Chapter 155, "Dream Pool Essays." (The text abruptly ends here.)
“Zhenniji?” Su Xun muttered to himself.
He wanted to ask His Highness the Crown Prince if the name was too straightforward and didn't conform to the naming conventions of scholars. Wouldn't names like "Tiangong" (Heavenly Craftsmanship) or "Jiqiao" (Ingenious Skill) be more elegant and pleasant-sounding?
Su Xun glanced at Fusu, then at Su Zhen, his lips moved but he ultimately said nothing. Well, one was the inventor himself, the other the patron who appreciated his daughter; neither of them had any objections, so what right did he have to interrupt?
The name "Zhenniji" was thus finalized.
Fusu turned to Suzhen and asked, "I'll have the Imperial City Guard take the machine away in a bit. What are your plans for the next few days? The Emperor might summon you."
“Of course, it’s just a possibility, I can’t be sure,” he emphasized. “But it’s best to leave it empty in advance, just in case.”
Su Zhen replied, "No."
A dazed look veiled her eyes, as if everything happening before her was unreal. How could it suddenly be that she was to present this to the Emperor, and even have an audience with him?
Su Xun had a similar idea.
He was even more unrealistic than Su Zhen. At least Su Zhen knew what he wanted to invent. But in Su Xun's eyes, it was just his eldest daughter locking herself in her room, spending her days and nights weaving and sewing.
He was also worried about his daughter's mental health and advised her to go out more or visit Yunzhou, but although she said yes, she refused everything and continued to tinker with her loom.
...and as a result, they invented things that benefited all living beings.
Su Xun found it increasingly unreal. When asked why he was at home during the day instead of at the government office, he honestly answered. He was then politely ushered back to the government office, only realizing halfway there that he had been sent away by the Crown Prince!
Is there something His Highness the Crown Prince and his eldest daughter have to say behind his back? Su Xun couldn't help but feel curious.
He then shook his head. It was nothing more than a mystery about the loom, wasn't it? He wouldn't listen anyway; he was just a scholar who knew nothing about machinery, so he wouldn't understand anyway.
Su Xun was unaware that what Fu Su and Su Zhen were about to say was far bolder than he had imagined.
When they were alone, Fusu brought up the old matter again: "What I promised you before still stands. Do you still want to marry into the Cheng family of Meishan, your original husband's family?"
Su Zhen immediately shook his head.
Fusu felt a slight sense of relief: with Jenny's merits, she wouldn't be bullied no matter where she married, unless her husband's family wanted to die. But historically, the Cheng family was inherently evil, and even with her merits, Su Zhen might not be happy after marriage.
Even if Su Zhen wasn't Su Shi's sister, Jenny's existence proved she was a clever girl. Fusu couldn't bear to see such a gem go to waste.
Fortunately, Mingzhu herself is clear-headed enough.
"Okay, then leave the rest to me."
"Your Highness," Su Zhen bit her lip and finally spoke, "what...what do you intend to do to save me from being married off?"
"Of course, it's to make the Cheng family afraid to marry you," Fusu said. "If they were to marry you, would they accept it?"
“Of course not.” Su Zhen blurted out.
The Cheng family is a scholarly family in Meishan, and they value their reputation above all else. If a man from the Cheng family were to marry into another family, they would immediately become the laughingstock of the area. What's more, if the family the man is to marry into is already related by marriage, he would probably be laughed at for more than three years.
They would never accept it.
"So," Fusu shrugged, "that's it."
Su Zhen was bewildered. Was it really that simple? Suddenly, she realized something was amiss: what kind of woman would be qualified to have a man marry into her family legitimately?
Su Zhen's breath hitched. She looked at Fu Su in disbelief, who shrugged and said, "It's just what you think. Don't be nervous, you deserve it."
Fusu threw out a thunderbolt and ran away, completely ignoring how shocked Su Zhen was. He himself was extremely relaxed, humming a popular tune from Bianjing as he returned to his office, only to find that Yelü Chongyuan was still waiting for him.
Yelü Chongyuan's eyes immediately lit up: "Your Highness, you're back! Where did you go? Why didn't you take me with you?"
Fusu thought to himself: Why bring you along? Won't bringing you along mean we'll leak all the state secrets?
