The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 263 Family Matters
The panda, of course, couldn't understand words. It continued to lie on the ground, occasionally sitting up to scratch its own fur.

Late at night, Zhang Liang sat alone at home.

The rain outside had stopped, but Zhang Liang was still looking at the documents sent from Guanzhong.

Nowadays, even teachers sent to teach in rural areas need to read documents from Guanzhong, because the Imperial Academy was built in Tongguan.

These volunteer teachers were required to be under the supervision of the Imperial Academy before entering the Academy.

Therefore, the volunteer teachers also had to read documents to see what policies and decrees the Imperial Academy had issued in recent years.

The letter to Wang Yu has yet to receive a reply.

Zhang Liang felt that Wang Yu had only replied to the letter from Shu because he remembered Zhang Liang.

After that, Wang Yu completely forgot about Master Han from Shu.

Zhang Liang put the matter behind him and continued his teaching life in the rural area.

In the autumn of the fortieth year of the First Emperor's reign, in Zhongyang Village, Fengyi.

Thirteen-year-old Liu Fei was about to go to Guanzhong with Master Jing. He bowed and kowtowed to his mother, Cao Shi, and his father, Liu Ji, and said, "Your son is leaving."

Cao wiped away her tears and said, "Yes, when you go to Guanzhong, go find Magistrate Xiao first, and from now on listen to Magistrate Xiao in everything."

Liu Fei glanced at Madam Lü and Liu Ying standing to the side. Liu Ying was still young, and he needed to stay in Zhongyang for a few more years before going to Guanzhong when he was a few years older.

Liu Fei took the bundle from his father, followed Fu Zijing into the carriage, and headed to Guanzhong.

A month later, Gongzi Gao, who was far away in Jiangdong, received a letter from Fuzi Jing.

Master Jing was going to Guanzhong to visit the Imperial Academy and take care of some family matters there. He also took Liu Ji's son, Liu Fei, with him.

Gongzi Gao said to his bodyguard Zhang Ping, "This Liu Ji is truly a very clever person."

Young Master Gao traveled south, escorted by Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping is Zhang Han's younger brother and was once the General of Longxi. Now he is escorting Prince Gao.

Zhang Ping replied, "This humble general does not think Liu Ji is particularly brilliant."

Gongzi Gao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the fields of Jiangdong. The rice in the fields had long been harvested, and only stubble remained. He said, "I didn't understand these things before. It was only after reading most of the history books and the rise and fall of the six states that I understood them. After Liu Fei left home, Liu Ji should be able to live a more secure life from now on."

Zhang Ping said, "This humble general should also read more books."

Gongzi Gao lowered his gaze and asked, "When will the people Chen Ping sent arrive in Jiangdong?"

Zhang Ping replied, "The message came three days ago that he is in Pengcheng. I sent someone to urge him to come back."

“No need.” Gongzi Gao stopped Zhang Ping and said, “This is Chen Ping’s plan. He should know what to do. We shouldn’t interfere.”

"Yes."

Prince Gao sometimes worries about the world. The territory of Qin is so vast. Perhaps when Zhang Zi traveled to various states, he also thought that Qin could unify the six states and conquer the north and south.

If Bai Qi and Wei Ran could see the achievements of the Qin Dynasty today, they would probably laugh out loud.

When the young master reads a lot of history books, he thinks about them and wonders what kind of people they must have been in life.

A few days ago, I saw a letter from Prince Heng. My brother's two children can read and write now. Now, our father has gone on a western tour with Prime Minister Li Si, and my brother is in charge of the affairs of state.

Heng and Li both felt that when they grew up, they would be able to help their elder brother govern the country together.

Gao thought again about how difficult it was to govern a country. Even just governing a pavilion, Gao felt that Liu Ji sometimes had a thousand and one things to deal with, and even scratched his head, not knowing how to handle neighborly relations.

This illustrates a broader point, let alone the entire country.

The relationships between counties, and between different regions—for example, the various conflicts between the people of Yan and Qi, or Zhao and Qi—can hardly be resolved by a few decrees.

Under the current official system, county magistrates and prefects in various regions need to govern their localities well if they want to be promoted, and they must do everything they can to achieve this.

Governing the country was the responsibility of the father, the elder brother, and even the elder brother's two sons; they felt it was a family matter.

In governing a country, everyone in the family must contribute.

Yes, that's all true. Heng and Li both felt that their uncle's writing of history books was a contribution to the country.

These two children felt that whether they were teaching, serving in the military, or editing books, they could all make the country better.

“I have been taught by my elder brother since I was a child, and now I understand his good intentions even more.”

Zhang Ping asked, "Young Master, do you have any instructions?"

Gao added, "We also have some autumn pears and lotus roots today, so let's make some food."

"Yes."

In the winter of the fortieth year of the First Emperor's reign, the emperor decreed that his son Fusu should serve as the magistrate of Xianyang and be in charge of the defense of Xianyang.

Liu Fei followed Master Jing, hurrying along for two months. By the time they reached Guanzhong, it was already winter, and they heard about this decree in Sanchuan County.

Liu Fei, who came from the Chu region, was unaware of the meaning of these decrees. He had been away from home for two months, and had never been so far from his parents before.

Liu Fei drove the carriage, his mind filled with thoughts of home.

