The Yan'an Prefect introduced proudly, "The New Village Bookstore is no longer merely a bookstore. It has become a place where people of all trades and walks of life gather to exchange ideas."
Hong Chengchou did not fully grasp what that meant, but since he was already at the entrance, he decided to see for himself.
He stepped inside.
The moment he entered the first courtyard, a strange odor hit his nose.
It smelled suspiciously like manure.
In a bookstore?
His brows knit in displeasure. Following the scent, he turned his head and saw a cluster of scholars gathered around a flower bed, engaged in heated discussion.
One scholar was shaking his head with theatrical confidence.
"See? I told you. Chemical fertilizer works better than manure. You would not believe me, and now the evidence is right here. The crops treated with manure grow decently enough. But look at the ones treated with chemical fertilizer. The growth is far more vigorous. This, gentlemen, is called science."
As he spoke, he flipped open a book and riffled through it.
"The book explains that what crops require is complex. Soil acidity and alkalinity, iron and sulfur content in fertilizer, all kinds of chemical elements must align properly. If you simply splash manure without understanding its composition, how can that be scientific? I, on the other hand, measure my fertilizer to the jin and liang. How could I possibly lose to you?"
The opposing scholar looked miserable.
"This humble one comes from a poor farming family. For generations we used manure. Who would have thought I would suffer such a defeat here today? Very well. From now on, I shall obediently learn to use chemical fertilizer."
The surrounding scholars burst into laughter.
"Ha! That is what you get for doubting the Heavenly Book. It is only because Dao Xuan Tianzun is magnanimous that you are not charged with blasphemy."
Before their teasing could settle, the bookstore owner, Gao Shan, popped out from nowhere.
"That is incorrect," he said with a grin. "Dao Xuan Tianzun fully supports questioning the Heavenly Book and verifying it through experiment. It is absolutely not considered blasphemy. Anyone may doubt the book from any angle. If you can prove it wrong with evidence, Tianzun will even grant you a grand prize."
The scholars laughed.
"Tianzun is benevolent!"
Hong Chengchou felt a flicker of surprise. He stepped forward and addressed the scholar holding the book.
"Brother, may this official borrow that volume for a moment?"
"Of course."
The scholar handed it over.
Hong Chengchou examined the cover.
"Methods and Techniques for Using Chemical Fertilizer."
He did not quite understand the title at first glance, but as he flipped through it, the contents became clear. It was a manual teaching farmers how to fertilize crops. Numerous crops were illustrated within, each accompanied by detailed instructions. Ratios. Seasons. Quantities.
The thoroughness was almost alarming.
It felt as though a hundred veteran farmers were tugging his ears and lecturing him simultaneously on the art of cultivation.
Hong Chengchou had no need to learn such knowledge personally, but he could not help admiring the effort behind it.
"This is a fine book for the benefit of the people. It ought to be widely promoted."
"It already is," the scholar replied. "It costs only ten wen per copy. Practically half a gift."
Hong Chengchou blinked.
"However," the scholar continued, "most common farmers cannot read. Even if they buy it, they cannot understand it. That is the greatest problem. We poor scholars must learn from it first, then return home and teach our parents and elders."
The scholar who had just lost the debate stood up again.
"I must also return and teach my family how to use chemical fertilizer. I should buy a copy."
Hong Chengchou felt as if he himself had learned something merely by witnessing this scene. And he had only just entered the bookstore. What other marvels awaited inside?
He moved into the next courtyard.
There, several scholars were arguing once more.
He leaned closer and heard one say, "It turns out that the Franks we always speak of are actually two different countries. One is called Spain, the other Portugal. I only learned this from reading this book."
Another scholar laughed.
"And those red-haired people we mention are called the Dutch. They are also known as the Coachmen of the Sea. They sail great ships across the world conducting trade. In matters of maritime commerce, we are already far behind Europe. We must be vigilant."
"Brother Zheng, is it not true that your father trades silk along the Silk Road?"
"Yes," the man addressed as Brother Zheng replied. "Our caravans go as far as Persia. Beyond that, we are blind. I never imagined there were so many nations and such complicated politics further west. Remarkable."
As he spoke, he unrolled a massive map onto the table.
"Here is the furthest point our family has reached. But look further west. The lands stretch on and on. I would dearly love to earn every last coin from those people."
The scholars roared with laughter.
"With your Zheng family alone? Impossible. We must all go together."
Hong Chengchou felt another jolt of astonishment.
The Silk Road he did not understand well enough to comment. He moved on.
In the next courtyard, two scholars stood silently before a large sand table.
The model was impressive. Mountains and rivers rendered vividly.
Hong Chengchou glanced at it and instantly recognized the terrain.
Shanhai Pass.
His heart leaped.
One scholar picked up a small figurine and placed it on a mountain outside the pass.
"I set an ambush here. How would you respond?"
The other snorted.
"That depends on what troops you have left. You have few flags remaining. At best, you can deploy infantry here. But my artillery has not yet moved."
He placed a tiny cannon at the foot of the mountain.
"Boom, boom, boom. Your ambush is obliterated."
Hong Chengchou chuckled.
"Paper strategy."
Yet before his smile faded, one of the scholars grabbed a strange model.
It looked vaguely like a carriage, yet not quite. It resembled a square iron box on wheels.
The scholar slapped it down behind a slope.
"You have fallen into my trap. My armored cavalry regiment has been waiting here. The moment your artillery positions are set, my armored cavalry charges from behind the hill and crushes your guns to dust."
Hong Chengchou could not hold back.
He stepped forward sharply.
"Wait. You call that thing armored cavalry? In what way does it resemble cavalry?"