In the Qianqing Palace.
After Zhu Youtang mentioned the punishment of Zhang Yanling to the ministers, instead of relaxing, he became nervous and anxious.
I was originally going to come back to review the memorial, but when I picked up my pen, I had no energy at all, and I didn't even want to read the cabinet draft.
Chen Kuan said: "Your Majesty, there has been no news of an earthquake so far. Is it possible that this time... there won't be one?"
Zhang Zhou said that the earthquake occurred on February 16th, and it was already February 19th. It seemed that the time had been missed. In addition, Chen Kuan was dissatisfied with Zhang Zhou's suspicion that Liaodong had taken credit, so he would test it. Go ahead and make this suggestion.
"You mean, Bingkuan is targeting Yanling?"
Zhu Youtang suddenly looked unhappy and turned back to glare at Chen Kuan.
Only then did Chen Kuan realize that he had done something stupid.
Dai Yi on the side hurriedly added: "Does this mean that God has withdrawn the warning because Your Majesty has already taken Jianchang Bo into custody?"
Zhu Youtang picked up his pen and scratched a few random notes on a memorial. It turned out to be a memorial in which a Yan official pleaded for Peng Quan, the commander of the Jianchang Guard. Zhu Youtang's instructions were very simple... another discussion.
It seems that the emperor is also anxious about whether an earthquake will occur. He hopes that there will be no earthquake, but also feels that the matter may not be that simple.
Peng Quan was not convicted in the first place, but was only taken to the capital to be imprisoned for "questioning."
Zhu Youtang said: "After Peng Quan arrives in the capital, he will be handed over to the Governor's Mansion and will not be sent to the Fajie Prison. If there is no news of the earthquake by the 22nd, let Yanling go back! If it happens, let him go to the northwest to join the army, that's it .”
It is equivalent to saying that the emperor still has to wait for "God's will" before he can give Zhang Yanling a final verdict.
If there is an earthquake, Zhang Yanling will be punished. If not... Although Peng Quan will not punish him, Zhang Yanling will only be imprisoned for a few days with minor punishments and severe warnings, and then go home and continue to be his lawless relative.
…
…
That morning, Zhang Zhou's grocery store was about to open.
It opened at noon, which was also the time for him to receive the prince.
While there was nothing else to do in the morning, Zhang Zhou took his personal bodyguard Wang Mingshan to the workshop outside the city. Because the Ming Dynasty had not built the outer city during the Hongzhi period, the south side of the city was still relatively defeated at this time, so rent a larger one. The yard is used as a venue, which is more than half cheaper than in the city. More importantly, some steelmaking or in-depth research on gunpowder are also suitable to continue here.
"Don't be restrained, I won't eat you."
On the carriage, of course Zhang Zhou had to teach Wang Mingshan some "rules".
After all, Zhang Zhou was not that eager. Even though the relationship with Wang Mingshan seemed to have been settled, he still had not taken the final step.
It’s not that I don’t want to.
I feel... it seems like doing this is a bit like the big bad wolf bullying Little Red Riding Hood.
Wang Mingshan is really a bit too silly and cute. The eldest girl is tall and delicate, with a good figure and handsome appearance. But the problem is that her social experience is too shallow, and she likes to be distracted when there is nothing to do. This made Zhang Zhou work in the education industry in his previous life. People who are role models will not be able to act at critical moments.
Wang Mingshan, who was sitting in the carriage, looked at Zhang Zhou with wide eyes, then curled up her knees and changed her position.
It seemed like he was telling Zhang Zhou.
I'm not restrained, I just felt uncomfortable sitting just now. I don't understand what you are talking about.
This left Zhang Zhou somewhat speechless.
Xiao Nizi has no consciousness of being Little Red Riding Hood, and even if he were to be the Big Bad Wolf, he would not be evil.
It was as if he was trying to be a villain by baring his teeth and claws, but the other party was looking at him like he was watching a monkey show.
It's not a matter of poor communication, it's...
The worldview is different.
"Go back in the afternoon and learn more from Han Qing. She will teach you." Zhang Zhou said.
Before going evil, you should always make some preparations first, at least let Wang Mingshan know what she is going to face.
"Um."
Wang Mingshan nodded. She was born with a personality that didn't like to compete with others, and she didn't think Jiang Pingyu and Han Qing had anything bad to do to her.
This is probably a bad result of the absence of female elders around a woman from the old era when she was growing up... No one taught her how to be an accepted girl in this era, no one taught her Three obediences and four virtues, even she didn't know the difference between men and women.
…
…
Workshop outside the city.
Craftsman He Chun handed a long iron pipe to Zhang Zhou. Zhang Zhou took it in his hand and weighed it.
He Chun praised: "My boss, the iron we use has first-class toughness. If it is used to make weapons, it will definitely be a magic weapon. Why do we need to make pipes?"
Because Zhang Zhou did not have a good supply of coal yet, the coal he used was bought from the market. It was first made into charcoal before it could be used. The effect was not very satisfactory, and the iron produced was not stainless steel with chromium added. It's just ordinary steel...mainly because stainless steel is not wear-resistant and cannot be used to make gun barrels.
Even the steel that is made will still rust, but it is what Zhang Zhou needs.
"This will be used to make firearms." Zhang Zhou said.
He Chun swallowed. After all, he was transferred from the Ministry of Industry and knew that Zhang Zhou was qualified to make gun barrels, but he still didn't think Zhang Zhou's improvements were of any use.
