Tai Xue, the workshop.
The wooden ox and the flowing horse had been manufactured. This was a major event. Lu Yu was originally having a meal with Sister Zhao Ji.
Upon hearing the news, he put down his chopsticks and rushed to the workshop immediately.
At this moment, the workshop was already swarmed with people…
Countless instructors and countless Tai Xue students were gathered around, witnessing the newly made "wooden ox" and "flowing horse"!
Zhuge Jun and Cao Ang were also not idle. They simulated various situations, such as going up and down steep slopes, as well as crossing water and mud!
They even deliberately prepared some ice to test the movement of the wooden ox and flowing horse on ice.
Of course, in their opinion…
Director Lu Yu was simply a genius. Many points that needed attention were already written in the book "Method for Manufacturing Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses".
And many inconspicuous designs made the "wooden ox and flowing horse" exceptionally stable under any terrain or situation.
One should know…
The wooden ox and flowing horse had wheels at the bottom, with a circular arc surface… thus they were not afraid of slippery ground.
Furthermore, a braking device was added to the wheels. As long as the ox tongue or horse tongue was moved…
…the wheels would grip the ground tightly, unable to move, similar to… the handbrake device in twenty-first-century cars.
To test this, Huang Xu specifically found a steep slope and suspended the wooden ox and flowing horse on it. They remained there for a full half hour, unmoving.
When the ox tongue was moved again, the wheels could continue to turn.
The Tai Xue students and instructors exclaimed in surprise. None of them knew why the wooden ox and flowing horse were so easy to push.
This was the so-called "crankshaft connecting rod theory"!
Driving the flywheel through gears.
Once the flywheel was running, its inertia would provide assistance to the wooden ox, making it incredibly easy to push.
At first…
Everyone was watching for entertainment, with murmurs of discussion everywhere. But… as each test was conducted, everyone fell silent.
Especially the other fifty-five Tai Xue students, they seemed to have discovered something incredible.
That was… success. Cao Ang, "Zhuge Liang," Huang Xu, Dian Man, and Xu Yi, who had only been learning the carpenter's craft for less than a month…
These five honest children had succeeded.
One should know that in this era…
Let alone such complex crafts as the wooden ox and flowing horse, even building a cart would require a craftsman with over ten years of experience to attempt it under the guidance of a skilled master.
And building a cart involved twenty to thirty processes, but building this wooden ox and flowing horse required more than thirty to forty processes!
The most difficult part was the various braking systems and gears…
And these most complex challenges were all overcome by Zhuge Jun. He seemed to possess an innate sensitivity to carpentry, as if it were inborn.
Of course…
Besides these complex braking systems and gears, every detail was not easy.
It was necessary to strictly adhere to the lengths, widths, precision, flatness, firmness, and smoothness specified in the "Method for Manufacturing Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses." Every aspect could not be sloppy.
And this… was all achieved through the repeated failures and attempts of Zhuge Jun, Huang Xu, Cao Ang, Xu Yi, and Dian Man.
This was truly a case of heaven rewarding the diligent!
When Lu Yu arrived…
He did not go forward directly but stayed at a distance.
Others were watching, but he was observing closely, watching every test of the wooden ox and flowing horse.
The more he saw towards the end, the more gratified Lu Yu became, exceptionally gratified.
According to Lu Yu's estimation, even if it took three to four months to complete the wooden ox and flowing horse, it would be considered good. Who would have thought it would be successfully manufactured in just one month?
Indeed…
One should not underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. They might have been much smarter and more resilient than modern people.
As Lu Yu was still contemplating.
Unexpectedly…
"Lu Sinong, you have made another great contribution this time!"
A voice came from behind Lu Yu.
Huh…
Lu Yu was startled. Wasn't this voice…
He quickly turned around and saw Xun Yu and Xun You of the Shangshu Tai. Who else could it be?
What's going on…
Do Xun Lingjun and Gongda Military Advisor come to Tai Xue without announcing themselves?
"Greetings to both Mister Xun."
Lu Yu immediately bowed…
Xun Yu and Xun You returned the bow. Xun Yu spoke first, "I said it, didn't I? Whenever there's a difficulty, just find Lu Sinong, and you can always find a solution. Lu Sinong is a fortunate general for our court."
"Indeed…" Xun You nodded repeatedly. "I never imagined that something that troubled our Shangshu Tai, our court, and Situ Cao so much would be so easily resolved by Lu Sinong. I, Xun, am truly impressed, truly impressed!"
