Chapter 20 Liu Ji, the man who retrieved the cauldron from Sishui, was fond of wine and women, had an flamboyant personality, and was daring…
Liu Ji was fond of wine and women, had an outgoing personality, was exceptionally bold, and was enthusiastic about new things.
When the First Emperor toured to Pengcheng, which is next to Pei County, he ordered a thousand innocent commoners to work as laborers to retrieve the Nine Tripods from the Sishui River.
How could Liu Ji not be interested?
Before arriving, he had already applied to his superior to be in charge of transporting the laborers from Pei County to Pengcheng. Liu Ji had many friends, including many in Pengcheng. Even if he didn't get to see the First Emperor, it would be good to see a couple of old friends.
Fan Kuai's eyes widened: "That place is now full of government troops. If something goes wrong..."
Liu Ji waved his hand dismissively: "The order to conscript laborers has arrived in Pei County. I have already asked my superiors for permission to lead a team to Pengcheng! It's just a matter of doing the work. There are so many high-ranking officials ahead of me. How could a mere village head lose his head?" He turned to Xiao He, noticed that the other was deep in thought, his eyes darted around, and he said loudly: "Xiao He, you are always so steady. Should I go or not?"
Liu Ji was the head of the pavilion in Pei County, responsible for escorting convicts and maintaining public order, while Xiao He was the chief clerk of Pei County, a low-level official responsible for managing documents and performance evaluations. The two had some interaction in their daily official duties, and their friendship was even deeper in private.
Although Liu Ji was usually carefree and irresponsible, he was very perceptive of people's hearts.
He knew perfectly well that Xiao He, though proficient in law, diligent in government affairs, and compliant with the Qin system, had long harbored resentment towards Qin's tyranny. Qin championed the extreme despotism of Legalism, while Xiao He adhered to the Huang-Lao philosophy; their governing philosophies were diametrically opposed. As a low-ranking official, Xiao He repeatedly followed orders to issue documents for conscripting laborers and apprehending fugitives, witnessing firsthand the tears of the common people on this land.
He didn't understand why life would be even harder for ordinary people after Qin unified the country.
On the surface, Xiao He was a loyal and dutiful official to Qin, but in reality, he had long been aware of the drawbacks of the extremely centralized Qin system. The First Emperor's failure to allow the people to rest and recuperate led to widespread poverty. His tours of the southeast further burdened the populace, and now, for his own selfish gain, he had mobilized thousands of laborers to retrieve the elusive Nine Tripods from the Si River.
Xiao He knew perfectly well that the Qin ship had not yet sunk, but as long as Qin Shi Huang, the helmsman, continued to abuse the people's labor and fail to allow them to recuperate, its destruction was only a matter of time.
Hearing Liu Ji's laughter, Xiao He sighed, shook his head and said with a smile, "Liu Ji, you are really bold! Go ahead, after all, he is the first emperor in history. However, you must be careful."
Xiao He lowered his eyes in thought. He always felt that the First Emperor's purpose was definitely not as simple as retrieving the tripod.
Liu Ji laughed loudly, "Of course, I know what I'm doing." He suddenly lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "If we can really get the Zhou Ding, everyone involved will be richly rewarded..."
Fan Kuai immediately responded, "I'll go too!"
Xiao He glanced at him sideways and said seriously, "Qin laws are strict, especially since the First Emperor is in Pengcheng. Be extremely careful..."
"Old Xiao," Liu Ji stepped forward and grabbed his neck, "Can't you wish me well for once? Come on, let's drink."
Xiao He said nothing more, and tilted his head back to drink a bowl of turbid wine with him.
As night deepened, Liu Ji, having drunk his fill, staggered open the door to his home and saw Lü Zhi perusing bamboo slips she had brought from her parents' home under a small oil lamp. Upon seeing him return, the bamboo slips in her hand paused slightly.
"You drank so much again." She scolded softly, but put down the bamboo scroll and brought Liu Ji a warm hangover soup to drink.
I already knew Liu Ji had gone drinking, and knowing I couldn't persuade him otherwise, I even prepared a hangover soup.
Liu Ji plopped down on the mat, still wearing his boots, and gulped down the hangover soup. Lü Zhi's expression softened further in the lamplight. Liu Ji's heart stirred; he suddenly recalled Lü Zhi's cold and unyielding face on their wedding day.
