The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

The sound of the bronze bell was still echoing on the eaves, and the twelve Jinwu Guards had marched in in neat steps. The black iron scales shone coldly under the candlelight in the dining hall, and the armor leaves made a light "rustling" sound as they walked.

The leading commander placed his sword on his right hand, raised the token with his left hand, and shouted in a deep voice: "The Holy Lord has arrived—"

The movements of more than a thousand students in the dining hall suddenly froze. Wang Su's bamboo chopsticks fell into the coarse pottery bowl with a "pop", and the splashed rice grains stuck to the copy of "The Great Edict". Zhou Mo hurriedly stuffed the copper compass into his sleeve, but accidentally cut his cuff. Zhao Tiezhu even directly scattered the red soil sample in his hand all over the table.

When Yi Huawei walked in slowly, the air in the dining hall seemed to become heavy. He was wearing an indigo-colored uniform with a gold cloud pattern, and the nine-ring jade belt around his waist made a crisp clinking sound with his steps. The nine-dragon white jade ring on his left finger shone with a warm luster under the sunlight through the window.

His tall figure was particularly eye-catching in the crowd, his handsome face was slightly frowned, and he looked majestic without being angry. When he walked, his back was as straight as a pine tree, and every step was steady and powerful, and his gold-woven boots made almost no sound on the blue bricks.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The sound of more than a thousand students kneeling down in unison was like a wave. The rough wooden table was shaken by the impact, and dozens of coarse pottery bowls rolled off the edge of the table and shattered on the blue brick floor. Sauces and vegetable soup splashed on the students' indigo robes, but no one dared to move a finger.

Yi Huawei stood in the middle of the dining hall, his eyes slowly sweeping over the crowd. His gaze lingered for a moment on a few particularly young students, who were the poor students specially recruited this year.

"Flat body."

The emperor's voice was not loud, but it seemed to penetrate the entire dining hall and reach everyone's ears clearly. The students stood up tremblingly, and some of them had to rely on their classmates for support because of their weak legs.

The attendants had already set up a red sandalwood table in the center of the dining hall. The table was covered with bright yellow cloud-patterned brocade, and the four corners were held down by gilded paperweights. Compared with the crude wooden tables around it, the four treasures of the study placed on this table all exuded a royal style - the imperial wolf-hair brush was placed on the jade pen holder, and the ink in the Duan inkstone was shining with the luster of gold powder.

Yi Huawei did not sit down, but stood at the table with his hands behind his back. The sunlight shone through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on his well-defined profile. The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, as if looking at every corner of the dining hall.

"Wang Su."

The head of the Jingyizhai trembled all over when he was named, and the copy of the Great Edict in his hand fell to the ground again. This student, who was usually known for his calmness, was now pale, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

Yi Huawei took out a memorial from his sleeve. The edges of the silk paper were already fuzzy, obviously it had been read many times. When he unfolded it, the two words "feasible" written in red were clearly visible through the back of the paper, and the bright red ink was particularly eye-catching in the sun.

"I have reviewed the memorial on grain transport you submitted last month."

Yi Huawei's voice was calm, and he tapped his jade ring lightly on a line of text: "But regarding the section on the canal locks..." His finger paused on the words 'each lock is thirty miles apart': "We need to consider it further. I remember that the new locks built by the Ministry of Works can shorten the distance to twenty miles."

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Shen Li arrived at this time. The old dean's black hat was tilted, and the hem of his scarlet robe was stained with mud - he had obviously rushed here from the experimental field. He signaled the clerk behind him to record quickly, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"Your Majesty is holy."

Shen Li obviously heard what Yi Huawei said just now, and bowed and said: "This old minister will arrange for Jingyizhai and Jiangzuozhai to discuss it together..."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly, but his eyes turned to the table of the craftsmanship department. The students hurriedly retreated, leaving a three-foot-wide passage. The emperor leaned over to pick up the gilded scale on the ground, and gently stroked the scale with his fingertips. The sunlight shone through the window paper on the copper ruler, making the scale on it sparkle.

"I have seen the blueprints of the new waterwheel."

Yi Huawei flicked the copper ruler with his fingertips, making a crisp "ding" sound, "Bearing part..."

He suddenly took out a scroll of silk from the brocade bag on his waist, and when he unfolded it, he saw the words "Detailed Design of the Divine Crossbow": "You can refer to this design of the Ministry of War."

As he spoke, Yi Huawei had already walked to the table of the Agricultural Administration Department. Zhao Tiezhu was about to kneel down, but the emperor raised his hand to stop him. Yi Huawei picked up a handful of red soil on the table and rubbed it carefully between his fingers. His hands were slender and powerful, with distinct knuckles and thin calluses on the base of his thumb from years of holding a sword.

"How is the improvement of the acid soil going?"

Yi Huawei suddenly asked.

Zhao Tiezhu's lips trembled, and after a long while he managed to squeeze out a few words: "Your Majesty, I'm still trying..."

