Chapter 5: The Lever Plow and the Hundred-Thousand-Measure Grain Shortage
“Of course, we must guard against the Xiongnu, but this year’s harvest is far worse than usual, and the treasury’s grain reserves are scarce.”
“Natural disasters and human calamities have struck relentlessly; the grain in the treasury must be reserved for disaster relief to soothe the people’s hearts!”
“If the famine continues, I fear this winter may spark a rebellion.”
“Hmph! Without troops to defend, what good is it if the Xiongnu invade? Then it won’t be just hunger the people suffer—they’ll lose their lives as well.”
“What about the corvée laborers building the Great Wall? Those are remnants of the six states’ soldiers. If they’re not well-fed, rebellion is inevitable sooner or later.”
...
The discussions in the court grew heated.
The death of Zhao Gao seemed trivial compared to the state’s pressing matters.
Especially after the Qin unified the six kingdoms, various conflicts emerged, with famine being ubiquitous.
Grain often became the greatest concern.
Even with a million-strong army, without supplies, it meant nothing.
The starving populace could also rebel desperately.
What is the human heart?
Grain is the human heart!
Had Ying Zheng still been in court, the ministers might have dared to seek the First Emperor’s opinion.
But now, the regent was an eight-year-old child.
No matter how skilled the seventeenth prince was, killing Zhao Gao did not create a thousand shi of grain.
Moreover, the seventeenth prince had grown up in luxury, never witnessing starving disaster victims driven to violence.
As long as he didn’t utter nonsense like “Why not eat meat porridge?” he was considered sensible enough.
Ying Ziji remained calm, watching their quarrels silently.
“Feudal dynasties ultimately rely on agrarian societies, constrained mainly by agricultural output…”
Suddenly, the system’s voice rang out:
“Congratulations on killing Zhao Gao, eliminating a hidden threat to Qin ahead of time. National fortunes increased.”
“Reward: The technology of the curved plow.”
Curved plow?
Upon hearing those words, the previously troubled Ying Ziji’s delicate ears perked up.
It was as if someone had handed him a pillow just as he was about to doze off!
He had already acquired potatoes earlier.
Now, he gained the curved plow technology.
The curved plow was a hallmark of agricultural advancement.
Combined with the potato’s benefits, it could completely solve Qin’s farming and grain problems!
“Can the grain be divided into two parts—one to aid the disaster victims, the other to supply the army? Then, next spring, once conditions improve, increase the military rations?”
Fusu’s face showed pity.
Confucianism teaches benevolence and love for the people; he never thought of abandoning them.
“Sigh, if the people starve it’s terrible, but if the soldiers cannot fill their bellies, how will they guard the borders?”
Meng Tian shook his head slightly.
Li Si smiled wryly and said, “Young lord, if you try to serve both ends, you risk losing both.”
“This matter must be reported to Emperor Ying Zheng for his decision.”
The problem was indeed intractable.
It was a choice between starving the people or starving the soldiers, unless more grain could be conjured out of thin air.
Any choice would be wrong, so the decision was deferred to Ying Zheng.
They all knew the First Emperor would likely prioritize the military’s grain—not out of cruelty, but reason.
Yet no one dared take responsibility for this decision, lest they lose their heads.
“Everyone, calm yourselves,”
The somewhat youthful voice echoed throughout the hall.
---
The previously raucous court gradually fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Ying Ziji sitting at the small table.
Their looks seemed to say: This is an adult matter—what business does a child have interfering?
Not out of disrespect, but they believed Ying Ziji lacked the experience to handle such grave affairs.
One misstep could provoke a rebellion.
They hoped the young prince would not say anything reckless.
Ying Ziji’s face was earnest as he asked,
“When have the Xiongnu typically invaded in past years?”
Meng Tian cupped his hands and replied, “According to border intelligence, the Xiongnu have been unusually active recently. They will likely advance south within a month.”
“Seventeenth brother, this is a grave matter; best you stay out of it,”
Fusu frowned, worried the boy might get into trouble.
Besides, he himself could not decide.
Ignoring Fusu, Ying Ziji continued,
“How large is the grain shortage for disaster relief?”
“At least a hundred thousand shi.”
