Chapter 52 Zhang Cang's Path to Advancement
Before the lesson was about to begin, seeing that Zhang Cang was interested in arithmetic again, Li Zhao simply took out the homework that Liang Liu from Xiangli had done that day and showed it to Zhang Cang.
Mr. Zhang, who was known for his expertise in the law, glanced at the document briefly and then accurately gave the answer.
Li Zhao and Qi exchanged a glance, half believing and half doubting.
He only had one thought in his mind: "Sir, aren't you a lawyer?"
Zhang Cang chuckled. Everyone knew that the Confucian sage Xunzi had taught two prominent Legalist figures, but few knew that he, Zhang Cang, was also a student of Xunzi. However, he was neither biased towards Confucianism nor Legalism. He had his own interests, and was deeply devoted to classical texts and scholarship. His position as an imperial censor conveniently allowed him to access documents and classics, which he found quite enjoyable.
Li Si was too ambitious and could not use Zhang Cang's knowledge for his own purposes; he would never think of Zhang Cang for a single day.
Zhang Cang took in the surprised expressions of the young people in the school, and recalling the records of borrowing Legalist classics that he had seen a few days ago, he revised today's lecture notes.
During this time, his lectures were conducted in a disciplined and orderly manner, never straying from the established boundaries. He completely avoided critical questions such as whether Qin law was harsh or whether punishments were reasonable, instead explaining the important articles of the Qin Code article by article. What would be extremely dry and boring for an ordinary person, Zhang Cang's extensive knowledge and citations of classical texts greatly stimulated the students' interest and guided them through his train of thought.
Today, it's time to give it a try.
He explained the "Law on Thieves," breaking down the legal provisions into arithmetic problems.
Those who stole rice with a value exceeding 660 coins would be punished with facial tattooing. If the value of the stolen goods did not exceed 660 coins, they would only be sentenced to "naixing," which involved shaving off their sideburns. While shaving off sideburns was highly humiliating, they would eventually grow back, but facial tattoos would stay with them for life.
A single line can make all the difference.
Therefore, to steal millet, one must first check the measurement instrument for error, accurately determine the size of the cloth, and then convert it into money according to the market price. Every word and phrase must be converted into a number.
The complex data flowed from one ear to the other, making everyone feel as if a Mohist master was lecturing.
As the water clock struck, Zhang Cang, observing the slightly bewildered expressions of the students below, seemed lost in thought before suddenly speaking: "A single thread can determine whether corporal punishment is imposed. A single coin can alter a person's fate. As future officials of a county or prefecture, how can you not be adept at calculation?"
Li Zhao noticed something and his expression hardened.
After class, Zhang Cang returned to his post and, following his memory, retrieved a bamboo slip from its location.
Today, he became increasingly excited as he combined arithmetic with law.
I couldn't resist checking out my favorite classics.
The bamboo slips contain more than one hundred arithmetic problems, covering topics such as square fields (calculating the area of rectangular fields), inner fields (calculating the area of fields based on their length and width), grain harvest (levying taxes based on grain production), and women's weaving (calculating work efficiency).
These are questions that ordinary people would never encounter in their entire lives, but for Zhang Cang, that alone was not enough. He vaguely felt that this bamboo slip, titled "The Book of Calculations," was not systematic or standardized enough.
He should perhaps revise or supplement it, but he can't find a reason to do so.
Zhang Cang shook his head. The Qin Dynasty valued the law, and although arithmetic had now entered the Xianyang Academy, he couldn't see if it would last. In the end, he put the "Book of Mathematics" back.
-
Li Si's study was brightly lit, as he immersed himself in government affairs.
Li Zhao strode confidently into the room. A servant was about to bow, but she raised her hand to stop him, then knelt down beside Li Si. She used small scissors to adjust the wick in the lamp oil, making the flame brighter.
Li Si smiled kindly, put down his brush, and beckoned: "Zhao'er, how have you been at the academy lately?"
