Chapter 304: The Celestial Dragons (Part 1)
Among the slaves, selecting those who are diligent, obedient, or possess special skills and granting them freedom serves as an effective way to quell the spirit of rebellion. Nobody is born to be a slave, and while a few may find contentment in such a life, the vast majority do not. This is especially true for parents, who may endure anything but will do whatever it takes to secure a better future for their children.
When the ruling class promises that hard work could free one's offspring from slavery, most slaves would choose compliance over rebellion.
There are certain cases, however, where even Daniel could not lift the status of slavery, such as with the group of people who had been enslaved due to the rebellion led by Wang Ji. In such cases, there was no way to grant them freedom, as rebellion was considered a grave crime, especially in this era. The fate of those who had rebelled, like the nobles who had desecrated the dead Chu King's body before their mass execution, was a stark reminder of the consequences.
"Master, your journey has been arduous," said a voice as Daniel arrived at the pavilion in the front yard of the imperial study. The current ruler, Ying Zheng, was in high spirits. After Lü Buwei's death, with no one to curb his ambitions, Ying Zheng was now vigorously pursuing reforms.
Having learned of Qin's shortcomings from Daniel, Ying Zheng was determined not to let these issues persist. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to enact reforms so that when the time came for Qin to unify the land, it would not suffer the same fate as the old Qin state.
During this period of reform, there were, of course, those who resisted. Every reform inevitably threatened the interests of some. Throughout history, those who spearheaded change often met tragic ends. Even Shang Yang, despite his significant contributions, met his demise due to the unrest his reforms caused among the elite. However, there was no risk of anyone overshadowing Ying Zheng. After all, who could match the might of the first Emperor, the one who established the centralized system that followed?
The fate of many who had served their rulers loyally, only to be discarded once they had outlived their usefulness, was a common occurrence in ancient times. Whether during the founding of new dynasties or in the Warring States period, many figures with "功高震主" (achievements that overshadowed the ruler) met tragic ends, like Li Mu of Zhao and Bai Qi of Qin.
"It wasn't particularly arduous, just disappointing in some respects," Daniel replied, glancing at Gai Nie, the Qin state's premier swordsman. "Gai Nie, I have a request for you."
"Please, Master, speak your mind," Gai Nie responded, his expression as stoic as ever.
"I'd like you to travel to Yan and invite Nian Duan, the master healer of the medical school, along with her disciple, to come to Qin. Tell her that if she wishes to treat and save lives across the land, she must come to Qin. I can assure her that the medical school will rise to a status comparable to the Yin-Yang school, the Mohist school, the Agriculturalists, and even the Confucians."
"You hold the medical school in such high regard?" Gai Nie's usually impassive face showed a hint of surprise.
"It's not about my regard, but the immense potential of the medical school," Daniel replied. The future influence of the medical school was undeniable; just look at the hospitals and medical universities in later eras.
Although Daniel had previously emphasized the importance of the medical school to Ying Zheng, progress had been slow. Ying Zheng had too many matters to attend to, and the officials under him did not prioritize the medical school as they should. Therefore, Daniel decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Your Majesty, I will need your help in issuing a decree," Daniel said, outlining his plan to Ying Zheng.
"Since you believe so strongly in the medical school's potential, you have my full support," Ying Zheng agreed readily. Gai Nie, too, prepared to depart for Yan.
"This is for your own good, too, Gai Nie. Do your best," Daniel thought, before addressing Gai Nie again. "Gai Nie, before you leave for Yan, come to me first. I have some items that might help convince Nian Duan more easily. Also, it's best not to let Yan Dan know about this, or he will surely try to interfere."
"You seem to have a particularly low opinion of Yan Dan," Ying Zheng remarked with curiosity. After all, he knew Yan Dan personally from their days as hostages in Zhao.
"He's too hypocritical. If I'm not mistaken, his involvement with the Mohist school is likely a ploy to gain control of their mechanical arts. Given his current standing in the Mohist school, if something happens to the current leader, Six-Fingered Black Man, Yan Dan could very well be the next leader. I wouldn't be surprised if he soon makes a move against Six-Fingered Black Man to usurp his position."
Daniel did not mind exposing Yan Dan's true nature.
"By the way, Your Majesty, while I was in Chu, I heard some rumors. I'm not sure of their veracity, but I would advise you to keep an eye on Changping Jun," Daniel said as he stood to leave.
