The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 638: My Imperial Garden is Watered with Your Excellency's Water Pump

Immortality studies.

The pond where the ironclad ship was launched.

Zhang Yunyi looked serious as he watched Wang Hui lead a group of teachers and students to install equipment pipes on a small steam engine.

Food is the first necessity of the people and agriculture was the foundation of life in ancient times.

No matter how much we achieve in industry, it cannot compare to the efforts we make in agriculture.

Last time, increasing the per-acre grain yield also allowed Zhang Yunyi to be promoted several levels.

If he wants to mechanize agriculture, he needs at least a single-cylinder internal combustion engine, which he is currently unable to do.

However, it is easy to provide convenience by using existing steam engine technology.

Land reclamation and planting can still use the power of animals, but water resources and irrigation are a problem.

After all, even if livestock can carry water, drawing water is a problem, not to mention that there are no roads near farmland for ox carts to pass through.

The main reason why ancient agriculture had low risk resistance was that the irrigation problem was difficult to solve.

Even in modern rural areas, it is not possible to have canals for every piece of cultivated land, let alone in ancient times?

This is without considering the height difference.

Zhang Yunyi still remembers that in the 1980s and 1990s, the single-cylinder diesel engines on the front of tractors were often used in rural areas and converted into simple water pumps.

In fact, the principle is basically the same and can be achieved using a steam engine.

Although the steam engine water pump could not benefit ordinary people, it was not a problem for the wealthy families. It was also of great benefit to improving the food security of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Of course, Zhang Yun逸, who has made outstanding contributions to agriculture, will also benefit.

As the roar sounded, water gushed out of the water pipe extending outside the pond, and there was a burst of cheers from the audience.

Wang Hui raised his sleeves, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with joy: "Sir! I have fulfilled your mission!"

Zhang Yunyi looked around with satisfaction and nodded, "You have done a good job in executing the task I proposed this time. Thank you all for your hard work. I will go to the palace now to ask for your recognition!"

Different from his previous bluffing and using the research project as a cover, he could actually complete the water pump independently this time.

However, in order to perfect the character, he still explained his ideas and details, and even asked Zhou Xuan to draw the blueprints and complete them with a group of teachers and students.

While establishing his own personality, he also wanted to promote his own confidants within the Xianxue.

Although no one can take away the main credit, the subordinates who participated can also share the credit. After two more times like this, his trusted aides who he wants to promote will naturally occupy important positions in various places.

However, as a leader, it is good enough not to take away the credit of subordinates. There are very few leaders who are willing to share the profits with their subordinates.

The teachers and students present were all moved to tears: "The students are ashamed!"

Zhang Yunyi waved his hand and said calmly, "Alright! A hero needs three helpers. You are all the backbone of the immortal school. I have seen your efforts every day. Don't say these polite words. Quickly load this water pump onto the truck. I will take it to the palace and water the emperor's imperial garden!"

This was undoubtedly a great achievement, and what he said was interesting, so everyone laughed out loud from the bottom of their hearts.

After the water pump was loaded onto the cart, Zhang Yun逸 got on the carriage and rushed to the palace.

After instructing the gatekeepers to send the water pump to the imperial garden, Zhang Yun逸 rushed to the imperial study.

"Your Majesty! Great joy!"

"Oh? Why are you so happy?"

Emperor Wanlong was also happy. Although the elixir presented by the Taoist priest had a strong aftereffect and even forced him to miss court several times after taking it, the drug was so powerful that he could barely experience the happiness that Zhang Yunyi had.

Now, facing Zhang Yunyi, the real master, he felt full of energy and his back straightened a lot. Zhang Yunyi failed to grasp the emperor's mentality, and bowed and smiled: "Your Majesty, please allow me to keep it a secret. Move to the Imperial Garden and you will know it when you see it!"

"Okay!" Emperor Wanlong stood up suddenly, waved his hand, and said with a smile, "It's just right. I'm a little tired from reviewing memorials, so I'll go and see what you're keeping secret!"

