Chapter 5, Fine Horses and Excellent Steeds, Xiao He Casts His Lot.

Fusu had Li lead a fine horse from the imperial garden as the mount for this pursuit of Fusu. The Qin people, whose ancestors were skilled in raising horses for the Zhou kings, naturally took pride in riding. Strictly speaking, the Qin were not primarily an agricultural people; they could be described as a combination of agriculture and nomadism. Although Shang Yang's reforms emphasized agriculture, most Qin people owned horses, and the essence of pastoralism had not completely faded. However, during this era, cavalry was not the dominant force on the battlefield. Even the vast army of the Qin Empire had only about 20,000 troops stationed in the central region. This does not include the cavalry from the northern regions of Henan.

The summoned constables appeared indifferent and lethargic. They came out one after another, yet they dawdled. Xiao He felt a surge of determination; his lord was benevolent, but certainly not a soft-hearted pushover. Since he wished to witness his own capabilities, he could not show weakness or shy away from his lord's authority

As soon as Fusu rushed into the room, he sensed the tense atmosphere; Meng Yi and Li Si stood on either side, with generals and civil officials arranged in between them.

Upon seeing these few individuals, Xiao He’s expression darkened even further. These individuals are all so-called noble scions; their family power may not be particularly strong, but they certainly hold a respectable status in the city of Xianyang. Being exiled to this dreadful place, the Tian Prison, is already quite distressing, and now he has to take orders from a mere servant, even if that servant belongs to a prince

Riding swiftly, Fusu summoned Xiao He. However, they did not head to the palace's cavalry camp, but instead went straight to the sky prison. There, all the incarcerated individuals were held, including several prominent Confucian and Daoist disciples who had been arrested this time, as well as some figures from other schools of thought involved in the case.

Subsequently, Xiao He’s methods became much simpler. He combined the Confucian disciples and the Daoist disciples for interrogation, encouraging them to report on each other. Those who provided useful information would be rewarded, while those who made mistakes would be punished. Given that the Confucian and Daoist disciples were already at odds with each other, they were naturally eager to report on one another. They stood to gain personally while causing harm to their rivals. Why would they not be willing to do so

In this day and age, not everyone has a full name; some are known by a single character. For example, Fusu is not a surname but a given name.

Fusu looked left and right, and a smile quickly appeared at the corners of his mouth, while Li let out a sigh of relief. He heard, "The horse is quite good, Li, you have worked hard." Li was genuinely apprehensive, as the status of a temple servant was entirely akin to that of a household slave. However, being in the royal family placed him significantly above ordinary household slaves. Receiving a favorable evaluation from the master was the best outcome one could hope for. In the end, Fusu still rewarded him with money, and even Xiao He received a share.

Having said this, he no longer paid attention to Fusu and began discussing other state affairs with the ministers. The decision to specifically summon Fusu to appear before the civil and military officials held profound significance

However, Qian Qi and Qian He were not even in the running; they were still playfully teasing each other, completely disregarding Xiao He. As for Fu Su, he was weak and limp, and in their eyes, he was far inferior to Hu Hai. With fewer concerns in their hearts, they naturally paid no attention to a minor character like Xiao He.

Having said that, he fixed his gaze on these few individuals. Although he did not possess the formidable aura of Fusu, the mere presence of Fusu's prestigious name was enough to instill a sense of unease in their hearts. The people in the room vaguely sensed the implication of Xiao He. This was a warning meant to intimidate others!

The horse is quite tall, measuring over 2 meters. It has a relatively small head and slightly narrow hooves. Its coat is smooth, with not a single stray hair, and its physique is exceptionally graceful. It appears quite endearing. This description is certainly found in historical texts, and Fusu recognizes that this is the Aletai horse, also known as the汗血宝马 (Blood-Sweating Horse). In terms of quality, it is entirely incomparable to the Mongolian horses of later generations. The Mongolian horse is merely well-suited to the needs of large-scale military operations, easy to raise, and adaptable to various military actions. This description is certainly found in historical texts, and Fusu recognizes that this is the Aletai horse, also known as the汗血宝马 (Blood-Sweating Horse). In terms of quality, it is entirely incomparable to the Mongolian horses of later generations. The Mongolian horse is merely well-suited to the needs of large-scale military operations, easy to raise, and adaptable to various military actions

A group of bewildered officials was gathered together, and of course, there were also indifferent officials from the *illustrated* book who sauntered over lazily

Fusu was still dressed in his usual attire, the exquisite fabric and style accentuating his handsome appearance. Coupled with his royal demeanor and the gentle qualities of a refined gentleman, Fusu's extraordinary presence was unmistakable. Those who recognized his identity felt that a person like Fusu could only exist in the world once, resembling a celestial being. Those unaware of his identity were completely captivated by him, and the officials in charge of the heavenly prison came out to greet him.

