A Hero of the Age

The Essentials of Nurturing Life had originally been nothing more than an internal cultivation method focused on the fundamentals.

Zhang Jian considered continuing to mooch off Zhang Yi's study.

He had noticed before that Zhang Yi's study contained numerous secret records of internal cultivation, many of them exquisite methods.

Of course, Zhang Jian was in no hurry to break through directly. His foundation in internal cultivation methods was still relatively weak.

But this was an excellent excuse—just the chance to "seek instruction" from Zhang Yi.

During this time, Zhang Jian had not been idle either. He made a special trip to a paper offerings shop and once again bought back a large pile of cinnabar ingots to offer at the clan shrine. This time, however, he received only a small cup of golden fortune in return.

Clearly, the 'ancestor' above was the sort who would not release the hawk until he saw the rabbit. Not easy to fleece.

Zhang Jian formed some ideas in his mind. Later, he sought out Zhang Yi again and handed him a completed blueprint for a dragon-bone waterwheel.

"A-Yu, what is this...?"

A-Yu was Zhang Jian's childhood name.

Zhang Jian had not yet come of age, so Zhang Yi still called him by that name most of the time. It also showed how highly Zhang Yi regarded his eldest son.

"This is a blueprint for a large-tube waterwheel that your son found in ancient texts. This wheel can improve the simple waterwheels currently used in Fengxi County. It can draw water directly from large rivers to irrigate farmland and ward off drought. Father may have the clan's craftsmen test it. If it can be of some use—even if it merely saves some of our clansmen and common folk—that would be excellent!"

Zhang Jian's expression was earnest.

Naturally, this large-tube waterwheel had not been found in any ancient text. It was an old device from his memories, one that had gradually been phased out in his homeland. Yet here, it still possessed a certain degree of 'advancement': it could reduce labor costs and improve efficiency.

During a severe drought, it should prove somewhat useful.

Of course, he had not presented this large-tube waterwheel at this time without seeking anything in return. First, it could strengthen the Zhang family's influence around Fengxi County. Second, it could increase his own influence.

He had long suspected that as his influence rose, the feedback gained from worshipping the ancestors might increase as well.

But saving the people and the elders of the surrounding villages was even more what his heart desired.

Zhang Yi looked at Zhang Jian with some surprise. He waved over the steward, Zhang Hu, and ordered him to have it tested.

Zhang Hu was the father of Zhang Lu, the young servant at Zhang Jian's side.

A smile appeared on Zhang Yi's face. "A-Yu, if this succeeds, your merits will be boundless!"

Zhang Jian smiled. "Father, this will be the Zhang clan's boundless merit!"

Zhang Yi gave nothing away, merely stroking his beard slightly.

Zhang Jian promptly cupped his hands, rose, and departed. He glanced at Zhang Yi. Whatever thoughts his father harbored, he saw them clearly.

Zhang Yi possessed the ambitions of a hero of the age.

By Zhang Yi's generation, the Zhang family truly had produced one outstanding figure after another. They were already the local elite in Fengxi, and even in Fengyang Commandery, they wielded no small degree of influence.

With the first signs of chaos appearing in the world, it was hardly strange that Zhang Yi had begun to entertain such thoughts.

Other thoughts flashed through Zhang Jian's mind. All he could say was that he had read too few books in his previous life. He knew what things were, but not why they worked. Otherwise, if properly applied, many things could have become remedies to strengthen the Zhang family's foundations.

Still, he had a few things in mind that could help the Zhang family. One was a method for purifying salt; another was a technique for tempering swords and sabers a second time.

These were pieces of knowledge he had inadvertently remembered from various forms of entertainment. Perhaps they could aid the Zhang family's expansion.

After all, whenever heroes rose, they needed an enormous family fortune to support them.

Not long afterward, Zhang Yi received a message from Zhang Hu.

"Master, I invited several master craftsmen from the workshop to examine it closely. We can almost certainly confirm that the large-tube waterwheel is indeed feasible!"

"Though it has certain limitations and may not be able to irrigate too much farmland, it can still alleviate part of the drought!"

Zhang Hu's face was filled with excitement.