He immediately changed the subject: "By the way, did your elder brother receive the letter that the Crown Prince sent? What was his reaction?"
Yelü Chongyuan's eye twitched violently. His heart ached as if it were being torn apart. Lately, he had been indulging in pleasure in Bianjing every day and had finally managed to forget about this matter a little. Why had the Crown Prince of Song brought it up again at such an inopportune time?
Even more inopportunely, a letter from his elder brother, the ruler of Liao, actually arrived. However, having just reached Yelü Chongyuan's hands, he was not mentally prepared and dared not open it rashly.
He was afraid that if he opened it, he would see the message that terrified him.
But Fusu noticed something amiss: "Could it have been delivered?"
His eyes lit up instantly. Two huge surprises had fallen from the sky—what a wonderful day this was!
Yelü Chongyuan muttered, "Yes, it's been delivered."
If he were discovered and still refused to admit it, it would be a matter of attitude. Currently, the Liao Dynasty is at a disadvantage between the two countries, and the buffer zone of Western Xia has been completely eliminated. He doesn't want to be criticized by the Song Dynasty because of personal emotions; that would be a huge loss.
There's no time like the present. Fusu immediately moved closer to Yelü Chongyuan and tentatively asked, "Then...shall we go into the palace?"
Completely unaware of how adorable he looked, Yelü Chongyuan only felt as if a snow-white, glutinous dumpling had appeared before him. He thought of his sons, who were tanned like charcoal blocks from riding horses, and awkwardly looked away: "Then let's go."
"Please wait a moment, Your Highness, while I return to Xiangguo Temple and bring back my elder brother's letter."
Fusu readily agreed: "Please."
However, after a moment, he changed his mind. Since it had been so long since he'd been to Xiangguo Temple, he figured he might as well go and take a look along the way.
The two then went together to Xiangguo Temple. One walked with a dejected and heavy gait, while the other walked with a light and brisk pace, exuding an indescribable radiance. The atmosphere between them was completely different.
Yelü Chongyuan went straight to his courtyard and began searching for letters. Fusu, with his hands behind his back, strolled leisurely through the temple alone without any attendants. Everywhere he looked, there were familiar scenes from the past. This largest royal temple in Bianjing, after four or five years, remained unchanged.
This is where he first met Su Shi.
This is the place where he and Su Shi put on a show, using the phrase "I have never seen such a shameless person" to scare away the Western Xia envoy.
This is the house where he discovered that the Western Xia had planted spies, and where he turned the tide in the Song-Xia peace talks.
This is the courtyard where he housed several poor women who had been trafficked from the Liao Kingdom.
...
Having walked through many parts of the temple, it seemed that every place held traces of old memories. Because Xiangguo Temple held special significance, most of Fusu's memories here were related to the Liao and Xia kingdoms. However, a few years had passed, and the land of Western Xia had been brought under the control of the Song Dynasty, with half of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun already recovered.
If the letter Yelü Chongyuan is carrying contains what Fusu wants to see, then the process of recovering lost territory is truly coming to a close.
"..."
Thinking of this, Fusu was overwhelmed with emotion. The weight in his dark eyes seemed beyond what a nine-year-old child should possess. It was as if he had traversed thousands of years.
Is this the ending he hoped for?
Will this bring an end to the process of recovering lost territory?
Fusu felt both excited and apprehensive.
Just as anxious as he was was Yelü Chongyuan. He too was trying to decipher the contents of Yelü Zongzhen's letter. But whether his elder brother nodded or not, it was not the outcome he wanted to see.
If the Emperor were to cede the seven prefectures in front of the mountains, the foundation laid by their ancestors a century ago would be handed over to others. They would be forced to retreat back to the barren, cold north and become a completely nomadic people once again.
What if the Emperor stands firm and refuses to back down? Wouldn't that provoke the Song Dynasty and reignite the war? In that case, would their Liao Kingdom's proud cavalry be able to withstand the divine thunder that descends from the sky, which is "not of this world"?
Yelü Chongyuan took out the letter, opened it, and glanced at it. His face immediately turned ashen. Even when he reunited with Fusu, there was no sign of recovery.