Fusu recognized the value of Xiao He, but promoting him excessively might cause discontent among other subordinates. Even if he were to suppress this discontent forcefully, it would be difficult for Xiao He to perform well under such unjustified favoritism. After all, a person like Xiao He, who had only served as a county clerk, would not be respected by them.

Soon, everyone was arranged properly

Upon returning, Xiao He decisively halted the interrogation

Fusu appeared to be engaging in casual conversation, yet several mid-level officials were unaware that the initiative was in Fusu's hands from the very beginning. Through indirect hints and seemingly irrelevant discussions, Fusu gained a thorough understanding of many matters within the court. The accounts documented in official records naturally differed from those of individuals with firsthand experience, and Fusu reaped significant insights.

The gazes of the surrounding officials towards Fusu changed once again, secretly envying the opportunity to serve under such a commendable sovereign

On this occasion, Fusu gave Xiao He an opportunity. Whether he could pry open the mouths of some individuals to see just how capable Xiao He truly is. No matter how grandly the historical texts may speak, Fusu only believes in himself. This also serves to allow Xiao He to gain some prestige and credentials among his subordinates.

In an instant, Fusu's public relations image was completed. Xiao He secretly admired this in his heart and was even more eager to perform, determined not to disappoint the lord's good intentions

Some troublemakers who rely on their family's power behave like timid turtles in front of the number one princeling in the world, being extremely obedient and not daring to show any dissatisfaction at all

Fusu took his seat, and the First Emperor presented a tiger talisman: "No need for further words, you are to immediately take the palace cavalry and pursue the instigators from the Confucian and Daoist schools."

Subsequently, Fusu had come to understand the origins of the situation. Meng Yi led a team to launch a surprise raid to capture the disciples involved from various schools of thought. As a result, the core figures of both Confucianism and Daoism were unexpectedly caught in the act of fleeing. Although several significant figures and a number of confused students were apprehended, the First Emperor showed no interest in these minor catches. In fact, even the case of Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng was not brought to trial. However, Fusu found it strange that the First Emperor seemed to have forgotten about the two, merely glossing over the matter.

In this era, there are no stirrups, no horseshoes, and although the saddle has some rudimentary form, it is of little practical use. Fusu does not intend to recklessly introduce these items, as he does not yet possess the capability to control them. If they were to be used by foreign tribes, it could lead to an early onset of chaos akin to the Five Hu's turmoil in China, and Fusu would be beyond redemption.

Fusu responded with warmth and a smile, making one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze. There was no sense of affectation; it was naturally effortless. In moments that inspired awe, one could not help but develop a slight fondness for Fusu.

Separate the associated criminals and thoroughly mix them up. First, address the issue of collusion, which will also facilitate the efficiency of the interrogation. Otherwise, how long will the torture of hundreds of people continue? Even if the task is completed by then, it is likely that the lord will be ridiculed for lacking foresight. What justice of the Qin state? In the eyes of their strategists, the lord is the most important. If one cannot distinguish between primary and secondary matters, one is not a qualified strategist. What justice of the Qin state? In the eyes of their strategists, the lord is the most important. If one cannot distinguish between primary and secondary matters, one is not a qualified strategist

However, when it comes to the most elite, it is undoubtedly the Imperial Cavalry. As the name suggests, it refers to the palace guard cavalry

As soon as the recent news about Fusu's killing of Liyue was mentioned, someone immediately turned pale, drenched in sweat

And soon, a white horse was brought by the *Illustrated* book, which made Fusu amusingly think of himself as a prince of fine horses, or rather, a prince on a white horse, or even the white horse crown prince

Xiao He immediately turned pale. He looked anxiously at Fu Su

Xiao He, with a brilliant flash, declared: "Qian Qi, Qian He, Xi, Wu... step forward!" Xiao He spoke with a serious expression, addressing several individuals.

