Chapter 56 The first part of the floating ice in the boiling

After the fire in July, Qin Xiaogong finally returned to Liyang. In half a year, Duke Xiao visited every county in Longxi County and Beidi County, and also visited many scattered farming areas and nomadic areas.Although these two areas are vast, they are very desolate and remote.Before the Qin tribe became a vassal state, Longxi and Beidi were their hometowns.Many river valleys and grasslands there were once their homeland, countless isolated islands surrounded by the sea of ​​Rongdi tribes.After becoming a big vassal state occupying the Zhou people's mainland, the Qin people moved their clans into Guanzhong, which became the ruins of the war, and countless island-like hometowns were swept and swallowed by the Rongdi tribe.It was not until Qin Mugong's period that Qin State moved westward with all its strength in order to stabilize the rear, and made more than 30 Rongdi tribal countries submit to the Qin flag, and these two areas became the real territory of Qin State.In the more than a hundred years after Duke Mu, although there were rebellions from time to time, the land continued to shrink, and the population continued to decrease, but the most important river valleys and grasslands were still under the rule of the Qin State.During Qin Xiangong's period, in order not to continue to dismember the foundation of the rear, this vast area was divided into two counties-Longxi County and Beidi County, with special government offices and permanent troops instead of relying on tribes. The traditional method of chieftainship.

The reason why Qin Xiaogong insisted on inspecting these two border areas was that he had never been to these two counties, so he needed actual investigation and understanding.The most important thing is that although these two counties are desolate and vast, they are the barriers to the west and north of Qin State.Outside Longxi, there are the volatile Xiongnu, Xiqiang, Zhuhu and Yuezhi tribes, etc. Their grassland cavalry may attack Longxi like lightning at any time.Beidi County is more important in the current situation. The Yinshan grassland in the north has the Xiongnu tribe, and the Yunzhong mountain in the northeast is the state of Zhao, where tigers watch and procrastinate.To the east is the Hexi region of the Qin State. Originally, there were long and steep Taihang Mountains and the natural dangers of the Yellow River, but they were gradually eroded by the Wei State 30 years ago. Hexi was completely lost, and Beidi County was compressed to the west of the Luoshui River Basin.Since then, Wei State, Zhao State, and Zhongshan State have all become vicious opponents who covet Beidi County.

What Qin Xiaogong wants to know most is, how effective are the reforms in these two unreachable areas?Can it become a solid northwest barrier after the reform?After half a year of inspection, I am quite satisfied.Every decree of Wei Yang was sent to the county office in a timely manner, and the sheriff who was the leader of the Rongdi tribe faithfully implemented the reform decree, abolished the slave farming system and the slavery system, and divided the cultivated land in the valley and the grassland and pasture. to farmers and herdsmen.The treasuries of the two counties have been greatly enriched, and the number of young and middle-aged people who are willing to join the army has also greatly increased.Qin Xiaogong immediately promulgated two edicts: first, the two county guards were promoted to two levels of title, from the original seventh-level duke to the ninth-level fifth-level duke.This can be regarded as the highest title among the local officials, because Wei Yang's title of Zuo Shuchang is only the tenth rank.The two sheriffs were naturally very excited.The second way: the taxes of the common people of the two counties will be reduced by 30%; the goods collected by the treasuries of the two counties will be used as military officers' salaries within ten years, and they will be exempted from paying state taxes.As a result, the financial pressure of the two counties was greatly reduced, and the county guards, officials, and common people all praised and cheered.The two county guards made an impassioned oath to the monarch, determined to establish the cavalry of the two counties, resolutely fight back against all kinds of intrusions, and never let the enemy country compress the land of Qin again!

The summer in the north of Longbei is pleasant. Except for two or three hours of heat around noon, the morning and evening mountain winds and river winds are cool and dry, and there is no feeling of sweltering heat.Even so, Qin Xiaogong ran around the mountains and rivers all day long, rarely resting, and after a few months, he turned into an authentic western man - dark and shiny, strong and strong.All the way to the east, after passing Chencang Mountain, I suddenly felt hot, and my body was sweating profusely.Qin Xiaogong originally wanted to visit Xuanqi's Hegu Manor, but he knew that Xuanqi had already gone to Qi State when he left the Mohist General Academy.Xiaogong stood on the top of the mountain and looked at it for a while, then sighed, then turned around and left.After walking for a while, Qin Xiaogong returned to his horse and galloped deep into the valley.