He seemed to have completely given up on managing his facial expressions.
This, in turn, made Fusu wonder: what could he have seen to be so grief-stricken? Damn it, no matter which situation it was, it all seemed to make sense.
The two walked out in utter silence. Even Yelü Chongyuan, who should have been awestruck by the exquisite beauty of the Song palace upon entering, completely lost the will to exclaim. The blow he had suffered was too great; the personality that loved Han culture had temporarily detached from him.
Even Fusu felt a little sorry for him, and the usually kind-hearted Emperor Renzong forgave his absent-mindedness: "I heard from Su'er that your elder brother sent a personal letter. May I ask, is this true, Your Highness?"
Yelü Chongyuan sighed, took out a letter from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands: "This is written by my brother himself. Please have the Emperor of Song take a look."
Emperor Renzong readily accepted it. Fusu, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, eagerly moved forward and squeezed between the Emperor's arms to examine it together.
At first glance, he recognized it; it was indeed Yelü Chongyuan's handwriting. It was identical to the handwriting in the threatening letter that had arrived from the Liao Kingdom six months prior, after the ownership of Yunzhou had changed hands. It was indeed Yelü Zongzhen.
But the contents of the letter were completely different.
Fusu only read the beginning, skipping the flowery language at the front and going straight to the bottom. After a few breaths, his breathing paused, and his gaze locked onto a certain spot.
"...Our two countries have been blessed by Heaven and have enjoyed friendly relations for generations, with peace and tranquility on the borders. Recently, however, wars have broken out frequently, which is not our intention and we fear that it will disrupt the harmony between Heaven and Earth. Therefore, we wish to offer the land of seven prefectures in front of the mountain in order to strengthen our alliance."
"...Now I grant my brother's request and will cede seven states. I only wish that from now on, we will each guard our own borders. If either of us breaks the alliance or provokes another, then we will be abandoned by gods and men and condemned by heaven and earth."
Stripping away the lengthy attempts to save face and the warnings, it can be summarized in just twelve words: The Liao Kingdom has agreed to cede the seven prefectures in front of the mountains.
Fusu asked in a daze, "The Liao Kingdom has agreed to cede the seven prefectures in front of the mountains?"
He intended to seek confirmation from his father, but as he turned his head, he unexpectedly saw Yelü Chongyuan's face, which looked as if he hadn't eaten for three days. Fusu swore that this was the worst-looking face he had seen Yelü Chongyuan since his visit to the Song Dynasty.
It was from Yelü Chongyuan's reaction that Fusu was able to confirm that he had not misjudged the situation. The Liao Kingdom had indeed agreed to cede seven prefectures, which meant... the Song Dynasty had truly recovered sixteen prefectures!
The target he had been planning for so long had suddenly appeared right in his face, leaving Fusu utterly bewildered—he finally understood why Su Zhen had been speechless for so long. The same thing had happened to him, and he would react the same way!
Emperor Renzong was momentarily taken aback, but having been emperor for a long time, he was well-versed in self-control and more composed than Fusu: "Younger brother, I suppose you have read the letter of state written by your elder brother?"
Yelü Chongyuan nodded, his face pale and ashen.
"But the letter doesn't specify when your Liao army and officials will withdraw," Emperor Renzong began further negotiations: "Why don't you come and talk to me today?"
These words seemed to awaken Yelü Chongyuan. His cheek twitched: Now was not the time to be dejected; the negotiations were not over yet, and there was still room for reconciliation.
"It is only right for the army and officials to evacuate, but the people in the city may also evacuate along with them," he said.
The people are essentially the population. In feudal society, population was, in a sense, property. Relocating the people, leaving only empty cities and land for the Song state, was undoubtedly the best way to maximize profits.
Fortunately, my elder brother didn't write it too clearly in the official letter, otherwise he wouldn't have had any room to maneuver. Yelü Chongyuan thought to himself.
But the next sentence shattered all his illusions: "Without the seven prefectures in front of the mountain, how will the Liao Kingdom feed the people living on that plain? The cattle and sheep on the grassland? Even the local Liao people might not have enough to eat."
The speaker was none other than Fusu. The Emperor's words awakened both Yelü Chongyuan and Fusu. Seeing Yelü Chongyuan still indulging in wishful thinking, Fusu ruthlessly shattered his illusions.
