Qin Official

At the beginning of the first year of the Regency (October), Han Xin came to Xianyang Palace earlier than scheduled.

His position is "Lang Zhongling", one of the nine ministers. If I have to go into details, the Lang Wei who guards Xianyang Palace are all his subordinates. But obviously, this is only in honor. Lang Wei has all been replaced, mainly Anlu people, followed by the children of soldiers who died in the two wars of the Southern Expedition and the Northern Expedition.

Han Xin still had to go through a series of procedures to enter this place. After confirming that his identity was correct, he was respectfully invited in and asked to wait here. Because the regent was very busy, he had set his own time for the ministers to meet with the emperor. He was now meeting with the governor. The two ministers, Su and Shaofu, discuss matters.

"Mr. Zhongling came early." Lang Guan reminded with a smile, but Han Xin said that he did so on purpose.

"I went directly from Yongdi to Shangjun, but I didn't even enter Xianyang. The Twelve Golden People have heard about its reputation for a long time, so I happened to have time to take a closer look."

In front of Xianyang Palace, the tall twelve golden figures are still standing, each 6 feet and 6 feet tall. They have different faces, some have thick eyebrows and green beards, some have three short beards, and their faces are lifelike. Six of them wear a crown, and six of them wear a crown. They are all covered in armor, some are holding golden swords and big halberds, some are holding giant swords with both palms, or they are holding huge wooden crossbows to shoot...

They are like twelve loyal guards, standing on both sides of the broad avenue in the palace, shocking the hearts of those who pass by.

Han Xin was also shocked so much that his scalp was numb. He looked over one by one. Only when he saw that his neck was a little sore did he hear a voice next to him.

"Master Lang, what do you think? Are these golden men as strong as mountains?"

When he looked back, he saw a big fat man wearing a minister's attire, with a red face, looking at Han Xin with a smile.

"Master Zhang."

Apart from Zhang Cang, there was no one else with this size. Han Xin was not allowed to bow to him.

Zhang Cang looked Han Xin up and down, nodded and said:

"The regent has always treated his niece as his own daughter, so he can entrust her to you. The doctor Lingguo is an extraordinary person. Not only is he a talented person, but his military achievements are also the best among the three armies. In a few years, he has jumped from a soldier to a prince. , the regent praises you as an unparalleled scholar in the country, and it is true."

"The national scholar is unparalleled? The regent really said that about me?"

Han Xin couldn't help but be overjoyed, but then he remembered the "good" title given to him by the regent, and quickly warned himself not to be proud, saying solemnly:

"Han Xin was just a man in Huaiyin without traveling to Guizhou Province. If he hadn't been appreciated by the regent, he would have died in Lingnan, and he would still be lost to everyone. How would he be as glorious as he is today?"

Zhang Cang nodded, then pointed at the golden man and said, "I saw the doctor looked at this golden man for a long time."

"Han Xin comes from a small place and has never seen such a huge thing."

Just like a child from the plains, suddenly standing at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, the feeling of shock...

Zhang Cang smiled and said: "The last time I was full of praise for the Twelve Golden People, it was a friend of mine from the Great Xia Kingdom."

The regent was still discussing matters with Xiao He, and Zhang Cang simply started talking with Han Xin at the feet of the Jin man.

"My friend's name was Suhektel. I thought his name was hard to pronounce, so I called him Su. He stayed in Xianyang for two years. I learned Greek writing and language from him, and I also heard him talk about countless Taishi deeds. He told me that these twelve golden men can be compared with the seven wonders of the West."

After Zhang Cang and Su learned each other's language respectively, their communication gradually deepened.

"Su told me that thousands of miles west of Daxia, there was a large Greek country called Ptolemy. On the outskirts of it there were mausoleums with seals like gold characters, built of stones, each tens of feet high, and formed in groups of three and two, pulled out of the desert. I don’t know when it was built, but it has existed since the beginning of the Greeks.”

"The Ptolemaic Kingdom also had a large lighthouse built near the port. It was first built with a three-story platform of rammed earth, and then built with fine stones. It used a giant lighthouse to reflect sunlight during the day, and used firelight to guide ships at night. The ships were far away. Looking at it, it seems as if I have seen the second round of the bright moon, and there is no longer any risk of getting lost..."

"On an island in the sea to the north of Tuoguo, there is another statue of the Sun God. The limbs and head parts are carved from stones and covered with copper. The body is more than ten feet tall, which is twice the height of the Twelve Golden People. One toe is as long as It takes two people to hug it, and the torch it holds serves as a lighthouse, which stays on day and night, guiding passing ships. Because it stands between two harbors, ships can pass under it. Unfortunately, there was a major earthquake more than ten years ago. destroyed……"

"Between Ptolemy and Daxia, there is another big country called Tiaozhi, which is the country that General Li Xin wants to help Daxia resist. In ancient times, there was a king in this country who built a hanging garden for his beloved concubine. , the earth is built tens of feet high, and arcades and hanging gardens are built on each level, filled with exotic flowers and plants."

The other three included the Greek statue of Hu Tian, ​​the tomb of the ancient king Tiao Zhi, etc. Zhang Cang was not very impressed.

"Is this all true?"

Han Xin was dumbfounded. Although he was a god in military skills, he did not have much knowledge. He was in his twenties, young and energetic, and he couldn't help but yearn for it.

