Chapter 86 Academy of Sciences
One of the tasks during the trip to Nanhaizi has been completed, and the remaining task is to inspect the Academy of Sciences which is undergoing expansion.
The Academy of Sciences was rebuilt on the site of the former Wunong Temple. The original Wunong Temple was somewhat deserted because its staff were transferred to Yunnan. Although many of the equipment were still in use, they had become somewhat dilapidated.
Fortunately, Zhu Yuhuan now wants to expand the area of Wunong Temple in Nanhai Zi, add other equipment, build a blast furnace, store minerals, etc. It is obvious that he wants to prepare various facilities for the officials who are about to enter Beijing.
When Zhu Yuhuan issued the decree, the Academy of Sciences was already under construction. Now that it was completed, although only the craftsmen from the original Wunong Temple were involved in improving the facilities, it was still clean and tidy. Therefore, Zhu Yuhuan felt at ease and boldly took his two children and a group of attendants to have a good look around the Academy of Sciences.
On weekdays, when Zhu Yuhuan had some free time, he would visit the siblings, or have them brought to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to have dinner with him. However, the time they spent together was too short, and although the two children had a deep affection for Zhu Yuhuan, they had never been like today, following him around for two consecutive days.
"Mother, what is this?"
Zhu Yuhuan looked in the direction Zhu Shuyuan pointed and said with a smile, "That's a water-powered mill. It's used to grind flour, but it can also be used to peel the husks off grains. After grinding, put it in a windmill and blow it, and all the husks will be blown off the rice."
Because drawing drawings sometimes require coloring, the craftsmen of Wunong Temple also need pigments. However, pigments are precious, and the craftsmen are reluctant to use them. So they begged Zhu Yuhuan to find relatively lower quality minerals to make pigments, which would be more economical.
In addition, craftsmen sometimes use this water mill to grind rice grown in Wunong Temple. By replacing the millstone with a roller, the water mill can combine the functions of two facilities.
“Why can it turn on its own?”
Zhu Yuhuan looked at the craftsman beside him, who had already explained to the two children how water power made these tools operate "automatically".
Zhu Yuhuan looked around at the layout of Wunong Temple and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.
She couldn't remember the last time she came here. The Three Yangs seemed to still be there at that time.
Zhu Shuyuan had already run up the stairs with great interest, and pointed at the blast furnace in the distance and asked the craftsmen, obviously he was very interested in these things.
Zhu Jianshen followed his sister obediently, listening to the questions and answers between Zhu Shuyuan and the craftsmen.
The palace servants sent by Zhou Yingying followed the two children closely, obviously worried that something might happen to them.
Zhou Yingying had also heard that this academy of sciences was always tinkering with some strange things, so she had a vague guess in her heart that there might be something like gunpowder.
Now she only has these two children and cannot afford any mishaps.
Zhu Yuhuan glanced and saw a palace maid following the two children. She was tall, almost as tall as her. Although she was wearing a palace maid's blue and green robe, her frame was bigger than that of other palace maids, making her look very strong.
In short, the palace maid could tell at first glance that she was a woman with a strong figure.
Song Cuilian followed her gaze, reflecting briefly before tilting her head for a moment and speaking, "This palace maid seems like me, also from Qingzhou, Shandong, but she entered the palace earlier, probably in... the eighth year of the Xuande reign. The Imperial Concubine saw in her calm personality, strong physique, and the fact that she was the same age as the Imperial Concubine, and so she trusted her with the nanny to look after the eldest prince."
Zhu Yuhuan was stunned when he heard this, and immediately understood how she entered the palace.
She probably entered the palace together with the future imperial concubine that Sun Mengqiu prepared for Zhu Qizhen that year. The girls who were selected as palace maids were about the same age as Zhou Yingying. This was probably part of Sun Mengqiu's plan, but Zhu Qizhen was no longer around, and these women who were supposed to become concubines could only spend their lives in the palace as palace maids.
Song Cuilian talked for a while before finally remembering something and opening her mouth, "I forgot to mention it. Her surname is Wan, and her nickname is Zhen'er. She originally had a full name, but she was only four years old when she entered the palace, and she had long forgotten what her full name was. Only her nickname was written in the palace registers. Her father made a mistake and was punished to go to Bazhou, so he sent her to the palace."
After she finished speaking, she did not hear the emperor's usual response. She glanced at Zhu Yuhuan with some doubt, and saw that she looked thoughtful.
"His Majesty?"
Zhu Yuhuan came back to his senses and finally couldn't help but sigh: "Although I know that human efforts can change fate, but perhaps everything is indeed predetermined."
Song Cuilian was somewhat confused and asked, "Is there something strange about this Wan Xiao Ying (a term often used in the Ming Dynasty to refer to low-ranking palace servants)? If Your Majesty is worried, I will go and see the Imperial Concubine and ask someone else to serve the eldest prince."
Zhu Yuhuan waved his hand, about to refuse, but after a moment he said, "Transfer her to my place."
If the palace maids who were originally by the eldest prince's side were rashly transferred to other places, they would inevitably be ostracized by other palace maids. The only place where they would not be criticized was in front of the emperor.
Song Cuilian responded without asking Zhu Yuhuan the reason. She simply said, "His Majesty is attracted by Wan Xiaoying's tall stature and quick mind, making her suitable for serving in the imperial court."
Zhu Yuhuan was amused when he heard this and said, "That's right, the imperial concubine will definitely go along with it and release the person."
"yes."
Considering that Zhu Jianshen is now with his biological mother, and has no shortage of food, clothing, and other necessities, his life may not be the same as in history. Besides, who knows whether this Wan Zhen'er is the same Wan Zhen'er? It would be better to transfer her to his side.
Even if this Wan Zhen'er was really Concubine Wan, Zhu Yuhuan, who had already changed so many things, didn't mind adding one more thing.
Song Cuilian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "But... Your Majesty, why didn't you bring out the steam engine today? If you take the opportunity of inspecting Nanhaizi today to let the civil and military ministers see the steam engine, it will surely surprise them."
Zhu Yuhuan sighed and said, "Bringing it out now... I'm afraid it's not a good idea." Seeing Song Cuilian's puzzled expression, she said, "Actually, this device has already been used in mines and other places, and it's already showing initial success, but that was to alleviate the pressure on the miners. If we bring it out now, the officials will undoubtedly wonder where it's going to be used. The cloth shop situation hasn't been completely resolved yet..."
Once productivity increases, we have to consider the employment of more people. In this era, too many refugees will cause national unrest. Before the fleet returns from overseas, Zhu Yuhuan does not want the steam engine to appear for the time being.
Despite this, these things could not be concealed. News about mining in Yunnan was reported back every year. Zhu Yuhuan also ordered other officials in charge of mining to follow the example of the Yunnan mines and do their best to ensure the safety of the miners.
The cabinet members were not blind, much less foolish. Although they didn't know what the device mentioned in the petition looked like, they could understand from the description of the local officials that this device could be used to push carts transporting ore and, together with bamboo pipes, to pump out accumulated water in the mines...
This machine is amazing, but also dangerous.
If it is used for people's livelihood, it may have certain benefits and improve the lives of some people, but it may also cause more people to die.
In order to maintain stability, some things may not appear.
Song Cuilian vaguely understood Zhu Yuhuan's lingering thoughts and said, "I believe the fleet will be back soon."
"Actually, there's no rush..." Zhu Yuhuan looked towards the distant sky and then said, "Those two little guys have already followed the trail all the way inside. Let's catch up quickly."
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