The next day, there will be a large court meeting.
Since Zhu Houzhao implemented this system of going to court, everyone has become much more relaxed and looks much better. After all, they can sleep a few more hours, have more time for activities at night, and everyone looks much better. , except that the Great Chao Meeting remains the same.
"Every official comes to court."
"Long live, long live, long live my emperor."
"Flat body."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
Zhu Houzhao sat on the dragon chair in a formal high position and looked down. To be honest, the dragon chair was very uncomfortable and a little bumpy to the buttocks. But psychologically, it was a different situation. He was the only one in the world and looked down. Mountains and rivers, swallowing thousands of miles of wind, being extremely cold at high places, and so on.
Hearing the shouts of the mountains below, long live the mountain, he felt deeply. Today, he was going to come up with something new. First, he would let everyone see the results of the Royal Manufacturing Bureau, so as to stop the minister's mouth.
"I, I have something for you to take a look at today. This object was made by the Royal Manufacturing Bureau that I set up. I want you to see if I am not as ridiculous as Wang Qiong said. Bring it up."
Immediately, more than a dozen guards carried up a huge stone with a roar, and went straight to the golden palace. They also prepared several hammers, placed them on the ground, and then retreated down the palace.
Sirs, look at me and I look at you. The three pavilion elders Liu, Li and Xie looked at each other. Yang Tinghe looked at the huge stone in confusion.
Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Do you know what this is?"
Everyone was pointing around the stones, not knowing why, and shaking their heads.
"Is it possible that even with all your erudition, you can't recognize what this thing is?"
Xie Qian is quite upright. If you don’t know, you just don’t know. What’s more, Wang Qiong and others who have been kneeling outside all day and night are not more important than a broken stone. He stood up first and said, "Your Majesty, this is Shanshier, the Royal Manufacturing Bureau. Could it be that this thing was created? There are countless such stones on the West Mountain. If Your Majesty needs it, I can collect a few pieces and give them to Your Majesty. Why are they displayed in the Golden Palace like a treasure?" The words are very disrespectful, this old guy The style has not changed at all, it is still the same.
It's just that Liu Jin suddenly felt uncomfortable after hearing this. He has been criticized and scolded by this old guy many times, which is commonplace. But is the emperor someone you can blame?
"Xie Qian, you are so rude. The stone shown by the emperor is not that stone. It is indeed a treasure. You don't know this thing, but you point at the mountain stone with a smile. Your words are disrespectful, you deceive the emperor, and you are arrogant. How can you be virtuous? How can you be at the head of the ministers?" Liu Jinke doesn't care whether you are a senior minister or a bachelor. If you offend the emperor, even if you offend him, he will dare to kill you, let alone just scold you.
"You~." Xie Qian was furious, his body shook, and he couldn't say a word.
Li Dongyang and Liu Jian supported him, and the officials looked at Liu Jin angrily. What they said was too vicious.
Zhu Houzhao secretly praised Liu Jin with joy, "What a slave, you performed well. It's not in vain that I value you so much, please continue to carry it forward."
On his face, he pretended to be unhappy and scolded Liu Jin: "Master Xie, when will it be your turn to criticize, why don't you back down?"
Liu Jin was secretly happy, knowing that he had made a meritorious service again. The emperor was obviously protecting him, so he bowed and backed away without saying a word.
Zhu Houzhao comforted Xie Qian and stopped teasing everyone. He said to the ministers in the palace: "Although Liu Jin is presumptuous, his words are indeed right. This thing is really a treasure. I am displaying it now because I want to show it." Everyone, please read the details carefully, where can this thing be used, and as for what this thing is, you can try its hardness first, and then I will tell you, everyone, who wants to try it."
Then the warrior in the palace picked up a big hammer and brought it to them. The civil servants looked at it and shook their heads. This was so rude and unbecoming.
As for the generals, there is not so much to pay attention to. Yang Yiqing, as a military general who was personally recommended by Zhu Houzhao, was praised by history as being comparable to Yao Chong. His strength value is not low, at least stronger than most people in the palace. At this time, In his prime, he snorted, grabbed the hammer, strode out, cupped his hands towards the emperor and said, "Since the emperor said this stone is a treasure, I am willing to give it a try for your majesty. Please forgive me for my presumptuous sin." "
Bang.
Sparks fly.
Yang Yiqing held the hammer in both hands, raised it high, and brought it down towards the boulder. This shocked the ministers, and even the ears of some ministers buzzed. However, the counter-shock force of the cement stone knocked Yang Yiqing away. His hands were numb from the shock, and there was burning pain, but the boulder was intact, and the officials were horrified.
Zhu Houzhao used forged steel to tie it inside, and it was supported by the keel inside. Of course, the hammer could not break it, and the hammer did not rebound. Yang Yiqing was already considered powerful.
In order to shock this test, he almost tried every means to strengthen the strength of the cement, just to shock these idiots. If it were an ordinary rock, it would have broken into pieces.
