Tao and Heaven

Chapter 209: Writing Agricultural Books to Ensure the Well-being of Future Generations

A year later, Jiang Ju returned to the capital after pacifying the last four counties. The whole city of Bianjing was in an uproar, and the ceremonial guard lined up all the way to the imperial palace, with a total of 30,000 people.

The scale was far greater than before, many times greater than the battle-hardened army Jiang Jucai had brought into the city. However, when Jiang Jucai took a closer look, he saw that the honor guard was sparse, with colorful clothes on and only a stick in their hands, without any plaques, flags, or Chinese flags.

Jiang Fugui, who was already the de facto ruler of the world, stood behind the city gate to greet Jiang Jucai. The latter dismounted, took two steps at a time, knelt down and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, your son has met you. Long live the emperor."

After the grand ceremony, the two men got on the carriage, and the difference between the king and his subjects immediately disappeared.

The father and son were leaning on each other's shoulders and whispering to each other. Jiang Ju looked at the beggar outside and said, "Dad, if we don't have money, don't do these things. Isn't it just a joke for you to make a beggar rely on you?"

Jiang Fugui glared and said, "Work-for-relief, you know nothing! What is our situation now? The name of the country has not been decided, and half of the people in the world have not settled down. In Qianjing, more and more refugees are pouring in, and there is not enough land and food to go around."

"Send them somewhere else?"

"Fool, there are countless casualties from the long journey. Moreover, the local noble families haven't yet made arrangements. Now that we can't issue orders beyond a hundred miles, we are just a name in vain."

"The army is leading the way, who dares not to follow?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Fugui punched him on the head and cursed, "Even when I was doing business, I wouldn't dare to drive away a clerk casually. Do you think you are raising chickens and ducks? Master Wen said that when governing a big country, it is not appropriate to disturb the people if you cook a small fish."

"If we distribute the land to the people, is that considered a nuisance?"

"Do you have any obedient local government offices or secret service agencies? I am so angry about this. For the next few years, you will stay by my side and are not allowed to enter the military camp again."

Jiang Fugui became angrier and angrier as he spoke. To this day, he still felt that Jiang Jucai was not good at literature, and that his martial arts skills were useless.

A few months ago, he consulted Gu Wen, who did not give a specific answer, but said that the best approach is to adapt to local conditions.

Gu Wen asked him a series of questions: The land must be distributed, but how should it be distributed, who will distribute it, and can it be distributed to the people?
When he actually sat in this position, Jiang Fugui felt endless pressure and fatigue, and even felt a little disgusted with himself for his previous clever tricks.

The world is in danger now, people are starving, and yet there are insects trying to make money from the disaster!

Back at the palace, many palaces were still in ruins.

The Jiang father and son met with many meritorious officials again, including military heroes, famous ministers of the previous dynasty, contemporary scholars, etc. They all quarreled over the name of the country.

In the end, they parted on bad terms and the father and son returned to the side hall. The door of the palace was broken and was patched up with pieces of wood. Although the decoration inside was magnificent, there was always a hole somewhere and the method of filling it was the same as that of an ordinary farmhouse.

Even the eunuchs and palace maids who looked down at them were those who stayed over from before.

"Father, please repair it."

"Repair? How much will it cost? Do you think the money in the national treasury is blown by the wind? Or do you think you will lose your limbs if you live in a worse place?"

Jiang Jucai was scolded again and he could only smile bitterly.

Although my father wore the dragon robe, he was still the same rich man who saved as much as possible and was very strict with all expenses.

At this time, a child wearing patched pants ran in, and Jiang Juxian shouted excitedly: "Daddy, Master Wen has woken up, and he asked you to go over."

“That’s the exit.”

Jiang Fugui was shocked, straightened his clothes, and left quickly without even eating lunch. The Jiang brothers followed closely behind him, along with a dozen guards and a group of eunuchs and palace maids.

A large group of people ran from the north and south of the palace all the way to the Imperial Garden in the east.

This place has been transformed into Gu Wen's residence, and has been turned upside down by Qing Cang. The original exotic flowers and plants have been turned into fields, which are full of various crops. One ear of rice can hang hundreds of grains.

When Jiang Fugui saw it at first, he knelt down on the spot and begged Gu Wen to give him the treasure, howling like a ghost.