Are you kidding me? Even the Liao Dynasty, which raised cattle and sheep, faced resource shortages and raided for grain from the south every year. They wanted to take a large agricultural population with them? What would they feed if they took them to places without arable land? Weren't they afraid of famine?
Even for the sake of the livelihood of the people in the seven prefectures in front of the mountain, Fusu could not let Yelü Chongyuan have his way. Seeing that Yelü Chongyuan still wanted to object, he immediately said, "Or you can move away if you want, but you will have to pay tribute to the Song state every year based on the number of people."
Yelü Chongyuan: "..."
I can't afford it, I can't afford it.
Clearly, with Yelü Zongzhen's letter of state preceding them, and given that the Liao Dynasty's national strength was simply insufficient to be at the negotiating table, there was very little room for maneuver. Yelü Chongyuan had no choice but to abandon this idea and reluctantly confirmed the handover time with Emperor Renzong.
—Before mid-May.
It was mid-April, and at most, the Liao Kingdom only had a little over a month left. Neither Emperor Renzong nor Fusu were the type to push people too hard, so they nodded in agreement.
Without the clinking of glasses or the deliberation of court officials, the momentous upheaval concerning the Song-Liao border came to a close amidst the negotiations of the three men. But whether it happened or not, it was practically the same. All three present were well aware of this.
Truth lies only within the range of cannons. Since that military parade, even if Zhuge Liang were alive in the Liao delegation, he couldn't change the outcome of the negotiations.
Because Fusu still had things to discuss with the Emperor, he did not leave the Chuigong Hall with Yelü Chongyuan, but only watched his retreating figure. It was truly an indescribable scene of desolation and dejection.
After the person was completely out of sight, the father and son glanced at each other and burst out laughing. They both knew why the other was laughing.
Because... it's hard not to laugh!
For Fusu, it was the culmination of over four years of meticulous planning. For Renzong, it was the end of a regret that four generations of his ancestors had failed to fulfill, a regret that ended during his reign. Even if he were to meet his ancestors one day, he would stand tall and proud, no longer feeling ashamed or intimidated by the fact that the war with Western Xia had ended in a stalemate!
"What has happened today is truly like a dream," Emperor Renzong sighed repeatedly, expressing the sentiments of Emperor Fusu.
But Fusu also had some questions: "Your Majesty, when you finished reading the letter, you didn't seem very surprised?"
"Oh, Su'er, you mean this?" Emperor Renzong was genuinely trying to explain: "I only heard an anecdote from the Imperial City Guard. It was something they found during their investigation. I don't know if it's true or not, but you can just take it as a rumor."
Huh? There's a melon!
Fusu immediately perked up his ears.
"It is said that the Liao emperor was fond of drinking, and after drinking, he liked to make bets with others. What were they betting on? The money and taxes of a city or region. Once, he lost a bet and gambled away the taxes of several cities."
Fusu: "Huh?"
His style and mental state are unlike those of an emperor; they are more like those abstract monarchs from the Warring States period in his first reign.
The Emperor then asked with a smile, "Su'er, guess who usually makes bets with the Liao Emperor?"
Since he had asked, Fusu glanced in the direction Yelü Chongyuan had just left: "Could it be him?"
Otherwise, very few people would be qualified to gamble alongside a monarch.
The Emperor: "That's right."
Fusu: "..."
Fusu: "…………"
"This, this can be called a great ruler?" Fusu was greatly shocked and felt that the history books were probably deceiving him.
Amidst the shock, a new thought emerged: "So, the reason Yelü Zongzhen let go so readily was because he couldn't collect taxes from that land? And Yelü Chongyuan's dejected state just now, could it be because he couldn't continue collecting taxes?"
"Well, I don't know about that." The Emperor shook his head with a smile. "However, after today's events, the Liao Emperor's reputation as a 'wise ruler' will no longer be worthy of the title. The Crown Prince will probably find himself in a precarious situation when he returns to his homeland."
After all, he personally handed over the seven states. Whatever the reasons behind it, as the person in charge, he has to take the blame.
