The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 62
Zhang Zhou entered the palace again.

This time he entered the palace in a relaxed mood, followed behind Xiao Jing, looked at the magnificence of the surrounding palaces, and pondered in his heart, but unfortunately he couldn't fully grasp the era, otherwise how exciting would it be to be an emperor?
There are three thousand beauties in the harem, and all the people are subject to... It's just a little tired to go to court every day.

But compared to the boldness of owning the world, this hard work is worth it.

Just when he was thinking about something, a few people approached from the opposite side, a man of about 60 years old who looked very strong and pedantic, followed an eunuch out of the palace.

I didn't meet them myself, I just looked at each other from a distance.

The other party looked at him with a look of resentment.

"Eunuch Xiao, who is that?" Seeing that the man had gone far away, Zhang Zhou couldn't help but quicken his pace to follow Xiao Jing and asked.

Xiao Jingdao: "Guozijian Forest Jijiu, didn't Mr. Zhang enter Yong, haven't you seen it?"

"Ha ha."

Zhang Zhou was also ashamed to say that he had suffered a lot last time. He thought that Lin Han really had eyes above his head, and maybe a Taoist priest like him would not be in the eyes of the old headmaster of this dynasty at all.

But who is nobler than whom?Zhang Zhouxin said, I was also engaged in the education industry in my previous life, maybe I was too depressed, but in this life I want to live freely.

The life of this old man Lin must be very depressing, otherwise why marry so many concubines and go home?
……

……

Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Zhou saw Zhu Youtang, and Zhu Youtang received him with a smile.

The Qingning Palace fire two days ago seems to be a thing of the past.

After Zhang Zhou was seated, Zhu Youtang asked with concern: "I heard that you are living in the new house, are you comfortable?"

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, it's pretty good, the yard is spacious, but the number of people in the yard is a bit small..."

"you……"

Zhu Youtang was about to tell Dai Yi next to him something when he suddenly realized that Zhang Zhou would always ask him for something in disguise, and every time he was bewitched, he couldn't help but want to give it.

This time he also learned to be smart.

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhou Zhou and said: "Bingkuan, there are few people in your yard, you have to rely on your own ability to enrich the family yard, don't always think about begging from me."

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty has been wronged, how can I have such thoughts? It's just that I suddenly lived in a big mansion and saw the empty courtyard, so I felt it. Your Majesty clearly rewards and punishes, and I feel grateful. This is pride. Not for a reward."

"Hehe, I'm pretty good at talking." Zhu Youtang smiled.

Probably talking to Zhang Zhou like this, Zhu Youtang would also feel a little more relaxed. The way of getting along with those ministers before was too tiring.

"By the way, Your Majesty, I have used these two days to make a sketch of the rebuilding of the Qingning Palace and submitted it to Eunuch Xiao." Zhang Zhou said.

Zhu Youtang nodded.

A wave of hands.

Xiao Jing displayed a sketch drawn by Zhang Zhou, some materials that will probably be used, and figures of servants, etc., all displayed.

The details of the drawings made the emperor feel dazzled after reading them.

"This is……"

"Return to Your Majesty, this is a sketch drawn by the minister, it is drawn with charcoal, if there are any details, please forgive me."

Of course, Zhang Zhou would not draw architectural drawings in the usual way of this era. Although he is not a professor of engineering, he can still draw basic three-dimensional geometric figures.

"The specific reference is a sketch of the Qingning Palace and the surrounding palaces that Eunuch Xiao gave to me earlier, and I have made some modifications appropriately. There will be no major changes in the location of the foundation."

After reading it, Zhu Youtang said sincerely: "Although I can't understand it very well, I think it's very good that you put your heart into it. What are these lines?"

Zhu Youtang pointed to something that didn't seem to be in the palace.

Because Zhang Zhou was not with the emperor, he didn't know what the emperor was talking about.

Zhu Youtang waved his hands and said, "Stop sitting still, come and show me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhang Zhou didn't hesitate, and walked directly to the emperor's desk, and looked at the blueprint from the opposite direction.

The eunuchs next to him were a little surprised. The way Zhang Jieyuan got along with the emperor became closer and more like a family. Instead, they felt a little sour in their hearts.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Oh, what your Majesty said was added by the minister. It is called heating. The principle is to connect copper pipes in series, interspersed in various places in the palace, and pour water into them, and connect one end to the boiler. By boiling water, it can be used for heating without being used to generate open fire in the hall, and there is no need to go through the underground fire cavity, the safety performance is guaranteed, and the dragon veins and feng shui are not affected."

What Zhang Zhou said is the simplest principle of household heating, which is the simplest thing for ordinary people in later generations, but to Zhu Youtang, it is like listening to heavenly scriptures.

"Is this really feasible?" Zhu Youtang looked puzzled.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "It is feasible. I originally planned to use iron pipes, but unfortunately iron pipes are easy to rust, and copper pipes do not have this trouble, but the cost will be slightly higher."

"Hmm." Zhu Youtang took a closer look at Zhang Zhou's remarks under the drawing, and agreed with Zhang Zhou's statement, "The budget is 1000 taels, and the price is indeed not low. What is the overall cost?"

This question is not up to Zhang Zhou to answer.

Xiao Jing replied: "Returning to Your Majesty, according to the blueprint drawn by Zhang Jieyuan, the people from the Ministry of Industry probably calculated the cost. Basically... it needs 12 taels."

