Chapter 92 Lantern Festival
"Your Majesty, please don't embarrass me." Wei Duke Xu Da said with a smile.
"Father, this thing is weird. My son is also very puzzled, so I ask my father to explain it," the prince said.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "He Xi, please tell me."
"Yes." He Xi said.
He Xi stepped forward and took a closer look, and found that the fire had already been lit. The surrounding ropes also tightened. He circled the hot air balloon. Said: "This thing is a hot air balloon. It uses the principle of thermal expansion and contraction to create a balloon that can fly. It can also be regarded as a large Kongming Lantern."
"Can you fly?" the prince said in surprise.
Xu Da's eyes changed and became serious. But it's just solemn.
He Xi said: "Yes."
The prince didn't say he didn't believe it. But his eyes and body movements showed that he didn't believe it.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Kuai Fu, can you let him fly?"
Kuai Fu said: "It has been prepared for a long time. Please give the order, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Let's get started."
"Yes." Kuai Fu immediately ordered, and a short soldier climbed over the boat-shaped hanging basket below, and then turned on the stove above. This stove burns oil. Not petroleum, but tung oil.
After a while, the balloon inflated more and more, and its eight edges and corners became more vivid. It looks like an eight-edged sledgehammer. The traction ropes tied to the ground were all stretched to the extreme.
At this moment, someone immediately untied the rope.
Every time a rope is untied, the entire hot air balloon jumps upward. Finally there was only one left, and he slowly let go. As the rope is released. The hot air balloon slowly rose into the sky.
The prince was stunned.
The prince said: "This can really reach the sky, it is simply a miraculous workmanship. This -----"
Xu Da was also a little excited and said, "Your Majesty, how high can this thing rise?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "He Xi, please tell me."
He Xi said: "Your Majesty, I don't know. Theoretically, this hot air balloon can rise to more than a thousand feet. But specifically, it depends on the quality of each hot air balloon. Your Majesty asked me . It’s better to be Lord Kuai.”
He Xi just finished speaking. Everyone's eyes fell on Kuai Fu.
Kuai Fu said: "Your Majesty, we have only prepared one hundred feet of hemp rope. Now we can only raise one hundred feet. As for how far in the future, we don't know."
Today's technology is limited, and Kuai Fu's hot air balloon only dares to go straight up and down. Don't dare to let go and let the hot air balloon fly around.
Xu Da said: "One hundred feet is enough." Xu Da immediately saluted Zhu Yuanzhang and said: "Your Majesty, I am traveling outside the fortress. It is vast and vast. The biggest problem is if the enemy is found. Especially the cavalry, which is a clutch of soldiers. After fighting for thousands of miles, when it is discovered, it is already too late. If there is such a thing and is placed in the camp, dozens of radius are visible. Unless there is heavy fog, heavy rain, or darkness, it is impossible for the enemy to break into the camp gate. . It is also a sharp weapon of the sincere god. Please bring craftsmen who can build this thing to the front line. I hope your majesty will give you permission."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he laughed and said, "Prince, have you seen it? This is the talent of a general. You, you haven't reacted for so long, what's the use of this thing? It's just shocking to fly to the sky, it shouldn't be . In all things in the world, if you don’t take it for granted, you will lose yourself if you take it for granted.”
Zhu Yuanzhang completely forgot where he heard about hot air balloons from He Xi. I was also surprised for a long time. It was only after he had known this thing for a long time that he figured out the most effective use of it for Ming Dynasty.
It was precisely because of this that he brought Xu Da over to see this thing before Xu Da left the capital.
However, Xu Da's military sense is too sensitive. Seems to be used to it. When he sees anything, the first thing he thinks of is its military use.
The prince said: "Father, how can I compare with Uncle Xu? I must learn from Uncle Xu in the future."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Kuai Fu, take your men and follow Wei Guogong to Peking. After teaching the craftsmen of Peking, return to Beijing. I can't do without you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Kuai Fu said with excitement on his face.
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said to Xu Da: "Kuai Fu is my treasure. I lent it to you today. You must cherish it and come back with it head and tail. The art of building spaceships is a military secret. I am determined not to spread it to outsiders. Understand. ?"
Xu Da said: "I understand. Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "He Xi, do you think there is anything you can point out here?"
He Xi said: "There are indeed one or two things that can be improved."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Then you have a good talk with Kuai Fu." Then, Zhu Yuanzhang turned to Xu Da and said: "Tomorrow morning, you go to Peiping, and today you and I will have a drink."
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In the evening, He Xi and Princess Anqing came out of the palace.
When the two of them left the palace, it was during the Lantern Festival that the lanterns were lit for three days. He Xi became interested. Changed clothes with Princess Anqing. Dressed as a young couple, with a few companions, they walked into the sea of lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
To be honest, during the Hongwu period, everything was in ruins and people were just recovering from the war. Even after Zhu Yuanzhang took over the city of Nanjing, it had been more than 20 years. However, in the past ten years or so, we have been fighting almost every year, and the pressure on the rear is also very high.
