Chapter 33: Does it make a difference to you whether it's true or false?

“Hey, this dwelling is quite unique,” Ma Su said with surprise as he looked at the house before him.

Red bricks, red tiles—a brick-and-tile house, something rarely seen even in future rural areas, stood beside the Panyu Industrial Base laboratory.

In recent days, Zhao Shaojie had not only been making tables, chairs, and stools and discussing papermaking with others, but he had also taken the opportunity to exercise his hands-on skills.

He was replicating the work known online in the future as the “Australian Guy’s” project.

Burning charcoal, firing bricks and tiles, making wild cement from ash balls mixed with sand and wood ash.

Once everything was ready, he began building walls, drawing up blueprints, and instructing the craftsmen to start working.

Now, the house had taken shape—not very large, just over twenty square meters, two meters tall, not even reaching three meters.

From a future perspective, it looked simple, almost like an outhouse, but Zhao Shaojie was extremely satisfied. Gazing at the house, he smiled and said, “From now on, I’ll be working inside here!”

Although Ma Su found the house novel, he wasn’t particularly impressed.

Houses built of blue bricks and tiles already existed by this time.

However, due to their high cost, ordinary people still lived in wooden, adobe, or thatched houses.

“So small, and you want to live here?” Ma Su teased, unable to stand Zhao Shaojie’s boasting.

Zhao Shaojie rolled his eyes. “What do you know?”

Ma Su immediately fired back, “You’re the one who doesn’t know anything. Weren’t you going to make transparent glass? Where’s the transparent glass?”

When building the house, Zhao Shaojie had thought about glass, but he had no idea how to make it. He only knew it involved burning sand.

He tried once with a kiln, but naturally, it failed.

Though frustrated, Zhao Shaojie understood it wasn’t as simple as burning sand. He instructed his craftsmen to add other materials to the mix and see what happened.

In short, he was experimenting slowly and clumsily.

But repeated failures left him somewhat exasperated.

Zhao Shaojie, unwilling to back down to Ma Su, said, “Science—do you even understand what science is? It takes hundreds, even thousands of failures to achieve one success. I just haven’t succeeded yet. Wait and see—within our lifetime, you’ll witness it!”

Ma Su laughed in disbelief. Having always been a step behind Zhao Shaojie, he suddenly caught a crack in his armor and shouted, “Within our lifetime? You might as well say a thousand years from now!”

“Why do you care?” Zhao Shaojie retorted, launching a personal attack. “You’re just a useless armchair strategist!”

Ma Su’s face turned red with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. “Zhao Shaojie, we are sworn enemies!”

…

While Zhao Shaojie and Ma Su were bickering, Liu Min approached.

“Captain Zhao, Shi Xie sent someone to deliver a gift for you. You should go see,” Liu Min said.

Liu Min was the cousin of Jiang Wan, who had praised him for his bravery and wisdom. Zhao Shaojie couldn’t quite remember him but trusted Jiang Wan’s judgment and appointed Liu Min as the factory’s security chief, responsible for guarding the factory and overseeing the prisoners.

Zhao Shaojie immediately replied, “Alright, I’ll go take a look.” He glanced at Ma Su and added, “I’m busy. I won’t waste time with someone who only talks and is good at running away!”

“You—this is infuriating!” Ma Su trembled with rage.

Zhao Shaojie soon met Shi Xie’s envoy, none other than Shi Xin, Shi Xie’s eldest son.

“My father has been enjoying the reclining chair you made. The tables, chairs, and stools are also quite interesting. He specially sent me to express his thanks,” Shi Xin said with a smile.

Zhao Shaojie replied, “I’m glad Lord Shi likes them.” Then he asked, “How has Lord Shi been lately?”

Shi Xin’s expression darkened. He hesitated and glanced sideways before saying, “Cao Sikong has sent envoys to Jiaozhi.”

Instantly, Zhao Shaojie’s face stiffened and he frowned. “Is Lord Shi planning to expel us?”

Shi Xin was taken aback. “How do you know that Cao Sikong wants my father to drive you out?”

Zhao Shaojie shook his head inwardly. Was there any doubt? Cao Cao hated Liu Bei’s people and would want them wiped out. Since envoys had arrived in Jiaozhi, they would surely ask Shi Xie to expel them. He asked aloud, “Is Lord Shi preparing for war with us?”

Shi Xin waved his hands quickly but his expression grew solemn. “My father has dealt with Cao Sikong’s envoys, but by the end of the year at the latest, he will send troops to drive you out!”

Lowering his voice, he added, “Cao Sikong’s attendant hinted that this year, Cao’s army will occupy Jingzhou!”

Hearing this, Zhao Shaojie felt no worry at all.

They simply lacked the strength to fight Shi Xie—not because Shi Xie was so formidable, but because his prestige was high and his foundations solid. Should conflict erupt, even the three commanderies of Cangwu, Yulin, and Nanhai under their control would be in constant rebellion.

Their troops were newly recruited.

Under these two conditions, they couldn’t pacify Jiaozhi in a short time.

By the end of the year, that would be just right—Cao Cao was on the brink of a great defeat at Chibi.

“Don’t worry. By year’s end, news of Cao Cao’s defeat will arrive!” Zhao Shaojie said confidently.

Shi Xin stared at Zhao Shaojie’s self-assurance with disbelief. Did this man truly believe Liu Bei could defeat Cao Cao, who was about to unify the realm? If he really had such ability, why had he fled all the way from Youzhou to Jingzhou?

Still, he refrained from saying anything discouraging. The Shi family would not meddle in the two powers’ conflict. Only if the situation became clear would they join one side.

“My father asked me to tell you that if things become dangerous, he will find a way to protect you,” Shi Xin added quietly.

Zhao Shaojie hadn’t expected to be held in such high regard. It was one thing for Liu Bei to consider him worth a whole commandery—after all, Liu Bei knew he was a time traveler—but for Shi Xie to value him too was surprising.

“Please thank Lord Shi on my behalf. But rest assured, the realm has always belonged to the Han. Cao Cao has no ability to unify the land!” Zhao Shaojie smiled.

Shi Xin smiled back, silent but somewhat admiring of Zhao Shaojie’s confident optimism.

Beside him, a man suddenly lamented, “It is the Han’s realm, yet why has a man named Cao driven me to this point?”

Zhao Shaojie recognized him from Shi Xie’s court—someone called Huan Shao. He frowned. “What has Cao Cao done to you?”

Huan Shao replied painfully, “I once spoke ill of Cao Cao. He holds a grudge and repeatedly asked Lord Shi to execute me and my entire family. Lord Shi always pretended not to hear, but now that Cao Cao is preparing to march south, I must go to Xuchang to face death!” Tears streamed down his face.

Zhao Shaojie was furious. “What do you fear? Didn’t I just say Cao Cao won’t touch Jiaozhi? Stay put. By year’s end, you’ll hear of Cao Cao’s defeat!”

“Really?” Huan Shao asked in surprise.

“Does it matter whether it’s true or not?” Zhao Shaojie implied. Since Cao Cao wanted him dead, a few days more or less made no difference.