Chapter 888: The Mohist School, Envisioning Mechanized Farming (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"You just got back and you've already 'heard' about it?"
Shen Tang glanced at Kang Nian, who had just entered the tent, and gave him a few points of her gaze.
Hehe, I guess you heard it from Kang Bosui?
Kang Nian bowed and said, "Greetings, Lord Shen."
One shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Shen Tang, out of respect for Kang Shi, didn't make things difficult for his brother. Instead, she asked him with concern, "Won't Bo Sui's stay here for two or three days cause any disruption to clan affairs?"
Kang Nian replied, "My third brother is helping with household affairs."
If she couldn't return from that Hongmen Banquet, the heavy responsibility of clan leader would be handed over to her third brother. Shen Tang tactfully didn't mention why it wasn't handed over to her second brother, with her third brother assisting him. Kang Shi never spoke of the Kang family's affairs, and as the patriarch, she didn't have a penchant for prying into their private lives.
Kang Shi smiled and drew Shen Tang's attention back.
"Where are those athletes now?"
Shen Tang was unaware of the bet between the two brothers, but she felt that Kang Shi paid excessive attention to the young leeks and guessed that there was someone from his past among them. She didn't mind showing off her high regard for Kang Shi in front of Kang Nian: "Them? I've handed them over to the Yuan Mou brothers to train. They are all young and impetuous, and they are bound to be a bit arrogant when they first arrive. I'll arrange for them to be tempered first."
Kang Nian secretly glanced at his younger brother.
See? See? He said Shen Jun was licentious and dissolute.
There's even a "Yuanmou Brothers" thing? I never expected that Shen Jun, who looks so young, is so experienced, and has a pair of sisters in his backyard... no, brothers!
Kang Shi was already used to his master's incomprehensible way of talking to him.
Without showing any emotion, he said, "I'm curious about the progress."
Shen Tang felt increasingly uneasy: "It's only been a few days, these pampered young masters probably aren't used to it yet. But Ji Shou's concerns are justified. Since each family has entrusted them to me, I can't neglect them. I should indeed show them more care."
Kang Nian shamelessly followed.
If he wins this bet, he can then offer Kang Shi terms.
For example, let Shiro go home.
Shen Tang led the Kang brothers to inspect Yun Ce's camp. The location was somewhat remote, and normally it would take a whole day of bumpy travel, but for Shen Tang, this distance was less than the time it would take to drink half a cup of tea. Kang Nian had barely left the camp when he couldn't help but turn back.
Kang Shi grabbed his arm: "What happened?"
Kang Nian asked, "Doesn't Lord Shen have any guards with him?"
Did he leave the main camp area alone with the two of them?
They weren't afraid of attracting any unexpected trouble.
Shen Tang: "Why bring guards? With my strength, it would take at least tens of thousands of elite troops to kill me. My scouts aren't just for show; how could they not have any information about such a large enemy force? Besides, I can kill indiscriminately!"
In a normal world of martial power, feudal lords would indeed need to be careful about security, as they could be ambushed and killed by unknown forces if they were alone. However, the martial power in this world is abnormal, and Shen Tang is at the very top of the pyramid.
With her exceptional skills and boundless courage, she was fearless.
Kang Nian felt something was amiss, but since he wasn't Shen Tang's subordinate, he knew that saying anything would only offend others, so he simply kept quiet. The three of them moved extremely quickly, and before the sun had even had time to set, they had already reached the camp of Yun Ce's troops. Kang Shi stepped forward, revealed his identity, and proceeded without hindrance.
Along the way, the military was impeccably dressed and disciplined.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Shen Tang has indeed achieved this level of success because he has a knack for managing troops.
"Yuanmou, what happened to the people I entrusted to you?"
This was the first time Kang Nian had met Yun Ce.
Subconsciously comparing his appearance to those scions of noble families, whether in terms of strength, talent, or even appearance and demeanor, the latter were indeed inferior. Martial artists with Yun Ce's temperament are truly rare; they can leave a deep impression at a single glance.
Upon hearing the news, Yun Ce rushed over and bowed with clasped hands.
