Chapter 1248: Domesticated animals are more reliable [Seeking monthly votes]
What do you do when you encounter a tough nut to crack and can't get them to talk?
It's okay, Shen Tang also has a plan B.
"Liao Shaomei has been quite busy these past two years..." Qin Li flipped through the scrolls and scrolls that were almost half his height. Each one he randomly opened was a warship design drawing. As an outsider, he could only look at the spectacle, but judging from the complex structure, he knew it was no ordinary ship.
With so many secrets, it's unknown how long Liao Jia spent compiling them.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Shao Mei has complained to me about this a lot. She has more work when she is on business trips than when she is in the Ministry of Works. She is either on the go or on the road every day. She wants me to give her a raise."
It must be incredibly demanding for one person to shoulder the heavy responsibility of sowing discord among the forces of the entire Southwest Continent. Sowing discord is no easy task; he also has to figure out the genealogies of each family to avoid making a mistake and ending up losing more than he gains.
Not only is my body tired, but my mind is tired too.
Unfortunately, his superior had a habit of assigning extra tasks at the last minute, taking advantage of him. Despite the many disadvantages, he tolerated it because he didn't have to scheme against his colleagues while on business trips and the allowance was sufficient.
Qin Li continued the conversation with a laugh.
"Shao Mei is a great contributor, her salary should be increased."
Professional matters should naturally be left to professionals. Qin Li was not skilled in craftsmanship, so he gave these blueprints and documents to the Mohists in the Directorate of Works. Shen Tang immediately summoned Bei Qiu to discuss the matter.
When Bei Qiu arrived, the group learned the whole story from Shen Tang. This pile of things inexplicably possessed a captivating charm in their eyes, firmly grabbing their attention and making it impossible to tear them apart.
"Thank you for the gift, my lord!"
Without a second thought, Bei Qiu immediately expressed his gratitude, fearing that the Ministry of Works might snatch the project away if he hesitated. Among the Three Departments and Six Ministries, only the Ministry of Works was headed by two Vice Ministers, overseeing engineering projects within Kangguo, which partially overlapped with the responsibilities of the Directorate of Works. Some tasks that were uniquely the responsibility of the Ministry of Works had also been handled by the Directorate of Works in recent years. The relationship between the Directorate of Works and the Ministry of Works was delicate.
Bei Qiu, a master craftsman from the Mohist school, is ambitious and dedicated to the development of the Mohist school. As people need to eat grains, the Mohist school wants to grow stronger, so it needs to attract people with good benefits. Over the years, it has competed with the Ministry of Works for more staff and better treatment of talent.
She had a vague premonition that the two departments had overlapping responsibilities and would definitely need to be merged and streamlined in the future, with clear division of labor to reduce redundant staff. The question then arose: who would be laid off? Who would be absorbed? Bei Qiu couldn't possibly allow the Ministry of Works to swallow up the Mo family's stronghold.
To preserve everything we have now, or even advance further in the future, the Directorate of Works must surpass the Ministry of Public Works! How can this be achieved?
You've done a great service!
What will the Ministry of Works have to compete with her on?
Unaware of the burning fighting spirit ignited in Bei Qiu's mind, Shen Tang solemnly instructed, "The situation is urgent, and you don't have much time left. You need to solve it as soon as possible, and then teach the soldiers how to steer the warships."
Led by Bei Qiu, the Mohists completely analyzed and deciphered these warships, creating warship models. They then had the accompanying scribes record these models, and finally used their spiritual power to transform them into real warships. Each warship was assigned soldiers, who, after learning to operate them, underwent a last-minute crash course to make them barely usable. Normally, training a navy would take at least one or two years, and sometimes three to five years. However, with the Mohists providing a significant advantage, the most time-consuming and costly step—building warships—was actually the simplest.
Once the warship problem is solved, it will be much easier for the soldiers to get started.
