Seeing that the spring festival is coming, if he doesn't solve the problem of candles, it is difficult for Cao Nai to imagine what he, the chief examiner, will be scolded for.

When others become examiners once, they are all protégés and old officials all over the world, gaining fame and fortune, and they are good, but they have become an errand that offends people.

Coming to meet the saint today, he is ready, either to solve the problem, or, this examiner I will not do it!

Zhu Qizhen's brows furrowed slightly, and he asked, "Huai'en, what's going on with the Gongyuan?" ”

Huai En hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, the slaves and maids are also for the sake of the safety of all students, in the third year of orthodoxy, the Gongyuan caught fire, killing and injuring dozens of people, such an accident can't happen again!" ”

Cao Nai's old face turned red, but when he heard what Huai En said, he was speechless for a while.

The Gongyuan of Jingshi was built in the thirteenth year of Yongle and was built on the site of the Yamen of the Yuan Dynasty.

The whole building complex has five gates, and there are two doors and five towers inside. Because at the time of the relocation of the capital, the construction of the city wall and the imperial palace of the capital was underway, and the financial and material resources were stretched, so the construction of the Gongyuan was simple, and cheap materials such as wooden planks and reed mats were used to build an examination shed, and the outer wall was surrounded by thorns.

As the number of people coming to Beijing to take the exam increased year by year, the humble Gongyuan became crowded and had to be expanded.

】

However, no matter how it is expanded, this place will always be a hidden danger, because according to the regulations, as long as the examination is held, the door must be locked, and for three consecutive days, the candidates will eat, drink and lazar in it.

Candidates use charcoal fires for cooking and lighting, and candles for lighting, which can cause fires if they are not careful.

Although many large vats of water were placed in the Gongyuan to prepare for firefighting, fires in the Gongyuan were flickering.

In the spring of the third year of orthodoxy, a fire broke out on the first day of the examination, killing and injuring dozens of people.

You must know that these students are all selected from all over the country, and the losses caused by a fire are immeasurable.

In that case, things will be difficult.

Wynne is cautious and cautious, and he can't be wrong.

However, the actual situation is that if there is no candle, the exam will have to be closed after dark, and three days may not be enough.

Cao Nai said angrily: "Your Majesty, it's okay if the examiner of the old minister is inappropriate!" ”

Instead of being scolded by the students, it's better to simply do it, I won't do it!

Whoever loves to do it, who does it!

Zhu Qizhen suddenly made a difficulty, not sending a candle, which would affect the exam, and if a candle was issued, there would be a fire hazard......

It's an endless loop.

At this time, Zhang Yi stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, if you want to ban the fire and candles, why not extend the exam time under the following will?" ”

Zhu Qizhen thought for a while and said, "How much is appropriate?" The rules have already been set, and all the candidates are also prepared in this way, even if they want to change, they must be prepared and give everyone enough time, so hastily changing the rules is afraid that it will be very unfavorable to the candidates and the court. ”

The monarch and the ministers suddenly made a difficulty, the spring is imminent, they can't wait, and they must solve it immediately.

Wynne looked pitiful, in fact, he already had an idea in his heart, anyway, I would ban it, as long as there was no fire, it would be none of my business, as for the rest, it had nothing to do with me!

Cao Nai's face darkened, and he said: "The old minister thinks that it is necessary to increase fire prevention efforts, send more people to inspect the Gongyuan, prepare more water tanks, and the fire candles should still be distributed as usual, and it will not affect the students' exams." ”

Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to say: "This matter cannot be handled one size fits all, and at the same time, it must be handled cautiously, Cao Qing's family, Zhang Qing's family, the two of you will go down and think of a way, Huai'en, the celebrant will cooperate as much as possible, understand?" ”

Wynne hurriedly replied, "Slave obeys! ”

Cao Nai and Zhang Yi had no choice but to get up and say goodbye, and the two returned to Wenyuan Pavilion to re-designate the fire prevention matters for the upcoming spring festival, in short, to ensure that the students can take the exam normally, but also to prevent trouble.

The next day, Cao Nai sent a scribe to send the newly drafted regulations to the celebrant supervisor, but it didn't take long for him to call back, and the reply turned out to be that it was not approved!

At this moment, Cao Nai couldn't bear it anymore, and immediately went to find Huaien again.

Zhang Yi stopped him and said, "Didn't you go looking for it yesterday, is it useful?" ”

"What do you say?"

Cao Nai slapped the table angrily and said angrily: "The old man still doesn't believe it, a guy who has no eggs still wants to meddle in the imperial examination?" Who did he think he was, forgetting how Wang Zhen died? ”

Zhang Yi persuaded: "It's not a way to go on like this, the emperor also said, let the celebrant try to cooperate as much as possible, but how to try it as much as possible, there are many articles that can be done!" ”

"He still dares to resist?"

