My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 56 The Almost Destroyed Yongle Ceremony

The next day, before dawn, Yao Guangxiao rushed to the palace in a hurry.

Lightning struck Zhongyuan Pavilion last night and caused a fire. Yao Guangxiao also stayed up all night when he heard the news.

Because there is only one copy of the entire "Yongle Dadian", and the only one is hidden in Wenyuan Pavilion.

Yao Guangxiao is one of the supervisors of the Yongle Grand Ceremony, and the other is the famous Xie Jin, but Xie Jin died in the imperial prison earlier this year.

Therefore, if the Yongle Grand Ceremony is destroyed, if you want to rebuild it, you may not be able to find the original people.

Passing through the Inner Five Dragon Gate, not far to the east is Wenyuan Pavilion, Yao Guangxiao came directly to the scene of the fire.

Wenyuan Pavilion was originally a place for collecting and compiling books. It is divided into East Pavilion and West Pavilion, and the Yongle Canon is stored in the East Pavilion, occupying a full floor.

When Yao Guangxiao came to Wenyuan Pavilion and saw the burnt West Pavilion, a big stone in his heart finally fell.

It’s okay, it’s okay, the East Pavilion is fine, and the Yongle Grand Ceremony is still there!

However, Yao Guangxiao was still worried, and walked to the second floor of the East Pavilion, where he saw row after row of bookshelves, and stacks of books were densely packed on the bookshelves.

These books are divided into categories, including scriptures, histories, sons, and collections, involving astronomy and geography, yin and yang medicine, divination, Buddhism, Taoism, drama, crafts, agriculture, etc. It can be said that almost all of the wisdom crystallization of thousands of years in China are here. .

All these books together are the only "Yongle Dadian".

"Master, you are here too!"

At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly came out from the other corner. He came earlier, and he just went to check the Yongle Grand Ceremony in person before he was relieved.

"Your Majesty, how much are the books in the West Pavilion lost?"

Yao Guangxiao stepped forward to salute and asked.

"The loss was heavy. Last night there was thunder and thunder, but there was not much rain. The fire in the West Pavilion was huge, and there were not a single book in it!"

Zhu Di replied heartbroken.

The palaces in the imperial city are generally built of giant trees, and they are most afraid of fire. Among them, the fire caused by thunder is one of the main reasons for the fire in the imperial city.

"At least the Yongle Canon is fine. There are copies in other collections, but there is only one Yongle Canon!"

Yao Guangxiao comforted Zhu Didao.

The compilation of the Yongle Canon took several years and involved more than 3000 people. The final book has more than 2 volumes and nearly [-] million words. It is said that it took a whole year to copy the manuscript after it was finalized.

Because this book is too vast, only one copy was made.

Later, when Emperor Jiajing was in power, more than 100 people were selected to re-record the Yongle Grand Ceremony, and it took five full years to transcribe a copy.

"That's right, my grand ceremony is fine. This book is the wish of Emperor Taizu. I inherited my father's will and compiled it into a book with great difficulty. There must be no loss!"

Zhu Di nodded.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was in power, he wanted to compile a "Lei Yao" that included "a hundred schools of experience", but failed to compile it. Zhu Di immediately ordered to compile the Yongle Canon as soon as he took the throne.

In fact, Zhu Di's position is not right, and his heart is too empty, so he wants to prove that he is stronger than his father Zhu Yuanzhang in everything, and the Yongle Grand Ceremony is just one of them.

"Let's go, let's go to the Hall of Martial Arts!"

As Zhu Di said, he took Yao Guangxiao's arm and walked side by side as before. The two were not so much monarchs and ministers, but actually more like old friends.

When they came to the Wuying Hall, Zhu Di asked someone to bring tea, and the monarch and his ministers sat opposite each other.

"Your Majesty, this Yongle Grand Ceremony escaped a catastrophe, but it may not be so lucky next time, so it is better to plan early!"

Yao Guangxiao advised.

"I've already thought about this, either to treat the symptoms or to cure the root cause, but it's not easy!",

Zhu Di picked up the tea and drank it all in one gulp.

"Treating the symptoms can only strengthen the protection of the Yongle Grand Ceremony, but natural disasters like this are impossible to prevent. As for the root cause..."

Yao Guangxiao also gave a wry smile at the end.

The solution to the root cause is also very simple, as long as you copy a few more copies of the Yongle Canon and store them in different places, you won't be afraid of this great canon being lost.

But the content of the Yongle Canon is so vast that hundreds of people copied it for a year before only one copy was produced.

And don't think that copying books is a very simple matter. There is a game in later generations, that is, merchants ask people to write from 1 to 500 without mistakes in the middle. If you finish writing, you can get a gift, but there are very few people who can really write well. And less.

Copying books is more complicated, not only there are words, but also pictures. The requirements for copyists are extremely high, and ordinary people are simply unable to do it. If they are forced to copy, they will only end up full of mistakes.

As for printing the Yongle Canon, it is even more impossible. The wood needed for carving alone is enough to build several Forbidden City.

"If it doesn't work, let's store the Yongle Canon separately, so that even if part of it is destroyed, the rest can be preserved."

Yao Guangxiao finally thought of a compromise.

"No, the Yongle Canon must be handed down in its entirety. If there are some fragments left, then I'd rather destroy it all!"

Zhu Di waved his hand and refused.

