Chapter 60: The Yellowing Wheat Tips Before the Summer Harvest

Outside the small courtyard, Lord Wu stood waiting. Seeing Tian An approaching, he handed over a scroll of official documents.

Tian An took the documents and asked, "Does the Prime Minister have any other instructions?"

Lord Wu replied respectfully, "The Prime Minister said that once the Young Master has reviewed and approved them, I am to bring them back."

Tian An nodded and walked into the courtyard.

Fusu was sitting inside the courtyard eating a pancake, with a bowl of mutton stew placed before him.

Tian An's skill in making pancakes was improving day by day, and he controlled the heat just right.

While eating, Fusu took the documents handed to him by Tian An. What was written upon them concerned King Fuchu of Chu.

King Fuchu of Chu had suffered a terrible nightmare, dreaming that members of the Xiang clan were coming to assassinate him. Deeply frightened by this, the King's bouts of madness were growing increasingly severe.

"Old General Xin?"

Xin Sheng, who was prodding a pancake over a small stove and contemplating which one to eat, looked up upon hearing this.

"Old General, how was Xiang Yan defeated back then?"

Xin Sheng walked over while eating his pancake and said, "This old man is not entirely clear on that. You should ask Wang Jian about this matter."

"Wang Jian..." Fusu pondered for a moment before saying, "Old General Wang is leading an immortal-like existence in Pinyang. It would not be proper to disturb him in his elderly years."

Xin Sheng sat down nearby, took a bite of his pancake, and chewed with a furrowed brow, seemingly considering the Young Master's words.

After a moment, the old old general nodded, presumably feeling that the Young Master's reasoning was correct.

The present-day Wang Jian was living the life of an immortal and certainly would not wish for anyone to disturb his peace.

Fusu was also reflecting on this question.

Yet as he pondered, Fusu recalled an article he had read before the national college entrance examination. The article discussed civilization, asserting that the development of any human civilization is invariably linked to people. It argued with great conviction that humans create civilization, and that the early birth of any civilization is bound to be fraught with hardship.

Following that, the article began to recount various wars, and as one read further, the central theme of the piece became the intertwining stories of civilization and warfare.

By now, Fusu could no longer recall the entirety of the article he had read in his past life; he could only remember sporadic fragments.

The small courtyard was very quiet. Xin Sheng finished a pancake, wiped his mouth, and said, "Pancakes with meat filling are indeed much more delicious."

Having finished his meal, Xin Sheng felt full. He stood up and said, "This old man does know a few things about the Chu territories..."

Fusu listened as the old man recounted the events that had transpired in the state of Chu years ago.

Outside the courtyard, Lord Wu was holding a warhorse by the reins, and he too overheard the old general's words.

The accounts given by the old general were largely tales and rumors from the past—how the Qin had dispatched Li Xin to attack Chu, only for Li Xin to suffer defeat.

Following that, the Qin had sent Wang Jian and Meng Wu to launch another campaign against Chu.

At that time, there were factions within the Chu court who urged the King to cede territory and sue for peace with King Zheng of Qin.

Xin Sheng said, "This old man remembers that the Xiang clan were the ones who originally opposed seeking peace. Later, when the Qin army emerged victorious, the First Emperor established Jiujiang County and Changsha County."

Listening to these words, Lord Wu harbored deep suspicions in his heart. After Wang Jian returned, he had engaged in a long, private conversation with the First Emperor; the hidden secrets concerning Chu were likely known only to the First Emperor and Wang Jian.

What the old general was recounting now already had similar rumors circulating in Qin and could hardly be considered a deep secret.

Some matters were permitted to be known, while other matters must never be spoken of.

Lord Wu pacified his restless warhorse, which was snorting impatiently, and gently stroked its neck.

Inside the courtyard, it remained quiet for a long while before Tian An walked out carrying a roll of documents. He handed them to Lord Wu and instructed, "Deliver these to the Prime Minister."

