Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 286: Lao Zhu's feelings, a big misunderstanding...

Three days later.

morning.

sunny.

The road leading to Jinling City was crowded with people.

Old Zhu also changed his carriage to a horse-drawn carriage.

After leaving the capital for a few months, there have been considerable changes.

The new carriage made by the Manufacturing Bureau was in better shape than the one he had when he left Beijing, so of course it had to be replaced for His Majesty the Emperor as soon as possible.

These days, after visiting the factory of the Manufacturing Bureau and the laboratory of the Daming Academy of Sciences, Old Zhu was exhausted.

It turns out that all these miraculous inventions were not suddenly thought up by some genius one day, but are based on rigorous logical reasoning and scientific principles?
The "science" created by his grandson is so profound and all-encompassing!

Many of the manufacturing bureau's production processes and technologies have made a qualitative leap compared to the past.

Many of the research and experiments conducted by the Academy of Sciences are incredible and unheard of.

They are actually researching a car that can run without being pulled by horses, and even an iron bird that can carry people into the sky...

It's really incredible!
Although it has not yet been successfully developed, it sounds amazing just by listening to it.

Moreover, looking at their confident expressions, it seems as if they will definitely succeed.

Old Zhu just felt that his brain had received a completely new shock and baptism, and it was really numb.

But, at the end of the day, those things are just “techniques”.

As the saying goes, "All things are inferior, only reading is superior."

Although Lao Zhu is not a Confucian scholar, he lives in this era and is influenced by the times. He has some preconceived ideas about craftsmen and artists.

I feel that no matter how much research is done, these are just “techniques”.

Studying and governing the world is the fundamental principle and the "Tao".

Techniques are like tools and can only be used.

The most important reason for paying attention to those things is that Zhu Yuanzhang thought of their great military use.

With those inventions, we can be invincible when fighting against enemies.

As for the progress in civilization and society brought about by this, although Zhu Sun had mentioned it repeatedly in his letters before, Zhu still did not quite understand it.

Of course, since it was strongly promoted by my grandson, it must be beneficial.

However, the investment and expenditure are too huge.

Hearing the numbers reported by Zhao Rui and Zhu Gaochi, Old Zhu felt terrified.

Can the current taxation of the Ming Dynasty support such a high investment?
In addition, what interests Lao Zhu most is the agricultural and medical professional research of the Daming Academy of Sciences.

In agriculture, we are researching seeds of various grains and vegetables, new pesticides, and new fertilizers.

According to the researchers, after these things come out, the rice yield per mu can be increased from the current 200 to 300 kilograms per mu to 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms per mu.

Moreover, it can also allow many soils that were originally not suitable for cultivation to be developed for cultivation.

Overall, it can increase Ming Dynasty's grain production tenfold.

This number left Lao Zhu dumbfounded and unable to believe it.

If this is true, such an achievement cannot be matched even by a saint reborn.

In medicine, we conduct drug identification and analysis on various drugs, and also test drugs on animals.

In addition, they were also studying something called "penicillin".

This is also the idea provided by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It is said that this thing has extremely magical effects.

However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince only described its general uses. He himself was not quite sure how to extract it specifically, so the researchers could only try it themselves.

It remains unknown when it will be developed.

However, by applying scientific methods, there has been considerable progress in the analysis of the pharmacology of many drugs.

Many diseases that were untreatable in the past have now been treated.

More importantly, in the name of research, it also helped the Ming Dynasty train many doctors with superb medical skills.

Sitting in the carriage, Lao Zhu recalled what he had seen and heard in the past three days. It was truly an eye-opener.

It is hard to imagine if you don't see it with your own eyes.

His grandson gave him such a big surprise.

There is also Lai Wen'an, the director of the Daming Academy of Sciences... Although he has never met him, after visiting the research branch of the Daming Academy of Sciences outside the city, Lao Zhu's impression of him has changed a lot.

This person was able to run the Ming Academy of Sciences in such an orderly manner in such a short period of time. He is quite capable and a talent.

Previously, people thought that he suppressed Zhu Sun and claimed his credit for himself. He was extremely hateful and should be killed.

Now it seems that every inch has its own strengths and every foot has its own weaknesses.