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"What is this?" Outside the western gate of Xianyang, at a bulletin board, a crowd had gathered early in the morning, reading the newly posted notice.
"From this day forward, anyone...," someone who could read began to recite the contents of the notice aloud. Thanks to the credibility Qin's government had established since the days of Shang Yang with his method of "徙木立信" (establishing credibility by moving a log), official proclamations were taken very seriously.
This particular notice was the decree Daniel had requested from Ying Zheng, announcing the kingdom's intent to purchase effective medicinal recipes from across the land in exchange for substantial rewards.
For those who had jealously guarded their secret formulas, the promise of great wealth was a powerful lure. In this era, where no patent system existed, Daniel's approach of offering rewards was the best he could devise.
The notice wasn't limited to the people of Qin—it was open to all, including the other six states.
But this was only one of Daniel's initiatives. He had also requested a plot of land from Ying Zheng, located in the western outskirts of Xianyang, where he intended to establish a modern, comprehensive school.
Once this school was up and running, the Little Sage Village of the Confucians would pale in comparison.
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"Greetings, Master." Inside the Sun and Moon Villa, Gongshu Qiu greeted Daniel with utmost respect as soon as he saw him.
"You're here just in time. I have something for you," Daniel said, leading the way toward the villa's back mountain, with Gongshu Qiu following closely behind.
"This time, during my travels through the various states, I came across two fascinating items. I thought you might appreciate them," Daniel said as they walked.
"Master is too kind. Anything that catches your eye must surely be extraordinary," Gongshu Qiu responded, his face lit with anticipation.
"They're truly remarkable. I'm sure you'll find them to your liking. They're right over there—take a look." As they arrived at the training grounds in the back mountain, Daniel gestured toward the two objects placed in the center, smiling as he spoke.
"Could it be...?" Gongshu Qiu rushed forward as soon as he saw what lay before him. He carefully examined the items, awe-struck by their craftsmanship.
Mechanized White Tiger and Mechanized Vermilion Bird—the sight of these two famed Mohist constructs had utterly captivated Gongshu Qiu.
As if in a trance, he ran his hands over the surfaces of the constructs, marveling at their intricacies.
"Are these to your liking, Gongshu Qiu?" Daniel asked, now standing beside him.
"Master, I... I apologize for my lack of decorum," Gongshu Qiu stammered, snapping out of his reverie.
"No need for formalities. They're yours now. Have them transported as you see fit," Daniel said, waving a hand dismissively as he walked away, leaving the matter of the constructs entirely in Gongshu Qiu's hands.
In fact, Daniel had already dismantled and reverse-engineered the Mechanized White Tiger and Mechanized Vermilion Bird, creating detailed blueprints in the process. With the help of his Ope-Ope no Mi abilities and Red Queen, the design process had been relatively straightforward.
He couldn't help but be impressed by the Mohist school's mechanical arts. Their unique designs, even by modern standards, were far from outdated. After dismantling the Mechanized Vermilion Bird, Daniel had already figured out how to build a miniaturized version.
"When the time comes for Qin to launch its campaign to unify the states, they should be able to easily overwhelm the other kingdoms, even if the Mohists possess their own mechanized beasts."
Given Qin's resources and the Gongshu family's mechanical prowess, the number of Mechanized White Tigers and Mechanized Vermilion Birds deployed in the unification war would be substantial. When combined with other siege weapons like the Mechanized Serpents and Mechanized Bats, the Mohists would find it hard to contend with them.
"The Mohist school truly lives up to its name—resistant to change," Daniel mused. Despite the Mohists' dominance in the field of mechanical arts, they
had made little progress over the years, resting on their laurels. The Four Divine Beasts of the Mohist school were exactly the same now as they had been generations ago, with no significant innovations.
The Mohists' only recent innovation was an attempt to merge the Mechanized Vermilion Bird and Mechanized White Tiger into a flying construct. The idea was sound, but the execution had failed, resulting in the Zero-Tiger, which could glide but not truly fly.
The Gongshu family, on the other hand, was constantly innovating. Their Tyrannical Mechanical Arts had produced numerous advancements in siege warfare, from the Toothed Gear Crossbows to Siege Crossbows, Catapults, Ladders, and Battering Rams—and the technology continued to evolve.
