Chapter 29: The Weak Have Great Power

Zhang Cang stood to the side, watching the Prince and Wang Bi, and smiled along with them.

Once Wang Bi had left with his servants, Zhang Cang took out a scroll of the Classic of History and said, "This is a volume I have recently compiled."

Fusu took the scroll and asked curiously, "It is rare to see you compiling books, Teacher."

Untying the cord on the bamboo slips, Fusu's eyes immediately fell upon the words of Xunzi.

Zhang Cang explained, "These are the words the Master left behind when he taught us back then. I have written some of them down; perhaps they will be of use to the Prince."

Seeing the Prince reading the scroll, Zhang Cang stood to one side, gazing at the fields in the distance.

"Teacher."

"I am here."

Fusu thought for a moment and asked, "Does this book have a name?"

Zhang Cang said, "I have not yet decided."

After he spoke, the Prince asked no more questions, and Zhang Cang stood behind him.

This year in Guanzhong is much livelier than last year; just by walking a short distance along the Luo River, one finds more people in the fields than there were last year.

Zhang Han held a wooden hoe in one hand, standing quite imposingly at the edge of the field, commanding the Prince's servants to cultivate the land.

Nowadays, the people of every county are putting their full effort into farming, growing food, and raising families.

Seeing that the Prince and Zhang Cang had arrived, Zhang Han hurriedly stepped back and bowed in salute.

Fusu said, "Teacher, farming is not easy, and teaching the people is even harder. As Xunzi said, without wealth, one cannot nurture the people's sentiments; without education, one cannot regulate the people's nature. It is too difficult."

Zhang Cang looked at the Prince before him, his eyes filled with hope, and said, "The Prince wants to do it, so you feel it is very difficult. If the Prince did not want to do it, you would be like them, only feeling that what Xunzi said is the way to govern a state."

Zhang Cang saw in the distance a group of children sitting in the fields studying; these children were following Shusun Tong in reciting poetry and books, and Shusun Tong would also tell them stories.

Thinking of teaching the people, it was more than just difficult; Fusu felt his scalp tingle. "General Zhang Han!"

"This general is here."

Zhang Han was as full of vigor as ever.

Fusu asked, "Does General Zhang Han find farming difficult?"

Zhang Han lowered his head, caught in hesitation, seemingly unsure how to answer, so he simply said, "This general had the children plant three hundred mulberry saplings at the foot of the mountain, and they have all sprouted new buds."

Fusu nodded, thinking to himself, General Zhang Han is a model of a loyal subject.

When leaving Shangyan Mountain, Fusu was still watching the groups of people returning home under the setting sun.

They often walked together as a family, the able-bodied men of the household walking in front, followed by the women and the elderly, and behind them were the children, following along at a leisurely pace.

The people of this era are all full of ideals and ambitions; these people include Li Si, Shusun Tong, or Luli Xiansheng.

Luli Xiansheng is a compassionate man; he is so compassionate that he hopes Great Qin can cherish the people of the world. After eight hundred years of the Spring and Autumn Annals, he does not know how the people of the world have made it through. Now that Qin has unified the world, he finds it somewhat hard to believe.

Before his eyes, these ordinary people returning home likely also harbor ideals in their hearts.

At night, the area below Shangyan Mountain is still very lively. The people who labored all day have rested, but only the children are still releasing their boundless vitality; some children are fighting with a group of puppies, and a few others are running and howling.

The terrifying vitality of these children is truly astonishing.

Li You is adding thatch to the roof of a house, and inside the room beneath the roof, Zhang Han is sitting there.

At this moment, Zhang Han is drinking a bowl of wine and eating mutton.

He still has a thick beard on his chin, sitting cross-legged, having set down his wine bowl, his hands resting on his knees.

Even though Li You and the Prime Minister do not get along, they are father and son after all, so Li You can study what he wants to study without a care.

But Zhang Han feels he is different; his family was broken when he was young, and he has lived under another's roof.

And he himself needs to work hard to do every single thing well in order to advance step by step and let this family become good again.

Zhang Han saw Li You jump down from the roof, and then Li You went off to play with some children.

Seeing this, Zhang Han lowered his head in disappointment; he cannot be compared to Li You.

Zhang Han is desperate to start a family; he now needs a good wife, a wife who can slowly build a large family with him starting from a small hut.

Originally, there was hope.

Zhang Han actually had a marriage contract, one from before with Dong Fu, but now the other party has gone back on it.

Zhang Han does not usually drink alcohol; only after changing shifts and going off duty can he drink a mouthful or two.

According to the usual practice, if Zhang Cang is not staying in the village, and if he is in this village, then he must reach Xianyang before dawn.

Shusun Tong does not get along well with Zhang Cang on a daily basis; their principles are different, and they cannot sit at the same table. Seeing Zhang Han drinking, he walked into the room, and Shusun Tong saluted, "General Zhang Han."

"Hmm," Zhang Han responded in a deep voice.

"General Zhang Han seems to have something on his mind?"

