Chapter 1433 - 1340: Agriculture (Part 2)

Zhao Shen read the official report twice, exaggeratedly proclaiming, "So with this sewing machine, the speed at which women sew clothes can be increased more than tenfold? In addition, the speed of weaving has also improved. In the past, it took women ten days to make a piece of clothing; now, it can be completed in one day."

The guide perked up his ears, and upon hearing this, couldn’t help but step forward two steps to listen more intently.

Zhao Shen exaggeratedly continued, "Oh my, the officials from the Ministry of Agriculture have developed a new rice strain, Luoyang-South No. 2. It’s not only flood-resistant but also high-yielding, with an increased yield of 85 pounds per acre over the previous average, nearly one stone of high yield."

The guide was slightly stunned, directly walking behind Zhao Shen to peek at the paper he was holding.

Zhao Shen did not like people standing behind him, especially the rebellious southern barbarians, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he directly put away the official report, turned sideways, and asked, "Can you read the paper?"

The guide immediately replied, "I studied for two years with someone, so I recognize some characters. Just now, at a glance, I recognized most of the characters. Is this official report only for the officials to read?"

"No, it’s two cents a sheet, and anyone can buy it. It mainly contains the court’s policies and some officials’ articles."

Hearing this, the guide’s eyes turned red. Here, paper is expensive, and few can afford books and paper. In the tribe, they either use bamboo slips or rely on oral transmission. He didn’t expect that outsiders lived so well, that for just two cents they could obtain such a large sheet full of writing.

Seeing Zhao Shen fold the paper, he quickly gathered himself and asked, "What are the new weaving machine and sewing machine that the Lord mentioned earlier? Also, with the Luoyang-South No. 2, is there also a Luoyang-South No. 1, or other numbers for East, West, and North?"

Zhao Shen gave him an approving look, praising, "Not bad, able to infer other things, quite smart."

Zhao Shen was different from the Han officials the guide had met before. He never scolded them for speaking out of turn. Throughout the journey, no matter what he asked, Zhao Shen would answer him.

But such open praise was the first time he heard it, leaving the guide stunned for a while before he reacted.

After setting off again, the guide quietly changed the route, leading them down a different path, and they arrived at a large tribe before sunset.

The mountain dwellers gathering herbs quickly ran back to the tribe to report when they saw them.

While Zhao Shen went to talk with the Chieftain, several mountain dwellers surrounded the guide, annoyed, asking, "Weren’t you going to bring them in two days? Why did you arrive two days early?"

The guide: "We took the main road."

"Why take them on the main road?"

The guide: "This official is different from previous officials. If you don’t believe me, wait until your Chieftain has finished talking with him and then ask."

The mountain dwellers were still unhappy. Soon, Zhao Shen and the Chieftain came out.

The Chieftain happily told the tribesmen, "This is the new official. He said he has a way to exorcise evil for us!"

The mountain dwellers were taken aback, eyes widening in excitement, "Really?"

The Chieftain said, "Of course it’s true. The Lord is so capable; how could he deceive us?"

Zhao Shen: ... Yes, how could he deceive them?

It’s known that he brought an Imperial Physician on this mission.

Zhao Hanzhang had him bring the Imperial Physician, and at first, he thought it was out of concern for him, for his health, but later realized it was for the people of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou is mountainous and forested, yet sparsely populated. Many places cannot be reached by official roads; only narrow, winding paths exist, or one must travel through the mountains.

This is where tribes gather, with one tribe in one place, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand people. The distance between settlements can be as short as three to five days or as long as a month across mountains.

This would be unthinkable in the Central Plains.

A month’s time is enough for him to go back and forth between Luoyang and Chang’an three times, whereas here he couldn’t even travel from one village to the next in that time.

Indeed, the mountains are too numerous here, the forests overly dense, the layers of fallen leaves accumulating layer upon layer. The climate is warm, the rainfall abundant, causing the leaves to decompose quickly, and various rotting fruits emit toxic gases, which linger and accumulate to form miasma.

People who breathe it for long periods become unwell.

The local mountain dwellers fare better, as their bodies are accustomed to it, and they have corresponding diets to detoxify.

However, incoming officials and soldiers suffer greatly, due to which being exiled to Guangzhou is seen as equivalent to execution—a severe punishment.

Besides the lethal intent, the body is also severely harmed, and those who come here find it difficult to survive.

A majority will die from the miasma within three years, most within half a year, attributed to acclimatization issues.

Even for locals, it’s not entirely safe. There’s the toxic insects and snakes in the forest, and a peculiar disease greatly reduces their lifespan.

Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and eventually coughing blood and passing blood, leading to death. The illness can take as quick as ten days or, in slower cases, up to six months to reach this stage.

This is schistosomiasis.

The locals believe it to be the Demon God’s curse.

Zhao Shen confirmed their belief, saying earnestly, "That’s right, it’s the Demon God’s curse. Because this is a treasured land, it thinks that our living here offends it, so it wants to kill us all."

"Yet, there are many gods in the heavens and earth. Without speaking of distant ones, our Emperor is the Son of Heaven, no lower in status than the Demon God." He said with a solemn expression, "Our Majesty is very angry at the Demon God’s tyranny and thus sent me to govern this place and resist the Demon God."

The mountain dwellers were stunned, asking, "Even with the Emperor, you’re just a mortal; can you resist the Demon God?"

Zhao Shen held a grave expression, "I am not an ordinary mortal; I am the Emperor’s subordinate, carrying the name of the Son of Heaven, protected by divine light. Let’s not speak of it being merely a Demon God; even if it were a true deity, I could resist it."

"Not only can I, but you can as well," said Zhao Shen. "With the Emperor’s protection, you have righteousness within you. The Demon God is not omnipotent, or else why hasn’t it exterminated everyone over the years?"

The mountain dwellers thought about it and believed it to be true, growing excited, asking, "How do we resist the Demon God?"

Some bold ones directly suggested, "Can we kill it to eliminate future troubles?"

Slaying gods, an old Huaxia tradition. If a god is malevolent, it is deemed a demon, and even ordinary people think of killing it—what if by chance they can slay the god or demon?

Zhao Shen did not answer this question directly but posed another question instead: "Do you know how the Demon God curses you?"

Everyone’s attention was immediately diverted, shaking their heads to show they didn’t know.

Zhao Shen: "Water! It places the curse in the water, attaching to some snails, which breed parasites that pollute the water source. Once a person comes into contact with contaminated raw water, they become afflicted; the cursed parasites inhabit their blood vessels, lungs, and even the brain."

Everyone shuddered, even the Chieftain’s face changed. He wasn’t sure if Zhao Shen could solve the illness, but seeing him speak with conviction, he couldn’t help but put him on the spot.

He hadn’t expected Zhao Shen to pinpoint the curse’s source and process. The Chieftain and his tribesmen now looked keenly at Zhao Shen, wondering if he really had a solution?