Main hall.
As the new year approaches, the study tasks begin to become more intense.
At the end of the year, Zhu Yuanzhang took the school examinations for his sons, which were fixed subjects.
This was already the case when he was still King of Wu.
So at this time, even Zhu Ming sat in front of his seat seriously and listened to the teacher's lecture carefully.
Of course, it is not up to Zhu Xi to decide whether he can learn it or not.
Anyway, if you learn, you learn, and you must have an attitude.
"The so-called heaven and earth refer to..."
On the stage, the teacher explained the course carefully.
Under the stage, the princes had different expressions.
Zhu Ming's eyes widened and he listened very hard, but he couldn't remember anything at all.
Zhu Fan looked indifferent. It was obvious that he had learned these things by himself a long time ago and now he was just reviewing them.
Although Zhu Di didn't understand very well, he was taking notes while the teacher was talking.
As for the remaining six and seven, they were shaking their heads and following, not sure whether they understood.
Soon it was time for class, and as the teacher left, Zhu Xi immediately stretched.
"I really envy my fifth brother, who doesn't have to study like us."
Zhu Xi said with an envious look.
Zhu Yu was different from them. He had been doing his own research in the Agricultural College. Zhu Yuanzhang did not have any requirements for him to read the Four Books and Five Classics.
"Second brother, fifth brother is not not studying, it's just that what he's studying is different from us."
Zhu Fan said to Zhu Ping.
Zhu Xi immediately said: "That would be better than us studying hard here. I heard that there are too many interesting things in the Agricultural College now."
Zhu Xi has the standard idea that whatever he does now will be the most painful. Anyway, he just doesn't want to do the job at hand well.
Zhu Fan didn't say any more. He knew his second brother's character and it would be useless to say more.
"Fourth brother, you have been studying a lot more seriously recently."
Zhu Fan turned to Zhu Di and said.
Zhu Di is really studying seriously now.
Even for these literal things, it was very painful for him to learn.
If you can't learn it, then just study hard.
In terms of willpower, Zhu Di still showed an extraordinary side.
"Third brother, my knowledge is shallow. My previous time was wasted. I may have to bother you a lot in the future."
Zhu Di looked at Zhu Fan with a serious expression on his face.
"Okay, my fourth brother is so eager to learn from you. If my father knows about it, he will definitely be very happy."
Zhu Fan said with a smile.
He did know a little bit about Zhu Di's thoughts. The reason why Zhu Di suddenly became so eager to learn was so that he could ask Su Jing for advice.
Both Zhu Biao and Zhu Ru are very smart and studious people.
This is exactly Su Jing's criteria for selecting students.
Several of their princes had completed the tripod lifting together before, but they got a lesson from Su Jing through discussion with Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Di was preparing for the next course.
You must use your own performance to win Su Jing's favor.
"Third brother has already said it. I am usually too playful and never study hard. I'm lucky that my father doesn't scold me."
Zhu Di said modestly.
Zhu Fan was quite surprised that just Su Jing made Zhu Di change so much.
"Fourth child, you have changed a lot now."
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly sounded.
"My son, I pay my respects to my father!"
…
All the princes immediately saluted Zhu Yuanzhang. They were quite surprised because Zhu Yuanzhang had not come to see them in the main hall for many days.
The reason? It's very simple. It's the year-end inventory, and various officials have to deal with it.
Zhu Yuanzhang had no time.
"Get up."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hands, then looked at Zhu Di, feeling a little better.
All of these ministers had little ones in private, and they were doing messy things, which really made Zhu Yuanzhang quite upset.
But my sons seem to be doing pretty well.
"Fourth child, why have you suddenly become so eager to learn recently?"
Zhu Yuanzhang walked to Zhu Di's seat. His notes were spread out on the table. Although the handwriting was not very beautiful, at least it was neat.
Zhu Di immediately replied: "Father, I just feel that I have wasted too much time in the past, so I want to make up for it now."
"Oh, it's not bad that you still have such understanding."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "You are all princes, and the teachers I have hired for you are all famous teachers. You should study hard. I think your father did not have the conditions you had back then."
"So I can only make up for it by working hard now. It's great that you can realize this!"
Although it sounds a bit boastful, Zhu Yuanzhang did indeed do this.
