"The deal is done," Wang Han said. "Another necessary condition for ensuring high yields of grain is the construction of waterways and canals. This is easy to solve. We don't need to build large canals. After distributing the high-yield grain, we can first mobilize the people in areas with convenient water resources to spontaneously dig wells and dig waterways and ditches. This concerns the interests of all the people. As long as there is a person with sufficient prestige to take the lead, explain the reasons, and offer certain preferential treatment, many people will participate voluntarily. In water-scarce areas, once other areas have achieved high-yield grain results, as long as we guide them in the right direction and offer certain preferential treatment, we can get many of them to willingly build canals and large-scale water conservancy projects. And I believe that by then, you will have already secured a lot of free labor. This is a bonus included in our deal."
The seeds that would guide the Qin state toward greater prosperity had already been sown.
"Sir, how about you become the Grand Preceptor of my Great Qin? I can offer you a position second only to the Emperor," Ying Zheng invited again. Wang Han's theories on road and river construction made him admire Wang Han's talent even more; he was a man far surpassing Shang Yang. (Comparing the insights and thoughts of later generations to the Qin Dynasty. That's enough about the transaction, otherwise it would become a long discussion.)
“I appreciate your kindness,” Wang Han said, shaking his head. “But I’m used to being a free spirit and don’t like being tied down. I won’t stay in one place.”
Seeing that Wang Han still refused, Ying Zheng had no choice but to take off the jade pendant from his waist and hand it to Wang Han. "This jade pendant is for you, sir. Within the territory of my Great Qin, seeing this jade pendant is as if seeing me in person. If you need anything, please take this jade pendant to the local prefecture."
Seeing the jade pendant handed over by Ying Zheng, Wang Han did not refuse and took it. This jade pendant could solve a lot of troubles. Even if he might not use it, it would be good to have more to collect.
After discussing state affairs, Ying Zheng asked Wang Han expectantly, "Does the master know the method of achieving immortality?"
“There is no such thing as immortality in the world,” Wang Han said, shaking his head. “However, there are many ways to extend a person’s lifespan. The simplest way is to maintain good health, pay attention to your diet, take good care of your body, and get enough rest.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Tian couldn't help but look at Wang Han with even greater respect. Other sorcerers were all about alchemy and medicine, but Wang Han was talking about health preservation, taking care of one's body, and paying attention to daily rest.
"Extend, nourish life." Ying Zheng pondered these two words for a moment, then asked, "How much longer can nourish life extend one's lifespan?"
“A few years, a dozen years, several decades, a hundred years or more,” Wang Han said. “How long one can extend their lifespan depends on how they maintain their health. But generally it’s a dozen years, several decades, and at most two or three hundred years. Cases exceeding a hundred years are extremely rare, perhaps only one every few hundred years. Extending one’s lifespan by more than a hundred years is beyond what health maintenance can achieve; it also depends on fate. Everyone has their own fate, and everyone’s fate is different. Moreover, health maintenance can only slow down aging, not prevent aging.”
"A few decades, at most two or three hundred years." Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng was somewhat disappointed. This number was clearly not satisfactory to him, and it was far from what he had expected. He was determined to build the most powerful Qin state and safeguard the foundation of Qin for ten thousand generations.
"Sir, didn't you just say there are many methods? What about other methods? For example, elixirs?" Ying Zheng asked expectantly.
“I’m not good at alchemy,” Wang Han shook his head and said, “Although medicine can indeed prolong a person’s life, even by a great deal, all medicines have some degree of toxicity, so it’s not the best method.”
"Then what is the best method?" Ying Zheng asked upon hearing this.
“The best way is to rely on your own efforts,” Wang Han said, shaking his head. “But that’s too difficult for you, and this method isn’t applicable. Otherwise, it could lead to your death.”
“Tell me this method, and who in the world can kill me?” Ying Zheng said.
“Heaven and Earth,” Wang Han pointed to the sky and said, “This method is cultivation. However, cultivating immortality is going against the will of Heaven and Earth and will not be tolerated by this world. The higher your level of cultivation, the greater the chance of being discovered by this world. Once discovered, natural disasters will befall you. So you should not think about this method. One mistake could even bring down natural disasters and destroy the entire Qin Dynasty. Even if you want to live a long and prosperous life, you must act according to your ability.”
"Are there any other methods?" After hearing Wang Han say that the entire Qin state might be destroyed, Ying Zheng had no choice but to give up and continued to ask.
“You can also take the lives of others to prolong your own life. It’s not the best way, but it’s not the worst either,” Wang Han said.
"How can one prolong one's own life by taking the lives of others or other creatures?" Ying Zheng asked expectantly.
“There are many methods. You can use medical skills, cultivate special techniques, or ask others for help,” Wang Han said. “However, cultivating special techniques is unrealistic for you. You can only choose another method.”
"Would you like to do this, sir?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Yes." Wang Han nodded.
"Please help me, sir," Ying Zheng said excitedly.
“I can help you take other people’s lives. I can also cure the ailments you developed from taking elixirs indiscriminately,” Wang Han said. “However, I have two conditions.”
“Please speak, sir,” Ying Zheng said immediately.
“I observe the celestial phenomena, and in the near future, a strange stone will fall from the sky, located within the territory of the Qin Kingdom,” Wang Han said. “I want that strange stone. In exchange, I can help you regain your youth and extend your life by five hundred years. This is my first condition. I can pay a portion first to cure the root cause of your illness and help you regain your youth.”
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