Chapter 26: An Elder and a Youth

A successful general always reviews his past opponents, dissecting their shortcomings and summarizing the lessons learned.

The old general’s earlier words... were likely just such a reflection.

But upon further thought, that did not seem quite right. King Wei of Qi belonged to a generation long before General Wang Jian; Xunzi had been gone for many years.

In a flash, a flurry of thoughts crossed Fusu’s mind. He stepped forward to support the old man and said, "General, please rest first."

Wang Jian waved his hand, insisting, "The old subject has yet to pay his respects to the Prince."

"There is no need for such formalities."

"I must still pay my respects."

After the old man and the youth exchanged these polite refusals for some time, they finally bowed to each other under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

The surrounding veteran Qin soldiers looked on with smiles. Zhang Han heard their whispers:

"Our Prince has grown so tall?"

"My grandson is about that tall now, too..."

"Look at the Prince, his limbs are sturdy; he is clearly a fine lad who could master the art of combat in the army."

The soldiers’ words were simple and kind. Zhang Han listened, yet he remained standing solemnly, not daring to smile.

However, watching the scene before him—Prince Fusu and General Wang Jian standing together, supporting one another—it was truly a reassuring sight. After all, with the old general's return, the hearts of the civil and military officials in the capital could finally rest easy.

It was only natural for a general who had achieved such great merit to have a bit of pride, and with Prince Fusu himself coming to welcome him, it was a beautiful gesture. People saw the humble and courteous Prince Fusu, and felt that it was only right for him to escort the general back; it was a story to be celebrated.

The veterans of the Great Qin were comforted to see this.

Supported by the Prince, Wang Jian’s gray beard fluttered in the wind. He whispered, "Prince, if my grandson refuses to go to the north..."

"Rest assured, General. Even if I have to tie him up, I will drag him to the north."

Wang Jian nodded heavily, sighing, "The Prince is far more promising than my own children."

Fusu smiled awkwardly and replied, "You flatter me."

"I am not joking." Wang Jian’s tone grew more emphatic. He surreptitiously gestured toward Wang Ben behind him and continued, "I have observed people all my life and fought wars for a lifetime, from the State of Zhao to the State of Chu. I have seen all kinds of people, but you, Prince... you will surely achieve greatness."

Fusu sensed an underlying meaning in the general’s words—that he was entrusting his entire family to him. Yet, upon reflection, he felt the old general was merely trying to amuse a child.

Wang Jian gripped the Prince’s hand again and said, "I shall tidy up, and then I will return to Xianyang with you."

Fusu stood in place as he watched General Wang Jian walk back with long strides. Those strides were full of vigor, not at all like a flickering candle in the wind. Wang Ben hurried after him.

In the center of the camp stood a prisoner transport cart. Inside sat a middle-aged man in tattered robes, his expression manic, laughing foolishly.

Zhang Han explained, "Prince, this is the King of Chu."

Only now, looking at the captured King of Chu, did Fusu truly feel that the war to extinguish the six states had finally come to an end.

Fusu asked, "How will His Majesty dispose of him?"

Zhang Han bowed to the Prince and replied, "The Emperor has issued a decree to treat the captured monarchs of the six states with kindness, but..."

Fusu nodded, "If it is a difficult matter, there is no need to speak of it."

Zhang Han stepped back and stood straight. Fusu knew the Emperor had indeed ordered that the monarchs be treated well. Initially, the Great Qin had treated the King of Han with kindness, granting him a place to live, yet the King of Han had taken advantage of the war between Qin and Chu to incite a rebellion in Xinzheng. Consequently, in the fury of the Emperor and the court, the last King of Han, Han An, was executed.

After Qin conquered Qi, King Jian of Qi did not die by the blade of the Qin army, but starved to death. He need not have starved, but no one in Qi was willing to help their King; perhaps the people of Qi hated him as well.

As for the King of Chu before him, Fusu believed that war between nations was not just a test of military strength, but a test of endurance. During the reign of Fuchu, the State of Chu was in a state of internal chaos and external instability.

As for the State of Yan... alas.

The night wind blew, stirring the yellow sand before Hangu Pass. Fusu recalled a saying of Han Fei: "When a tree breaks, it is because of wood-boring insects; when a wall collapses, it is because of cracks." In other words, even the best mason cannot repair a wall that is destined to fall.

