gnovel Chapter 107 Presenting the Map
Chapter 107 Presenting the Map
Tongzhou, Liu Cheng's private residence.
In late spring, the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, spreading out in a crimson expanse like rosy clouds.
Lu Yan followed the young eunuch through the winding corridors and arrived at an elegant study.
"Lord Lu, the eunuch is waiting inside."
Lu Yan nodded, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the study.
Liu Cheng was sitting in a rosewood chair, holding a cup of tea and sipping it slowly. When he saw Lu Yan enter, he put down his teacup and smiled.
"Lord Lu has arrived. Please have a seat."
"Thank you, sir."
Lu Yan sat down on the chair at the lower end, only sitting on one side and leaning slightly forward to show respect.
Liu Cheng looked him up and down and nodded.
"Lord Lu looks well; it seems this mission went smoothly?"
"Thanks to your kindness, Father-in-law, everything went smoothly," Lu Yan said. "All the imperial timber has been transported to the capital and the handover has been completed."
"Good, good." Liu Cheng nodded in satisfaction. "I trust Lord Lu to handle things."
He picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, and then asked:
"Lord Lu, what brings you here today?"
Lu Yan took out a brocade box from his sleeve, held it with both hands, and placed it respectfully on the table.
"My lord, I have something I would like you to take a look at."
"Oh?" Liu Cheng's interest was piqued. "What is it?"
Lu Yan gently opened the brocade box.
Inside the brocade box were rolls of carefully bound blueprints, next to which sat a palm-sized wooden model. The blueprints were drawn on the finest Xuan paper, neatly rolled up and tied with red silk ribbons.
"My lord, this is the 'Imperial Garden Water System Construction Diagram' that I have drawn."
Liu Cheng stepped forward, picked up a roll of blueprints, and unfolded it to look at it.
The blueprints were densely covered with lines, symbols, and annotations. There were things like "water storage tank," "main pipe," "diversion valve," "sprinkler head," and all sorts of strange numbers and calculation formulas.
Liu Cheng stared at it for a long time, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
"What...what is this drawing?"
He looked at it over and over again, completely bewildered.
"Why can't we understand this?"
Lu Yan was prepared and smiled slightly.
"Please don't be impatient, sir. Let me demonstrate for you, and you'll understand."
He took the wooden model out of the brocade box and placed it on the table.
The model is extremely well-made, about the size of a palm, and includes a water tank, pipes, nozzles, and several small mechanisms. Every part is polished smooth and delicate, and the seams fit together perfectly.
Lu Yan poured some water from the teapot next to him into the small water tank on top of the model.
"Please take a look, sir."
He gently turned on a small mechanism.
With a soft "whoosh," water gushed out from several small holes at the bottom of the model, tracing thin arcs in the air before falling into the water collection tray below.
"oops!"
Liu Cheng cried out in surprise, his eyes widening in shock, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.
"This water... why is this water spraying out by itself?"
He leaned closer to take a closer look and saw that the water jets were crystal clear, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the sunlight, which was quite beautiful.
"Father-in-law, this is the secret of water magic," Lu Yan explained. "Water flowing from a high place to a low place creates pressure. By using this pressure, the water can be made to gush out automatically."
"Pressure?" Liu Cheng nodded, seemingly understanding.
Lu Yan then activated another mechanism.
Suddenly, the jet of water changed shape—what were originally several thin lines turned into a scattered water splash, like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"It can change?" Liu Cheng was even more surprised.
"Not bad," Lu Yan said. "By controlling the pipes and valves, water can be sprayed into different shapes. Flowers, willow branches, peacock tails... as long as it's designed properly, any shape can be sprayed out."
He then activated the third mechanism.
This time, the water jet became a thin arc, spraying from one side to the other, like a transparent rainbow.
Liu Cheng stared in disbelief, circling the model several times, marveling at it.
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"
He exclaimed "wonderful!" three times, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Lord Lu, what's wrong with your brain? How could you come up with something so ingenious?"
"You flatter me, sir," Lu Yan said modestly. "I was merely following the instructions in the ancient books."
"Ancient books? What ancient books?"
"It's a book brought by a Western missionary, called 'Western Water Management,'" Lu Yan said. "I obtained it by chance, studied it, and gained some insights, which is why I dared to draw this set of blueprints."
Liu Cheng nodded, not delving into the matter further.
Although he couldn't understand the blueprints, he could understand the model—water could spray out on its own and change shape; it was definitely a rare find.
