Chapter 2, Matters of the World and Matters at Hand

In the darkness, reflecting on the events of the past few days, Hei Fu clenched his fists and silently resolved: "I have come to understand that if I wish to live a good life in the State of Qin, if I want to escape the fate of filling ditches, the only way forward is to obtain a noble title"

Although this woman cannot be described as beautiful, she immediately attracted the attention of the gentlemen by the hearth. The lively Ji Ying wanted to whistle but ultimately did not dare to; instead, he stood up to take a look at the exquisite dishes on the tray, swallowed hard, and asked, "Old man, who is this meal for?"

Even if one truly escapes, where can one flee to? Although Anlu County is not far from the State of Chu, as long as one is cautious and avoids the Guanliang Pass, it is not a difficult task to make one's way through. However, the unification of the State of Qin is an inevitable trend, and the destruction of the six states is merely a matter of time.

In this way, the Qin state has swept across the north, and King Ying Zheng of Qin is about to direct his sword towards the southern state of Chu

Heif was lost in thought

He could only smell the fragrant fish and meat wafting in from next door, swallowing his dry rice. Also reaching his ears were the respectful and flattering words of Lao She, which stood in stark contrast to the earlier attitude.

Ah!

The loquacious Ji Ying took a sip and complained, "Old man, this soup is too bland, as insipid as water!"

Heihe felt amused; although this inn was not large, it was well maintained and could at least serve to shield from the rain. Under the eaves, one had to bow their head, and no one dared to anger the old host, lest they be driven outside to be drenched. This group of people were either common soldiers without rank or lowly officials, truly not deserving of any respect.

He heard from his elder brother that three years ago (230 BC), Han State was destroyed by the current governor of Nanjun, Teng; one year ago (228 BC), the capital of Zhao, Handan, was also occupied by the Qin army, and Zhong participated in that battle

Escape

It is evident that, at least for now, King Qin Yingzheng holds a status in the hearts of ordinary Qin people that is equal to that of the heavens, and he is greatly revered

At this moment, the servant slowly brought in the hot soup, not forgetting to issue a warning.

When the conscription order is delivered to him, what should he do

What are you all discussing? If anyone speaks recklessly and slanders the king or the government, do not blame this old man for reporting the treachery

After casually dealing with Heifu and the others, Lao She returned to the kitchen. A short while later, when he came out, a young girl followed closely behind him, dressed in a brown robe and carrying a tray of food in her hands. She was likely his daughter.

Lao She glared at him and said: "If you don't like drinking soup with books, then go out and drink rainwater!"

He counted on his fingers and thought to himself that things were not looking good. Those seemingly distant affairs of the world were closely related to him. With each victory of the Qin army, the footsteps of death were slowly approaching him.

It was indeed extraordinarily majestic, evoking deep emotions. Ji Ying and others had no suspicions and did not take it seriously, continuing their casual conversation.

Not only is the food different, but the living conditions are also different. For ordinary travelers like Heifu and others, they can only squeeze in to sleep on the ground. Those below the rank of nobility, equivalent to junior clerks, can sleep in large dormitories. ... For instance, the doctor next door, equivalent to county-level officials in later generations, has a dedicated room to rest, and perhaps even the daughter of the servant helps with foot washing and massage.

By the time the black servant finished his meal with the hot soup, the night had already grown very late. Lao She forgot to add firewood to the ground stove in the main room, and the fire quickly went out, making the surroundings increasingly cold. The servants could only huddle together for warmth.

Moreover, although the people of the Qin state are burdened with heavy taxes and must endure intensive labor and military service, which makes their situation somewhat more difficult than that of the prosperous Central Plains, and their spiritual world is not as affluent as that of the people of Qi, the most important point is that here, at least, there is a fair and just channel for the lower classes to rise, which is the system of military merit and nobility

The people nearby all gasped in shock, listening intently as Ji Ying recounted this thrilling story. It was only when they heard that the king was unharmed that they finally breathed a sigh of relief, cursing the assassin and the State of Yan, while simultaneously expressing their gratitude.

