The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 277 Blind Faith Leads to Darkness
At this moment, the old Qin soldier's relatives cried even more bitterly.

Cao Shen had seen the Qin army before, but he had never seen the Qin border troops.

The funeral procession had already gone far away, so Cao Can withdrew his gaze and asked, "Shopkeeper?"

The shopkeeper stepped forward and asked, "Sir, is there anything else you need?"

Cao Can asked, "Is there any dry rations left?"

"Have."

"Give me another twenty coins' worth of dry rations."

Another basket of cakes was packed into the bundle. Cao Can looked at the clear sky. The weather on the way back would be much better than on the way there, and he would be able to walk more easily.

Before leaving, Cao Shen wanted to go to Shangjun City to inquire about the matter. He heard from Liu Fei that when Master Jing returned to Guanzhong, he went to see his family.

When Liu Fei was studying, he saw the whereabouts of Master Jing in a document in Tongguan. He heard that this Master had gone to the north to teach.

Cao Can arrived at the city gate and inquired about the location of the study from the guards there.

At that moment, the sound of reading could be heard coming from the study in Shangjun. Cao Can first looked at the teacher and confirmed that it was not Master Jing.

Although Cao Shen had only met Master Jing once, he had previously been a jailer in Zhongyang.

Recognizing people has always been his specialty.

Although he had only seen him once before, Cao Shen was confident that he could recognize him.

A servant who was cleaning the courtyard of the study came over and asked, "Who are you?"

Cao Can hurriedly handed over his token and bowed, saying, "I'm here to find someone."

Upon seeing the token, the servant immediately bowed politely and asked, "May I ask who you are here to see?"

"Master Jing".

“I have never heard of this person, but last year I heard that a teacher went to the Helan Mountains in the north to teach, but I don’t know where he is.”

"Thank you."

After bowing once more, Cao Shen took his leave.

Master Jing was not in Shangjun; he had probably gone to the Helan Mountains in the north. Cao Shen had no idea where the Helan Mountains were, so he could only leave with regret.

Upon returning to the restaurant outside the city, and seeing that his brothers were all ready, Cao Can led them back.

As he walked, Cao Shen recalled the funeral procession he had just witnessed, and then thought about how transporting grain was the hardest and most tiring task, just as it had been for the old Qin army back then.

Did that deceased old man also experience these things? But who in this world doesn't live a life full of bitterness and exhaustion?

There is no longer any war within the borders, and the people of the six states, including those of Qin, no longer have to face war.

Cao Shen had also heard of Xiang Liang's story, because after his death, the Prime Minister's office informed all the counties about it and explained the circumstances of Xiang Liang's death.

Those with limited knowledge might think that Qin was showing off, claiming they had captured the descendants of Xiang Yan.

But in Cao Can's view, Qin was warning the world.

Or, in Xiao He's view, this was Qin demonstrating its dominance.

Qin remains powerful, as can be seen from its young border troops.

Cao Can, who came to Qin with Xiao He, had heard about the deeds in Weinan more than once. To them, the deeds in Weinan were a miracle.

After the caravan had traveled for another two days, Cao Can saw another group of laborers escorting grain to Shangjun. Seeing that they were from the same county, Cao Can greeted them.

This was the second batch of grain prepared by Magistrate Xiao.

Cao Shen had always admired Xiao He's abilities, ever since Zhongyang Village. Xiao He never made a mistake, and his judgment was never wrong.

Just like Xiao He viewed Liu Ji, Liu Ji was merely a village head.

However, among the village heads in Zhongyangli Township, Xiao He valued Liu Ji the most.

As it turned out, Xiao He's judgment was correct; Liu Ji did indeed marry Lü Gong's daughter, and now he has become the magistrate of Pei County.

Cao Shen could not see Liu Ji's strengths.

But Xiao He saw it, and Liu Ji even became the magistrate of Pei County.

Therefore, Cao Shen had to listen to Xiao He's words and carry out Xiao He's arrangements.

On the way back, the weather was still very cold. Cao Shen occasionally read books, and he would also read Liu Fei's books.

This autumn, Liu Fei was still studying in Tongguan. Cao Can saw a scroll while cleaning the house and for some reason remembered a sentence in that scroll: "People should not forget the hardships of the past. Once people forget the hardships, they are prone to giving up on themselves and becoming arrogant and proud."

These words are probably what nurtured a group of humble and studious students in Tongguan.

The journey from Shangjun to Jingyang was much easier on the way back, taking only fifteen days.

If traveling by fast horse, it would only take a day and a night to travel from the northern suburbs to Shangjun on the imperial road.

The rumor is that Cao Shen never saw anyone travel back and forth between Xianyang and Shangjun in a day and a night.

As soon as Cao Can returned to Jingyang, he saw that Commandant Xiao had already prepared the third batch of grain.

What kind of person was Xiao He? He was someone who could pick up all the fallen wheat grains in a granary and still manage to collect enough to fill a small bag.

Such a person would never let a single grain of food go to waste. Xiao He seemed to have been born with the ability to do these things, and he arranged the grain transported to the north very well, even with a surplus.

Upon seeing Cao Can return, Xiao He said, "Send these scrolls of documents to Xianyang."

Cao Shen had barely arrived in the county and hadn't even had a sip of water before he had to rush off to Xianyang with his documents.

