Since the imperial city began to use electricity on a large scale, in the past few days, people in the capital have been going to turn off the lights in an endless stream and look at the splendid imperial city from a distance.
It was like a miracle coming to the mortal world, even the envoys of the vassal countries were dazzled by the gods and gods, and the people worshiped the imperial city and were amazed.
It didn't take long for Zhu Houzhao to issue an edict and announce that on the eve of Zhengdan this year, a construction plan would be started with the imperial city as the center, street lights would be installed, and Zhengdan would be celebrated with the people.
After this decree, everyone came back to their senses and were full of expectations for the magic of the street lights.
Yang Shen, as the director of the manufacturing bureau who was promoted by the emperor himself, has been worried about the emperor's great cause, and now he is not far from Zhengdan.
It only took a month. Fortunately, the foundation for laying the cement road that was originally built has been laid. However, just the installation of wires is a major technical problem.
No, Yang Shen went to the palace to complain, with a look of despair on his face, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, you have really given me a big problem. It's only one month, on the eve of the first day of the new year, how can I finish it on time? "
Zhu Houzhao put his arm around Yang Shen's shoulders and laughed and said: "Yong Xiu, you have to believe in yourself, you can do it. Didn't you promise to work with me to build a different Ming Dynasty, so that the people of Ming Dynasty can use it?" Electricity, please repair it, I am waiting for your good news, and the people are also waiting for your good news, you can do it."
Yang Shen smiled bitterly, remembering the boast he had made with His Majesty, and immediately said helplessly: "Your Majesty, Wei Chen, please try your best. However, this time when you enter the palace, Wei Chen is here to ask for someone. The power of the diesel generator is not high enough. It’s not enough to supply the entire capital city streets at the same time, even the main streets.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded. He had already thought of this problem. He had already thought of this when he changed to the street. Seeing the helpless look on Yang Shen's face, he found it funny.
"Don't worry, repair it. As long as you complete the installation of the street lights on the main street on time, I will definitely make the streets of the capital bright up on the first day of the new year." Zhu Houzhao said confidently.
Yang Shen's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked curiously: "Has the Emperor been prepared in advance?"
Zhu Houzhao smiled mysteriously and said: "If you use cultivation, don't test it. You will know when it is right."
Yang Shen was speechless, but since the emperor had promised, he was full of energy and said: "In this case, I will wait and see what the emperor does."
Diesel generators are certainly useful.
But it can only solve a temporary need. To ensure the stability and large-scale use of power generation, it must be thermal power generation.
When I was in the palace, the huge chimney was used to prepare for thermal power generation. I thought it was used for burning paper and cement.
But Zhu Houzhao has long been preparing for thermal power generation. At the foot of the West Mountain, the huge chimney has long stood. The thermal power generation device has been completed and has now entered the final testing stage.
Yang Shen got the manpower he wanted, and he no longer bothered about what he had done on the eve of the first day, he just finished it.
Zhu Houzhao sent Yang Shen away and had nothing to do again. He took Liu Jin and Zhang Zhong out of the palace again. Sneaking around the capital was his favorite thing to do.
Originally, he wanted to take Yang Shen with him, but seeing how anxious this guy was, Zhu Houzhao decided not to disturb his enthusiasm.
Regarding the emperor's frequent sneaking out of the palace in vain, the ministers are now turning a blind eye and saying, forget it, forget it, you can't control it, as long as the emperor is happy.
The capital city has undergone earth-shaking changes. Let’s talk about the streets. They used to be loess roads, but now they are cement roads. In the past, the streets were one foot deep and one foot shallow, but now they are much smoother and cleaner.
Everything was in order and it was more lively than before.
Zhu Houzhao was filled with a sense of accomplishment when he saw that the faces of the common people were no longer haggard and looked radiant. This was a slight change he had made after coming to this world.
But he knew that this kind of scene could only be seen in the capital, the most beautiful place. He could still guess how the people in other places lived.
There is a long way to go.
It's winter now, and coupled with climate change, the weather is extremely cold. Although the court has won many victories, the basic life of the people has not changed much.
In order to keep the people fed and clothed, only by waiting for Qi Jingtong and his two uncles to recover grain, as well as the development and innovation of industry and agriculture, can the Ming Dynasty truly achieve prosperity.
Refugees have already entered the capital from the villages and towns surrounding the capital. Because of Liu Liu and Liu Qi's rebellion, although it did not cause the same disaster as in the previous life, it also deeply slapped Zhu Houzhao in the face.
I saw the people with sallow complexions and skinny faces gathered in the corners of the city wall, hugging each other for warmth. Occasionally, some kind-hearted people would give them some food.
Zhu Houzhao was heartbroken when he saw it. He paused in his tracks. He wanted to go over, but he felt guilty and could not face these people.
Liu Jin observed the words and spoke at the right time: "Your Majesty, there are so many people in the Ming Dynasty. It is normal for there to be some hungry people."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao glared at Liu Jin and sneered: "You think it's normal? I say it's caused by the incompetence of the local government."
Liu Jin immediately echoed: "What the emperor said is true."
Zhang Zhong, a wooden person, said from the side: "The emperor is right. I think it may not only be incompetence, but there may be something hidden."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said in a deep voice: "Oh, what did you see?"
Liu Jin also looked at Zhang Zhong strangely, wanting to hear why this piece of wood said this?
