Chapter 476: Family harmony and everything is prosperous
Chapter 476: Family harmony and everything is prosperous
His Majesty and the Crown Prince were not present in the Wuying Palace today, only because a new item had been developed in the palace.
The father and son were riding the bicycles that the Ministry of Industry had rushed to make.
Wandering around the huge Forbidden City.
Even Guo Ying, Marquis of Wuding, rode one.
But the bike he was riding seemed a little small, and more like the one Zhu Yunhuan rode yesterday.
Even though my big body is very uncomfortable squeezed in a small bicycle,
But he still couldn't hide the shock in his heart and the endless thoughts.
Wuding Marquis Guo Ying pushed hard with both feet.
An unprecedented sense of control emerged in his heart.
In the past, when riding a warhorse, although there was also a rein to control it,
But it is still not as smooth as this, nor is there such control to go when you want and stop when you want.
He had a feeling that the bicycle was as flexible as his legs and hands.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao had never ridden a horse to fight in a war, so he did not have a clear feeling about this.
Zhu Yuanzhang, on the other hand, had the same feeling as Guo Ying.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed as he pedaled his bike:
"Guo Ying, if we had this thing back then, we wouldn't have to travel so hard.
After riding for a while, my crotch doesn’t hurt anymore and my hands and feet are still nimble.”
Wuding Hou Guo Ying smiled:
"Your Majesty, we are riding in the Imperial City. The ground is all bluestone slabs, so riding is naturally less strenuous.
If this thing is still this easy to use outside, it would be amazing."
At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang showed a trace of pity on his face and sighed softly:
"The imperial court does not have enough money to pave all the official roads in the country with bluestone slabs."
Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was shocked.
I was afraid that my father would do something big again.
Now the imperial court is reclaiming wasteland, rebuilding cities, and building official roads.
A year and a half of money was spent on it, not to mention paving the official road with bluestone slabs,
Even widening the official road would be difficult to sustain.
A gleam of light flashed in the eyes of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.
“Father, even if this thing cannot replace a warhorse, it is faster than a person walking. If we can get to the countryside, everyone will have one.
So that the people can enter the city along the road,
That would be of great benefit to the Ming Dynasty.
Even more, it can be used to build many roads from villages to cities.”
Zhu Yuanzhang's face became solemn.
How to extend the court's influence to the countryside and villages has been a difficult problem throughout the dynasties.
Before the Ming Dynasty, only the Qin Dynasty had achieved the goal of extending imperial power to the countryside through the county system and the direct appointment of county magistrates and township heads by the emperor.
The Ming Dynasty also initially achieved the goal of bringing imperial power to the countryside through household registration, yellow books, lijia, fiefdoms, and fish scale maps, which greatly strengthened the court's control over the local areas.
But this is not enough.
The gentry still control the local areas, and there are so many people who are intertwined with them.
The people had nowhere to go and could only allow themselves to be exploited in the countryside, becoming tenants and living without enough food or clothing.
In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, the most fundamental reason for all this is
It is very difficult for people to walk from the countryside to the city.
You have to climb over mountains and wade through rivers. Even if you reach the city, what good will it do?
If they don't stay, we won't waste this time, and education will be in vain.
But if something appears that can greatly shorten this process,
Allowing the people to make a round trip in one or even two days would be very beneficial for enlightening and educating the people.
Even ordinary people cannot afford bicycles and cannot get out of the mountains.
The mountain does not see me, but I see the mountain!
The court could send officials there, and whether it was to distribute the "Great Edict" or to deliver the court's reports, it would be a very good thing.
Putting away his thoughts, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes darkened a little, and he spoke lightly:
"You can't rush this, you have to take your time.
It was first used in the army and the court. It was not easy or simple for the people to accept the new equipment.
Moreover, compared to the cart, this thing is more powerful, so it is inevitable that someone will take advantage of it to cause trouble."
Crown Prince Zhu Biao nodded solemnly:
"Father is right. The Ministry of Industry sent a document saying that Lu Yunyi has improved the bicycle from two wheels to three wheels.
It can carry goods and people. If this matter gets out, I don’t know how many drivers and horsemen will lose their livelihoods.”
Zhu Yuanzhang's gray beard trembled slightly:
“It was indeed quite fast, so fast that the imperial court was caught off guard, not to mention the common people.
It seems that he is quite adept at handling the work of the Ministry of Industry."
"It is natural that your Majesty is very wise to place him in the Ministry of Works." The prince smiled.
Zhu Yuanzhang rode his bike, feeling the breeze blowing on his face and shook his head:
"No, I just wanted him to lend a helping hand to Qin Kui.
Although Qin Kui had worked in the Ministry of Works for many years, he was too mechanical and had a shallow foundation. He could be deceived and framed by others.
With one more person with strong measures, the Ministry of Works will be able to put an end to the chaos more quickly.
Now it seems that it was a stroke of luck that I put him in the right place."
