RPAGF Chapter 619 Unification of the World
Chapter 619 Unification of the World
On the day the notice soliciting suggestions for the enthronement ceremony was posted on the bulletin board, the people of Xianyang thronged around it. The ink on the seal script characters on the hemp paper notice was still wet, gleaming in the morning light.
"Ordinary people can offer advice on the emperor's etiquette?" A porter rubbed his eyes, not even noticing his carrying pole slipping off his shoulder and falling to the ground. "I'm not seeing things, am I?"
“It’s written in black and white!” The literate old gentleman next to him adjusted his turban, cleared his throat, and read aloud, “‘All citizens of the Great Qin, regardless of rank, may offer suggestions and advice. If their suggestions are timely and in line with the people’s wishes, they shall be adopted and implemented…’ Tsk tsk, this is truly the first time in history!”
The crowd erupted in a buzz. Porters, peddlers, craftsmen, farmers—commoners who could only look up to palaces in ordinary times—all had a strange light in their eyes. Some rubbed their hands together eagerly, some scratched their heads in deep thought, and some immediately ran home to find something they could use to write on.
Ten days later, the newspaper office was bustling with activity. Suggestions poured in like snowflakes, made of a motley collection of materials: paper was the most common, followed by bamboo slips, then linen, and some were even carved on wooden boards, written on animal hides, or even silk handkerchiefs. The clerks were incredibly busy, classifying, registering, and initially screening the suggestions before presenting the most insightful ones to the princess.
Ying Wuyou personally perused the documents in the back room of the newspaper office. Among the mountain of bamboo slips piled on the desk, her gaze lingered on a slightly rough wooden board. The edges of the board still bore traces of tree bark, and the charcoal handwriting was crooked yet forceful:
"Li San, a commoner from Guanzhong, has been farming for three generations. His two sons died in the war; the eldest died in Handan, and the second did not live in Yingdu. Now he only hopes for peace in the world and that the emperor will not forget us farmers. On the day of his ascension to the throne, could the emperor personally hold the plow? Let the whole world know that grain grows from the ground, not falls from the sky."
Ying Wuyou's fingers lingered on the three characters "扶扶犁" (Fufu Li, meaning "support the plow") for a long time. The charcoal ash on her fingertips was black, but it warmed her heart. She seemed to see an old farmer squatting on the edge of a field at the foot of Mount Li, using the charcoal ash he had shoveled from the stove to write this simple and unadorned expectation on the wooden plank left over from chopping firewood.
The following day, the front page of the *Da Qin Xin Bao* published the full text of the wooden plaque, along with an editor's note:
"This proposal comes from the bottom of my heart and expresses the voice of the people. Agriculture is the foundation of the country, and food is the lifeblood of the people. The emperor personally tills the fields and the empresses personally tend silkworms, not for mere formalities, but to demonstrate that the foundation of the new dynasty lies in fertile land and the people. I hope that the court and the people will all think about this."
The newspaper caused a stir in Xianyang.
When Qin Shi Huang saw the newspaper, he was having lunch at Zhangtai Palace. The piece of roasted meat he was picking up with his chopsticks paused in mid-air. He put down his utensils and read that passage over and over again. Fu De, who was standing by, saw a complex emotion flash in the emperor's eyes—a sense of shock, reminiscence, and a long-lost warmth.
Princess Xuan.
When Ying Wuyou hurriedly entered the palace, he saw the First Emperor standing by the south window, still holding the newspaper in his hand. Outside the window were the continuous rooftops of Xianyang City, and further away were the millet fields on the Wei River plain that were about to ripen.
"Jiayang, can we find this Li San?"
“Your subject has already sent people to search for him,” Ying Wuyou reported. “It is said to be an old farmer at the foot of Mount Li, who was sixty-three years old and lived alone. After his two sons died in battle, his daughter-in-law remarried and left behind a grandson, who also died of illness last year.”
The First Emperor turned around, his eyes swirling with emotion: "When I was young, I was a hostage in the State of Zhao. I often slipped out of Handan to watch the farmers plow and harvest in spring and autumn. After returning to Qin, I was busy with conquests and haven't been to the fields for a long time." He paused, his voice lowering, "This proposal is approved. The enthronement ceremony will include a personal plowing ceremony, and I... I will personally hold the plow."
The word "I" made Ying Wuyou's heart tremble slightly. She bowed deeply and said, "Father is wise."
At the end of May, the office of the Ministry of Personnel was brightly lit with candles. Although it was already night, there were still many people in the various departments, and the sounds of abacuses, writing, and discussions mingled together.