To be honest, in the peaceful days, which was five years after Hongwu, and about ten years now, there were not many wars. Tax exemption.
But it is still not enough to recover, the trauma left by many years of war in the late Yuan Dynasty.
To be honest, during the Lantern Festival in Nanjing today, although every house lights up lanterns, the only real prosperity is in the markets along both sides of the Qinhuai River, and other places are just mediocre. Compared with various light shows in later generations. It's even worse by an unknown amount.
Then there is something that will not be found in later generations.
Even though both sides of the road are hung with lanterns, the lanterns of this era are also hazy. If you don't look carefully, you may not be able to see clearly who it is from a distance of one foot, if this person is wearing a veil again. Even if they look familiar, they may not dare to step forward to confirm.
This hazy and blurred light and shadow effect adds to the romantic atmosphere of the Lantern Festival.
He Xi also heard the distinct female voice beside her. These birds and birds added to the festive atmosphere. This kind of atmosphere is not found in all traditional Chinese festivals in later generations.
He Xi and Princess Anqing walked side by side on the bluestone road, and the two of them watched mesmerizedly.
Princess Anqing lives deep in the palace and has never had this kind of freedom. Even if the Lantern Festival allows women to take to the streets, they are just ordinary women. Not a princess. Although the name of the Lantern Festival in later generations is the same as that of this era, the mode of expression is not the same festival at all.
In just a moment, the two of them were already carrying several lanterns of various kinds. Lotus lanterns, revolving lanterns, these are relatively small lanterns. There are also some dignitaries who pile up lantern mountains in front of their doors, which are wooden shelves built in advance, with rows or rows of lanterns hanging on them, in different forms, and finally form a grand image.
Like a big light.
Although it cannot be compared with many modern lights. But don't have any fun.
Princess Anqing said: "Actually, I have also seen the lanterns, the Aoshan lanterns in front of the palace, which happened when I was a child. It is said to be left by the former Song Dynasty, the Dengshan Mountain of more than ten feet. It is very beautiful. Only the father of the emperor He said that at the beginning of the founding of the country, all wastes were waiting to be revitalized, so we should not be so extravagant. So we stopped this lamp and said that it would not be too late to enjoy the peace with the people in the future after the world is peaceful."
"However, last year we conquered Yunnan and this year we are going to attack Mongolia. The treasury is very tight. It is estimated that there will be no Aoshan lanterns."
"It's a pity."
He Xi said: "What a pity. In the future I will build a big lamp for you, and it will definitely be the best in the capital."
Princess Anqing suddenly smiled and said: "That's right. Forget it this year, we will also have lanterns next year. By then, it doesn't matter whether we come first or not, but we can't make people laugh." Princess Anqing seemed to have thought of it and said: " There are a lot of things to talk about. Spring plowing is about to begin. My father has allocated a lot of official land, and I have to take care of it. There are also various human relationships, the birthdays of sisters and brothers in the palace, the birthdays of my father, the emperor, and the queen, Uncle Xu , Brother Li, brother Mu, there are so many things going on at home. If I had known it was so troublesome, I wouldn’t have married you, it’s all a bunch of things. It’s so annoying.”
Although Princess Anqing said so, the smoke flowing under the light had a unique style.
Yes, it is very hard for a young couple to manage the life of a family. But the hard work is limited. I don’t know whether Zhu Yuanzhang’s love for He Xi or Princess Anqing was greater. In short, the He family has a very strong family background. Don't worry about money anymore. It saves a lot of worries.
More importantly, Princess Anqing has the freedom to do what she values. If she were still in the palace, she would never have the freedom to speak out.
He Xi said: "Then I'll trouble my wife."
Although He Xi didn't feel like he was eating soft food. What he brought to Ming Dynasty was much more important than mere money. But family expenses cannot just rely on the wife's dowry. He Xi also has to think about buying a home.
"Your Majesty, put down the lights." Someone shouted. But I saw a huge thing floating in the air, with countless lights hanging, swaying in the air. The sky was clear and the moonlight was clear. Such a big thing, under the illumination of the lights, seemed like there was another month. Hanging down the lights is like a goddess scattering flowers. It was a moment of overwhelming beauty.
He Xi looked up and marveled at the craftsmanship of Ming craftsmen. I just figured out the principle of a hot air balloon and made this big lantern in the sky. Even He Xi didn't know how the craftsmen handled many details. For example, how to set a fire? After all, if the sky lantern is not good these days, setting the lantern will become setting a fire.
Some people say that the Chinese used gunpowder to set off firecrackers, but foreigners had gunpowder as weapons and defeated the Chinese.
But at this moment, He Xi suddenly felt that his ancestors used gunpowder as weapons. The weapons were just weapons, and being a firework was life. The only thing wrong is that future generations did not hold on to the flourishing days that were as gorgeous as fireworks.
Nowadays, hot air balloons have not only become weapons, but also become the brightest cubs during the Lantern Festival.
All he has to do is to hold on to and open up this prosperous age. Don't let future generations laugh and say that the Chinese invented thermal weapons but used them to make sky lanterns. But foreigners use it to fire cannons.
