Chapter 33 They are all inferior to her
It wasn't until he was roughly pulled aside that Mo Yanyun looked down and belatedly realized why he had just been yelled at.
There was a diagram on the ground where he had just stood; that's where he stepped. Looking further out, Mo Yanyun then noticed that there were many diagrams drawn on the ground in the courtyard.
Some are long, some are wide, and some look like small boards.
Drawing a dragon-bone waterwheel is not difficult. The main thing is to explain the principle clearly, and leave the rest to the craftsmen. Even if it's just a few words and a sketch, a skilled carpenter can bring it to life.
After finishing drawing the bearing at the top, Dai Li stopped. As she turned around, she saw several pairs of bright eyes staring at her.
Dai Li paused slightly, still holding the branch in her hand. She looked at Qin Shaozong, "My lord, if you are busy..."
"No rush, Madam, you can tell me about this dragon bone waterwheel now." Qin Shaozong then called Su Xiuzhu by her courtesy name and instructed, "Qingluo, copy the diagram on the ground."
Dai Li pointed with the tree branch in her hand, "This kind of dragon bone waterwheel is usually one to two zhang long. The lower chain at the end is submerged in the river. As the sprocket is driven from the top, the connecting plates inside the wheel are pushed forward section by section, thus pushing the water upstream against the current."
Pointing to the corresponding parts on the branch, Dai Li said, "It can be driven by hand, foot, or by donkeys and oxen. If this dragon bone waterwheel is driven by human power for a whole day, it can irrigate about five acres of land. If it is driven by oxen, it can be more than twice as effective."
Under the scorching gazes, Dai Li stepped out from the edge and said, "The reason why some places are difficult to cultivate or where the grain harvest is meager is because of the difficulty in obtaining water. If the problem is solved, there will be no worry about the amount of fertile land increasing."
"My lord, this method has great potential!" Feng Feng exclaimed excitedly.
Unlike Yan San and Mo Yanyun, who were backed by the Qin family's affiliated clans, Feng Feng had no background whatsoever; his father was a tenant farmer who tilled the land for powerful families.
Tenant farmers had no private plots of land; they relied on renting land from powerful landlords to cultivate for a living, and were required to pay rent and a portion of their grain income each year.
When the weather is favorable and the heavens are on our side, tenant farmers have a slightly better life. However, if a drought strikes, it can be a matter of life and death. The powerful and wealthy don't care about the weather; they only care about collecting rent.
Unable to come up with the money, they would first take out a loan, which would then accrue interest. Those with daughters would sell them, and those without daughters and money would be reduced to serfs. Unlike tenant farmers in an employment relationship, serfs were slaves, and even if their masters beat, scolded, or even tortured and killed them, they had virtually no recourse.
Feng Feng's parents died in a famine, and he became a refugee when he was half-grown. Just then, the northern barbarians invaded, and Youzhou recruited soldiers. With no other choice, he joined the army.
After that, he risked his life, relying on his physique and cleverness far exceeding that of ordinary soldiers, as well as a bit of luck, and over the years he overcame all obstacles and not only broke into the Xuanxiao Cavalry, but also successfully became the head of the garrison.
Although many years have passed since he began farming, it has never faded from his memory.
Feng Feng could easily imagine how many farmers would benefit if this dragon-bone waterwheel could be brought to every household like the wind.
Dai Li chuckled, “Of course, there is great potential. The dragon bone waterwheels are interconnected, with small pools connecting them in the middle, one link after another. Even on land more than three zhang high, there will be no shortage of water for irrigation.”
"Madam Dai, who came up with this dragon bone waterwheel?" Feng Feng asked hurriedly.
Waterwheels exist today, but they are only used for absorbing water and sprinkling roads to prevent dust from rising and harming health; they have never appeared in the agricultural field.
Dai Li: "An inventor named Ma Jun."
“Ma Jun? I’ve never heard of this person before?” Mo Yanyun frowned.
Feng Feng hurriedly asked, "Madam Dai, where is this person's ancestral home? Where is he now? If such a clever person could come and serve you, our northern lands would surely be greatly enhanced."
Dai Li turned her gaze and, for the first time since finishing the model of the dragon bone waterwheel, met that unusually strong gaze. She saw the darkness and gleam in his eyes, as if she could see a giant tiger in the forest flexing its muscles, about to leap and pounce.
But she knew that no matter how fierce and greedy the tiger appeared, it was only a facade to intimidate.
With a smile curving her red lips, Dai Li said to him, "This gentleman is no longer here. There are other gentlemen, but I think your lord would not like her to serve him."
"How is that possible?"
"Your Excellency has always been respectful to the virtuous and eager to recruit talented individuals. If such a talented person were to join your ranks, Your Excellency would be overjoyed. How could you not be pleased?"
