When the sound of dusk drums came from inside and outside the palace, it was clear that the Ming Dynasty's capital Yingtian had entered the quiet night time.
Covered in dust, with his hands bearing small wounds from a fall outside Chengtian Gate, Jie Jin finally walked into the East Palace.
Xie Jin cupped his hands and bowed: "Your Majesty..."
"Brother Gentleman, please stop talking."
Zhu Yunxi interrupted Xie Jin's words with his hand, then crossed his arms over his chest, making tut-tut sounds, and circled around the confused Xie Jin several times.
At this time, many people gathered in the front hall of the East Palace.
They all heard that Xie Xie, who was famous and had a bright future, was overjoyed, and came over to wait on His Highness the Grand Sun to meet the ministers, so that they could get up close and personal with the eunuchs and palace maids.
Under the gaze of everyone, Xie Jin couldn't help but feel numbness in his back.
"Your Highness...?"
Zhu Yunxi stopped, stood in front of Xie Jin, and then stretched out his hand.
Bang bang bang.
He slapped his palm on Xie Jin’s belly.
Then he heard Zhu Yunxi let out a light sigh and frowned, just when Xie Jin was about to wonder if he was in the wrong place.
I saw Zhu Yunxi holding back his laughter, looking puzzled, and said curiously: "Didn't you say that Brother Dashen is happy?"
"I am indeed happy." Xie Jin, who had not yet reacted, responded blankly, blinking his eyes.
Zhu Yunxi finally couldn't help laughing, pointed at Xie Jin's belly and said, "Since you are pregnant, why didn't you show your pregnancy?"
"Showing your feelings?" Xie Jin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, his face instantly turned red: "I'm not happy!"
After finishing speaking, Jin Jie's head was full of confusion, and his heart became more and more confused.
How could I just go back to Beijing and be happy?
After Zhu Yunxi laughed for a while, he pointed to the side: "I have been working hard all the way back from Taiping Mansion this time. Although I must have something important to do, I decided to sit down and rest first and have a sip of tea. The meal has been prepared by someone. Drink it."
Let’s take a cup of tea and wash up. It would be nice for the gentleman to talk about it in detail during the meal.”
After Xie Jin was reminded at this time, he felt that his mouth was dry and his tongue was burning and painful.
Thinking that since he had returned to Beijing and entered the palace, he could not leave the city due to the curfew, so he sat aside and drank a lot of tea.
Zhu Yunxi also sat down and took a sip of tea slowly, not daring to drink too much, otherwise it would be difficult to sleep at night.
Then he gave instructions to the palace servant: "Go out and deliver the message, and ask someone to prepare the people who will accompany Bachelor Jie back to the capital. There will be enough food and wine, and everyone will have a good rest tonight."
The palace man took the order and went out.
Zhu Yunxi looked at Jie Jin who was still pouring water into his stomach, and smiled silently: "The palace door is also locked. Brother Da Shen will stay in the East Palace tonight after washing and eating."
However, Xie Jin suddenly stood up and bowed down: "I thank you for your kindness, but I dare not stay in the East Palace. This is inconsistent with etiquette. After I reported the reason, I went to spend the night in front of Wenhua Hall. There was nothing serious."
”
At this time, someone from the front came over to tell him that the toiletries prepared for Xie Jin were ready, and the meals were about to be ready.
Zhu Yunxi stood up and patted Xie Jin on the shoulder: "Brother, please go wash up first. We'll talk about everything later. There's no rush."
……
"What?"
"Why are you talking about such a big thing now?"
In front of the dining table filled with dishes in the east palace wing, Zhu Yunxi put one hand on his hips and slapped the table with the other, glaring at Xie Jin who was holding bowls and chopsticks, and shouted loudly.
Zhu Yunxi's face was filled with anger: "That's a steam engine! Do you know what that means?"
"That means that our Ming Dynasty will usher in a great era!"
"An era unique to the Ming Dynasty!"
"Brother Gentleman! You came back earlier to explain. I am now on my way to Taiping Mansion to see it with my own eyes."
Zhu Yunxi beat his chest and stamped his feet for a while, gnashing his teeth.
That's a steam engine!
Now I wish I could spread my wings and fly from the East Palace to Taiping Mansion.
A symbol of a great era.
Its significance and role have supported a magnificent era.
However, as angry and anxious as Zhu Yunxi was at this moment, Xie Jin seemed equally calm and calm.
After Zhu Yunxi finished venting his anger, he took the big teapot on the table and drank like a cow.
