Ma Xin has just turned 14 years old, and Zhu Zhanji has already prepared a birthday gift for her as usual. In this regard, you must follow the rules, and you can't give gifts according to your own likes and dislikes.

Otherwise, he has so many wives and concubines, the gifts he gives in a good mood today are more expensive, and the gifts he gives in a bad mood tomorrow are cheaper, so there are no rules, and it will not be a circle.

If you come by your own nature, you will only turn good things into bad things.

Although Xingqing Palace is only a small world of Zhu Zhanji, it is located at the top of the pyramid, and the height is unbearable. But the more you want stability, the more you can't break the rules.

Although Ma Xin is young, she is a good woman. Except for one concubine and two Liangdi, only the four daughters of Fenghua Xueyue and another Chen Liangyuan are at the same level as her, and everyone else is lower than her.

In addition, her father and brother are valued by Zhu Zhanji, so in the harem, no one dares to bully her.

The Ma family has now become one of the most important suppliers of internal supervision, producing telescope lenses and prisms for armaments, and is currently developing plane mirrors and concave lenses, and developing microscopes.

Zhu Zhanji's support, coupled with the great business of the Ma family, although the reputation is not as good as those old nobles, the family background is not weak at all.

This kind of family background also makes her not need to look up to people in the harem at all, and when she is a little older, she will have one or two more children, and her status will be more stable.

The father and son of the Ma family entered the room under the leadership of Li Liang, Ma Zhide was wearing a scholar's robe, coupled with a thin figure, he looked like a rich idler who was a little older.

Madi is growing, growing a lot taller and looking thinner. However, he was wearing the uniform of the young army, which added a bit of heroism.

The two wanted to kneel, but Zhu Zhanji got up and pulled them back. "Today is Xin'er's birthday, regardless of dignity or inferiority, only about feelings. Auntie saw Xin'er go? ”

Although he was promoted by Zhu Zhanji, Ma Zhide did not dare to get carried away, and sat down humbly before saying: "Mrs. Liu Lin, the Honorable Lady of Suzhou Mansion, personally came to Beijing to live for Xin'er, and Xin'er is now receiving them......"

Seeing his expression that was difficult to speak, Zhu Zhanji asked, "But do you have something to tell me?" ”

Ma Di couldn't hold back and said: "Your Highness, the people of Suzhou Mansion are too bitter......

Ma Zhide roared: "Shut up......"

Madi pursed his lips, but didn't dare to interject again.

Ma Zhide's style, Zhu Zhanji knows it well. Although he didn't let Ma Di speak, he also wanted to help the people of Suzhou Mansion speak.

However, speaking of which, the people of Suzhou Prefecture are indeed bitter, not ordinary.

Because at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Suzhou Mansion, as Zhang Shicheng's "national capital", has been insisted on for 12 years. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang took over the world, the people of Suzhou Mansion still have a love for Zhang Shicheng.

Therefore, after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the heaviest punishment was also Suzhou Prefecture.

In the early days of Hongwu, the tax of Suzhou Prefecture was several times higher than that of other places, and the land of Suzhou Prefecture bore one-tenth of the tax of the entire Ming Dynasty.

Although Suzhou Prefecture is rich in the world, such taxes also make the people miserable.

With such a high tax, when the year is good, it can be barely collected, and if the year is a little worse, it will not be completed.

Therefore, whether it is to be the prefect of Suzhou Mansion or the county guard, the main task is to exploit the people.

In the Hongwu Dynasty, the prefect of Suzhou Prefecture changed 28 terms, and the county guard changed 32 terms, with an average of one change a year, and it can be said that there is no place in the whole world where officials are so diligent.

Although Suzhou Prefecture is rich in the world and is the largest government in the world, no official regards going to Suzhou as a beautiful mission.

It was not until the Yongle period that Zhu Di gradually reduced the taxes in Suzhou. But now, the tax amount of Suzhou Prefecture still accounts for 6 or 7 percent of the land tax of Daming, and the arrears in previous years have not been cancelled.

