Previously outside Zhengyang Gate, Zhang Ergong was kicked off the steam car by the emperor, and then watched the emperor and Taisun drive away.
Later, hundreds of officials led the imperial army out of the city to protect the emperor, and Zhang Ergong naturally followed him out.
They were not afraid that something would happen to the emperor.
In the hearts of people like Zhang Ergong, the emperor in Yingtian City is not just like in his own yard. There are tenants of the emperor's family both in and outside the city, and now this emperor is a rare person who treats the people well.
Who would want to harm such a good emperor with nothing to do?
They were worried that the steam car would travel too far. If something went wrong, they couldn't let Taisun repair the car without them.
Furthermore, if the car broke down and injured the emperor, the steam engine would probably be mothballed.
Then his crane, Dahongpao, will probably fly away.
With this idea in mind, Zhang Ergong led a group of craftsmen who would serve as supervisors. They had no sedans or horses. After leaving the city, an official from the Ministry of Works who couldn't stand it came from the Zhuangzi on the side. Zhang Ergong and the others borrowed a few donkeys and then drove them over behind them.
That's why.
When Zhu Yunxi was in the crowd and shouted loudly for Zhang Ergong and others to come forward to receive the reward, he had to go through many officials to pass the message, and finally it reached the ears of Zhang Ergong and others who were at the outermost part of the crowd. .
The numerous officials surrounding Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunxi spread out according to the rank of the court.
There is no need to distinguish between them. Just look at these officials wearing regular uniforms with different colors and patchwork on their chests and backs, and you can see the political nature of their positions.
Wearing big red robes embroidered with golden pheasants, peacocks and cloud geese are the Zhengyintang officials of the various ministries and yamen of the court, the ministers of various ministries and the ministers of the five temples.
Crane Dahongpao is a no.
Further down, there are the white pheasants, egrets and 鸸鸒 in green robes. These are the middle-level officials of the imperial court.
Behind is a large group of green-robed oriole and quail.
Zhang Ergong, who was also a green-headed fly, heard that the emperor and the grandson were summoning him. He immediately raised his right hand and shouted: "I am here."
Then he looked at the other blowflies in front of him with a smile on his face, and a bright smile appeared on his face, showing his teeth that were not white.
This group of green-headed flies in the capital frowned slightly, but still silently lowered their hands and made way for Zhang Ergong and other craftsmen.
Arrived within the range of Qingpao officials.
Zhang Ergong saw the envy in these people's eyes, or some dissatisfaction in their eyes.
This time, Zhang Ergong nodded, raised his arms and cupped his hands: "Dear superiors."
After muttering something, Zhang Ergong shook his fists.
After doing this, the green-robed officials who were standing in front of Zhang Ergong and other craftsmen retreated in groups with expressionless faces, and gave way to the big red-robed superiors.
Zhang Ergong's psychological journey at the moment is very complicated.
From the outermost part of the hundred officials, passing through those green robes and blue robes, the direct feeling brought about was something he had never experienced before.
Even when he was kneeling on the ground and receiving the decree from the imperial court granting him the rank of eighth-grade craftsman. The officials who were in charge of the prison showed surprise and incomprehension. ….
The above can still not be compared with today's experience.
There is a change happening in my body.
But Zhang Ergong didn't understand what this change was.
I am just a craftsman who was supposed to be a craftsman all my life, and my son, grandson, and descendants are all destined to be a craftsman.
Becoming a craftsman official is a matter of good luck from heaven. It is the smoke coming out of one's ancestral grave.
Zhang Ergong didn't understand the affairs and principles of these officials in the court.
Officials who are similar to him are indifferent to him, probably because His Majesty wants to reward him.
Those green-robed superiors were dissatisfied and hostile to me, probably because they wanted to be rewarded.
related.
Zhang Ergong thought so simply.
Moreover, he believed that the last human wall of red-robed men in front of him would be more difficult than the green-robed officers.
Zhang Ergong led the craftsmen behind him, bowing his waist and cupping his hands. No matter what he thought in his heart, his face was full of kindness.
"Gentlemen."
As soon as Zhang Ergong opened his mouth, a fourth-grade official standing in front of him with an embroidered "鸸鸣" on his chest immediately greeted him with a smile.
"Zhang Jiangguan, congratulations."
The smile on Zhang Ergong's face was stunned for a moment, and then he showed a brighter smile: "You're welcome, sir."
The smile on his face formed a clear contrast with the doubts in Zhang Ergong's heart at this moment.
Go down.
The congratulatory sounds in the ears of Zhang Ergong and the craftsmen can be described as one after another.