Shen Tang couldn't guarantee anything else, but the discipline, habits, and learning abilities of these soldiers were among the best of their time. She was exceptionally persistent in ensuring the soldiers were literate. Besides military training, the army also had numerous monthly and semi-annual written exams. She even set KPIs for each of the commanders of the military garrisons!
Soldiers with different lengths of service have different literacy rates.
Those who fail to meet literacy standards will be held accountable.
Literacy programs account for a significant portion of military spending, which the Chinese military and civilian officials find incomprehensible. They argue that soldiers only need to learn how to fight; why invest unnecessary effort? The money could be used to purchase more supplies and recruit more soldiers. What's the use of literacy? Enlisted soldiers are already past the age of basic education; literacy won't change their fate. At best, it might turn an illiterate and unruly soldier into a literate one, but it won't enhance their combat effectiveness.
Even some elderly people expressed their doubts.
Even those from wealthy but humble families felt this was a waste.
Shen Tang remained defiant: "Reading and writing can enlighten people, teach them propriety, morality, and a sense of shame, and instill in them a sense of social order and patriotism. How can you say it's useless? Besides, they're illiterate; explaining anything to them is a waste of time."
If you want to brainwash someone, the other person must first be able to understand you.
What's the use of just fighting and killing?
There's a saying among the common people: "Bandits pass by like a comb, soldiers pass by like a fine-toothed comb." The common people hate soldiers more than bandits. Isn't this because when warlords fight, their soldiers are unrestrained and do things even more brutally than bandits? To change this impression and discipline the soldiers, you can't just use fists; you also need to learn to educate them with your mind!
There are very few things that Shen Tang is determined to do that he cannot accomplish.
After all these years, we can finally see the results.
They are disciplined, swift in action, and have a strong learning ability. The soldiers are closely united and can change formations with great efficiency whenever a sudden battle occurs. Even in the face of a tough battle, their fighting spirit and will can sustain them for longer, so that they will not flee at the first sign of a rout or defeat.
Naturally, they crammed at the last minute, learning how to steer warships and coordinate operations, and were able to do a decent job in a short period of time.
Everything is ready; all that's left is for Bei Qiu to find a breakthrough.
In order to speed up the process, Yun Ce was also transferred there.
Even those not formally employed by the supervisory board can lend a hand.
Bei Qiu was so busy that she didn't even have time to drink a sip of tea. When she looked up, she saw Yun Ce's bitter smile still lingering on his lips. The pressure made her a little angry—the resentment of a corporate slave rushing to finish a job was heavier than that of a vengeful ghost: "I'm doing you a disservice by assisting me, General Yun?"
Her anger only made Yun Ce feel good.
He solicitously offered the other person a piece of pastry.
“I am not very capable, and I am afraid of delaying the development of Peking University.”
"Incompetent?"
She seemed to be conjuring up some image, and slapped the half-pasture back at Yun Ce, who caught it with his canine teeth. The young man in the tight-fitting clothes followed behind her and commented, "Too much sugar, it's a bit too sweet."
"Have some decency! When did you become so petty?" Bei Qiu thought of how Xianyu Jian had to knead dough and make pastries to serve his senior brother before being transferred to another army, and felt that Yun Ce was also inhuman. What an honest person! Who taught him to be so bad?
"How could I be being mischievous and bullying him?" Yun Ce chatted with her while condensing warship parts into proportionally smaller ones according to Bei Qiu's data, trying to help her relax her tense nerves. "You don't know why Zi Gu went to learn this cooking skill."
Bei Qiu really didn't know, so she looked up at him, waiting for an explanation.
Yun Ce said, "Last year, near the end of the year, didn't you have a poor appetite for a while? When Zi Gu came off duty from the camp, he happened to see you vomiting and feeling unwell. He thought you were pregnant and told me privately that I shouldn't worry about having the baby, that he would take care of it. He completely copied that Gong Xi Chou."
Xianyu Jian's logic is very simple.
