allonlinenovel Chapter 311 Brainwashing
Chapter 311 Brainwashing
Many of the locals are mulberry farmers, growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms. They have touched silkworm silk with their own hands and know how soft and smooth it is. The cotton they are touching now is also soft and fluffy, and its feel is not much different from that of silkworm silk.
The former refers to silk fabrics that they could never wear in their entire lives, while the latter refers to cotton fabrics that they could wear to keep warm simply by obtaining seeds and planting them.
People suffering from hunger and cold cannot resist the temptation of food and warmth.
The Imperial Tutor noticed the light shining in their eyes—a longing for food and warmth.
“Cotton is cheaper than silk, warmer and more comfortable than hemp, and has a higher yield than both silk and hemp. Every household can afford cotton.” The Imperial Tutor explained to the people who had grown cotton: “If you don’t process the cotton and just stuff it into the layers of your clothes, it will definitely be uncomfortable to wear. After the cotton is picked, it needs to go through several processes to make it soft so that it can be pulled into threads before it can be woven into cloth and used to fill clothes and quilts.”
Hearing the Imperial Tutor's words, the people's doubts were dispelled, and they asked hesitantly, "Are you truly willing to teach us the seeds and the techniques for making cotton soft?"
The Imperial Tutor nodded slightly: "You must trust your emperor. Leading a weak country to the powerful nation it is today is enough to demonstrate his outstanding abilities."
He continued, “The emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty governs the country with benevolence and virtue. He cares about the people and the nation. Naturally, he cannot bear to see you suffering from hunger and cold. He will do his best to ensure that you have enough to eat and wear.”
When the people heard the words "food and clothing," their eyes revealed longing and anticipation.
Their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the cotton-padded coat in the Imperial Tutor's hands, their arms wrapped around their frozen arms, imagining themselves wearing the coat.
At that moment, they seemed to lose all feeling of the biting cold wind and instead felt their bodies warm up.
"In the future, when the two countries trade and their cultures exchange, goods from Northern Qi will flow into Great Zhou, and technology will be introduced to Great Zhou. Great Zhou, which is currently lacking in resources, will enjoy peace and prosperity, and all its people will live in happiness. How could the other countries dare to invade then?"
"May the world be at peace, and may the seasons be bountiful." Seeing the people inspired by him, the Imperial Tutor said with a firm gaze, "This is the grand ambition of your Great Zhou emperor, and it is also the wish of Northern Qi."
The people were elated, as if they could see a peaceful and prosperous world with favorable weather and no disasters.
They were spared the ravages of war and had no worries about food and clothing.
When the people thought about what Emperor Jing'an had done for them, they had no doubt about what the imperial tutor had said, and sincerely believed that their emperor would realize his grand ambition of national prosperity and peace.
They lowered their guard against Northern Qi, stopped causing trouble, and left with their families.
The Imperial Tutor's gaze fell on the departing commoners, who were ragged and huddled together from the cold, showing none of the imposing manner they had displayed when confronting the Northern Qi envoys.
But they had smiles on their faces, full of hope for the future.
King Qi and his envoys were stunned, never expecting that the Imperial Tutor could dispel the resentment of the people of Great Zhou with just a few words.
"Imperial Tutor, why did you teach the cultivation techniques of cotton and silk to the Great Zhou?" King Qi harbored resentment towards the people of the Great Zhou and was unwilling to bestow favors upon them.
The Imperial Tutor handed the cotton-padded coat to Yan Yi before turning to Prince Qi: "Has Your Highness forgotten the purpose of your visit to the Great Zhou?"
How could the King of Qi forget? He tried to salvage the situation, saying, "But they..."
The Imperial Tutor raised his hand to interrupt the King of Qi: "The people of Great Zhou are filled with hostility towards Northern Qi because of national and personal grievances. If we want to resolve their hatred, we must show them benefits so that we can achieve our goal."
At this point, the Imperial Tutor glanced indifferently at Prince Qi: "Can't Your Highness see such a simple truth?"
The people of the Great Zhou did not want to reignite the war, as that would mean losing more loved ones and their peaceful lives.
The reason they hated Northern Qi and were unwilling to form an alliance with it was because Northern Qi wanted to split and annex Great Zhou, disrupting their peace.
The Northern Qi came seeking peace with sincerity, and the benefits they brought were tangible, naturally dissolving the resentment in their hearts.
Everyone seeks advantage and avoids harm. Compared to future peace and basic needs, people will naturally decide which is more important: past grievances or future conflicts.
King Qi's expression changed drastically. He knew that the more he said, the more mistakes he would make, and he was afraid that he would offend the imperial tutor. So he shut his mouth.
Gao Daren's expression was obscure. These cotton seeds were introduced from overseas by the Imperial Tutor and were widely planted in Northern Qi. Since then, very few people in Northern Qi have frozen to death in winter.
The fact that the Imperial Tutor brought cotton seeds on this trip shows that he genuinely wants to befriend the Great Zhou.
Everyone has different thoughts.
The Imperial Tutor's forehead wound throbbed with pain, and he had no interest in guessing their thoughts, so he went back to his room to rest alone.
-
The following day, Emperor Jing'an summoned the envoys from Northern Qi to the Taiji Hall.
The Imperial Tutor led the delegation of envoys from Northern Qi into the palace and waited outside the hall. Only when the eunuchs announced that the envoys were to enter the hall did the Imperial Tutor step into the main hall.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects."
The Imperial Tutor bowed and paid his respects to Emperor Jing'an.
Emperor Jing'an's gaze fell on the Imperial Tutor. After more than twenty years apart, seeing him again felt like a lifetime had passed.
If it weren't for the Imperial Tutor's help, the Duke of Zhao would not have been able to bring Zhao Yi back to the Great Zhou.
He always felt indebted to the Imperial Tutor.
Emperor Jing'an pondered whether he should seek to repay this debt of gratitude when the Imperial Tutor was sent as an envoy to the Great Zhou.
"Imperial Tutor, there's no need for such formalities." Emperor Jing'an composed himself, his gaze falling on the Imperial Tutor's forehead, where the wound was unbandaged, covered with a thin scab. He frowned, recalling the commotion at the Four Barbarian Tribes Pavilion yesterday, and ordered, "Give him a seat."
The imperial tutor and the envoy from Northern Qi took their seats.
Emperor Jing'an greeted him with pleasantries: "How is Emperor Qi?"
"Your Majesty is well." The Imperial Tutor changed the subject: "However, Your Majesty is concerned about the alliance between the two countries. Due to misunderstandings between the two countries, this matter has not yet been implemented."
The Imperial Tutor rose, took out a letter from the state, and presented it to Emperor Jing'an: "Your Majesty is troubled and has specially sent me to the Great Zhou to clarify the misunderstanding and reconcile with the Great Zhou."
Emperor Jing'an opened the official letter in his hand, his gaze shifted slightly, and he looked at the Imperial Tutor with surprise.