"I congratulate Zhang Jiangguan on his magnanimous official career!"
"Congratulations to Mr. Zhang."
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Look back, Zhang Jiangguan will have more interactions with the headquarters Yamen."
"If Zhang Jiangguan needs it in the future, please feel free to inform the headquarters."
"I am congratulated."
"..."
The whispers in his ears made Zhang Ergong feel as if he was in another world, as if he was not in the same world as a moment ago.
There are really too few Dahongpao.
It was so little that Zhang Ergong had no time to think about why there was such a big difference.
His eyes suddenly became enlightened.
With a smile that was almost numb due to squeezing, Zhang Ergong slowly raised his head.
It was His Majesty’s warm and benevolent smile, and His Majesty the Emperor’s Grandson, who was standing next to His Majesty, his eyes twinkling as if he was even happier than himself.
Snap.
Zhang Ergong knelt down and knelt on the ground as always.
"I will serve as supervisor Zhang Ergong. I will pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Grandson of the Emperor."
"The common people pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor, and pay homage to His Highness the Imperial Grandson."
The craftsmen following Zhang Ergong also knelt down and worshiped on the ground in the same manner.
"Okay, okay, let's all get up." Zhu Yuanzhang's face glowed red, and he felt extremely happy just looking at the craftsmen and craftsmen in front of him with dark hands and stains between their fingernails.
Zhang Ergong, on the other hand, was extraordinarily well-behaved, or rather humble and respectful.
"Thank you."
Then, he led the craftsmen to stand up, but his waist was still under heavy pressure.
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled repeatedly: "We haven't rewarded you yet, so how can we thank you? When I reward you, it won't be too late to thank you again."
This was the emperor's joke. Zhang Ergong could tell this clearly and lowered his head with a naive smile. ….
Zhu Yunxi also said with a relaxed expression on the side: "The development of this steam engine is all due to the hard work of Zhang Ergong and others, who worked hard day and night, and after countless failures, we have just accomplished this. I deserve a lot of credit." Great, great contribution to the country."
"We will always reward those who benefit the people and the country." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, setting the tone of the matter.
But at this time.
While all the officials and subjects were in trouble, Wei Fan walked out from the crowd of officials.
"The ministers and officials all gave advice to Wei Fan about the matter."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his eyes narrowed slightly, and then he looked at Wei Fan, who was in charge of the official affairs, with a smile on his face.
The Liu Ke Yan Guan is a huge group, not just three or two people, and their powers are almost the same as those of the Censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
The Li Ke Yan Guan, on the other hand, has the power of admonishment equivalent to that belonging to the Ministry of Officials.
Now everyone can see that His Majesty wants to promote Zhang Ergong and others.
Then Wei Fan, an official, has been involved in the matter, so he is naturally qualified to stand up and speak out.
In addition to him, there are about two other officials and four others in Li Ke who are also qualified to speak on this matter.
Wei Fan has a thin face, sharp eyebrows, and eyes like swords.
Seeing that the emperor did not prohibit him from speaking.
Wei Fan then said in a deep voice: "Today, I have accompanied you to observe the matter of the steam engine. The power to lift tens of thousands of heavy objects and the speed to transport tens of thousands of goods are truly unprecedented things. It is a blessing to the whole country of the Ming Dynasty. , I congratulate you."
The chief official spoke out everything he had to say about the matter, and there was no partiality in the beginning.
But the next moment.
Wei Fan changed the topic: "I see today that my grandson seems to have done something extraordinary in this matter. Without His Highness's full help, this matter would never have been successful, and we would not be the first craftsman in the Ming Dynasty."
I think that when it comes to rewards, His Royal Highness Taisun should be given the first credit, and His Majesty can reward him greatly to show that His grace is powerful and just. Zhang Jiangguan and the rest of the craftsmen should be generously rewarded by the court, and given land and houses, gold and silver, to encourage their aspirations.
The imperial court should also use the deeds of Zhang Jiangguan and others to spread the word to all officials and craftsmen, and not let the achievements of Zhang Jiangguan and others be buried. "
After Wei Fan finished speaking, he saw among the crowd, the officials and officials who had left the city and came here today came out one after another.
"I second my opinion."
Zhang Ergong, who lowered his head, heard what this official Shangguan meant.
They don't want to be promoted, they just want His Majesty the Emperor to reward them with some fields, houses, gold and silver.
Zhang Ergong felt that what he understood was correct and correct.
Wei Fan and others were trying to prevent the old man from promoting Zhang Ergong and the others.