Ah… ah…
The words of Xun Yu and Xun You made Lu Yu a bit bewildered?
What's going on?
Lu Yu wondered what he had done. It seemed that in this period, apart from wandering around Tai Xue… he hadn't done anything?
Can you stop attributing every merit to me? I'm under a lot of pressure, okay?
"Misters Xun? What's happening?" Lu Yu retorted…
"Lu Sinong doesn't know yet?" Xun Yu was surprised.
Know what the heck… Lu Yu scratched his head, completely confused.
Oh…
Xun Yu then came to his senses, but it was understandable, as the urgent report from the front line had arrived that morning by express mail.
Lu Sinong probably didn't know about the situation of food shortages in Shouchun City.
However…
According to Xun Yu's thoughts, if Lu Sinong could calculate it, it wouldn't be surprising, but… looking at his confused appearance, it seemed as if he knew nothing.
"It's like this…" Xun You explained first. "The great victory at Shouchun City… Yuan Shu's five-way army has rebelled, and the main general Zhang Xun has already been captured by our army. Now, Situ Cao is leading 150,000 troops to completely surround Shouchun City."
This… isn't that good?
Lu Yu muttered to himself, not reacting for a moment.
Xun You continued, "However, there's a small accident…"
"What accident?" Lu Yu asked urgently…
"The transportation of grain." Xun You truthfully said, "The Shouchun area is currently in the rainy season, and the grain routes are blocked by mud, shallow water, and landslides. Grain can almost not be delivered to the front line."
Hiss…
Lu Yu thought of something, as expected, the continuous rainfall around Shouchun was a disastrous blow to Cao's army.
Not only the grain routes, but even… the siege operations would be constrained everywhere.
A prolonged siege would be the current situation in Shouchun City.
In this case, the most sensible approach…
Would be…
Lu Yu's eyes narrowed, and the word "attrition" appeared in his heart.
That's right, it's attrition. Old Cao doesn't have much food, but Shouchun City is completely surrounded, and their food supplies in the city are also not much.
Whichever side can't hold on first, whichever side collapses first, the other side can secure victory. It's about who can wear the other out.
In this situation, if Old Cao could solve the problem of grain transportation… then victory would almost be assured.
Wait a minute…
Lu Yu suddenly realized why Xun Yu said he had made a great contribution.
So it was…
Thinking of this, Lu Yu's eyes turned, and he looked towards the "wooden ox and flowing horse" not far away. The great contribution that Xun Yu referred to was this.
In fact.
The completion of the wooden ox and flowing horse in one month was unexpected for Lu Yu.
But… for the current situation, it was critical.
"Does Duke Xun want to use this wooden ox and flowing horse?"
Lu Yu spoke directly.
"That's right!" Xun Yu nodded immediately. "I've been here for more than an hour, observing the tests of the wooden ox and flowing horse from a distance! Whether it's shallow water, mud, ice, or even steep slopes, this wooden ox and flowing horse can complete the task of transporting grain, but…"
At this point, Xun Yu paused, a hint of melancholy creasing his brow.
"Time, the only thing I worry about is time!" Xun Yu said, "The letter received this morning was sent by Situ Cao five days ago, and the Cao army's grain supplies are only enough for thirty days!"
"Even if… we start mass-producing these wooden oxen and flowing horses from today, it will take at least ten days to produce a sufficient quantity, and the time to transport them to Chen Guo will take at least twenty more days. It seems… time is not enough!"
Hoo…
Xun Yu sighed, "Thirty days. If the grain doesn't arrive, Situ Cao will run out of food… and the situation at the front line will become precarious."
Warfare is like this, constantly changing.
One moment, you might have the upper hand, be the hunter; the next moment… you might become the prey, and potentially die on the spot!
Regarding the situation at the front line, Xun Yu had to consider it meticulously.
This…
Lu Yu's eyes rolled. It was indeed a problem. He had only intended for the Tai Xue students to try building this "wooden ox and flowing horse," but he hadn't considered mass production yet!
To mass-produce it, recruiting carpenters, preparing lumber, and fine-tuning everything would take considerable time.
The time Xun Yu mentioned was not conservative…
Lu Yu pursed his lips. It seemed he couldn't help.
Of course, even if his wooden ox and flowing horse couldn't help, Old Cao would have a way, but… many people would die.
If it followed the original course of history…
When Old Cao campaigned against Yuan Shu, he encountered a shortage of food.
He would order the quartermaster to distribute rations in small measures, stretching three days' worth of food to ten days.