Bei Qiu certainly couldn't let go of the Imperial Workshop and wouldn't have time to take care of the child. Yun Ce, having received enlightenment from Yun Da, was also going to strive for the twentieth rank of Marquis and wouldn't be able to spare the mind to raise offspring. Both of them were orphans without parents and no elders to help them share the burden. After thinking it over, they realized that only their fellow disciple could be of help.
Who else but him could do this?
Furthermore, with Gong Xichou having been enjoying taking care of his niece for the past two years, Xianyu Jian readily assumed the role of uncle. When it comes to childcare, a family uncle/father is always more convenient and reliable. During that period, Xianyu Jian and Gong Xichou became very close, so close that even Yun Ce became suspicious.
I didn't think much of it at the time.
Xianyu Jian was saved by Gongxi Chou back then, so it's normal for the two to have dealings. Yun Ce, as his fellow disciple, wouldn't interfere.
Bei Qiu: "..."
Yun Ce sighed helplessly, “He doesn’t even realize that his senior brother and Xun Yong’an are ultimately different from you and Gongxi Nujun.”
Gong Xilai was an ordinary woman who had wasted her life until she was nearly thirty. She didn't know how much longer she could stay with Xun Ding with her mortal body, so it was understandable that she was eager to have an offspring. Bei Qiu was capable of cultivation and had no worries about her lifespan. She was preoccupied with the development of the Mohist school and studying the "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature). Marriage and childbirth would take up too much of her energy and time.
This can be seen from the fact that Yun Ce has been an unofficial member of the Imperial Workshop for many years, yet still remains nameless and without official rank. Bei Qiu is not in a hurry, nor is Yun Ce; he is engrossed in cultivation, while Bei Qiu is an unexpected figure outside of martial arts. Ultimately, he is luckier than his ancestors and mentor.
The sky is vast and the earth is wide; the future is long.
Bei Qiu said, "Zi Gu, let's keep it for now."
It may not be useful now, but it might come in handy someday.
Yun Ce agreed: "That's what I think too."
Bei Qiu chuckled when she saw that he could shamelessly agree: "Is this how you act as a senior brother? You have no manners!"
Yun Ce said, "When we were young at the mountain gate, Zi Gu was the closest to me. How many times did he wet the bed and I, his senior brother, get up in the middle of the night to clean up the mess for him? I wasn't much older back then... Sometimes Zi Gu was still half asleep and was afraid of being punished by Master, so he lied several times and said that I was the one who wet the bed. How many times did I take the blame for him?"
Since Wei Shou and the others comforted him, Yun Ce has become much more talkative in front of Bei Qiu, and he would often mention his childhood in the mountains, even carving his childhood appearance out of ice. Yun Ce grew up to be strikingly handsome, and as a child he was also incredibly cute, which naturally made Bei Qiu feel sorry for him.
"It's only right that he helps me share the burden in the future."
How many urine-soaked sheets and blankets did the senior brother wash for the junior brother?
It's normal for the junior apprentice to wash diapers for the senior apprentice's child in the future.
Bei Qiubai said to him, "...Shameless."
The young man said with an upright expression, "It's clearly a brotherly relationship."
I don't know what kind of feng shui Kangguo has, most of the elders are lonely and single, and the younger generation is obsessed with cultivation. When Yun Ce heard Xianyu Jian say that he wanted to raise his future offspring, he was dumbfounded.
With that kind of energy, couldn't you support yourself?
Xianyu Jian should have been getting married long ago.
Over the years, many noblewomen have taken a liking to his junior brother, some even possessing excellent character and cultivation, yet he has never shown any interest. Xianyu Jian pondered seriously: [Never thought about it…no interest…isn't our lord also quite old and still single?]
The high priest of the Gongxi clan followed diligently, yet the lord never gave him a single glance that went beyond that of a subject to a ruler. His attitude was only exceptionally enthusiastic when he was being ordered around.