Fusu stood there and said to Zhang Han, "It turns out that bringing the old general back was quite easy."

Zhang Han remained silent, standing solemnly.

After a moment of hesitation, Fusu looked up and added, "Originally... it should have been quite easy, too."

***

Thinking of the many veteran Qin soldiers in the camp and the long road back to Xianyang, Fusu ordered, "General Zhang Han, please head out first and prepare provisions at the key points along the route to Xianyang."

"I accept the order." Zhang Han mounted his horse, signaled to a group of centurions, and headed toward the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Night gradually fell. The moon hung high, and the stars were scattered across the sky like a chessboard; after the Grain Rain, the stars seemed even more numerous.

With time to spare, Fusu sat beneath the walls of Hangu Pass, stewing their evening meal. Tian An brought over mutton, asparagus, and wild fruits.

When food is accompanied by music, it becomes an artistic and refined affair. If there were music playing or beauties dancing, it would be even better. But beneath Hangu Pass, there was no music, and where would one find beauties?

Fusu sliced the asparagus, placed it into a clay pot, layered the sliced mutton on top, and set it to simmer over the stove.

Tian An placed the hand-pulled noodles into a bowl, wiped his hands, added wood to the stove, and opened the vent at the bottom, making the fire burn brighter. This stove had been improved by the Prince; it was portable and efficient. Seeing steam rising from the lid, Tian An smiled and returned to pulling the noodles.

Before long, the fragrance drifted from the pot. Fusu lifted the lid and saw the mutton tumbling in the broth.

"That is some fragrant meat."

Hearing the old general’s voice, Fusu quickly replaced the lid, set down his spoon, and asked, "Has the General eaten?"

"I..."

Mid-sentence, Wang Jian looked at the clay pot and said gravely, "It is a pity. You studied under Li Si, but it is a shame I fought too slowly back then."

"Why do you say that?"

"If I had attacked the State of Chu earlier, I might have captured Xunzi and brought him to Xianyang to tutor you."

As the conversation flowed, Fusu served the mutton, inviting the old general to eat while they talked. Wang Jian chewed the piping hot meat.

Fusu asked, "Has the General met Xunzi before?"

"I cannot even remember when I last saw him."

Seeing the noodles were ready, Fusu scooped some into the old general’s bowl. Wang Jian finished the mutton and then slurped down the noodles with the remaining broth. After eating, he let out a satisfied breath and remarked, "This pot of yours is worth ten thousand gold pieces."

Tian An diligently continued pulling noodles. Fusu listened as General Wang Jian recounted his war stories. The old man and the youth sat beneath Hangu Pass—one willing to listen, the other willing to share. General Wang Jian could have spoken of his campaigns for three days and three nights without stopping.

Escorted by Wang Ben and Zhang Han, Fusu and the old general rode in the same carriage, listening to the old general’s tales the entire way. When they arrived at Hangu Pass, the retinue consisted of only one thousand elite cavalry; now, heading to Xianyang, the group had grown to six thousand. Aside from the original cavalry, there were five thousand veteran Qin soldiers. Six thousand men was no small number; if they moved together, they risked exhausting the provisions of every village they passed.

Zhang Han was a highly capable man. He had worked through the night, coordinating with various regions, and by the time the army had marched for a day, he had already prepared the next stop and the supplies.

Wang Jian asked, "Was all this arranged by the Prince?"

Fusu explained, "I asked General Zhang Han to handle it. I have a habit, if the General doesn't mind."

"What habit does the Prince have?"

"I always think about tomorrow's affairs today, and spring's affairs in the winter."

Wang Jian stroked his beard, nodding with a smile, "That is a good thing."

Fusu asked, "Was Xiang Yan truly that formidable?"

"I had an army of six hundred thousand. No matter how formidable Xiang Yan was, could he withstand six hundred thousand men?" Wang Jian laughed heartily, "Hahaha!"

Fusu nodded in understanding. The process of Qin extinguishing Chu had been tortuous. Only these veterans and Wang Jian knew the true nature of the struggle; the old man was oversimplifying it.

The return journey was clearly smoother than the trip there. After the Grain Rain, the weather in the Guanzhong region warmed significantly, and one would break a sweat after being in the sun for too long. The old general and Prince Fusu walked, talked, and ate together throughout the journey.

