Chapter 30: Shared Experiences

Fusu walked to the eaves and looked up at the blue sky. It was quiet all around; one could even feel the heat of the air with every breath.

About an hour later, the sun remained just as fierce, scorching the landscape in the distance until it appeared distorted. Fusu turned his head to see Tian An still standing to the side as if nothing were amiss, seemingly unaffected by the extreme heat in the slightest.

Zhang Cang had just handed over some documents to be delivered to the Shaofu (Minister of the Imperial Treasury), and then said with concern, "I fear there may be many thunderstorms of late."

Tian An nodded in full agreement. This intense heat had arrived too suddenly; the ground, which had been somewhat damp after the rain, was now almost searing to the touch.

Fusu said, "Tell them to start their labor an hour earlier in the morning from now on and to rest properly in the afternoon. Organize them into squads of ten; if anyone in a squad fails to rest and causes trouble, the troublemaker will have their wages docked, and the entire squad will be punished."

Upon receiving these orders, Tian An went to see them carried out. The Prince's method of governance was extremely strict. At this riverbed construction site stood a wooden board as tall as a man, inscribed with the rules of the site. There were over forty items listed in total, covering everything from dining and labor standards to strict schedules for work and arrival times; no one was permitted to be late or leave early without a valid reason.

However, food and drink were provided here, even if the living quarters were somewhat primitive. Yet, even for housing, the five hundred laborers had to follow strict rules. Regarding where and how they lived, there were regulations, and they were even required to monitor one another. Beyond that, there were even rules for eating and relieving themselves. The only upside was that the laborers here could take one day off every five days, during which they could return home.

There was an old man named Heifang, who was considered a man of prestige among the laborers; the young men here addressed him as "Uncle Fang."

"Uncle Fang, we can go home tomorrow night."

Hearing this, Heifang kept a straight face and said, "There's more to eat at home, so you'd be better off staying here."

The young man scratched his messy hair and whispered, "My mother wants me to go back. She says there's a marriage to discuss. I returned from the Chu state, I have military merit, I have farmland, and my father has built me a house."

Several other young men gathered around, talking about things from the past and the present. The old Qin people of the past were even fiercer than they are now; back then, if a man and woman caught each other's eye, they would simply head into the woods together. As the sturdy young men and the old man huddled together, they inevitably drifted into such anecdotes.

In truth, Heifang was a man who had endured much hardship. He had five sons, and his hair and beard were already mostly white. Years ago, he had gone to fight the Chu state with a group of old Qin soldiers. After returning, his wages were not enough to support his family, and to secure a better future for his youngest son—to let him study so that he might one day secure a post in Guanzhong—Heifang had been seeking work ever since he returned with the army.

Heifang did not want his son to risk his life on the battlefield; he hoped his child would learn to read and write and obtain a clerical position in Guanzhong. Hearing that Prince Fusu’s Shanyan Mountain offered schooling, Heifang sent his child there. Now, the boy was being raised at Shanyan Mountain, and for the school to teach him, Heifang had to provide grain; he paid five dou of rice every month just to keep his child there to study.

Though the lean Heifang had mostly white hair and beard, he was still very strong, and his eyes were bright, observing everything with great care. Otherwise, he would not have survived for so many years among the old Qin soldiers. Nearing sixty, Heifang possessed a unique skill: he could always find useful items in piles of corpses, and he could always identify fellow villagers among the dead. His memory was exceptionally good; even if a villager's body had bloated in the water, he could still recognize them, and his identifications were rarely wrong. Because of this, he commanded great respect among his peers and the younger men alike.

In the army, especially among old veterans like Heifang who had spent years in service, everyone had their own way of surviving—some could endure hunger, some were fast runners, and others were simply sharp-witted. Heifang still remembered that when he fought at Changping, he was only seventeen, and that battle had raged for a very, very long time...

The scorching sun remained high overhead. Many laborers were resting under the grass sheds by the riverbed, some fast asleep, while others huddled in twos and threes, chatting. Everyone worked here because no family ever felt they had enough grain; food was simply too scarce in these times. Coming here to work was a way to eat less at home and bring a little more back to their families.

Seeing an official approaching, everyone sat down cross-legged. The official was the Sefu (district official) of the West Wei River. He spoke in a clear voice, "The Gongshiling (Director of Works) says that work will resume in the evening."

