Chapter 63: Spring Comes To Jiangnan
In early spring of the second month, spring plowing began across Yuzhang Commandery. The South mainly followed a double-crop system of rice and wheat: sowing winter wheat at the end of autumn, by spring the wheat seedlings were growing vigorously, and at this time they needed to till the soil, fertilize, and irrigate to make the wheat grow better.
In the twelfth month of last year, Yuzhang Commandery had heavy snow. The biggest benefit of the snowfall was freezing to death the pests and diseases in the fields, which matched the farming proverb: “If this winter the wheat is covered with three layers of quilt, next year you will sleep with your head on steamed buns.”
Two men walked along the field ridges outside Nanchang City: one was a middle-aged man about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, and the other was a young man around twenty.
Both wore straw hats and walked with great enthusiasm. The middle-aged man saw a large group of farmers gathered ahead and smiled, saying, “Qin Zhong, let’s go over there and take a look.”
The middle-aged man was named Yin Mo, from Fuxian in Zitong Commandery of Yizhou. Because he opposed Liu Zhang ascending to the throne, Liu Zhang did not allow him to return to Shuzhong. Yin Mo had no choice but to reside in Xiangyang. Ten days ago, he saw Gan Ning’s recruitment letter and was quite moved.
Yin Mo also came from a poor family. He sought refuge with Liu Biao but was not accepted, so he could only make a living teaching in Jingxiang. He was moved by the eight words in Gan Ning’s recruitment letter: “Regardless of scholars and commoners, only talent is promoted.”
More importantly, as fellow losers who resisted Liu Zhang, Yin Mo knew of Gan Ning. Since Gan Ning had made a name for himself, as a fellow townsman, Yin Mo decided to come to Yuzhang Commandery to apply for a position, seeking fame and achievement, to achieve success.
The young man who came with him was his fellow townsman from Zitong Commandery, Li Zhuan. Li Zhuan was a student of Sima Hui and had a very good relationship with Yin Mo. When Yin Mo mentioned Gan Ning’s recruitment letter, as a Bashu man himself, Li Zhuan was naturally moved and came with Yin Mo to join Gan Ning.
The two arrived in front of the large group of farmers and found they were testing new farm tools. Li Zhuan loved all kinds of inventions and creations. In history, he was a Three Kingdoms Period inventor as renowned as Ma Jun, especially skilled in crossbows. What Zhuge Liang invented was the Yuanrong crossbow, which fired ten arrows at once. What Li Zhuan invented was the Lianzhu crossbow, which continuously fired ten arrows, with a core arrow magazine.
Li Zhuan’s eyes lit up. He saw a new type of water wheel, more labor-saving and practical than the chain pump invented by Bi Lan. Farmers could use foot pedals to transport water from low places to high places.
“May I ask who invented this water wheel?”
“This is called the Dragon Bone Water Wheel, invented by our Prefect. It’s more practical than the chain pump!”
Li Zhuan squatted down to examine it closely, pondering to himself that it seemed to have some kind of transmission device.
Yin Mo called him several times, but Li Zhuan ignored him. Yin Mo had no choice; he knew that once this young friend immersed himself, he would squat there for several hours.
“Qin Zhong, come to the Recruitment Hall to find me yourself!”
“Uncle Yin, I understand!”
Yin Mo got up and walked toward the county town.
Yin Mo entered Nanchang City, inquired along the way, and soon found the Recruitment Hall, which was located diagonally across from the Prefectural Office. The receiving official was an eighteen-year-old young official, none other than Liu Yao’s son Liu Ji. After Liu Yao’s death, his fifteen-year-old son Liu Ji had been observing mourning for his father in Nanchang County.
In the second month, Liu Ji’s three-year mourning period ended. Gan Ning had asked him to come out to work three days ago and appointed him as Gong Cao of Yuzhang Commandery, temporarily in charge of the Recruitment Hall.
Gong Cao was one of the highest-ranking positions among the various Cao in the Prefectural Office, supervising official evaluations, and together with the Wuguan Yuan and Duyu, they were known as the Right Cao.
Liu Ji was a descendant of Liu Bang’s illegitimate eldest son Liu Fei and the son of Yangzhou Governor Liu Yao, so he was highly respected. Gan Ning treated him and his mother generously, naturally gaining reputation.
Liu Ji himself was very humble and low-key, and also very talented. Although Liu Biao also tried to recruit him to Jingzhou, Liu Ji was unwilling to leave the place where his father was buried and only wanted to stay in Nanchang County.
