Chapter Twenty-Seven: Bestowal of Rewards

The gates of Xianyang were bustling with activity. Under the watchful eyes of the city’s subjects, Prime Minister Li Si led the great General Wang Jian into the capital.

Fusu turned back to see the group of old Qin soldiers, their hair and beards grayed by time. They were receiving their final pay from the military overseer, Li You—who was none other than the Prime Minister’s son. Li You longed to be rid of this post, but he remained largely under his father’s strict control. Unlike the General, who was greeted with fervent cheers, the old soldiers departed in obscurity, clutching their earnings and turning toward home. Fusu dismounted and bowed deeply to their retreating figures. From atop the city walls, the imperial historian Cheng Miao observed this act and recorded it, forever etching the Prince’s gesture into the annals of the Great Qin.

Inside the city, the ministers and generals made their way to the Xianyang Palace. As they walked toward the Zhangtai Palace, Chunyu Yue spoke rapidly to Fu Nian, who was walking alongside him: "I argued in the court session that Prince Fusu’s education should not be left solely to Li Si’s discretion. And yet, Li Si has now appointed Zhang Cang as the Prince’s tutor. It is preposterous!" Chunyu Yue’s speech quickened, fearing he would not finish before reaching the palace. "Who in the world does not know that Zhang Cang and Li Si studied under the same master?"

Fu Sheng whispered, "Li Si is a Legalist, but neither Xunzi nor Zhang Cang are."

Chunyu Yue, his expression hardening with irritation, replied, "That is no excuse to employ him."

Shusun Tong, following behind, frowned and interjected, "The Prime Minister is preoccupied with state affairs; he has no time to tutor the Prince. The Prince spends most of his time with Zhang Cang." Fu Sheng nodded slowly. Chunyu Yue was left speechless. Shusun Tong sighed quietly, adding, "Anything concerning Prince Fusu is a matter of state. Brother Chun, pray do not let personal grudges cloud your judgment." Chunyu Yue wanted to retort that his conflict with Li Si was purely a disagreement on governance, not personal animosity.

As they entered the grand hall, the Prime Minister and General Wang Jian arrived, and the day’s court session began. Zhang Cang, standing at the Zhangtai Palace, saw Fusu arrive and hurried over. "Prince, the court session has begun."

"It seems I am late," Fusu said.

Zhang Cang explained, "The Prime Minister said that as you are only observing, your absence is of no consequence. If you are concerned about being summoned, it is best to wait here." Fusu, ever obedient and sensible, stood to the side. Being late and standing outside in "penance" was not so bad. The steps before the Zhangtai Palace were too high; Fusu could neither hear the debates nor see those inside. After waiting for half a quarter of an hour, there was still no sign of the captured King of Chu being summoned. It was as if the First Emperor and his ministers had forgotten him entirely.

A court attendant hurried over and whispered to Zhang Cang. Zhang Cang then said, "The Prime Minister has sent word. I am to take you to see someone."

"Who?"

"Please follow me, Prince."

Fusu glanced once more at the grand hall before following Zhang Cang. As they walked south, passing the Office of the Imperial Historian, Fusu smiled at Cheng Miao, who was bowing, and extended the same courtesy to others.

"Prince, bringing the old General back was a great achievement," Zhang Cang remarked as they walked. "The entire court and country will congratulate you."

"It was mere luck," Fusu murmured.

"You are too modest, Prince."

They entered the newly built Academy of Scholars. As they walked, Fusu noted that the building was largely empty; most people were either out in the city or attending the court session. Inside sat an elderly man, attended by a young boy in simple cloth robes who was busy grinding ink.

"Prince," Zhang Cang introduced, "this is Master Luli."

The old man rose. "This humble servant greets the Prince."

Fusu bowed respectfully. Master Luli was a scholar from the same era as Xunzi, a man of great renown during the Warring States period and one of the legendary Four Sages of Mount Shang. His hair was disheveled, a mix of white and gray, and he looked at the young Prince with a weary gaze.

"With the old General returned, the First Emperor’s heart is at ease. He can now properly attend to state affairs. Surely, there is much to be done for Great Qin."

Fusu glanced at Zhang Cang, who remained silent with his eyes closed. "It would seem so," Fusu replied.

"How do you intend to deal with the King of Chu?" Master Luli asked, his eyes fixed on the Prince.

"I do not know," Fusu replied.

"To be so composed at such a young age is truly rare."

"I only speak the truth; I dare not speculate."

Master Luli’s gaze drifted away. "It is over. It is truly over. Qin has unified the world." To the old man, it sounded like a dream, yet the Warring States era had indeed ended. The kingdoms were gone. To the First Emperor and Li Si, the real work of governance was about to begin.

