Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 714 Talent for Governing the Country 13

Four years later, the autumn in Handan was particularly bleak.

Inside the Gewu Academy, ginkgo leaves fluttered down like golden butterflies, but no one was in the mood to appreciate them. Yun Chu collapsed beside her favorite pile of bamboo slips, still clutching half a scroll of "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" in her hand.

When Yuenu rushed into the room, she saw that her teacher's face was bluish-purple, a trace of black blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth, and the cup of tea on the table was still steaming slightly.

"Sir!" Yue Nu knelt down, her trembling hand touching Yun Chu's still warm cheek.

Suppressing her grief, she carefully examined the teaware and discovered a faint, almost imperceptible bitter almond flavor at the bottom of the cup—it was arsenic, colorless and odorless, yet utterly deadly.

In the imperial court, King Zhao was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. However, the investigation yielded no results.

Some people secretly spread rumors that this was the work of Qin spies, who intended to eliminate Zhao's "master of water conservancy" and his mentor; others said that some powerful officials in the court were dissatisfied with the rise of Yun Chu and his apprentice and used them as a tool to kill them.

Whatever the truth, Yun Chu is gone, leaving behind only unfinished business and a broken heart.

On the day of the funeral, the Gewu Institute was packed with people inside and outside.

Students from all over the country traveled long distances to bid farewell to this "Master of Investigation of Things." Yue Nu, dressed in plain clothes, stood before the coffin, without shedding a tear, only displaying a resolute gaze.

She knew that shedding tears at this moment would be the greatest disrespect to her teacher. What she had to do was to carry on his legacy and promote the way of "investigating things".

"From this day forward, the Institute of Natural Sciences will be under the management of Yue Nu," King Zhao announced in the court. "Although Yun Chu has passed away, his spirit of investigating things and pursuing knowledge will live on forever. I hope that Yue Nu will live up to your expectations and continue to cultivate pillars of talent for our Zhao Kingdom."

However, managing the Academy of Natural Sciences was no easy task. Some in the court questioned, "How can a woman lead the scholars of the entire nation?"

Even worse, some secretly spread rumors that Yue Nu was merely riding on her teacher's coattails and had no real talent or ability.

Faced with the doubts, Yue Nu did not argue. She gathered all the teachers and students of the Gewu Academy and made them stand under the century-old locust tree in the academy.

“As the master once said, the way of ‘investigating things’ is not about verbal disputes, but about practical verification.” Yue Nu’s voice was clear and bright. “Today, I am willing to use the method of ‘investigating things’ to prove that I am worthy of this position.”

She ordered someone to bring a basin of water and dropped in a few copper coins. "Gentlemen," she said, "the copper coins sink to the bottom. Normally, copper coins should sink. But what if I use a special method to make the copper coins float?"

Everyone laughed, thinking Yue Nu was playing a trick. Then they saw her take out a piece of mulberry paper as thin as a cicada's wing, gently place it on the water's surface, and carefully place the copper coin on the paper. The copper coin actually floated on the water!

“Water is inherently soft, yet it can carry things; bronze is inherently heavy, yet it can float on water,” Yue Nu explained. “The key lies in method and wisdom. The same applies to scholarship; it is not about status or gender, but about whether one truly investigates things to acquire knowledge.”

This demonstration silenced all the doubters. Yue Nu proved herself with her abilities and officially took over the Gewu Academy.

After that, Yue Nu devoted all her energy to water conservancy and the construction of the Gewu Academy. She not only improved the border water network defense system, but also promoted water conservancy construction throughout the country.

She proposed the concept of "water conservancy for national prosperity and water network for people's well-being," advocating that water conservancy is not only a necessity for national defense but also the foundation of people's livelihood.

At the Institute of Natural Sciences, Yue Nu established four major disciplines: "Hydraulics," "Agriculture," "Astronomy," and "Mathematics," cultivating a large number of practical talents. She personally compiled the "Complete Book of Water Conservancy," which systematically summarized water management experience and theory, becoming a classic work of water conservancy for later generations.