Li Zhao was the eldest daughter of Li Si's eldest son, Li You. If it weren't for the Xianyang Academy incident, Li Si would have personally chosen a husband for her. But since women could also serve as officials in the court, Li Si was reluctant to let his intelligent and quick-witted granddaughter marry into another family.
Li Zhao's expression was respectful yet her gaze sharp. She knew that her studies at the academy were not merely academic; she was also the best person for Li Si to understand the academy's operations. She spoke calmly: "A Confucian scholar, lecturing on 'The Way of the Official,' actually interpreted 'benevolence' as 'compassion for subordinates,' saying that 'harsh policies, though effective, are unsustainable.' However, Scholar Shusun Tong immediately corrected him, stating that 'the benevolence of Qin law lies in public service; the absence of selfish favors is the ultimate benevolence.'"
Li Si understood. There was also controversy within the Confucian school; it seemed Chunyu Yue was dead, but his followers were still exerting influence. Meanwhile, Shusun Tong's faction was attempting to align themselves with Qin law and actively engaging in self-censorship.
"Most of the time, the Mohist masters taught practical techniques from the Mohist Canon. Yes, practical techniques. The masters said that this term was spoken by a divine messenger."
Li Si was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Divine Envoy? The Mohists have really found a good backer."
Among the various schools of thought currently lecturing at the Xianyang Academy, apart from the Legalists of the official academy, the most popular is the Mohists.
When the Mohist master has something to do, he really takes them out for fun!
For example, regarding gunpowder, which played a crucial role in the Baiyue battlefield, Mr. Shengkuan actually brought a sample of the rocks used to blow up the academy to show them! He even set up colorful fireworks to play with. Even the water-powered millstone that has recently become popular in the streets and alleys of Xianyang, he led his students to replicate a small water-powered millstone inside the academy.
The price was that the students had to grind their own wheat flour; if they didn't grind it by hand, it wouldn't count, and if it didn't reach a certain weight, it wouldn't count.
This also made most students realize how hard it is to produce food.
Compared to Xiangli Liang, who was also a member of the Mohist school, Li Zhao preferred Sheng Kuan.
Xiangli Liang wasn't bad, but he preferred to talk about theoretical knowledge, explaining the principles and construction of the Mohist defensive techniques, crossbows, and throwing chariots.
However, Seungkwan would occasionally tell some interesting stories about his interactions with the divine messengers.
For Li Zhao and many students who were curious about divine messengers, this divine messenger, who was highly respected by the First Emperor and successively produced miraculous skills such as weaving, gunpowder, paper, and printing, was undoubtedly mysterious.
She went to Mount Li the very next day after arriving in Xianyang, but this did not affect her standing in the First Emperor's heart. Don't you see how many new policies the First Emperor implemented after returning to Xianyang were closely related to the divine messenger?
Although she is no longer in the martial arts world, her legend lives on everywhere.
Moreover, Li Zhao also harbored a certain gratitude and admiration.
Li Zhao lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Li Si then asked, "How is my junior brother's teaching?"
“What Mr. Zhang taught us today was different from what he taught in the past. He combined arithmetic with laws and regulations. ... He taught us to use counting rods to verify corvée labor and detect stolen goods, with no error whatsoever.”
After listening to Zhang Cang's lecture, Li Si frowned slightly and sighed, "Zhang Cang wants to use numbers as a boat to cross the river of benevolent governance. He wants to reduce corporal punishment, but he's using such a roundabout method as mathematical calculation."
Li Zhao was greatly alarmed. She had only guessed before, and was not sure of the true intention behind Zhang Cang's words before class ended. Before she could even recite Zhang Cang's remarks about corporal punishment, Li Si was able to deduce Zhang Cang's true intention from just a few words.
Seeing this, Li Si smiled, the bright candlelight dancing on his face: "He's very clever. He actually managed to catch His Majesty's idea of revising the Qin laws. If this lesson had been given before, just the fact that he expressed a desire to reduce corporal punishment would have been enough to get him fired."
