13 Chapter 13

◎ Pushing the issue further. ◎

After Ying Zheng had laughed enough, Fang said, "They are young? Who is the youngest? You are really good at acting like an adult." As he spoke, he rubbed his eldest son's head, "You look quite good!"

Fusu's hair was messed up by his father again, but he didn't care. His face just blushed at his father's words. When he looked at those people, he would put himself in the perspective of an adult!

Seeing Fusu blushing, Ying Zheng smiled even more happily. His mood improved and his appetite increased. During the meal, Ying Zheng ate one more bowl than usual.

——Okay.

Fusu thought, as long as it can make my father happy, it doesn’t matter if I make a fool of myself.

After the meal, Ying Zheng made the decision: "Let them stay in your palace tomorrow."

"Ah?" Fusu was stunned.

It wasn't that his father's agreement was unexpected, but rather that he had intended to obtain his father's consent first, and then consult Meng Hua and the other three. Since they were the ones who wanted to leave home and live on campus, it was up to them to decide. If they were willing, it would be the best of both worlds. If they weren't willing, his father would naturally stand in their way.

But Ying Zheng was a feudal emperor, and he obviously would not consider issues such as whether it was voluntary or not, whether the children were reluctant to leave home, or how their parents and elders were doing.

Fusu certainly didn't think his father was wrong. He reflected for a moment and thought, "I must have stayed in the underworld for too long, and been "poisoned" by new ideas. I must change. Our feudal dynasty must follow the style of my father."

Seeing Fusu remained silent, Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why, you don't want to anymore? How can a child change his mind so quickly?"

Are all children like this? Ying Zheng thought that when he was this old, he would definitely not have time to be willful. Living under someone else's roof was not so easy.

Ying Zheng remembered that he had planned to visit his other children, but because he was too busy, he forgot about it. This time he remembered it again, and he marked the matter of visiting the children in his mind again.

Fusu said hurriedly, "I'm not unwilling. Father, I'll tell them tomorrow."

Ying Zheng nodded and asked Fusu a few more questions about class.

In Ying Zheng's view, studying was the serious thing that a child like Fusu should do, and it was not hard at all. Therefore, he had no objection to the full schedule arranged for Fusu.

Finally, Ying Zheng said, "The most important things now are food and weapons. I have all the details here. We just need to discuss and implement them slowly. You should focus on your studies and don't need to ask the previous kings about other matters first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fusu showed a guilty expression on his face.

Ying Zheng knew he was busy again, so he deliberately put on a stern face and said, "Want to copy the laws?"

Fusu hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, listen to me first, father, it's just a small matter, don't worry about it."

Ying Zheng raised his chin and said, "Tell me about it first."

Fusu gestured and said, "Father, I want someone to make a millstone like this so that we can use mules to grind wheat with less effort."

Ying Zheng frowned and thought for a moment before asking, "Is it the kind of millstone used in papermaking?"

Fusu said, "Almost the same, but this one is used to grind wheat and beans."

Ying Zheng asked doubtfully, "Shu?"

Soybeans were undoubtedly unpopular in the era when tofu and other soy products had not yet been developed because their seeds were hard and inedible.

Fusu kept it a secret: "When the millstone is made, father will know."

It didn't sound like a very laborious task, so Ying Zheng indulged his eldest son for once: "Okay, then you give the design to Meng Yi and have him send someone to do it."

Fusu smiled and said, "Thank you, Father." Then he stretched out another finger and said, "Father, there is one more thing."

"You're pushing your luck." Ying Zheng raised his hand and tapped Fusu's forehead, but the smile on his face didn't fade. "I'll let you push your luck. Tell me, what else do you want to do?"

Fusu smiled and said, "Father, this is just a small matter. I want to raise some chickens and ducks. Could you send someone to find some for me? I don't want small ones, but ones that can lay eggs. I want both males and females."

Wu means duck, but there was no such term as duck at that time.

Ying Zheng thought he was not here for food or fun, so he said, "Tell me what you want to do first, and I will consider whether to approve it."

Fusu said, "I want to try artificially hatching chickens and ducks."

Ying Zheng said: "You don't need to do this. I will ask the eunuchs to do it."

Fusu wanted to try artificially hatching chickens and ducks. It must be like making paper. Although he had the method, it would take many attempts to actually succeed.

Fusu shook his head and said, "Father, I am not the one who should do this. Mi Qing and Li You should do it."

Fusu's original plan was to let Li Ying take people to do this, but when his father placed Li You and others by his side, he had new plans.

Sooner or later you will have to do things for your father, so you might as well start by practicing on these things that you can do.

Ying Zheng was startled for a moment, then burst out laughing. "In just one day, they've figured out your secrets, haven't they? You've already started making plans for them."

This matter may seem insignificant, but it is related to food that is eaten. If it is done in the future and spread out, the names of these guys may be better known than their fathers and grandfathers.

Fusu smiled and said, "Whether they agree with me or not is not important. Their fathers and grandfathers were all men I had used. Now that they are with me, even if it's not a serious matter, it's still a job I've given them. So, why don't you give them another grace? This will allow the Prime Minister and the generals to bask in my kindness and repay it with even greater loyalty."

