Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Blood boiling
Before class, Yunlu gave out a few questions to find out the foundation of the four children.
All four children can do addition and subtraction within fifty. Erdeng'e, Yonghuang and Yonglian can recite the multiplication song. Mingrui cannot recite it completely, but he can say "two twos make four, three threes make nine", and understand what multiplication means.
But if you ask them to do division in reverse, everything becomes messed up.
Yunlu then started talking about division.
Fortunately, we had counting sticks. The four children couldn't figure it out, so they shared the sticks. Gradually, they began to understand how division worked.
Of course Yonglian had learned it a long time ago, but he could only pretend to be slightly better than Mingrui.
Towards the end of math class, Yunlu read out a few problems for them to memorize as homework. They were all word problems, some dealing with counting people, some with money, and one with counting the number of horses in the stables, using only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division within 20.
After the math class, Mingrui couldn't help but say to Yonglian, "Math is not only used by civil officials, but also by military commanders. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to count how many soldiers they have. They can't just count them one by one."
As expected of a famous general, he associated mathematics with war.
"Yes, that's why I specifically asked Khan Ama to learn mathematics." Yonglian said.
As they talked, they arranged the small wooden sticks on the table.
Just as they finished tidying up, someone came from the Yangxin Palace to call the two young princes over for dinner.
Yonghuang guessed that Khan Ama was going to ask about the math class, and felt a little nervous on the way. "Second brother, we were discussing this in class just now. Was Khan Ama unhappy?"
Yonglian said, "Khan Ama did have a sour face when he first came in, but he got better later. He should be fine." He didn't want to lose such a good teacher like Sixteenth Uncle on the first day of class. Just now, when he saw that Khan Ama seemed to be blaming Sixteenth Uncle, he hurried out to divert his attention.
But this matter will definitely not end so easily, and Khan Ama will inevitably have to nag a few words.
What surprised Yonglian was that Qianlong did not nag them about the way they had just listened to the class, but instead showed concern for whether they understood it.
Yonghuang and Yonglian both said they understood, and Yonglian even explained the 26-point question to Khan Ama again.
Seeing that the little guy had clear ideas, Qianlong nodded in satisfaction.
"It's good as long as you understand it. No matter what method you use, as long as you can learn it clearly, it's fine." Qianlong said.
Yonglian couldn't help but widen his eyes. When did Khan Ama become so open-minded?
Qianlong originally did not approve of this teaching method. The Shangshufang is such a serious place. How could a prince and his study companions get together and learn while talking?
But just now Yunlu came and praised the four students with a smile.
"Not many children are interested in mathematics, and most people don't realize its importance. It's rare for the Second Prince to be interested in this subject, so I guess it's due to the Emperor's daily guidance."
Qianlong agreed out of guilt.
"I believe the Second Prince took the initiative to make the teaching aids, firstly to facilitate his own learning, and secondly, probably to cultivate the interest of the First Prince and his two companions." Yunlu said, "It's rare for a child so young to be so thoughtful."
Qianlong thought that Yonglian's original intention in making these teaching aids was to teach Niu Lun.
"Yonglian has always been like this, always thinking about others. If he likes something, he will share it with those around him."
"Since this is the case, I cannot let Second Prince down." Yunlu said, "I will find a way to get the other three children interested in mathematics as well. If we all make progress together, Second Prince will be more motivated to learn."
Qianlong thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. If the other three children did not like math and were just doing it to get by, and only Yonglian was interested, it would be difficult for him to learn well.
Moreover, the little guy also clearly expressed his wish that his friends would learn with him.
Qianlong's expression softened, and he nodded, saying, "Sixteenth Uncle is right. You don't need to use any method, as long as the children learn it."
——
Prepared for criticism, they found Khan Ama to be very pleasant. The two brothers were pleasantly surprised. During dinner, even Yonghuang attentively served soup to Khan Ama.
Yonglian took the opportunity to act coquettishly and asked to take a nap in the next room.
He would take every opportunity to take a lunch break in the Yangxin Palace. In the past two days, he could only lie on the table for a while after dinner.
Qianlong pinched his son's chubby face and asked, "What did I say last time?"
Yonglian: "Hmm...but I'm so sleepy. What if I don't have the energy to learn horseback archery later? Horseback archery is very important. An Da also teaches it very seriously. I don't want my son to be distracted while learning horseback archery."
Qianlong: “…”
He patted his son on the back of the head and said, "Go ahead, go ahead. Don't look back and blame me for not letting you take a nap if you don't learn riding and archery well."
He looked at Yonghuang and said, "You go too."
Yonghuang agreed and hurried to catch up with his brother.
Qianlong asked Li Yu to come in and get beds and quilts for the two little princes and close the door.
Li Yu waited on the two young masters and retired to the outer room. "Second Prince is really sleepy. He fell asleep while I was closing the window."
Qianlong looked disgusted and said, "Where do you sleep so much? I have never had the habit of taking a nap in all these years."
Li Yuxin said that not only do you not take a nap, but you also often suffer from insomnia when you should be sleeping at night.
Qianlong also knew that not many people could sleep for two or three hours like him and still be energetic all day. In the past, his fifth brother would fall asleep while practicing calligraphy on the table in the afternoon, and the undried ink would get all over his face.
But Yonghuang was like his fifth brother, and that was fine. Yonglian was to inherit the throne in the future. He had to be like himself, like Khan Ama, and like the Emperor Mafa, full of energy.
Thinking of this, Qianlong stood up and went into the back room, intending to pull Yonglian up to study.