"At first, I was not convinced."
Shen Tang asked, "And now?"
Yun Ce honestly replied, "Zi Gu beat me into submission."
Shen Tang hadn't expected this, and coughed awkwardly, trying to smooth things over: "...Bo Sui, well, no one can rise above others without enduring hardship. They're all martial artists, and they make friends through martial arts, so it's inevitable that they'll fight and spar. You can't become useful without fighting!"
Kang Nian said with a somber expression, "What Mr. Shen said is true."
But he was inwardly astonished.
He learned something new—the harem, where women gather, is often like still waters running deep; the surface is calm, but undercurrents surge beneath. The harem, where men gather, has no regard for appearances and resorts to violence directly.
The rites and music have collapsed! The rites and music have truly collapsed!
Shen Tang took a deep breath: "Let's go see them."
Each clan prioritizes physical appearance when selecting young martial artists to offer as tribute, with little regard for talent; all are considered either lower or lower-middle tier. As members of a collateral branch, they receive slightly better resources and treatment than ordinary collateral branches, relying on their cultivation talent. While not truly pampered, they have certainly never suffered any major hardships. When they were sent, the clan clearly explained their purpose for being there.
To put it nicely, this is a blind date.
To put it bluntly, they were male concubines offered up for their services.
Although Shen Youli's reputation within her aristocratic family is far more negative than positive, it's undeniable that she wields immense power in the Northwest and is, in fact, the ruler of a nation. If one could catch her eye and become Shen Tang's lover, even if it meant sharing her with other men, they would still gain access to the pinnacle of power, a position they could never achieve in their lifetimes. If they could win her favor, she might even allocate the nation's destiny to them, allowing even those with inferior talent to achieve breakthroughs. Power, influence, and status—what man could resist such allure?
So what if he's a male concubine?
People only care about success.
The halo of success can obscure the muddy path that leads to it.
Success and fame are the most important things!
They were young, but ambitious, knowing exactly what they wanted and what choices they had made. Even if they initially felt awkward and ashamed of their actions, upon seeing the magnificent and well-organized camp with its banners billowing in the sky, and realizing that the woman they needed to please controlled this mighty army, their minds burned with desire, and they cast aside all shame and concerns.
If one day they could use Shen Tang as a medium to control this lion and use it for their own purposes, what would the shame of being subservient to a woman matter? Unfortunately, their first meeting with Shen Tang was too formal; everyone was present, and no small movements were allowed. Shen Tang only chose a few of the most outstanding individuals to question, leaving those not chosen feeling disheartened and utterly disappointed.
After the darkest hour comes the dawn.
They were all kept behind.
This means that they all have equal opportunities!
I was secretly eager to try, but the result was—
They were handed over to Yun Yuanmou the night before.
This is different from what they initially envisioned.
[Don't you need to serve me in bed?]
[Are we going to teach them the rules first, like in the royal court's talent selection?]
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
the next day--
Before dawn, they were forcibly awakened by the suona horns blaring from the camp. The soldiers in the camp were on regular rotations, taking turns training, farming, and clearing land. The twenty or so young martial artists could easily handle the camp's intense training. What really broke their spirit was clearing land!
Soldiers who pioneered the land were divided into warrior soldiers and ordinary soldiers.
Both sides cooperated seamlessly and worked diligently.
A squad leader discovered these men blatantly slacking off and came up to reprimand them. When the reprimands failed to deter them, he raised his hand and lashed out with a whip. The whip broke, and the squad leader was also severely beaten, causing a commotion among the nearby soldiers who were clearing land, which gradually escalated into a small-scale brawl.
The news was reported up through the ranks until it reached Xianyu Jian.
He arrived and calmed things down, then found out what had happened.
Upon learning that about twenty newcomers had started the trouble and even bullied the squad leader, the authorities were about to invoke military law to punish the young martial artists who had attacked them. The young martial artists naturally resisted and spoke rudely. Xian Yujian, one of the earliest veterans of Shen Tang's group, was young but highly experienced. He immediately sneered, glancing at the ignorant crowd: "Refusing to admit guilt?"
Why should you confess to your crimes after deliberately humiliating me?
