Chapter 38: A Small Step for the Era

Liu Jin was amused, suddenly finding Shi De quite interesting. History had not been kind to him, dismissing him as a pedantic simpleton—which was why, when the Witchcraft Crisis erupted, he had advised Liu Ju to stage an immediate coup.

Liu Jin had previously held him at arm's length, but after these few days of simple interaction, he discovered the little old man was actually quite charming; his outward appearance was at odds with his inner self, creating a striking contrast.

"Imperial Grandson, this farm tool resembles a traditional plow, yet it is different. With these slight modifications—particularly to the plowshare—the efficiency of turning the soil is significantly enhanced."

"But why is the wooden shaft positioned at the front? Comparing pulling a plow to pushing one, surely pushing requires less effort."

Shi De voiced the question on his mind, and Liu Ju, standing nearby, nodded slightly in agreement.

No wonder he had been nodding and shaking his head intermittently; it turned out he truly understood the subject. He was not merely theorizing on paper but had genuinely engaged in the practicalities of agriculture.

Liu Jin asked, "What if we didn't rely on human labor?"

"Hmm?"

Shi De froze. Not relying on human labor...

His expression gradually grew excited, and he slapped his thigh hard. "That makes sense! It makes perfect sense!"

"Heavens!"

"To think the Imperial Grandson is this wise—I am truly humbled!"

"Why not put it to the test?" the Junior Tutor suggested with an expectant look.

Liu Ju naturally understood what Shi De meant and immediately ordered, "Someone, bring me an ox!"

Before long, an old yellow ox was brought to the Crown Prince’s palace. Two ropes were attached to the yoke on the ox’s neck, with the other ends connected to the straight shaft. All preparations for the straight-shaft plow were complete.

Once the ox was in the field, all a person had to do was guide the direction of the shaft. The sturdy old ox did not need the whip; it pulled the plow leisurely, moving forward at a steady pace.

The faint morning light began to spill into the Crown Prince’s palace. The old ox lifted its head as if pondering the meaning of bovine existence, let out a long, resonant moo toward the sky, and then stood still in the field.

It was only when Liu Ju shouted, "Giddy-up!" that the beast seemed to understand the command. It stepped forward and continued its work in silence.

They say that oxen have a human-like nature, and only now did Liu Jin truly perceive it. His impression of the old ox improved even further. Before long, the beast, pulling the plow against the morning sun, had carved the first furrow into the patch of farmland.

The entire process was leisurely and comfortable; time seemed to slow down. No one rushed the ox, yet even at its slow pace, its efficiency far exceeded that of a man pushing a traditional hand-plow. Moreover, the human operator barely expended any effort, significantly lightening the burden.

Shi De, being a man of deep sentiment, had mist in his eyes, his heart filled with compassion. "A good ox, a truly good ox."

"And a good plow, a truly good plow!"

He looked at Liu Jin with excitement and a trembling voice, bowing deeply. Liu Jin hurriedly stepped aside; what right did he have to receive such a grand gesture from the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor?

"Imperial Grandson, your merit is boundless!"

Liu Jin hastily replied with humility, "I only made a small change."

Shi De countered, "It is a great leap forward for the farmers!"

Liu Ju also walked over from the field. His hands were no longer stained with mud, and he patted Liu Jin on the shoulder with reassurance. The fervent, proud gaze he cast said everything that words could not.

*My son is truly exceptional!*

For some reason, the atmosphere suddenly turned solemn, even though it was a joyous occasion.

Liu Jin smiled and said, "Father, if you think it is effective, take it to the Weiyang Palace to show Grandfather. Tell him you created it; he will surely view you in a new light."

Liu Ju shook his head with a faint smile, saying nothing more.

While this was undoubtedly a benefit to the nation and the people, the old man cared little for the lives of the commoners. To him, the invention of a new farming implement was merely a way to better enslave the populace and collect more taxes.

Nevertheless, this new plow had to be promoted.

...

On Hengmen Street, at the residence of Han Shuo, the Marquis of Andao.

The moment the Crown Prince’s palace returned the twenty taels of gold, Han Shuo knew that the Prince had completely blocked his path to aligning with the Crown Prince’s faction.

Han Shuo’s expression darkened, and he could not help but harbor resentment toward the Crown Prince’s palace.

*It was one thing for the younger one to kill the servants of my household, but for the elder to show me no respect at all—how am I to hold my head high in the future?*

*Since our paths do not align, we shall no longer work together!*

Also located on Hengmen Street in Chang'an was the residence of the Chancellor.

When thirty palace maids were sent from the palace, and Emperor Wu personally issued an imperial decree ordering Gongsun Jingsheng to marry them, Gongsun He felt a chill run through his entire body.

History has a way of repeating itself in startling ways.

In the past, Liu Ju had frequently visited the Jiaofang Hall of the Weiyang Palace, after which the old man had added more than two hundred maids to the Crown Prince’s palace.

At the time, no one understood the old man’s intent, but later he discovered that a treacherous eunuch had slandered the Crown Prince, claiming he had illicit relations with the palace maids. Emperor Wu’s "gift" of those two hundred maids had been a severe warning.

Gongsun He’s face was grim. He glared sharply at Gongsun Jingsheng and roared, "You beast! What have you done now?!"

Gongsun Jingsheng was also trembling with fear. He feared his uncle, the Emperor, deeply!

Even though he held the post of Grand Coachman, he was filled with dread whenever he had to report to the old man. He could never guess what the old man in the Weiyang Palace was thinking at any given moment, so he avoided visiting the Emperor unless it was a matter of great importance.

Emperor Wu was unfathomably deep, tyrannical, and fond of slaughter—a fact both Gongsun He and his son knew well.

The arrival of so many maids from the Weiyang Palace, accompanied by the Emperor’s personal decree that he must marry them, was clearly a threat and a warning. No one could believe otherwise.

Gongsun Jingsheng stammered, "I, I... Father!"

He collapsed to his knees and confessed, "I had relations with a maid from the residence of Princess Yangshi."

"You!"

Gongsun He’s breathing grew labored. He looked left and right, grabbed a ceramic vase from the side, and smashed it against Gongsun Jingsheng’s head!

Blood immediately began to stream down the young man's scalp.

The noise alarmed Wei Junru, but she arrived just in time to save her son's life.

"My lord, please, let us discuss this calmly. Do not lose your temper."

Wei Junru was virtuous and dignified; although she was the elder sister of Empress Wei Zifu, she was far simpler in her thinking compared to an Empress who had weathered the storms of palace intrigue.

"Do you know what he has done? He committed adultery with Princess Yangshi's..."

"...maid," Gongsun Jingsheng added in a small voice.

"What difference does it make?" Gongsun He glared at him. "A fool will eventually destroy his family. I should kill you now and present your head to the Emperor to beg for mercy!"

In the end, however, he could not bear to see his son die. He turned to Wei Junru and said, "Go find a physician to bandage this rebellious child!"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Wei Junru left.

Gongsun He slowly regained his composure and asked, "How did the Emperor find out about this? Who did you tell?"

Gongsun Jingsheng’s eyes widened. "The Imperial Grandson, Liu Jin."

"Damn you!"

Gongsun He reached for another vase, shouting, "He is your nephew! He is not a fool like you—he wouldn't dig his own grave by telling the Emperor about such things!"

Gongsun Jingsheng: "..."

"Didn't you tell me to suspect him?"

"I never told you to suspect him!" Gongsun He roared in anger.