Food and sex are human nature.
These are the two most primitive instincts of humanity.
Jin Feng was no saint, so how could he be exempt from such things?
When he saw a beautiful woman, he too would have wandering thoughts.
In truth, with his current status, he lacked for nothing in terms of women.
If he wished, he would not even need to go to Iron Can Mountain to enjoy nightly revelry.
But Jin Feng did not want to become like the people he had seen in Green Water Manor, reduced to slaves of desire.
Yet at this moment, the Ninth Princess stirred in him an urge to pull her into the room.
The Ninth Princess was an old hand at reading people, and Jin Feng’s intentions were so obvious that she saw through his little scheme with one glance.
She took a small step to the side, deliberately showing a look of disdain. “Oh my, Master, I never expected you to be this kind of person.”
Watching him flounder awkwardly, she covered her mouth, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Then she raised an eyebrow at Jin Feng, her gaze full of teasing.
“Ahem, do not talk nonsense. I did not mean that. It is not what you think!”
Jin Feng instinctively delivered the classic triple denial.
With this interruption, the impulse in his heart dissipated.
He shook off stray thoughts and returned to serious matters.
Jin Feng paused, then laughed at himself.
Was this not a classic case of protesting too much?
“Do not say any more. This palace refuses to listen!”
The Ninth Princess quickly stopped him. “Master, the affairs of the world are easy for those who understand and difficult for those who do not. The principle of the compass may be very simple to you, but to those who do not know, it may seem as hard as ascending to heaven.”
“Actually, before putting the compass and matches inside, I had considered it.”
Jin Feng said, “But once something is made, it is meant to be used. The principle of the compass is actually very simple…”
“I understand!” Jin Feng nodded. “Indeed, I was being too presumptuous.”
Though he tried to remind himself, his current thinking was inevitably influenced by his previous life, creating some cognitive differences.
If you do not say it, the Dangxiang side might take a very long time to figure it out. If you do say it, they might gain inspiration and imitate it quickly.
“Master understands what this palace means, right?”
But he had overlooked that the industry of this world was still in a very primitive state.
If he did not explain, others might, as the Ninth Princess said, need a long time to explore and still not discover the secret of the compass.
It was like a university student who had studied functions instinctively assuming everyone knew the multiplication table.
In Jin Feng’s view, the principle of the compass was so simple. How could anyone not understand it?
This gap spanned over a thousand years of history, during which compass technology had always been held by the Han people.
“You are right to remind me. I will pay attention to keeping things confidential in the future.”
History had proven this point.
In Jin Feng’s previous life, there were records of the compass as early as the time of the Yellow Emperor, but it was not until the Northern Song Dynasty that the compass reached Europe through the Arab regions.
Seeing Jin Feng like this, the Ninth Princess finally felt at ease.
With everything that needed to be said finished and the military knives distributed, Jin Feng dismissed the group and let everyone return to rest.
Jin Feng nodded earnestly.
Being able to humbly accept others’ criticism and advice was one of his strengths.
The Ninth Princess stood on the city wall, looking down at the procession stretching hundreds of metres, and said softly.
“With so many people, they will surely succeed!”
The next morning, the expedition set out from the south gate, beginning their long journey.
“I hope they can bring back the seeds the master spoke of as planned.”
Especially Qing Xin Yao, who had sent out hundreds of people.
In Jin Feng’s plan, the two squads of escort guards would split in Da Zhao: one group heading to Tianzhu, the other to Jiaozhi.
Jin Feng was equally full of anticipation.
With the addition of the Ninth Princess and Qing Xin Yao, the group was several times larger than he had originally planned.
Each route would stagger their departure times or choose different paths.
This greatly increased the chances of success.
Now with several times more manpower, he simply divided the group into ten routes.
Five routes to Tianzhu, five to Jiaozhi.
The Ninth Princess watched the procession disappear into the forest, then turned and asked.
“The group has all set off. There should be nothing major in West Sichuan recently. I would like to go see Dujiangyan.”
In Jin Feng’s plan, as long as one of the ten routes succeeded, it would count as success!
“Master, where to next? Back to the residence?”
If something went wrong, the consequences would be severe.
It was not that Jin Feng distrusted Wei Datong, but the Ninth Princess’s reminder yesterday had made him realise that everyone had certain cognitive differences.
Dujiangyan construction had already been underway for some time. Although Jin Feng had prepared detailed construction plans, he still wanted to see it personally.
After all, this project was too important. It could benefit half of Sichuan for thousands of years.
Moreover, Jin Feng had promised Guan Xiaorou to return home for the New Year. It was now mid-Lunar December, and after inspecting Dujiangyan, he planned to head back.
“To Dujiangyan?” The Ninth Princess pondered for a moment. “Then this palace will go with the master to have a look.”
Who knew whether Wei Datong had fully grasped his intentions?
If problems appeared only after construction finished, would that not be troublesome?
The Ninth Princess shook her head. “Besides, with the gloves and hat you gave me, there is no risk of frostbite.”
“Very well then.”
“It is so cold lately, and Dujiangyan is quite far. The frostbite on your hands has only just healed a bit. Do not let it get damaged again on another trip.” Jin Feng said.
“I have already made a round trip to the capital. One more to Dujiangyan is nothing.”
At this coldest time of year, Jin Feng and the others were all wrapped up tightly.
Especially the Ninth Princess, who wore a mink fur coat, Jin Feng’s rabbit fur gloves on her hands, and a hat covering her head completely, leaving only her two eyes exposed.
Jin Feng knew the Ninth Princess’s temperament. Once she made a decision, she rarely changed it, so he did not try to persuade her further.
The two walked down from the city wall together. After breakfast, they set off with their group straight towards Dujiangyan.
Unlike the desolate and bleak scene from his last visit, this time, before even reaching Yulei Mountain, Jin Feng heard neat rhythmic chants.
“Hey yo hey, hey!”
This time they were not in a great hurry. Everyone rode singly, trotting along the way.
It was not until mid-afternoon that they finally reached the outskirts of Yulei Mountain.
Some people were digging the ground, some were loading soil into baskets, and others were carrying the baskets while chanting and transporting the soil away.
Though it was the depths of winter, the atmosphere felt bustling and full of energy.
“Hey yo hey, hey!”
Rounding the foot of the mountain, they saw dense crowds of common folk coming and going on the flat ground at the base.
It was as if the surrounding temperature was higher than elsewhere.
Many of the workers had smiles on their faces even as they laboured.
A great number wore only thin clothing.
Jin Feng even saw several men working bare-chested, clad only in mud-stained ragged trousers.
When they looked at Jin Feng, their eyes were much gentler.
Because she knew all this prosperity had been brought by the man before her.
“If Great Kang could be like this everywhere, how could it not prosper!”
The Ninth Princess gazed at the busy construction site and sighed with emotion.
If not for him, West Sichuan City might already have been trampled under Dan Zhu’s feet.
At that time, what disasters would the common people have suffered? Just thinking about it made the Ninth Princess shudder.
