I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 895 I really don’t understand this!

Li Sancai read the contents of the telegram and continued Shi Xing's words: "Governor, the mourning system of the Ming Dynasty was changed during the Longqing period to 100 days of mourning.

This system has been followed for more than ten years and has long been a custom. Now some people are making a fuss about this matter, and the purpose of the governor is not to make a fuss. "

The kerosene lamp was bright, illuminating most of the room.

Shi Xing nodded, closed his eyes slightly, and leaned back with most of his body. His body was still in the light, but his face was vaguely visible in the shadows.

"The emperor has set the rules. The three prime ministers serve two terms of ten years.

Counting on my fingers, ten years have passed. Prime Minister Zhang has been in charge of the cabinet for ten years.

The drunkard's intention is too clear. The real purpose is revealed!"

Li Sancai hesitated and said, "Are these people too impatient?"

Shi Xing smiled faintly: "Prepare for a rainy day, there is no rush.

How can you not be anxious when you are fighting for power and profit?
If we don’t muddy the waters, how can these people benefit from the chaos?”

Li Sancai was stunned: "Futai, muddying the waters, you mean those people..."

Shi Xing glanced at him and said, "Why, Daofu, who do you think those people who jumped out are?"

Li Sancai answered honestly: "Governor, I thought it was those people from Luan and Shanghai."

Li Sancai was referring to the New Party's Progressive Faction.

Shi Xing shook his head: "The emperor has already made arrangements for the court and local affairs for the next ten years. In the past one or two years, he has communicated with all the ministers and officials, and everyone has reached a tacit understanding.

If you jump out at this time, are you dissatisfied with the lack of meat in the bowl, or do you want to smash the bowl in your hand?"

Yes, you dare not abide by the tacit rules reached between the emperor and everyone, and rashly try to muddy the situation so as to gain more benefits from the chaos. According to the emperor's temper, he will directly smash all your bowls, and not even leave you any leftovers, let alone meat.

Thinking of the emperor's temper and methods, Li Sancai couldn't help but shudder.

"Governor, since no one would be so unwise, then who is the one who can't wait to jump out at this time?"

Yes, now the court is mostly composed of the New Party and the two factions. Since the emperor has made it very clear to everyone and everyone knows his temper, who would be so bored as to jump out and cause trouble?

Shi Xing was silent for a while, "I am not very clear about it. But I know that although the New Party is the only dominant party in the court, it is divided into two factions, and there are many conflicts between them.

Besides the New Party, there are other forces, and it’s hard to say. ”

Li Sancai thought of several people's names in his mind.

Who would have thought that after only a few years of peace, there would be another disturbance in the court.

But think about it, this year is the tenth year of Wanli, and it is time for the change of power as the emperor mentioned.

This time, the Ministry of Public Administration was ordered to summon the Grand Councillors and the Grand Councillors to hold a plenary meeting of the Council of State and the plenary meeting of the Council of State. In all likelihood, the purpose was to discuss the candidates for the next six ministries of the cabinet, the five ministries of the military government, and the officials of the Censorate. More importantly, after the old Grand Councillors and the Grand Councillors retired, who would be the new ones to be appointed as the new Grand Councillors and the Grand Councillors.

In the face of such a major event, it is normal to cause a stir, and it would be abnormal if there was no stir!

Li Sancai asked carefully: "Futai, how should we deal with this?"

As Shi Xing's clerk, he holds a key position and must know Shi Xing's clear attitude so that he can strike a balance when handling daily affairs.

Shi Xing said leisurely: "In the daytime, I climbed the mountain to watch the beacon fire, and in the evening, I watered my horse beside the Jiaohe River."

Li Sancai immediately understood that the governor was really going to take over Xu Wei's post as governor-general of the three borders and guard the border towns.

Good, this way I can achieve success and accumulate experience while staying away from the whirlpool of disputes in the court. This is the best!
“Students understand.”

"Daofu, it's getting late, you should go back and rest. Please make arrangements for me tomorrow. I want to have a detailed discussion with Shen Qianhe, Wang Mingshou, and Wang Huchen."

"I have arranged for the three of you to stay at the Guest House, which is very close to the Governor's Office.

Tomorrow morning I will go to the guest house and invite the three of them to the governor's office."

Shi Xing nodded with satisfaction.

After waiting for three days, the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, Xu Zhenming, arrived with Li Zhibin, the Chief Clerk of the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, and Xiong Weigao, the Order Clerk.

Shi Xing brought more than 20 civil and military officials from Xi'an City, including the governor, left and right councilors, councillor, provincial inspector, deputy governor, military commissioner, deputy governor, prefect of Xi'an County, magistrate of Chang'an Wannian, and Yuan Xian'an, the chief secretary of the Shaanxi governor, out of the west gate of Xi'an City to welcome them.

