October has passed and it has slowly started to become a bit chilly.

The continuous rain for several days has made the streets of the entire capital become muddy.

There are ministers from poor families who naturally do not have the extra money to buy a sedan chair bearer. Even if they rent it, they cannot afford it.

Then you can only walk on two feet, and in the dark, you will naturally be covered in mud.

It's not okay to go to court this time. It's disrespectful. The eunuch in charge of the ceremony will not care about you so much and will record it directly.

The last time they were fined was a few months' salary.

The already poor family situation will become even worse.

In desperation, I had no choice but to wash myself with water at Wulong Bridge outside the palace before entering the court.

The breakfast at Meridian Gate makes the upright officials from poor families feel warmer.

So every day, many ministers accidentally fell into the lake.

Generally speaking, those who can enter Fengtian Temple are older. In such weather, they simply cannot afford to get sick and stay at home.

"From now on, let's postpone the morning court meeting for half an hour."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang likes to squeeze officials, this is indeed a bit bitter. After all, they are all Beijing officials who can enter the Fengtian Palace, which can be said to have entered the power center of the Ming Dynasty.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Many ministers kowtowed sincerely. The sunrise is extremely late now, and being able to postpone it for half an hour is a great thing for most officials.

Zhu Ying looked at the steady drizzle outside Fengtian Palace and said, "Grandpa, it is now the slack time for farming, and the autumn harvest has passed. Nowadays, the roads inside and outside the capital are in ruins, the rain is waterlogged, and muddy water is splashing."

"My grandson would like to ask my grandpa to issue an edict to make some improvements inside and outside the capital."

Zhu Ying had long wanted to carry out major infrastructure construction in the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

The name of the capital city is now second to none and unique in the entire Ming Dynasty, or in other words, all capital cities in the world.

But for Zhu Ying, who had experienced the high-rise summer period in later generations, with clean roads and well-proportioned houses, it was like entering a slum after leaving the palace.

Even the bustling streets of Qinhuai are surrounded by low-rise buildings.

Because most of them are made of wood, they all have a decayed and old smell at first glance. The prince's residence in the inner city, the wealthy mansion compound, and the bluestone cast wall look a little neater.

The rest of the area is full of filth, and there are even some narrow alleys where no one cleans up the toilet and the stench is overwhelming.

In addition, the land is not hardened, except for the stone road near the inner city of the palace, it is difficult to describe other places.

This is the current, true portrayal of the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

This is true for Nanjing, and it goes without saying much for the rest of the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing that His Highness Taisun wanted to repair the capital, the ministers below immediately became extremely quiet.

Today's capital, especially on rainy days like this, really makes people suffer, whether they are literati, scholars, or traffickers and pawns, they have been suffering for a long time.

It's just that after so many years, I have become accustomed to it.

Now His Highness Taisun has proposed that there can be better improvements. This all involves oneself, so who can say no?

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he thought about it.

The autumn harvest had just passed, the treasury was full, and the internal funds were extremely rich. It seemed that it would be a good idea to spend some money to repair the entire capital.

"Okay, since the grandson proposed this matter, the grandson will be responsible for it. The six departments should fully cooperate with the grandson."

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered.

"In compliance with His Majesty's decree."

The Huagai Hall is located between the Fengtian Hall and the Jinshen Hall, and is relatively smaller in area.

This is also Zhu Yuanzhang's office on weekdays.

However, when Da Sun's government affairs needed to be handled, Zhu Yuanzhang would step aside and go to the larger Jinshen Hall at the back to handle government affairs.

For more than ten years, this has been the fixed office location of Prince Zhu Biao.

Now the power as the emperor is just like in the past. Zhu Yuanzhang gradually transferred to his grandson. The same is true for the Huagai Palace.

"There may be planning drawings inside and outside the capital. What should be the basis for the current construction of the Ministry of Industry?"

Zhu Ying summoned Shen Shu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, to the Huagai Hall and asked him in detail.

These construction craftsmen are all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry.

Shen Shu bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, the Ministry of Works constructs buildings, and its own painters produce drawings, and then the craftsmen cast them according to the drawings. The construction method is based on the classic "Kaogong Ji"."

Hearing this, Zhu Ying told Guo Zhong to get a copy of "Kao Gong Ji" and take a look at it, and then asked Shen Shu again: "Is there any detailed planning drawings inside and outside the capital?"