Guo Ying, who was standing by, saw that His Majesty was talking happily with the Crown Prince and was about to bring the young talents among the army to the Ministry of Works, so he quickly said:
"Your Majesty, Prince, there is a lack of young men in the army right now, and there are only a few young men who can fight.
Lu Yunyi is the leader among them, he can’t just go to the Ministry of Industry without knowing why and never come back.”
"Hahahaha." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly and kicked hard twice.
"Don't you still have your son? The Governor's Office submitted all the documents from the Beijing Army yesterday.
Guo Quan and Yun Gong have performed brilliantly, and even Jiujiang has shown some signs of being a great general. How can there be a lack of successors? "
Guo Ying had a strange expression on his face: "Your Majesty, I know my son's character best. If you want him to lead the army to fight, it would be great if he doesn't cause any trouble.
They look bright now, and it is a nice place to take shelter under the big tree.
Just like us brothers in the past, we have been fighting together with our superiors for more than ten years, and now we are seeing some improvement and are not so panicked when fighting.
These young people have only fought one battle, so they are still far from being good enough.”
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and glanced at Guo Ying: "Why, do you want them to follow the third and fourth brothers to the north for training?"
"Your Majesty, you should experience some training, good elite troops and good generals,
They are all honed through battle after battle.
Only under such circumstances, by constantly accumulating experience and lessons, can one become a true elite.
In addition, the Musketeers Commandery has now attached great importance to it, and it seems to be quite effective in fighting in the mountains and plains.
But I think the enemy is still in the north.
The musketeers can kill people everywhere on the grassland, and only then can they stand firm. "
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Lan Yu is already studying it. We must bring at least 30% of the firearms with us on this northern expedition to see if they can be used on the battlefield.
However, the Governor's Office has presented a new method, so the musketeers may have room to maneuver."
At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and met Guo Ying's puzzled face.
"Your Majesty, a new method? What is it?"
"The Governor's Office does not intend to fight to the death with Nairbuhua. It plans to recruit Nairbuhua to surrender after a few small victories."
As soon as these words were spoken, Guo Ying's expression suddenly became strange, his brows furrowed, and slowly, his face was filled with absurdity.
He thought about it carefully and it seemed that this was really possible.
At this time, Crown Prince Zhu Biao laughed:
"What do you think of this method, Marquis Wuding? It saves money and effort, and the court doesn't have to worry too much."
Guo Ying did not answer immediately, but thought about it carefully:
"Nairuhua was ostracized both internally and externally. If he really did this, he would have a chance of success."
"Hahahahahaha, you've always been cautious in your actions. Since you said so, then this is nine out of ten possible answers."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, rolled up his sleeves, exerted all his strength, kicked hard, and jumped out like a fly.
Seeing this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Guo Ying also followed with a smile.
A quarter of an hour later, the three of them walked along the bluestone road of the imperial city and arrived at the Imperial Garden.
It is summer now, and even in the morning it is particularly hot and stuffy, but the Imperial Garden is covered with tall trees and dense bamboo forests, blocking out much of the sunlight, making it feel cool.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was riding in the front, stopped his car first, looked at the group of people in the pavilion in front, and shouted:
"Ning Lian, come here."
After the prince and Guo Ying stopped, they discovered that the person in the pavilion was the current head of the harem, Concubine Guo Ning, who was also the sister of Wuding Hou Guo Ying.
Concubine Ning is now in her early forties, but she still has her charm.
She was wearing a light blue palace dress that was thin and breathable, with her hair tied up high in a bun and a few strands of hair falling gently on her temples.
Looking back, the faint smile between his eyebrows seemed to be able to dissolve the summer heat, clear and deep.
Seeing the person coming, Concubine Guo Ning stood up with a smile, and her voice came before the person arrived:
"Your Majesty, how come you have time to come and stroll around the Imperial Garden today?"
"Hahaha, come quickly, I got a good item."
Zhu Yuanzhang turned over and got off the bicycle, spread out the footrests, let the bicycle stand there crookedly, and waved repeatedly.
Concubine Guo Ning quickened her pace a bit. When she arrived here, Crown Prince Zhu Biao bowed and said, "Empress Ning."
Guo Ying, the Marquis of Wuding, also bowed and said, "Empress Ning."
Although they are brother and sister, they still have to follow the laws in the palace.
But obviously, neither Concubine Guo Ning nor Zhu Yuanzhang cared so much, and they waved their hands almost at the same time: "Why are you being so polite?"
The two of them were stunned, looked at each other and laughed.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Guo Ying and pointed at Concubine Guo Ning: "See, your sister and I are the ones who have a tacit understanding."
Guo Ying smiled and shook his head, looking helpless. He also got off the bike and left it where it was.
"Your Majesty, what is this?" Concubine Ning looked around with shining eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously in a very good mood today, and said with a smile:
"This is called a bicycle. As long as you have some strength, you can make it move. Come and try it. I will help you."
"Me?" Concubine Ning looked at her clothes, then at the two wheels in front and behind, her eyes flashing with eagerness to try:
"Your Majesty, what's the difference between this and riding a horse?"