Master Jing sat in the carriage, looking at the book in his hands. They were about to reach Guanzhong. The child had been silent the whole way, so he asked, "Are you homesick?"

"Mm." Fatty Liu nodded.

“My parents are also in Guanzhong. When I was young, I left Guanzhong to teach in various places, and I often thought about them.” “What are your thoughts, Master?”

Master Jing said, “I think if I teach outside for the sake of the country, my father will be proud of it, but I will always come home.”

Liu Fei said, "I will study hard in Guanzhong, and when Ying comes to Guanzhong in the future, I can take care of him."

Master Jing said, "Remember these things."

"Thank you for your teachings, Master."

After leaving Sanchuan County, the carriage traveled for half a day on the imperial road and was very close to Hangu Pass.

On the road, Liu Fei saw a deep tire track.

Fu Zijing explained, "This was left by the emperor during his eastern tour. In order to inform the world that carts were made to follow the same width, the emperor left the tracks of his carriage along the way. By following these tracks, one can find out where the emperor went during his eastern tour."

"Has the Master been there?"

"I've never been there. I only know that the emperor went to Mount Tai, the East China Sea, and also to the Chu region and southern Hunan."

Liu Fei looked up and could already see the legendary Hangu Pass.

On the way there, Fu Zijing took Liu Fei to some bookstores and schools. They could always see scholars along the way. The closer they got to Guanzhong, the more people there were to teach, and the stronger the atmosphere of reading became.

Some people even hold up books, wanting to change the world.

There are also some people who firmly support Qin's governance philosophy.

Master Jing believed that people in the world would indeed become different from before.

The children of Sanchuan County have such enthusiasm; such enthusiasm will surely spread throughout the Central Plains and change more people.

Tongguan City was already a world-renowned academic city, home to the largest number of scholars and teachers in the country.

Although there were no famous scholars or prominent figures in charge, the teachers there were all unknown and obscure.

The teachers there were the fairest, and the children only needed to pay a small amount of grain as tuition. Even without tuition, they could sit in on classes outside the school, and anyone with a household registration could take the exams.

This was almost the best hope since Qin unified the six states.

If this continues for another ten years or so, the world should usher in its best era, an era in which scholars and intellectuals flourish.

The various schools of thought that people talk about today are no longer around, but the number of students in the world today is greater than the total number of disciples from all schools during their heyday.

The students read the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought. People no longer discussed which school's classics were better or more correct, or the merits and demerits of the classics. This was because Qin had written the thoughts of all the schools of thought into one book, and the rights and wrongs among the various schools of thought became the stories that children read.

Just like the stories of Mencius' mother moving three times and Confucius' journey west, these stories will become nourishment for students on their path to growth, educating generation after generation.

Since they're all in the same book, who cares who's right and who's wrong?

Tongguan City had become a sacred place in the hearts of scholars all over the world. When Master Jing led Liu Fei into Hangu Pass and arrived at Tongguan City, Liu Fei saw the tall city walls, which were much taller than the city walls of Zhongyangli. Moreover, the city was very beautiful, more beautiful than the cities they had come through.

Master Jing led Liu Fei off the carriage, found a restaurant, and ordered two bowls of mutton soup and two flatbreads.

Liu Fei munched on his pancake while looking around. There were many children his age here, both boys and girls, chatting and laughing in twos and threes.

These authentic Guanzhong dialects were unfamiliar to him, yet he felt a sense of envy.

Unfortunately, Liu Fei couldn't speak the Guanzhong dialect yet. He learned a few phrases from Master Jing, but they sounded very unfamiliar.

After a simple meal, Master Jing paid the bill and led Liu Fei toward Tongguan City.

On the city wall, Master Jing took out his credentials and the documents recorded in various counties, and handed them to the guards in front of the city gate. Immediately, someone led him to the Academician's Mansion.

What comes into view is a wide street and pedestrians, all of whom are carrying books.

When Master Jing entered the academy, Liu Fei could only wait awkwardly outside, trying his best to stand on the side so as not to disturb the people inside.

After about half an hour, Master Jing finally came out.

"I will take you to see Magistrate Xiao."

"Thank you, Master."

"I asked the people at the Imperial Academy, and the current magistrate of Xiao County is in Jingyang County north of the Wei River. We still have a day and a night to travel."

"It's alright," Liu Fei said honestly. "You can rest in the carriage, Master. It's fine for me to drive for a whole day and night."

Upon hearing this, Master Jing said, "Even if you drive for a whole day and night, the horse won't want to run for a whole day and night."

Liu Fei scratched his head, a simple, honest smile on his face.

Master Jing said, "Let's go see Magistrate Xiao first."

"Yes."

The persimmons from Guanzhong are at their best after winter. Fu Zijing hadn't eaten Guanzhong persimmons for many years, so he bought some and ate them with Liu Fei as they traveled.

In Jingyang County, Xiao He was still discussing the canal repair project with several villagers when Cao Can arrived in a hurry.

"Magistrate Xiao, look who's here."

Xiao He looked up and saw this young man who was both unfamiliar and very familiar. His face looked a lot like Liu Ji's, and he missed him terribly.

Liu Fei bowed and greeted him in the local accent of Zhongyangli, "Uncle Xiao."

(End of this chapter)