Zhu Youtang had a need for this, and Zhang Zhou was of course happy to give him something that spanned the ages.
Moreover, the manufacturing cost of firing glass was not large for Zhang Zhou, but the loss rate of the finished product was extremely high. Compared with the gift given to him by the emperor... it was still very small.
Zhang Zhou was also willing to be generous.
"Your Majesty, twenty, have you seen enough?" Zhang Zhou said.
"enough!"
Zhu Youtang also didn't expect that this thing could be mass-produced.
Dai Yi asked: "Mr. Zhang, isn't this expensive?"
Zhu Youtang also realized something and hurriedly said: "I will ask the Ministry of Industry to cooperate with you. Just raise the amount of money needed."
"Your Majesty, these twenty telescopes should be regarded as tribute to the court. I will make several batches of them from time to time. However, I can only make these by myself at the moment. I don't want to spend too much time on this matter. …”
"I understand, I shouldn't distract you at this time. Otherwise, let's forget it."
Zhu Youtang seemed very reasonable.
Previously, he told Zhang Zhou to concentrate on taking the imperial examination, but now he asked Zhang Zhou to make telescopes for the court. As an emperor, you can't break your promise.
Zhang Zhou solemnly said: "I want to take the Jinshi examination to enter the court, but it is also to share the worries of the court. But now I am doing something to share the worries of the court, but I just sit back and ignore it just for the sake of taking the exam for fame. This is a lack of distinction between the priority of the minister. I cannot treat the Ming Dynasty with contempt. The border areas were attacked by bandits and ignored."
"good!"
After listening to Zhang Zhou's words, Zhu Youtang was even more satisfied with Zhang Zhou, a minister who was both capable and loyal to the emperor and patriotic. "I will ask Dongchang to cooperate. If you have any requests, just ask them. Dongchang!"
Xiao Jing hurriedly moved forward and said, "I will definitely cooperate with Mr. Zhang in building the telescope."
…
…
Finished talking about "business".
Zhu Youtang wanted to talk about some "private matters" again.
Zhang Zhou couldn't even tell which was public and which was private. There was no small matter in the Tian family.
"...I punish the prince to study behind closed doors. I usually send lecturers to give him lectures. If Bing Kuanqian has time, he can also go to the East Palace to give him a few lectures."
Before, Zhu Youtang asked Zhang Zhou to enter the palace to give lectures to Zhu Houzhao. This was only temporary and not the norm.
Will come only if called upon.
But now I hear Zhu Youtang’s intention is to turn his lectures into a customized one, just like the daily lectures on Jingyan. It is still an “after-school tutoring” and will not be a daily lecture at the Hanlin Academy. Time to bother.
The emperor probably also considered that he was not yet a Jinshi, so it would be difficult for him to integrate into the Hanlin circle.
Wang Hao, the examiner of Zhang Zhou's rural examination, was just a lecturer in the East Palace.
Zhang Zhou said: "I accept the decree."
Zhu Youtang asked: "Bingkuan, if you want to concentrate on studying, would it be more peaceful to go to the Imperial College, or would it be better to find another quiet place?"
"Of course I want to find a quiet place."
"Then how about letting you go to the East Palace to accompany the prince?"
Zhu Youtang, a father, suddenly made a whimsical suggestion.
The general idea is to ask Zhang Zhou to go to the East Palace to study with the prince.
The kind that accompanies you to read day and night.
Of course Zhang Zhou doesn't want to lose his freedom, but if he has the opportunity to spend some time alone with Zhu Houzhao, it will definitely be of great help to the cultivation of this naughty kid's character and outlook on life. He can even plant some seeds for Zhu Houzhao and let Zhu Houzhao know the outside world. How big.
Shouldn't it be limited to being a martial artist who knows how to fight against others? What Ming Dynasty needs is not a foolhardy emperor, but a pioneer who works hard to change the times.
Of course, anyone can be the pioneer, whether it is Zhu Youtang, Zhu Houzhao, or Zhang Zhou.
However, given Zhang Zhou's current situation, he can only influence the pioneer through some methods, and he cannot be one.
"I dare not expect this." Zhang Zhou said.
"I'm afraid you'll have a hard time! Otherwise, I'll give you three days to sort out the telescope and settle down at home. Let you go to the East Palace, and I won't completely restrict your access. I will call you out at that time. On the grounds of talking about things, I asked you to go home and take a closer look..."
Zhu Youtang had not thought of any clever way to keep Zhang Zhou in the palace.
The ready excuse now is to place Zhang Zhou in the East Palace as the prince's companion. In this way, Zhang Zhou can be on call and known by foreign ministers, and they will not think that Zhang Zhou, a scholar living in the palace, will disrupt the palace. rule.
"I obey the decree!"
…
…
Xiao Jing sent Zhang Zhou out of the palace.
Xiao Jing said with emotion: "Mr. Zhang, no one has ever been so highly regarded by His Majesty, not even Li Guang. You are the number one person in the Ming Dynasty."
Zhang Zhou said: "For Eunuch Xiao's promotion, I can only do my best to assist Bi Mingjun."
"hehe."
Xiao Jing looked around, then came closer and said, "Mr. Zhang, you are favored by the Holy Spirit now, but you must be more cautious. Someone must want to win you over, and that evil person wants to follow Li Guang's path again." , if you can't resist their methods, you will sink in...you have to be careful."
"Eunuch Xiao means to remind me, and I would like to thank you. I have no agenda beyond my duty."
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you are really right, Yang Peng has already begun to use it as a springboard to introduce powerful people who want to have connections with me.
In addition, you powerful eunuchs are also afraid that someone more powerful than Li Guang will appear again and make you completely useless, so that's why you said this to me, right?