Yang Yiqing was stunned. He still knew how strong he was. His hands were burning with pain at this moment. This was unrealistic.
"My lords, Yang is ashamed. This thing is extremely hard and has strange toughness. The force of the shock made my palms ache and numb. What the emperor said is true." Yang Yiqing had one thing to say. The reason why he stood up , I just wanted to help Xie Qian. Since His Majesty said it was a treasure, let's try it. If not, Liu Jin reprimanded Xie Qian, then he would have to ask for an explanation.
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "What do you think?"
"I don't know this thing, your Majesty, please make it clear." Liu Jian came forward.
"Your Majesty, please make it clear."
The warriors in the palace came in again carrying some cement. This time it was unprocessed cement. The huge stone was carried out. The ministers were puzzled and looked at His Majesty above Jin Yi.
Zhu Houzhao said: "I, I will tell you now that the huge stone before was made of this thing. The name of this thing is cement."
cement? What is this!
The ministers were talking a lot, but the censor in front of the palace did not stand up to stop. This was what Zhu Houzhao had ordered a long time ago.
Yang Yiqing was very puzzled as to why this powder, which was like fine sand, could be so hard. The ministers were also puzzled. After a while, a guard came in and started to announce: "Your Majesty, the palace has been prepared."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Then please all of you, please go out and take a closer look."
"According to the order."
The ministers didn't know why. The emperor was making some mystery again.
Zhu Houzhao stood up and walked down the imperial steps and said to the ministers, "Everyone of your family, come with me to have a look."
He walked in front, followed by the three pavilion elders, followed by the six ministries and nine ministers, walking in order, with high and low positions, in order.
In fact, before entering the palace to pay homage, these ministers saw some craftsmen and the imperial guards playing with things in front of the palace, but due to the dark sky, they could not see clearly.
Now they saw clearly that there was actually a stone carving in the shape of an animal. They didn't know what the emperor wanted to do, and the ministers pointed at it.
Zhu Houzhao ignored their comments and ordered the craftsmen to start mixing cement, sand and gravel, and then pour them into the mold.
"My dear friends, there is no need to be anxious. Please be patient and don't be impatient."
The craftsmen were busy pushing the windmill and lighting the fire. The cement in the mold began to solidify and take shape. The sun was rising, and the noon time was almost over. This wait lasted more than two hours, four hours. Minister Their legs were weak and their feet were soft, their waists and backs ached, and they were complaining loudly.
Except for the three pavilion elders who had a chair to sit on, the others did not have this qualification, which was really hard for them.
The three pavilion elders couldn't stand it anymore. Liu Jian was relatively stable. The emperor asked them to calm down and wait to see what tricks the emperor could play.
Xie Qian has long been impatient. He has been worried about Wang Qiong and others outside the Meridian Gate for a day. Any crime is enough. Is the emperor so hard-hearted? What's more, they are asking for orders to speak out for the sake of the people of the world. What's wrong?
"Your Majesty, this old minister would like to ask when exactly he will wait until he can rest." Xie Qian said angrily.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the sand carvings erected in front of the temple and thought to himself, five hours has passed, and the weather is dry now, and there are fires to promote drying, so it's almost time.
"Liu Jin, tell them to open the mold."
"According to the order."
Liu Jin turned to the craftsmen and ordered, "Open the mold."
The craftsmen began to hammer on the grinding tools, and soon, an identical animal-shaped stone sculpture appeared in front of everyone.
There was an uproar.
In two and a half hours, how did His Majesty achieve a two- to three-meter animal-shaped stone sculpture?
Liu Jian looked at the carving in astonishment and couldn't believe it.
Xie Qian was speechless. This was really something made by those craftsmen. It was so magical, cement.
Li Dongyang squirted out a mouthful of tea and didn't wipe it off. He was as steady as Liu Gong, so he looked at him and was speechless.
Zhu Houzhao pointed to the cement stone sculpture with a smile and said, "This cement is not afraid of water and fire. If it is mixed with steel and placed in it, it will also have the effect of resisting the bombardment of artillery iron bullets. Please take a look."
Liu Jin got the order and told the imperial army: "Light the fire."
"yes."
Boom.
Boom, a dull sound sounded.
After the sound, the ministers looked and saw that the stone statue was intact. Only the area hit by the shell was slightly dented, but it actually withstood the iron bullet.
When the Minister of Industry saw it, he was amazed. Such magical cement is really a weapon for the country. If it is used on the wall of the border fortress, it will be better than the three-piece earth wall made of rammed earth and glutinous rice juice.
And the most important thing is that it can be formed quickly. Except for the city walls in Beijing and Nanjing, they are basically built with rammed earth. Very few of them use Sanhe soil. They are repaired. Once there is a heavy rain, there is still the danger of collapse. Hongzhi Ten In 2000, a wall of the imperial city collapsed due to old age. Three years later, it collapsed again, causing discussion among the government and the public.
