Chapter 196 Combination of Chinese and Western...
After more than a year, the number of people of all kinds in Wanfa Museum has exceeded 100.
The current director is Taihe Bo Wen Zhengming, and he already knows what the Wanfa Museum is like - an unprecedented academy.
The Four Books and Five Classics are not taught here for the time being, and they have not yet begun to recruit scholars. They are mainly people who have done research in various miscellaneous subjects, such as Dean Wang Wensu of the School of Calculation.
Most of the people who come here to study are craftsmen and officials from various yamen.
The emperor brought a Western clock and placed it in the Courtyard of Qiaoqi, and asked Wang Wensu to study it together.
Wen Zhengming was here with him, and he only listened to the emperor asking them to take apart the back cover and said in a decent manner: "This is quite similar to the water transport instrument platform in the Southern Song Dynasty that you mentioned before. In the past, Su Song's skills were as good as Han Gonglian made it together, and now we have just thoroughly studied the principle of the swing of the pendulum, as well as the many small gears in it."
Zhu Houcong pointed to a small place and said: "I don't know what kind of steel some of the iron sheets here are. The elasticity and curling reason can also be tried out."
"Your Majesty, this seems to be a set of escapements as well." A craftsman looked at it with rapt attention.
"It's the best if the principle is the same." Zhu Houcong praised it and then said to Wang Wensu, "Mr. Wang, there should be a lot of mathematical principles in this. Its intricacy requires you to bring someone to measure it carefully and calculate its secrets. "
The Ming Dynasty uses twelve hours to measure time, but no matter whether it is in the East or the West, the day is still so long. The sundial is a circle, and the dial of this Western clock prototype is also a circle.
Wang Wensu nodded seriously.
Zhu Houcong added: "When I look at the Western clock, I don't need to measure the sun shadow or drip. Once it is made, it can be taken everywhere. With the skills of Ming craftsmen, if it can be improved and made smaller, it will be of great use in the future."
Needless to say, the importance of accurate timing. If the timing tool can be made smaller than this, at least it will be of great use on the battlefield in the future.
"Your Majesty, these gears are so small. If we want to measure them accurately, I'm afraid we need to carve out the set of steel rulers that Your Majesty mentioned."
Measurement is the basis of craftsmanship, and Zhu Houcong also arranged this work.
The imitation and improvement of this Western clock may have helped the Ming Dynasty establish a more accurate set of measurement tools and systems.
After staying in the Qiaoqi Courtyard for a while, he went to Taisu Palace with Wen Zhengming.
Wen Zhengming didn't recover after listening to him talk about mechanical principles for a while. When he arrived at Taisu Hall and saw Alfonso who was already "guarded" here, and heard Zhu Houcong sit down, he said: "This Wanfa Pavilion, You might as well think of him as the School of Athens in the East."
After listening to the translation, Alfonso's mouth opened.
When Wen Zhengming saw his reaction, he knew that His Majesty had mentioned another very famous person in the West.
After Zhu Houcong created a mysterious Jin Yiwei who traveled around the country and inspected affairs inside and outside the factory, he was able to speak unscrupulously about things that others didn't know.
Every time I say it, people feel more unfathomable about Jinyiwei and Waiwai Factory.
"...Your Majesty the Emperor, I am not a scholar."
"Among the people you brought, as for you..." Zhu Houcong said with a smile, "You know the ocean and have your own experience in naval battles, don't you?"
Alfonso was silent for a moment and then asked: "My daughter Carolina..."
"I have already met her. If you can be sincerely loyal to me, you may not be unable to have a distinguished status in the Ming Dynasty in the future. The world is very big. In my study, didn't you also see that there is a vast new continent to the south of the Spice Islands?
?I can tell you that except for the Ming Dynasty, no country in the world has discovered it. Its radius is as large as 10,000 Portugal. It is full of precious mineral deposits and new species that have never been seen before. It still has very primitive technology.
era."
Zhu Houcong looked at the doubtful look in Alfonso's eyes and said again: "Carolina will become my woman. If you are willing to be loyal to me, after I take back Manlacca in the future, you can also lead the fleet for me again.
Conquer the land I call Nan'ao Continent, and your grandson can become the king there. The premise is that you first prove your loyalty here."
