In the Forbidden City, there are Buddhist temples and Taoist temples.
Among them, the Qin'an Hall directly north of the Forbidden City is the most important, where Emperor Zhenwu is enshrined.
Zhu Di Jingnan claimed that he had received help from the God of Zhenwu, so when he was building the Forbidden City, he built a Qin'an Hall on the northern edge of the Forbidden City.
But the emperor did not summon the Taoist priests and Taoist masters in Qin'an Hall.
In the southwest of Yangxin Hall and on the north side of Renzhi Hall, there was originally the Si Li Supervisory Factory.
Now, the craftsmen of the Sili Supervision Factory and some of the eunuchs in charge have gone to work in the engraving room of the Ming Pao Editorial Department in the southeast corner of the Forbidden City. This area has a clearer and more important role: Huang Jin is directly responsible to Zhu Houcong, here This is where Zhu Houcong manages the eighteen companies.
It can be called the "Ming Dynasty Imperial Assets Committee".
The place is not small, covering an area as large as three or four main halls of the Qianqing Palace. There are many rows of rooms scattered in the courtyard.
Huang Jin personally brought them here, and Shao Yuanjie and others also understood: the emperor did not send Huang Jin to greet them out of courtesy, but because they came with the British Duke Zhang Lun.
As a result, they became even more confused about the purpose of being summoned to Beijing.
They didn't know the true purpose of the compound of the former Li Jianjing Factory. They just felt that the combination of the British father, them, and the "Tao Zun" who turned out to be the Tiaolang clan was too outrageous.
When they arrived at the place, they waited for Huang Jin to invite the emperor to come over.
Naturally, I would use this time to chat with the British public.
After all, he is a hereditary prince, and he is not young at all. These well-known Taoist priests with profound "Tao practices" often deal with powerful people, so they naturally talk and laugh.
Jin Kelu was uneasy. Today's scene was so big. He was just a dung dealer, pitiful, weak and helpless.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for the emperor to arrive.
Jin Gaila breathed a sigh of relief, and it almost made his eyes wet: the atmosphere when Zhen Lun dealt with him was that the emperor was the least contemptuous of him, the most amiable one, and sometimes there was something like seeing a treasure in his eyes. light.
Eunuch Huang was joking with him just because His Majesty looked at him differently.
After Zhu Houcong sat down, he first spoke to Zhang Lun: "I called you here today because I have something for you to do."
"I will do my best to get it done!"
Don’t ask what’s going on first, let’s make a statement first.
Zhang Lun no longer serves his ancestors, and he didn't know that the military affairs meeting was already planning to return to Jiaozhi, which was the place where his ancestor Zhang Fu once made great achievements. Now Zhang Lun has chosen the future route of his Zhang family: to make money. It's done.
With the title of Duke of England, he, as the representative of the honorable ministers, nominally represented the emperor to manage the shares belonging to the emperor and the honorable ministers in the eighteen enterprises.
In fact, it was Huang Jin who actually spoke and acted.
Zhu Houcong listened to his expression, and then asked Jin Gaola with a smile: "If you want to set up a business, why do you have to find a relative to come forward? Just do it! Go to Shuntian Mansion to register the procedures, and I and the relatives will come out with a sum of money. , accounting for 30% of your shares."
After saying this, Zhang Lun knew what was going on and looked at the emperor in disbelief.
At present, of the eighteen enterprises, when His Majesty drew up the articles of association, they all accounted for 60%. The remaining 20% belonged to the relatives, and then some were owned by each government office.
But in these eighteen companies, many people have titles. Now they only account for 30% of them. So, will Jin Kela be an official or a citizen in the future?
Shao Yuanjie, Tao Zhongwen and others were even more shocked: Is this Taoist like this?
Jin Kela's lips trembled: "Cao... Cao people thank your majesty for your kindness!"
The emperor really cared about him, and actually arranged for factory guards to keep an eye on his movements?
Jin Kaila was not afraid, but rather proud of it, even though this was just the daily work of factory guards in Beijing, and it was probably because Jin Kaela arranged for people to tentatively contact the Xunqi family.
But what the heck! If the emperor holds shares, how can he dare to ask for money? What’s not better than the status of an imperial merchant?
After Zhu Houcong asked him to get up, he said: "Those are all small problems, don't be distracted. The most important thing now is to find out the formula and production method of the fertilizer that is high quality, low price and large in quantity."
Shao Yuanjie and the others understood: It turned out that the emperor ordered people to visit them for fertilizer.
But apart from the production relationship that we Taoist priests have with fertilizers, which will happen regardless of whether they are fertilized or not, what else do we have to do with fertilizers?
Zhu Houcong then looked at Shao Yuanjie and the others: "You Taoist priests must not know much about it. Why am I looking for you to come to the capital this time?"
"...Your Majesty clearly understands."
They were all a little unhappy inside because the gap was too big.
But in front of the emperor, they could not show off, and everyone was calm and calm.