It was not entirely wrong for Zhu Yunhuan to employ him, as this man did have his outstanding qualities.

After beating it hard and punishing it severely, it can still be used, Lao Zhu pondered slowly in his heart.

The carriage quickly entered the city.

The city is a different scene.

Compared to the day I left the city, it has changed a lot.

The streets are spacious and bright, with separate carriageways and sidewalks.

There are people maintaining order on the road.

Many of the dilapidated houses have been demolished and rebuilt.

Old Zhu observed carefully and found that many places were almost unrecognizable.

I couldn't help but sigh in my heart.

Under his own governance, the Ming Dynasty had not changed much in decades.

But after it was handed over to Zhu Yunhuan, everything changed dramatically in a short period of time.

The newly built house is obviously much better than the old one.

There are also many places that retain the same appearance as before.

But it is obvious that it was renovated not long ago.

The carriage moved forward and soon arrived at the editorial office of Science journal.

This is also the headquarters of the Daming Academy of Sciences.

The Ming Academy of Sciences was developed on the basis of the editorial department of scientific journals.

Therefore, to this day, the editorial department of scientific journals remains the core of the Ming Academy of Sciences.

Those who can enter the editorial department of scientific journals to review papers are also the best researchers in the Academy of Sciences.

As soon as Lao Zhu's carriage entered the headquarters gate, it was stopped.

In the first three days, Zhao Rui and Zhu Gaochi took Zhu on tours.

However, the branches of the academies of science are also places where their business is deeply integrated with the Ming Manufacturing Bureau.

With Zhu Gaochi, the director of the Ming Manufacturing Bureau, leading the way, the journey was smooth and no one dared to stop them.

When entering the city today, Zhu Gaochi and Zhao Rui no longer followed me.

Jiang Li was about to show his Jinyiwei token, but was stopped by Zhu.

Since I have come here incognito today, if I want to understand Zhu Sun’s situation and solve his problem, I might as well have a good “private visit”.

At that moment, Old Zhu got out of the car and said to the guard at the door, "Please go in and tell them that there is an old man from Shanghai who is here to visit Zhu Sun from the editorial department of the scientific journal."

The guard looked Lao Zhu up and down. Lao Zhu was stunned for a moment, then he understood and winked. Ji Yuan, who was standing next to him, hurried forward and quietly handed over a banknote.

Unexpectedly, the guard's face suddenly changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying: "I will go in and report, you must not do this."

After saying that, he ran in.

Old Zhu, Jiang Li and Yoshi Yuan were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

Another guard nearby said with a smile: "Put the money away. Times have changed. This is no longer popular now."

Old Zhu was a little confused.

Although he had been fighting corruption with an iron fist for many years, killing many people and causing rivers of blood in the Ming Dynasty court, he was only able to punish the serious corruption of officials.

As for the "unspoken rule" of asking for kickbacks from the doormen, one can only sigh in vain.

Old Zhu was not a pedantic person. Although he felt a little helpless about this, he had to accept it in the end.

When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when the water is clear, there will be no evil.

Of course, Lao Zhu also understands this principle.

Anyway, this kind of "bad practice" will not cause much harm to the court.

Zhu Yuanzhang still severely punished officials who gave generous gifts to each other.

But as for small "bad rules", we can only let them go.

I didn’t expect that after being away from Beijing for a while, even my neighbors no longer accept gifts?

Or is there another mystery?

Just as he was about to finish his words, another guard nearby said with a mocking tone: "Who knows where you are from? Are you deliberately offering bribes and then reporting our people to the Censorate? Maybe you are a spy for the Censorate."

"One of our brothers was reported by someone through a letter because he accepted a hundred coins as a report fee."

"It was his bad luck. He just happened to run into His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who was rectifying the family's ethos and was about to arrest a few people to make an example of them. Unfortunately, he happened to catch up."

"I lost my stable job just because of this. How pitiful!"

He clapped his hands repeatedly and complained: "Tell me, is it easy for us to be errand boys these days?"

"On weekdays, they stand guard, patrol and guard the gate here diligently."

"Whether it's windy or rainy, we have to go out on duty."

"I've been walking around to deliver letters to guests, and my legs are exhausted. If the guests are happy, what's wrong with giving us a little tip?"