Empress Lü's marriage to Liu Ji was essentially a political investment by her father, Lü Gong. Their marriage was based on mutual benefit, so initially, Lü was reluctant. After all, Liu Ji was more than ten years older than her, and although he had never been married, he already had a son named Liu Fei with the widow Cao.
But he couldn't disobey his father's orders.
When they first met, it was when the Lü family moved to Pei County and invited the local gentry to a banquet, where they could also get to know each other.
Xiao He was the chief clerk of Pei County, in charge of collecting gifts. Those whose gifts were less than a thousand coins were seated below the hall.
He barged into the banquet and ordered the doorman to shout that he had brought ten thousand coins. In reality, he hadn't brought a single coin. Lord Lü, thinking him a distinguished guest, immediately went out to greet him. Liu Ji walked in nonchalantly, drinking and eating as if no one else was there. Lord Lü was momentarily surprised but didn't reprimand him. When someone pointed out that he hadn't brought any money, Liu Ji wasn't afraid, continuing to eat and drink, even making sarcastic remarks to guests at the banquet who disliked him.
Xiao He immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
Lu Gong was not angry at Liu Ji's actions. He was skilled in physiognomy and stared at Liu Ji for a long time. When the banquet ended, he suddenly said that Liu Ji had a noble appearance and that he wanted to marry his daughter, Lü Zhi, to him.
Everyone present was astonished.
And so the marriage was arranged.
After Liu Ji got married, he received financial assistance from his father-in-law and gradually learned the reason why the Lü family left Shanfu County.
At this time, people were attached to their homeland and would not easily leave their old place. The reason why the Lü family left Shanfu County was naturally because they had offended someone they could not afford to offend, so they had no choice but to move the whole family to avoid their enemies.
While Lü Gong was indeed skilled in physiognomy, his decision to marry Lü Zhi was largely due to his behavior at the banquet. Bold, well-connected, and with the assistance of figures like Xiao He, he was an excellent choice for the Lü family, who desperately needed a powerful patron in Pei County.
Therefore, despite her mother's strong reluctance, Lü Zhi still married him.
After marrying Lü Zhi, Liu Ji's household began to feel more lively. Lü Zhi managed everything inside and outside the home, keeping everything in perfect order. She even took good care of Liu Ji's illegitimate eldest son, Liu Fei.
The relationship between the two of them is like that of lacquerware, with a neat and orderly pattern of etiquette on the surface, but a practical structure glued together layer by layer inside.
Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. Empress Lü worked hard every day to manage the affairs of the inner quarters for him. Even though their relationship did not start in a pleasant way, Liu Ji could not say anything bad about Empress Lü.
At this moment, thinking of Lü Zhi's cold words on their wedding day, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Empress Lü was furious. How could he come home drunk and still have the nerve to smile? She threw a wet handkerchief at Liu Ji's face, and was about to say something to scold the shameless Liu Ji when Liu Ji picked her up by the waist. The feeling of being lifted into the air startled Empress Lü.
Liu Ji buried his head in the crook of her neck and mumbled, "E'xu, your husband is about to make it big."
"When have you ever not said that?" Married for only half a year, Lü Zhi had heard Liu Ji's empty promises countless times. She remained unfazed and pushed Liu Ji away.
Liu Ji sat up straight, a strange light flashing in his eyes: "This time is different, I have a feeling."
In the dim light, Lü Zhi frowned almost imperceptibly. Looking at her husband's excited face, and remembering her father's prophecy and high hopes for him, she asked, "Where are we going?"
“Pengcheng. I’m lucky and I’m sure I’ll get something out of it.” He lowered his voice, still unable to hide his excitement: “Maybe I can even meet the First Emperor. When that happens, I’ll come back and tell you all about it.”
Lü Zhi blinked gently, concealing the unspeakable envy and jealousy in her heart. Lü Zhi found it difficult to explain the subtle emotions in her heart at this moment. When she looked up again, all the emotions that should not have been there were suppressed, leaving only helplessness towards Liu Ji: "I will go pack some clothes for you."
She then pulled out a heavy cloth bag, and Liu Ji knew what it was without even opening it: "This was sent by your father. It's just what you need for your journey. Remember to keep it safe."
Liu Ji smiled and said, "Thank you, Madam."