Lord Wu rode his warhorse all the way back to Xianyang City. The documents were delivered to the Prime Minister's residence, and officials there hurriedly carried them to the Zhangtai Palace.

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, rhythmic chimes were being struck in a steady tempo while a troupe of maidens danced within the grand hall.

Ying Zheng drank his wine with a smile on his face and remarked, "The wine of Chu is truly quite good."

Li Si wore a look of self-reproach, for both the First Emperor and he were now aware of a certain matter: Li You had taken a wife outside without permission and had even left a woman with child.

"Your subject was originally a commoner of humble origins; it is quite well for Li You to marry a woman of Shu."

Ying Zheng nodded and said, "Mm, very good."

In truth, it was precisely because Ying Zheng and Li Si shared this tacit understanding that a deep trust existed between sovereign and minister.

Since neither Ying Zheng nor Li Si placed importance on noble birth, they did not hold a person's background against them when employing officials.

Revisiting the affair of Li You, both Li Si and Ying Zheng found it entirely acceptable.

Ying Zheng raised his wine goblet and said, "I ought to congratulate you."

With lowered head and a smile, Li Si replied, "Your subject is unworthy."

Sovereign and minister drained their cups in a single gulp, celebrating the occasion as the night's festivity.

A palace guard before the hall announced, "Your Majesty, a letter from the Young Master."

Ying Zheng waved his hand, signaling the palace maids before him to withdraw. In an instant, the music of the chimes ceased, and the maids departed.

The entire grand hall returned to silence and its vast, echoing emptiness.

A palace attendant hurried forward on swift footsteps, holding the letter from Young Master Fusu respectfully in both hands.

When the letter was presented before him, Ying Zheng took it and read it with a slight frown. His expression then relaxed somewhat as he said, "Li Si, take a look as well."

Li Si rose from his seat and took the letter from the attendant's hands.

Before opening it, Li Si glanced once more at the First Emperor's expression, seemingly to confirm something, before breaking the seal.

The contents of the letter were very simple, conveying the general meaning that as long as troops were dispatched to protect the residence of King Fuchu of Chu, Fuchu would bow in obeisance toward the Zhangtai Palace to express his gratitude to the First Emperor.

The First Emperor had not obtained the answer he desired, nor had Li Si obtained the answer he desired.

Yet, facing the First Emperor's gaze, Li Si offered an explanation: "The Young Master believes that the King of Chu still holds value to be utilized."

Ying Zheng remarked, "What? Does he still imagine the state of Chu can be restored? He is merely a mad king of Chu."

Originally, the First Emperor's anticipated course of action would likely have been to execute the King of Chu, thereby winning the hearts of those former nobles in the Chu lands who utterly despised this former king.

Yet it appeared that Young Master Fusu had no desire for such allegiance.

At times, Li Si also felt deeply fatigued, caught as he was between the First Emperor and Young Master Fusu, having to tread with utmost caution in both words and deeds.

Li Si pondered for a moment and said, "In those days, all under heaven knew that after unifying the six states, the King of Qin would treat the former sovereigns of the six states with benevolence."

Ying Zheng nodded without denying it.

Li Si stood within the grand hall, where numerous candle stands had been added, making the interior all the more brightly lit.

"To the people of the world, the First Emperor's care for the King of Chu fulfills the promise made long ago, which is entirely fitting. Young Master Fusu's remonstrance to treat the King of Chu with kindness serves the same purpose."

Ying Zheng suddenly chuckled and added, "Those former nobles in the Chu lands would sooner wish for Fuchu to die."

Li Si nodded.

Yet after King Fuchu of Chu was captured, Xiang Yan had elevated another figure to kingship in Chu, only for that state to be crushed by Wang Jian, resulting in Xiang Yan's death in battle.

Had Xiang Yan not continued to prop up a puppet King of Chu and wage futile resistance against Qin, perhaps fewer lives would have been needlessly lost in Chu at that time.

