Chapter 33

It wasn't until he was roughly jerked aside that Mo Yanyun looked down, belatedly realizing why he had just been shouted at.

A diagram was drawn on the ground right where he had been standing. Looking further out, Mo Yanyun now saw that the courtyard floor was covered in numerous drawings. Some were long, some were wide, and some looked like small wooden boards.

A dragon bone waterwheel was not difficult to draw; the main thing was to explain the principles clearly and leave the rest to the craftsmen. Even with just a few words and a rough sketch, a skilled carpenter could bring it to life.

Thus, after finishing the upper bearing, Dai Li stopped. Turning around, she found several pairs of bright, focused eyes fixed upon her.

Dai Li paused for a moment, still holding a twig in her hand. She looked at Qin Shaozong. My Lord, if you are busy...

I am not busy. You may tell me about this dragon bone waterwheel now, Madam. Qin Shaozong then called Su Xiuzhu by his courtesy name, instructing, Qingluo, make a copy of the diagrams on the ground.

Dai Li used the twig in her hand as a pointer. This type of dragon bone waterwheel is usually ten to twenty feet long. The lower end of the chain is submerged in the river, and as the chain wheel is driven from the upper end, the connected paddles inside the trough are pulled forward one by one, thereby pushing the water upward against the current.

The twig pointed to each corresponding component in the diagram as Dai Li continued.

It can be driven by hand cranks, foot pedals, or even donkeys and oxen. If driven by human power for a full day, it can irrigate about five mu of land. If replaced by ox power, that capacity can more than double.

Under their burning gazes, Dai Li stepped out from the edge of the drawings. The reason some places struggle to become farmland, or why their grain yields are so meager, is entirely due to the difficulty of drawing water. If this problem is solved, there is no need to worry about the amount of fertile land not increasing.

My Lord, this method has immense potential! Feng Feng exclaimed excitedly.

Unlike Yan San and Mo Yanyun, who were backed by clans subordinate to the Qin family, Feng Feng had no background to speak of. His father had been a tenant farmer working for a powerful local landlord.

Tenant farmers owned no land of their own; they survived by renting land from the wealthy to cultivate, handing over a portion of their harvest and rent every year. When the weather was favorable and the heavens were kind, life was slightly more bearable for them. However, if a drought struck, it became a matter of life and death. The landlords cared nothing for the whims of the heavens; they only cared about collecting their rent.

If one could not produce the money, they would first be forced into a loan with compound interest. Those with daughters sold them; those without daughters or money were reduced to serfs. Unlike the contractual relationship of a tenant farmer, a serf was a slave. Even if the master beat, scolded, or even killed them, there was essentially nowhere to seek justice.

Feng Feng’s parents had died during a year of famine. As a half-grown youth, he had become a displaced refugee. When the northern barbarians invaded and Youzhou began recruiting soldiers, he had no choice but to enlist.

Since then, he had lived with his head on the line. Relying on a physique and wit far exceeding that of ordinary soldiers, along with a bit of indescribable luck, he had fought his way through countless trials over the years. Not only had he broken into the ranks of the Xuanxiao Cavalry, but he had also successfully become a Squadron Leader.

Though the days of tilling the soil were years behind him, they had never faded from his memory. Feng Feng could fully imagine how many farmers would benefit if this dragon bone waterwheel could spread like the wind into thousands of households.

Dai Li chuckled. It certainly has potential. Dragon bone waterwheels can be linked together with small ponds acting as bridges in between. Chain after chain, even highlands over thirty feet high can be irrigated without worry.

Lady Dai, who came up with this dragon bone waterwheel? Feng Feng asked urgently.

Waterwheels existed currently, but they were only used to draw water to sprinkle on the roads to prevent dust from rising and harming health; they had never appeared in the field of agriculture.

Dai Li replied, An inventor named Ma Jun.

Ma Jun? Why have I never heard of this person's name? Mo Yanyun frowned.

Feng Feng quickly asked, Lady Dai, where is this person's ancestral home? Where are they now? If such a brilliant mind could come to serve My Lord, our Northern Lands would surely be like a tiger with wings.

Dai Li turned her gaze. After finishing the model of the waterwheel, she met that exceptionally strong gaze for the first time. She saw the darkness and glimmer in his eyes, as if she were glimpsing a great tiger in the forest, muscles tensed, ready to leap and bite.

But she knew that no matter how fierce and greedy this tiger appeared, it was merely an intimidating surface.

Her red lips curved as Dai Li smiled at him. This gentleman is no longer with us. There are other scholars, however, though I suspect your Lord would not like her to serve him.

How could that be?

My Lord has always been respectful to the wise and thirsty for talent. If such a talent could be brought under his command, My Lord would be more than happy. Why would he dislike it?

