The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 313 The Returning Young Master
Shejian arranged for troops to be deployed around Mount Mazong to ensure the safety of the young master.

Not far away, there were also caravans from the Western Regions riding camels towards the Hexi Corridor. We saw rows of camel caravans and merchants from the Western Regions carrying heavy bundles.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Jing, who was starting a fire, said, "The Hexi Corridor is getting better and better these days. People from the Western Regions want to transport their goods into the Hexi Corridor to exchange for beautiful silk fabrics, as well as salt and iron."

Heng said, "So, as long as we have enough good goods, we can keep getting the people from the Western Regions to send us gold?"

Shejian, who had just finished deploying his troops, returned and said, "My lord, why don't we take over the cities of the Western Regions? They'll all be ours."

Heng replied, "General, your strategy is excellent."

"Haha." Shigeji laughed loudly and had a whole, already slaughtered sheep brought in.

The nights in the Western Regions were cold. Heng saw some Western Region merchants delivering their goods to the Qin army and looked at Shejian.

Shejian said, "This is a rule established when General Zhang Han was still in power. There are actually many bandits around Mazong Mountain. They give goods to the Qin army in exchange for protection, and the Qin army can take care of them."

At this point, Shejian added, "Don't worry, young master, this is a tax, which is paid by merchants from the Western Regions when they enter the country."

Heng withdrew his gaze and said nothing more.

Ma Zong Mountain had no fortifications; only occasionally would Qin troops come here. Heng opened a scroll and saw a place name: Jiayu Mountain.

The group sat down around the fire again, and Heng said, "In the earliest map of the Hexi Corridor that Father Emperor planned, there was actually a city pass at Jiayu Mountain, and that city pass was called Jiayu Pass."

Zhang Jing did not know where Jiayu Mountain was, and neither did Shejian.

Heng then realized that his father hadn't given the border generals many instructions.

They didn't know that Jiayushan was normal, because it was a place name given by their father, the emperor.

Including Helan Mountain, Wuwei County was also a place name given by the emperor.

Heng could roughly imagine that his father would name a mountain Jiayushan and build a city gate there.

Lately, Zhang Jing and Heng had grown tired of eating meat, so they roasted the flatbread by the fire until it turned a little golden brown before tearing it apart and eating it.

After the meal, everyone rested for the night at the foot of Mazong Mountain.

The following morning, after regrouping, the Qin army returned to Wuwei County.

On the way back, Heng looked back and saw a large group of Western Region merchants following behind. They maintained a tacit understanding with the Qin army, but also kept their distance.

If the Qin army stops, they will stop too.

If the Qin army did not stop them, they would follow from a distance.

On the way back, Heng asked, "General Shejian?"

Shejian said, "Your subordinate is here."

Are there really people from the Western Regions reading our ancient philosophical texts these days?

Shejian replied, "Yes, the books we sent out circulated among the royal families of various Western Regions countries, but not many people read them."

Zhang Jing said, "We cannot only let the royal families of the Western Regions read our books."

Heng said, "The General has done his best. Books are very precious. There aren't enough for us people in the Central Plains to read, so the amount allocated to the Western Regions must be quite small."

Zhang Jing nodded.

When we returned to Wuwei County, it started snowing in the Hexi Corridor.

Heng was born and raised in Guanzhong. He knew that in this season, Guanzhong was still experiencing autumn rain, but now it was snowing in the Hexi Corridor.

Heng recalled this time last year when he had just arrived at the foot of Helan Mountain.

Back in the Hexi Corridor, Heng met his maternal grandfather again. His grandfather had not left Wuwei County, but was drinking with Lou Jing, the magistrate of Wuwei County.

"Grandpa, I'm planning to go back to Guanzhong."

Wang Ben's hair is whiter than in previous years. He has aged very quickly in the last two years. In response to his grandson's words, he said, "It's time to go back."

Before leaving, Zhang Jing needed military documents, so he took the documents for returning home and asked Shejian to approve them.

Heng rode his horse through the snow-covered Hexi Corridor, where flocks of sheep and warhorses were being driven by herders along the riverbank.

Heng rode his horse past and came to the foot of the snow-capped mountain, where he saw a man talking to a herdsman.

When Han Xin saw that it was the young master, he bowed and said, "Your subject, Han Xin, the Grand Master of the Palace, greets the young master."