"But even this has been blocked now."

“We are suffering!”

I really didn't get any advantage, but I felt like I was at a disadvantage.

Just because he can't ask for "reward money" like before, he feels that he is working too hard and too tired, but he doesn't think at all that this is his job.

Another guard nearby said, "Come on, stop complaining."

"What could you do when you were a commoner and didn't receive a salary?"

"Now you have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a salary to earn. Although this job as a gatekeeper is not particularly respectable, it can at least support your family. What else are you not satisfied with?"

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hadn't been in power, would you have had such a good job?"

"You are still not satisfied and you are complaining?"

"Is it really true that 'the greed of mankind is like a snake swallowing an elephant'?"

"What's the matter? Are you still dissatisfied with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

The guard laughed and said, "I just said a few words casually. I would never, and would never, dare to express my dissatisfaction with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been very kind to me."

"How dare I displease him?"

Another guard said, "From your tone, it seems a bit like that."

The guard waved his hands repeatedly: "No, absolutely not! You can't wrongly accuse a good person!"

……

Old Zhu was listening at the side and also heard some mysteries.

The reason these people were able to get a job was naturally because Zhu Yunhuan founded the Ming Academy of Sciences, so they were very grateful to Zhu Yunhuan.

However, as a doorman, he did not dare to ask for benefits like the previous doormen did, also because of Zhu Yunhuan's strict management.

It’s not that they don’t want to, but that they don’t dare.

Thinking of this, Lao Zhu couldn't help but feel mixed emotions.

He has governed the country for so many years and has vigorously fought corruption, but he has never been able to cure the "bad practices" that have existed among low-level officials for thousands of years.

The final conclusion is that since ancient times, "etiquette has not been extended to common people". These servants are born with the worst moral qualities. As long as they don't do anything too excessive, it's fine to turn a blind eye.

As long as the corruption of officials is properly controlled and officials set a good example, no matter how bad the situation below is, it will not get any worse.

Hasn't it been like this for thousands of years?

Therefore, although Lao Zhu still repeatedly warned, taught, and advised, he had actually given up long ago in his heart.

Otherwise, what else can we do?

kill?

It is possible to kill thousands or tens of thousands of officials, but it is impossible to kill hundreds of thousands or millions of officials and soldiers!

What's more, given the social atmosphere, killing them and replacing them with another group of people won't improve the situation at all, and may even make it worse.

In the final analysis, it is not clear whether these people have committed any great sins.

They dare not commit serious crimes.

They only care about small profits, trying to get something for nothing and take advantage of others.

But even if we know it, it is still extremely difficult to punish long-standing bad habits.

Many times, we can only rely on moral self-restraint.

But how can human nature be restrained in the face of interests?

No one would have thought that after Zhu Yunhuan came to power, he would even forcibly reverse this trend?
Although this may not be the case across the country, there are at least signs of improvement.

It seems that Zhu Yunhuan's ability to govern the country is better than mine!

Thinking of this, and recalling what he had seen and heard in the past few days, Lao Zhu felt a mixture of emotions.

On the one hand, I am happy about my grandson's growth, but on the other hand, I feel lonely.

This is truly the case of the new generation pushing the old generation forward!

I am getting old after all.

However, he can rest assured that the Ming Dynasty has such an heir!
Just as he was sighing in his heart, at this moment, the guard who had gone to report the news came out with an extremely ugly expression on his face.

Just as Old Zhu was about to go forward to ask, the man came over first. He looked Old Zhu up and down again, then looked at the person next to him and the carriage behind him, and asked suspiciously: "I see that you are not dressed like homeless people. Did you remember the name wrong?"

"I just went inside to ask, and there is no one named Zhu Sun in the editorial department."

Is there no such person as Zhu Sun in the editorial department of Science journal?
Old Zhu was stunned for a moment and said quickly, "Impossible. We have been communicating with him for half a year. It is impossible that we have made a mistake in his name."

Suddenly, Lao Zhu thought of something.

In the letter, Zhu Sun mentioned that his situation in the editorial department of Science journal was not good. Could he have been plotted against?

Could it be that his boss took away his credit and was afraid that others would find out, so he killed him?
Thinking of this, Lao Zhu's face suddenly darkened.

……

(End of this chapter)