Yi Huawei gestured to the attendant behind him. The attendant immediately held up a gilded box. When the lid of the box was opened, a strange fragrance immediately filled the entire dining hall. The golden rice seeds inside were full and shone like broken gold in the sun.

"This is the new rice variety from Southeast Asia that I found."

Yi Huawei's voice was unusually gentle: "Its acid resistance is 30% stronger than the old variety."

As he said this, he placed the box in Zhao Tiezhu's trembling hands: "It goes perfectly with the red soil."

At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the dining hall. Wang Chengen walked quickly to the emperor's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has an urgent report..."

Yi Huawei frowned slightly, raised his hand to stop Wang Chengen from speaking, turned around and looked at the students in the hall with a sharp gaze.

The air in the dining hall seemed to freeze as more than a thousand students held their breath.

Yi Huawei stood in front of the rosewood desk, the sunlight shining through the window lattice casting mottled shadows on him. He raised his hand to signal the servants to step back, and he took a step forward. The sound of his gold-woven boots stepping on the blue bricks could be clearly heard.

"Keep your head up."

The deep voice echoed in the dining hall, and the students dared to straighten up a little. Yi Huawei's eyes slowly swept across each young face, lingering for a moment on a few poor students who were dressed very simply.

"Do you know why I built this Royal Academy?"

The emperor suddenly asked, tapping the table with his fingers. The tapping was not heavy, but it seemed to strike at everyone's heart.

"It's not to make you study the scriptures to death—"

He picked up the copy of the Great Edict that Wang Su had dropped, with rice grains still on the pages: "It's not for you to study the classics until your whole life is over."

The book was gently put back on the desk, and Yi Huawei's fingertips touched the four words "unity of knowledge and action".

“This time last year.”

Yi Huawei unfolded the blueprint and pointed to the canal section outlined in red ink: "30% of the grain transported north is lost due to improper gate design."

The students in the craftsmanship department straightened their backs unconsciously. Wang Rui secretly touched the scale in his sleeve, and the coolness of the metal made him shudder.

"But this year—"

Yi Huawei suddenly raised his voice: "After the Ministry of Industry modified it according to the drawings provided by the craftsman, the loss was reduced to 15%!"

Yi Huawei's right hand drew an arc in the air: "This is what I want, the 'unity of knowledge and action'."

"Three months later."

After a pause, Yi Huawei took out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve and said, "I want to see your river management plan in Fengtian Palace. It is not just talk, it is really going to be used on the Yellow River!"

"Jingyi Zhai."

Yi Huawei turned his gaze to Wang Su: "I want you to examine the gains and losses of river management in past dynasties."

"Mathematics: calculating the earthwork volume of the new dam." "Craftsmanship: designing diversion gates."

With every word Yi Huawei spoke, he took a step forward. The sound of his gold-woven boots stepping on the blue bricks was like a drum beating in everyone's heart. When he reached the center of the dining hall, he suddenly stopped and took out a small copper model from his arms - it turned out to be an exquisite sluice.

"I made this in my spare time. It's crude, but the principle is right."

He placed the model on the table and said, "In three months, I want to see a design that is ten times better than this."

In the silence of the whole room, there was a sudden thump. Zhao Tiezhu fell to his knees, his forehead against the bricks. "Your Majesty... I will die for you!"

Then came the second and third sounds...More than a thousand students knelt down one after another, and the sound of coarse cloth robes rubbing against each other was like the tide. Yi Huawei's eyes swept across these young backs, lingering for a moment on a few particularly thin figures - they were the children of the border troops specially recruited this year.

"remember."

Yi Huawei's voice suddenly softened: "You are not studying for me, but for the people of this world."

He pointed out the window, where the smoke from the city streets could be vaguely seen: "For the people who grow crops, forge iron, and row boats. And also for myself!"

Shen Li's old eyes suddenly became moist. When he saw the emperor turned around, the hem of his uniform was stained with the soup on the ground, but he was not aware of it at all.

The sound of armor from the Jinwu Guards rang out again, but Yi Huawei suddenly turned around and said, "The best one can follow me on my northern border tour."

This sentence was like thunder, causing all the students to look up. Wang Su's nails dug into his palms, Zhou Mo's copper compass carved deep marks on the table, and even the calmest Li Wenxiu couldn't help but let out a cry.

"Three months later, I will be waiting for your answers in Fengtian Palace."

The sound of the armor of the Jinwu Guards gradually faded away, but the dining hall remained completely silent. It was not until the emperor's procession completely disappeared outside the courtyard gate that the students came back to their senses as if awakened from a dream.

With trembling hands, Shen Li personally placed the imperially bestowed sluice model on the podium. When the old dean turned around, he saw Zhao Tiezhu still kneeling on the ground, his tears forming small puddles on the blue bricks.

"Have you written down everything?" Shen Li asked the clerk.

The young clerk nodded heavily, and the ink dripped from the tip of the pen onto the paper, spreading into a patch. Shen Li took the pen and added a line of small words at the end of the record:
"On the fifth day of the third month in the third year of Zhaowu, the emperor came in person, gave a model, and promised to tour the north."

