Chapter 41: First Hearing of Liu Family's Son (Seeking Recommendations)

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  …………

  Standing outside the palace, waiting in a state of anxious confusion.

  The Wan Sui wine was listed as a tribute to the Feng Chan ceremony, which Ren You thought was a matter of course. Originally, he just wanted to get an amnesty for Liu Jian, so that he could avoid the suffering of being punished and let him leave the sea of ??suffering early. But unexpectedly, the amnesty did not come, but a decree came instead.

  Ran Xiang obeys the imperial edict and goes to Mount Tai to await the emperor's arrival!

  That is to say, the First Emperor of Qin might have summoned him personally after the Fengchan ceremony.

  It's not the first time I've seen the First Emperor... Back when he was still an Iron Eagle Sharp Soldier, Ren Yao had met the First Emperor more than once. Of course, Ren Yao had only paid his respects from a distance. The closest encounter was outside the Xianyang Palace Great Hall, where he was introduced by the noble Meng Yi and went to Pei County on imperial orders. That time, Ren Yao crawled along the outer hall, and even when leaving the Xianyang Palace, he couldn't lift his head to take a good look at Ying Zheng. The solemn and majestic Xianyang Palace Great Hall left an indelible impression on Ren Yao.

  The emperor ordered me to wait for his carriage, what does it mean? Could it be that I am going to be rewarded?

  His heart was filled with anxiety and unease, even when Meng Tian called his name, he didn't hear it...

  Meng Tian didn't get angry either. Like Ren Xiao, such a grassroots official, when they saw the First Emperor, they were all like this. It's not just Ren Xiao, in fact, all officials of the Great Qin Dynasty, except for a few people who can be calm and composed when meeting the First Emperor, others are mostly like Ren Xiao.

  "Let's go!"

  "Ah, Young General is here!" Ren Yao finally heard Meng Tian's call this time, and hastily calmed down his mind to answer respectfully. Although he was no longer part of the Iron Eagle Sharpshooters' sequence, when speaking with Meng Tian, Ren Yao still tried to maintain the same demeanor as before.

  Meng Tian was born in the Blue Dragon Camp, and for three generations his family had served the First Emperor. Now he held the office of Internal Historian, governing Xianyang, and also commanded the Iron Hawk Sharpshooters.

  The trust of the First Emperor in Meng Tian and his brothers was unparalleled.

  The people of Xianyang jokingly called Meng Tian the inner strategist of the First Emperor. Before making any decision, the First Emperor would always discuss it with the Meng brothers.

  There is even a saying that if Wang Ji leaves his post as Prime Minister, the second Prime Minister of the Great Qin Dynasty will be contested between Meng Tian and Li Si. Ren Xiao has already left the Iron Hawk Sharp Soldiers, but in front of Meng Tian, he does not dare to slack off for half a moment.

  Meng Tian smiled, "Don't be nervous, Your Majesty has a broad mind and a magnanimous temperament. When you meet His Majesty later, you must remain calm. You always come from the Iron Eagle Sharpshooters, don't lose face for them. Besides, His Majesty doesn't particularly like people who lack courage."

  "The young general has learned his lesson!"

  Was the First Emperor generous? Although Yan Yue's answer was respectful on the surface, in his heart he couldn't help but bitterly smile.

  Under heaven, I'm afraid it's probably only you, Meng Tian, who would say something like this...

  Does he know how to speak?

  Ren You stepped back in surprise and hastily said: "Please instruct me, sir!"

  Meng Tian nodded and said in a low voice, "Actually it's very simple, just tell the truth. In front of Your Majesty, you must not have any concealment at all. As long as you say half a lie, His Majesty will definitely detect it. No matter whether it's good or bad, answer truthfully, you know what to do?"

  Ren You hesitated for a moment, "Xiao Jiang knows!"

  At this time, a tall and handsome eunuch with no beard under his chin walked out of the imperial carriage and said loudly: "Announce that County Magistrate Ren Rong is here to pay respects."

  Ren You described in a solemn manner, tidied up his clothes and hat, and respectfully replied: "I am Ren You, the magistrate of Pei County, here to pay respects to Your Majesty!"

  As he spoke, he followed the eunuch up to the palace. This eunuch, whose name was Zhao Gao, was also familiar to him; he had been a close attendant of the First Emperor.

