The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 288 New Emperor
Inside Xianyang Palace, the court officials stood in front of Zhangtai Palace, watching the new emperor conduct his enthronement ceremony.

The ministers standing outside Zhangtai Palace included not only officials from Xianyang, but also many officials from various counties in Guanzhong, the lowest being county magistrates.

Xiao He and Sima Xin stood together, looking up at Zhangtai Palace. Because of the distance, they could not see the scene in front of Zhangtai Palace, but they could see figures moving around, wearing black robes, which were the emperor's dark robes.

Xiao He had heard that the emperor's robes were black and embroidered with gold thread, symbolizing the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and dragons.

Its crown was adorned with nine strings of white jade beads, whereas during the Zhou Dynasty, feudal lords were only allowed to use seven tassels.

He wore a square mirror at his waist and boots made of black rhinoceros hide.

According to the way Qin kings succeeded to the throne in the past, there would have been a tour of inspection after ascending the throne, but Xiao He heard that all of this had been canceled.

Due to the new emperor's request, this year's affairs of state are numerous, and many ceremonies have been simplified. He hopes that after attending the ceremony, the officials will return to their respective important posts.

The new emperor of Qin was young. It was said that the thirty-five-year-old emperor was in his prime, the most prosperous and powerful period of a person's life.

For the world, the ascension of this new emperor meant that the world would be under his control for the next few decades.

Thirty-five years old seems to be a perfect age. A man at this age has experienced what life is supposed to experience, and it is also the age when his emotions are most mature.

It snowed in Xianyang today. Xiao He stood in the snow, watching the grand ceremony with his ministers from its beginning until the new emperor entered the main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

Inside the main hall of Zhangtai Palace, the new emperor looked to be in his early twenties, as if time had flowed slowly over him.

Feng Quji and Meng Tian stood in their respective positions, watching Fusu, dressed in a black robe and wearing an imperial crown, walk step by step toward the throne in Zhangtai Palace.

It seemed as if Meng Tian was still reminiscing about the times he had traveled with Prince Fusu in Guanzhong.

Prince Fusu was precocious at that time. When talking with the young prince, Meng Tian did not feel like he was playing around at all. On the contrary, he felt that he, who was in his twenties at the time, was the same age as Prince Fusu, who was twelve or thirteen years old.

Standing behind Meng Tian were Zhang Han, Li You, and various generals.

Standing behind Feng Quji were Zhang Cang, Cheng Miao, Feng Jie, Chen Ping, and others.

When Fusu arrived at the throne, he hesitated for a moment before turning to look at the officials inside and outside the hall, and then slowly sat down.

Upon seeing this, the assembled officials shouted and bowed in respect.

Thus, the emperor's enthronement ceremony was completed.

Fusu said, "I..."

At this point, Fusu took a deep breath, as if to calm down, and continued: "I am well aware of the heavy responsibility of governing the country. How can I, alone, govern such a vast country? Now, officials in various places need to be added, and the positions of the Nine Ministers and civil officials are still vacant. I have already discussed many appointments and removals with the Right Chancellor."

After speaking, Fusu looked at Tian An, who was standing to the side.

Tian An received a look and began to read aloud the appointments and removals for this year.

Chancellor Li Si and Grand Commandant Wang Ben have retired, and Meng Tian has taken over as Grand Commandant. From now on, the affairs of the Chancellor's Office will be managed by the Right Chancellor, while the Nine Ministers and the Censor can still directly report important matters to the Emperor.

Upon hearing the imperial decree, Zhang Cang, Zhang Han, Meng Tian, ​​Chen Ping, and others stepped forward, bowed, and received the emperor's order.

Fusu sat upright on the throne, his black robe signifying that he was the most ruthless political machine in the country.

From this moment on, I am the heart of this country.

Today's ceremony ended in the afternoon; it was very peaceful and simple, seemingly just the emperor sitting in the main hall of Zhangtai Palace having his decrees read aloud.

Following the emperor's ascension to the throne, several decrees were issued to inform the entire country and were being disseminated throughout the counties.

The people of Xianyang looked at the notices posted on the palace gates, and some were even loudly reciting the new emperor's decree.

The decree was somewhat obscure and difficult to understand; ordinary people would need to hear it relayed to them to comprehend its meaning. One of its general points was that each prefecture should establish an Agricultural Promotion Office to instruct and guide people in various regions on farming.

Secondly, increase the construction of bookstores in various counties, establish printing workshops in Sanchuan County, and increase the number of books printed.

Thirdly, reduce the number of soldiers in each prefecture and county by 70%, and have them all return to their hometowns to participate in agricultural work and restore production.

Fourthly: Military service remains in place in all regions, but military service is limited to serving on the border for a period of two years.

Fifthly: County officials from all counties in the country may come to Xianyang to report to the county government.

……

This lengthy imperial edict essentially meant that the emperor was to oversee large-scale land reclamation across the Central Plains to increase grain production and feed a larger population. If anyone didn't know how to farm, the county would send someone to teach them.