"The problem is...... This is not considered a protest! ”

Zhang Yi shook his head helplessly and said: "The emperor also admits that the fire prevention of the Gongyuan is a major event, and besides, in the spring of the three years of orthodoxy, how many people were killed and burned by a fire?" At that time, the emperor was still a child, but now it is different, the celebrant and the celebrant use fire prevention as an excuse, what else can the emperor say? ”

"Tell me, what's this called!"

Cao Nai is really helpless, he is the chief examiner, he is really aggrieved.

Zhang Yitang smiled and said, "Don't worry about Cao Gong, in fact, this matter is not that difficult......

"Oh?"

Cao Nai stared at him tightly and asked, "What's your idea, come quickly!" ”

Zhang Yi pondered for a moment, and then said: "You and I, as well as the officials of the Ministry of Rites, we are all heartbroken, for whom?" ”

"Of course, it's for the students who came to catch the exam!"

"That's it."

Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Since it's for students, why are we in a hurry?" ”

"What do you say...... As the main exam, the old man is naturally anxious! ”

"What did Cao Gong do that couldn't help the students?"

"Of course not!"

Cao Nai was a little confused, and said, "It's not the master of ceremonies who is obstructing it......"

Suddenly, he seemed to understand.

"What do you mean is to tell the truth to the scholars who came to rush for the exam, so that they can put pressure on the imperial court?"

Zhang Yi nodded and said, "Exactly!" ”

Cao Nai thought about it, but now it is the only way.

If you provoke the anger of the public, see how the eggless gelding ends!

Sure enough, on the second day, the news that the celebrant did not distribute the candles to the Gongyuan spread.

When the students who came to take the exam heard about it, they were immediately indignant and went to the Ministry of Rites to complain, asking for an explanation.

Although lighting the lights at night is not a big deal, it is related to the imperial examination, and any detail is enough to determine the future fate of the students present, so it is naturally not to be underestimated.

Kuang Yu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was also very helpless, and now it was too late to block the news, so in desperation, he had to hurriedly come to Wenyuan Pavilion and tell the truth.

Cao Nai's and Zhang Yi's reactions were very calm, and they were still leisurely drinking tea.

Kuang Yu frowned and said, "The students outside are all in trouble, do you two still have the heart to drink tea?" ”

Zhang Yi poured a cup of tea for Kuang Yu unhurriedly and said, "Don't panic, this is the dragon well before the rain, come and taste it!" ”

Kwong Yu happened to be thirsty, so he brought it over and drank it.

"Two, I, Kuang, am ready to return to my hometown, I don't want to make any trouble before leaving, and now that the situation is out of control, what should I do?"

Kwong will be 70 years old in three months, and he is ready to resign, take off his burden, and return home to spend his old age in peace.

didn't expect that before leaving, it would be like this.

"The news was deliberately released by the old man!"

Cao Nai didn't hide it at the moment, and told the truth directly.

"Gong Cao, what are you...... Why? ”

Kuang Wei is very puzzled, now the problem has not been solved, it is too late to press as hard as possible, and you still take the initiative to poke out?

Don't think it's big enough?

You're the examiner!

Zhang Yi explained: "Yesterday, the two of us went to find the emperor and explained the matter as it was. In desperation, Zai Xia and Cao Gong thought of this solution, since it was a problem for the master of ceremonies, simply let the students make trouble and see how the master of ceremonies ended! ”

After listening to this, Kuang Yu immediately felt a little reasonable.

The key to this matter lies in the excessive control of the celebrant supervisor, and in order to prevent fire, he actually broke the fire candles of the imperial examination.

It stands to reason that it is a good thing for you to take strict precautions, prepare more water in the Gongyuan and send more people to patrol, which is okay, but if you are directly and rigorously fired, what should you do if you let people read at night?

This is clearly a sign of inaction!

Kuang Yu thought about it and said: "The more the students make trouble, will it alarm the emperor?" ”

"It's going to alarm the emperor!"

Cao Nai was still angry at this time, and said: "All the students are the pillars of my Ming Dynasty, and the master of ceremonies has already offended the anger of the public, and this time the emperor will definitely not protect him again!" ”

The celebrant and the celebrant Xiao Jing hurried over.

"Father-in-law, it's not good!"

Wynne was not on duty today, he was closing his eyes and recuperating, and said slowly: "What's the alarm? ”

"A large number of students went to the Ministry of Rites to ask for explanations, and it was a big trouble!"

"Oh?"

Wynne opened his eyes and asked, "What's going on?" ”

"It's because I heard that this year's Spring Festival is not equipped with candles, and the students have asked the Ministry of Rites to give an explanation......