Zhang Han poured a bowl of wine for Shusun Tong and said, "Please."

Shusun Tong did not decline, took the wine bowl, and drank a mouthful heartily. "I wonder if this old man might hear the General's troubles."

Zhang Han said, "It is all just some old business; I have a marriage contract."

Shusun Tong nodded slightly, listening to Zhang Han recount the marriage arrangement with Dong Fu, and said with a chuckle, "Since it is a marriage contract, how can they go back on it? Furthermore, you are now building canals for Prince Fusu; how could they dare to slight you?"

Zhang Han lowered his head and said, "My family... heh, is no longer what it was back then."

Shusun Tong sized up Zhang Han and added, "This matter, this old man can help the General."

"Truly?"

Shusun Tong smiled with a relaxed expression and said, "This old man has plenty of friends in Xianyang."

Zhang Han stood up and saluted, "I am obliged."

The next day, Shusun Tong rode a donkey cart to Xianyang City and arrived at Dong Fu.

Just like previous visits to Xianyang, he was invited into the residence very enthusiastically by the gatekeeper.

Shusun Tong did not see the master of Dong Fu, but instead met a young man of Dong Fu; this person was named Dong Yi, and he served as a Colonel in the military.

When Dong Yi saw Shusun Tong, he first spoke a string of flattering words.

Shusun Tong said, "I have heard that your family has a marriage arrangement, and it concerns General Zhang Han."

Dong Yi understood the other's intent and sighed, "After the great army returned, many generals in the army were granted titles, but Zhang Han, he..."

Shusun Tong continued, "Is it because Zhang Han did not follow the great army to conquer the Chu State that you have reneged on the marriage?"

Dong Yi hurriedly explained, "Old sir, my younger sister had feelings for General Zhang Han when she was young, but my father was unwilling to let my sister marry a Zhang Han whose family fortunes had declined."

"Sigh," Shusun Tong sighed, "Now Zhang Han is supervising the construction of river canals for Prince Fusu. It may seem unremarkable now, but in the future, General Zhang Han's achievements will surely make your family look at him with new eyes. If you do not keep your promise now, you will inevitably be gossiped about in the future; if you keep your promise..."

Having reached this point, Shusun Tong changed the subject, his tone lowering as he whispered, "If your Dong Fu does not marry off your daughter now because Zhang Han is down on his luck, when Zhang Han achieves success in the future, he could also bring prestige to your Dong Fu's doorstep; conversely..."

"Just pretend I never made this trip."

Shusun Tong shook his head and sighed again.

Dong Yi did not dare to slight Shusun Tong and bowed, saying, "This junior will inform my father."

Until Shusun Tong returned to the village, Zhang Han had still not received a reply from Dong Fu.

Three days later, Zhang Han, who was hoeing the fields, received the news; Dong Yi had personally brought a letter from home, and the two families would hold the wedding after autumn.

Until nightfall, a happy Zhang Han pulled the plow in the fields.

At the foot of Shangyan Mountain, Li You was gnawing on an apricot, holding a basket in his hand. Seeing Zhang Cang, he shared two with him, "Sent from Luoyang."

Zhang Cang took the apricots but did not eat them, his gaze still fixed ahead.

Li You saw that it was nearly night, with only a sliver of light remaining in the western sky, barely enough to see the white clouds above.

At this hour, Zhang Han was still carrying a plow, working in the fields.

Li You asked, "Censor Zhang, are we out of oxen?"

Zhang Cang said, "There are oxen, but the oxen are resting."

Li You took a deep breath and squinted at the hazy figure in the distance, "Is General Zhang Han not resting yet?"

Zhang Cang stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "He is happy in his heart, so let him plow a few more acres."

Li You took another bite of the apricot, chewing vigorously, and remained speechless for a long time as he watched Zhang Han still plowing the field.

After Grain Rain, the temperature in Guanzhong rose particularly quickly; by the fifth month, it was hot enough at noon to make people break out in a sweat.

Inside Shanglin Park, a model was placed here; it was a model of the West Wei Bridge.

Ying Zheng wore loose outer robes, his gaze fixed on the model before him as he said in a deep voice, "How many laborers are needed, and how long will it take to complete?"

Feng Quji, standing to the side, replied, "Sixty craftsmen and five hundred laborers have been prepared."

Ying Zheng looked at the model of the bridge; on the side of the bridge, three characters were written, and these three characters were 'Xianyang Bridge'.

Fusu felt that this was the only thing he could do as Dushui Zhang, which was to give this bridge a name.

The Emperor and the Right Prime Minister were discussing construction matters.

Fusu waved a cattail fan in his hand, sitting lazily on a newly made bamboo chair, unwilling to move.

"Brother!"

Hearing a call full of childishness, Fusu looked to the side and saw his younger brother, Gao, who was seven years his junior.

Prince Gao was now nine years old, wearing clothes that still looked a bit too large, with two Attendants waiting to the side.

"Brother, eat a sweet melon." Gao held half a sweet melon in both hands.