Xie Jin took two pieces of pork belly and said slowly: "Your Highness, Zhang Jiangguan said that although the steam engine has been built and successfully implemented, there are still some areas that need to be improved." Having said this, Xie Jin looked at Zhu Yunxi who was staring and wanted to continue listening. He put down the bowl and chopsticks slowly and peacefully, took a sip of water, and then continued: "When the city gate opens tomorrow, I will join His Highness.
Return to Taiping Mansion. After rushing there, I think Zhang Jianguan’s improvements can be completed, and then His Highness can take a good look at it."
Zhu Yunxi was already very anxious at this time.
The emergence of the steam engine has great significance.
Why did the West take the first step? Liberating and developing productive forces is the top priority.
The emergence of the steam engine was an important thing that promoted the progress of productivity.
This is the heart of modern civilization and a steady source of power that promotes social development.
Even if the first steam engine built by Craftsman Zhang, who was the first to be promoted to an official position in the Ming Dynasty, was definitely the most primitive and simple, it could definitely be applied to countless things as long as it was improved.
The Ming Dynasty with the blessing of steam engines?
Zhu Yunxi felt that Jie Jin sitting in front of him at this moment was the timely rain in the Water Margin.
I just found sweet potatoes and started to increase the material resources of Ming Dynasty society and solve the most fundamental food problem. Now, things like steam engines that liberate productivity have come.
Suddenly, Zhu Yunxi calmed down.
He looked steadily at Jie Jin in front of him: "Brother Gentleman, how did craftsman Zhang solve the problem of air tightness of the steam engine?"
Today's Daming steel smelting technology is at the pinnacle level in the world. Although there is still a long way to improve, and it cannot provide guarantee for the steam engine to generate more powerful power, the current preliminary application is probably sufficient.
The real problem is the airtightness of the steam engine.
Without sufficient air tightness, the power output provided by the steam engine will be greatly reduced.
Xie Jin was very hungry today. He ate three bowls of rice in a row and then entered the final stage of drinking soup.
I heard Taisun’s question.
He swallowed the egg drop in his mouth, wiped his mouth, shook his head and said: "Your Highness, aren't you making things difficult for me? Zhang Jiangguan and his gang of master craftsmen who will serve as supervisors are tossing things all day long.
, How can I understand this? Before I returned to Beijing this time, Zhang Jiangguan patted his chest and said that he had met His Highness’s initial requirements, and the rest of me really didn’t know.”
Zhu Yunxi glanced at Jin and said, "Forget it, Mr. Gentleman, you'd better be busy being your saint."
Many people now know that Jie Jin wants to learn from the saints.
No one thought it was a joke.
Just look at the exponential growth of people in Xinxue today every year, and everyone can see that in the near future, Xie Jin will probably be able to live to be a saint of Xinxue.
Xie Jin secretly rolled his eyes.
You must be able to become a saint of mind.
Are you talking about this with His Highness Taisun?
After having enough wine and food, Xie Jin breathed a sigh of relief, and Shi Shiran raised his arms and stood up: "Your Highness, I have eaten enough."
Zhu Yunxi glared at Xie Jin with a rather resentful look.
But Jian Jin had a sleepy look on his face. Thinking of his promise to rush back to the sky as soon as he was confirmed in Taiping Mansion, he could only let go of the idea of pestering him and waved his hand unwillingly.
"Go, go."
……
The next morning, Yingtian City woke up to the sound of three hundred and sixty-five morning bells.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was wearing coarse linen clothes in front of the Huagai Hall, faced the Fengtian Hall in front of him with his hands on his hips, his eyes were thoughtful and he spoke softly.
"They went?"
Zhu Biao, who was wearing regular clothes beside him, nodded: "I left the palace as soon as the morning bell rang, and I left the city before the morning bell went out. If I work hard, I can reach Taiping Mansion before noon."
Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth and spat: "You bastard, you are in a hurry. That Jie Jin also followed his example and returned to Beijing in a hurry despite the curfew. He didn't say anything and left again."
Zhu Biao smiled and said with relief: "Since before Yunxi went south to Jiaozhi, the Taiping Mansion has invested no less than 100,000 yuan every year, and it has increased year by year. Our eighth-grade Zhang Jiangguan from the Ming Dynasty even invested more than 100,000 yuan every year.
I stayed in Taiping Mansion for half a year, and gathered the craftsmen there for half of the year, spending countless money and food. Come to think of it..."
Zhu Biao also looked at the majestic Fengtian Temple, opened his arms, and made movements to expand and stretch his chest.
"I think it's time to harvest now."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were solemn: "After the Jinke Palace Examination, the Ministry of Jinli will be admitted to the Wenhua Palace as bachelors, and the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War will be merged. This matter must be arranged in advance."
