The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 251 Cold-blooded to the point of being inhuman

More and more people gathered at the Prime Minister's residence. Seeing that Zhang Cang had already sat down, Chen Ping reluctantly sat down as well.

Everyone here is working hard, and Chen Ping is no exception. While reviewing the taxes from various places, he can hear the conversations between officials. The most common thing they say is that there can be no delay.

This put a lot of pressure on Chen Ping, and he dared not relax.

But when faced with these files again, Chen Ping, who had only been in Xianyang for two days, began to miss the freezing life in the Hexi Corridor.

"How is Commandant Li doing these days?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Chen Ping looked in the direction of the speaker. He saw that the speaker was the same censor who had helped him find his place earlier at Zhangtai Palace.

The other party smiled, and Chen Ping smiled as well, saying, "Commander Li is doing very well in the Hexi Corridor, and he usually oversees the transportation of grain and fodder."

Cheng Miao said, "That's right, Commandant Li won't go to the battlefield easily."

Zhang Cang also said, "Yes, he once said that he never wanted to move dead people again in his life. Now, moving grain in the rear is better than moving dead people."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping turned his attention back to the dossier in front of him. He did not know Li You's past, only that Li You was the son of Prime Minister Li Si.

Chen Ping then realized that he knew nothing about Li You's past.

With that thought in mind, Chen Ping continued to work diligently, unaware of how much time had passed, until the noise from the Prime Minister's residence gradually subsided.

When Chen Ping looked up again, there was no one left in front of him. Prince Fusu had come, but then left.

Chen Ping looked to the side and saw Zhang Cang still proofreading the case files.

I thought that after becoming an imperial censor and arriving in Xianyang, I would be able to associate with many famous scholars or interact with ministers of the Qin court.

But now, sitting in the Prime Minister's residence, he finds that everything is different from what he had imagined.

Everyone here is very busy. For several hours after the court meeting, until it is almost dark, everyone has endless things to do.

It was already night outside, and Chen Ping said in a low voice, "Prefect Zhang, it's almost night."

Zhang Cang frowned as he looked at the file and said, "Light the lamp."

It seemed he would be busy at the Prime Minister's residence all night. Chen Ping was both hungry and tired. As he lit the lamp on the candlestick, he saw someone walking towards the Prime Minister's residence.

The newcomer was a man with gray hair and beard, whom Chen Ping had never seen before at the Prime Minister's residence.

Upon seeing the visitor, Zhang Cang said, "Grand Commandant Wang."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping bowed in response.

Wang Ben, carrying a food box, then asked, "And this gentleman is..."

"My name is Chen Ping," Chen Ping introduced himself.

Zhang Cang added: "A newly arrived censor."

Wang Ben opened the food box, took out two bowls of dumplings, and said in a low voice, "No wonder the young master asked me to bring two bowls of dumplings."

Zhang Cang hesitated and asked, "Did Grand Commandant Wang go to see the young master?"

"Yes," Wang Ben said with a smile, "The winter solstice is approaching, and it's rare for the two young masters to come back. The young master asked me to go and see them. They have indeed grown quite a bit taller."

"You're joining the army in two years?"

"Yes." Wang Ben nodded and said, "After they join the army, I will take them with me."

Looking at Chen Ping, Wang Ben said, "Eat up, young master made this himself. This is the last batch of celery this year."

Zhang Cang picked up a dumpling and started eating.

Chen Ping remained bowing and dared not move rashly. The man before him was the Grand Commandant, a figure on par with the Chancellor among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers.

Wang Ben handed over another pot of tea, saying, "I know you're all busy before the winter solstice, so I won't bother you any longer."

Zhang Cang was still chewing on a dumpling when he mumbled something indistinctly.

Wang Ben understood, and as he walked out of the Prime Minister's residence, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, come to my residence for a drink after the Winter Solstice."

Chen Ping, standing to the side, looked puzzled. Although Zhang Cang was speaking unclearly while eating, he clearly said "thank you."

Zhang Cang said, "Eat up, it was made by the young master himself."

"Did Prince Fusu make this himself?"

“Yes,” Zhang Cang said, chewing on a dumpling. “Young Master knows we’ll be busy until very late. He rarely cooks for us personally, but today it’s because the two young masters have returned.”

Chen Ping picked up a dumpling, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and after swallowing it, he exclaimed, "Young Master is truly a very good person."

Zhang Cang ignored him and continued looking at the case file.

As Chen Ping ate his dumplings, he thought about the wise Prince Fusu. He was indeed a very good person, just as he had imagined. How could such a person not have anyone who would be loyal to him?

After arriving in Xianyang, everything about Prince Fusu matched Chen Ping's impression.

After finishing his dumplings, Chen Ping continued to look through the files.