-
Several days later, on the banks of the Sishui River.
"Everyone, be on your guard!" Liu Ji's expression was serious, a far cry from his usual carefree demeanor; he now appeared quite like an official. "When the Emperor arrives, no one can afford to make a mistake, or they'll lose their heads!"
The laborers conscripted from Pei County looked at each other and all agreed.
Fan Kuai leaned closer, his breath reeking of alcohol: "Liu Ji, I heard that cauldron weighs a thousand catties?"
Just as Liu Ji was about to speak, a deep horn sounded in his ear, and the earth began to tremble.
Liu Ji pushed Fan Kuai aside and looked toward the source of the sound.
They've arrived.
Black-armored cavalry surged in like a tide, their dark banners obscuring the sky. Banners fluttered along the riverbank, where a dense mass of Qin soldiers stood in formation, their swords and halberds forming a forest. Drums and music resounded, dust billowed, and the tall, imposing Imperial Guardsmen, wielding swords and halberds, intently watched the civilians lining the road.
Liu Ji thought to himself. No wonder the six states lost to Qin; how could such a fierce and powerful army be easily shaken?
"kneel!"
The crowd, like fallen wheat, collapsed to their knees in a rustling sound. Liu Ji, among the crowd, also knelt down. Fan Kuai, who had been laughing and joking with him, seemed to be stunned as well, his forehead pressed against the cold, muddy ground.
Liu Ji couldn't resist looking up and peeking.
Suddenly, a different color appeared in the dark procession, and even the clothes and expressions of the palace attendants around them changed.
A magnificent and ornate golden carriage slowly approached, surrounded by iron cavalry guards, exuding an imposing aura. The carved patterns on the carriage shafts gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
As the imperial carriage in the very center slowly passed by, a gust of wind lifted the curtain, and a person could be vaguely seen sitting inside.
In that instant, Liu Ji saw—
The First Emperor, wearing a twelve-tassel crown, sat upright, the gold thread embroidery on his black dragon robe stinging his eyes. His majestic face was like that of a god, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at him.
In an instant, Liu Ji's heart skipped a beat, and his breathing became rapid. He had never seen such grandeur, such power. What were the princes and nobles he had seen before compared to the First Emperor's majesty?
Suddenly, the First Emperor cast a glance from his carriage, and Liu Ji trembled. Those eyes seemed to see right through a person's soul.
The First Emperor's gaze did not linger on anyone. When the carriage curtain was lowered, Liu Ji noticed that he was looking at the churning Si River in the distance, seemingly pondering the matter of the Zhou Dynasty tripod in the Si River.
Liu Ji's throat tightened. Could a person really live like this? Is this power? Without uttering a single word, millions kneel in submission; just because of his own desires, he can summon thousands of laborers to the river to retrieve that elusive cauldron.
No, it's not just thousands of people; everyone living on this land will act according to his will.
An inexplicable excitement surged from his spine to his limbs, and Liu Ji felt his heart pounding like a drum.
"This is what a man should do!"*
This is how people should live!
These words escaped uncontrollably from between his teeth. Startled, Fan Kuai grabbed his arm and hissed, "Liu Ji, are you crazy?!"
Fortunately, the First Emperor's entourage had already moved far away in a grand procession, and the golden chariot left deep furrows in the loess.
The surrounding crowd consisted either of laborers brought from Pei County or ordinary people living in Pengcheng. Still caught up in the excitement of seeing the First Emperor, they whispered amongst themselves about his imposing presence; they realized they might only ever see such a great figure once in their lives.
Apart from Fan Kuai, no one noticed Liu Ji's extremely disrespectful words.
Liu Ji realized that his words might cause him a lot of trouble, so he quickly tried to smooth things over with jokes. No one knew that his ambitions were growing wildly within him.
He picked up the bamboo hat that had fallen to the ground, dusted it off, and put it on nonchalantly. It wasn't until he moved his fingers that he noticed the bloodstains on his palms; the First Emperor's awe-inspiring presence was far more than that.
Pei County, Xiang County, and Pengcheng were under the jurisdiction of Sishui Commandery. Officials from these counties led the conscripted laborers to verify their identities.
Liu Ji was in charge of the laborers in Pei County. He took the official seal of the village head and the official documents stamped with the official seal and plunged into the crowd of officials.
