After breakfast, Yun Xi set off for the court. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

Yesterday was the last day of the Lantern Festival on the Shangyuan Festival, and the end of the Lantern Festival made the majority of officials finally accept the reality of the end of the New Year's Day and began to work seriously.

Therefore, today an official has raised a very important matter in the court. Chen Di, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the ninth day of the second month is the first exam of the general examination, but the chief examiner has not yet been selected. I wonder who Your Majesty wants to choose as the main examiner? ”

'Twenty days to go, I'm going to try, and I've forgotten about it these days with my three wives and children. Yun Xi thought.

Although the current imperial examination is somewhat unsatisfactory, and not all those who are suitable for being officials are examined, the most important point is that it gives hope to ordinary people. 'The dynasty is Tian Shelang, and the twilight ascends to the Tianzi Hall', such a thing gives ordinary people hope for the rise, so that a dynasty will not be a pool of stagnant water in the middle and late stages, so it can greatly maintain social stability.

Therefore, even if there are many problems in the imperial examination, they can only be repaired rather than rebuilt; In the last years of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, if the imperial examination had not been abolished, and the support of the commoners who actually controlled the countryside and the talents of the people who had actually lost their support, they would have been able to jump for two more years.

Yun Xi thought about it for a while before he realized that he was distracted, and hurriedly collected his thoughts and said, "Think about this matter after I go down to the court, and then make a decision." ”

Although Yun Xi was distracted just now, everyone thought that Yun Xi was thinking about the candidate, so he didn't care: as for the candidate, he had to think about it in many ways, and it was normal if he didn't decide on the spot.

After that, Zhao Yi, the left attendant of the Ministry of Works, stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, spring will start in February." Last year and the 31st year of Hongwu, the Ministry of Industry did not renovate the roads in the capital, and this year the roads need to be renovated. I ask Your Majesty to agree to conscript the people for conscription. ”

At this time, the asphalt was not found, and the cement that Yun Xi had been thinking about for many years still had not been successfully studied, so the main roads in the city were all stone roads, and the trails could only be dirt roads. Stone roads are prone to breakage, and dirt roads are muddy when it rains or snows, so they must be repaired frequently. The dirt road should be levied by the Heavenly Government in normal times, and a few conscripts can be repaired casually, anyway, the officials and nobles do not leave; The stone road must be repaired carefully, so the cost is huge, and every time it is presided over by the Ministry of Industry.

Yun Xi said, "Yes." ”

Later, some of the chief officials of the yamen reported some things, and some of them made decisions on the spot, while others did not.

There are not many things today, and besides, ordinary small things are not worth talking about in the early court, so soon, "Retreat from the court!" The waiter said.

Yun Xi returned to the Qianqing Palace, saw the fold handed by the General Administration, and said softly: "Is there still so little?" ”

Yun Xi was a little dissatisfied: I have increased your vacation from three days to more than 50 days, and there are even more than 20 days of vacation for the New Year.

Yun Xi said to Wang Xi: "Spread the righteousness here." Wang Xi promised.

When the fourth assistant officer saw that Yun Xi had pronounced righteousness after saying this sentence softly, he understood that Yun Xi was a little angry, and he was suddenly a little uncomfortable.

In particular, Zhao Yi, the left attendant of the Ministry of Works, who was summoned to the Qianqing Palace by Yun Xi, was even more embarrassed, and their Ministry of Works had no other twists and turns except for the incident he reported when he went to the court, which was the least among the six departments. But it's not bad for him. The officials below are still on vacation, and they are only slightly better today, and he can't help it.

It will take some time for Jian Yi to come from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Yun Xi will first order other things.

"Zhao Aiqing,"

"The minister is here."

"The Ministry of Industry has also been vacant for nearly a month, so I will promote you to the Ministry of Industry."

"Thank you, Lord Ron!" Zhao Yi knelt down happily and said.

Although he is also a descendant of Yun Xi, he assisted Yun Xi when he defended the treasure money before (Chapter 37), so it can be said that he is nine out of ten stable when he takes over as the secretary of the Ministry of Works, but he is always unsteady in his heart. Now it's completely down-to-earth.

It is said that there will be nothing to do with him after that, but Yun Xi did not let Zhao Yi retreat immediately, but asked: "Now there is really nothing to build roads except for stone slabs?" ”

Zhao Yi was stunned, he didn't expect Yun Xi to care about the details. But fortunately, he had been prepared before, and bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, unless it is to use loess to pave the road, and then repeatedly beat it thousands of times, it will be better than the stone road." But the labor cost is ......"

Yun Xi thought for a while and said, "Do you know the fire oil mentioned in Zhao Song Shen Kuo's "Dream Creek Writings"? ”

"Kerose? The minister knows. "Zhao Yi was a little puzzled why Yun Xi suddenly brought up the oil suddenly. I remember that the oil can be used to light lamps, but I haven't heard that it can be used to pave roads? He thought.

"Do you know where there are oil mines?" Yun Hee's voice revealed a hint of urgency.

"Your Majesty, I don't know." Zhao Yi said.

Of course, Yunxi does not want to use oil to pave the way, and the current level of technology is not enough to reach the level of the second industrial revolution, and oil is not very useful.

What he was looking for was asphalt.

Asphalt is a very useful material, especially when used to pave roads and is better than cement, so Yunxi will want asphalt.

