The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 334 Southern Affairs
There was hardly any prey in the northern suburbs, and in recent years, with the population growth in Weibei, people's settlements have been constantly expanding.

Fusu gazed at a canal in the distance, a canal that drew water from the Zheng Guo Canal. “I think even a million people couldn’t fill this Guanzhong region.”

Meng Tian nodded without saying a word.

Zhang Cang, who had been following behind, said, "One mu of land can produce one shi and six shi of wheat. In a good year, it may produce one shi and eight shi. The yield of one mu of land is far from enough to feed a family for a year."

Fusu said, "Zhang Cang is saying that no matter how the population grows, we cannot let Qin remain a country based on farming. Agriculture is the foundation of everything."

Zhang Cang bowed and said, "That is exactly what I meant."

A country must first have agriculture to feed its population. With a population comes the army to protect agriculture, and with an army comes the ability to expand its territory and acquire more resources.

Fusu said, “It is precisely because we have never given up farming and have always attached importance to land reclamation that I have the leisure to think about things in the south.”

An emperor is an emperor after all. Zhang Cang knew that he could no longer treat the emperor in front of him with the same impression he had of him when he was a boy.

Since ascending the throne, the emperor has asked fewer questions and spoken less.

In other words, they are further removed from their former subjects.

Fusu dismounted and led his warhorse toward the imperial palace.

The imperial palace in the northern suburbs has remained like this for many years. Tian An looked at the imperial palace in the northern suburbs and wondered whether he should repair it.

Upon seeing the emperor return, Tian An hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This palace hasn't been cleaned for many years."

Fusu said, "Let's repair it."

The emperor sometimes wouldn't visit the Northern Suburbs Palace for an entire year, so it remained largely deserted for a long time.

I only visited once this year and discovered that some places were leaking and others hadn't been cleaned for years, so they needed to be treated for pests again.

Tian An said to the craftsmen, "The emperor is usually very frugal, so we should use the original materials for the repairs."

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen agreed.

The emperor returned to Xianyang the day after meeting the Grand Commandant, while Tian An stayed at the imperial palace in the northern suburbs for two more days to oversee the renovations.

Only after the palace was repaired did Tian An return to Xianyang and report to the emperor.

Back in front of the Gaoquan Palace, Tian An sat down on the stone steps in front of the palace, rubbed his lower back and took a few deep breaths.

Tian An truly felt that he was getting old, and lately he always felt tired.

A small figure appeared before him, and Tian An looked up to see the little princess walking down the steps.

Seeing the little princess sitting beside him, Tian An couldn't help but smile.

After sitting with the little princess for a while, Tian An felt that he had regained his strength, so he went to the side hall of Gaoquan Palace.

Inside the side hall, Tian An sat before the memorial tablet of Empress Dowager Huayang and spoke in a low voice: "...The Emperor wrote two scrolls of letters. One scroll was sent to the Northwest to give to the young master Li, and the other scroll was sent to Nanjun. It should be heading south. After passing Nanjun, it will be given to the young master Heng in Dongting County."

"Both of the emperor's sons are remarkable," Tian An said in a low voice. "The eldest son went to the south, and the youngest son went to the northwest. The Great Qin will only get better and better."

Tian An was the same as in previous years; even his tone of voice hadn't changed much over the years.

The emperor's letter to his son was sent south from Xianyang.

It was summer in Dongting County when Prince Heng saw this family letter from Xianyang, and the Right Chancellor of the Imperial Censorate also gave Chen Ping a letter.

Gongzi Heng asked, "What did the teacher say in his letter?"

Chen Ping looked somewhat worried and said, "The emperor hopes that Zhao Tuo can share power."

As they were talking, Chen Ping handed over the letter, and Gongzi Heng opened it and began to read.

The letter recounts the emperor's anxieties about the south.

After spending the past two years together, Gongzi Heng knew Chen Ping's character. To say that Chen Ping was afraid of death could be attributed to the fact that Chen Ping would never put himself in danger.

Chen Ping put away the letter and said, "Young master, let's take a trip to Chu and then return to Xianyang."

Gongzi Heng said, "I will follow Imperial Censor Chen's arrangements."

When you're out and about, you should listen to others, especially people like Chen Ping. Listening to him is usually the right thing to do.

If Chen Ping feels that a place should not be visited, then that place must be dangerous.

During the two years he was away, Heng traveled to most of the counties and prefectures in the Central Plains, and saw all kinds of people in the counties, prefectures, towns and villages.

Heng said, "When I was very young, my father talked to me about some things about governing the country. Now that I think about it, most of my father's views and opinions on the country and the world are correct."

In the past two years, Prince Heng has traveled to various counties and prefectures. This kind of travel is somewhat similar to that of the King of Qin and Shang Yang in the past. If you want to govern a country, you must understand the country and go to the poorest and most barbaric places.