Take me to the cell. I want to ask some people! Fu Su's smile and the morning light inexplicably evoke a sense of oppression. It seems to suddenly emanate from Fu Su, yet it does not appear abrupt. The people in the heavenly prison dare not delay.

Having spoken, the First Emperor carefully glanced at Fusu and said: "You have done well so far, go ahead and do as you wish, for you are the Crown Prince!"

Emperor Qin sat there with a gloomy expression, his face devoid of emotion. Meng Yi, on the other hand, appeared pale.

Fusu indeed exited early. After saying those few words, Fusu had already achieved his purpose without overshadowing Feng Jie, ensuring that the leader Feng Jie would not feel uncomfortable. Just a few words, yet they served the purpose of adding the finishing touch.

Fusu smiled gently, his eyes clear and bright. It seemed that Xiao He was greatly encouraged, and he immediately continued to strive with renewed vigor.

Fusu smiled as he watched Xiao He, giving a slight nod. He sat on the ground, quietly observing Xiao He's methods. Meanwhile, all the jailers in the prison were at Xiao He's disposal, while the head jailer and several mid-level officials could only watch eagerly from Fusu's side

Xiao He quickly obtained first-hand information, but this was still insufficient, far from enough. On one hand, the reliability of the temporary "allies" who were willing to report was questionable. Naturally, they could not possess much confidential information. On the other hand, those prominent figures who held certain secrets and important information could not be influenced by such means. With Confucianism and Daoism spreading across the world and elites gathering, it was surprisingly difficult to achieve significant results from reporting in a short period of time.

However, Fu Su could not afford to indulge in wild thoughts about these matters and the *books*; even with Meng Yi's capabilities, he had allowed the foremost figures of both Confucianism and Daoism to escape. Fu Su did not feel that he was significantly stronger than Meng Yi at this moment, and the concepts of pursuit and capture were entirely different. Even though Fu Su had considerable support from Confucian disciples, he was completely unaware of the secret hiding places of his opponents. Moreover, he had little regard for the Daoist disciples, who, despite their advocacy for non-action and non-interference, remained aloof. Furthermore, the distinction between pursuit and capture was clear; even with the backing of numerous Confucian disciples, Fu Su still lacked knowledge of the secret locations of his adversaries. Not to mention the Daoist disciples, whom Fu Su was indifferent towards, despite their philosophy of non-action and avoidance of interaction. Yet, those sorcerers who bore the Daoist title, with their pursuits of alchemy and immortality, were precisely to the liking of the First Emperor, as evidenced by the cases of Hou Sheng and Lu Sheng. Although both were still the empire's top two wanted criminals, the true circumstances remained unknown.

Fusu was not leaving the stage to walk the horse, but rather, Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng urgently summoned Fusu

Fu Su was secretly amused; now, Xiao He was approaching the age of 30 yet had not achieved any significant accomplishments, which could be said to indicate a lack of success in his career. Naturally, he felt anxious and was eager to perform well in front of a good boss. Moreover, people in ancient times matured early; children born in this era could already run errands. However, in terms of political acumen, Xiao He was far from being Fu Su's match. He became uneasy with slight setbacks and easily inspired by minor encouragements. His emotions were clearly visible, revealing a good character, yet he still needed refinement.

As time went on, Fu Su's image gradually changed in the eyes of the public. Previously, he was described as compassionate and kind-hearted, with an elegant demeanor. While this was admirable and endeared him to the common people, they couldn't help but murmur: would the future emperor be a bit too soft-hearted and weak? Now, however, he has completely transcended that image: his methods are exceptionally ruthless, yet everyone who has met him speaks of him as a gentle and refined gentleman, with a demeanor that captivates the heart. Even those who have only seen him once can call out his name. Undoubtedly, his influence among the lower-ranking officials has expanded dramatically. Many aspire to become his followers. This has kept Li and Xiao He extremely busy.

On the other side, the method employed by Xiao He was quite simple. He separated the assaults and interrogations.