The Great Qin Empire---Qin Li

Just after the beginning of summer, the beauty of April has faded, and it gradually looks like summer. The wind has become dry and the sun is not so gentle.

On this day, under the scorching sun, a huge convoy set out from Jiangling City and traveled north along the road. It was the ceremonial procession of the county magistrate Teng's "county tour".

First, there were two military chariots leading the way. The left and right sides of the chariots were fully armed, some holding spears and halberds, some carrying bows and arrows, and even the driver had a long sword on his back and a crossbow at his hand.

Then there were two official chariots leading the way, both with white hoods, each with an armored soldier and a minor official.

Then came the county magistrate's tall carriage, with a black hood and red screens on both sides of the chariot. It was pulled by four red horses, and the figure of the county magistrate Teng was hidden in the curtains. But he was wearing a dignified crown, a black robe, a black crown, a long sword, a silver seal and a green ribbon. There were guards holding halberds in front, behind, and on both sides of the carriage.

Behind the county governor's carriage, there were more than ten carriages carrying officials of all sizes, dozens of riders, and hundreds of soldiers accompanying. It can be said that the carriages and horses covered the sun, and the road was full of carriages and horses! There were also drum carts beating drums and playing shengs and flutes, so that pedestrians along the way could hear them from afar and avoid them on both sides, or even watch from the distant ridges of the fields, all with eyes full of admiration and envy.

"These days, a provincial leader can travel so majestically."

Hei Fu's carriage was also in the convoy. Although he complained, he knew that this was because the laws of the Qin State were very strict. Just like the different styles of hair buns and crowns in the army matched the titles, in the counties, people of different official positions also had to ride in carriages that matched their status, otherwise it would be a violation of official etiquette.

So as a local official, don't think about traveling alone incognito. Maybe as soon as you leave the house, the supervisory censor arranged by the King of Qin in the county will accuse you of a crime of "damaging the national code"...

Heifu was reluctant to go out on the trip forced by the county magistrate. He hoped to help Li You train his troops in Ying County. The autumn harvest war was getting closer and closer, and Heifu also understood that no matter how much he did, when the war started, the soldiers and confidants in his hands would be the biggest reliance for survival and meritorious service.

Unfortunately, the sky did not fulfill people's wishes. Since he could not escape, before Heifu set off, he also talked with the county officials such as Bingcao Yuan and Youbingcao Shi to understand what "Xingxian" meant and figure out what he needed to do.

It turned out that Xingxian was a tradition passed down from the Zhou Dynasty. As early as the Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn Period, in April, there was a ritual system of "The emperor ordered the wild hunters to travel to the fields to work for the emperor and persuade the people, and not to miss the time. Order the Minister of Work to patrol the counties and villages, order the farmers to work hard, and not to rest in the capital."

In the Warring States Period, the princes began to implement the county system, so there were princes and ministers who set up counties. Most of the county trips had clear purposes. For example, when King Wuling of Zhao set up counties in Zhao State, he seemed to be traveling around, but in fact he was promoting Hu clothing and horse riding. Wei Ran, the prime minister of Qin, went to the east to set up counties to see Taoqiu, the fief he had obtained for himself by using public power for personal gain. On the way, he encountered Fan Ju sneaking into Hangu Pass. If Fan Ju had not been smart, he would have been caught in the act...

The purpose of the county governor Teng's county trip this time was also very clear. First, he wanted to persuade farmers to go to the local area, which was a concern for farming. Second, he wanted to supervise the county officials and warn the wealthy and powerful to abide by the law. This was the significance of supervision and justice. At the same time, it was also necessary to urge the counties to prepare for the large-scale conscription during the slack season and check the military records. This was why Heifu, the military officer and left historian, accompanied him.

The first stop they arrived at was Zhijiang County, which was located more than 100 miles northwest of Jiangling City. It was said that the county magistrate of this county was promoted by the county governor Teng from his assistants. He was a confidant among confidants. When he heard that the county governor was going to the county, he took everyone to greet him ten miles outside the city.

Zhijiang County was originally the territory of a small vassal state "Luo State". Later, Luo State was annexed by Chu State, and this place became Chu City. After Qin State occupied Jianghan, it changed its name to Zhijiang because the Yangtze River branched here.

The hydrological conditions of the Yangtze River in those days were not much different from those in later generations. The Yangtze River flowed from Shudong into the territory of Nanjun, out of the Three Gorges, and to Zhijiang. Under the obstruction of local silt, it was divided into various islands, and there were dozens of waterways. It is said that it was not until Jiangjinting, west of Jiangling, that it merged into one again.

Heifu also saw this wonder on the shore and asked the official in black clothes who came to greet them, "How many islands are there in this river?"

The official smiled and replied, "Some people have counted them out of boredom. At most, there are 99 islands, but never more than 100... So there is a local proverb that if there are less than 100 islands, the king will not come out!"

...

The official spoke without thinking, and the Zhijiang County Lieutenant next to him immediately frowned and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Then he hurriedly apologized to Heifu. Although Heifu's rank was equivalent to that of the county lieutenant, he was a county official, which was half a level higher. In addition, he had to check the conscription situation in Zhijiang County on behalf of the county governor. How could the county lieutenant dare to disrespect him?

