Chapter 120: The Old Man, the Wolf, and the Rascal
() "You might make a fortune." Zhong Jinwei took a step back and replied.
He originally wanted to seduce Emperor Chongzhen to value the innovation of craftsmen, but when he saw Emperor Chongzhen was so concerned, he felt a little guilty. After all, he had never practiced it. If it was not what he thought, it would not look good. Yuan Chonghuan spent the five years of the Ping Liao Dynasty
It hasn't been long since I blew my whistle, and I'm currently in jail for review.
When Emperor Chongzhen saw that Zhong Jinwei's words softened again, he couldn't help but be a little disappointed, but he still didn't want to miss the opportunity to make a fortune, so he asked again: "How can you make a fortune? Tell me."
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen was pursuing this topic, Zhong Jinwei had no choice but to say what he had been thinking before: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, as long as the temperature is high enough, cement, glass, and steel can be made. It's just that I know that all these things can be made."
I can’t remember the specific temperature, and I don’t even have a thermometer now.” Zhong Jinwei later complained about these basic tools.
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he stood up from his throne with a roar, stared at Zhong Jinwei and asked: "Master Zhong, do you think cement, glass, and steel can be made?"
Emperor Chongzhen also specifically emphasized the topic of cement, glass, and steel. If he wanted to replace it with ordinary things, he might wonder what a thermometer is, but now that he has heard about cement, glass, and steel, he would not care about the temperature or a thermometer.
of.
"Theoretically it should be like this, but the results will only be known after actual practice. But your Majesty, don't worry, these things have long been available in Europe. As long as our Ming Dynasty pays attention to the development of science and technology, it should not be difficult to create them.
"Zhong Jinwei explained to Emperor Chongzhen.
"Is Europe the area where the Sun Never Set Empire is located as indicated on Master Zhong's map?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.
"Yes, that's the place. They are more advanced than the Ming Dynasty in some aspects and are worth learning from."
"Oh, I know that the Minister of Rites, Zuo Shilang, is currently revising the new calendar together with some Westerners." Emperor Chongzhen introduced with a smile.
"Oh, I remembered, is it Xu Guangqi?" Zhong Jinwei asked in surprise when he heard this. Even the title he used to call himself "Chen" became "I".
Emperor Chongzhen nodded after hearing this: "Master Zhong also knows his name?"
"Ah, Your Majesty, he is a famous person. I have always wanted to recommend it to Your Majesty, but I keep forgetting it. I really shouldn't!" Zhong Jinwei said while blaming himself.
"Oh, Master Zhong, tell me what reputation he has in future generations." Emperor Chongzhen felt as if he was about to discover a treasure, and he began to get excited.
"Your Majesty, in later generations, Xu Guangqi is known as the first person in China to open his eyes to the world. He is also a mathematician, scientist, agriculturist, military strategist and so on. Anyway, he is very powerful." Zhong Jinwei only remembers that Xu Guangqi was very good, but the specific deeds
It's not very clear.
Emperor Chongzhen was a little dizzy when he heard it and didn't quite understand: "Master Zhong, I see you are more excited than me. Take your time and tell me in detail. What do you think of the world's number one person, what family, what family, and what family I am?
You said you were confused."
"Okay, let me give your Majesty a detailed introduction." Zhong Jinwei organized his thoughts, and then looked at Emperor Chongzhen who was focusing on himself and said: "Your Majesty, China, the Ming Dynasty, has been slowly overtaken by Western countries. For example,
The artillery we make is not as powerful as that of Western countries? This is a weapon for the military and the country!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded. As for artillery, anyone who is not a fool knows how powerful Western artillery is. The Ming Dynasty's Hongyi cannon is an imitation of the Franco machine.
"In the past, we invented gunpowder and introduced it to the West. As a result, they made weapons as powerful as artillery, but we basically only used it to set off firecrackers. Of course, we also have firearms, but they are far less powerful than Western artillery.
However, the Chinese people still consider themselves to be a sovereign country, and others are barbarians, thinking that the Ming Dynasty is the most powerful country in the world."
When Emperor Chongzhen heard what Zhong Jinwei said, he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. He used to think so too. But later he slowly changed his mind after seeing many Western items, especially Zhong Jinwei's map and the introduction to the Empire of the Sun.