"Yes, it seems that in the future, it will be the Crown Prince, not the Crown Prince, who will ascend the throne."
Emperor Renzong was speculating reasonably, but what Fusu said was true. However, continuing the conversation would risk spoiling the plot, so Fusu quickly changed the subject: "Let's not talk about them anymore, Your Majesty. What do you plan to do with the seven prefectures in front of the mountains? Will you still send General Di to garrison them?"
"The garrison is certain." The Emperor pondered for a moment, "However, this time, I intend to go personally."
"In person?!" Fusu was startled.
He was about to worry about safety when he thought again, "The Liao people have all withdrawn, so what danger could there be?" He swallowed his words, wanting to know the Emperor's reasoning.
"The recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures is a major national event. I wish to hold a sacrificial ceremony to inform Heaven and our ancestors of this good news." The Emperor's expression became slightly subtle as he said this: "However, we cannot go to Mount Tai for the time being."
Mount Tai? Can't go there?
Fusu was momentarily stunned, then several black lines appeared on his forehead. He really couldn't go. Who was the last person to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai? His own father, his blood grandfather, Emperor Zhenzong of Song.
Because of Emperor Zhenzong, no emperor visited Mount Tai for several centuries afterward. Everyone was afraid to be compared to this emperor who accomplished nothing and was fond of superstition.
That's precisely why the emperor couldn't possibly go. The father's sacrifice yielded nothing, while the son returned laden with riches. It was clearly a mockery of his own father. Even if Emperor Renzong had no affection for Emperor Zhenzong, he couldn't bring himself to publicly humiliate his father.
Going further down the line, only a personal trip to the seven prefectures with troops would be considered truly solemn. This would also help to bestow favors upon the local people, win their hearts and minds, and strengthen the connection between the sixteen prefectures and the Song Dynasty itself.
By any measure, it was a brilliant move.
But the Emperor had a second reason. An irrational one, based on emotional considerations: "Regarding the matter of Yunzhou, Su'er, you risked your life for the country and resolutely went north. Therefore, I also want to go north once, so that I can experience even a tenth of what you felt at that time."
Fusu stood there, stunned.
After a long while, his ears turned red, and he looked away uncomfortably: "Actually, it's nothing, I didn't encounter any danger."
The Emperor replied with a smile, "But I won't encounter any danger, will I?"
He patted Fusu on the shoulder. The child had grown up too; it wasn't appropriate to pat his head anymore. Patting his shoulder was the same.
“…Alright.” Fusu said sullenly, “Then I’ll go too. I haven’t seen what the Sixteen Prefectures look like yet.”
That's not actually the case. In his first life, he served as a border guard in Shangzhou for many years. In his second life, his university was also in the north. He only made up this excuse because he was worried that Emperor Renzong might really be in danger and wanted to go with him.
“You are a great hero in the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures. If you don’t go, who else will dare to go?”
A thoughtful look flashed across Emperor Renzong's eyes: in his plan, Su'er's presence was an extremely important part.
Fusu didn't notice the Emperor's unusual behavior; he simply felt extremely uncomfortable. When he felt uncomfortable, he liked to change the subject. This was a habit known to everyone familiar with Fusu, but tacitly understood and never mentioned.
"Your Majesty, I have just obtained another ingenious device that can benefit the nation and its people," he said.
Emperor Renzong didn't even lift his eyelids. Clearly, having experienced attacks like cotton, potatoes, and gunpowder balls, he was no longer surprised. Only when his own son could bring his ancestors back to life would it be a matter of great importance to the emperor.
“No, it wasn’t me.” Fusu shook his head: “It was invented by a woman. She is only fifteen years old this year.”
"What?" The Emperor looked up abruptly: "It wasn't you, Su'er, who invented it?"
Fusu immediately didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Father, what do you take your son for?"
Although he was the one who inspired this object, Fusu did not intend to make it public.
He planned to fulfill his promise to Su Zhen, ensuring she wouldn't suffer the pain of marrying the wrong person. At the same time, he intended to use this opportunity to make her a role model.
A typical example of a woman's self-reliance, and a typical example of a craftsman.
After all, the Song Dynasty placed far too much emphasis on literature and neglected reason!