Only in this way can one truly understand the country.

Gongzi Heng originally wanted to go to the south to take a look, but Chen Ping stopped him.

Chen Ping once said that he would only go to the south if there were more officials in the south in the future.

Gongzi Heng had no choice but to give up. Chen Ping then found two accompanying imperial censors and discussed matters in the south with them.

Send these two imperial censors to the south to persuade Zhao Tuo.

"Imperial Censor Chen, do you think Zhao Tuo will declare himself king?"

Chen Ping said, "It is said that Zhao Tuo built his residence in the south, and his residence is like a palace."

Gongzi Heng frowned and asked, "Does he really want to establish himself independently?"

Chen Ping shook his head again and said, "It's all just rumors. As long as Zhao Tuo continues to follow Xianyang's arrangements, the emperor will give you a good result. One day, Zhao Tuo will return to Xianyang."

In other words, Zhao Tuo might be afraid of Prince Heng's grandfather, but if the current emperor gives Zhao Tuo a sufficient way out, Zhao Tuo will be more loyal to the current emperor and will be able to return to Xianyang smoothly in the future.

Seeing that the young master was still somewhat angry, Chen Ping said, "Young master, rest assured. Your father is a man of great stature. How could he sit idly by and watch Zhao Tuo and Tu Ju develop ambitions to establish themselves? No way... Your father's methods are so powerful, and his scheming and calculations are so profound."

"Please enlighten me, Imperial Censor Chen."

Seeing the young master's respectful attitude, Chen Ping helped him up and explained, "Everyone loves and respects the emperor. If Zhao Tuo and Tu Ju dare to betray the Qin Dynasty, they will be making enemies of the entire Qin Dynasty, including their descendants in Guanzhong, who will have no place to stand."

Gongzi Heng's worries were unfounded. With the current emperor being so powerful, the two generals in the south would certainly obey him.

Chen Ping continued, "By sharing power between the two generals, they will... within two or three years, without even the emperor saying anything, voluntarily request to return to Guanzhong."

"What if they don't come back?"

Chen Ping said, "They will be unable to eat or sleep, living in constant fear."

At this point, Chen Ping looked towards Hangu Pass, bowed, and said, "The person I respect most in my life is the current emperor."

It wasn't until this autumn that Gongzi Heng and Chen Ping traveled from the Chu region to Langya County.

The garrison general of Langya County, who also served as the county magistrate, was Wang Li.

When he was a child, Heng disliked Wang Li, and should have called him uncle.

However, Heng and his uncle had never been close since childhood, and they had only met a handful of times.

Wang Li stood outside Langya County, watching the approaching procession. Upon seeing Prince Heng and Chen Ping, he bowed and said, "Your subject Wang Li greets Prince Heng and Imperial Censor Chen."

Chen Ping remained calm and led the young master into Langya County.

It was already night when we arrived at the county government, but autumn is the season when fishermen in Langya County have the best harvest.

Gongzi Heng and Chen Ping enjoyed a hearty seafood feast.

It wasn't until the next day that Chen Ping began his inspection. "Is there any news of Xu Fu?"

Wang Li shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Heng asked, puzzled, "How many years has Xu Fu been at sea?"

"Three years."

Have you sent people to search for it?

"Sometimes fishermen would go out to sea, but they would not see any islands overseas, let alone Xu Fu."

The young master asked a question, and Wang Li answered it.

Chen Ping looked at the land registers and taxes of this place, his gaze occasionally glancing at the young master and Wang Li, who were exchanging questions and answers.

However, Chen Ping did not speak, but instead flipped through the files on his own. At this time, keeping silent was the best course of action.

That's a matter between the young master and his uncle; it's a family matter.

After confirming that there were no problems with the accounts in Langya County, Chen Ping and the young master went to see the living conditions of the people in Langya County.

Langya Terrace is still located in Langya County, and the armillary sphere that looks the same as but is smaller than the one in Xianyang stands in front of the imperial palace at Langya Terrace.

Heng stood by the sea and said, "I wonder what my father and grandfather felt when they came to Langya Terrace back then."

Chen Ping gazed out to sea and said, "Many people say that there is nothing at sea except for some small islands and no living creatures."

Heng then said, "Let's go back."

Chen Ping thought for a moment and confirmed that he had finished all the tasks that needed to be done.

"My father said that after I go back, I can go to the Prime Minister's residence to study administration."

Chen Ping said, "In the future, you, young master, can also enter the Prime Minister's office and help the emperor govern the country."

Heng nodded and said, "Yes."

After following Chen Ping for two years, Heng really learned a lot. He met some bad people, but he also met some good people.

He also truly understood his father's worries; apart from Guanzhong, the rest of the country remained desolate and impoverished.

Heng said in a low voice, "Imperial Censor Chen."

"The minister is here."