"What did you say?"

Before Xiao Jing could finish speaking, Huai En had already stood up, his face pale.

"I see!"

Wynne frowned, pacing back and forth.

"It must be the two members of the cabinet who ran to the emperor yesterday to sue our family, and now they are instigating students to find trouble!"

"It's bad, the emperor must know it, and he will blame ......"

Xiao Jing watched Huai En talk to himself, and couldn't interject for a long time.

"In this way, you go to the Ministry of Rites and tell Kuang Yu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, that the matter is very important, you must not be reckless, you must solve it properly, and our family will go to see the emperor now!"

After finishing speaking, he pulled on his shoes and trotted all the way to the imperial study.

"Your Majesty, it's not good!"

Zhu Qizhen raised his head and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"A large number of students, a large number of students ......"

Wynne deliberately ran in a hurry, panting and said, "Gather in the Ministry of Rites to make trouble, slaves, slaves...... I have already ordered someone to tell the Ministry of Rites that it must be properly resolved, and I have come to ask the emperor...... Get an idea......"

"Students making trouble? Why? ”

"This ...... The slaves and maids died, or because of the fire prevention in the Gongyuan......"

Wynne knew that he was wrong, and hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty.

He knows very well that as long as he takes the initiative to ask for guilt and has a good attitude of admitting his mistakes, the emperor usually will not blame.

I'm afraid that those dead ducks have hard mouths, they will be caught by the emperor, and they don't know how to die!

"Didn't I say it, the celebrant tried to cooperate as much as possible, did you cooperate?"

"Slave maid...... Matched with ......"

Zhu Qizhen is also helpless, let you do something, why is it so difficult.

"How do you cooperate? Or don't prepare candles for candidates? ”

"The slave is worried, worried about ......"

"The Emperor's ......"

At this time, a little eunuch came in at the door, and when he saw Huai En inside, he was so frightened that he didn't dare to say anything.

Wynne was sweating profusely, and he glared back at him, meaning, what are you here to make a mess?

Zhu Qizhen had already asked, "What's the matter?" ”

The little eunuch stayed on the spot, and Huai En glared at him again, and said, "The emperor asked you something, speak!" ”

"Oh, oh......"

The little eunuch reacted and hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Tong Xuan from the Electric Power Laboratory of the Academy of Sciences asked to see him, saying that there was a breakthrough in research, and he came here, and he came to ......."

Zhu Qizhen was thinking about the imperial examination, so he said: "Let them wait, I have something here!" ”

"Yes!"

The little eunuch went down to pass the word, and Zhu Qizhen said again: "Where did you talk about it just now? ”

"Speaking of ......"

Huai'en's mind turned sharply, and he replied: "Slave maid, go and prepare enough fire candles for the Tribute Academy!" ”

"Alright, let's go!"

"Yes!"

Huai En's back was in a cold sweat, and after going out, he saw Zhu Jianshen and Tong Xuan.

"I've seen Your Highness!"

Zhu Jianshen asked, "Can my father see us?" ”

Huai En hurriedly said: "The emperor is not in a good mood, if His Royal Highness has nothing important, let's come back another day!" ”

Hearing this, Zhu Jianshen suddenly felt timid.

"Master Tong, let's come back another day!"

Tong Xuan wanted to show the results to the emperor as soon as possible, but when he saw Zhu Jianshen's appearance, he couldn't refuse.

"Alright, let's go back first."

"Master Tong and I will go back to the East Palace, we will install one in the East Palace, and there will be no need for candles at night."

Tong Xuan nodded and said, "By His Highness's orders." ”

The two of them came out of the imperial study, went to the East Palace, put the parts brought from the Xishan Laboratory on the ground, and then began to assemble.

The newly developed simple steam furnace is also used, which can be assembled into a steam engine with only one stove and an iron pot.

By using a steam engine instead of a hand-cranked one, the light can be continuously lit.

It's just that the carbonized bamboo wire used by Tong Xuan as a wick is still a little worse.

Moreover, there is also a problem with the glass cover, which blackens over time.

Rao is so, and the two are still very satisfied with their invention.

It wasn't until sunset that Tong Xuan said goodbye and left, but Zhu Jianshen was still having fun.

Zhu Qizhen came out of the imperial study, and it was already dark all around, and he was about to turn around and leave, but found that there was a bright light in the southeast.

He stopped, looked up, and asked, "Is the crown prince back?" ”

The little eunuch behind him hurriedly said: "Back to the emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will come back in the morning, ask to see you at the door of the imperial study, and know that you are busy, so I will go back to the East Palace first." ”

"I remembered."

Zhu Qizhen nodded, then reacted, and said angrily: "This little rabbit cub, just came back and started playing with fire?" ”