Chapter Thirty-Eight: Qu and Tian

When Fusu arrived before the hall, he saw that the emperor was speaking with the venerable General Wang Jian. Prime Minister Li Si also stood before the hall, and soon a palace attendant stepped forward to report.

The voices inside ceased, and the attendant announced, "Enter the hall."

Fusu entered, accompanied by Prime Minister Li Si. He first bowed to his father, the emperor, then to the venerable General Wang Jian.

Receiving a subtle signal from His Majesty, Li Si took a seat to the side. Only then did Fusu follow suit.

Before them lay a vast map unfurled. Fusu listened attentively as the emperor, the old general, and the prime minister discussed plans for the southern campaign.

The old general had fought in countless battles throughout his life, while Prime Minister Li Si was the chief overseer of state affairs in the great Qin. Their cooperation was crucial.

Fusu heard Li Si inquire about the number of troops required, while the general asked who would lead them. In the end, they agreed on a force of two hundred thousand.

Then the emperor asked where these troops would come from.

Naturally, the general was expected to answer, but Li Si spoke first.

“I propose relocating settlers to the frontier, followed by selecting exiled soldiers and convicts for conscription. Once deployed, we shall pacify the western Ou and Luo Yue peoples along the route, integrating their leaders under the Qin seal of authority. If they submit, we may even grant them some autonomy.”

Wang Jian bowed and responded, “Your Majesty, I believe it is necessary to conscript laborers from the Chu territories to transport provisions.”

Before His Majesty could reply, Li Si added, “For each enemy head taken, a rank shall be bestowed; military merit will be rewarded with land and residence; bronze vessels and treasures captured shall be distributed among the soldiers accordingly. This shall serve as encouragement.”

Listening to their words, Fusu understood that a grand campaign was imminent.

This year, Guanzhong and the Central Plains had enjoyed bountiful harvests. Since the summer, the southern expedition had been discussed, and the war could no longer be avoided.

From noon until dusk, the discussion continued, with Fusu sitting quietly at the side, absorbing every detail.

As night approached, the debate finally concluded. Wang Jian and Li Si rose to take their leave, but Fusu spoke up, “Father, I still have some questions.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng nodded. “What troubles you?”

Li Si furrowed his brow slightly.

Fusu bowed respectfully. “I believe provisions could be transported by water.”

Wang Jian, who had just risen, sat back down, supporting his waist as he pursed his lips and glanced at the map with evident interest.

Fusu continued, “The southern campaign will pass through countless forests and mountains. It might be better to dig a canal to facilitate the transport of supplies.”

Seeing the silence among those present, Fusu pressed on, “As the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household, I often observe the rivers throughout the Central Plains. If a canal were dug to utilize waterways for transporting provisions, it would be far more efficient.”

Ying Zheng’s gaze slowly shifted to Wang Jian. After studying the map for a long moment, the general nodded slowly.

The canal connecting Guanzhong to the Luo River remained incomplete. Now, another canal was proposed. The Xianyang Bridge, overseen by the young lord, had just been finished. Another canal was to be undertaken?

As night fell, the emperor said, “It grows late. General Wang and Prime Minister Li, please take your leave.”

Li Si and Wang Jian glanced at Fusu. Seeing no further words from the young lord, they bowed in unison.

From morning’s court session to sunset, the deliberations had stretched on.

Escorted by a few palace attendants, Li Si walked beside the cane-supported old general.

“I must thank you, venerable general,” Li Si said.

Wang Jian, his hair and beard white as snow, shook his head. “I only entered the palace at noon; you were already engaged in court discussions at dawn. You work harder than I do.”

Since his return last year, the old general had aged rapidly. By this late autumn, he required a cane to walk, his hair fully gray.

Leaning on his cane, Wang Jian took a step, then another, adding, “Ha, young lord, you have grown taller since last year.”

Li Si nodded slightly.

Wang Jian stopped and asked, “Are you the one instructing the canal construction?”

Li Si lowered his head. “I am ashamed to say I have never taught the young lord such things.”

“Then was it Zhang Cang?”

“Both Zhang Cang and I were disciples of Xunzi, but I never heard the teacher instruct Zhang Cang on this.”