However, what shocked the court and the public the most was that Yue Nu remained unmarried throughout her life. When the King of Zhao intended to marry his princess to the State of Qin in order to seek peace, some people suggested that Yue Nu be married to Qin to demonstrate Zhao's sincerity.

“Water conservancy is the foundation of the nation, while marriage is a private matter.” Yue Nu spoke frankly in the court. “To abandon the cause of water conservancy for the sake of marriage is to put the cart before the horse. I am willing to remain unmarried for life and devote myself to water management, building the strongest ‘Great Wall of Water’ for the Zhao state.”

These words caused an uproar in the court. But Yue Nu's firm stance ultimately earned her respect. She devoted all her energy to water conservancy and the Academy of Natural Sciences, adopted dozens of orphans, and carefully taught and nurtured them into a new generation of water conservancy talents.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Yue Nu has turned sixty. The Academy of Natural Sciences has tripled in size, and its students are spread throughout various states. The water conservancy projects she oversaw have increased the irrigated area of ​​farmland in Zhao by 50%, resulting in a significant increase in grain production.

The border water network defense system has been tested in numerous battles and has successfully repelled several large-scale attacks by the Qin army.

One spring day, Yue Nu led her disciples on an inspection of the Zhang River embankment. Her hair was now white, and her steps were unsteady, but her eyes remained sharp. Standing on the embankment, she pointed to the sluice gate system in the distance and explained it to her young disciples.

"Water is soft, yet it can penetrate stone; water is weak, yet it can carry a boat." Although Yue Nu's voice was no longer as clear as it used to be, it was still full of power. "Governing water is like governing a country. It is not about forcibly changing things, but about guiding them according to their nature and acting in accordance with the trend."

Suddenly, she felt dizzy and swayed slightly. Her disciples rushed forward to help her, but she gently pushed them away.

"Let me take one last look at the Zhang River..." Yue Nu gazed at the rolling eastward-flowing waters, a relieved smile on her face. "Sir, look, the water network is complete, and the Zhao Kingdom is at peace. Your 'investigation of things' has been integrated into these rivers, lakes, and seas, benefiting future generations..."

Before she finished speaking, Yue Nu slowly closed her eyes and peacefully fell onto the riverbank she had guarded all her life.

When the news spread, the whole country mourned. King Zhao personally presided over the funeral, burying Yue Nu and Yun Chu together on the banks of the Zhang River. The tombstone was inscribed with eight large characters: "Investigate things to acquire knowledge, and benefit the nation through water conservancy."

Although Yue Nu has passed away, her legacy of water conservancy and her spirit of scientific inquiry will live on forever. The Institute of Water Conservancy continues to cultivate generations of talents for governing the country, her "Complete Book of Water Conservancy" is regarded as a classic, and the water network defense system has been continuously improved, becoming an important barrier for the State of Zhao to resist foreign enemies.

Later historians praised Yue Nu: "With the body of a woman, she fulfilled the ambition of a man; with her frail body, she built a Great Wall of Steel. Her refusal to marry was not out of aloofness, but out of great love. Her heart was with the common people, and her ambition was for eternity; she was truly a pillar of the nation!"

Throughout the long history of the Zhao state, the names of Yue Nu and Yun Chu will forever shine. They used their wisdom and lives to interpret the true meaning of "investigating things to acquire knowledge," proving that the power of knowledge and practice can transcend the limitations of gender and identity, bringing true benefits to the country and its people.

In front of the Gewu Academy, the century-old locust tree still stands tall and straight.

Whenever the wind blows, the leaves rustle, as if telling the story of two great women:

How a noblewoman in exile, through tireless efforts, grows into a capable ruler;

How a teacher can ignite the flame of wisdom in their students with their own life;

How did a student inherit his teacher's legacy, dedicate his life to water conservancy and the Institute of Physics, and ultimately become one of the most dazzling stars in the history of the Zhao state?

The Zhang River flows ceaselessly, just like the spirit of Yue Nu, forever nourishing this land and witnessing future generations continue to move forward.