Heng dismounted and asked, "I've heard that all the warhorses in the Hexi Corridor are raised by you?"

Han Xin explained, "It was raised by me."

Heng brought some drinks and said, "I'm going back now. Let's have a drink before I leave."

"it is good."

Heng and Han Xin sat facing each other at the foot of the snow-capped mountain, with wine and water being heated.

During their conversation, the two men talked about the Yuezhi people's warhorses. Heng said, "Why don't we take over the Altai Mountains and use them as our horse breeding grounds?"

Han Xin said, “My lord, in the Yuezhi language, Altai Mountain means Tianshan Mountain. The Ferghana horses from the foot of Tianshan Mountain are the best warhorses. Just as you said, if the Qin army can take over the entire Altai Mountain region, the warhorses and cattle will naturally be ours.”

"Isn't this bad?"

Han Xin shook his head and said, "My lord, the Yuezhi people were once powerful, but now they are weak and coveted by various forces. They are not doing well. Not to mention how Qin will govern after taking over Tianshan, the harassment from bandits from all sides is a headache."

"Furthermore, even if the Qin army has the strength to sweep across the entire Western Regions and eliminate the threat of bandits, does the young master know how vast the Tianshan Mountains are? How many Western Region states are there north and south of the Tianshan Mountains?"

Upon hearing this, Heng fell silent, unable to refute Han Xin's words; the cost of governance was simply too great.

He really couldn't refute it; he had never been to the Western Regions and knew nothing about the situation there.

Han Xin said, "Back then, General Zhang Han raised his troops for several years before launching the Northern Expedition, and only after stabilizing the rear could he march north. At that time, the enemy was just Modu. But when Qin wants to advance westward, it will face the various states of the Western Regions."

Heng asked, "Prefect Han, would you be willing to take up a post in Xianyang?"

Han Xin looked at the warhorses around him and said, "I have promised the emperor that I will raise horses here."

Heng personally poured Han Xin a bowl of wine and said, "If you ever return to Xianyang, let's drink together again."

Han Xin then said, "Good."

When leaving the Hexi Corridor, Heng let his maternal grandfather sit on the carriage frame, while he himself sat on the carriage shaft and personally drove the horses.

Heng added, "I still remember when I was a child, my younger brother Li and I would travel by horse-drawn carriage, and our maternal grandfather would drive us."

Wang Ben sat in the carriage and said, "If the people of Xianyang find out, I will most likely be impeached again, saying that I shouldn't let the young master drive the horse."

Heng smiled but didn't say much.

Wang Ben then said, "Fine, let them impeach us then."

Heng smiled and whispered, "Father will definitely help Grandpa."

Wang Ben smiled but said nothing more.

Zhang Jing rode his horse to the side and said, "It's been two years. I wonder what Guanzhong looks like now."

Heng said, "I miss home."

The returning troops traveled for half a month, crossing the Hexi Corridor and passing through Longxi, until the Xianyang Bridge came into view. Along the way, the number of soldiers accompanying them dwindled. A group of people who had served together in the army were now returning home, and thus they dispersed along the way. By the time the troops were almost at the Xianyang Bridge, only a dozen or so soldiers remained in the entourage.

It was raining in Guanzhong in autumn, and the nearby Xianyang Bridge was wet from the rain.

Lifting the carriage curtain revealed a figure standing on the bridge, surrounded by many other people.

"Grandpa, brother!"

Wang Ben heard the call and saw the figure running from the wet bridge. He walked from the bridge to the road and ran quickly even when he stepped into the puddles.

Heng dismounted and, after recognizing the person in the rain, said, "Li!"

Li said, "Brother, you're finally back! How did the military service go?"

"very smooth."

"Grandpa!"

As she spoke, Li, disregarding the rain soaking her clothes, threw herself into the old man's arms.

Wang Ben said in a low voice, "This old minister pays his respects to the young master."

"No need for formalities." Li hugged Wang Ben and said, "Li misses Grandpa very much."

Looking at the child, Wang Ben smiled and suddenly felt that his life had been worthwhile.

Li then said, "Father and Mother have made preparations in the palace."

Heng said, "Okay, let's go home."

Everyone present was going home, including Zhang Jing.

After crossing the Xianyang Bridge together, everyone went their separate ways.