"Exactly."
The four of them chatted amongst themselves, unaware that Qin Shaozong had been silent for quite some time.
Qin Shaozong stared intently at the woman not far away. She stood in the sunlight, her eyelashes seemingly covered with a thick golden light, her dark eyes as bright as mirrors, reflecting the silhouettes of the clouds in the sky and the delicate beauty of the flower buds in the courtyard, every blade of grass and every tree, as if encompassing the entire splendid spring.
Her joy and smugness were undisguised, as if to say: Look, all your subordinates think you're ridiculous.
The air seemed to be filled with that rich, subtle fragrance again, refreshing and incredibly alluring.
For the first time, Qin Shaozong experienced an unusual challenge.
It's not the life-or-death slaughter on the battlefield, nor the bloodless intrigue and backstabbing in officialdom, but a completely new feeling.
It was somewhat like the exhilarating feeling of taming a wild horse, but not quite, because at this moment his thoughts were even more surging than when he tamed the red dragon.
Su Xiuzhu remembered something, "Mr. Nalan should be arriving in Ying County soon. Let him see this dragon bone waterwheel then. By the way, Madam Dai, you mentioned 'other gentlemen'. You could talk to Mr. Nalan about them. He is knowledgeable and has many friends among ambitious people. Perhaps he knows their names. If Mr. Nalan persuades them, the chances of them joining the Lord's ranks will be much greater."
He unconsciously used a respectful term for Dai Li.
Dai Li smiled without saying a word.
*
It is true that Yingjun is in dire need of reconstruction, but the Xuanxiao Cavalry has followed Qin Shaozong in his campaigns for many years, and their core members are already capable of handling problems large and small quickly and reliably.
In just one afternoon, everything was arranged in an orderly manner, including issuing notices to reassure the people, taking over the city's defenses, and filling vacancies in the county's official positions.
As night fell, the mansion was brightly lit, as if it were daytime, and Su Xiuzhu, the professor of military affairs, hosted a grand banquet.
Dai Li attended the event at the invitation, purely for the meal. Now that she had finally entered the city, she naturally didn't need to compromise on the food.
The Xuanxiao Cavalry were very disciplined, and during wartime they strictly prohibited women and alcohol. At the previous bonfire banquet, Dai Li did not see a single wine jar.
But today is different. Jars of wine were moved to the main hall and quickly piled up behind the table at the head of the table and behind the two rows of long tables at the foot of the table. At first glance, it looked like a wall made of wine jars.
Dai Li was just there to freeload a meal, and since she was an unofficial employee, she had no reason to sit at the front of the table at such a banquet, so she consciously sat at the very back.
The people in front were mostly military officers, each with a burly build, and their clothes were all in a dirt-resistant black and gray color scheme, just like Dai Li's. Therefore, when she was hiding her head and blending in among them, her presence was really not high.
Since it was a family banquet, there weren't many formalities. After Qin Shaozong took his seat, he said a few simple words and then raised his glass.
Let us raise our glasses and drink together to celebrate this great victory.
Dinner was served, and everyone ate and drank as they pleased, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
This meal was not as grand as the previous banquet held at the Jiang family mansion, but it still included both hot and cold dishes. To Dai Li's delight, there was also a steamed mandarin fish on the table.
There's a saying, "Deep fields yield fat rabbits, and frost-covered perch are delicious," highlighting the abundance of plump and flavorful perch in autumn. Spring also has its own seasonal fish; the mandarin fish of spring boasts tender flesh and a delicate texture, undoubtedly a delicacy.
Dai Li loves to eat fish, whether steamed or grilled. After tasting the "original flavor" of roasted lamb, she ate the mandarin fish in front of her without even looking up.
Dai Li heard the clear sound of silver bells.
Dai Li raised her eyelashes, and a series of brightly colored garments caught her eye. In the hall filled with the aroma of wine, as if a spring breeze had blown in, a more alluring fragrance of cosmetics had been added.
On the jade wall inlaid with pearls, the graceful and ethereal dance of a beautiful woman is faintly reflected. The veiled dancers, dressed in their upper and lower garments, turn and flick their sleeves, causing their extremely short garments to ride up even higher, revealing glimpses of their slender, white waists.
Dai Li has been to many performances in person. She still remembers when her college roommate was cheated on by her boyfriend. In a fit of anger, he invited the whole dorm to fly to Pattaya to play with male models.
As for the level of exposure, it was much greater than the current trend of dancing with exposed waists.
However, Dai Li still glanced at it a few more times with an appreciative look, after all, putting aside the overly short costume, this was pure classical dance.
After several rounds of drinks, many military officers left their seats and no longer remained in one place. Some of them carried wine jars in one hand and cups in the other, searching the room for their comrades to drink with.