Shen Ming replied: "Your Majesty, I would like to inform you that all the drawings related to the internal and external planning of the capital are stored in the library of the Ministry of Works. If your Majesty needs it, I will immediately fetch it for your Majesty."

Zhu Ying just asked casually, but he didn't expect that the capital actually had plans.

In fact, Zhu Ying was really ignorant. Not to mention the construction of the capital, even other cities had detailed plans.

It's just that the current planning drawing is not too detailed, only the general direction and positioning. During the construction process, there will be many changes based on the location.

"That's it, then get it quickly." Zhu Ying ordered.

Shen Shu quickly said: "Follow the order."

Then I hurried to get the drawings.

Zhu Ying began to think deeply about the transformation of the capital.

The first step is to harden the ground. This must be done, but it would be a bit difficult to cover everything with stone slabs.

Stone slabs need to be fired, and the production cycle is not short.

The cost of paving the entire capital with stone slabs is probably not a small amount. Even if Zhu Ying does have a lot of money now, and can even use the treasure banknotes to raise the certificate, such a large project is too extravagant and wasteful. .

'It seems that the best way is to use Roman mortar, add sand and gravel, and create a concrete-like ground.'

'The hardening of the ground is a difficult problem. Manual tamping is too slow. It would be great if there was a soil compactor. It can be rolled back and forth twice and it will be solid.'

Thinking of this, Zhu Ying's eyes lit up.

In the final analysis, the soil compactor is not difficult to make. It is just a big roller, but the power is difficult to work with.

'As for power, if there is no machinery, if there is more human and animal power, why don't you worry that it won't be able to pull it?'

"If four cows are not enough, then eight cows will be used. If five people are less, ten people will be needed. You have to take action to suppress them quickly."

Thinking of this, Zhu Ying started painting directly.

After taking a few pictures, Zhu Ying was not satisfied. After all, when it comes to painting, Zhu Ying is good at freehand brushwork, not realism.

It’s just that when the artistic conception is too profound, it is relatively difficult for others to understand it.

At least Shen Shu, who came back with the drawings, looked at them for a while and couldn't figure out why.

"Do you know what I am painting?" Zhu Ying asked as he put away his pen.

The painting in front of me can be regarded as the most proud of the more than ten paintings.

When Shen Shu heard this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He could see something in this dark mass.

If you say you can't see it, wouldn't you offend His Highness Taisun? Do you want to live in the court in the future?

In desperation, Shen Zhu could only bite the bullet and guessed: "The artistic conception of His Highness's painting is far-reaching, and it is difficult for me to reach it. However, when I look at it, it seems that what Your Highness is painting is a plow used for plowing the fields?"

I just guessed that the little black ball on the screen looked like a person or some kind of animal in front. There were a few black lines pulling it, and it was somewhat similar to the scene of plowing.

When Zhu Ying heard this, she was stunned for a moment.

The principle of this soil compactor seems to be similar to that of oxen plowing fields.

But one is loosening the soil and the other is pressing the soil.

Thinking of this, Zhu Ying smiled and said: "It is indeed similar to a plow, but in this aspect, it is not for loosening the soil."

"Shen Shangshu, you see, what is painted behind this palace is a huge iron cylinder. Its purpose is to compact the ground like oxen plowing a field. You only need to count the number of oxen to pull this iron cylinder back and forth. Roll, the ground will be compacted in no time."

Zhu Ying paused, frowned and continued: "It's just that it's a bit troublesome to make this iron cylinder. It will probably take craftsmen a lot of time to make such a large iron cylinder."

After hearing His Highness Taisun's words, Shen Zuxing added with a deep heart: "Your Highness, if it is just to ram the ground, although the iron cylinder is good, it can also be used as a stone pillar. The center of the huge stone pillar is hollowed out, and it can also be used to ram the earth."

When Zhu Ying heard this, he couldn't help but said: "What a good idea."

This time, Zhu Ying finally had a thorough understanding of the wisdom of the ancients.

What he temporarily lived in was a foresight, but it was slightly lacking in practical implementation.

As the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Shen Shu controlled the craftsmen. He had long been familiar with such matters and could draw inferences with a little guidance.

In terms of a single round of IQ, there is no fool who can pass the Jinshi exam.

Those were all done by thousands of troops crossing the single-plank bridge and killing them forcefully.

"The production of this earth-pressed stone was handed over to Shen Shangshu." Zhu Ying said with satisfaction.

Shen Shu quickly expressed his position, saying that within three days, dozens of them could be built.

Then, it was about the planning and construction of the capital.
To be continued...