Before long, he came out with orders from the officials of Sishui County and called out to the crowd to walk towards the Sishui River.
His team wasn't entirely composed of people from Pei County; some came from other counties as well. Liu Ji became wary. He knew the people from his own county well, but he wasn't so sure about those from other counties. If they caused trouble, his teammates would be implicated. He didn't want to be punished for some unfounded crime.
Liu Ji's eyes lit up, and a plan came to him. He summoned Fan Kuai and whispered a few words of advice to him.
Afterwards, Liu Ji removed the official seal representing the officials and carefully placed it on his person, then blended into the crowd without making a sound. Some people seemed to try to speak to him and call him "village head," but Fan Kuai quietly led them away. Now, only these people from other counties remained.
"Damn Qin officials! They dragged us here to pull ropes before the spring plowing was even finished!" A gaunt, unfamiliar laborer complained in a low voice. His tone was clever, instantly resonating with the crowd.
Most of the conscripted laborers had neither money nor connections to bribe officials; otherwise, during the spring planting season, no one would want their fields to lie fallow. In just a few days, they could plant countless acres of rice, potentially offsetting next year's taxes and ensuring a bountiful harvest for their families. While many harbored complaints, they dared not speak out because officials were present to supervise.
Now that someone has spoken up, and seeing that the officials have disappeared, the bolder ones have begun to echo the sentiment.
"There were thousands of people crammed onto the riverbank, all laborers gathered from various villages. The officials said they were retrieving the Zhou Dynasty's bronze cauldron, which could stabilize the nation's fortune, but what did that have to do with us? We were only concerned about the two acres of rice seedlings we hadn't finished planting at home!"
The emaciated laborer said with a bitter expression, "Yes, I am the only male in my family. I don't know what to do with my elderly mother and sick wife and children these days."
Those around them immediately felt sympathy, which instantly brought the group closer together.
Liu Ji put a hand on the man's shoulder and said, "Brother, which village are you from? Your accent doesn't sound like you're from Pengcheng."
The gaunt laborer was wary for a moment, instinctively tensing and trying to avoid Liu Ji as he approached. He quickly recovered, observing Liu Ji's expression and sensing no malice, and slowly relaxed. He said, "I came from Luming Township in Xiang County, and it took me three days to get to Pengcheng."
"Oh, my neighbor's second aunt's daughter married into the Chen family there. I've even been there." Liu Ji laughed heartily. "Brother, I've heard that the pens from Xiang County are particularly famous. It's a pity we're all rough men and can't use them."
The emaciated laborer relaxed and then spoke at length with Liu Ji and the others about the affairs of Xiang County, his words rife with inflammatory rhetoric. He kept his eyes fixed on the soldiers wielding whips in the distance while cursing the officials who were constantly conscripted without regard for the farming season.
Liu Ji agreed wholeheartedly.
The emaciated laborer immediately looked at him with admiration.
Liu Ji smiled, but alarm bells were ringing in his mind. He deliberately approached the gaunt laborer and found a hard object about the length of a forearm at his waist, like a dagger. He had encountered all sorts of people in his daily life, and the accent of Luming Township in Xiang County was completely different from this. People from Luming Township didn't address officials as "official sir."
Taking advantage of the chaos, Liu Ji slipped out to find Fan Kuai, who had taken his seal and was doing something else.
When Liu Ji returned, the laborers gathered together and chatted for a while. Several young men were stirred up by a few words from the gaunt laborer and were eager to try something.
Soon, they had no time to reminisce or chat anymore. The Qin soldiers, dressed in black armor and carrying swords at their waists, directed them to erect a three-zhang-high wooden frame on the shore, and then set up a windlass on the frame. The hemp ropes on the windlass, soaked in oil, were as thick as a human arm.
In the center of the bridge, an altar and offerings were set up. Previously, the First Emperor had ordered a grand ceremony to be held, but now only jade discs and small bronze tripods were placed on the bridge.
Dozens of wooden boats floated on the Sishui River, and the people who knew how to swim had stones and iron hooks tied around their waists.
The riverbank was teeming with people, like a surging tide.
"start!"
With a loud shout from the overseer on the shore, amidst the intense and rapid drumbeats, the people on the boat jumped into the river like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, splashing up sprays of water.
Liu Ji stood on the bank, staring intently at the surging undercurrents in the river.