"Taoist alchemy actually has some mysteries."
The emperor's words made them feel relieved at first, and then they heard Zhu Houcong say: "In "Huainanzi", it is recorded that Liu An, the king of Huainan at that time, and Ba Gong, who was a master of Huang Lao's art, practiced Taoism and made elixirs, and later accidentally made them with soy milk and gypsum.
A story that turned into tofu. Sulfur and mercury were refined into cinnabar, sulfur and saltpeter, charcoal was refined into gunpowder, and the "Recipe for Saving Soldiers Behind the Elbow" also contains the wonderful use of salt water for cleaning wounds, etc."
The Taoist priests were a little surprised that the young emperor had a large and obedient "secretary team" and had done his homework.
This is an emperor who knows a little bit about alchemy, but there seems to be something wrong with his knowledge.
We make elixirs to cultivate Taoism.
"I have understood the principles of things and believe that everything in the world has its own reason. If I understand it, I will be close to the great road." Zhu Houcong looked at them, "The Taoist priests are refining elixirs to take the useful essence of all things and feed them back to themselves. The same is true for making fertilizer with golden fertilization.
Taking the power of all things to nourish the crops. I think this has the same effect but different approaches. If we can understand the principles of all things, Taoist priests can make elixirs and make fertilizers with gold and garbage, and they will be more effective. Today, we are here to discuss this matter!
"
Shao Yuanjie and others didn't know how to answer the call.
Your Majesty, you also know that we extract the essence of all things. What is this golden garbage used for? It is fertilized with a lot of filthy waste!
However, Zhu Houcong had already asked seriously: "Jinjia waste was used to make fertilizer, and snail ash, oyster ash, gypsum, lime and other substances were also used. The agronomist in my imperial village said that some crops that used these fertilizers last winter actually grew better than ordinary crops.
Manure is even better. You Taoist priests are well aware of the physical properties, do you know their rationale?"
The people from Quanzhen Tao said they didn't want to answer these questions and looked at the people from Zhengdao.
Shao Yuanjie didn't want to answer, but he still spoke: "... I am a poor Taoist who is convinced by alchemy. I wonder why those crops like gypsum and lime..."
Whoever has actually cultivated something useful for cultivation, that is a wonderful method!
Even if you really knew a little bit about it, could you announce it to the public like this?
Zhu Houcong asked several more people, but they all said they didn't know.
He understood that it was impossible for Jin Kaila to know, but the Taoist priests who often made alchemy could not tell him anything, which made Zhu Houcong a little disappointed.
Alchemy, if we look into the essence of this form, can be thought of as using heat to catalyze the reactions of various substances.
Some of the examples Zhu Houcong cited before were not the main purpose of Taoist priests' alchemy, but unintentional by-products.
But this is really raw chemistry.
Now, Zhu Houcong also knew that the Taoist priests would be very disappointed, and the Taoist priests would not look down on such a down-to-earth thing.
So Zhu Houcong said seriously: "Does it cost a lot for you to practice Taoism? I would like to offer you one or two. I just hope to refine elixirs with the Taoist priests. I don't ask for immortality, I just hope to understand the principles of all things. I don't know who among all the Taoist priests.
When it comes to the art of alchemy, who is the most proficient? Now that I can talk a little about alchemy, I will choose one person today to be granted the title of Immortal Evangelist of the Kingdom of You. He will be granted the title of abbot of Qin'an Hall and live in the north of the Forbidden City to help me refine alchemy."
You still have to use words they can understand, and do other things slowly.
The royal title always accompanies the emperor. Let’s start with who knows the properties of various substances best in the process of alchemy.
Now it was Zhang Lun and Jin Ke's turn to be confused.
It seems that the emperor's ultimate purpose in doing this was to make fertilizer.
But why does His Majesty really think that the Taoist priests' alchemy and fertilization are related, and let them stay here to listen to the Taoist priests who began to demonstrate their understanding of alchemy as if they were competing with each other?
In the past, there was a Confucian disciple Wenhua Dian debating scriptures, and today it was the two major Taoist sects debating techniques. As they chatted, they soon entered into a debate on the way to practice Taoism.
Zhu Houcong listened and felt that they had gone astray.
I am one more person busy? Are you here to listen to your opinions on which Taoist practice is more orthodox and more useful?
The young Tao Zhongwen spoke very little. At this time, he pondered the situation before him and suddenly said: "Cultivation is not limited to internal and external matters. In life, between heaven and earth, one breathes in the vitality of heaven and earth, eats grains every day, and even takes elixirs. It can be seen that life has its own destiny.
Not enough. People still have a saying that shape complements shape. We turn stone into gold. This gold believer uses gypsum and lime to fertilize crops, but as your majesty said, there are different approaches but the same effect. I think there is no need to argue about internal cultivation and external cultivation.
"
Shao Yuanjie only grew up in talismans and had a feast. Hearing the words, he immediately said: "Young Taoist Taoist, you might as well give your majesty a detailed explanation of his experience in alchemy. Taoist Taoist priest has been famous for his magic medicine for a long time."
