From Chief to Ball

"Ji Xia, what are you going to prepare? Our presents... are divided into several types, it's best not to make a mistake."

Although the people who followed had never seen the horrors of the mice that had eaten colchicine, they knew that the gifts prepared were good and bad, and some were even better not to touch, so they asked more.

Chen Jian said with a smile: "Then take the second box and the sixth box. Don't make mistakes, and don't give it first. I will go alone. When I need you to leave gifts, you will see that my fingers are six boxes." Still two."

"Bringing two boxes of presents, only one box is left behind? Is it not good for Chief Suyue to see this?"

"Just let him watch us leave with another box of presents on purpose. Even if we don't give it to anyone, he can't sleep for two days, wondering who we are going to give it to. Toads crawl on their feet and don't bite. Disgusting people."

Chen Jian was very dissatisfied with Su Yue's little trick just now, he did this just to tell Su Yue not to do this kind of trick in the future, I don't like it.

After the order was given, the Xiacheng people began to arrange the boxes. These boxes were scraped with high-quality pine wood, glued together with mortise and tenon fish glue, and then painted with wood varnish. As a precious gift.

The gifts in the boxes are different. Many people participated in the making, but they don’t quite understand what they are for. I just remember that some of the utensils in the second box are very exquisite. The color in the golden skull that was snatched by the tribes of the grassland.

Giving them papaya, hugging Qiongyao, the things that are reciprocal are much better than the common utensils of Xiacheng people, many people secretly cried out that it is a pity.

Chen Jian thought about the things that might be discussed all the way, and prepared ways to deal with it in advance. In short, he suffered such a big hidden loss. It is said that Su Yue will always give some compensation. Su Yue may not be able to know the compensation he wants most. So he was wondering if he should wake up Suyue properly: he didn't want equipment technology and the like, he just wanted a legal title.

When he was about to reach the house, Chen Jian put on a smiling face and greeted the people at the door, and someone followed Chen Jian on the right side, not daring to overtake Chen Jian, and led him into the house.

The room is warm and not too dark, with expensive wooden pewter burning, and two female slaves holding small stone knives are responsible for cutting off the wicks that are not fully burned.

After a few words of entertainment, Chen Jian stared at the candles, ready to open a breakthrough, and held up a copper bottle and said, "Where do these white waxes in Sucheng come from? There is no such good wax near Xiacheng, so we can only use Those hives are really ugly."

"If Jixia likes it, I'll send some more. I got it from some clans on the south bank of the great river. There is a kind of worm there, which is similar to silkworms. It's just that silkworms spin silk, and they spit out wax."

"Well, Xiacheng's wax is always used to cast bronze models, and I'm always reluctant to light candles. I don't know what those two female slaves are doing?"

"Jixia seems to really seldom use wax. The candle wick can't be burned out, so it needs to be cut off, otherwise it will be skewed and the candle oil will flow."

Chen Jian drank a bottle of wine and said with a smile: "I have a way, which can save these two women's work."

Su Yue didn't care at all. People who can afford candles can naturally afford female slaves. It doesn't matter whether they cut it or not, but since Chen Jian said it, it's hard to refuse, so he said with a smile: "Ji Xia has many ways to do it. Lectures in a few days , I have also benefited a lot. If I can figure out a way, these two female slaves will be given to Jixia. Anyway, Jixia left them with nothing to do. The sacrifices are already old, and the ancestors of heaven and earth may not like them. It's covered in dust, and the weather is cold now, but I can warm Ji Xia's bed."

While talking and laughing, the two female slaves who were in charge of cutting the candles secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it doesn't matter to anyone, just like goods, but since Su Yue said that they are not qualified to be sacrificed, it is the best ending.

Su Yue clapped his hands, and called for the wax craftsman, and told him to prepare some candles for Xia Cheng, and asked him to ask Chen Jian how to make wax.

"It's quite simple. You take three hemp ropes and twist them into a strand instead of using a single thread. After you're done, you don't need to cut the candles."

The craftsman who made the wax didn't quite believe it, and was a little hesitant. Su Yue knew that Chen Jian had become famous by giving lectures, so naturally he wouldn't spoil the scenery at this time. It must be like this, you do it quickly."

After finishing speaking, he coughed lightly, which meant to try it out first after it was done, and if it was really as Jixia said, he would bring it up immediately so that he could praise him for a few words, and if it didn't work, he should not show up at this banquet, just treat it as nothing occur.

