Daqin: A buff of incredible comprehension

After all, as captives, if they weren't chosen this time, their fate would become unpredictable. For a moment, the women were filled with intense inner conflict, yet they felt helpless and no longer had the heart to speak.

Zhao Gao hadn't revealed Prince Zhao Chen's name to the women to prevent any potential trouble. If he had told them they were meeting Prince Zhao Chen, they might have some ulterior motive. By not telling them now, he could prevent them from making advance preparations. Even if they did have some ulterior motives, they could have responded promptly.

Zhao Gao sought out Wei Zhuang and Han Fei to test their willingness to pledge allegiance to the Qin Dynasty. Regardless of the outcome, he would promptly report it to the prince, who would then handle the situation on his own.

At this time, Zhao Chen was enjoying an unexpected winter snow.

"This snow seems to be very heavy. It has been falling for several hours. I wonder if ordinary people will freeze to death?"

"My dear brother, you worry too much. Most families in Qin have kangs, so they won't be cold. Besides, you've already provided them with a solution. Now they should be sitting around the warm stove, laughing and chatting happily, right?"

"That would be perfect. Forget it, don't think too much. Sisters, the snow is beautiful today, let's eat in this yard!"

"Okay, I'll ask the kitchen to prepare whatever you want to eat." Zi Nu replied.

"Hey, this time we're going to try something new." Zhao Chen smiled wickedly and ordered the maids to bring up the food they had prepared earlier. The maids looked confused: ???

(Finish)

"Brother, where did you get these green vegetables? In this icy and snowy weather, are there any vegetables to eat?

Also, these vegetables and meat are all raw, right? Do you intend for me to eat them raw?"

"How is that possible? This is a new dish called hot pot. I prepared it yesterday."

"Brother Chen, did you prepare this specially for today?" "Of course, snowy days are perfect for hot pot.

Sister Moon Goddess said it would snow today, so I made preparations in advance."

Soon, the servants placed various vegetables and meats neatly on the dining table according to Zhao Chen's instructions yesterday.

There is a stove on the table, and on it is a pot. The shape of the pot is very special, like a Bagua pattern, with a red soup base on one side and a white soup base on the other. The red and white are clearly distinguished, making it look particularly tempting.

Soon, the red soup and the white soup began to boil.

"Okay, you can enjoy it now." The women looked at each other.

"Brother Chen, how do you eat this?"

"This is the dipping sauce. Put the vegetables in the pot and boil them, then you can eat it with the dip." He said as he demonstrated.

Zhao Chen took a bite of the tender beef and smacked his lips with satisfaction.

Finally I had the chance to taste hotpot in the Great Qin State. It was so satisfying.

Seeing Zhao Chen eating with gusto, the girls began to imitate him, putting the ingredients into the pot, and when they were cooked, they dipped them in the prepared sauce and put them into their mouths.

Instantly, that unique and delicious taste hits your taste buds.

really tasty.

This unique spicy aroma is really wonderful.

The girls' eyes lit up immediately and they ate their meal so fast that it seemed as if they were sweeping the table.

Zhao Chen couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

Image, image.

You are all goddesses who are high above everyone else. This is not very decent.

But even so, the way they eat is still a pleasure to watch.

"Brother, what are you looking at? Come and eat, the food is almost finished." Seeing Zhao Chen in a daze, Concubine Yan reminded him with a smile.

"Ah, um!"

Zhao Chen also joined the fierce battle for hot pot food.

Soon, all the dishes on the table were cleared away.

In addition, the girls also added a lot of beef and tripe because these ingredients were their favorites.

After eating and drinking, the servants cleared the table and set the tea set.

Concubine Yan personally made a pot of tea for Zhao Chen.

"Brother, was that beef just now? What were those black leaf-like things? They tasted delicious."

"Yes, that's beef. The black part is tripe, which is also taken from the cow."

“It’s really beef.”

"Yes what's the matter?"

"Brother, what's the problem? The laws of the Great Qin Empire clearly stipulate that privately slaughtering oxen is a capital offense! Aren't you afraid that our father will find out?"

"What are you afraid of? Sister, do you know why Qin law forbids the private killing of oxen and punishes offenders with **?"

"Everyone knows that, because cattle are the primary agricultural tool. The Qin Empire even established a set of 'stable and garden laws' to manage oxen. Every year in April, July, October, and the first month of the lunar calendar, oxen are evaluated. Healthy oxen are rewarded, while weak ones are punished by the agricultural officials."

“That’s true, and it’s because productivity levels were low at the time.

In the seven kingdoms, where agriculture was the primary means of production, cattle were not only important tools for labor but also a primary means of transportation. Large numbers of oxen assisted farmers in plowing and transporting goods, improving work efficiency. As a society primarily based on smallholder agriculture, agriculture was the backbone of the nation.