"It doesn't make any difference. If you can ride a horse, you can ride this. Roll up your clothes and come up. I will teach you."
"it is good!"
Concubine Ning's face showed an eagerness to try, so she rolled up the hem of her skirt, and finally held the car in her arms and sat on the seat.
Seeing her like this, Wuding Hou Guo Ying sighed and said, "Your Majesty, this is disgraceful."
"Shut up. I used to ride horses in the early days."
Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at him, then smiled and taught Concubine Guo Ning how to ride a bicycle.
"Hold the handlebars tightly with both hands, keep straight, and pedal with both feet. Don't worry about falling. I will support you."
Concubine Guo Ning was very brave. She fiddled with the handlebars back and forth with both hands. Although she had not ridden yet, she had already mastered some tricks.
"I'm going to move my footrest. Hold on to the handlebars and don't let them tilt. Use your feet to push hard."
As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang moved his footstool away.
Concubine Guo Ning suddenly felt that she had lost her balance, and a flash of panic flashed in her eyes, but soon she calmed down and slowly started to push herself up.
An unprecedented feeling emerged and the car slowly started to move.
"It's moving, Your Majesty is moving."
"Don't get excited, hold the handlebars firmly, don't pedal too fast, take your time"
Zhu Yuanzhang followed behind him at a rapid pace.
The two walked further and further away, and from time to time, they could hear Concubine Guo Ning's happy exclamations and His Majesty's instructions.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao felt the atmosphere relax, and said with emotion: "Father hasn't felt this relaxed for a long time."
Guo Ying on the side smiled and nodded:
"That's right. You and your Majesty are busy with government affairs all day long, and your mind is tense all day long. This is not good.
People always need to take a break and clear their minds.
After the battle, I need to rest for a long time before I can recover. "
Crown Prince Zhu Biao sighed and walked slowly with Guo Ying in the Imperial Garden:
"I do want to, but government affairs are so busy that if I don't take care of them in a day, they will pile up like a mountain. I'm used to it."
A trace of worry appeared on Guo Ying's face:
"Your Highness, you and His Majesty should take care of your health. Come to the Imperial Hospital more often and I will prescribe a prescription to warm and nourish your spirit."
"Haha." The prince suddenly laughed:
"Don't tell anyone about this, or the court officials will start making a fuss. By the way, if he has hysteria, is there any good way to deal with it?"
Guo Ying's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he whispered, "You said this is the disease that Lu Yunyi suffers from?"
The prince nodded: "Yes, from what Jinglong said, it seems to be very serious."
A trace of fear flashed across Guo Ying's eyes, and he shook his head slightly:
"Your Highness, Lu Yunyi is the master of this matter. If he can't do anything, how can I do anything?"
The prince knew about the psychiatrist and sighed softly:
"He is suffering from hysteria and physical problems. Could it be that God is jealous of his talent?"
Thinking of this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao felt depressed and let out a long sigh, hoping to expel the turbid air in his chest.
Guo Ying knew what he was talking about: "Calculate the time. Jiujiang should be taking him to the Imperial Hospital now. I don't know what the result will be."
"This time I specially invited Wang Lu and Dai Sigong to the palace to see what the problem is. If they can't help, then I really don't know who to turn to."
Guo Ying also looked worried and patted his head gently:
"Your Highness, hysteria is bearable as long as there is no war.
With Lu Yunyi's abilities, even if he doesn't go to the battlefield, he can still work in the Governor's Office, which will bring countless benefits to the Ming army.
But if he is really ill and cannot give birth to a child, I am afraid he will give up on himself."
"Ugh"
Zhu Biao paused and stood there for a long time, looking thoughtful.
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang and Concubine Ning, who had been wandering around, came back.
Concubine Guo Ning was obviously very intelligent. She was able to ride a bicycle by herself and the smile on her face never stopped. Zhu Yuanzhang, who was jogging beside her, also had a smile on his face.
A warm atmosphere began to spread, and Zhu Biao was stunned.
Since the death of Prince Lu, my father and Concubine Ning seem to have become more distant.
Now that he has finally recovered and is about to get out of the shadow of his loved one's death, Zhu Biao feels great!
"Alright, alright, you ride by yourself, I need to take a rest."
Zhu Yuanzhang was breathing heavily and sat down in the pavilion, with some sweat on his wrinkled forehead.
He took the handkerchief handed to him by the eunuch and wiped it gently.
The scene in the Imperial Garden at this moment seemed to be frozen, and Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became empty little by little, as if he was lost in thoughts of the past.
He couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed.
The eunuch at the side seemed to be hesitant to speak and just stood aside obediently.
"Just say it if you have something to say." His hesitation could not escape Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze.
"Your Majesty, two imperial physicians request to see you. They have just finished examining Lord Lu."
Zhu Yuanzhang squatted on the spot, with a thought flashing through his eyes:
"I know, let them wait."
(End of this chapter)