Zhu Zhanji pondered for a while and said: "I am not yet in charge of politics, this is civil affairs, and it stands to reason that I am not qualified to interfere." However, this year, the Ming Dynasty is financially well-off, and I will persuade the emperor's grandfather when I have the opportunity. ”

"Your Highness is benevolent and righteous, as a native of Suzhou, I am grateful to Your Highness for the people!" Ma Zhide fell to the ground and said emotionally: "The Zhang family was originally from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and when he competed with Taizu for the world, the locals naturally supported him. But after Taizu ascended the throne, Suzhou has also been punished for more than 50 years, and the richest place in the world is now struggling with the people......"

Zhu Zhanji said with a smile: "It's not enough for the people to live a bad life, although the people are a little poor, but the business of Suzhou Mansion is developing well." Since Liu Lin took office, he has now built a Nupuji Hall, a Hui'an Hall, a Nursery Hall, a Jishan Hall, and a Sangjing Hall in Suzhou Mansion, all of which were built by merchants who donated more than 50,000 yuan in silver. ”

Ma Zhide obviously didn't know that Zhu Zhanji knew Suzhou so clearly, and he didn't know how to react for a while, so he could only ask: "Liu Linfuzun is still ...... Doing something practical. ”

Zhu Zhanji nodded and said, "I know about this matter, but you don't want to get involved too much, I know it in my heart." Can concave lenses and prisms be mass-produced? ”

Compared with convex lenses, concave lenses are more troublesome to make, and it is more difficult to produce qualified products.

The convex lens uses the solidification of the glass solution to form the corresponding solution mold, which can be formed by simple grinding.

However, the concave lens must be made corresponding ring die to stretch the solution. In the case of non-standard solution molds, polishing completely depends on the experience of the master, so it is more difficult to make.

As for the prism, although it is triangular, all three sides are flat, as long as there is a mold, the polishing is easier.

With the advancement of technology, especially the application of prisms, the magnification of telescopes can reach higher nowadays.

Just before Zhu Zhanji's triumphant return, Si Tianjian built a viewing platform on the Purple Mountain at the northern foot of Zhongshan Mountain, and used more than 100 times the telescope to observe the starry sky.

The basic principle of microscope and telescope is actually the same, both are to make the object bigger, but the research direction of the two is inconsistent, one is closer to the distance, and the other is the infinite increase of the object.

In the simplest way, a microscope is a compound telescope.

Zhu Zhanji only knows these furs, and he doesn't understand the specific principles, but with his guidance, Ma Zhide has built a fixed microscope that can magnify about 400 times.

Such a microscope has been able to clearly see bacteria on the human body, and the Medical Research Institute and Tai Hospital in Xiamaqiao are now often engaged in some lawsuits in order to compete for the right to use the microscope.

However, due to the difficulty of polishing the lenses, a second microscope has not yet been made.

After inquiring about the progress of the production of the microscope, Zhu Zhanji said: "Whether it is a microscope or a telescope, in addition to the need to make it, it is also necessary to establish the standards of production and use. ”

Although he is also Zhu Zhanji's father-in-law, it is impossible for Zhu Zhanji to call his father-in-law, and a De Weng is already an honorific title.

Ma Zhide responded, and Zhu Zhanji said again: "Since Mrs. Liu Lin has also come to the other courtyard, she will stay for dinner tonight, stay for one night, and return to Beijing with me tomorrow." ”

Ma Zhide understood that this was Zhu Zhanji giving him face. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a lady of the Sipin Prefect to have dinner with Zhu Zhanji, let alone stay in his royal palace.

And in this way, it also represents Zhu Zhanji's promotion of Liu Lin, which will make him, the prefect of Suzhou, who only took office this year, much less stressed.

You must know that when he took office, Dong Xi, who was formerly the prefect of Laizhou, wanted to collect tax arrears by forceful means because there was no one in the DPRK and China, which led to public indignation, and he was demoted to Yunnan just one year after taking office.

Zhu Zhanji doesn't know much about Liu Lin, and only knows some information about the information, he was born in a poor family in Raozhou, he is cautious as an official, he can know the people's suffering, and he acts squarely, but he also has rules and regulations.

