Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

"It is thanks to you that I have my current position. Although it is not much, I can still come up with 500 taels of silver."

"........."

According to historical records, in order to raise military funds, Chongzhen openly demanded donations from court officials, but in the end, he only raised 200,000 taels of silver.

As for Wei Zhongxian, you give him ten thousand, he gives him five thousand, and some even give him thirty or fifty thousand taels. Although they are just numbers shouted out and it takes time to get them, who dares to make boasts among those who can stand here?

In just less than half an hour, the total amount of silver on the thin paper in front of Wei Zhongxian had reached 1.3 million taels!

It’s because these people know very well in their hearts that only if Wei Zhongxian is good, they can have a good life!

If Wei Zhongxian fell, they would surely be liquidated one by one. At that time, what would be the use of having more money?

Chapter 9: Ming Dynasty Craftsmen, Zhu Youxiao's Drawings

That night, a large convoy set out from the Forbidden City and headed south.

Wei Zhongxian only took half a day to collect a full three million taels of silver!

In order to escort the silver, the East Depot dispatched thousands of soldiers and transferred five hundred musketeers from the Beijing camp.

In the following days, Zhu Youxiao still had no intention of attending court. He sat in the Qianqing Palace all day reading memorials or asking people to deliver various documents.

At times like this, writing and drawing were inevitable, but he really couldn't use the brush, so he brought a few eunuchs to the Ministry of Works.

After receiving the news, the Minister of Works Wu Chunfu immediately led people to meet them.

"I see your majesty, long live your majesty!"

At the entrance of the factory, everyone knelt down on the ground. No matter if they had something to do or not, almost all of them were pulled over by Wu Chunfu.

He didn't know why the emperor suddenly came, he just hoped that he was not here to cause trouble.

"No need to be polite, just go do what you need to do!"

"Why make such a big fuss? If you do it again, I will fire you!"

Zhu Youxiao was very dissatisfied with the scene created by this guy. In his opinion, a craftsman should have the spirit of a craftsman.

No matter the sky falls or the earth collapses, the workpiece in your hands is the most important!

At least, that was how he was when he was a designer. When he was drawing, he would dare to say something even if his superiors came to inspect.

"Go play with your balls somewhere else and don't bother me while I'm drawing!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Chunfu quickly dispersed the irrelevant people, led the way, and brought Zhu Youxiao to the lobby of the Ministry of Works.

"I came here this time because I have some things that need to be made by the Ministry of Industry."

As soon as he entered the lobby, Zhu Youxiao stated his purpose straight away.

He needs a pencil!

The brush is a Chinese treasure and the soul of calligraphy.

But he prefers pencils because he can write and draw as he wants and it also saves paper.

After telling Wu Chunfu his requirements for pencils one by one, he sat at the table and drank tea.

Wu Chunfu dared not delay even a moment in response to the emperor's request. He immediately gathered a large number of craftsmen to start figuring out how to make pencils.

Zhu Youxiao only described the appearance and function of the pencil, but he didn't understand how this thing was made.

But where is the Ministry of Industry?

Although the craftsmen here are not the best in Ming Dynasty, they are the ones with the most expertise!

Blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, silversmiths, etc., as long as you can name them, you can find them at the first time.

Wu Chunfu called a large number of craftsmen and repeated Zhu Youxiao's requirements. The rest of the work was left to the craftsmen to do freely.

The craftsmen lived up to expectations and soon began to discuss.

"Your Majesty wants a new type of pen that can leave a black mark on paper. The refill can be made of graphite or charcoal powder."

"No, it's too difficult to shape it using only graphite or charcoal powder."

"Then add something to bind it, gum, fish glue, or something else."

"Glue won't work. It will wrap around the graphite and make it impossible to draw lines."

"Then use clay, mix it with graphite powder, add water to shape it, and then send it to the kiln to burn it dry."

"........."

Chinese craftsmen have always been full of a spirit of exploration.

Especially after Zhu Youxiao pointed out the direction, it only took them a moment to finalize a preliminary plan.

A cylindrical wooden stick is split into two halves in the middle. There is no technical requirement for this.

All that remains is the ratio of graphite powder and clay.

It is a problem to ensure that the lead core is hard enough and can be written smoothly.

If too much clay is added, the lead will be too hard and will not leave any marks on the paper.

If you add too little clay, you will have handwriting, but the lead will be too soft and cannot bear the force. It will break with the slightest press.

There is no shortage of materials. Under Wu Chunfu's seal, the warehouse will unconditionally support them as long as they need it.

A group of craftsmen were divided into several groups and worked separately according to different proportion plans.

In less than an hour, five sample pens were delivered to Zhu Youxiao.

The sample pen is about seven inches long and the thickness is made according to his requirements, which is very suitable.

