9 Chapter 9

◎Father and son. ◎

These words must not have been taught by the previous kings, because Fusu was an honest child and he never coveted anything unless it was his own merit.

As expected, Fusu did not say who taught him. He just looked up at his father and smiled, "Because I am your child, you are one in ten thousand, and I, your son, must be one in a thousand too."

Ying Zheng laughed heartily. As the King of Qin, he had naturally heard a lot of flattery, but how could those words compare to the heartfelt admiration from his eldest son?

After laughing, Ying Zheng said, "Your idea is certainly good, but Fusu and Han Fei may not appreciate it."

Fusu said, "Although Mr. Han claims to be ruthless, he is a living person after all. He cannot be completely heartless. Otherwise, he would not have persuaded my father on the behalf of Han. This time, my father saved Mr. Han's face. Mr. Han must remember my father's kindness. Over time, his heart may soften."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng snorted coldly, "Hasn't this been enough of a show of respect from me? Han Fei is certainly talented, but Qin doesn't absolutely need him. Without him, will Qin be unable to conquer the six kingdoms?"

Qin State did not necessarily need Han Fei, but he was proof that Fusu would not go back to his old ways, and Fusu wanted to save his life.

Moreover, Han Fei is recognized as the culmination of the Legalists. After the Qin Dynasty unified China, Han Fei might have had unique insights into the formulation of laws, which would undoubtedly be beneficial to the Qin Dynasty.

Fusu said, "Father, I think that more talented people are better for the country. Since there is an opportunity for Mr. Han to serve you, why not give it a try? Father, you don't have to worry about this matter, just leave it to me."

His son had to share his worries, which was something Ying Zheng had never experienced before. Thinking about the excitement he felt when he became a father, it seemed like it was just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, his eldest son was able to do things for him.

Ying Zheng thought of his other sons again. He thought that when he had time, he should go and see them.

Ying Zheng stopped and looked down at his eldest son. After being messed up by him, Fusu's hair was not combed again, but just grabbed a few handfuls and smoothed it out.

The children in the palace were well raised, and Fusu's hair was black and thick, very different from Ying Zheng's hair when he was a child.

"I'll give you a jade hairpin to tie your hair with." Ying Zheng suddenly asked, "Do you want it?"

Fusu looked up in confusion. Although he didn't know what his father meant, he nodded immediately: "Yes, thank you, father."

Ying Zheng gently rubbed Fusu's head and said, "Since you are going to work for your father, you should have some help."

Fusu: “…”

Fusu: “Ah?”

How old is he? Is he employed?

No matter how shocked Fusu was, Ying Zheng seemed to have made up his mind and had already decided on the candidate.

After all, his father would not cheat him. Seeing that his father did not say anything, Fusu stopped asking and asked his father why he came.

"Father, are you here to ask me about increasing grain production?"

Ying Zheng said, "There's no need to rush this matter in the next few days."

"Huh?" Fusu was surprised. "No hurry?"

When he just mentioned that there was a way to increase grain production, his father reminded him that grain was an important matter. Why is he not in a hurry now?

Ying Zheng laughed and said, "Think about it, what month is it now?"

"August..." Fusu understood what his father meant before he finished speaking.

August is the season for autumn harvest. Even if there is a way to increase grain production, if we bring it out now, we have to wait until next spring when the seeds are sown before we can try it out.

At that time, productivity was low, and crops were generally grown for only one season. After the development of water conservancy projects, it might be possible to have three crops in two years, but two crops in one year was simply impossible.

Speaking of crops, Fusu recalled that the staple food at the time was millet, which was not as productive as wheat. However, milling technology was very backward, so people naturally preferred millet to the hard wheat. As for rice, that would have to go south, so it was too early to think about it now.

Thinking of this, Fusu couldn't help feeling ashamed. He had been away from the world for too long. He had neglected the food he ate every day. He was really blind to the truth.

Fusu said hurriedly, "Father, I have noted down some farm tools, including those that can be used during the harvest. I have drawn them down."

So, the father and son turned around and went back to the house to look at the farm tools that Fusu had drawn.

Ying Zheng was the King of Qin. Although he did not farm himself, food was a national issue. He was very familiar with the process from planting seeds to harvesting grain.

"Iron." Ying Zheng pointed to the word that Fusu had marked next to the scythe.

In the era of cold weapons, iron has always been controlled, probably because iron can be used not only to make agricultural tools, but also weapons.

The iron smelting technology during this period was still very backward, and the countries were frequently engaged in wars. Weapons were still mainly made of bronze, let alone the large-scale production of iron farm tools.

Fusu pulled out a stack of papers from the pile he had copied overtime, handed it to Ying Zheng with both hands, and said, "Father, this is the method of smelting large quantities of iron. The previous kings taught me to memorize it, but I haven't had time to tell you yet."