Li led his elder brother and maternal grandfather into Xianyang City, and walked all the way into the palace gate.

Before even reaching the palace gate, Heng could smell the aroma of rice and flour.

Li said, "Grandpa Tian made a lot of dumplings today."

Heng said, "I like mutton dumplings the most."

The two brothers led their grandfather into Gaoquan Palace, and Tian An had someone take the two young masters to wash up first.

Half an hour later, the emperor and his wife finally arrived at Gaoquan Palace.

The two young masters had changed and washed. Heng knelt on the ground and said, "Father, Mother, your son has returned."

Wang Tang'er hugged her daughter and said, "Hmm, she's lost some weight and gotten a bit darker."

Fusu said, "Get up and have your meal."

Li quickly helped his elder brother up.

The two brothers felt a warmth in their hearts when they heard their father say it was time to eat.

No matter what the family is like, as long as you come home, there will be food and dishes. No matter how far you go, you will always have a hot meal when you come home.

Today, the food in the palace is very plentiful.

Li helped her mother hold her younger sister while she ate dumplings by herself.

Heng wolfed down his food, saying, "Grandpa Tian, ​​I ate military rations for a year in the Helan Mountains, and then for half a year I ate dried meat and wild vegetables while walking along the Great Wall."

Tian An said, "Young Master looks even stronger than before."

Fusu said, "Tomorrow at noon, we will go to Mount Li to visit your grandfather."

Li said, "Okay."

Prince Heng is now eighteen years old. He joined the border army when he was fifteen, earlier than most people.

Young Master Li is only fourteen years old now and will need to wait several more years before joining the army.

The next day, noon.

The autumn rain continued to fall endlessly in Guanzhong, and Fusu brought his family to Mount Li.

The First Emperor still lived on Mount Li, and the autumn rain disrupted his plans to go hunting.

Li Si greeted the emperor and his family with a smile as they walked up the mountain, bowing and saying, "Both of you have grown taller."

Li stepped forward and said, "Teacher."

Li Si glanced at the emperor again, then smiled awkwardly and said, "It's been a long time, young master."

Li said, "It will only take three months."

As he spoke, Fusu led his family to his father, the emperor.

Fusu noticed that his father's gaze was somewhat dazed, probably because he didn't know that as a grandfather, he already had such a large family, and even a granddaughter.

When the family sat down, Fusu told his grandfather about the results he had achieved in inspecting the border since joining the army two years ago.

When the grandfather asked how the world should be governed.

Heng replied, "I believe that centralization of power is necessary. There must be a strong enough control over the country. Therefore, it is not only necessary to centralize power, but also to have strong power. If the ability to centralize power and control the world is lost, corruption will spread everywhere. The reason why the states allowed the kings and nobles too much power, and the kings and nobles were weak, was that the reform failed and the country became full of corrupt officials."

He bowed and said, "Grandpa, I think so too. What you say is right."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng first glanced at Li Si, who was standing to the side.

Li Si looked around, seemingly absent-minded and as if it had nothing to do with him.

Fusu was holding his daughter and talking to his wife.

Ying Zheng looked at his two grandsons without saying anything more, but asked, "After you returned from your military service this time, did your father give you a position in the army or in the Prime Minister's office?"

Heng said, "I haven't thought about it yet."

But there was still some expectation in his words.

One by one, palace servants brought dishes into the palace. Ying Zheng sat in the head seat, looked at his son beside him, and said, "You also sent all the treasures presented by the Western Regions to Mount Li. Now my side halls are full and there is no more room."

Logically, the items used by the emperor during his lifetime should be sent to the imperial mausoleum.

The same applies to the treasures presented as tribute from the Western Regions.

Fusu said, "It would be useless to keep it in Xianyang Palace."

Ying Zheng said, "Both of your sons say they want to seize power even more forcefully."

Fusu looked at his two sons who were eating, then looked away and said, "Father, there is no perfect solution in this world, and there is no single correct answer to governing a country. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. A seemingly perfect solution may not be applicable to the present situation. What is suitable for the present situation is what is useful."

……

PS: Only one chapter will be updated tonight. Please get some rest.

Xiao Zhang's old neck problem has flared up again. He has had cervical spondylosis for several years, and his eyes are still not very comfortable recently. With these two problems combined, Xiao Zhang will have to go to bed early tonight.

(End of this chapter)