Next is Tao Zhongwen’s home court.
Among the many Taoist priests in the Ming Dynasty, Tao Zhongwen was able to leave a mark in the Jiajing Dynasty, so he certainly had his skills.
Historically, Jiajing also turned to Shao Yuanjie for help when he was seriously ill. Shao Yuanjie needed to find a successor because of his old age. The emperor's respect for Taoism and the special circumstances at that time recommended Tao Zhongwen.
The special situation at that time was that the descendants of Jiajing were also in difficulty.
After Tao Zhongwen took action, Comrade Jiajing ushered in his own baby boom between the ages of thirty and thirty-five. Twelve of the total thirteen children in Jiajing were born during this period.
Although eleven of them died young, six did not live past the age of two.
However, Comrade Jiajing ascended the throne at the age of fifteen, and it is clear that the difficult situation of his descendants has been improved in the past ten years. Among them, Tao Zhongwen's "nurturing" of his body cannot be ignored.
Now, because of Shao Yuanjie's support, Tao Zhongwen began to talk about his understanding of alchemy.
He had several brushes. Zhu Houcong knew about him, so he did not pay attention to his brushes for alchemy and Taoism. He only paid attention to one point.
Tao Zhongwen studied these alchemy techniques as serious Taoism, although his starting point was still to cultivate Taoism and become an immortal.
"Tao Tao has profound insights!" Zhu Houcong couldn't find any other "chemistry" talents with more potential for the time being, so he pretended to be surprised, "How effective are the pills made by Tao Tao?"
"It varies from person to person." Tao Zhongwen was not willing to guarantee, "The elixirs made by poor Taoists are always for personal use. If your Majesty is determined to follow Taoism, you should not abandon the near and seek the far. Cultivating one's body and cultivating one's mind is equally important."
Zhu Houcong nodded repeatedly: "That's Tao Taoist Priest. Huang Jin, prepare the decree!"
Zhu Houcong didn't bother to care whether the implementation of Yiyi's decree would increase Zhengyi's momentum.
After refining alchemy and "doing research" in the Forbidden City, I finally listened to him.
Zhu Houcong had already heard that Tao Zhongwen was actually a very smart person.
Realizing that the topic had strayed, he brought it back and focused on the emperor's needs.
Zhu Houcong was obviously not curious about which Taoist practice was better, he was only concerned about the specific alchemy technique.
In this regard, Tao Zhongwen is indeed very confident.
After the decree was carried out, Tao Zhongwen was awarded the title of "Real Person of Youguo Preaching", and Zhengyi "succeeded greatly".
Later, Zhu Houcong ordered people to "send" all the Taoist priests out of the palace, leaving only Tao Zhongwen, the "abbot of Qin'an Palace".
Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen exchanged looks of "supporting" and "being promoted" in advance, but Zhu Houcong was waiting for only a few people who were easy to talk to.
Then, Zhu Houcong, Zhang Lun, Tao Zhongwen, and Jin Kaila gathered in the same room, with Huang Jin next to them.
"Master Tao, your experience in alchemy can be corroborated by the fertilization of golden slag?"
Zhu Houcong had already awarded him a reward, and now he had no more patience to make him do something more "willingly", but asked directly.
When Tao Zhongwen heard this, he said solemnly: "Since I believe that there are indeed similarities and differences in approach, I would like to study one or two of them carefully."
Zhu Houcong looked at him with satisfaction: "Tao Zhenren has come close to the true meaning of Taoism. Mr. British, you already know the whole story, so you should pay more attention to it from now on. Now I ask the masters of Taoism to confirm each other, all of which are fertilizing materials."
The principle is to benefit our people and strengthen our country."
These words were addressed not only to Zhang Lun, but also to Tao Zhongwen and Jin Kaila.
The emperor had a very strong purpose in doing things. He did not seek out Taoist masters from various places because he was interested in immortality. His purpose was very clear: to benefit the people of the Ming Dynasty and strengthen the people of the Ming Dynasty.
The scope of the discussion was further narrowed, and now among the outsiders, only Tao Zhongwen and Jin Kela were left.
Zhu Houcong smiled slightly: "Master Tao, although I don't know how to make elixirs, I have some understanding of the principles of all things. Would you like to come with me and go to Qin'an Palace to have a look?"
In this way, Tao Zhongwen became a person who could not be ignored around Zhu Houcong. As the newly appointed abbot of Qin'an Palace, he naturally saluted and said: "I am a poor man, I obey the decree."
Zhu Houcong stood up: "Let's go!"
He does not have to change the direction of the entire Taoist alchemy method, he only needs to change a specific person, using the temptation of power and the shock of facts.
In Qin'an Hall, everything has been prepared.
Zhu Houcong arrived, and after entering the door, he said to Tao Zhongwen: "I would like to ask Tao Zhenren to see two small experiments first!"