the Yue people could use these beautiful seashells to exchange for food.

“I don’t think your name is a beautiful seashell; the deeper meaning of your name should be an indispensable treasure.”

She grinned and said, "You people from Guanzhong are really interesting."

"Interesting?" Gao thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you think all people in Guanzhong are like this?"

“I have met Prince Fusu, and I think he is the best man I have ever met.”

"Aren't the men of your Vietnamese people good enough?"

After another conversation, Gao roughly understood that the best man she was referring to was the best man for them.

Prince Fusu only gave them a village, which, according to Qin law, was just a rural area. But Prince Fusu promised them a peaceful home, which was the happiest thing for them.

Even after all these years, the people here still remember Prince Fusu.

Looking up at the study, there were two teachers, one of whom was Lang.

Lang was married and had a son and a daughter.

"As long as the volunteer teaching continues and this school remains, the people here will always remember you, young master."

Gao said again, "My brother told me to listen to the stories of ordinary people. History books cannot only record the grudges and affections of kings, nobles and generals."

Lang added, "There's a shipyard to the south where Xu Fu goes every day and builds three large ships every year."

"Do we really have to search for the Immortal Island?"

Lang said, "None of the people from Seeking Immortals Island came back alive. These ships are certainly not for Seeking Immortals Island, but to connect with Chu and transport grain."

Speaking of the fairy island, Lang then recounted a past event, which was also told by Xu Fu.

"Xu Fu wanted to sail far away and see more distant places, so he needed a larger ship."

Gao Dao: "Did Xu Fu say this himself?"

Lang said, "That's what he used to think."

Gao did not personally ask Xu Fu. He traveled all day, met many people, and said many things. When he returned to Langya Terrace, it was already late at night. He sat by the oil lamp and continued to write down everything he had heard that day.

(End of this chapter)