The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 305 The New Youth
When Wang Li arrived in Langya County, he took up the post of county magistrate and began to take over the various properties left behind by Xu Fu.

When Xu Fu was in charge of the construction of Langya County, the prefect of Qi did not dare to interfere in the affairs of Langya County.

Now that Xu Fu has just left, Wang Li is serving in Langya County. Facing the emperor's relatives, the prefect of Qi dares not provoke them.

On Mount Li, Ying Zheng saw the message from Langya County and said in a low voice, "Fusu has all the power in his own hands. He will be very tired doing this."

Li Si boiled tea eggs without saying much.

The tea eggs cooked by the Prime Minister were naturally the most luxurious, made with the rarest and most precious first-harvest tea leaves, sent from Zhongnan Mountain or Sichuan, much of which was presented to the Emperor.

Li Si said, "This year, Chu also sent a lot of tea, and Zhao Tuo also sent tea."

Ying Zheng looked at the letter from Langya County without saying a word.

Li sat down next to his grandfather and asked, "Grandpa, what does the ocean look like?"

Ying Zheng said, "Your father forbids me from making an eastern tour. If I were to make an eastern tour, I could take you to see the sea."

Li sat cross-legged on the shore, dressed in a gray robe, and said, "My brother said he went to the easternmost end of the Great Wall and saw the sea."

Ying Zheng said in a low voice, "Your father, for the sake of power and to make his subjects serve in the military, even sent his own children to guard the border."

Li said, "Grandson thinks it is the right thing to guard the border. Grandson looks forward to the day when he can guard the border."

Ying Zheng laughed and said, "Which man in Guanzhong hasn't served on the frontier? Serving on the frontier is the hardest and most tiring thing."

Li shook his head and said, "My grandson heard from the soldiers who returned from the Great Wall that the most tiring part of fighting is marching, while guarding the border is actually easier."

Ying Zheng took a peeled tea egg from Li Si's hand.

Speaking of power, Ying Zheng looked at Li Si beside him and said in a low voice, "Fusu's methods are more capable than yours."

With a smile on his face, Li Si took a bite of the tea egg with great enjoyment.

Ying Zheng ate a tea egg and looked at his grandson beside him. The child had no idea how ruthless and powerful his father was.

For more than thirty years, Fusu lived a simple and frugal life, and it seemed that he had no other hobbies in his life.

On the stove, the tea eggs in the small pot were still simmering, and the soup in the earthenware pot was also boiling, with the gurgling sound of the soup clearly audible.

The mountain breeze carried the aroma of tea eggs far and wide.

The deer following Gongzi Li seemed to dislike the aroma of the tea eggs. It lay upwind, trying to avoid the steam and aroma of tea emanating from the small pot.

Li Si has recently developed a fondness for tea eggs, eating two or three every day, but he can't eat too many, as it makes him feel unwell.

But Li Si thoroughly enjoyed having a taste of it occasionally each day.

While eating, Li Si picked up a scroll and began to read its contents.

I heard that the new emperor advised his officials to learn from Sima Xin's style of conduct, and now Sima Xin has truly become a role model for officials throughout the land.

I also heard that the new emperor had a man named Chen Ping write slogans in various counties.

These slogans have now been recorded, and Li Si is looking at them.

The book contains very simple words, all advising people to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, to do good, and to practice frugality and avoid extravagance.

These words pleased Li Si the most. In fact, Li Si also disliked the extravagant lifestyle pursued by the nobles back then.

Grandpa seemed to be feeling a bit down, so he left first, apparently to go to the mountains to clear his head, leaving only Xia Wuqie and two guards with him.

Li approached Li Si and asked, "Teacher, how should Father govern the country in the future?"

Li Si sighed, "Even I, an old man, do not know."

Li said, "Then how can my brother and I help Father govern the country?"

Li Si handed the scroll filled with slogans to the young master, saying, "I am old and frail." The next day, Li woke up early, left the palace at Mount Li, bid farewell to the early-rising prime minister, and then rode in his carriage to Tongguan City to study.

With more and more people coming to Tongguan City lately, Li naturally has a group of friends of the same age here, one of whom is Gongsun Hong.

Gongsun Hong was three years older than Li. He was from Zishui and was well-versed in the Spring and Autumn Annals. He was considered one of the most outstanding young scholars in Tongguan that year, and his knowledge was remarkable.

There was another man named Chao Cuo, who was the same age as Gongsun Hong.

Li often walked with these two.

Chao Cuo was well-versed in Legalist classics, especially the books from Guanzhong, where his understanding of law was particularly insightful, and he was often praised by the scholars of Guanzhong.

Chao Cuo was also determined to serve in the Qin court and eventually become one of the Nine Ministers.

The three teenagers sat by the Wei River, each lost in their own thoughts, and remained silent for a moment.

"Master Xi is back," Gongsun Hong said.

"Mm," Chao Cuo responded with a nod.

Li replied, "In two more years, the three of us will also be going to guard the border."

Chao Cuo then asked, "Young master, may I see the old prime minister?"

Li sneered, "Do you have the methods to govern a country?"

"If I were to meet the Prime Minister, I would have the methods to govern the country."

"Speaking nonsense." Gongsun Hong said disdainfully, showing no mercy, "When I studied under Master Xi, how come I never saw you have any methods for governing the country?"

A group of girls from Guanzhong were passing by, and Gongsun Hong, quite narcissistically, tossed his long hair back over his shoulder.

Chao Cuo said, "I didn't understand before, but now that I've read more books, I have my own strategies."

Everyone has a few good friends; you don't need many, just one or two.

Li thought to himself that he had never had such a friend by his father's side.

Gongsun Hong came closer and said, "Chao Cuo?"

Chao Cuo asked unhappily, "What are you doing?"

Gongsun Hong then said, "I've heard there's a tavern in Xianyang with many beauties from the Western Regions. Shall we go take a look?"

After speaking, the two looked at Gongzi Li, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Li said, “You cannot freely enter or leave the taverns in Xianyang. If you go there, and they find out that you were mingling with beauties from the Western Regions in taverns when you are selected for official positions, you will probably be rejected.”

Chao Cuo also said, "What's so good about beauties from the Western Regions? I advised you before not to associate with Master Mao Heng. Look at those scholars, is there a single good one among them?"

Chao Cuo added, "Young master, these people who study poetry and literature are not good people."

Gongsun Hong slumped down by the river, looking dejected.

A moment later, they heard the sound of bells coming from Tongguan City behind them, and then they walked into the city together.

Gongsun Hong thought himself very handsome, but in reality, the most handsome of the three was Gongzi Li.

Chao Cuo disliked Gongsun Hong's fat face. Seeing that the other party was showing off his long hair, he kicked Gongsun Hong, who was walking in front of him.

Gongsun Hong fell to the ground, causing the girls around him to burst into laughter.

Chao Cuo and Gongzi Li strode into the study.

The three of them are currently studying advanced mathematics and law in Tongguan City. Once their knowledge is further refined, they will be able to take the entrance exam for the Imperial Academy. After passing the exam, they will be able to obtain a position at the Imperial Academy.

(End of this chapter)