The wine and dishes were extremely delicious. Gongshu Mu was not polite in the slightest—a big mouthful of food paired with a cup of wine. Before the wine even entered his throat, praise had already emerged first: “The ultimate of the mortal world.”
Once the wine entered his belly, blood color then climbed up from his chest and abdomen. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed to flash with red brilliance. He didn’t care, and picked up another chopstick-full of food, putting it in his mouth to chew carefully, wanting to savor all the flavors within. Gongshu Jia was somewhat restrained, eating with his father in small bites. He glanced at his father from time to time, seemingly reproaching his father’s breach of etiquette.
Yun Ye didn’t mind. He held the wine pot in his hand, and whenever he saw Old Gongshu’s cup was empty, he’d fill it up. He kept introducing which dish was more delicious, which dish suited Old Gongshu to eat more. He didn’t eat a single bite himself. Between pouring wine, he still had time to serve food to Young Gongshu. Some wine table techniques from the later world were performed by him with exquisite perfection.
After spitting out a chicken bone, Old Gongshu let out a long breath and looked at Yun Ye, saying: “This is the most delicious meal this old man has eaten in his life. Unfortunately, I’ll never be able to eat it again in the future—quite regrettable.”
“Elder, why do you say such things? As long as you want to eat, just come find this youngster. Though the Yun family is humble, mere wine and food is not a difficult matter.”
“Marquis Yun, since this old man has eaten your wine and food, I won’t let your painstaking effort be in vain. What the Gongshu family can do, you surely know very well in your heart. If we can only be craftsmen supervisors, please spare us your words, Marquis. The Gongshu family has endured in hiding for a thousand years—not to emerge as craftsmen supervisors.”
Old Gongshu took the initiative to clarify the topic. He also had the confidence to make such demands. For a thousand years, the Gongshu family’s reputation had not fallen. Many stories had already become legends.
Yun Ye smiled and said to him: “If I needed a craftsmen supervisor, why would this junior go to such great lengths? This junior has a dream and hopes to obtain your help in turning it into reality.”
Old Gongshu didn’t understand the meaning in Yun Ye’s words. He remained silent, waiting for his explanation.
Yun Ye ordered the guards to clear away the remnants of the meal, brewed a large pot of tea water, poured tea for the father and son, then took out a drawing from the inner room and spread it open before the two of them.
Gongshu Mu’s eyes instantly widened to perfect circles, shocked into a daze. Gongshu Jia was no exception. The two were great experts in civil engineering construction—how could they not understand? They saw in the drawing a mountain peak prominently appearing in the center, inscribed with “Yushan Academy.” Around the mountain peak were all densely packed buildings. Several extremely magnificent structures stood before the mountain. The Dongyang River had become an interior river, and the waterfall had also become scenery within the academy. Surrounding it were tall city walls that undulated through the mountains like a giant python.
“Is this a city or an academy? Which emperor would allow you to build such an academy? Marquis Yun, have you gone mad?”
Why did everyone who saw this blueprint have this reaction? If they knew that in the later world people would drill holes in the Himalayas, would divert water from the south to the north, wouldn’t these people bash their heads to death? If they learned of those internet dreams of covering the Yellow River or tiling the Great Wall, wouldn’t they bleed from all seven orifices and die of rage?
“The Gongshu family is said to be the most imaginative family in the world. Why do you lose composure upon seeing this small academy?” Yun Ye’s words were said with the utmost nonchalance.
Old Gongshu struggled to move his gaze from the drawing and said hoarsely: “Even in this old man’s most daring dreams, such a city has never appeared. It requires not only an incomparably enormous sum of money but also the best craftsmen, uncountable amounts of various materials, and even more requires vast labor. In this old man’s view, the Great Tang doesn’t have the capability to build this academy-city. The dream is magnificent, Marquis Yun, but you cannot accomplish it in your lifetime.”
Yun Ye took out another blueprint and spread it on the table for the father and son to view.
“The building in this drawing requires conscripting twenty thousand laborers, spending no less than a hundred thousand strings of cash, taking two years, and only then might construction be completed.”
Old Gongshu thought Yun Ye had abandoned the fanatical idea from the first drawing and changed his mind to build a more realistic academy.
“Elder Gongshu, this blueprint has already begun construction. Its cost is not the hundred thousand strings you imagined—only less than twenty thousand strings. This includes dozens of new-style residences by the Dongyang River. Not including the early period of quarrying stone, its entire construction period is only three months, with labor of only five thousand. At this time, Chang’an’s weather should still be quite warm, so the project continues. Before snow falls in Chang’an, it will certainly be completed.”
“This is impossible! Just processing and shaping the lumber alone would take more than three months. This old man’s estimate of two years is still based on my Gongshu family’s speed. This old man doesn’t believe there are such skilled craftsmen in this world. This is not a speed humans can achieve—unless you have ghosts and spirits assisting you.”
Gongshu Mu was losing it. He believed Yun Ye was talking nonsense, deceiving him. Starting from their ancestor, they’d been building houses. He was clear about every process and the time required. He simply didn’t believe such absurd things existed in this world, especially in his area of expertise. He felt a strong sense of insult.
“Heh heh, Elder Gongshu need not be anxious or angry. Facts speak louder than eloquence. Now heavy snow blocks the roads and we cannot go to Chang’an to verify. We need only patiently wait until next spring. Won’t a trip to Chang’an by you and me make it clear?”
Yun Ye was quite pleased in his heart. Being able to fool Luban’s descendants into losing their composure gave him a great sense of achievement.
