Chapter 63 Sima Yi actually allowed him to gain the world.

As Zheng He stepped into the main hall, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di already waiting in front of the dragon throne. The old emperor was stroking the pager in his hand, which was almost out of power, with a furrowed brow; Zhu Di paced back and forth to the side, glancing towards the palace gate from time to time.

The things in Songyang County are incredibly diverse.

The grain seeds, refined salt, and pagers that Zheng He brought back last time greatly broadened Zhu Yuanzhang's horizons.

He and Zhu Di used the pager together. He would often say a few words to Zhu Di and teach him. It hadn't been used for more than a few days, and the battery was almost dead.

"Sanbao, how was it today?" Zhu Di greeted Zheng He quickly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He had originally thought that since Zheng He had been injured in Songyang County, he could rightfully go in his place, but who would have thought that his father would go himself. On second thought, it was his father who went, and a member of the Zhu family, so he was somewhat relieved.

Zheng He bowed respectfully and recounted his observations of Songyang County. When he spoke of Huo Qubing, Zhu Di frowned slightly, lost in thought: Why was General Huo so favored by Magistrate Jiang?

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and chuckled, "Sanbao, I order you to assist Magistrate Jiang well." The old emperor's eyes gleamed, "Take our Ming Dynasty's textile technology with you as well, Magistrate Jiang will surely be happy."

When he visited last time, he discovered that Magistrate Jiang clearly favored women. She treated men like livestock, while women were treated as equals.

That's strange.

Aren't all the people in the Songyang County government office men now?

However, being the founding emperor, he immediately saw what Jiang Ge needed most. Although Songyang County had countless rare treasures, what truly made Magistrate Jiang's eyes light up were always the practical skills that could benefit the people.

As Zheng He received his orders, he caught a glimpse of Zhu Di fiddling with a pager that was almost out of power. Ever since this treasure was brought back to the Ming Dynasty, it had become the exclusive possession of the emperor and his son. Zhu Yuanzhang used it daily to teach Zhu Di the ways of governing the country, and in just a few days, the battery was almost completely depleted.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” Zheng He said, taking a brocade pouch from his robes. “Magistrate Jiang asked me to bring back a few spare batteries.”

This was a free gift that I forgot to take last time, and Magistrate Jiang put it away.

Zhu Di was overjoyed and quickly accepted it.

"Your Majesty, is this textile technology...?" On one hand, Magistrate Jiang must have a better textile method than that of the Ming Dynasty; on the other hand, he was already busy enough.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, his voice firm.

"We must win over Magistrate Jiang."

Zheng He didn't know textile technology; he only knew how to mend clothes, but making clothes required learning from scratch.

He went back to his room and immediately started reading books. Honestly, he had to do weaving and memorize history. How could the history of these people be as clear and detailed as that of the historians?

Take Zhuge Liang for example. When the TV series about his death at Wuzhang Plains was shown, the atmosphere was so sad that the people of Shu Han would probably scatter Sima Yi's ancestral ashes upon seeing it.

And then there's Huo Qubing. He watches TV dramas about the Han Dynasty. What's so interesting about them? They're just about the merits and demerits of Emperor Wu of Han.

As for Wei Shun… Zheng He’s finger hovered over a page in the History of Song. That lowly jailer who risked his life to bury Yue Fei was now doing quite well in Songyang County. Just a few days ago, he had told him, “I know that General Yue’s injustice will be redressed sooner or later, it’s just…” Wei Shun rubbed his hands, his smile somewhat bitter, “that it’s been a bit too long to come sooner or later.”

well.

Regardless of Zheng He's thoughts, he's going to write down these historical events for them tomorrow. You stubborn mum, hurry up and memorize them!

——

As dawn broke, lights began to twinkle in the Songyang County government office. The weary crowd gathered once again in the clerk's office, each with dark circles under their eyes—especially Zheng He, whose dark circles looked as if he had been punched twice, and even his usually impeccably dressed hat was askew.

“Sanbao,” Qin Shubao said jokingly, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, “you look like you’ve been dragged by a demon to stay up all night.”

Zheng He rubbed his aching temples with a wry smile. Last night, he had to study the newly arrived textile techniques and meticulously check the historical materials that were to be shown to the parties involved—although he was very knowledgeable about history, it would be embarrassing enough to make even a single mistake when recounting it in front of these "real people." He had proofread Yue Fei's biography three times, fearing that he might make the slightest error in front of Wei Shun.

Otherwise, it would look terrible.

However, Qin Shubao still had the nerve to criticize him, since today Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde each pulled a child.

Judging from his serious demeanor, he must be a prince.

Jiang Ge also didn't sleep all night. She kept thinking about how to make Songyang County stronger. Although the eldest prince was a fool, he was the legitimate son and still had many followers.

Otherwise, Jiang's father wouldn't have gotten on his pirate ship, and wouldn't have even tried to get her to flatter the eldest prince.

She knew perfectly well that she was nothing more than a tool used by her father to curry favor and curry favor. Once the time was right, he would reveal that she was disguised as a man, and that would be enough to kill her.

As for Songyang County and its generals, they will surely be divided up and devoured by them.

But Jiang's father could never have imagined that the generals of Songyang County were from another dynasty, and only she had the right to control them.

My father wants me to die, so I will not die.

Django's gaze slowly swept across the bureaucracy: Hei Fu, Qin Shubao, Yuchi Jingde, Zhou Yu, Zheng He, Huo Qubing, Zhuge Liang—this lineup, in any dynasty, would be enough to form a dream team that could sweep across the world. Not to mention that what they were facing now was a corrupt dynasty ruled by idiots and fools.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her distracting thoughts, and refocused her attention on the office. She hadn't looked closely before, but now, upon closer inspection, she was nearly speechless—besides Xiao Liuju, two more exquisitely beautiful little children had appeared in the room.

