Some technologies were banned by the state, while others disappeared inexplicably. For example, the practice of piercing ox noses existed before the Qin era, but vanished during the Han Dynasty, only to reappear in the Jin Dynasty and disappear again in the Tang Dynasty. Ancient technological advancements often had strange fates—some would mysteriously disappear, while others would inexplicably emerge.
What Chen Xi needed to do now was to gather these lost technologies and put them back on the right track. With his perspective, he could at least figure out better uses for these advanced technologies. As for materials, this world had a mysterious technique called "cultivation."
As long as the technology was advanced enough, materials wouldn't be an issue. Top-tier cultivation could fulfill all requirements—although that might be an exaggeration, for most technologies applicable to this era, materials wouldn't actually pose a problem.
"If it's really useful to you, I can help you gather some. There are people in Qi who enjoy collecting such things, although they've recently shifted their interest to watching plays," Fa Zheng said with a smirk. In Qi, there was a rich man who used to love collecting these kinds of materials, which were not valuable but highly intriguing.
"Oh, so there's such a person? Then I'll go with you sometime," Chen Xi replied with a nod. He was quite interested in ancient curiosities, as they often contained significant technological content.
After a hearty meal, the moon had already risen high in the sky. The opera that Fa Zheng had arranged at Manxiang Pavilion was ready, and on the other side, Fa Yan and the others were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The elders had much to talk about, whether discussing the customs of various regions from decades ago or referencing the infamous "Party Prohibition Incident" of yesteryear. Fa Yan and Lu Kang found themselves kindred spirits, both well-read men who enjoyed exchanging knowledge.
Moreover, both Fa Yan and Lu Kang were over seventy years old and had unusually young sons—Lu Kang's eldest son was not yet thirty, and his second son, Lu Ji, was only ten. Fa Yan's eldest son, Fa Zheng, was merely eighteen. Both men felt a sense of pride in their late fatherhood.
In this era, having a son was a point of pride in aristocratic families. The famous alchemist Zuo Ci was renowned for his expertise in bedroom arts. Similarly, Sima Fang was known for fathering eight sons, even though Sima Yi became famous later. It was said that Sima Fang fathered Sima Min at over sixty years old. Such things were certainly worth celebrating, weren't they?
"Hahaha," Fa Yan said, pulling Lu Kang by the arm. "There's no need for us to jostle about in front of others. Let's go together."
"In that case, I humbly accept," Lu Kang laughed.
When Lu Kang first entered the newly built city of Linzi, he was deeply impressed. After meeting Fa Zheng, he realized that Fa Zheng was not only a genius but also someone highly favored by Liu Xuan De. Otherwise, such an important task wouldn't have been entrusted to Fa Zheng. What he saw firsthand far exceeded the rumors, leaving Lu Kang in awe.
After meeting Fa Yan, Lu Kang knew better than to flaunt his own status. Instead, he made an effort to befriend Fa Yan, leading to mutual satisfaction between the two.
As the summer night stretched on with a cloudless sky, the bright moon illuminated the surroundings. The torches that had been prepared became unnecessary, and the courtyard of the inn transformed as Fa Zheng had arranged—a wall was torn down, and a stage was set up there.
Word of the open-air theater had spread among the people of Linzi, who had prepared early. To ensure safety, Fa Zheng deployed the Tun Tian soldiers to patrol the area. By the time Chen Xi and the others arrived, the place was packed with people—a sea of heads as far as the eye could see.
"There are so many people…" Chen Xi remarked, his mouth twitching slightly. "I really wonder if the people at the back can hear anything. And what about safety? What if there's a stampede?"
"People can choke on water, let alone watching a play. Despite the crowds, we've never had an incident. The Tun Tian soldiers maintain order, and no one dares cause trouble. If anyone makes noise, they won't hear the performance. We established a rule—anyone who disrupts the play gets beaten up," Fa Zheng said with a shrug.
"That effective?" Lu Xun asked in amazement. "It's incredible that this can draw so many people."
"There's something even more impressive," Fa Zheng smirked. "Man Bo Ning enacted a new law—anyone who stirs up public outrage can be killed by anyone without penalty. So, you get the idea…"
"This counts as public outrage?" Chen Xi said with a twitch of his lips. "If I'd known there'd be this many people, I'd have built a theater."
"You're right. We should make that our first project in Linzi. We're building a new city anyway, and I've always felt something was off about Manxiang Pavilion," Fa Zheng said. After spending so much time with Chen Xi, he had learned to pick up on ideas quickly and immediately expanded on Chen Xi's casual suggestion.
"So that's it—tea houses, inns, and taverns all have their own spaces, so it makes sense that performances should have their own venue. I always felt something was off about holding performances in brothels," Zhuge Liang said, realizing the flaw that had always bothered him.
"Unwritten rules often hold more sway than laws. That's why Man Bo Ning is codifying those reasonable unwritten rules into trial laws. The results have been excellent," Fa Zheng said with a smile.
Seeing Lu Xun cover his mouth, worried about stirring up public outrage, Fa Zheng chuckled and reassured him, "It's fine to speak softly now. Someone once watched a play and left behind a technique for amplifying voices. They were satisfied with the play but complained the sound was too quiet, so they left this method."
Only when Zhuge Liang asked did Fa Zheng continue, "This method amplifies the voice so it can be heard clearly within a range of three hundred paces. The volume remains the same throughout that range, without being deafening."
"That's practically a secret technique," Chen Xi muttered. "Which expert had so much time on their hands?"
"I don't know. They just left a bamboo slip with the name 'Qu Ah,' saying they'd return for another performance in the future and asking us to reserve a seat. They also mentioned heading to Jiangdong to kill someone," Fa Zheng said with a shrug.