Outside the window, the spring sunshine was shining on the golden plaque at the main entrance of the academy, and the six imperial characters "Da Ming Royal Academy" were shining brightly.

………………

On the eighth day of the sixth month in the third year of Zhaowu, at 3:30 p.m.

The sea breeze from Quanzhou Port blew in with a salty and fishy smell, and hundreds of flags fluttered in the southeast wind.

Seventy-two warships were lined up in the harbor. On the deck of the main ship "Zhenhai", thirty-six new red-coated cannons had their gun covers removed, and the black muzzles glowed coldly under the scorching sun.

Admiral Zheng Zhilong stood at the front of the dock, his Qilin patched robe soaked with sweat, clinging to his broad back. This sea hero in his early forties lowered his head, veins on his bronze neck were visible. His right hand unconsciously stroked the Japanese sword given by the emperor at his waist - the four gilded characters "loyalty and bravery" on the scabbard had been rubbed to a shine.

"The Holy Lord has arrived——"

As Qiu Chengyun's sharp voice called out the name, the air in the port suddenly froze.

The iron armor of the three thousand imperial guards reflected a dazzling silver light on the official road. The sword and shield players in the front row suddenly changed their formation and made way for a three-meter-wide passage.

Yi Huawei's dragon chariot slowly came into view.

Six pure white Arabian war horses pulled the gilded sedan chair, and the nine-feathered crown on the top of the sedan chair swayed gently in the wind.

Yi Huawei did not wear a dragon robe today, but an indigo-colored golden-woven robe, with the famous "Zhaowu Sword" hanging from a jade belt around his waist. The nine-dragon white jade ring on his left finger spun in the sun, making his handsome face look even more majestic.

"Your Highness is here to welcome you!"

Led by Zheng Zhilong, more than a hundred officials including the Fujian Provincial Governor, the Criminal Procurator, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Jinyiwei Qianhu all knelt down in unison. The scarlet, blue, and green official robes spread out on the dock in a colorful pattern, and the wings on the black gauze hats trembled slightly as they kowtowed.

Yi Huawei raised his hand to signal the dragon chariot to stop. The moment the woven gold boots stepped on the red carpet, a deafening cannon suddenly sounded in the harbor.

"boom--!"

Thirty-six red-coated cannons fired at the same time, and the white smoke from the muzzles formed a continuous mass on the sea. Zheng Zhilong took the opportunity to look up and found that the emperor did not even tremble his eyelashes.

"Zheng Qing."

This gentle call made Zheng Zhilong tremble all over. He saw the tip of Yi Huawei's gold-woven boots stopped three steps in front of him, and the wave pattern embroidered with silver thread on the boots was faintly visible in the sun.

"Chen is here!"

"I heard that you built a new 'Flying Dragon Ship'?"

The emperor's voice was as clear as the sea breeze: "Show me."

When Zheng Zhilong looked up, he met Yi Huawei's half-smiley eyes. There seemed to be a whirlpool hidden deep in those phoenix eyes, which made even this sea overlord who was used to the wind and waves feel a chill down his spine.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please understand..."

Zheng Zhilong's Minnan accent became stronger: "It's at Dock No. 3..."

Yi Huawei reached out and helped the admiral up. The moment the white jade ring touched Zheng Zhilong's wrist, this iron man trembled slightly.

"Lead the way."

As the emperor took a step, Luo Sixian, who was accompanying him, immediately made a gesture. A thousand musketeers quickly dispersed, and the bayonets on their flintlock rifles formed a silver light curtain in the sun. Two commanders led 500 cavalrymen each, and they set up a guard along both sides of the dock. The sound of horse hooves rolled over the cobblestone road like thunder.

Qiu Chengyun trotted three steps behind. The tall and thin eunuch kept half-bending, but his slender eyes kept scanning every corner. The West Factory token hanging on his waist swayed with his steps, and the four words "As if I were here in person" appeared and disappeared from time to time.

In front of Dock No. 3, the huge "Flying Dragon Ship" had just taken off its tarpaulin. The dragon-shaped ram on the bow was made of fine copper, and two egg-sized South China Sea pearls were inlaid in the dragon's eyes. Yi Huawei suddenly stopped and stroked the brand-new iron armor on the side of the ship with his fingers - it was a composite armor forged according to the latest drawings of the Royal Academy.

"Nice boat."

These two simple words made Zheng Zhilong's eyes warm. He was about to explain when he saw the emperor had already jumped onto the deck, his golden boots stepping on the teak planks without making any sound.

"Be careful, Your Majesty!"

Luo Sixian took a step forward, but Yi Huawei raised his hand to stop him.

Yi Huawei walked to the bow alone, the sea breeze lifted the hem of his quiver. He stared at the distant horizon and suddenly asked:
"Mr. Zheng, do you know why I want to come and see this ship in person?"

(End of this chapter)