In his previous life, Fusu studied humanities, and in a world that valued science over humanities, he still faced a lot of discrimination. In this life, he transmigrated to the Song Dynasty, a golden age for humanities students, but he felt no joy in turning the tables and becoming the master of his own destiny.
After all, he wasn't some country scholar or a lowly official; he was the future master of this country. With both basic sciences and instrumental sciences facing numerous obstacles, productivity couldn't be unleashed, which meant the people wouldn't have enough to eat.
Therefore, Su Zhen's generous reward was inevitable.
Fusu first told the Emperor about the creation process and effects of the "Zhenni Machine," which astonished the Emperor so much that he immediately stood up and exclaimed, "It is so miraculous!"
"It's just that amazing."
"Then we must reward this woman handsomely, no matter what." The Emperor paced back and forth, saying, "Su'er, what is her background?"
"Since her name is 'Zhen Niji,' it must contain that character. Su Zhen, I wonder if you've heard of her?"
Su Zhen?
The official suddenly felt the name was extremely familiar.
He racked his brains and finally found some clues: "She's Miaowu's good friend... Su Shi is her older sister, isn't she?"
Fusu nodded: "Exactly."
"This family is truly full of hidden talents," the Emperor exclaimed in amazement. "I remember that Minister Su has a young son who will likely also be taking the imperial examinations. I just wonder if he resembles his older brother or sister."
Isn't that Su Zhe? One of the "Three Sus" in history who rose to the position of prime minister and went to great lengths to promote his brother.
How could he be any worse?
Fusu asserted with near certainty, "He is definitely not bad either."
"Oh? Su'er is so certain?" the Emperor joked. "It's a pity I can only find out when he arrives in Bianjing."
Far away in Meishan, Su Zhe, engrossed in studying the Three Hundred and the Thousand Character Classic, was completely unaware. He had already secured a place in the imperial court thanks to his elder sister and two elder brothers. When he went to Bianjing for the imperial examinations the following day, everyone recognized him: "Oh, you must be XXX's younger brother/son?"
Successfully achieving widespread recognition before becoming famous for one's talent is truly commendable.
After they finished joking around, it was time for them to get down to business.
"Su'er, how do you plan to reward her?"
Fusu said calmly, "Naturally, we summoned her to the palace and had her report to the Emperor."
"That makes sense." The Emperor nodded slowly. "Such a talent deserves to be met by me."
"Then she was granted the title of Lady of the County and allowed to establish her own household."
"Jun Jun" was a title for women of noble birth in the Song Dynasty, equivalent to a fourth-rank official. It was an honor bestowed upon the daughters of princes or dukes. The rank was second only to "Xian Zhu" (county princess). Like the titles of military governors and princes, they only received a salary from the imperial court and had no real power over their assigned region.
The emperor considered it and agreed. The title of a fourth-rank official was not excessive given the woman's contributions. Her rank was also similar to her father's and brother's, not significantly higher.
If he were to be granted the title of "County Princess," equivalent to a second-rank official, even if the Emperor agreed, Sima Guang would lead the opposition. However, if he were to be granted the title of "Prefectural Lady," even if it surpassed the rank of his father and brother, no one could object given Su Zhen's overwhelming achievements.
All of this was Fusu's plan. Of course, he wanted to be granted the title of county princess in one fell swoop. But with Sima Guang in the court, no one could do anything about it, so it was better to proceed slowly.
The official nodded in agreement: "But what is the meaning of establishing a separate household?"
"Oh," Fusu said, "She wanted to find a husband to marry into her family."
The Emperor: "..."
What could the Emperor say? He could only offer his respect and blessings. He even thought to himself: No wonder she is such a remarkable woman who has made such an amazing invention at such a young age; her temperament is indeed different from other women.
He managed to convince himself of this.
Fusu breathed a sigh of relief: he had made the right gamble. The most difficult hurdle was over. As expected, the Emperor was unaware of Su Zhen's marital status and her engagement. Had he known, he would never have agreed to the idea of her "living independently."
But what's done is done, and all the punishments, both thunder and rain, are the Emperor's favor. Even if the Cheng family is dissatisfied, they can only accept it. Otherwise, they can't possibly travel all the way from Meishan to make a scene before the Emperor: "Your Majesty, why did you force my son to marry into your family?"