Exactly.

The four of them spoke one after another, none of them noticing that Qin Shaozong had not spoken for a long time.

Qin Shaozong watched the woman a short distance away without blinking. She stood in the sunlight, her eyelashes appearing as if coated in a thick golden glow. Those dark eyes were as bright as mirrors, reflecting the silhouettes of clouds in the sky and the beauty of the flower buds in the courtyard. Every blade of grass and every tree was contained within them, as if they held the entirety of a brilliant spring.

Her happiness and slight smugness were unconcealed, as if she were saying: Look, even your subordinates think you are being ridiculous.

That thread of rich, dark fragrance seemed to float in the air again, refreshing and incredibly enticing.

For the first time, Qin Shaozong felt a different kind of challenge.

It was not the life-and-death slaughter of the battlefield, nor the bloodless deception of the political arena, but a completely new sensation. It was a bit like the surge of excitement felt when taming a wild horse, yet not entirely the same, for at this moment, his thoughts were racing far more than when he had first tamed his steed, Red Flood Dragon.

Su Xiuzhu remembered something. Mr. Nalan should be arriving in Ying County soon. We can show this dragon bone waterwheel to him then. By the way, Lady Dai, you can tell Mr. Nalan about those 'other scholars' you mentioned. He is widely experienced and has friends among the talented across the world; perhaps he will know their names. If Mr. Nalan acts as an intermediary to persuade them, the chances of them joining My Lord's service will be much higher.

He unconsciously used a respectful title for Dai Li.

Dai Li smiled but said nothing.

It was true that Ying County was in a state of neglect, but the core team of the Xuanxiao Cavalry, having followed Qin Shaozong through years of southern and northern campaigns, was already capable of handling matters of all sizes quickly and steadily.

In just one afternoon, proclamations were issued to reassure the people, city defenses were taken over, and vacancies in the county’s official positions were filled. Everything was arranged in an orderly fashion.

As night fell, the lights within the manor shone brightly, as clear as day. Su Xiuzhu, in his capacity as the military instructor, organized a grand banquet.

Dai Li attended by invitation. She was purely there for the food. Now that they had finally entered a county city, there was no need to compromise on her diet.

The discipline of the Xuanxiao Cavalry was very strict; during wartime, there were explicit bans on sex and alcohol. At the previous bonfire feast, Dai Li had not seen a single wine jar.

But today was different. Jars of brewed wine were carried into the main hall, soon stacked behind the head table and the two rows of long tables below, appearing at first glance like walls built of wine jars.

Daili was only there to scrounge a meal. As an outsider with no official rank, she saw no reason to take a prominent seat at such a grand banquet, so she quietly settled herself at the very back.

The seats ahead of her were mostly occupied by military officers. They were a phalanx of brawny men, all dressed in a uniform palette of dirt-resistant blacks and grays—much like the outfit Daili was wearing herself. Thus, when she kept her head down and blended in with the crowd, her presence was truly inconspicuous.

Since it was an internal celebration, there wasn't much tedious formality. Once Qin Shaozong took his seat, he gave a brief speech and raised his cup.

The company drank in unison to celebrate the great victory.

Then, the feast began. Everyone ate and drank their fill, and the hall instantly became a scene of bustling excitement.

While this meal didn't quite match the scale of the previous banquet at the Jiang estate, it offered a fine spread of both hot and cold dishes. To Daili’s delight, there was even a dish of steamed Mandarin fish on the table.

There was an old saying: "When the fields are deep, the rabbits grow fat; when the frost falls, the sea bass is at its best." Autumn was indeed the season for plump sea bass, but spring had its own seasonal delicacies. The Mandarin fish of spring was renowned for its tender flesh and delicate texture—a true gourmet treat.

Daili loved fish, whether steamed or grilled. After having survived on "authentic" roasted mutton for so long, the plate of Mandarin fish before her was so delicious that she didn't even look up from her plate.

Until—

Daili heard the crisp chime of silver bells.

Her eyelashes fluttered upward as flashes of vivid silk caught her eye. Into the hall, which had been thick with the scent of wine, a metaphorical spring breeze seemed to blow, bringing with it the alluring fragrance of rouge and powder.

Upon the jade-inlaid walls, the light caught the flickering shadows of dancers moving with ethereal grace. The veiled dancing girls wore short tops and long skirts; as they turned and tossed their sleeves, their daringly short bodices rode up even further, revealing glimpses of slender, snow-white waists.

Daili had seen plenty of live performances in her time. She vividly remembered when her college roommate had been cheated on; in a fit of rage, the girl had treated their entire dorm to a trip to Pattaya to party with male models.

In terms of "boldness," she had to admit that those shows had been far more provocative than this midriff-baring dance.