Zhu Yunxi understood the demands of these people without thinking, and his eyes swept over these people indifferently.
Then, he looked at Zhan Hui and other red-robed officials.
When Zhan Hui, the Minister of Civil Service, trembled slightly and was about to open his lips.
Zhu Yunxi took a step forward: "There is no merit in doing it alone. I can only take credit for knowing others and using it well. But the success of the steam engine..."
He paused, turned around and faced the old man.
"I believe that your Majesty should promote Zhang Ergong and others to official positions as an encouragement, to show justice, and to demonstrate the sagacity of our Majesty in governing the country."
After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi cast his eyes sideways at Wei Fan and others, and finally fixed his eyes on the faces of Zhan Hui and the officials of the imperial court. ….
He has made his position clear, that is, he wants to seek promotion and official titles for Zhang Ergong and others.
Zhan Hui's lips trembled slightly, and finally opened slightly, as if he was exhaling a long breath.
Afterwards, he, Ren Hengtai, Yu Xin, Ru Yu, Wang Jun and others all bowed their hands in unison and said, "I second my opinion."
This sentence is what he just wanted to say.
It's just that the timing of saying it is different, and the meaning it represents is also different.
Saying this sentence before and after Taisun spoke has two meanings.
Zhan Hui sighed slightly in his heart.
It became increasingly difficult to become an official in the Ming Dynasty.
No matter how Zhan Hui and other civil servants in the court sighed in their hearts.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally showed the obedience that an emperor should have when his grandson and the officials of the imperial court clearly expressed their approval.
He waved his hand, his eyes darkened, and looked at Zhang Ergong and others.
"Hereby is Zhang Ergong, a craftsman of the Ming Dynasty. With a large number of craftsmen, he made steam engines and made great contributions to the state. He was awarded Chengshilang and received the title of seventh-grade craftsman. Every Yiying craftsman was awarded General Shi Zuolang, and he was promoted to ninth-grade craftsman. Official position. The imperial court also gave rewards of fields and houses, as well as gold and silver."
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished talking about the reward.
Zhang Ergong's legs were shaking with excitement, and the craftsmen behind him knelt on the ground.
Zhang Ergong, who was so excited that he completely forgot what he should do at this time, only reacted after being pulled by his fellow craftsmen behind him, and he knelt on the ground with a thud.
"I accept the order and express my gratitude. Long live my emperor."
The voices of Zhang Ergong and others were shouted to break their voices, but they could not express the excitement and shock in their hearts.
He finally took another step closer to the crane and the red robe.
He is no longer an eighth-grade official like a blue-headed fly.
I, Zhang Ergong, am now a seventh-grade official who can wear Tsing Yi (not an actor) and embroider ruffles!
What is Echi?
Zhang Ergong suddenly felt confused. He had heard Mr. Shu talk about the word "Bu Zi" for the seventh-grade official, but he only knew the pronunciation but didn't know what it was.
However, only Zhang Ergong and others were excited.
When the man who was born as a craftsman gradually calmed down, he noticed the silence of his colleagues behind him.
Zhang Ergong finally became bolder and quietly looked behind him.
The Dahongpao elders who were still congratulating him were all silent at this time, with calm faces and no words.
seem.
The court was not like the scene I had imagined countless times.
"Everyone, please get up. If you continue to kneel, Your Majesty will return to the palace."
Zhu Yunxi looked at these craftsmen and officials who probably could only be regarded as lucky ministers in the minds of serious civil servants like Zhan Hui who came from the imperial examination, and spoke softly with a smile.
After discovering the reactions of his colleagues behind him, Zhang Ergong lost some of his original excitement and got up with his fellow craftsmen and officials.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to return to the palace at this time, he still stayed and chatted with Zhang Ergong and others for a while.
Then he got on the chariot brought by Sun Gouer, the steward of the inner palace, and drove back to the palace.
A group of officials passed by Zhang Ergong and others, and after bidding farewell to the emperor's grandson, they followed the emperor back to the city. ….
In the blink of an eye, only the steam locomotive burning boiling water was left on the official road.
There were also Zhu Yunxi, Zhang Ergong and others who were left wondering what to do next, as well as the surrounding imperial officers and soldiers who were responsible for guarding the grandson's comfort.
Zhang Ergong raised his head several times at this time and lowered his head again.
No one is stupid.
Even Zhang Ergong, who has never read a book.
The attitudes and reactions of the officials and colleagues in the imperial court towards themselves and others seemed to be the same as those neighbors in the village who had conflicts and grudges with each other.