Emperor Wanlong seemed to be in high spirits. He did not call for the imperial sedan chair but rode ahead on horseback. Zhang Yun逸 and Xia Shouzhong lagged behind him half a body length and followed the emperor. They walked slowly towards the imperial garden.

On the way, they chatted about the situation of Xianxue and Tiangong Academy. Emperor Wanlong suddenly asked, "I heard that you had a dispute with Shui Rong?"

Zhang Yun逸 was not surprised by the emperor's inquiry.

He had intended to show the emperor his firm stance, and although he did not publicize it in a big way, he did complain several times in front of Prince Zhongshun and others, taking the blame for them and causing a dispute with Prince Beijing.

"Your Majesty, it's not really the case. It's just that Prince Beijing is using his power to pressure others. I am just standing up for the Rongguo Mansion!"

"Shui Rong is young and full of energy. He relies on his hereditary title of King of Iron Hat and his relationship with the Concubine Dowager. He does act a little eccentrically. You should not take it to heart..."

At this point, Emperor Wanlong paused, then changed the subject and said, "However, the newspaper you run is always collecting these kinds of gossips, why didn't you publish this?"

Zhang Yunyi thought to himself, isn’t it because he’s afraid that you’ll be too suspicious?

But he rubbed his head in embarrassment and replied, "After all, if I tell others about it, it would seem like I am flattering myself! I am just embarrassed!"

"Gold shines wherever it is. You have never been vague about the matter of Wen, so why are you avoiding it this time?"

Zhang Yunyi was half a body behind and could not see the emperor's expression, but he understood the meaning of his words. He bowed and said, "I understand! Then I will shamelessly publish it in next month's newspaper."

"That's right!"

As they were talking, the group arrived at the Imperial Garden.

Emperor Wanlong looked at the water pump beside the pond in the Imperial Garden and asked with a hint of doubt: "Is this a steam engine?"

Although it was a scaled-down version, it was not the first time that the emperor had seen it used as the driving force for trains and ironclad ships. The boiler and chimney were particularly eye-catching.

"Although it is a steam engine, its purpose is different. I call it a water pump. Your Majesty will know later!"

After Zhang Yun逸 finished speaking, he nodded slightly to Xia Shouzhong, and waited for him to call over the two eunuchs who were accompanying him, and they placed the water pipes according to Zhang Yun逸's instructions.

He lit the boiler, and soon a roar was heard and water flowed out along the pipes.

Zhang Yunyi picked up the pipe again and put his hand on the water outlet.

The water pipe suddenly became a shower, gushing out and wetting the flowers and plants in the imperial garden.

Zhang Yunyi was quite curious. He swung the water pipe left and right, and water droplets splashed. Under the sunlight, they looked like scattered pearls, reflecting rainbows.

Emperor Wanlong was a little dazed for a moment, looking at the rainbow formed by the gushing water droplets, he felt dizzy.

When he came to his senses, he exclaimed: "What a wonderful thing! From now on, I will use your water pump to irrigate my imperial garden!"

He hadn't fully recovered for a moment and didn't have time to think about it carefully.

Zhang Yunyi quickly put down the water pipe, completely ignoring the water stains all over his body, walked before Emperor Wanlong, and bowed respectfully.

"With this water pump, the people will no longer have to go through so much trouble to get water for irrigation. This is your majesty's benevolent policy that benefits the people. The people can live and work in peace and contentment. This is truly a blessing for your majesty and a blessing for all the people!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanlong was stunned. His already smiling eyes suddenly flashed with a gleam of light. His chest heaved and his face turned red unconsciously.

After a long while, Emperor Wanlong calmed down his rapid breathing, took a deep breath, looked at Zhang Yunyi with sharp eyes, and praised: "Good! Good! My dear minister, you really did not disappoint my expectations!"

……

(End of this chapter)