Xiao Qingqing's roasted meat was too salty, so Cen Wenwen took another sip of tea to dilute some of the saltiness.
He handed over a brochure and said with a smile: "Of course your Majesty will not be a robber."
Zhang Yang took the brochure and looked at it carefully, and said in a low voice: "Brother Wenwen is right. From now on, Your Majesty will always stand on the side of the masses. After eradicating the old forces, allocate the old forces' fields to the masses, and give away the old forces' lands to the masses."
If a hermit and a slave were to become a good man, people would still praise His Majesty."
Cen Wenwen nodded and said: "This is a document sent by the counties in Longyou. What is written on it are the acres that can be used to plant trees."
Zhang Yang frowned and said, "A total of six thousand hectares of land can be used to plant trees?"
Cen Wenwen nodded and said: "These are the acres around Tianshui County. They turned over the uncultivated wasteland, irrigated it every day, and then planted poplar, boxwood, elm, and pine trees."
Zhang Yang nodded and said, "There are quite a few acres of land."
Cen Wenwen sighed: "Actually, after Ma Zhou checked the fields, he discovered that the fields in Longyou were much more deserted than expected."
"Brother Wenwen, please elaborate."
"Since the Daye period, Longyou's population has dropped sharply, nearly 40% less than during the Sui Dynasty. In addition, during the Wude period, the population of Longyou was much lower than before. Only six Tianshui counties in Longyou can be identified.
With a thousand households, Ma Zhou estimated that the population of Longyou is at most 50,000, but the physical strength is less than 30,000."
Cen Wenwen held a wooden skewer for mutton skewers in his hand and added: "After the fifth year of Zhenguan, a large number of people moved to the Hexi Corridor or to Guanzhong, which led to the current situation."
"By the way." He added: "Because Monk Xuanzang is in Shazhou, there are many monks near Jiayuguan."
"Monk Xuanzang's appeal is so powerful, it's really admirable."
Zhang Yang sighed with emotion.
Cen Wenwen smiled and said, "Those monks compared Xuanzang to wisdom. It was rumored that he was a very wise monk. When the report of the Tianzhu War was delivered, Monk Xuanzang learned the news of the death of the King of Tianzhu, opened a dojo, and worked with a thousand
The monks chanted scriptures together."
"Shazhou can afford to support so many monks." Zhang Yang asked curiously.
"Shazhou is indeed barren, but Xuanzang ordered people to dig wells, and there are Buddhists in Guanzhong who provide food, so it is not a problem to feed a thousand monks."
Zhang Yang sighed: "Xuan Zang is a very determined man. I originally wanted to let him shake the Buddha's heart, but I have given up now."
"Yes." Cen Wenwen burped, "His Majesty sent people to lobby several times, hoping that Monk Xuanzang could return to secular life, but they were all rejected. Some people said that he was an ignorant monk and should die in Shazhou."
Zhang Yang handed the document back to him, "Brother Wenwen, thank you for telling me this."
Cen Wenwen smiled and said: "I have known the County Marquis for many years. In fact, the County Marquis is also a determined person and has not wavered after so many years."
"Excuse me. I just want to be a person who can count money until my hands cramp. I am thirty years old. My biggest wish in life is to retire as soon as possible."
"Xiaguan is over forty years old, but he doesn't have the state of mind of a county prince."
"Has Your Majesty been spending a lot of money lately?"
Cen Wenwen's expression became more solemn, "My subordinates have written remonstrances, but His Majesty has always ignored them."
"It is not easy to persuade the emperor."
"Oh?" Cen Wenwen nodded and said, "Does the County Marquis have any suggestions?"
"No idea."
When the conversation changed, Cen Wenwen hesitated and said discouragedly: "It's very tiring to talk to you."
After saying that, he took a sip of tea, stood up and said: "The imperial examination is coming this year, and I will be retained as a lower official soon."
Zhang Yang shook the fan in his hand and said, "I won't give it away."
Seeing the solemn look on his daughter's little face, Zhang Yang asked again: "What's wrong?"
"I heard from Uncle Wenwen that the emperor destroyed the Longyou clan. Will the emperor use this method to destroy Lishan in the future?"
Zhang Yang did not answer.
Xiao Qingqing shook his head again, "It shouldn't be. The construction of Lishan Mountain is all for the sake of the country. It has been quite effective recently. The emperor will not cut off his own arms."
She overturned her thoughts.
This time the emperor's method of punishing Longyou was very simple. Princess Runan just had the idea of planting a tree, so Li Shimin took action.
The aristocratic family has collapsed, and there are many heads of people. How can the Longyou family dare to make trouble?
Li Yuan said that Li Shimin's killings were too heavy, and such an emperor would be criticized by future generations.
