But before Xu Lei could even speak, Zhao Tieniu surprisingly found the courage to speak up.
"My lady, you… you shouldn't be… rude to the Little Divine Monk!"
He said, "The Little Divine Monk is a true Enlightened Monk."
"Before, someone in our village was on the verge of death. The Little Divine Monk used a method of exchanging blood for life to save him."
Zhao Xiaocha also said, "Many people saw it with their own eyes, my lady!"
Some of the families who had previously hired Xu Lei to act as a Mage also showed up.
They all expressed their respect for Xu Lei.
And they kindly advised the arrogant Lady of the County Magistrate that one must not disrespect the Divine Buddhas.
This made the proud Lady of the County Magistrate a little uneasy.
After all, when so many people were saying the same thing, it was hard not to feel flustered.
The tales of Divine Buddhas have been passed down since ancient times.
Many people, though they had never seen one, would rather believe they exist than not.
This woman originally did not believe, but hearing so many people say this, she was now a bit uncertain.
"What Little Divine Monk? What Divine Buddhas? If they really exist, why don't they care about the suffering of the common people?!"
Of course, she still knitted her delicate brows, then said in a charming voice, "Don't they say the Buddha is merciful? Why is it that when the people collapse from hard labor, it's up to us healers to treat them? Since you're a Divine Monk, why don't you try saving this suffering world? If you can do it, then I'll believe you."
At this moment, some of the common folk in the crowd who had previously seen Xu Lei save a life with the blood exchange also knelt.
They begged the Divine Monk for salvation.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei put his palms together and said, "My lady speaks correctly. This humble monk is not a Divine Monk, just an ordinary monk.
I possess no limitless Divine Power. If I did, this young monk would not still be training in the mortal world.
Besides, many things in this world are predestined.
It is also inconvenient for us, as monastics, to interfere.
Of course, this young monk has come today precisely to offer a plan.
To solve the Lord County Magistrate's predicament.
To alleviate the suffering of the people from their hard labor.
Although interfering in worldly affairs will, to a certain extent, affect the natural order of heaven and earth.
This might cause this young monk to suffer a celestial backlash and damage my own Dao Practice.
But upon coming here, I have seen the heavy workload and the cruel, severe labor. I cannot bear to watch.
This young monk cannot turn a blind eye and is willing to contribute my meager strength.
To interfere in worldly affairs and save all living beings from their suffering."
These words left everyone stunned.
Zhao Tieniu, Zhao Xiaocha, and the others had actually just pleaded casually, not expecting Xu Lei to really agree.
After all, according to legend, many Enlightened Monks don't meddle in the affairs of the mortal world.
Others who had never seen Xu Lei perform a miracle were naturally just watching for entertainment.
They didn't think Xu Lei would agree either.
After all, the construction project was so massive.
What could a young monk possibly do?
Besides, shouldn't an Enlightened Monk be an old man?
How could it be such a young, beardless monk?
"You want to offer a plan?"
The Lady of the County Magistrate shifted her shapely, jade-like legs. She was also stunned and said in surprise, "Do you really have a way to solve the construction deadline? Little Master, are you serious? This is no laughing matter!"
When she had heard Xu Lei claim to be just an ordinary monk, not a Divine Monk, she thought he had lost his nerve and dropped the act.
She never expected that Xu Lei would change his tune and actually say he wanted to offer a plan.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei simply said, "Monastics do not tell lies. This young monk indeed intends to offer a plan on behalf of the Buddha.
Although this young monk is no Enlightened Monk, my master possesses great Dao Practice.
This young monk has managed to learn a few skills and is willing to present my plan to the Lord County Magistrate.
I ask for an introduction from you, my lady."
The Lady of the County Magistrate's beautiful eyes flickered. She knitted her delicate brows, sizing up Xu Lei, hesitant.
「A day later.」
News had spread throughout the county seat: a Little Divine Monk from Longyuan Temple had boldly claimed he would offer a plan to the County Magistrate on behalf of the Buddha, a plan that could solve the tight construction schedule and ease the suffering of the laborers.
Countless people were paying attention.
Of course, at this moment, the crowd could only guess.
Because the Little Divine Monk had been taken to the County Magistrate's Mansion by the Lady of the County Magistrate.
And he had not yet left the mansion.
That's right, the Lady of the County Magistrate had, in the end, brought Xu Lei to see the County Magistrate.
On this day, in the County Magistrate's Mansion.