, only then did he fully realize that there were still powerful countries in the West that were not inferior to the Ming Dynasty.
Naturally, Zhong Jinwei didn't know what Emperor Chongzhen was thinking, but he still continued what he said: "Your Majesty, I actually feel that the situation in Ming Dynasty is very bad now. I want to give you an analogy, and I hope you won't be offended."
Emperor Chongzhen heard Zhong Jinwei give himself a vaccination for the first time. Master Zhong really, where did he learn this trick? In the past, even I, the king of the country, said it, is there anything more serious than this?
You really underestimate my tolerance.
"Master Zhong, if you have something to say, just say it directly. In the future, if you have anything to say, say it directly. I know that Master Zhong is dedicated to serving the public. No matter how hurtful your words are, it is for me and the Ming Dynasty. I know this.
"Emperor Chongzhen said sincerely with relief.
It feels good to be trusted by someone, especially by an emperor.
Zhong Jinwei gratefully thanked Emperor Chongzhen and said, "Your Majesty, your Majesty will understand the situation of the Ming Dynasty if I use an analogy."
After sorting out his thoughts for a while, Zhong Jinwei started to make an analogy: "Today's Ming Dynasty has become old after more than two hundred and seventy years. I wonder if your majesty understands history. After so many years, dynasties in history have basically become
The country has been destroyed, even the powerful Han and Tang Dynasties."
Of course Emperor Chongzhen understood and knew that the Ming Dynasty was in a difficult situation, but he always thought that the Ming Dynasty was different from other dynasties, and that he was as diligent and caring as Taizu and Chengzu, so he wanted to revive the Ming Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty at this time is like an old man with a hidden disease. The hidden disease has begun to attack slowly. The old man is busy looking for doctors, but he often meets quack doctors. Instead of curing the hidden disease, he slowly
It’s getting better and better.”
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen was listening attentively, Zhong Jinwei continued: "At this time, a newborn white-eyed wolf betrayed the old man because he refused to obey the old man's teachings and went out. He was also jealous of the wealth accumulated by the old man over the years and came to snatch it from time to time.
An old man’s wealth.”
As soon as Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he knew that the newborn white-eyed wolf mentioned by Zhong Jinwei refers to Jianzhou Jurchen.
"But because he was young and not very strong, he couldn't beat the old man head-on, so he robbed and stole while the old man was not paying attention. Because the old man had a hidden disease and was unable to move, and the little jackal had fast legs and ran away safely after stealing.
Go back to your own nest, enjoy the stolen things, and grow up slowly."
Now that Emperor Chongzhen knew that this little white-eyed wolf was a Jurchen from Jianzhou, it was easy to understand what Zhong Jinwei said after that, referring to the repeated plundering of Jianlu. But in the Ming Dynasty, due to disasters, the officials could not do anything about Jianlu.
"Your Majesty, if this continues without change, the older the old man gets, the more serious his hidden diseases will be, and the children will grow up slowly. Will the old man's wealth be saved in the end? I think that maybe this old man will not even be able to save his life.
"
Emperor Chongzhen sighed secretly, knowing that this old man could not save his life. Zhong Jinwei had already told him this when they first met.
"Not only that, some people living in the West once visited this old man. At that time, the old man's hidden diseases were not serious. After the Westerners returned, they spread the word to the people in their own villages that there was an old man in the East who had a lot of wealth.
There are so many that make people jealous.”
When Emperor Chongzhen heard what Zhong Jinwei said, he knew that he was beginning to include Westerners as well.
"The local village chief asked people who had seen the old man in detail. He knew that he could not defeat the old man, so he had to give up the idea. The Western villages themselves are one after another. They are not convinced by each other and want to defeat each other. They are all trying their best.
Exercise your body and invent useful weapons."
Master Zhong means that the countries on the map are attacking each other, Emperor Chongzhen thought to himself.
"Finally one day, some scoundrels in the Western Village felt that they were powerful and should be able to get some benefits, so they went all the way to find the old man. After finding the old man, they tried to rob him several times, but they were defeated by the old man every time.
I am willing to pretend to be a good citizen and stay around the old man, and continue to covet the old man's wealth."
Emperor Chongzhen knew that Zhong Jinwei was the red-haired ghost and the Franconian from the south. Hearing Zhong Jinwei's comparison made him feel more and more heavy.