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu described siege warfare as the last resort, an option to be avoided if possible. But with the Gongshu family's advancements in siege weaponry, the defensive advantage provided by walls had been significantly diminished. Daniel had once toured the Gongshu family's siege workshop and seen a demonstration of their Siege Sand Table.
Afterward, he realized that his preconceived notions of siege warfare had been completely overturned.
The Gongshu family's Catapults were impressive, but it was the Mechanized Bats that had caught his attention. These devices, when deployed in large numbers, could rain down fire on defenders from above, rendering the protection offered by walls almost useless.
In the original story, Meng Tian had even used the principles of thermal expansion and contraction to cause a wall to collapse.
Another of the Gongshu family's formidable inventions was a launching mechanism designed to catapult Earth-Breaking Wolves directly into enemy fortresses. Though their numbers had been limited in the past, the potential to deploy them in mass numbers was now a reality. It was akin to the development of modern tank battalions.
With the increasing availability of Earth-Breaking Wolves and Mechanized White Tigers, assembling dedicated mechanized units would soon be possible.
Now, the only thing standing in the way of Qin's unification was not military might but logistical and administrative challenges. While Daniel could potentially solve the logistical issues by purchasing supplies from other worlds, the challenge of governance was a different matter altogether.
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"This is a delightful toy," Daniel remarked as he lounged in a pavilion within the Sun and Moon Villa's garden, playing with a red cube. As he set the cube down on a glass table beside him and pressed a button, the cube began to transform, eventually becoming a Red Chain Serpent.
The object wasn't just a simple toy; it was a gift from Gongshu Qiu, capable of being controlled through Qi, allowing for seamless manipulation. In the past, Daniel had been most curious about the Earth-Breaking Wolves among the Gongshu family's creations. Now, he finally understood their brilliance.
"And how is your master faring these days?" Daniel asked Yan Lingji as she peeled a fruit for him. Yan Lingji, who had once been associated with Tian Ze, was now Daniel's personal attendant.
"Thanks to Master, he's doing well," Yan Lingji replied, her voice soft and respectful.
With Qin's support, Tian Ze and his group were now engaged in a conflict with the Western Baiyue tribes. As Daniel had predicted, Tian Ze's claim to the Baiyue throne was no longer recognized by either the Eastern or Western Baiyue factions, which left him furious but powerless.
"What do you think would be better for Baiyue—to submit to Qin or to maintain the status quo?"
"I'm just a humble woman, Master. I wouldn't know," Yan Lingji responded, her tone demure.
"Never mind. It's a rare opportunity to relax. How about we go out for a walk? By the way, I plan to establish a trading post in Baiyue where we can exchange grain and supplies for local goods. What do you think?"
"What kind of prices are you planning to set, Master?" Yan Lingji asked, her voice tinged with hope.
"Fair market prices. What do you think?"
"Really?" Yan Lingji's voice was filled with joy.
"Of course. I'm not one of those greedy types," Daniel replied with a smile.
The Baiyue region was vast and rich in natural resources, including many unique items such as wild animals and herbs. Tiger skins and leopard skins, which were considered luxury items elsewhere, were commonplace in Baiyue.
In this era, there were no laws protecting endangered species.
In addition to wildlife, Baiyue was home to numerous valuable herbs, including ginseng, ganoderma, and He Shou Wu. Centuries-old specimens were not uncommon.
Many Baiyue people relied on gathering these herbs to trade for essential goods, but they often had to sell them at extremely low prices, with ginseng sometimes fetching less than the price of carrots.
In such a market, if Daniel offered better prices, the Baiyue people would surely prefer to trade with him, even if it meant making some enemies. But Daniel was not concerned about that.
Daniel's interest in these transactions was driven by his need for herbs to refine elixirs. Despite the various strengths of the schools of thought, their business acumen left much to be desired.
"Alright, don't just stand there. Go find Ying Ge and start making preparations," Daniel said, lightly flicking Yan Lingji's forehead before strolling ahead.
Yan Lingji's greatest wish was simple—unlike Tian Ze, who sought to reclaim the Baiyue throne, she wanted nothing more than to ensure her people would never go hungry again. This desire likely stemmed from the hardships she and her younger brother had endured in their youth, often going without food. Sadly, her brother had died in an accident, leaving her to carry this burden alone.
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