Still, Daili watched with an appreciative eye. Setting aside the skimpy costumes, this was, after all, authentic classical dance.

After several rounds of wine, many of the generals left their seats. No longer content to sit still, some roamed the hall with a wine jar in one hand and a cup in the other, seeking out their comrades for drinking matches.

With so many people moving about, Mo Yanyun was no exception. He went a step further in his boldness, plopping himself down right on the steps leading up to the head of the hall. Holding both a jar and a cup, he drank while chatting with Qin Shaozong.

Or rather, he had been rambling to himself for quite some time.

"My Lord, I never realized that while Li Zhan’s competence left much to be desired, his taste in women was actually quite excellent." Mo Yanyun’s eyes were practically glued to the dancers below.

These dancers had originally been kept in the estate. Li Zhan had even been expanding the side courtyards to house more concubines and entertainers, but he had been forced to pack his bags and flee before the construction was finished.

There was no response from the high seat. Mo Yanyun continued, "My Lord, what do you think of the lead girl? Her skin is like jade, her fingers are slender, and her figure is exquisite. Though her face is partially hidden, she’s the lead dancer, so she must have some extraordinary charms."

Still no answer.

Mo Yanyun didn't mind and kept talking. "That girl with the little fish-shaped floral mark on her forehead is also quite something. She has a peach blossom tucked behind her ear and a pair of 'peach blossom' eyes—so radiant and full of life. They complement the flower in her hair perfectly."

He expected his words to sink into silence once more, but this time, he actually got a response.

"Mediocre."

Mo Yanyun instinctively turned his head. Seeing his superior’s cold expression and a hint of disdain, he was momentarily stunned. Emboldened by the wine, he couldn't help but shoot back, "Even that is considered mediocre? Then, in your eyes, what counts as truly beautiful?"

Qin Shaozong didn't answer him directly, but in his mind, he was judging what he had just seen.

The red floral mark on the dancer's brow was meant to be striking, but where others might look elegant and noble, here it looked forced and tacky. And all that spinning—the peach blossom behind her ear looked like it was about to fall off at any moment. Where was the beauty in that?

As for those "peach blossom" eyes, they were too small, the whites were slightly cloudy, and the shape wasn't refined enough. None of it deserved to be called "radiant."

What counted as beautiful?

"A face like polished jade, with natural beauty that requires no adornment." Only that could be called peerless elegance.

Qin Shaozong’s gaze shifted back toward the right rear of the hall. He saw the woman who had been buried in her fish earlier. At some point, she had stopped eating and was now watching the performance in the hall.

Judging by the slight curve of her lips, she seemed quite satisfied with what she was seeing.

She was watching with such gusto from the very back; if she were moved to the head of the hall, she probably wouldn't even need the fish—she could fill up just by watching the dancers.

Daili suddenly sensed a familiar gaze coming from above. It was intense, impossible to ignore, and just as overbearing as the man himself. She turned her head and, instead of looking away, she picked up her wine cup and gave him a smiling toast.

Regardless of everything else, this was a victory banquet. She was eating the host's food, and since they had locked eyes, she felt she should show some congratulatory intent.

Daili was genuinely happy at that moment. There were plenty of beautiful dancers in the estate, and surely many would be willing to serve him. This man really didn't need to keep his eyes fixed on her anymore.

From his high seat, Qin Shaozong watched as she raised her cup with a smile. Her eyes were bright and expressive, and the natural flush of her lips was stunningly vivid. Even though she was dressed in drab, dusty clothes, she seemed to glow with a soft, pearly luster—beautiful, lush, and mature, like a precious peony in full bloom.

The man’s calloused thumb brushed against the winged cup in his hand. The long-necked, wide-mouthed vessel spun in his grip before being suddenly clamped tight by his large hand, rendered immobile.

A drop or two of wine splashed out, landing on the dark skin of Qin Shaozong’s hand, but he didn't seem to notice.

It would be impolite to raise a cup and not drink. Daili happened to be a bit thirsty, so she took the opportunity to drain the cup.

This was her first time tasting the liquor of this era. As soon as it hit her tongue, she recognized it.

It was yellow rice wine, made from broomcorn millet.

Because millet yields were relatively high, it was very popular among the common people, making yellow rice wine the most prevalent drink. It was known to aid digestion and nourish the liver and kidneys; a small amount was actually good for one's health.

Taking a sip, Daili pursed her lips to savor the flavor. It was quite pleasant, so she took another sip.

Before she knew it, the cup was empty. There was a small wine pot nearby that a servant had brought out with the meal, which Daili hadn't touched until now. Since her cup was dry, she picked up the pot to refill it.

The pale yellow liquid flowed from the spout, catching the light from the pearls on the wall. It shimmered with a jewel-like clarity, looking like a ribbon made of liquid crystal.

