Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Fusu's clear gaze fell upon his teacher beside him, filled with complete trust and expectation.

Zhou Wenqing took over the conversation at the opportune moment, facing the emperor on the throne, his voice clear and steady.

"Your Majesty, what the young master is concerned about is precisely what we have come to report today. I have heard... a fellow disciple who has traveled far and wide mention that in remote northern regions, some people build beds out of mud bricks to resist the severe cold. These beds have chimneys that cleverly connect to the stove. When cooking, the smoke and heat from the fire meander under the bed, keeping it warm all day long. Lying on it at night, one is not exposed to the cold and feels extremely comfortable."

He paused briefly, then uttered a simple yet seemingly warm unfamiliar word: "This thing, the villagers call it—a heated brick bed."

"A heated brick bed?!"

This new word, like a tiny spark, suddenly ignited a light in Li Si's eyes.

He could almost see the eight characters "A name that will be remembered in history, a legacy that will last for generations" shining brightly before his eyes once again—Brother Zicheng's work is no ordinary feat! This must be another great achievement that benefits all people and is worthy of being recorded in history!

Li Si subconsciously straightened his back, his ears perking up more sharply than a rabbit's.

On his throne, Ying Zheng did not immediately inquire about the details of the heated kang as Zhou Wenqing had expected. Instead, he let out a soft "Eh," leaned forward slightly, and showed a rather interested expression. But what he asked was:

"Minister Zhou has a senior brother? I've never heard you talk about your sect in detail."

Ying Zheng's tone sounded rather casual. "I wonder how many disciples in your sect, my dear minister, possess such broad knowledge as this senior brother? Are most of them still in Han?"

"cough--!"

Zhou Wenqing was caught off guard by the sudden "household registration" question, his throat itched, and he almost choked on his own saliva. He quickly clenched his fist and coughed twice.

The king's abacus is so cunning, it's almost hitting him in the face!

Isn't this just a plan to follow the trail, expose all those fabricated fellow disciples he has, and wipe them all out in one fell swoop?!

But where did he conjure up such a group of fellow disciples?

Zhou Wenqing inwardly groaned, wishing he hadn't brought this up.

However, this method of using a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) is different from inventions like the curved plow or paper, which can be described as sudden flashes of inspiration. It is more like a kind of folk wisdom that is about to be widely promoted and verified. It is more convincing to say that one has personally witnessed it than to fabricate it out of thin air. That's why this "observation" was casually attributed to a "senior brother" who traveled all over the world.

Now look what happened, they dug their own grave and jumped right in!

Zhou Wenqing tried his best to maintain a calm demeanor, but his mind was already racing.

"Your Majesty, my late master believed in fate when accepting disciples, and most of his disciples admired the pleasures of the mountains and forests and loved to travel. I did not have time to ask about the exact number of them when I left the mountains in my youth. I only know that my fellow disciples are like my late master, wandering like clouds and cranes, never settling down."

He paused slightly, his tone turning slightly apologetic and candid, "Especially after our late master passed away, communication among fellow disciples became increasingly sparse, with each of us scattered across the country, making it difficult to exchange news."

Zhou Wenqing looked up at the right moment, revealing a knowing, even slightly disappointed, smile: "Besides... most of them are carefree and unrestrained, and cannot tolerate the rules of officialdom. If it weren't for that, with the talents of my fellow disciples, I would have recommended them long ago. How could I be the only one in the court who is so busy with official documents and cannot have any peace and quiet?"

He coughed twice at the opportune moment, appearing weak, and sighed, "It's just a pity... everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force things!"

"I see." Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng gently stroked the smooth jade thumb ring with his fingertips, his tone remaining as gentle as ever, even carrying a hint of appreciation.

"Among your disciples, there are many noble individuals who are indifferent to worldly affairs and have lofty ideals, just like you. They are truly admirable."

After saying that, he smiled slightly, seemingly not intending to ask any further questions, but lowered his eyes to hide the deep thoughts that flashed across his eyes.

His whereabouts are uncertain, and he has no desire to serve as an official...

Perhaps he simply didn't want to serve under a mediocre ruler like those in South Korea.

South Korea? I'm confident I can destroy it with a flick of my finger!

Yet it is precisely this small state that has been able to continuously nurture such brilliant talents. What is even more "wonderful" is that these talents seem to be born out of sync with the muddle-headed and cowardly Han court, and in the end, many of them eventually flowed to Ying Zheng's command and were used by him!

Doesn't this prove that the purpose of South Korea's existence is specifically to cultivate, select, and even supply talent to me?

A cold mockery and disdain flashed through Ying Zheng's mind.

Tsk! So, that King of Han... is actually quite useful after all.

When we finally march east and annihilate the state of Han, we will send people to thoroughly examine its mountains, rivers, fields, and towns to see how many hidden gems, born to be Qin subjects, are still there. At that time, we will also let those blind fools have a good look at them...

Zhou Wenqing keenly caught the fleeting glint in Ying Zheng's eyes, and a warning bell rang in his mind. He quickly and subtly steered the conversation back on track:

"Your Majesty, this heated kang (traditional heated brick bed) system is truly beneficial to the people's livelihood..."

"Oh, right, a heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed)." Ying Zheng seemed to have just been reminded, snapping out of his reverie about the "Han hermits," and nodded readily, his gaze refocusing with encouragement.

"My dear minister, you have not said everything you have to say. Please tell me in detail. Both I and Minister Li are eager to hear the details."

