Chapter 4: My Grandmaster is Xunzi

Fusu sat up straight again and continued to look at the contents of this Bamboo Slip. His Imperial Father had already seen this battle report, and his teacher had copied a scroll of it. The Small Seal Script written by his teacher was actually very neat. Among them was the military report sent by Wang Jian, concerning the Xiang clan of the Chu State and news of the King of Chu.

In fact, Xiang Yan might not have had to die; Wang Jian and Great General Meng Wu had not originally intended to exterminate the nobles of the Chu State.

But after Xiang Yan fled, he and those old nobles of the Chu State enthroned the Chu Prince Changping Jun as the King of Chu, and led troops to resist the Qin Army in Huainan, which was why he died in battle.

The correspondence of battle reports had only been going on for a month, and Fusu finally understood that the war for Great Qin to unify the Six States had only just reached its end.

From this scroll of his teacher's, one could also tell that the Great Qin's transformation of the world had also only just begun.

People all speculated about what kind of person the First Emperor was. If the First Emperor could accept Li Si's County System and the Three Councillors and Nine Ministers system, then the First Emperor must be the person most capable of accepting innovation.

Compared to Xiang Yan, who was single-mindedly bent on restoring the Chu lands and even once wanted to restore the state, the First Emperor was the one most capable of accepting change.

After reading it over twice, there was no process of Xiang Yan being killed in the book, nor was there the situation of the war.

Of course, Fusu also did not see the phrase "Though Chu has only three households, Chu will surely destroy Qin."

Regarding the fall of the Chu State and the process of Great General Meng Wu sending out troops, nothing was written; the teacher only used a few understated sentences.

To the teacher, if the Chu State fell, it fell; if Xiang Yan died, he died. How could the teacher's ambitions be swayed by a mere Xiang Yan?

After all, he was Li Si.

The content in the book was nothing more than a simple report of work; Fusu had a feeling of being treated like a child by his teacher.

The night wind blew into the hall, making the flame of the oil lamp flicker. Fusu set down the Bamboo Slip, placing it to the side without writing a reply or picking it up again, but instead looked carefully at the map.

In the eyes of the palace servants here, the First Emperor had Li Si instruct the Prince, but the Prince seemed to have no interest in the political affairs of the court; if the Prince cared about political affairs, he would certainly have asked.

Inside Gaoquan Palace, there was an old Attendant, over sixty years of age, named Tian An.

Ever since Huayang Taihou passed away, this old Attendant had been tidying up this place. He walked with a hunched back, carrying a broom, sweeping the ground outside the hall. Walking to the palace gate and standing in the dark night, he could just see the situation inside the hall: the Prince was holding an oil lamp, looking at the map hanging on the wall.

After he looked up for a moment, he carried the broom and left Gaoquan Palace.

The night-shrouded Xianyang Palace was exceptionally quiet. Zhangtai Palace was still brightly lit, and the First Emperor sat inside the hall, looking at the reports submitted from various places.

Tian An stepped forward and bowed, saying, "The Prince read the Prime Minister's book again today."

Not many people in the palace knew when this white-haired old Attendant had been in Xianyang Palace. It was remembered that long before Lv Buwei came to Xianyang Palace, this old Attendant was already in the palace. At that time, he was taking care of Huayang Taihou's daily life. Now that Huayang Taihou had passed away, he still remained in Gaoquan Palace.

The Emperor had bestowed Gaoquan Palace to Prince Fusu to reside in, and since Fusu was the great-grandson Huayang Taihou loved most, the First Emperor let him continue to stay in Gaoquan Palace, and he could also look after the Prince.

Ying Zheng chewed on a walnut, his gaze fixed on the memorial in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Did Li Si not go to see him?"

"The Prince did not see Li Si, and Li Si did not request to see the Prince."

This Emperor's voice was resonant and low.

Ying Zheng was still hesitating over the candidates for the Three Councillors and Nine Ministers of Great Qin, especially now that Wang Jian and Meng Wu had not yet returned.

After pondering for a moment, Ying Zheng waved his hand to signal the Attendant to leave, and then lay down on his side.

Sometimes the life of the Qin people was very dull; most of the time they were laboring—rising early to labor, returning home at sunset, repeating the cycle.

Xianyang City was a city with strict hierarchies, so strict that there were requirements for what kind of clothes a person wore, what kind of house they lived in, and even the room they slept in.

Under the regulations of Qin Law, not just in Xianyang City, but everyone throughout Guanzhong lived this kind of life.

For the ruler, a clear hierarchy also had its benefits.

In the future, everyone in the whole world would live like this.

Half a month later, Li Si still had people send the day's political decrees to Gaoquan Palace for Prince Fusu to read; this was his necessary duty as a teacher.

Today, an edict came out of Xianyang Palace: the First Emperor appointed Li Si as Left Prime Minister.

Fusu felt that this should be the most glorious day in Li Si's life.

Hmm, absolutely.