The fairy, who had a close relationship with Master Wen, provided the seeds to Jiang Fugui free of charge. Within just one year after the seeds were sown, deaths of people from starvation were no longer a common occurrence in the world.

Although they still could not be said to have enough food and clothing, the people gradually settled down after having enough food to eat.

An old donkey was lying on the ridge of a field, saying in human language, "Don't step on the field."

Jiang Fugui bowed respectfully and entered the golden rice fields with only his two sons.

Across the golden rice fields, a house with smoke coming out can be vaguely seen in the distance. When you get closer, you can see a man and two women having a meal in the house.

"Eat more, disciple."

Qing Cang picked out the bitter gourd that he didn't like and put it into Gu Wen's bowl, then took a piece of meat.

This has become a daily routine, and after the initial love, Gu Wen could feel that his master was gradually treating him as a "toy".

To be honest, Master Qingcang is a person with high emotional intelligence and is not the dry old Taoist priest as the stereotype suggests.

The footsteps outside the door made everyone put down their chopsticks. Gu Wen stood up from the table and went outside to greet Jiang Fugui.

"Master Wen, you are finally out of isolation."

Jiang Fugui began to wipe his tears again, not showing any demeanor of a king.

Gu Wen said helplessly: "Every time I see you, you cry."

“Half a year apart, the days pass by like years. How many half a year can there be in a lifetime?”

Jiang Fugui did not restrain his expression at all. In ancient feudal society, people attached great importance to friendship. It was not only a bond to maintain interests, but also a society lacking the rule of law. Friends and relatives were the only source of security.

Gu Wen is his only supporter, otherwise no one would listen to him.

Gu Wen asked, "How is the world now?"

Jiang Fugui answered truthfully: "The country has just been settled, and there is a lot of work to be done. I have tried my best to provide relief to the people, but now I can only say that there is no famine."

As he spoke, he reached out and tugged at his pants, nearly causing them to fall off.

"Are these the clothes of the dog emperor?"

Gu Wen looked at the wide dragon robe and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Although it looks very impressive, the height is obviously not suitable, and all five claws have been cut off after trimming. Others would definitely not do this, but Jiang Fugui has been with Gu Wen for so many years, and he has no sense of the sacredness of the imperial power.

People always serve the source of power. If Jiang Fugui was a genuine founding emperor, he would definitely not make himself suffer. Even if Jiang Jucai came to power, this would not happen.

Jiang Fugui, the only person who could become his confidant over the years, has one advantage, which is that he works wholeheartedly.

"Let's talk about this later. Have you arranged your trip from Linchuan to Bianjing?"

Gu Wen asked about what he cared about most, and he bluntly said that spiritual objects were his first goal in fighting for the world. Apart from that, he didn't mind ushering in another peaceful and prosperous era.

The peaceful and prosperous times in ancient times were simple yet difficult, but with absolute military force in hand, Gu Wen was confident and determined.

Jiang Fugui nodded and said, "It was opened three months ago, and now the second batch of medicinal fruits are being delivered."

"What about the first batch?"

"My luck was bad and I lost everything on the way. Then I investigated and found out that it was stolen by passing government officials. I killed twelve county magistrates and sent troops to suppress the noble families along the way before I could transport the things to Bianjing."

There was a hint of murderous intent in Jiang Fugui's eyes, and he had the aura of a superior.

In other aspects, he was very cautious and put the people first.

Once it comes to transporting spiritual objects from various places, Jiang Fugui, a short and stout little landlord, will really show his fangs and ruthlessly crush everyone.

Power must be accountable to its source; this is what Jiang Fugui has always wanted to teach his son.

"People never cry until they see the coffin. You did a great job."

Gu Wen praised them and then led them into the house because the master had something to tell Jiang Fugui.

Entering the house, a woman in white clothes gently raised her jade finger, and the food on the table turned into green smoke in an instant.

Such a miraculous scene made the Jiang family father and son even more awed. Even Jiang Juxian, who was less than eight years old, showed an ability to judge the situation beyond his age.

"I heard your conversation just now. You did a good job, better than most of the people in power in my tribe."

Qingcang first praised him, then took out five bags of crystal clear seeds from his sleeves.

They are five grains: rice, millet, wheat, beans, and sorghum.

"You plant these, then bring the plants from each season and record the yield per acre."