"Have you made the spring I mentioned?" Zhang Zhou asked as he put down the iron pipe.
He Chun took out a crude spring.
Zhang Zhou took it in his hand and found that the effect was still not very good.
Then he brought over the drawings, called several craftsmen over, and explained in detail: "Using the stretching method, the iron is shaped while it is still at high temperature, and it is shaped once. If the mold cannot withstand high temperatures, it will be continued Transformation!”
It's almost time to explain.
A group of people outside have finished loading a batch of "goods", which he plans to transport to the city and deliver to the grocery store for sale.
In addition to iron products, there are more glass products.
Zhang Zhou, the workshop in the city, is mainly responsible for research, and the production has now been moved outside the city, also because what he is doing now requires the use of a large amount of coal. In a place like Qingfang, it is naturally not possible to be so smoky. It would be more convenient to go outside the city.
…
…
"Crackling..."
In a shop near Chongwenmenli Street in Qingchengfang, an opening ceremony was going on.
Amidst the blast of firecrackers, there was even a daytime fireworks show. Piles of colorful dust rose into the sky, leaving several traces in the sky in broad daylight, causing everyone around to stop and watch.
In the commotion, Zhang Zhou, as the owner of the new grocery store, personally picked off the red cloth on the plaque, revealing the gold-lettered signboard of "Zhang Ji Grocery Store" inside.
But no one knew what it was for.
The concept of the so-called "grocery store" has actually existed since ancient times, but it is not called that because these days, the shops and shops along the street have specialized business scopes.
As for selling everything...that's just messing around.
If Zhang Zhou told them that the things in his shop were unprecedented in this world, everyone would probably think he was crazy.
"Take a walk and take a look, there are good things here, and the prices are so cheap that you can't be fooled!"
Zhang Zhou won't hawk it in person.
In order to open the new shop, he specially hired a group of people, all of whom were very articulate.
A group of people were handing out leaflets on the street.
The method is novel, but the effect doesn't seem to be very good.
More than half an hour after it opened, many people were outside asking what was for sale inside and joining in the fun, but no one went in to take a look.
"My boss, it doesn't seem possible."
The shopkeeper who was invited back, named Huang Li, looks like this old almanac, giving people a stereotyped and pedantic feeling, which can't be helped.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, if I paid tribute to the hospital and gave me a few more days to prepare, it wouldn't be like this... But who told me that I was going to Xishan to mine soon and had no time to waste time here?
I can only make do with it.
When in town, do as the Romans do, and if it doesn't work, take it out first.
Just when Zhang Zhou was waiting for some idiot to come in and open the door, suddenly a group of people squeezed out of the crowd.
"Get out of the way!"
The carriage is very luxurious.
After the carriage stopped, Zhu Houzhao jumped off the carriage. The onlookers had not yet understood the situation.
Such a magnificent carriage, with a half-year-old child getting out of it?
Whose naughty child goes shopping in an adult's carriage?
"Everyone go away, I want to buy something!"
Zhu Houzhao wanted to show off his wealth to Zhang Zhou before, but this time he finally had the opportunity to go out of the palace to see Zhang Zhou. There were many people in the market watching, so of course he wanted to show off his "richness".
It seems like he has nothing else to show off.
Do you want to tell others that you are the prince? If his father finds out, he can skin him when he goes back!
When Zhang Zhou saw this kid coming, he almost wanted to pick up the sole of his shoe and hit him.
Damn it, who taught you this bad habit? When your father found out, he thought I was the one who led you astray!
Where are you pretending to be an uncle when you go to the market?
Then the plainclothes Jin Yiwei lifted two boxes from the carriage. After opening them, they were filled with silver.
There are two boxes, one box weighs a hundred kilograms, and the silver alone is nearly three thousand taels.
Looking at this posture, Zhang Zhou estimated that this was probably Zhu Houzhao's last net worth.
Over the past few months, I have almost spent all my money.
"What good things are there? Just take them out for me! As long as I like them, I won't leave any of them to you! I have a lot of money!"
Zhu Houzhao held his head high and showed his power to Zhang Zhouyao who was standing at the door of the grocery store.
There were more and more people watching. They probably had never seen such a new scene. The eight or nine-year-old naughty kid carried two silver boxes and went out to buy things. With that money, he could easily buy four or five big houses in the capital...
"Let's go and see the fun!"
The crowd was almost swarming.
Zhang Zhou originally wanted to drag this boy to the backyard of the shop, but he did not expect that it would bring unexpected advertising effects, so he walked down with a smile and said: "Young man, are you here to buy something? I have good stuff here. Everything is available, come in and take a look?”
"Let's go!"
Zhu Houzhao didn't care how much money he had. The greatest value of his money was to be happy.
After saying that, others followed Zhang Zhou and stepped into the grocery store.
Then more people approached the door of the grocery store.
Shopkeeper Huang Li hurriedly maintained order and said: "Officials, if you want to buy something, please wait outside. There are big customers here!"
"Why can he buy it but we can't? We have to go in and take a look!"
Originally, the store was not very big, but dozens of people rushed in instantly, making it a bit overwhelming. Zhang Zhou could only pull Zhu Houzhao to the counter.
"Okay, you're a marketing genius." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.
Zhu Houzhao looked confused: "What kind of genius? I'm here to buy things. If you have any good things, come out and say hello! If you have the ability, you can make all my money! Don't try to fool me with the goods!"
(End of chapter)
