Chapter 13 Qin 13
Taishu Jiu thought it was bad that the King of Qin was surprised by these things now; how would he explain it if the King created other things in the future?
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): What's wrong?]
Zhu Qing'ai had just returned from completing today's packaging and marketing KPIs. Upon her return, she saw Tai Shu Jiu acting as if he had social anxiety, and she suddenly froze, unsure of what to say.
[Host Taishu Jiu: I'm thinking, given the current state of technological development in this era, how will I explain things that are ahead of their time in the future?]
Zhu Qing'ai thought it was something serious, but it turned out to be just like this.
She thought for a moment and replied to Taishu Jiu.
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): What's there to explain? Just tell them the truth. Whether they understand or not is their business. You didn't lie.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): When the steam engine first appeared, even those who didn't know anything about it were shocked, but that didn't stop it from being invented.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): Since it can be created under these conditions, it means others can do it too. It's just that you can do it more easily. It's not like you're making someone die and come back to life, so there's no need to worry about it.]
[Host, Taishu Jiu: So that's how it was solved?]
[Host, Taishu Jiu: Qing'ai, I think I understand.]
Zhu Qing'ai: Hmm... what do you understand?
However, she felt that what she said made a lot of sense. Since it could be created and it wasn't based on fantasy, there was nothing to hide.
Taishu Jiu chose to tell the truth: "Making these things is as simple as breathing and drinking water, and it's not worth Your Majesty's special praise."
This was indeed the case for him. Even ordinary humans need to learn again and again. He was not born human and was more accustomed to following the steps. With blueprints and materials, he was not far from producing the finished product. The remaining steps were as smooth as breathing and there were no bottlenecks at all.
If difficulties arise and progress is not as expected, the fault will not lie with him, but rather with the fact that the materials used in this era are not very good.
For someone like him, following detailed steps to make something is the easiest thing; understanding human emotions and social interactions is the most difficult.
For humans, it's the opposite. Everyone seems to be born with a variety of emotions, such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, but making things requires a little learning.
Therefore, these words sounded quite Versailles to all the humans present, including Zhu Qing'ai, a former human.
Zhu Qing'ai: ...
Ying Ji: ...
Yingzhu: ...
The conversation died down.
Ying Ji looked at Tai Shu Jiu and found that his expression was calm, without any arrogance or boasting, and he was simply stating a fact.
Well, it's normal for geniuses to have eccentric personalities; they're just not humble. And no one says you have to be humble in life.
Ying Ji accepted it well, his smile unchanged, and he eagerly handed the stack of papers that Taishu Jiu had just given him back to Taishu Jiu.
Tai Shujiu clutched the paper in his hand, glanced at the channel he was chatting with Zhu Qing'ai in private, and finally remembered what he had forgotten: he had just forgotten to ask Ying Ji for more money before agreeing to draw the blueprints...
what to do……
How can he salvage this situation?
If Qing'ai found out, his image would be ruined again. For the first time, he truly felt a lack of confidence. He had never felt anything like this when he was in charge; he simply followed the pre-written procedures.
He is very different from other humans. He is used to doing things according to procedures, following instructions, and following a predetermined path.
When Qing'ai was in power, things were very different from his. However, she was clearly developing in a positive direction. For example, her plan to impersonate national consciousness was something he couldn't come up with and wouldn't do.
I can't think of anything... If I suddenly bring up the extra money now, people will definitely guess that I forgot to ask for extra money before, or even that I forgot about the extra money before.
If Ying Ji had offered him more money on his own initiative... then he wouldn't have had to bring it up himself.
Taishu Jiu hadn't yet learned how to convey information with his eyes. It would be too difficult for someone to understand his meaning with just a glance; it was a very advanced skill for him.
After pausing for a moment, he came up with a half-baked solution to postpone the problem. He said, "The pens I use now aren't very good for drawing blueprints. I'll think of something in a few days."