Fusu took the sweet melon, took a bite, and nodded, "Very sweet."

Seeing this, Prince Gao smiled foolishly and sat to the side, very happy, "Gao heard that Brother likes to read, and Gao also wants to read."

Noticing the younger brother's rather worshipful gaze, he probably thought his elder brother was a very capable person.

Fusu chewed the sweet melon, and after swallowing, said, "Go to Shangyan Mountain and seek out Shusun Tong."

"Okay!"

Because it was very hot today, Gao's cheeks were tanned red and a bit dry.

Fusu drank a mouthful of cold water and instructed, "In the future, there will be other younger brothers and sisters who need to study; you shall take them all to Shangyan Mountain to study under the old master Shusun Tong."

Upon hearing this, Prince Gao bowed in the manner of an adult, his voice still very childish as he replied, "Gao accepts the order. With Father and Brother governing the world, Gao will take good care of the younger brothers and sisters."

Fusu smiled with satisfaction; this younger brother was very sensible.

The Emperor was listening to Feng Quji's explanation, nodding from time to time.

Subsequently, Fusu saw Feng Quji introduce Jian Lu, after which Jian Lu explained the key points related to water conservancy to the Emperor.

All of this was within expectations.

Fusu looked at the model again; the bridge designed by Jian Lu was still very scientific, designing boat-shaped water-dividing piers to reduce the impact of the current.

Gao held the sweet melon while eating and asked, raising his head, "Brother, why does Father want to build this bridge?"

Fusu said, "To defend against the Xiongnu."

Gao continued to eat and nodded.

From a geographical perspective, the Xianyang Bridge connected the east and west banks of the Wei River, allowing for the passage of troops and horses as well as the transport of grain and fodder; at the same time, it could strengthen trade, and merchants passing through the Xianyang Bridge directly to Xianyang would also bring prosperity to Xianyang.

If a checkpoint were set up here, it could also serve the purpose of defending Xianyang.

The vision for building this bridge was indeed far-sighted.

The people of today were not one bit inferior to those of later generations in their application and expansion of geography, military strategy, and commerce.

Listening to Jian Lu's words, according to him, Guanzhong had already entered the low-water period, and this low-water period would last until June.

"Fusu, you must assist Prime Minister Feng well."

"Fusu accepts the order."

After seeing the Emperor off, Fusu continued to exercise his role as Dushui Zhang, participating in the construction of the bridge.

The next day, with the arrival of the laborers and craftsmen, the construction of the Xianyang Bridge began.

This was the first time Fusu had actively participated in the construction of the state; a bridge spanning the two banks of the West Wei River was about to be born with his participation, and the Xianyang Bridge, which would influence more than two thousand years of later generations, was about to appear.

How could this not make Fusu feel excited?

In later ages, Du Fu wrote poems of the suffering of war at Xianyang Bridge, Wang Wei wrote of parting at Xianyang Bridge, and Wen Tingyun wrote of the misty rain of the region within the passes here.

Summer in Guanzhong is very hot and long, and the laborers wearing linen clothes tread barefoot on the muddy riverbed.

Every time Fusu sees the strength of the working masses, he feels particularly impassioned in his heart.

From the side of the riverbed came the powerful shouts of the people, "One! Two! Pull!"

Following a loud shout, ropes bound to that massive pillar pulled it, and it suddenly rose from the muddy riverbed.

Though people are small and weak, the Foolish Old Man could move mountains; the people of this land possess the most powerful hands.

Just as June arrived, a rain fell, and the bridge construction project temporarily halted.

The wise Prince Fusu carried a basin of freshly baked flatbreads and distributed them to the people sheltering from the rain under the straw sheds.

The people took the flatbreads and bowed one after another, and some even wanted to perform the kowtow, but Fusu hurriedly helped them up.

By the river were also officials from the Imperial Censor Office; they stood by the river recording the words and deeds of Prince Fusu, and these words and deeds would soon circulate among the Censors of the Imperial Censor Office.

Fusu ate a flatbread and looked at the bridge, which was at a critical stage of construction; he had not seen Prime Minister Li Si for two months, nor had he returned to Xianyang recently, as he was single-mindedly staying by the West Wei River.

Fortunately, this rain was not heavy, and it stopped the next day.

Fusu sat in a newly built hut, while Tian An stood outside, frowning as he looked at the sky that had just cleared.

Inside the hut, Fusu first looked at the urgent report sent by Zhang Han, which was all about the current situation at Shangshan; other than the addition of one Prince Gongzi Gao, there were no other changes.

Fusu calmed his heart and continued to look at the construction plans of Jian Lu, discussing them in a low voice with his teacher Zhang Cang, who was the temporary Office of Works Prefect and Censor.

Once the construction plans were finalized, they needed to be handed over to the Right Prime Minister for approval.

By noon, the scorching sun shone on the earth once again, and the silt on the riverbed began to turn white and solidify at a speed visible to the naked eye.

(End of chapter)