However, the emperor did not take it seriously and was secretly proud of having conquered the greatest maritime monster in history.
After a few more casual remarks, the emperor ordered a palace attendant to read out the imperial edict and bestowed the new official uniform on the spot. A sense of ceremony is essential, and presenting the reward in person is even more effective; this is also the way the emperor learned to control his subordinates.
Zheng Zhilong and Wu Zheng resigned with gratitude. The promotions they had received over the past few years had made them realize that being loyal to the emperor, doing their job diligently, and abiding by the law would keep them safe.
This autumn, a new wave of corrupt officials were beheaded. Although the number is much smaller than last year and the year before, the deterrent effect remains.
Why bother?! All the money, land, and houses I had embezzled were lost; my own life was in danger, and my family and relatives were exiled thousands of miles away.
Law-abiding officials not only get promoted, but also receive increased salaries, enjoy subsidies for cars, high temperatures, heating, etc., and live a worry-free life.
But money can move people's hearts, and there will always be people who are blinded by greed and commit corrupt acts in the hope of getting away with it.
You are unkind, and I am unjust. The current emperor has no psychological burden when it comes to killing people. He is even more determined, and he doesn't believe that he can't punish corrupt officials.
After Zheng Zhilong and Wu Zheng left, the emperor gently stroked his forehead. Fan Xiaohui immediately stepped forward and gave the emperor a massage with her delicate hands.
The emperor closed his eyes and enjoyed himself, then remembered something and ordered, "Wang Ban, send some of the fresh vegetables from the royal greenhouse to Master Sun and other important officials."
"I obey your order." Wang Tigan bowed and turned to leave.
In fact, the cultivation of off-season vegetables in China can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty. After the Tang and Song Dynasties, off-season vegetables have become generally accepted by people, and "out-of-season things are treasured", and off-season vegetables are regarded as delicacies!
In ancient times, natural heat sources were used more to produce off-season fruits and vegetables. The Tang Dynasty used hot spring water to create a temperature suitable for vegetable growth in the "Inner Garden" where off-season fruits and vegetables were grown for the palace.
By the Ming Dynasty, fire rooms or kangs were basically used to produce off-season vegetables.
The so-called "fire room" is what we call a greenhouse today. A kang is built in the room and a fire is burned to increase the temperature in the vegetable shed.
In Ming Dynasty, Xie Zhaozhe's Wuzazu·Wubu San recorded: "In the dead of winter in the capital, there are yellow sprouts and leeks, which are grown in the kangs in the cellars of the rich houses."
At that time, wealthy families in the capital would build underground cellars with kangs. In the dead of winter, not only were there endless yellow sprouts and leeks, but "other flowers and fruits were available all the time," including peonies, cucumbers, etc.
It is easy to imagine how much it costs to grow off-season vegetables using this method, and only the powerful and wealthy can afford it.
The greenhouse, designed by the emperor himself and made of glass, has a large span, heat-collecting and heat-storing walls, and can effectively utilize sunlight. It is very similar to the solar greenhouses of later generations.
Although fires had to be burned to heat the water during very cold weather, the cost was much lower. Furthermore, although it was said to belong to the royal family, it was also used for agricultural experiments.
The cost of building a greenhouse was very high, but the emperor still took money from the inner treasury and built many connected greenhouses.
If the harvest was good, he would let the people of the capital taste it during the New Year. If there were not enough, each family would have two handfuls of leeks to make dumplings, which was also a great favor from the emperor.
Ordinary people also have vegetables for the winter, either pickled or dried, or stored in cellars. Of course, pickled vegetables taste better than fresh vegetables; the stored vegetables are usually cabbage and radish.
It would be even better if we could receive news of the great victory in Liaodong before the New Year. The emperor closed his eyes slightly, feeling both hopeful and a little worried.
Half of a little face poked in from the palace door, looking inside quietly.
Seeing this, Fan Xiaohui smiled and leaned close to the emperor's ear, whispering, "Your Majesty, Wu Yue is peeking outside the door!"
The emperor opened his eyes and saw the little face that was shrinking back. He couldn't help but smile and said, "May, come in!"
That's right, it was May. The little girl had done well on her exams and was promoted to junior high school. The emperor granted her a small wish, allowing her to become a palace maid for the winter break. Or rather, he allowed her to enjoy the imperial meals in the Qianqing Palace for the winter break.
Even the emperor hadn't expected that the little girl, despite her intelligence, was actually a foodie. She'd always been thinking about what the emperor ate when she asked him before, but now she could actually know what he ate.
May walked into the hall with a grin and a few crisp laughs. She knelt down and kowtowed politely, but was stopped by the emperor.
"No need to be so polite. Stand up." The emperor raised his head. He really liked this smart and clever little girl and hoped that his daughter would be like her when she grew up.
Wu Yue stood up and stood at the bottom of the stairs, smiling and asking, "I'm reading a book and there are a few things I don't understand. Knowing that Your Majesty is knowledgeable and knows everything, I wanted to ask for your advice."
I know the past five hundred years and the future five hundred years. No one in the Ming Dynasty is better than me.
The emperor smiled happily at the compliment and said, "Ask me! There really isn't a question that can stump me."
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