Chapter 25: The Yellow River Has a Great Temper

Gazing at the surging Yellow River, it is easy for one to be filled with deep emotions.

Looking ahead two thousand years, emperors of successive dynasties, if they wished to be enlightened rulers... would more or less have to govern the Yellow River.

It is just that our Mother River... her temper is too great.

After watching for a moment, Fusu wrote a letter to Prime Minister Li Si within the county office, wrapped the Bamboo Slip in a cloth bag, tightened the rope at the mouth of the bag, and just as he handed it out, he instructed: "Notify every county along the way to Xianyang."

Zhang Han took the Bamboo Slip with both hands, nodded, and then ran off quickly.

As early as the beginning of the third month, this Late Spring Cold had arrived fiercely, and the Grain Rain had come too urgently; it was indeed not a good omen.

Fusu walked out of the county office, followed the official road all the way to the side of the Yellow River, and watched the river water flowing eastward.

At this moment, the weather was still gloomy, and the muddy roads were temporarily unfavorable for the army to trek.

"Where is General Wang?"

"Replying to Prince, the General is writing a letter home."

Fusu looked at the sky full of dark clouds and sighed: "The Grand General's family affairs are also quite complicated."

The atmosphere eased up a lot, and Zhang Han nodded slightly, feeling quite the same.

As the cold wind blew, his mind cleared, and Zhang Han realized his own status; Wang Bi was still his Upper General, so he hurriedly shook his head again.

The wind by the Yellow River made his robes rustle, and Fusu whispered: "It is good as long as everything goes smoothly."

Before even reaching Hangu Pass, seeing that the Yellow River might face a flood season, he was worried about the Grand General losing his temper; if that old gentleman lost his temper and refused to return, what would happen?

Although he was a Prince of Great Qin, it was indeed difficult to interfere in someone else's family affairs.

Furthermore, General Wang Bi held great prestige in the army; he was a pillar among the young and middle-aged generals and was at the peak of his career.

The Grand General was just one step away from being an Upper Pillar of State.

If this father and son were to have a falling out, there would be no knowing how it might end.

"This subordinate will go check on the warhorses and grain."

Seeing the Prince nod, Zhang Han then departed.

A cavalry unit set out from Ningqin County, totaling more than ten riders.

Traveling up along the Luo River, a rider went to deliver orders at every county they passed along the way.

Inside Xianyang City, Prime Minister Li Si was looking at the news of the spring ploughing from various regions.

"Report! Prime Minister, an urgent report from Prince Fusu."

Li Si raised his head slightly and beckoned: "Bring it here."

The messenger entered the Prime Minister's Mansion and presented the Bamboo Slip with both hands.

The content written on the Bamboo Slip was very simple, involving nothing more than two matters: the Peach Blossom Flood and the Grand General's family affairs.

After the noon hour, Li Si hurried to the Zhangtai Palace.

Under the candle stand, the First Emperor looked at the documents with a solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is here."

Ying Zheng closed the Bamboo Slip in his hand, looked up toward the outside of the hall, and said in a clear voice: "Enter."

Li Si performed a salute before the hall, walked quickly into the hall, and presented the Bamboo Slip with both hands: "Your Majesty, a letter from the Prince."

Ying Zheng placed the Bamboo Slip in his hand to the side, took the one handed over by the Attendant, and asked: "Where has Fusu reached?"

"He should have reached Ningqin."

"I remember that it is not far from Hangu Pass; a fast horse can reach it in a day."

Li Si nodded and added: "I heard that the Prince did not sightsee along the way, nor did he have any wine or meat banquets; he did not linger too long during the period and headed straight for Hangu Pass without delay."

After listening, Ying Zheng looked at this urgent report and added: "According to what is written here, Zhang Han can even discern clear and rainy weather?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject has written an evaluation of Zhang Han."

Ying Zheng nodded slowly: "What do you think?"