On the last day, he would execute the quartermaster. The famous saying "Your wife and children, I shall raise them" comes from here. After this was done, the soldiers' anger was quelled by the death of the quartermaster.
Cao Cao then frankly told the soldiers that the army had no food and that today was the last meal!
After this meal, they would attack the city with all their might. If they failed, there would be no retreat.
This was to force a desperate, fight-to-the-death army to break through Shouchun City at a heavy cost.
This was already Old Cao's ultimate output in the face of "a clever housewife who can't cook without rice."
As for how heavy the cost was…
Sixty thousand… Cao's army lost sixty thousand men in this battle.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu felt quite uncomfortable. Clearly… if he had just one more month, these sixty thousand lives could have been saved, but…
"Alas!" He sighed helplessly. In times of chaos, one is often not in control of oneself!
Just then…
"No!"
"The time is just right!"
A voice rang out. The speaker was none other than the usually taciturn Xun You.
Hmm…
As soon as this was said, Lu Yu and Xun Yu both looked at him in unison.
Xun You then explained meticulously, "It is indeed just right, but… some changes need to be made to the process."
"For example, there's no need for us to collect lumber and recruit carpenters in Xudu to manufacture the 'wooden ox and flowing horse.' We can relocate the production site to Chen Guo. Chen Guo is closer to the front line, which will shorten the time to transport the 'wooden ox and flowing horse,' saving at least ten days!"
Understood…
As soon as this was said, Lu Yu and Xun Yu both understood.
They were too anxious and overlooked this detail.
They didn't need to transport the finished wooden ox and flowing horse. Instead, they only needed to transport the people who could build the wooden ox and flowing horse, namely the five individuals: Zhuge Jun, Huang Xu, Cao Ang, Dian Man, and Xu Yi, to Chen Guo.
Before Lu Yu could finish thinking…
Xun You's words continued.
"Transporting the five people to Chen Guo will take about five days, and sending a letter by carrier pigeon to Chen Guo will only take two days. The three days in between are enough for Chen Guo to extensively recruit local carpenters and prepare sufficient lumber!"
"And when these Tai Xue students arrive in Chen Guo, it won't take more than twenty days to produce a large number of wooden oxen and flowing horses. Only a small portion of the manufacturing needs to be completed…"
"By using batch transportation, a batch of wooden oxen and flowing horses will be produced, and a batch of grain will be transported. As long as ten days of military rations can be delivered with the first batch, subsequent deliveries will be continuous. In this way, the hope of capturing Shouchun City will undoubtedly greatly increase!"
This…
Such a brilliant, such a meticulous analysis! This perfectly grasped the timing.
Lu Yu couldn't help but blink his eyes repeatedly, and finally… his eyes fixed.
Brilliant, truly brilliant!
From this, one could see that the wisdom of the ancients… it wasn't just a notch above Lu Yu's, it was far beyond Lu Yu's by a large margin.
"Duke Gongda is a great talent!" Lu Yu cupped his hands.
Although he had known long ago that this usually silent military advisor had immense potential…
But when he truly articulated this entire passage, solving the transportation problem through a time difference, the problem of front-line grain supply was immediately resolved!
"Gongda, this plan is excellent!" Xun Yu exclaimed loudly… "Then, without delay, I will immediately arrange for carrier pigeons and prepare carriages to escort these five Tai Xue students to the front line."
"Let the Dragon Hawk Battalion escort them!" Lu Yu said with a smile. "Recently, I heard that Commander Cheng, Commander Dian, and General Huang have made great contributions, and the soldiers of the Dragon Hawk Battalion are eager to prove themselves!"
Actually…
It wasn't that the soldiers were eager.
It was the deputy commander of the Dragon Hawk Battalion, Cao Xiu, who was eager. He was even impatient.
Cheng Yu, Dian Wei, Huang Zhong…
Even Cao Anmin, who was of the same generation, had made great contributions. How could he hold back?
He wished he could grow wings and fly to the front line.
At this point, Lu Yu, Xun Yu, and Xun You's eyes simultaneously fell upon the still excited Cao Ang, Zhuge Jun, and the other three…
At this moment, they probably didn't know what a great thing they had accomplished, how many lives they had saved, and how they had salvaged a situation.
However…
There was no time for praise now; they had to depart immediately!
Lu Yu pondered that when they returned victorious, he would give each of them a large red flower.
…
Inside Shouchun City, in the Imperial Palace Hall.
