Qin Official

On June 20, the thirty-eighth year of Qin Shihuang, after sending people to protect his retreat, Heifu led a large army and arrived at Shangluo (Shang County, Shaanxi Province).

Shangluo is the so-called "land of Shangyu". Because it is above the Luo River, it is also called Shangluo. It was originally the land of Jin State. It belonged to Wei in the early Warring States Period. Later, Chu and Wei fought in Xingshan Mountain. Wei State wanted to win over In the State of Qin, Luo was appointed above Qin. Therefore, the Qin Dynasty only occupied this place for more than a hundred years. During the reign of Qin Xiaogong, Wei Yang was granted the title of King of Shang here.

When you come here, you have officially entered the Qin Dynasty, but Shangluo is not as wealthy as Qinchuan, and it is even more famous as a poor county in later generations. The reason for poverty is mostly due to the geographical limitations. As the saying goes, "poor mountains, bad water, black rocks, eight mountains, one water, and one farmland." You can see Xiong'er Mountain in the east and the Qinling Mountains in the west. The two mountains are sandwiched between each other, and there is only one Danshui River on both sides. The narrow basin on the side can accommodate people.

Being poor is a bit poor, but the geographical location is very important. Later generations have a poem that goes: High on the top of the mountain, you can see only clouds and smoke in all directions. There is a road below that leads to Chu and Qin. It is really simple and clear to describe Shangluo.

At this time, the consequences of Heifu's previous insistence on using the banner of the Qin Dynasty and not establishing another door began to appear. After catching a glimpse of the black banner with the word Qin in the door, everyone in Shangluo said:

"No matter how bad it is, it's still the Qin army. If Shangluo doesn't resist, can he still massacre the city?"

Heifu's deeds in Wuguan were so praised that it was impossible to resist after the army was defeated.

After a while, there was a knock on the doors in some lanes. People from Shangluo asked tremblingly. When they opened the door, they found that they were their own children who were sent to Wuguan to defend against the enemy under the orders of the Second Emperor. They thought they were captured and killed. , but now he is standing in front of him intact...

This was the first thing Heifu did in Shangdi. He asked people to release all the captives from Shangluo's hometown and let them return home, relying on them to promote the Northern Expeditionary Army's policies. Although the local people were still doubtful, at least they no longer fled into the mountains after hearing the arrival of the Northern Expedition.

The second thing is that I heard that in Shangluo cell, there were four doctors who were arrested for trying to escape the customs. They were Tang Bing, Zhou Shu, Wu Shi and Cui Guang. They were originally doctors of Qin Shihuang. After the Fusu incident, Then he fled here and was detained by the government for more than two years.

"What school of thought do these four people belong to?" Heifu asked Shusun Tong, the imperial scholar.

"It's Mr. Huang."

Although he was a little reluctant, Shu Suntong still told the story of the four people truthfully: "The four people were called Luli, Dongyuan Gong, Qiliji, and Xia Huanggong. Most of them were from Qi in Guandong and learned the skills of Huang Lao. "

Different from the alchemists who seek death and the Confucian scholars who jump up and down, during the Qin Shihuang period, although some people were forcibly recruited by Mr. Huang to become doctors, these people were more Buddhist and would not argue if they could, let alone forcefully advise him. He just regarded the doctor as a decoration and kept silent.

"Pardon the four people." Heifu said with a smile: "Now that things have been restored, the doctors who were in trouble in the past should also return to their places."

But this time he was asking for trouble. Several Huang Lao in the cell actually refused Heifu's conquest and sent back a poem:

“Mom high mountains, deep valleys.

Ye Ye Zizhi can cure hunger.

Tang Yu Shiyuan, where will I go?

The horse has a high roof, and its worries are great.

The fear of others in wealth is worse than the ambition of poverty and lowliness. "

Shusun Tong was overjoyed. After he finished reading, he cursed: "These Huang Lao people are so ignorant of good and evil. Lords, they want to imitate Boyi and Shuqi. They know that King Zhou is tyrannical but King Wu is benevolent. But you have to observe the festival for merchants and don’t eat Zhousu millet!”

Some generals also angrily begged Hei Fu to kill these four old guys and feed them to the dogs.

Hei Fu didn't feel dissatisfied: "Hu Haidu just imprisoned him without killing him. If I kill him, wouldn't I tell the people in Guanzhong that my mind is narrower than Hu Hai's? Everyone has their own ambitions, and they can send some food and leave it to them. stop."

The third thing is to go to the local "Xun Temple" to worship Shang Yang.

