Chapter 14: The Great Qin Daily, The Gift of Lipstick

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Chapter 14: The Great Qin Daily and a Gift of Lipstick

“Newspapers for sale! The Great Qin Daily! The Empire’s newly issued war bonds—five wen apiece! Ten wen make one Qin coin! Newspapers for sale!”

A large crowd of children dressed in newspaper uniforms, satchels slung over their shoulders, began their daily rounds through the streets.

Ever since newspapers had appeared, the orphans and children from impoverished families in Xianyang City had risen early each day to fill their bags at the newspaper office before hawking papers throughout the streets. The people of Great Qin had long since grown accustomed to it. Some families even sent their own children out to work part-time; they could earn as much as ten Qin coins a month.

“War bonds? What are those?” the people in the streets asked one another.

“Give me a copy.”

The scholar drinking tea in the teahouse often spent his time there. Whenever he had nothing else to do, he bought a newspaper to learn about current affairs, strange happenings, gossip, and the opinions of the many schools of thought. Today, he merely paid for a copy as usual.

The young newsboy accepted the money, handed over the newspaper, and turned to continue selling.

The scholar took the paper and gave it a cursory glance. Then he could not help exclaiming in astonishment, “Such a wonderful opportunity! As a citizen of Great Qin, how could I not support it wholeheartedly?”

As the newspapers changed hands, the entire street erupted. Those without papers instantly surrounded the newsboys, their money pouches jingling as they eagerly competed to purchase the newspapers in their hands.

The same scene unfolded wherever there were newsboys. Those without newspapers clustered around those who had bought them, clamoring for someone to read the contents aloud.

It was still the Hour of the Tiger, and dawn had only just begun to break. For many people, it was still dreamtime in bed. Yet the waves of shouting and commotion woke the sleepers, and in the space of a moment, Xianyang City—usually not lively until the Hour of the Rabbit—had become bustling far earlier than usual.

Once everyone learned the reason, excitement spread through the crowd. People hurriedly asked where the bonds could be purchased. When they learned that they were being sold at the Imperial Bank, and that only five million taels’ worth of war bonds had been issued, with each share costing ten Qin coins and fifty million shares in total, the clever ones immediately broke into a run.

Everyone knew that the Empire’s population was nearing thirty million. Divided among them, that meant fewer than two shares per person—worth twenty Qin coins.

If they were even a little too slow, the wealthy would snap them all up, leaving nothing for ordinary folk like themselves.

In truth, they were worrying unnecessarily. Once the war bonds were released, the rules had already been set: each person could purchase at least one share and at most five hundred thousand shares. Private transfers and gifts were forbidden, and non-citizens of Qin could not buy them. The Empire would distribute thirty percent of every haul of war spoils as dividends. If that proved insufficient, the court would pay interest at a rate of five li per share.

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Although no one knew whom Great Qin intended to fight, that did not stop them from doing the arithmetic. The return was two li higher than the Imperial Bank’s interest. Anyone who refused to make money when the opportunity arose was a fool, so people hurried home to retrieve their hidden savings.

Before long, the entire street had emptied. Clearly, there was never any shortage of people eager to seize an advantage.

Back at the Marquis’s residence, Yang Zimo sat in a chair and took out a mirror he had made several years earlier. He gazed at his reflection: double eyelids beneath sword-shaped brows, standard features framed by a beard, and the marks of time beginning to show upon his face. Unfortunately, several white pimples had appeared on his otherwise handsome cheeks, marring his appearance.

He was speechless. He had been working himself to the bone these past few days. Perhaps he ought to find Wan-niang and let off some steam.

It had been ten years since he had come to Great Qin. He wondered how his parents were faring. Touching the stubble on his face, he shook his head. He was nearly thirty now. With Great Qin about to embark on a war, he would take Wan-niang and the children back to Green Ox Village for a visit once things settled down.

Seeing Yang Zimo suddenly fall silent, Lin Wan-niang walked over. She cupped his cheeks in both hands, stroked his hair, and then gently leaned against his chest.

“Husband, you still have Wan-niang and the children.”

Yang Zimo wrapped his arms around her soft body and felt his thoughts gradually calm. Lowering his head, he kissed her brow.

“You have worked hard all these years, Wan-niang.”

“Pfft!”

Lin Wan-niang knew her husband too well to keep from laughing. She covered her mouth, her whole body trembling with mirth, and her full bosom swayed. After bearing children, Wan-niang had acquired an even more alluring charm. Seeing her, Yang Zimo could not help losing his composure. He fondled her several times before finally rising in satisfaction to check on his two little treasures.

When he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something. He hurriedly took a small box from his pocket and handed it to Wan-niang. It had been so long since he had given her a gift. He truly was an unworthy husband.

“Wan-niang, I made a little gift for you at the Academy of Sciences. See if you like it.”

“Thank you, husband!”

Although Wan-niang had no idea what it was, her husband had been in Xianyang for five years. Perhaps he had simply been too busy to give her a gift for a long time. Now that she had received one, she happily embraced him and kissed him.

When Wan-niang opened the box, she saw a tubular object resembling a firelighter, its entire body set with gemstones. Several large letters were engraved on its top. She stared at her husband in complete bewilderment.

“Husband, what is this?”

“Turn the mechanism at the bottom.”

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As Wan-niang rotated it with her delicate fingers, a red cylinder slowly rose from within the tube.

“Wan-niang, this is called lipstick. It is similar to the lip rouge you usually use. Try applying it. I made it especially for you. There is only one like it in the whole world.”

“Come, let me show you.”

Several months passed in a flash, and before they knew it, June had arrived.

The surrounding tribes and nations all knew that Great Qin was preparing for war. Great Qin had remained quiet for five years, allowing the neighboring countries to indulge in every kind of revelry. But the moment they heard that the empire had issued something called war bonds, anyone with a brain knew that Great Qin was about to make a move. They simply did not know who would be unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of it.

After all, the grain purchased with the war-bond funds was enough to supply an army of a million soldiers for half a year. Even the spies they had stationed in Great Qin had bought some of the bonds, eager to discover what they were for. Now that they knew, they abruptly ceased their revelry and quietly awaited Great Qin’s next move.

Leaving aside the thoughts of the surrounding nations, the Empire had converted every coin raised through the war bonds into equipment, provisions, and other supplies. All of it had been successfully delivered to Jiuyuan Commandery.

At that moment, the station of the Xuanwu Legion in Jiuyuan Commandery was filled with the neighing of horses and the cries of men. Supplies were piled as high as mountains, while squads of cavalry thundered back and forth. Everywhere, the shouts of soldiers training with their blades rang through the heavens.

Outside the Xuanwu camp stood two other fortifications, one large and one small, each of a completely different style.

The larger camp flew all manner of banners, totems, and strips of cloth in the wind. Its leather-armored warriors were not trained quite as rigorously as those of the Xuanwu camp, but their drills had not been neglected. Their powerful physiques, curved sabers at their waists, and felt caps upon their heads all proclaimed that they were soldiers of the steppe tribes—the Empire’s Chimei Mercenaries.

Compared with the two camps before it, the last could only be described as small. Yet it was noisier than either, resembling a bustling market. Everywhere one looked, people were keeping fighting cocks, walking dogs, gambling, or flirting. At one gambling table, several men who had lost money flew into a rage and wrestled with one another.

In the dim corner beside them, people sat or sprawled in the shadows, their faces hidden from view. Only the daggers they idly toyed with reflected a cold glint.

They were members of the Wangliang Army.

Within the Wangliang Army, there were only three rules:

Never betray Great Qin.

Never kill one another.

Never harm the people of Great Qin.

End of Chapter.