Chapter 19: This Damn Person Everyone Loves

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“If we’re talking about generals, Han Xin must be found. As for Xiang Yu, he is an old Chu noble; that might be quite difficult... I need to think of a way.”

Ying Ziji tapped his chin thoughtfully with his pen.

So absorbed was he in thought that he held the pen upside down, smudging ink all over his chin, making it look like he had grown a beard.

“Pfft…”

A stifled laugh came from the gate of the courtyard.

Ying Ziji looked up to see two graceful figures standing at the entrance.

Beside Wang Wan was a quiet, refined young girl, covering her mouth as her sparkling eyes curved like crescent moons with amusement.

“Young master, Miss Wang has arrived.”

It was Yu Huatian who had brought the two ladies in.

This saved Ying Ziji the trouble of going to find him.

“Brother Ziji, what are you writing so intently? You’ve turned yourself into a little ink cat.”

Wang Wan reached out to touch his chin, only to realize she hadn’t brought a handkerchief today.

Fortunately, the serene young girl beside her produced a blue embroidered handkerchief from her bosom.

“Ah, I’m preparing to gather some people.”

Ying Ziji caught the faint floral scent from the handkerchief—it was refreshing and invigorating.

Just now, he had been pondering how to lure Xiang Yu here.

Gather people?

As Wang Wan helped wipe the ink from Ying Ziji’s chin, her eyes glanced over the list he had written.

She couldn’t help but read aloud, “Xiang Yu… Han Xin… Zhang Ao… Why are you looking for them?”

“The emperor agreed I could gather some help myself. It’s exhausting to handle state affairs alone.”

Ying Ziji pointed to the small table piled high with memorials.

“So Brother Ziji is truly recruiting talent. That’s simple—Fusu, the eldest prince, has many retainers under him; just borrow a few from him.”

“The names you wrote are all obscure, not necessarily as capable as Fusu’s retainers,” Wang Wan smiled.

“No, no, it has to be these few. They’re very impressive.”

Ying Ziji shook his head.

Fusu’s retainers?

Although there were indeed many gifted individuals among them, they paled in comparison to the likes of the God of War, the Western Chu Overlord, or Xiao He, one of the Three Heroes of the early Han.

Han Xin and Xiao He were easier to recruit.

Xiao He was likely serving as a low-ranking official in Pei County, an unknown position within the Qin bureaucracy.

Han Xin was still a wandering knight-errant, struggling even to find food, surviving by fishing by the riverbank.

Only the Western Chu Overlord, Xiang Yu, was difficult to recruit.

He was an old Chu noble; his uncle, Xiang Liang, was the son of the famed Chu general Xiang Yan—both had suffered the devastation and annihilation inflicted by Qin.

“Yu Huatian, find the people on this list and bring them to Xianyang. Treat them with the highest honors. As for the last person, go yourself.”

Ying Ziji handed over a letter.

“Understood.”

Yu Huatian took the letter and vanished through the courtyard gate.

“Brother Ziji, you really do look like a little ruler.”

Wang Wan smiled at his serious expression and nodded toward the girl beside her. “This is my good sister, Gongshu Youlan. I brought her for you today.”

Only then did Ying Ziji lift his head to look at the young lady opposite him.

She wore a water-blue embroidered dress, her complexion pale to the point of fragility, and her presence delicate and ethereal.

True to her name, she was like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

“Youlan’s health isn’t very good. After much persuasion, Uncle Gongshu finally allowed her to come out with me.”

Wang Wan explained and helped the girl sit down.

Unable to refuse, the latter took a seat opposite them, though she still looked somewhat reserved.

Wang Wan then turned to introduce Gongshu Youlan further:

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“How about it? I told you Brother Ziji is very charming; you’ll definitely like him.”

“Greetings, young lord.”

Gongshu Youlan was not as carefree as her friend Wang Wan. Though she had just stifled a laugh, her manners were impeccable.

Her lifted eyes sparkled with curiosity as she studied Ying Ziji, surprise evident in her expression.

“Thank you, Elder Sister Youlan, for the handkerchief. I’ll repay you with a new one soon.”

Ying Ziji glanced at the hourglass beside him and said, “Ah, it’s getting late. Please wait here.”

He then hopped down from the rocking chair and ran into the inner court.

His adorable demeanor only deepened Gongshu Youlan’s surprise.

Her father had told her that the young lord was very difficult to get along with.

Not only had he killed Zhao Gao, but he had also imprisoned many nobles, nearly exiling them—only the ministers’ pleas spared them.

Moreover, his elder brother, Hu Hai, was still locked in the Black Fang Prison.

In short, he was a powerful but unruly child.

Now all the ministers were hoping the emperor would return soon, so Ying Ziji would cease acting as regent.

To serve such a ruler was like serving a tiger; at least the tiger’s intentions were somewhat discernible, making it possible to avoid mistakes.

But who knew when this child might throw a tantrum?

Yet today, from head to toe, this young lord showed no sign of being a wild child.