Coming to the east of Shang County, looking up at the Xun Temple where the incense was still burning, Hei Fu said with emotion:

"When I came to Xianyang and passed through this place twelve years ago, I tried to find Lord Shang's tomb to worship, but I found nothing and I couldn't find Lord Shang's temple."

It seems that it is true that the people of Qin showed no mercy to Shang Yang after he was torn apart by a chariot. This is also the fate of most reformers. No one applauded him when he was in power, and everyone applauded him when he fell.

It was Hei Fu who suggested to Qin Shihuang that temples should be built to commemorate people who had made great contributions to the Qin Dynasty, such as Shang Yang, Bai Qi, Sima Cuo, etc., to show their merits. As a result, temples were built all over the country. After more than a hundred years, Shang Yang's spiritual throne was restored. Arrive at the commercial site.

But just before Hei Fu entered the temple, a man stopped in front of him and bowed to Hei Fu: "I think that the king should not worship this temple, but should destroy it!"

…

Heifu took a closer look, but it was Fu Sheng, a Confucian scholar who came to seek refuge with Shusun Tong with a pile of secretly collected books such as "Shang Shu" after he captured Nanyang some time ago. Now he is in charge of the army and has some suggestions. power.

Heifu glanced at Fu Sheng: "Why should it be destroyed?"

Fu Sheng ignored Shu Sun Tong and blinked at him, solemnly saying:

"I believe that the defeat of Qin's government started with Shang Yang!"

"Shang Yang abandoned etiquette, abandoned benevolence, and focused on progress. In the past two years, the customs of Qin were gradually declining. Therefore, the rich and strong sons of the Qin family lived in separate fields, while the strong and poor sons of the Qin family had no choice but to have children. This caused the clans to be separated. , people have no family affection. I saw in the past in Guanzhong, the son borrowed his father's broom, but his face was unhappy; the mother borrowed his broom and did not return, and the children stood up and scolded her. The woman nursed her infant son, her breasts were exposed, but He is shameless and openly sits with his father-in-law; the woman and the aunt do not talk to each other, but they turn their lips on each other and ridicule... This is the bad custom of Qin."

"Advancing magic and abandoning etiquette is like abandoning the basic and chasing the weak. How can there be no chaos?"

Jun Zheng, who was next to Hei Fu, was unhappy and taunted Fu Sheng: "You Confucian scholar, don't talk nonsense. Which county doesn't have these quarrels between fathers, sons, women and aunts? Human nature is like this, how can you blame Qin Fafa entirely?" Order? In my opinion, Xiaogong used the method of Shang Yang to change customs, the people prospered with Yin, the country became rich and strong, and the people enjoyed it, so Qin, which abandoned etiquette, annexed the six countries that respected etiquette!"

Fu Sheng retorted: "When the people of Qin worked together, they were able to intimidate the six countries and annex the world. However, after they succeeded, because they did not know how to cultivate benevolence and righteousness, and blindly believed in the method of annexation, they continued to make progress, and finally made the world great. defeat."

"So I thought that Marquis Wu Zhong should bring order to the chaos and destroy Shang Yang's temple to show that there is no need for criminal law!"

The two quarreled endlessly, but Hei Fu pointed at the Xun Temple and said:

"This temple was built on my initiative."

"If you destroy it again today, wouldn't it mean that you are going back on your word and getting yourself into trouble?"

"What's more, the law is the order of the world. Therefore, deciding what is right and what is wrong is the destiny of the people. According to you, if the country is not governed by laws and regulations, how should Qin govern the country?"

Fu Sheng raised his head and said loudly: "Rule the country with virtue!"

"Imitate the government of Zhou Gong, be clear about virtue, be careful about punishment, and govern with virtue. As for the law, a few chapters are enough..."

Heifu smiled.

Confucian scholars are like this. They always think that a loving father and a filial son can solve all social problems. However, simplifying complex problems will only breed more troubles.

This is like a new carpenter who doesn't know how to use rules and regulations, so he blames these tools for being bad and then throws them away and scribbles on them.

A pillar-and-beam building with such messy repairs will inevitably collapse, as will the state machinery, which is the most complex invention of mankind.

Xianyang has not yet entered. Within Heifu's forces, Confucianism and Legalism have already sharpened their knives and tried to influence Heifu on how to govern the country in the future. This battle will probably be no less intense than the subsequent Lantian War. .

Look at the blushing Confucian scholar and the law official who always has a straight face, and then think about the four old Dr. Huang who don't want to be an official and would rather live in seclusion and autism. It's really fun for these three families to hang out together.