If they had actually done that, Fusu would have admired them.
The emperor believed this was all the reward entailed. A single audience with the emperor, and a title of Lady of the County. One gained fame, the other a salary. It was a win-win situation, both in terms of prestige and personal gain; it seemed perfectly appropriate from every angle.
But seeing that Fusu seemed to have not finished speaking, he tentatively asked, "And then?"
“Oh, Your Majesty, I was even planning to have the ‘Seeking Knowledge Daily’ give her a headline interview,” Fusu said, blinking.
Headline? Exclusive Interview?
The official's eyes widened.
The circulation of the *Seeking Knowledge Daily* has now become incalculable. Only major national events make its headlines. And now Su'er says he wants to put a woman with no official rank and unmarried status on the front page?
Su Zhen's achievements are not something an ordinary woman could attain, so it's not impossible for her, but... I haven't ascended to that position yet.
Emperor Renzong suddenly felt a sour taste in his mouth.
He stared at Fusu for a while, then looked away. If Su'er weren't only nine years old this year, while Su Zhen was already over fifteen, he would have thought much more.
"In the future, if other craftsmen invent ingenious items that can benefit the people, I also intend to have them published in the 'Seeking Knowledge Newspaper' as an encouragement," Fusu said.
This was the most direct way he could think of to stimulate the development of science. Including natural sciences and mechanical principles in the imperial examinations was clearly not something that could be done in a short time.
Then give them a reputation.
The allure of fame is irresistible to most. While some artisans may be skilled in literature, in an environment that has long valued literature over science, they have all faced suppression to some extent and have a strong desire to prove themselves.
Fusu conveyed his thoughts to Emperor Renzong: "Today, a loom with three times the efficiency has been invented. In the future, there may be seeds with three times the yield and agricultural tools with three times the efficiency."
Emperor Renzong: "..."
What a glorious era that would be!
The official had to shamefully admit that he was tempted, deeply tempted. The last vestige of doubt in his mind vanished. He waved his hand: "Since you've made up your mind, just do it."
Fusu bowed with exceptional cheerfulness: "Your subject obeys the decree!"
Having said that, he strolled leisurely out of the Chui Gong Hall. The Emperor gazed at his retreating figure, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips: Oh well, in the end, facts will prove his son right.
After leaving the palace, Fusu didn't look for anyone else, but first sought out Shen Kuo—the new editor-in-chief of the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper.
"Have the contents for the recent issues of the newspaper been finalized? Could you spare one issue for me?"
After Fusu finished speaking, he realized he seemed to have forgotten something. It should at least be headline news for two issues. After all, the Liao Kingdom's cession of the seven prefectures in front of the mountains was a major event worthy of a headline, wasn't it?
Su Zhen's term will have to be ranked after the seven prefectures in front of the mountain - the good news can only be announced after the Liao delegation leaves.
In front of Shen Kuo, Fusu started calculating, leaving the former completely bewildered: "Your Highness, you have to tell me, what kind of things can make the headlines?"
Fusu: "If you want to know, come closer and I'll whisper it to you."
Shen Kuo did as he was told and moved closer. In an instant, his pupils dilated considerably, and his eyeballs looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
"How about that? Is that enough to get you two headlines?"
Shen Kuo immediately nodded vigorously: "Enough, of course it's enough!"
To be honest, either piece of news was quite surprising. Two of them came at once; his heart is still pounding.
Suddenly, Shen Kuo seemed to remember something and looked at Fusu with a hesitant expression.
"What's wrong?"
"To be honest, Your Highness," Shen Kuo said, "I've been planning a new book to record the wonders of the world. After hearing what you just said, I feel that the young lady is very much in line with the theme of this book. I wonder if I might have the honor of including her in my book."
"..."
Fusu looked Shen Kuo up and down with a strange expression.
Shen Kuo immediately became very nervous: "What's wrong? Is there something amiss? Of course, I will prioritize the 'Seeking Knowledge Newspaper' and will not delay in the slightest."
"What are you planning to call that book?"
“Dream Pool Essays,” Shen Kuo said.
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Author's note: It's burned out, really burned out [cracked]
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