Starting with ten elixirs of immortality, I led the First Emperor to rebel against the Qin Dynasty.

"Huan'er, how...should we eat this?"

Ying Zheng, on behalf of everyone, voiced the doubts that had been lingering in their minds.

"Hehe, this is called hot pot, and it's very easy to eat."

Zhao Huan picked up his chopsticks, took a slice of mutton, and dipped it a few times in the boiling red broth.

"Like this, put the meat in, count a few times silently, and when the meat changes color, it's ready to eat."

As he spoke, he dipped the sliced ​​mutton he had just cooked in a small bowl filled with sesame oil and minced garlic, and then put it in his mouth.

"Mmm! That's the taste!"

Zhao Huan looked satisfied.

Ying Zheng and his four companions stared in disbelief, then followed his example, picking up slices of meat and carefully placing them into the pot.

Bai Qi was the first to try it. He spent his life in battle, decisive in killing and ruthless, and he ate in the same way. He would pick up a piece of meat, blanch it in the pot, and then put it in his mouth.

"hiss!"

An unprecedented burning and numbing sensation exploded in his mouth!

The spiciness, like a raging fire, instantly ignited his taste buds.

Bai Qi's usually cold and stern face instantly turned bright red, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he coughed violently from the choking.

"Cough cough cough!"

"Old Bai, slow down!" Zhao Huan smiled and handed him a bowl of water. "It's your first time eating this, so you have to dip it in this oil sauce."

Seeing this, Li Si and Meng Yi hesitated to pick up their chopsticks.

Even a formidable figure like Lord Wu'an was scorched like this; just how potent must this thing be?

Ying Zheng, being both skilled and daring, imitated Zhao Huan by rolling the cooked meat slices in the oil sauce before putting them in his mouth.

The moment it enters your mouth, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the mellow flavor of sesame oil instantly fills your palate.

Then, a mild yet assertive spiciness slowly unfolded, stimulating every inch of his taste buds.

It's delicious, absolutely delicious!

Ying Zheng's eyes lit up.

Following Ying Zheng's example, Meng Tian, ​​Li Si, and Meng Yi also started eating.

"Mmm! Delicious!"

"This thing...is truly amazing!"

"It's both numbing and spicy, yet you can't stop eating it!"

Soon, the five of them completely let loose.

What imperial majesty, what prime minister's demeanor, what god-like aura—all of these vanish in the face of this steaming hot pot.

The five people ate until they were sweating profusely and their lips were red, but none of them wanted to stop eating.

"Huan'er, this thing is bright red and extremely spicy. What is it?"

Li Si pointed to the dried chilies floating in the pot and asked curiously.

"This is called chili pepper," Zhao Huan explained. "It's one of the immortal seeds left behind by my teacher. Like potatoes, it was brought from overseas. This stuff can not only be used as a seasoning, but it also has a high yield and can ward off the cold and warm the body."

As Ying Zheng ate, he was rapidly calculating in his mind.

chili……

This food is spicy and can dispel cold.

The northern border of the Qin Dynasty is bitterly cold all year round, and many soldiers suffer from frostbite while guarding the border in winter.

If this item could be widely adopted in the military, wouldn't it greatly enhance the soldiers' combat effectiveness?

This hot pot way of eating also allows everyone to sit together and have a lively time.

It is perfect for military camps, where a group of people can gather around a pot, not only to fill their stomachs but also to strengthen their bonds and boost morale.

nice one!

Ying Zheng felt that his "good eldest son" was simply a walking treasure trove.

Anything they could take out could elevate the Qin Dynasty's national strength to a new level.

The hot pot meal was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests, and of course, it was mainly Ying Zheng and his entourage who enjoyed themselves.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhao Huan had the bowls and chopsticks removed and fresh tea brewed.

The group sat in the courtyard, enjoying the evening breeze, feeling incredibly content.

"Father, you brought Steward Li and Guard Meng with you this time, so our team has grown even stronger."

