The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 291 Being an Emperor is a Job

But I also had these thoughts in my heart, though I didn't tell them.

The rain outside had intensified, and the sound of the rain had become more deafening, but Fusu, standing under the eaves of the main hall, felt incredibly calm.

What he didn't tell the Right Chancellor was... that as emperor, Fusu wanted to abolish the position of chancellor.

He also did not tell Meng Tian that he would weaken the power of the Grand Commandant and distribute power to various generals in the future, so as to achieve further centralization of military power.

Secondly, Fusu had not yet told his ministers that he would add a supervisory system, establish a position similar to the governor based on the Qin system, and increase the number of officials in various regions.

The rain came and went, and only after it stopped did Fusu return to Gaoquan Palace.

Inside Gaoquan Palace, the lady became pregnant again, and Granny Wang continued to take care of her daily life.

Fusu returned to Gaoquan Palace and looked at the letter Heng had sent from the north with his wife. He listened to his wife say that she hoped this time it would be a daughter.

Today, Tian An made steamed buns again, this time pork buns.

The pigs were raised outside by someone hired by Tian An, and they were raised in the way that the young master had mentioned.

The lady was eating vegetarian buns, while Fusu was eating pork buns.

Seeing his wife carefully eat some of the bun skin stained with meat juice, she savored it and said, "Delicious."

Fusu said, "It's good that it tastes good. In the future, tell the people of Tongguan how to make it."

Tian An nodded and went to give the instructions.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he continued to live in Gaoquan Palace. Xianyang Palace had so many palaces that the emperor could choose whichever one he liked to live in.

The new emperor has lived in Takasen-gyo since he was a child, so naturally he will continue to live there.

Tian An walked to the outside of Gaoquan Palace, took out a piece of paper, handed it to the eunuch, and instructed him: "Give this to Sima Xin, the prefect of Weinan."

The eunuch received the order and went to carry it out.

Whether the young master was a boy or now, in Tian An's view, even after becoming emperor, the young master still considers eating a very important matter.

The emperor hoped that people could eat better, that the food of the Qin people could be more abundant, that the children of the Qin people could eat stronger, and that people's families could have one or two more dishes. This would certainly benefit future generations.

Inside Gaoquan Palace, Fusu wrote a letter and handed it to his father, the emperor, who was traveling in Sanchuan County.

It wasn't until March that the Emperor's reply arrived.

During the court meeting that day, at Fusu's prior instruction, the Minister of Justice Feng Jie stepped forward and proposed a very important matter: abolishing corporal punishment.

This matter was mentioned by Fusu in a letter he sent to his father, the emperor, beforehand. Fusu even suspected that his father and teacher must have discussed it.

I don't know what my father and teacher were thinking, but my father was willing to take a step back and abolish corporal punishment, which had lasted for hundreds of years in Qin. This was a major decision.

As soon as Feng Jie spoke, a lot of quiet but dense discussion broke out in the main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

Fusu sat on the throne, watching the ministers discuss the matter. Zhang Cang remained standing still, as always, as if this momentous event had nothing to do with him.

Cheng Miao kept his eyes closed and didn't move, as if he were asleep. If he heard the emperor's words, he would most likely wake up immediately, almost as an instinctive reaction.

Right Chancellor Feng Quji stepped forward and was the first to agree to the request.

None of the remaining ministers raised any objections.

Next, the court discussion focused on matters concerning the South.

Standing among the assembled officials, Chen Ping thought to himself that whether it was the Grand Commandant, the Right Chancellor, or the people in the Prime Minister's office, they were all acting in accordance with the Emperor's wishes.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that the emperor held a very high position in the hearts of his ministers, and they supported him.

So much so that once this idea came out, no one objected, as if everyone had agreed beforehand. If the emperor nodded, they would agree; if the emperor objected, they would object.

This emperor was still consolidating power, not just superficially, but also because of the people's trust.

Although everyone was very busy in the Prime Minister's office and often complained that they didn't want to serve there anymore and wanted to retire, they always acted responsibly despite their complaints. Cheng Miao stepped out of the court and bowed, saying, "Your subject requests that the number of civil servants appointed in the Prime Minister's office be increased."

Zhang Cang stepped forward from the court and said, "I second that proposal."

Therefore, the court officials began to discuss the matter again, and finally decided on three hundred people. Currently, there are ninety-five civil servants serving in the Prime Minister's Office.

If the number of people is expanded to three hundred, the Prime Minister's residence will need to be expanded as well, otherwise it won't be able to accommodate so many people.

In the Qin court, although the people in the Prime Minister's office are closest to the emperor and the prime minister, in recent years, the work in the Prime Minister's office has been the most arduous and tiring. Staying up all night is common, and sometimes they don't see a day off all year round.

Therefore, Zhang Cang also suggested that young people should be hired, and people over fifty years old should not be hired.

The group then discussed the issue of manpower, specifically where to select personnel.

Fusu looked at the chaotic court discussion, where everyone was talking at once, seemingly bargaining with each other.

To others, this court debate might seem noisy and chaotic.

However, in Fusu's view, the fact that everyone was expressing their own opinions and discussing their strategies made this court meeting unique and very dynamic.

Even after the emperor left the hall, the courtiers were still arguing.

Fusu walked toward the back hall of Zhangtai Palace, knowing that their discussion would not yield any results even after an hour or two, so he instructed Tian An beside him, "Have someone send them some food."

"Yes."

Fusu arrived at the rear hall, where his father had once lived, and whispered, "Actually, Father has long been tired of life in Xianyang, and he probably won't come back this time."

Tian An said in a low voice, "This place has always remained exactly as it was."

Fusu noticed the dust on the table and the floor, indicating that no one had been here for a long time. After leaving, he had the door closed.

Because he was busy with state affairs, this year's agricultural ceremony was held in Xianyang Palace. Fusu came to the Temple of the Supreme and asked, "How are my brothers doing in Yongcheng?"

Tian An replied, "Uncle Hei has taken very good care of us."

Fusu asked, "Has anyone recently mentioned the matter of bestowing titles of kings?"

"Nobody dares to say it."

If the feudal system is abolished, so be it. At worst, governing the country will be more tiring, and more officials will be needed.

Fusu asked, "Record all those in the Imperial Academy who are now twenty years old and have served in the military for two years, and have Wang Yu bring them here."

Tian An bowed and said, "Master Wang has long wanted to come and pay his respects."

Fusu said, "Have him come tomorrow."

"I'll go and give the order right away."

The civil servants of the Prime Minister's office are to be selected from the Imperial Academy, as the country needs a large number of reserve officials and related talents.

Therefore, the dissemination of knowledge must be widespread, and the power to disseminate it must be firmly held in the hands of the state, so as to cultivate the talent needed.

The Imperial Academy was a reserve station, and the students recorded there were all outstanding.

In terms of ability... Fusu wanted students who were good at learning and diligent.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the courtiers who were arguing inside Zhangtai Palace finally dispersed.

Later, Fusu, who was at the Ji Temple, saw a document handed over by Meng Tian, ​​which stipulated that the policy of garrisoning troops and strengthening the border would be overseen by Lou Jing, the magistrate of Wuwei County, and that General She Jian, the garrison commander, would arrange for soldiers to cultivate the land.

This was a major event during the busy farming season, and it had to be sent to the Hexi Corridor before the planting season began, otherwise it would delay the farming work. After reading it, Fusu had it sent to the north.

Three months after his ascension to the throne, Fusu stood silently before the memorial tablets of past Qin kings, dressed in a black robe. The emperor was a position for governing the country, but Fusu preferred to treat it as a job.

(End of this chapter)