And it was also today that Fusu handed in his "homework" to his teacher Li Si. From the perspective of status, which teacher would dare to assign homework to a Prince of Qin?

Li Si was, of course, a competent teacher. Under the teacher's instruction, Fusu had initially grasped the future official system of Great Qin, the official system of the Three Councillors and Nine Ministers.

Understanding the future official system of Great Qin was the first achievement Fusu learned under Li Si's instruction.

After handing in the homework to his teacher, Fusu, like the vast majority of Qin people, went on a spring outing.

Escorting Prince Fusu was still Meng Tian, the son of Great General Meng Wu. The carriage did not move fast on the straight road, traveling along the Zheng Guo Canal the whole way, looking at the spring scenery along the route.

Both inside and outside the pass, it was known that Prince Fusu was wise, but Prince Fusu was at the age of fifteen or sixteen, which was also the age when a youth was most easily changed.

It was unknown when it started, but this Qin Prince no longer associated with his peers; the playthings his peers liked, the Prince would never even take a second look at.

This was the child of the First Emperor; he would always be a bit different from ordinary people.

Even Meng Tian himself thought so.

"Do you of the Military School also often read military books? For example, Sun Bin's Art of War."

The Prince asked suddenly. Meng Tian hurriedly regained his focus and replied, "This subordinate has not read Sun Bin's Art of War."

How brilliant Sun Bin's "besieging Wei to save Zhao" was back then. Although "besieging Wei to save Zhao" was an allusion, it was also a real war practice.

Come to think of it, Sun Bin's Art of War was actually written in the Han Dynasty.

This Great Qin was very close to the peak era of the Hundred Schools of Thought back then.

The teacher of Han Fei and Li Si, that is, the legendary Xunzi—how long had it been since that old gentleman passed away?

Could he, this Qin Prince, also call Xunzi his grandmaster?

Fusu thought to himself, furthermore, if Xunzi had a spirit in heaven, how could he refuse me, his grand-disciple?

Meng Tian said, "This subordinate feels that Great General Wang Jian's military strategy is better."

"Is that so?"

Hearing the Prince's counter-question, Meng Tian added, "My father once said that Great General Wang Jian is good at attacking cities and seizing land, and is even better at governing the army. The food and expenses for an army of six hundred thousand were all decided by the Great General alone. Such ability is worthy of a Great General."

Meng Tian was a quiet person who didn't talk much. Although he spoke little, as long as he opened his mouth, it was definitely the truth.

Just looking at the fact that Great General Wang Jian could command an army of six hundred thousand and ensure that the army's movements were orderly, this kind of ability was indeed rare in the world.

Not to mention that Qin Law was strict; even if it were a squad in a team in later generations, would the rules be fewer than Qin Law?

But even in later generations, how easy was it to lead a squad well?

Let alone an army of six hundred thousand.

Once the carriage reached a main road, Fusu picked up a map to compare the surrounding environment with the map in his hands.

Zheng Guo was a rare water conservancy expert during the Warring States period; Zheng Guo built the Zheng Guo Canal, turning Guanzhong into a land of wealth and prosperity, and this was also an important project at the beginning of the first year of Qin Wang Zheng.

Whether it be Dujiangyan or the Zheng Guo Canal, both were grand projects that benefited thousands upon thousands of people; when it came to experience in water conservancy construction, the experience of Qin was also ahead of the other Six States.

Qin Law even taught people how to farm in a very humane way, instructing them on what kind of crops should be planted in what kind of land, and what kind of crops planted in what kind of land could yield higher harvests.

Qin Law was not just law; it was the simple experience accumulated by the working masses during the process of production and labor.

As for those who still say that Qin Law is harsh, that is mostly just rumor.

Fusu looked at the map and then toward the direction of the Chan River, then stepped off the carriage and walked toward this patch of wasteland.

Seeing the Prince lower himself to dig up a handful of soil, Meng Tian felt a bit curious but did not ask.

Fusu clearly remembered the location of the Longshou Canal, situated to the west of the Chan River; back then, Han Wudi excavated the Longshou Canal, and after several reconstructions by later generations, it turned forty thousand hectares of saline-alkali land in Guanzhong into fertile soil.

But now, as Fusu looked beneath his feet, this saline-alkali land was still there, yet the Longshou Canal had not been built; there was no helping it, as he was more than eighty years older than Han Wudi.

Fusu pondered here for a long time, looking at the scenery in the spring sun, as well as these most simple people under the sunlight; they were also the most hardworking people.

Getting back into the carriage, on the way back, this transmigrator Fusu familiarized himself with Great Qin while often deep in thought.

Thinking about his own situation, as well as the responsibilities he should bear in this identity and the things he wanted to do in the future.

Now, he had figured out two things.

The so-called "picking up others' wisdom"—Xunzi, that old gentleman, has passed away; even if his spirit is in heaven, since I, this Prince of Qin, have read the books of Han Fei and have Li Si as my teacher, then my grandmaster must be, and can only be, Xunzi.

