Chapter 10

Liu Bei took out a drawing and handed it to Mi Fang; on it was drawn in great detail a strangely shaped plow—if later generations, people living after the Tang Dynasty saw it, they would surely shout three words: 'curved-shaft plow'.

This is the first thing Liu Bei exchanged for using system merit points!

Not long ago, Liu Bei opened the system shop interface and saw this item; at that moment he felt like a completely different person, and immediately spent five hundred merit points to obtain it.

This thing can unleash the productive forces of an era!

This technology is equivalent to advanced productive forces!

The Mi Family's little fatty was a bit confused.

"My lord, isn't this just a plow? No, the shape of a plow is a bit different from this. What big business could this be?"

Liu Bei smiled faintly.

"Zifang, this is indeed a plow. However, this plow can complete tilling more easily, requiring only a single ox, and even some fields can be pulled by human power."

Mi Fang was also a clever person; he immediately sensed the business opportunity here.

"How about this, my lord: our Mi Family can provide artisans and workshops to produce it, and we will handle the sales after it's made; future profits, let's split fifty-fifty, how does that sound?"

"Excellent! But Zifang, remember: this plow can only be produced and sold in Xuzhou for now; absolutely no leaking of the drawings. The profits this brings will be beyond your imagination."

Seeing Liu Bei's solemn expression, Mi Fang felt a jolt in his heart and immediately nodded firmly.

Liu Bei additionally asked Mi Fang to help find skilled ironworkers; Mi Fang readily agreed, taking the curved-shaft plow drawings and hurrying away.

Afterward, Liu Bei issued a series of military regulations, requiring that at roll call no one be absent from the drill ground, and that they not disturb the populace, etc.

All the officers replied in unison; Liu Bei ordered the distribution of Tao Qian's reward of wine and meat to the troops, and everyone's faces showed joy.

That night, after Liu Bei led people to patrol the camp, he returned to the rear of the government office, and in the room he quietly……

He quietly opened the system!

Browsing row after row of goods, he momentarily didn't know what to choose.

What a rich person's feeling—this is really terrible!

Liu Bei thought of Cao Cao's swift cavalry under his command, and that famed Tiger and Leopard Cavalry worldwide, and his heart burned with fervor.

Stirrups and horseshoes haven't even been invented yet, right?

Although horsemanship can't be trained quickly in a short time, having these two things would make riding much easier, wouldn't it?

Thus Liu Bei spent 1,000 merit points to obtain the drawings for horseshoes and stirrups.

Liu Bei spent 500 merit points to exchange for the drawing of the Mongol saber that later made Europeans tremble, and used 2,000 merit points to exchange for the drawing of the Song dynasty's divine arm crossbow.

Liu Bei then thought that armor is the foundation of a soldier's livelihood; upon opening the armor section of the shop, he instantly felt dazzled by the sheer variety—there were just too many!

After lying in bed pondering for a long time, Liu Bei finally spent 6,000 merit points to exchange for the drawings of chainmail armor suitable for cavalry, as well as Ming-era infantry armor for foot soldiers, and a medium-range armor-piercing weapon—the armor-piercing spear.

After all that, Liu Bei saw that his remaining merit points were just a pittance, and he couldn't help feeling helpless. He then opened his system inventory and discovered that there was still the mysterious grand gift package the system had given him last time.

Ah-ha! Opening a blind box before bed is a wonderful thing!

Blind box, here I come!

After Liu Bei opened it, the system notification sounded again.

"Ding-dong, host, upon opening the mysterious grand gift package, you receive the following rewards."

"Reward one: a sweat-blood heavenly horse, capable of traveling a thousand li per day, standing nine chi tall, not inferior to the era's famed steed Red Hare."

"Reward two: ten fragment hand grenades, for the host's self-defense at critical moments. Note: this weapon appears only this once; the host should use it wisely."

"Reward three: a detailed map of the Great Han dynasty, covering the thirteen provinces of the world; upon entering each province, the host can obtain local terrain, river, hydrological, and meteorological information."

This grand gift package! So awesome!

Second Brother's long-desired mount has arrived!

Amidst the excitement, Liu Bei slowly fell asleep.

At dawn, a rooster crowed and the sky grew light.

Liu Bei was awakened by that rooster's crow; with matters on his mind he could no longer sleep, so he dressed and went out.

At this hour, with the sky just lightening, Liu Bei dressed and went to practice horsemanship; after leaving the city he galloped along the official road, his heart also filled with heroic vigor.

After galloping across a meadow, Liu Bei spotted a clear little river, its ripples shimmering, and he reined in his mount.

Gazing at the reflection in the water, this was the first time he had seen his own appearance in this life.

Upon closer look, at around thirty years of age he had a warm, mature countenance; his jade-like face bore features full of righteousness, though his ears were indeed a bit large; at this age he no longer had the youthful vigor, but had gained some steadiness and maturity.

Liu Bei crouched by the river, scooped up a handful of water, and patted his cheeks.

The icy creek water of early morning made Liu Bei shiver all over, a chill that struck straight at the soul.

This feeling of drawing out the soul is truly hard to put into words… so let's do it again.

Liu Bei was happily playing, not noticing his surroundings at all.

Pfft

Suddenly a soft laugh came from behind; Liu Bei turned his head and saw a fair, lovely maiden holding a basin of clothes standing not far behind him.

Liu Bei instantly felt a bit embarrassed; although his reputation resounded throughout Xuzhou, the soul in his body was ultimately an old bachelor, having never even dated a girl before his transmigration.

Seeing Liu Bei's wet face and embarrassed expression, the maiden also couldn't help laughing at this self-amusing man.

The maiden set down the basin of clothes, stepped forward, and handed him a plain handkerchief.

"Sir, the mountain area is chilly; this early morning creek water isn't suitable for washing up; you should wipe yourself, lest you catch a chill."

Liu Bei, feeling rather shy, took the handkerchief, but his heart was pounding and he didn't know what to say; afterward he heard the sound of horns coming from Xiaopei city.

"Thank you, miss; I have something to attend to, I'll go on ahead."

Liu Bei suddenly remembered something, thanked the fair maiden, then swung onto his horse and sped away amid her puzzled gaze.

The maiden was startled, then broke into a smile; a grown man playing by the river, blushing when speaking to him—what an odd fellow!

Immediately the maiden touched her own sleeve.

Ya!

His own handkerchief was taken by him.