After returning from Mount Li, the First Emperor spent his time not only building the Xianyang Academy, but also reviewing the Qin laws. He would occasionally make annotations on the relevant bamboo slips and summon those in the court who were well-versed in the law to inquire about the actual enforcement of the law.
Upon hearing this news amidst his busy schedule, Li Si knew that a major change was about to occur.
Clearly, Zhang Cang also learned of this news from somewhere and made the same judgment as him.
"You say Zhang Cang is very good at arithmetic?" Li Si tapped the desk lightly. "I didn't pay much attention to him when I was studying under my teacher. Since he has this talent, and now is a time when we need people, he should do more work."
Li Zhao asked, "What do you want to do?"
Li Si took out an official document and handed it to Li Zhao, indicating that she should read it herself.
When Li Zhao received permission from her grandfather to view official documents for the first time, she felt a thrill and excitement akin to being close to power. Trembling slightly, she tried her best to suppress her emotions and calmly analyzed the documents.
Because of the early invention of papermaking, government offices replaced bamboo slips with paper for office work, which greatly improved efficiency compared to the past.
Li Zhao has ten lines in one eye.
The above is a joint report from the Minister of Agriculture and Prince Fusu.
The Confucian alliance with the Three Elders was not a major event. The ringleader was executed, and the participants were sent to the frontier. Unaware of the situation, Fusu, after being released from confinement, turned his grief into motivation and devoted himself to the cultivation of winter wheat.
He diligently accompanied agricultural officials on the Guanzhong Plain, teaching the common people how to fertilize, weed, and control pests and diseases. He personally supervised the repair of sections of the Zheng Guo Canal that were unsuitable for watering wheat. When some commoners lacked farming tools, he went to the blast furnace workshop to find equipment discarded by the army, remelted it into tools, and rented them out to the people.
To reassure the people that they could plant wheat with peace of mind, he spared no effort in promoting the idea that the Qin Dynasty would exempt those who planted winter wheat from a year's tax and land rent.
They work tirelessly day after day, braving wind and rain, facing the loess soil with their backs to the sky.
He had become several shades darker. His daughter, who had been taken to the Xianyang Palace for upbringing, barely recognized him.
The land has rewarded his efforts, and this year's winter wheat harvest is visibly on the horizon.
However, problems arose.
The wheat harvest season is fleeting, like fighting a fire; every grain must be in the granary within ten days, otherwise it will fall off on its own, and two or three out of a thousand acres of land may be lost. However, the corvée labor in the Qin Dynasty was heavy: building mausoleums, constructing straight roads, and garrisoning the northern frontier, all able-bodied men were sent out. Only women, children, the elderly, and the weak remained in the fields, exhausted and unable to contribute much.
Fusu and the Minister of Agriculture worried day and night, fearing that when the wheat ripened, they would lack the strength to wield the sickle, and the abundant wheat would wither and die on the ridges, turning into manure.
"This is not a natural disaster, but rather a conflict between the labor service and the pressing agricultural season. Your Majesty, I earnestly request that you consider whether it is possible to temporarily suspend some of the corvée labor in the Guanzhong prefectures to aid in the harvest. This is a matter of life and death, and there is no time to lose."
Furthermore, at the beginning of summer, the weather changes drastically; strong winds, torrential rains, and hail can all occur in an instant. Wheat stalks are inherently brittle; they bend in the wind, mold in the rain, and are destroyed by hail. Although the weather appears calm for now, I am filled with trepidation, as if standing on the edge of an abyss. I have ordered the officials in charge of ancestral rites to offer sincere prayers and instructed all counties to prepare laborers to immediately and intensively harvest the wheat should a disaster occur, saving as much as possible. However, the wrath of Heaven is unpredictable, and human preparations are ultimately necessary.
The problem with new wheat lies in the heat and humidity. If it is not dried in time and hastily stored in the granary, it will inevitably become moldy and rotten, or breed insects, thus wasting a year's worth of harvest! Although the official granaries have strict regulations in the "Granary Law," the sudden increase in the quantity of new wheat makes it difficult for the granary managers and assistants to keep up with the workload. If there are any oversights, the losses will be enormous...