"Yes."

Jiang Fugui was so excited to get the seeds that he turned around and ran away, looking back and shouting, "Master Wen, we have to plant seeds tomorrow. I have to work overtime. I'll talk to you next time."

After saying that, Jiang Fugui plunged into the field.

----------

After the commotion, the courtyard returned to peace.

Gu Wen asked, "Do you want to feed everyone in the world?"

"I want to open the wisdom of all my compatriots. The stomach determines the brain. Only after you are full can your wisdom move."

Qing Cang answered in a casual tone, revealing a great ambition that a Buddhist monk might not be able to achieve in his entire lifetime.

"I know that most of the suffering of mortals comes from poverty. Money is just a certificate. In the end, food is still needed."

Akabane asked, "Will everyone gain enlightenment if they are able to eat their fill?"

Qing Cang smiled and shook his head, saying: "This is only the first step. We also need to teach them to read and write. The more books people read, the less likely they will be fooled. Later, we will let them gain benefits from their practice." "Benefits?"

Akabane was very confused.

Gu Wen also looked confused. He could understand the previous part, but this part seemed a bit unrealistic.

He said: "Master, among the human race, only one in a hundred can draw Qi into the body, and only one in a thousand can form a golden elixir. How can we get the benefits?"

"Recently, I used my divine sense to explore the land of immortality and saw that the cultivators traveled in flying boats, sat on jade brocade, ate spiritual delicacies, and wore religious robes. They looked very happy. The common people were no different from here. It all depended on the likes and dislikes of the sect back then."

Qing Cang changed the subject and said as a matter of course: "This is unfair, because a large number of basic medicinal materials needed by cultivators to make pills are grown by the common people. The cultivators should and must give concessions to the common people so that they can also ride on flying boats, wear brocade clothes, and eat delicacies."

"Initially, our tribe left Jianmu for a better life. Now the monks should fulfill their promise to our people."

In the year after the resuscitation, Qingcang's divine consciousness was always hanging above the territory of the human race, scanning millions of people, observing and examining the human race.

Finally she came up with a goal, a goal equivalent to destroying the demon race.

The human race is enlightened and all beings are perfect.

The calm and matter-of-fact tone carries with it a heroic spirit as great as the movement of a mountain.

Gu Wen was silent for a while. In fact, he knew a lot, but he could never say the word "unfair" to the people as frankly and directly as his master.

Great people are always alike.

Akabane didn't think too much and said, "You only have forty years, can you do it?"

Qing Cang replied: "I will leave them food and books, and the rest is up to them. But I believe that the people's pursuit of a fulfilling life will never change. As long as their wisdom continues, man will conquer nature."

"No matter how far these are, when will you be able to break through the ninth level of the Dao foundation?"

Gu Wen looked inward at his Qi Sea and saw a circle of white ground appear in the originally empty space, which was estimated to be a hundred feet wide in diameter.

[The ninth level of Yuqing Dao Foundation, condensing the immortal platform, can be completed in ten thousand feet]

When it reaches the ninth level, Tiansui can only slightly speed up the speed of condensing the immortal platform, but cannot ascend to heaven in one step.

He replied: "It can be done within ten years."

Within a year, he went from the first level of Taoism to the eighth level. But to reach the ninth level of the immortal realm, he needed to spend ten times as much time.

"You are worthy of being my disciple."

Qing Cang praised Gu Wen generously, then pulled him out and handed him the hoe in the yard.

"Practice and relax in moderation. Now take a month or two to help the master farm."

If you cultivate the field for four months, you will have a good harvest year after year.

The name of the new dynasty was also decided, and it was called Xia.

"Master, the plants you cultivate will basically turn back into ordinary plants after three generations."

Gu Wen broke off a rice ear, which had a total of fifty grains on it, eighty percent less than the first generation of plants.

Just like the genetically modified grains in the previous life, the grains here lack spiritual energy.

Qing Cang said: "There is a balance between all things. What I want is not something that can be solved once and for all. But to be able to grow more food with the least amount of spiritual energy."

Another year passed, and there was drought and little rain.

The master and his disciple wore straw hats, and their clothes had long since changed into the coarse linen shorts of the farm family.

"Master, your crops cannot tolerate drought."

"My disciple, there is no perfect thing in the world, whether it is people or rice. If rice doesn't work, try something else. People always have to adapt to local conditions."