Thus, in the "academic circle" of the hundred schools and various masters that has circulated since the Warring States period—

I, this Prince of Qin, Fusu, can be considered to have become one of them; this is an admission ticket and also an identity.

Finding a legitimate lineage in this era is very important, and it is extremely important for the political resources and connections that might be necessary in the future.

The other thing is to excavate the Longshou Canal to make Great Qin even wealthier.

With Xunzi having passed away in the past, and the Longshou Canal yet to be excavated in the future.

Between this past and future, Fusu felt that this plan of "picking up others' wisdom" was quite good.

At dusk, Fusu finally returned to Xianyang City, happening to run into Wang Wan, who was preparing to leave Xianyang.

Behind Wang Wan were many young scholars seeing him off; some of these scholars were dressed in expensive clothing, while others were dressed in simple attire; they were all Wang Wan's retainers or students, and there were also a few court officials with swords hanging at their waists.

Everyone was reluctant to part, and Wang Wan, looking at the many students paying their respects, was already streaming with old tears.

This former Prime Minister of Qin was about to leave; Qin had a new Prime Minister, whose name was Li Si, and Li Si was a young Prime Minister with grand ambitions.

Fusu took one more look and said in a low voice, "Return to the palace."

Meng Tian drove the carriage, entering Xianyang City through the south gate of Xianyang City right before Wang Wan's eyes.

Everyone saw the magnificent carriage, as well as General Meng Tian escorting it in front, and when the carriage curtain was blown up by the wind, they saw that young man.

The people present bowed one after another; to be escorted by General Meng Tian and to be able to sit in such a magnificent carriage, how could they not bow?

In front of the crowd, the white-haired Wang Wan bowed tremblingly.

At this moment, Wang Wan deeply realized the coldness and cruelty of Qin; this powerful Qin wanted to move forward and become even more powerful, so it would discard all useless burdens.

Regardless of the previous Qin King, or the current First Emperor, or even this Prince Fusu.

This Xianyang no longer had a place for him, at least the Emperor had given him generous conditions for retirement.

In the process of achieving goals, learning and accumulation are a process that cannot be ignored; Fusu sighed that he had not seen Xunzi's Jixia Academy, as that academy had mostly been destroyed by the flames of war, and Xunzi eventually passed away peacefully in his old age in the old lands of Chu.

Fusu had wanted to ask Li Si about the Jixia Academy, wanting to know what Xunzi, that old gentleman, was like while he was alive.

But ever since he handed in his "homework" last time, Li Si had not sent any more letters, nor had he sent anyone to Gaoquan Palace to offer greetings.

That Li Si could become the teacher of me, this Prince, was because of a single sentence from the Emperor.

It was likely that because Li Si told the Emperor about the conversation that night at Gaoquan Palace in front of the coffin of Huayang Taihou, the Emperor then felt that I, this Prince, needed someone like Li Si to teach me.

In front of the Gaoquan Palace hall, there sat a newly made chair; Fusu sat on the chair, staring blankly while holding a wooden tablet in his hand; this wooden tablet was originally meant to be used as a spirit tablet for Xunzi, that old gentleman, and this wooden tablet had not yet been inscribed with any characters.

Because Fusu also did not know, if he were to pay respects to Xunzi, should he follow the customs of Zhao, or the customs of Qi?

Could it be that since Xunzi died of old age in Chu, he should be honored according to the customs of Chu?

The customs of each state were different; after thinking it over, Fusu gave up.

People, after all, are sometimes impulsive, and sometimes they will think things over repeatedly, and then give up.

The footsteps of Tian An were particularly distinct; when he walked, his shoes would always make a dragging, friction sound; the footsteps of this old Attendant were very easy to recognize.

"Prince, the Prime Minister has arrived."

Fusu then turned around and bowed, saying, "Teacher."

Li Si bowed in return, and after standing straight, he wore a very gentle smile, "I have been busy with state affairs recently and have neglected you, Prince."

"You are busy with the grand plans of governing the country; the Prime Minister has worked hard."

Li Si took out a scroll of Bamboo Slip and said with a smile, "This was written by you, Prince."

Seeing the thin hemp rope tied around this scroll of Bamboo Slip and the condition of the bamboo, this was indeed the scroll he had sent out.

Li Si sat on the chair, not feeling any discomfort from sitting on a chair, and began to explain this piece of homework; Fusu listened attentively.

This Prime Minister looked to be in a very good mood, because the Prince was very eager to learn, which was like having a place to entrust his thoughts and a sense of stability in an otherwise busy life.

While explaining, Li Si saw that the Prince could draw inferences about other cases from what had been said before; he was amazed at the Prince's talent and felt proud to be the Prince's teacher.

Li Si had just finished explaining the core differences between the selection of officials for the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers and the officials of the Feudal System.

Fusu then replied, "Teacher, I have learned it."

It's time to vote!

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(End of this chapter)