Qin Official

I have long said that leaving things alone is to let the tiger go back to the mountain.

In early September, after returning to Yiqu City in Beidi County, Heifu informed his chief historian Chen Ping of the information obtained by the guards at Juyan Sai.

As King Yuezhi was forced to open the Hexi Corridor last year, the people of Qin also figured out that there was a vast land to the west of Yuezhi and Wusun, named the Western Regions. The Western Region has large mountains in the north and south, and a river in the center. It is more than 6,000 miles from east to west and more than 2,000 miles from north to south. Its size is equivalent to half of the territory of the Qin Dynasty, but it is vast and sparsely populated, not as good as one of Qin's counties. There are city kingdoms in the desert oases, and there are some nomadic kingdoms to the north of the Tianshan Mountains. At present, the Wushi merchants have only reached Loulan and Ruoqiang, and are ready to continue exploring westward to find the whereabouts of the West Queen Mother Kingdom...

I heard from Yuezhi and Wusun people that there is a small country called Kangju further west in the Western Regions. The Kangju people are good at doing business and often travel to various places for trade, traveling throughout the Western Regions, even as far as Yuezhi , Huns.

In the last war, the Qin army also captured some merchants from Kangju who were serving the Xiongnu Chanyu, and used them as intelligence dealers to inquire about the situation after the Xiongnu moved north. This group of people were typical businessmen. As long as they were given enough benefits, they could even He can betray his wife and children.

They sent news back to the Xiongnu intermittently. For example, last year, after Maodun deceived the Yuezhi King and braved the cold wind to escape north to Mobei, he immediately attacked the garrison and ordered his stepmother to be buried for Touman and his young brother. Died in a hunting accident, eliminating future troubles.

According to merchants from Kang State who were bribed by the government, Maodun only rested for a few months. In the spring and summer, he sent troops to conquer the Hunyu and Qushe tribes in the north, and fought with Dingling, plundering many of their people and livestock.

The Qin Dynasty did not know the size or population of Hunyu, Qushe, and Dingling. They only knew that they were north of the Xiongnu. According to Heifu's guess, they were probably near Lake Baikal and the Yenisei River in later generations. They were also nomadic hunting tribes. Compared with The three strong ones in the Donghu, Yuezhi and Xiongnu grasslands are undoubtedly extremely weak.

The Xiongnu were beaten by the Qin army and lost one-third of their young men and almost all their good pastures. Their strength was not as good as that of the Yuezhi and Donghu. It was not advisable to be enemies with them, but a cowardly and incompetent Shanyu would never rule. It will last for a long time, so Mao Dun's dispatch of troops is a military operation to stop losses and establish prestige.

Kangju merchants described that after Maodun wiped out the Hunyu and Qushe clans and plundered the Dingling clan, they took no human beings or animals and gave them to the Lan clan, the Xubu clan, and the Hu clan who had suffered heavy losses in Henan last year. The three families of the Yan family were nobles, so the adults of the three families all obeyed and regarded Maodun as their wise master.

In this way, the unrest and turmoil of the Xiongnu in Mobei were temporarily stabilized with this small military victory. With the big Gobi as a screen, Maodun could lick his wounds with peace of mind.

But Heifu didn't want Maodun to be so stable. In the past six months, he wrote to the First Emperor several times and proposed a Battle of Mobei. As a result, he and Meng Tian, ​​who advocated building the Great Wall as a barrier, started a protracted war in the air...

Heifu told Qin Shihuang in his memorial: If you cultivate virtue and promote prosperity, you must eradicate evil. Although the Huns have left Juyanze, they cannot be allowed to recover. It is better to use the remaining courage to chase the poor invaders. We should send out chariots and cavalry troops to attack the north. The Xiongnu plowed the court and swept the cave, beheaded Maodun, and hung it in the palace of Xianyang! Seeing that the Xiongnu is dead, the Yueshi and other states in the western regions will surrender.

Meng Tian wrote a letter to object, saying: Although the Xiongnu were defeated, thousands of Qin soldiers died, and more than ten thousand Qin horses died. Although the Xiongnu was sick and left far away, Qin also had few horses. It would take several years to recuperate and there would be no way to return. Moreover, in the deserted land of Mobei, if the lone army goes deep into the desert, there is a fear that the Xiongnu will be waiting for work. If there is a mistake, the whole army will be annihilated! It is better to have Qian Shou connect the Great Wall of Qin, Yan and Zhao, because the river is a pond and Yinshan Mountain is a fortress. The Great Wall is garrisoned with fields and strong bows. If the powerful crossbows guard the key points, the Huns will never dare to return south again.

