Chapter 54
Return to the East Palace.
Liu Ju rested for a night, and the next day he took out the bamboo slips and began to write and draw, frowning and pursing his lips from time to time.
While sorting through the soaps and other items, he discovered something else that was even more useful and significant, but unfortunately contained very little information. This troubled Liu Ju greatly.
——What is this saying, such a painful mask?
He recognized a few characters, probably related to farm tools. This kid finally remembered farm tools. Ancient times were an agricultural society, where agriculture was the foundation. Even without improved seeds, improving production tools would help increase productivity. He ended up making a ton of military equipment, even glass, but no farm tools. I was so worried I wanted to get inside and wake him up.
The corners of Liu Ju's mouth twitched.
How could he not know that agriculture was the foundation of the Han Dynasty and that it was of paramount importance? How could he not know that agricultural tools were more important than glass?
Why didn't he do it? Was it because he didn't want to? Or was it because he couldn't!
If you can speak up, if you can provide some information, please do so. The "ladder" in his head is so high, he's been climbing it for over a year, and he's come up with a ton of random stuff, but there's barely a single sentence related to agricultural machinery. It's useless!
It's infuriating just thinking about it. Liu Ju's mask of pain is even worse.
—Tsk, this kid doesn't know anything about farm tools, right? He's been writing for ages and still can't make any sense. Oh my god, you can make so many things, but you don't know anything about farm tools? Are you so partial to one subject?
Liu Ju: ...
He put down his pen in frustration and called Feng He over. "It's been a few months since I issued the order to search for outstanding craftsmen in all regions. Has there been any progress?"
"I haven't heard of any reports from any place. Your Highness, please wait a little longer. Our Han Dynasty has a vast territory, and searching for talent is not easy. It will take time."
Liu Ju frowned, feeling unhappy.
—Alas, in ancient times, transportation and communication were difficult, so finding people had to rely entirely on manual search, which was indeed slow. There was no way around it. Just getting the decree across the country took a long time. Then there was the arduous task of searching through the vast sea of people, like a fly in the sky, without a precise target or even a clear direction. If you knew who could do it, their name, and where they were registered, then it would be easy.
—Clear goals? Were there any famous agronomists during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han? I remember there was a method called "Daitian" (daitian shū shū), which seems to have been proposed by someone during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. It's said to have directly increased agricultural output by a quarter. What was this person's name?
—Yes, Daita Law, I learned about it in middle school history. But the name… forgive me for being such a poor student, I forgot it too.
—I'm so impressed by you old fools. Zhao Guo! Is Zhao Guo so obscure? I can't even remember all of them. Not only did he propose the method of replacing fields, he also invented the plow. But I think he was a figure towards the end of Emperor Wu's reign. Calculating the time, I don't even know if he's even born now. Even if he is, he's probably still a child.
Liu Ju, concentrating on the comments and preparing to write them down for someone to look for them by name, said:
What the hell are you talking about! What's the point of me having a child?
But he still had to write it down. It might be useful in a decade or so. He could wait!
But we can't just wait. Who says that there are no other capable people in the Han Dynasty besides Zhao Guo?
Liu Ju decided that if the barrage of comments was unreliable, he would rely on himself. He pondered and thought that since the local officials could not be found at the moment, he would find a way to make them appear on their own.
Liu Ju rolled his eyes and decided to do something big.
The next day, notices were posted all over the gates of Chang'an and the streets of the mausoleum towns. Idle people in the streets and alleys beat gongs and drums, repeating the notices word by word, spreading the word to the illiterate.
The central idea is that the prince holds a craftsmanship competition and invites all the masters in the world to come to Chang'an to compete.
Regardless of identity or status; those with exquisite craftsmanship and novel ideas are welcome.
The competition is divided into two parts, the preliminary round and the semi-final.
Each person only needs to submit one work in the preliminary round, and the form of the work is free.
The Crown Prince will have his subordinates review all the entries, grading them based on the level of craftsmanship and completeness, and the ingenuity and practicality of the designs. Those who pass will advance to the next round of the semi-finals.
The rematch was set by the prince and the design and production lasted for seven days.
The prince also decided to set up the Gewu Division under the prince's office. Those who performed well in the rematch would receive gold and silver rewards. If they were willing, they could also join the Gewu Division and serve the prince, receiving a fixed salary every month.
There is no limit to the number of outstanding candidates. In addition, the top three will be selected and given an additional honor, and they can ask the prince for one thing.
