Chapter 467: This Year, All Under Heaven Was Without Incident

In the thirtieth year of Qin Shi Huang, the realm was at peace, and the entire year held no great events worth recording.

If one must search for details, only two matters are worth discussing.

First, Qin Shi Huang once again acted differently from history: he did not, at the urging of Confucian scholars and alchemists, rush impatiently to the eastern passes. Instead, he chose the turn of spring and summer to tour the Ba-Shu region.

The original meaning of an imperial tour was for the Son of Heaven, leading a great guard army, to inspect defenses within the realm, meet with feudal lords, supervise governance, and offer sacrifices to the gods. Every tour had a clear purpose: Qin Shi Huang's first tour after ascending the throne, in the twenty-seventh year, went to Longxi and Beidi commanderies, aiming to return to the Qin people's old homeland and report the unification to the ancestors, and secondly, to see the frontier and consider the "westward expansion" proposed by Heifu.

The second tour, in the twenty-eighth year, went to Daibei and Shangjun, aiming to oversee the northern frontier's attack on the Xiongnu.

In the twenty-ninth year, because the war against the Xiongnu raged fiercely, the emperor did not tour, staying in Xianyang the entire year.

Shortly after the start of spring in the thirtieth year, this restless emperor could no longer stay idle. He thus took a portion of civil and military officials, a thousand gentlemen guards, and several thousand attendants, crossed the Qinling Mountains, entered Hanzhong, traversed the plank roads, passed Mount Shu, and arrived at Chengdu.

Ba-Shu was once an ancient confederation, but a hundred years ago, during the reign of King Huiwen of Qin, it was destroyed by Sima Cuo. Afterwards, Ba Commandery was directly turned into counties, but local magnates like the Ba clan still held great influence there. As for Shu, two Marquis of Shu were first established, then twice removed by the Qin king under the name of "rebellion."

Qin Shi Huang's tour of Ba-Shu naturally had its clear purpose. Having been part of Qin for a hundred years, Ba-Shu broadly belonged to the "Qin lands" and was also the region where tales of immortals flourished most on Qin's old soil.

One reason the emperor came was that he had heard the Classic of Mountains and Seas, which describes the Queen Mother of the West and the most bizarre wonders, came from the hands of Ba-Shu shamans. And the land of the Queen Mother of the West lay among the snowy mountains west of Ba-Shu, which stirred a strong interest in him toward this place.

But it was only interest. What truly prompted him to set out was that after last year's attack on the Xiongnu, the grain stores in Guanzhong were more than half depleted, and this year they still had to continuously supply grain to over a hundred thousand garrison troops and laborers on the frontier. Since Guanzhong's grain was constantly being shipped north of the Great Wall, it had to be brought in from elsewhere. Even though officials were promoting fertilization methods, the grain from the eastern passes and Nan Commandery was only enough for local use, so the court could only set its sights on Ba-Shu.

This led to the emperor's journey to Ba-Shu. He was a man who preferred to see things with his own eyes; he had long heard that Ba-Shu was Qin's second granary, and he wanted to see for himself to ascertain its potential.

When crossing Mount Shu, Qin Shi Huang was astonished by the perilous road where sky ladders and stone planks linked together, and understood why Qin had been unable to destroy Ba-Shu for centuries — the roads were simply too difficult. But upon entering the Chengdu plain, he saw a prosperity and peace no less than Guanzhong, and more importantly, canals crisscrossed everywhere, irrigating the millet fields, a fertile wilderness stretching a thousand li.

The emperor looked back at Mount Shu and sighed, "Ah, I now understand why General Sima Cuo, when attacking Shu, said, 'To gain its land is enough to enlarge the state; to take its wealth is enough to enrich the people!' It is no wonder General Sima entered the Border-Pacifying Shrine. His beheadings may not match Lord Wu'an, but the land he seized surpasses him! He should also be placed in the Meritorious Temple!"

This was the first time in a hundred years, since Ba-Shu was annexed by Qin, that a monarch had come. Yet the Qin migrants in Shu were not particularly stirred…

All along, Ba-Shu had been the place where Qin concentrated its exiled convicts. During the rebellion of Lao Ai, his many remaining partisans were stripped of rank and relocated to Shu, over four thousand households; the same for Lü Buwei's family and followers. Shu was their final destination of exile. This place was akin to Britain's Thirteen Colonies or Australia in later ages — the locals were mostly descendants of exiles, so naturally they felt no deep sense of belonging to Qin.

However, organized by the officials, Chengdu, identical in layout to Xianyang, still draped brocade over its walls to welcome the emperor's arrival, giving him a good first impression of the city — though he did not much care for the local food's heavy use of Sichuan pepper and dogwood.

