Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 1043 Breakthrough
"Ding ding ding--"

The huge chimes started to ring, seeming to follow a certain pattern, jumping to the music, like mountains and flowing water, like brooks gurgling, or birds whispering, with a special taste in my heart.

After the Longevity Festival, the entire palace moved to Yuquan Mountain again like a migratory bird. The huge Forbidden City was empty, with less than five hundred people staying behind.

Zhu Yixi closed her eyes and listened, her whole mind seemed to be absorbed in it.

Compared with those erhu, trumpet, qin, pipa, etc., chime bells have a sense of grandeur, just like writing a letter must use classical Chinese, the style is there.

This set of chime bells comes from Taichang Temple and is specially made for the emperor.

In the pre-Ming Dynasty, Taichang Temple was specially responsible for the joy of sacrifice. Although it was said to be Xiao Jiuqing, it could only be carried out, and the details had to be dispatched by the Ministry of Rites.

After Shaowu's New Deal, because the Jiaofang Secretary was abolished, and the Ministry of Rites was in charge of imperial examinations, sacrifices, diplomacy, and vassal states, the Lefang was placed in the Taichang Temple to serve the royal family.

Under certain circumstances, Taichang Temple is like half of the emperor's retainers.

Naturally, he devoted himself to serving the emperor in order to gain favor and be a superior.

"That's right." The emperor nodded and sighed: "The artistic conception of the ancients is not as good as it is today!"

The Minister of Taichang Temple complimented: "Although the music is not as good as it was in the past, the Holy King is much better than then."

"Hahaha!" Zhu Yixi smiled: "Keep working hard, don't be limited to ancient music, those instruments from Xiyi can also be absorbed by the staff, the way of music, don't stick to Chinese and foreign."

"Even if there are some western musicians, you might as well recruit one or two,"

Inclusiveness, absorption and integration, this is the way for Ming to go to the world.

Zhu Yixi has also been practicing in person.

For example, missionaries in the Sitianjian, Xiyi scholars in the imperial examination, painters in the court, and businessmen who made a living in Beijing.

Even when carving the statues of meritorious ministers back then, many missionaries joined in, making it more realistic.

The people in the capital are now accustomed to the red-haired and blue-eyed Xiyi, and no longer feel afraid.

An open mind is the foundation of a country's prosperity.

Conversely, strong and prosperous countries are basically open.

Take today's Ottoman Empire as an example, although people believe in peace religion, it is indeed the most open country.

The Greeks have always believed in the Orthodox Church, and so did the Slavs. When the Jews were beaten and killed by European countries, only Ottoman took them in.

Today's Ming Dynasty is already a first-class powerful country in the world, so it naturally has the confidence to open up.

"Yes." Taichang Siqing was not very happy in his heart, but he bit the bullet and agreed.

Whoever let the emperor even dare to include Xiyi women into the harem set a precedent in history, and he could only obey.

Maybe it was the pillow wind blown by the two Xiyi concubines.

Whispering in his heart, he left quietly.

After a while, the emperor waved his hand, and the chime stopped.

After cultivating my sentiments, my mood inexplicably stretched a lot.

Immediately, he put on a thin coat, and the Yuquan Villa built on top of the forest was extraordinarily cool, even without ice cubes, it was still a bit chilly.

"Master, fishing?" Liu Afu asked respectfully.

"No need, how can I fish every day."

The emperor said casually, and then walked out of the hall briskly, facing the waterfall, splashing on the floor, wet and full of moisture.

He casually sprinkled some fish food, and after a while, a koi jumped out from under the pool, rolled and grabbed the fish food.

Red, yellow, black, all kinds, all fat and strong, very eye-catching.

It's a pity that this period of peace that belonged to him didn't last long, and the second assistant Feng Xianzong asked to see him.

"What is he here for?"

Zhu Yixi frowned: "Let him come over!"

After saying that, he found a recliner and sat on it, tied up his hair, and then slid into the hollow pillow hole of the recliner, so that he didn't have to worry about pressing his hair.

In fact, it's not that Zhu Yixi never thought about cutting her hair and making clothes easier.

That is, cut the long hair into the short hair of later generations, and then change the loose Eguan robe into a close-fitting strong suit, so as to better adapt to life.

Especially that long hair, already reaching to the waist, it is equivalent to wearing a padded jacket in summer, it is extraordinarily hot,

But the civil and military officials reacted fiercely, even a slight temptation would not work.

Some Confucian scholars even borrowed the language of Western Yi, and people with short hair can see that they are also barbarians. There must be many unfaithful and unfilial people, and there is no benevolence and righteousness.