A great drought had struck the region around Fengyang Commandery. Fengxi bordered the neighboring commanderies and cities, so it could not avoid being affected.

The appearance of this improved large-tube waterwheel at such a time could lift people's spirits. In particular, it would greatly strengthen the cohesion of the Zhang clan. Did this not show that Heaven favored the Zhang clan?

It could be called an auspicious sign sent by Heaven, a blessing bestowed upon the Zhang clan.

Otherwise, why would the Zhang family gain such a drought-fighting 'weapon' at this very moment?

"Then what are we waiting for? Have the master craftsmen in the workshop begin production at once. Once these are made, they can be put to use in Fengxi County and rented cheaply to the local people on a large scale!"

Zhang Yi likewise understood what the waterwheel's appearance meant to the Zhang clan.

At once, Zhang Hu said, "Master, but if we do this, I fear the county magistrate may begin to have other thoughts?"

Zhang Yi frowned.

County Magistrate Yang Qing was the court's eyes and ears. He was shrewd and capable, with a venomous mind, and was very difficult to deal with.

He had always been deeply wary of local heroes. Though he appeared amiable on the surface, he was in truth extremely forceful.

The prominent households of Fengxi secretly called him the Smiling Tiger.

Zhang Yi sneered. "Yang Qing is a man who fishes for fame and reputation. He appears upright and incorruptible, but is actually greedy and shameless. He has long eyed our family fortunes like a tiger eyeing its prey. Yet because he fears the influence of us great local clans, he has not dared to act. He truly is difficult to deal with!"

"If this were in ordinary times, he certainly would not sit by and watch. He would definitely stick a pole into the matter. But now, a tide of refugees is pouring in from outside Fengxi County. He still needs us local great clans to help him stabilize the situation, so he will not dare act recklessly!"

"Also, have someone write a letter and send this blueprint to Sixth Brother by express courier. Have him present it to the court. With such an auspicious sign, we can let anyone benefit from it but Yang Qing!"

Zhang Yi sneered.

The Zhang family was not without its own voice at court.

Of the six Zhang brothers, the second and fifth had died young. The remaining four were the eldest, Zhang Yi; the third, Zhang Yun; the fourth, Zhang Kui; and the sixth, Zhang Duan.

Zhang Duan had legitimately passed the imperial examinations and earned the jinshi degree. He had now been posted as a prefect, overseeing the military affairs of an entire prefecture. His position was lofty and his authority weighty.

Zhang Yi still found it somewhat regrettable. If possible, he would rather have Zhang Jian use this 'auspicious sign' to establish his reputation. It would certainly help with the Ministry of Rites metropolitan examination.

But as the head of the family, after weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Zhang Yi still decided to let Zhang Duan enjoy this merit alone.

This would bring greater benefits to Zhang Duan, and to the entire Zhang family.

As the Zhang family's head, there were matters in which he had to weigh gains against losses.

Naturally, he would also give Zhang Jian appropriate compensation.

Listening from the side, Zhang Hu was completely convinced, and inwardly full of admiration.

To suppress his love for his own son and grant such great merit to his brother was proof enough of Zhang Yi's magnanimity.

Zhang Hu's heart grew ever more fervent.

In these troubled times, perhaps under Zhang Yi's leadership, the Zhang family would finally cross the vast chasm separating ordinary local great clans from families of official caps and sashes, high ministers, and marquises!

Meanwhile, after spending some time lingering in Zhang Yi's study, Zhang Jian had gained something.

The scattered inner breath throughout the hundred apertures of Zhang Jian's body had finally condensed completely into a single stream.

This stream of inner breath obeyed his will as readily as an arm or a finger.

It seemed capable at any moment of breaking through the shackles of his greater circulation and bursting forth from his body.

"What a pity. Though the inner breath created by the Essentials of Nurturing Life is gentle and pure, it still lacks a measure of grandeur and vastness!"

Inside the study, Zhang Jian set down an ancient volume in his hand, hesitation in his expression.

He looked toward the many ancient books on the shelves.

Among those old books were quite a few internal cultivation methods worth using.

He still had room to choose.