This can also be seen from Bei Qiu—
When it comes to career, a man's looks are utterly insignificant.
Even someone as handsome and good-looking as my senior brother is still nameless and without status.
Yun Ce: [My lord still has grand ambitions and great undertakings yet to be accomplished.]
Xianyu Jian retorted: "That won't cause any problems."
Yun Ce: [...You're still young.]
Xianyu Jian refused his senior brother's urging to get married and have children, saying he preferred to settle things as they were. He planned to wait until the world was at peace and his sister-in-law was willing to have children, then he would take care of their child, which would be a fulfilling life for him.
Yun Ce: [...]
The two chatted casually, but their actions were perfectly coordinated, and before long a miniature ice crystal warship floated on the water.
If it could be scaled up proportionally, a single warship could hold a thousand people!
Of course, this warship was not the largest.
"This ship has been abandoned?"
"The structure is not easy to withstand strong winds and it is easy to sink."
Among the many blueprints, there was a large ship that could accommodate three thousand people. Bei Qiu originally intended to focus on this ship, but after a simple data analysis, he discarded it. It was barely usable for transportation, but if used for combat, it would probably have difficulty even crossing the river.
Yun Ce watched as the tiny figures on the ice crystal warship moved in an orderly fashion, mimicking actions such as turning and advancing: "Wouldn't a thousand people be too few?"
"There are too many. Generally, five hundred people can operate them. According to calculations, the morale is enough to drive the warships, but in order to form combat power, auxiliary ships are still needed to provide support and ensure mobility. Otherwise, it will just be a clumsy, moving floating target..."
Yun Ce pointed to another long, narrow boat.
"What's the use of this?"
"This is a Mengchong, used for clearing the way during surprise attacks."
"A surprise attack to clear the way?"
"Simply put, it's about using ships to ram the enemy." Based on these drawings, Bei Qiu could glean some insights into the characteristics of naval warfare in the southwestern countries. "Look at these ships, they're also Mengchong. Their bows and sterns are very special. The crossbow windows and spear holes are where the soldiers fight. They use these to pierce the enemy ships and sink them."
What about these?
Yun Ce also noticed that some ships were wider.
It clearly lacks the capability to engage in collisions, but structurally, the hull is quite stable and not easily capsized or sunk by wind and waves.
"These were used to carry military equipment, such as ladders, chariots, and catapults, to assist in protecting the main ship and support the Mengchong."
Judging from the blueprints, all the functions are clearly defined.
Given the quality of Kangguo soldiers, it wouldn't be difficult for them to get started.
“Naval warfare is similar to land warfare, except that the battlefield is moved from land to water. The biggest difficulty in training a navy is how to make warships move like an extension of one's own arm, directing them wherever one points and attacking wherever one points. Warships move by the soldiers rowing, and unifying their direction and speed requires years of tacit understanding.”
And these are precisely the things that Kang Guo excels at.
Commanding warships is now much easier.
No one is more suited to naval warfare than Master Qin.
He had complete control over the entire battlefield, from how the warships turned to what angle, how they maintained distance from each other, and how they coordinated their movements. He could command the soldiers to row. Once the battlefield was under control, the division of labor among the other soldiers was no different from that on land.
Land warfare was Kangguo's forte.
Although Kang Guoxue had an advantage in naval warfare, the operation should be kept as simple as possible. The Director of Works quickly scaled down all the blueprints and tested them on warships, selecting the best formations. Chong Yun Ce beckoned: "Your handwriting is beautiful, help me copy it."
Copy the instruction manual.
＿|￣|○
Mercury retrograde continues in September.
The phone was found in the crevices between the headboard and the wall, but my child suddenly developed a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius that night. I was completely numb and couldn't get him to take the fever-reducing medicine no matter how much I coaxed or tricked him... He was running around everywhere with such a high fever. I really suspect that if I gave him a phone, he could walk all day...
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