Although this sentence is somewhat correct, why does he sound so awkward?

Zhu Yixi thought about it. Historically, Jiangnan could have been taken naturally, but the Manchu Qing insisted on shaving their hair and changing their clothes, forcing many literati to rebel.

This is the result of the Manchu massacre of the city.

He weighed himself, if he does this, it may be effective in a short time, but the king of future generations will definitely not follow it.

It is very likely that he will become a monarch with mixed reviews in history.

As for easy clothing, it is more difficult.

Because this is Zhu Yuanzhang, who borrowed from the clothes of Tang and Song Dynasties and changed them, which is part of the etiquette and law. Changing clothes is no less than changing dynasties.

This is the foundation of self-destruction.

The wise do not do it.

The reason why the Republic of China was easy in the later generations was that the braids were really ugly, and the dignity of the Han people was rubbed against the ground. Worshiping foreigners has become a custom.

Therefore, cutting hair is nothing more than imitating foreigners.

Otherwise, why not have long hair?Return to the ancestral system?

The Ming Dynasty at this time is undoubtedly the Celestial Dynasty. The people call themselves the people of the Celestial Dynasty, look down on the barbaric vassal state, and ask them to imitate the Western Yi. Wouldn't that kill them?
I would rather not have enough to eat, but also have dignity.

This is the fact.

"His Majesty--"

Just as he was thinking about it, Feng Xianzong came in a hurry, with his hands raised above his head, very respectful.

Regarding this, Zhu Yixi said lazily: "Why did Cifu come to me? But there is something important?"

Hearing such a title, Feng Xianzong thought, it seems that the emperor is not in a good mood.

But this is not the case.

Is it because I came at the wrong time?
Out of the corner of his eye, he looked around, but there were no beauties and concubines, and he sniffed, but there was no such smell!
It seemed that the emperor was in a bad mood, and he was obviously angry at Jumonas.

He raised his chest slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the state of Kang that the chief minister spoke about not long ago, I think that the lack of money and food is the most important thing."

"Furthermore, there are so many mountains in Sichuan, and it is adjacent to Kang and U-Tsang, so I thought that a governor should be appointed just in case."

"Chongqing Province originated from Sichuan. Although the number of people is small, there is no shortage of money and food. It just happens to give a helping hand."

"What do you mean, the establishment of a governor of Sichuan and Chongqing?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi's complexion changed, and he felt a little happier.

This is a serious matter, and he has to be serious.

Now in Daming, there are Governors of Jinsui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shaanxi and Gansu, and it is not too much to add a Governor of Sichuan and Chongqing.

Wouldn't it be appropriate to install a governor of Kangzang after Kangguo was conquered by U-Tsang?
"Very good."

Zhu Yixi stood up and exclaimed, "Is there anyone for you?"

Feng Xianzong didn't dare to speak, his head shook like a rattle drum: "I don't have anyone to choose. Your Majesty can see thousands of miles away, so you can try to choose him."

For these words, Zhu Yixi didn't care, he weighed a lot, and then sighed:
"What do you think of the prince?"

what?
Feng Xianzong was taken aback for a moment, he had no time to react, and was caught off guard by these words.

Good guy, let the prince be the governor, what kind of operation is this?
There was no such thing in the 300 years of Ming Dynasty.

However, this emperor was notoriously rebellious, and he was also the founding king. No one dared to object to him.

"The prime minister started in the state capital, and now the crown prince is the city lord in the northeast. Although he has performed quite well, it is still difficult to take on a big job. Let him serve as the governor of Sichuan and Chongqing, just to exercise his ability."

Zhu Yixi chuckled and said, "He has managed the huge Sichuan, let alone the world!"

Feng Xianzong was really shocked, the emperor looked so openly?

You must know that although the crown prince of Ming Dynasty has a stable position, he basically attends classes on weekdays and has no power at all.

How bold it is to govern the land of two provinces.

Is the emperor in poor health?

Feng Xianzong was startled, his eyes were reddish in an instant: "Your Majesty, you have to take care of your health, although women are good, they are bone-scratching..."

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi wished he could slap him.

This is also Daming. If it was in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, if a person was convicted of slandering the emperor, the whole family would be executed.

"presumptuous--"

"I made a slip of the tongue!" Feng Xianzong hurriedly knelt down.

"You have to keep these things in your stomach, don't talk nonsense, and wait until the right time."

Zhu Yixi's attitude turned cold, and he shook his hand to let him back down.