In the spring of the 42nd year of the First Emperor's reign, the population of Guanzhong increased to 700,000.

Aside from the two years when people were initially relocated to Weinan, which saw a large-scale population increase, the population growth in the past six or seven years has been relatively minor, with only a few tens of thousands of people added.

After several relocations and reconstructions of counties in Guanzhong, and the subsequent reorganization and reclamation of farmland, the amount of farmland in Guanzhong increased by tens of hectares.

Today, Gongzi Li, who spent the winter in Yongcheng, has once again arrived in Tongguan City.

"General Li, please have a seat."

Li Zuoche bowed and said, "I need to report to the prefect."

"No rush." ​​Li ate a bowl of tofu pudding and asked him to sit down.

Li Zuoche had no choice but to sit down and eat tofu pudding with the young master.

This time, Li Zuoche escorted the young master to Yongcheng.

After Gongzi Heng went to the army in the north, Zhang Jing followed him.

Gongzi Li did not know any of the other generals, but he did know Li Zuoche, the garrison general of Tongguan City, so he chose this man to escort him.

This was also permitted by her father. Li ate a bowl of tofu pudding and was eating a pancake. Since only Li Zuoche was with her, she did not disturb the other people in the restaurant.

"This is all the land left in Guanzhong."

"Yes, you said that after these counties were relocated, people have to walk several miles more to get to their farmland."

"Your family has two more acres of land, so what's wrong with you walking five more miles?"

"Alas," someone sighed again. "How much grain can feed how many people? This acre can only produce so much grain. If the population grows even more in the future, where will we get the grain to feed them?"

"No matter how powerful Prince Fusu is, he cannot conjure up grain out of thin air."

Just as Li Zuoche was about to stand up, Li, with a biscuit in his mouth, reached out and pressed him down.

Compared to Li Zuoche, who was somewhat unable to listen, Gongzi Li was much calmer. He said in a low voice, "General Li, there are some things that should be listened to. My father once taught me that we can learn from the past to understand the rise and fall of dynasties, and we can learn from others to understand our gains and losses. He also taught me not to always listen to what I want to hear."

Li Zuoche said, "But they're talking about the young master."

Li said calmly, "Even if General Li beats them up, wouldn't they say the same thing in private?"

Li Zuoche calmed down and said, "Yes."

Li said, "This is Tongguan, the place with the most students. It's inevitable that people will gossip about it."

After the meal, Li led Li Zuoche into Tongguan City. As a student of Tongguan, he needed to go to the Imperial Academy first to inform the teacher that he had returned.

After leaving the Imperial Academy, Li returned to Jingye County.

Li Zuoche: "Isn't the young master going back to the palace?"

Li sat on the carriage frame, one hand supporting his temple, his eyes closed, and said to Li Zuodao, who was driving the carriage, "I'm not going back. My father and mother get annoyed whenever they see me and my brother."

"What parent would be annoyed by their child?"

"Yes," Li said lazily. "My parents are. It's just that my brother and I are too stupid, and even the teacher is not satisfied with us."

Li Zuoche drove the carriage, somewhat puzzled by the young master's words. In fact, the young master was a very clever child, and so was Gongzi Heng. Why would he be annoyed?

Since it involved the young master's family affairs, Li Zuoche felt it was best not to ask.

"Does General Li want to fight?"

Li Zuoche replied, "This humble general thinks so."

Li continued, "General Li Mu was not defeated by the Qin army, but by the king who believed in slander. However, the reputation of General Li Mu's family cannot be ruined. I will recommend you to Commandant Li."

The Commandant Li you mentioned is Li You, who is still the Protector Commandant of the Western Army. If Commandant Li recommends him, Li Zuoche thinks this matter is feasible.

When the car arrived in Jingye County, Li got out and tidied his clothes before going to see his teacher.

Li Zuoche said, "This humble general must return to Tongguan to report. If you wish to return to the palace, young master, this humble general can escort you."

The implication is that he is about to return to Tongguan and, once back to his original post, he will no longer be able to associate with the young master.

Li Yiyi, still seated, waved his hand and said, "Let's go back."

Li Zuo stood still, bowed, and then drove away in his carriage.

The Jingye Canal in Jingye County still flows, and the surrounding villagers smiled when they saw the young master return.

Li Yi greeted the uncles and aunts here, walked to the teacher's door, and said, "Teacher, I'm back."

The talking inside stopped, and after a moment the teacher's voice came, saying, "Come in."

Li pushed open the door and entered, where he saw the guest sitting in front of his teacher, who was none other than the current Right Chancellor, Feng Quji.

"Greetings, Right Chancellor," Li said, bowing respectfully.

"Young master has grown taller again."

"Yes, I'm twelve years old this year."

Shusun Tong said, "Young Master Heng will not be able to return for another two years. The Right Chancellor can teach the young master first."

Feng Quji said, “It’s alright. I’ll wait two more years. The old master will teach them principles and morals, and I will teach the two young masters principles beyond books.”

Shusun Tong nodded and said, "Then let's wait another two years."

After Feng Quji left, Li asked, "Teacher, will the Right Chancellor come to instruct me from now on?"

Shusun Tongdao said, "Well, I will teach you how to be a good person, and the Right Chancellor will teach you how to deal with bad people."

(End of this chapter)