When he walked outside the hall, he couldn't help but smile and let out a long breath. Although the emperor only praised a "very good", the name is known to Banzai, but it is not a good opportunity to be promoted to the rank of knight!

There is nothing wrong with the original intention of eliminating redundant personnel, but according to the speed of communication and work efficiency in ancient times, the ratio of officials can only be higher than that of later generations, and this is normal.

Thinking about saving money by reducing staff, but you can't achieve efficiency, it is counterproductive.

Zhu Youxiao stroked his forehead and thought about it, very annoyed. At the same time, he also knows that salt administration is a rather complex work, involving people's livelihood and social stability, and the reform should not be too careful.

In addition to salt, there is also tea, as well as tobacco and alcohol. If the state monopoly system of these commodities can be smoothed out, will the Ming court be short of money?

It is not an exaggeration to say that a small grain of salt can hold up half an empire. But in the Ming Dynasty, the reality was frustrating.

Although it has been tossed for a year, Qingtun has been recharged, the sea has been banned, mirrors have been sold, and there have been more ruthless raids, the financial difficulties of the Ming Dynasty have been greatly alleviated, and there is a trend of continuous improvement.

But accumulating wealth is not Zhu Youxiao's ultimate goal, and he is not a miser, "taking it from the people and using it for the people" is his long-term consideration.

But how to take it, and from which "people" do it not harm the "people" to be used for it?

In the midst of contemplation, Zhu Youxiao had a pair of gentle little hands on his shoulders. Li Chengcheng walked over and massaged the emperor intimately, although the technique was not professional.

Zhu Youxiao patted Li Chengcheng's hand lightly and said slowly: "I almost forgot about the appointment." Pack up and go out with me! ”

……………………

Chen Zilong, Xia Yunyi, and Xu Fuyuan received Shen Lang's invitation, so they rushed to the appointment with the two students they had met in the new school.

Standing in front of this not very grand mansion, Wang Jizhong, a student who had lived in Beijing for a long time, looked back at the Forbidden City again, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"This Shen Lang Shen Gongzi, I'm afraid he is not an ordinary person." Wang Jizhong stretched out his finger and said, "If you can have a mansion near this palace, your identity and status are not simple!" ”

Zhang Yitai nodded in agreement and guessed: "Or the ancestors are in the shadows, and the family background is extraordinary." ”

Chen Zilong said with a smile: "Making friends and making friends, whether it is rich or poor, what does it matter?" If we only talk about Brother Shen's talent, we are full of admiration. ”

The servants at the door saw a few stops, and they greeted them and inquired, and when they learned that they had been invited by the head of the house, they kindly invited them into the house.

The house does not look magnificent from the outside, and the interior is very ordinary, without the magnificent decoration of the high-rise family. But the simplicity is clean and tidy, and there are also twists and turns in the eaves, which looks a little elegant.

When he came to the hall, Zhu Youxiao had already greeted him with a smile and bowed his hand, "Brothers and gentlemen are here, and they are shining!" ”

"Brother Shen, be polite." Chen Zilong and others returned the salute and introduced Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yitai to Zhu Youxiao.

After everyone was over, they entered the hall and sat down, and after the people served tea, they began to talk casually.

"I'm waiting for the new school to open my eyes." Chen Zilong said with emotion: "I have to be guided and taught by Lord Xu to know the wonderful things and wonderful things in this world." ”

Zhu Youxiao is not surprised by this, anyone who sees a world map or globe for the first time, observes the movement of stars in the sky with a telescope, or comes into contact with a beaker and flask to do chemical experiments, is like a child with a new toy, and it is really accurate to describe it as "wonderful".

Just like Xu Guangqi, after coming into contact with the missionary Guo Jujing, he knew that there was such a big world outside of China, heard that the earth was round, heard that Magellan circled the earth, and unheard of things immediately attracted him.

But this is only the initial interest, and if you don't have the psychology of in-depth pursuit and research, it will stop. It's like a child gets bored with new toys after a long time.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao should continue to guide and link physical chemistry and other sciences with serving the country and the people, and turn them into studies that can be applied to the world.

"The novelty that Brother Chen said has also been experienced in the next place." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "But delving into the principle or truth behind the novelty can be regarded as a further step." ”

Xia Yunyi laughed, turned his head to look at Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yitai, and said, "How?" I told you that Brother Shen is talented, and he looks at things from different angles. ”

Wang Ji smiled and bowed his head, but he was only polite, he didn't agree in his heart, and said: "I heard Brother Chen, Brother Xia and Brother Xu say that the cup of water is blocked by a piece of paper, and I have tried it in the next place, it is indeed very wonderful, I don't know if Brother Shen can study the principle or the truth?" ”

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "I have some experience, and I have made such a thing, maybe it will be of some use to the people." ”

Oh, Wang Jizhong didn't expect Zhu Youxiao to be so immodest and answer his question so easily, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

Xia Yunyi raised her eyebrows and said with a smile: "Then let's see it!" ”

"yes, yes!" Xu Fuyuan felt that if Shen Lang could convince Wang Jizhong and Zhang Yitai, they seemed to have face, and hurriedly said on the side: "Turning theory into practice should be called a practical application, right?" ”

Everyone also echoed their words, and Zhu Youxiao got up a little helplessly and asked everyone to go to the backyard to have a look.

There is a well in the backyard, which used to be used to carry water in old-fashioned buckets. But now it has changed, with a roof to protect from the dust and rain, and a strange thing with a large bamboo tube and a small bamboo tube on the wellhead.

"Old Lu, press some water up!" Zhu Youxiao greeted Lu Jianxing very casually.

Lu Jianxing responded respectfully, stepped forward and pressed the handle with one hand, scooped water from the bucket next to him with the other hand and poured it on the piston of the big cylinder, and then quickly pressed the handle.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the handle moved up and down, and after a few moments, water flowed out of the spout and into the vat with a clatter.

Zhu Youxiao explained: "The principle is the same, but the way is changed, and the water in the lower place can be pumped out." But there are limitations, the height cannot exceed eight meters, oh, about six steps. ”

Some experienced later generations are estimated to know this trick of fetching water, and it is often seen in rural areas, and the older generation usually calls it "foreign well" or "pressure well".

In fact, it is a "suction pump", or a piston pump.

Xia Yunyi approached the wellhead, glanced down through the gap, and exclaimed: "This well is quite deep, it is really amazing to be able to lift water so high!" ”

Chen Zilong stepped forward and arched his hand to Lu Jianxing, and said politely: "Can you let me try it too?" ”

Lu Jianxing nodded, motioned for Chen Zilong to step forward to take over, and explained, "Don't press too hard, you have to press hard after the stopper." When Chen Zilong began to press the handle, and the water flowed steadily, he let go and retreated a few steps.