Along the way, the veteran Qin soldiers gradually dispersed, most returning to their own homes. Soon, they neared Xianyang, approaching the vicinity of Mount Shangyan.

***

The prisoner cart carrying the King of Chu remained steady in the procession. Fusu asked in a low voice, "Has no one from Chu come to rescue him?"

Wang Jian shook his head, "No."

"Why?"

"The people of Chu themselves do not respect this king. Who would come to save him?"

"Fusu has learned something today."

As they spoke, Fusu was surprised; he had not expected such a thing.

Wang Jian added, "Prince, there is no need to be overly humble. Everyone knows about the mess in the State of Chu."

After Lord Chunshen, the powerful official Li Yuan and King You of Chu were indeed not good men. Their internal affairs had rotted; everyone sought more, everyone craved power.

Wang Jian continued, "Prince, the State of Chu once had a chance. Haha... I was certain that the King of Chu lacked the spine to execute the powerful ministers, and lacked the resolve to govern the state."

"Indeed..."

Fusu nodded repeatedly. Compared to the Qin State, where killing was done without hesitation—even when toppling Lu Buwei, there was no hesitation; when the order came, the Emperor struggled internally but sent a subtle letter, and without the need for executioners, Lu Buwei took his own life. Therefore, for a monarch on the throne, spirit and decisiveness were paramount.

"A lesson learned from the past. Fusu has learned much; thank you for your guidance, General."

"Hahaha!" Wang Jian laughed even more heartily. He admired this Prince more and more; despite his youth, he was already so wise and humble.

The group rested briefly at Mount Shangyan, as Fusu had affairs to attend to in the village. Wang Ben kept watch by his father’s side. Tonight, for some reason, the old man seemed to be dreaming, and he was smiling in his sleep.

The next day, the city of Xianyang was visible in the distance. Before dawn, the army prepared to set off. Wang Jian woke early and asked, "Has the Prince arranged everything?"

"Everything here is in order. Please mount your horse, General!"

"Ben'er, bring my armor!"

The old general, who had been wearing simple cloth robes, donned his battle armor once more, looking ten years younger. Yet, he was truly aged, needing Wang Ben’s support to mount his warhorse.

Tian An led a horse over and bowed, "Prince, the horse is ready."

The horse was pitch black, reflecting the sunlight with a sheen. It looked tall and powerful. Fusu took the reins and swung into the saddle. The horse stamped its hooves impatiently for a moment before calming down. Fusu patted its neck; the horse was well-trained and exceptionally docile.

Zhang Han announced loudly, "The Prince is ready."

Fusu faced the direction of Xianyang, then looked back toward the east. The morning sun had yet to rise. By setting off at this hour, they could reach Xianyang before noon if the journey went smoothly.

"Let’s go. To Xianyang."

Zhang Han shouted to Wang Ben ahead, "The Prince has ordered: March! To Xianyang!"

This was the final stretch of the road to Xianyang. The procession moved quietly. Pedestrians on the main road gave way. The closer they got to Xianyang, the more officials and soldiers appeared, maintaining order.

When they were only a few miles from the city, the horses slowed to a walk under Wang Ben’s command, as the crowds lining the road were simply too large.

Fusu looked back at the prisoner cart carrying the King of Chu. King Fuchu of Chu—the name "Fuchu" meant to carry firewood on one's back. Perhaps when he was named, it was a hope that he would carry the weight of the nation.

Fusu confirmed again that indeed, no one from Chu had come to rescue the prisoner.

Just as he was thinking, a man stood by the roadside, holding a bamboo slip, and said, "Prince, a letter from the Chancellor."

Tian An took the slip and passed it to Fusu.

Wang Jian, riding alongside, asked, "Is something the matter?"

Fusu read it, put the slip away, and replied, "Some Confucian scholars say I have been too harsh with the servants at Mount Shangyan."

"Which Confucian scholars? How dare they discuss the Prince’s servants!"

"General, do not be angry. My teacher has already helped me resolve the misunderstanding."

Fusu tucked the slip away.

Wang Jian smiled again, "That is good."

Upon arriving before the walls of Xianyang, the group dismounted and removed their armor. An attendant stood atop the city wall and loudly read the Emperor’s decree.

When the reading finished, Chancellor Li Si walked to the city gate, reached out in a few strides, and grasped Wang Jian’s hand, moved, "The Great General has returned, and the Emperor’s heart can finally be at peace."