Everyone nodded and watched as the official moved to the next shed to deliver the same message. When the wind blew, one could feel waves of heat hitting their faces. The men sat down, some returning to sleep. It was not until evening, when the sun dipped low, that work resumed. Even at night, the men were drenched in sweat while carrying the heavy wooden beams.

Zhang Cang was writing down his insights on the project. To the Prince, a capable laborer was extremely precious; they were essential for production—whether building bridges or farming—and the loss of a single person was a significant blow. To the Prince, the conscripted laborers were not merely a resource to be consumed; they were human lives that needed care. Thus, three physicians were stationed at the riverbed construction site.

If anyone suffered from heatstroke or fell ill, they were to be treated immediately. Anyone else might have simply discarded a sick laborer and conscripted a new one, but to the Prince, it was different: if they fell ill, they were to be healed, and then they would return to work. Prince Fusu was truly benevolent toward the people. In his own words, since grain was provided, both the employer and the employee were fulfilling their contractual relationship. This had been a rewarding year for Zhang Cang, who had spent over twenty years reading the Spring and Autumn Annals.

The next day, many laborers took their grain and headed home. They could rest for a day, but they would have to return to work the following day. It was only one day, and Fusu felt it would not affect the construction schedule.

In a small hut by the riverbed, Zhang Cang examined a massive chart. It was a construction schedule designed by the Prince, mapping out dates against expected progress and the specific number of workers required. The schedule from the sixth to the ninth month was already laid out. While it did not detail the individual workload of every person, it divided the men into squads, making it clear what each group was expected to do. Furthermore, it noted the names of the supervising Yushi (censor) and the Shaofu. The Prince had even placed this chart by the West Wei River for all to see. Zhang Cang was surprised to find that the progress on the Xianyang Bridge was very rapid—much faster than anticipated. If the Prince were to separate his daily tasks from his records, he would need at least three more scribes to assist him.

"Censor Zhang? Where is the Prince?"

Hearing the voice of Jian Lu, Zhang Cang pointed to the chart on the wall and explained, "The Shaofu has prepared a banquet, saying he has brought several beauties to drink with the Prince."

Jian Lu nodded slightly.

On the other side of the West Wei River, Fusu was drinking the wine brought by Wang Ben. Wang Ben loved beauties and wine, and Fusu watched the beauties dance while musicians played nearby. Wang Ben had originally been selecting musicians for the palace, and Fusu secretly wondered, "Did he bring them here just to entertain me?"

Fusu took a sip of wine and asked, "Is this wine from the Chu state?"

Wang Ben replied, "The rice wine of the Chu people tastes sweet at first, but it has quite a kick."

Fusu’s expression tightened, and he slowly set down his wine bowl. It was the season for the harvest of Guanzhong fruits; there were even grapes sent from the Western Regions. Fusu ate grapes while watching the beauties dance. As the Shaofu, he had come to inspect the progress of the Xianyang Bridge.

It was not until late at night that Fusu helped the drunken Wang Ben into his carriage and cautioned, "At the morning court tomorrow, if someone mentions during the proceedings that the Shaofu was drunk while inspecting the Xianyang Bridge today..."

"Do not worry, Prince; this has nothing to do with you." Wang Ben climbed into the carriage, drunkenly slurring, "Nothing to do with you, drink!"

A group of beauties then climbed into the carriage to tend to the intoxicated Wang Ben. Fusu watched the carriage disappear with concern; he had wanted to tell him that it would be best to tell the truth, as censors like Chunyu Yue were not easy to deal with. But it did not matter. Given the Wang family’s great contributions to the Great Qin, Wang Ben knew his limits; he knew that the worst outcome would be a loss of salary or a longer term for his son’s border service. But to a family whose glory had reached the pinnacle of a subject’s status, such antics made them appear safer and put the First Emperor more at ease.

Fusu walked back to the construction hut and ran into Jian Lu. Jian Lu bowed and said, "Prince, the water will be released next month; the fields downstream need irrigation."

"Master Lu, please make the arrangements."

"I obey."

In the middle of the sixth month, thunder rumbled throughout Guanzhong every night. Because of the unfavorable weather, the construction of the Xianyang Bridge hit several snags. In the heat of the day, labor was impossible, and at night, thunderstorms were frequent, which slowed the project's progress significantly. Today was the same; thunder rolled in the afternoon, lightning streaked across the sky, and a torrential downpour began. The rain fell from the afternoon until night. Because of the storm, work was halted for most of the day, leaving the manpower idle, which was undoubtedly another loss.

