Chapter 89. Spring and Autumn, Warring States Period (End) Goodbye, Mi Wenjing.

     20 days have passed since the first class of the new Juzi Mi Wenjing.

     The main academic topic of the Mohist disciples in the past three days is the geometric circle. The first step is to solve the examples related to the basic theories such as pi, circle area, circle circumference, arc angle, and distance between the centers of circles.

     For disciples who have mastered the theoretical examples, the second step is to take a tape measure and bamboo slips and start measuring the basic data of real round objects such as fan wheels, car wheels, and pottery wheels to verify the circular law.

     New problems may surface and fresh ideas may emerge as you go through the process.

     After verification and understanding, the third step is to go to the streets to find all the inspirations that can be used for circular mechanisms, design practical new circular mechanisms, and apply knowledge.

     The common people have become accustomed to seeing the disciples of the Mohist sect using a tape measure to measure the height of a wall, or using a bamboo pole to measure the depth of water , or using a round bead tool called an abacus to mutter to themselves and count. They have been suffering from the counting disease for a long time.

     Ever since they met a minor official who applied counting to taxation, the disciples of Mohism sometimes taught the common people simple calculation rules, because they found that some theories can be used in reality, especially simple mathematics.

     Children on the street have learned some interesting counting songs, from 0 to 100. They carry wooden counting sticks of the same length and thickness with them, which can be used to play games and help their parents calculate things. These are taught by Wang Qi and others.

     The common people aspire for their children to join the Mohist school someday.

     Given that the Mohist school is now accepting a limited number of children over seven who excel in mathematics, some mathematically gifted individuals are already attempting to join. The school doesn’t strictly require the Five Elements talent; proficiency in arithmetic or geometry is enough.

     Meng Sheng used to worry about the thin spiritual energy, but now he has received some inspiration from Ye Mo. Some mechanisms can be made without the five elements array, and such mechanisms are more suitable for the people.

     Why were Mohist’s mechanism techniques used for attack and defense in the past? Because only the old nobles could afford the spiritual jade. But now it’s different. They are bound to recruit more ambitious people.

     It is a blessing for Mohist School.

…

     At the same time, outside Chuyang City, these days, the name of Mi Wenjing, the new Juzi of Mohist School, has spread throughout Chu, Qin, Qi, Yan, Zhao, Wei, Han and other countries, causing various controversies in every corner of the city.

     There are doubters, cynics, supporters, thinkers, and rejecters, such is the diversity of humanity.

     Anyone who had entered Chuyang City for various reasons came out with no doubts about Mi Wenjing becoming a Juzi and fully supported her.

     Even some famous officials praised Mi Wenjing. After these words spread throughout Chuyang City, they spread to other cities in Chu little by little, and other countries also heard about it.

     It is not known whether the scholars believed it or not, but the common people believed it without a doubt. For any merchant who had been to one or two cities, who would not know Mi Wenjing, a noblewoman of the State of Chu, the Juzi of the School of Mohism, and a famous teacher of mechanical devices?

     Why?

     Because they have gained benefits. Along with the reputation of the new Juzi came the practical machinery made by Mi Wenjing and the disciples of Mohism that benefited the people of the world.

     In agriculture, there were sickles, scythes, hoes, rakes, rice transplanters, treadmills, waterwheels, winnowing machines, and more. They even developed improved seed varieties and cultivation techniques. In the textile industry, there were waterwheels, hand spinning wheels, treadle spinning wheels, and large spinning wheels. Even the writing implements used by scholars evolved over time… In short, from the mundane to the extraordinary, the ingenuity of the Mohists was boundless.

     Therefore, when popular poems of praise appeared, the people sang along happily and loudly, including the famous “Female General”.

     Many schools of thought have always had “people” at the core of their thinking. How could they go against the people at this time? Moreover, some of the Mohist school’s small inventions are also very useful to literati.

     When a literati praised Mi Wenjing, more literati would inevitably start to praise her.

     If this were a mature feudal society, doing so would be courting death, but it is not the case now. The first enemy of the countries is the neighboring country, not the Mohist Juzi Mi Wenjing. The thoughts of various schools of thought are flourishing, and the rulers have not yet found the trick.

     Shang and Zhou began to suppress the status of women, but now, because of the support of the people, they dare not act rashly, including King Su of Chu, who no longer makes a fuss about Mi Wenjing’s identity as a woman.

     Not to mention other things, the armies of various countries are preparing to equip war horses with saddles, stirrups, and horseshoes, all from the Mohist school. They love, hate, and guard against the Mohist school.

     Within a month of assuming the role of Juzi, Mi Wenjing has already fulfilled Meng Sheng’s expectations, making the Mohist school famous throughout the world. Mohist disciples from other countries, who initially doubted and rejected her, are now actively seeking to learn from her.