The most pressing task at present is to seize the opportune moment and gather manpower. I humbly request Your Majesty to issue a special decree: that the wheat harvest in the counties of Guanzhong be temporarily suspended for ten days, and that I be permitted to mobilize a small number of idle men from neighboring counties to form a "harvest corps," dedicated solely to the wheat harvest, returning immediately upon completion. This is truly a last resort for ensuring a bountiful harvest.
After reading it, Li Zhao noticed Li Si's gaze and mentally reviewed the message.
First, there was the issue of conscription in the Qin Dynasty. The winter wheat harvest was in mid-May, which coincided with the peak period of manpower conscription in the Qin Dynasty. This meant that when labor was most needed for harvesting and planting, the main able-bodied people in the family were serving in corvée labor or guarding the border. The weather in early summer was unpredictable, and a sudden downpour could cause the mature wheat to lodging and sprout, potentially ruining a year's hard work for the common people.
How to coordinate the deployment of personnel with the urgent harvesting of winter wheat is a huge and complex mathematical problem.
Furthermore, the "Field Laws" stipulate that the number of bushels (石) of grain and fodder must be reported to the government immediately after they are removed from their stacks. This year, wheat is exempt from taxation, making the performance evaluation of local officials more complex.
No wonder Li Si wanted Zhang Cang to do more work.
Li Zhao thought to himself, "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang. I'm sorry to trouble you with your abilities."
-
Mr. Zhang, unaware of the situation, was utterly devastated when he was taken to the office of the Minister of Agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture grasped Zhang Cang's hand and said sincerely, "The Prime Minister's appointment of you to assist me is truly a timely help. I have heard from Prime Minister Li that you are proficient in law, calendar, and mathematics, which is known throughout the land. Now that the winter wheat harvest is imminent, there are countless matters to attend to, and there is one crucial matter that only someone of your talent can handle."
"Please take charge of all matters related to the harvesting and storage of wheat, the verification of data for performance evaluation, and the auditing of laws and regulations."
Zhang Cang was caught off guard and showered with a bunch of flattering compliments.
Then, he had a dedicated workstation in the office of the Minister of Agriculture.
The clerk brought over a pile of bamboo slips containing the figures for corvée labor levied by various counties in previous years, which hadn't yet been copied onto paper. He fumbled around for a while, panting, before saying, "Imperial Censor Zhang, you are well-versed in the law. Please calculate how many acres of wheat fields will be left uncultivated if corvée labor is levied according to the law this time. Calculate an exact number. With this as evidence, when we petition His Majesty to postpone corvée labor, it won't be empty talk, but rather supported by your precise calculations. Only then can His Majesty make an accurate decision."
Zhang Cang stared silently at the bamboo slips, which were half his height.
The clerk diligently laid out the paper for him, prepared the grinding stone, and handed him the brush.
Zhang Cang closed his eyes. What else was there to say?
That night, Zhang Cang returned to his residence with unsteady steps.
When the steward opened the door to greet him, his face beaming with joy, he said, “You’re finally back! Today, Prime Minister Li and the Minister of Agriculture have both sent people with many gifts. Please go and see them.”
Zhang Cang paused for a moment, then slowly looked into the hall. He saw that the hall was filled with stones of millet, and there were gold and silver boxes nearby.
Zhang Cang gasped and asked, "How much millet is this?"
The steward beamed, "I've counted them. Prime Minister Li sent 1,000 shi of millet, and the Minister of Grain Administration sent another 1,000 shi, totaling 2,000 dan of millet, which is your annual salary. The other gold and silver box was also a gift from Prime Minister Li, but I haven't opened it yet. Would you like to take a look?"
Zhang Cang opened it and was dazzled by the vibrant gold and silver colors. He quickly closed it and muttered to himself, "How much work do they expect me to do?"
Zhang Cang glanced at the millet and gold and silver in the hall. Even though he was not short of money, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
He doesn't seem incapable of doing it.