Bitumen is divided into two categories: ground asphalt and tar asphalt. Ground asphalt is divided into natural asphalt and petroleum asphalt, and what Yunxi is looking for now is natural asphalt. Natural asphalt is the residue of oil seeping out of the surface after long-term exposure and evaporation, so where there is natural asphalt, there will be oil (oil underground). And asphalt is not known at this time, but many people know about oil, so Yun Xi asked where there are oil mines.

Yun Xi was slightly disappointed when he heard Zhao Yi's answer, but this was also expected.

But at this moment, Qi Tai suddenly said: "Your Majesty, the minister knows where there is a fire oil mine. ”

"What?" Yun Xi asked in surprise, "Where is it?" "As long as it's not a place like Daqing Oilfield, it's fine.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember when you were on your northern tour five years ago, when you went north from Qingzhou and passed through Lijin County?" Qi Tai said.

"Remember, there's a fire oil mine there?" Yoon-hee asked.

"It's Your Majesty, and the minister remembers that the people there once dug out the fire oil mines from the ground to replace lamp oil." Zitai will answer.

It's great, it's a no-brainer. Yoon-hee thought happily as he sat down in his seat.

"Zhao Aiqing, immediately send someone to Lijin County, Shandong, to find something in the local area. This thing is black or dark brown, and the texture is probably similar to mud, and it is usually found where there is fire oil, and I name it asphalt. Asphalt can be ignited, but lighting is not very effective. ”

"I thought it could be used to pave roads, and it should be better than stone roads."

"I will also immediately send a decree to the political envoy of Shandong, the Pennsylvania Prefecture and the Lijin County Envoy, so that they can start preparing immediately." Yun Xi commanded repeatedly.

Although everyone was skeptical that Yun Xi said that there was such a magical thing, since Yun Xi had already made an order, he bowed down and agreed.

Yun Xi asked Xia Yuanji to draft a decree, and then ordered Zhao Yi a few words and let him go down.

At this time, Huang Lu came over and said, "Your Majesty, Jian Yushi is here." ”

"He's coming? Let him in. Yun Xi said.

After a while, Jian Yi walked in and bowed to Yun Xi: "Chen Jian Yi has seen Your Majesty. ”

"What are you doing with so many ceremonies, it's not a court meeting." Yun Xi smiled.

"Etiquette should not be abolished." Jian Yi said indifferently.

Jian Yi has long figured out Yun Xi's temperament in this regard. Yun Xi is indeed informal, and his subordinates don't care if they have simple etiquette with him in informal settings, but if his subordinates insist on saluting, he will still be happy. Jian Yi is to grasp this point and salute every time to increase Yun Xi's good impression of himself.

Yun Xi was really a little happy, although his face did not show it.

Yun Xi smiled and said: "The Imperial History of the Left Capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate respectfully asks to return to his hometown, because he is over sixty years old, and I will approve it." ”

Jian Yi's heart jumped: 'Could it be ......'

Before his heart was beating, Yun Xi said: "I have thought about it and decided to appoint you as the imperial history of the left capital of the Metropolitan Inspectorate." ”

Jian Yi's heart instantly became ecstatic, but on the surface he still said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid the minister's qualifications are not enough." ”

Yun Xi said: "The position of imperial history, regardless of qualifications, you don't have to shirk. Now that I have been appointed, I will never go back. ”

"Besides, you discovered the heirloom jade seal with Chu Zhi and others in Heyan before, and your meritorious service is huge, and the imperial history of Zuodu is also qualified."

Jian Yi no longer shirked this time, bowed down and thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty." ”

Yun Xi smiled and said, "I will hand over the Metropolitan Procuratorate to you, Aiqing don't live up to my trust." ”

Jian Yi said loudly: "The minister will never live up to His Majesty's trust. ”

"Okay," Yun Xi said with a smile, "I have a task for you right now." ”

"Today, you went to the court, and you also saw that three days have passed since the New Year's holiday, but the hundred officials above the court are still languishing. You let them know that today is the eighteenth day of the first month, and tomorrow will be the nineteenth day of the first month. ”

Jian Yi hesitated: Yun Xi clearly wanted to kill chickens and monkeys and boost the spirits of hundreds of officials. This chicken is easy to kill, but ......

"Your Majesty, at the end of last year, Your Majesty just cleaned up the officials who bent the law in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, if it makes too much trouble this time, I am afraid it will cause some turmoil in the court." Jian Yi said.

"You don't need to make too much trouble, you just need to make the officials nervous." Yun Xi said.

Jian Yi thought about it and felt that he couldn't refuse, so he bowed down and said, "The minister knows." ”

Yun Xi instructed him a few more words, and Jian Yi agreed one by one.

But just when he wanted to retreat, Yun Xi suddenly asked, "Do you think there are any problems with the imperial examination now?" ”

Imperial examination? Do I have any questions? Jian Yi was a little unsure of what Yun Xi meant, and said: "The imperial examination is an examination approved by the first emperor, so there should be no problem." ”

After saying this, Jian Yi carefully observed Yun Xi's expression again, and did not see any change; Thinking that Yun Xi didn't like big and empty words, he gritted his teeth and said, "But Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the Four Books are too brief, should we increase the investigation of the Five Classics?" ”

Yun Xi's expression changed, but Jian Yi didn't see what it meant.

Yun Xi didn't give him a chance to take a closer look and let him retreat.