The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 286 Numerous Appointments
Seeing that Zhang Han had boiled water and had his son Zhang Ye bring over the warhorse, Shusun Tong, sitting under the eaves, asked again, "Time to go on duty?"

Zhang Han nodded and said, "Yes."

Shusun Tong nodded, and just as he was about to say something more, he saw Zhang Han mount his horse.

Then, seeing Zhang Han mount his horse and head to Xianyang, Shusun Tong looked at Zhang Ye in front of him and said, "Go to class."

Zhang Ye replied, "Master, I can recite the entire Mozi."

Shusun Tong nodded.

"Master, shall I go grind tofu?"

"Need not."

“But my brother said that if the old master is unhappy, I will go and grind tofu.”

"You don't need to grind it."

"When I was in the Hexi Corridor, I studied under Magistrate Lou."

Shusun Tong continued walking towards the study, with Zhang Ye rambling on beside him.

This child is different from Zhang Jing. He grew up in the Hexi Corridor, and from a young age, he studied under Lou Jing under Zhang Han's arrangement.

"I miss the Hexi Corridor."

Hearing the child's words, Shusun Tong also missed Zhang Jing, wondering when the child would return from the north.

Shusun Tong then asked, "What is the Hexi Corridor like?"

Zhang Ye replied, “The Hexi Corridor is beautiful. There are winding rivers, snow-capped mountains, cattle and sheep everywhere, and many people to play with.”

"Do you have many friends in the Hexi Corridor?"

"Ah."

Shusun Tong understood that the child was nostalgic for life in the Hexi Corridor, and said, "When you grow up, I will arrange for you to teach there, and you can continue to stay there."

"Okay."

"This child is ultimately different from Zhang Jing. If it were Zhang Jing, he would never have said these things. That child knows that as people grow up, they don't really care about the past. Because the older you get, the more tired you become. Zhang Jing is actually more realistic than anyone else."

Young Master Heng is a very pragmatic person, and therefore Zhang Jing is also very pragmatic.

Heng knew from a young age that only what he controlled was truly his own.

Looking at Zhang Ye again, Shusun Tong realized that he was as ordinary as could be.

The snow in Guanzhong fell intermittently for two days, and even on the third day, some light snow was still falling from the sky.

Today, Hei Bo, who originally lived in Yongcheng, also came to Xianyang because Prince Fusu had ascended the throne, and he came to witness the ceremony in person.

Hei Bo is also the person currently in charge of the Ying clan, and the only person trusted by Prince Fusu.

Fusu stood in front of the Temple of the Supreme King in Xianyang Palace, looking at the memorial tablets of the Qin kings of past dynasties inside. According to the Qin system, he needed to first ascend the throne as the King of Qin, and then be granted the title of Emperor.

Hei Bo recounted the ceremony to Prince Fusu.

The people of Qin have always valued pragmatism and efficiency. When the kings of Qin ascended the throne, they simplified the rituals of the Zhou emperor as much as possible. After King Huiwen of Qin, the Zhou emperor no longer had such high recognition of the titles bestowed upon the kings of the various states, and the various states also had their own etiquette for bestowing titles upon their successors.

Fusu said, "Is the Qin ritual more concise?"

Hei Bo said, "People from all the states say that Qin rituals do not conform to Zhou rituals, but in fact, Qin rituals are the most in line with Zhou rituals."

Whenever Zhou Li is asked, whether it's his great-grandfather or Uncle Hei in front of him, their answers are always the same.

Fusu saw several eunuchs climb onto the roof of the temple and were wiping the black birds on the eaves.

The black bird can also be found on bronze sacrificial vessels in the Yongcheng Ancestral Temple, and even on many ancient gold ornaments in the Xianyang Palace. This black bird is the tribal spirit imprint of the ancient Qin people, and it is also the black bird painted on the black banners of the Qin army.

This symbolizes the divine right of kings and the rightful mandate of heaven in the ancient Qin state, and it is also an imprint on the hearts of the ancient Qin people.

This black bird is the oldest totem in the Qin region.

Fusu put on a black robe, accepted the incense, bowed to the memorial tablets of the Qin kings in the temple, and said to Hei Bo, "Keep the ceremony simple. I have already delayed state affairs for two days."

Uncle Hei, holding another black robe, nodded and said, "Yes."

Tian An looked up at the sky, wondering if it was snowing on the day of the ceremony.

After concluding today's sacrificial ceremony, Fusu placed the scrolls of silk into the ancient bronze cauldron to burn, watching the ashes drift in the wind and the burning silk.

The surroundings were quiet, and all the eunuchs kept their heads down and remained silent.

Fusu watched as the silk scroll burned to ashes. It was a message to the successive Qin kings about his ideals and the things he promised to do in the future.

The elaborate ritual only ended when the fire inside the bronze cauldron had burned out.

After the young master left the temple, Tian An reported, "Young master, Grand Commandant Wang has sent a letter."

Fusu took the paper and walked towards Gaoquan Palace.

By the afternoon, the snow in Guanzhong was getting heavier and heavier.

As Fusu walked past Zhangtai Palace, he was still reading the words in the letter until he returned to Gaoquan Palace, where he sat by the fireplace and drank tea.

"Did Father write a letter?"

Fusu nodded, handed the letter to his wife, and said, "Grand Commandant Wang has retired." Wang Tang'er took the letter and said, "Father has wanted to retire for a long time."

Fusu knew that when Wang Jian passed away, Grand Commandant Wang had considered retiring, but at that time everything was still decided by the First Emperor, and the threat of the Xiongnu in the north had not been eliminated.

Now that the Wuhuan king of the Donghu has been destroyed and the Linhu king has fled to the Buyeo Kingdom, the hidden dangers in the north have also been eliminated.