The next day, work could only resume as soon as the sky began to brighten. Plans never kept pace with changes. The Xianyang Bridge, originally scheduled for completion in the eleventh month, might now have to be pushed back to the twelfth.

Today, however, was a very important day. At dawn, when the sky was just turning light, Fusu was already drenched in sweat, his robes soaked through at the neck and back.

With the shouts of the men, the dam of the West Wei River was breached. Fusu watched the massive volume of water pour down, his eyes fixed on the six pillars standing in the riverbed. At first, the sheer force of the water slammed into the pillars. Under the gaze of everyone, the pillars remained immovable. As the current slowed and the water level stabilized, the river began to swirl around the pillars, forming a few small eddies. Even when those eddies vanished, the pillars standing in the river remained steady.

Fusu, who had successfully completed this project for the first time, held a bamboo slip in his hand, his wide sleeves falling down his arms as he shouted, "Splendid!"

The laborers erupted in cheers. The efforts they had made for over a month had not been in vain. If there had been any accident during this release of water, the construction of the Xianyang Bridge would have fallen into a dilemma: the downstream fields needed irrigation, yet the bridge’s construction would have had to be torn down and restarted. Now, it seemed, the task was complete.

For this past month, Fusu had practically lived here. Seeing such results, how could he not be happy? He was indeed happy, and the people continued to cheer, which warmed one's heart. Zhang Cang watched this scene with a smile; when people share an experience, they share a common joy and sorrow. Zhang Cang finally understood what the Prince had once said: "The labor and struggle of the people can always create magnificent scenery."

Jian Lu was indeed a master of water conservancy; he was the "chief engineer" of the Xianyang Bridge. Fusu, as the Prince, had merely provided the planning and management.

"Prince, there is a caravan from the Western Regions."

Hearing this, Fusu looked up and saw merchants from the Western Regions hauling goods on the opposite bank, along with several camels. Fusu was in high spirits and waved at them with a smile. The members of the Western Regions caravan also bowed to the young man surrounded by officials in Great Qin robes. Those among the merchants who were well-informed knew that the man presiding over the construction of this bridge was a Prince of the Great Qin.

It was the season for the harvest of melons and fruits in the Western Regions, and occasionally, caravans would come to Xianyang for trade. Perhaps many years later, when a caravan from the Western Regions would come to Great Qin again, return to the banks of the West Wei River, and walk across the Xianyang Bridge spanning the two sides, looking out at the prosperous city of Xianyang, they would remember the young man who had waved at them today—the young man who had built a powerful empire.

The young man waved simply because he was happy.

On the other side of the West Wei River, Fusu told Tian An, "Go buy some melons and fruits; everyone shall have a share."

Whenever the Prince was happy, Tian An was happy too. He mounted his horse and went to purchase the fruit. Jian Lu was busy preparing for the construction of the bridge deck. Once Tian An returned with five carts of fruit and everyone had finished eating, they resumed their work.

At night, torches lined both banks of the West Wei River, where the laborers were still working. In the small hut by the river, Tian An carried an incense burner to ward off mosquitoes. Inside, the oil lamp was lit, and Fusu sat at the table, reading the roster of laborers by the dim light.

Outside, the sound of hoofbeats approached, followed by the creaking of carriage wheels. When the sound of the hooves and the creaking of the wheels stopped, a small figure entered the room. He carried a heavy basket and walked forward, struggling to place it on the table. "Brother?"

Fusu looked at his younger brother, Gao, and asked, "Why are you here?"

Gao took some ice from the basket, then pulled out a melon, helped place it in a basin, and set the chilled melon on the table. "This is ice bestowed by the Father Emperor. He said that since you are still building the bridge by the West Wei River, he wanted me to bring it to you."

Fusu ate the chilled melon and asked, "How have your studies with Shusun Tong been lately?"

Gao replied, "The Master says that since I am a Prince of Great Qin, I cannot attend lectures with the others, but I want to sit with those friends and listen to Master Shusun Tong’s lectures. Am I doing the right thing?"

"Yes," Fusu nodded.

Gao bowed again and said, "I will go and convince the Master; brother need not worry."