Having been exposed to money, Zhang Cang underwent a transformation.
He started actively looking for work.
Zhang Cang designed a special statistical ledger for winter wheat, with detailed items: acreage in each county, estimated yield, actual yield, loss due to threshing, manpower hours, weather impact, actual quantity stored, loss due to mold, etc. It was very detailed, so that readers could understand its effectiveness at a glance.
After the winter wheat harvest began, each county reported the daily amount of wheat collected, measured in "shi" (a unit of dry measure). He would then personally go to the granaries with his assigned accountant to sample and verify the quantities. He would check the weighing instruments to prevent the granary officials and field assistants from falsifying or underreporting the amounts. The results obtained would then serve as the true basis for the "reporting to the emperor."
In addition, he noted that the old laws, which applied to millet and rice, were inadequate in their standards for the drying, threshing, mold prevention, and storage of new wheat. After consulting with the authorities, Zhang Cang immediately drafted several temporary regulations. He urgently revised the "Warehouse Law" to supplement the regulations, stipulating the standards for the moisture and impurities of new wheat before it entered the warehouse, as well as the permissible range for various types of losses, so that officials at all levels had laws to follow and could avoid confusion.
Whenever the Imperial Censor passed by his workstation, he would always look at this reliable and highly qualified censor with a strange and admiring gaze.
The Minister of Agriculture unfolded a memorial and wrote down his joy at this year's winter wheat harvest.
[Your Majesty is wise and sagacious, and Heaven blesses Great Qin. The trial planting of winter wheat on a thousand hectares in Guanzhong, thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, the hard work of Prince Fusu, and the dedication of all officials and common people, has yielded a bountiful harvest. Preliminary estimates indicate an additional wheat yield of over 100,000 shi (a unit of dry measure), filling the granaries and causing a stir throughout the court and the countryside. This is the divine fruit of Your Majesty's and the Divine Envoy's far-sighted vision...]
Considering the role Zhang Cang played and Li Si's recent emphasis on Zhang Cang, he mentioned Zhang Cang again at the end of the memorial.
However, this success was not solely due to favorable timing, but also to human effort. The Imperial Censor Zhang Cang, temporarily transferred to my office, made a tremendous contribution to this matter. I dare not claim credit for this achievement, and thus respectfully submit this report on his merits:
Accurate calculation and verification were essential for achieving truth. The wheat harvest was a complex undertaking with countless details and a vast amount of data. Zhang Cang, a master of arithmetic, created a new type of accounting book and established verification methods. He personally went to the fields and granaries, using counting rods to verify the quantities of grain and weighing the millet and wheat to supervise the distribution. This ensured that the yields, losses, and stored quantities reported by each county were accurate to the smallest detail, serving as a reliable standard. From then on, the merits and demerits of the winter wheat harvest were all verifiable, laying an unshakeable foundation for His Majesty's future decisions.
Zhang Cang is a man of exceptional talent and ability, skilled in applying his knowledge, loyal, diligent, and capable—a true pillar of the nation. His successful trial planting demonstrates his exceptional mathematical and legal abilities, which have been invaluable in the nation's economic and social development. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to promote him without hesitation and place him in a high position within the court.
The reward for the appointment of the Minister of Agriculture was immediately apparent.
When Zhang Cang returned to the Xianyang Academy to teach, his title had changed, his salary had increased from two thousand shi to three thousand shi, and he also received imperial gifts from the First Emperor.
Seeing his spirited appearance, Li Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, and the guilt in his heart lessened considerably.
Seeing that Zhang Cang had made great contributions to the winter wheat harvest through arithmetic, the others secretly obtained some arithmetic problems from the Mohist lecturer, glanced at them, and then silently closed their books.
Mathematics is not something you can just master on a whim.
Zhang Cang's arithmetic skills are truly impressive.
Zhang Cang's promotion can be summarized as: My senior brother, the Prime Minister, and my arithmetic and law.
I can't learn it, I just can't learn it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