Furthermore, reduce the number of soldiers in various regions, allowing able-bodied men to leave the army and return to their hometowns to farm, work, and increase the population.

From now on, military service will only be available at the border. If county officials in various places have important matters, they can bypass their respective prefectures and submit their reports to the Prime Minister's Office or the Censorate.

What followed were numerous appointments.

The people of the counties in Guanzhong were especially happy today. After they learned that the enthronement ceremony had ended, many people bowed in the direction of Zhangtai Palace before leaving Xianyang.

Many of these were spontaneous acts by people bowing towards Zhangtai Palace.

The new emperor ascended the throne, but in reality, the lives of the people in Guanzhong did not seem to change. Apart from the mobilization of troops in various prefectures and the appointment of officials in various prefectures and counties, there were no decrees for the common people.

It seems that the new emperor is also silently telling the common people that even if there is a new emperor, you will still grow food on your own land. You don't need to worry about the future. Your life will be the same as it is now. At least you will have a few acres of land to feed your family.

The emperor issued no decrees to the common people, and the people of Guanzhong showed their respect for the new emperor in silence.

Zhang Liang was on his way back to Shu when he was having a meal at a county government office at the foot of Nanshan Mountain. A steward rushed over and said to the county magistrate, "The emperor has decreed that we must change our name."

"Change your name? What name?"

"By imperial decree, our Nanshan Mountain was renamed Zhongnan Mountain."

“Zhongnan Mountain…” Zhang Liang muttered to himself. After finishing a bowl of noodles, he thanked the local magistrate and then shouldered his pack and headed towards Sichuan.

As Zhang Liang traveled, he heard one imperial edict after another. Upon entering the territory of Shu, he heard another imperial edict: to build the Five-Foot Road in Shu to maintain connections with the southwest and to develop Ya'an.

Ya'an, Ya'an... The emperor hoped that it would be a peaceful place, that the Qin and Qiang people could live in harmony, and that if possible, that the Qin people could help the Qiang tribes become civilized, so that their people could also read Qin books and speak the Qin language.

Upon hearing this news, Zhang Liang decided to visit Ya'an.

In the first year of the reign of the new emperor of Qin, in the first month of the new year after the winter solstice, Zhang Liang arrived in Ya'an.

Ya'an is still very tiring today. Zhang Liang saw people from Shu and Qiang people walking around here, exchanging jade and yak tails for salt and grain, or textiles.

I've heard that this kind of scene also happens in Longxi, where Qiang people come to Longxi to exchange yaks for Qin people's bronze knives.

More than 170 years have passed since Duke Xian of Qin destroyed the Di and Rong tribes. The current emperor hopes that the Qiang people, who live on the cold plateau, can live in harmony with the Qin people.

General Lü Matong, the garrison commander of Ya'an, met Zhang Liang.

"I'm going to take up a post in Longxi, Guanzhong."

Zhang Liang said, "It's been so many years since we last met, and now you're leaving again."

Lü Matong said, "I have no choice but to leave due to the military transfer order."

Zhang Liang said, "I never expected the Emperor to allow the Qiang and Qin people to coexist like this." Lü Matong asked, "What? Do you think the Emperor is a warmonger?"

Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "I've never even seen him."

Lu Matong took a sip of wine and said, "You've never even seen the emperor before, yet you're making such assumptions... Master Han, that's not right of you."

The two of them came to Sichuan together back then, and their friendship is the deepest.

Zhang Liang said, "I never imagined that the Qin people could now drink and sing with the Qiang people."

I watched as several people from Sichuan and Qiang people dressed in animal skins put their arms around each other's shoulders and sang songs loudly. Although they couldn't understand each other's languages, they shared a common goodwill.

Zhang Liang didn't know whether the Qiang tribal chief who held the golden heavenly staff would launch a war against the Qin people.

But now it seems that people from both places can get along very well.

This seems to be what the current emperor is thinking as well. If more Qiang people could read the same books as the Qin people, that might be the emperor's ideal.

Although Zhang Liang had never met the emperor, and probably never would in his lifetime, the emperor hoped that the cause of supporting education in rural areas could spread throughout the world, including places outside of Qin.

Nowadays in Ya'an, people from both places communicate in their own languages. Although communication is difficult, they have managed to make several transactions by using unfamiliar language and gestures. Even the children of the Qiang people can play together with the children of the Qin people.

These scenes formed a beautiful picture in Zhang Liang's eyes. Ya'an was very beautiful, with grasslands, winding streams, and the Qin and Qiang people living together in harmony on this land.

Sometimes, Zhang Liang couldn't understand the emperor's thoughts anymore.

Zhang Liang said to Lü Matong, "I'm going to teach in the county."

Lu Matong asked, "Didn't you plan to stay in Guanzhong this time?"

Zhang Liang said, "I'm not going. I don't plan to go back."

"So you really want to settle down in Sichuan."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang's expression changed.

"Hahaha..." Lu Matong scratched the back of his head and chuckled three times to ease the atmosphere. If Master Han wanted to get married, he would have done so long ago, and he wouldn't have been single for so many years.