Wen Zhengming and others looked at Zhu Houcong in shock: Your Majesty, the King, wants to have children with a Western woman?
Zhu Houcong did not have those pedantic ideas. He only wanted Alfonso to bring out the Portuguese's navigation technology, naval warfare experience, and warship gunnery technology without reservation.
If the Ming Dynasty's navy can be allowed to traverse the world in the future, and if it is possible to advance technology to the industrial level, then Australia will have good iron that is very easy to mine.
At home, you can bury more of them underground.
It doesn't matter if the cost is a little higher, the early usage is not large anyway.
Alfonso listened to the cakes painted by Zhu Houcong and stood there in silence.
From what he said, it was an isolated land and it was not difficult to conquer.
Was it more tempting to become a Portuguese governor of India, or to have a descendant become a king with a vast territory?
"Your Majesty the Emperor, since your empire has discovered it long ago, why didn't it conquer it?"
Zhu Houcong replied calmly: "There are powerful grassland people in the north of the Ming Dynasty. Their ancestors once attacked the Danube River. In the past, the Ming Dynasty did not pay too much attention to the ocean. It was so far away that the Ming Dynasty did not need to actually occupy it. But now
, Portugal and Spain are so ambitious that they want to carve up the world, then the Ming Dynasty will tell Europe that the East belongs to the Ming Dynasty. When they no longer bring warships, but only send merchant ships, there will be peace and trade."
Alfonso's face changed when he heard about the prairie people who once made Europe fearful.
With such a powerful enemy in the north of the Eastern Empire, could it still confront Portugal and Spain on the ocean?
"Your Majesty, I admire your ambition. You are still so young and you do have a long time to realize your ideal." Alfonso said frankly, "After you control Malacca, you need to defend the North at the same time.
The border and the south. Portugal and Spain are now very dependent on the wealth from the sea, and will not give up such an important maritime throat easily."
Zhu Houcong just said: "In the city you are in, there are more than one million people. The population of the entire Ming Dynasty exceeds 100 million, and maybe it will exceed 200 million in the near future. No one can defeat the Ming Dynasty at the doorstep of the Ming Dynasty.
.”
He didn't know how many people there were in Europe at this time, but he believed that this number was enough to shock Alfonso.
Population is an important manifestation of national strength, and is directly related to war potential.
Alfonso was really shocked: Portugal's current total population is only over one million. Even if the population of all overseas territories is included, it is probably only one to two million.
He didn't know whether this number was true or not, but when he entered the city before, he saw the prosperity and dense population of this imperial capital.
"The Ming Dynasty also wants the wealth of the ocean. As for Portugal and Spain, earning less through trade is their best choice in the East. Otherwise, it will completely cut off the wealth they can get from the East. As for you, in the future
It is possible to become a representative to contact them, so that Portuguese and Spanish merchants will kneel in front of you and ask you to give them the opportunity to trade."
When Alfonso heard this, he knew he didn't have to hesitate anymore.
Now that his daughter has been brought into the emperor's palace, it will be difficult for her to come out again.
Now, the fate arranged for him by the Emperor of the East is much better than he imagined - although it still has not come true.
But does he have a choice? If he doesn't express his attitude here, then when the emperor returns to the palace, Carolina still doesn't know what kind of abuse she will receive.
So Alfonso knelt on the ground, and while Wen Zhengming and the others were stunned, he took a corner of the emperor's robe and kissed it: "Your great Majesty, Martin Alfonso is willing to be loyal to you and become a part of your huge empire.
A general."
Zhu Houcong looked at it and smiled: "Knight salute? Lu Song, give me the knife."
After listening to the translation, Alfonso's eyes showed surprise.
Although knight is translated as cavalry.
But the emperor actually knew that this etiquette was also related to swords.
Zhu Houcong pulled out his sword and put it on his shoulder amidst everyone's puzzled looks: "I heard it should be with a sword. However, since we have arrived in the Ming Dynasty, let's express something first."
He put away his smile and tapped his shoulders with a knife. He studied some scenes he had seen on TV and said seriously: "I accept your allegiance and I hope you can make contributions to me in the future."
, then you can also become my lord. In the Ming Dynasty, there are no viscounts or barons, only dukes, marquises and uncles."
"I admire your knowledge of Europa!" Alfonso said sincerely when he saw that he had really completed the knighthood ceremony, "I will definitely work hard."
