Chapter 116: Everyone Must Make a Choice

Gongshi had guessed wrong. As luck would have it, Heifu heard every word of the conversation between uncle and nephew with perfect clarity…

But Heifu had no intention of reporting them, because this was not the Qin dynasty after the "book burning" incident, when speech controls had been tightened — public discussion was still fairly tolerated. As long as you weren't openly clamoring for rebellion or sympathizing with assassins who tried to kill the King, you basically wouldn't lose your head.

Gong Ao had cursed the Lord of Wu'an from fifty years ago, venting his bitter resentment over his family being caught in the crossfire of war and nearly wiped out. If someone really wanted to pursue the matter, it would count as the crime of "improper speech" — a fine would settle it, and at worst it would cost Gong Ao his position as a thief-catcher.

So there was no need to offend the Gong clan over something that brought him no benefit and add another enemy for himself.

Therefore, Heifu simply turned his head deliberately to look at the city wall, pretending he hadn't heard, to save himself the trouble.

Gongshi seemed to greatly admire Heifu for rising through the ranks and becoming a village chief on his own merit at such a young age, and thought well of him. He mentioned that Gong Ao had just turned eighteen, a year younger than Heifu, making him a junior of sorts, and asked Heifu to look after him on the journey north.

But Gong Ao was full of defiance and muttered, "A commoner without even a clan name — what can he do to look after me?"

"You brat, you really don't know what's good for you!"

Gongshi scolded him angrily: "Chief Heifu is a Zanniao rank holder — isn't he higher than you?"

Gong Ao was only a minor Gongshi rank holder. Faced with the hard reality of ranks, he had no choice but to shut his mouth and reluctantly salute Heifu. This was Qin now, not Chu — status wasn't determined by clan name, but more by rank and official position.

Come to think of it, Bai Qi, whom they had mentioned earlier, was perhaps the greatest beneficiary of this system. It was said that Bai Qi was a descendant of Bai Gong Sheng of Chu, also called Gongsun Qi, but by his youth he had fallen to the status of a lowly servant. In Chu, he would have been nothing but a despised descendant of a traitor, with no hope of ever rising in the world. But in Qin, Bai Qi started as a common soldier, claimed heads for merit, and slowly became a military officer. Then, with the patronage of the Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran, he soared to the top in a single bound and got his chance to shine brilliantly…

Between Qin and Chu, Bai Qi chose Qin without a moment's hesitation.

After this interlude, Heifu returned to the village lodge and told everyone that they would be traveling together with the conscripts from Yan County. Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief — it meant they wouldn't have to bear the risk of convict laborers escaping all on their own.

That night, Heifu gazed at the dark silhouette of Yan County's walls in the night and thought to himself, "Actually, Gong Ao wasn't wrong. What Bai Qi left behind in Yan and in Nan Commandery isn't just lingering awe — there's also the locals' hatred for Qin…"

The Battle of Yan and Ying, from a military perspective, was a brilliant campaign that shattered a kingdom, perfectly showcasing Bai Qi's boldness and military genius. But like every battle Bai Qi commanded, too many Chu people died.

In the siege of Yan City, over a hundred thousand perished, their bodies fed to the fish. The corpses were so numerous the whole city stank, and to this day the pond east of the city is still called the "Stench Pool." The memory of that war has been passed down by word of mouth, remaining fresh for young men like Gong Ao.

Likewise, in the battle for Yingdu, countless more Chu people met violent deaths.

So after the war, nearly every household that survived in Yan and Jiangling had a blood feud with Qin. Although fifty years of rule and the relocation of many people from the Qin heartland had passed, the situation where the locals submitted in appearance but not in heart still hadn't changed.

Heifu now understood why, when they first met, Du Xian had repeatedly lamented that "Yan is hard to govern." In the nineteenth year of King Zheng of Qin, Nan Commandery was put on alert — not only because of bandits stirring in the Cloud Dream Marsh, but also because Jiangling and Yan City were somewhat unsettled.

In contrast, in counties like Anlu, which hadn't suffered much destruction during the Qin-Chu wars, Qin rule was easier to establish. For the common people anyway, who cared whether it was a Chu enfeoffed lord or a Qin official — didn't you pay taxes either way? In an age when vengeance was paramount, whether your family had anyone beheaded by Qin soldiers largely determined your personal stance toward Qin.

"If even Yan City, which has been a commandery and county for fifty years, is like this, then in Han, Zhao, and Yan, which were conquered only recently, wouldn't the hatred toward Qin be even more severe?"

Especially in Zhao, where the wounds of Changping had not yet healed, and after the fall and massacre of Handan, a fresh wound was likely to be added. Those men of Yan and Zhao, known for their somber valor, would be even harder to govern than the Chu people of Nan Commandery. The royal houses of both states had fled to Dai Commandery and Liaodong, still stubbornly resisting. And in Xinzheng in Han, a rebellion had erupted in the ninth month — it was said to have just been suppressed, and Yingchuan Commandery was still in some chaos…

"Beneath the great tide of the era, the hidden currents still surge without cease." Thinking thus, Heifu sank into a deep slumber.