The Sishui River flows swiftly, and it is unknown whether those who dive underwater will be able to find the legendary Zhou Ding.
"It's hooked!" The foreman saw the rope, which had been submerged in the water, suddenly taut and shouted excitedly, "Pull it up!!"
Thousands of laborers strained along the banks of the Sishui River, the thick ropes taut and straight. Liu Ji pulled on the hemp rope, the rope digging into his shoulder flesh, leaving it bloody.
The shouts of a thousand men were deafening, and the drums on the shore were pounding loudly. Everyone was pulling with all their might.
"Brother, do you really think we can salvage this cauldron? I heard it's been submerged for hundreds of years!" Liu Ji asked the gaunt laborer in front of him, gripping the rope. Liu Ji felt a pang of heartache for his clothes; his undergarment was newly made by Lü Zhi. He hoped the reward this time would be generous enough.
The emaciated laborer was also covered in sweat, whether from the pain of being strangled by the ropes or something else, it was hard to tell: "How would I know? Maybe Heaven will bless the First Emperor, and he will really pull the Nine Tripods out of the Sishui River."
These words left Liu Ji speechless. If he couldn't get it, wouldn't that mean even Heaven didn't approve of the First Emperor?
Liu Ji even had the leisure to secretly observe. Perhaps because there had been no results for a long time, there was still no movement underwater. Suddenly, the drumbeat changed, and then he saw a group of burly soldiers take off their leather armor and dive into the water.
On the shore, soldiers also grabbed ropes and joined the effort to retrieve the cauldron.
Liu Ji's gaze, however, was fixed on the center of the river. There, hundreds of burly men were chanting and pulling on thick hemp ropes. Waves surged, and huge dark shadows could be vaguely seen swaying beneath the murky water.
Liu Ji suddenly wondered what the First Emperor was thinking at this moment.
What could the First Emperor possibly be thinking?
He sat firmly on the high platform, thinking only that he had made thorough preparations and, based on the warning from the black bird in his dream, he would certainly not fail this time.
To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he specifically ordered Zhang Han to lead the Imperial Guards to join the search for the Nine Tripods. He also commanded his men to strictly guard all the high ground in Pengcheng, and to kill any disloyal individuals who attempted to interfere with his acquisition of the Nine Tripods.
Compared to the bustling scene in Sishui, the First Emperor's place was rather quiet. Li Si knelt in the first seat below the First Emperor, resting with his eyes closed, while Wang Ben sat opposite him, seemingly lost in thought.
When the eldest son, Fusu, saw the laborers who had fallen into the Sishui River and struggled to get up, he frowned, seemingly unable to bear it.
Just then, a loud shout rang out: "It moved! It moved!"
"The tripod handles are out!!"
"Quickly, pull it up!! If the Nine Cauldrons can appear in the world, all participants will be richly rewarded!"
The foreman shouted loudly from the bridge, his expression excited and almost frantic. He waved away the drummer and took to the drum himself.
"The appearance of the Nine Tripods promises a great reward!!!"
Someone yelled shrilly, "They're out!!"
Suddenly, a huge splash erupted from the river, and a bronze-colored giant shadow burst forth from the water! Under the sunlight, the enormous Zhou cauldron gleamed with a dark blue light, and the Taotie patterns on its body were ferocious and terrifying, as if it wanted to devour everything.
At this moment, Liu Ji was on high alert, watching the gaunt laborer's every move. He saw the laborer reach for his waist, grasp a dagger in his hand, and slowly cut the rope.
Liu Ji shouted, "Stop!"
At the same time, taking advantage of the emaciated laborer's shock, Liu Ji kicked away his tools and pinned him down with his body, preventing him from escaping. Liu Ji shouted loudly to the soldiers on duty on the shore: "This man is trying to break the ropes, and there are other accomplices hiding in the crowd. Soldiers, come and take him down quickly!"
The soldiers were surprised to find that one of the conscripted laborers intended to sabotage the salvage operation on the Si River and even dared to carry a dagger. If the screening had not been strict enough, this person might have bumped into the First Emperor when his carriage arrived, and the consequences were unimaginable.
The soldiers rushed forward to seize the emaciated laborer, patted Liu Ji on the shoulder, and asked, "Where are his accomplices?"