"12 taels...um."

Zhu Youtang nodded thoughtfully, probably this number is a bit unacceptable to him.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I have thought of a way to reduce expenses, but I don't know if it should be said or not."

"Let's talk." Zhu Youtang raised his interest.

Zhang Zhou talked eloquently: "I have calculated that if the original price purchased by the Ministry of Industry is used, even if the servants do not spend money, the rations must be guaranteed, and it is difficult to save money. I want to come, if the bidding method is used to make the city Those who can provide materials can quote their own prices, and then choose the ones with low prices and high quality, which can form effective competition, and then the cost will be greatly reduced.”

In the construction of palaces in the Ming Dynasty, the materials needed to be purchased by the imperial court, and the use of manpower has always been criticized by people as "Beijing camp occupation".

That is to say, the soldiers in the capital's barracks came to build buildings and gardens for the royal family. In addition to providing basic rations, they basically used free labor. Although the issue of conscription has always been discouraged by officials, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty wanted to save money and practice Taoism. , palaces, etc., naturally occupied and refused to let go.

Serving as a soldier in the Beijing camp is not a good thing.

Even daily training can’t be guaranteed, going to be a craftsman to repair a house every day... Who can bear it for ordinary people?

"Bid?"

Zhu Youtang felt very fresh about these nouns.

Xiao Jing had heard Zhang Zhou mention it before, and he said: "Returning to Your Majesty, what Zhang Jieyuan means is to find more suppliers to form competition and reduce costs."

"I see." Zhu Youtang nodded, as if saving money is very important to him, "But in this case, can the material be guaranteed? And Bingkuan, didn't you mention before that the selected material must be in line with the secret? "

Zhang Zhoudao: "The secret I mentioned is more about the length and texture of the wood and stone. It must be denser and harder, and it must be able to withstand thunder and fire to the greatest extent. Loose wood is easy to age, and it is easier to be destroyed by water and fire. Erosion by moths will also have detailed requirements on the length and width of the material."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youtang was confused again.

Dai Yi asked from the side: "Then it has nothing to do with heaven?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Wood and stone are only distinguished by the place of origin and the difference in texture. It is far-fetched to really talk about the secret."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Bingkuan, even if you insist on getting involved, they can't tell the difference. You are quite honest. I was relayed by them before, and even I thought that these materials should be consecrated or found out first. The family opened an altar to drive away evil spirits."

"How come?" Zhang Zhou smiled.

If you don't entrust me with this lucrative business, maybe I will really scare you with ghosts and gods.

Anyway, now you believe in me.

Fool people, I'm a good hand.

Zhu Youtang said: "Then I will approve this matter, but there is one requirement. I must not pass it off as a good one. I want to build a palace that can be used for hundreds of years."

"Yes." Zhang Zhou cupped his hands.

Zhu Youtang signaled for Zhang Zhou to sit down again, and he put together Zhang Zhou's drawings, as if babbling: "Bingkuan, it's not that I have to be stingy, it's just that the imperial court has spent a lot in the past two years. After autumn, the Northwest fought several battles in Helan Mountain, and although they were victorious, they were costly."

This means that in the 11th year of Hongzhi, Wang Yue led troops to attack Helan Mountain, achieved a great victory over the Tatars, and ordered Turpan to return to Daming.

The so-called great victory is nothing more than "decapitating 42 levels, capturing 240 horses and camels, and thousands of cattle, sheep and weapons".

Even so, this can be regarded as the greatest military achievement during Xiaozong's period.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I have something to do, but it's hard to say it..."

Zhu Youtang said: "Didn't you say everything? With me, if you have something to say, just say it, don't beat around the bush."

"Yes." Zhang Zhou said, "according to my estimates, there should be quite a few people who have participated in impeachment of Wang Zhongcheng in these two days."

Zhu Youtang was taken aback.

Immediately he looked at Xiao Jing first, Xiao Jing quickly denied it: "The servant did not mention anything to Zhang Jieyuan."

Zhu Youtang said helplessly: "Bingkuan, you have sharp eyes and can see many things. Wang Yue is like this. He likes to make friends with his courtiers. He was accused of befriending Wang Zhi when he was the first emperor. It is not wrong to use him again this time. Because he corrected this problem, but because his talent is really outstanding. Even if he had a relationship with Li Guang, I will not hold him accountable."

Zhang Zhou nodded.

Historically, Zhu Youtang did not hold Wang Yue accountable for giving gifts to Li Guang, or even having a secret relationship with Li Guang, but because there were so many impeachments in the imperial court, Wang Yue people were frightened in the northwest, and then they got angry for a while... He died in grief and anger in December of that year.

The cause of death was chest obstruction, that is, heart disease.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I made some calculations again, and felt that for this Wang Zhongcheng, if he stayed in the northwest, he might not be able to survive the next year, so I ask you to recall him to the capital."

"What? You mean...he will die in the northwest?" Zhu Youtang was taken aback.

This time, even Dai Yi and others felt that Zhang Zhou was a bit out of proportion, and actually taught the emperor how to do things?

This is a major matter involving the military and politics of the Northwest. What is your status, can you speak freely?If Wang Yue is transferred away, military affairs in the Northwest undergo a sudden change, can you bear the responsibility?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Not only that, I also ask Your Majesty to give him a life-saving medicine so that he can use it when the disease occurs. If your Majesty thinks that I am abrupt, then I have not said it."

(End of this chapter)