Xianyu Jian looked over indifferently: "Ha, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! What do you think this place is? Anyone who disobeys orders here will be punished according to military law!"
Even if the lord violates military law, he must reflect on his actions!
Young martial artists are not easily intimidated.
They were certain that making a big fuss would embarrass Shen Tang.
The young military general in front of them was just bluffing.
Which person in a position can tolerate having their dignity slapped?
result--
They were rewarded with a severe beating.
Xianyu Jian's strength was more than enough to easily defeat them, and the martial artists recovered quickly. Even if they were still feeling unwell the next day, they still had to go back to the fields to cultivate the land. They couldn't beat Xianyu Jian, so they could only swallow their anger for the time being. They thought they would have to suffer for a while longer, and that Shen Tang would secretly complain about them later, but they didn't expect Shen Tang to arrive so quickly. One by one, the group of young martial artists dropped their tools.
They bowed in unison and said, "Greetings, Lord Shen."
Kang Shi whispered to his brother from behind.
"Fragile yet strong, aristocratic families know how to train them."
Kang Nian glared at his troublesome younger brother with annoyance.
Seeing that they weren't missing any limbs, Shen Tang was relieved. Thankfully, they weren't dead; if they had, the powerful families would have given her a lot of trouble. It was better to avoid trouble. She said a few polite words and prepared to leave, but one of them called out to her.
"Jun Shen!"
Shen Tang stopped in her tracks: "Hmm?"
The boy crawled a few steps on his knees, his eyes resolute and stubborn, which surprisingly added a touch of amazement: "I do not accept yesterday's verdict!"
Shen Tang tilted her head: "Why?"
Then he looked at Xianyu Jian and asked, "Is there more to this story?"
The young man looked at Shen Tang, who had asked him the most questions, treated him the kindest, and admired him the most: "General Xianyu is indeed fair in his rewards and punishments, and I am convinced of his fairness. However, if we make mistakes, they should be dealt with by Lord Shen. How can he presume to do so?"
Shen Tang frowned, puzzled: "What does this mean?"
Why should they hand over their mistakes to her to deal with?
A soldier violated military discipline and the king had to intervene?
She was only nominally guiding their cultivation, wanting to get free labor. There was no real master-disciple relationship, so there was no need for such genuine feelings, right? Shen Tang didn't understand these people's logic.
Until the boy made a surprising statement.
"How can a subordinate inflict punishment on the king's family members?"
Shen Tang: "???"
Wait, wait, let her sort out the logic.
What does "the emperor's family members" mean?
Who is the ruler of the country?
Who are the wives and concubines?
Shen Tang turned to his strategist Kang Shi for help.
His eyes clearly said—
[Holy crap, what the hell is that?!]
Her expression seemed genuine, and Kang Nian fell silent as well.
Kang Shi said, "There seems to be a misunderstanding."
Shen Tang's mind was a little foggy: "A misunderstanding?"
Kang Shi smiled, his eyes crinkling.
"He seems to have misunderstood that the lord has feelings for him."
Shen Tang: "..."
In an instant, everything became clear.
She stared at the boy in disbelief, her face a mixture of shock and utter embarrassment: "Why would there be such an absurd misunderstanding? I was instructing you as a student, and you're trying to cheat on your teacher? Before this misunderstanding even started, didn't you take a look at our appearances?"
Shen Tang pointed to her face.
"Such a perfect graduation project from the Creator!"
"He covets that face of his, and he's not even ashamed of himself!"
How could she possibly be interested in someone who doesn't meet her aesthetic standards? Haha, ugly as she is, dreaming is just wishful thinking!
Kang Nian: "..."
Young martial artist: "..."
Kang Shi instantly channeled Gu Chi's spirit: "6..."
Even though he knew his lord's temperament and eccentric thought process, he was still shocked by her astonishing words. Shen Tang had recovered from her shock and patted Xianyu Jian on the shoulder, instructing him, "They can still be saved. You must cure their brains!"
What if you still don't listen?
The whip is smeared with white wine and disinfected while being whipped!
If these little chives don't know what's good for them, they'll all die!