Old Gongshu’s eyes were red. He still didn’t believe such strange things existed in this world. If it were true, the Gongshu family’s thousand years of forbearance would become a laughingstock.
“Who says heavy snow blocking the mountains prevents going to Chang’an? If my Gongshu family cannot even solve such a small problem, do we still have the face to call ourselves Luban’s descendants? This old man will go to Chang’an right now to see Marquis Yun’s work of ghosts and spirits!”
“Oh? You can go to Chang’an when heavy snow blocks the roads? What is your plan?” Yun Ye suddenly became energized. He’d said the previous nonsense no less than ten times—explaining to Li Er in memorials, explaining to Chengqian in letters, explaining to Fang Xuanling at the construction site. In short, when discussing this topic, he couldn’t muster any spirit. Suddenly hearing that a new tool had been created, his curiosity greatly increased. He completely forgot that this was ancient times, where prying into others’ secrets was a great taboo.
“What blinds people’s eyes is but a piece of paper. Once punctured, there’s nothing curious about it. Walking on snow is nothing more than sailing on land. What difficulty is there?” Gongshu Mu finally grasped the initiative. Naturally, he wanted to show off his knowledge, preparing to extort Yun Ye well with this thing. With this item, the great army could fight in snowy weather, and merchants wouldn’t have to sit idly by the brazier in winter, watching various money-making opportunities slip away. This was the capital the Gongshu family had prepared for advancement. Old Gongshu mentioned it here to Yun Ye because he very much wanted to see Yun Ye’s surprised expression.
“Sailing on land? Sailing on land?” What was this? What kind of boat could travel on land? A hovercraft? If the Gongshu family made that thing, Yun Ye wouldn’t mind worshipping them as immortals. But what else besides skis could travel on snowy ground in winter? Dog sleds? Where would he find suitable sled dogs?
“This old man and my son came here riding such a thing. Marquis Yun can take a look.” Old Gongshu was somewhat proud.
Yun Ye came to the courtyard with the respectful attitude of viewing a hovercraft. When Old Gongshu’s mount appeared before Yun Ye, he almost took out a knife to hack at someone. It was actually the common pali from the Northeast—a mixed-coat horse pulling a low wooden frame with two highly polished hardwood strips underneath, both ends raised high, almost no different from the horse-drawn sleds of later times.
Yun Ye very much wanted to slash himself once. This thing held no mystery for him. Why couldn’t he think of it when using it? He still needed ancient people to remind him—how embarrassing!
“This object is indeed ingenious! Relying on two wooden strips, one can traverse ice and snow lands as if flying. Truly a marvelous and clever idea. Yun Ye admires it.”
No choice. According to the patent law of later times, Gongshu Mu owned all rights to the pali. Yun Ye had no claim and could only pay a price for this thing he’d long known about. He hoped Old Gongshu wouldn’t open his mouth too wide like a lion. Otherwise, for the army to successfully launch a surprise attack on Xiangcheng in winter, no matter how great the price, Yun Ye had to pay it.
“Marquis Yun bestowed upon my Gongshu family the fifteen-column Luban Lock today. My entire family is very grateful, especially that slip of paper which resolved this old man’s decades of confusion. This land boat is given to Marquis Yun. Please don’t disdain it.”
Old Gongshu was sincere. Yun Ye could feel his sincerity. But could his single sentence really untangle someone’s knot in their heart?
Initially, he’d been calculating to anger his opponent, hoping they’d be provoked by his words and even come to his door to argue. Who knew that through a strange twist of fate, things had turned out this way?
“Marquis Yun, is the matter of Bai Yujing truly exactly as you described?”
“Elder Gongshu, who has seen immortals? Those rumors spread by error once made this junior run his legs off. The Jade Pool of the Queen Mother of the West is a broken pond—no flowers or trees, no immortal pills that grant longevity from eating just one. My teacher once reached a strange place full of stones everywhere. Even my teacher was nearly assimilated. Fortunately escaping, he was also severely weakened. My teacher called that place Bai Yujing, and forbade this junior from mentioning it again, much less allowing this junior to walk this path of no return.”
Yun Ye thought Old Gongshu still harbored evil intentions and was still coveting the way of longevity. Just as he was about to advise him, he saw Old Gongshu say: “The family has already established a rule—anyone who dares speak of longevity again shall be expelled from the household, with no leniency. So Marquis Yun need not persuade me. This old man’s hatred for longevity is even greater than yours. It’s just that the reason involves my father. A son does not speak of his father’s faults, so I won’t elaborate to Marquis Yun.”
“Everyone has their own secrets. This junior is not one to gossip. For the Gongshu family to establish such a clan rule is truly cause for congratulations. Yun Ye here congratulates you, Elder. I just don’t know which talented person of the Gongshu family solved the fifteen-column Luban Lock. Please allow Yun Ye to pay respects.”
As soon as Yun Ye finished speaking, it drew hearty laughter from the father and son.
This laughter left Yun Ye confused, not knowing what was so funny about solving the Luban Lock. That was something he’d added special ingredients to—not something ordinary people could solve.
“The one who solved Marquis Yun’s masterpiece was our Gongshu family’s Gongshu Yan. It took a total of the time to blink an eye.” Old Gongshu seemed to have touched upon the most satisfying point in his heart, his eyes full of mischief.
“Such an expert—Yun Ye should personally pay respects.”
“No need. At this time he’s probably long asleep.”
“How old is Master Yan currently?”
“He’s already one year old this year…”