Chapter 1776

Zhao Fu also changed into ordinary clothes and planned to go to some remote areas alone to personally see the current situation of the people in Great Qin, because what he sees with his own eyes is definitely more authentic than what is reported.

The first place he came to was a mountain village, and the county where the village is located has also experienced a flood. Zhao Fu was particularly interested in seeing for himself what the current situation is like.

After the flood, the village has already cleaned up the mud inside and is now cleaning the mud in the fields so that they can continue to grow crops.

As a stranger coming to their village, Zhao Fu attracted their attention. Some were curious about this young man and why he came to their small mountain village. Although he was dressed in ordinary clothes, he had an extraordinary temperament and was definitely not an ordinary person.

An old man with gray hair and a sturdy build stepped forward and smiled, "May I ask what brings you to our village, sir?"

Zhao Fu smiled and said, "I have nothing to do, just came to take a look. I happened to pass by this village and wanted to see it for myself."

The village chief smiled happily and said, "Is that so? Our village is just a poor mountain village, there's nothing much to see. I thought you were a government official who came to inspect us."

Zhao Fu was a little surprised by the chief's words. He looked at himself, dressed very plainly, and didn't seem to have anything special about him. With a hint of curiosity, he asked, "How did you know that I might be a government official?"

The village chief smiled and said, "Your temperament is not ordinary. It's very different from us mountain villagers. Besides, except for the government, there are hardly any outsiders who come here to visit."

Zhao Fu also understood, and smiled and asked again, "So how do you feel about the government sending people to inspect your village? Are they treating you well? Do they care about your opinions?"

The village chief happily replied, "Of course, we welcome them to come. This is mainly thanks to our emperor. It's the emperor's order that every county must do so. Otherwise, small mountain villages like ours would be easily overlooked."

"As for the people who came, their attitude is still good! They don't have arrogance or contempt towards us, and they can report our situation to the county officials. After a while, things will be resolved."

"Oh!"

Zhao Fu understood and then asked, "After this flood, do you have any opinions or dissatisfaction with the court?"

Upon hearing this, the village chief's smile faded slightly. He looked around and said in a low voice, "Young master! The question you asked is very dangerous. It's best to avoid asking this type of question to prevent any trouble."

Zhao Fu asked curiously, "Why is that?"

The village chief smiled slightly, but his expression was serious. "Because your question is sensitive. It's okay to express your opinion, but if you have any dissatisfaction, it could lead to rebellion."

"This matter can be big or small. Perhaps you can talk about it without any consequences, but if you incite riots or cause trouble, you will definitely be beheaded. Even your family and friends will be severely punished."

"In addition, our emperor has specially selected representatives of the people, and they will also send people down to inspect. If you have any opinions or problems, you can tell them, but it's best to talk to others about your dissatisfaction with the court."

"This time, the court quickly resolved the flood and even allocated some food and seeds. We have nothing but gratitude towards the court and the emperor."

Zhao Fu fell into contemplation after hearing this. He did not know that expressing dissatisfaction could lead to beheading and even the punishment of family and friends. This order may have been issued by Li Si, and he may have been informed, but he did not pay attention to it because it was just one of the many methods used to consolidate the rule of Qin.

Now that Great Qin has opened up multiple battlefields and is facing numerous enemies, there cannot be any problems internally, otherwise, there will be internal and external troubles, and the Great Qin Empire may be destroyed as a result. Therefore, some high-pressure measures are necessary to stabilize people's hearts.

Now that he knew this, he realized how serious the consequences of speaking out could be.

Zhao Fu had no intention of changing this policy, because it was indeed beneficial for Great Qin. However, this also led Zhao Fu to reevaluate his understanding of Great Qin, as it was not as idyllic as he had imagined. Without any constraints, the people could live freely and happily, but of course, such a place could not exist in the world. If one wanted to obtain something, they must also pay a price. The world needs rules, and so do countries.

"Sir! You hold a high position in the court, don't you?" the village chief said with a respectful smile.

Zhao Fu realized what he was implying and replied with a smile, "Didn't I already say that I'm not an official?"

The village chief smiled and said, "Sir, you don't have to explain. Ordinary people wouldn't ask such questions, and from your demeanor, it's clear that you're not an ordinary high official."

Zhao Fu didn't bother to explain any further and simply continued to smile.

The village chief was delighted and understood that Zhao Fu had acknowledged his status. His smile grew even wider as he said, "Sir! It's already noon. Why don't you come to my house for lunch?"

Zhao Fu declined with a smile, "That won't be necessary. I have something to attend to."

The village chief hurriedly grabbed Zhao Fu's arm and said, "Sir, please don't be polite. Even if you're busy, you must have lunch."

Zhao Fu reluctantly followed the village chief to his house.

As soon as they arrived, the village chief shouted, "Old lady! Quickly slaughter the hen. We have an important guest, and you, young boy, get out here!"

An elderly woman came out and took a quick glance at Zhao Fu, understanding the importance of the situation. She didn't say anything and went to the kitchen to prepare a hen.

A young boy with a sturdy build came out, complaining, "Grandpa! What do you want me to do?"

The village chief had a smile on his face as he said, "Come over here! Meet this big shot, he's a high-ranking official in the court. Do you want to be an official in the future? Do you want to serve Great Qin? Do you want to meet the emperor?"

Upon hearing this, the little boy ran over joyfully and said with a smile, "Hello, sir!"

Zhao Fu understood the village chief's intentions in pulling him over - it was for the future of his grandson. However, Zhao Fu didn't feel resentful and could even understand the chief's intentions. He smiled and nodded.

The village chief then led Zhao Fu to the table in the living room and asked with a smile, "May I know your name, sir? What position do you hold in the court?"

Zhao Fu answered with a light smile, "My surname is Zhao, and I'm just a small official in Xianyang. Nothing special."

The village chief was surprised and said, "Our emperor's surname is also Zhao. This surname is lucky! Unfortunately, our surname is Zhang."