Chapter 1497 (1496): Agricultural Drones (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
No need to ask, it won't work.
Shen Tang said it.
If it were anyone else, they would argue with Shen Tang, and she wasn't one to act arbitrarily. However, Yun Ce wasn't that kind of person. He always stopped short of forcing things, disliked pushing boundaries, and only asked: "Why?"
Shen Tang was also willing to give an explanation.
[The timing and occasion are wrong.] At the same time, he affirmed Yun Ce's ingenious idea, [Yuan Mou's suggestion is indeed brilliant. If the Supervisor of Works could turn this idea into reality, it would benefit countless farmers, especially in mountainous areas. Terraced fields are plentiful, and farmers suffer greatly from the uneven terrain, making their work difficult. The flying objects you mentioned could save manpower and perhaps even be used for transporting produce.]
Given the choice, people will naturally migrate to areas with flat terrain and abundant arable land. In contrast, mountainous areas are more difficult to cultivate, have higher farmland maintenance costs, and are less efficient in spring planting and autumn harvesting. Yun Ce's proposed flying creatures could indeed be remarkably effective.
As Shen Tang described it, the ministers were visibly moved.
It's not needed now, but it will be useful in many places in the future.
Sure enough, someone immediately started flattering him: "General Yun is a man of unparalleled talent and wisdom, truly putting us all to shame."
[Possessing both literary and military talents, he rose through the ranks to become both a general and a prime minister. What is truly admirable is that he always kept the common people in his heart. He is truly worthy of respect!]
As for whether the emergence of such flying creatures will cause some farmers to lose their land, which they depend on for their livelihood, there is no need to worry about that for the time being. The Lord is very strict about this matter. One of the red lines is that the sale and purchase of land grants is not allowed under normal circumstances. Even in exceptional circumstances, transaction records must be filed with the state, county, and county governments, and the files must be sent to the Ministry of Revenue for random inspection and investigation. If any discrepancies are found, the source will be traced and the entire family will be held accountable.
Law is not devoid of human sentiment, and reason is not devoid of human nature. If a family's situation is truly dire, to the point of desperation and having to sell everything they own, forcing them to use their allocated land, the government can help with the mortgage process. Based on the local average yield per mu, this allows them to borrow several years' worth of income in advance to cope with the crisis. Only if they are truly unable to recover will the government redistribute these mortgaged allocated lands.
To the greatest extent possible, the land allocated to commoners was prevented from being seized by local gentry and powerful families through trickery and force. Of course, few dared to defy the rules.
To put it simply—
The swords of Damocles still hang over the heads of all the civil and military officials. Shen Youli is not dead yet, so it's not up to demons and monsters to make her suffer.
Currently, it seems that Yun Ce's proposal is more beneficial than harmful.
The shower of compliments made Yun Ce blush.
Your praise is excessive; I am unworthy to accept it.
He wasn't used to his colleagues' sudden fawning.
No one felt that there was anything wrong with their enthusiasm.
Civil officials recorded their political achievements, while military generals recorded their military exploits.
If you don't want to get involved, then don't occupy the toilet without doing your job.
Think about the products produced by the Imperial Workshop over the years: the Mohist-style cotton threshing machine, the seeder, the tiller… which one didn't sell out as soon as it was released? Demand far exceeded supply! Counties and prefectures begged and pleaded for a few extra units, but couldn't get any. It was only when the Imperial Workshop's production capacity increased that the shortage was alleviated, and the first batch made a fortune effortlessly. One can imagine the fierce competition among officials when these flying machines are unveiled. Whoever masters the weapon first will gain the upper hand in this battle.
The group was quick-witted and adept at drawing inferences from one instance to another.
Besides agricultural use, flying objects can be developed for other purposes in the future, such as transporting timber from the mountains (the high price of *huangchang ticou* (a type of timber) is due not only to the value of the timber itself but also to the high labor costs of transportation) and transporting agricultural products from the mountains (helping farmers expand their sales channels)...
These tactics are all guarantees of political achievements!
