Xie Yuan drew up the blueprints and found craftsmen to make them.
She valued craftsmen highly, so after arriving in Yuezhou, she intended to recruit all kinds of artisans.
Lingnan was a wild and undeveloped land, yet it also produced many talented people.
Every year, various criminals were exiled to Lingnan, including artisans who had broken taboos or were implicated in others' crimes.
Carpenters, stonemasons, blacksmiths... Xie Yuan would hire them all with high salaries as long as they had good skills.
Craftsmen were considered lowly in social status during the Great Zhou Dynasty.
But with Xie Yuan, they were indeed technical talents and received great respect from him.
Basic salary, performance bonus, various benefits, preferential treatment for family members, and invention awards.
The artisans were illiterate and could not utter the phrase "A scholar will die for one who understands him."
But they all knew very well that since the princess had promoted them and given them important positions, they had to do everything in their power to repay her.
Loyalty is paramount, and the second is to work tirelessly and never betray the Queen's high regard.
So, after receiving the blueprints from Xie Yuan and hearing his requirements, the carpenters got to work without saying a word.
A day later, Xie Yuan saw a complete curved plow.
"Your Highness, I know you dislike these mundane affairs, but this matter concerns the nation's welfare and the people's livelihood, so I would still like to ask you to take a look!"
Xie Yuan handed the curved plow to several reliable tenant farmers and asked them to try it out in the fields.
It is indeed better than a straight-shafted plow, saving both time and effort.
They don't even need to use animal power; they can easily plow the land using only human power.
With a real case in hand, Xie Yuan felt more confident and decided to tell Helian Jue about it.
Xie Yuan knew very well that the curved plow was of great importance, and if he wanted to exchange it for greater benefits, he still had to rely on His Highness the Prince of Yue.
Helian Jue: ...I am somewhat tempted, but he really can't take the lead in this matter.
However, it's still worth a try!
"The national economy and people's livelihood? I'm just a deposed crown prince, exiled to Lingnan. What do I have to care about the national economy and people's livelihood?"
Helian Jue deliberately feigned disdain.
Xie Yuan pursed her lips; in fact, she was also somewhat hesitant.
If Yuezhou didn't have someone like Cui Boyong who kept a close eye on the Prince's residence, the matter of Qu Yuanli wouldn't have needed to be reported.
After all, the emperor is far away, and even if the entire Lingnan region uses curved plows, the capital city will not know.
However, there was a Cui Boyong who would pay close attention to any disturbance in the Yue Prince's mansion.
The secret of the curved plow could not be kept forever.
Since it will be discovered sooner or later, it's better to report it to the imperial court proactively, which may bring some benefits to the Prince of Yue's mansion.
Just like the horseshoes last time.
On the surface, Xie Yuan only received eight hundred sets of military equipment and two hundred warhorses.
But in private transactions, Helian Jue would never suffer a loss!
"Zhou Wencheng! Oh, right, and Zhou Wencheng too! He's the chief secretary of the Prince's residence. If there's anything the Prince's residence needs, you can go to him!"
Helian Jue looked impatient and rambled on as if he were talking nonsense.
Xie Yuan's eyes lit up. That's right, there's also Zhou Wencheng!
He was the chief secretary appointed by the imperial court to the Prince of Yue's residence; nominally, he was an official under the Prince of Yue's residence.
However, he also had the responsibility of monitoring the King of Yue.
Xie Yuan suspected that Zhou Wencheng had the right to write secret memorials to the emperor!
"Yes, I understand!"
Xie Yuan understood Helian Jue's implication and turned to go find Zhou Wencheng.
Watching Xie Yuan leave, Helian Jue stared blankly at his wine cup, unaware that he had spilled wine all over himself.
"A curved-shaft plow? It can save half the manpower or animal power?"
Zhou Wencheng was a scholar with traditional Confucian values—family, country, and the world; loyalty to the emperor and love for the people!
Upon hearing about something important concerning agriculture, Zhou Wencheng immediately perked up.
“That’s right! It’s right here on my estate. Chief Clerk Zhou can go and see for himself!”
Xie Yuan said frankly.
Her meaning was very clear: whether it's true or false, you can tell at a glance!
"Very well! Then, this humble subject will trouble Your Highness the Princess!"
Zhou Wencheng dared not delay for a moment and hurriedly followed Xie Yuan to the estate.
Xie Yuan then had the tenant farmer demonstrate it again on the spot.
Zhou Wencheng was overjoyed.
He lifted his shirt, jumped down from the ridge, snatched the curved plow from the tenant farmer, and tried to operate it himself.
Zhou Wencheng came from a poor family and worked in the fields when he was young.
More than 20 years later, although I was a little rusty, I quickly got the hang of it.
He pushed the curved plow back and forth, sweat beading on his forehead, but he still refused to let go.
He became increasingly excited—
"Haha, this is indeed excellent!"
It saves time and effort, and also saves animal power.
"Your Highness, you just said that this thing is called a curved plow?"
Zhou Wencheng finally crawled out of the field, and without bothering to brush the mud off his body, he excitedly asked Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan glanced at Zhou Wencheng, a sudden inspiration striking her, and tentatively said, "This princess was merely speaking casually. Such a divine artifact should be named by the sage!"
A smile flashed in Zhou Wencheng's eyes.
He was right; Princess Xie was indeed a wise woman.
Alas, what a pity! Her parents were long forgotten, and she was married off to the deposed crown prince by her unscrupulous uncle.
From the capital to Yuezhou, Zhou Wencheng witnessed all of the deposed crown prince Helian Jue's actions.
This former crown prince seems to have been devastated by his deposition.
He didn't concern himself with anything about the affairs of the Prince's residence, leaving everything to the Princess Consort of Yue.
Those unaware of the truth might mistakenly believe that Xie was ambitious and that hens were crowing at dawn.
In reality, Helian Jue was listless and addicted to alcohol, so Xie had to take his place in public.
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