jdhmnovel Chapter 472 Bestowing a Title upon the Flower of Industry
Chapter 472 Bestowing a Title upon the Flower of Industry
The lingering notes of the chime bells still echoed in the air, as if still telling ancient stories. Wang Tieniu took a deep breath, clenched his fist tightly, as if gathering all his strength into that clench. He was the first to stand up, his coarse cloth shorts gleaming with a simple, rustic glow in the candlelight.
Wang Tieniu clenched his fist, encouraging himself, a thin layer of sweat gradually seeping from his palm. His knuckles, gnarled from years of labor, resembled the roots of an ancient tree, displaying his resilient character and hard work.
“I don’t have much education,” Wang Tieniu said in a low voice, but full of confidence. “Take this sickle for example! In previous years, during the wheat harvest, men had to swing sickles all day long, their hands shaking so much they could barely hold a bowl. I thought about it for a long time and added serrations to the blade and wrapped hemp rope around the wooden handle. Hey, guess what? Now even women and children can use it easily!”
As he spoke, Wang Tieniu suddenly felt less nervous. He scratched the back of his head and revealed a simple, honest smile. However, his expression remained serious and earnest as he continued, "If this method could be spread throughout the Qin Dynasty, the autumn harvest would definitely increase by thirty percent!"
Su Liuli sat quietly to the side, her fingertips gently tracing the brocade pattern book, which was embroidered with exquisite lotus scroll patterns. As she moved, the sleeve of her garment, embroidered with lotus scroll patterns, slid down, revealing a delicate jacquard loom model on her wrist.
“People need clothes to cover their bodies,” Su Liuli’s voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale singing in a valley, “but the looms are old and the patterns are simple, which is really difficult to meet people’s needs.”
She carefully turned the model, and the thirty-six bamboo shuttles spun rapidly and orderly, like stars twinkling in the night sky. With her movements, the shuttles wove intricate and beautiful patterns, dazzling the eye.
“I improved the jacquard loom, cleverly combining the double-sided embroidery of Shu brocade with the subtle weaving technique of Wu silk. In this way, the production time for a piece of cloth can be reduced by half, but the patterns can be made in hundreds of different ways!” Her voice revealed confidence and excitement.
As she spoke, her gaze shifted, suddenly turning to Bapu. Seeing this, Bapu also stood up. The gold thread patterns on his Shu brocade robe shimmered faintly in the candlelight, their interplay creating a dazzling glow that seemed to envelop the entire room.
Bapu unfurled a yellowed sheepskin map, its winding lines seemingly recording the rise and fall of countless trade routes. His finger slowly traced a route on the map, as if one could hear the melodious camel bells echoing across thousands of miles along the Western Regions trade route.
“The Ba Clan is willing to donate half of its camel caravans to open a ‘Brocade Road’,” Ba Pu’s voice was deep and firm. “Starting from Bashu, passing through Longxi, and reaching Yuezhi and Parthia. Along the way, we will set up post stations and warehouses to ensure that Qin’s silk and spices can be transported smoothly to foreign lands, while also exchanging them for rare treasures and mysterious techniques.”
At this point, his thoughts seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, involuntarily drifting towards his mother Ba Qing's study. There, an ever-burning lamp cast a soft, dim light, like his mother's warm and unwavering gaze.
His voice unconsciously lowered, as if the ever-burning lamp was also flickering in his heart. "My mother often said that the way of business is the way of heaven, and only by exchanging what we have can we thrive." These words, like his mother's teachings, were deeply imprinted in his heart.
Empress Lü listened quietly to the three men's remarks. Her face was calm as still water, but her eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable. After they finished speaking, she slowly rose to her feet.
Empress Lü said, “The prosperity of all trades depends on people. If we compile these experiences into the ‘Essential Techniques for All Trades,’ print them, and distribute them throughout the land, wouldn’t that last longer than oral transmission?”
Her words, like the morning bell and evening drum, echoed in everyone's ears. The King of Qin clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! Tomorrow, the Hundred Trades Bookstore will be established, managed by the Lü Family Girls' School. The required funds..." He glanced at Ba Pu, "Would the Ba Family Trading Company be willing to take the lead?"
Ba Pu rose and bowed deeply, the hem of his brocade robe sweeping across the floor tiles: "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!" At this moment, he suddenly understood the profound meaning behind his mother's decision to devote all the family's wealth to supporting the Qin state—when the sounds of merchants' abacuses, craftsmen's forging, and farmers' tilling all blend into the same rhythm, who in the world could stop the advance of the Qin state?
The palace was utterly silent, save for the crackling flame of the bronze goose-fish lamp. King Ying Zheng of Qin slowly rose, his gaze sweeping over every face—the burning passion in Ba Pu's eyes, the liveliness in Su Liuli's, the sincerity in Wang Tieniu's, and the quiet sharpness beneath Lü Zhi's composure. He suddenly recalled the grand ambition he had made when he ascended the throne, standing atop the city walls of Xianyang, gazing at the Wei River flowing eastward.
"Excellent!" The King of Qin's voice was loud and clear. "Ba Pu has opened up trade routes and is hereby granted the title of Grand Master; Su Liuli has innovated the loom and is hereby granted the title of Superior Craftsman; Wang Tieniu has improved agricultural tools and is hereby granted the title of Inspector; Lü Zhi has educated the people and is hereby granted the title of Duke of Jin!" As soon as he finished speaking, firecrackers went off again outside the hall, this time even louder than before, with red debris flying everywhere, as if the entire city of Xianyang was cheering for this grand event.
In that instant, as Bapu gazed at the bustling figures in the hall, he vaguely saw his mother standing before the looms of the Sichuan weaving workshop, smiling and nodding. He realized that the true feast was never about delicacies and fine wine, but rather the magnificent spectacle of all trades coming together, pooling their wisdom and efforts—like the Wei River flowing eastward, destined to become a mighty torrent of history.
As dusk settled, the dark ink of the setting sun stained the black walls of Xianyang Palace a deep purple. The lingering echoes of the chime bells dissipated in the cold wind, and the carriages of the officials filed out of the Zhuque Gate. The bronze bells jingled softly, mingling with the crisp crackling of firecrackers. The officials, some chatting and laughing with their families, others making agreements with their colleagues, condensed their exhaled breath into wispy clouds in the cold air.
Ba Pu declined Su Liuli's invitation to travel together, and strolled alone along the banks of the Wei River. The cold wind ruffled his robes, but couldn't dispel the warmth of the jade thumb ring in his palm. The ancient jade, entirely emerald green, gleamed softly, the two characters "兼济" (meaning "universal benefit") engraved on its inner surface worn smooth by time. Looking up, the lights of Xianyang gradually illuminated the city, like a silver river hanging upside down. The hustle and bustle of the night market, the soft clanging of looms, the hammering of the blacksmith's shop—all overlapped with the passionate discussions of the daytime banquet in his memory.
"The trade routes are like rivers, and only when all rivers flow to the sea..." He murmured his mother's teachings, pausing to gaze at the river. In the shimmering light, he seemed to see merchant ships laden with silk sailing westward, the sound of looms carried by the current across the land. The mulberry fields of Sichuan, the workshops of Wu, and the wheat fields of Guanzhong all transformed into tributaries rushing to the sea. He finally understood that the banquet for all trades held by the King of Qin was precisely to weave these scattered lights into a tapestry illuminating the entire land.