Of course, this matter cannot be mentioned casually, but as long as it is not excessive, does not violate the laws of the Han Dynasty, and does not violate the principles of chivalry, the prince will agree.
The propaganda was massive. From Chang'an to the local areas, notices covered the walls and gongs and drums were everywhere. The news quickly spread throughout the court and the country, attracting a large number of attention and sparking heated discussions on the streets.
********
Changling Town. Gongshu Prefecture.
The light was dim, and on the desk was a notice for someone to copy. Gongshu Dalang pondered for a long time before finally standing up and going out. He walked to Gongshu Xing's study and knocked on the door.
Entering the room, Gongshu Xing sat quietly at the head of the table, a hint of a smile on his face. "You've arrived later than I expected. It seems you've been thinking for a long time."
Gongshu Dalang paused, then he realized that there were no bamboo slips or anything else on Gongshu Xing's desk, only a pot of tea. It was obvious that he was not handling business or looking up information in books, but was waiting for him.
A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and Gongshu Dalang bowed respectfully: "Uncle."
Gongshu Xing raised his eyes and asked, "Have you thought it through?"
"Yes, I've thought it through. My nephew plans to participate in the craftsmanship competition held by the prince."
Gongshu Xing didn't say yes or no, but simply asked, "Do you know the Crown Prince's purpose for holding this competition? Do you know what kind of talent he wants to select?"
"I can roughly guess. Your Highness has created many new things in the past two years. A few months ago, when he was appointed Crown Prince, the first decree he issued was to recruit outstanding craftsmen from all prefectures, counties and kingdoms.
“Those skilled in meticulous carving and with superb skills are rare in the world, but there are some. However, my nephew believes that what the Crown Prince truly desires, or what he values more, is not craftsmanship, but design and innovation.
“Otherwise, they wouldn’t have specifically stated this in the notice and emphasized its practicality.”
Gongshu Xing nodded, "Indeed. No matter how refined one's skills are, even if one can make ordinary objects appear lifelike and real, it is still a minor art.
"The key is to be good at thinking, combining innovation with practicality, and making it useful to the country and the people.
"We Gongshu family children have been holding inkwells since we were able to hold dishes and chopsticks. When it comes to handyman skills, few can match us. However, 'cleverness' is a matter of natural talent, not family background. Sometimes it's just a flash of inspiration, and it can't be forced."
Gongshu Dalang understood the hidden meaning behind his words: "Uncle is trying to tell me that there are always people better than you. No matter how skilled we are, we may not be the best or surpass others. We must not think too highly of ourselves, become arrogant, or underestimate our opponents, no matter who they are."
"I'm relieved that you understand this." Gongshu Xing felt relieved when he heard him say this. "If Erlang were half as good as you, I'd have no more worries..."
The rest of the words were left unsaid, turning into a sigh.
Just an hour ago, Gongshu Erlang had also come to the study, also expressing his desire to enter the craftsmanship competition. However, his attitude and tone perfectly demonstrated his high aspirations, as if he simply had to participate, and if not first place, his name would definitely be in the top three.
How could Gongshu Xing agree to such a temper? He became furious and scolded him and drove him out.
Looking at Gongshu Dalang again, Gongshu Xing finally found some comfort and felt much calmer.
"Of you three brothers, Erlang is arrogant and impulsive; Sanlang..."
Gongshu Xing paused and said that he felt very disappointed with his two useless nephews.
Gongshu Dalang comforted him, "Second brother is still young, so it's inevitable that he's a little frivolous. Everything will be fine when he grows up and becomes sensible. As for third brother... he's smart."
"It's true he has some cleverness, but it's a blessing if used properly. Using it the wrong way can be a disaster." Shu Xing shook his head, sighing, and looked at Da Lang. "Fortunately, I still have you. You're the calmest and the one I trust the most. The future of the Gongshu family depends on you."
Gongshu Xing's tone was full of emotion and expectation. Gongshu Dalang straightened his back unconsciously, feeling that the responsibility he was carrying was even heavier.
The Gongshu family had been in decline until now, and their descendants had died out. Of their father's generation, only their uncle had achieved some success, and of this generation, only the three brothers had any talent; the rest were mediocre.
My uncle is getting older and will eventually retire. If no one takes over, Gongshu Jia's future will be even more difficult.
Gongshu Dalang subconsciously clenched his fists and secretly made up his mind not to slack off.
Sensing his nervousness, Gongshu Xing said, "Success or failure is important, but your character is even more important. Just give it your all, even if you lose, it doesn't matter."
