The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 330 Chen Ping's Poisonous Scheme
In the eyes of the world, the Qin army seemed invincible. Over the years, the Qin army had accomplished too many remarkable things: unifying the Central Plains, conquering the south, and achieving great victories in the northern expeditions.

The Qin army achieved what people considered the most impossible victory.

This is why people yearn for the Qin army. For young people who have not yet joined the army, the Qin army is so majestic and invincible in their hearts. It seems that those young people also think that as long as they join the army, they can be just as majestic and invincible.

These were the words that Gongzi Li heard most often in his study in Tongguan.

But when Gongzi Li actually arrived at this border, he realized that guarding the border was a long and arduous task, and that he would have to guard several miles of land alone, watching out for any enemies outside the border.

This is the real frontier. There are no imposing Qin soldiers here, only hardworking people. This is one of the most difficult and tiring things in the world.

Every man who can stand guard at the border is a true hero.

Liu Fei sat in the county government office of Zhangye County, wrote a letter, waxed it, put it in a cowhide bag, placed it with many other documents, and had it sent to Xianyang.

After doing all this, Liu Fei sat in front of the county government building and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Have you written home?"

Upon hearing Gongzi Li's words, Liu Fei replied, "Did you write it, sir?"

Li said, "I wrote it."

Liu Fei said, "Uncle Xiao is going back to Chu."

Li hesitated and said, "Isn't Xiao He serving as the prefect of Weibei? He could have stayed in Weibei indefinitely."

Liu Fei shook his head.

Li didn't press further, perhaps because it involved Liu Fei's family affairs.

As autumn arrives, the Hexi Corridor welcomes the autumn rains, which are the most important rainy season of the year in the Hexi Corridor. People in Zhangye County have begun to store water.

People opened water cellars or various containers to store water.

At this time of year, Guanzhong must also be filled with the sound of autumn winds, especially when a light drizzle falls. The wet Xianyang Bridge and the bustling pedestrians create an unforgettable scene.

The once peaceful Zhangye County suddenly became lively because of the rain.

Li followed Liu Fei to Jiayuguan, which was under construction, once again.

Will our county government move into the city walls in the future?

Liu Fei explained, "Zhangye County will remain, so we will naturally enter Jiayuguan."

Li said, "I thought Wuwei County was the most beautiful place in the Hexi Corridor. Now, the Hexi Corridor is going to build such a huge city gate here. This will be the most magnificent northwest gateway of the Qin Dynasty."

Liu Fei said, "Yes, it seems the emperor really intends to extend the Great Wall to Jiayuguan."

Li then said, "Master Liu, let me tell you a story from the past."

Liu Fei nodded.

As the two walked at the foot of Jiayu Mountain, Gongzi Li recounted stories his father had told him when he was a child.

……

Gongzi Li said, "At that time, it was after Qin unified the six states and summoned scholars from the six states to Qin. When Prime Minister Li Si launched the policy of relocating people to defend the borders, the scholars from the six states all criticized Li Si's decision. However, my grandfather, the prime minister, and my father, who was still young at the time, insisted on implementing the policy of relocating people to defend the borders and insisted on building the Great Wall..."

"Not only that, my grandfather once said that the Great Wall should be built in the Rong territory. That is why the border pass established by Qin is the location of the Qin Great Wall. My father continued my grandfather's edict and words. The rumors are true. My father really wants to build the Great Wall to Jiayuguan."

After listening to Gongzi Li's words, Liu Fei felt that the Qin emperor and his son were truly of one mind, even in their vision and foresight.

The autumn rain in the Hexi Corridor was short-lived, lasting only one day and one night.

Just as everyone was back to their idle state, Magistrate Lou of Wuwei County arrived with Han Xin, the Grand Master of the Imperial Stud, and General Shejian.

The already simple Zhangye County government building suddenly became much more crowded.

Zhang Jing looked at the three influential figures in the Hexi Corridor with a puzzled expression, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Furthermore, with General Shejian and Grand Master of the Palace Han Xin present, even Magistrate Lou wouldn't dare to speak first, let alone Zhang Jing.

Shejian said first, "We are going to attack the Kingdom of Gushi."

Zhang Jing hesitated and asked, "Gushi Kingdom?"

It was not Liu Fei's place to speak on important military matters; he was merely a tutor, so he stood aside in silence.

Lou Jing explained: "Gushi Kingdom is located on the southern slope of Tianshan Mountain. To its south is Loulan, and to its north is the former territory of the Xiongnu. In the Xiongnu language north of Tianshan Mountain, it is called Gushi Kingdom, while in the Western Regions language south of Tianshan Mountain, it is called Cheshi Kingdom."

At this point, Lou Jing handed over a scroll and said, "The prince of Cheshi has ordered the burning of a cartload of our various philosophical books and has forbidden the people of Cheshi from reading these classics."

Liu Fei frowned and remained silent.

For a moment, even Li Zuoche didn't know what to say. How could this be? Could it be that they couldn't even tolerate a single scroll of books?
Zhang Jing hesitated and asked, "Doesn't the old king of Cheshi care?"

Lou Jing sighed and said, "The old king is old and can only lie in bed."

Zhang Jing withdrew his gaze. Han Xin sat beside Shejian, looking around, seemingly uninterested in the impending attack on the Cheshi Kingdom, or perhaps Han Xin simply didn't care about it.