Li Si, standing to the side, found paper and pen from somewhere and, without looking up, focused intently on the paper: "Brother Zicheng, speak slowly and clearly. There's no rush."

Zhou Wenqing glanced at him speechlessly before regaining his composure and continuing to explain clearly: "The beauty of this heated kang lies not in its ingenuity, but in its design. Simply put, it is a hollow bed built with adobe bricks or ordinary bricks and stones, with a winding flue inside, one end of which is cleverly connected to the stove for daily cooking."

As he spoke, he gestured simply with his hands: "In this way, when cooking every day, the smoke and heat from the stove will not be wasted, but will naturally flow into the kang (heated brick bed), meandering and swirling, gradually warming the entire bed. The remaining smoke will eventually be discharged outside from the chimney on the other side. One stove serves two purposes: it can be used for cooking and to warm the bed."

His gaze swept over everyone in the hall, focusing on Fusu: "The materials are nothing more than mud and bricks, which ordinary farmers can make themselves, or with the help of someone in the village who is somewhat skilled in masonry. The cost is extremely low, but the benefits are extremely high. If you can sleep soundly all night, you may even survive the cold winter."

Zhou Wenqing then turned to Ying Zheng, speaking earnestly: "Today, the eldest prince witnessed the hardships of the people's lives and was deeply saddened. He asked me if I had any good solutions. I thought to myself, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'"

"Opening granaries and distributing grain and firewood can provide temporary relief, but they cannot eradicate the suffering of sleeping in the cold. If the method of building heated beds can be widely spread among the people, enabling them to learn how to build their own warm beds, then even on long, cold nights, there will be a warm corner to shelter in. For the elderly, children, the sick, and the weak, this is not only a life-saving warmth, but also the foundation for stabilizing the nation and the people's hearts."

Fusu was so excited that his cheeks were slightly flushed and his eyes were shining brightly.

He couldn't help but step forward and bow deeply to Ying Zheng, his voice trembling slightly with fervor.

"Father! Your Majesty, I believe that the heated kang (traditional heated brick bed) that Mr. Zhou spoke of is a truly effective solution to alleviate the people's suffering from the bitter cold! It does not consume too much of the government's money and grain, yet it allows the people to build their own permanently warm shelter. I earnestly request Your Majesty to allow me to work with Mr. Zhou to oversee the drawing of the kang's design, the summarization of its construction methods, and to find ways to promote it among the people. I am willing to personally go to the countryside to learn how to build it and observe its effectiveness, so that the people of our Great Qin may suffer less from the cold of their beds!"

The boy's clear and firm voice echoed in the hall, carrying a sense of vitality and responsibility as he broke through the soil.

Li Si, who had been engrossed in writing, suddenly paused, his mind racing with calculations.

A heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed)... This thing doesn't seem to cost much, but compared to products like "paper," it's more like a technology that benefits the people.

If it can be properly promoted and deeply rooted in people's hearts, it will be a tangible and visible good policy. It will play a subtle yet crucial role in winning over the hearts of the people and consolidating the foundation, benefiting both the present and future generations!

However… he glanced at the excited eldest son and then at the composed Zhou Wenqing, and the flame of “assistance” in his heart was extinguished in an instant.

This job is clearly a training ground that Brother Zicheng has intentionally tailored for the eldest son. It is an excellent opportunity to accumulate public support and become familiar with practical matters. How can I possibly get involved?

I'm afraid it won't even come close!

Ying Zheng's gaze lingered on his eldest son's face for a moment, then turned to Zhou Wenqing, his eyes flashing with deep thought and approval.

He did not immediately express his opinion, but instead asked, "Since Minister Zhou has proposed this strategy, you must already have a plan for its implementation?"

"Your Majesty, I do have some basic ideas that I was just about to report to you," Zhou Wenqing said calmly. "If this heated platform is to be used steadily and sustainably, it can be done in three steps."

"Firstly, we can order skilled craftsmen in the government office to select sites near the government office or Xianyang to test-build several different types of heated brick beds with different structures and specifications. We must verify them repeatedly to ensure that they are sturdy, safe, have smooth smoke exhaust, and sufficient heat."

"Once the design is finalized, clear illustrations will be drawn, and concise and easy-to-understand booklets will be compiled, with warnings clearly marked for critical aspects such as fire prevention and prevention of smoke backflow."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Secondly, it is about 'guidance' and 'motivation'."

"The booklet on heated brick beds can be printed by the government and widely distributed and promoted through village officials such as village chiefs and village heads. At the same time, folk bricklayers should be encouraged to learn this method and build them."

"Any village or township that takes the lead in building a facility and whose facilities prove to be effective may be rewarded by the local government with a small amount of money, grain, or cloth, as a model to encourage others to follow suit."

"Thirdly, the Department of Hundreds of Items may be able to cooperate with this. While perfecting the ordinary heated kang, the Craftsmanship Bureau can also refine several models, select better stone materials, or decorate them with simple patterns to make more beautiful and comfortable heated kang. The principle remains the same, but the price is high, and they are exclusively for the wealthy families and officials in the city."

"In this way, the profits from its sale may be used to subsidize the materials and labor costs for promoting the Tongqu heated kang (a type of traditional heated brick bed).

Hey! This is my job!

Li Si's eyes lit up, and the pen he had reluctantly put down because he felt he couldn't get involved was instantly gripped back in his hand.