Zhang Zhong pointed to a woman with a baby in her arms and a crippled old man in the distance, and said: "Please see, Your Majesty, that woman does not look like a refugee, and the girl in his arms is also white and tender. Although she is now a Although he looks down and out, he can't hide that his previous life was not that of an ordinary person.
Sure enough, Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin discovered that the woman and the girl in her arms were different, and their eyes were alert and expectant. They looked at the passing cars and horses, as if they were looking for someone.
"There is also the old man with a broken body. Your Majesty, I have seen it. The old man's broken body seems to have been injured by a weapon, and it is not an old injury, but a new injury."
Zhu Houzhao looked at the old man again, and it was indeed as Zhang Zhong said.
"Furthermore, these refugees are not like the refugees found in previous years. Although they are similar in appearance, they are different in spirit. If I am not mistaken, these are not ordinary refugees, and they may all be military households."
Zhu Houzhao was shocked when he said this, military household?
How is this possible? How can a military household become a refugee?
Liu Jin frowned and said: "Although our family doesn't see the difference between them, we also know that these people cannot be military households. According to the system of the country, how can military households become refugees? Who has the courage to force military households to become refugees?" Refugees?"
Zhu Houzhao was also confused and looked at Zhang Zhong for an explanation.
Zhang Zhong shook his head and said calmly to Liu Jin: "Because I am a soldier. How can I not see who they are?"
Zhu Houzhao spoke again: "Then why do they live here?"
Zhang Zhong was silent for a while this time before replying: "Actually, doesn't the Emperor already have the answer in his heart?"
Zhu Houzhao frowned. It seemed that it was what he had guessed. The military households had become refugees. There was only one explanation. The fields given to them by the imperial court had been occupied, or they had great grievances and could no longer survive.
"Liu Jin, call Mou Bin and Fan Ting to enter the palace and return to the palace."
"According to the order."
The first thing Zhu Houzhao did when he returned to the palace was to summon Mu Bin and Fan Ting from Dongchang, the two most feared spy leaders in the Ming Dynasty.
"My lord, Mou Bin, commander of the Jinyi Guards, is here to see my emperor."
"Slave, Fan Ting, Admiral of Dongchang, pays homage to the Emperor."
"Flat body."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao looked at the two of them with an eyebrow, took a deep breath at the end, suppressed his anger, and said in a low voice: "There are refugees in the capital. Do you two have any clues as to where these refugees come from?"
Mou Bin and Fan Ting looked at each other with confusion on their faces, refugees?
Isn't this a matter between the Ministry of Revenue and the Wucheng Army and Horses Division? It has nothing to do with the ministers!
But they both dared not say these words no matter what.
Moreover, looking at His Majesty's face, he was full of rage that was about to explode, and I was afraid that something had happened.
Mou Bin bowed and responded: "Your Majesty, I have no news."
Fan Ting had a cold sweat on his face. He didn't know why he encountered Wuwu's disaster. What happened to the emperor?
"Your Majesty, I have no news about this servant." After saying that, the two of them lowered their heads with a look of shame and fear on their faces.
Zhu Houzhao sneered and said: "Dongchang is my eyes and ears, checking all the affairs in the world, from the ministers of the court to the people's livelihood, no matter how big or small. If there is any news, report it to me as needed."
When Fan Ting heard this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He knelt down in the main hall and touched his head to the ground. He was so frightened that he shouted: "I will die as a slave. I cannot share my worries for the emperor. I will die as a slave."
Zhu Houzhao ignored him and said in a deep voice to Mou Bin: "Jinyiwei was founded by Taizu, and passed by Emperor Taizong of Yongle. At the height of the sun, he inspected internal and external matters, internal and external affairs, people's livelihood, military affairs, officials, enemy intelligence, and affairs. No matter how big or small it is, if there is any information, it will be reported to Heaven as needed."
Mou Bin also clicked, fell to his knees, and touched his head to the ground, not daring to argue anything.
Snapped.
Zhu Houzhao stood up after taking the case, glared at the two of them, and shouted: "Fan Ting, Mou Bin, do you two know your guilt?"
"Wei Chen is aware of his guilt."
"This slave is guilty."
Zhu Houzhao sneered at them and said, "Very good. After leaving the palace, each person will receive fifty imperial staffs as a sign of punishment."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
The two finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the fifty court staff was quite heavy, it was better than enduring the emperor's wrath. It seemed that they had escaped a disaster this time.
Zhu Houzhao quickly told the reasons why he punished them, and asked them to collect information and enter the palace immediately.
Mou Bin and Fan Ting were beaten and limped out of the palace.
In just an hour, Zhu Houzhao got the news about Jinyiwei and Dongchang. As Zhang Zhong said, these refugees were all military households.
And he is a refugee in Bazhou. It is simply unbelievable that under the Emperor’s feet, someone dares to force a military household to become a refugee?
Zhu Houzhao was so angry that he overturned the dragon case with one kick and roared: "This is unreasonable. You are so brave. Do you think my knife can't cut off their heads? You shameless dog thief, I will shave you alive." Executed in Lingchi."
Xie Qian, who happened to be on duty in the cabinet today, heard the emperor's roaring and angry voice from a distance, and quickly walked outside the palace gate to ask for an audience. He didn't know what big event had happened to make the emperor so angry.
"Your Majesty, the cabinet would like to thank the Duke for his visit."
Zhu Houzhao gradually calmed down under the comfort of Liu Jin and Zhang Zhong, as well as the arrival of Xie Qian. After giving orders to clean up, he suppressed the anger in his heart and said calmly: "Thank you, master, for entering the palace."