"The kingdoms have warred for eight hundred years," the old man continued. "Eight hundred years of chaos—wars every few years, nation-shattering conflicts every decade. The common people have suffered, soldiers have perished, families have been destroyed. It has only increased the number of widows and orphans."

"The wars of the states have truly ended," Fusu said.

"I hope Qin will cherish the people," Master Luli said suddenly.

"I will keep that in mind."

"Then how, Prince, do you think the world should be governed?"

"That is what I am pondering," Fusu replied. "It is simply a matter of doing what is right, doing it well, and correcting what is wrong."

"Li Si wanted me to stay and serve the Great Qin and the First Emperor, but I had not yet agreed. I had intended to leave Xianyang today." Fusu listened in silence. "But some have praised your wisdom, and others have claimed that, being a student of the Legalists, you will be the next Li Si. I had not been in Xianyang these past few days, but after hearing what Shusun Tong and Zhang Cang said of your recent conduct, I decided to stay and meet you today, so that I might give Li Si my answer."

Fusu finally understood his teacher’s intent. Master Luli sat with his hands on his knees and asked, "How do you think the world should be governed?"

Before Fusu could speak, Zhang Cang interjected, "Master, the Prince has often said that Xunzi taught: 'The ruler is the boat, and the common people are the water...'"

Fusu stepped back, consciously leaving the lead to his teacher. There were things a Prince of Qin could not say lightly, lest they be twisted or exploited. He felt a surge of gratitude for Zhang Cang, who protected his student and clarified his thoughts. For the rest of the day, Fusu remained silent, listening as his teacher and Master Luli debated statecraft, governance, and the complexities of population management under the feudal versus the commandery-county systems.

As dusk fell and the court session ended, Master Luli nodded with satisfaction. "Prince, you have found a good teacher."

"You are too kind, Master," Fusu replied.

After bidding farewell to the old scholar, Fusu watched him go. "Will he stay?" he asked.

Zhang Cang shook his head slowly. He did not know. The First Emperor wanted all the scholars to stay, and the Prime Minister had done his best to persuade them, but one could not force them. "The Prime Minister said that if the old master wishes to leave, we are to provide an escort and a gift of one hundred gold pieces," Zhang Cang added.

"How generous," Fusu remarked.

"It was the Prime Minister’s counsel to the Emperor, and the Emperor agreed."

No one cared about the fate of the King of Chu. He had been taken away by guards to live out his days in obscurity in Xianyang. Perhaps this was the First Emperor’s version of humanity. Few of the other kings had been as compliant; most had met tragic ends.

The next morning, the court was in recess. Tian An hurried in to report, "Prince, the King of Chu has been placed in the care of a household in Xianyang." It seemed the Emperor had no intention of wasting further thought on him.

"Prince, the rewards have been bestowed," Tian An continued. Fusu felt a pang of disappointment at having missed the court session. He learned that General Wang Jian had been granted unprecedented honors: the title of Marquis of Wucheng, the fief of Pinyang, and three hundred households in Wu County—the heart of the former Chu. He was also granted the privilege of wearing a sword and shoes into the palace, along with a massive annual salary. Wang Jian had become the most celebrated man in Xianyang.

"Prince, someone is here to see you," Tian An announced.

"Who?"

"It is the Right Prime Minister."

Feng Quji, a tall and lean man, was ushered in. Fusu bowed. "Right Prime Minister."

"Prince," Feng Quji replied. He handed over a bamboo scroll. "His Majesty has a reward for you as well."

Fusu bowed again. Feng Quji read the scroll: "For your merit in escorting the Marquis of Wucheng back to Xianyang, His Majesty bestows upon you the title of Minister of Waterways."

It was not uncommon for a prince to hold office. Feng Quji continued, "The Emperor and the Prime Minister, considering your youth, have ordered Zhang Cang to serve as the Palace Official to assist you. I hope you will complete the bridge over the Western Wei River and the canal at Mount Shangyan soon."

"I accept the command," Fusu said.

"One more thing," Feng Quji added. "The Prime Minister asked me to inform you that Wang Li has been sent to garrison the Shang Commandery."

After Feng Quji left, Fusu pondered his new role. The Minister of Waterways oversaw infrastructure. He realized that both he and Zhang Cang were under the jurisdiction of the Lesser Treasury, currently headed by Wang Ben. Wang Ben’s superior was Feng Quji. With the General’s return, the Emperor was reshuffling the Nine Ministers.

"Prince! Prince!" someone ran in, breathless. "News has arrived—Master Luli has decided to stay!"