The king is under the protection of heaven and will certainly not encounter any misfortune

Only Heifu felt a deep sense of regret for Jing Ke, and could not help but softly recite: "The wind is bleak and the waters of the Yi are cold, the brave man departs and will not return..."

The Yan people are exceedingly cunning, and under the pretense of presenting a map, they secretly conceal a sharp blade, intending to assassinate the king

Ji Ying could only squat down again, staring at the girl's swaying waist for a long time. Only after she disappeared from view did he indignantly say: "I see that not only are there fine white rice and clear broth in that dish, but also meat! The master even personally sent his daughter over. Could it be that he wants that doctor to take her as a concubine? How shameless of him, he really can do such a thing!"

This thought was fleeting and was immediately dismissed by Heifu

Ji Ying finally stopped complaining, only murmuring softly behind Lao She.

This matter further deepened Heifu's understanding that the Qin state was a society with clearly defined social classes, where treatment was entirely determined by noble rank

The gentleman still responded to them with irritation, sneering: "This is for the esteemed doctor of the left chamber. If you wish to partake, you must first elevate your rank!"

Reincarnation is not the only expertise; time travel is as well. Those characters in novels who open their eyes to find themselves as the illegitimate sons of noble families or as young lords truly evoke envy in the common folk. If he also had a good background, he would certainly be more suited to indulge in a life of debauchery and whimsy in other countries. However, as a commoner without any connections but filled with ideals, it is still better for him to remain in the State of Qin.

Others had long been accustomed to this treatment, quickly sinking into a deep sleep, with the sound of snoring filling the room; however, Heifu could not sleep, as he was still contemplating his plans for the future

The crowd, not daring to speak, exchanged glances with one another, paused their conversation, and stood up to take the hot soup

In other words, in two years, the Qin-Chu War will fully break out

When he finally came to his senses, he noticed that several people in the room were looking at him with strange expressions. He quickly closed his mouth and smiled, making a vague excuse: "It is a northern ballad I heard from my elder brother; he served in Zhao during his time in the military"

The war in which Qin destroyed Chu lasted for several years. At its most intense, the Qin general Wang Jian mobilized six hundred thousand troops. The southern region, being adjacent to the state of Chu, was a crucial area for conscription. As a local soldier, Hei Fu could not escape this fate.

As a history enthusiast, Heifu is aware of the upcoming script: in retaliation, King Ying Zheng of Qin sends a large army to attack Yan. The following year, the capital of Yan falls, Crown Prince Dan is killed, and King of Yan retreats to seek refuge in Liaodong.

Alas, the disparity between individuals

"People are divided into three, six, and nine classes, as has been the case since ancient times"

Heihou could not help but express his feelings; unlike Ji Ying, who was cynical about the world, he quietly sat down and took out the food his mother had prepared for him: "hou," which is steamed rice dried into a form of preserved food. Although it could fill his stomach, the taste was truly unremarkable

No! The Qin state was extremely harsh towards those who evaded military service, referred to as "fugitives." Once captured, not only would the individual face punishment and be enslaved, but their family and neighbors would also be implicated and punished. If one person fled, the entire family would suffer.

Meanwhile, the Qin army is fiercely attacking Daliang City, and the State of Wei will soon be destroyed.

The title of Doctor is the 5th level of the 20 ranks of nobility in the State of Qin, which is considered a medium rank.

Even if one leaves the Central Plains, it is of no use. Furthermore, Qin Shi Huang will conquer all known regions of the world. How does that saying go? "Within the six directions, the emperor's land. Westward through the shifting sands, southward to the northern gates. To the east is the East Sea, and to the north extends to Great Xia. Wherever human footprints reach, there are none who do not submit." Even if the black husband escapes to the ends of the earth, he will ultimately fall under the rule of Qin

Now, the assassination of King Qin by Jing Ke has already taken place, which means that the State of Yan is about to perish soon

"After all, as a doctor, the treatment they receive is naturally different from that of us scholars."