Consequently, the faction of nobles led by the Xiang clan utterly rejected King Fuchu of Chu.

Hence, Fuchu had gone mad, plagued by nightmares because the shadow of Xiang Yan still loomed heavily over his heart.

Ying Zheng asked, "Do you wish for me to act according to Fusu's wishes?"

Li Si bowed and replied, "Young Master Fusu, much like Your Majesty, has never sought the approval of a mere handful of individuals, nor does he crave the empty flattery of a few. To win the hearts of all under heaven and to govern the realm, one must always make sacrifices to gain the greater whole. Both the Young Master and the First Emperor must be willing to part with a fraction in order to secure the vast majority."

Ying Zheng lowered his wine goblet and said, "You always manage to phrase things so eloquently."

Li Si replied, "The Young Master understands full well that fish and bear's paw cannot be had at the same time. He is well-read not only in the works of Xunzi, but also in those of Mencius."

Ying Zheng said, "Very well."

The following day, squads of Qin troops surrounded the residence of King Fuchu of Chu.

Fuchu did not open the gates, choosing instead to remain cowering within his courtyard.

"By decree of the First Emperor, we have come to protect the King of Chu."

As the voice faded, silence descended once more upon the exterior. Fuchu climbed up the wall and peered tremblingly at the neatly arrayed Qin soldiers standing outside, then climbed back down the ladder to stand alone within the courtyard of his estate.

Thereafter, the former King of Chu, Fuchu, actually bowed in obeisance toward the Zhangtai Palace, expressing his gratitude to the First Emperor.

Hearing this news, Li Si was in quite good spirits, going so far as to overlook Li You's unauthorized marriage abroad.

The scorching heat of summer remained unrelenting within Xianyang City, and Li Si continued to process official documents there as usual.

"Prime Minister, ice sent from the Zhangtai Palace."

Li Si stepped forward, removed the bronze lid, picked up a block of ice, and chewed upon it in his mouth.

The sky once more grew overcast with dark clouds. Li Si looked up at the heavens and muttered, "It seems we shall have a heavy downpour again today."

Lord Wu replied, "The First Emperor's mood is also very pleasant today, which is why he bestowed so much ice."

Li Si had never been truly satisfied with this disciple of his. Hearing these words, a trace of displeasure deepened in his expression as he asked, "Do you still read books on ordinary days?"

"Recently, Your disciple has frequently studied legalist texts."

"You should also read more works from other schools of thought."

Lord Wu nodded and said, "I will read them."

Li Si reseated himself and asked instead, "Go to Jingye County and inspect the river canals. A heavy downpour is likely upon us."

Only then did Lord Wu notice how thick and heavy the dark clouds were in the sky. Although it was midday, the heavens looked as though night was falling in an instant, casting an inexplicably oppressive gloom.

Li Si chewed on a piece of ice and said, "Go."

Belatedly, Lord Wu nodded and began walking out step by step.

Watching this slow-witted disciple, Li Si rebuked sharply, "Run! Once you leave the city gates, ride a horse!"

Hearing this, Lord Wu hurried out of the Prime Minister's residence at a run.

The people of Xianyang City also noticed the heavy, overcast skies. It was already the flood season in Guanozhong, and amid such sweltering heat, a sudden rainstorm was hardly an uncommon occurrence.

People hurriedly brought various utensils and implements indoors. Following his teacher's instructions, Lord Wu sprinted through Xianyang City. Fortunately, the vast majority of the city's inhabitants had gone to the outer villages and counties to escape the summer heat.

Consequently, Xianyang City appeared rather empty, and Lord Wu ran almost without obstruction. After running a stretch, he stood in place, gasping heavily for breath, and when his strength failed him, he could only stagger toward the city gates.

A few drops of rain began to fall, fat droplets splashing onto the earth one by one. In the span of a few breaths, a torrential downpour broke out.

Just as Lord Wu reached the city gates, he stood beneath the lintel watching the sheet of rain, while carters from outside led their horses into the city to seek shelter.

twos and threes, people gathered beneath the city walls to escape the heavy rain.