Mudleg's origin is just his past.
"My son, please remember your father's teachings!"
Zhu Di replied seriously.
Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Xi, his expression slightly changed.
This second dick feels like mud can't hold up the wall.
"Second brother, how are you doing with your recent studies?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
Zhu Xi immediately said: "Reporting to my father, I have always studied seriously and do not dare to slack off at all."
"snort."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said: "I don't dare to slack off at all. How about I test you now?"
As soon as he heard about the school entrance examination, Zhu Xi's expression immediately changed and he said hurriedly: "My father has been very hardworking recently, and I have heard about it a little bit. I think it is better for my father to rest more, and don't let my father because of this." Worried about trivial matters."
Whether he takes his studies seriously or not, Zhu Xi knows, and Zhu Yuanzhang also knows, so the later the better.
"You are very self-aware. You know that you will annoy me when you take the exam."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xi and said, "Then why can't you stop annoying me?"
Zhu Xi said helplessly: "Father, I don't want to do it either, but I'm not the same material. I'm just a stone. If you insist on carving me into jade, how is that possible?"
Zhu Ping is really quite self-aware of himself.
It's a pity that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand him.
"Second brother, even if you are a stone, you have to be turned into jade for me!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked seriously and said to the princes: "You are all my sons. The country of Ming Dynasty needs you to manage it. You say you are a stone. Do you want to let outsiders rule this country?"
Since the birth of the feudal dynasty, it has been the family and the world.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a person with an extreme desire for power and control. He simply could not tolerate the Ming Dynasty falling into the hands of outsiders.
"My son, I know."
Zhu Xi immediately turned against him and did not dare to object at all.
Because he heard the seriousness in Zhu Yuanzhang's words.
This is not a joke. If you really talk back, you are asking for death.
"what about you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the other princes and said.
"My son understands!"
All the princes nodded immediately, and the atmosphere suddenly became serious.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "When the new year is over, I plan to grant you a vassal. By then you will be the vassal king. Pay attention to your image, and look a bit like a vassal king."
The current situation in Ming Dynasty is still quite chaotic.
He had already thought about this matter of becoming a vassal king.
"Yes, Father!" x5
The princes immediately agreed, with different expressions.
"Okay, you continue to study hard. My son cannot be a fool."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not continue talking. He just mentioned the title of vassal, but did not explain what the title was, which was really a bit unsettling.
As Zhu Yuanzhang left, there were somewhat different looks on the faces of Zhu Xi and others.
They probably knew something about the feudal vassal affairs.
But what I didn't expect was that it would happen so quickly.
"I wonder what kind of vassal king my father wants to give me?"
Zhu Xi said to himself, with a look of excitement on his face, completely forgetting what he had just been reprimanded by Zhu Yuanzhang.
As the second prince, he must be the first to be granted the title of vassal king, so it is understandable that he is a little anxious.
"Second brother, it's better not to discuss this matter yet. Father didn't tell us. He must have his own ideas. We just need to be ourselves."
Zhu Fan persuaded Zhu Ping.
He really cares about his second brother, but don't let his mind get crazy and he doesn't know what he will do.
Zhu Fang didn't take it seriously and said: "Third brother, it doesn't matter what you say. Anyway, after the New Year, we will all be vassal kings. Lord vassal, do you understand what I mean!"
Even though they are princes now, they have a very noble status.
But in fact, they have many restrictions and it can be said that they are not free at all.
But if you become a vassal king, it will be different.
The vassal king has a rank, and the prince is just a status.
"Second brother, don't think too much. Even if we are granted a vassal status, we probably won't do it right away. It will be at least five or six years later. Before that, we still have to study at the main hall."
Zhu Di said to Zhu Xi, directly shattering his illusions.
There is still a long way to go between becoming a feudal lord and becoming a feudal lord.
"No way, fourth brother. At most, after my adult ceremony, my father will let me go and become a vassal."
Zhu Xi looked like he didn't quite believe it.
Next year when Zhu Biao comes of age, he will be one year younger than Zhu Biao, which means he will be one year younger.
Zhu Xi thought it could wait.
But if it's five or six years, Zhu Ping feels a little too long.
"Fourth brother, why do you say that?"