In fact, there are still many people who blame the emperor, and many people blame Lishan.
Lishan treats human resources as resources and does not treat people as human beings.
Zhang Yang chuckled, "Oh, what an interesting statement, I need to think more about it."
In May of the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, the emperor sent people to rush the three thousand artillery pieces again.
The Lishan railway had to be temporarily suspended because of the big artillery project. That was 3,000 artillery pieces, not 3,000 iron barrels.
Lishan worked hard to finish most of it.
Six months have passed since the emperor placed the order.
Li Tai watched his brother-in-law put on his gloves and put on his apron with a suspicious expression, "My brother-in-law usually doesn't leave the workshop."
Drawings were hung on the wall one after another. Zhang Yang frowned and looked at them for a long time, "Is this the only way we can do it?"
Li Tai replied: "We connect the steam engine to the lathe, and the speed can only reach this point. You can go faster if you want, but it is very dangerous and the furnace will explode."
"Well, completely first."
Zhang Yang nodded cogently and looked around to see that the bearing inside a lathe was rotating, and the other end of it was connected to the wheel of the steam engine.
The county magistrate rarely left the workshop in person, and for a while the craftsmen also gathered around, wanting to take a closer look.
Zhang Yang was holding a mold in his hand and was cutting it with a lathe.
Li Tai looked curious. His brother-in-law's technique was very steady and skillful. This mold was made by Master Jiang and others yesterday.
I don’t know what my brother-in-law is doing with this weird mold.
Watch as the corners of this mold are being cut, and the corners gradually become wider.
Li Tai waved his hand to let the craftsmen around him go about their business, and then sat in a daze outside the workshop.
In the afternoon, Zhang Yang walked out of the workshop, holding the drawing in his hand, "We need to improve it more. This is the mold we will make next time."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Li Tai took the drawing and said: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, it can be cast in two days."
Now the workshops and ironworks are busy making artillery, and the productivity is concentrated here. There are more than ten lathes in the workshop, but only two are connected to steam engines, and these two are reserved for the exclusive use of the county marquis.
Zhang Yang washed his hands, took off his apron, and said, "I will come again early tomorrow morning."
For a month, Zhang Yang was busy in the workshop.
Whenever I come back from the workshop, I will shut myself in the study and constantly modify the drawings.
Zhang Yang still left the workshop that day. He placed a copper rod at one end of the lathe and an iron cylinder at the other end of the lathe.
There is a hole in the iron cylinder, just big enough for the iron pestle to go in.
Zhang Yang frowned as he watched the lathe turn, slowly feeding the copper rod in, and immediately made a harsh metallic sound.
Copper has very good plasticity. When it is slowly pushed into the iron cylinder, a lot of copper shavings immediately fly out.
After pulling it out again, the copper rod already has threads.
Zhang Yang carefully stopped the carriage and observed carefully. The copper rod was only slightly thicker than chopsticks and one foot long.
The threads on the surface may be deep or shallow. Use tung oil to cool them down, and there is still room for refinement.
Zhang Yang measured carefully with a Lishan ruler, and then went to another lathe. The iron pestle used for tapping was also ready.
Watching the rotation of the lathe, after coating the copper material with tung oil, slowly push it in. Do not tap too fast, so do it slowly.
Taking out the tapped copper ring, Zhang Yang tried to put it on the screw, turned it a few times, and got stuck halfway.
It was confirmed that there is no problem with the inner diameter. It is probably a problem with the depth of the thread.
"Brother-in-law, how are you?"
"If it fails, I still have to dismantle the lathe."
"Oh my god, a month of hard work has been wasted."
Zhang Yang kicked a wooden box angrily, "You famous scholars only care about improving your spiritual realm and don't know about production and manufacturing. If the foundry industry in the Central Plains can advance hundreds of years, do I need to work so hard?"
Li Tai was asked to recast the failed product, and Zhang Yang returned to the mountain feeling depressed. Both of them were unhappy and depressed.
Even Xiao Wu and Xiao Hui noticed that the master was in a bad mood. Gao Yang and Dong Yang returned to Lishan. One or two of the younger brothers and sisters came back today and one will come back tomorrow.
Li Yue did not urge her because she was also busy and was writing a geometry textbook.
Lishan's knowledge has never been something only Lishan students can learn. Knowledge can be spread, and Lishan's Technical Institute will also explain some simpler geometry knowledge.
When the railway construction was stopped, Yan Liben was learning on his own and teaching his children that, in his words, they should not eat and drink for free.
Originally, Li Tai was filial to his father-in-law and even arranged an independent house for him, with all the daily necessities provided.
However, Yan Liben has been studying hard at Lishan recently and doesn't want to stop here.
During this period of time, Zhang Yang did not ask about the affairs of the court. Lishan and the court had their own directions.