That night, heavy snow began to fall again outside, and Chen Ping and Zhang Cang finally left the Prime Minister's residence.

Snowflakes fell on him as Chen Ping walked home. He thought of the dumplings that Prince Fusu had made; they were indeed delicious.

The following day, there was no court meeting, because there was a major event: General Zhang Han was about to arrive in Xianyang.

The emperor remained in the detached palace in the northern suburbs, and after Zhang Han returned, he was to go to the detached palace in the northern suburbs to meet the emperor. Prince Fusu was also to lead his officials there.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Ping hurriedly headed to the northern suburbs.

It snowed last night, and the sky was still gloomy this morning. To be honest, when Chen Ping returned home last night, it was already past midnight, but he had rested for a little over an hour. He was planning to rush to the palace gate to wait for the court meeting.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Ping and his ministers hurriedly left Xianyang and headed to the northern suburbs to welcome General Zhang Han.

Chen Ping stood among a large group of officials and arrived at the detached palace in the northern suburbs. He first looked towards the palace and saw Prince Fusu and Prime Minister Li Si standing in front of it.

The emperor was not seen; he should be in the main hall at that moment.

General Zhang Han was still nowhere to be seen; everyone was still waiting.

After waiting for about an hour, a Qin army finally appeared in the distance, its black Qin banners waving.

Leading the way was General Zhang Han.

When the courtiers faced the detached palace and bowed, Chen Ping also bowed.

At this moment, the emperor had already walked out of the detached palace and was looking at everyone present, including Zhang Han who was standing in the distance.

The eunuch announced loudly: "General Zhang Han of the Western Army governs the Hexi Corridor, drives out the Xiongnu, fortifies the border, beheaded Modu, was awarded the title of Junior Grand Master, bestowed with five thousand yi of gold, appointed as Inner Governor and Commandant, and guards Guanzhong."

Zhang Han bowed and accepted the title.

The position of Inner Historian has been vacant until now. The emperor has now appointed Zhang Han as Inner Historian to guard Guanzhong, which means he will take over all military affairs in Guanzhong.

Everyone knows that Zhang Han was promoted by Prince Fusu.

Now that Chancellor Li Si is old and the emperor has neglected state affairs for a long time, it seems that he really is going to hand over the position to Prince Fusu.

Then the emperor's edict was read aloud by the eunuch: Meng Tian had won a great victory against the Xiongnu, sweeping across the northern desert, and could be called the pillar of the northern frontier. He was granted a hundred sets of black armor, a fiefdom of Mount Tai, a bronze halberd for suppressing the Xiongnu, command of the military and civilians of Jiuyuan County, a stipend for 50,000 households, and was also granted the Yinshan hunting grounds.

The emperor's rewards to Meng Tian were extremely extravagant; such a scale of reward, exceeding even that of a Marquis of Che, was probably unique to Meng Tian. The emperor's edict, referring to him as a pillar of the northern frontier, sufficiently demonstrates the emperor's trust in him.

According to Qin law, Wang Jian's fief was no more than a county, while Meng Tian controlled the two northern prefectures of Jiuyuan and Shangjun, which exceeded the dukedom system that Qin law granted to generals.

This was also the first time the emperor had bestowed such an extraordinary reward upon a general.

In this war between Qin and the Xiongnu, the two most outstanding generals were Zhang Han and Meng Tian.

Zhang Han goes without saying. It is said that Prince Fusu has had a close relationship with General Meng Tian since childhood. In other words, Zhang Han is now Prince Fusu's right-hand man, in charge of the northern border army and the northwestern army. It will not be long before Zhang Han helps Prince Fusu control all the troops in Guanzhong.

Therefore, if Prince Fusu wanted to become emperor, it was almost inevitable. Moreover, even Prime Minister Li Si was Prince Fusu's teacher. Becoming emperor was only a step away for the prince.

After the courtiers paid their respects once more, the emperor returned to his temporary palace in the northern suburbs.

Chen Ping stood among the officials and saw Prince Fusu and Prime Minister Li Si descend the stone steps and stand with Zhang Han.

Chen Ping didn't know what Prince Fusu and Zhang Han were talking about, but he did see that Zhang Han's eyes were red.

Seeing this, Chen Ping breathed a sigh of relief. After so many years in the Northwest, he knew what kind of person Zhang Han was; he was an extremely ruthless military leader.

On several occasions, Chen Ping felt that he would one day die at the hands of Zhang Han.

If Chen Ping really makes a mistake, Zhang Han will definitely be the first person to kill him.

Walking with the court officials of Qin, Chen Ping was deeply moved. Just like Lou Jing, who thought he was finally able to leave the Northwest, he never expected to be selected as an official after passing the examination and end up back in the Northwest.

Chen Ping believed that after leaving the Northwest, he would also be able to escape Zhang Han's control.