The County Magistrate, the Lady of the County Magistrate, as well as the Chief Clerk, the County Captain, the Captain, and so on—the heads of all the departments of the local County Magistrate's Office—had all gathered.
The butler, maids, servants, and guards of the County Magistrate's Mansion also watched intently.
And at the center of everyone's attention was a handsome and spirited young monk dressed in a white monastic robe.
Beside him was an object the size of an ox or a horse, currently covered by a large black cloth.
"Benefactors, please look. This object is called the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse."
Xu Lei yanked off the black cloth and continued, "This is the object this humble monk wishes to present on behalf of the Buddha. This ox-and-horse does not eat fodder nor drink water, and can operate day and night without stopping…"
After speaking, Xu Lei reached out and patted it.
To everyone's disbelief, the four-legged, all-wooden contraption actually started walking, step by step.
The so-called Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse that Xu Lei was demonstrating was not the one from Zhuge Liang in Earth's history.
Zhuge Liang's Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse has been lost to history.
All later accounts, including those depicted in television dramas, are merely speculation.
Because of these dramas, many people stubbornly believe that Zhuge Liang's Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse was just a wheelbarrow.
But the *Southern History: Zu Chongzhi's Biography* records that Zu Chongzhi saw with his own eyes: "Because Zhuge Liang had the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse, he thus created a device that, not relying on wind or water, moved on its own by a mechanism, without the need for human labor."
This shows that it involved mechanics.
It was unlikely to be a simple wheelbarrow.
Some people say the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse got its name because a wheelbarrow doesn't use oxen or horses, but this explanation is also quite absurd.
Xu Lei had once researched this subject.
'He felt it was more likely that the name originated from an ox-and-horse-shaped creation, capable of carrying loads, where wooden blocks operate fluidly like flowing water within a mechanical structure.'
Back on Earth, Xu Lei had once conducted some research on this topic with a friend who had a doctorate in mechanical engineering.
Therefore, what Xu Lei was displaying now was merely something he had given the name 'Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse'.
'It sounds pretty impressive, after all.'
It was an automatic machine based on the principle of mechanical transmission, constructed with wooden blocks and strips as the base materials, combined with mechanisms like connecting rods and gears.
With a pat, a wooden block sank, triggering the mechanism. The connecting rod pulled, the gears turned, and the mechanical power began to transmit, causing the wooden blocks and strips to operate like flowing water.
Someone only needed to pull it lightly from the front to control its direction, and it could move forward carrying a load.
Where one person could once only carry about a hundred pounds, they could now transport several hundred or even a thousand pounds with a Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse!
It wasn't a true perpetual motion machine; it just allowed the laborers to work with less effort and greater efficiency!
"How is this possible?" At this moment, the Lady of the County Magistrate was still wearing her veil, but her beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment.
The scene had erupted into an uproar.
In this ancient Otherworld where the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse had never appeared before, Xu Lei's demonstration was nothing short of a miracle!
"This device can be built according to these blueprints." Xu Lei then said, "The blueprints are here. You can copy them yourselves. Use this to transport goods, and it will naturally solve the problem of the construction deadline!"
「Ten days later.」
The Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse was already being mass-produced and put into use.
The pressure on the conscripted laborers was instantly and greatly reduced.
"The Little Divine Monk's Divine Power is vast!"
"I heard that the Little Divine Monk defied the will of heaven and damaged his own Dao Practice for this!"
"The Divine Monk is merciful!"
The common people were all singing Xu Lei's praises.
After all, the common folk didn't overthink things.
They would support whoever made their lives a little better.
Of course, this was also the result of guidance from the Lord County Magistrate.
This was because the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse could also be used to transport military supplies and provisions.
He naturally reported this invention as well.
And thus received a handsome reward.
As a monk, Xu Lei naturally couldn't accept rewards from the Court, so all these benefits were naturally received by the Lord County Magistrate and the other officials of the Government Office.
Of course, having received these benefits, the people from the Government Office also thought about giving something back to Xu Lei.
With Xu Lei's enlightened demeanor, they naturally couldn't give him money.
And with Xu Lei's subtle hints, the final result was that he gained fame.
This was also Xu Lei's goal.
In short, with this move, Xu Lei presented the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse and successfully boosted the reputation of Longyuan Temple.
And after Xu Lei returned to Longyuan Temple, his prestige there soared.
Previously, some people had voiced objections to Xu Lei's appointment as the Supervisor Zen Master of agriculture.
Now, no one had any objections.
Everyone, from top to bottom, was convinced.