Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 329: Individuals in the Great Changes of the Times, Liu Kuan recorded video [Please subscribe]

Fang Xiaoru stood in the yard and watched the craftsmen work for a while. He found that the wires were really wires, but they were all fixed high on the walls and wooden pillars.

The same is true for electric lights, but if they are inside the house, they will be hung from the beams and equipped with light bulbs.

When several craftsmen came out of the house, Fang Xiaoru asked, "When will the light be turned on?"

Although the status of craftsmen has gradually improved in recent years, they still respect the Hanlin scholars very much. After all, the Hanlin scholars are the best among the scholars. Since the Ming Dynasty started the imperial examination, they have only selected the Jinshi scholars who ranked second or above.

The leading craftsman bowed and said, "Let this Hanlin Master know that all the construction teams are currently working on wiring and installing lights in the various government offices. If the power is turned on now, we will be electrocuted."

"So, we have to wait until all the government offices have their wires connected and the lights installed before we can turn on the electricity. Then, Master Hanlin will just have to pull the switch and the corresponding light will come on."

Fang Xiaoru nodded, but felt a little disappointed because he didn't gain anything.

"Alas, everyone has their specialties. I'll stick with compiling history books. Xian'er, on the other hand, is quite interested in science and has some talent. Perhaps he can delve deeper into it in the future."

As science and technology brought more and more changes to the Ming Dynasty, a few enlightened Confucian scholars, such as Fang Xiaoru, began to try to accept the scientific path, reposition the position of Confucianism under the transformation, and strive to seek new social value for Confucianism.

The Tiangong Institute's work of wiring and installing electric lights in various government offices in the capital not only attracted great attention and widespread discussion among officials, but also made it a "hot topic" among ordinary people.

However, ordinary people are not as well-informed and knowledgeable as officials, so they say all kinds of things.

"Old Li, have you heard that the imperial court is going to provide electricity to all government offices in the capital, and they're going to install electric lights?"

"Install electric lights? Like the ones near the Imperial City that shine like little moons at night?"

"If it's not that kind of electric light, then what else could it be?"

"Is the imperial court so powerful? Could it be that the Heavenly Lightning Mother has descended to assist the Hongwu Emperor?"

"I heard the imperial court built a power station near Lime Mountain in the northwest. I wonder if it's for the Lightning Mother to live in."

"Most likely—my cousin's second uncle's brother-in-law is a remnant of the Tiance Guards. He lives in the northwest. They say construction started there last winter, and no one is allowed to get close. It's so mysterious. It must be a temple built for the Goddess of Lightning."

"It's not a temple, is it? If it is, why don't they let us go there to burn incense and offer sacrifices? I don't know if Dianmu controls childbirth. I want another boy, but I've been trying for two or three years, and there's no sign of pregnancy."

Old Li laughed and said, "The Mother of Lightning controls lightning, how can she give birth to children? Are you trying to strike your wife with lightning to get her pregnant?"

"Don't talk nonsense. My wife is not a bad person. Why would the Lightning Mother strike her?"

"···"

After resigning from the Miscellaneous Works Bureau, Hong Daxuan bought two crucian carps, half a pound of pork belly, half a pound of tofu, and even a small jar of rice wine. He hummed a little tune and returned to the Miscellaneous Workshop in Shitiaoli.

Most of the people he met along the way greeted him with a smile.

"Is Hong Shangjiang back?"

"Yes."

"Wow, Master Hong bought fish and meat today. Did he get rewarded for his meritorious service?"

"The carriage factory in the capital is full of skilled craftsmen. How can a common craftsman like me easily achieve merit? Our daughter-in-law Guihua is pregnant, so I bought her some delicious food to nourish her body."

"Oh, your son Xiuyi's wedding is in May, right? He got his wife pregnant in less than half a year, that's amazing."

"Hong Shangjiang is going to be a grandfather, congratulations."

When he returned home, Hong Daxuan saw his son Xiuyi tinkering with a nearly finished wheel in the yard. He couldn't help but scold him, "Are you taking on work outside again? Didn't I tell you not to take too many private jobs? Only by focusing on your work at the bureau can you have a future."