When he served as the governor of Sichuan in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he did a few practical things, and he became the prefect of Suzhou.

However, in Zhu Zhanji's heart, an official who can do practical things and is willing to do things for the people is a good official. So today, my father-in-law came forward, and he didn't mind supporting him indirectly, so that he was less stressed.

Mrs. Liu Lin is a woman in her forties, not as grand as the prefect's wife, but like an ordinary people's woman. The two little maids she brought were also very simple, and when she saw Zhu Zhanji, she was trembling, and she didn't have any grandeur.

After entertaining them for dinner, Zhu Zhanji took Ma Di out and instructed Li Liang to send someone to Jinyiwei to bring a copy of the detailed information about Liu Lin.

If this person is really a clean official and a capable official, he thinks he will pay attention to it. If he is a minister in front of him and behind his back, he doesn't mind killing chickens and monkeys.

Although he can't meddle in civil affairs now, it is still easy to deal with a prefect.

What he hated most was being deceived.

Ma Di is now not only a mathematics teacher of the Young Army, but also a student of the Young Army, of course, Zhu Zhanji attaches most importance to him is his ability in scientific research.

Because he was proficient in mathematics, after turning his attention to the glider, he now devoted all his energy to the study of mechanics.

Mechanics can be seen everywhere in life and is widely used, but in this era, people who are deeply influenced by Confucianism do not know why it is so, and no one studies it systematically.

The task assigned by Zhu Zhanji to Ma Di is to analyze every bit of "normality" in life with mathematical analysis.

For example, the formation of wind, for example, why leaves fall, why water flows downward, for example, why bearings save effort, the principle of leverage, why gliders can fly.

These matters seem simple, but to explain them clearly involves extensive theoretical research and experimentation, so Madi is now busy with no distractions.

Zhu Zhanji also knew that it would be a bit abusive to let a nineteen-year-old child study this, but now only young people whose thoughts have not yet been fixed are willing to study these things.

If he can explain all these theories clearly, then he will be able to form the most complete basic physics, which will be a leap forward for mankind.

For this reason, Zhu Zhanji provided Ma Di with the strictest protection and the most superior conditions, and all the secret volumes in the ten research institutes were open to him, which was incomparable to anyone else.

If you want silver for silver and money for money, Zhu Zhanji just wants to pull out the seedlings and help them grow, and make basic physics.

Madi also lived up to his expectations, from the principle of gravity to the principle of leverage, and now he has carried out in-depth research, and the equations he has come up with are not even understandable, but a complete system has gradually formed.

Everyone knows that Zhu Zhanji attaches great importance to Ma Di, but no one knows that in Zhu Zhanji's eyes, one Ma Di is more important than ten Liu Sheng.

The two chatted until Hai, and Zhu Zhanji asked people to arrange a guest room for him to live in, and he came to Ma Xin's room.

The hot spring annex is a Jiangnan garden-style building, in addition to the original building, Zhu Zhanji let people build a large park.

In this park, he attracted hot spring water, and dozens of log cabins were built out of logs, and his wife and concubines had a separate bath, each with a separate bath.

The courtyard was repaired, Zhu Zhanji had not yet come, and Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi each brought their concubines here for vacation.

Seeing these chic cabins, Zhu Di didn't even live in the previous hall and enjoyed some wild fun.

And Zhu Gaochi felt that Zhu Zhanji would enjoy it, and the wild fun arranged here was moving.

"Is Your Highness still soaking in the hot springs today?"

Although he was only fourteen years old, Ma Xin was also like a virtuous wife, helping Zhu Zhanji take off his robe. Leaving only the close-fitting coat, he sat on his lap, wrapped his arms around his waist, and nestled in his arms.

Zhu Zhanji teased her delicate little face and said with a smile: "You accompany me to soak in ......"

Ma Xinxia flew her cheeks and twisted her body in Zhu Zhanji's arms. "It's a shame."

Although he refused, his little hand wrapped around Zhu Zhanji's waist, but it became tighter. It's like a poor kitten, for fear of being abandoned.

