After more than a year, there are more than 100 people of all kinds here in the Wanfa Pavilion.

The current director is Taihe Bowen Zhengming, and he already knows what kind of existence this Ten Thousand Law Pavilion is—an unprecedented academy.

For the time being, there are no Four Books and Five Classics taught here, and no readers have yet begun to be recruited, mainly people who have studied various miscellaneous studies, such as Dean Wang Wensu of the Mathematics College.

Most of the people who come here to study are craftsmen and officials of various yamen.

The emperor brought a Western table clock and placed it on the side of the Qiaoqi Academy, and asked Wang Wensu to study it together.

Wen Zhengming was with him here, only to hear the emperor ask them to disassemble the back cover shell and say decently: "This is quite similar to the water transport instrument elephant platform in the Southern Song Dynasty that you said before." In the past, Su Song's skills were made together with Han Gonglian, but now he has only thoroughly studied the principle of the pendulum swing, and there are many small gears in it. ”

Zhu Houxi pointed to a small place and said: "I don't know what kind of steel some iron pieces here are, and the reason for this elasticity and curling can also be tried." ”

"Your Majesty, this seems to be an escapement as well." There was a craftsman who watched first.

"The principle is the same, that's the best." After Zhu Houxi praised it, he said to Wang Wensu, "Mr. Wang, there should be a lot of arithmetic principles in this. Its subtlety requires you to take someone to measure it and calculate the mystery. ”

The Ming Dynasty is timed by twelve hours, but whether it is the East or the West, the day is so long after all. The sundial is a circle, and the dial of this Western table clock is also a circle.

Wang Wensu nodded seriously.

Zhu Houxi said again: "I don't need to measure the shadow or drip of the Western clock, and I can take it everywhere after it is done." With the craftsmanship of the great Ming craftsmen, if it can be improved and made smaller, it will be of great use in the future. ”

The importance of accurate timekeeping goes without saying. If the timekeeping tool can be made smaller than this, at least it will be of great use on the battlefield in the future.

"Your Majesty, these gears are so small, if you want to measure them accurately, I'm afraid you need to carve out the set of steel rulers that Your Majesty said first."

Measurement is the basis of the process, and Zhu Houxi also arranged this work.

The imitation and improvement of this Western clock may help the Ming Dynasty to establish a more accurate set of measuring tools and systems.

After staying in this Qiaoqi Courtyard for a while, he went to the Taisu Hall with Wen Zhengming.

Wen Zhengming didn't ease up after listening to him talk about the mechanical principle for a while, and when he arrived at the Taisu Palace, he saw Alfonso, who had been "guarded" here, and after listening to Zhu Houxi sit down, he said: "This Ten Thousand Law Pavilion, you might as well treat him as the Athens Academy of the East." ”

After listening to the translation, Alfonso's mouth opened.

When Wen Zhengming saw his reaction, he knew that His Majesty had said another very famous existence in the West.

After Zhu Houxi made a mysterious Jinyi Wei walking around and inspecting the factory inside and outside, he could already say something unscrupulously that others didn't know.

Every time I say it, it makes people feel more unfathomable about Jinyiwei and the internal and external factories.

“…… Your Majesty the Emperor, I am not a scholar. ”

"There are people you brought. As for your ......," Zhu Houxi said with a smile, "You know the ocean and have your own experience in naval warfare, don't you?" ”

Alfonso was silent for a moment and then asked, "My daughter Carolina......"

"I've seen her already. If you can sincerely serve me, you will not be able to have a noble status in the Ming Dynasty in the future. The world is very big, and in my study, don't you also see a vast new continent in the south of the Spice Islands? I can tell you that no country in this world has discovered it except for the Ming Dynasty. Its circumference, the size of 10,000 Portugal, is full of precious mineral deposits and new species that have never been seen before, and it is still in a very primitive technological age. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at the puzzled look in Alfonso's eyes, and said again: "Carolina will become my woman." If you are willing to pledge your allegiance to me, in the future when I take back Manchuria, you can also lead the fleet again to conquer the land I call the land of South Australia, and your grandson can become king there. The premise is that you prove your loyalty here first. ”

Wen Zhengming and the others looked at Zhu Houxi in shock: Wang? Your Majesty still wants to have a child with a Western woman?