The news from Xianyang had already been sent to the north. Fusu knew that the Wang family were not power-hungry people, neither were Wang Jian and Wang Ben.

All Wang Jian sought in his life was peace and survival.

"After I ascend the throne, I will appoint Meng Tian as Grand Commandant."

Wang Tang'er bowed and said, "Thank you, young master."

“There’s no need for us, husband and wife, to do this.” Fusu helped his wife, who was about to bow, to her feet. The Wang family had done a lot for the Qin Dynasty, so they could naturally grant Wang Ben’s request to retire.

For the Wang family, a single word from him was like a mountain.

This was also what General Wang Jian hoped for, even as he passed away.

The Wang family had rendered such great service to Qin that Wang Jian lived a life of extreme caution, even after conquering Chu, he was extremely careful on his way back to Xianyang.

Wang Tang'er wrote a letter and had it sent to the north.

Fusu could even imagine that Wang Ben would be so happy that he would get drunk when he saw this scroll of letters.

Since the end of the Northern Expedition against the Xiongnu, there have been many vacancies in the Qin court, and even some of the Nine Ministers positions are still vacant. For example, I myself am serving as both the Grand Minister of the Treasury and the Grand Master of the Imperial Stud among the Nine Ministers.

The thought of taking the throne will likely involve preparing numerous appointments.

I had intended to discuss these appointments with my teacher, but he is currently staying in Lishan and doesn't want to come back.

Zhang Cang would definitely not get involved in these matters. Discussing these appointments with Zhang Cang would be very torturous for him, as he never meddles in other people's business, never recommends others, and never interferes in other people's affairs.

After much thought, the only person I could discuss this with was the Right Chancellor, Feng Quji.

The next morning, he announced that he would be enthroned the next day.

But before the prince ascends the throne, he still has to be busy with state affairs. Today, the eunuchs of Xianyang Palace are taking care of the palace, and even the ground is cleaned very well.

Tian An was having a drawing made of the Zhangtai Palace, because the young master wanted to make the doors and windows of the Zhangtai Palace bigger in the future, because the young master felt that the Zhangtai Palace was not bright enough.

It was still snowing heavily in Guanzhong today, and Feng Quji hurriedly arrived at the main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

Tian An said, "The Right Chancellor may enter the palace."

Feng Quji nodded, took off his shoes, and walked into the main hall.

Inside the palace, Fusu was looking at scrolls of documents, which contained the household registers of his officials and recent records.

Upon seeing the visitor, Fusu stood up and said, "Right Chancellor."

Feng Quji said, "Young Master."

Right Chancellor Feng Quji did not usually participate much in state affairs, unlike the Prime Minister who would concern himself with all state affairs.

The Right Chancellor controlled the Censorate and was mostly responsible for dealing with the Censorate, the Court of Justice, and the criminal justice system, as well as the former nobles of the Six Kingdoms.

Fusu placed the scrolls of documents in front of the Right Chancellor and said, "There are some appointments I would like to ask the Right Chancellor to take a look at."

Feng Quji saw the register on the table and said in a low voice, "What troubles you, young master?"

Fusu picked up one of the scrolls and said, "This is the appointment of the Chief of the Imperial Household Department. I want to hand over the position of Chief of the Imperial Household Department to Zhang Cang and remove the Chief of the Imperial Household Department's private property rights, only retaining the power to collect taxes and labor, and the power to assess population and examine workers."

Feng Quji nodded and said, "Zhang Cang has served in the Imperial Household Department for many years and is indeed qualified for promotion."

Fusu then said, “I would like to re-establish the position of Dianke for diplomatic exchanges with foreign countries, as well as for North-South exchanges and the consolidation of the hearts and minds of the former nobles of the six states in the Central Plains. I would like to give this position to Chen Ping.”

Feng Quji said, "Chen Ping still needs to be refined."

Fusu said, "Then please let the Right Chancellor concurrently serve as the Director of the Imperial Household Department, and let Chen Ping assist the Right Chancellor. Chen Ping will temporarily serve as the Director of the Imperial Household Department."

In this way, the diplomatic power of one of the Nine Ministers was given to the Right Chancellor, who actually made Chen Ping do many things in diplomacy and the Censorate. Chen Ping's official position was one level lower than that of the Nine Ministers, and he continued to serve as the Censor.

It's possible that the Right Chancellor found Chen Ping to be a useful person and wanted him to work under him.

Fusu could naturally grant the Right Chancellor's request and allow Chen Ping and Feng Jie to continue assisting the Right Chancellor in leading the Censorate.

Feng Quji looked at the roster, which included his name as Right Chancellor but did not mention the Prime Minister.

Does this mean that Li Si will remain in the position of prime minister?

Feng Quji thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the idea. If Li Si still coveted the position of prime minister, he should be helping Prince Fusu arrange these appointments now, instead of staying at Mount Li to accompany the emperor.

The functions of the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices are similar to those of the Censor, including diplomatic authority, the power to discuss domestic affairs, intelligence gathering, and oversight.

Feng Quji added, “When Chen Ping was in charge of the censorate, he was good at gathering information. I heard that when he was in the Hexi Corridor, Chen Ping was good at gathering intelligence and understanding the current situation of the Western Regions and the Xiongnu. He has been able to make good use of his strengths in his years as censor. He is in charge of intelligence and complements the Minister of Justice who is in charge of criminal justice. In fact, Feng Jie and Chen Ping get along very well.”

"Really?" Fusu asked instinctively.

"Of course," Feng Quji said with a gentle smile.

Subsequently, Feng Quji wrote down that Chen Ping, serving as the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was in charge of foreign affairs, and that Feng Jie, the Minister of Justice, was in charge of many affairs of the Censorate.

(End of this chapter)