"Learn Eastern languages well. I believe this is not difficult for a nobleman."
Zhu Houcong gave the knife to Lu Song and then pointed at Wen Zhengming and said: "This is the earl of the Ming Dynasty and the director of the Wanfa Museum. His daughter is my concubine, and he himself is a very famous poet and artist in the Ming Dynasty.
Uncle Taihe, please work with Tongshi to teach him the language and etiquette of the Ming Dynasty. Alfonso, you should feel honored to join a great empire that has continued civilization for thousands of years."
After saying this, Zhu Houcong left.
If Alfonso is not allowed to have new expectations for the future, he will be forced to cooperate instead of actively cooperating.
At this time, compared with the West, Ming Dynasty was only slightly behind in some technologies. In other aspects, Ming Dynasty had sufficient soft and hard strength.
Since there is no way to go back, people can convince themselves.
Isn’t it good to live? What’s more, it’s possible to become a master.
Wen Zhengming stared blankly at the Portuguese man saluting him: "Nice to meet you, your distinguished Earl, would you be honored to know your name?"
...I have never experienced this! How to deal with him?
…
After Zhu Houcong returned to the palace and heard about the situation, he had no choice but to go to Qingning Palace.
"And the ninth concubine, you are not lucky enough. How could you be fascinated by the Western vixen?" Empress Dowager Jiang hugged her grandson who was just one month old and scolded. Lin Qingping was also sitting beside her.
Zhu Houcong was amused by the word "Western vixen" and sat down and said, "Does the mother think that her son has been charmed? Her son just came back from Wanfa Pavilion and left her because she wanted to use her father."
Empress Dowager Jiang understood a little bit: "Is it related to state affairs?"
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Her father is a general who is very good at naval warfare. Western warships, guns and many other things have merit. After capturing some the year before last, the Military War Bureau and the Ordnance Bureau began to imitate them. , Improvement. If he takes the initiative to help, then the warships and guns will be more convenient."
"Then do we want to canonize that Western vixen?" Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head repeatedly, "How unbecoming is this..."
"There is no need for canonization. Besides, it's not a big deal. Isn't there a precedent for vassal states such as Korea to present princesses for canonization? It's just that there are no Westerners."
Zhu Houcong just made Alfonso feel at ease. After all, his daughter was the emperor's woman.
If we really get to that point, I'm afraid Ming Dynasty has already begun to change, and Alfonso will have to make some contributions to Ming Dynasty.
In the case of Carolina, she could only be a daughter who was valued by her father. After all, her starting point was too low and her status was that of a prisoner.
Zhu Houcong explained a few words and then asked: "Are the toys I arranged to make ready?"
The extremely graceful Wen Jingyi in the Qingning Palace who had been arranged by the Empress Dowager Jiang bent down and said: "The slaves are rushing to make it."
Empress Dowager Jiang asked doubtfully: "Wrapping wooden blocks of various shapes with silk cloth of various colors can really make children smarter?"
"As soon as the child can see clearly, let him see some colorful things and listen to some sounds." Zhu Houcong only has one more sentence to arrange, so why not?
Lin Qingping looked at him teasing her son's little face with a smile, and felt that he was very attentive to the child.
Zhu Houcong stayed here for a while and then stood up: "I will go back to the Yangxin Hall first."
Compared with Qianqing Palace, Yangxin Palace is indeed more livable.
Now that the palace has been firmly controlled, there is no need to worry about safety. Zhu Houcong is too lazy to randomly choose a dragon couch to sleep on every day.
Back at the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart, Carolina had already learned a few simple words. After seeing him, she knelt down and said: "Your Majesty..."
It's just that the accent was very strange, and the first sound of the word "壹" made Zhu Houcong get up after hearing it, and couldn't help but glance at her.
The emperor glanced over, and Carolina suddenly felt uneasy.
Wen Suyun also saw it and looked at Zhu Houcong with his mouth wide open: "Your Majesty, don't you want me to sleep with you today?"
Zhu Houcong coughed: "Looking at the time, it is no longer appropriate for you to stay in bed today."
There is no need to blush, since Lin Qingping and Sun Ming have already set a precedent, and the concubines in the palace have no doubts about the emperor's farming methods.