Zhu Houxi did not have those pedantic concepts, he only needed Alfonso to take out the Portuguese navigation skills, naval combat experience, and warship gun skills without reservation.

If the Ming Navy can be allowed to crisscross the seas in the future, and if it is possible to promote the development of technology to the industrial level, then Australia has good iron that is very easy to mine.

The ones in their own homes can be buried more in the ground.

It doesn't matter if the cost is a little higher, the early usage is not large anyway.

Alfonso listened to Zhu Houxi's painting of the cake and stood there silent.

Listen to him, it's an isolated land that isn't difficult to conquer.

Is it more tempting to become the viceroy of India in Portugal, or is it more tempting for future generations to become kings of vast lands?

"Your Majesty the Emperor, since your empire has discovered it a long time ago, why didn't you conquer there?"

Zhu Houxi replied calmly: "There are also powerful steppe people in the north of the Ming Dynasty, and their ancestors once attacked the Danube. In the past, Daming's eyes did not focus too much on the ocean. Far away, the Ming didn't need to actually occupy it. But now, Portugal and Spain are so ambitious that they want to carve up the world, so the Ming will tell Europa that the East is all Ming's. When they no longer bring warships, but only merchant ships, there will be peace and trade. ”

Hearing the steppe people who once terrified Europe, Alfonso's face changed.

With such a powerful enemy in the north of the Eastern Empire, can it still confront Portugal and Spain on the sea?

"Your Majesty, I admire your ambition. You are still so young and you do have a long time to achieve your ideals. "Once you've got Manraka under control, you'll need to defend both the north and the south. Both Portugal and Spain were now very dependent on the wealth of the sea, and would not easily give up such an important sea chokepoint. ”

Zhu Houxi just said: "In this city where you are, there are more than a million people. The population of the entire Ming Dynasty is more than 100 million, and perhaps more than 200 million in the near future. At the door of Da Ming, no one can defeat Da Ming. ”

He didn't know how many people there were in Europe at this time, but he believed that the number was enough to shock Alfonso.

Population is a very important manifestation of national strength, and it is also directly related to war potential.

Alfonso was struck by the fact that Portugal's population was now just over a million. Even if you take into account the population of all overseas territories, it is probably only one or two million.

He didn't know if this number was true or false, but when he entered the city before, he saw the prosperity and density of the imperial capital.

"The wealth of the ocean, Da Ming also wants. As for Portugal and Spain, making less money through trade was their best option in the East. Otherwise, it would be a complete cut off from the wealth that can be obtained from the East. As for you, it is possible that in the future you will be the representative of their contact, and that the merchants of Portugal and Spain will prostrate before you, begging you to give them the opportunity to trade. ”

When Alfonso heard this, he knew he didn't have to hesitate any longer.

Now that his daughter has been brought into the emperor's palace, it is already difficult to come out again.

Now, the emperor of the East had arranged for him a fate much better than he had imagined - although that still did not materialize.

But does he have a choice? If she does not express her attitude here, then when the emperor returns to the palace, Carolina does not know what kind of abuse she will receive.

So Alfonso knelt on the ground, and in the stunned eyes of Wen Zhengming, he took the corner of the emperor's dragon robe with both hands and kissed it: "Great Your Majesty, Martin Alfonso is willing to be loyal to you and become a general of your vast empire. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at it and smiled: "Knight salute?" Lu Song, give me the knife. ”

Alfonso listened to the translation, and his eyes showed surprise.

Although the knight was translated as a cavalryman.

But this emperor actually knew that this etiquette was also related to the sword.

Zhu Houxi pulled out the knife and rested the knife on his shoulder amid the puzzled eyes of everyone: "I heard that it should be a sword." However, since it has arrived in Daming, let's express a meaning first. ”

He put away his smile and tapped his knife on both shoulders, studying some of the images he had seen on TV, and said solemnly, "I accept your allegiance, and I hope that you will be able to serve me in the future, so that you can also become my lord." In Daming, there are no viscounts and barons, only dukes, marquises, and earls. ”

"I admire your knowledge of Europa!" Seeing that he had really completed the knightly salute, Alfonso said convincingly, "I will definitely work hard." ”

"Learn the Oriental language well, I believe it is not difficult for a nobleman."