Listening to the sound of the waves, Heng looked down at the foam that the seawater stirred up on the shore. The foam existed for a moment, then gradually disappeared, and the cycle repeated itself.

"Was the widespread poverty and devastation of farmland truly caused by the Qin Dynasty's repeated migrations of people?"

Chen Ping replied, "Young master, you can't think like that. If Qin hadn't initiated the relocation of people, how would these people have fared?"

Heng frowned and looked into the distance again.

Chen Ping continued, “The results of the relocation were enormous. At the beginning of Qin’s unification of the Central Plains, the Xiongnu people violated the border several times. When the country faced border threats, the temporary pain of relocating people had to be endured. Otherwise, the Xiongnu would have moved south. Once the Great Wall was breached, the Xiongnu would have been able to reach the gates of Xianyang in just one day and one night.”

“Imperial Censor Chen, Heng asks this because there are still people in Dongting County and Chu region discussing the policy of relocating people back then.”

Seeing the conflicted look on Gongzi Heng's face, Chen Ping said, "Young Master, don't be easily swayed by the words of others. Trust what you see."

In the winter of the fifth year of the new emperor's reign, Prince Heng returned to Guanzhong from Langya County.

That year, there was still no news of Xu Fu, and no one saw any ships returning from the distant seas.

With the return of Prince Heng, news about Langya County was also sent to the palace.

The Right Chancellor and Meng Tian were in the main hall of Zhangtai Palace, reporting on recent events.

Meng Tian said, "This year, five hundred people were sent to the south to serve as officials, including twenty deputy generals who were sent to the south to rotate with the generals there."

Feng Quji also stepped forward to report, mentioning the officials sent to various parts of the south this year.

Xianyang continuously sent people into the south and gradually undermined the power of the two generals.

Just then, a palace attendant came to report, "Young Master Heng and Imperial Censor Chen have come to pay their respects."

Fusu said, "Let them enter the palace."

When Chen Ping and Prince Heng entered the hall together, Fusu said, "Let's sit down and have a meal."

Dishes were served one after another. Fusu ate his meal while listening to Chen Ping's report. The Right Chancellor and the Grand Commandant also listened quietly.

After Chen Ping spoke, the young master stepped forward and added some further points.

After the meal, Chen Ping and Prince Heng withdrew from the main hall, while Fusu continued to discuss current state of affairs with Meng Tian and Feng Quji.

"What does the Right Chancellor think of what Chen Ping said?"

Feng Quji bowed and said, "The people's livelihood in various places is actually not as good as Chen Ping said."

Fusu sighed, "Everyone wants to make their experiences sound better, at least so that I can feel more at ease."

Feng Quji nodded.

Generally speaking, Chen Ping's memorials recorded the facts about various places.

Fusu said, "Letting Zhao Tuo and Tu Ju share power went much more smoothly than I had previously thought."

Meng Tian said, "At this time next year, we can bring the two generals back."

Fusu realized that the Qin army still needed Meng Tian to command it, and no one could replace Meng Tian in terms of loyalty and prestige.

Just after the meal, Fusu, with freshly brewed tea in front of him, said, "I would like to trouble the Right Chancellor to arrange a position for Heng, so that he can study at the Prime Minister's residence."

Feng Quji bowed and said, "I think it would be best for you to work by Xiao He's side."

"Shouldn't it be kept in the Censorate?"

Upon hearing the emperor's question, Feng Quji calmly replied, "You will learn more in the counties outside the capital. If you have any questions, I can answer them. If you achieve something in the future, it would be better to place you in the Prime Minister's Office or the Censorate."

The Right Chancellor hopes that Prince Heng can become a capable person, and he needs to start training now.

Seeing that the emperor nodded, Feng Quji and Meng Tian took their leave and departed from Zhangtai Palace.

Outside Zhangtai Palace, Meng Tian said with some worry, "I'm afraid Zhao Tuo will make a mistake."

Feng Quji said, "Zhao Tuo has a civil official by his side named Ren Xiao, who was sent by Li Si back then."

Meng Tian continued walking, his expression thoughtful.

Feng Quji continued, "Ren Xiao is most likely connected to Li Si. The emperor knows about this, and Li Si is the emperor's teacher. As long as Li Si is unharmed, Ren Xiao will remain loyal to Qin, and Zhao Tuo will not rebel against Qin."

Meng Tian was skilled in military affairs and warfare, but he was inferior to Feng Quji and even more so to Li Si in terms of understanding and manipulating people's hearts.

Meng Tian was well aware of his own shortcomings, so he listened to the Right Chancellor's ideas more often in these matters.

Prince Heng returned, and the family had a small reunion. After dinner, Heng went to Jingye County.

Tian An watched the departing young master and said in a low voice, "Young master has gotten used to living outside and is no longer used to living at home."

The little princess ate the pastries her brother brought and looked at his many, many toys.

(End of this chapter)