Chang'an City, Ganlu Palace.

After the morning of this morning, Li Shimin immediately returned to the Ganlu Hall where he had been staying for a long time and began to review the mountain-like recitals. Although the ministers are busy in the imperial city and can deal with most of the state affairs, as a diligent emperor, Li Shimin will definitely not be idle in the palace.

Especially when he saw this piece of music in his hand, Li Shimin's mood was quite heavy.

This year's spring is a bit difficult!

Although the poem "Spring rain is as expensive as oil" has not yet appeared, as a farming nation, Datang has long known the importance of spring rain. But this spring, the rain has not fallen in many states, which makes many people worried, and Emperor Li Shimin is no exception.

"Alas!"

Sighing softly, Li Shimin's heart suddenly felt a little stuffy, and he couldn't help but stand up from the chair. He was not an emperor of different farming matters, so he knew very well how bad the situation was, if it continued for another month......

"Your Majesty, King Han asks to see you!"

"King Han?"

After hearing the words of the chamberlain, Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, and then he was overjoyed: "Quick, announce him to enter the palace!" ”

What a coincidence!

I happened to be worried about the drought in the states this spring, and it didn't rain for a long time, and a few days ago, Li Yuanjia, who kept saying that he could make a large number of overturned cars, entered the palace to ask to see? This naturally raised a glimmer of hope in Li Shimin's heart, and immediately asked King Xuanhan to enter the palace.

And when he saw his younger brother, after Li Yuanjia saluted, Li Shimin immediately asked: "Eleven Lang, how much can you build in a month now?" ”

"Huh? Right now? ”

Hearing the emperor's words, Li Yuanjia was stunned for a moment, and Li Yuanjia blinked subconsciously. However, even if he was very puzzled in his heart, since the emperor asked, he didn't dare not answer, and after a slight sigh, he calmly said: "If fifty carpenters and one hundred handymen can be in place immediately, and there are enough tools and wood, it may be ...... a month Hmm, you can build thirty? ”

"Thirty? So little? ”

In a hurry, Li Shimin frowned and said, "Didn't you say before that you could make three hundred in a month after a year?" Why can you only make thirty so little now? I'm giving you all the carpenters in the palace, not novices! ”

"This ......"

Hearing Li Shimin's tone, Li Yuanjia was stunned again.

What's going on?

When I talked about this matter two days ago, I was still calm, why did I suddenly become angry today? Could it be that something happened?

Li Yuanjia, who had already received the benefits of not having to go to the court, naturally didn't know that the emperor had just seen the chapter today.

However, hearing the second brother's unkind tone, Li Yuanjia could only explain helplessly: "Your Majesty, my brother did say before that he could build 300 overturned cars a month in a year, but now it is already very good to be able to build 30 cars a month!" Because even if the fifty carpenters can pass today, it is impossible for them to make a rollover immediately, and they must learn from the people in the courtier's mansion for a while, and now the turnover workshop has not yet been built, and the tools and timber have not been prepared......"

"Hoo ......"

Before Li Yuanjia finished speaking, the emperor had already exhaled lightly, calming down the irritability he had just now. After all, he is the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and Li Shimin is also concerned about some things, and after really listening to his brother's explanation, he quickly figured it out.

Li Shimin knew that he was too anxious.

Seeing that the emperor's face was cloudy, but after all, there was still no such obvious anger just now, Li Yuanjia secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, but where did the drought occur?" ”

can make Li Shimin ask about the overturned car so anxiously, I am afraid that it is a drought that is possible.

"Well, yes."

With a gloomy face, Li Shimin said angrily: "It has not rained in 26 prefectures such as Shannan West Road, Huainan Province, and Jiannan Province for a long time, and I am afraid that this year will suffer from a major drought!" ”

“……”

After hearing the names of Shannan West Road and Huainan Road, Li Yuanjia secretly rolled his eyes, and said with a helpless wry smile: "Second brother, these places ...... Even if we can make it, I'm afraid we won't be able to ship it, right? If you really want to transport it from Chang'an, how many times will the price be doubled? ”

So after a pause when he said this, Li Yuanjia continued: "In fact, the overturned car we built in Chang'an is best to only use it in Guannei Road, and it will not be cost-effective to go outside." ”

The traffic conditions in these years are simply miserable, and the freight is also high and scary.

In a place like Jiannan Road, not to mention something as bulky as a rollover, Li Yuanjia is too lazy to sell it over there even if it is a blank sheet of paper, because it is too much to say that the price has doubled when it is shipped over!

He thinks things clearly, can the emperor not understand?

“……”

After the corners of his mouth twitched a few times, Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and said, "Okay, I know...... Eleven Lang, why did you enter the palace today? ”

When the emperor was thick-skinned, Li Yuanjia couldn't see the chagrin in Li Shimin's heart at this time - he was too worried when he just watched the concerto, and he really forgot all these common sense things.

Of course, Li Yuanjia didn't dare to delve into it, and quickly talked about today's intention: "Second brother, my brother came today to ask for something. ”

"Huh? What do you want? ”

After listening to his younger brother's words, Li Shimin raised his eyebrows again, slightly surprised.

Taking a deep breath, Li Yuanjia said in a deep voice: "Brother Chen wants to ask for a ruler to use for the craftsmen of the Han Palace. ”

"Ruler? Just a ruler? ”

Li Yuanjia's simple request made the emperor even more surprised. Rulers can be seen everywhere, and they are not a rare thing at all, and they are worth a special trip to the palace for a prince?

"Yes, Your Majesty, just ask for a ruler!"

Nodding, Li Yuanjia said with a straight face: "But don't underestimate this ruler, because in the future, all the craftsmen in my palace will use this ruler as a reference!" In addition, in order to facilitate the use of craftsmen, the courtiers will also use this ruler as the foundation, and draw up several additional lengths...... Of course, it will only be used in the palace of the courtiers, and it will not be passed on. ”

Seeing that the emperor's eyes narrowed instantly, Li Yuanjia hurriedly added.

The length unit of Datang is actually quite fine: ten inches is a foot, about thirty centimeters; Five feet is one step, ten feet is one zhang, and 1,800 feet is one mile......

But for Li Yuanjia, these are naturally not enough.

For slightly finer needs, the inch is too long, or centimeter-level is more practical; And if it is as small as centimeters, and then the decimal system is used, it means that the units of ruler, step and zhang are useless. So after thinking about it, Li Yuanjia decided to re-customize a more suitable set for the craftsmen of the Han Wangfu to use.

However, the weights and measures of the world are all the laws of the imperial court!

Even if he was a prince, Li Yuanjia didn't dare to create a few length units at will, so he could only come to the palace to ask for a standard ruler first, and then add the units needed on the basis of the standard ruler.

This kind of thing, he could never do it behind the emperor's back.