Time passed like this, and with Li Ding's lesson learned from the past, no one dared to oppose the policy of integrated grain payment for officials and gentry. Because of this, this policy was successfully implemented.
Today is the day when Jiajing goes to the Imperial College for his second lecture.
Long before this, news had spread that the emperor was going to the Imperial College for his second lecture.
After all, the last time the emperor went to the Imperial College to teach, he completely overturned the theory of a round sky and a square earth!
To this end, the emperor also sent a fleet to sail around the world to verify the authenticity of the doctrine.
Everyone is looking forward to what new doctrine the emperor can come up with this time.
Early morning, Yangxin Hall.
Jiajing put on his robe under the service of his personal eunuch.
At this moment, Lu Fang was seen entering the Nourishing Heart Hall with silent steps.
"His Majesty!"
"Um."
Jiajing nodded slightly, then changed the topic and asked Lu Fang.
"How is the preparation of the model I asked the Ministry of Industry to prepare earlier?"
After hearing this, Lu Fang responded without thinking.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Industry has finished manufacturing the model you requested. Not only that, but they have also prepared high-quality coal according to your instructions!"
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly and said.
"Well, not bad, show me the things!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang seemed to have been prepared. He summoned a young eunuch. After whispering a few words in his ear, the young eunuch hurriedly left the Yangxin Hall. After a while, he saw only a few eunuchs carrying the workman. The finished model was placed in front of Jiajing.
When Jiajing saw this, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He immediately stepped forward and began to carefully examine the model produced by the Ministry of Industry.
"This is the water inlet, this is the water outlet, and this is the place where coal is placed..."
While Jiajing looked at the structure of the model, he compared it with the steam engine drawings he had drawn in his mind to make sure there were not many errors or omissions.
Time passed by slowly like this. I don’t know how long it took, but Jiajing breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly turned his eyes away and said slowly: "Well, not bad, the model produced by the Ministry of Industry is the same as mine." The drawings drawn are almost the same!”
Hearing this, Lu Fang breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked Jiajing cautiously: "Your Majesty, does the content of the lecture you are going to teach at the Imperial College later have to do with this thing?"
When Jiajing heard this, he glanced at Lu Fang and immediately responded.
"This is natural. If this machine can be improved and promoted, then I, the Ming Dynasty, will be truly invincible!"
When Jiajing said this, his eyes were full of expectation.
"Your Majesty, the time is coming soon. Look..."
"Well, let's go!"
…
At this moment, inside the Imperial Academy, there was already a much-anticipated scene.
Not only the students of the Imperial College, but also the officials who could be present were looking forward to it.
Although most of them came here for the title of Emperor's disciples, there were still a small number of officials who were really inspired after listening to Jiajing's lectures.
Yan Shifan is one of them!
Since Jiajing handed over the task of manufacturing steam engine models to the Ministry of Industry, Yan Shifan gradually discovered his new hobby in the process, which was tinkering with machines.
Since Yan Shifan asked his subordinates to copy the steam engine drawings drawn by Jiajing, he fell into a state of madness.
After working every day, he would lock himself in his study, study the drawings, and think about how to completely manufacture the machine.
In order to find out the principle, Yan Shifan even sent people to the workshops run by the government to ask the craftsmen.
Yan Shifan's various abnormal behaviors naturally aroused Yan Song's vigilance. Yan Song even thought that Yan Shifan was possessed by something dirty!
It wasn't until the father and son had a frank talk that the misunderstanding was resolved.
Generally speaking, Yan Song is supportive of Yan Shifan's new hobby.
From Yan Song's point of view, although these are all weird and cunning things that cannot be put on the stage, Yan Shifan stayed at home all day and saved a lot of trouble. He no longer had to wipe his butt for him, which really saved him a lot of worry. few.
When Yan Song came back to his senses, he saw that many officials had already gathered around him. They gathered in groups of three or five, chatting with each other and getting closer to each other.