     The soldiers of Chu Yang City continued to be on guard, but the people lived almost a normal life. The ban of Chu Yang City were like empty words.

     The agents were also in the mood to study the history, humanities, and technology of the Spring and Autumn, Warring States Period. The reserve forces could also learn something and hold on to the golden thighs of the big guys. One month was used to complete the mission and one month was used to change the world.

     There were really many winners among them.

     There were 2221 survivors left in 3020, including the serfs who were still working. Compared with the first round of internal test copies, they’re extremely lucky.

…

     All of this was meticulously planned by Ye Mo, taking advantage of the Chu Yang City battle and the Mohist female Juzi as hot topics, especially manipulating public opinion.”

     Of course, Meng Sheng and the others didn’t know the details, but Qiong basically followed the whole process and even participated in it personally.

     Ye Mo is quite satisfied with Qiong’s progress. It’s not just her skill with mechanisms, but also her unwavering belief in the West Queen Mother Kingdom since she was young. No matter how much suffering or hardship she’s endured, or how much she’s gained, this belief has always remained strong. She’s not easily swayed or tempted, and she’s steadfast in her original intentions

     “Master, the petition was submitted to the Chu Palace in Yandu two days ago, and the last fire was lit yesterday.”

    Ye Mo said meaningfully: “Very good. To live freely and with dignity, you may need more than just a skill. Sometimes you may also need strategies and thinking.”

     “The disciple will keep that in mind.” Qiong hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Why is the Master in such a hurry?”

     Ye Mo smiled faintly. “Perhaps it’s because the problems posed by the enemy aren’t really problems at all!”

     Qiong: “???”

     Qiong knew that there were many things encountered in the process of controlling public opinion, and there are still anti-Mi Wenjing organizations, but the Mohist has always been able to withstand the doubts of others, and use the anti-Mi Wenjing organization to increase the heat, making the person who jumps the highest a joke.

     Yet, what connection is there between this and the timing of our strategy?

   If we proceeded at a more leisurely pace, it might serve the young lady, the Mohist school, and Chu Yang City better in the long run.

     Qiong was silent for a moment, and then presented a set of clothes she had sewn herself, including a plain gauze sheet, a red deep coat, and a belt of the same color with a silver belt hook and jade ornaments.

     “Thank you.”

     “You’re too kind, sir.”

     Ye Mo deeply realized the respect for teachers and teachings of ancient disciples. At that time, she accepted Qiong as a disciple not entirely because of the Kingdom of Queen Mother of the West, but because Qiong was a rare Warring States woman with dreams. 

     In fact, when Qiong was a child, the Kingdom of Queen Mother of the West had been destroyed. The information she knew was not seen by herself, but from the oral narration of her elders. Therefore, what Ye Mo got from her was not immediately usable.

     For example, a small number of high-energy-consuming arrays, high-energy-consuming plant cultivation methods, high-energy-consuming divination methods, spiritual jade essence* detection methods, the Queen Mother of the West ruins, and a witch spirit-absorbing cultivation technique.

     *Notes: [Spirit Jade Essence is a celestial treasure, the genesis of a jade mine. With Spirit Jade Essence, jade mines are not merely exhaustible resources.

     Spirit Jade Essence appears multiple times in ancient texts. The Book of Documents records that when Yao abdicated to Shun, the messenger of the Queen Mother of the West presented a jade ring. Similarly, in the verse ‘Jade of the state comes from Mount Kun, a journey of bamboo slips marked the western tour. Traces of the Central Plains Queen Mother, offering jade to celebrate peace’, the offered tribute was also Spirit Jade Essence.]

     Alas, Spirit Jade Essence has vanished. The last piece was seized by King Mu of Zhou centuries ago, and it hasn’t been seen since. Jade mines have thus become non-renewable, and especially so for Spirit Jade mines.

     That’s why Qiong felt even more sorry for Ye Mo, and was considerate of everything, such as the clothes she made herself after studying, and she would sleep in the jade mine cave only after Ye Mo fell asleep.

     This… After spending more than 20 days together, they really developed a bit of a master-disciple relationship.

…

     The news that dozens of countries, big and small, such as Qin, Qi, and Yan, except Chu, had sent spies to visit Chuyang City reached Yandu again. It was heard that some countries had met Mi Wenjing three or five times.

     Although Mi Wenjing was not moved by the interests of other countries, in the eyes of King Su of Chu, the kingship of Chu was seriously challenged. Just catching spies made the people excited again.

     For the 20th time, Prime Minister Su asked to enter the palace to see King Su of Chu and knelt down: “Your Majesty, I implore you to reconcile with Chuyang City.”

     When the first battle to defend the city failed, King Su of Chu was furious and almost sent another 1 million soldiers to attack. In the process of preparing troops, he was finally persuaded by the ministers headed by Prime Minister Su to stop by saying “internal and external troubles”.