Yun Ce's proposal was indeed a leap forward.
Shen Tang simply made an exception and issued the task of creating flying objects to the Imperial Workshop as quickly as possible. There was no deadline for this project, and the budget was generous, so the sooner it was completed, the better. When Bei Qiu received the news, he was a little stunned—budgets were like that; if you exceeded the budget, you could submit a memorial and apply for another one, but if the budget was not used up by the end of the project, the surplus could not be kept or misappropriated and had to be turned over to the national treasury.
The process is as follows.
However, to encourage the Jiangzuojian (a department in charge of project management) to do practical work, the more surplus the project had, the more the annual bonus would be. Moreover, this portion was all legal and legitimate income for the Jiangzuojian staff, and they could even enjoy a share of the project's future profits. The percentage wasn't high, but it was a steady and long-term benefit.
What's the difference between this and a hen that lays golden eggs?
As time goes on, it's inevitable that some people will become jealous.
Although the Imperial Academy of Works was not explicitly targeted, Bei Qiu had heard rumors circulating privately. While these rumors did not cause any real harm, they were a signal that made Bei Qiu somewhat wary. What she wanted was not the Mo family's temporary glory, but for it to stand firm like an evergreen tree.
To ensure that the spirit and knowledge of the Mohist school can be passed down from generation to generation.
Bei Qiu originally planned that after Kangguo was almost unified, he would find an excuse to talk to the lord about splitting off some of the current powers of the Directorate of Works to form a new department, creating a healthy competitive relationship between the two or three parties, and absorbing some people from different backgrounds.
Clearly define the boundaries between civilian and official use.
She kept this plan a secret from everyone, even Yun Ce, with only one or two elders of the Mo family knowing her true intentions. Retiring at the height of her power was, in a way, a form of indirect competition. Bei Qiu had played a crucial role in the Mo family's current success and strongly supported her decision. The other Mo members, unaware of the inside story, were simply happy to hear the good news, at most offering a half-hearted complaint about how tiring it was.
He even patted Yun Ce on the shoulder approvingly, making Yun Ce's ears turn red: "[Yuan Mou truly lives up to his reputation as the son-in-law of the Mo family. Look at his extraordinary comprehension; he always thinks of us when there's something good to be had. It's time for you to find a partner.]"
Yun Ce was surrounded and couldn't escape the teasing, her pretty face blushing.
Having finally gained my freedom, I was surprised to find my forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Everyone was a bit too enthusiastic.
Why does Zhoukou look so troubled? Is it possible that these flying creatures are difficult to deal with? Even with the current capabilities of the Mohists, they have no clue?
No, that's not it, it's just—
Yun Ce worried: "Is it because they're too busy?"
[They're worried about being hated later.]
Three question marks popped up on Yun Ce's forehead: [Hated by others?]
Who do these "scroll kings" who would rather hang themselves at the gate of the Imperial Workshop than not get a few more "political achievement guarantee tools"?
Do you hate Zhoukou?
These words felt unfamiliar to him.
Seeing his blank and vacant eyes, Bei Qiu chuckled and beckoned with her finger. Yun Ce floated over like a floating balloon, and when they were only an arm's length apart, Bei Qiu grabbed the end of Yun Ce's hair that fell over his shoulder and gently pulled him closer.
[Does Yuanmou know how much I am worth now?]
Yun Ce truly didn't know: [I don't know.]
As an unmarried man without parents or extended family, he possessed a certain carefree spirit. His material needs were sufficient for basic survival and a level of wealth above the average for officials in Kangguo. Moreover, military men made money quickly from battles, and he even took on ice-making jobs during the hottest days of summer.
He himself hadn't even figured out how much savings he had, so why would he care about Zhoukou's finances? He just needed to know that Zhoukou had money to spend. Yun Ce thought for a moment: [Is Zhoukou short of money?]
Things that can be solved with money and force are not considered big problems.
Yun Ce hesitated for a moment: "After the battle is over, shall I have the steward send you the household account books and the keys to the storeroom?"
