The Young Man from the Great Qin

Chapter 15: The Identity Forgery Plot

When Xiao Ren returned to Shen Qingshang’s residence, it was already dark. Shen Qingshang sat in the main hall, bamboo slips and fragments of cloth spread out before her.

She pushed the bamboo slips toward him. “Your identity and background have been drafted for you.”

Xiao Ren sat down and picked up the slips. They read: A descendant of a fallen noble house from the State of Qi, named Wang Wu. His ancestors served as ministers during the reign of King Jian of Qi. After Qin conquered Qi, the family declined, and he studied alchemy with a Fangshi (esotericist) from childhood. His master died three years ago, and he has been traveling alone since.

Shen Qingshang said, “This identity will withstand scrutiny. There is indeed a branch of descendants of Wang Zhu, a minister of Qi, who fell into obscurity among the common people. The Fangshi who died three years ago did take on a disciple. That disciple disappeared after his master’s death, and no one knows what he looked like.”

Xiao Ren put down the slips. “Can Zhao Hu trace this?”

“No. I had someone add your name to the Wang family genealogy of that branch, and the household registration records at the Neishi (Interior Minister) office have also been tampered with. Even if Zhao Hu takes a portrait to investigate, he will only find that you are a distant relative of the Wang clan who traveled abroad since childhood and has only recently returned to Xianyang.”

Xiao Ren looked at her. “You’ve put considerable effort into this.”

“You’re worth it. Meng Tian has already prepared your military records for you. Early tomorrow morning, go to the Neishi office to register your household. Take the military documents to the barracks. From now on, you are Vice Director of the Grain and Forage Camp, Wang Wu.”

Xiao Ren tucked the slips away. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’ve had people keeping an eye on Zhao Hu. He went to the Western Market today and audited the accounts of three trading firms, all checking records from the day you entered the city.”

Xiao Ren frowned. “Did he find anything?”

“Nothing. On the day you entered the city, I had the trading firms’ accounts altered. The clues Zhao Hu currently holds can only lead him to conclude that you are a traveling esotericist from Qi with no roots in Xianyang.”

Xiao Ren was silent for a moment. “Zhao Hu won’t give up easily.”

Shen Qingshang stood up. “He won’t, but he needs time. And time is on your side. Go to the Neishi office early tomorrow and ask directly for Chief Clerk Zhang He. He will help you complete the registration.”

She walked to the doorway and looked back. “Your lime disinfection method impressed Meng Tian greatly. He sent word asking you to inspect a batch of crossbow mechanisms at the barracks in three days.”

Xiao Ren nodded. Shen Qingshang didn’t ask anything further and turned to leave. Xiao Ren sat in the main hall, looking at the bamboo slips in his hand, then at the few fragments of cloth on the table.

Those were from the barracks—he had brought back a corroded fragment of a crossbow mechanism. Qin army crossbows combined bronze and iron. The iron components rusted easily; in the humid southern climate, they would be rendered useless within three months. Meng Tian was right—if this problem could be solved, it would indeed be a major merit.

But Xiao Ren wasn’t thinking about rust prevention. He was wondering if he could make the Qin army’s weapons even better. He picked up the iron fragment and examined it closely under the lamplight. The surface was badly corroded, and the fracture showed the true color of the iron. Qin ironware used bloomery iron, which had high impurity content and insufficient hardness. If the smelting process could be improved to produce steel, combined with anti-rust treatment, the Qin army’s combat effectiveness could increase by at least thirty percent.

Xiao Ren set down the iron fragment and began calculating in his head. Chromate passivation technology could solve the rust problem, but he didn’t know where chromium ore was located. However, primitive chromium mining already existed in the Qin Dynasty.

He had seen a certain green ore in the workshops of Xianyang, which craftsmen used to color pottery. That ore was chromite. If he could find chromite, he could refine chromates and apply them to weapons.

The next morning, Xiao Ren took a carriage to the Neishi office. Located in the eastern part of Xianyang, the Neishi office was a large compound with three courtyards. Two guards stood at the entrance and stopped him when they saw his carriage.

“Who are you?”

Xiao Ren stepped down, produced Meng Tian’s military documents, and said, “Wang Wu, Vice Director of the Grain and Forage Camp, here to register my household.”

The guard took the documents, glanced at them, then looked at Xiao Ren. “Wait here.”

The guard went in to announce him. After a moment, a middle-aged man in official robes came out. He looked at Xiao Ren. “Are you Wang Wu?”