After Zhu Houxi gave the knife to Lu Song, he pointed at Wen Zhengming and said, "This is the earl of the Ming Dynasty, the curator of the Wanfa Pavilion. His daughter is my concubine, and he himself is a very famous poet and artist in the Ming Dynasty. Taihebo, you can teach him the language and etiquette of the Ming Dynasty together with Tongshi. Alfonso, you should be honored to join a great empire that has endured civilization for thousands of years. ”

After saying this, Zhu Houxi left.

Alfonso was not allowed to have a new expectation for the future, and he was only forced, not actively cooperated.

At this time, compared with the West, the Ming Dynasty was only a little bit backward in technology. At other levels, Daming has enough soft and hard power.

Since there is no way back, people can convince themselves.

Is it bad to be alive? What's more, you may also become a master.

Wen Zhengming looked at the Portuguese man blankly and saluted him: "Fortunately, noble earl, can I have the honor to know your name?" ”

…… I've never experienced this! How to deal with him?

……

After Zhu Houxi returned to the palace, he heard about the situation, so he could only go to Qingning Palace helplessly.

"You are not lucky enough to be the ninth concubine, how can you be fascinated by the Western fox spirit?" Empress Dowager Jiang hugged her grandson who had just completed the moon and was disgusted, and Lin Qingping also sat aside.

Zhu Houxi was amused by the word Western fox spirit, sat down and said, "Does the queen mother think that her son has been charmed?" The son had just returned from the Wanfa Pavilion, and he left her behind to use her father. ”

Empress Dowager Jiang understood a little: "Something to do with state affairs? ”

Zhu Houxi nodded: "Her father is a general who is very good at naval warfare, and the warships, guns, and many things of Westerners have merit. After some were captured the year before last, the War Bureau and the Ordnance Bureau were imitating and improving them. If he takes the initiative to help, then the warship and guns will be more convenient. ”

"Then do you want to canonize that Western vixen?" Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head again and again, "What kind of system is this......"

"Canonization is not necessary. Besides, it's not a big deal, isn't there a precedent for a vassal state in Korea to offer a royal daughter to canonize before? There are no Westerners. ”

Zhu Houxi just made Alfonso feel a little calm, after all, his daughter was the emperor's woman.

If you really want to get to that point, I'm afraid that Daming has already changed initially, and Alfonso will have to make some contributions to Daming.

In Carolina, she can only be a woman who is more expensive than her father. After all, the starting point is too low, and the identity is a prisoner.

Zhu Houxi explained a little and asked, "Are the toys I arranged are ready?" ”

Wen Jingyi, who was extremely tolerant of the Empress Dowager Jiang in the Qingning Palace, bent down and said, "The slaves and maids are rushing to make it. ”

Empress Dowager Jiang asked suspiciously: "Wrapping wooden blocks of various shapes with silk cloth of various colors can really make children smarter?" ”

"The child can just see clearly, now let him see some colors and listen to some sounds." Zhu Houxi only needs one more sentence to arrange anyway, why not?

Lin Qingping smiled at his little face teasing his son, and only felt that he was very attentive to the child.

Zhu Houxi stayed here for a while and then got up: "I will go back to the Heart Cultivation Hall first." ”

Compared with the Qianqing Palace, the Yangxin Palace is indeed more livable.

Now that the palace has been firmly controlled, there is no need to worry about safety, Zhu Houxi is really too lazy to choose a random dragon couch to sleep on every day.

Returning to the Heart Cultivation Palace, Carolina had already learned a few simple words, and after seeing him, she knelt down numbly: "Your Majesty......"

It's just that the accent is very strange, the first sound of the word Majesty, which made Zhu Houxi get up after listening to it, and couldn't help but glance at her.

The emperor's gaze passed, and Carolina was suddenly uneasy.

Wen Suyun also saw it, and looked at Zhu Houxi with her mouth wide open: "Your Majesty, don't you want a concubine to sleep today?" ”

Zhu Houxi coughed: "Calculate the time, it is no longer suitable for you to sleep today." ”

There is no need to be red, anyway, there is already a precedent for Lin Qingping and Sun Ming, and the concubines in the palace are already convinced of the emperor's way of farming.

Wen Suyun has long been a stranger to the emperor, and the girl who tasted it for the first time pursed her mouth: It has only been four days since the moon, and what Your Majesty said, what is the first seven and the last eight!

It's just freshness! In this case, didn't the nine concubines touch any of them?

