Li Nian didn't know what methods the First Emperor would use to promote the desk, chair, and bench, but the First Emperor should have chosen to promote them.
The desk, chair, and bench are just small items and don't affect the king's power, so the First Emperor doesn't have a reason to stop them.
After Su Xia left, Li Nian had a late lunch.
The Qin people have two meals a day, but he comes from a later era and is accustomed to having three meals a day.
His living safety level is similar to that of the First Emperor himself. All the food he eats and all the water he drinks must undergo strict inspection.
This also led to a problem, he couldn't cook by himself!
Glancing at the iron pot on the shelf, Li Nian thought that when he had a conversation with the First Emperor in a couple of days, he should mention this issue. He wanted to cook some dishes himself.
No way, it's been more than two weeks in the Qin Empire, and everything is green and harmless. Although it's good for health, the taste makes Li Nian miss modern technology and hard work.
While eating, he listened to the sounds outside. It seemed that someone was digging vigorously. It's like bringing a construction site into the palace!
Indeed, there's no mistake. Some areas of the Liuying Palace have turned into a construction site, being prepared for the building of a paper-making workshop.
Because the First Emperor currently doesn't allow him to leave the palace, but paper-making requires him to conduct on-site technical guidance. It can't be solved by using bamboo slips and oral explanations, followed by more bamboo slips and oral communication.
That would be neither efficient nor timely in handling problems, and it's inconvenient to correct errors.
Therefore, Li Nian simply proposed to build the paper-making site within the Liuying Palace. This way, the First Emperor wouldn't worry about him escaping his control, and he could also provide timely guidance on paper-making.
Moreover, during the construction of the paper field, Li Nian also had some improvements made to the Liuying Palace by the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works, making it easier for him to do certain things in the future.
After all, the First Emperor won't let him out of the palace. It's likely that he will stay in the palace for a long time. This Liuying Palace is not only his residence but also the place where he works and does things.
There was a reason for having Guo Dian inventory the items in the Liuying Palace before; of course, all matters have been reported to the First Emperor. He is a trustworthy person in the Qin Empire, known for his honesty.
The tasks assigned to him by the First Emperor are indeed many. Planting potatoes, making paper, castrating pigs, drawing maps, making globes, and possibly even compiling textbooks, teaching classes, and providing technology for long-distance navigation...
One after another, these things seem to be no better than being a slave in the modern era. However, he doesn't feel tired or bored at all, and even finds some pleasure in them?
Why hasn't the First Emperor sent me a princess yet? In other main characters who have crossed over, the emperor would use a princess to win them over. How come I don't have one?
I don't know what the princesses of the Qin Empire look like?
These princesses are also pitiful. Although they have little chance of inheriting the throne, they are suspected and punished by the beast Huhai, with a sentence of being skinned alive.
While having lunch, Li Nian was lost in thought. A guard entered from outside. Since he was eating, the guard was stopped by Guo Dian.
Li Nian noticed and asked, "Is there anything to report?"
Guo Dian only let the guard pass after that.
After bowing to Li Nian, the guard reported: "The new plow made by the Ministry of Works as requested by the young master has been completed, and all the people have gathered. At present, they are outside the palace, waiting for the young master's command."
On the day he instructed the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works to make a modern plow, Li Nian also asked them to bring in several dozen farmers with similar ages, strength, and farming experience after the new plow was made, along with the new and old plows, to the Liuying Palace.
Li Nian looked at Guo Dian and said: "Guo Manager, take them into the palace first to the place I mentioned. I will arrive shortly."
"Yes!" Guo Dian received the order and left.
Li Nian had the Ministry of Works bring in several dozen farmers, along with new and old plows, and cows. They came to the Liuying Palace through direct comparison through practical testing to see which plow was better.
Without validation, even if Li Nian claims that his new plow is so good, people from this era won't believe it, as words alone are not enough to prove anything.
The original garden in the Liuying Palace has been cleared of its plants and flowers, leaving only an empty field.
The empty ground was divided into twenty equal areas by drawing several white lines.
This is the arena that Li Nian has prepared for the competition between the new and old plows!
At this moment, there were already quite a few people gathered in front of the empty ground: craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, the farmers who were brought in, and the guards from the Liuying Palace.
In addition to people, there were also dozens of similar-aged and strong cattle.
The guards from the Liuying Palace are holding their weapons, with no sign of relaxation. If these cattle go crazy, they must be ready at any time.
Looking at the empty ground, the craftsmen and farmers from the Ministry of Works understood what they had to do. The young master from Liuying Palace wanted them to compare the superiority of the new and old plows by directly plowing the field. They may have never even dreamed of having the opportunity to plow in the palace before.
How did the king respond?
Under the protection of a group of guards, Li Nian is explaining the use of the new plow and the rules of the competition to the craftsmen and farmers.
After a round of explanations, just as Li Nian was about to announce that the competition was about to start, a loud cry of "The king is here!" could be heard.
Li Nian muttered in his heart: 'The First Emperor has arrived? He doesn't work at the Zhantai Palace. What is he doing here? The Qin Empire is so busy now with many things to handle. He actually comes here to idle away, and no one dares to deduct his salary!'
The crowd hurriedly bowed, but a solemn and sonorous voice came from afar, "There is no need for such ceremony. I came here just to take a look. Carry on with what you were doing."
In fact, he learned that Li Nian was going to hold a competition to compare the new and old plows, so he came specifically to watch.
“A nation's great affairs lie in sacrifice and war”, but agriculture is the foundation. Only when one is full can other things be done. The food problem is the most important issue for a country.
If Li Nian's new plow proves superior to the old one, the Qin Empire will be able to produce more food, feed more people, and thus have more soldiers. This will enable it to expand its territory even further.
Li Nian continued to command the competition. In ancient Qin, old plows usually required two or three oxen, while the new plow originated from the Song and Yuan Dynasties and only required one oxen. Li Nian did not require that the old plow also only use one oxen.
The purpose is to demonstrate the difference and compare the relative advantages of the new plow over the old one.
First, the old plow made its appearance, with two oxen being led by farmers to plow the ground in the ten plots marked with white lines. Then, it was the turn of the new plow, which was pulled by a single ox.
The power of two oxen is certainly greater than that of a single ox. Plowing the same area, they should plow it faster than a single ox.
However, the reality presented to the First Emperor and Li Nian was that the new plow did indeed plow faster, but only slightly. It did not achieve a two-fold difference in efficiency, i.e., compared to the amount of manpower and oxen required, the new plow had a higher efficiency in farming.
Moreover, whereas the old plow required two oxen to plow the land, now one ox is sufficient. This means that when a household needs to plow their land, they can still spare one ox for another household, saving everyone's time waiting for the oxen to be available for farming.
And the saved time can be used to do other things or to plow more land.
Ying Zheng is not stupid and naturally noticed these points, expressing his happiness by saying, "Everyone present will receive 100 coins as a reward today!"
"Thank Your Majesty for your kindness!"
The crowd all bowed in gratitude.
There were several hundred people in attendance, and 100 coins were already a generous reward. However, compared to the results achieved after the new plow was widely adopted, Ying Zheng believed the money was worth it.
Ying Zheng turned his gaze towards Li Nian and asked, "Without you, there would be no such plow. You should be recognized as the primary contributor. What reward do you desire?"