"Uncle does have high hopes for you, but he doesn't want you to be trapped by them. Remember, just because you're a descendant of Lu Ban doesn't guarantee you'll be like him. Even if you can't recreate the glory of your ancestors, don't be too hard on yourself.
"The title of Gongshu's disciple should be an honor to you, not a shackle. If this fails and you are not selected as the Crown Prince's disciple, do not be discouraged. You are still young and have a chance. Learn from your mistakes, gain experience, and work hard in the future.
"Uncle, if General Ruo Lu still has some power, it won't be difficult to get you back in. So just do your best, don't worry about anything, and don't put too much pressure on yourself.
"As for the remaining matters you have with Ruolu, they are not important. Your uncle will help you deal with them."
Gongshu Dalang was stunned, his nose felt slightly sore and his eyes became warm.
He suppressed his emotions and bowed: "Thank you, uncle."
Gongshu Xing smiled. "Go back. Think carefully about what you can make to sign up for the preliminary round. You and I both know that the preliminary round is not difficult. The second round, where the questions are set by the Crown Prince himself, is the most important. But even so, you must be attentive in the preliminary round and not be careless."
"Nephew understands." Dalang asked hesitantly, "Does your uncle have any other instructions?"
Gongshu Xing thought for a moment and said, "There is one thing, and that is Baishan. Your Highness has entrusted Baishan with the responsibility of this competition. He was originally your junior fellow student, and now he is the examiner of the competition. You need to adjust your mindset."
Dalang accepted this well: "My nephew knows. Baishan's current situation is his chance. If we miss this opportunity, we must admit it.
"He has served His Highness for over a year and has already occupied a certain position in His Highness's heart. Even if I rank high in the competition, I'm afraid I won't be able to surpass him.
"But we are from the same school. He is not ungrateful and will not make things difficult for me. In the future, we can help each other and work together harmoniously."
Gongshu Xing's smile deepened: "I knew you were clear-minded, but it's useless to ask such advice."
Of course, Dalang also had other concerns, and he hesitated, "But what are your plans, uncle, for my second and third brothers?"
These two also wanted to go. Gongshu Xing frowned: "The second brother has a bad temper, I plan to suppress him. As for the third brother, let's wait."
This means that no one is allowed to go.
Dalang wanted to say a few words for his younger brother, but thinking of Erlang's temper and the fact that he had always been dissatisfied with Baishan, he was afraid that Erlang would quarrel with Baishan during the competition. Sanlang was too close to Erlang and they often got into trouble together, so he finally kept silent.
********
Outside Chang'an. Jizhou, a certain countryside.
A man in his twenties, who had just finished working in the fields, was walking home along the ridge carrying his farm tools. On the way, he met a few neighbors and they greeted each other familiarly.
"Zhao Guo, are you busy so late again today?"
Zhao Guo smiled and nodded: "Yes."
Someone else said, "Have you heard about the government announcement? The Crown Prince is holding a craftsmanship competition. Regardless of social status, anyone with the necessary skills can sign up to participate."
"I see you always like to sit in the yard and tinker with these things, even tinkering with the farm tools at home. Do you want to give it a try?"
Zhao Guo waved his hands repeatedly: "I'm not tinkering with it, I'm just thinking about it when I have nothing to do."
The man sneered, "You still say no? In the past few months, you've been hammering and digging in the yard every day. Since you like it so much, why not give it a try?"
Someone else pulled him aside, "Don't give me such a bad idea. Going to Chang'an is free, right? It would be nice if the Crown Prince really caught his eye. But the Crown Prince wants skilled craftsmen. We've been digging for food in the dirt for generations, so how could we possibly understand that? Even if we managed to make something, it would be crude and unsophisticated. No nobleman, let alone the Crown Prince, would be impressed."
The man in front was unhappy: "I just said it casually, how can it be considered a bad idea? How do you know that others can't do it? Maybe Zhao Guo will be lucky enough to soar to the sky. Zhao Guo, if you really soar to the sky, don't forget our fellow villagers."
It didn't make much sense when you first heard it, but the tone and expression didn't sound like a "well-intentioned" suggestion, but it wasn't malicious either. It was just a joke, and no one took it seriously, nor did they think he could succeed.
Zhao Guo was neither happy nor angry, he still smiled, did not answer, and went straight home.
The people behind him were talking, "I don't know what Zhao Guo is thinking. Isn't it good for people like us to just quietly farm the land? He just tinkers around all day, either with the fields or with the farm tools. It's been so long, and we haven't seen him come up with anything remarkable. Why bother?"