Hei Fu wrote again: Although the road is far, we must reach it. If the bandits can go, I can go there too! Hei Fu is willing to go to Mobei in person, using Kangju merchants as guides, so as not to give the Xiongnu a chance to recover...

Although the slogans are exciting, there are very few generals in the army and people who support Heifu. Needless to say, Li Xin hopes to defend the north and attack the west. In the next few years, he will concentrate on running Jincheng well, cross the river to attack the Yueshi, and seize Hexi. Prepare.

Qin Shihuang was very happy with the different opinions of his border generals. He first deliberately let Heifu and Meng Tian argue over the memorial all spring, then he went to Bashu to inspect, and when he came back, he asked the courtiers to discuss the matter.

The same was true in both the DPRK and the Central Government, who were unanimously opposed to sending troops. Tingwei Li Si, who had had issues with the Meng family, even came forward to agree with Meng Tian's proposal:

The words of the Beidi Commandery are only for meritorious service and rewards, regardless of the overall situation. The Huns have no city residence and no dedicated defenders. They migrate like birds and it is difficult to catch their traces. Moreover, they have retreated to Mobei three thousand miles away. If a light army penetrates deeply, the food will be exhausted; if a large army carries food along with it, it will be heavy and difficult to transport. Starting from Guanzhong and transferring it to Mobei, it takes thirty shi of grain to reach five shi. Obtaining the land is not enough to benefit the country, and the captives Their people cannot be reorganized into households. To cross the desert and attack the north is to evade China, and it is not a long-term strategy for the Huns to move in a hurry!

Even Young Master Fusu wrote a letter from Xianyang to advise Heifu: Sima Fa says that even if a country is big, it will be destroyed if it is warlike. There is no one who regrets that my husband defeats a poor warrior. I hope General Wei will think twice... …”

Under this one-sided court discussion, Heifu always insisted on his own opinion. This was what his mastermind Chen Ping was most puzzled about. Although Chen Ping also knew that Mao Dun was by no means a mediocre leader, there would indeed be hidden dangers if he left things alone. But Heifu doesn't have to be so stubborn and doesn't hesitate to disagree with the Manchu Dynasty, right?

unless……

Chen Ping secretly glanced at Heifu, who was a little unhappy after Qin Shihuang rejected the memorial, and secretly said: Unless the lieutenant did this on purpose!

…

Not only Chen Ping but also Ye Zijin were smart people who saw the difference in Heifu's move.

Although my husband is a veteran in the army, he has always been cautious and cautious, and he will never make any mistakes. Last year, when he proposed to attack Ju Yanze, he also strongly supported Li Xin as the coach. Why did he suddenly change his gender this year and act like he was going to die for the country and be wrapped in horse leather? The people in the court believed it to be true, but Ye Zijin was beaten to death for not believing it.

On this day, after the emperor dismissed the memorial, Hei Fu was in a good mood and stopped doing official duties. When he returned home, he changed his mood from being unhappy in the government. He hummed a little tune and spent the day carving wooden horses for his son and playing games with him. After dark, I spent most of the night cozying up with my wife...

After it was over, Ye Zijin finally caught the opportunity and asked her husband: My dear husband, uncharacteristically this year, strongly advocated an attack outside the Great Wall. Apart from worrying that Maodun Shanyu will regain his power, is there any other hidden reason?

Hei Fu looked at his wife. They had been married for four years, and the novelty brought by their good looks had long since faded. At this time, the benefits of having a smart wife became apparent. When Hei Fu was away, she was able to take care of the house for Hei Fu. She had close contact with the families of officials and officials in the county, gave small favors to the families of her subordinates, and was a good wife in diplomacy. She also took the lead in knitting sweaters, making it the most popular thing among Qin girls in Beidi County, subsidizing the military.

And when Hei Fu came back, she could remind him from time to time and help him pay attention to some political details.

So Heifu said: When dealing with the Huns, your Majesty hopes that the generals will work together. But now that the Huns are far away and there is no big enemy, if the generals holding heavy troops can once again be harmonious and become brothers, is this what Your Majesty wants to see?

So my dear friend deliberately proposed a plan that Meng Tian and Li Xin would definitely oppose, and that His Majesty and the imperial court would not support?