Exiting the palace gates, Wang Jian paused, hands clasped behind his back. His previously stooped figure straightened suddenly, the cane no longer touching the ground. His tone grew heavier, starkly different from his earlier frailty. “Then who taught you?”

Li Si replied, “The young lord had already begun canal work before meeting Zhang Cang.”

Wang Jian nodded slightly and, without another word, entered his carriage, leaving Li Si behind as the driver guided the horses toward Pinyang.

Li Si bowed deeply at the palace gate, seeing off the venerable general.

Though the old general appeared aged before the emperor, outside he was surprisingly vigorous and in good health.

At the rear hall of Zhangtai Palace, Fusu remained to dine.

The emperor and Fusu ate noodles, hand-pulled by the elder servant Tian An. The noodles were broad and thick.

Outside the hall, three clay stoves burned, boiling water in pots. Tian An’s hands skillfully stretched the dough into noodles.

Though the palace guards stood rigidly, their eyes often glanced at the experienced old servant pulling the dough.

After finishing a bowl, numerous bamboo slips were brought in. Just as the emperor prepared to attend to state affairs, Fusu rose to leave.

“Last night, I reviewed the documents you examined,” the emperor said.

Fusu paused, setting down his bowl and chopsticks, worried if he had made a mistake.

Ying Zheng glanced at his son, then said gravely, “Sit. Let us review them together. You may also issue your responses.”

Understanding, Fusu placed his utensils on a wooden basin and had them taken outside the hall.

Inside, under the curious gazes of several palace attendants and maids, the young lord found a seat and unrolled a document from a nearby chest.

When His Majesty also picked up a document to peruse, the hall fell into silence.

Only the occasional sound of wind outside drifted in.

Fusu steadily reviewed several documents, while the emperor glanced through a few intermittently.

Eventually, the documents Fusu reviewed were dispatched without further imperial scrutiny.

Remarkably, Fusu’s speed surpassed that of the emperor. Papers that typically required five to six hours for the emperor were done by Fusu in three.

Within the hall, this scene resembled a father and son preparing for battle together.

For Fusu, it was akin to solving problems: understanding Qin’s history, grasping the state’s situation, and formulating concise replies.

One document mentioned the Jingye Canal in Jingye County. It recalled that when the Zheng Guo Canal was nearing completion, Qin had absorbed nearly 150,000 refugees from the Six States. The First Emperor decreed that those who migrated to Guanzhong would be exempt from taxes for two years.

Following this decree, the Zheng Guo Canal’s completion led Qin to absorb 300,000 people, cultivating newly irrigated lands—all immigrants from the former Six States.

Fusu noted how his teacher’s text first referenced the Zheng Guo Canal’s history, then mentioned the Jingye Canal.

The teacher had previously said that if the Jingye Canal extended further south, it would encroach upon other counties, beyond the young lord’s private domain, and most fields lay outside private holdings.

At present, the Central Plains suffered from widespread distress and population decline. Bringing in the old inhabitants of the Six States to Qin through the Jingye Canal’s reclaimed fields, exempting them from one year’s land tax, served to both increase population and divide potential enemies.

Fusu agreed with his teacher’s insight.

Guanzhong was Qin’s foothold. With the rest of the realm impoverished, relocating people to Guanzhong would ensure its prosperity and population growth, strengthening the foundation for future state-building.

In essence, a strong capital region could radiate power across the Central Plains.

Fusu understood his teacher’s intent. The limited Guanzhong fields would expand by tens of thousands of hectares. These lands needed cultivation, raising the question of who would farm them.

This problem, seen as a condition for strengthening the state, would simultaneously boost Guanzhong’s population and fracture potential foes.

Fusu penned his reply on the teacher’s document and sent it away.

Unnoticed, night had fallen.

Ying Zheng furrowed his brow and straightened his back. Only two documents remained to be reviewed today.

Seeing Fusu’s hand reach out, the emperor handed the final two scrolls to his son.

The table before the emperor now appeared bare. He stretched and moved his arms.

Looking back, he saw Fusu had finished the last two documents and solemnly said, “It grows late. You should return.”

Once his son left the hall, Ying Zheng’s gaze lingered on the empty desk. He was so accustomed to piles of documents that the sudden emptiness felt unsettling.

“Inform the Prime Minister and the Right Chancellor: no court assembly tomorrow. If there are errors in recent document replies, have them brought to me.”