After the craftsman withdrew, the two drank a few more glasses and gradually talked about the discussion about the world view yesterday. Su Yue didn't care much about how to explain the world, but he was very concerned about the result. Many tribes who originally thought that disaster was coming accepted Chen Jian's opinion - and before that, even the several clans that had already negotiated an alliance were somewhat resigned, and Chen Jian's words were really like a helping hand.

After pushing the cups and changing the lamps several times, the craftsman ran over panting, and saluted Chen Jian as soon as he came, "Sure enough, as Ji Xia said, I really don't need to cut the candle wicks that have been melted!"

After speaking, he took out a newly melted candle and lit it nearby. When it reached the wick, the twisted wick loosened, and from the lowest temperature flame core to the high temperature outer flame, it became Three, no longer standing upright, reduced to ashes with the candle.

The two female slaves were slightly taken aback, their hands that were cutting the candles trembled, and the room suddenly went dark, Su Yue shouted: "Clumsy! If you weren't for Ji Xia now, you would have been punished a long time ago."

After the reprimand, he said to Chen Jian: "Ji Xia's idea is really wonderful, please drink this cup."

Chen Jian raised the wine bottle and sighed: "This method is good, but it is a fly in the ointment."

"How to say?"

"Happiness in the room is nothing more than being with a woman's thrush and cutting candles, not all on the bed. A bronze mirror, a bone comb, a woman's thrush, and a flickering candle will inevitably ask you to cut the candles. Asked Gong to cut the candle under the window. She didn't cut it on purpose. She was afraid when the candle was flickering, and she couldn't draw her eyebrows, so she had to roll on the bed, shivering as if the candle was a ghost, watching the beauty frown under the flickering light Whispering, it has a special flavor. If the candle does not need to be cut, it will inevitably be shy when it is bright, and it will be less natural after all, and you can't see it when you blow it out...not good, not good."

Su Yue laughed and said, "This is what Ji Xia said, that good and bad depend on each other for gain and loss."

Chen Jian originally wanted to use the heart of a candle as a metaphor for the strength of the trunk, and the branches and leaves around it can be as bright as the candlelight at this time. It is best to absorb Xiacheng to become branches and leaves.

After listening to Su Yue's deliberate praise, he responded accordingly: "That's right. Although the remarks yesterday made many clans dispel the idea of ​​withdrawing from the alliance, there are also some clans who hate Xia Cheng very much. Xia Cheng ten The surname Yu, whose ancestors originated from Dahe, moved to Caohe hundreds of years ago, missed the Hwaseong alliance decades ago, and now has more than ten surnames with a population of nearly [-]. , to resist Xi Rong as a shield, but I don't want to be afraid of becoming foam in the river because of Xia's words... The candles don't need to be cut, so these two female slaves have nothing to do but go to warm the bed, or they will hate me; Everyone is not afraid of guest stars, how can some clans that don't want to form an alliance in the first place not hate Xia?"

Su Yue laughed and asked the two female slaves: "Do you hate Jixia?" The two female slaves shook their heads silently, extremely dumbfounded.

"That's it. Whether you don't hate it, or you don't dare, it's the same. I heard that Xiacheng's army is strong, and it can use the thunder and lightning for its own use. I also heard that Ji Xia is willing to share these methods with her relatives. Even if the other clans It’s not that I don’t hate, but I don’t dare to hate. What Jixia wants is the result of not hating, which comes from not hating in her heart? Or is she afraid in her heart and dare not hate, does Jixia care?”

"I have already discussed with the leaders of the thirteen clans yesterday. Jixia resisted the tribes of the grassland, defeated Xi Rong, and saved the Acropolis. Even though he didn't make an oath, he did what the oath should do. Can you join the alliance?"

"Besides, there are five Northwestern surnames such as E, Wei, etc., who recommend Xia Cheng to join the alliance. In addition, the daughter of the Yue family also followed her father's wishes and recommended Xia Cheng to join the alliance. It is not counting those who like Ji Xia and Xia Cheng, who have heard Ji Xia's lectures and praised them. I can’t stop talking, this is already nineteen cities. There are only sixty or so of the 71 relatives who formed the alliance back then, as long as there are [-] or [-] cities to support.”

"Sucheng supports Xiacheng's entry into the alliance. There happens to be wine here, so why not swear to the ancestors of heaven and earth to be a witness. Even if the matter of joining the alliance fails, if I, Suyue, do well and are elected as the leader by everyone, I will be the first Time elects Jixia as an official, and if he does well, he can join the alliance... When the alliance was held in Huacheng, one of the relatives was originally a barbarian, and by means of raising cattle and sheep, everyone benefited, and three or five years later they also benefited. Xia Yuniu has become a relative. With such a story, just follow the rules, and this is also a last resort, so don't worry."

