Hard pens like pencils are actually more convenient than brushes if the literacy rate of the people increases.
However, in an era when Confucian scholars monopolized the right to spread knowledge, pencils were destined not to develop much unless the future emperor became illiterate, which was almost impossible.
So Zhang Yi is not optimistic about the use of pencils.
Selling it to the army seems to be a way. If the scouts can carry this thing with them, it may be more convenient than charcoal.
Zhang Yi didn't ask any further questions. He knew that businessmen like Lao Zhu might not regard pencils as a means of making money. He might contribute at a loss and gain greater benefits.
But all this has nothing to do with him. Zhang Yi doesn't care about the Chang family or his other connections.
Zhang Yi has already informed the Chang family about possible risks. What to do is up to Huang He himself.
After three rounds of drinking, the guards came to remind Zhu Yuanzhang that it was time to return to the palace.
Zhang Changsheng also received the hint and knew that he should leave.
"Brother Zhang, if you enter the palace tomorrow, His Majesty will be delighted!"
Before Zhu Yuanzhang left, he held Zhang Changsheng's hand and sent his blessings. Zhang Changsheng had mixed feelings. Isn't it up to you to decide whether Long Yan is happy or angry?
"Your Majesty, General Xu and his team can enter the city tomorrow morning!"
The inspector reported the news about Xu Da and his party to Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes narrowed into a straight line, and the smile at the corner of his mouth was very playful.
"At noon tomorrow, we will arrange for Kong Kejian to enter the palace, and Zhang Zhongcheng will come in the evening!"
After the emperor finished speaking, he got into the car directly, leaving Nuo Da, Huang Fu, and Gao Jianxian thoughtfully behind.
…
Outside Yingtian City, in a certain post station.
An old man looked at Yingtian Mansion in the distance thoughtfully.
"Is Mr. Yansheng feeling better?"
Behind the old man stood a man in his thirties with a majestic figure.
The old man did not look back. Facing Xu Da, the first man in the Ming army behind him, he still felt a little resentful.
However, the situation is stronger than the people. When the emperor of Yingtian Mansion brought that sentence through Xu Da, he had to come to Yingtian Dynasty to see the Ming Emperor when the situation was not clear.
He was unwilling to do so, but he did not dare to disobey.
Along the way, he took advantage of his physical illness, which delayed him for some time, but no matter how long the journey was, there was still time to finish. Seeing Yingtian Mansion approaching, Kong Kejian's irritability became increasingly depressed.
"My health has improved a bit, so I don't dare to feel bad. After all, the emperor has said that no matter how bad my illness is, I just look down on him!"
There was a trace of resentment in Kong Kejian's voice, how could Xu Da not hear it?
It's just that he doesn't know how to do it, and he doesn't want to get involved in his own affairs, so he is so confused.
At the same time, he also felt a little sorry for the Yan Shenggong in front of him. He also understood that the Kong family had their own pride and self-confidence.
It is believed that after Confucianism became the orthodoxy of the world, the descendants of the sage teachers would naturally have the preferential treatment of scholars. This kind of preferential treatment, with the awards from successive emperors, has become the capital of the Confucius family's pride.
The emperor of flowing water, the Kong family of iron.
As long as he, Kong Kejian, is not involved in treason, even if the emperor is dissatisfied with him, he will still give him what is due.
What he was not willing to accept was that the Mongolian bumpkin gave more, which made the Kong family, who had been supported on the altar, miss the power of power.
Xu Da didn't understand the pride of the Kong family, but he was familiar with the young boy.
I'm afraid this Yan Anglican Guild is very disappointed.
"General Xu, I'm tired, just let my son stay with me here!"
"Then Shenggong Yan should rest early!"
Next to the two of them, there was a Confucian scholar in his thirties, Kong Xixue, Kong Kejian's son. When he saw Xu Da was about to leave, he smiled at Xu Da.
Xu Da remained silent and exited their room.
The contemporary and future Yan Shenggong were left looking at each other.
"Father, you originally wanted to stay ill and let your son deal with this great emperor, but in the end you failed!"
Kong Kejian looked gloomy and said:
"If my father doesn't come, those people's swords will fall on our Kong family. We have nothing to say to these bandits. We can only deal with it. Now the world is undecided. Although the Ming Emperor has achieved great success, the Yuan army in the north is not There is no hope at all. We, the Kong family, must not show too much enthusiasm to the imperial court when the situation in the world is uncertain!
If Master Wang really goes south one day, the Emperor will misunderstand our Kong family! "
Speaking of this matter, Yanshenggong Kong Kejian was still upset. Kong Xixue understood his father's resentment.
The Kong family has a transcendent status. Normally, no matter who wins the world, the Kong family will be supported. It's just that the Kong family doesn't want to get involved so quickly.
The reason is that although Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor in Yingtian Mansion and established the Ming Dynasty, the court he wanted to overthrow actually still owned a large territory in the north.
Although the Yuan Dynasty has shown signs of failure, it is not without a glimmer of hope.
According to Kong Kejian's calculation, Ming could not offend Ming, but he absolutely could not accept Ming's reward before the world situation was settled. He claimed that he was ill and did not see Xu Da, so he just sent Kong Xixue to deal with Xu Da, in order to keep the balance between him and Ming. .
Xu Da is so good at cheating. He had already compromised and was planning to let Kong Xixue go to Beijing to face the saint.
Who knew that the Emperor of Ming Dynasty suddenly came with instructions and asked Kong Kejian if he looked down on Ming Dynasty?
well……
"Then father, what should we do tomorrow?"
"When I have an audience with the emperor tomorrow, I will have a 'relapse of my old illness', and I will leave it to you to deal with the rest!"
When the father and son were talking about this, outside the wall, a school inspector put away the monitoring tool he had fastened on the wall, and then wrote furiously next door.
After writing down and encapsulating the contents of these conversations, the conversation between Kong Kejian and his son arrived at the palace three hours later.
Night, deep!
Yingtian Mansion has already entered the curfew at night, and the doors of the palace are also closed.
In the East Pavilion, Zhu Biao stretched and yawned.
He looked at the emperor again and continued to write furiously.
Zhu Biao made no secret of his admiration for Zhu Yuanzhang who worked hard.
Mingming and Zhang drank normally, and the emperor also drank a lot. Under normal circumstances, he should have an early rest today.
It's just that Emperor Hongwu's diligence made even him, a young man, feel like he couldn't keep up.
Lao Zhu took a sip of strong tea and buried himself in the mountain-high memorial, tirelessly!
"If you are tired, go back and rest, and I will read the memorial again..."
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was concentrating on his work, he was also aware of Zhu Biao's movements.
Zhu Biao heard this and smiled: "My father didn't even take a rest, so how can I sleep alone? I just want to accompany my father!"
The father and son looked at each other and smiled. Lao Zhu was about to get up and finish his work for the day when someone came to report from outside with a secret message.
"It's so late at night and the palace gates are closed. Where did the secret report come from?"
Zhu Biao was puzzled, but Lao Zhu knew it well.
He took the sealed letter from the eunuch, opened it, browsed it quickly, and then handed it to Zhu Biao with a dark face.
Zhu Biao looked ugly after reading it.
"It seems that the Zhang family brother is right. Once a person steps down from the altar and has desires, he will often get confused!"
Zhu Biao put down the secret letter, and the concerns he had about the Kong family disappeared without a trace!