Liu Fei was the teacher here, and since he dared to burn Qin's books, he had a chance to speak. He asked, "Why are you burning our books?"

Lou Jing sat up straight again and said, "It is said that the book promotes the idea that the people are more important than the ruler..."

In other words, the positive influence of books from the Central Plains had a significant impact on the values ​​of the people in the Western Regions, especially since Qin had such an extraordinary emperor. Qin was an emperor who unified the six kingdoms, standardized books, and possessed a more expansive territory than during the Zhou Dynasty, as well as the most powerful Qin army in the world.

In comparison, those kings of the Western Regions are far behind. While the kings of the Western Regions may be lagging behind, the people of the Western Regions have already been affected. This has only been happening in the last two years. However, recently, under the positive influence of Qin, the conflict between the people of the Western Regions and the kings of the Western Regions has become increasingly serious.

The moment had finally come to an end.

Lou Jing continued to explain the reasons for this war to everyone. He took out a scroll and said, "According to the Prime Minister's office, our Qin army will never interfere in the affairs of the Western Regions and will never start a war without cause."

At this point, everyone present nodded, including Li Zuoche, who was standing ramrod straight outside.

"The Prime Minister's Office also made a prior statement, continuing the old Prime Minister's policy of standardizing writing and unifying the width of carts. Qin wants to protect those who support the Qin script. Before that, we must protect our books. The books contain the words of sages and ancestors from the Spring and Autumn Period over the past six hundred years, which is also the governing philosophy of Qin."

"But we will never allow others to trample on the books of Qin. The books that have been passed down from Qin are all Qin's thoughts. The actions of the Prince of Cheshi are courting death. If a person does not love and respect himself, he will be despised by others. If the people of Qin do not protect the books of Qin, how will they educate the world in the future?"

"The Prime Minister's Office has issued an order that General Shejian lead three thousand troops to capture the Cheshi Kingdom's general, Prince Cheshi, and behead him, and then announce this to all parts of the Western Regions."

Shejian bowed towards Xianyang and said, "This subordinate obeys!"

His voice was really loud, making my ears ring.

After Lou Jing finished speaking, everyone knew what to do. Shejian began to order the troops to be reorganized and set off the next day.

Noticing Prince Rei's gaze, Shibuma said, "If you want to go, then go with me, but..."

Shejian looked at Li Zuoche and said, "General Li, you have high hopes for Young Master Li."

"Yes."

Li Zuoche, who was standing outside the door, answered.

As night fell, the group had a simple meal and then began to discuss how to fight the battle. First, the Cheshi Kingdom should cut off the road between Cheshi and Loulan to prevent Cheshi from sending reinforcements.

Li looked at the book his father had given him. Besides what everyone else had said, he learned from his father's book that the Cheshi Kingdom occupied a vital passage in the Western Regions. Cheshi was fertile, close to the Xiongnu, and had abundant fields and grain reserves. It would surely harm other countries, so it was not something that could be ignored.

Li had never been to the Cheshi Kingdom, but according to his father's words, the Cheshi Kingdom should be a strategically important place in the Western Regions.

While everyone was still debating how to attack Cheshi, Shejian slammed his hand on the table and said, "Alright, no need to argue anymore. I can take down Cheshi with just five hundred soldiers."

Lou Jing advised, "Three thousand soldiers are three thousand soldiers. The Prime Minister's office has given the order. General, you cannot act on your own."

Shibuma stroked his long beard and sneered, "I've been holding back for so many years. Who dares to challenge me? I'll fight them to the death."

Cheshi was located on the edge of an oasis on a key route in the Western Regions and had occupied it for many years. It was 2,000 li to the west of Jingjue and 720 li to the east of Shanshan. Except for Loulan, the other Western Regions kingdoms with some military strength were all far away.

Unless reinforcements arrive, the Qin army can surround and attack them.

Li turned a page of the book in his hand and discovered that his father had given the Cheshi Kingdom another name, Cheshi County.

Upon learning that war was imminent, everyone was excited, and none of them slept well that night.

The next day, as soon as it was light, squads of Qin soldiers were assembled. General Shejian brought a large number of troops with him when he arrived.

Han Xin had already ordered stirrups to be distributed to the Qin soldiers, and every soldier who needed to ride a horse had one.

Stirrups were also important military equipment. Normally, these stirrups were stored in a centralized location and only taken out when there was a battle, just like bronze crossbows.

Since the stirrup played a significant role in the Northern Expeditions, Qin listed it as an important weapon, on par with the crossbow.

"Prefect Han?"

Han Xin was putting on stirrups when he saw the young master behind him and said with a smile, "These are your stirrups, young master."

Li took the stirrups from Han Xin and asked, "Is Prefect Han also going to the Western Regions with us?"

Han Xin said, "I will cut off the main road between Cheshi and Loulan; I will not attack Cheshi."

Li looked at the warhorses and said, "These warhorses are really well taken care of."

Han Xin added, "This battle is not difficult, my lord, you need not worry."

Li said, "Well, I hope it goes well."

Before the three thousand soldiers had even gathered, Shejian led a thousand soldiers out of Jiayuguan.

The remaining troops and matters were handed over to Lou Jing.

Now that everyone had left, Lou Jing was the only one left in the county government office. He picked up the documents from the Prime Minister's office and looked at them, whispering, "Chen Ping, Chen Ping, your wicked scheme is really going to come true."

(End of this chapter)