Hong Xiuyi was already in his twenties and had never been afraid of Hong Daxuan. Now that he was married, he was even bolder. Upon hearing this, he said, "What future can I have in the miscellaneous construction bureau? I can take on more private jobs. Not only can I make more money, but I can also improve my skills. It's like killing two birds with one stone."

Hong Daxuan wasn't very good with words, and he couldn't convince his son, so he simply said firmly: "No matter what you think, we must prioritize the work of the government office and not delay the affairs of the court!"

"I understand." Hong Xiuyi nodded helplessly.

He knew that what Hong Daxuan said made sense - if he made a mistake while working for the court, he would be punished and it would affect his craftsman grade assessment in the future.

This is the assessment rule that Tiangong Academy changed last year: If a craftsman wants to upgrade his level, he must not only have good skills, but also not make too many mistakes, and it is best if he has made contributions.

He put down the wheel, took the fish and meat from Hong Daxuan's hands, and carried them to the kitchen for his mother to prepare. When he came out, he said, "Dad, our miscellaneous construction bureau has also connected the wires and installed the lights. What about your carriage factory?"

"They say they're going to install it, but it hasn't been confirmed yet." Hong Daxuan sat down in the main hall. His wife, Guihua, sensibly poured him a bowl of tea. "Shangguan said that if electric lights are installed, the factory might arrange night shifts in the future."

Hong Xiuyi sighed, "My son was about to say the same thing—there were no night shifts before, but now that the lights are installed, there are night shifts. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."

Hong Daxuan said, "Shangguan said that if we arrange night shifts, we will definitely increase our salary - making more money is definitely a good thing."

Hong Xiuyi hesitated and said, "I still want to save some free time to learn blacksmithing."

Hong Daxuan frowned immediately after hearing this. "You haven't even mastered your own craft yet, so why are you going to learn blacksmithing?"

Hong Xiuyi said, "I heard that wheels might all be made of fine iron in the future. Dad, if that's the case, our craft will be useless. Shouldn't we make plans soon?"

"Nonsense!" The mild-mannered Hong Daxuan erupted in anger, puffing out his beard and slamming the table. "Ever since the invention of the wheel thousands of years ago, wood has always been the primary material, with iron merely a secondary ingredient. How did it become refined iron casting?!"

Hong Xiuyi was not frightened, but retorted: "This is what the teacher of the adult engineering class said, it must make sense. Besides, aren't the train wheels made of fine iron?" Hearing this, Hong Daxuan was speechless for a moment and was stunned.

Seeing this, daughter-in-law Guihua hurried to the kitchen to find her mother-in-law.

···
···
Just a few days after the court and the public heatedly discussed the issue of wiring and installing electric lights in the capital's government offices, their attention was diverted by another major event that happened as expected - the Northern Expedition Army returned triumphantly!

The actual Northern Expedition Army numbered 300,000 to 400,000 soldiers. If the conscripted civilians from various places were included, the number would be as high as one million. It was impossible for all of them to come to the capital.

This time, the main participants were the "representatives" of the military garrisons in various places, namely the soldiers who had made great contributions or performed outstandingly in the war, some high-ranking generals, and the more than 30,000 emperor's personal troops who originally participated in the Northern Expedition.

The ninth day of the eighth month in the twentieth year of Hongwu.

It was Zhu Biao who went to Yifeng Gate to welcome the triumphant soldiers returning.

After Liu Kuan reported to Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao, he also participated in the welcoming ceremony and brought a fully charged mobile phone and a solar power bank.

When he arrived outside the Yifeng Gate, with the help of the Yiluansi guards, he drove a four-wheeled carriage to an inconspicuous corner and then stood on the roof of the carriage.

Below, Wang Guangyue and Zhu Biao's deputy captain Sun Zhao watched curiously. Sun Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Technology, is this position suitable?"

Liu Kuan took out his phone, recorded a video of more than ten seconds, watched it, and nodded in satisfaction, "Good angle, here it is."

"Okay, then I will report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Biao's welcome to Xu Da and others was a grand occasion. In addition to more than half of the civil and military ministers in the court, there were also tens of thousands of the emperor's personal troops. It can be said that he gave them great attention.