The two of them lingered for a while, and then Zhu Zhanji hugged Ma Xin, who no longer dared to open his eyes, and entered the hot spring pool with only a wall and no roof.

Because she is still young, she doesn't have so many complicated thoughts, even if her mother and the prefect's wife must have said something to make her turn around, she won't tell Zhu Zhanji.

With her, Zhu Zhanji also felt extremely relaxed.

On the second day, Zhu Zhanji, escorted by Yu Linwei, returned to the capital from the hot springs.

However, he did not directly start the preparations for the bank, but first came to Jiajiang Industrial Zone to inspect.

Due to the limitation of power sources, today's industrial area is not a large area, but a line along the riverside, and each factory has multiple watermills along the river.

It has now been proposed to build a super-large wooden platform with concrete piers and planks on the river between Jiangxin Island and the riverbank, so that more workshops can be built.

However, Zhu Zhanji vetoed this suggestion, and if there was a fire, it would be all over at once.

Because Zhu Zhanji vetoed this proposal, everyone could only put their minds on technological innovation.

Nowadays, the linkage device of the waterwheel is becoming more and more complex, and it has become common for a waterwheel to drive several lathes, or even multiple lathes.

This, in turn, requires the bearings to become bigger and bigger, and the waterwheel to become bigger and bigger.

After the casting yard and the Ministry of Engineering ordered a large waterwheel with an iron structure with a diameter of more than 20 meters and a width of more than 3 meters, with wooden attachments.

The Neiku Textile Factory dismantled all its waterwheels and replaced them with this super waterwheel.

And the power of this kind of waterwheel, one can drive the rotation of dozens of textile wheels in a group, so that the first batch of female assembly line workers appeared in Daming.

Originally, it was the Ministry of Engineering at the end of the Six Ministries, but because of the emergence of cement, it is now building the country's first concrete road network. Because of the appearance of the waterwheel, the craftsmen who controlled the world became a yamen that was fatter than the household department.

The current two Shangshu of the household department, Song Li and Wu Zhong, are stammered everywhere they go.

Those magistrates originally ignored the Ministry of Engineering, but now it is different, in order to build a concrete road as soon as possible, not to mention Shangshu, that is, the Ministry of Industry went out to survey, and they were all given generous gifts.

If you want to get rich, you must first build roads, and people hundreds of years ago still understood this truth.

In just one year, Daming has built nearly 100 cement plants. If it weren't for the imperial court's strict control of the number of factories, I'm afraid that each county would want to build its own cement factory.

The stones that are all over the mountains can be turned into silver when fired, and they are not worried about being sold. Today's Ming Dynasty has a huge demand for cement, and the imperial court has silver, so the competition is fierce.

Zhu Zhanji is happy to see these changes come to fruition. Rejuvenating the country through industry and commerce is not just talking.

Although the cement plant does not have such a great impact on the development of industry as the waterwheel, it can improve the entire basic environment and become a huge foundation for industrial development.

In fact, in this process, the imperial court spent a pitiful amount of money. The biggest expenditure is the cost of labor, as well as the commercial tax withheld by the local government.

In addition to the cement plant, the most built by Daming is the board car factory.

The making of a board car is actually very simple, and a carpenter who has just graduated from the school can do it. The only thing that is a little technical is the making of wooden wheels and bearings.

This point is firmly controlled by the Ministry of Industry in its own hands, and only by letting the Ministry of Industry participate in the shares, can we provide ready-made bearings to various manufacturers.

The demand for board trucks has increased significantly, which is inseparable from the production of cement and the emergence of concrete roads.

The original pallet trucks were not in high demand because of their small cargo capacity, uneven roads, and lack of livestock.

In many villages, a wheelbarrow is enough to meet the needs of farmers.

But what if the road is leveled? The loss of wheels on such a road is very small, and the cargo capacity suddenly increases greatly, so the advantage of the board car is that the unicycle cannot compare.

Road construction requires the transportation of sand and gravel, and the transportation of cement, all of which need to be transported by pallet trucks. Therefore, wherever the concrete road is repaired, the demand for board trucks will increase greatly.