He was getting older; not only was the deafness in his left ear growing worse, his stomach was not well either.

After staying a few days in Chengdu, Qin Shi Huang, accompanied by the commandery governor, went to inspect the "Jianpeng" — that is, the Dujiangyan.

It was the time of year when the Min River's waters were at their highest, yet they saw the Jianpeng split the Min River in two. Not only was there no flooding, but it allowed countless surrounding fields to receive canal irrigation, achieving two goals at once.

Qin Shi Huang had always placed great importance on waterworks; back then, he had overruled all objections to let Zheng Guo complete the Zhengguo Canal. The great weir before him seemed simple, yet it turned the unruly Min River from a great scourge into a great boon for Shu Commandery, irrigating a thousand li of fertile wilderness. Ever since, the Chengdu plain was free from flood and drought at man's will, the common people knew no famine, and a steady stream of grain was sent along the river to Nan Commandery, then on to the Central Plains to serve as Qin army provisions.

The emperor thus issued a new decree: Li Bing, Governor of Shu Commandery, though not yet qualified to enter the Meritorious Temple, could be included in official sacrifices at Chengdu and Dujiangyan, so that his incense might burn unbroken.

He also received the canal official of Shu Commandery, Li Bing's grandson, Li Ling.

The commandery governor reported to Qin Shi Huang: "Cutting the Stone Rhinoceros Creek south of the Min River, connecting the Zewenjing River, passing Linqiong to divide the Meng Creek and Baimu River, and branching the Yangmo River above the Jian embankment — all are the achievements of Ling…"

Qin Shi Huang nodded, watching Li Ling, who wore a bamboo hat and straw sandals, personally wading into the water to inspect, and said, "Now that all under heaven is unified, many places need canals dug. What Great Qin lacks most are capable officials like the three generations of Li Bing's family! There are places everywhere for you to put your skills to use!"

He asked Li Ling a few questions: if it were not Ba-Shu but some other place, could he still tailor the canal construction to local conditions?

Li Ling answered obsequiously. Pleased, Qin Shi Huang promoted him, appointing him "Shanghe Agriculture Commandant," rank six hundred dan, and ordering him to report to Helan Mountain from Xianyang around autumn, to assist Beidi Commandery Commandant Heifu in digging canals to irrigate the newly opened fields there…

Just before Qin Shi Huang was to leave Chengdu and return to Guanzhong, Chang E, Commandant of Shu Commandery, along with Ba Zhong, a great merchant of Ba Commandery, together paid an audience to the emperor and informed him of a matter.

"Your Majesty, Ba Zhong sent men south to explore trade routes. Over several years, they have gained much. Southwest of Ba-Shu, there are several dozen chieftains of the Southwestern Yi, named Qiongdu, Yelang, Mimo, and Dian. All wear their hair in a mallet-shaped bun, plow fields, and live in walled settlements, with populations ranging from tens of thousands to a hundred thousand. Among them, the Dian Kingdom lies fifteen hundred li south of Chengdu, and was founded by Zhuang Qiao, a general of Chu…"

"Oh?"

This was something Qin Shi Huang had never known: "In the land of the Southwestern Yi, there are also remnants of Chu?"

Chang E then reported on the matter of the Dian Kingdom: "That Zhuang Qiao was originally a descendant of the former King Zhuang of Chu. Some say that during the reigns of King Wei and King Huai of Chu, he was ordered by the Chu king to attack the Southwestern Yi. He passed Qielan and reached Dian Lake. The lake is three hundred li around, with flat land beside it, fertile and vast for thousands of li!"

"After Zhuang Qiao seized the Dian lands, he intended to report back to the Chu king. But at that time, General Sima Cuo captured Chu's Ba and Qianzhong territories, blocking Zhuang Qiao's route so he could not return to Chu. He thus remained at Dian Lake with several thousand soldiers, changed their clothing, adopted local customs, and proclaimed himself King of Dian. It has been over fifty years now…"

Chang E expressed his concern: "Though Chu is now destroyed, many remnants and survivors have fled to the lands of the Man and Yue. I have heard that Chu survivors in Nanyue's Chu Court constantly incite the Yue people of Changsha and Yuzhang to rebellion. The Dian Kingdom was founded by Chu people and is the strongest among the Southwestern Yi. If they intend to restore Chu, coercing the Southwestern Yi to harass the south of Shu Commandery, I fear it will be a threat at our elbow. In my view, we should send merchants to open relations with the Southwestern Yi, then build roads directly to each state, summon them to submit to Qin, and together strike the Dian Kingdom!"