"I heard he recently dismantled his farm tools and rebuilt them. He even had a blacksmith make new plow blades. They're all really weird and must have cost a fortune. If he'd used all that money on meat and noodles, I wonder how many meals he could have eaten. And I looked at his new farm tools. Others have one leg, but he has three. Is it true that more legs mean better? Why not seventy or eighty?"
"I don't know if the farm tools are good, but I know he's definitely not very smart, otherwise he wouldn't have picked up an orphan girl to marry. Not only is the scar on her face scary, but she's also very sickly. She hasn't had a child for him in years, and all our family savings have been spent on medical treatment and medicine."
"Hey, this Zhao Guo, I don't know what to say about him."
…
While the neighbors were gossiping on this side, Zhao Guo had already entered the house on the other side.
The farmhouse was simple, but immaculately kept. Tables and chairs were placed in the courtyard, along with clay pots neatly arranged. Near the door stood a farm implement, a distinctive shape with three legs. It was the new one the neighbors had been talking about.
As Zhao Guo passed by, he couldn't help but touch the farm tools, which were already straight. He straightened them a little. Stepping into the house, he saw a woman in her twenties setting the table. Seeing Zhao Guo, a smile instantly appeared on her face. "You're back. The food is just ready. Come and eat."
“Hey.”
Zhao Guo readily agreed, and sat down across from the woman, and the couple ate together. Their meal was oatmeal porridge, and their vegetable was cabbage grown in their own fields, but the woman's cooking was quite tasty, and the two of them ate with great delight, sharing a portion.
After finishing the meal, Zhao Guo held down the woman who wanted to get up and said, "Let me do it. You take a rest."
The woman didn't fight with him, so Zhao Guo took the dishes out to wash them and put them in the kitchen. When he came back, he saw the woman packing her bag. Zhao Guo was stunned: "Wanyi, what are you doing..."
Wang Wanyi chuckled, "Of course, I'm packing my luggage for you, my dear, so that you can travel to Chang'an."
Journey to Chang'an...
Zhao Guo frowned slightly: "Did you know about the craftsmanship competition?"
"The government sends people every day beating drums and gongs, going from street to street to announce the news. Everyone in the village knows about it, so how could I not know? I've seen you these past few days, deep in thought with your three-legged plow. Do you want to give it a try?"
Zhao Guo opened his mouth, not knowing how to answer.
Of course he wanted to try it. But some things couldn't be done just by thinking about it. Zhao Guo was very hesitant.
Wang Wanyi naturally understood his concerns and didn't give him a chance to refuse. She directly stuffed a bag of silver into his hand and said, "My dear, if you want to go, then go. This opportunity is rare. If you miss this one, there may not be another. My dear, don't let yourself regret it."
Zhao Guo was very surprised: "So much money? Where did this...come from? Did you sell your jewelry?"
Wang Wanyi was a girl from a good family in her early years. Her family was not rich, but they had some assets. Later, they suffered a disaster. She survived and lost all her family wealth, but at least she left behind some hairpins, rings, jewelry and other things.
Since the family made new farm tools, they had no extra money. Where did this money come from? Zhao Guo knew it immediately and became anxious: "That is the only thing left in your family, your only remaining assets and your last wish.
"You are not in good health and will need medical treatment and medicine in the future. You should not move unless it is absolutely necessary. I will redeem you from whomever you pawned it to."
"My dear, it will cost a lot of money to redeem it. It's not worth it."
In pawning, you can't redeem the same amount as you pawned it. Pawning ten and redeeming thirteen is definitely not a good deal.
Zhao Guo realized this and felt a pang of pain at the thought of wasting a large sum of money in vain. He was unwilling to do so and could only push the money back: "Then keep it. You can use it to buy medicine in the future."
Wang Wanyi shook her head: "My dear, this opportunity is rare. If you miss this one, there may not be another."
Zhao Guo understood this principle, but he refused to do so.
Wang Wanyi sighed softly, "I know my husband is worried about my health. I'm afraid that if I use this money now, I won't have anything to rely on if my condition gets worse.
"But my dear, you must understand that there are priorities. I'm still in good health, so I don't need it for now, but you urgently need it.
"My dear, there's no need to feel that this is my property and feel burdened. Husband and wife are one. What's yours is mine, and what's mine is yours. What's more..."
She tilted her head, coughed twice, and said with a smile, "My dear, think about it. If you can succeed, the reward from the Crown Prince alone will be many times more than this money. Are you still worried about not being able to earn it back? Besides, the top three in the competition can even make a request to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Make a request?