But as a concubine, even if she is unhappy, she can only hold back.

Zhu Houxi saw that she was unwilling to go back to Changle Palace, so he said: "In a few days, I will take you to Xiyuan to play and call your parents." ”

Wen Suyun turned her anger into joy and thanked him.

Only then did Zhu Houxi look at Carolina, while Qu Mei stood aside.

This is the happiness of the emperor, and the whole world is accustomed to respect and humility.

"Your father has been loyal to me, and you will be my woman. I believe that when you come here, you also know what fate it will be. ”

After listening to this, Carolina spoke, and Qu Mei translated intermittently: "She asked Your Majesty, is her father and mother okay?" What did you do with them? ”

Zhu Houxi replied with a smile: "It's just to the west outside the palace wall, in an academy next to the palace. They all had comfortable living conditions, and I asked Alfonso to be a teacher first, passing on his experience in naval warfare. ”

After hearing this, Carolina looked a lot more relieved, and then looked at the emperor with her green and emerald eyes: "Your Majesty the Emperor, if you become your woman, will I be able to see them in the future?" ”

"I'll see." Zhu Houxi nodded, "I have to wait until I can trust his loyalty and yours." ”

“…… I will be loyal. Carolina nodded her head after listening to the translation.

"Prove your obedience today." The corners of Zhu Houxi's mouth curled playfully, "Qu Mei, you take her to the bath, and you go with you." ”

Qu Mei was stunned, a little at a loss: "Your Majesty...... Slaves and maids are also together? ”

Zhu Houxi looked at her who Zhang Zuo picked out with a little careful thought, this is the one who was not selected into the fifty people but stayed in the palace, how bad can the appearance be? It's just that it's a little inferior in terms of talent.

If it weren't for the fact that those who were not selected as concubines had some noble status, Zhang Zuo would have picked those.

Although I don't know what the emperor wants to do in the palace to cultivate a Portuguese general, but after all, it was arranged by His Majesty himself, and Zhang Zuo was very attentive.

Now Zhu Houxi said with a smile: "After all, she is still a prisoner of the enemy, in case she has a grudge against me, you can help me hold her down." Besides, I don't understand what she says. Why, you don't want to? ”

Qu Meiqiao's face flushed: "Slave maid...... Naturally, I will. ”

Though...... The first time it was out of line......

Huang Jin, who was on the side, saw that they had gone to bathe, and after a while, he asked, "Your Majesty, the slave maid will go and prepare some shunzi soup first?" ”

Zhu Houxi nodded: "Let's prepare first, and then remember their menstrual time later." Today, it's just to take her in first, so that her father can rest assured that he will work for me. ”

After some preparations, Zhu Houxi also finished bathing, sat on the chair in the bedroom and read the book first.

After a while, Qu Mei's voice sounded timidly outside the bedroom door: "Your Majesty, the slave and her are bathed." ”

Zhu Houxi put down the book: "Come in." ”

It can be seen that Qu Mei is shy and happy, and Carolina is obviously more nervous.

Zhu Houxi pointed to the larger dragon couch in the bedroom of this Heart Cultivation Palace: "Let's go over, let me take a look at my figure first." ”

I saw Qu Mei pull the corner of Carolina's clothes, and walked to the front of the dragon couch in small steps.

Zhu Houxi looked at them and nodded, so Qu Mei lowered her head and blushed, took the lead in unbuttoning, and said a word to Carolina.

It was already a hot day in July, and the clothes I changed into after bathing were loose and simple.

As soon as the coat faded, Zhu Houxi saw that Carolina was still wearing a belly pocket. She is worthy of being a noble lady, and her nutrition is good.

He smiled and stood up and walked over, reaching out to pick their chins left and right.

Qu Mei closed her eyes, and Carolina bit her lip to look at him.

Then, the venerable Emperor of the East removed the last of her covers.

The same is true of Qu Mei.

Zhu Houxi leaned down with his hands apart, and after indulging in the feeling, he pushed forward.

Then, he began to untie his clothes and looked at the two people in front of him who were subconsciously blocked: "Where do you put your hands?" Qu Mei, grab her hand. ”

Qu Mei didn't catch, but pulled, and the two unconsciously got up sideways and got together.

Zhu Houxi sighed: The combination of Chinese and Western belongs to yes.

(End of chapter)