Yin Mo walked through the gate, and Liu Ji stood up and said, “May I ask if sir is here to apply?”
Yin Mo looked at him for a moment and smiled, “Are you Liu Jingyu?”
Liu Ji was stunned. “Does sir know me?”
“When you were twelve, your father brought you to Xiangyang, and I tested your poetry. Do you still remember?”
Liu Ji had been acclaimed a child prodigy since young. He thought for a moment, then suddenly widened his eyes. “You are… Mr. Yin?”
“It’s me!”
Liu Ji hurriedly bowed and said, “So it’s Uncle Yin. This junior pays his respects!”
“What position does my worthy nephew now hold?”
“This junior has been appointed Gong Cao of the Prefectural Office, deputy to Prefectural Assistant Lu.”
“Gong Cao is good. After one or two years, you can be sent out as a County Chief.”
“General Gan originally appointed this junior as County Chief of Yuhan, but mother was unwilling to leave father’s burial place, so it was changed to Gong Cao of the Prefectural Office.”
“Is General Gan here?”
“General Gan has gone to inspect spring plowing. Uncle Yin, please settle down first! I’ll find you a courtyard house.”
“I have a companion named Li Zhuan. He’s outside the city, fascinated by the Dragon Bone Water Wheel, and will come later.”
“No problem, I’ll arrange it. Uncle Yin, please follow me.”
The Recruitment Hall covered thirty mu, with single rooms and courtyard houses. Liu Ji knew Yin Mo was a famous scholar from Jingzhou whom his father greatly admired, so of course he arranged a courtyard house.
After settling Yin Mo, Liu Ji hurriedly went to report to Lu Su.
Since Gan Ning was formally appointed Prefect of Yuzhang Commandery by the Imperial Court, the noble and powerful families of Yuzhang Commandery had clearly changed their attitudes, coming one after another to visit Gan Ning and recommend their sons for positions in the Prefectural Office and county yamens. This was the sign of recognition: noble and powerful families were willing to recommend outstanding sons to serve Gan Ning.
Another important sign was that Liu Ji was willing to serve Gan Ning. If Gan Ning were not the Imperial Court-appointed Prefect of Yuzhang, how could Liu Ji, a descendant of Liu Fei, possibly serve Gan Ning.
In early spring, Gan Ning was inspecting spring plowing outside the city. Why do rulers always inspect spring plowing? There is a most basic truth here: rulers must ensure their citizens have enough to eat. Only then will they be recognized by the citizens under their rule. His rule will conform to legitimacy and legality. From ancient times to the present, East to West, this is the only standard.
Gan Ning rode to the riverbank with his personal guards. There lay a Dragon Bone Water Wheel he had successfully improved. In fact, this was not some epoch-making water wheel, just a simple improvement. The previous chain pump was already very good, but it could only be used on land parallel to rivers, not for higher places. The Dragon Bone Water Wheel solved transporting water from low to high places.
Decades later, Ma Jun also invented the Dragon Bone Water Wheel in the North, but unfortunately his patent was stolen by a historical cheater.
Gan Ning had just arrived at the water wheel when he saw a young scholar crawl out from under it, soaked all over, sighing repeatedly, “If only there were another shaft, what a pity!”
Gan Ning smiled and asked, “Who are you? Do you have any good ideas?”
Li Zhuan clasped his fists and said, “I am Li Zhuan from Xiangyang. Passing by here, I found this water wheel quite ingenious but slightly flawed, which is regrettable.”
Gan Ning’s heart stirred, and he smiled, asking, “The flaw you mentioned is that it’s quite laborious to pedal, right?”
“Exactly!”
Gan Ning also felt that pedaling was indeed too laborious, a major defect. He wanted to improve it but couldn’t find the problem.
“Does Young Master Li have a way to improve it?”
Li Zhuan nodded. “I’ve thought about it, and it should be due to poor conversion at the bottom. I went down to look, and it’s indeed missing a shaft. If another shaft is added, the bottom turnover will be smooth.”
Gan Ning was delighted. Li Zhuan’s one sentence hit the key point: it was indeed due to poor bottom turnover.
“Is Young Master Li here to apply in Nanchang City?”
“Exactly. I am quite skilled and interested in mechanical ingenuity. I wonder if there is a suitable official position.”
Gan Ning laughed heartily. “Just for that sentence of yours, I will establish a Mechanical Bureau.”
Li Zhuan caught the hint and cautiously asked, “You are—”
Gan Ning smiled and said, “I am Gan Ning, Prefect of Yuzhang!”