The pen holder is made of pine wood and exudes the fragrance of pine oil.

The only difference is the graphite content of the refills inside.

He picked up one, sharpened it with a knife, and casually drew a line on the paper.

Clear lines are left on the paper, but the only drawback is that the lead is a bit hard and the feel is not that smooth.

I changed to another one, with the same strength, the lines were shallower and harder.

After trying all five, Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction.

These pens can be distinguished according to the methods of later generations, for example, 1H, 2B, etc.

Unfortunately, there is no eraser available.

But this is no longer important.

Holding the pencil, he seemed to be back in his post before the time travel, sitting at the table and writing and drawing non-stop.

That is a drawing.

Before traveling through time, the last blueprint in his life was a blueprint for the improved Type 95 automatic rifle.

From the time he came here yesterday until now, he has never forgotten it.

Such firearms could not be manufactured with the technological level of the Ming Dynasty, but that did not stop him from drawing it and putting it there for the time being.

Sooner or later, it will be useful.

Wu Chunfu stood nearby and looked at the things in the picture curiously.

Dense lines, Arabic numerals, and many unfamiliar symbols next to them.

He was very confused. As a Minister of Works, he couldn't understand it at all.

Could it be that the legends are all true?

The reason why the emperor faked his death and came back to life was that he was summoned by Emperor Hongwu to be instructed in person?

For example, this picture in front of you?

But at this time Zhu Youxiao frowned again. The ruler won’t work!

There are three types of rulers in the Ming Dynasty: construction ruler, ground measuring ruler and tailoring ruler.

Even the lengths of these three rulers are not exactly the same. For example, the construction ruler is 32 cm, the tailor's ruler is 34 cm, and the measuring ruler is between the two, which is 32.7 cm.

But no matter which ruler you use, the smallest scale is only one percent.

Take the construction ruler for example. The smallest scale on it is one fen, which is 0.32 cm.

Such a unit is obviously not enough for sophisticated firearms.

Just then, a eunuch came in and reported that Tian Ergeng wanted to see him.

Zhu Youxiao thought about it, then put the partially drawn drawing into his arms.

He put the half-finished drawing into his arms, ordered the craftsmen to remake the ruler, and then stood up and left the Ministry of Works.

Tian Ergeng asked to see you, so there must be something important.

Since it is an important matter, it is obviously not convenient to discuss it in the Ministry of Industry.

Qianqing Palace.

Tian Ergeng commanded a group of Jinyiwei and placed boxes of files in front of Zhu Youxiao.

"Your Majesty, everything you want is here!"

The box was filled with information about the civil and military officials in the court.

Who has how many acres of land, how many houses, how many concubines, how much savings, etc.

It even goes into detail about the year and month, and how much silver was received from whom. Everything is included!

Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied. This was exactly what he wanted.

"Come here, inform them that the court will be held outside the Huangji Gate tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

Chapter 10: My good minister, drag him out and chop him off!

August 30th, the seventh year of Tianqi.

That was the seventh day since Zhu Youxiao traveled here.

At daybreak, he put on the solemn dragon robe with the help of palace maids.

The morning court at this time was not held in a palace as shown in movies and TV dramas, but in an open space outside the Huangji Gate.

Huangji Gate is more like a hall that runs from front to back rather than a gate.

When Zhu Youxiao arrived here, the eunuchs had already placed the chairs.

There was a table next to the chair, which was full of memorials that he had read in the past few days.

After he sat down, Wei Zhongxian shouted loudly towards the Meridian Gate.

"Your Majesty has ordered all officials to come to the audience!"

"Boom boom boom!"

After three drum beats, the Meridian Gate opened. Led by officials from the Honglu Temple, all civil and military officials lined up in two rows on the left and right and entered one after another. Outside the Huangji Gate, they stood in rows according to their official ranks, and then bowed in unison.

"See my emperor, long live my emperor!"

"Be flat!"

Zhu Youxiao waved his right hand in front of him, imitating the way he did in movies and TV dramas.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After expressing their gratitude, all the officials bowed their heads and stood in silence, each of them wondering why today's court meeting was held.

Ever since Wanli set a precedent of not attending court for 30 years, it seems to have become a tradition for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty not to attend court.

The previous Emperor Tianqi also had the same style. He was obsessed with the carpentry workshop all day long, ignored the affairs of state, and left all matters to Wei Zhongxian and the cabinet officials.

This time he faked his death and came back to life, and actually held a court meeting. This really puzzled them.

At this time, Zhu Youxiao was sitting at the Huangji Gate, scanning the officials below with his eyes.

All officials above the fifth rank in Beijing came, at least several hundred people.

These people had different expressions, some were confused, some were excited, some were expectant, and some were disdainful.