In the third year, Yu Hua woke up halfway through, and her relationship with Qing Cang was not the same as with Jun Yan.

She has the freedom to control her body.

The two hadn't seen each other for three years and had a lot to talk about, including the current situation and plans for the future.

Yu Hua suggested that Gu Wen could temporarily put aside his position as Jade Pure Heavenly Venerable and travel around to practice cultivation first. It would not be too late to come back after practicing for thousands of years.

Gu Wen asked about Yu Hua's plans.

Yu Hua smiled and asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"

"nature."

Gu Wen nodded calmly.

There is nothing to hide. If you are in an unfamiliar place, you must bring a fellow traveler with you.

Yu Hua smiled, and suddenly her eyes became deeper and darker. She asked in a soft voice, "Remember to bring my tablet with you. I may be able to enter the underworld. If you have something delicious to offer to me, please bring it with you."

"..."

Gu Wen was a little amused and helpless. His master's open-minded attitude towards life and death was something that not ordinary people could understand.

Walking on the ridge of the field at night, I can hear the chirping of cicadas and the croaking of frogs.

Another year of harvest.

In the sixth year, Wuling Valley was initially completed.

Qingcang compiled his experiences and methods from the past six years into a farming book.

Among them are methods for cultivating various types of five spiritual grains, with hundreds of varieties suitable for all kinds of terrain. If you are willing to invest spiritual energy, you can even grow rice and wheat in arid deserts and swamps.

Gu Wen couldn't help but sigh as he held the agricultural book.

The productivity of an immortal is almost comparable to the research output of modern major countries. This may be why neither humans nor demons have developed a highly developed civilized society for tens of thousands of years.

Even in the world of civilization, people still lived in an agricultural society and at most did not have to worry about natural disasters.

Because spiritual practice has solved everything, the path of spiritual practice is so broad.

In the middle of the year, Huayang and Yunmiao's clones entered the land of immortals, and the two came to the door.

Gu Wen and Qing Cang had just returned from the busy farming season, and he looked at them curiously.

The former had a face as hard as steel, while the latter had a rather friendly smile, two Sanqing masters with very distinct styles.

Yun Miao pointed at Hua Yang beside him with a cynical smile and said, "Our little Jade Pure Heavenly Venerable, let me introduce you, the person next to me is Hua Yang."

The pronunciation of the two words "Huayang" is very clear.

Gu Wen cast a glance at Huayang, who nodded slightly.

"You have come at the right time. Take this book with you and compile hundreds of thousands of copies to distribute to monks all over the world."

Qingcang took off his hat and hung it on the wall, then handed the agricultural book he had written to them.

"Yes."

Huayang took the farm book, glanced at it with his mind, and his iron face was moved.

"This thing can save millions of people. If it can be popularized, there will be no more famine in the world."

"We should be able to save a lot of them. Maybe one day we will outnumber the monsters, and then we can drown Jianmu with a spit from everyone."

Qingcang's words are not so literary.

"If no one manages this, it will only reduce the farmland and turn it into medicinal fields. Let's get back to the point. You didn't come here for this. Is Sanqing Mountain ready now?"

Yun Miao replied: "The disciples and civilians have been evacuated and can be dropped off at any time."

"Take its attack as a signal. Right now, it's like a person covering his head with his arms folded. You can't do any harm to it if you attack it now. In a few years, I will accumulate strength to force it to attack. Then you can decide based on the situation."

Qingcang arranged everything with ease, and the two Heavenly Masters standing at the top of the human race could only sit there and nod their heads.

Then Qingcang threw a wooden sign to Gu Wen and said:

"When a person is forty, he should prepare a coffin. I have made some achievements in my life, but they do not belong to me alone. So when I die, there is no need to make my epitaph long and boring."

Gu Wen took the wooden sign and took a look at it. There were only three simple words engraved on it.

【Li Yunshang】

"What does the master want to write?"

"Let me think about it carefully."

Qing Cang pondered for a moment, and finally settled on Gu Wen, smiling and saying, "Just write Gu Wen's master. This is the only one that belongs to me."

Fighting against the demons and saving the human race from danger is a joint effort of all people, and Gu Wen's Yuqing Dao foundation is the only one that comes completely from himself.

(End of this chapter)