If Zhu Zhanhe was here, he would definitely complain that Zhu Di is a perfectionist.

At the same time that Yao Guangxiao entered the palace, Zhu Zhanhe also came to the imperial city, but he did not come to see Zhu Di, but came to Wenhua Palace to meet Zhu Gaochi.

As soon as he entered the Wenhua Palace, Zhu Gaochi stood up and laughed loudly: "Hey, our family's money-scattering boy is here. Look at the maids here. I don't want too much. You can choose one hundred thousand coins!"

"Uncle also made fun of me?"

Zhu Zhanhe had a helpless expression on his face. It seemed that he would not be able to get rid of his nickname of Ming Dynasty's No. [-] lover and grievance.

"How am I making fun of you? The first time you saw that granddaughter officer that day, you directly praised her for being beautiful, but I never thought that you would pay such a high price to replace her."

Zhu Gaochi laughed again.

"Uncle, are you not angry at all about this?"

Zhu Zhanhe stepped forward, sat down in front of Zhu Gaochi and asked.

"Why am I angry? Are there seven or eight female officials by your aunt's side? They are all the same as the granddaughter. Isn't it the same for you or your elder brother?"

Zhu Gaochi waved his fat hand, listening to what he meant, he really regarded Zhu Zhanhe as his son.

"Thank you uncle, but my aunt seems to be very angry, please help me persuade me."

Zhu Zhanhe chuckled.

The last time the Crown Princess went to the palace to ask for someone, although Zhu Zhanhe was put together in the end, she probably still felt uncomfortable.

"Women have long hair but short knowledge. It's too disgraceful for her to run over to ask for the person your elder brother gave away. I don't even bother to talk about her!"

Zhu Gaochi half-lyed on the chair, complaining with disgust.

Of course Zhu Gaochi said so, but in fact he and the princess still have a deep relationship.

But for husband and wife, bickering and quarreling are unavoidable at ordinary times, Zhu Gaochi has reached the highest state of a married man: as long as his wife doesn't do too much, he will pretend that he didn't see it.

After chatting a few words about homework, Zhu Zhanhe got to the point.

"Uncle, I came today to ask you something!"

Zhu Zhanhe said with a little embarrassment.

"what's up?"

Zhu Gaochi asked with concern.

"Isn't it because I wasted money indiscriminately? My mother took all the pocket money I saved, so I'm so poor now..."

"Wait, you're not asking me to borrow money, are you?"

Zhu Gaochi interrupted Zhu Zhanhe to ask.

"No, I've already asked Grandpa Huang for some pocket money!"

Zhu Zhanhe replied casually.

"You...you asked your grandpa for pocket money?"

Zhu Gaochi's slit eyes widened, feeling absurd and a little funny.

"That's right, the grandson has no money, isn't it normal to ask grandpa for some pocket money?"

Zhu Zhanhe asked back as a matter of course.

"It... seems to be okay."

Zhu Gaochi was taken aback for a moment, then whispered to himself, but he always felt that something was wrong.

"Of course, I'm also embarrassed to ask the emperor for money all the time, so recently I found a way to make money and need a few craftsmen. Uncle, can you help me transfer a few people?"

Zhu Zhanhe finally explained the purpose of coming today.

"Hey, I thought it was a big deal, isn't it just a few craftsmen, what craftsmen do you want?"

Zhu Gaochi said very boldly.

"I want a coppersmith, preferably the most skilled coppersmith in Baoquan Bureau."

Zhu Zhanhe said again with a hey smile.

It is indeed a trivial matter to transfer craftsmen, Zhu Zhanhe doesn't want to bother Zhu Di, and although this matter is small, it belongs to poaching Daming's corner, so he would rather come to Zhu Gaochi for help.

"Baoquan Bureau?"

Zhu Gaochi was taken aback for a moment, and then turned pale with shock: "Wait, you don't want to mint copper coins privately, do you? Let me tell you, no matter how short of money you are, you can't do this. If your grandpa finds out, it will be lost." head!"

After Zhu Di came to the throne, the circulation of copper coins was prohibited. Anyone who minted copper coins privately was immediately executed once they were found, even the royal family was no exception.

"Uncle, where are you going? I just want to make some copper ware for workshops. These copper ware are very demanding, and only coppersmiths from Baoquan Bureau can make them."

Zhu Zhanhe hastily explained.

"So it is!"

Zhu Gaochi was relieved after hearing the words, then nodded and said: "Okay, then I will send someone to Baoquan Bureau to say hello later, and send some skilled coppersmiths to the palace to find you."

"Great, thank you uncle!"

Zhu Zhanhe slapped his hands excitedly, with Zhu Gaochi's words, his copper movable type was more than half successful.

After the matter was settled, Zhu Zhanhe was about to say goodbye and leave.

But Zhu Gaochi suddenly stopped him and said: "Zhanhe, since the day of Qiuxing Garden, something is wrong with your elder brother coming back. This incident happened because of you, so can you help me persuade him?"

"What's wrong, brother, what's wrong?"

Zhu Zhanhe asked in surprise.

"I can't say a few words clearly, you will know when you go!"

Zhu Gaochi frowned slightly when he said this, and seemed to be very worried about Zhu Zhanji's situation.

"This... ok!"

Zhu Zhanhe hesitated for a moment before finally nodding his head. After all, he was only doing him a favor, and he was too embarrassed to refuse.

(End of this chapter)