Zhao Guo was stunned for a moment, then thought of something and his face lit up with joy: "Yes. If you can make it into the top three, you can ask the Crown Prince to help you get the palace physician to treat you. Ordinary doctors can't cure you, but the palace physician is highly skilled and will definitely be able to."
Then he hesitated again: "It's just the top three... There are so many skilled craftsmen in the world, how can I... How can I get the top three? Wanyi, you trust me so much, if I can't..."
"So what?" Wang Wanyi interrupted him. "I believe in you, my dear, but you don't believe in yourself? You don't want to stand out, don't want to be appreciated, don't want to be a disciple of the Crown Prince?
"The villagers are ignorant and don't understand Langjun. They often make fun of him. But I know that Langjun is different from them, and different from many other farmers. They spend their lives in mediocrity, just trying to make ends meet.
"My dear, you have a deep mind, thinking of the people of the world. You are always looking for ways to increase farmland production. To this end, you constantly try to improve farm tools and farming methods.
"But we are weak, our family has few acres, and money is scarce. Many of your ideas are constrained by this and cannot progress. If you have the Crown Prince's support, wouldn't it be much easier for you? If you can succeed, it will benefit both the country and the people."
These words touched Zhao Guo's heart. This was indeed the direction he had been working towards for many years and his lifelong wish. He looked solemn, unable to hide his longing.
"As for my husband's concern that he might not be selected and might return empty-handed, I believe that success or failure is something we must try to know. Even if it doesn't work out, when he returns, we can continue as usual. You can till the fields, and I can weave. With a united mind, we can always live a good life."
Wang Wanyi was calm and composed, with a smile on her face, as if this was no big deal.
Zhao Guo's heart was filled with mixed emotions. After struggling for a long time, he took the purse with trembling hands and said, "Okay. I'll go. Let's go together."
Go together?
Wang Wanyi's expression flickered.
Zhao Guo's eyes lit up. "Come with me. I can't leave you at home alone. If I can make it into the top three, I can have the imperial physician see you directly."
"Those who don't make the top three, as long as they perform outstandingly, can enter the Gewu Division, receive a monthly salary, and serve the Crown Prince. We'll rent a small house to live in, and I'll work hard. I'll always have the opportunity to ask for a favor for you."
"Even though I can't even get into the Gewusi, Chang'an is the capital after all, where the best doctors from all walks of life gather. Even folk doctors are better than us. Maybe we can find one that can help you with your condition.
"Blame me, I should have done this earlier. Wanyi, let's go to Chang'an together."
Chang'an...
Her enemy is in Chang'an.
Wang Wanyi pursed her lips, her eyelashes trembled, her eyes were red, and her gaze was filled with resentment. Her chest was burning with anger, and her blood was boiling. Perhaps because her emotions were too great, her already weak body became even more uncomfortable, and she couldn't help coughing and gasping for a while.
Zhao Guo hurriedly poured her some water to soothe her back. Wang Wanyi tried to calm herself down, and finally, she looked up with a normal expression, "It's okay, my dear, don't worry."
"My dear, you've seen that I'm not in good health. The registration deadline for the Crown Prince's preliminary round is only one month away, and the journey is long. How can I travel such a long distance to accompany you?"
Seeing Zhao Guo opening his mouth to persuade her again, Wang Wanyi said, "Why don't you go first? If you can become the prince's disciple, you can send someone to send a message to pick me up.
"I won't have to worry then. With the money the Crown Prince will give me, I can buy servants, clothes, and food. Traveling slowly along the way won't that be better than sleeping in the open with my husband?"
Hearing this, Zhao Guo had no choice but to give up.
Wang Wanyi's lips moved, and after hesitating for several times, she grabbed Zhao Guo's hand and said, "I just hope my husband will promise me one thing. It's rare for a prince to promise. If my husband is really lucky enough to make it into the top three, this request should not be made casually. What is the request? We can discuss it later, okay?"
Zhao Guo paused: "Don't you want to ask for help from the doctor?"
Wang Wanyi's eyelashes trembled for a moment, but she didn't answer yes or no. Instead, she asked, "If I tell you that I have something I want more, would you be willing to fulfill it?"
"What do you want? What could be more important than your body?"
Zhao Guo didn't understand and was very confused.
Wang Wanyi didn't seem to want to talk any more. "My dear, you haven't set off yet, the competition hasn't even started, and the outcome is uncertain. It's too early to talk about this. Why don't we wait until the dust settles before we talk? Okay?"