Outside the small manor, Duke Xiao ordered the two guards to stay by the small river, pushed aside the fence and walked in by himself.The green leaves of the two mulberry trees in the yard are thick, but there is no bamboo basket for raising silkworms under the trees.There is a wheat haystack piled up in the small yard, and the wheat outside the fence has obviously been harvested and thrashed.The wooden door of the hut is not locked, and there are two large characters written on the door - people who go to the mountains to collect medicine and hunt and lose their way can enter the house for food and lodging.Xiaogong sighed with emotion, and pushed open the door. The few simple furnishings in the house were covered with cloth. Except for a layer of dust, it was still so tidy and deserted. Obviously, no one had patronized this small manor yet.Duke Xiao looked around, took off the white cloth that was covered with the guqin and turned it over, took out a dry ink stick in his arms, wrote two lines of big characters on the cloth, turned the white cloth over and covered it properly, and then walked out of the hut.He originally wanted to stay here alone for a night, listen to the mountain wind and pines, look at the bright and lonely moon, trim the mulberry trees in the manor for her, and relive the beautiful night in the valley that will always be etched in his heart.

However, he had to leave here in a hurry.There are too many things.In Longxi, he already knew about the turmoil in Liyang.At the critical moment, he believed in Wei Yang's character and ability.But the aftermath of the risk should be dealt with by him, the monarch, and Wei Yang can no longer be entangled.It is precisely because of this that Qin Xiaogong rushed back to Guanzhong in the scorching heat. When we arrived in Liyang, it was already late soup time.After Qin Xiaogong washed and washed, he gave some instructions to Uncle Hei, and then went out alone. Hurrying to Yingqian's mansion, Qin Xiaogong was stunned for a long time in surprise—the gate had been blocked with bricks and stones, it was pitch black without a single light, and there was no one in sight!The formerly vibrant Gongziqian Mansion has become dead silent.Qin Xiaogong looked around and wandered, and finally came to a small side door.Strangely, the small side door was also closed, and there was not a single guard, nor a single lantern.After thinking about it, Duke Xiao raised his hand and knocked on the door.

There was a burst of footsteps in the side door, and an old and hoarse voice said, "Young master, I don't see you, please go back." "Ying Quliang is here, the elders will open the door." With a squeak, the small door opened, and the old man knelt down on the ground in tears, "Your Majesty! My lord, what a shame..." Qin Xiaogong helped the old man up, but he didn't speak, and walked in by himself.The entire courtyard was pitch-black, and there was no light in any of the rooms.The old man rushed forward, led Qin Xiaogong to the foot of the hill in the backyard, pointed at the stone pavilion on the top of the mountain, and said in a low voice, "Young master is there all day and all night..."

Qin Xiaogong waved his hand to signal the elders to leave, and walked up the stone steps to the stone pavilion alone. Under the huge and simple stone pavilion, a tall black figure with loose long hair stood with his back.Hearing the familiar footsteps behind him, his body trembled slightly, but he still didn't turn his head.Qin Xiaogong didn't speak either, but stood silently behind the tall black shadow, sighing deeply.The tall black shadow stood motionless, neither turned around, nor spoke, nor even sighed. The two stood silently for half an hour without speaking. "Big brother has meritorious service for protecting the law." Qin Xiaogong finally broke the silence.

The tall black shadow remained silent like a stone statue. "Father's will, brother, do you remember?" The answer was still silence. "Brother has always supported political reform, and always supported Wei Yang." Still dead silent. "Give up the reform, kill Wei Yang, and my Ying family will return to the west border?" The tall black shadow trembled, and his voice was hoarse, "Why do you need to force me? I promise you, Yingqian does not oppose the reform." "Then hate Wei Yang." The tall black shadow hissed and sighed, neither turned his head nor spoke.

"Brother, many people are waiting for you to come forward and work together." "Needless to say, I won't associate with anyone." Heiying's voice trembled, "Yingqian is dead." Turning around suddenly, there was a thick black veil hanging on his face, showing through the hazy night. It's kind of scary. Qin Xiaogong bowed deeply, "Brother, take care. I will let Yingyu visit you often..." "One more word. Don't marry Yingyu to Wei Yang!" Qin Xiaogong was surprised, "Yingyu married Wei Yang? Where do you start?" Ying Qian had already turned around and stopped talking.

