168: Chapter 168 Top lobbyist Lu Jia seeks to pledge allegiance to Zhao Fusu

The young man's name was Lu Jia.

He was none other than the top lobbyist Lu Jia, who in history persuaded the Qin generals to surrender to Liu Bang.

He also twice persuaded Zhao Tuo to surrender to the Han Dynasty.

Lu Jia's lobbying ability was no less than that of Li Yiqi, who secured 72 cities of the Qi State with nothing but his silver tongue, without moving a single soldier.

He had always disliked the strict laws of the Qin State and opposed the corvée labor system.

Originally, he had no plans to travel to the Qin Region for study, but after hearing that Xianyang had abolished corvée labor in all commanderies and counties, he became curious about what had happened in Xianyang to cause such a change.

Afterward, he also saw the steam rotary tiller used for farming.

This steam rotary tiller was brought from Xianyang by merchants and sold for one gold piece each!

According to the merchants, this steam rotary tiller could plow on its own without the need for oxen.

The onlookers at the time didn't believe it.

The merchant then began a demonstration.

After seeing the steam rotary tiller move on its own without oxen, all the watching commoners were stunned.

The merchant said that now, both Xianyang and Guanzhong were using these steam rotary tillers to plow the fields.

Hearing this, Lu Jia became even more curious about Xianyang City.

Thus, he traveled all the way west to Xianyang City to study.

He was surprised to find that in Xianyang City, the corvée labor system, which people used to loathe, had become a highly sought-after prize.

Many commoners in Xianyang City were constantly pulling strings to get into the corvée labor establishment.

After making inquiries, Lu Jia learned that the corvée laborers in Xianyang could eat three meals a day and were full every time.

Lu Jia understood instantly.

Having traveled ten thousand miles, he knew well that though there were no idle fields in the world, farmers still died of hunger.

Now there was a position that allowed one to eat three full meals a day; naturally, people would fight tooth and nail for it.

These people also felt a heartfelt loyalty toward His Majesty the Head of State; anyone trying to overthrow him would be taking the food out of the mouths of millions of corvée laborers!

Lu Jia's admiration for Zhao Fusu grew, and he decided to settle outside Xianyang City to see what other great things Zhao Fusu would do.

Sure enough, he witnessed the National Day military parade, the Man-Pig War, and the terrifying artillery demonstration.

Lu Jia truly hoped the Qin State would continue to treat its people well; otherwise, the price to pay for resisting the Qin Army would be far too high.

Upon learning that His Majesty the Head of State intended to reform the qin law, Lu Jia personally took up his pen, collected the grievances of the common people, and placed them into the Qin Law Suggestion Box.

Lu Jia pulled his thoughts back and looked at the young boy before him.

When the incident occurred, the boy was herding cattle, his mother was working in the fields, and his father had just returned home, unaware that the neighbor had committed a murder.

During the official trial, because his father did not report the neighbor's murder, he was sentenced to be beheaded at Caishikou.

Lu Jia believed that it was only right for a murderer to pay with their life. However, the boy's father was not a murderer and did not know about the crime, yet he was to be beheaded for failing to report it.

He believed this was an abuse of harsh laws and severe punishments.

He advocated for the abolition of the collective punishment system.

After seeing the solicitation for opinions on the (Revised Draft) of the qin law regarding collective punishment and state warfare published by Zhao Fusu in the newspaper, Lu Jia knew that His Majesty the Head of State had listened to his suggestions.

This made Lu Jia very excited.

"A scholar dies for the one who recognizes his worth." Lu Jia suddenly felt an urge to enter government service; he wanted to work for His Majesty the Head of State!

"I'm leaving,"

Lu Jia said to the boy.

"Sir, where are you going?"

Panic was evident on the boy's face.

"I want to have an audience with His Majesty the Head of State and serve him."

Lu Jia stated his intention.

Looking at the boy, he said softly, "Study the bamboo slips I gave you thoroughly. If you understand them completely, I might be able to recommend you for an official position in the court in the future."

"Yes, sir!"

The boy said seriously, "I will definitely study them diligently."

Lu Jia went to bid farewell to the Shi Zhang.

"Scholar Lu, are you leaving Xianyang?"

The Shi Zhang felt it was a pity for a great talent like Lu Jia to leave Xianyang.

"No, no,"

Lu Jia said, "I want to go to Xianyang City to find someone to recommend me for an official post in the court, so that I may see His Majesty the Head of State."

As the Paramount Leader of the National Assembly, Zhao Fusu was not someone an ordinary person could see whenever they wanted.

With Lu Jia's current status, he could not meet Zhao Fusu.

He could only seek a recommendation to become an official.

In the Qin Dynasty, there were no imperial examinations, no college entrance exams, and no civil service exams.

In the Qin Dynasty, if one wanted to become an official, one needed a recommendation.

The recommendation process involved current officials recommending talent to the court.

This included the Prime Minister, vassal kings, high ministers, and regional governors; they had the responsibility and obligation to recommend people of virtue and talent to the court.

Additionally, subordinates could recommend talent to the monarch in their own name, which was known as the "Baoju system."

The criteria for recommendation were primarily moral character and talent.

It required the nominee to possess good moral character as well as certain abilities, such as local governance, diplomacy, or military skills, to meet the various needs of the state.

However, loyalty to the monarch was the fundamental political standard for appointing and dismissing officials; maintaining the supreme position of imperial power and consolidating central authority were the primary considerations.

After a talent was recommended, they had to undergo subject-based examinations, and then official positions were granted based on their scores.

If the recommended person did not live up to their reputation or committed a crime later on, the recommender would be held jointly liable, making recommenders more cautious when putting forward talent.

Lu Jia did not know anyone in Xianyang City, so it would be quite difficult for him to find someone to recommend him.

According to Lu Jia's plan, he would first find someone to recommend him, perform well in his position, and after being promoted, he would have the chance to see His Majesty the Head of State and serve him.

The Shi Zhang was very happy upon hearing that Lu Jia wanted to enter government service.

Having a great talent like Scholar Lu stay in their Qin State would make it even stronger.

But the Shi Zhang was troubled; he knew Lu Jia was a great talent, but he was just a small village head and didn't have the influence to recommend someone like Lu Jia to a high-ranking figure, let alone help him see the Paramount Leader.

"Scholar Lu, I'm sorry,"

the Shi Zhang said apologetically.

"I'll find a way,"

Lu Jia said.

Just as Lu Jia was about to bid farewell to the Shi Zhang, a magnificent carriage slowly approached the village entrance. Besides the driver, there were attendants following on both sides.

The person sitting in the carriage was clearly someone of wealth or high status.

Qingping Village was just a small village with about a hundred residents, and no great figures had ever come from there.

Those working in the fields looked curiously at the carriage, especially the children, who had the strongest curiosity.

They were in groups of three or five, shirtless and wearing open-crotch pants.

They spent their days rolling around in the fields with their parents, their faces and bodies full of the scent of earth. To put it bluntly, they were covered in dirt.

The carriage stopped when it reached the village entrance.

An attendant prostrated himself beneath the carriage, the curtain was lifted, and a eunuch dressed in official robes poked his head out.