The attendant bowed and left to deliver the message.

During summer, the First Emperor had announced the southern campaign but delayed preparations due to the season.

Now, deep autumn had arrived. With abundant harvests across counties, provisions were secured, and preparations for the southern expedition could commence.

Today, Right Chancellor Feng Quji brought supervisor Jun Lu to meet the emperor. Soon after, an edict was issued appointing Jun Lu to oversee supply transport and the excavation of the Hundred Yue canals.

With the emperor’s decrees issued in succession, the great Qin’s southern campaign began.

Fusu believed that mentioning the Ling Canal’s construction ahead of time was to prioritize its completion, ensuring the war would proceed more smoothly and with fewer casualties.

“Young lord, a letter from Officer Li,” Tian An presented a bamboo tube with both hands.

Fusu took it, removing the cap. Some sealing wax fell out as he drew forth a scroll of cloth. The knot binding the cloth was sealed with wax.

Typically, such sealing was reserved for confidential or important correspondence.

Fusu broke the wax and slowly unfurled the white cloth. Li You’s handwriting was neat and orderly, though not elegant.

In the letter, Li You expressed concern over the southern campaign. He reported sending a detachment into the mountains for over two months; five returned, but two were gravely ill.

After reading, Fusu asked Tian An, “Are there any medical officers from Chu or Shu in the palace?”

“There are, young lord.”

Fusu wrote down marching regulations: avoid drinking untreated water, carry ample rations, suspend movement during the rainy season...

He wrote extensively, then entrusted the notes to Tian An with instructions, “I am Junior Minister of the Imperial Household with authority over canal construction. Have Jun Lu come at once.”

Jun Lu had been busy these days, and through Right Chancellor’s recommendation, he was to accompany the army southward.

At home, Jun Lu stacked piles of bamboo slips onto a cart, working swiftly and diligently.

Inside the house, a scroll was thrown to the ground, and a sharp-voiced woman said, “Go, and don’t come back.”

The speaker was Jun Lu’s wife. Though her words were harsh, Jun Lu knew she wept silently within.

Picking up the scroll, Jun Lu placed it in his cart.

He then told his thirteen-year-old son, “You must take good care of your mother while I’m gone.”

At that moment, another clay pot was thrown, accompanied by angry words, “Better to die outside!”

Frightened, the boy shrank back.

Jun Lu gently patted the boy’s head. Just as he was about to leave, he encountered a palace attendant.

Assuming it was a military summons, Jun Lu bowed, “Lu will go to the army at once.”

The messenger smiled, “Master Fusu requests Master Lu’s presence.”

Jun Lu turned to his son again. “Care for your mother. Father is going south to aid the army.”

He spoke in their native dialect.

“Will you be fighting and killing people, father?”

Jun Lu shook his head. “If you face trouble, seek out Master Fusu or General Zhang Han at the Jingye Canal.”

Seeing the boy nod, Jun Lu smiled.

The attendant, unfamiliar with their language, assumed it was some form of farewell.

Jun Lu pulled the cart out of the courtyard, shouldering his bag. From the gate, he looked back at the house and saw only one figure with her back turned.

He gazed at his wife’s silhouette for a long moment, bowed deeply, then departed with his cart of documents.

After he left, soft sobbing sounded from within the house.

The army was truly going south. The First Emperor knew this war would provoke opposition from scholars, so he suspended court sessions. Yet, the city of Xianyang buzzed with talk of the southern campaign.

Jun Lu walked through the noisy streets, following the attendant into the palace, arriving at Gaoquan Palace.

Fusu was tending a small bonsai pine. Upon seeing Jun Lu, he had Tian An hand over two scrolls.

Setting down his small knife, he noted Jun Lu’s packed bag. “Are you leaving now?”

“Lu must follow the army; I dare not err.”

Fusu said, “These two scrolls contain some disease prevention methods. They are only preventive. I have arranged for several medical officers to accompany you. They will be near Tujue.”

“Thank you, young lord.”

Fusu bowed. “Much obliged.”

Jun Lu took the scrolls and hurried away.

Fusu observed that Jun Lu’s bag was small, yet he had a cart full of books.

Watching his retreating figure, Fusu bowed once more.