The topic seemed to be suddenly drawn from the distant Taiping Mansion back to Yingtian Chaotang.
Zhu Biao looked sideways at the old man and nodded: "The Ministry of Rites has already announced that this year we will recruit students from all over the world for the emperor to become his disciples."
"Since ancient times, rare things have been valued." Zhu Yuanzhang muttered softly, and suddenly chuckled: "How can all living beings be noble or low outside of my family."
The emperor's body of thousands of chariots and tens of thousands of gold is of course indescribably precious.
Zhu Biao looked solemn and then said: "It's time to discuss matters with the six ministries."
Zhu Yuanzhang was not in a hurry. He turned around and his voice reached the prince's ears.
"I issued an edict to reprimand the King of Qin for his ineffectiveness in handling affairs and delaying the development of the country. He was fined three years' salary."
Be quick.
Be steady.
While you still have breath and can still shock the world, you must do everything that needs to be done and lay the foundation for your children and grandchildren.
Zhu Biao smiled silently.
The old man has been so strong all his life.
You can never change it in your lifetime.
……
"You probably won't be able to do your job of walking around the Wenhua Palace for a few more years."
There are three poles in the sun, hanging high above your head.
Zhu Yunxi, who had been driving all morning, finally slowed down, looked at Jie Jin beside him, and said lightly.
Jie Jin turned his head in confusion, with curiosity and suspicion on his face.
Zhu Yunxi smiled slightly: "It has been twenty years since the Ming Dynasty. Zhan Hui and his gang can be regarded as capable ministers who have carried forward the past and made them stable. However, they have been in charge of the center of the court for many years, or they are old, or have problems with
If the development of the government is inconsistent with the development of the government, honor and retirement will come step by step."
I was still thinking about what would happen when I took my grandson to see the steam engine.
Xie Jin was stunned when he heard this.
Will the Ming Dynasty begin to replace the old with the new again?
When was the last time?
After thinking about it for a while, Xie Jin trembled all over.
The last change of power in the court resulted in bloodshed in Yingtian City.
The position of prime minister became history in the hands of the Ming Emperor. In those years, there were countless incidents, and the emperor's authority truly reached its peak, and he completely controlled the entire Central Plains.
Zhu Yunxi stared at Xie Jin silently and said quietly: "It's not as scary as you think. Ming Dynasty is very kind now. The old man has been strong for a lifetime. Although he is old now, his spirit is stronger than before. No one dares to touch it."
Touch the old man’s brow.”
Xie Jin frowned and thought again.
It seems that there has indeed been less killing in Yingtian City in the past two years. In other words, in the 24th and 25th years of Hongwu, there have been some twists and turns in Yingtian City.
But soon, with things such as conquering the Japanese country in the east, going south to Jiaozhi, and working as farmers, the atmosphere in the court gradually changed a lot.
Xie Jin was about to speak.
There was already a sound of gongs and drums coming from the front.
Along with this, groups of people with red faces and colorful faces came from all around.
"I see His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun."
They are the officials and miner leaders in the Taipingfu mining area, as well as the general supervisors, officials and craftsmen who work at the research institute here.
With just one glance, Zhu Yunxi, who was riding on horseback, saw the eighth-grade official Zhang craftsman in the crowd, whose face was as red as a red lantern.
"You have worked hard here and are alone in this imperial court. I thank you."
After getting off the horse, Zhu Yunxi clasped his hands together and bowed in the direction of Yingtian City.
In front of you, everyone is bowing here.
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"The ministers/commons, serving the imperial court, are responsible for their responsibilities. They will not give up even if they die, and they dare not talk about their hard work."
Zhu Yunxi smiled and waved to everyone to get up.
And he is looking at the mining area behind everyone.
Countless officers and soldiers of the Taiping Prefecture's Jianyang Guards were walking up and down the mountain. In the mining area, there was a Japanese miner with a cloth wrapped around his crotch, naked upper body, dark complexion, and holding a pickaxe, spade, and drill.
The Minjin miner leaders who came here without hearing the news held long whips in their hands and whipped them in the air from time to time, making sharp sounds, which scared the Japanese miners who did not dare to retain any strength to mine the ore.
.
In the distance, in a whole area of workshops, there are countless chimneys spewing black smoke.
The coal transported from Zhongdu provides a steady stream of energy to melt the ore and smelt the mineral water, which is screened and turned into a pure metal solution.
A mining area already contains the most advanced steel industry technology in Ming Dynasty.
Removing sulfur from coal, smelting and screening of ore.