Many people left their seats, and Mo Yanyun was no exception. He was even bolder, plopping down on the steps leading to the head of the table. Similarly, he had both a wine jar and a wine cup in his hand, drinking and talking to Qin Shaozong at the head of the table.
He had been talking to himself for quite a while.
"My lord, I didn't expect that Li Zan, who is not very capable, would have such a good eye for women." Mo Yanyun's eyes were almost glued to the dancers below.
These dancers were originally kept in the mansion, and in order to keep more concubines, the villa was being expanded and renovated. However, before the project was completed, Li Zan had no choice but to pack his bags and flee.
There was no response from the person at the head of the table, so Mo Yanyun continued, "My lord, what do you think of the lady at the head of the table? She has fair skin, slender fingers, and a graceful figure. Although we can't see her face clearly yet, she has been in the lead dance position, so she must have something special about her."
There was still no response.
Mo Yanyun didn't mind and continued, "That girl with the little fish flower decoration on her forehead is also very nice. She has peach blossoms in her hair and has a pair of peach blossom eyes that are bright and beautiful, which complement the peach blossoms in her hair perfectly."
I thought it was another case of nothing happening, but this time there was a response.
"That's all there is to it."
Mo Yanyun subconsciously turned his head and saw that his superior's expression was indifferent and even somewhat contemptuous. He was immediately taken aback. Emboldened by alcohol, he couldn't help but ask, "This is nothing special? Then what do you consider to be beautiful?"
Qin Shaozong didn't respond to his words, but was internally judging what had just happened.
The red flower ornament made her brows look dignified and elegant, but here it seemed deliberate and vulgar. And the way it twirled around, with the peach blossom in her hair about to fall off, what beauty was there in that?
Those peach blossom eyes are too small, the whites of the eyes are slightly cloudy, and the shape of the eyes is not perfect. No matter what it is, they are not dazzling.
As for what constitutes beauty?
A truly beautiful woman has a face like jade, naturally beautiful without any adornment. That is true elegance and charm.
Qin Shaozong's gaze shifted back to his right rear, where he saw that the woman who had been engrossed in eating fish had stopped eating and was now watching the singing and dancing in the hall.
Look at the upturned corners of her mouth; she seems quite satisfied.
If they can enjoy the show so much even from the back seat, imagine how much more engrossed they would be if they were seated at the front! They wouldn't even need to eat fish; they could just watch the songs and dances to their hearts' content.
Dai Li suddenly noticed a familiar gaze coming from the person at the head of the table. It was intense, with a strong presence, and as domineering as he was. She turned her head to look at him, not only without avoiding him, but also picked up the wine cup on the table and raised it to him with a smile.
Regardless, this is a victory celebration banquet. She came to eat at the host's house and even caught a glimpse of him, so she should at least offer some congratulations.
Now that Dai Li is genuinely happy, there are many beautiful dancers in the mansion, and plenty of them are willing to serve him. He doesn't need to focus solely on her anymore.
Qin Shaozong, sitting at the head of the table, saw her smiling as she raised her cup. Her bright eyes were captivating, and the crimson dot between her brows was strikingly beautiful. Although she was wearing a drab gray dress, it was as if her whole body was bathed in a layer of lustrous pearly light. She was beautiful, plump, languid, and mature, like a delicate peony in full bloom.
The man's calloused thumb flicked the ear cup in his palm. The long-necked, open ear cup spun in his hand, then was suddenly gripped tightly by his large hand, unable to move an inch.
A drop or two of wine spilled from the glass and landed on Qin Shaozong's slightly darker-skinned hand, but it didn't attract the host's attention.
It would be impolite to just raise a glass without drinking. Since Dai Li was a little thirsty, she took the opportunity to drink the wine in her glass.
This was the first time she had tasted wine from this era, and Dai Li could tell the difference as soon as it entered her mouth.
It is brewed from yellow millet, also known as millet wine.
Because millet has a relatively high yield, it is very popular among the people, and millet wine has become one of the most popular alcoholic beverages today. Millet wine has the effects of stimulating appetite and digestion, nourishing the liver and kidneys, and drinking it in moderation is good for your health.
Dai Li took a sip, savored it, and found it quite good, so she took another sip.
Before she knew it, the wine cup was empty. Beside it was a small wine pot, which the servants had brought along with the meal, but Dai Li hadn't used it before. Now that the cup was empty, she picked up the wine pot and poured herself some more wine.
The pale yellow wine flowed from the pot, and under the light of the pearls on the wall, it shone with a jewel-like brilliance, like a ribbon made of crystal.
With the millet wine to aid digestion, Dai Li finished the mandarin fish on the table, and even used her jade chopsticks to move the fish head so that it was connected to the jagged fish bones that had no meat left.