But when he entered the room, he saw the two brothers sleeping soundly with their heads touching. Yonglian's sleeping posture was not very good and he took up most of the bed, while Yonghuang was squeezed to the edge of the bed.
Qianlong retreated to the outer room silently for some unknown reason. He thought that he might as well prepare a room for the princes to rest in the Shangshufang.
What’s the matter with always crowding in the Yangxin Palace?
While Qianlong was pondering, he heard Yonghuang cry "Ouch" in the room, followed by a "bang".
Qianlong hurried into the room and saw Yonghuang getting up from the ground, holding his buttocks.
Yonglian also woke up and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Yonghuang rarely showed some grievance, looking at Qianlong: "My second brother kicked me and I fell off the bed."
Qianlong: “…”
Yonglian: "No... No way? I sleep very well."
"Come on." This time, Qianlong sided with his eldest son and stepped forward to ask Yonghuang to move to see if he had any broken bones.
Fortunately, Yonghuang only suffered a little pain in his tailbone from the fall, which did not affect his activities.
Yonglian came to his senses, jumped out of bed and apologized to his elder brother, "I'm sorry, elder brother, let me rub it for you."
Yonghuang patted his little brother on the head and said, "You're not a good sleeper at all. Last time you hugged my arm like you were hugging a pillar."
Yonglian: "..." This must be the problem of the original Second Prince, not his, Yonglian's.
The two children couldn't sleep now, so they washed their faces and went to the training ground early.
Unexpectedly, Erdeng'e and Mingrui were running around the training ground.
"Why are you running?" Yonglian saw that both of them were sweating, and he knew that they had run more than one lap.
"Erdeng'e said running strengthens the body," Mingrui said. "Let's make a deal: we'll run ten laps around the training ground before the horseback archery class."
Yonghuang: "Really? Should we ask An Da?" He looked at Yonglian and said, "If An Da agrees, let's run ten laps every day from now on."
Yonglian: "I don't!"
"Why?" Yonghuang frowned, not understanding why his brother was unwilling to do things that could strengthen his body.
"It's so tiring to run ten laps!" Yonglian frowned.
What's wrong, brother? Isn't nearly two hours of physical education enough?
"Second Prince is right. Running is too tiring, and there's no need for you to do this," Erden'e and Yonghuang explained. "My father said running is for both physical fitness and preparation for the battlefield. If we don't have horses and need to travel quickly, we have no choice but to run."
Yonglian: “…”
He remembered that when the Qing army later pacified the Dzungar Khanate and suppressed the rebellions of the two Khojas, they were seriously short of horses.
Mingrui also made a special report, suggesting that soldiers should walk whenever possible in order to save horsepower.
Erdeng'e is now a little cautious when facing the Second Prince, fearing that he might say something wrong and make the Second Prince have a worse impression of him.
Seeing that the Second Prince was unwilling to run, he immediately agreed with him and explained the reason for running. The Second Prince shouldn't be angry, right?
But the Second Prince still frowned.
Erdeng'e's mind raced as he suddenly realized, "It was my negligence. I shouldn't have taken Mingrui running in the training ground without the masters' consent. This is against the rules." As he said this, he knelt down and apologized to Yonglian.
Mingrui and Yonghuang were both stunned for a moment, and Mingrui quickly knelt down. They should indeed ask the emperor for instructions first.
Yonghuang tried to smooth things over for the two companions, "This is the first time, and there's no one else here, so just run away. Second brother, please don't pursue the matter. Besides, they practiced running so that they could serve the court on the battlefield. For their loyalty, please forgive them, okay?"
Yonglian came back to his senses and said, "Get up, get up quickly. I didn't tell you not to run." As he said that, he hurried to help the two little friends.
"But I didn't expect that you would start preparing for the battlefield in the future at such a young age." Yonglian said.
"My lord, I have always wanted to serve in the army and fight on the battlefield since I was young." Erden said. This was not a deliberate display of loyalty, the young boy really thought so.
"Me too. It's an honor for me, a Manchu, to fight for the court." Mingrui also said loudly, and the little guy looked at Yonglian with bright eyes.
Yonglian looked at the two young men in front of him with mixed feelings.
"No, the court is fortunate to have such ambitious ministers as you." Yonglian was silent for a moment, then said sternly, "I hope you will always remember your aspirations today. Manchu men and women go to the battlefield not for short-term success, but to secure the borders of the Qing Dynasty and bring peace and prosperity to the people. One day, your heroic deeds will be recorded in history books, inspiring future generations... I believe that will be the best reward for you."
His words made Erdeng'e and Mingrui even more excited, and even Yonghuang wanted to become the general.
The two young men knelt down again and said solemnly, "Mingrui/Erdeng'e will follow the Second Prince's instructions and never forget our resolution today."
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you kneeling again? Get up quickly." Yonglian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and quickly pulled the two of them up.
What he just said was for Erdeng'e to hear. He found that he really couldn't hate Erdeng'e now.
Why not try to change him first.
Yonglian turned around and saw Celeng standing not far away. "When did An Da come? Look at us, we were so busy talking that we didn't even see you."
The four young boys immediately gathered around and started this afternoon's horse riding and archery class.
After the riding and archery class, Celeng went to the Yangxin Palace and told Qianlong every word of the conversation he had heard in the afternoon.
"...Not to mention the two little kids Mingrui and Erdeng'e, even I, after hearing Second Prince's words, felt my blood boiling. I can't wait to lead my troops and pacify the Dzungars!"
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