Zhang Ergong felt that his mind was a little unclear about these things, so he opened his mouth: "Your Highness..."
"Zhang Ergong." Zhu Yunxi called his name softly, looking at Zhang Ergong standing in front of him: "Everyone has his own interpretation and opinion on how to be an official. The words of the ancients are insignificant, and what happens today will also be the same as the past in the future. . I can’t teach you how to be an official. I think you know how to do things. Do what you should do and don’t think about other things besides these things.”
Zhang Ergong raised his head blankly.
Zhu Yunxi sighed softly and added: "Remember, Gu said before that Gu will support you in everything."
Zhang Ergong didn't know why, but his eyes suddenly became blurry.
There was a pop.
Without any cushion, his knees hit the hard official road heavily.
"What Your Highness said, I will keep it in mind and never say goodbye even if I die."
Zhu Yunxi nodded and looked at the new craftsmen behind Zhang Ergong who were even more confused because of this incident. He said with a warm face: "The same is true for you."
After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi waved to the imperial guards not far away.
After he got on the horse, he reined in the reins and looked down at Zhang Ergong: "Take the steam locomotive back to the general as a supervisor. I have told you how to improve the steam engine in the future. If you are good at doing things, the Ming Dynasty will be extremely fair."
Zhang Ergong could no longer see clearly clearly.
He didn't know why he felt pain in his heart, and he didn't know why he was so moved.
Pulling his colleagues, he waved his hand and wiped it on his face, then he knelt on the ground and turned around, facing the departing figure of He Taisun, and bowed for a long time.
"I would like to thank you, Your Highness."
…
"The fifteen Cuju competitions at Jiangwu Hall have ended."
"On the handicap side, we made a total of 420,000 taels."
"By the way, this amount excludes the tax money that was transferred to the Ministry of Accounts. It is considered a net profit."
"Now it's all placed in your grandson's mansion that has been built. What you plan to do is a matter of just a word from you."
The small study room in the East Palace.
Zhu Gaochi was holding a thick account book, and he was summarizing the results of the Cuju competition in the Jiangwu Hall to Zhu Yunxi, who was holding a bright red album and writing on it.
Putting down the detailed process of his wedding ceremony on August 15th, Zhu Yunxi looked at Xiaopang: "It's already very good. Just in Yingtianfu, fifteen Cuju competitions can earn 420,000 taels. Don't let it go. satisfy."
Zhu Gaochi curled his lips, dragged the chair behind him, and sat down.
"Yingtian Mansion has been looking for private deals recently and is very dissatisfied with this deal. However, Tian Mai and the others have done a good job. Yingtian Mansion still can't guess which clan bought it."….
Zhu Gaochi felt indignant when he thought that he had been kept secret for several Cuju matches before he found out that the bookmaker behind the handicap was actually Zhu Yunxi.
Zhu Yunxi smiled slightly: "Let's go back and give the money to the inner treasury. The Ministry of Household Affairs will still keep an eye on it. Taxes cannot be withheld just because they have become the property of the inner treasury."
Zhu Gaochi nodded. In the hands of the inner treasury, this matter has nothing to do with Zhu Yunxi, the grandson of the emperor. The money went into the inner treasury, and those who lost everything and lost everything could not say anything. The Ministry of Revenue took the tax money, The six ministries of the imperial court would probably not object to this matter.
He then turned around and said, "Then now this money will also be put into internal funds?"
Zhu Yunxi nodded: "It was just a whim, taking advantage of the opportunity to train martial arts students in the martial arts hall to supplement the internal funds for my wedding."
Zhu Gaochi nodded, then chuckled: "Actually, in the fifth game, Manager Sun sent someone to book the handicap."
Zhu Yunxi glanced at Xiaopang and avoided the topic: "The sweet potatoes are about to ripen. Apart from the wedding this year, this is the most important thing."
"I heard it's growing very well. I think there will be a good harvest."
Zhu Gaochi responded casually.
No one can interfere with the affairs of Shanglinyuan Supervisor now. I am just the prince and son of the clan, so there is no need to pay attention to these things that I have not been asked to take care of.
Instead, he said, "How should we prepare for the next Cuju competition? Or should we proceed according to the plan you made before?"
Zhu Yunxi nodded and was about to speak.
His personal eunuch, Yutian, had already arrived in the study room with a lot of yelling.
The young eunuch Yutian didn't know that Prince Yan was also in the small study.
He immediately lowered his head and said, "I will see you, Your Highness, Prince Yan."
Zhu Yunxi smiled: "What happened? You are so impatient."
Shredded Pork Rice Noodles