…

When Heifu and his group left Yan City, they merged with the three or four hundred men led by the Left Commandant of Yan County. Among the men conscripted by Yan County, conscripts outnumbered convict laborers, greatly reducing the chance of wall-builders and bondservants escaping. With their help keeping watch, plus Heifu having Bu Cheng use superstition to keep the Anlu convicts docile, the rest of the journey was much easier.

On the day of the winter solstice, the party of several hundred arrived at the Canglang River.

From Bozhong the Yang waters flow, eastward becoming the Han, and further east becoming the Canglang waters — this was the border between Nan Commandery and Nanyang Commandery…

As a tributary of the Han River, the Canglang was neither wide nor swift, but when it rained, soil from upstream would wash down, turning the Canglang a turbid reddish-brown.

But now it was winter, and the Canglang was pale green and clear. Morning mist spread across the river's surface, light as a spider's web. A few ferry boats cut slowly through the thin haze toward them, and the boatmen were singing the very song Confucius had heard when he passed this place centuries ago…

"When the Canglang's waters are clear, I can wash my cap-strings; when the Canglang's waters are muddy, I can wash my feet…"

The fiery young Gong Ao, standing shoulder to shoulder with Heifu, heard this and said with a meaningful tone, "This river is quite muddy — if only I could wash my feet too, and not have to wash my cap-strings."

Dongmen Bao and Ji Ying, uncultured outsiders standing nearby, didn't understand the metaphor and said in confusion, "This river is very clear, not muddy at all."

Heifu smiled, then shook his head.

Whether the water is clear or muddy looks very different in the eyes of people of different classes.

When clear, wash the cap-strings; when muddy, wash the feet — each chooses for himself. This was indeed the ideal of the scholar-official class in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. However, in the face of a truly great era, no matter your class or status, the individual has no room to choose.

Preserve your own integrity in solitude? In the war-torn twilight of the Warring States, as the King of Qin sweeps away the six states, such a thing does not exist.

You can only choose to be a stubborn rock trying to stop a chariot, smashed to pieces by the towering waves called "unification."

Or choose to be a spray of foam beneath the wind and waves, moving with the current, preserving yourself, and seizing the chance to soar straight up!

Although Gong Ao brooded endlessly over his family's old feud, the Gong clan of Yan City had chosen the latter path. Otherwise, Gongshi wouldn't be so cautious in his dealings with others, nor would he have made Gong Ao a thief-catcher and brought him into the system. Hatred was hatred, survival was survival — if the clan wanted to endure, it had to bow its head to reality.

As for Heifu? The good news was that his origins and experiences meant that, at this moment, he didn't have to make a choice.

"Unification is the great trend of the world, vast and mighty — those who follow it prosper, those who oppose it perish!"

With this thought in mind, Heifu stepped onto the boat crossing the Canglang River. The boat sailed north, carrying him away from Nan Commandery and into Nanyang, farther and farther from his peaceful hometown, but closer and closer to the drumbeats of war…

…

Just as Heifu and his companions were waiting in the shivering cold wind of the Canglang River for the boats to dock, far away, several hundred li to the northeast, at Chen Ying (Huaiyang), the terminus of the Hong Canal, two great Qin generals were also waiting outside the towering city walls.

The two generals stood side by side on a heavy four-horse war chariot. Their armor was exquisitely crafted and brilliantly colored: brown-black plates, vermilion ribbons, and decorative borders around the armor panels, painted with splendid beast patterns on a white background. On the chest, back, and both shoulders, several colorful rosettes, like later-era medals, displayed their differing ranks.

The tall, burly one, wearing a long swallow-tail cap and sporting a figure-eight mustache, a general in his thirties, had fifteen rosettes on his armor. This meant his rank was the fifteenth grade: "Lesser High Maker"!

The short, stocky one, wearing a chopstick cap and a grizzled full beard, a man past forty, had thirteen rosettes on his armor. This was the mark of the thirteenth-grade rank: "Inner Watchman."

Behind them stood tens of thousands of fully armed Qin soldiers, a dense black mass that surrounded Chen Ying so tightly not a drop of water could leak through. But despite their numbers, they were all squatting on the ground, as if awaiting their generals' command…

The wait had grown long, and not only were the soldiers weary, but even the four horses of the war chariot were growing impatient. Their hooves pawed the ground restlessly, making a "clop-clop" sound.

Inner Watchman Qiang Lei, his hand resting on the chariot rail, stared anxiously at the great gate of Chen Ying. It was covered in scars but shut tight as a drum. He couldn't help but say to the commander beside him, "Young General Wang, the Lord of Changping has been inside the city for an hour already!"