"Iron smelting?" Ying Zheng didn't bother to say anything else and hurried to look at what was written on the paper.

Qin's weapons manufacturing is now far superior to the six countries, but if it can go further, the Qin army will be more powerful, so Ying Zheng is of course impatient.

In this era when people could only rely on human and animal power, any mistake in iron smelting could cost lives, so Fusu remembered it in great detail.

Because the matter was of great importance, Ying Zheng read it very carefully. By the time he finished reading the last word, he was deeply shocked.

Fusu had already sorted out all the things he had written down in the past few days. Seeing his father standing still, he stood on tiptoe and wanted to tug at his father's sleeve, but because his father raised his hand, he couldn't reach. Fusu had to settle for the next best thing and tugged at his father's outer robe.

"Hmm?" Ying Zheng came back to his senses and looked at the papers Fusu had arranged on the desk.

Fusu said, "Father, there are also methods for composting and for cultivating crops. The waterwheel is used..."

"Fusu." Ying Zheng didn't listen any further and interrupted Fusu.

"Father?" Fusu asked puzzledly.

Ying Zheng put down the paper in his hand, looked at the paper Fusu had sorted out, and then sighed softly.

Fusu's hands clenched suddenly, he bit the corner of his mouth and asked, "Father, did Fusu do something wrong? Please tell me, I will change."

Ying Zheng sat down and pulled Fusu over to stand in front of him so that he could see his eldest son's eyes.

"Fusu, are your father and previous kings putting too much pressure on you?" Ying Zheng asked.

Fusu was stunned.

Ying Zheng said softly, "Fusu, it is a blessing for Qin, and for you and me, father and son, that our predecessors were able to glimpse the secrets of heaven. I am the King of Qin, and you are the Prince of Qin. For Qin, we should both give everything."

"But I'm still your father, and you're my son." Ying Zheng sighed, "Fusu, I don't want to see you pushing yourself. No matter what, you can take your time, okay?"

The last time Ying Zheng saw Fusu was five days ago. At that time, he talked about increasing grain production, but today, in addition to agricultural tools, he also handed over pest control, farmland maintenance, and iron smelting methods that were as detailed as dozens of pages.

During these five days, Fusu had to sleep, eat, study, and go to Ying Zheng's palace every day, but he also gave these things to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng was the high and mighty King of Qin. It should have been difficult for him to understand others. Moreover, he spent half of the twelve hours in a day dealing with state affairs and military affairs. He really had no right to say that others were busy.

Of course, if it were his ministers, Ying Zheng really would not be able to understand. On the contrary, he would think that they were indeed very idle and could do with more work.

But Fusu was different. He was the son of Ying Zheng, and these were not things a child should do.

Just as Fusu said to Han Fei, he loved Fusu as much as Fusu loved him.

When the young King Zheng of Qin faced his eldest son, his heart was very soft. He touched his eldest son's head and taught him in a gentle voice: "Things must be done one by one, Fusu, don't be impatient."

Fusu pursed his lips and couldn't hold back his tears: "Father, I'm sorry..."

Ying Zheng didn't expect that he would make his eldest son cry. He was at a loss for a while before he remembered to wipe his eldest son's tears.

It was obviously not practical to wipe tears with a silk sleeve. In the blink of an eye, Fusu had soaked one of his father's sleeves with his tears.

Fortunately, Fusu had a soul over two thousand years old in his young body. He endured and endured, and after soaking his father's other sleeve, Fusu finally held back his tears.

Ying Zheng shook his sleeves helplessly and pinched his eldest son's red nose. "It seems like your father has bullied you, silly boy. Since you are so tired, you are not allowed to do this again in the future, understand?"

Fusu nodded obediently: "I understand, Father. Father is usually busy, and I was so busy writing these things down that I forgot that Father had to worry about each one. I won't do that again in the future."

This was Fusu's negligence. He only thought that this could be done and that could be done, and this needed to be improved and that needed to be improved, but he forgot that he was just writing and drawing, but his father, the King of Qin, had to gather people to practice and discuss with the ministers. Change is not something that can be done overnight. It requires accumulation over time and needs to be done step by step.

Fusu acted too hastily.

Ying Zheng tapped his eldest son's forehead with his fingers and scolded him with a smile, "I see you know nothing! You didn't listen to a single word I said. You're just a little kid, you can't even take care of yourself, yet you're worrying about me first!"

"Father, I really remember it." Fusu almost raised his hand to swear, "It is precisely because I think of your hard work that I remember it."

Ying Zheng laughed and said, "You've been clingy since you were little, but after all these years, you haven't made any progress at all."

"Forget it, just remember it." Ying Zheng tapped Fusu's forehead again. "Let it go this time. If it happens again, your father will punish you by making you copy the laws."

Qin laws were so detailed and complex that copying them all would have been exhausting. Fusu broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it and repeatedly promised his father that he would never make the same mistake again.