On this day, a piece of news was sent to the court. This news came from Tubo.
Little Zanpu Gongrigongtsen wrote a letter to Songtsen Gampo, saying that Niboluo wanted to use Princess Chizun to get married to little Zanpu.
Zhang Daan immediately objected to this matter. He stood in the court and said loudly: "Niboluo is the territory conquered by the Tang Dynasty. How can Tubo make peace with them?"
Songtsen Gampo stood with his head bowed in the Tai Chi Hall. He was the Zanpu of Tubo and could decide his son's marriage.
The courtiers' attention was focused on Songtsen Gampo. This Tubo Zampo was able to inform the court of the matter, which is enough to show Tibet's loyalty to the Tang Dynasty.
Xu Jingzong stood up and bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Nibaluo was conquered by General Wang Xuance. Since it was a territory conquered by the Tang people, it is up to the Tang people to make the decision. If Nibaluo still has the heart to be independent, General Liang Jianfang's Western Expedition
The army can go south and destroy them at any time."
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Zanpu, what do you think about it?"
Songtsen Gampo saluted again and replied very respectfully: "It's all up to the Khan to decide."
Li Shimin had a smile on his face, "If it's a good thing, I will definitely make it happen."
After looking at the civil servants and generals in the dynasty, Li Shimin stood up and said in a deep voice: "Retreat from the dynasty."
Everyone walked out of the Tai Chi Hall in twos and threes, and Li Yifu quickly walked out of the Tai Chi Hall, "Is it true that Nibala and Tubo cannot marry?"
Zhang Daan turned around and glanced at the humble Songtsen Gampo, who was talking to several courtiers. He looked back and lowered his voice and said, "Why did Tubo tell the court about this kind of thing?"
Li Yifu replied: "Of course it's because Songtsen Gampo was loyal to the Tang Dynasty."
"Even you think so."
"Is not it?"
Zhang Daan said in a deep voice: "Because of this, we cannot easily agree to this matter, and this marriage cannot fulfill them."
Li Yifu said seriously: "Do the Tubo people have ulterior motives?"
Zhang Daan nodded, "It is recorded in the documents sent by the Tubo Protectorate this year that Princess Chizun of Niboluo has long wanted to unite with Tubo. If the two families get married, the next step is to capture Tianzhu."
"The Tubo people have sinister intentions." Li Yifu suddenly understood.
"This is not a beautiful thing. This is the ambition of the little Khan of Tubo. This matter will never fulfill them."
Li Yifu followed up again and said quickly: "I will write a memorial to persuade you now. This matter must not be underestimated."
Zhang Da'an doesn't mind having a profit-seeking person like Li Yifu in the Ministry of Rites, at least he is very capable.
He wanted to write a remonstrance memorial in order to let His Majesty discover his role and gain His Majesty's attention.
The Taiye Pond has been repaired, and His Majesty will come here to walk around in his spare time. Empress Changsun is playing here with her children.
It would be nice to have a relaxing place in the palace.
I felt that it was very worthwhile to build this place.
"Your Majesty, this is a memorial from Li Yifu, the young minister of Honglu Temple."
Li Shimin's eyes were on Qinghe, Li Fu, and Li Ming. He took the memorial with a smile and read it. He only glanced at it and said solemnly: "I remember that both the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Honglu Temple are Zhang Da'an."
The eunuch replied: "Your Majesty, it has always been him."
"The Minister of Rites has not yet submitted the memorial, but he has come to me for advice first, Li Yifu?" Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "He is a very motivated young man."
"Your Majesty, do you want to summon him?"
"No need, let Zhang Daan come over."
The eunuch bowed and left. After half an hour, Zhang Daan walked to Taiye Pond. This Taiye Pond was very beautiful, especially in spring.
There are water pavilions and smiling paths in the water, as well as lotus flowers preparing to bloom, and water pavilions scattered here and there.
At a glance, you can see a small boat leaning on the shore.
Zhang Da'an straightened his clothes and stepped forward, "Your Majesty."
Li Shimin closed his eyes and lay on a recliner made of precious purple wood. "It was Zhang Yang who recommended you to be the Minister of Etiquette."
Zhang Daan lowered his head and replied: "I have been in panic all day long since I became the Minister of Rites."
"Haha." His Majesty still did not open his eyes, but chuckled and said: "Zhao Guogong, Chu Suiliang and the others are always in fear. Even you are too. How disgusting I am."
"I am not afraid because of Your Majesty, but because I feel that the position of Minister of Rites is a heavy responsibility, so I am afraid."
The scene can be said, but from a person's point of view, when Zhang Da'an said he was scared, he was really scared. After all, he was a young man who was less than thirty and more than twenty years old.
The last person to serve as Minister of Rites at such a young age was Zhang Yang.