The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 248 Realizing Ambitions

When the carriage arrived, Han Xin saw his wife and children, and the person driving the carriage was the same old woman who had delivered his wife's baby.

Upon seeing her, Han Xin bowed and said, "Thank you, Mother-in-law."

The old woman smiled and said, "I also have important business to attend to in Wuwei County, so this is just on my way."

There were no more Qin soldiers in sight, as the north would soon face a harsh winter.

Several heavy snowfalls have already occurred in the north, and the harsh winter is just around the corner.

Han Xin rode a chestnut horse and led the carriage all the way to the Hexi Corridor.

This was also Han Xin's first time visiting the Hexi Corridor. He had never been to such a far place before. After passing Wushaoling, he entered the Hexi Corridor and was greeted by a bustling and lively scene.

This place seems to be a market, where people and livestock are sent together to various parts of the Hexi Corridor. The captured people are an excellent source of labor and productivity.

Han Xin took out his token and, guided by the local soldiers, headed towards Wuwei County.

With the title of military captain, Han Xin found it easy to do anything in Wuwei County, and even got a courtyard in the city.

Han Xin was coaxing his son when he saw his hardworking wife tidying up the house.

Now that she has left the grasslands and moved to the city, she has a smile on her face more often. It makes sense... they are used to living in houses, and the couple were never used to living in a cowhide tent.

When his wife was tired, Han Xin handed the child to her and then went to repair the roof himself.

After a busy day, the once somewhat dilapidated courtyard has taken on a brand new feel.

Tonight, freezing rain fell again in Wuwei County. Han Xin checked several times to make sure the roof wasn't leaking. He said to his wife, "I've met a man who doesn't know how to farm..."

During the meal, Han Xin talked about his experiences on the battlefield.

The freezing rain lasted all night. The next day, just as dawn broke, Han Xin woke up early and saw that the freezing rain had stopped, but some thin ice had formed on the ground.

I've never been to the Hexi Corridor before, but judging from the weather these past two days, life there isn't much better than in Shangjun.

The couple, who had lived in Huaiyin since childhood, had finally adapted to the climate of Shangjun, but were afraid they wouldn't adapt to this place.

To be honest, Han Xin felt that the wind in the Hexi Corridor was too dry.

As I was relaxing in the yard, I heard someone knocking on the gate.

This is a sound you can't hear on the grasslands. I really miss the feeling of someone suddenly knocking on my door.

There are only cowhide tents on the grassland; no one would be knocking on the door.

Han Xin opened the courtyard gate and saw the soldier who had led him there the day before.

The soldier bowed and said, "Colonel Han, the General wishes to see you."

"Alright," Han Xin replied, then led his chestnut horse from the stable, exchanged a few words with his wife inside the house, and then went to the garrison camp in Wuwei County.

After a night of freezing rain, many places in the city were covered in ice.

The soldier said, "Captain Han, it's still late autumn. It will get even colder here when winter really comes."

Han Xin sighed, "I've endured the cold on the grasslands for over two years, it's nothing."

Shi Wu smiled and nodded, then led his men into the garrison camp.

Han Xin arrived at the general's residence in the main camp. General Zhang Han was there, along with Chen Ping, She Jian, and several other people he did not recognize.

As soon as Han Xin entered the main hall, he noticed that many eyes were on him.

Li You said, "Chen Ping, you didn't expect this, did you? Han Xin got half of the credit for capturing Maodun."

Chen Ping remained silent.

Shejian said, "Protector Li is joking. I only noticed Maodun's movements after seeing Captain Han's troops."

As they were talking, another person stepped forward and handed over a scroll of documents, saying, "I am an official from the Prime Minister's Office."

Han Xin immediately bowed in respect.

The one holding the edict from the Prime Minister's Office was Lou Jing, the magistrate of Wuwei County. He read aloud: "Han Xin, the Colonel of the Helan Mountain Camp, marched two thousand li day and night to capture Modu and take his head. He is a brave and fierce general. He is appointed as the Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud, in charge of the horse administration of the Hexi Corridor, and is granted a thousand acres of fertile land in Guanzhong and a reward of ten thousand coins."

Upon hearing this, Han Xin accepted the document with both hands.

The implication is that Han Xin still needs to raise horses in the Hexi Corridor. However, the position of Taipu Cheng is a very high-ranking official, ranking second among the Nine Ministers. Since the Taipu Ling is Prince Fusu, Han Xin is Prince Fusu's right-hand man.

However, Han Xin felt that he had never met Prince Fusu.

Lou Jing invited Han Xin to take a seat, saying, "Please take a seat, Grand Master of the Palace."

Yes, Han Xin's official rank is much higher than Lou Jing's, who is just a county magistrate. Han Xin is an official who can enter and leave the Prime Minister's residence.

Prince Fusu set a precedent by appointing the position of Grand Master of the Palace at the frontier.

The reward came very quickly. On the very day that Modu was captured, Zhang Han sent the report to the Prime Minister's office. Just five days later, the Prime Minister's office issued the official document of the reward. The efficiency of this action was astonishing.

This is normal; the current Prince Fusu is someone who values ​​efficiency extremely.

If anything is not dealt with in a timely manner, or even if it is left unattended, it will displease Prince Fusu. Therefore, it is not easy to be an official in the Prime Minister's office.

Historically, the officials of the Nine Ministers all served in the Prime Minister's office, but Han Xin was the first Grand Master of the Palace to serve on the frontier.

Han Xin, sitting in a position only slightly lower than General Zhang Han, felt quite uncomfortable and glanced at the person beside him. He recognized Shejian, but Shejian was wearing a very fine new suit of armor, indicating that he must hold a high position in the army. Just how high?