Although he didn't know what she was thinking, her words left a lot of room for negotiation and maneuver. Zhao Guo didn't want to argue with her and make her unhappy, so he didn't insist and nodded in agreement.
Wang Wanyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Guoyan said, "I'll chop some more firewood for you these few days, and ask my uncles and aunts to help me while I'm away. If you need anything, you can go to them. Don't be embarrassed."
"No need. I can take care of myself. Time is limited, my dear, please set off quickly and don't delay the date."
Zhao Guo agreed to everything she said before, but he refused to give in on this point: "No, you are a woman at home, and your health is not good. I will not be at ease if I don't take good care of you. I will go to chop wood and look for you. Don't worry, it won't take more than a few days."
After saying that, he hurried out. Wang Wanyi had no choice but to shake her head and laugh.
After Zhao Guo left, her smile vanished in an instant. She walked to the window and gazed towards Chang'an, her hands clenched tightly, her expression grim. After a moment, she took a deep breath and unclenched her fists.
She remembered clearly how she had fallen into this state, her face ruined and suffering from illness, how her family members had died, and how their wealth had been taken away.
All because of her good sister!
But the other party is now in a high position, extremely powerful. If she were to move, it would be like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Wanting revenge, wanting to bring the perpetrators to justice, was pure wishful thinking. She had already resigned herself to her fate. Since there was no hope, she could let the past fade away like smoke, drifting away with the wind, and live a simple and ordinary life with Zhao Guo.
But the prince happened to hold a craftsmanship competition at this time and gave a promise to each of the top three.
This was a perfect opportunity, and she couldn't help but rekindle her hope.
But could Zhao Guo help her get this opportunity? Even if she did, would she really use it?
Even if she used it, she might not get the result she wanted. It's more likely...
Wang Wanyi struggled internally and hesitated greatly. Finally, she closed her eyes and two strings of tears fell.
********
Chang'an.
After the decree was issued, Liu Ju immediately set about selecting a venue and setting up an office. Although there were government offices within the city, such events would inevitably involve a large crowd, and anyone entering the inner city would be able to exploit loopholes.
Considering that there were many dignitaries and royal relatives in the inner city, and for the safety of everyone, Liu Ju decided to move the residence outside the city and bought a villa near the East and West Markets.
A two-month period was even set so that contestants from other places would have time to rush to the capital.
Although there might still be delays due to distance, he had already made up his mind: this was the first competition, and if it was successful, there could be a second and third. There would always be opportunities for talented people.
First there was the "Glass Street," then the "Craftsmanship Competition." As soon as the news got out, Chang'an was flooded with people, some to participate in the competition, others just to join in the fun.
The two-month deadline has come to an end. Today is the last day, and it is also the day for those who have passed the preliminary round to be publicly listed for the semi-finals.
Back house, showroom.
Of the works we received recently, except for those that were so bad that they were taken back, all the other selected works are here.
Liu Ju strolled around leisurely with his hands behind his back and found many fine works, well-made and vivid, such as an eagle with wings spread, or a cute cat.
Unfortunately, no matter how smart it was, it was not what Liu Ju needed. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, but it was only a hint, and he hurried past and went to the next one.
There were only two items that stood out and made him stop for more than half a minute.
One is a landscape, a waterfall. Somehow, the water cascades down from the "top" into the "deep pool," then secretly flows back to the "top" from the bottom of the "deep pool," forming a cycle.
The second is a wooden ball. Its original shape looks like a sphere, but it is made up of many slender wooden blocks. There is a button on it. When you press the button, the wooden ball will change its shape by itself, such as a flying bird, a swimming fish, a flower, etc. There are as many as five or six kinds.
Liu Ju looked left and right but couldn't figure out what the two were. He was itching to take them apart to see what was inside, but he finally held back. After all, it would be a shame to destroy such a good work.
My eyes glanced at the wooden plaque next to the work. Engraved on the wooden ball was the artist's name: Zhuang Qingzhou. The waterfall landscape's creator's name: Gongshu Qing.
Gongshu?
Liu Ju subconsciously looked up at Bai Shan, who immediately understood and explained, "This is my senior brother."
Oh, it’s Gongshu Dalang.
With this reminder, Liu Ju suddenly remembered that Gongshu Erlang and Sanlang seemed to have recommended themselves to him, but Dalang did not recommend himself at that time. How come Dalang's works are there now, but where are Erlang and Sanlang?
Liu Ju turned around and asked, "What are the names of your second and third senior brothers?"