Lord Wu found himself wondering whether his teacher's words today carried some hidden meaning.

First, he requested a warhorse from a carter, compensated him with a silver bean, vaulted onto the saddle, and plunged into the rain, racing all the way toward the direction of Weinan.

In Jingye County, whenever heavy rain struck, the locals would sit by their doorways.

"There is so much rain today, and our water cellars haven't even been put to use. Grandpa Tian says the Young Master is very fond of rice from Shu. Can we grow rice here?"

Listening to Nuer, Shusun Tong stroked his beard and smiled good-naturedly, saying, "Guanzhong can grow rice, but the harvest is likely not as bountiful as that of Shu, nor does it compare to our wheat."

Nuer counted the grains of millet on her palm and said, "How wonderful it would be if we could grow rice."

Shusun Tong said, "I only wonder if this heavy rain will wash away the river canals once more."

"Rest assured, Old Master, General Zhang Han has had thatched shelters built every single mile along the riverbanks, with two corvée laborers keeping watch in each shelter. If a section collapses, someone will immediately report it to General Zhang Han."

Nuer asked further, "Old Master, is the Great Wall in the north constructed in the same way?"

Shusun Tong replied, "This old man has never been to see the Great Wall."

"Is that so..."

Nuer looked somewhat disappointed.

Shusun Tong added, "I have several close friends who are building the Great Wall in the north; I can write a letter to inquire on your behalf."

In truth, Shusun Tong quite wished to win the favor of this little girl; she was exceptionally bright and a child deeply trusted by Tian An.

Having Tian An's trust was equivalent to having the Young Master's trust.

"There is no need." Nuer nibbled on the grains of millet in her hand, careful not to waste a single one.

After two hours of rainfall, the storm subsided into a light, pattering drizzle.

Zhang Han stood at the water intake point of the river canal, gazing at the embankment, which remained stable. This section of the embankment had been newly constructed and was quite sturdy.

Drenched in the heavy rain, Lord Wu rode his horse all the way here, arriving just as the rain had lessened considerably.

"The Prime Minister sent me to ask: Are the Jingye Canals safe?"

"They are perfectly fine," Zhang Han replied without even raising his head.

"I am going downstream to inspect," Lord Wu shouted loudly once more.

Given Zhang Han's understanding of the place, if the upper reaches were secure, the lower reaches would most certainly be safe as well.

The person sent by the Prime Minister had really no need to make an extra trip.

Watching the man ride off downstream, Zhang Han said to the corvée laborers behind him, "Go home."

Several laborers cheered and headed home, knowing they would not have to spend the night guarding the canal banks to feed the mosquitoes.

In Dali County, Zhang Cang and Cheng Miao sat within the county office while a laborer recounted the condition of various sections of the river canal.

Cheng Miao continued practicing his calligraphy. In truth, his handwriting was already sufficiently accomplished, yet he persisted in writing.

Though Cheng Miao appeared indifferent to county affairs, while writing he could simultaneously ponder other matters in his mind.

Having listened to the laborer's report, Zhang Cang asked, "The Prime Minister sent someone to inspect the river canals?"

"Y-yes."

Zhang Cang was a man of strict discipline and had disciplined several disobedient laborers in Dali County.

"Whom did the Prime Minister send to inspect the canals?"

"The visitor only said he was from the Prime Minister's residence and did not give his name, but he wore fine garments and looked quite wealthy."

Hearing this, Zhang Cang could roughly deduce the identity of the visitor: it was most likely Lord Wu, the Prime Minister's disciple, for he alone loved to flaunt his wealth.

Examining a scroll of official records, Zhang Cang asked, "Did he not come into the county town for a look?"

"He didn't say he would; he said he was returning to Xianyang."

Cheng Miao remarked, "Traveling back at this hour, by the time he reaches Xianyang, it will likely be past curfew."