"This subject has read the documents from the various counties in Guanzhong; there are indeed signs of river water backflowing. If there are two more days of rain, I fear it will flood the fields."

Ying Zheng set down the Bamboo Slip in his hand and said in a deep voice: "Have the various counties keep watch over the river channels."

Li Si saluted and said: "This subject accepts the order."

Ying Zheng added: "Eat some loquats."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Si carried a basket of loquats and hurried out of the Zhangtai Palace, his footsteps not stopping as he left the palace.

This Prime Minister bit into a loquat, chewed it in his mouth, and with hurried steps, beckoned for several minor officials, giving instructions as he walked.

Every time the Prime Minister said a word, a minor official would run off quickly.

Those who didn't know might think something had happened, but seeing the Prime Minister walking along while chewing on a loquat, he looked quite pleased.

Two days later, Guanzhong indeed welcomed a heavy rain; this rain came very urgently and quickly, as if the heavens were pouring water.

The water levels in the river channels throughout Guanzhong rose once again, but fortunately, the various counties had been prepared. Two days earlier, Prime Minister Li Si had ordered the various counties to reinforce the river dikes and prevent floods.

And this year, the flood that should have backflowed into the fields was easily resolved due to the advance precautions taken by the various counties.

Zhang Cang and Shusun Tong wore bamboo hats and straw rain capes, standing by the river canal; because of this heavy rain, the excavation of the Well Canal at Shangyan Mountain had to be stopped.

The heavy rain was still pouring down, and the bean-sized raindrops hitting their bodies even caused some pain. Shusun Tong held his bamboo hat with one hand and said: "I heard that this time it was the Prince who wrote to the Prime Minister, prompting the Prime Minister to take precautions in advance."

Zhang Cang's gaze was fixed on the vertical shaft that had just collapsed; this shaft had just been dug and had not yet been reinforced, so it collapsed under the impact of the heavy rain.

He felt a bit annoyed in his heart, but there was nothing he could do; how could there be so many things that go smoothly?

The newly excavated vertical shaft had collapsed, and the newly planted mulberry saplings had also been washed away by the heavy rain.

However, fortunately, work on the river canal had stopped in time, and fortunately, no one was inside the collapsed vertical shaft.

Zhang Cang wore straw sandals and a straw rain cape as he walked back.

Because the mud ground washed by the rain was somewhat slippery, Shusun Tong nearly fell, but Zhang Cang hurriedly supported him with one hand, and he did not fall.

Standing here, one could still hear the rumbling sound of water from the main channel of the Luo River. Zhang Cang walked back into the village and saw that the children in every household were watching the heavy rain.

Some children clung to the windows, watching the rain in silence.

Other children sat at their doorsteps, looking up at the rainwater flowing down from the thatched roofs.

Zhang Cang also walked under the eaves; he took off his bamboo hat and straw raincoat, and without minding the mud on his ankles and straw sandals, he sat down to wait for the rain to stop.

Shusun Tong hurried into the house as soon as he returned, then came out carrying a bowl of hot ginger soup. "Drink some to ward off the cold."

Zhang Cang took the ginger soup and said, "The children here are very sensible."

Shusun Tong stood to one side; he was a head shorter than Zhang Cang when sitting down, and sighed, "These children all know that if the heavy rain ruins the fields, they will go hungry this year."

Zhang Cang nodded while drinking the ginger tea.

The mulberry trees had not yet taken root before they were washed away by the heavy rain; everything... is difficult at the beginning. Zhang Cang was not discouraged, but Shusun Tong was very pessimistic.

By the third day, the heavy rain finally ceased.

When people walked out to the fields one after another and saw that the ditches in the fields had drained the water away, and saw that the fields had not been ruined, everyone felt relieved.

In fact, Shangyan Mountain is very fragile; if there were a flood this year, the Prince's three thousand servants would all go hungry.

Fortunately, there were precautions taken in advance.

