Jinhua Mansion, Wucheng.
The wind blows through the open fields, bringing the breath of spring.
A middle-aged man who is nearly forty years old and has clear features walks around from time to time, with dead grass being stepped on and broken. He holds the spool in his left hand and pulls the thread in his right hand, staring at the red bird kite in the sky.
Two young men in Confucian robes trotted, shouting: "Dean, Dean Tao."
Tao Chengdao looked back and saw that it was his disciples Zhou Dinghai and Lou Zhenyang. He just nodded slightly and then looked at the kite.
Zhou Dinghai's face was pockmarked. He was a little weak due to illness some time ago. When he ran to Tao Chengdao's side, he was out of breath. Lou Zhenyang was okay. He took a deep breath and calmed down his breath, and looked at the sky. I couldn’t help but admire the kite: “It’s so high.”
"Not high enough, far from it."
Tao Chengdao pulled the thread and let out more of the spool.
Zhou Dinghai gasped and said: "Dean, this is not high. No matter how high it is, it will hang on the white clouds."
Tao Chengdao shook his head with a smile and looked at the two of them: "I have homework today, why did I run out? Is it because I want to watch my teacher fly a kite?"
Lou Zhenyang thought of business and quickly urged Zhou Dinghai to take it out.
Zhou Dinghai took out a letter from his arms and handed it over respectfully: "Dean, I just received a letter from the government officials in Wucheng."
"Yamen?"
Tao Chengdao handed the spool to Lou Zhenyang, took the letter and looked at it. There were only the words "Tao Wanhu personally expresses" on the envelope, and there was no other content.
"Where is the Yamen servant?"
Tao Chengdao asked.
Zhou Dinghai looked at the kite: "It's gone."
Tao Chengdao was even more confused. If it was really sent by the imperial court, it would be natural for the government officials to come directly to deliver the message, instead of hastily sending the letter and leaving without even meeting the real owner. But if it wasn't sent by the imperial court, how could it be the yamen servant who delivered the letter? The yamen servant was not the messenger.
With some uneasiness, Tao Chengdao took out the letter inside, opened it and looked at it, and couldn't help but stare.
The content of the letter is extremely concise:
[Dean Tao:
I have firearms to fly into. Do you dare to come?
Sincerely invited.
Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong. 】
Tao Chengdao was stunned, staring at "I have firearms to fly into the sky", and a turbulent wave arose in his heart.
Flying!
Some people actually want to fly into the sky!
Is he an idiot?
Is he a fool?
Why would he have the same ridiculous, wild and unrestrained dreams as himself?
Tao Chengdao held the letter, turned around, walked a few steps, sat on the grass, and turned his attention to the content of the letter again.
Flying to heaven.
Is it really okay?
Tao Chengdao has always had a dream in his heart, that is, people can fly into the sky like a kite, soar on white clouds like a bird, and hang in the vast starry sky like a star!
It’s just that people can’t fly into the sky.
When a person stands on the ground, no matter how hard he jumps up, he still can't fly into the sky, and he can't even get very high from the ground.
Flying with the help of firearms?
This is indeed a very touching idea. In fact, I have been studying gunpowder firearms. Isn’t this the path I am taking?
But, can firearms really fly?
Tao Chengdao had seen that firearms could throw cannon stones far away, and he also thought about making a large divine machine cannon, loading himself into it, and then firing it out as a cannon stone.
But the problem is that the cannon stone cannot fly into the sky, it will fall to the ground in an arc.
If he transforms into a cannon stone, he will suffer the same fate!
"Dean, dean..."
Lou Zhenyang shouted quickly, the kite was falling.
Tao Chengdao watched the kite flutter down, and finally hit the ground, lifeless, like a dead bird.
Lou Zhenyang and Zhou Dinghai coiled the string, picked up the kite and walked to Tao Chengdao. Seeing Tao Chengdao looking at the letter, they also looked over curiously.
"Feitian, Dean, this letter actually says Feitian!"
Lou Zhenyang exclaimed.
Tao Chengdao handed the letter to Lou Zhenyang, stood up, patted the mud and grass on his body, and said solemnly: "This magistrate of Jurong County has posed a problem for my teacher."
Zhou Dinghai frowned: "Gu Zhengchen, I seem to have heard of it somewhere."
"Do you know this person?"
Tao Chengdao looked at Zhou Dinghai.
Zhou Dinghai thought about it seriously, clapped his hands and said, "Dean, my eldest brother came back from Jinling a few days ago and mentioned Gu Zhengchen. He seemed to say that this is a living county man, which is very rare."
"A living county man?"
Tao Chengdao was confused. What do you mean by a living county man?
There were no county men in the Ming Dynasty. County men were given to dead people. How could there be any living county men? After asking Zhou Dinghai's brother Zhou Dingbo, he found out that it was true that he was a man from Quanzhou County and the only one in the Ming Dynasty.
Zhou Dingbo smiled and said: "Dean Tao, this county man has become a laughing stock, and everyone in Jinling knows it."
"What kind of military achievements did he achieve to win the title of county man?"
Tao Chengdao asked.
Zhou Dingbo was speechless and shook his head: "Well, I'm just a clerk. I stayed in Jinling for a few days with the shopkeeper. I haven't heard about the military merits of this county boy. But I heard that before he was awarded the title of county boy, , offended Pingliang Marquis Fei Ju..."
"The founding prince!"
Tao Chengdao knew Fei Ju's name.