Yuan Shu, dressed in black Zhong family imperial robes, was lazily slumped on the dragon throne, holding the Imperial Seal in his hand, constantly caressing its every inch of stone, as if caressing the skin of a beautiful woman.
Every time he saw the eight characters "Mandated by Heaven, enduring forever," Yuan Shu seemed to fall into a special state…
Floating, dreamlike, like soaring through the clouds!
On the "dragon table" before him, there were bowls, chopsticks, cups, and wine vessels made of melted gold…
There were also quite a few beauties in the hall dressed very "lightly," dancing gracefully.
The entire scene exuded luxury, debauchery, and extravagant waste…
Even more exaggeratedly, in the small city of Shouchun, his harem had as many as several hundred people. Every concubine was not allowed to wear too many clothes, but every piece of clothing was custom-made by Yuan Shu and was extremely luxurious.
Most exaggeratedly, Yuan Shu had inherited Emperor Ling's taste in clothing. All women in the imperial palace wore split crotch trousers!
Those who understand, understand!
Correspondingly, his soldiers were suffering from hunger and cold, the common people under his rule were struggling to survive, many places were deserted, and cannibalism even occurred amidst the famine.
Of course…
Despite Yuan Shu's appearance of having "all under heaven within his grasp."
In reality, he was terrified from the bottom of his heart.
Ever since he proclaimed himself emperor, he had never been so panicked as he was now. He had once tried to strengthen himself and conquer Chen Guo, using it as a base to attack the Han court and truly become the emperor of the Central Plains.
He had even mobilized seven armies to attack Xiapi City and gathered six armies to encircle and kill Cao's army…
But unfortunately…
After several battles, although there were victories, they all belonged to others.
In just a few months, his army of over 200,000 men was reduced to just over 30,000.
In contrast, Cao Cao, when fighting him, his army grew larger and larger, as if his soldiers had their own reproductive abilities… endless and inexhaustible!
Yuan Shu felt…
He was cursed. Whoever was his enemy was a god of war!
In fact, at this moment, Yuan Shu's heart had already collapsed.
Fortunately, it was the rainy season… Fortunately, the walls of Shouchun City were high enough!
Fortunately, he still had the general Ji Ling, who could fight tough battles, and the strategist Yang Hong, who could offer strategies to repel the enemy.
"Oh my…"
Suddenly, Yuan Shu had an idea. Fighting and killing were too boring!
Becoming emperor was for enjoyment, not for suffering…
Having figured this out, it was as if he had opened the door to a new world.
His mind became clear…
He wanted to seize every day of his life, enjoy himself in time, and live the life of an emperor for a day, just like "living one day at a time as a monk!"
He began to pursue the ultimate quality of life, the pursuit of enjoyment.
Even nothing could make him angry anymore.
Thus, the palace, with its jade carvings and marble, suddenly became very happy!
"Your Majesty…" Yang Hong weaved through the dancers and approached Yuan Shu.
Even he, a scholar with considerable self-control, blushed at the sight of so much exposed flesh!
Good heavens, it was no different from King Zhou's wine pools and meat forests!
"Prime Minister, as I said, can't you handle anything yourself… Isn't Cao Cao about to run out of food? I don't plan to pursue him. Let him go back! For the sake of our former classmate relationship, I'll spare his life."
As soon as these words were spoken…
Yang Hong was about to cry. Who was sparing whose life? Why did His Majesty not understand the situation and still live in a dream?
"Your Majesty, something has happened. One is good news, and one is bad news… One is about our Shouchun City's food, and the other is about Cao Cao's food. Which one does Your Majesty wish to… to hear?"
As soon as these words were spoken…
All the dancers dared not dance and retreated to the sides.
Yuan Shu's brow furrowed.
"Don't stop! Continue the music and dancing for me!" After giving instructions, Yuan Shu, with a frown, told Yang Hong, "Prime Minister, you may withdraw. I don't want to hear about either of these matters!"
A eunuch by his side seized the opportunity to remind him, "Your Majesty, according to your command, thirty more concubines have been selected for the harem, all in their prime, waiting for Your Majesty to bestow his favor… May I ask Your Majesty…"
Haha…
Yuan Shu was amused. "Quick, take me there!"
Watching Yuan Shu turn away.
Yang Hong could no longer bear it. He shouted, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Cao Cao only has three days of food left, and… and our Shouchun City's food is gone, all gone!"
As soon as these words were spoken…
Yuan Shu's footsteps stopped. "What did you say? I… I'm out of the two months of food stored in Shouchun? How could… it all be gone!"
…
…