     A million troops can destroy a small country. Using them for a civil war will only make people laugh at Chu.

     King Su of Chu was unwilling to accept this. After knowing that Mi Wenjing was the woman in red, he sent people to spread the news and ordered Bai Gu to search for Yangcheng Jun and his relatives with all his strength, preparing to threaten her with her parents and brother.

     However, as Mi Wenjing took control of the real power of Chuyang City and became the Juzi of Mohist School, the public opinion in Chuyang City changed day by day. There were even ambitious people who were not afraid of death and entered Yangcheng to join the Mohist.

     Not only did it break the suppression of women by the aristocracy, but it also made King Su of Chu’s plan unworkable, even though they had just successfully arrested Yangcheng Jun and his group who were trying to return to Chuyang City.

     Now using a trick to threaten Mi Wenjing would definitely be ridiculed by the whole world, and the people would help Mi Wenjing escape.

     Although there’s no explicit term for “public sentiment” at the time, King Chu Su’s subordinates included many talents from the Hundred Schools of Thought. These schools often centered around the core idea of the relationship between ruler and people.

     Most importantly, Mi Wenjing’s ‘Petition’ broke the stalemate between the two sides. She wrote, ‘…It is wrong for my father to destroy the king’s corpse. With my Master consent, I have taken the initiative to report the saddle, stirrup, horseshoe, iron weapons, and other mechanical devices. I hope that the King of Chu will forgive my father’s transgressions, revoke the order for his execution, and spare Chu Yang City from destruction…'”

     The king of Chu Su suspected that the other party knew that Yangcheng Jun was in Yandu.

     The last few sentences of the “Petition” are the key points. Mi Wenjing has made another breakthrough in cultivation. She plans to temporarily return the position of the Juzi to Meng Sheng, and hand over the responsibility of guarding Chuyang City to her disciple Qiong, and travel around the world.

     As for the future of Yangcheng Jun and his wife and her younger brother, it comes from the oral statement of the messenger. She hopes that the king of Chu Su can guarantee their honor and safety for the rest of their lives.

     The ruling class was well aware that Mi Wenjing was a natural-born cultivator. Would her breakthrough in cultivation mean becoming a true witch? Ancient witches could easily destroy an ordinary tribe. If Mi Wenjing truly became a witch, they would have to be even more careful not to make a mistake.

     The request to simply ensure the safety of the Marquis of Yangcheng, his wife, and her youngest brother is interesting. Is this filial piety or not? And just a verbal statement? No written evidence?

     Prime Minister Su said, “Your Majesty should not rashly send troops. I humbly request to go to Yangcheng City to meet Mi Wenjing myself.”

     King Chu remained silent for a long time, then finally said, “Very well.”

…

     On the 52nd day of the Spring and Autumn, Warring States Period copy, the Prime Minister of Chu, Su He, went to Chuyang City.

     Behind Prime Minister Su, representing the King of Chu, the gates of Chuyang City were reopened on the day when the visiting team arrived.

     When the carriage entered Chuyang City, many people in Yangcheng came out to watch the envoys. Just looking at their faces and the light in their eyes, you can tell that they are not worse than the people in Yandu.

     There are some buildings and mechanisms that Su He has never seen on the street. Even children’s toys were inspired by Mohist principles. Mohist disciples were testing their skills against complex structures, and Mohist engineering was deeply embedded in every facet of Yangcheng life.

     Su He was filled with emotion.

     Ye Mo was still wearing the iconic red robe as in the legend. She led the officials to greet him in front of Yangcheng Junfu. In fact, they had met before, but he no longer had the impression of her before.

     “Greetings, young lady.”

     “I dare not. I am glad to welcome Prime Minister Su.”

     “Young lady has a good way to govern the city.”

     “Prime Minister Su is too kind.”

     After exchanging a few polite words, the two entered Yangcheng Junfu together, and other officials followed.

     The main hall has been prepared for a housewarming banquet. All the food on the banquet table was personally cooked by Wangqi. He steamed, stir-fried, pan-fried, deep-fried, and boiled, with meat as the main ingredient. The food was both delicious and visually appealing.

     Prime Minister Su naturally praised him, and Ye Mo told him that this was because there were more kitchen utensils and seasonings. Mohism can be applied to food, clothing, housing and transportation in life, and it is indispensable everywhere.

     “…”

     Prime Minister Su also understood why the people supported Mohism so much.

     The use of mechanical skills on the battlefield is just one of the directions. The core idea of Mohism is to serve the people, and Mohist mechanical skills are naturally the same. This is what the young lady in front of him has been reminding him.

     The two sides talked secretly for two days.

     On the first day, Ye Mo discussed with Chancellor Su about Wu Qi’s reforms and the old nobility, suggesting that King Chu Su might better serve his kingdom by empowering the common people rather than merely suppressing the nobility.