Zhang Cang said: "I don't quite believe what Su said. I think it may be an exaggeration, but the regent said it might be true."

"At least the 'pyramid' next to the desert is real. It is also said that the stone from the mountain can be used to attack jade. Many Westerners have skills that people in the Middle Xia do not know. I am his master in wood structure and lacquerware, but When it comes to stone construction and glass making, he is my teacher, especially when it comes to building houses with stone. In the future, when the world is at peace, we may be able to use it when renovating the stone chamber for collecting books."

"In short, even the Su family, who has traveled to several wonders in Tiaozhi and Tuoguo, was inexplicably shocked when he saw this twelve-gold man, and he liked it very much. He asked me if this twelve-gold man has a name. I heard that there is no one. So he privately named them after the twelve constellations deduced by the Greeks after observing the stars in the sky..."

For example, the golden man holding a crossbow for shooting was named "shooter" by Su.

Zhang Cang didn't think much about it at the time, but some time ago, Hei Fu took over Xianyang Palace and continued to use this place as his office. When he mentioned this, Hei Fu was stunned and burst into laughter.

Duke Xia, the dignified regent of the Qin Dynasty and the grand master who also served as the grand lieutenant, almost died laughing at this.

Then, Hei Fu gave the twelve golden people official names. For example, the Sagittarius golden person holding the crossbow was named:

"Xingya..."

Heifu also said that these twelve golden figures were a perfect match for the statue of the Queen Mother of the West (called Athena by the Greeks) made by the First Emperor in the main hall of Afang Palace. Confused and confused...

In short, when the Su family from Daxia entered Xianyang Palace and saw the twelve golden people, they called it the eighth miracle.

When she saw Afangwan, Su was shocked by its vast area and grandeur, which she also called the Ninth Wonder.

It wasn't until Zhang Cang took him to the vicinity of Lishan Mountain to overlook the First Emperor's Mausoleum that Su changed his mind again, saying that there were ten wonders in the world, and Da Qin only had three of them...

Zhang Cang was just amused: "It's a pity that he didn't have the opportunity to go to the north to see the Qin, Yan, and Zhao Great Walls connected together. Otherwise, there would be eleven wonders in the world..."

But when I think about it carefully, I can't help but be shocked.

Zhang Cang now admits that the Western Greeks were also a civilization not inferior to that of the Central Plains, and their attainments in mathematics and astronomy were astonishing. From Tuoguo to Daxia, the Greek countries combined span thousands of miles from east to west, and their population and territory are no less than those of Daqin. And those miracles were either inherited from the ancient kings of the past, or were built by various countries respectively. They were all built after more than ten generations.

However, so many of the four wonders of the Qin Dynasty, including Chidao and others, only stood in one lifetime, which really hurt the people too much.

It’s no wonder that in the year when the Young Mansion had the largest number of people, its expenses accounted for two-thirds of the world’s revenue and expenditure...

"That's why the role of the Young Master needs to change from serving the emperor to doing things that benefit the country and the people."

Like Qin Shihuang, Heifu was also keen on centralizing power. In his words, he meant "concentrating strength to do big things."

But after pooling wealth, resources, and manpower, they are used differently.

In a few years, tens of millions of dollars are spent to build a large but useless wonder. If this money is used elsewhere, how many doctors who know basic hygiene knowledge can be trained, how many looms can be made, and how many craftsmen can be improved. How many books are printed and how many children become literate...

"The regent deeply felt that the First Emperor's rule was too complicated to control the people. After the bandits of the Six Kingdoms were wiped out, and he wanted to save harsh things, reduce taxes and restrain the people, instead of robbing the people, the young government would focus on building water conservancy and roads, encouraging births, and making craftsmen better. Craftsmanship will enable everyone to have clothes to wear...and the war will be completely stopped. I am afraid that in my lifetime, I will not send troops to the west again."

Zhang Cang glanced at Han Xin, who was looking up to the Jin man with unfinished thoughts: "When the time comes, how will the regent take away the military power of Han Xin, who is still young and has already made great achievements, so that he can live a peaceful life?"

Even if the bow is hidden, it is too early to wait until all the birds are shot. At this time, Han Xin asked Zhang Cang where the curly-haired Daxia man Su with a high nose and deep eyes was. He had never seen the Western Regions in his life. As for the Hu people, driven by curiosity, they really wanted to take a look...

Zhang Cang only smiled and said: "The Su family became the guide of the Western Expedition Army and headed west to the Kingdom of Daxia. I don't know where the Su family went with Li Xin and others? Has he already arrived in Daxia? Has he been with me? Let’s meet and entertain me in Bactria with Greek food and rituals.”

He couldn't help but sigh: "Well, when the world is peaceful, I really want to visit the West, copy the books and knowledge of the Greeks, and see if those wonders are true..."

Unexpectedly, Han Xin answered:

"When the world is peaceful, Han Xin is willing to go with Mr. Zhang!"

The young general who is full of great achievements and makes a great name is high-spirited:

"The regent once told me about General Li and praised him as one of the best soldiers in the world. He was extremely proficient in military posture and skills. Han Xin wanted to meet him."

"By the way, let's go and see if the many wonders in the other half of the world are real or fake!"

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