Chapter 45: The New Plow and the Old Plow

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Li Nian did not know exactly how Emperor Qin Shi Huang would promote the use of tables, chairs, stools, and benches, but he was sure the emperor would choose to spread them widely. These were small items that did not threaten royal authority, so there was no reason for Qin Shi Huang to forbid them.

After Su Xu left, Li Nian enjoyed a somewhat late lunch. The people of Qin typically ate two meals a day, but coming from the future, Li Nian was still accustomed to three meals daily. His living conditions were nearly on par with the emperor’s—everything he ate and drank underwent strict inspection.

This arrangement created a problem: he could not cook for himself! Glancing at an iron pot resting on a shelf, Li Nian resolved to raise this issue with the emperor during their next meeting, expressing his desire to cook his own dishes. After all, he had been in the Qin dynasty for over half a month, eating only green and pesticide-free food every day. Although healthy, the taste left him longing for the advanced technology and bold flavors of the modern era.

As he ate, the sounds outside caught his attention—someone was digging and chiseling vigorously. It was as if a construction site had been brought into the palace. Indeed, parts of the Liuying Palace had been transformed into a construction zone, preparing the site for paper-making facilities.

Since the emperor forbade him from leaving the palace, but paper production required his technical guidance on-site, it wouldn’t do to rely solely on bamboo slips and oral instructions to communicate problems and solutions. Such methods would be inefficient and prone to delays in addressing issues and corrections.

Therefore, Li Nian proposed building the papermaking workshop within Liuying Palace. This way, the emperor wouldn’t worry about losing control, and Li Nian could offer timely guidance. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he also had the craftsmen from the Minor Treasury make some modifications to Liuying Palace to facilitate his future work.

After all, since Qin Shi Huang would not allow him to leave the palace—and probably for a long time—Liuying Palace served not only as his residence but also as his workplace. Earlier, he had Guo Dian take inventory of the items inside Liuying Palace for this reason. Naturally, all of this had been reported to the emperor; Li Nian was a straightforward man of Qin, known for his honesty.

The emperor assigned him many tasks: planting potatoes, making paper, castrating pigs, drawing maps, crafting a globe, and possibly compiling textbooks, teaching, and providing maritime navigation technology in the future. These tasks, though numerous, didn’t feel much different from the drudgery he faced in the modern world. Yet, strangely, he felt no weariness or boredom—in fact, he found some enjoyment in them.

Why hadn’t the emperor given him a princess yet? Other protagonists who traveled back in time were often courted by the emperor with a princess; why not him? He wondered what Qin’s princesses looked like.

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Those princesses were also unfortunate. They had little chance of inheriting the throne and suffered from Hu Hai’s brutal suspicion, often facing death by dismemberment.

While eating and lost in thought, a guard entered. Since Li Nian was dining, Guo Dian stopped him. Li Nian noticed and asked, “Is there something to report?”

Only then did Guo Dian allow the guard to approach.

The guard bowed and reported, “The new plows commissioned by the Minor Treasury have been completed, and the workers are assembled outside the palace, awaiting your order.”

On the day he instructed the craftsmen to make the future-style plows, Li Nian had also asked them to gather dozens of farmers of similar age, strength, and experience, bringing both the new and old plows to Liuying Palace.

Li Nian looked to Guo Dian and said, “Chief Guo, escort them into the palace and lead them to the location I mentioned. I will join shortly.”

“Yes!” Guo Dian obeyed.

Li Nian’s reason for bringing the farmers, new and old plows, and draft oxen to Liuying Palace was to conduct a direct comparison to judge the merits of both plows. No matter how much Li Nian extolled the virtues of the new plow, people of this era would not believe mere words—proof was needed.

A former garden within Liuying Palace had been cleared, leaving a bare patch of land. White lines divided it into twenty equal plots.

This was the competition ground prepared for testing the new plow against the old.

By now, many people had gathered: the craftsmen, the recruited farmers, and palace guards. Alongside them were dozens of oxen matched in age and strength.

The palace guards held weapons tightly, ready for any sudden chaos should the oxen become unruly.

The craftsmen and farmers understood the task: the young lord of Liuying Palace wanted them to plow the fields and directly compare the two plows’ performances. They could hardly have dreamed of the chance to plow fields inside the royal palace.

How had the emperor agreed to this?

Under the guards’ protection, Li Nian explained the use of the new plow and the competition rules to the craftsmen and farmers.

When the explanation ended and Li Nian was about to announce the start of the contest, a voice rang out, “The Great King has arrived!”

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Li Nian muttered to himself, ‘Qin Shi Huang is here? He’s not working in Zhangtai Palace; what does he want here? The empire is busy now, with many matters demanding his attention, yet he comes here to slack off. No wonder no one dares to dock his pay!’

Everyone quickly bowed, but a stern and resonant voice followed: “No need for formalities. I have merely come to see what you are doing. Continue as you were.”

In truth, the emperor had come because he learned of Li Nian’s plow contest and wanted to witness it himself.

“The great affairs of state lie in sacrifice and war,” he said, “but agriculture is the foundation. Only when the people are well-fed can one attend to other matters. Food security is the most vital issue of a nation.”

If Li Nian’s new plow could outperform the old, Qin would produce more grain, support a larger population, and muster more soldiers to expand its vast territories.

Li Nian continued directing the contest. The old plow typically required two or three oxen, while the new plow, originating from the Song and Yuan dynasties, needed only one ox. Li Nian did not ask the old plow to be pulled by a single ox like the new one.

The goal was to highlight the difference and demonstrate the new plow’s advantages over the old.

First, the old plow was tested: two oxen pulled it under the farmers’ guidance, plowing ten plots marked by white lines. Then the new plow was tested, pulled by only one ox.

Two oxen naturally exerted more power than one, so plowing the same area should have been faster with the old plow.

Yet, what Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Li Nian saw was that although the old plow was indeed faster, it was not twice as fast. In fact, when comparing human and oxen labor, the new plow was more efficient.

Moreover, since the new plow required only one ox instead of two, a family could spare an ox to assist another family, saving time spent waiting for oxen to be available.

Wasn’t the time saved better used for other work or cultivating more land?

Ying Zheng was not foolish; he saw this clearly and exclaimed with delight, “Everyone here today will be rewarded with one hundred coins!”

“Thank you, Great King, for your generosity!” the crowd chorused.

Several hundred people were present; one hundred coins was no small reward, but compared to the benefits of promoting the new plow, Ying Zheng deemed it well worth the expense.

He then turned to Li Nian and asked, “Without you, there would be no such plow. You deserve the credit. What reward do you desire?”