In his view, managing accounts was not an easy task.
Once you take over the money bag, you have to devote more attention to taking care of the household's needs. Bei Qiu is usually very busy, so how could she spend her precious energy on worldly possessions? This is also one of the reasons why Yun Ce and she never inquire about each other's wealth; managing the household is not an easy job.
That's a great job; everyone would want to take it.
People flock to things only when there is profit to be made.
What good job can you get if you don't get robbed?
Bei Qiu slightly increased the pressure on her hand: [When have I ever been short of money? You blockhead, if we're talking about wealth, I'm probably three times your amount.] This is even with Yun Ce's usual frugal lifestyle; if he were to spend lavishly, it would be several times that amount.
This truth is quite astonishing.
You have to understand that Yun Ce is a high-ranking military general. In this chaotic world with frequent wars, if even a military general like him can't make a decent living, how are the others supposed to survive? It's quite surprising that Bei Qiu can easily say that he is three times more than Yun Ce.
After thinking about it carefully, Yun Ce felt it made sense.
The Imperial Workshop (Jiangzuojian) has been incredibly influential in recent years. It wasn't an office that relied solely on political maneuvering; the Mohist school, led by Zhoukou, produced many beneficial works for the country and its people, which were successfully promoted among the common folk. Little by little, they accumulated a considerable fortune, which is understandable.
Furthermore, the Mohists advocated frugality, and Zhoukou disliked extravagance; it would be strange if they hadn't accumulated wealth: [So?]
Bei Qiu twirled the end of his hair with her fingers: [This is enviable.]
Yun Ce chuckled: "[This is only a little bit and it's already making people jealous?]"
Bei Qiu's lips stiffened: 【You—】
Yun Ce cupped her raised finger in his palm and coaxed, "Zhou Kou, don't be angry, don't be angry. I didn't mean to laugh at you at all. I just think Zhou Kou doesn't need to be so cautious. If anyone is truly jealous, they should be jealous of high-ranking military officers with military merits first. It's far from the point of 'the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked,' so what is Zhou Kou afraid of? Even if the sky falls, it will hit the tall one like me first."
Bei Qiu: [Really?]
[Of course it's true.] Yun Ce hadn't expected Bei Qiu to worry about this, but then he thought it made sense. The Mo family had only risen to prominence in the last ten years or so; before that, they were poor. They probably couldn't imagine how truly "rich" they were. [As long as the money is from a legitimate source, outsiders may be envious, but they won't lose much. There's no tax evasion, no corruption, so what is there to fear?]
Having a clean background gives you confidence to speak.
Those who are guilty are the ones who are dishonest.
Yun Ce paused for a moment, then explained to Bei Qiu the true meaning of "wealth": "Leaving aside me, just consider my teacher's past... he owned ten thousand warhorses alone. Do you know how large a horse farm is needed to support so many warhorses? He could also raise three thousand elite cavalrymen without hesitation."
In other words, Yunda is not interested in other mundane things.
Those established families with deep roots secretly cultivate far more than ten thousand acres of land. They have taken away far more than ten thousand tenant farmers. What the Northern Chiu family is doing is nothing.
Powerful families often resort to dirty tricks to expand their wealth, and many dare not speak out against it. But the Imperial Workshop is different. Bei Qiu's current fortune is clean; she has a good political reputation and enjoys widespread praise from the people. She didn't plunder the people's wealth. Who wouldn't be envious of her?
Bei Qiu: [...]
Yun Ce looked at her with some nervousness.
I feel like I said something wrong.
He added: "However, Zhoukou's concerns are not unfounded. His foresight alone surpasses that of countless others. There are many in this world who are blinded by greed and lose their true selves to worldly pleasures. With Zhoukou strategizing for the Mohists, the Mohists will surely endure."
Bei Qiu's concerns are not unreasonable.
It's just that we haven't reached that point yet.
Bei Qiu remained silent, but tightened her grip on his hair, further closing the distance between them: "Your lips are beautiful."
Yun Ce: [Huh?]