Though stating it made no difference to the outcome, Ying Ziji held the regency and had to respond when asked.
“One hundred thousand shi…”
Ying Ziji closed his eyes to calculate, then said,
“Chancellor Li, General Meng, tell me truthfully.”
“Given Father’s temperament, he will probably allocate grain to the army first, won’t he?”
Even if unspoken, ministers familiar with Ying Zheng’s decrees knew this well.
Ying Zheng, having conquered six kingdoms and unified the land, would not tolerate foreign invasions or losing national prestige.
Moreover, if the Xiongnu invaded, even families with grain would be plundered.
More lives would die.
Indeed, Li Si, Meng Tian, Wang Jian, and Fusu all fell silent.
“In that case, speed is of the essence. I shall make this decision on Father’s behalf.”
“The treasury’s grain will first supply the army guarding the northern frontier.”
“I will devise a plan to aid the people.”
After speaking, Ying Ziji’s resolute gaze swept the hall.
All voices immediately ceased.
If Ying Zheng were here, he would undoubtedly make the same choice; the ministers understood this.
The young prince was effectively pre-approving the military grain allocation.
The order was sound.
Yet this decision would brand him as callous toward the people.
Ying Zheng had long borne the tyrant’s title and was not afraid.
But Ying Ziji was only eight.
“Alas, the young lord is too young to consider consequences.”
Li Si did not think Ying Ziji truly had a solution.
To him and everyone else, the prince’s words were childish folly.
“Seventeenth brother, a hundred thousand shi is no small matter. Do not speak recklessly. Report it to Father for decision.”
Fusu also recognized the severity.
If today’s court events leaked out, the whole realm would curse Ying Ziji.
“Fusu elder brother, my mind is made up.”
Ying Ziji stood, clutching the towering Deer Lu sword.
---
“Father put me in charge not for playtime. If he can make such decisions, why can’t I?”
“Besides, I have a good plan to aid the disaster victims. Father will agree.”
The ministers exchanged glances.
In the end, no one stopped him.
They discussed other minor matters, and Ying Ziji remained silent.
Meanwhile, all court events were recorded by the Black Ice Bureau and swiftly delivered to the First Emperor!
When the ministers left court, they felt as if awakening from a dream.
“The young lord is so reckless; he’ll surely be blamed in future.”
“Heh, I wonder what expression the Emperor will wear when he learns Zhao Gao was killed by the prince.”
“The Emperor will likely be furious. At best, he’ll strip the prince of regency and let Lord Fusu take over.”
“But that decisiveness is chilling.”
Replacing palace guards, killing Zhao Gao, and reallocating grain—each required immense courage.
Especially the last.
Even Ying Zheng hesitated after years of Confucian slander before making such a call.
Yet Ying Ziji decided outright.
Confucians would certainly seize the chance to promote Fusu’s regency and exploit this incident.
...
As expected.
News of today’s court events soon spread among the people.
Rumors ran rampant in Xianyang.
“The seventeenth prince is so young, yet so ruthless? Killing Zhao Gao before reporting?”
“Hmph! I say he’s the devil incarnate, turning disaster relief grain into military rations—such behavior condemns the people to misery!”
“If Ying Ziji continues such reckless acts, Qin is doomed!”
“Sigh, how could the Emperor let an eight-year-old child hold regency? Is the Qin state a child’s game?”
“Even if Lord Hu Hai was regent, he wouldn’t do such things!”
...
The city’s rumors and court matters were all recorded by the Black Ice Bureau and sent to the eastern inspection tour.
At Bolangsha.
The long ceremonial procession moved slowly.
The Imperial Guards surrounded the three identical horse-drawn carriages at the center.
Three carriages were used to confuse assassins.
However, the Black Ice Bureau’s report did not reach the central army.
Instead, it went several hundred meters behind, to a carriage styled for ministers.
Ying Zheng sat upright in black robes, holding a bamboo scroll, reviewing documents.
Though he found the dream utterly absurd,
He believed it.
Most importantly, in the dream he learned the assassin Zhang Liang was “a man of great talent, worthy of the title Sage of Strategy,” an evaluation that left a deep impression on him.