Except for his son Yan Shifan, no official dared to approach Yan Song.
On the one hand, it's because they don't have the qualifications, and on the other hand, it's because Yan Song has been the chief minister of the cabinet for more than 20 years and has a lot of authority. No official dares to approach without permission!
When he was bored, Yan Song turned around and asked Yan Shifan.
"By the way, Yan Shifan, how is the progress of the thing you have been tinkering with in the house recently?"
When Yan Shifan heard this, a bitter smile appeared on his face, full of frustration.
"Father, I have tried many times, but never succeeded!"
Just when Yan Song wanted to continue asking, Xu Jie's voice came from not far away.
"I've met Mr. Yan Ge!"
"Um."
Yan Song followed the sound and nodded slightly.
After Xu Jie, the sedan chairs of Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also arrived at the Imperial College one after another.
Seeing that several members of the cabinet had arrived, Xu Jie took the lead in provoking the topic.
"Do you think His Majesty will explain the knowledge recorded in the book called Science like last time?"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, Zhang Juzheng shook his head and expressed his opinion.
"I think His Majesty will talk about something more practical this time!"
After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Yan Shifan aside, and then added.
"Didn't His Majesty ask the Ministry of Industry to make a model before?"
Seeing this situation, Yan Shifan had no choice but to stand up and explain to everyone.
"Well, that's right. Not long ago, His Majesty asked Eunuch Lu to come in person and said that he would make a specific model according to the drawings. It must be for today's teaching!"
"Besides, the location of today's class was changed to a more open place, presumably to place the model."
Just as everyone was discussing in a lively manner, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Your Majesty is here!"
After hearing this, the officials who were still chatting with each other stopped talking, and then they lined up according to their rank and seniority.
A moment later, the dragon chariot Jiajing was riding appeared in everyone's sight. Behind the dragon chariot, closely followed by a large number of royal guards, responsible for protecting the emperor's safety.
Immediately, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, many officials present knelt on the ground and spoke in unison.
"I respectfully welcome your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
With Lu Fang's support, Jiajing got off the dragon chariot and glanced at the ministers present one by one.
After a long time, Jiajing gave instructions calmly.
"Well, everyone, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Subsequently, after receiving the emperor's permission, many officials present stood up from the ground, but there were still some sharp-eyed officials who discovered something unusual.
"Your Majesty did not come empty-handed this time, he also brought a model!"
Yan Shifan followed his gaze and recognized it at a glance. This was the model made by the craftsmen in the city according to the drawings provided by the emperor from the Ministry of Industry.
Immediately, Yan Shifan gathered his thoughts, followed the emperor's footsteps, and entered the Imperial Academy.
…
Compared with the last time Jiajing came, the scenery inside the Imperial College has not changed much. It still looks shaded by ancient locust trees and full of greenery.
When Jiajing and his party, led by Imperial College Jijiu, arrived at the location of the lecture, they discovered that the place was already crowded with tribute students and supervisors who had come to observe.
Seeing this situation, Jiajing couldn't help but secretly rejoiced.
"Fortunately, I changed the teaching place to this square in advance."
Seeing the emperor's arrival, these students quickly saluted Jiajing respectfully.
"I'll wait, I've met His Majesty!"
"Um."
When Jiajing saw this situation, he responded in an incomprehensible manner, and immediately nodded to Lu Fang, who quickly signaled. After a while, the steam engine cylinder model manufactured by the Ministry of Industry was carried to the square. superior.
After the model was carried to the square, it quickly aroused the curiosity of many students present, and they talked about it.
"What is it that Your Majesty asked people to carry out?"
"I don't know, maybe it's a new weapon, but it looks like a pot."
"Your Majesty is not going to teach us how to cook, is he?"
"What stupid things are you talking about? How is that possible!"
Jiajing seemed to see the doubts of these students. After looking around, he explained.
"This is a machine I designed on a whim recently. I named it a steam engine!"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, the students started discussing again.