Lesser High Maker Wang Ben, accustomed to being called "Young General Wang," replied to the veteran Qiang Lei, who had followed his father on campaigns north and south, "So what?"

Qiang Lei lowered his voice. "The Lord of Changping, no matter what you say, is still a prince of Chu. What if he…"

"You fear he'll betray Qin and go over to Chu?"

Wang Ben smiled and said, "In the thirty-sixth year of King Zhaoxiang (271 BC), the Lord of Changping was born in Xianyang. His father was King Kaolie of Chu, then a hostage in Qin, and his mother was a daughter of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. That was forty-five years ago. Later, King Kaolie was sent back to Chu by Huang Xie, but the Lord of Changping was kept in Qin by Dowager Huayang. He grew up in the palace alongside the King, nominally an uncle but in truth like a brother."

"In the ninth year of our present King, when the King took personal rule and Lao Ai rebelled in Xianyang, the King ordered the Lord of Changping to suppress him. In the tenth year, when Marquis Wenxin was dismissed, the Lord of Changping succeeded him as Chancellor. He served as Chancellor of Qin for eleven years, diligent and dedicated throughout, aiding the King in destroying Han and crushing Zhao — his contributions cannot be overlooked…"

"But wasn't the Lord of Changping's chancellorship dismissed by the King?" In the eyes of Qiang Lei and others, this was the sign that the Lord of Changping had lost the King's trust.

"Although the Lord of Changping was removed as Chancellor last year, the King still trusts and values him, ordering him to ride in a royal carriage and tour the eastern commanderies and counties. During that time, he also put down the Xinzheng rebellion and executed the King of Han."

Wang Ben raised his horsewhip and pointed at the gate of Chen Ying. "Now, the Lord of Changping has come to the front lines. To spare the city's people from slaughter and to avoid heavy casualties in an assault, he has entered the city to persuade the Chu generals of Chen Ying to surrender. You are right — he is indeed a prince of Chu, and the blood of the Mi royal clan indeed flows in his veins. But for forty-five years, the Lord of Changping has lived as a Qin man in Qin, never once setting foot on Chu soil. Has he been inside a Chu city for a single hour, and already his eleven years as Chancellor of Great Qin can no longer hold?"

Besides, the King had ordered in his edict that the Lord of Changping enter Chen Ying to negotiate surrender — was this not also a test for him?

It seemed the King also wanted to see: between Qin and Chu, what choice would the Lord of Changping make?

Wang Ben naturally hoped Lord Changping would, like Wei Ran, Bai Qi, and those other Chu natives, choose Qin. He thought to himself: "Even if Lord Changping disregards his own safety, he must still consider the Eldest Prince…"

Far away in Xianyang, the Eldest Prince, Fusu, was born of Lord Changping's younger sister. Though Fusu was only ten years old, he was already exceptionally intelligent, virtuous, and wise, bearing the makings of a benevolent sovereign. Lord Changping's decision concerned not only himself, but also Prince Fusu's standing.

He hoped the man would think it through clearly.

Having said this, Wang Ben gave the order: "I trust Lord Changping will not be so muddled. Since we have an agreement with him, we must keep our word. Order the three armies to continue waiting — before the sun climbs three poles high, no assault on the city!"

Qiang Hui could only assent, but inwardly he thought: Compared to the old General Wang, who wields both orthodox and unorthodox tactics in tandem, this young General Wang conducts himself a little too rigidly…

Fortunately, his worries proved needless. Another two hours passed, and just as the appointed time drew near, the gates of Chenying finally swung slowly open!

A handsome minister, wearing a tall cap and brocade robes, his long beard reaching his chest, rode out in a carriage — it was Lord Changping! The carriage drove straight up before the great Qin army. Only then did Lord Changping take the Chu phoenix banner, crimson as fire, that he had been gripping in his hand and hurl it into the mud and sand before the battle lines, while raising his arm and shouting:

"Chenying surrenders!"

"Qin, ten thousand victories!" Tens of thousands of Qin soldiers raised their weapons and roared in triumph, the din shaking the very tiles atop the walls of Chenying!

"Well?"

Amid the clamorous cheering, Wang Ben looked at Qiang Hui and laughed heartily. "It seems Lord Changping has made his choice between Qin and Chu!"

With that, Wang Ben no longer gazed at the city that was now already in his grasp. Instead, he turned his head and cast his eyes toward the northwest, toward the far side of the Flood Canal!

There, a city even more magnificent and even grander awaited Wang Ben.

Waiting for him to conquer! Waiting for him to build the achievement of destroying a state and razing its capital! Waiting for him to win a resounding, illustrious name like his father's!

PS: Bai Qi was but a petty brat! He raised an army to do battle with Chu, took Yan and Ying, burned the Yi Mausoleum, and desecrated Your Majesty's ancestors — this is a grievance that will be remembered for a hundred generations. — Records of the Grand Historian, Biographies of Lord Pingyuan and Yu Qing

(End of Chapter)