Zhang Cang continued scanning the names on the records. These were the roster of new settlers who had migrated to Guanzhong, recording their former native places and names.

The mere task of registering these new settlers into the household registers had been exhausting enough; knowing the canals were safe was quite enough, and Zhang Cang had no leisure to attend to other matters.

He asked once more, "When the Young Master undertakes the construction of Tongguan, how many corvée laborers will be required?"

Cheng Miao thought for a moment and replied, "The Young Master... will likely demand as many as can possibly be mustered."

Zhang Cang nodded knowingly. "How much grain does the Young Master possess, and how many laborers must it sustain?"

Cheng Miao replied, "That depends on the size of our grain stores."

Zhang Cang stood up, walked over to a nearby bookshelf, and picked up a scroll of records to examine carefully.

If Prime Minister Li Si were to aid his disciple Lord Wu or afford him special conveniences, then Li Si would be guilty of favoritism.

If Li Si's son Li You ascended to increasingly higher official posts in the Qin court, it would inevitably invite accusations of nepotism.

Yet if Li Si gave his utmost assistance and unwavering support to Young Master Fusu, then Li Si was merely fulfilling his duty with absolute loyalty to the state of Qin.

As things stood, Lord Wu had remained nothing more than a minor document-delivery clerk in the Prime Minister's residence for all these years, while Li You had been posted to Shu and still held only the rank of a garrison commander.

Only Young Master Fusu had been appointed as Vice-Director of the Imperial Treasury (Shao Fu Cheng), leaving him just a step away from ranking among the Nine Ministers.

Facts had proven that Prime Minister Li Si was indeed a man profoundly loyal to Qin.

Today, Fusu fashioned a slingshot using the sinew of a rhinoceros, picked up a pebble, drew back the band, and aimed at a fish swimming leisurely near the riverbank.

Fusu released his grip; the pebble flew forth and splashed into the water.

The moment the stone struck the surface, the water dissipated its force, instead startling the fish and stirring up river sand, muddying that patch of water and causing the fish to vanish from sight entirely.

Fusu put away the slingshot, handed it to Tian An beside him, and said, "Give this to Gao."

Tian An took the slingshot and asked, "Zhang Cang has sent someone to ask whether preparations for the corvée laborers can begin."

Though the harvest had not yet arrived, it was drawing near. To consider post-harvest matters before the harvest had even been gathered was necessary, so Fusu nodded and said, "Tell him to make arrangements ahead of time."

Tian An nodded.

Zhang Cang possessed extraordinary skill in mathematics. He could calculate how much grain reserve the present Jingye County required, how many laborers were needed, how long the provisions would last, and how long the construction period would take.

Just as when the Xianyang Bridge was built, all the grain budget calculations had been managed by Zhang Cang, and he was handling them now as well.

Looking at the crops sprouting in the fields, Tian An felt a deep sense of joy. Opening river canals, relocating new settlers, enriching Weinan, and reclaiming fertile fields—Young Master Fusu had established achievements of such monumental scale.

Above all, what brought Tian An the greatest joy was winning the allegiance of the two hundred thousand people of Weinan.

The wheat in the fields was not yet ripe, but Fusu plucked a few grains, placed them in his palm, and examined them closely. "I hear that wheat seeds from the north are of better quality."

Tian An replied, "Northern wheat ears are not as numerous as those of Guanzhong."

Seeing an elderly farmer not far away wielding a hoe to direct water into the field ridges, Fusu approached him to inquire about farming.

Guanzhong did not lack experienced farmers, and their agricultural methods were largely similar. After questioning the old farmer at length, Fusu learned that the man originally hailed from the state of Chu.

Concluding his conversation with the old farmer, Fusu walked along the field ridge, his expression contemplative at times.

Tian An asked, "Does the Young Master have something on his mind?"

Fusu replied, "I am wondering how far Tu Ju has advanced into the southwest, and whether Zhao Tuo's troops have successfully reached the south."