When Qin Xiaogong returned to the government, he felt very uncomfortable.At this time, Uncle Hei came to report, saying that the prince dared not come to the study to meet him, and was waiting in the queen mother's bedroom.Qin Xiaogong was startled, and came to the Queen Mother's residence in the back courtyard with a gloomy face. Prince Ying Si has been in a trance for more than a month and suddenly lost weight.Hearing that the father-in-law came back, he was even more frightened.When Hei Boxuan was waiting in Xiaogong's study, he ran to the backyard of the state mansion anxiously, and knelt down in front of the Queen Mother silently crying.The queen mother sighed, "Okay, you just wait here, I hope you have a life..." After finishing speaking, the queen mother sighed and called Yingyu, and whispered in her daughter's ear for a while.Ying Si was so frightened that she knelt in the Queen Mother's main hall and didn't move. When he came to the back courtyard, Qin Xiaogong ordered Hei Bo to guard the door of the bedroom and not allow anyone to come in, so he hurried in.Entering the main hall, the queen mother was not there, only Ying Si was kneeling in the hall, and Yingyu stood beside her, looking serious and supervising.Qin Xiaogong suddenly burst into anger, and shouted, "Nizi!" He swung his arms and slapped him twice, causing the corners of Ying Si's mouth to bleed and his cheeks to swell!Another kick turned Ying Si over, picked up a pottery bottle and was about to throw it on Ying Si's head! "Brother—!" Yingyu cried and rushed forward, tightly grasping Xiaogong's arm with both hands, and the pottery bottle fell to the ground with a clang and shattered.Xiaogong suddenly pushed Yingyu away and ran towards the sword stand, but he lost the long sword on the sword stand. In a rage, he picked up another stone pier and was about to smash Yingsi.Yingyu was in a hurry, and hugged Xiaogong tightly and cried in a high voice, "Run, Si'er! Hurry up!" Ying Si gritted her teeth, she didn't cry, she didn't shout, she didn't hide, she didn't run, instead she seemed to be sober, she got up and knelt down silently to look at the furious father-in-law.In an instant, Qin Xiaogong kicked Yingyu away, grabbed a bronze candlestick and rushed towards Yingsi! "Qu Liang! Ke Ye!" The Empress Dowager stood in front of Ying Si like frost. "Mother--!" Qin Xiaogong screamed, and smashed the bronze candlestick in his hand on the green brick floor, covering his face with his hands, tears pouring down like springs, and trembling all over. The gray-haired queen mother silently supported her son with both hands, "Qu Liang..." She couldn't help crying. "Mother's queen, Quliang has failed her ancestors and is not filial..." Xiao Gong covered his face with his big sleeves, wiped away tears like a spring, and helped his mother to sit on the stone pier.Yingyu had already struggled to get up, tidying up the messy things on the ground, and she still turned her back to make a face at her brother. "Quliang, Si'er has made a big mistake, it's okay to punish him and teach him, but don't injure him." The queen mother wiped her tears and sighed. Qin Xiaogong had calmed down, and said coldly, "Ying Si, come here." Ying Si walked forward silently, without tears or panic on her red and swollen face. "Ying Si, as the crown prince of the country, you have lynched and killed more than 30 people from the old Qin family, almost causing the Qin country to overthrow and the new law to die prematurely. In the Warring States world, has there ever been a prince like you?! If it is not Wei Yang, but me The king is in Liyang, if you don’t kill you, a rebellious son, how can you face the world? How can you face the old Qin people who shed countless blood for Qin?” Qin Xiaogong panted heavily, suppressing the anger in his chest, and said coldly: “From today, Abolish your crown prince title. I will give you a volume of national documents. You will travel in the mountains and plains of the Qin State to make a living for five years as a scholar. Look at the reforms of the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains in the Qin State, and think about your deeds! You, do it yourself " Qin Xiaogong sighed hoarsely with heavy sadness. Yingyu was surprised, "Brother, Si'er is only fourteen years old...Let me accompany him." But Ying Si kowtowed heavily, "No, aunt, Ying Si is alone." After saying that, she stood up, bowed deeply to the queen mother, father and aunt, and left without looking back. "Si'er..." The Queen Mother shouted and stood up, seeing Ying Si gone, she shook her head and wiped her tears, "You're a stubborn one again, cough!" "Mother, let him go. I'm his age, and I've been fighting for two years." "It's like you?" The queen mother let out a long breath, "It's finally over. I was also worried at that time, and I couldn't sleep with Yingyu all night. Speaking of it, it's still Wei Yang, Taishan Shi dare to be worthy of the country. Dongliang. Your little sister even swore an oath..." "Mother—" Yingyu blushed, "Is she begging the heavens to protect the state of Qin?" "Oh? Protect Qin State?" Qin Xiaogong suddenly realized, and couldn't help smiling at his sister teasingly. "Yingyu, go and pack up the food for the elder brother, he definitely hasn't eaten. I'll talk to your elder brother." "Hey." Yingyu smiled and ran out. The queen mother laughed softly: "Yingyu swears that if Wei Yang calms down the turmoil, she will marry Wei Yang." Qin Xiaogong was startled in surprise, and suddenly realized, he couldn't help laughing heartily with joy, the depression and troubles in his chest disappeared.