  It is said that Zhao Gao was a eunuch by nature.

  At that time, before the First Emperor ascended to the throne, he was already by his side.

  Skilled in driving a chariot, with infinite strength. Moreover, he can recognize characters and is extremely loyal to the First Emperor.

  Taishan Temple was built on the basis of the former Lu State Palace. Compared to the grandeur and majesty of Xianyang Palace, it is far inferior.

  But because of one person, things took a turn for the better.

  The First Emperor Ying Zheng sat upright in the palace, but let Ren Yao produce a strange feeling. Dazed, he seemed to have returned to Xianyang Palace.

  "Your Majesty's subject, Ren Ao, knocks his head on the ground to greet you. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and ten million years!"

  Walking on the grand halls of the palace, my heart is racing. To be able to talk to the First Emperor at such a close distance, it's something he wouldn't have dared to dream about before. The distance from the gate of Xianyang Palace to the Danbi Throne is about 500 steps, while this Tai Shan Palace is only separated by 300 steps.

  Ren Yan even felt that he could feel the dragon energy swallowed by the First Emperor.

  "Relax, calm down."

  "Your Majesty, I thank you!"

  He struggled to get up, but still hung his head low.

  Ying Zheng said: "Ren Ao, come forward fifty steps and speak."

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  He felt as if there was a fire burning in his heart, and his body trembled slightly, but it wasn't out of fear, rather excitement.

  Carefully taking fifty steps forward, Ren You raised his head.

  Tie Ying Rui Shi was a close guard of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang. However, speaking at such a close distance was unprecedented since the beginning of time.

  "Ren Yao, Yi Qu people!"

  The Emperor's face was calm, but his words were filled with a hint of warmth. "I remember you. When we took Handan, you led one hundred Iron Hawk sharpshooters and were the first to charge into the city. And it was because of that achievement that you rose from Gong Cheng to Wu Da Fu... Am I mistaken?"

  Gongcheng is the eighth rank of the twenty ranks of nobility in the Qin military, while Wudaifu is the ninth.

  Ren Ze only felt a surge of hot blood, rushing straight to his head.

  "Our Emperor's sacred decree is absolutely correct."

  "You are an old Qin person, and also my sharp eagle soldier. At the beginning, when Meng Yi recommended you to take charge of the local area, I was still worried that you might not do well, so I paid close attention to you. Ren Rong, you have done a good job, and have not lost the face of an old Qin person. My heart is very relieved, my heart is very relieved."

  No matter how later generations evaluate Emperor Qin Shi Huang, it cannot be denied that the wrist of Qin Shi Huang's politics is extremely high.

  Only the four words 'my heart is deeply comforted' made him speak with tears streaming down his face, and he knelt on the grand hall floor, his voice even becoming somewhat choked.

  "Your Majesty, you have lost weight!"

  In Qin Zheng's eyes, a warm intention flashed by, and his voice became even softer, "Ren Yao, get up."

  "Please forgive me for losing my composure!"

  He slowly got up, and his heart was still somewhat difficult to calm. The words he said were indeed from the bottom of his heart. Compared to when he left Xianyang that year with a shocking glance, Emperor Qin had indeed become much thinner.

  No wonder, Ying Zheng was a very serious person and highly valued work efficiency.

  After the pacification of the six states, there were many things that Emperor Shi needed to do. Reforms in politics, culture and economy can be said to have overturned many rules and systems since the Zhou Dynasty. Moreover, all major events in the world are decided by Emperor Shi alone.

  According to later records, Emperor Qin's daily documents required approval with the character 'stone' (ancient pronunciation: dan). He would not rest until he had finished approving one stone. The documents of one stone piled up were as high as a person. Emperor Qin indeed became thin from working day and night.

  When he heard the words of his old ministers and subordinates, a warm greeting, how could the First Emperor's heart not be delighted?

  "Ren Yao, this batch of longevity wine you've contributed is excellent!"

  Ren Ze hastily said: "This is not the achievement of the minister, but the brewing of a small citizen under the minister's governance."

  "Oh? A humble commoner like you actually has such skills?"

  Ren Yao said: "Your Majesty, that is not an ordinary commoner. To say relatively, that person is still a descendant of the old Qin people."

  The First Emperor frowned and said somewhat displeased: "Since you are an old Qin person, why are you in a remote place like Pei? Ren Ao, tell me the truth."