Ying Ji nodded. He didn't necessarily need the blueprints right now, and besides, what Taishu Jiu had suggested was exactly what he wanted.
He instructed, "In that case, you stay here and wait for Mr. Taishu to draw up the blueprints. Once they are finished, bring them to me."
This was said to the worker who had come with him. He said he was waiting here, but he didn't have any other purpose. Since everyone was here, he might be able to learn something from him.
This papermaking method is a good thing, but he wants too much at once, which makes him seem greedy. Even if he arranges for someone to stay behind and hint that he can learn a trick or two, it won't make much difference.
Taishu Jiu frowned and looked at Gong Cheng. Just when Gong Cheng thought he was going to refuse, he spoke up: "It's possible, but there's no place for you to stay here, and we don't provide meals."
Ying Ji thought it was something serious and waved his hand, saying, "How about this, I will give you a house near the palace in Xianyang City. You can let him stay in the guest room."
"I will provide for all the servants inside, and I will also cover their monthly wages. You can just stay here, sir."
Taishu Jiu agreed, and he was quite happy about it. This way, he wouldn't be working for free, and besides, he would get a large house near the palace...
He browsed through the items in the shop. Houses in this location started at 2,000 points. Rounding up, he had earned 2,000 points, which was equivalent to 20,000 coins. His mood visibly brightened.
When Ying Ji saw this, he thought it was too easy to coax them. If all his ministers were like this, that would be great... This thought flashed through his mind, but it was just a thought. If all the ministers were this simple-minded, his Qin Dynasty would not be far from its demise.
There are advantages to being cunning, but... he still prefers people who are easy to understand.
No leader can refuse a person of sincere character, especially one who is among the best.
Although he was very happy, Taishu Jiu still symbolically declined: "How can the king pay the monthly wages of the servants? I can pay them myself."
But his expression clearly showed that he was waiting for Ying Ji to insist on giving him the money.
Ying Ji, being an old and shrewd man, could easily see through it. He didn't care about Tai Shu Jiu's thoughts; it was just a matter of giving him some money, not asking for the throne.
"Uh~ How can I let you pay? I said I'd pay, and that's final."
More importantly, those people were his people, and he felt embarrassed to ask Taishu Jiu to pay his people extra money. It was like doing one job and getting two salaries—there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Zhu Qing'ai scoffed as she listened to their conversation. Ying Ji was too lazy to even think of any sophisticated schemes or plots. He had already come up with this plan, which could only fool Tai Shu Jiu.
However, since the host already felt he had gained something, there was no need for her to expose him. Let him continue to be happy. Sigh, she was so gentle.
****
Ying Ji deceived her host so smoothly, did he really think she didn't exist...?
It didn't matter if I didn't know she existed before, but now I do.
Zhu Qing'ai flashed a standard villainous smile, then quickly concealed it.
Her "Qin" persona isn't... oh wait, it seems most countries now consider her a villain?
'Qin' revealed the villainous smile he had withdrawn, looking at Ying Ji with a sinister smile.
She adjusted her silhouette slightly, making it possible for Ying Ji and Ying Zhu to see a faint outline of her if they looked closely, but it was as concealed as glass placed in water.
It's normal for a dying person to see unusual things, isn't it? The closer one gets to death, the closer one gets to madness, and therefore the closer one gets to a spirit like her.
Ying Ji and Ying Zhu had almost the same remaining lifespan, just one dying a year apart, so they could be considered to be close to death.
She sat leisurely on a pile of boxes in front of the thatched hut, her gaze sweeping over the King of Qin and his son without restraint.
Ying Ji keenly noticed the gaze and turned his head to look. He only saw a few boxes placed on the ground. He couldn't help but wonder if he was hallucinating because he was too tired from handling government affairs recently.
Sure enough, as people get older, they always feel less capable.
Yingzhu was unaware that someone was watching them from behind. When he saw his father turn around, he subconsciously asked, "Father, is there anything you need?"