Liu Ji stepped back from the laborers pulling the rope, wincing as he touched the bloodstains on his shoulder. He grimaced and said, "I am a village head in Pei County. I noticed something was wrong with this man before he was taken out of the cauldron and reported his mistakes to the officials in Pengcheng. My brothers are also keeping an eye on them, so I don't think anything will go wrong."
The sergeant's brow relaxed: "Once the cauldron is retrieved, I will definitely recommend you for a commendation."
Liu Ji smiled and was about to say something when a thunderous cheer suddenly erupted from the shore.
Liu Ji felt as if the sunlight in front of him had been blocked. He looked up and involuntarily took a few steps forward. He had never seen such a breathtaking sight. The tripod was as big as half a room, and the dragon patterns wrapped around its handles were so lifelike that they seemed about to take off into the air at any moment.
Everyone stared in astonishment at the bronze cauldron being pulled out of the Sishui River, its cold light emanating silently.
It turns out there really is a bronze cauldron left over from the Zhou Dynasty in the Sishui River.
The boatman quickly steered the boat over, used bamboo poles to support the bronze tripod, and slowly moved it to the shore.
Liu Ji was almost captivated by the intricate patterns on the bronze tripod. Even though the tripod was covered in rust and had been washed by water for a hundred years, it could not conceal the effort that was put into its casting.
Only the ruler of the world can possess and maintain such an unparalleled bronze tripod.
"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"
A group of black-armored warriors roughly pushed through the crowd. Soldiers quickly pulled Liu Ji aside. Dozens of strongmen carefully lifted the giant cauldron onto the shore, carrying a specially made wooden frame. Water droplets from the cauldron fell onto the mud, producing a crisp sound like metal striking stone.
The first bronze cauldron that was salvaged was quickly sent to the First Emperor, while the remaining eight bronze cauldrons quietly waited in the Si River for the moment they would surface.
"His Majesty has decreed that all those involved in retrieving the nine tripods shall be exempt from taxes for three years, and if all nine tripods are recovered, they shall be rewarded with fertile fields!"
Liu Ji clearly saw the joy bursting in the eyes of the laborers on the riverbank.
Qin law was known for its strict regulations and heavy taxes, which were levied over three years. For ordinary people, three years of taxes meant a significant reduction in their economic burden, allowing ordinary families to retain more food and resources. Three years' worth of food reserves was enough to cope with years of famine.
As for fertile land, it was even more important to ordinary people. The harvest from fertile land was three to four times that of ordinary land, and more land meant more income. The common people might be able to use this opportunity of tax exemption and rewarding fertile land to achieve upward social mobility.
Like Xi in the Qin bamboo slips from Shuihudi in Yunmeng, he was a grassroots official who acquired fertile land and mansions because of his diligence in performing his duties, and his family quickly rose from a "farming and fighting family" to a local small landlord.
Liu Ji saw Fan Kuai desperately lifting the rope section by section amidst the crowd. If even Fan Kuai, who had some wealth, was doing this, how much more so would the poor commoners?
They will only work even harder.
The first bronze cauldron that was retrieved was quickly sent to the First Emperor.
The First Emperor stepped forward with his hands behind his back, carefully examining every pattern on the bronze cauldron, feeling genuine joy. He raised his hand and gently stroked the dragon pattern on the belly of the cauldron, its surface feeling incredibly cold, perhaps due to its long immersion in the river.
Standing behind the First Emperor, Fusu noticed the bloodstains still visible on the cauldron.
Perhaps it was blood left by the laborers.
"Brilliant!" Li Si laughed loudly. He led his ministers to kneel before the First Emperor, his voice trembling with excitement: "Your Majesty, the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon you. In the past, the feudal lords searched everywhere for the Nine Tripods but could not find them. Now that Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, the Nine Tripods have appeared in the world. This is clear proof that Your Majesty's virtue surpasses that of the Three Sovereigns and your merits exceed those of the Five Emperors."
"An imperial edict was issued, and the Si River was renamed the De River."
Perhaps already skilled, Zhao Gao reacted quickly and began to flatter: "Your Majesty is wise. The appearance of the Zhou tripod is exactly what is recorded in the 'Lüshi Chunqiu' as the virtue of water being associated with black. Great Qin is also associated with the virtue of water, so it is said that the Mandate of Heaven is with Qin."