One of them, about seven or eight years old, with delicate features, stood obediently beside Yuchi Jingde. His fair and tender little face made one want to pinch it, and his big, dark eyes were full of curiosity. The other was a chubby little boy who looked no more than five or six years old, but he ate like a dough ball, his little belly bulging, just like a New Year's picture doll.

"Could this be..." Jiang Ge's lips twitched, his gaze lingering on the chubby boy for a moment, and he already had a guess in his mind.

Prince Wei, Li Tai?

Before she could ask any questions, Qin Shubao stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and explained, “Magistrate Jiang, you are wise. His Majesty has long admired Prime Minister Zhuge’s talent and learning. Upon learning that the Prime Minister is teaching here, he considered this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and specially ordered my two generals to bring the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei here to receive his instruction.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ge's eyes twitched again. Good heavens, had Li Shimin sent his son as a package deal?

Little chubby Li Tai was completely unaware that he was being watched, and was intently munching on a piece of sesame candy, his mouth full of candy crumbs. Li Chengqian, on the other hand, had the demeanor of a crown prince, and respectfully bowed: "Chengqian greets Your Excellency the County Magistrate."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, watching this scene with a smile. Huo Qubing squatted down and poked Li Tai's chubby cheeks: "Kid, if you keep eating like this, your horse won't be able to carry you."

Upon seeing this, Li Chengqian immediately hugged Li Tai protectively, saying, "Don't bully Qingque!"

The brothers' affection for each other, coupled with their young age, made their antics all the more adorable, drawing laughter from the staff quarters. Jiang Ge rubbed his forehead, suddenly feeling a headache coming on—this Songyang County was probably turning into a cross-dynastic royal kindergarten.

Wouldn't that make the prime minister a kindergarten teacher?

Jiang Ge turned to look at Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister, dressed in a feather fan and turban, was smiling at the three little children, his gaze as gentle as a spring breeze in March: "Prime Minister, what do you think of this..."

We still need to ask the Prime Minister's opinion and see if he is willing.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and said calmly, "The princes are all very sensible and don't require much effort. They're fine." He glanced at the babies with a smile in his eyes.

That's very true.

Having taught a student as worrisome as Liu Shan, encountering a gifted and diligent student like Xiao Liu Ju was like an old farmer finding fertile soil, or a schoolteacher finding a prodigy. Not to mention that Li Chengqian showed extraordinary comprehension at such a young age, and even the most gluttonous Li Tai was never careless in his studies.

"snort."

A cold, mocking laugh came from the window. Zhou Yu, dressed in white, leaned against the window frame, his phoenix eyes filled with a hint of amusement: "Could it be that you're too old to handle official duties, so you have to entertain yourself with a few little babies?"

Zhuge Liang paused slightly in the hand holding the feather fan, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with a smile: "Gongjin's words remind me of the time in Jiangdong..." He deliberately dragged out the tone, "It seems that some people can't even take good care of their own lord's younger brother."

Zhou Yu's heart skipped a beat. The assassination attempt on Sun Yi years ago remained a deep-seated pain in his heart.

This fact was Zhou Yu's lifelong regret.

Xiao Liu keenly sensed the awkward atmosphere and quietly moved closer to Zhuge Liang, clutching the bamboo slips. Li Chengqian, on the other hand, widened his eyes, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two extraordinary talents of their time.

"Ahem." Jiang Ge coughed lightly at the opportune moment, "You two..."

"Magistrate Jiang, there's no need to worry." Zhuge Liang calmly picked up Li Tai, who had rushed towards him. "Gongjin is merely jealous that my student is more well-behaved." He pinched the chubby boy's cheek. "After all, some people's students..."

A hint of annoyance flashed across Zhou Yu's handsome face. He knew, of course, that Zhuge Liang was alluding to Sun Quan's mischievousness in his youth. Indeed, even in his old age, Zhuge Liang was still so sharp-tongued.

These words left Zhou Yu speechless for a long time.

While Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were exchanging words, Zheng He had already been writing furiously at his desk, transcribing historical records for posterity. After their heated debate subsided, he silently rose and handed a few pages of still-wet paper to Zhuge Liang.

“Prime Minister,” Zheng He said in a low voice, “the historical materials you requested have been compiled.”

Zhuge Liang took the paper, his gaze sweeping over the words with a gentle wave of his feather fan. At first, his expression remained normal, but when he read about the Sima clan's usurpation of Wei and the Jin dynasty's unification of the world, his hand holding the fan suddenly froze.

"It's come to this..."

His voice was extremely soft, yet it instantly silenced the entire room. Zhou Yu's movements came to an abrupt halt, Qin Shubao's hand paused, and even the three little children noticed something amiss, looking up at the suddenly silent prime minister.

The pages trembled slightly between Zhuge Liang's fingers. He saw the fruits of his painstaking Northern Expeditions—his dream of restoring the Han Dynasty three times—ultimately extinguished in the ambitions of Sima Yi and his descendants. He saw Jiang Wei, whom he had personally nurtured, launch nine campaigns against the Central Plains, ultimately dying alongside Zhong Hui in the chaos of battle; he saw the surrender flag raised atop Chengdu, and Liu Shan, the Later Ruler, utter the words, "I am so happy here, I have no desire for Shu..."

"What a fine Sima Zhongda!"

Zhuge Liang suddenly chuckled, but his eyes were devoid of any warmth. He swished his feather fan shut and pointed to the line about the Gaopingling Incident: "I knew this man had the look of a wolf, but I never expected..." He looked up, "that he would actually gain the world."

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Author's Note: Zhuge Liang: You are guaranteed to lose every argument with me!