Ying Ji would certainly not tell Ying Zhu about his misconception; he would simply brush it off.
But at this moment, he suddenly found his youngest son somewhat displeasing, finding fault with him in every way. He frowned and said seriously, "From now on, the responsibility of supervising the construction of the furnaces for iron smelting will be entrusted to you. If any problems arise, you will be punished accordingly."
After saying that, Ying Ji felt relieved and added in a good mood, "Oh, right, there's also the matter of farm tools. Ask about the progress of the project later, and see if you've taken over it too."
“Since it’s a good thing, it should be promoted as soon as possible. Iron smelting shouldn’t delay the promotion of agricultural tools.” Ying Ji looked at Ying Zhu meaningfully. Ying Zhu immediately received his father’s hint and agreed without asking any questions.
Zhu Qing'ai understood Ying Ji's words clearly and guessed his considerations, but there was one person present who didn't understand! She wouldn't say who it was.
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): Let me ask you a question. Do you understand what Ying Ji meant by saying that to Ying Zhu?]
After all, they would eventually become officials in the court, and understanding the emperor's thoughts was a required course for every minister. They couldn't just blindly follow the emperor's every word; no matter how talented they were, they wouldn't be able to do that.
Therefore, Zhu Qing'ai decided to give her host, Ajiu, some training from time to time.
[Host Taishu Jiu: He cares for the people, loves them like his own children, and wants farmers to have access to good farming tools as soon as possible.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): What about something a little deeper?]
[Host, Taishu Jiu: He used this to win people's hearts, making the Qin people love him more and support the royal family even more.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): Anything else?]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): ...There's been some progress, but not much. I was asking about the implication he made to Ying Zhu.]
[Host, Taishu Jiu: Hurry up and make farm tools... huh?]
Zhu Qingai sighed, taking on the responsibility of the system and carefully analyzing the situation for the host:
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): If he was just urging us to hurry up and make farm tools, there was absolutely no need to add that last sentence, saying that iron smelting wasn't as important as farm tools. Normally, people prepare materials first and then make farm tools, which is understandable, right?]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): He was actually implying to Ying Zhu not to use the finer iron to make farm tools, but to use the more brittle iron from before for the tool parts. The fact that he asked you about the iron smelting method clearly indicates that he intends to use it for military purposes.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): Even if weapons are manufactured, it's impossible for the entire army to be equipped with them. Most likely, some will be manufactured by trusted subordinates, and then distributed to elite troops during battle.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): Precisely because he cannot mass-produce it, this iron-smelting method can never be taught to commoners. Otherwise, if it were to spread, he and the feudal states would be at the same starting point in this area, and the advantage he had due to the iron-smelting method would be lost. You didn't casually tell anyone before, did you?]
[Host Taishu Jiu: ...No, but I didn't realize you could see so much...]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): ...I also know who he will give the weapons to in the future.]
[Host, Taishu Jiu: How did you know that?]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): It's very simple. Analyzing the advantages of an iron sword, it's much lighter than a bronze sword, making it suitable for surprise attacks. This saves stamina and makes it more effective when the enemy is caught off guard.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): It's very simple logic. Think about it: if you're carrying such a heavy load, even on horseback, how much strength would you have left to fight after a certain distance?]
Tai Shujiu looked at his constitution score of 80 on his panel and wanted to say that he could do it, but out of trust, he neither interrupted nor argued.
He pondered Zhu Qing'ai's line of thought for a moment and realized that she was right. Excluding someone like him with cheat codes, ordinary young adults, regardless of gender, would naturally find it easier to use an iron sword.
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): At this point, the light sword has an advantage over the heavy sword, especially when the light sword's sharpness is no less than that of the heavy sword.]
[System 99 (Zhu Qing'ai): The iron sword is used to raise the lower limit, not to raise the upper limit. Its greatest advantage is that it allows people who couldn't wield a bronze sword to fight.]
A note from the author:
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