Chapter 21 Throwing wood to report Qiong

Now that the words have come to an end, Chen Jian can only thank him for his winning streak. In exchange for the support of more than ten cities headed by Sucheng, what he said yesterday is undoubtedly worthwhile.

This is also related to the geographical location of Xiacheng. If the distance between Xiacheng and Sucheng is very close, this kind of support is absolutely impossible, because although the population of Xiacheng is not large, technically speaking, for the time being It is in a leading position, which is also a strength that must be considered in the game.

In addition, there are several clans at the confluence of Caohe and Dahe, each of which is relatively strong, so they don't like Suyue becoming the leader very much. This contradiction is temporarily suppressed, but it will explode one day.

Xia Cheng seems to be being used as a knife, but having the qualification to be used by others is also an affirmation of himself in a sense, so Chen Jian is quite content.How big is the bowl, how much food is eaten, and a little-known clan wants to become the leader of dozens of cities in one fell swoop.

Chen Jian raised the wine bottle and respectfully said: "To allow Xiacheng to worship ancestors together with relatives again, even a mountain of jade can't compare. Xia will remember the words of the leader of Suyue in his heart."

"Jixia is being polite. Since more than a dozen surnames in Xiacheng also moved from Dahe, they are of course eligible to join the alliance. Besides, they have made great achievements in the northwest. I am only thinking of the entire Dahe family. Don't thank me, just thank you." I want to thank the ancestors of heaven and earth."

Su Yue drank a cup, and said leisurely: "A few days ago, Jixia gave a lecture in the academy. Although I didn't listen to it because I was dealing with the affairs of the city, many people in Sucheng were full of praise for Jixia. I used to listen to Suhe When talking about Xiacheng, I always hesitated, thinking how could a child under twenty know so much? Looking at it now, there are actually people in the world who are blessed by their ancestors and know everything from birth."

"Leader Suyue was joking."

Su Yue shook his head and said, "It's just Ji Xia, in my opinion, you are still a little young. We are not discussing these words as the leaders of the two cities, but as talking with the elders of the relatives. We are all brothers, but I am older after all, some things cannot be explained clearly to you by the ancestors, are you willing to listen?"

Chen Jian nodded hastily and said, "Please advise."

"Ji Xia talked about how to plow, plant, yarn, calendar, and numbers in the academy. These are all excellent, but there are some things that you shouldn't talk about."

"For example, how to fight wars, how to manage slaves, and how to manage the distribution of population. If you talk about these things, people will feel that they can work with their minds and don't want to work hard. How can cities be managed? To lead an army, only one leader is needed, but thousands of people are needed. Hundreds of soldiers, everyone wants to be the leader, how can we fight?"

"I didn't say these words alone, but many leaders talked about it with me... They didn't say that what you said was wrong, but they all thought that you were very young and there were some things that you should not say. A city, There are dozens of people who work hard, and thousands of people who work hard, some things, as long as they are spread among the people who work hard, it is not good to talk to those who should work hard.”

"When a flock of sheep has only one leader, they can graze leisurely without being chaotic; if every sheep wants to be the leader, how can it resist the attack of wolves?"

Chen Jian pretended to be panic-stricken and asked: "Are those leaders angry? Or is Xia too dull... I will ask Leader Su Yue to take me to apologize to them later..."

Su Yue laughed, and waved his hands: "Sit down, there's no need, it's just that you're still young and you don't understand some things. Although Ji Xia already has a woman, I guess Ji Xia has no heirs, right?"

"Never."

"Yeah, there are some things you can't understand without children. For example, leading an army to fight, you only need one person to understand it, and you can lead the city to defeat the enemy. In this case, why didn't Jixia choose to let your heirs know and let him know?" Don't others know?"

"This is not bad for the city. First, your heirs have learned from you and can lead the city to defeat the enemy; second, birds have wings and fish have fins. Those who work hard like birds must have wings. .Even if you teach a group of fish to fly, will they be able to fly?"

"The leaders objected to what Jixia said. There is no one here. Let me make it clearer to you that they have children. It's like a bricklayer's stone knife or a carpenter's ruler. It's not easy to show people. You are young and have no heirs, and everyone doesn't care, just let me tell you, you don't have to take it to heart, do you understand?"