Wen Suyun was already familiar with the emperor, and the girl who had just tasted it for the first time pursed her lips: It had only been four days since her menstrual period, and your majesty said, what about the first seven and the last eight!
They are just greedy for freshness! In that case, haven’t the Nine Concubines not touched any of them?
But as a concubine, even if she didn't feel happy, she could only hold it in.
Seeing that she was unwilling to go back to Changle Palace, Zhu Houcong said, "I'll take you to Xiyuan in a few days and call your parents."
Wen Suyun then turned her anger into happiness and thanked him.
Zhu Houcong then looked at Carolina, while Qu Mei stood aside.
This is the happiness of the emperor. The whole world is accustomed to superiority and inferiority.
"Your father has pledged his allegiance to me, and you will become my woman. I believe that when you come here, you also know what your fate will be."
After Carolina listened, she spoke, and Qu Mei translated intermittently: "She asked Your Majesty, are her father and mother okay? What have you done to them?"
Zhu Houcong replied with a smile: "It's in an academy just to the west outside the palace wall, next to the palace. They all have a comfortable living environment. I asked Alfonso to be a teacher first and teach him his naval warfare experience."
Carolina looked relieved after hearing this, and then looked at the emperor with her green emerald eyes: "Your Majesty the Emperor, if I become your woman, can I see them in the future?"
"I'll see you." Zhu Houcong nodded, "I have to wait until I can trust him and your loyalty."
"...I will be loyal." Carolina nodded repeatedly after hearing the translation.
"Today you can prove your obedience first." Zhu Houcong's lips curled up playfully, "Qu Mei, you take her to take a bath, and you come with her."
Qu Mei was stunned, a little at a loss: "Your Majesty... your servants are also here?"
Zhu Houcong looked at the girl Zhang Zuo had picked out with some care. She was not chosen among the fifty people but stayed in the palace. How could her beauty be any worse? It was just that she was slightly inferior in talent and other aspects.
If the other people who were not selected as concubines had some noble status, Zhang Zuo would have chosen those.
Although I don’t know what the emperor wanted to do to train a Portuguese minister in the palace, after all, it was arranged by His Majesty himself, and Zhang Zuo was very attentive.
Now Zhu Houcong said with a smile: "After all, she is still a prisoner of the enemy. If you have a grudge against me, you can help me hold her down. Besides, I can't understand what she said. Why, you don't want to?"
Qu Mei's pretty face flushed: "Slave...of course I am willing."
Although...it was so out of line for the first time...
Huang Jin, who was on the side, watched them go to take a bath. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Your Majesty, shall I prepare some soup first?"
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Let's prepare it first, and remember their menstrual time later. Today, it's just to subdue her first, so that her father can work for me with confidence."
After some preparations, Zhu Houcong also finished taking a bath and sat on a chair in the bedroom to read a book.
After a while, Qu Mei's voice sounded timidly outside the bedroom door: "Your Majesty, this slave and she have taken a bath."
Zhu Houcong put down the book: "Come in."
It can be seen that Qu Mei is shy but happy, while Carolina is obviously more nervous.
Zhu Houcong pointed to the larger dragon couch in the bedroom of Yangxin Hall: "Come over, let me take a look at your figure first."
I saw Qu Mei tugging on the corner of Carolina's clothes and walking to the front of the dragon bed in small steps.
Zhu Houcong looked at them and nodded, so Qu Mei lowered her head and blushed, taking the lead in unbuttoning the buttons and saying something to Carolina.
It was already a hot day in July, so the clothes I changed into after bathing were loose and simple.
As soon as the outer clothes were taken off, Zhu Houcong saw that Carolina was still wearing a bellyband. As expected of a noble lady, she was well nourished.
He stood up with a smile and walked over, reaching out to lift their chins from left to right.
Qu Mei closed her eyes, while Carolina bit her lip and looked at him.
Then, the noble Eastern Emperor took off her last shield.
The same is true for Qumei.
Zhu Houcong spread his hands and reached down. He felt indulgently for a while and then pushed forward.
Then, he began to untie his clothes and looked at the two people in front of him who were subconsciously covering up: "Where should I put my hands? Qu Mei, grab her hand."
Qu Mei didn't catch her, but pulled her, and the two of them involuntarily turned up and got together.
Zhu Houcong sighed: It is the combination of Chinese and Western styles.