Due to the low productivity, the importance of oxen is self-evident. They are almost equivalent to the labor of several or even dozens of people. Therefore, the law must protect oxen and prevent the serious crime of privately killing oxen.

Not only that, raising a cow is not easy. Although it can help plow the fields during busy farming season, it needs to eat throughout the year. Therefore, at that time, families who owned oxen were considered wealthy farmers.

The vast majority of people do not have oxen for farming, so what should they do during the busy farming season?

In fact, the imperial court had already taken this into consideration and allocated funds to raise a large number of oxen, which were then rented out to farmers during the busy farming season.

Whether the oxen are raised by the imperial court or privately, they are important strategic resources for the country, and slaughtering them at will is illegal.

These measures are naturally due to the indispensability of oxen to agriculture.

But now the situation is different. The agricultural tools I invented have greatly reduced the burden on the people. Many families can plow the land even without oxen. This is a huge progress. For the Qin Dynasty today, the importance of oxen has been greatly reduced.

When I invent more agricultural tools, oxen may be completely eliminated and their only use will be as food."

Zhao Chen explained with a smile.

However, these words drew different looks from the women, leaving Zhao Chen feeling somewhat bewildered:

"Brother, did you invent so many farm tools just to eat beef?" "Brother Chen, this is not right!"

"How could such a thing happen? Why would I do that? I invented agricultural tools to make farming more efficient for the people of Daqin, allowing them to cultivate more land within a limited time and reduce their reliance on oxen. Isn't that a good thing?"

"It's indeed a good thing, but we still suspect that you did this just to eat beef." "I feel the same way. My lord, you have invented so many things to satisfy your appetite.

Iron pans, stir-fry, chili peppers, and all kinds of vegetables I've never heard of before, and now beef and hot pot, who would believe you if you said you didn't invent it for food?

Zhao Chen: ...

How else can I explain this to you? I can only bear it.

“Puff!!” “Hehe!!”

Not seeing Zhao Chen's helpless expression, Yan Fei and the others couldn't help but laugh.

At this moment, they seemed to think that Zhao Chen was really just a four-year-old child.

"However, brother, although there is nothing wrong with eating beef now, the laws of the Qin Dynasty have not changed yet. You cannot slaughter cattle at will. After all, as a prince, you have to set an example."

"I know that. When agricultural tools are invented to replace oxen, everything will be solved." "Well, I'm glad you understand.

"But, brother, what's with those vegetables? It's winter, yet there are still green vegetables. Could it be that you asked someone to bring them back from the State of Chu?"

"How is that possible? These were all planted by Tian Fei himself."

"Oh, by the way, that transparent shed you asked Tian Fei to build a month ago, is that where they grow crops?"

(Zhao Chen) "Yes, I call it a greenhouse. Because the stove and coal raise the temperature, the temperature inside is like spring. With the right temperature, growing vegetables is no problem." "I see."

After hearing this explanation, the women finally understood.

Indeed, with the right temperature, growing vegetables is not difficult. But this unconventional method is probably something only Zhao Chen could come up with!

If this planting method is promoted, will the people of Daqin be able to eat green vegetables in the cold winter? Although everyone knows that this may be Zhao Chen's invention to satisfy his own taste buds, in this way, the people of Daqin will benefit the most, right?

This move solidified Zhao Chen's reputation as the Agricultural Sage. Could Xu Xing, the representative of the Agricultural School, do this? Obviously not.

"Brother, you are really speechless."

"Hehe, it not only allows me to eat well, but also makes the people live happier. Why not do such a good thing?" "Indeed, have you reported this to the king?"

"Of course. Right now, Father should be enjoying the delicious hot pot with Mother."

Zhao Chen naturally would not forget to prepare this delicacy for his mother, and his mother would naturally invite his father to share it, so that his father would know everything.

"Now that we've had enough, brother, let's build a snowman!"

“Um…” “Okay!”

Although he felt it was a bit childish, Zhao Chen nodded in agreement when he saw Yan Fei, Xiao Meng and Xiao Yi looking expectant.

"Come on then!" "Haha!"

Just as Zhao Chen said.

After teaching his maids how to make hot pot, he asked them to prepare it carefully for his mother. Seeing this unique cooking method and the fresh green vegetables that were rare in the cold winter, Xia invited Ying Zheng to enjoy it with her.

Ying Zheng was surprised by the table full of fresh green vegetables. Then he saw the thin slices of red and white meat, and his expression changed: "Is this beef?"

At this time, Xia also realized that it was illegal to slaughter oxen privately in the Qin Dynasty. His heart tightened and he immediately knelt down to apologize.