In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

"It's about eliminating fire hazards!"

Zhao Yu gestured to the people behind him.

"Guards! Investigate!"

Splash!

Several hundred soldiers split into two groups and rushed into the warehouse.

A moment later, the report came back:

"Report! A large quantity of coal has been discovered! Piled up like a mountain, it is extremely flammable!"

"Report! Large quantity of timber discovered! Dry and flammable!"

"Boss Chen, look, look!"

With so many dangerous goods piled up in the city, what would happen to all the people if a fire broke out?

You're treating human life like dirt!

"You...you're framing me! I've been selling myself for years, and no one has ever said anything wrong with me!"

"Are you trying to reason with me? Now that you want to reason with me, when you were preparing to oppose me, did you ever imagine this would happen?"

"I...I'm going to report you to the Prime Minister!"

This remark made Zhao Yu laugh.

"Go ahead and sue."

"Go now, or I'll look down on you!"

"But before that, these 'dangerous goods' must be moved."

"Requisition everything! Transport it to the Tongquetai construction site for 'safe disposal' (burning)!"

Zhao Yu is a person with very sound values.

Naturally, no handles will be left behind.

He pulled a handful of copper coins from his pocket.

Throw it on the ground.

"I never take a single needle or thread from the people for nothing. This is money for buying charcoal."

Don't complain if it's too much, and don't come looking for me if it's too little.

With that little bit of copper, you couldn't even buy a cartload of charcoal.

As he spoke, the squad leaders behind him had already drawn their swords.

"move!"

The soldiers cheered and charged forward.

Like ants carrying food, it took less than half an hour.

They turned the coal and timber that the Chen family had stockpiled for half a year upside down.

Before leaving, Zhao Yu took a final look at Chen Liang.

"Boss Chen, before you try to monopolize or strangle others next time, think twice about your own capabilities."

"My father-in-law is Cao Cao, who has a sword; my wife is Sun Shangxiang, who has money."

"You think you can mess with me? You're not worthy!"

……

After the material crisis was resolved,

The construction of Tongquetai has once again entered a period of accelerated pace.

The project has reached its final and most difficult stage – the topping-out of Tongque.

This refers to a gilded bronze sparrow statue that is one zhang tall and weighs five thousand jin.

According to the design, it was to be placed on the top of the platform, overlooking the entire square, serving as the soul of the entire Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

At the foot of the tower, thousands of commoners, artisans, and even the royal craftsman leader, Gongshu Mu, all looked up.

Looking at the bronze sparrow statue, he felt troubled.

"General Zhao!"

"According to the rules, to place such a heavy bronze statue, we first had to 'build a mountain of earth.' We built a gentle path with earthen slopes all the way to the top of the tower, with logs underneath. It took hundreds of people pushing it together to get it up there."

The surrounding veteran craftsmen all nodded in agreement.

This is a traditional, albeit slow, method passed down from our ancestors. It's reliable, but it takes a long time.

"It would take at least half a month to build such a high mound of earth. We only have two days left, it's definitely too late."

"Who said we were going to pile up dirt?"

"Just hoist it up."

"Hang...hung up?!"

Gongshu Mu was startled.

"General Zhao, this is five thousand catties! Not five hundred catties! The single-wheeled pulleys we usually use break the ropes with even slightly heavier stones. This heavy thing is suspended in mid-air; if it breaks, the tower will collapse and everyone will die!"

The surrounding residents were also discussing it animatedly.

"Yes, General Zhao has been very good to us, but he's clearly an amateur when it comes to this."

"Yes, five thousand pounds suspended in mid-air, how thick a rope would that need? How strong a boom would it have?"

"This is a gamble with your life."

Zhao Yu did not argue, but simply turned around and waved towards the top of the tower.

"Ma Jun! Let them see what a 'mechanical leverage' really is!"

"Okay...okay!"

At the top of the tower,

Ma Jun unveiled the canvas covering the equipment at the top of the tower.

Everyone looked closely,

A strange piece of wood protrudes from the top of the tower (actually a truss structure made of multiple hardwoods joined together with mortise and tenon joints).

It looked like the arm of a giant hanging in mid-air.

What's most dazzling are the ropes hanging down from above—not just one, but a dozen or so!

They pass through rows of pulleys, forming a movable pulley system.

At the very bottom is a "hook!"

It got caught on the back of the bronze sparrow statue.

"rise--!"

Zhao Yu called out to those above.

At the base of the tower, four cows, already prepared, were secured with ropes.

Apply force in front of the four winches.

"Squeak—squeak—" The winch turned.

The rope taut immediately.

Gongshu Mu stared intently at the crane boom, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"It will break...it definitely will break..."

Some people have already covered their eyes.

but,

The bronze sparrow statue, weighing five thousand catties, only trembled slightly.

One inch, one foot, one zhang!

"You...you're up?"

Gongshu Mu's eyes widened.

"How is that possible? They managed to lift this bronze sparrow with just four oxen?"

"Those four cows didn't seem to be exerting much effort!"

Even the skilled craftsmen were baffled, as they knew that pulleys could save effort.

But so many pulleys are used together!

This is the first time I've seen this.

Their response was,

The bronze sparrow rose higher and higher.

The background is the hazy sky over Ye City.

Seeking development without being bound by ancient systems—that is revolution.

"Incredible skill!! Incredible skill!!"

Until it was hoisted to the top,

Gongshu Mu muttered to himself.

At this moment, his pride as a royal craftsman was shattered.

"It's done—!!!"

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the construction site.

The people no longer doubted, but instead frantically threw their hats into the air.

"General Zhao is mighty!"

"We've created a miracle!"

Complete the work ahead of schedule.

"There's no god behind it."

Zhao Yu casually showed off:

"Master math, physics, and chemistry, and you'll be able to go anywhere in the world without fear. That's called... science."

"Science, General Zhao, what do you mean by science?"

"No rush, I'll tell you later..."

"Now, there's something even more important. Everyone's been busy for so long, so go collect your wages. Today's pay is five times the normal rate!"

Everyone, go home and get some sleep!