That night, Xu Zhenming met with Shen Wanxiang, Wang Yongji and Wang Fengmeng at the Guest House where he was staying.

The next morning, Xu Zhenming, Shi Xing and Shen Wanxiang, together with their respective entourage, boarded the additional sleeper car and headed straight for Zhengzhou along the Zhengxi Line.

At noon that day, everyone gathered in the dining car, eating lunch and chatting.

"Governor Xu, Governor Shi, your students have been on a diplomatic mission overseas for five years. After returning, the Ming Dynasty has undergone many changes.

It’s really dizzying.”

Wang Yongji continued: "We read the Yongqin Political Newspaper the day before yesterday and saw a report that according to a telegram from Guangzhou, the Mang clan of the Toungoo Kingdom fled eastwards to the dense forests of Siam and was pursued by many task forces. They had no choice but to flee south to the Sam Poh Peninsula and were ambushed by the Fifth Regiment of the Tenth Division of the Marine Corps 120 miles west of Penang.

Mang Yinglong, his son Mang Yingli and others were killed.
The students and Qianhe saw that this incident happened ten days ago, how come it spread to Xi'an so quickly and was even published in the Yongqin Political News. "

Shi Xing laughed: "Of course it was through telegrams. The news of the death of Mang and his son was first transmitted to Sam Po Kong (Malacca) on the Sam Po Peninsula.

That was the station of the Suzaku Third Squadron, and there should be a high-power wireless telegraph machine that could directly transmit the information to Guangzhou via radio. The Guangzhou Telegraph Office then transmitted the information to the capital.

After the Rong government received the telegram, it would probably take less than half a day to report it to the Emperor in Xiyuan.

After the emperor reviewed it, it was circulated in the military government for three days before being announced to the public. The Tongzhengsi sent it to all the provincial telegraph offices through the Beijing telegraph office, and it took about ten days. "

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at each other and saw each other's bitter smile.

What the hell is a wireless and telegraph office!
After being on an overseas diplomatic mission for five years, he found himself lagging behind the new era of the Ming Dynasty when he returned!
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Shi Xing spread his hands and said, "I don't understand this either, so I can't explain it to you." Xu Zhenming said, "Xiong Lingshi, you graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Wanli University and interned at the Imperial Observatory. Do you know anything about telegraphs and radio?"

His clerk Xiong Weigao, who was sitting at another table, quickly stood up and replied, "In response to Governor Xu's question, I understand a little bit and will try to explain it to Envoy Shen and Deputy Envoy Wang."

"Thank you, Xiong Lingshi."

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji had found out that Xiong Weigao was the grandson of Xiong Jia, the Minister of Personnel during the Jiajing period.

Minister Xiong Jia once helped and protected Xu Zhenming's father Xu Jiusi.

Xu Jiusi once served as the magistrate of Jurong County, the director of the Ministry of Works, the doctor, and the prefect of Gaozhou. His official position was not high. As early as the 35th year of Jiajing, he was framed and dismissed by Zhao Wenhua and Wu Peng, members of the Yan Party.

However, he was upright and incorruptible, loved his people like his own children, and at the same time he eliminated bad politics, managed rivers, and built water conservancy projects. He was highly praised by scholars from both the court and the public and became very famous.

He is now 85 years old, in good health, and living his retirement life at home.

Xiong Weigao coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and spoke.

“Radio and telegraph were both developed by the Sixth Bureau of the Imperial Household Department, and they use the principles of electromagnetism.

The principles of electricity and electromagnetism were proposed by the erudite emperor in the early years of the Wanli reign.

Following the Emperor’s instructions, the researchers and engineers of the Sixth Bureau developed relevant instruments and equipment and verified the principles of electricity and electromagnetism.

Among them, the first law of electricity (Ohm's law), the second law (Kirchhoff's law), the third law (Watt's law), and the three laws of electromagnetism (Coulomb's law, Ampere's law and Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction) have all been verified to be correct.

Then he perfected the definitions and units of electricity and electromagnetism such as voltage, current, frequency, and magnetic field strength formulated by the emperor.
These are some of the concepts and terms that students heard when they were interning at the Imperial Observatory, when scientists from the Sixth Bureau came to give training and lectures.

The students were not very clear about the details, but they just knew that with these, the researchers and engineers of the Sixth Bureau developed AC and DC generators, telegraphs and radios.

Therefore, I cannot explain in depth to Envoy Shen and Deputy Envoy Wang. "

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji waved their hands, "No need to explain. We won't understand even if you explain. Just know the general meaning."

Xiong Weigao continued, “One of the professors teaching at the Wanli University Polytechnic Institute is a researcher at the Sixth Bureau and happens to be in charge of the development of generator peripheral equipment.

