"Were you a craftsman before?" Zhao Kuo looked at the retainer named Mo Qi in front of him.
"Your Majesty, I have indeed been a craftsman," Mo Qi said.
This is not an era when everything is low-grade and only high-quality students are educated.
There is no shame in being a craftsman.
"Look at this, can you build it?" Zhao Kuo handed the catapult blueprint to Mo Qi.
It took him a day to draw this. In his previous life, Zhao Kuo had only seen pictures of catapults on the Internet, but had never seen a real catapult. He didn't know if what he drew could be built.
"This is... a siege artifact! I wonder where did the master get it?" Mo Qi took the drawing and said excitedly, with endless fanaticism in his eyes.
"You don't have to worry about this, just tell me if I can build it." Zhao Kuo said.
"If my subordinate is not good at studying, I'm afraid he will let down the trust of the master. But the master can find me, a great man from the Mo family, and he will definitely be able to do it," Mo Qi said.
"The great son of the Mohist family is in Handan?" Zhao Kuo said in surprise.
"Uh, he's just a giant in our line." Mo Qi scratched his head.
"Your department?" Zhao Kuo was a little confused.
"That's it..." Mo Qi explained.
It turns out that after Mozi's death, the Mohist family split into several factions.
Among these factions, the Xiangli clan, the Xiangfu clan, and the Deng Ling clan were the most powerful, and they took refuge in Qin, Chu, and Qi respectively.
Therefore, it is also called Qin Mo, Chu Mo and Qi Mo.
Qin Mo mainly inherited Mohist technology and made great contributions to the development of Qin's science and technology.
Chu Mo inherited the Mohist chivalry, put faith first in his heart, and believed in the Mohist philosophy of universal love and non-aggression.
Qi Mo inherited most of the Mohist ideas, liked to debate, used rhetoric to make the other party surrender, and opposed war.
From Qin Mo, Chu Mo and Qi Mo, we can also see the differences between the three kingdoms of Qin, Chu and Qi. Qin likes to do practical things the most and does not like to talk.
Qi State attaches great importance to ideological collisions. Jixia Academy was once very popular and accommodated various schools of thought. Mencius, Xunzi, Zouzi, etc. all taught in Jixia Academy.
The State of Chu still retains the "chivalry" of the Spring and Autumn Period. I am afraid this is the reason why the State of Chu was deceived by the State of Qin time and time again, and even the monarch was deceived and imprisoned by the State of Qin.
The Xiangli family, the Xiangfu family, and the Deng Ling family relied on the country to gradually develop and become the mainstream of Mohism.
As a direct descendant of Mozi, the Mo family tried to inherit all the essence of the Mohist family, but did not have Mozi's talent. In the end, he could only continue to weaken. Even after Qi destroyed Song, he had to flee to other countries and linger on.
"If our department hadn't been in such decline, I wouldn't be where I am today." Mo Qi said bitterly.
If given a choice, who would want to be someone else's guest?
"It will get better in the future." Zhao Kuo comforted him.
"Thank you, Lord."
"If it's convenient, I'd like to meet you, Juzi," Zhao Kuo said.
"I will take you to see him." Mo Qi said.
…
Mo Qi and Zhao Kuo came to a remote alley in the north of the city.
There are low and dilapidated mud houses everywhere here. The passing years have peeled off the soil on the walls, carving out old cracks. Unknown weeds grow tenaciously on the walls, adding a bit of green to the dilapidated city.
An old man who had lost his right leg was nestling under the shade of a tree in front of the door, squinting his eyes and having a peaceful smile on his face.
This is the happiest time in his life. He no longer has to do hard labor, he no longer has to go to battle to kill enemies, he no longer has to bend down to salute and show a flattering smile when meeting officials, he no longer has to support his parents, and he no longer has to worry about his children...
After living a lifetime, only now can I truly live for myself...
In the alley, several naked children were chasing each other, fighting for a half-removed ball.
After seeing Zhao Kuo and others, the little boys ran towards the depths of the alley.
Although Handan is the royal capital of Zhao State, not everyone is rich.
Most of them are just people at the bottom who work hard every day, but still don’t have enough to eat or clothing to keep them warm.
Mo Qi led Zhao Kuo towards the alley.
Zhao Kuo saw that many earthen walls had collapsed, leaving only ruins covered with moss.
"These are cases where the men in the family died in the war and the young wives could not survive, so they took their children back to their parents' homes, or sold themselves to nobles as slaves," Mo Qi said.
"Is this true everywhere?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"How is that possible?" Mo Qi said.
Zhao Kuo breathed a sigh of relief. It would be better if it was not like this in other places.
Mo Qi added: "Handan is the capital of King Zhao after all. Most of the nobles are quite conscientious. In addition, the late king and the king have implemented a lot of good governance. Although the people are in dire straits, they can barely survive. Don't even think about other places.
Not to mention the common people, even the nobles at the bottom can hardly live anymore..."
Mo Qi did not continue.
Zhao Kuo opened his mouth. He thought he could have a better life elsewhere, but he didn't expect it to be like this.
He sighed and did not continue to ask.
Since you can't change it, why bother adding to it?
Zhao Kuo thinks that he is not a saint. He just wants to survive now. As for the other things, he will talk about it later...
The two stopped in front of a dilapidated mansion.
Mo Qi stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Not long after, a young man opened the door and walked out.
"Juzi, why did you come to open the door in person? Where are the others?" Mo Qi said in surprise.
Zhao Kuo was also surprised. He didn't expect that the young man in front of him who looked about the same age as him turned out to be the great son of the Mo family!
"They have all gone to work as hangers-on for others. They can't wait here to starve to death." The face of Juzi from the Mo family was full of bitterness.
A powerful man from the Mohist family has nothing to say about this.
"Who is this?" The Mohist Juzi looked at Zhao Kuo.
"This is our master, Ma Fuzi." Mo Qi introduced.
"I'm sorry, Mo Feng from the Mo family has seen Ma Fuzi." Juzi from the Mo family quickly took a step forward and leaned down to salute.
In addition to Zhao Kuo's current reputation, there is another important reason.
Zhao Kuo was the first Zhao nobleman to visit him.
Why did Qi Mo, Chu Mo, and Qin Mo develop so well? Isn't it because they took refuge in the Three Kingdoms?
Now, the opportunity has come.
"You're welcome, Juzi," Zhao Kuo said.
Mo Feng introduced the two of them into the living room.
"I wonder what Ma Fuzi is looking for?" Mo Feng asked.
"Kuo wants to ask Juzi for a favor, but Juzi must agree first and keep it a secret for me," Zhao Kuo said.
"Whether I can help you or not, I will keep Ma Fuzi's secret," Mo Feng said.
"I wonder if Juzi can build this thing?" Zhao Kuo took out the catapult blueprint from his sleeve.
"This is... a catapult? It's more perfect and more powerful than Qin's catapult." Mo Feng said in surprise.
"It turns out that there were already catapults in this period. Fortunately, the catapult in my hand is more powerful." Zhao Kuo thought to himself.
"If we gather all the disciples of my Mo family in Handan, we can build it, but the speed may be very slow." After a long time, Mo Feng said firmly.
He understood that as long as he agreed, he would be on Zhao Kuo's boat.
But this is the only chance for the Mohist family in Handan. If he misses it, he will most likely become the last great son of the Mohist family in Handan.
"It doesn't matter if the speed is slow, but I need you to go to Changping with me, which will be life-threatening. If I can come back alive, I can promise you to build a college for the Mo family."
"It's a deal." Mo Feng said solemnly.
Zhao Kuo did not say what to do if he did not come back alive.