However, the reason why Lao Zhu made such a big show was not only because he attached great importance to the ceremony, but also because he learned that Liu Kuan wanted to shoot a video.

After finding a good seat, Liu Kuan returned to the carriage and waited patiently.

About a quarter of an hour later, Wang Guangyue said from outside the car: "Uncle Technology, the warship has docked."

When Liu Kuan heard this, he came out immediately, borrowed a ladder to climb onto the roof of the car, took out his mobile phone, adjusted the focus, and started shooting a video of the military dock outside Yifeng Gate.

After a 1,200-ton inland military ship with two large flags of "General of the Northern Expedition" and "Governor-General of the Four Armies of the Northern Expedition" was anchored, two teams of Ming army soldiers in helmets and armor got off the ship in order and lined up in two long rows at the dock.

Afterwards, Xu Da took Fu Youde, Lan Yu and other senior generals off the ship. Not all senior generals of the Northern Expedition returned to the capital this time. Feng Sheng and Geng Bingwen took the other half of the senior generals to stay in the grassland and would have to wait until the New Year to "change shifts" and come back.

Xu Da and others did not know that Liu Kuan was recording a video.

But for such a major ceremony, the Ministry of Rites would arrange the procedures and inform Xu Da and others in advance to avoid mistakes and jokes.

In addition, Xu Da and others had returned victoriously countless times since the founding of the Ming Dynasty and were already familiar with the procedures, so they all acted quite calmly.

However, when the ceremony was halfway through, the attentive Xu Da and Fu Youde finally noticed Liu Kuan in a carriage in a corner outside the crowd from the expressions and small movements of Zhu Biao and others.

Xu Da and Fu Youde both had good eyesight. When they saw Liu Kuan holding a mobile phone in his hand, they were stunned at first, and then they guessed something.

Other generals may not be aware of this, but Xu Da has heard a lot about the functions of mobile phones (mainly from Xu Miaoyun), such as taking photos, playing videos and movies, and recording videos.

Seeing Liu Kuan holding the phone, he guessed that he was either taking pictures or recording videos.

Guessing this, Xu Da suddenly became nervous.

Because he knew that Liu Kuan would most likely show this photo or video to Zhu Yuanzhang afterwards.

Fortunately, he had followed the procedures arranged by the Ministry of Rites from beginning to end and had always been very respectful to Zhu Biao. Of course, he was even more respectful now.

Then he looked at Lan Yu beside him worriedly.

Lan Yu had a carefree personality and made the greatest contribution among the four main generals in this Northern Expedition. Xu Da was worried that he would become arrogant and neglect the crown prince.

It turned out that Lan Yu behaved unexpectedly very honestly and respectfully.

"This guy must have noticed that Liu Kuan was taking photos or videos, right? He's quite clever."

Xu Da thought so in his heart.

He didn't know that Lan Yu had become a "behaved" person ever since he wanted to execute Emperor Yuan's concubine Wu Qige that night, but was frightened into a cold sweat when he remembered Zhu Yuanzhang's "prophecy".

Moreover, although his troops broke through the Yuan court, the Yuan emperor was captured by Prince of Qi Zhu Gui.

Compared with the achievements of the other three armies that later swept across the entire prairie, the achievements of his army were not particularly impressive.

The various etiquettes in the early Ming Dynasty were not particularly complicated. Therefore, from the time Xu Da and others boarded the dock to the time more than 30,000 emperor's personal troops participating in the Northern Expedition went ashore one after another and marched into the city in formation, it only lasted more than two hours.

After five or six years, the battery of Liu Kuan's mobile phone has become less and less durable. If it goes on for a longer time, Liu Kuan will probably have to use a solar power bank to record.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang did not go out of the city to welcome Xu Da and others, he had to welcome them outside the imperial city. In addition, he had to reward meritorious soldiers and present prisoners to the Taimiao, so he was busy for nearly a day.

It was not until the sun set in the afternoon that Zhu Yuanzhang sent a eunuch to convey his oral order, allowing Liu Kuan to enter the palace.

　First update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)