Qin Shi Huang, however, said nothing. He merely glanced at Ba Zhong beside him and suddenly said, "I have heard that lately the Ba clan has been trading in Zuo horses, Bo slaves, and yak cattle, which, together with sugarcane fields and brown sugar, have become the Ba clan's new sources of wealth?"

"Your servant…" Ba Zhong prostrated himself, cold sweat pouring out.

Qin Shi Huang then looked at Chang E: "Ever since the Border-Pacifying Shrine was established, ever since the three generals Meng Tian, Li Xin, and Heifu defeated the Xiongnu and were granted rewards and paraded in glory through Xianyang, my frontier generals have been extremely envious. Not a month goes by without them submitting memorials advocating border expansion. The general at Yuyang speaks of attacking the Eastern Hu; the general at Liaodong speaks of attacking Jizi Korea; the general at Kuaiji speaks of seizing Ouyue and Minyue; the general at Changsha speaks of taking the lands south of the ridges… Chang E, could it be that your desire to open the Southwestern Yi is also to receive rewards and enter the Border-Pacifying Shrine?"

"Your servant, your servant dares not…"

Chang E also knelt to the ground, speechless. That the Dian Kingdom was founded by a Chu general was true enough, but any talk of plotting to restore the Chu altars was complete fabrication on their part.

Ba Zhong was clearly in urgent need of seizing Bo slaves for the rapidly expanding Ba-Shu sugarcane plantations, and war was the swiftest way to acquire population. The other simply wanted to expand territory and gain merit.

Though their intentions were seen through, after a light rebuke, Qin Shi Huang still agreed to the matter.

"I once had the music masters compose the 'Ode to Qin,' which proclaims: Within the six directions, all is the emperor's land. West to the shifting sands, south to the north-facing doors. East to the eastern sea, north beyond Daxia. Wherever human tracks reach, none are not subjects."

His gaze turned toward the vast south: "Not long ago, Li Xin and Heifu sent men to establish Great Qin's westernmost outpost and relay station at Juyan Marsh, beyond the shifting sands and great desert, planting Great Qin's black banner. 'West to the shifting sands' is achieved, but what of 'south to the north-facing doors'? That still depends on the southern generals and commandants."

After sweeping away the Xiongnu, the emperor's ambition swelled even more! If nothing else, the grand boasts made to all under heaven must be fulfilled!

Qin Shi Huang declared grandly, "You need not seek many more pretexts. Go! As with the Xiongnu — merchants scout the path, laborers open the roads, soldiers follow! I shall place officials to govern the states of the Southwestern Yi. Wherever there are human traces, those walled cities and settlements, all must submit to Great Qin! Where the sun and moon shine, where the wind and rain reach, none shall fail to obey!"

…

At the end of summer, Qin Shi Huang concluded his tour of Ba-Shu. At the same time, Chang E, Commandant of Shu Commandery, and Ba Zhong also began — one providing men, the other providing funds — to construct a road called the "Five-Foot Road" in the mountain forests south of Shu Commandery…

This was one of the two most noteworthy events in the entire thirtieth year of Qin Shi Huang.

The second matter, somewhat connected to the first, was the military farming north of the Great Wall.

Li Ling, grandson of Li Bing, who had just been appointed "Shanghe Agriculture Commandant," also began his long journey after reporting in Xianyang. After over a month of travel, in the first ten days of the eighth month of Qin Shi Huang's thirtieth year, he arrived at the newly established "Fuping County" of Beidi Commandery, on the eastern bank of the great river.

Fuping County lay north of Qingshan Gorge, a fertile land. Since the year before last, when Li Xin led his troops and set a great fire south of Qingshan Gorge, the Xiongnu had migrated away completely, leaving not a single person or animal.

Last year, Li Xin and Beidi Commandery Commandant Heifu victoriously joined forces here. Now a small town had been built, named "Fuping" in the hope that Helan Mountain would henceforth be prosperous and peaceful.

With the influx of many farming migrants from Guanzhong this spring, hamlets gradually rose around the town, and this land, grown quiet after the Xiongnu migration, bustled once more…

When Li Ling first arrived at Fuping, what he saw was a scene of fervent millet harvesting.

What left the deepest impression on him was not only the Beidi Commandery Commandant, working in the fields alongside soldiers and farmers, his skin tanned dark, but also a signboard standing at the field's edge, inscribed with the slogan of all the farming soldiers and civilians of Fuping County and Helan Mountain:

"Rely on your own hands, and you shall have ample food and clothing!"

PS:

1. Thirtieth year, no events. — "Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang"

2. This chapter's time is over half a year after the previous chapter.

3. Fuping County was indeed first established in today's Ningxia. For details, please search "Three Relocations of Fuping" yourself.

(End of chapter)