Ye Zijin understood, so Heifu's seemingly stubborn behavior was still doing what the emperor was happy to see, and taking the initiative to stir up dissenting opinions.

However, the emperor was happy in this way, so what benefit would it have to Hei Fu?

Heifu sighed: Since last year, His Majesty's intention to support the Meng clan has been very obvious. He appointed Meng Tian as the governor of Shuofang County, allowing him to monopolize military affairs and become the head of the border generals. But I just continued to be the leader of the Northern Territory. The county lieutenant's jurisdiction has only been extended to Helan.

Although it seemed to outsiders that the emperor still trusted Heifu, Heifu realized that Qin Shihuang was suppressing him intentionally or unintentionally.

Looking at the bright side, maybe he was afraid that Heifu would make the same mistake as Li Xin when he was young and in a high position.

Thinking about the worst, the emperor deliberately let Meng Tian suppress Heifu, and after Meng Tian, ​​Li Xin and Heifu were chasing him, forming a delicate balance.

Then, His Majesty decided to adopt Meng Tian's strategy, build the Great Wall to the north, and stop attacking the Xiongnu. As for the expedition against the Yuezhi, it must be led by Li Xin of Longxi County. The North could send at most a few thousand partial troops to assist. I didn't even have the chance to go out personally. So. For one thing, no matter how good I am at cultivating my fields, it is unlikely that I will have the chance to make meritorious deeds.

Hei Fu would be happy if he could farm in the north with peace of mind and cultivate a new direct lineage, but the Qin Dynasty's system would not allow border generals and commanders to have such an opportunity. If after six or seven years of happiness, at the most critical moment, Heifu was transferred away with a transfer order, that would be like crying without tears.

Although there are three caves for cunning rabbits, the more caves the merrier is, in fact. Instead of sticking to one corner, I might as well take advantage of the fact that it's still early and dig a few more holes for later use... Heifu thought to himself.

It is better to leave early than to leave late. As time is about to enter the thirty-first year of Qin Shihuang, Heifu knows that the Shandong Rebellion in history will only last six or seven years.

It was also time for him to go to the center of this storm, the Kanto region.

Moreover, judging from the information that Nei Shiteng secretly gave him, Heifu knew that with the Xiongnu fleeing north and the crusade against the Yuezhi having to wait a few years, Qin Shihuang's focus in the next few years would also be on Guandong... …

A large-scale eastward tour and Fengchan ceremony will probably take place next year!

So Heifu also figured it out and said with a smile: Now, the foundation of Beidi County's farming has been laid. It only needs a mediocre talent to manage it and it can continue smoothly. Therefore, I want to change my position.

The black dog's duty to lure Qin Xituo has been completed. Next, it depends on the white horse...

If I am transferred away from Kansai, Your Majesty will make compensation and let me serve as the governor of a large county. After there is no danger of internal and external collusion, he will even let a woman with sufficient qualifications to enter the Nine Palaces...

Where will the beloved be transferred?

Ye Zijin acted like I would go wherever you go. In fact, she was even happier to be able to leave the bitter cold of the North and let her son live in the Central Plains.

Heifu smiled: Come on, your Majesty will definitely ask me this question on purpose, and I have already thought about how to respond!

…

What Hei Fu expected was true. After Hei Fu and Meng Tian had different opinions and the court chose to support Meng Tian, ​​Hei Fu's position as the Beidi County Lieutenant also came to an end.

In mid-September, Qin Shihuang issued a special edict to Heifu, but did not mention a word about the dispute between him and Meng Tian. He only mentioned that the Qin officials sent to Guandong were seriously corrupt and that thieves often breed in the area. Since the Xiongnu had fled far away, and it would still be a few years before they attacked the Yuezhi to the Western Region, and there was nothing going on in the north of the Great Wall, they wanted Heifu to go to Guandong as a county guard, to guard a place for me as a herder.

He also half-jokingly asked Hei Fu: Where do you want to go?

On the first day of the first lunar month in the 31st year of Qin Shihuang (the first day of the tenth lunar month), Heifu's memorial to the first emperor was also sent to Xianyang Palace.

When the emperor opened the seal, he saw that Heifu did not have any complaints between the lines. He even said something sincere at the end that moved the emperor.

I am a brick of Da Qin. I can move it wherever it is needed!

Qin Shi Huang could not help but praise:

Good black husband, you are really the brick and mortar of the country! Let him guard it and practice it for several years. After ten or twenty years, he will not only be a general, but also a prime minister!