  "I reported to Your Majesty, when I first arrived in Pei County, I discovered this person. At that time, Your Majesty had not yet issued the currency unification order, but this commoner had already exchanged all his knife coins, spade coins and ant nose coins for Qin currency... Your Majesty may not know, the six states looked down on old Qin and considered Qin currency to be inferior, even when using it, there was much discrimination. I found it strange at the time and secretly investigated."

  The Emperor's complexion improved somewhat, and he also became slightly curious.

  "What was the outcome of the investigation?"

  Ren Yue said: "That little civilian is named Liu Kan, according to my investigation, he is from Dongxiang, Fengyang. His ancestor once served as a cavalry general under the previous king, named Liu Chen. The previous king attacked and broke through Luoyang, but unexpectedly... Liu Chen was implicated in this, and his descendants later escaped out of Hangu Pass."

  Qin Zheng hummed in response.

  Although Ren You did not say who 'the former king' was, how could he possibly not understand.

  "After Liu Xian's descendants escaped from Hangu Pass, they drifted to the Sanjiang County. However, the Liu family still had their hearts set on old Qin, which is why they took the action of changing currency."

  Qin Zheng nodded slightly, "The matter of that year, can't blame the Liu family... Ah, you continue to speak, what's the name of that Liu..."

  Liu Kan!

  "How did Liu Kan brew this wine of ten thousand years?"

  Just as Meng Tian had entrusted him, Ren Yong did not dare to conceal anything.

  He told Emperor Qin about Liu Quan's discovery and the great bloody battle at Zhao Yang, where Liu Quan beheaded the rebel leader Wang Ling. Emperor Qin listened with relish, slapping his palm in delight when he heard the most thrilling parts: "Excellent! If not for us Qin people, how could they have been so brave and fierce?"

  "But later..."

  Ran Yanhua suddenly changed the subject, telling how Liu Jian broke into the prison to rescue Lu's eldest son, and in the process, broke Lv Ze's leg, recounting every detail.

  In retrospect, the First Emperor should be very angry.

  Liu Jian's actions were clearly in defiance of Qin law. He nervously glanced at the First Emperor, but found that Ying Zheng's expression was very calm, and he couldn't discern any joy or anger. However, a hint of nostalgia flashed across his eyes as he sat silently on the dragon throne.

  Ying Zheng was born in Handan and had been a hostage.

  At that time, Handan was still the capital of Zhao State. The hatred between the old Qin people and the Zhao people had reached an irreconcilable level.

  Not for anything else, the Battle of Changping alone, the old Qin people killed 400,000 Zhao troops, making men scarce in Zhao, the elderly lost their sons, women lost their husbands, and children lost their fathers. This hatred is so thick that it cannot be dissolved. As a hostage of the Qin state, how Yi Zheng's days were spent in Handan can be imagined.

  But there was one family who had taken good care of Ying Zheng.

  Later, Handan was breached by the Qin army. Ying Zheng, to avenge the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the Zhao people that year, ordered a massacre house by house, but only in the residence where that family lived did Ying Zheng order that anyone who dared to move even a blade of grass or a tree would be killed without pardon. It was precisely this order that allowed many Zhao people to survive.

  No matter what others say about Qin Shi Huang, whether he was cruel or cold-blooded.

  Everyone has a pure land in their heart. Sitting on the throne, one must act according to the rules of the game. Qin Shi Huang was no exception.

  With a faint sigh, Ying Zheng awakened from his reverie.

  "This Liu Guan is indeed a man of great loyalty and righteousness, a true hero, and a worthy descendant of the old Qin people."

  He stood up, with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice: "Although Liu Jian broke the law, being punished for one year is already enough... Killing the bandit king Wang Ling was a great achievement. Ren Yao, pass on my decree, Liu Jian's remaining punishment can be waived, and his title as a public official can be restored. This time, presenting the Longevity Wine, made the Fengshan ceremony successful... As a reward, he will be promoted one rank... Promote Liu Jian to Shangzao. From today on, all wine used in imperial sacrifices will be replaced with Longevity Wine."

  Upper creation, second among twenty military merit titles, can be matched with an annual salary of one hundred.

  Ying Zheng finished speaking, his piercing gaze fixed on Ren Ao, his face suddenly turning cold.

  "Ren Yao, you have a big nerve!"