"Military reports from the south arrive frequently; the Young Master may set his mind at ease."

"Would it be appropriate were I to ask Tu Ju and Zhao Tuo to bring back some rice seeds from the south?"

"Of course it is appropriate," Tian An said in a low voice. "Even if the Young Master were to ask Tu Ju to capture a herd of live rhinoceroses, he would gladly do so."

Fusu said, "I shall write an official document and have someone dispatch it to Guilin."

With that, Fusu stepped back into the small courtyard, penned two documents, and called out in a resonant voice, "Old General!"

Xin Sheng, who had been taking a nap by the courtyard gate, instantly bolted upright, as though his body had reacted before his mind awoke. The old man widened his brass-bellied eyes, hurried into the courtyard, and bowed, saying, "Young Master."

Fusu handed over a scroll of writing and said, "I must trouble the Old General to have someone from the army deliver these two documents to General Tu Ju, who is pioneering the southwest, and General Zhao Tuo, who has marched south."

Xin Sheng took the documents, walked outside the courtyard, and let out a sharp whistle.

Immediately, a soldier on a swift horse galloped over.

Xin Sheng gave a few brief instructions, and the messenger mounted and rode away with the documents.

Not only had this small courtyard been enclosed by a solid wall, but scallions, ginger, and garlic were cultivated within it.

Naturally, Tian An was not a man who grew flowers; thus, everything he planted served as sustenance.

Moreover, living by the Yellow River and frequently eating river fish meant one could never do without scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Seeing Qing Bi wandering back and forth near the courtyard gate, Tian An stepped forward to inquire.

Returning to the courtyard, Tian An reported, "Young Master, someone has fallen ill."

Fusu laid down his brush and looked up at the fierce, blazing sun. The scorching summer heat had yet to pass; in recent days, whenever there had been the slightest cooling trend, Qing Bi had anxiously driven the men to labor.

"A fortified city cannot be raised from the ground overnight, nor can it be built in two or three months. There is no need for such haste."

Bowing, Qing Bi said, "It is this subject who was too impatient, failing to heed the Young Master's injunctions and driving the men to work on my own authority..."

Fusu said, "A living person yields immense value to me; a living person capable of constructing city walls holds even greater value. I do not wish to see anyone perish over such matters, nor do I wish to see a minor, negligible error ruin an entire plan."

Noticing the sternness in the Young Master's tone, Qing Bi raised his hand as if to strike himself across the face.

Yet just as his hand lifted, ready to land on his cheek, his wrist was caught in a firm grip by Tian An.

Tian An said, "The Young Master likewise despises those who hold no regard for their own lives and bodies."

Qing Bi lowered his arm and said, "Young Master, this subject knows his error."

Fusu had already walked over to the construction site, where wooden stakes marked the designated perimeter of the city wall.

Three men lay flat on the ground before them. Fortunately, their minds were still relatively clear; it appeared they were suffering from heatstroke.

Fusu had them carried to a shaded spot, loosened their clothing to help them dissipate the heat, and cooled them by splashing water over them—though he took care to pour only a moderate amount.

Watching Young Master Fusu tend to the artisans, Qing Bi's expression grew increasingly remorseful.

Tian An stood nearby, looking completely relaxed, convinced that such matters could never stump the Young Master.

Seeing Young Master Fusu walk back over, Qing Bi stepped forward and asked, "Young Master, how are they..."

Fusu washed his hands in river water and replied, "They are fine now. Rest for a night and they will feel much better; after a couple of days of recovery, they will be fully recovered."

By nightfall, Qing Bi discovered that the three men treated by the Young Master had indeed recovered a great deal of their strength.

Tian An came to check on them as well, and upon confirming their recovery, he departed.

Tian An had observed a certain trait in Young Master Fusu: whenever the Young Master stayed in one place for half a year, or even three or five months, he would leave behind a vast multitude of books.

Presently, within the small courtyard at Tongguan, there were countless books; bamboo slips stacked to the brim covered an entire wall, piled tier upon tier.