Many merchants have seen these business opportunities and started various businesses with the team of the Ministry of Industry to build roads.

The road construction team was originally peasant households serving in forced labor, but after a few months, these peasant households gradually withdrew from the stage of history, because Zhu Di accepted Zhu Zhanji's suggestion and handed over this task to the guards in various places.

Although the current guards have not been corrupted, the Ming Dynasty is now ruling Qingming, although it cannot be said that the world is peaceful, but at least there are not many wars in the Central Plains.

The reason why it is said that there are not many is because there are still two places that are not peaceful, one is that Tang Sai'er of the White Lotus Sect in Shandong still makes trouble from time to time, and the other is that Liu Zijin, a citizen of Guangling County, Shanxi, and Liu Xing, Yu Gui and others gathered to make trouble, and the turmoil has just subsided.

Liu Zijin said that he met a Taoist in Shitiling and obtained a strange skill, self-proclaimed official position, and took the soapy white flag as the name, seized the post horse of Taibai Wangjiazhuang, and killed the Datong guard.

On the nineteenth day of the first month of the fourteenth year of Yongle, Zhu Di ordered Jin Yu, the governor of the Chinese army, to be the chief military officer, and Cai Fu to be the deputy chief soldier, and led the army to the conquest.

In May, Liu Zijin and 135 others were sent to Beijing. Cheng Zu ordered his leader to be beheaded for public display, and the rest were sent to mate and serve as soldiers.

As for the White Lotus Sect, because there was no incident, and now the leaders are hiding among the people, so they haven't done anything to them yet.

Zhu Zhanji first came to the firearms field and inspected the production of muskets.

Now muskets are still relatively simple, the main thing is the barrel. The problem with the barrel was solved, and other wooden butts, flintlock devices, as well as installations, did not cost much work.

Now 5,000 muskets can be assembled every day, or in a few years, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, including patrols, will be able to replace with long and short muskets.

Subsequently, Zhu Zhanji came to the casting yard, which is also the most heavily protected workshop in the Ming Dynasty, because it produces gold, silver and copper coins.

If you want to start a bank, the most important thing is the currency reserve. It is not a credit society of later generations, where paper money and electronic numbers can become money.

If you want to be recognized by the people, it must be a shining gold or silver coin. If the bank wants to be recognized, it does not have enough gold and silver coin reserves, and it cannot take out the gold and silver with gold and silver tickets, and then it will be finished at once, and no one will recognize it again.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanji never had the idea of hitting the bank at the beginning, and waited until he obtained a huge amount of gold and silver in Dongying before preparing for banking matters.

On the side of the casting yard, there were originally only a few die-casting machines, but now they have increased to 40, and these die-casting machines can die out about 80,000 taels of silver in three shifts a day.

The more than 7 million taels of silver that Zhu Zhanji brought back could only meet the full load of work for three months.

Therefore, for the safety of Qian Fan, Zhu Zhanji is not ready to expand the scale anymore. The larger the workshop and the more people in charge, the more difficult it is to control the security of the coins throughout the process.

In fact, of course, the currency reserves of the Ming Dynasty today are not only those brought back by Zhu Zhanji, because after the silver coins came out, the Ming Dynasty has canceled the circulation rights of silver ingots and gold ingots, and all transactions involving commerce and taxes must be traded with gold and silver coins.

So in the past year, Daming has more than 20 million taels of silver coins in circulation. Through the conversion of currency alone, the imperial court made a profit of at least five percent.

Because neither gold nor silver coins are pure gold and pure silver, and one percent is other alloys, and the alloy that accounts for ten percent of the weight is worth at most a fraction of the monetary value.

After Zhu Zhanji finished his inspection, he asked Zhong Dayong, the eunuch of the Silver Bureau: "How many gold and silver coins are there that have not been exchanged in the inner treasury now?" ”

Zhong Dayong said with a sad face: "Your Highness, it is forbidden to use silver ingots now, the silver bureau is in the yamen of the capital, and there is an endless stream of people who come to exchange silver coins every day, where is there inventory!" ”