Ying Zheng was not a stingy person. The rewards in the Qin court had always been generous. People sought fame, power and profit, and Ying Zheng was never stingy in giving them these.

However, Fusu's words did not please Ying Zheng. He frowned and said, "Following you is not a serious matter. If you thought they were okay and I didn't like them, you would have been the first to feel sorry for them." As he spoke, Ying Zheng raised his hand and pinched Fusu's face, not very satisfied. "Fusu, this is very bad of you. How can the eldest son of Qin be so soft-hearted?"

Fusu explained: "Father, I am not soft-hearted."

This is not being soft-hearted, this is called winning people's hearts.

Of course, Ying Zheng knew this, but it didn't stop him from treating his eldest son like a good kid. He said to himself, "It's okay. You're still young. I'll teach you."

Fusu shut up. He had many shortcomings, and the more guidance from his father, the better.

"Thank you, Father." Fusu reached out and took his father's sleeve, and then naturally followed suit. "Then... Father, let Li You and the others handle this matter?"

Ying Zheng smiled helplessly and said, "Since you've pushed me too far, what else can I do? It's up to you."

"Father, since you've already pushed your limit, can I..." Fusu stretched out a finger again, "one more foot?"

He was such a spoiled child, so Ying Zheng didn't remind Fusu of what he had overlooked. Instead, he held his forehead and smiled, saying, "How many feet do you have left? Tell me all of it now."

Fusu chuckled and said, "This is the last foot, Father. This is definitely the last foot."

Ying Zheng supported his chin with his hand and said simply, "Speak."

"It's about the pig slaughtering." Fusu said this and that, and directly silenced Ying Zheng.

It is said that castrated pigs were recorded in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty, so the history of pig castration is actually very long, but the technology at that time was definitely not as mature as that of later generations.

Fusu proposed a method of reform, but Ying Zheng was obviously unable to accept it.

Is this something a child can hear and understand?

Ying Zheng rubbed his temples and said, "Fusu, this is also... what the previous kings told you?"

Fusu nodded as a matter of course. No matter what the blame was, the former kings should take more responsibility.

Anyway, more than two thousand years later, all the Qin kings in the world were Ying Zheng. More than two thousand years ago, the previous kings probably didn't mind taking the blame for Ying Zheng's son.

Since Fusu wanted to improve his father's food, he naturally had to take everything into consideration. Castrated pork can be used to cook so many delicious dishes, so of course it cannot be without it.

Ying Zheng supported his chin and said, "Don't worry about this matter, leave it to me."

Fusu nodded: "Yes, father."

Having disturbed his father for a long time today, Fusu finished his talk and was about to leave, but Ying Zheng raised his hand to stop him.

"Your measure has reached the limit, but I still have something to settle with you." Ying Zheng said with a smile.

Fusu blinked, feeling something bad happening. "Father...is there anything else you need?"

Ying Zheng calmly reminded him, "Fusu, think about it, have you broken your promise to your father?"

Fusu thought about it seriously, and then he struggled and said, "Father, I don't actually have to do anything, so... it shouldn't be considered a breach of promise, right?"

Ying Zheng tapped his forehead with his fingers and said with a smile, "Okay!"

"Oh." Fusu slumped his shoulders. "Then I'll copy..."

"That's not necessary." Ying Zheng said.

Fusu's eyes lit up, and he quickly complimented him, "Father, you are so wise! Thank you so much!"

"Hey." Ying Zheng nodded at him.

Fusu restrained himself, and said dignifiedly and respectfully, but with sparkling eyes, "Thank you, father."

Ying Zheng nodded with satisfaction and added, "But that doesn't mean I won't punish you."

As long as they don't copy Qin law, everything else is fine. Fusu said, "Father, please give your instructions."

Ying Zheng said, "In a few days, you will go with me to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Also, next month, I will go to inspect the farm work, and you will come with me."

Fusu was stunned for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Father, this... doesn't seem like a punishment?"

It goes without saying how important sacrifices are, and farming is the most important thing. This should be called a reward.

Ying Zheng said, "I am the King of Qin, and this is the Qin State. If I say it is a punishment, then it is a punishment."

Fusu was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly jumped up and rushed to his father, shouting, "Father!"

The little boy's body was easily caught by Ying Zheng. He was stunned for a moment before he burst into laughter and deliberately asked, "Do you like offering sacrifices or leaving the palace?"

Fusu nuzzled into his father's warm embrace and said with a smile, "I like being with my father."

Ying Zheng patted his back and smiled softly, "Clingy kid."

【Author’s words】

Records of pig castration can be found in oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty. The Book of Changes states, "Boar's teeth are auspicious," implying that castrated pigs become docile and their sharp teeth are less harmful. (Source: Baidu search)

After some searching, I found out that there was no Mid-Autumn Festival in the Qin Dynasty, but Mid-Autumn Festival sacrifices did exist in the Western Zhou Dynasty.