"Imperial Censor Zhang, official documents from the court!" A cavalryman arrived at a gallop and handed over a scroll of documents.

Zhang Cang took the documents and opened the Bamboo Slip to read the contents; the documents mentioned an official named Jian Lu.

The Prime Minister had ordered Jian Lu to inspect the various river channels in advance.

After reading the documents, Zhang Cang handed over his own report and instructed, "Send this to the Imperial Censor Office."

The cavalryman took the documents and rode away again.

After the heavy rain, the whole village looked messy. Zhang Cang felt that the other counties were likely no better off. When the sunlight came out again, the people of Shangyan Mountain began to get busy once more.

A heavy rain had trapped the escort for Grand General Wang Jian by the Yellow River for three full days.

One thousand cavalrymen, with men to feed and horses to graze, were about to turn the local magistrate's face green.

After all, one thousand men was one thing, but there were also one thousand warhorses to feed; the pressure was not small, and the grain reserves in a county's granary were not abundant to begin with.

"Reporting to the Prince, reporting to the Great General, the road ahead has been cleared; we may set off."

Zhang Han reported from outside the house.

The rain had only stopped for half a day, the land of Guanzhong was still damp, and the Yellow River remained fierce.

Fusu and Wang Bi were eating flatbread and river delicacies, and said, "General Zhang Han, come and have some river delicacies together."

"This subordinate obeys."

When one is by the Yellow River, there is no fear of going hungry; there are endless river delicacies here.

Tian An sat by two stoves, still boiling fish porridge.

Fusu said, "When away from home, one must also eat well and sleep well."

Zhang Han ate a piece of flatbread, nodded, and said, "This subordinate obeys."

Hearing this, Tian An explained, "The Prince once said that sleeping and eating are the most important things in a person's life."

After the meal, Fusu took a short nap, and then the group set off.

The army finally left. When the magistrate and the various county officials saw them off, their eyes were filled with tears.

The group headed toward Hangu Pass once again.

Walking along the Yellow River, they did not move fast. Wang Bi rode his horse beside the Prince's carriage, looking ahead, and whispered, "My family letter has already been sent to Xianyang, and Xianyang has yet to send a reply. I am worried that family matters will delay the Grand General's return to Xianyang. If my father refuses to enter the pass, I will return to Xianyang to accept punishment myself; it has nothing to do with the Prince."

"We haven't reached Hangu Pass yet, General Wang need not be anxious or worried."

Wang Bi said, "This subordinate will go and urge the vanguard to find a campsite where we can station for tonight."

The group walked along the Yellow River for another day, with half a day's journey remaining to Hangu Pass.

At night, the water of the Yellow River would occasionally overflow onto the riverbank and then flow back, repeating like this.

The Prince was still the same as before, following the army the whole way. Under the close escort of the army, the Prince had not made any demands and was even very cooperative with the army, camping by the Yellow River.

Not only that, this Prince could also eat and chat with the soldiers.

This made Zhang Han feel that the soldiers in the army were also much more relaxed.

"Reporting to the Prince, I was originally born in the northern lands. I am a Yan; my father joined the Qin Army, and our family followed him to Xianyang. We Yan are good at riding and shooting, so I joined the Iron Cavalry."

"The Iron Cavalry of Great Qin is used for charging formations," another person added.

That Yan brother said again, "So what! I can help the Prince fight the Xiongnu. Have you ever seen the Xiongnu? Do you know how the Iron Cavalry should fight the Xiongnu on the grasslands!"

At this, several people were about to argue.

Fusu was eating dried meat and noticed that there were also some old Qin Army soldiers with gray hair in this cavalry unit; these old Qin Army soldiers were all Hundred-man Commanders.

Do not look at how they were silent at this moment, while a group of young soldiers were noisy.

These silent old Qin Army soldiers were all battle-hardened.

One has to admit the cruelty of war; Qin's unification of the Six States almost exhausted the national strength, yet there were still white-haired old Qin Army soldiers in the military.