Shen Tang's face was ashen, her emotions surprisingly calm. Even Kang Shi was intimidated by her state. Kang Nian subconsciously touched the family letter with its instructions, not daring to provoke her. Fortunately, she thought this was just an exception; otherwise, Kang Shi would have been in deep trouble.
"Although it is said that 'one who is fond of beauty will admire young women,' but—if he dares to admire my face today, will he dare to seize power and rebel tomorrow?" Shen Tang was still furious. Gu Chi barely made it to the scene and only managed to catch a small part of the crowd. His face was already uncontrollably distorted.
He endured the hardship: "It's not impossible."
Shen Tang felt as if she had found a kindred spirit.
"I said yes!"
"My lord, there's no need to get angry with such a person."
Shen Tang was furious: "If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault! No, we must send someone to reprimand his parents as a warning to others!"
She won't return the person.
The labor of these people is her compensation for emotional distress.
"Very well, as you wish, my lord."
If you just publicly berate them, the story will spread far and wide, and they probably won't do anything similar again. Not only will they not repeat it, but they'll probably even get up in the middle of the night and curse, "Is Shen Youli out of her mind?"
I've lived most of my life and never been this speechless.
"By the way, Shao Mei just sent someone to say that the unconscious Mohists have woken up." Gu Chi was well-versed in changing the subject and successfully diverted Shen Tang's attention. However, he glanced at Kang Nian, the only one who wasn't one of his own. With just one look, Kang Nian realized that Gu Chi didn't like him, and he wisely made an excuse to leave.
Okay, and by the way, I'll renege on the bet with Kang Shi.
Shen Tang took a sip of tea.
"Do all awakened Mohists possess that 'qi'?"
Gu Chi said, "Yes."
I never imagined I'd witness the rise of a new faction in my lifetime, even though I haven't yet seen any great abilities from the Mohists. Although the awakened Mohists don't have the same starting point as the Northern Chicks, it's always more reassuring to have them under our control than in someone else's.
Shen Tang got up to visit the Mohists.
Gu Chi and the others knew her very well.
You could tell just from her disheveled steps—
The lord values this group of Mohists highly.
Kang Shi had just returned and hadn't had time to learn about the matter yet. He asked doubtfully, "...From what I've heard, it doesn't seem to be anything special."
The "excavator" created by Bei Qiu can be broken by a third-class hairpin. The only weapon that can be regarded as a sword and ruler, "Non-Aggression," is not very lethal. As for the toolbox called "Universal Love," it is even more useless and only craftsmen would like it.
Shen Tang shook her head: "No, it's not."
Hearing her confident tone, Kang Shi was even more puzzled.
The lord had only been in contact with the Mohists who could cultivate for a few days, yet the lord's reaction seemed to be that he had grasped the essence? Could it be that the Mohists have some unknown special uses?
Shen Tang said, "Excavator."
Kang Shi and Gu Chi were puzzled.
Shen Tang further explained: "Although the excavators generated in Zhoukou are not durable and may only have this much defensive capability no matter how much they are improved, I don't expect them to generate military facilities for defending or attacking cities. The stage for the Mohists is not on the battlefield!"
Bei Qiu can draw an excavator based on her blueprints.
So, is it possible to create other things?
For example, plows, soil levelers, seeders, harvesters... Although martial artists are highly efficient, their numbers are still far too few compared to ordinary people.
She is a mature lord.
Why can't we try to do both?
Wouldn't that double the efficiency?
It seems that only the Mohists can realize her vision.
With courageous warriors, a full set of mechanized farming methods, increased national fortune, and favorable weather, how much grain could an acre of land produce? And how many people could survive because of this?
That's unthinkable!
After a few years of recuperation, she'll be able to beat all her neighbors to a pulp!
Farming, farming, farming!
She cannot tolerate fields lying fallow in this world!
|ω`)
This chapter wasn't a slip of the tongue due to insomnia; it's a bit longer than a normal two-in-one chapter, barely enough to make up the title.
As for voice input, it's still getting used to because of names and special terms. We're trying to get it on track, and I'll take good care of my left hand.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com