Even behind the smelting workshop, there is a steel production workshop for ordnance and farm tools that makes constant noise.
And in the most secluded and secluded place, it is also the place where Jianyang Guards are most heavily guarded.
Zhu Yunxi said nothing and waved to Craftsman Zhang: "That's the research institute over there? Take me to see the steam engine first."
When the grandson spoke, the group of people naturally did not dare to say anything, nor did they dare to say that they wanted to help the grandson first.
A crowd of people arrived outside the institute.
Most of the people were blocked outside by the officers and soldiers of Jianyang Guard. Except for a few people with official status, the only ones who could enter were those who would serve as prisoners.
Craftsman Zhang’s face is glowing today.
Ever since he became the first craftsman in the Ming Dynasty to become an official craftsman because of an agreement, he felt that he had reached the pinnacle of his life.
But don’t think, that’s just the beginning.
Now I am about to reach a new peak.
Craftsman Zhang's voice was trembling with joy, and he led Zhu Yunxi into a heavily surrounded house: "Your Highness... this... this, this, this... this is a steam engine."
Zhu Yunxi smiled helplessly and stretched out his hand: "Slow down first and watch by yourself for a while."
After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi ignored these people and walked straight to the huge steel beast that was the only one in the room.
As the first successful steam engine in the Ming Dynasty.
The one currently placed in front of Zhu Yunxi is much taller than him, with a wider arm and a length of ten feet.
With just one glance, Zhu Yunxi determined that this thing must weigh at least several tons.
Transportation is a big problem!
Feeling a little solemn in his heart, Zhu Yunxi continued to look at it.
The drawings of the steam engine were originally given to Craftsman Zhang by myself.
Combustion chamber, water chamber, air outlet pipe, power chamber, work shaft, etc.
The thermal energy is converted into steam pressure by boiling water, and then enters the power chamber and passes through the working shaft to be output as kinetic energy.
It sounds complicated.
But a simple steam engine can do enough as long as it solves this energy conversion process.
Looking at the huge pipes connected by rivets, Zhu Yunxi waved his hand and said softly: "Let's light it up."
As soon as the general supervisor at the other end was about to light the coal in the combustion chamber, Zhang Jiangguan jumped out from the side and snatched the job.
In a short time, a raging fire broke out in the huge combustion chamber.
Zhu Yunxi was not anxious, so those present did not dare to speak out.
When the water chamber made the sound of gurgling cold water turning into boiling water, Zhu Yunxi's eyes lit up.
Bursts of noise came from this primitive steam engine.
That's the sound of energy moving.
Then, there was a squeaking sound, followed by wisps of white water vapor squeezed out from the rivet-welded pipe connections.
Finally, the work shaft in the power room began to make a roaring sound. At the power output position outside, a rotating shaft began to rotate slowly, driving a huge stone mill to move.
There is no problem with energy production.
There is no problem with energy conversion.
There is no problem with power output.
Zhu Yunxi's palms hidden under his robe began to tremble.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu Yunxi suppressed his heart that was already boiling like the water in the steam engine next to him, and turned to look at Craftsman Zhang, whose blood boiled every time he started the steam engine.
"How to solve the problem of steam leakage?"
Craftsman Zhang also relaxed a little at this time, and was no longer nervous when he saw his grandson again after so many years.
In an instant, I entered my profession.
Craftsman Zhang pointed to the places where the pipes and rivets between different cabins are welded.
"Reporting to my grandson, I made a steam engine on the first day of the new year. After the steam was generated, they all ran out."
"After that, Chen and others continued to change methods and improve the process."
"Now, Chen et al. sandwiched copper sheets with iron sheets, added paper, placed them between the two parts, and then welded them with rivets, thus initially sealing the steam inside the steam engine."
Zhu Yunxi nodded, no matter what method, as long as it can solve the problem, it is a good method.
He asked again: "How many application methods have been tried so far."
Craftsman Zhang bowed and said: "Turn the mill, pump the water, pull the ore, etc., there are eight types in total now."
This is already not easy.
Zhu Yunxi nodded with increasing satisfaction.
The application scenarios of steam engines require continuous exploration and summary.
Now is just the first step.
But Zhu Yunxi smelled the atmosphere of the long-lost high-efficiency era.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu Yunxi led the people out of the house.
Standing outside the roaring house, Zhu Yunxi stared at the room where water vapor was constantly coming out.
"Everyone."
"We will be fortunate enough to see the arrival of a magnificent era unique to the Ming Dynasty."
"At that time, you will all be my heroes in the Ming Dynasty!"