Lou Zhenyang looked at Tao Chengdao and said seriously: "For offending the Marquis of Pingliang, he was still granted the title of County Prince. Dean, this person has some abilities. The letter also said that he was sincerely invited by decree, which shows that this invitation The Emperor is at least informed and even tacitly approves of the dean’s decision.”
Tao Chengdao closed his eyes slightly and hesitated.
On the one hand, he has the exciting dream of flying to the sky, but on the other hand, his daughter-in-law has been pregnant for eight months. Soon, he will have a grandchild.
If we leave Wucheng at this point in time, we will not see the child being born.
But, can I feel at ease staying here?
My mind is already restless and my heart is no longer here.
If I stay here, I'm afraid every day will be torture.
Dilemma!
Tao Chengdao's sorrow finally broke out during the Lantern Festival with fireworks. Facing his son and daughter-in-law, he revealed his plan to leave home and said seriously to his son: "I left according to the order to fly to the sky. If I return for my father, If you don’t come, you can live a good life and your family fortune will be enough for you.”
"Father, please name your unborn grandson."
"It's up to you to make the tiles as you wish. If you make the tiles, call it "enhancing the light". It's like the light of a firearm, which makes it more dazzling."
"Tao Zengguang? My son has remembered it."
Tao Chengdao helped his son who was kneeling before him, looked at the many disciples bidding him farewell, waved his hand, and took only Zhou Dinghai and Lou Zhenyang to Jurong.
Fireworks soared into the sky and exploded brilliantly.
Zhang Xiwan looked up, her eyes full of joy.
Gu Zhengchen grabbed Zhang Xiwan's soft hand and pointed in front: "There is a jigsaw there, go and take a look."
In an open space, there are rows of wooden shelves, and various fireworks are tied to the shelves.
The fireworks set off in the Ming Dynasty were not like those set off one by one in later generations. After one was set off, another one had to be lit. This method was suitable for children and ordinary people. Large households set off fireworks in groups.
Light a pylon and the crackling fireworks can continue for a long time, which is very attractive and lively.
Although Jurong is not a big city, it is also quite backward, but the Lantern Festival fireworks are not stingy, especially some wealthy households who were reluctant to give away money in the past, but when it comes to setting up fireworks, everyone becomes active.
Nothing but fun.
After all, showing off your wealth during the Lantern Festival is more comfortable than giving out a bowl of rice in the past.
Zhang Xiwan likes fireworks very much. When the fireworks go up, she is very excited, but she is also afraid of loud noises and covers her ears from time to time. When the sky explodes with purple fireworks, the fireworks are as bright as shooting stars and are breathtaking.
Suddenly, a firework flew over from the scaffolding, landed at Zhang Xiwan's feet, and spun.
Zhang Xiwan was so frightened that she was picked up by Gu Zhengchen and looked into Gu Zhengchen's eyes. Fireworks appeared in his eyes, which was extremely beautiful.
When Gu Zhengchen put Zhang Xiwan down, many men and women were envious, but they did not dare to go too far. The men were all gentlemen, modest and polite, and the women were all ladies, all of them gentle.
"The County Lord."
Yang Liang came over and winked at Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the crowd opposite and saw Chun Niang talking to a young woman, making the woman smile.
"Find out whose family the girl is from."
Gu Zhengchen gave instructions to Yang Liang. Yang Liang understood and hid in the crowd.
During the Lantern Festival, men and women travel together, which is very lively.
"Cui Niang, look at the fireworks, they are so dazzling."
Chun Niang stretched out her hand and gently squeezed Cui Niang's little hand.
Cui Niang admired the fireworks and said with a smile: "I haven't seen such a lively scene in many years. In previous years, there were not so many people during the Jurong Lantern Festival."
Chun Niang accompanied Cui Niang: "This is true, Xing is the credit of our county magistrate. If it weren't for him, how could so many people come to Jurong. I heard that the magistrate's wife is a peerless beauty, has Cui Niang seen her?"
Cuiniang nodded: "I've seen her before. She has been to the Textile Courtyard. She is indeed a lady. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also very easy-going towards others. Now she has the final say in the Textile Courtyard and the Tailoring Courtyard. Sun Mother, Wu and others all obey her arrangements."
Chun Niang pulled Cui Niang's arm: "I also want to go to the textile compound. Do you think the county magistrate's wife will agree?"
"Of course, you are the best needlepoint artist I have ever seen."
Cui Niang said with a smile.
A smile appeared on the corner of Chun Niang's lips, and she said slowly: "Then I would like to see the magistrate's wife, what kind of beauty she is."
"What?"
Cui Niang tilted her head.
Chun Niang said quickly: "It's nothing, it's just that I don't want to stay at home anymore. I'm always bored. I went to the Textile Courtyard. You have to help me."
"No one in the textile compound can bully you."
Cui Niang said, pulling Chun Niang and running away, loud noises began to be heard, and the sky was covered with colors...
The Lantern Festival of the seventh year of Hongwu has passed.
Gu Zhengchen's injuries have improved a lot and are no longer hindering his activities.
Chengfafang sent court documents and Zhu Biao's letter.
The imperial document was sent by the Ministry of Works and related to the transfer of craftsmen and the placement of their families. Gu Zhengchen has already ordered Jurong Guard to solve these problems, and there is no need to make any further arrangements.
It was the news brought by Zhu Biao that made Gu Zhengchen feel Zhu Yuanzhang's urgency. Behind this urgency, in addition to the helplessness and struggle of the overall situation, I am afraid there is also impatience in his temperament.
Perhaps, Lao Zhu will not give himself two years at all, and he needs to seize the time to improve firearms.
Tao Chengdao, it’s time for you to come too, right?