Zhao Huan took a sip of tea and began to get down to business.

"We have more manpower, but we are going to do something big: a rebellion. It's not enough to just have good fighters."

"Take gunpowder for example. I only know the general direction. The specific proportions and manufacturing process require professional personnel to study."

Ying-Zhao Zheng-Zheng nodded and asked, "In your opinion, where should we look for such talent?"

Zhao Huan smiled.

"Father, in our Great Qin, there are two schools of thought that are most skilled in this."

Which two schools of thought?

Li Si couldn't help but ask.

As the Prime Minister of Qin, he believed he knew everything about the various schools of thought in the world, but he couldn't think of any school that specialized in the kind of "splitting mountains and splitting rocks" that Zhao Huan had mentioned.

"The Mohist school and the Gongshu school."

Zhao Huan said.

"The Mohist school?"

Li Si frowned slightly.

"Young Master Huan, you may not know this, but since Shang Yang's reforms, the Mohist school has been listed as a forbidden school of thought in our Great Qin. Most of its disciples live in seclusion in the countryside, and the court has been suppressing it all along. It has long since declined."

In his view, the Mohist theory of "universal love and non-aggression" was completely contrary to the founding principles of the Qin Dynasty, and keeping it would only bring disaster.

Ying Zheng and Meng Tian shared the same idea.

In their eyes, the Mohists were a group of stubborn individuals who refused to submit to the emperor's rule and liked to band together to cause trouble.

"Father, Steward Li, you've both misunderstood."

Zhao Huan shook his head.

I'm not talking about the Mohist philosophy, but their technology.

"The Mohists' greatest strength wasn't their 'universal love and non-aggression,' but their mechanical arts and defensive siege weapons. They were the ancestors of things like repeating crossbows and catapults."

"Moreover, the disciples of the Mohist school are mostly skilled craftsmen with excellent hands-on abilities, making them the most suitable candidates for researching gunpowder."

"As for the Gongshu family, who are descendants of Lu Ban, needless to say. They were masters of civil engineering and mechanical manufacturing, and we cannot do without them if we want to build cannons."

Zhao Huan, seeing Ying Zheng and the others deep in thought, continued:

"I heard my teacher say that in the future world, there will be something called 'technology,' and that will be the primary productive force."

"So-called technology is about studying the laws governing all things and using these laws to create tools and change the world."

"The Mohists and the Gongshu School were the earliest 'scientists' in our Great Qin. Their minds contained knowledge that was enough to change the times."

"If we're going to rebel and establish a brand new dynasty, we can't rely solely on swords and spears; we must have our own 'core technology'!"

Technology? The primary productive force?

Scientists? Core technologies?

A series of new terms left Ying Zheng, Li Si, Bai Qi, and others bewildered.

Although they couldn't understand it, they could sense that what Zhao Huan was talking about was something from a higher dimension that they had never encountered before.

A storm raged within Li Si's heart.

He always believed that laws and regulations were the foundation of governing a country.

But now, Zhao Huan tells him that there is something called "technology" that is the primary productive force.

This completely overturned his decades-long understanding.

The two military generals, Bai Qi and Meng Tian, ​​thought more directly.

If, as Zhao Huan said, they could really create that kind of weapon called "cannon," then what would be the point of having these generals?

They simply set up dozens of cannons outside the city, and a single volley of fire caused the city walls to collapse.

This battle is too easy to fight!

Ying Zheng's mind, however, changed even faster.

Technology utilizes the laws of nature to create tools and change the world...

Thinking of the potatoes and chili peppers Zhao Huan brought out, I thought of methods for castrating pigs, I thought of hot pot, I thought of gunpowder...

Are all of these "technology"?

If the Qin Dynasty were to acquire this power...

Ying Zheng dared not think any further, fearing he would lose his composure due to excessive excitement. Suppressing his elation, he asked in a deep voice, "But the Mohists and the Gongshu Clan have always been unruly and arrogant. How can we make them work for us?"