All the ministers present were shrewd. They only listened to Zhao Gao's words and felt that Zhao Gao was acting rashly, even mentioning the "Lü clan" that Ying Zheng did not want to mention.
Who compiled the *Lüshi Chunqiu*? Lü Buwei.
What was the relationship between Lü Buwei and Ying Zheng?
He was one of the obstacles to his rule when he was young, and the prime minister was rumored to have an affair with his own mother, Zhao Ji.
As soon as Zhao Gao uttered the words, he knew in his heart that things were not going well. The First Emperor's coldness over the past few days had made him too anxious, and when people are anxious, they are prone to making foolish moves.
Ying Zheng did not turn around because of Zhao Gao's words. His gaze passed through the jade beads hanging from the crown and landed on the flying dragon pattern on the tripod. Suddenly, he noticed a phoenix carved in the southwest corner.
A thought struck him.
He turned around, his calm gaze falling on the kneeling crowd, and said, "Li Si, I order you to write an essay about today's incident of retrieving the tripod from the Si River and circulate it throughout the prefectures."
"Grand Historian, I hereby order you to offer sacrifices to the former rulers of the Great Qin Dynasty and inform them that I have obtained the Nine Tripods."
"The Minister of Agriculture shall reward all those who participated in retrieving the cauldron according to their merits, without any mistakes."
"Zhang Han, lead your men to wipe out the people from the six states who have exposed their true colors this time, and kill them."
......
By the time the remaining eight bronze tripods were salvaged, the moon had already slowly risen into the sky.
There were torches every ten steps along the banks of the Sishui River, making it as bright as day.
"Let's go." Liu Bang patted Fan Kuai hard on the back, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light. "Let's go collect our reward."
On the reward platform, Qin officials were reading out the list. Liu Bang knelt on the cold bluestone slab, yet he could feel his blood boiling.
As he rose, his gaze involuntarily swept past the crowd and landed on the distant high platform where the First Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, the sun, moon, and star patterns on his black imperial robes gleaming in the sunlight.
On the way back to camp, Fan Kuai excitedly counted the strings of coins: "I didn't expect there would be any reward money. It's enough to buy three fat pigs! Liu Ji, we'll have to have a good meal tonight."
"This fabric is fine; take it back and make clothes for E'xu." Liu Ji stroked the silk he had been rewarded with, his eyes brimming with excitement. He received an extra reward than most, because of his meritorious act of stopping the thief—he had been promoted!
A note from the author:
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I need some nutrient solution! [Pity][Pity][Pity]
Qin Shi Huang's Five Tours:
The first tour (220 BC)
Time: The year after unification (the 27th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign)
route:
Xianyang (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi) → Longxi (present-day Lintao area, Gansu) → Beidi Commandery (present-day Qingyang, Gansu) → Jitou Mountain (present-day Kongtong Mountain, Pingliang, Gansu) → Huizhong Palace (present-day Long County, Shaanxi) → Return to Xianyang.
Features:
Its main purpose was to patrol the northwestern frontier, deter the Xiongnu, and consolidate the Qin Dynasty's northwestern defense line.
The construction of "roads" was intended to strengthen the transportation network.
The second tour (219 BC)
Time: 28th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign
route:
Xianyang → Yishan (present-day Zoucheng, Shandong) → Taishan (Fengshan inscription) → Langya (present-day Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong, where he stayed for three months and inscribed a stone to praise the emperor) → Pengcheng (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu, where the attempt to salvage the Zhou tripod failed) → Hengshan (present-day Huoshan, Anhui) → Nanjun (present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) → Xiangshan Temple (present-day Yueyang, Hunan, where trees were felled on Zheshan Mountain) → Wuguan → Return to Xianyang.
Important events:
Fengshan at Mount Tai: The first grand ceremony of Fengshan was held to proclaim the Mandate of Heaven.
Xu Fu's voyage to the east: The Langya School sent Xu Fu to sea in search of the elixir of immortality.
Xiangshan felling trees: Because he encountered a storm while crossing the river, he angrily felled trees on Xiangshan Mountain.
The third tour (218 BC)
Time: 29th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign
route:
Xianyang → Yangwu Bolangsha (present-day Yuanyang, Henan, where Zhang Liang attempted to assassinate the enemy but failed) → Zhifu Mountain (present-day Yantai, Shandong, where an inscription was carved) → Langya (brief stop) → Shangdang County (present-day Changzhi, Shanxi) → Return to Xianyang.