"Your Majesty thinks so highly of you, he will definitely give you a lot of rewards. Even if you fail to pass the Jinshi exam, you will still have nothing to worry about." Xiao Jing said with emotion.
Zhang Zhou smiled and didn't reply.
You can't be a person without ambition, and Zhang Zhou will not be content with the status quo.
Although he also heard that Xiao Jing didn't have much expectations for him to pass the Jinshi examination.
In the eyes of others, he already has a golden job. Can passing the Jinshi examination make this job even better?
"By the way, Mr. Zhang, the end of this month is the winter solstice, and there will be a winter festival as usual. Your Majesty is very dissatisfied with the arrangements of the Qintian Prison this year, and you may need to worry about it."
"good."
Winter festival...
I'll have to study etiquette again when I get back.
Zhang Zhou knew very well that the Qintian Supervisor of the Ming Dynasty was a special yamen, and officials were not selected in an ordinary way. According to the regulations: "This supervisor may not be transferred to other officials, and the descendants of the family will not be promoted or appointed to official positions unless there is a special purpose. If there is a vacancy, , and will be replaced step by step by the supervisor.”
It means that it is like a military household, passed down from one generation to another, unless it can no longer be passed on, and then the people below will move up.
Zhang Zhou was also thinking in his mind, if I fail to pass the Jinshi exam, even if I am given a fifth-grade eunuch, my life will be ruined!
How else can I realize my ambition to become a general, become a prime minister, develop industry, and conquer the world?
…
…
After Zhang Zhou returned, he was busy building telescopes and taking care of his family.
Because he knew that he was about to enter the palace and be a monk for a period of time, so he really wanted to "study with the prince". Of course, it was not to flatter others, but to fulfill his great responsibility of preaching, learning, and solving doubts.
Go and brainwash Zhu Houzhao.
Before leaving, of course, you must hand over the public rations.
Zhang Zhou was also a little depressed.
It has been three months since I came to Daming, and there is still no movement in my wife's stomach. It is obvious that I have worked very hard, but it seems that I have only sown seeds, but no seeds have sprouted.
On this day, Zhang Zhou was still polishing the edge of the telescope lens so that it could fit into the wooden tube specially made by the craftsman.
However, Zhu Feng arrived and handed Zhang Zhou a letter.
Zhang Zhou knew that Zhu Feng did not have to be on duty in the palace recently. Every time Zhu Feng invited him out, he refused because he was busy with official duties and studies.
He didn't know what Zhu Feng was doing on a daily basis.
"What?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Zhu Feng said: "Miss Lin's letter to you."
Zhang Zhou then put down his hat and looked up at Zhu Feng, seeing that the disappointment in Zhu Feng's eyes was not fake.
"The one with the second young master of Linji Restaurant?"
"yes!"
Zhang Zhou was also very surprised. Aren't you, Zhu Zhijie, "lovelorn"?
Why do we still see each other?
Zhu Feng forced a smile and added as if to comfort herself: "She is a young lady from a famous family, and I, as a man, am honored to serve her."
Zhang Zhouxin said, are you sincere in saying this?
When he opened the letter, it was not a love letter or a letter from his pen pal, but it was a letter from Lin Yi explaining the truth to him.
To sum up... for the sake of the justice of the family and the country, and for your own personal future, you must report to the Imperial College.
"What's the content?" Zhu Feng asked.
Zhang Zhou read the ten lines at a glance and handed it back.
Zhu Feng smiled bitterly: "I can't see it, okay?"
"Let's see."
Zhu Feng then carefully examined the letter.
After reading it, he shook his head and said, "It seems that Miss Lin is grateful for her father's embarrassment and wants to speak to you on her father's behalf."
Zhang Zhou said: "You know that I have to go to the palace to study with the prince, so why do I have time to go to the Imperial Academy? You have also experienced what happened last time. You still have to save face. Just tell her and mention it later."
"This... Brother Zhang, why don't you write a letter and tell her clearly? I don't want to be a bad person!"
Zhang Zhou wanted to say, is your relationship over?
Just as he was talking, Zhu Daqi came in from the door and said: "Second Young Master, Eldest Young Master, the British Lord is here!"
Zhu Daqi was very nervous. He was probably still brooding over the last time his second son was kicked out by Zhang Mao. He was afraid that Zhang Mao was coming to settle accounts after the fall. This was probably to remind his son to run away.
Zhang Zhou frowned.
Now his home address is not a secret. Zhang Mao can find out if he wants to, but Zhang Mao can come directly to his workshop... This is a bit strange.
Just as he was talking, a strange old man with a beard walked directly in the door uninvited.
"Is nephew Zhu Xian here too?"
Zhang Mao showed great kindness to Zhu Feng when he came up, with a perfunctory smile and a false sense of affection unique to the person in the scene.
Zhu Feng didn't even bother to say hello and leaned against the wall.
That kick... hurt him very much.
When you use me, I am "Zhu Xian's nephew", but forget to call me "little beast" and kick me out to embarrass me? So what if you are a British citizen? I don't care about talking to you!
"Your Excellency, the British Duke?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Zhang Mao had a very polite posture, as if he knew Zhang Zhou very well, and said with cupped fists: "You are Bingkuan, right? I have heard of your name for a long time, and I have come to visit you today to give you some gifts of thanks. , to thank you for rescuing the dog... By the way, can you tell me how to diagnose and treat the dog next?"
Zhu Feng couldn't help but glance at Zhang Zhou.
That look in his eyes seemed to remind Zhang Zhou that we should not have anything to do with this bad old man. The medicine we gave him earlier would be in vain, but don’t be fooled by his small favors.
The bad old man is very bad.
(End of chapter)
