The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 303 Reunion with Xu Fu
The Baiqu and Zhengguoqu irrigation canals in the Weibei region irrigate a total of 40,000 hectares of farmland, but they need to be dredged every year to prevent flooding. Furthermore, the water rights upstream and downstream are contested by various counties.

As Fusu listened to Xiao He's account, he learned that Xiao He, who governed the Wei River region, had achieved a balance among the counties by utilizing water rights and was able to distribute the water flow equally. This man was indeed capable.

Even if someone else were placed in the position of governor of Weibei Commandery, they still wouldn't be able to achieve the same level of competence as Xiao He.

Xiao He planned to build a horse stable in Weibei, where the grasslands of the plateau could raise at least 20,000 warhorses, and the soil and water of Qizhou were very suitable for raising horses.

"I wish to incorporate Qizhou into the Weibei region for governance."

These words were like a guarantee: as long as the 70,000 hectares of land in Qizhou and Zhengbaiqu were handed over to him, he would be able to govern it well.

Fusu said, "I have read your documents and know that you are concerned about the Chu region."

Xiao He lowered his head, his previous spirit gone, as if his whole being had been drained. He said, "When I first came to Guanzhong, I saw the lives of the people here and what they were like. I felt jealous."

At this point, Xiao He bowed deeply, seemingly ashamed of his jealousy.

He continued, “The Chu region is different from Guanzhong. The people of Chu are used to the rule of kings and nobles. People in other places do not know what happened in Weinan, nor do they know that they can actually improve the water conservancy. Chu is a fertile land, but the officials of Chu have long been numb and used to the rule of kings and nobles. If we want Chu to become better, the officials of Chu need to be replaced on a large scale.”

Fusu said, "If your words were to reach the Chu region, officials from all over the Chu region would unite to attack you, Xiao He."

"It is precisely because I love my homeland that I feel sorry for it."

The emperor was talking with Xiao He.

Liu Fei and Liu Ying watched from afar.

Liu Ying saw the emperor standing by the canal and said, "The emperor looks so young."

The emperor was supposed to be over thirty, but he looked like he was only in his twenties.

It is said that this emperor always wore black robes and would personally investigate each prefecture. If he were not in Guanzhong, he would probably have summoned the prefects of all the prefectures in the country.

This year, I heard that a county magistrate named Xu Fu is on his way to Guanzhong.

Xu Fu was a county magistrate in the distant Qi region, yet he was able to be summoned by the emperor, which was truly the first thing the new emperor did upon ascending the throne.

Legend has it that Langya County was built during the emperor's eastern tour, and the emperor at that time was still a prince, who presided over the construction of Langya County.

Langya County is very special in Qi. Even the prefect of Qi has no jurisdiction over Langya County. In fact, the magistrate of Langya County can directly issue documents to the Prime Minister's Office without going through the prefect.

Liu Ying asked, "Brother, I've heard that the emperor is always escorted by a large army when he leaves Xianyang."

Liu Fei replied, "Sometimes, the emperor doesn't have so many people around him."

Looking at the emperor standing beside Xiao He from afar, Liu Ying was filled with excitement. He was about to write a letter to his father and mother to tell them that he had met the emperor in Guanzhong.

But then Liu Ying asked, "Brother, have you ever met the Emperor?"

Liu Fei said, "I've never seen him before. This is also the first time I've seen the new emperor."

This was the second year after Prince Fusu ascended the throne, and it was also the first time Prince Fusu had come to Weibei as emperor. Naturally, it was the first time Liu Fei had seen the new emperor.

It is unknown what the emperor and Xiao He discussed, and Cao Can watched from afar, not daring to approach.

By the canal, Fusu asked, "If I were to give you the opportunity to return to Chu and govern, would you be willing?"

"How dare I disobey the emperor's decree?"

"I grant you power, enabling you to command the prefects and magistrates of Chu, and to make them work for you."

Seeing that Xiao He remained silent, Fusu continued, “I know that Chu is your homeland, but this country has many problems besides Chu. The population of Yan is declining, and the former territory of Zhao suffered from drought, which resulted in tens of thousands of hectares of land failing to yield a harvest. Officials can shirk these problems, saying that natural disasters are unavoidable, but I cannot watch my people suffer.”

"Now that things are just starting to look up in Weibei, I can promise you that you will return to Chu and help build it up in the future. But I also hope that you will do your job well now. Once Weibei is governed as you have said, I will hand over Chu to you to govern without you having to say anything."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He bowed and said, "Your subject obeys." Fusu then said, "I will issue an edict to reprimand the officials who failed to manage the river and replace the negligent officials."

Seeing that Xiao He was about to say something, Fusu continued, "The river has flooded the fields and the heavy rain has caused flooding. This is indeed a natural disaster, but to say that the officials are helpless... I think that is extremely irresponsible."

Xiao He nodded.

In the second year of Emperor Xin's reign, in late February, a troop of Qin soldiers escorted a carriage into Hangu Pass.

The person sitting inside the carriage was Xu Fu, and behind Xu Fu's caravan was a family of four.

Master Qi saw the person approaching and called out loudly, "Lang!"

Lang looked up and saw his old friend whom he hadn't seen for many years. They were brothers who had grown up together and had both devoted themselves to the cause of teaching in rural areas.

They were all servants of Prince Fusu back then. Later, Prince Fusu granted them household registration, and they are still engaged in teaching in rural areas to this day.

Upon seeing Lang's family, she said, "It's been so many years! Your children have grown so much."

Standing beside Lang were his wife and their son and daughter.

Lang said, "I have come to see my parents."

He said, “You’re finally back. Your uncle and aunt are both well, and your brothers are all here too.”

Lang bid farewell to Xu Fu inside the carriage and then led his family to Jingye County.

Arriving at the foot of Shangyan Mountain once again, Lang saw a large mulberry grove.

The master said, “When summer comes, the branches here will be full of mulberries. Look, we have planted so many.”

The group continued walking towards the county and came across a huge house in the south of the county.

Lang's son and daughter looked around curiously.

Fu Ziqi added, "This is the largest printing workshop in Guanzhong. All our books come from here."

Lang walked to the village entrance and saw the children running by the roadside. When he saw his parents, Lang could no longer stand still and bowed down with tears in his eyes.

Shusun Tong couldn't bear to watch this scene, so he turned his head away and looked in the other direction.

Zhang Han also turned his head and said, "When Lang left the village, he was only three years younger than Prince Fusu."

Shusun Tong stroked his beard and said, "Those were the first group of children I taught. How could I not remember them?"

Zhang Han looked down at the old man and said to him, "If you feel bad, go drink some wine, and then go to sleep."

Shusun Tong said to Zhang Ye beside him, "Go get some wine, and then start the stove to stew tofu again."

Zhang Ye left with a big smile on his face.

Inside the Xianyang Palace, Xu Fu bowed to the new emperor and said, "Your subject pays respects to the Emperor."

"It's been so many years, but you haven't changed at all."

Xu Fu took out a scroll from his sleeve and said, "The salt fields in Langya County have been expanded this year."

In the past, salt workers in the State of Qi used their bare hands to scrape salt frost off the beaches of Changyi for cooking.

Back then, merchants from Han were vying to buy Qi salt in Handan. Guanzi once said that Qi produced 36,000 zhong of salt per month, and the profits from salt production were twenty times that of Zhou.

(End of this chapter)