"The public loses the wild, the public loses the Ming."
Liu Ju looked around the exhibition room. He had seen almost all the works here, but these two people didn't seem to be there. A hint of confusion crossed his face. This shouldn't be the case.
In order to avoid missing out on talented people, he did not set high requirements for the preliminary round. The son of the Gongshu family is still quite capable, so he won't be eliminated, right?
Bai Shan looked at his expression and roughly guessed what he was thinking. He lowered his head, his eyes looking at his nose, and his nose looking at his heart.
He couldn't say it, maybe it was Master Gongshu who didn't allow it.
Since His Highness didn't ask, he'd better not say anything more.
Liu Ju didn't really ask, and didn't really care. He just waved his hand and said, "Let's go. They must be waiting outside. Don't make them wait anxiously."
Bai Shan bowed and said, "Yes."
The two walked to the front hall. There were already several circles of people gathered outside the door, three layers inside and three layers outside, making it impossible to get through. Everyone was standing on tiptoe and craning their necks to look inside, whispering to each other.
"Why haven't you come out yet? I don't know if I've entered yet."
"Look, here they come! Young Commander Baishan is out, and with him comes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
…
The discussion suddenly stopped and everyone saluted.
Liu Ju raised his hand to ask everyone to stand up and signaled Baishan to start.
Baishan immediately asked someone to post the silk list that had been written long ago on the public notice board on the outer wall.
Upon seeing this action, everyone rushed to the notice board at the same time. The crowd was bustling and disorderly.
Bai Shan frowned and shouted, "Quiet. Everyone, no need to crowd. Besides the list of selected entries posted on the bulletin board, I also have a copy in my hand. I will read out the names. Those whose names are read will advance to the semi-finals, and those whose names are not read will be eliminated. Those who are eliminated can retrieve their works later according to their registration information."
After saying this, he opened the bamboo slips in his hand. Everyone's heart was lifted.
"Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou, Wu..."
Every time a name was read, everyone's heart skipped a beat. As the names were read out, some jumped for joy, while others felt disappointed and regretful.
Only Gongshu Qing was very calm. Firstly, although he was not sure about the semi-finals, he was still confident about the preliminary round; secondly, he had a relationship with Baishan, who had already told him the result of the preliminary round.
Therefore, he can watch people's sorrows and joys with a smile.
After the list was read out, Baishan put away the bamboo slips and Gongshu Qing was about to leave when he suddenly saw two familiar figures flash past him. Gongshu Qing's face changed drastically and he rushed over to stop them, but he was still a step too late.
As soon as he grabbed Gongshuye, he shouted, "Wait a minute, there are still applicants here."
Gongshu Qing's eyes were sharp: "What do you want to do? Come back with me!"
Gongshu Ming shrank his neck and hid behind Gongshu Ye. Gongshu Ye was not afraid at all: "Brother, didn't you see? I said we want to sign up."
"You've forgotten what your uncle told you!"
"Of course I haven't forgotten, but brother, please don't forget what the Crown Prince's decree says. Regardless of your status, as long as you have the talent and the desire to serve the country, you can sign up. No one may stop you for any reason, otherwise..."
Gongshu Ye's lips curled up, and he sneered, "Brother, do you want His Highness to know that you and your uncle deliberately disobeyed the Crown Prince's order?"
Gongshu Qing was horrified, his face turning pale and blue. Seeing Liu Ju's gaze sweeping over him, he gritted his teeth and said in a hurry, "Registration is closed, the list of selected candidates has been released, you are too late."
Gongshu Ye ignored him and simply bowed to Liu Ju. "Your Highness has set the deadline to be today. Although the list has been released, today is not over yet. Your Highness did not specify that no further registrations can be made after the list is released. So, I wonder if registering now would not be considered a violation? I wonder if Your Highness could make an exception."
Liu Ju didn't care. Just as he was about to speak, someone rushed in: "I... I'm late?"
The man was dusty and sweaty, carrying a bag on his back and holding a huge object in his arms, wrapped in rags, carefully, as if it were a treasure.
This person was Zhao Guo. He made all the arrangements at home before setting off. Although he hurried as fast as he could, he was still a step late.
Seeing the list was out, it seemed as if the outcome was settled. Zhao Guo tightened the farm tools in his arms, his lips trembling, "Is... is it over?"
Gongshuye's eyes rolled: "Are you from another place?"
Zhao Guo didn't know who he was, but he still answered politely: "Yes, I came from Jizhou."
"Jizhou, hundreds of miles away from Chang'an."