Driven by the vigorous and resolute style of the county governor, on the first day of his stay in Zhijiang County, Heifu took two military officers to check the local military registration and the prepared conscription plan overnight.

The population of Zhijiang County is only 30,000, and the number of men is only 5,000. Starting from next month, 1,000 people will be recruited to leave farming and focus on military training. This will have a great impact on the local economy, so the number of people to be recruited in each township must be allocated. According to the "Law of Garrison", "living together is not allowed to go side by side", and it is absolutely not allowed for a father and son or a brother living together to be recruited at the same time.

While flipping through the bamboo slips with detailed records, Hei Fu thought secretly: "In the original history, Hei Fu and Jing probably lived separately, and because their family had a feud with the village officials, they were tricked and took advantage of the loopholes in the law to be recruited together to participate in this war."

One's own kind hurts one's own kind, so during the county tour, Hei Fu's duty was to urge the county lieutenant's office to recruit soldiers according to the law to prevent similar situations from happening!

So after Hei Fu finished reading the bamboo slips overnight, he righteously held a meeting for everyone in the county lieutenant's office. The content was roughly the same as the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in Recruiting This Year" in his previous life.

Guided by the spirit of "When the king raises his army, we will sharpen our spears and halberds", and the important instruction of the king last year that "the king of Jing violated the agreement and sent troops to punish him", and based on the conscription clause "Shulu" in the Qin law, we will resolutely implement the conscription orders of the superiors, insist on quality as the core, strengthen organizational leadership, strictly organize and implement, and pay close attention to the implementation of work to ensure the successful completion of the conscription task this summer...

That's right, unlike the last time we attacked Chu and hastily conscripted soldiers, this time the king of Qin's conscription paid more attention to the quality of the soldiers!

"The poor people in the left and right of the house can be used to transport food and fodder, but they cannot be used as regular soldiers in the formation."

The reason is simple, just like what Mencius said, those with permanent property have perseverance, and those without permanent property have no perseverance! No matter which dynasty or generation, the "good family sons" of the middle class are the elite main force of the army.

Just like in later generations, conscription also requires a clear political history, direct relatives not participating in illegal organizations, abiding by laws and regulations, good moral character, and no theft, fighting, or other illegal and disciplinary behaviors.

Perhaps these good family boys are not as good as bad boys when fighting alone. Once they join the army and undergo several months of training, they can beat the team of bad boys.

In addition, this conscription will "first recruit the rich", and only when the number of people is insufficient or the busy farming season is over, "recruiting the poor in idle time" is to ensure that each family's agricultural farming is carried out normally, which can also reduce the complaints of the people.

After finalizing the objects and scope of the conscription, the next step is the time arrangement and steps.

"Recruit soldiers in early May, and train for three months. In May, they are divided into ranks and formations. In June, the soldiers are familiar with the gongs and drums and flags. In July, the armory is opened and they are given weapons to practice fighting and defeating the enemy! After the autumn harvest in August, the soldiers from various counties, led by the county lieutenant, will gather in Yancheng, and the county lieutenant will preside over the large-scale training of 10,000 people!"

Everyone agreed. With the existing strict system, under the supervision of the county magistrate, the counties can also do their best to implement it.

Although the battle had not started yet, Heifu felt that when the King of Qin and the entire Qin State took it seriously and faced the enemy squarely, the battle had already been half won since the beginning of the conscription...

"So it is said: the army is better than the court. The one who wins without showing off his armor is the master; the one who wins in battle formation is the general."

Thinking of this, Heifu couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If the King of Qin had not been so contemptuous of his opponent and so impatient last year, and had listened to Wang Jian's advice earlier, there wouldn't have been so many comrades who died in a foreign country.

After doing all this, it was noon the next day. Heifu's mission in Zhijiang County had been completed. He was about to yawn and catch up on his sleep, but unexpectedly, the county governor's chief secretary came to him and said that the county governor was going to inspect the crops in the village and asked Heifu to follow.

"County Governor, I am an official in the Military Department, in charge of military affairs. The farming in the village has nothing to do with me. If I were to accompany the county governor, I would be suspected of exceeding my duties..."

A moment later, Heifu complained in front of County Governor Ye's carriage. He was sleepy and tired, and really didn't want to go.

However, Ye Teng stroked his beard and smiled, "Zi Gong asked about politics, Confucius replied that sufficient food and sufficient soldiers are the trust of the people. Only with sufficient food can there be sufficient soldiers. How can farming be unrelated to military affairs? Besides..."

After speaking, County Governor Ye's face changed, and he said with a stern face:

"Didn't your family offer the method of composting? Zhijiang County was the first place to promote this technique under my order. Now the 300 acres of winter wheat planted there will be ripe. Whether this method is true or false can be known. If it is effective, it will be just right for people to use it in rice fields and millet fields. If the elders complain that it is ineffective, this county governor will just take you down and punish you!"