So Heifu said: "There is some truth in what you said. Law and morality should be used together. In addition to revising laws and regulations, etiquette and etiquette should also be promoted. However, law is the foundation of politics and religion, and etiquette is the use of politics and religion. The temple of the Shang Lord Not only must it not be destroyed, it must also be overhauled!”

After saying this, he resolutely entered the temple and paid homage to Shang Yang's spiritual throne. Only Shusun Tong who was left outside grabbed Fu Sheng, who wanted to persuade him again, and sighed:

"Fu Sheng, you are still too impatient!"

Fu Sheng muttered: "I can't see the emperor repeating the mistakes of Qin Shi Huang. I hope there will be a new policy that is different from the past."

Shusun Tong shook his head: "Don't worry about this. The prince has the appearance of a benevolent monarch, and he has the mind to accommodate hundreds of schools of thought, which is completely different from Qin Shi Huangdi."

"But the kings and princes have always believed that it is difficult for Confucians to make progress, but they can be successful. What we have to do now is to try our best to occupy a corner of the future court, so as not to end up in the situation where Qin Shihuang could not speak. As for who should regard law and Confucianism? For the Lord, but what the king wants is not something you and I can decide in just a few words! Besides..."

He was very self-aware: "Together, you, me and all other Confucian scholars can't speak as much weight as Lu Jia. Before the princes came to Xianyang, Lu Jia only used the art of lobbying to supplement his words, and rarely mentioned it. Confucianism, let alone us!"

…

Sacrifice to Shang Yang was to tell Qin officials that the Northern Expeditionary Army would not drastically change the past laws and order, release of prisoners was a show of goodwill to ordinary people, and pardon of prisoners was to reassure opponents who stood on the opposite side of the former regime.

After Heifu did these three things in Shangluo, he basically made all classes in the fifteen cities of Shangyu, from Qin officials, common people to prisoners, no longer fear the Northern Expeditionary Army.

After stabilizing the bridgehead, it was almost time to enter the pass even if Han Xin's troops were on the road, so Heifu took Shangluo as his base and the army continued to enter the pass.

Yaoguan is the last barrier from Shangyu to the Guanzhong Plain, but it is far less dangerous than Wuguan and Hangu.

After Wang Li was defeated and retreated from Wuguan, he lost troops and pawns along the way, but in the end he returned to Yaoguan with more than 80,000 people, and joined with the more than 10,000 guards stationed here to form a force of 100,000. The Northern Army He also knew that Yaoguan was not strong enough to defend, so he set up a battle formation in Lantian behind it, preparing for a desperate fight.

Heifu's side only had 90,000 people, but he asked Dongmen Bao to dig 50,000 more stoves in Shangluo camp, and sent people to plant flags on the hills near Aoguan, creating a huge momentum, known as the Twenty Wan Dajun...

The news of the defeat of Wuguan has also reached Xianyang. At this time, there was deathly silence in Wangyi Palace.

"The black thieves have entered Wuguan. It is said that they have hundreds of thousands of troops outside Yiguan. What can they do?"

The wise and martial second emperor was completely panicked. He did not expect that the Wuguan, which Wang Li praised as "as solid as Taihua", was lost in just two days. What was even more frightening was that meteors and fire crows appeared. Various strange phenomena such as moving walls and collapsing walls...

He felt extremely aggrieved: "Father, father, my son clearly succeeded to the throne by imperial edict, why did a vision come from the sky?"

"Or maybe that Hei Fu really learned the magic in the land of Chu Yue?"

Hu Hai was already considering asking wizards to break the problem. Didn't his ancestor King Qin Huiwen carve a curse on the stone drum and ask three wizards to protect Qin and repel Chu...

It's a pity that all the black dogs in Guanzhong have been slaughtered. I wonder if it's too late to start collecting children's urine now.

Fortunately, the Qin court has not yet fallen into the absurd situation of the Chu State who asked wizards to go up the city wall to attract thunder from the sky to ward off the enemy. The right prime minister Li Si, who looked upright, suddenly came out and offered a plan:

"Your Majesty, the black thieves have entered the pass and their soldiers are very strong. However, the remaining soldiers in the pass have been exhausted. I am afraid it will be too late to recruit again."

"On the other hand, there are hundreds of thousands of prisoners in Lishan. Why don't we issue an edict to pardon them, send them to Lantian, and give them armored soldiers to fight against thieves!"

…

ps: There is only one chapter today.