Zhang Yuer looked even more embarrassed under the young emperor's gaze and lowered her head, not knowing why the emperor was staring at her like that.
Maybe this is really the unfortunate woman. Zhu Youxiao sighed in his heart, and felt fortunate and even a little proud that he had driven Ke Shi away.
Isn’t it true that he drove away the vicious Ke Shi and saved this young girl?
Zhang Yu'er didn't dare to look up, but she could feel the young emperor's aggressive gaze. At seventeen, she already knew some of the sexual relations between men and women. A blush slowly rose on her face, spreading from her face to her neck.
Just as she was feeling uneasy, the young emperor's voice rang out, "Poor thing, this plate of snacks is a reward for you. From now on, you must eat more."
Are you talking about me?
Zhang Yuer looked up and saw the young emperor He Xiwennuan, with a look that seemed to contain a bit of pity, and a plate of snacks that was gently pushed towards her.
Is this guy pregnant with Nezha? Why hasn’t she given birth after thirteen months?
Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Yuer bowing to express his gratitude and showed a thoughtful expression.
…………
He can go to bed late and get up late, and he doesn’t have to rush to catch the bus to punch in for work, nor does he have to be exhausted and then be scolded by his boss. He is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and can do whatever he wants.
There are new rules for breakfast. There are six dishes, three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, and there must be fish. Naturally, it is mainly prepared for White Snake, regardless of whether she likes it or not.
Compared with the specifications of the previous dozen dishes, this was already considered frugal. Although Zhu Youxiao still couldn't finish it, he didn't reduce it further.
For an emperor, eating well, living well, and dressing well are actually not a problem.
If the country is governed peacefully and steadily, and the people can have enough food and clothing, then no matter how extravagant you are, you are a wise ruler.
On the contrary, even if you eat coarse food and your clothes are patched up, the people will still rebel against you.
Chongzhen is a real example. He was neither frugal nor diligent in his work, but uprisings still broke out.
The Chinese people are the most patient people. As long as they can survive, they will not rise up in rebellion.
Zhang Yuer is already a very competent "poop shoveler". Well, what she holds in her hand now is not a shovel, but chopsticks. She quickly and skillfully puts the dishes ordered by Bai Niangniang onto the plate, and carefully removes the bones from the fish.
White Snake ate happily, her big head shaking slightly, her two heterochromatic eyes slightly narrowed, and she looked like a very satisfied foodie.
This guy's head seems to have grown bigger, or should I say his face, this big face -
Zhu Youxiao chewed slowly, glancing at the only cat who could dine at the same table with the emperor from time to time.
"Your Majesty, Junior Chancellor and Censor of Henan Province Xu Guangqi is waiting for an audience outside." The young eunuch entered the hall to report.
Wang Ti glared at the young eunuch, then bowed and said with a flattering smile, "Your Majesty, please have Master Xu wait in the warm room first. Can you summon him after breakfast?"
Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Alright." After a pause, he ordered, "Bring a bowl of stalk rice porridge to Master Xu, along with these side dishes and the eight-treasure steamed buns."
"Your Majesty is compassionate to his subjects, wise and benevolent." Wang Tigan flattered him and asked the eunuch to deliver the young emperor's reward.
The emperor's gift of food is an incomparable honor, which shows that the emperor has you in his heart. It seems that Xu Guangqi will be given an important position, and Wang Tigan immediately guessed this.
Zhu Youxiao quickened his eating pace, rinsed and wiped his mouth after finishing his meal, and then he was about to get up and go to the main hall to summon Xu Guangqi.
After taking two steps, Zhu Youxiao stopped again, reached out and pointed at the jade tripe and lungs on the table, and said to Zhang Yuer with a smile: "It tastes good, I reward you. If you don't mind the other dishes and rice, you can eat them if you want."
Zhang Yuer's face flushed. She had indeed looked at it a few more times just now and seemed to think it was delicious. She didn't expect that the emperor would see through it.
Leftovers? They don't exist. Whatever the emperor left over was still imperial food. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, selling the emperor's leftovers was quite popular among the public.
Common people believed that since the food was eaten by the emperor, it must be contaminated with the emperor's aura, and the emperor's saliva was called "ambergris".
After eating these, students can pass the imperial examinations, ordinary people can become officials, and ordinary people can make money. Therefore, in the eyes of ordinary people, these meals are very precious!
Looking at Zhang Yu'er bowing and expressing gratitude, Wang Tigan pursed his lips, thinking that this girl seemed to be very much liked by the emperor and had a bright future.
Zhu Youxiao came to the main hall and took his seat. The palace servants quickly summoned Xu Guangqi.
"Your Majesty, I, Xu Guangqi, pay my respects to you and thank you for the food. Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor." After entering the hall, Xu Guangqi knelt down and kowtowed.
"My dear Xu, please don't be polite. Please take a seat." Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and ordered the palace servants to bring an embroidered cushion.
After Xu Guangqi expressed his gratitude, he sat down on the embroidered cushion with his hand leaning against the wall.
"Lord Xu has urged the use of red-haired cannons to aid in the defense of the city, and I deeply agree with that." Zhu Youxiao pondered and asked, "I also know that Lord Xu is a man of profound knowledge, always focused on practical application. Besides red-haired cannons, what other strategies do you have for enriching the country, strengthening the military, and educating the people? Feel free to share them."
Xu Guangqi was summoned by the emperor and was quite confused.
After Tianqi ascended the throne, Xu Guangqi was not given a high position. He felt that his ambitions could not be realized and resigned twice on the grounds of illness.
Xu Guangqi entered the palace with a feeling of speculation and uneasiness, but he was first given food by the emperor, which was a great honor and consideration.
Now, hearing that the emperor agreed with his suggestion to use the red cannon, and gave him high praise for "studying the laws of nature", and asked for advice on how to enrich the country, strengthen the army and transform the people, Xu Guangqi was excited for a moment and didn't know what to say.
Zhu Youxiao asked the palace servants to serve tea to Xu Guangqi, and he looked at Xu Guangqi with a smile on his face, as if encouraging and expectant.
Xu Guangqi calmed himself down, thought for a moment, and then bowed and said, "I believe that the source of people's education is the foundation of a country's prosperity..."
Agriculture is the foundation of a rich country, and the army is the basis of a strong country. This is the governing philosophy that Xu Guangqi adhered to.
It's not new at all. In an agricultural country, if you ask any official, they will almost always give the same answer.
But the answers are the same or consistent, but what about the achievable methods? How many people can put this abstract theory into practical use?
Xu Guangqi had studied mathematics, astronomy, calendar, and even military affairs, and had his own unique insights. However, what he wanted to compile most was a book on agriculture.
This agricultural book is very famous in history and is called "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration".
Now, the manuscript only exists in Xu Guangqi's mind. Because of his unsuccessful official career, he resigned and wanted to concentrate on completing this agricultural book that would enrich the country and ensure the people's safety.
Xu Guangqi spoke somewhat roughly at first, but when he saw that the young emperor did not look bored, but listened attentively, smiling and nodding from time to time, he was greatly encouraged and spoke more and more in increasingly detail.
"Water conservancy is the foundation of agriculture. Without water, there are no fields. Vast tracts of wasteland remain uncultivated in the northwest, and large quantities of grain are transported by canal, at staggering costs..."
The idea of establishing settlements in the north was to reverse the problem of grain transfers from the south to the north, thereby strengthening national defense and stabilizing people's lives. While the intention was good, with the Little Ice Age approaching, it was unlikely to be realized.
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