Only then did Feng Xianzong realize that he had said something wrong, but he was very happy because the emperor was not sick and was still in good health.

Monarchs and ministers who have been in the past twenty years naturally expect a long time.

The deep-seated reason is that a large number of people have gathered around the prince. If he inherits the throne in a short time, he, the second assistant, will never be the first assistant.

I have to make room for my close ministers!

After he left, Zhu Yixi shook his head.

These people just think too much.

If I hadn't been afraid of the end of the second generation, I wouldn't have raised the prince in this way.

In fact, the lessons of history are too profound.

Immediately, he thought of his other sons.

The vassal state system must continue in his life, otherwise it will be difficult to continue, and he will be satisfied if he can persist for two or three generations.

After a while, he actually fell asleep.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Suddenly, a soft cry came from beside his ear, Zhu Yi frowned, and opened his eyes: "What's wrong?"

Years of being pampered and pampered made him very angry when he got up, and his voice became a little heavier unconsciously.

All the palace maids knelt down one after another, not daring to speak

Liu Afu said tremblingly: "Master, it's the news from the Ordnance Department. Is that what the steam engine broke through? You have always been most concerned about this..."

"Steam engine?"

Hearing these three words, Zhu Yixi immediately sobered up.

He hurriedly got up: "Quick, change my clothes."

After a while, he put on a bright yellow uniform and walked away in a chariot.

The Ordnance Department has always been valued by the emperor, and it is basically located near Yuquan Villa, with a distance of only seven or eight miles.

Not only are various ordnance researched here, various artillery and muskets are improved, but also farm tools are constantly added and modified. This place has become the Ming Dynasty Technology Research and Development Center.

Once the Ordnance Department researches well, the Ministry of War will report it to the cabinet, and then let the Ministry of War make it and equip it into the army.

All kinds of civilian equipment are sold to various places through the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ordnance Department covers an area of ​​nearly a thousand acres and has contracted a small hill with a huge scope.

Therefore, the Ordnance Division is divided into three parts, firearms, equipment, and steam engines.

The steam engine only occupies an area of ​​[-] acres, but there are hundreds of craftsmen working day and night, and many missionaries are there to help.

A steam engine, as the name suggests, boils water to generate heat, thus gaining power.

The emperor asked him that he must drive a railroad carriage, which can drive a hundred or tens of thousands of catties at a time.

Because no matter from the military or civilian, the train is always the most important.

In this way, there are extremely high requirements for the size and efficiency of the steam engine. At the same time, gears, wheels, etc. must be studied, not to mention the braking ability.

It is said that it is studying the steam engine, but in fact it is studying the whole train.

"Your Majesty, to make this machine, you need to be able to count and count. The craftsmen just know what it is and don't know why, so it is extremely slow."

"At the same time, mass production is required, and the endurance and scale are extremely precise..."

The craftsman explained tremblingly, obviously not smart, and his complaints were exposed between the words.

Zhu Yixi didn't care about this: "Quick, take me to see the steam train."

"Yes!"

After a while, on a track nearly a mile long, a train was on it.

Zhu Yixi counted, the carriage was eight sections long, and each section was five feet long. According to the style of side-by-side seats in later generations, there were five people in each row, leaving an aisle empty.

Each car can hold 75 people, and eight cars can hold 600 people.

The carriages are made of wood, and each carriage has eight windows, the size of a head, with windows just like a room.

The locomotive is huge, and the steam engine is also huge, almost as big as a carriage, with a hole left, and a lot of coal placed beside it.

"Your Majesty, as long as you put coal in it, once it burns, the water will boil, and then heat will rise, driving the wheels to move."

The craftsman respectfully said: "Whether it is windy or rainy, you can travel, but the most fearful thing is the deformation of the rails."

"Your Majesty, the train is extremely heavy. The wheels are all made of steel, and the rails are made of pig iron, so it is easy to deform..."

"If the rails are also made of steel, the cost will be high..."

"It doesn't have to be replaced with steel rails."

Zhu Yixi shuttled through the carriage with great interest. Although it was extremely simple, it made him very excited.

"Steel can be used to cover the rails, which can not only save costs, but also be safe."

In fact, adding manganese to the rails is the best solution, but manganese is not like iron and cannot be forged directly. Special techniques are required to separate manganese from pyrolusite.

It's a pity that today's technology can't be realized at all, which is another topic.

So let's use the rails first, and add them when the manganese is separated.

"Firstly, the rails going to Yuquan Mountain will be clad with steel, and this new type of train will be tried out to benefit the people."

(End of this chapter)