Zhu Houzhao was still not very satisfied. Since the dent was a little bit, he blushed a little. It seemed that he had boasted a lot. He glanced at the ministers secretly and found that they all had horrified expressions on their faces. No one cared about this. He was relieved and complained about them in his heart. , country bumpkin.
The officials were shocked. This was cement, a thing made by the Royal Manufacturing Bureau. It was amazing.
Then, three more musketeers from the Shenji Battalion took muskets and fired at the cement stone sculpture from fifty steps away. This time, no mark was left behind.
Everyone was in an uproar again.
I have no knowledge, Zhu Houzhao secretly cursed, if the cannon were replaced by the cannon made by me, it would be able to blast the cement into slag in one go.
"What do you think, sir? Can this thing be called a treasure?" Zhu Houzhao glanced at everyone, especially Xie Qian. This was the opportunity to ask him. It was this old guy who talked the most.
Xie Qian was embarrassed and thought that he had once again surrendered to the emperor. Just to make everyone recognize the Royal Manufacturing Bureau, he really did everything he could. He only said a few words of doubt, but now he is targeting me. It's really... ··．
Li Dongyang raised his eyebrows and said, "This thing does have merit. If it is used in construction, I believe it will have great achievements. How does Your Majesty plan to dispose of the cement?"
Zhu Houzhao said: "Official roads, city defenses, imperial cities, and construction can all be used. I intend to start with the roads in the capital to try the effect. What you are stepping on now is what I ordered to pave last night. How about, but Once leveled, these are all paved with cement.”
Li Dongyang bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is extremely talented and has a keen mind. I am a member of the Royal Manufacturing Bureau. I, the veteran, have nothing to say."
When the emperor mentioned it, they realized that their feet seemed to be much smoother and more comfortable to walk on. It turned out to be all thanks to the cement. This thing really has some use. Think about it if it rained before. When I stepped down, I was satisfied with the mud and water. Now I don’t have to worry about getting my boots dirty.
"This product is not only widely used, but can also be produced on a large scale. Not only can the court use it for its own use, but it can also be supplied and demanded by the people. The Royal Manufacturing Bureau, I, have prepared to sell the things that have been manufactured to a few royal merchants first. , there are also managers in the family, don’t refute, no one can avoid Jin Yiwei’s eyes, and I don’t mean to blame you. My Daming salary is indeed low. As long as you don’t do harm to God and earn some family income, I will not be guilty. It's yours, all the ministers can take care of themselves." Zhu Houzhao wanted to take the opportunity to mention the secret memorial.
This is to warn them that I am going to cause trouble. You should be alert. I have your handle. Don't oppose me. Be obedient and everyone will be safe.
Except for a few of the hundreds of officials present, a few were clean. Although the military generals did not attack businessmen, no one dared to speak innocently when it came to reporting military supplies, not even Yang Yiqing, who claimed to be upright and selfless. He claimed to be innocent, otherwise, no one would accuse him of corruption later.
The three pavilion elders sighed. It seems that His Majesty has already had an idea. I don't know what he will do this time. As long as it does not cause public dissatisfaction again. The matter in Nanjing Mansion is not over yet. Yesterday they sent People went down to check the news.
Now, the reason why they are not making trouble is to wait for the news. If it is true what Wang Qiong said, they will not be so easy to talk to anymore. Your Majesty must admit his mistake, even if he is dismissed from office and dies without a burial place. No matter what.
The cement matter has come to an end. Zhu Houzhao ordered that the cement be temporarily provided by the royal family for street construction in the capital. After the results are known, the cement will be resold by selected royal merchants. The ministers did not object this time and obediently agreed with the emperor's order.
When the court meeting was about to break up, an urgent memorial of six hundred miles came to Beijing.
The guard trotted over and reported.
"Your Majesty, the memorial jointly signed by the six ministers of the Nanjing Prefecture has been rushed to the capital for 600 miles to deliver it to the General Affairs Department. Yang Shen went to the palace to deliver the report and invite your Majesty." The guard replied.
When Zhu Houzhao heard the news, it was from Nanjing, and he was shocked. Calculating the time, if Jiao Fang and Zhang Zhong had already completed the disaster relief, they should have sent a letter. However, how could it be that the six ministries of Nanjing had submitted the letter? Instead of their memorial? Have things changed again?
What is supposed to come will always come. The incident in Nanjing has made these ministers resentful. In this case, let me see what the six departments in Nanjing said.
As an experienced officer of the General Affairs Department, Yang Shen was only in the seventh rank, but he directly had the authority of the emperor. Now that his immediate superior had entered the palace during the Great Court Meeting, as an experienced officer of the General Affairs Department, of course he could enter the palace to see the emperor.
Zhu Houzhao smiled, Yang Shen, I'm afraid he will be surprised this time, hehe.
"Xuan."