Before Yao Jia lay three thick stacks of rosters listing the names of former officials from the six states, almost obscuring half his body. Lu Wei, the clerk in charge of performance evaluation, was giving a report, his voice hoarse from staying up all night:
"As of yesterday, we have received 3,700 official resumes from the prefectures and counties. Among them, 1,200 were former Qin officials, 2,000 were former officials from the six states, and 500 were newly promoted through the imperial examinations. As instructed by the princess, we have compiled a list of officials by region, former vassal state, and previous official positions."
Yao Jia rubbed his temples: "Have the evaluation criteria been set?"
Lord Cao Cao's clerk, Zhang Zeng, submitted a booklet: "As suggested by the princess, the examination will be conducted in three parts: first, a test on laws and regulations, requiring a thorough understanding of the essence of the Qin system; second, a test on practical handling, simulating civil and criminal cases and observing the decision-making process; and third, a test on policies related to people's livelihood, requiring the applicant to propose governance strategies based on the actual situation of the jurisdiction. Those who excel in all three parts will remain in their original positions or be promoted; those who excel in two parts will be trained and then re-examined; and those who excel in one part or fail all three parts... will be dismissed."
“Training?” Yao Jia raised an eyebrow.
“The princess said that many people are not incompetent, but simply unfamiliar with the new system. We can set up an ‘official academy’ in Xianyang, hire doctors to teach Qin law and the new policies, train them for three months, and those who pass the assessment can still be employed.” Zhang Zeng lowered his voice, “My lord, this proposal is truly benevolent. At present, many former officials of the six states are living in constant fear. If they are directly dismissed, it may cause unrest. Giving them a way out is the only way to stabilize people’s hearts.”
Yao Jia nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed names on the paper: "Proceed accordingly. Furthermore, the assessment process must be open to the public, allowing scholars and commoners to attend. The *Da Qin Xin Bao* can send personnel to record the progress and publish it daily, letting the world know the fairness of the court's selection of officials—the princess's move is brilliant."
On the same day, inside the Zhangtai Palace, Ying Wuyou was bringing up another matter to the First Emperor.
"Father, the coronation ceremony is imminent, it's time for my elder brother to return."
The First Emperor looked up from the memorial, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes. Four years ago, he sent Fusu to Baiyue, partly to train him, and partly to avoid the turmoil in Xianyang. Now it seems that this step was the right one.
"Fusu spent four years in Baiyue, subjugating four tribes, opening up a thousand miles of territory, and establishing four prefectures to govern." The First Emperor put down his vermilion brush. "I... I often think of him. In his last letter, he said that he had learned the Yue language and could drink betel nut wine with the chieftain."
“It’s not just about reuniting father and son.” Ying Wuyou unfolded the sheepskin map on the table and pointed to Lingnan. “More than half of the Baiyue tribes have already submitted. Letting their leader return to the capital to attend the ceremony will reassure the border people and also deter the unsubdued tribes. This is killing two birds with one stone—it shows both appeasement and power.”
"Granted." Ying Zheng picked up his vermilion brush and wrote the decree on the specially made edict. "And Li Xin. The gold mine on Baga Island is on track, and it's time for him to come back and see the new look of the Central Plains."
Ying Wuyou mentally calculated the schedule: "General Wang Ben set sail from Langya half a month ago, and with favorable winds, he should be arriving at Baga Island soon. General Li will return after receiving the imperial decree and will definitely be back before September. Your son has already ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare for the harbor reception, and the gold and silver brought back by the fleet need to be escorted by a large force."
"You may arrange it." The First Emperor paused, then suddenly asked, "Jiayang, do you think anything has changed since Fusu returned from this trip?"
Ying Wuyou smiled: "Brother's words in his letter are still kind and benevolent, but now more decisive. The land of Baiyue is plagued by pestilence and tribal conflicts. Kindness alone cannot quell the unrest; ruthless measures are necessary. I believe that upon your return, you will be kind but not rigid, gentle yet firm."
The First Emperor nodded, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
Baka Island (Note: now known as Japan), an overseas territory of the Qin Dynasty in the east.
In early February, Yan Mu and other former nobles of Wei, who were associated with Yan Ju's rebellious forces, were escorted onto ships bound for Baga Island. The fleet sailed at sea for two whole months. The initial days were nothing short of hell for these pampered nobles.
Most people suffered terribly from seasickness, and the stench of vomit and excrement permeated the cramped cabin, mixing with the salty sea breeze to create a nauseating atmosphere.