Important events:
The assassination attempt at Bolangsha: Zhang Liang sent strongmen to attack the convoy with iron spikes, but the emperor was not harmed.
The Zhifu Inscription: A stone inscription was carved again to promote the virtues of Qin.
The fourth tour (215 BC)
Time: 32nd year of Qin Shi Huang's reign
route:
Xianyang → Jieshi (present-day Changli, Hebei, where the inscription is located) → Liaoxi (present-day Suizhong, Liaoning) → Youbeiping (present-day Pingquan, Hebei) → Yuyang (present-day Miyun, Beijing) → Shangjun (present-day Yulin, Shaanxi) → Return to Xianyang.
Background and impact:
He inspected the northern border to deter the Xiongnu, and the following year sent Meng Tian to attack the Xiongnu in the north and to repair the Great Wall.
The inscription on the stone tablet emphasized "dismantling city walls and breaching river defenses" to consolidate unity.
The fifth tour (210 BC)
Time: 37th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign
route:
Xianyang → Yunmeng (present-day Xiaogan, Hubei, where Emperor Shun was worshipped remotely) → Jiuyi Mountain (present-day Ningyuan, Hunan, where Emperor Yu was worshipped) → Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang) → Kuaiji Mountain (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang, where a stone inscription was made) → Wu County (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) → Langya (where Xu Fu was summoned again) → Zhifu (where a giant fish was shot and killed) → Pingyuanjin (present-day Pingyuan, Shandong) → Shaqiu Platform* (present-day Guangzong, Hebei, where the emperor died) → via Jingxing and Jiuyuan, return to Xianyang along the Qin Straight Road.
Important events:
The Kuaiji Stone Inscription emphasizes the etiquette of "men upholding righteousness and women cultivating virtue."
The Sand Dune Incident: After the First Emperor's death, Zhao Gao and Li Si altered his will and installed Huhai as emperor.
The death was kept secret on the way home: the stench of the rotting corpse was masked with salted fish.
*From the *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Annals of Emperor Gaozu": Lü Gong of Shanfu was on good terms with the magistrate of Pei, and to avoid an enemy, he became a guest of the magistrate and settled there. When the local gentry and officials of Pei heard that the magistrate had a distinguished guest, they all went to congratulate him. Xiao He, the chief clerk, was in charge of presenting the gifts, and instructed the officials, "If you bring less than a thousand coins, sit below the hall." Emperor Gaozu, then a village head, was known for his magistrate's arrogance, so he prepared a gift stating "a thousand coins for congratulations," but actually brought no coins. When the gift entered, Lü Gong was greatly surprised, rose, and greeted him at the door. Lü Gong was skilled in physiognomy; seeing Gaozu's appearance, he treated him with great respect and led him to the seat of honor. Xiao He said, "Liu Ji (Liu Ji) is full of boastful words and accomplishes little." Gaozu then treated the guests with disrespect and sat in the seat of honor without any hesitation. When the wine was finished, Lü Gong kept Gaozu by his eyes. After the wine was finished, [the rest of the text is missing]. Lü Gong said, "I have been fond of physiognomy since I was young, and I have physiognomized many people, but none are as good as you, Ji Xiang. I hope you will cherish yourself. I have a daughter whom I wish to be your concubine." After the wine was finished, Lü's wife angrily said to Lü Gong, "You always wanted to give this daughter to a nobleman. The magistrate of Pei was kind to you and asked for her, but you refused. Why did you rashly promise her to Liu Ji?" Lü Gong said, "This is not something that women and children understand." In the end, he gave her to Emperor Gaozu. Lü Gong's daughter was Empress Lü, who gave birth to Emperor Hui and Princess Lu Yuan.
*From the Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Emperor Gaozu: Emperor Gaozu often traveled to Xianyang. When he looked around and saw the Qin Emperor, he sighed and said, "Alas, a true man should be like this!"
*From the Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Emperor Gaozu: When Emperor Gaozu was a village head, he made a hat out of bamboo bark and ordered Xue, a thief, to make it. He wore it from time to time, and when he became a nobleman, he always wore it. This is what is known as the "Liu Family Hat".
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