The wine jug was empty, the bowl of rice served with glutinous rice was finished, and the mandarin fish was all gone. Having eaten and drunk her fill, Dai Li put down her chopsticks, rose, and left the increasingly unrestrained main hall.
"My lord, which do you prefer, the one in red or the one in pale yellow? You choose one, and I'll take the rest." Mo Yanyun looked around and thought that the dancers in red and pale yellow were the most eye-catching.
Since leaving Yuyang and embarking on their march to punish the salt smugglers, they hadn't touched a woman. They had had an opportunity at Jiang Chonghai's residence, but the Marquis devised a plan, and naturally, the greater good came first.
Now that we've taken Yingjun, we can finally relax, so of course we have to hurry.
Moreover, the dancers in the hall were not ugly; on the contrary, he thought several of them were quite pretty, like ladies in paintings.
After asking his question, Mo Yanyun eagerly awaited his superior's reply, but then he heard a "click" sound.
The ear cup was placed on the table. Under Mo Yanyun's stunned gaze, Qin Shaozong rose from the head of the table, leaving only the words "Do as you please" before walking into the side corridor.
He was quite tall, and disappeared in just a few moments.
Mo Yanyun was dumbfounded.
As you please?
Is this...is this all for him? Is there really such a good thing? Is it true?
Unable to make up his mind, Mo Yanyun walked up to Yan San with the wine jar in his arms and whispered, "Brother, I have a question for you. Can you analyze it for me?"
Then he poured out everything that had just happened.
With Yingjun captured, Yan San was in a good mood and said a few more words than usual, "It means exactly what it says, do as you please."
Mo Yanyun muttered, "The literal meaning? That's not right. I saw that Lord Junhou was almost bursting with anger earlier, his eyes were all glowing green. There's no reason he wouldn't want it!"
Upon hearing this, Yan San stood up, took two steps back, and turned his head to look to the left. He was sitting in the lower right row, in the same row as Dai Li, with many people between them. If he simply sat in his seat and turned his head, he could not see the row behind him in the same straight line.
"Madam Dai has left," Yan San said.
Mo Yanyun didn't understand, "What does this have to do with Madam Dai?"
Lady Dai now holds a rather special position in their army. While she may be considered a concubine of the Marquis, nothing has actually happened between them. Furthermore, she has made significant contributions to Old Qiao and the Dragon Bone Waterwheel, setting her apart from ordinary women.
If you were to say she was a staff member, that wouldn't be the case. The Xuanxiao Cavalry has never had any female staff members, and given the Lord's determination to have her, there's absolutely no way she could be a staff member.
Lady Dai may not be able to eat for the time being, but the other ladies are fine. There are so many dancers in the hall, each one as beautiful as a flower. Why should Your Excellency treat yourself so poorly?
Yan San looked away, too lazy to explain to this prodigal son. "Anyway, do as you please."
"Yan San, please explain it to me again. I really can't figure it out no matter how hard I try." Mo Yanyun simply sat down next to him.
Yan San said indifferently, "Anyway, your head is useless, so let it break."
"Hey, why do you keep imitating the way the Lord speaks?"
*
After leaving the banquet, Dai Li intended to return to her room to rest, but she accidentally took the wrong turn. By the time she realized something was wrong, she had already turned left and right several times and now had no idea where she was.
Just as she was about to ask someone, Dai Li suddenly saw a dark shadow rise up from beside her feet, then grow taller like a mountain, wider and thicker than the shadow that belonged to her, with a somewhat intimidating pressure.
In the blink of an eye, the dark figure had already climbed to the waist of her shadow.
Dai Li's pupils trembled slightly, and she quickly turned around to look back.
The long corridor was luxurious, with sculpted candlesticks placed at intervals. Tonight, the mansion was hosting a banquet for guests, and the candlesticks were being used in a rare manner.
On this moonless night, all the light came from the not-so-bright candlelight in two sculpted candlesticks not far away.
At this moment, between the two candlesticks, on the path she had walked on her way here, a tall figure stepped forward.
As the night breeze blew by, Dai Li caught a strong smell of alcohol. Perhaps it was because no one was around, or perhaps it was because the night was too dark, or perhaps it was some other indescribable feeling, but at this moment, Dai Li felt inexplicably uneasy.
Author's Note: Su Xiuzhu, courtesy name "Qingluo", is the exclusive civil official of the Xuanxiao Cavalry.
Qin Shaozong has never been one to play by the rules. (By the way, this story is highlighted: [Clever and forceful acquisition] [Heart][Heart][Heart])
To address everyone's questions: I carefully reviewed Dengdeng's previous book before starting this one, and I think the pacing is slightly better. Don't worry about any of the issues in the comments; it won't drag, and everything will unfold and be resolved naturally. [heart emoji]
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