Han Xin glanced at the seating arrangement and realized that he should be on par with Zhang Han, only lower in rank than General Zhang Han.

The two held different military ranks, but Shōma still held a military rank.

Han Xin believed that he had entered officialdom through examinations and had been an official in the Taipu Ling (太仆令) position in his early years. Since it was a civil service position, it should remain a civil service position. The current Taipu Cheng (太仆丞) position is still a civil service position.

Next, the group discussed matters concerning the aftermath of the war.

Lou Jing was talking about the news sent from Guanzhong. Some people said that the war between General Meng Tian and General Zhang Han against the Xiongnu was too cruel and inhumane, but this was the way of the Qin people when it came to fighting. Being merciful to the enemy was like stabbing yourself in the back.

Chen Ping also said, "Young master should send these people to the northern desert to sleep with the Xiongnu."

Shibuma nodded emphatically, "Yes, that's how it should be."

Han Xin sat upright, saying nothing, but he agreed with what Chen Ping and She Jian had said.

When the conversation ended, General Zhang Han left first. Han Xin noticed that She Jian was chewing on beef jerky again and asked, "Who is this...?"

Shejian chewed on some dried meat and replied, "This is the Prime Minister's son, our Protector-General Li You."

Han Xin nodded secretly.

Shejian then asked, "Have you seen the soldiers under General Meng Tian at the Helan Mountain camp?"

Han Xin nodded and said, "I've met you."

Shejian led Han Xin out of the General's Mansion, saying, "Under our Western Army General Zhang Han, everyone is a talent: Chen Ping, who has unparalleled wisdom; Lou Jing, the county magistrate in charge of trade; and Lieutenant Li, who never lets the soldiers go hungry. They are all indispensable."

As he spoke, Shibuma adjusted his belt and added, "And me! I'm a vice-general now, um... and you too."

Han Xin gave another awkward smile.

Back at his home, Han Xin sat alone in the courtyard, watching his wife hang out laundry to dry, pondering the words of Commandant She.

What Commandant She said is all correct; General Zhang Han's subordinates are all talented people.

But so what?

Han Xin felt that someone like him, who was not good at communicating with people, would definitely not be able to integrate into the group of Western Army generals. Besides, Han Xin was a civil official, not a general.

"Indeed, I should still raise horses."

After saying this, Han Xin rediscovered his life goal: to continue raising horses and live a carefree life.

After spending half a month in the Hexi Corridor, just as I had expected, the Hexi Corridor had also entered the harsh winter season.

Han Xin's years of experience in raising horses made him extremely attentive to the timing of the weather and the local conditions. Raising warhorses well was his most important skill as a horse-breeding official.

After letting the horses out, they would graze and stroll leisurely, while he himself could lie on the grass and read. This was Han Xin's most pleasant time of day.

After leaving Huaiyin, Han Xin first went to Sanchuan County. His favorite thing to do in Sanchuan County was to read books. After entering Tongguan, he spent another year reading books.

For more than two years on the northern grasslands, Han Xin was always reading, and even now... He still loves reading and writes down his horse-raising tips. Perhaps his horse-raising strategies will be seen by future generations.

Whenever he thought of this, Han Xin would find great pleasure in it.

The Hexi Corridor also has a considerable number of warhorses, not much less than those in the north.

Today, Han Xin, dressed in a dark gray official robe, sits at the foot of a snow-capped mountain, spreads out a sheet of paper, and writes down his experience in raising horses.

Beside him were his wife and children, who were preparing a meal.

As the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Stud, it was only right that he record matters related to horse breeding.

But when you arrive in a new place, you always have to record the climate and soil of that place. Not far away there was a flock of sheep, and several Western Rong herders were herding the sheep back to their pen. When they saw Han Xin's family, they greeted them with smiles.

Han Xin also greeted them with a smile.

Today, the Hexi Corridor is mostly inhabited by Qin people and Qin soldiers. The Western Rong people still exist, and General Zhang Han has preserved most of the pastures and selected the best herdsmen from the Western Rong to graze their livestock.

Han Xin looked at the Qilian Mountains not far away. The snow on the mountains covered nearly half of the mountain, like a white cloth covering the mountain.

Suddenly I realized that I hadn't seen Wu Luo in a long time. Although Wu Luo was a horse trader, he was indeed a master horse herder.

A man like him can pick out the best warhorse from a herd at a glance.

But when I thought of what Shibuya had said, that there were endless grapes, fruit fields stretching as far as the eye could see, and countless beauties from the Western Regions west of the Altai Mountains, I realized that there should also be an endless supply of warhorses to choose from.

Most of the warhorses of the Ulu were obtained by trading with tribes at the foot of the Altai Mountains, which explains why someone like Chen Ping would be so attached to that region.

On this day, Chen Ping also put on a black official robe. He realized his ideal in his own way and received a reward from the Prime Minister's Office. He, Chen Ping, became an imperial censor in the Qin court.

After tidying up his official robes, Chen Ping pushed open the door and looked at the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

He has come a long way from having nothing to where he is now, and he wants to repay Zhang Fu, because back then only Zhang Fu respected Chen Ping, who had nothing.

He also wanted to "repay" Chen Ping's wife who looked down on him.

Now, Chen Ping is ready to realize his ambitions.

……

P.S.: I need to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow, so please allow me to go to bed early tonight. I'll only update one chapter tonight, and I'll update normally tomorrow. (Actually, I wanted to say that I was making up for the missed updates from the past two days, but there weren't many words, so I was too embarrassed to say that.)
(End of this chapter)