     On the second morning, Prime Minister Su hinted to YangchengJun and the others had been arrested, and Ye Mo responded with a knowing smile.

     That afternoon, Ye Mo appropriately used a storage space ring, proving that she had obtained the abilities of a witch. Chancellor Su smiled wryly.

     Two days later, Prime Minister Su returned to Yandu.

     On the third day after Prime Minister Su returned to Yandu, it was the third to last day before Ye Mo left the dungeon.

     On that morning, King Chu Su finally issued a new decree. It roughly stated: ‘Mi Wenjing, the noble lady of Chu Yang City, has made significant contributions by offering mechanical devices and interceding on behalf of her father. Moved by her filial piety, the King of Chu has graciously pardoned her father, Marquis Yangcheng, from the death penalty for the crime of shooting the king’s corpse. However, while the death penalty has been waived, he cannot escape punishment altogether. Therefore, the title of Marquis of Yangcheng is hereby revoked, but he will be allowed to live out his life in peace and prosperity in Yan City. As Mi Wenjing has requested to retreat from the world to cultivate in seclusion, the King hereby appoints her disciple, Mi Qiong, as the new Marquis of Chu Yang City.’

     As soon as this order came out, the world was in an uproar.

     When Mi Qiong in Chuyang City received the order from the King of Chu, she immediately searched frantically, and then found a letter, which ended with the content of the letter, “See you again if we are destined to meet again.” Whether it was the Jade Mine Cave or the Chuyang City Mansion, she would never see the young lady again. Along with the young lady, two guards—Gong Ziyi and Bai Gu—were also missing. The remaining maids and servants were all there.

     Qiong rode her horse to Momen.

Meng Sheng has just received a wooden tablet from Ye Mo. The first sentence reads: ‘Master, your unfilial disciple is leaving Chu Yang City. You have been like a second father to Wenjing, but she has failed to live up to your expectations. Everything is Wenjing’s fault… However, Wenjing has no choice but to leave. I hope you take care of yourself in the future, and I hope that many talented disciples will emerge from the Mohist school.’

     “…”

     Although Chuyang City was unsealed, the people’s enthusiasm for the young lady remained unabated. In the entire Chuyang City, only Wang Xue and Zhang San knew about this in advance, and they dared not tell anyone.

     The last link of Mi Wenjing’s plan—giving Chuyang City and Momen the last layer of protection as a mysterious witch. How they will develop in the future depends on themselves.

…

     Where is Mi Wenjing now?

     Ye Mo, Gong Ziyi and Bai Gu first went to the Chu Palace in Yandu to “thank” King Chu Su. She was quite polite and brought some local specialties, such as meat and jade, and also received many precious rewards.

 

   【Survivor Ye Mo has broken through the physical constitution limit, physical attribute +1.】 × 2.

 

     After leaving the Chu Palace, Ye Mo wore her iconic red clothes and showed up in Yandu. Within two hours, the news that Mi Wenjing had bid farewell to Yang Chengjun and his wife spread throughout the Chu State.

     Only King Chu Su knew that, just as Yang Chengjun had forgotten his daughter, Mi Wenjing had never seen Yang Chengjun. Her real purpose was to warn himself that the backer of Chu Yangcheng was Mi Wenjing, a witch they could not afford to offend.

     A terrible woman who should not be offended.

     After leaving Yan City, Ye Mo traveled north towards Yan State, which is modern-day Beijing, stopping frequently along the way.

     Until the moment before leaving the dungeon, she said goodbye to Gong Ziyi and Bai Gu in a small town inn with nice scenery.

     If the dungeon is fake, Ye Mo’s departure will have no impact on this world.

     If the survivors leave the dungeon and Mi Wenjing is still there, Gong Ziyi and Bai Gu can protect the original owner, and the original owner does not have to face the heavy responsibility of Chuyang City; if Mi Wenjing is not there, Gong Ziyi and Bai Gu will be free, and the sky is high and the birds fly freely.

     “Yes, young lady.”

     On time, Ye Mo heard the system voice as expected, but this time there were too many voices-

 

   【Congratulations to survivor Ye Mo for completing Special Side Quest 5: Reserve Survivor Exceeding 1000. Free point attribute +4 】

   【Congratulations to survivor Ye Mo for completing Special Side Quest 6: Reserve Survivor Exceeding 2000. Free point attribute +4. 】

   【Congratulations to survivor Ye Mo for completing Special Quest 7: Assisting in the Preservation of Mohist Mechanical Engineering. Free point attribute +4】

   【Congratulations to survivor Ye Mo for completing Special Quest 8: Preserving the Flame of the Western Queen Mother Civilization. Free point attribute +4】

   【Exiting the ‘Spring and Autumn, Warring States copy’.】 

  【Calculating results…】

 

     Goodbye, Mohist School.

     Goodbye, Chu Yang City.