“Yes.”

“Follow me.”

The man led Xiao Ren into the Neishi office, through several gates, to a side room. Rows of bamboo slips were arranged in the room, and a man in a cyan official robe was sorting through them.

The man pointed to the clerk. “This is Chief Clerk Zhang He. He will handle your household registration.”

Zhang He looked up and glanced at Xiao Ren. “Are you Wang Wu?”

“Yes.”

Zhang He picked up a scroll of bamboo slips from the table and unrolled it. “Descendant of Wang Zhu, a minister of Qi. Studied alchemy with a Fangshi since childhood. Master died three years ago, and he began traveling. Only recently returned to Xianyang.”

Xiao Ren said, “Yes.”

Zhang He looked at the slips, then at Xiao Ren. “Are you certain?”

“Certain.”

Zhang He was silent for a moment, then picked up a brush, made a few additions to the slips, and stamped them.

“Done. Your household registration is now on record. From this day forward, you are a Qin subject named Wang Wu.”

Xiao Ren took the slips. “Thank you.”

Zhang He looked at him. “You’re fortunate. The path Shen Qingshang paved for you is solid. However, Zhao Hu won’t let this go easily. Watch yourself.”

Xiao Ren nodded. “I understand.”

Xiao Ren left the Neishi office, got back into his carriage, and headed toward the barracks. The guards there already recognized him and let him pass without question. Walking into the central command tent, he found Meng Tian studying a map.

“You’re here.”

“I am.”

Meng Tian pointed to a pile of crossbow mechanisms nearby. “These are all recently scrapped. See if you can solve the problem.”

Xiao Ren walked over and picked up a crossbow mechanism, examining it closely. The iron components were heavily rusted, especially the springs and triggers inside, which were so corroded they were nearly unusable.

Xiao Ren set the mechanism down. “I need some things.”

“What things?”

“A green ore. The kind used in the workshops to color pottery.”

Meng Tian frowned. “What’s that ore good for?”

“Anti-rust treatment.”

Meng Tian looked at him. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not certain, but it’s worth a try.”

Meng Tian was silent for a moment. “I’ll have someone fetch it from the workshop.”

“Also, I need a furnace, a bellows, and some iron materials.”

Meng Tian looked at him. “What do you intend to do?”

“Smelt iron.”

Meng Tian didn’t ask further. He turned and called to the soldiers outside the tent, “Go. Do as he says.”

The soldiers took their orders and left.

Xiao Ren stood before the pile of crossbow mechanisms, looking at the rusted iron components, and began calculating in his head. Chromate passivation required chromite ore, high temperatures, and time. But if he succeeded, the Qin army’s weapons would be transformed. He picked up an iron fragment and weighed it in his hand.

Meng Tian watched him. “Do you have confidence in this?”

“No, but we have to try.”

Meng Tian smiled. “Very well. Let’s try.”

The soldiers soon brought the green ore, along with a furnace and a bellows. Xiao Ren crushed the ore and placed it in the furnace to heat. The fire burned fiercely, and the green ore began to change color under the high temperature—first turning black, then red, and finally melting into a dark red liquid. Xiao Ren immersed the iron fragment in the liquid, waited a while, and took it out. The rust on the surface began to flake off.

Meng Tian watched this scene, his eyes lighting up. “Did it work?”

“Not yet. This is only the first step.”

Xiao Ren cooled the iron fragment in water, took it out, and dried it with a cloth. The surface was smooth, with not a trace of rust.

Meng Tian picked up the fragment and examined it closely. “This iron is better than before.”

“This is only rust prevention. If we can smelt steel, the effect will be even greater.”

Meng Tian looked at him. “Steel?”

“Yes. Steel is harder and more durable than iron. If we can produce steel, the Qin army’s combat effectiveness will increase by at least thirty percent.”

Meng Tian was silent for a moment. “What do you need?”

“Time, and more ore.”

Meng Tian nodded. “I’ll give it to you.”

Xiao Ren walked out of the central command tent, the iron fragment in his hand. Sunlight glinted off its surface. He thought of the bamboo slips he had seen the previous night at Shen Qingshang’s residence, the records regarding chromium ore. The Qin Dynasty already had primitive chromium mining; no one simply knew how to utilize it.

He quickened his pace toward Shen Qingshang’s residence. Behind him, Meng Tian’s voice called out, “In three days, I’ll have a new batch of crossbow mechanisms sent to you.”

Xiao Ren didn’t look back, merely raising his hand in a wave.