As he walked outside the palace, he couldn't help but smile and breathed a sigh of relief. Although the emperor had only praised him with a "very good" compliment, having his name known to the emperor was certainly a good opportunity for promotion!

There is nothing wrong with the original intention of cutting down on redundant staff, but based on the communication speed and work efficiency in ancient times, the ratio of officials can only be higher than that in later generations, which is normal.

You think you can save money by reducing staff, but instead of increasing efficiency, you will achieve the opposite effect.

Zhu Youxiao stroked his forehead, thinking, feeling very troubled. At the same time, he also knew that salt administration was a very complicated task, involving people's livelihood and social stability, and reforms should not be too hasty.

In addition to salt, there is also tea, tobacco and alcohol. If the state monopoly system for these commodities can be straightened out and properly managed, will the Ming Dynasty court be short of money?

It is no exaggeration to say that a tiny grain of salt could support half an empire. However, in the Ming Dynasty, the actual situation was disappointing.

Despite a year of turmoil, including clearing the military garrisons to pay military salaries, lifting the maritime ban, selling mirrors, and even more brutal property confiscations, the Ming Dynasty's financial difficulties had been greatly alleviated and were showing signs of improvement.

But making money was not Zhu Youxiao's ultimate goal, and he was not a miser. "Taking from the people and using it for the people" was his long-term consideration.

But how can we collect it, and from which "people" can we collect it without harming the "people" for whom it is to be used?

While Zhu Youxiao was lost in thought, a pair of gentle hands touched his shoulders. Li Chengcheng came over and gave him a gentle massage, although his technique was not professional.

Zhu Youxiao patted Li Chengcheng's hand gently and said slowly, "I almost forgot about the appointment. Pack up and go out with me to relax!"

……………………

After receiving Shen Lang's invitation, Chen Zilong, Xia Yunyi and Xu Fuyuan took two students they met at the new school and rushed to the appointment.

Standing in front of this not-so-grand house, Wang Ji, a student who had lived in the capital for a long time, looked back at the Forbidden City again and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

"This Master Shen Langchen is probably not an ordinary person." Wang Jizhong pointed and said, "To have a house near the imperial palace, his status must be quite high!"

Zhang Yitai nodded in agreement and guessed, "Maybe it's because of the influence of his ancestors, and his family background is extraordinary."

Chen Zilong said with a smile: "When it comes to friendship and sharing one's heart, whether one is rich or poor, what does it matter? If we only talk about Brother Shen's talent, we admire him very much."

The servant at the door saw a few people stopping and came over to ask. When he learned that they were invited by the owner of the house, he cordially invited them into the house.

The house looked unassuming from the outside, and its interior was quite ordinary, lacking the opulent decorations of the rich and powerful. Yet, its simplicity was clean and tidy, and its winding corridors and eaves gave it a touch of elegance.

When he arrived at the hall, Zhu Youxiao came out with a smile and bowed, "It is a great honor for my humble home to have you here, my dear friends!"

"Brother Shen, nice to meet you." Chen Zilong and others bowed in return and introduced Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yita to Zhu Youxiao.

After the greetings were over, everyone went into the hall and sat down. After the servants served them tea, they began to chat casually.

"The new school has broadened our horizons," Chen Zilong said with deep emotion. "And with the guidance and teaching of Master Xu, we now know the wonders and marvels of this world."

Zhu Youxiao was not surprised by this. Anyone who saw a world map or a globe for the first time, observed the movement of celestial bodies with a telescope, or used beakers and flasks to do chemical experiments was like a child with a new toy. The word "wonderful" was really accurate to describe it.

Just like Xu Guangqi, after coming into contact with missionary Guo Jujing, he learned that there was such a big world outside of China. He heard that the earth was round and that Magellan had orbited the earth. These unprecedented things immediately attracted him.

But this is only an initial interest, and if you don't develop the desire to pursue and study it in depth, it will stop there, just like a child will get bored with a new toy after a while.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao had to continue to guide and connect sciences such as physics and chemistry with serving the country and the people, and turn them into practical knowledge.

"I've also experienced the novelty that Brother Chen is talking about," Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "but delving into the principles or truth behind the novelty is a step forward."

Xia Yunyi laughed, turned to look at Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yita, and said, "How is it? I told you that Brother Shen is a man of great talent and has a different perspective on things."

Wang Jizhong smiled and nodded, but it was just a polite gesture. He didn't agree in his heart. He said, "I heard Brother Chen, Brother Xia, and Brother Xu talk about the strange phenomenon of a cup filled with water being blocked by a piece of paper. I also tried it, and it is indeed very strange. I wonder if Brother Shen can figure out the principle or the truth behind it?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "I do have some experience and have come up with something that might be of some use to the people."

Oh, Wang Jizhong didn't expect Zhu Youxiao to be so immodest and answer his questions so easily. He couldn't help but look surprised.

Xia Yunyi raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Then let us see it!"

"Yes, yes!" Xu Fuyuan felt that if Shen Lang could convince Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yita, they would also be honored. He hurriedly said, "Putting theory into practice should be considered as practical application, right?"

Everyone agreed, and Zhu Youxiao stood up with a little helplessness and asked everyone to go to the backyard to take a look.

There was a well in the backyard, and water used to be drawn with an old-fashioned wheel bucket. But now it looked different, with a roof covering it to keep out dust and rain, and a strange-looking thing made of a large bamboo tube inside a small one hanging over the wellhead.

"Old Lu, bring some water up!" Zhu Youxiao greeted Lu Jianxing casually.

Lu Jianxing responded respectfully, stepped forward, pressed the handle with one hand, scooped water from the bucket next to him and poured it onto the piston of the cylinder, then quickly pressed the handle.

Under the gaze of everyone, the handle moved up and down, and after a moment, water flowed out from the outlet and flowed into the bucket.

Zhu Youxiao explained, "The principle is the same, but the method has been changed. It can pump water out from lower places. But there are limitations. The height cannot exceed eight meters. Oh, about six steps."

People in later generations with some experience probably recognize this water-drawing device, which is still often seen in rural areas. The older generation usually calls it a "foreign well" or a "pressure well."

In fact, it is a "suction pump", or a piston pump.

Xia Yunyi approached the well mouth, looked down through the gap, and exclaimed: "This well is quite deep. It's amazing that they can raise the water so high!"

Chen Zilong stepped forward, bowed to Lu Jianxing, and said politely, "Can I try it too?"

Lu Jianxing nodded, motioning for Chen Zilong to take over, and instructed him, "Don't press too hard, or you'll have to press harder once the plug is out." Once Chen Zilong started to press the handle and the water flowed steadily, he let go and stepped back.