Every single scroll had been written by the Young Master himself.

Much like the books in the Gaoquan Palace, a large portion of those had also been authored by the Young Master—though Prince Gao could likely neither finish reading nor fully comprehend them.

The next day, as Tian An was tidying up the books written by the Young Master, he sighed and muttered under his breath, "Ah, Young Master, you should have built a larger courtyard from the start; soon there will be no room left for all these books."

No response came from the Young Master outside; Fusu was currently partaking of his meal.

Most of the time, the Young Master simply ignored such complaints and offered no reply.

Before long, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

Tian An turned his head and saw that Xin Sheng had arrived.

Xin Sheng walked up to a pile of documents, picked up one scroll, glanced through it briefly, and made to take it away.

Tian An frowned and said, "Have you learned anything from reading the Young Master's books?"

Xin Sheng stroked his beard and replied, "So long as one reads them, one gains something. That is enough."

Outside the courtyard, Fusu looked up at the sky. There had been no rain in Guanzhong these past few days—a blessing, for the harvest was imminent, and heavy rain was the last thing desired.

The grain in southern Guanzhong ripened somewhat earlier than that in the northern part.

Seeing the crops draw near to harvest filled Fusu with pleasant spirits. He had incidentally provided Qing Bi with cooling herbal decoctions and refrained from further reprimanding him.

If the southern region of Weinan encountered the lingering autumn rains just as autumn approached, it would easily cause the crops to lodge and provoke blights and insect pests.

Therefore, harvesting the grain in early August, just before the onset of autumn, was neither too late nor too early.

Fusu's thoughts drifted back to his past life and Teacher Xu, the volunteer teacher who had come to his hometown.

Back then, he was still a child in the mountains, clumsily following behind Teacher Xu to memorize texts.

Fusu still remembered that he had been the slowest child in Teacher Xu's class.

Teacher Xu had once said he was very fond of a Guanzhong folk proverb, which went: *When the wheat tips turn yellow, daughters visit their mothers.*

The meaning of this proverb was that married daughters would hurry back to their maternal homes during the season when the wheat tips turned yellow, returning to help their parents harvest the crops.

Fusu still remembered that although Teacher Xu, the volunteer teacher, was not a native of Guanzhong, he held a deep fondness for the Great Northwest.

Now, Fusu sat before the threshold of the small courtyard, listening to Tian An lecturing Xin Sheng for only knowing how to read, remarking that despite his advanced age, the old general could no longer wage war and was good for nothing besides reading.

Fusu also watched as children ran by in twos and threes. These were the children of Tongguan; once terrified of the armored soldiers here, they had now lived alongside these troops for over half a year.

No matter how distant they had seemed at first, they were now acquainted; indeed, the soldiers had long since learned whose child belonged to which family and how many siblings each household possessed.

"A letter from the Young Master in Shangjun."

Fusu took the letter handed to him by the soldier, pulled a bamboo slip from the opened bamboo tube, and read it.

The letter had been sent by Meng Meng Tian from Shangjun, where he was overseeing the construction of the Great Wall. Meng Tian stated that the Confucian scholars of Qi and Lu, led by Zhou Qingchen, had grown accustomed to life along the Great Wall and were even willing to have their families migrate to Shangjun.

Meng Tian was a man of prompt and decisive action, so his letter was similarly concise, addressing only this single matter.

Holding the bamboo slip in one hand with his other hand clasped behind his back, Fusu gazed toward the direction of Xianyang, imagining how the Confucian scholars of Qi and Lu remaining in Xianyang—such as Chunyu Yue—would react if they learned that Zhou Qingchen, of all people, had become the most steadfast champion of the First Emperor's state policy to build the Great Wall.

Wondering what their reactions might be, Fusu immediately decided he was worrying needlessly; given the close network of communication among the Qi and Lu scholars, Chunyu Yue was likely already well aware of the matter.