The next day, Prince Fusu woke up early. The Prince did not want to delay the march, nor did he think about sleeping an extra hour or two; when the soldiers woke up, the Prince also woke up.

In the court and among the public, there was much discussion about Prince Fusu; in the past, it was said that Prince Fusu was very benevolent, filial, and wise.

Of course, the current Prince Fusu remained benevolent, filial, and wise.

It was just that in the last two years, the Prince had taken Prime Minister Li Si as his teacher and had also become very close to the disciples of Xunzi, and there was a strong tendency for him to associate with the disciples of Xunzi and to promote the teachings of Xunzi.

On the third day after the heavy rain, the Yellow River finally became much calmer.

Today, Fusu saw many cavalrymen moving back and forth along the Yellow River, as well as groups of merchants or farmers traveling from Hangu Pass westward into Guanzhong.

Tian An sat on the carriage shaft and looked into the distance, saying, "Prince, ahead is Xiao Mountain."

Hearing this, Fusu looked up and saw the green mountains in the distance, the mountain ranges connected into one piece; if one were to climb to the top of the mountain at this time, one should be able to see the Xiao-Han Ancient Road.

Hangu Pass was just to the north of Xiao Mountain; as long as one could see Xiao Mountain, one was very close to Hangu Pass.

The troop traveled for another two hours, and by dusk, the garrison of Hangu Pass kept sending men to inquire.

Fusu sat on the carriage shaft, looked up, and under the crimson sunlight of dusk, that towering and magnificent pass standing at the foot of the mountains was right before his eyes.

This was the place where the allied states had once joined forces to attack Qin, only to be defeated and flee.

Qin relied on Hangu to hold off the allied armies of the states, and afterwards, Qin marched east, invincible wherever it went.

The garrison general of Hangu Pass was none other than the Grand General Xin Sheng, who had destroyed Yan back in the day.

Grand General Xin Sheng, with white hair and beard, came supported by a Subordinate General and saluted, saying, "This humble general pays respects to Prince."

Fusu hurriedly stepped forward to support the Grand General, "Grand General, there is no need for such formalities."

Xin Sheng stood leaning on his cane and added, "Prince, Grand General Wang is stationed at Hangu Pass; this humble general has already sent men to notify him."

Fusu said, "I shall go see the Grand General myself; there is no need to trouble anyone."

Xin Sheng nodded and said, "Prince, please this way."

Whether it was Great General Meng Wu or the Grand General before him, the generals who had attacked the various states back then were all old now, and there were even many old soldiers at Hangu Pass.

Seeing this scene, Fusu could not help but feel that time spares no one; Qin had only just unified the world, yet the old generals were all advanced in age.

Fusu walked into Hangu Pass and looked around; this fortress was built against the mountains, and looking up, one could faintly see the beacon towers on the distant mountain ridges; walking from the inner gate into the barbican, and then walking further out, the view before him became much narrower.

Walking toward the outer gate, before Fusu could properly appreciate the scenery of this place, he was led into the main camp outside Hangu Pass.

The main camp was by the river, and at a glance, Fusu saw that those who remained here and had not yet entered the pass were all aged Old Qin Army soldiers; they had white hair and beards, sitting in groups of two or three.

Xin Sheng explained, "The young ones all want to enter the pass to see their families, farm the land, and raise their children, so Grand General Wang Jian only kept these Old Qin Army soldiers to keep him company."

Before even reaching the main tent, Fusu heard a voice full of vigor.

"Hmph! Qi Wei Wang? A rat!"

Hearing his father's scolding, Wang Bi's expression tightened, and seeing the Prince stop his steps, he kept a straight face and hurried into the main tent.

When the vigorous scolding stopped, Grand General Wang Jian, looking like a candle flickering in the wind, walked out supported by someone, coughing twice.

Fusu could tell that these two coughs were mostly intentional.

(End of chapter)