When the student was interning at the Imperial Observatory, the professor transferred him over to help temporarily for five months.

The first thing the Sixth Bureau developed was a generator. The first was a DC generator, which was said to have been developed in the second year of the Wanli reign.

However, after the invention of this device, the peripheral equipment was tossed around for more than two years, until the fifth year of the Wanli reign, it was not perfected and could be used. At the same time, the AC generator was invented.

I heard from the professor who taught me that because the Chemical Research Institute had made a breakthrough in three acids and one base, many catalysts had been developed and new materials could also be successfully smelted.

Only with new materials can generators achieve a huge breakthrough.”

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at each other. Three acids and one base again!
As for radio and telegraph machines, when I was helping out temporarily in the Sixth Bureau, I was having lunch with a few seniors in the cafeteria and heard them talking about them casually.

The principles of the two are similar, one does not use wires, and the other does.

The emperor explained the principle, but the actual research and development encountered many difficulties. Finally, a senior named Lu Chengke invented a Lu Chengke coil. Another senior named Ge Xiangyang invented the Xiangyang spark machine.

This solved the key problem and led to a huge breakthrough in the research and development of telegraph and radio.

The Institute of Chemistry also invented the lead-acid battery, which ensured the stability of power supply.
There are also transformers to facilitate AC power transmission.
The sixth bureau began to develop vacuum tubes according to the emperor's request."

"Xiong Lingshi." Xu Zhenming interrupted Xiong Weigao who was speaking with great interest, "You explained it very clearly. Drink some water and eat something."

Xiong Weigao was stunned for a moment, and then white sweat broke out on his forehead.

I was just speaking in a whim, blurting out things that should and shouldn't have been said. If I violate the confidentiality regulations, my career will be over.

Governor Xu interrupted him in time to protect himself.

"It's Governor Xu." Xiong Weigao responded gratefully and lowered his head to drink the soup in the bowl.

"As far as I know," Xu Zhenming calmly took over Xiong Weigao's topic, "the wireless telegraph was only developed at the beginning of the year, and it can transmit messages over thousands of kilometers. But there are very few of them. Currently, only some fleets stationed abroad, as well as the Army Xuanqian Dusi, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, and the U-Tsang Xuanzhengsi are equipped with less than ten machines.

Wired telegraphs were relatively popular, and the wires and poles used to transmit messages were set up next to the railways. Wherever the railways were built, the telegraph lines were set up there.

The Beijing-Kowloon Railway has only been built to Hankou, and the Wuhan-Guangzhou Railway south of the Yangtze River is still under construction in sections in Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong, but the telegraph line was fully connected in June this year.

When a telegram from Guangzhou reached Wuchang, someone had to be sent to carry the contents of the telegram across the river by boat to Hankou, and then sent out through the Hankou Telegraph Office.

The Yangtze River, we can’t do anything about it for now!”

A long whistle was heard outside the window, and the long train was turning left.

Through the glass window on the left, you can see a Type 1 locomotive spewing out black smoke and pulling one carriage after another, forming a long steel dragon, speeding across the Guanzhong land.

The long sound echoed in the ancient 800-li Qinchuan Plain, floating leisurely, passing by the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Maoling Mausoleum and Zhaoling Mausoleum, passing by the Wulingyuan, Afang Palace, Weiyang Palace and the former site of Daming Palace.

There are ditches crisscrossing and fertile fields on both sides of the railway. The people who were bending over to work hard in the fields straightened up, leaning on their hoes and other tools, and watched the train speeding by.

The wrinkles on their faces are like the Qinchuan River, the expressions in their eyes are like the Yellow River, and the train they are looking at is rushing towards the east, towards the rising sun, like a long dragon soaring from Guanzhong and flying towards the red sun in the east in the morning glow.

Shen Wanxiang said confidently: "Governor Xu, we have conquered the snowy plateau, the desert, and the four oceans and seven seas. I believe that one day in the near future, we will be able to conquer the Yangtze River!"

Xu Zhenming and Shi Xing glanced at Shen Wanxiang, whose young face was covered with dark marks left by the cold, heat, wind and frost.

"Last night, we received a telegram from the Tianjin Station of the Xinming News Agency, which was published through the telegraph office. The Yunyang, Longde and Jinli arrived at Zhigu Port at noon yesterday.

The Ming Dynasty's first circumnavigation of the world was successfully completed."

Apart from the Hibiscus Flower and Tanghu which returned home early, Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji did not hear about the Bailizhou and Xiquan. Perhaps this is the price to be paid for the advancement of the times.

Xu Zhenming looked at Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji and continued, "I believe that one day in the near future, we will be able to conquer the Yangtze River, just like conquering any place in the world."

(End of this chapter)