Zhao Guo pursed his lips and said, "Yes, it is indeed a bit far. It's my fault for being late."
"That may not be the case." Gongshu Ye was overjoyed. If it were just his side, they might be weak, but with the arrival of another person, there would be a little more hope.
He turned to Liu Ju and bowed, "Your Highness, it takes time to convey imperial edicts from other places, and it also takes time to produce works. There are many accidents along the way, so it is understandable that I was unable to arrive in time. I hope Your Highness will be flexible."
Zhao Guo was a little confused. What was going on? Who was this person? Why was he speaking for him?
But the little doll above is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?
Zhao Guo reacted and quickly knelt down to kowtow, then mustered up the courage to say, "Your Highness, please be lenient!"
Liu Ju looked at him and asked, "What are you holding in your arms?"
Only then did Zhao Guo slowly peel off the rag, revealing the true appearance of the object.
It looks like a funnel with three "legs". There is a small opening on the top of the funnel, and the bottom is connected to three legs. The three legs are made of wood and fixed to each other with wooden strips in the middle. The "soles" of the three legs are embedded with sharp iron pieces, similar to plow blades.
The shape is strange and the workmanship is crude.
A scornful smile flashed across Gongshu Ye's eyes, and everyone pointed and talked in a low voice.
Liu Ju was very curious: "What is this?"
"Your Highness, these are... these are newly made farm tools made by me."
Gongshu Ye's mouth twitched. "It's just a one-legged hoe with two legs. If that's considered 'new', then everyone can do it. Innovation is never that easy." Gongshu Ye disagreed.
Everyone looked a little suspicious, but no one dared to say anything in front of the Crown Prince.
Liu Ju rolled his eyes and said, "Farm tools, okay, let's try it first."
After saying this, he asked someone to lead Zhao Guo into the inner courtyard to wait.
Gongshu Ye seized the opportunity and stepped forward. "Your Highness, his work still needs to be tested before we can see if it's acceptable, but what I and my brother have done is enough for us to just take a look. Do you want to take a look?"
Liu Ju tilted his head: "Then let's take a look."
Gongshu Ye happily took out the thing, which turned out to be a "farmhouse" with a few chickens pecking at rice in the farmhouse. But when Gongshu Ye pressed the trigger, the chickens actually started pecking at the rice.
Liu Ju's eyebrows twitched, and he looked at Gongshu Ming again. His creation was a group of "ducks swimming in a pond," and they actually "swimmed." It was similar in concept, nothing new, but at least it was well-made, with ingenious mechanisms, making it a superior piece among other works.
Liu Ju turned and gestured to Bai Shan: "Add them to the list."
Bai Shan frowned, thinking of Gongshu Xing's instructions, feeling somewhat embarrassed. However, since Liu Ju had spoken, he should put the Crown Prince's orders first, so he could only say, "Yes."
When the dust settled, Liu Ju turned around and went inside. Gongshu Ming felt relieved, while Gongshu Ye's eyebrows were raised.
Gongshu Qing gnashed his teeth and said, "Did you do this on purpose? You stayed silent for two months, pretending to be well-behaved and obedient, so that my uncle and I would think you listened to our advice and let down your guard. Who knew... you were waiting for this day?
"Because you know that if you submit your work early, Baishan will be responsible. Given Baishan's respect for your uncle, you can't be sure whether he will prioritize the Crown Prince's order, or whether he will consider this matter unimportant and favor your uncle, denying your application or even rejecting you outright.
"You don't want to miss the opportunity, so you're taking a risk. You know His Highness will definitely be in charge of the list announcement today. If you submit your work in front of His Highness, we'll be helpless. Right?"
Gongshu Ye did not argue, but simply said, "Why can my elder brother do this, but my third brother and I cannot? My uncle is being too partial."
"Biased?" Gongshu Qing was surprised and disbelieving. "You actually think my uncle is biased?"
"What else? Maybe you don't want me to join you, afraid that I'll take away your limelight?"
Gongshu Qing's eyes were filled with even greater surprise: "You...why would you think that?"
Gongshu Ye glanced at him and didn't answer. He just said, "No matter what the reason is, the work has been submitted, I have been selected, and I will definitely participate in the semi-finals. So, brother, it's useless to say more now, so it's better not to say anything."
After saying this, he took Gongshu Ming away, with his head held high and his chest puffed out, feeling very proud and satisfied, as if he had won a great victory.
Only Gongshu Qing was left standing there, burning with rage, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white and his finger joints crackling.
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