Back in Guanzhong, Chen Ping finally realized that he would probably never be able to escape Zhang Han's control for the rest of his life.

Chen Ping may not be afraid of Prime Minister Li Si, or other ministers of the Qin court, but he was only afraid of Zhang Han, because Zhang Han was truly a heartless man.

Chen Ping really had no way to deal with a person who was so cold-blooded that he was inhuman.

On Shangyan Mountain, Zhang Jing gazed towards Xianyang from noon until sunset.

Until a carriage appeared in the distance, accompanied by a person riding a horse.

Even after so many years, Zhang Jing still remembers that figure on horseback, the same figure that left Shangyan Mountain back then.

"What are you still standing here for? Go on."

Hearing his teacher's words behind him, Zhang Jing started walking down the mountain.

At the entrance of the village in Jingye County, many villagers also came out.

Because it was the dead of winter, all the workshops had stopped working, and everyone had some free time to take a look at General Zhang Han, who was once a county commandant and is now the general in charge of the Guanzhong army.

Zhang Han led the carriage to the front of the village. His youngest son, Zhang Ye, sat on the carriage shaft. He put down the whip and saw his elder brother, Zhang Jing.

Zhang Han stepped forward to his son, intending to lift him up, but found that the child had become heavier and taller.

Zhang Han said, "You're almost as tall as me now."

Zhang Jing bowed and said, "Father."

Zhang Han looked around, then patted his youngest son on the back of the head and said with a smile, "Come on, let's go home for dinner."

The words "come home for dinner" brought tears welling up in Zhang Jing's eyes even more.

That night, Wang Ben sat with his two young sons at Shusun Tong's house.

The young masters only stayed one more night at Gaoquan Palace before being sent to Jingye County by the master and his wife.

These two kids are definitely at their most mischievous age.

Shusun Tong pushed open the door and entered, bringing Sima Xin with him.

Sima Xin looked troubled and said in a low voice, "Is the emperor's reward to Meng Tian too much?"

Wang Ben drank his wine and ignored Sima Xin.

Heng was about to drink when Li stopped him, saying, "Brother, you can't drink yet. We can only drink after we return from our military training."

Heng stopped looking at the wine in his grandfather's bowl.

Li then said, "Brother, the wine really doesn't taste good."

Heng said, "Hmm, it really doesn't taste good, not as good as Grandpa Tian's tea."

Hearing his two grandsons' words, Wang Ben smiled. Heng was a very opinionated child, and Li was a very sensible child.

I wonder how Prince Fusu raised his children; these two are truly intelligent and sensible.

Returning to the present, Shusun Tong heard Sima Xin's words and stroked his beard, saying, "The emperor hasn't bestowed any rewards in a long time. Meng Tian has indeed made great contributions. How to deal with Meng Tian in the future is probably your business, young master."

Sima Xin nodded. He felt somewhat relieved when the young master was mentioned, but his worry remained. He added, "There are still two great generals in the south, and so many counties in the Central Plains need to be governed."

Shusun Tong nodded.

Speaking of governance, given the current state of this country, Prince Fusu will have to dedicate his entire life to it. But whether it's Prince Fusu or his ministers, they all need to dedicate their lives to it.

Officials may be replaced, and generals may retire, but the emperor and Prince Fusu cannot hide; they must confront the various problems facing the country.

Tonight, Shusun Tong did not allow anyone to disturb Zhang Han's family reunion.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Shusun Tong woke up. After Fu Sheng went to teach in Tongguan City, his old bed was where the two young masters were sleeping, and Wang Ben, reeking of alcohol, was lying next to him.

Shusun Tong put on his coat and went outside, where he saw a man feeding the dogs in front of the house.

Shusun Tong closed the door behind him, stood there looking at the other person, and said in a low voice, "You've been in the Northwest for so many years, how come you haven't changed at all?"

Zhang Han said, "The old master hasn't changed at all."

Shusun Tong shook his head and said, "I am old."

How is your health now?

"pretty good."

"Thank you for taking care of Zhang Jing all these years."

Shusun Tong said, "No need to thank me, he's not eating food for free."

Zhang Han smiled again and said, "I still need to go to the Prime Minister's residence to collect some documents, and then I need to visit various counties."

Shusun Tong said, "Go, go."

"Hmm." Zhang Han nodded emphatically again, mounted his horse, and headed towards Xianyang.

All the dogs in the county were raised by Zhang Han back then, and they still recognize him today.

It's a pity it's winter now. If it were summer, Zhang Han could see the mountains covered with mulberry trees.

Fortunately, Shangyan Mountain wasn't actually planted entirely with celery; instead, mulberry trees were planted more and more.

Shusun Tong recalled what Sima Xin had said the night before: this country still has many problems and many things to do.

These are things that Prince Fusu will likely have to pay for with his entire life.

(End of this chapter)