The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"gentlemen......"

Li Chengqian asked blankly, "According to you, many, many things in the past were actually related to the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age?"

"That's right." Chen Huai'an sat down and looked at the students: "Everything in the world has a traceable pattern. In history, many things seem to have no direct relationship, but in fact they are all interconnected. A technological advancement can lead to a huge change that sweeps the world."

"Of course, we don't need to delve into these issues; what we're talking about today is the importance of work."

"As mentioned above, after the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, there was a population explosion, and dynasties and empires were born as a result."

"And what was the third advancement in technology after that?"

Seemingly after the initial surprise, everyone quickly came up with the answer: Li Chengqian wasn't even the fastest; the fastest was Tang Heshang.

"Sir, is it iron?"

"That's right," Chen Huai'an chuckled, "Monk, it seems your brain isn't stupid, it's just iron!"

Tang Heshang was excited for a while, then proudly raised his chin at Cheng Chumo and Li Zhen.

"Tch, what's there to be so smug about?"

Cheng Chumo muttered something under his breath, feeling somewhat unconvinced.

He had just thought of the same answer regarding iron.

Li Shimin, standing outside, sighed, "I was too naive before. It turns out the truth is like this. Work is far more important than I imagined."

Empress Changsun tilted her head, her eyes filled with amusement: "Second Brother, why have you learned to keep people in suspense?"

"What have you figured out? Tell me about it. Now I'm getting curious."

Li Shimin curled the corners of his mouth, feeling somewhat smug.

Just as he was about to speak, Chen Huai'an's voice rang out first from inside.

"If the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age was a revolutionary change, then the emergence of iron tools was another revolutionary change that occurred on that basis."

"Sir, why is that?" Li Zhen asked.

Chen Huai paused for a moment and replied, "Because bronze mines were scarce and monopolized by the aristocratic class, ordinary people at that time were still using stone tools."

"Iron is different. It is not more powerful than bronze. It is not precious and is quite common. Iron ore is not exactly everywhere, but it is close to being everywhere."

"From then on, even the lowest-class commoners and farmers could use sharp iron axes, iron plows, and iron hoes."

"Iron plowshares can be used to cultivate clay soil deeply, and iron axes can be used to clear forests on a large scale. With a greater harvest of grain, people can build more houses."

"Think about it, what changes would this situation bring?"

Outside, Li Shimin muttered to himself, "With iron plows, the fields can feed more people; with iron weapons, the rule that only nobles could go into battle has been broken."

"Ordinary farmers could also take up iron spears and swords and fight on the battlefield. Thus, war was no longer just a matter for nobles, and commoners could also rise in status through military merit."

"The old hierarchy began to loosen, and a new order... slowly took shape in iron and fire."

"I... I was so short-sighted before."

Finally, Li Shimin sighed and summarized his experience.

Inside, Li Chengqian, Cheng Chumo, and others chimed in with their own opinions, offering responses that were similar to those of Li Shimin.

"So..."

Chen Huai'an looked around and finally his gaze fell on Li Chengqian. "Chengqian, you must remember that what drives changes in the world is not only wise rulers and virtuous ministers, but also the inconspicuous iron hoe and iron plowshare behind them, which are equally powerful forces that can move mountains and rivers."

"This is the weight of work. It is not as elegant as poetry and prose, nor as thrilling as political intrigue, but it is like the sinews and bones of the earth. You cannot see it, but you are always supported by it."

"Never underestimate the importance of labor; it should be valued as much as the work of scholars and farmers."

Li Chengqian nodded as if he understood: "Sir, I still don't understand, but I've remembered your words. I will slowly read history books to verify your words and summarize my own understanding."

"I hope that one day I will understand your teachings."

"Great, you're really great." Chen Huai'an exclaimed in admiration, "Although you can be a bit unserious at times, this awareness of yours is just so endearing."

"Well, perhaps even if I tell you now, you still won't get much of an understanding."

"Then I'll use a simple example to illustrate."

Chen Huai'an pondered for a moment: "Do you know what a plow is?"

"What's there not to know?" Li Zhen seemed to recall the past, his mood somewhat unpleasant. "Back then, when I made a mistake and was punished, my father made me farm, and I even used a plow."

"I have to say, that thing is really too much effort. I couldn't hold it up by myself. I ran out of strength in no time, and it even took two oxen to pull it."

"Only then did I understand why the Tang Dynasty forbade the slaughter of oxen for plowing. It was simply too difficult to cultivate land without oxen."

"Do you all know?" Chen Huai'an asked the others.

To his surprise, all the top noble sons nodded, including Li Chengqian.

"My father once showed us the hardships of farmers," Li Chengqian said earnestly. "Although I was young and couldn't do much work, I did see a plow."

"Alright." Chen Huai'an didn't waste any more words and said directly, "Now I can tell you that the plow nowadays is called a long straight shaft plow. It has a long, straight shaft, and the whole plow body is relatively large and heavy."

"It's very difficult to use; it usually requires a strong man to forcibly control it, and it takes two oxen to pull it."

"But it only requires a few small changes: bending the original straight shaft, adding a plowshare to adjust the angle of the plowshare into the soil, a plowshare holder to fix the plowshare and plowshare arrow, and finally adding a plowshare disc..."

At this point, Chen Huai'an smiled slightly and said, "A plow that originally required two or even three oxen to pull can now be easily pulled by just one ox."

"Previously, farmers could only cultivate one acre of land per day, but now they can cultivate at least two acres. You should understand what this means, right?"

"Can you now intuitively feel the importance of work?"

"......"

"What does that mean?"

Li Shimin trembled with excitement, his eyes bloodshot, wishing he could rush in immediately and ask Chen Huai'an if what he said was true or false.

What the hell does this mean?

This means that Zhang Gongjin wasn't talking nonsense that day; I am truly the chosen one of Heaven! Damn it!

"..."