He had spent decades in the palace; what strange and wonderful things hadn't he seen? He'd seen Western clocks, music boxes, and telescopes. But this kind of contraption that could spray water and change shape was truly a first for him.
"Lord Lu, is it really possible to create this water system?"
"Yes," Lu Yan nodded confidently. "I've already built a prototype in Jinan, and it worked very well. With enough money and craftsmen, a real water fountain can be built in the Imperial Garden within three months."
"Three months?"
"At most three months. If we work overtime, it can be completed in two months."
Liu Cheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly lowered his voice and asked:
"Lord Lu, tell me the truth—how does this water system compare to those Western contraptions?"
Lu Yan smiled slightly and said confidently:
"My lord, His Majesty is already tired of Western clocks and music boxes. But this water system, His Majesty has certainly never seen before."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"Because this water system is more than just a fountain."
Lu Yan pointed to another spot on the drawing and said:
"Please look, sir. There's also a rising stage and automata here."
"A rising stage? An automated puppet?" Liu Cheng was stunned.
"Excellent. By using water power to drive gears, the stage can rise and fall automatically, and the puppets can dance automatically," Lu Yan explained. "The fountain, the stage, and the puppets, working together, create a spectacular water performance. His Majesty will surely be delighted to see it."
Liu Cheng was stunned.
"A doll...a doll can dance by itself?"
"Yes," Lu Yan said confidently. "The prototype I built in Jinan can wave, nod, and turn around; the movements are smooth and natural, just like a real person."
Liu Cheng gasped.
He had spent decades in the palace and had seen all sorts of strange and wonderful things. But a puppet that could dance on its own was something he had never heard of before.
If this thing could really be made and presented to the Emperor…
A glint of greed flashed in his eyes.
"Lord Lu, if you could really make this..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Lu Yan chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.
"Your Excellency, I humbly request that you present this to His Majesty the Nine Thousand Years on my behalf."
"To present to the Nine Thousand Years Old?"
"Indeed," Lu Yan said. "I am but a humble official, and if I were to present these drawings directly, I fear no one would heed them. But if you, Your Excellency, were to present them to His Majesty through the Nine Thousand Years, it would be a different story."
Liu Cheng narrowed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
"What does Lord Lu mean?"
"What I mean is that this credit belongs to Your Excellency," Lu Yan said in a low voice. "I only ask that Your Excellency mention my name before His Highness."
Liu Cheng understood.
This guy wanted to use himself to deliver the goods to Wei Zhongxian, and then use Wei Zhongxian to deliver them to the emperor.
The credit is yours, and so are the risks.
But if it succeeds, the benefits will be substantial...
He pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a "tap-tap" sound.
"Lord Lu, although I can't understand what this is, I can tell it's a good item."
He stood up, walked up to Lu Yan, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright! We'll take it!"
Lu Yan was overjoyed, but remained outwardly calm and bowed to express his gratitude.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will remember it forever."
"No need to be so polite," Liu Cheng waved his hand. "We're all family, no need for such formalities."
He turned around, walked back to his chair, sat down, picked up his teacup, and gently blew on it.
"Lord Lu, I will send someone to the capital today to personally deliver these blueprints to His Highness the Ninth Prince. I will certainly mention your name."
"Thank you, sir."
"However," Liu Cheng changed the subject, "there's something we need to remind you of."
"Please speak, sir."
"The rules are stricter with the Ninth Prince's side," Liu Cheng said in a low voice. "If you can actually make this, then everyone will be happy. But if you can't, or if something goes wrong..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Lu Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed and said:
"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I have the ability. I am absolutely certain I can create this water system. If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility."
"Good!" Liu Cheng nodded in satisfaction. "With you saying that, we can rest assured."
……
That very night, Liu Cheng dispatched his trusted confidants to the capital at top speed.
Before his departure, he personally handed the brocade box to his trusted confidant, giving him countless instructions:
"This thing is more important than your life. If anything goes wrong on the way, you'll pay with your head!"
The confidant turned pale with fright and nodded repeatedly.
"Don't worry, Father-in-law, I'll risk my life to deliver it!"
"Go."
Liu Cheng waved his hand, watching his trusted confidant disappear into the night.
He turned around, looked at the small wooden model on the table, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Lu Yan, you sure know how to handle people."
He muttered to himself.
"We'll remember this favor."
He picked up the model, turned the mechanism again, and watched the water jet spray out, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
"If this thing can truly please the Emperor..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the smile on his lips grew wider.