Using the digestive yellow rice wine to wash it down, Daili finished every last bit of the Mandarin fish. In a particularly good mood, she used her jade chopsticks to nudge the fish head, lining it up with the perfectly picked-clean skeleton.

The wine pot was empty, the bowl of rice was gone, and the fish was finished. Having had her fill of food and drink, Daili set down her chopsticks and stood up to leave the increasingly rowdy main hall.

"My Lord, which one catches your eye? The one in red, or does the one in pale yellow suit your fancy? You pick one, and leave the rest to me." Mo Yanyun looked back and forth, privately thinking that the dancers in the red and pale yellow dresses were the most dazzling in the room.

Ever since they left Yuyang and embarked on the campaign to crusade against the salt warlords, they hadn't touched a woman. There had been an opportunity earlier at Jiang Chonghai's manor, but the Marquis had devised a sudden plan, and naturally, the greater mission took precedence over everything else.

Now that Ying Commandery had been conquered, they could finally relax, and of course, they had to seize the moment.

Besides, the hall was full of dancers who were anything but eyesores; on the contrary, he felt several of them were quite striking, like beauties stepped right out of a painting.

Having asked his question, Mo Yanyun craned his neck, eagerly awaiting his superior's reply, when he heard a sharp clack.

The wine cup was set down upon the low table. Under Mo Yanyun's stunned gaze, Qin Shaozong rose from the seat of honor, left a single phrase—"Suit yourself"—and strode into the side corridor.

He was a man of tall stature, and in just a few moments, he had disappeared from sight.

Mo Yanyun was flabbergasted.

Suit himself?

Did... did that mean he was giving them all to him? Was there really such good fortune? Was this for real?

Truly unable to decide what to make of it, Mo Yanyun hugged his wine jar and walked over to Yan San, whispering, "Brother, let me ask you something. Analyze this for me..."

Then, like spilling beans from a sack, he recounted everything that had just happened.

With Ying Commandery taken, Yan San was in a good mood and spoke a few more words than usual. "It means exactly what it sounds like. Do as you please."

Mo Yanyun muttered, "Exactly what it sounds like? But that's not right. Earlier, I saw the Marquis looking like he was about to burst with pent-up fire, his eyes practically glowing green. There's no reason he wouldn't want one!"

Hearing this, Yan San stood up, took two steps back, and turned his head to the left. He was seated in the right row of the lower positions, the same column as Lady Dai, but separated by many people. If he merely turned his head while seated, he wouldn't be able to see the back of the row along the same line.

"Lady Dai has left the banquet," Yan San said.

Mo Yanyun didn't understand. "What does that have to do with Lady Dai?"

Lady Dai held a rather unique status in their army at the moment. You could call her the Marquis's concubine, yet nothing had truly happened between her and the Marquis. Moreover, given her great contributions regarding Old Qiao and the dragon-bone waterwheel, she was distinct from ordinary women.

If you were to call her a strategist, that wasn't right either. Their Xuanxiao Cavalry had never had female staff, and given the Marquis's attitude of being determined to possess her, she could absolutely never just be a strategist.

Lady Dai couldn't be touched for the time being, but other women could be. There were so many dancers in the hall, each as lovely as a flower; why would the Marquis deny himself?

Yan San looked away, too lazy to explain it to this rake. "Anyway, just do as you please."

"Yan San, explain it to me again. I'm racking my brains and I still don't get it." Mo Yanyun simply sat down beside him.

Yan San said coldly, "Your brain is useless anyway, so let it break."

"Hey, why do you always copy the way the Marquis talks?"

*

After Lady Dai left the banquet, she had originally intended to return to her room to rest, but she accidentally took a wrong turn along the way. By the time she realized something was amiss, she had already turned left and right several times and now had no idea where she was.

Just as she was thinking of finding someone to ask for directions, Lady Dai suddenly saw a black shadow rise from beside her feet. It surged upward like a rising mountain, far broader and thicker than her own shadow, carrying a terrifyingly oppressive aura.

In the blink of an eye, the black shadow had crept up to the waist of her own shadow.

Lady Dai's pupils trembled slightly, and she spun around quickly to look.

The long corridor was opulent, with floor-standing carved candelabras set at regular intervals. Tonight, as the residence was hosting a welcoming banquet, the candelabras were in rare use.

In this moonless night, all illumination came from the not-so-bright candlelight flickering within two carved stands not far away.

And at this moment, between those two candelabras, on the path she had just walked, a tall, imposing figure was approaching step by step.

The night breeze brushed past, and Lady Dai smelled a strong scent of alcohol. perhaps it was because there was no one else around, or perhaps the night was too dark, or due to some other indescribable feeling—whatever the reason, in this moment, Lady Dai felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of trepidation.