Using it for speaking is a waste.
Yun Ce: [Oh.]
Overall, the supervisory office will receive another sum of money.
This made the already impoverished family's situation even worse.
With Yun Ce's words, Bei Qiu temporarily abandoned her plan to retire while still ahead, but she didn't give up the idea of separating the Imperial Workshop from the family in the future. Yun Ce was puzzled; she hooked her finger and straightened Bei Qiu's clothes: "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me. How can one person alone do it all?"
Over time, he came to believe that he was the "master".
Bei Qiu increasingly sensed that the atmosphere had been off in the past two years: "A donkey needs a whip to move, and some people have the same problem."
A healthy competitive environment is the greatest driving force for maintaining vitality.
Having ideals alone is not enough; one must also have rivals. If there are no rivals, then create them. She said, "The joy of competing with others is endless."
Yun Ce nodded: "...That makes sense."
He wholeheartedly agreed with this.
The reason why Kang Guowen and his generals were so ambitious was because they had too many rivals. Everyone was vying for political achievements and military merits. If there wasn't this competitive atmosphere, could they have made such a fuss? People can't rest. Once they rest, all they think about is how to enjoy themselves, and they get corrupted!
Gu Chi assured that he hadn't been eavesdropping on these conversations on purpose.
His knowledge meant that Shen Tang also knew.
Shen Tang: "Young people should be energetic."
She was very pleased that Bei Qiuyun was able to grasp the essence of involution.
Gu Chi wanted to roll his eyes at her.
It's unclear what kind of bizarre feng shui Kangguo has, but it's known for producing many "scrolling kings" (kings who excel at writing and practicing calligraphy). Sometimes Gu Chi even wanted to kneel down and beg them to stop, only to find that he could still produce "scrolling kings" even while kneeling. Among these "scrolling kings," women are particularly skilled in both literature and martial arts; Shao Xuan had said something similar before.
"What did Shao Xuan say?"
"Sea monsters that don't swim fast will be entangled by barnacles, and the same goes for people. If officials stop moving forward, they will be corrupted by power and forget their original intentions. Therefore, it is the right thing to do is to find more things for your colleagues to do." If you don't pursue merit when you enter officialdom, what are you pursuing? Spring rolls?
Qin Li was almost amused by the sight of the ruler and his minister.
The crowd is indignant, saying he's just trying to gain political achievements, while he's the only one who actually does the work.
"No, Fang Laoliu was preparing the antidote. Lingde and her subordinates burned the insect eggs, emptying their dantian."
How can you say that only Qin Li was working on catching cloud formations?
Of all the workers, he is currently the most relaxed.
The central continent is different from the northwestern continent.
Rainfall is scarce in the northwest, and the various prefectures and counties frequently erupt into heated arguments over a single cloud, some even claiming it as their own if it drifts across their territory, labeling anyone who tries to claim it as a robber. Farces involving complaints to the royal court are commonplace. The Imperial Observatory keeps a close watch on the cloud formations within the country, their eyes nearly blurry, fearing that a cloud might accidentally drift past the intended rainfall area.
The situation is different in the central continent.
Catching cloud clusters is very easy because there's no shortage of them.
How dare Qin Li complain about being tired?
Gu Chi's shameless remark nearly made Qin Li choke with anger: "What a shameless scoundrel! I, Qin, am ashamed to be associated with you!"
Gu Chi's response—
He took out a handkerchief to cover his lips and leaned towards Shen Tang.
"Waaaaah, my lord, look at him~"
Shen Tang: "..."
_(:3」∠)_
I remember really enjoying the prehistoric fantasy genre in my younger days. After a few years, rereading it reignited my passion. Unfortunately, there aren't many female-oriented prehistoric fantasy novels these days, and I can't get into the male-oriented ones (my child still prefers romance novels and doesn't really enjoy intrigue and power struggle stories).
P.S.: Are there any plot devices like online novel authors writing about the romantic histories of mythical figures from prehistoric times, only to have the actual characters' love lives exposed in the serialized content?
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