He went down the Huaihe River and got off the boat at a village when he was about to reach Shouchun.
This is not because Fusu is pretending to be mysterious, but because he believes that the most real situation is only observed when others are not present.
Otherwise, it is possible that the Chu people showed a willingness to do so under the coercion of the Qin army's swordsmen, or that the waterwheels pounding rice were arranged in advance.
For this reason, Fusu and his bodyguards went to the village dressed in civilian clothes and pretended to be merchants... If one wanted to change his identity in this era, I am afraid that only merchants would be suitable.
The reason is that "scholars, farmers, and workers" don't move around very often, and the cost of migration is quite high. Farmers don't even have the conditions to travel far away. Only businessmen travel around to buy at low prices and sell at high prices.
However, the facts disappointed Fusu because he did not discover the so-called "truth".
There was a long line of people waiting to pound rice at the waterwheel mill in the village, and there were already a large number of people busy working in the fields outside the village.
Look at the waterwheel for pounding rice... Fusu had no choice but to believe it. Its structure and principle are very simple: water drives the waterwheel, and the waterwheel presses down one end of the log to raise the hammer at the other end, and then drops it heavily to complete the process.
A rice pounding process was carried out.
During this period, Fusu also asked several Chu people:
"This is the Qin people's waterwheel. Why are you willing to come here to pound rice and cultivate the fields? Have you forgotten the hatred of destroying the country?"
When the people of Chu heard Fusu's words, they were so frightened that their expressions changed, and they all avoided Fusu and his party like the plague.
A few of them who were brave came forward to persuade:
"You'd better leave quickly if you wait."
"If this word reaches the ears of the Qin army, you will have to be held accountable. Then it will also implicate us."
"As for why we are pounding rice in the fields... Isn't it for ordinary people like us to fill our stomachs?"
"If you can pound rice and farm fields well, wouldn't you be a fool if these good things don't come to you?"
After hearing this, Fusu felt very heavy. He returned to the boat without saying a word and followed the original route down the river again. This time he went directly to Shouchun.
Yang Duanhe and Shen Bing had already been waiting for Fusu at the port in Shouchun City.
As soon as Fusu got off the boat, the two of them hurried forward to salute:
"Welcome to you, sir!"
Shen Bing couldn't help but look at the legendary Fusu, but he was handsome and gentle, but his eyes were full of sadness and sentimentality. If he hadn't known in advance that he was Fusu, he would have been just a scholar.
Fusu also looked at Xian Bing and asked:
"Is this the deputy general Shen Bing?"
Shen Bing quickly replied:
"It's my subordinate."
Shen Bing was not surprised that Fusu could guess him.
Fu Suding recognized Yang Duanhe. On the other hand, Shen Bing wore the crown of the Five Doctors, which also showed his identity.
Shen Bing originally thought that Fusu would also say a few words of appreciation like Xu Ying, but he didn't expect Fusu to just say a cold "hmm" and then walk straight onto the carriage prepared for him.
Shen Bing glanced at Yang Duanhe secretly. Neither of them knew what it was about this that made Master Fusu dissatisfied.
However, they did not dare to hesitate and boarded the carriage one after another and followed the convoy.
The motorcade is bound for Shouchun Palace.
Even if Shen Bing and others captured Shouchun, they would not dare to live in the palace... This would easily lead to the charge of treason, and no one could afford it.
But Fusu is not an ordinary person, so there is no problem living in the palace.
But the car stopped halfway ahead.
Then an attendant ran down from the front and said:
"Young Master has an order. The Young Master has come to serve as the supervisor of the Daliang Army. Therefore, he should eat and live with the Daliang Army."
"Diversion to the Daliang Army barracks."
Shen Bing raised his eyebrows.
One good thing about Confucianism is that it governs the world with benevolence and righteousness, so of course one should eat and live with the soldiers instead of living alone in the palace.
Yang Duanhe did not dare to disobey the order, so he had to order a diversion to the Daliang Army camp.
The Daliang Army's military camp was located in the south because the Qin Army's defense direction was towards the Chu Army in the south.
After turning around, it took only a stick of incense to arrive at the Daliang Army barracks.
Fusu opened the curtain in the carriage and looked outside, only to see the soldiers were neatly dressed and brightly armored. Their faces were full of courage and confidence, making people unable to believe that they were useless Wei soldiers just a few months ago.
Soon everyone got off the carriage and entered Wei Wei's captain's tent... Fusu had temporarily changed his route and the Liang Army had not prepared a place to live, so they had to vacate Wei Wei's tent.
Fu Su came to the throne, followed by Yang Duanhe, Xu Ying, Shen Bing, Wei Wei, Wang Bi and others who filled the hall.
Fusu was also surprised that he was not sitting in front of the case like the others, but was looking at the waterwheel in the distance through the window with his hands behind his back to everyone.
Yang Duanhe carefully saluted and said:
"Master, that is the rice-pounding waterwheel made by Shen Bing. If you are interested..."
Fusu interrupted Yang Duanhe:
"I've already seen this rice-pounding waterwheel."
"The preparation method is indeed exquisite, but it is not used in the right way."
Wang Ben was outspoken and couldn't help but asked doubtfully after hearing this:
"I dare to ask, Master, why is this rice-pounding waterwheel used for pounding rice not being used for the right purpose?"
Fusu turned around, looked at Wang Ben and asked:
"May I ask the captain, why did we build this rice-pounding waterwheel?"
At this time, Wang Bi was already a captain of the Shenwu Army... The post of captain was vacant after Chen Duan died in the battle. Wang Bi's performance in the battle of Ruyin was obvious to all, and his title was higher than others, so it was most suitable for him to be the captain.
Wang Ben replied:
"It's just for pounding rice."
Fusu asked again:
"Why are you grinding rice?"
Wang Ben cupped his hands and said:
"For farming."
Fusu took two steps closer and asked again:
"Why farm?"
Wang Ben replied without thinking:
"for……"
At this point, Wang Ben understood that the purpose of farming was to provide military supplies and to launch a war.
So Fusu thought that this was not a good use.
Sure enough, when Fusu saw Wang Ben's hesitation, he glanced at Shen Bing and said:
"If the deputy general made the rice pounding waterwheel to benefit the people, then Fusu should thank the deputy general for the people of the world."
"But the lieutenant general was prepared for the resumption of the army in a few months. The result is that the people are devastated. How can it be said that this is used for the right purpose?"
Yang Duanhe interjected from the side:
"Sir, if the deputy general doesn't build a rice-pounding waterwheel, I'm afraid some people will starve to death in a few months."
Fusu replied:
"If we use our kindness to mobilize the people to work in the fields and then carry the remaining grain from the north to Chu, the people will not starve to death even though they will not be able to feed themselves."
"And with the addition of rice-pounding waterwheels, the number of war dead will not only be hundreds of times that of starvation?"
Yang Duanhe was speechless after saying this.
Because when it comes to the number of people who died in battle, it is really incalculable and can be predicted that there will indeed be more people than those who died of starvation.
Wei Wei asked unwillingly:
"I dare to ask you, Master, even if our army does not fight, how can the Chu army give up?"
"At that time, not only will our army be short of food and grass, it will starve to death, but the Chu army will also have a large territory... How can we avoid casualties then?"
Fusu replied:
"This is the only way to fight."
"The unknown people are dissatisfied with our teachings, which is not the way of benevolence and righteousness."
"If all the people from all over come to visit us, why should we worry about the Chu army?"