Zhu Fan also asked curiously.
Zhu Di replied: "My father gave us the title of vassal king because he wanted us to lead troops to fight, rather than go to the fiefdom to enjoy the blessings. When did our father think that our second brother could lead troops, he would let us become a vassal. In Before that, I must continue to study at the main hall."
Although Zhu Di is not good at reading, he is very good at this aspect.
Zhu Yuanzhang's truest idea when he sealed the vassal was that the military power of the Ming Dynasty would be in the hands of his own family.
However, Zhu Xi and the others are still too young now.
"No, I have to study hard and learn to lead troops in combat. Five or six years is too long!"
Zhu Xi said immediately.
He didn't want to wait that long. It would be exciting to think about being able to go to his own fiefdom.
It's just that Zhu Ping's words fell into the ears of his brothers, and they went in one ear and out the other.
Zhu Xiang’s words are too much!
As soon as Zhu Di finished speaking, it reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears.
"This fourth child can be seen very clearly. He is indeed the son who looks most like me when I was young."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said to himself.
…
Laizhou Prefecture.
The weather has been quite cold by now.
"Master Su, the students have made it."
Zhu Biao tested the sturdiness of the finished hollow bricks one by one, and then selected several with higher strength.
Later, the kiln was opened according to these types, and dozens of pieces of each were fired.
Then use these fired hollow bricks to build simple small "houses".
It is said to be a house, but actually it is more appropriately called a dog house.
Then put ice cubes next to the house, and then light fires in each "house" to observe which house the ice cubes around melt the fastest.
The whole idea was thought up by Zhu Biao himself. Although there are some shortcomings, the general effect can still be seen.
In the end, the assignment Zhu Biao gave to Su Jing was a square brick with many round holes.
This is very similar to the hollow bricks in Su Jing's memory.
"Yes, it seems that you have a good understanding of heat transfer."
Su Jing nodded.
Making bricks is secondary. The scientific experimental thinking shown by Zhu Biao in the experiment is what Su Jing values the most.
"Mr. Su, please explain, why can we find the warmest bricks in this way?"
Mu Ying asked Su Jing.
Su Jing smiled and said: "Niu Yi, please explain."
Zhu Biao nodded and said: "Brother Mu, keeping warm actually means blocking the transfer of heat. When I light a fire in these small stoves made of bricks, the heat of the fire continues to spread outward."
"The bricks with better thermal insulation effect will retain more heat inside the stove, while the worse ones will be dissipated, which will lead to accelerated melting of the ice cubes."
After listening to Zhu Biao's explanation, Mu Ying nodded and said: "I see, I understand."
Then he said excitedly: "Just by making it like this, the house can be warmer. If it can be popularized, it will not make the people of Ming Dynasty rich."
Having enough food and clothing is the ultimate pursuit of most people in the feudal dynasty.
And living warmly can also be counted as wearing warm clothes.
Overwinter over winter!
Why do we use the word "pass"? It's because winter is a difficult time, so we have to pass it!
Calorie acquisition and retention is the most basic way of life for humans.
Mu Ying was keenly aware of the significance of this brick.
He was very excited and looked at Su Jing with eyes full of reverence.
Su Jing smiled and said: "So Niu Yi, you made bricks to keep warm. Do you think this is enough?"
Su Jing took the strange-looking brick and shook it gently in her hand.
Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "Master Su, the student thinks that the difficulty of mass production must also be taken into consideration, not just the pursuit of warmth."
Soap is also a good thing, but it is obviously not affordable for ordinary people.
If this kind of hollow brick is to be popularized, the difficulty of mass production must also be taken into consideration, that is, cost control.
"Yes, you are thinking more and more comprehensively about issues."
Su Jing nodded and said: "I think in your previous experiments, you should already have options to balance warmth retention and production difficulty."
"certainly."
Zhu Biao understood and looked at Su Jing, already understanding Su Jing's intention.
The purpose of this experiment was to allow Zhu Biao to find hollow bricks that were both warm and cheap.
“Teacher Su’s righteousness is deeply admired by his students.”
Zhu Biao bowed towards Su Jing and said: "This one thing can help countless people in the Ming Dynasty survive the cold winter!"
Brick by brick, blessing the people!
(End of chapter)