“What was that young lord just looking at?”

Gongshu Youlan asked curiously.

“Oh, that’s called an hourglass. It’s used to tell time.”

Wang Wan replied casually.

“An hourglass? To tell time?”

Gongshu Youlan pondered for a moment, then her eyes brightened.

During the Western Zhou period, there were already gnomons and sundials that determined time by the length of shadows.

But their disadvantage was obvious—on cloudy days or at night without sunlight, they were useless.

“Using flowing sand to mark intervals to measure time—that’s a clever idea.”

“Exactly. Brother Ziji is the smartest child I’ve ever met. That’s why I had to bring you here; you two will definitely have a lot in common.”

At Wang Wan’s words, Gongshu Youlan’s curiosity about the young lord deepened.

Soon after, Ying Ziji brought out an iron pot, carrying a small cloth bag on his back.

The servants brought various foods, and a fire was lit in the rear garden.

“Today, we’re having hotpot!”

With a bubbling sound, the broth began to boil, releasing a rich and enticing aroma.

“Ooh, it smells amazing.”

Ying Ziji swallowed in anticipation.

This iron pot had been specially made; using a tripod cauldron was simply too inconvenient.

But the crucial part of hotpot was, of course, the broth!

The base that the system had rewarded was truly authentic—fragrant and spicy.

In the Qin era, chili peppers did not yet exist, so enjoying such a hotpot was a rare treat!

“Cough, cough… It’s a bit spicy, but the flavor… seems really delicious.”

Gongshu Youlan coughed lightly.

Her appetite was usually poor due to chronic illness, but smelling this aroma stirred a surprising hunger within her.

“Brother Ziji, is this beef?” Gongshu Youlan asked.

“Yes, it was freshly slaughtered today—very fresh.”

“But isn’t it forbidden to eat beef under Qin law? Isn’t this inappropriate…”

“Don’t worry, this was a plow ox injured some time ago and no longer able to work the fields. It has been reported already.”

Ying Ziji placed slices of meat into the pot, rubbing his hands together expectantly.

Pigs had not yet been domesticated and their meat was gamey, so Ying Ziji turned his attention to beef.

However, in this era, oxen were crucial labor animals, and killing them casually was a serious crime unless injured.

Even nobles could not eat beef at will.

After a long wait, news of an injured ox finally came through.

“Poor ox, I will savor your meat well.”

Ying Ziji fished some meat out but, instead of eating it himself first, he placed it into the bowls of Gongshu Youlan and Wang Wan.

Then he took several cans of ice-cold soda from the small cloth bag.

“Try it! It tastes even better with ice-cold soda.”

“Thank you, Brother Ziji!”

Wang Wan, already impatient from the aroma, bit into a slice of beef and exclaimed with delight.

“Youlan, your poor appetite has a cure! It’s delicious—try it!”

Wang Wan fanned herself while beckoning her friend.

Gongshu Youlan carefully picked up some beef and tasted it.

The spicy flavor exploded on her tongue, mixing with the rich aroma of beef fat and the tender meat—it was exquisite.

Her pale cheeks flushed red as delicate sweat broke out.

“Thank you for the treat, young lord. It’s truly delicious. But what kind of cooking vessel is this? I’ve never seen one like it.”

“This is an iron pot. Much more convenient than a tripod cauldron, but it requires smelting iron at a higher temperature to produce.”

While adding more meat, Ying Ziji explained.

“Could it be that young lord also knows iron smelting?”

Gongshu Youlan bit her chopsticks, eyes shining.

Though usually frail, she immediately brightened when it came to artisan skills.

“It’s quite simple. Youlan, have you noticed that with sufficient oxygen, iron ore can be smelted more quickly and with fewer impurities…”

“That’s also why I invited you here. You’re descendants of Lu Ban, the master craftsman, so you surely know more than I do. I have many inventions I want to create.”

Ying Ziji pulled out a set of notes from the small cloth bag.

They contained the essentials of iron smelting.

“Just add carbon powder during smelting and use a blower to supply oxygen, which raises the melting temperature…”

His little mouth chattered as he spoke confidently.

The new and unfamiliar terms he mentioned left Gongshu Youlan a bit stunned.

But she was very intelligent and managed to keep up with Ying Ziji’s thoughts.

Her eyes could hardly leave the notes on smelting.

The Gongshu family, as artisans, was far superior even to the Mohist school.

The Mohists focused mainly on academic philosophy, spreading ideas, with craftsmanship and natural science as byproducts.

The Gongshu family specialized in technology, elevating craftsmanship to its peak.

Their siege engines could, in crucial moments, rival an army of a hundred thousand.

Thus, Ying Ziji did not hold back and showed her the smelting notes outright.

“What the young lord says is unheard of by me, Elder Sister Youlan. Where did this manual come from? It’s simply astounding.”

Gongshu Youlan’s small mouth formed an expression of amazement.

Much of the knowledge he shared overturned her previous understanding.