Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

"Gongshujia", a descendant of Lu Ban, made offensive weapons for the princes of various countries during the chaotic Warring States Period. He unified the world with "Daqian". His family was enslaved by the First Emperor and moved to Xianyang. After hundreds of years of slavery, they were restored to freedom by the "Sima family" when they arrived in the Celestial Empire. After that, Gongshujia had been entrenched in the capital area and served the royal family.

……

Lunch at Gaoyang Official Posthouse

Inside the inn's inner hall, a custom-made copper pot sat on an eight-person table. A charcoal fire burned brightly beneath it, and red oil bubbled within. Chili peppers and various spices bubbling within, emitting a rich, alluring aroma. Surrounding the pot were thinly sliced ​​mutton, various seafood and wild vegetables, and, most notably, a plate of beautifully textured beef.

Gongshu Dan stared at the bubbling copper pot, then at the plate of beef. His graying eyebrows arched high, and with the discerning air of a Beijing gourmet, he pointed at the pot and asked, "Is this... the 'hot pot' those old folks in the capital have been whispering about lately? I've heard a few times about it at the Ministry of Works, and it seems to be no different from the shabu-shabu hot pot we have in the north."

Zhang Jingwei explained with a smile, "Senior Gongshu has a keen eye. It's essentially hot pot. The difference lies in the broth. It's made by stir-frying and simmering chicken fat, broad beans, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and a dozen other spices. It's rich, fragrant, spicy, and sizzling hot, making it even more satisfying to eat."

Gongshu Dan picked up a slice of beef, thin as a cicada's wing, and examined it against the light, marveling. "Wow! You're just a small county magistrate in a border town, and yet you're hosting such a grand banquet! You can even offer such top-quality beef? Aren't you afraid that those poor scoundrels in the Censorate will get a whiff and report you for illegally slaughtering a working ox?"

Zhang Jingwei quickly bowed, his attitude respectful yet neither humble nor arrogant. "How dare I, a junior, privately slaughter a working ox and ruin my future? These cows are all recorded as having died accidentally. County officials and village elders have jointly inspected and signed, confirming that the deaths were not caused by human error, and only then have they been disposed of according to the law. The procedures are complete and in compliance with the law. Please feel free to eat."

Imperial Physician Li Chen picked up a handful of greens and rinsed them, then said, "Forget it, Brother Ji Fu. It's just a few verbal quibbles, nothing serious. Don't use your high official airs to intimidate the younger generation. Magistrate Zhang is also sincere in his hospitality."

Gongshu Dan, however, seemed to have been whetted by his appetite. His eyes sparkled as he stared at the plate of beef, and he complained with a bit of childish grievance, "Old Monster Li, you're talking without any hesitation! The court hasn't sent any beef to the Ministry of Works in almost half a year! My mouth is almost dry! Well, today I finally got the chance, I have to eat to my heart's content!"

Zhang Jingwei suddenly realized that high-ranking officials like them were granted a special quota of beef, a symbol of status and favor. He immediately smiled and said, "I see. Don't worry, senior. There's plenty of beef today! I'll make sure you enjoy it to your heart's content!"

Li Chen put down his chopsticks and said to Zhang Jingwei in a gentle tone, yet with the reminder of an elder: "Jingwei, Brother Ji Fu was just reminding you. While it's nice to eat, you must understand that oxen are the foundation of farming, crucial to the livelihoods of the people and the ongoing work of the land. As the head of the county, even if you're acting according to the law, you must exercise restraint. Don't over-kill to please your superiors or for a moment's pleasure, and lose your compassion for the farmers."

Zhang Jingwei's expression froze, and he said sternly, "This junior will remember Senior Li's teachings! We must always keep them in mind, control our measures, and prioritize farming."

The conversation quickly shifted from food to business. Gongshu Dan ate a large slice of beef and chewed it contentedly, his gaze fixed on Zhang Jingwei. "Young man, I heard a few guys in the Ministry of Works whispering back in the capital about your Gaoyang County concocting some newfangled steam-powered gadgets that can even pump water. Let me ask you, how did you come up with the idea of ​​using steam? That's quite an unusual idea."

Zhang Jingwei was prepared, but feigned modesty as he began to ramble half-truthfully, "Senior, I was forced into this by accident. I also have a kiln that burns cement and glass. The kiln gets extremely hot, and it often explodes. I've discovered that most of these explosions are caused by the masonry getting damp, which rapidly vaporizes and expands when exposed to high temperatures. So I tried adding lime to the refractory clay, and I discovered that it not only keeps moisture out, but also increases the kiln's airtightness, allowing it to heat up higher and more steadily."

He paused, seeing the two elders were listening intently, and continued, "But once the airtightness was achieved, a new problem arose—the vapor inside the furnace had nowhere to escape, and the pressure built up, making the explosion even more severe! Several times, furnaces weighing thousands of pounds were blown to pieces." He pretended to be terrified. "At the time, I thought, this 'qi' is so powerful that if it can blow up my furnace weighing thousands of pounds, then if it's properly guided, wouldn't it be able to move equipment weighing thousands of pounds? So I tried to build some devices, and I didn't expect them to actually work."

Li Chen listened, stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes full of admiration. "Turning disadvantages into advantages, turning harm into treasure. Good at observation, diligent in thinking, and able to apply what you learn. Not bad! Just as Prime Minister Zhao said, this is a piece of fine material that can control the world!"

Gongshu Dan's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "Wonderful! What a wonderful man!" He looked Zhang Jingwei up and down, and suddenly asked, "Young man, you said your last name is Zhang... Are you Zhang Lian's son?"

Zhang Jingwei's heart moved, but he replied calmly, "It is my father."

Upon hearing this, Gongshu Dan's face lit up with a look of "as expected." He nodded vigorously, gave a thumbs-up, and his thick local accent rang out again: "That's absolutely right! I knew it! Just like your 'dad' (father) back then! Very smart! Very kind! (The idea was to praise him for being as smart and capable as his father, and a real talent!)"

Zhang Jingwei was taken aback by this straightforward and down-to-earth compliment, then burst out laughing. He finally understood why later jokes always mentioned that Qin Shi Huang's "Edi, it's all Edi" was so well-written. This ancient Guanzhong accent truly carries a simple and domineering aura.

Li Chen shook his head helplessly and said to Gongshu Dan, "It's not like you can't speak Mandarin. The Empress Dowager has told you several times at the palace banquet that you should pay attention to official etiquette."

Gongshu Dan, however, was completely unconcerned. He even curled his lips and muttered softly, "She's from Huainan, and when she speaks Mandarin, it's like a donkey imitating a horse. It's so awkward! It's not as good as my old-fashioned tune!"

Li Chen was choked by his words and stared at him, saying angrily: "Be careful with your words! You are getting more and more outrageous! Don't say such nonsense in front of the younger generation!"

Zhang Jingwei listened with amusement, but he also understood. He knew the origins of the current dynasty's "Sima" royal family—their ancestors migrated from the Shanggu area, now Hebei Province, to the central government, later taking advantage of the situation to rise up and proclaim themselves emperor, establishing their capital in Chang'an. From then on, the dialect of the Hebei Province region gradually became the official language of the government. And descendants of Guanzhong, like Gongshu Dan, naturally felt a stronger attachment to their native accent.