"What, a steam engine, what is this?"
"Are there any steam engines recorded in the ancient and modern sages' books?"
Yan Shifan on the side looked like he suddenly realized after listening to Jiajing's introduction: "It turns out this thing is called a steam engine!"
While the students were having a lively discussion, the Imperial College student beside him coughed twice and said calmly.
"Quiet!"
After the words fell, the scene suddenly became silent. Immediately afterwards, the Imperial Academy's sacrificial wine turned his eyes to Jiajing and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, please continue."
When Jiajing heard this, he withdrew his gaze from the Imperial Academy's sacrificial wine, and immediately continued to add.
"I didn't choose this name for nothing, but because the power of this machine is steam."
After Jiajing finished speaking, a Gongsheng student stood up and asked Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, if that's the case, then what is the purpose of this machine?"
When Jiajing heard this, his face was full of smiles, and he immediately explained.
"This machine has a wide range of uses. It can not only be used to extract underground water during mining, but can also be used for textiles and irrigation. More importantly, if this machine can be slightly improved, it can even be used to Attach it to the carriage to make the carriage run faster!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for clarifying the students' doubts!"
After receiving Jiajing's answer, the Gongsheng retreated thoughtfully.
Xu Jie on the side, after hearing Jiajing's explanation, his eyes lit up and he said to himself.
"Your Majesty just said that this thing called a steam engine can be used for textiles!"
“If this machine could be built and slightly modified, wouldn’t it mean that the efficiency of weaving would be greatly improved?”
While Xu Jie was still daydreaming, Jiajing's voice sounded in everyone's ears again: "But before I formally explain the principles of steam engines to you, I still have something to say to you."
After Jiajing finished speaking, the expression on his face became solemn. After looking around, he continued.
"I believe everyone still remembers what happened in the capital not long ago, right?"
Everyone present knew what the emperor was referring to. The major event that happened in the capital not long ago was that Li Ding, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, opposed the policy of integrating grain payments between officials and gentry, and wantonly incited officials and students in an attempt to challenge the emperor. Forced into the palace!
Although judging from the results, Li Ding's death was very miserable and he was struck by five thunders. But at that time, in addition to those officials, there were also many Imperial College students who believed Li Ding's words and followed him to the Forbidden City to petition. .
Some of them believed Li Ding's words deeply, and even thought it was blasphemy to the scholars all over the world!
After Li Ding was punished by God and struck by five thunders, they realized belatedly that they had been used. Seeing that the emperor's old affairs were no longer brought up, many of the Imperial Academy students at the scene lowered their heads in shame.
Immediately afterwards, Jiajing's plain voice sounded in everyone's ears again.
"The right thing is to seek your own government in your position. You are now students of the Imperial College. I hope you can stay sensible and not be incited by some people with ulterior motives!"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, he saw the Imperial College offering wine to the side, with large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, and he knelt down tremblingly on the ground, his face full of self-blame, and he cried.
"Your Majesty, this is all Wei Chen's fault!"
"Weichen, as the Imperial Drinker, did not teach his students well, which resulted in the students of the Imperial College being instigated by someone who wanted to use them to attack the imperial policy. Weichen requests that Your Majesty remove Weichen from the position of Imperial Winemaker!"
Everyone was shocked by the words of the Imperial Academy's wine offering, and the students were even more reluctant to give up. They all knelt on the ground and begged Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, this is all our fault and has nothing to do with the sacrificial wine. If you want to punish us, just punish us."
Jiajing seemed to be moved by the touching teacher-student relationship in front of him. After a long while, he finally spoke.
"Forget it, I won't pursue this matter any further. You should continue to serve as your Imperial College sacrificial wine!"
"But as a punishment, let me fine you half a year's salary!"
The Imperial Academy's Jijiu didn't seem to expect that the emperor would treat him like this. A look of surprise flashed across his face, and he immediately responded with gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty. Long live my emperor!"
(End of chapter)