Zhang Liang did indeed return to the county to continue his teaching career, and the story of Master Han will remain in Shu.

In February, when the new Qin emperor ascended the throne, another group of Han Fuzi's students left Shu and came to Guanzhong to use their knowledge to take the imperial examinations and gain an opportunity to become officials under the new emperor's rule.

It was February, and a group of people returned to their hometowns. They were soldiers who had been on duty in various places, but now they had received the emperor's decree to be released and allowed to return home.

Some of them have been on duty in various places for several years without returning home. Some veterans of the Qin Army returned home to find their parents had grown old, their children had grown up, and they were seen embracing their families.

Many more people took off their armor, put on plain clothes, left their assigned counties, and returned home.

Ying Zheng and Li Si arrived at Sanchuan County by carriage, intending to relax there. However, they witnessed the soldiers returning home, knowing that they would be able to devote themselves to farming the following year.

"What do you think we should do if war breaks out?"

Li Si replied, "They all signed a document before they left, promising to return to the battlefield if war breaks out and they are needed to defend the country."

Ying Zheng said, "Back then, which of the feudal lords didn't want as many soldiers as possible? Fusu, on the other hand, hoped for as few soldiers as possible."

Li Si replied, “The land needs people to cultivate it. In the future, military affairs will mostly focus on border defense and Guanzhong, while the troops in other places will still be weak. We will entrust the security of various places to the officials of the prefectures and counties. From now on, the troops will only be used for external affairs, not internal ones. This is your promise to the world. If you treat people with sincerity, the common people will naturally understand the emperor’s intentions.”

Looking at the scenery outside the carriage, Ying Zheng said in a low voice, "I still want to go to Mount Tai." The weather was still cold.

Xia Wuqie said, "The emperor has decreed that we are not allowed to travel far."

The thought that he was no longer the emperor made Ying Zheng feel quite helpless. It was only because the child had pleaded with his father that he was allowed to visit Sanchuan County.

Li Si said, "Luoyang is almost finished. Why don't we stay here a little longer?"

Ying Zheng nodded slowly.

In the north, at the foot of the Helan Mountains, heavy snow was still falling. Heng was wielding his long spear, which whistled in the cold wind.

Without removing his leather armor, Zhang Jing chewed on some beef jerky and said, "Young Master will be joining the army in two years."

Heng has been at the border for a year now. The Helan Mountains are now Qin's border. He stopped what he was doing, put the long spear back on the shelf, exhaled a breath of warm air into the cold air, and asked, "How many more soldiers have come for military service this year?"

Zhang Jingdao: "Five thousand men."

The current northern border army has more than 20,000 men. Originally, there were more than 50,000, but when General Meng Tian returned, he took the vast majority of them with him, and they were all old Qin soldiers.

With the emperor's decree, the old Qin troops from all over the Central Plains returned home, and now the northern border defenses are at their weakest.

Even if it was weak, it was not something the Xiongnu could offend. Nowadays, there are hardly any Xiongnu cowhide tents to be seen in the thousands of miles of northern desert.

The young master went to the Great Wall in Yan and was reorganizing the northern border defenses. The border defenses of Helan Mountain were now under the supervision of Commandant Dong Yi.

Gongzi Heng was quite dissatisfied with Dong Yi, who was actually arranged by the former Prime Minister Li Si.

Now that Li Si is no longer the prime minister, the young master feels that Dong Yi's abilities are not suited to serve as a commandant in Helan Mountain.

Heng prefers Zhang Ping, who is Zhang Jing's uncle and one of the current commanders of the Helan Mountain camp.

After Gongzi Gao went to the Northeast, Meng Tian also returned to Guanzhong, and Zhang Ping was appointed as the garrison commander of the Helan Mountain camp.

"General Zhang, this is the document from the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Stud."

In the Hexi Corridor, there was a Grand Master of the Imperial Stud named Han Xin, who was in charge of all the warhorses in the northwest for the emperor.

Along with the documents came three hundred fine warhorses. Zhang Jing glanced at Gongzi Heng.

Heng said, "I don't want to see that Dong Yi."

Zhang Jing could only take the document to see Commandant Dong Yi.

After the battle against the Donghu, the north was peaceful.

Zhang Ping and his two companions on horseback handed over a cage containing several rabbits, saying, "Young master, we caught these rabbits along the way during our patrol."

Heng said, "Okay, we'll have rabbit tonight."

As night fell, the camp in Helan Mountain lit a fire.

Zhang Ping told Gongzi Heng about the affairs in the north. After the great Northern Expedition, many Xiongnu people from the northern desert migrated south of the Great Wall. Those people were the source of productivity and wealth.

In fact, the Battle of Mobei allowed Qin to recoup a large amount of its investment, including countless amounts of gold, silver, and livestock.

The large-scale migration of people after the war has led to the current desolation of the northern desert, as a large number of people have gone to the interior of China.

Heng asked, "Was Maodun very powerful?"

Every young man dreams of becoming a general, and Prince Heng was no exception.

(End of this chapter)