For this reason, he and Geng Xiu studied several schemes, and finally decided to use wood as a cover.

The bronze lid was too heavy to be sealed, and a circular hole was drilled into the top cover to channel condensed water vapor.

In this era, there were no stainless steel hoses or plastic pipes, but it was difficult for the craftsmen in the examination room to use bamboo poles of appropriate thickness to open up the joints, slightly bend them in the middle, and stretch them into another large clay jar.

Liu Zhi did not tell them that they were making wine, only that they would collect clean water.

So the examination room set up a fire underneath, and the water was boiling in the ding, and some clear water droplets had accumulated in the clay jar next to it.

"Well, yes, good, like this, do twenty more."

"No."

After receiving the emperor's praise, Geng Xiu's heart was overjoyed and he hurriedly agreed.

After accepting the retort, Liu Zhi took Deng Yan to the Zhongde Hall of the South Palace, it was already night, and the ministers were not allowed to enter the Inner Palace, so they could only discuss matters here.

"Yancheng can know how to make wine?"

Deng Yan didn't know why Liu Zhi asked about this, so he replied honestly: "I don't understand, I only know how to appreciate good wine." ”

"I have a new way of making wine here, which can make spirits that are several times more mellow than today, and I plan to leave it to you to brew."

Liu Zhi shook the wine glass in his hand leisurely, this is the top wine for the queen.

"How many times as mellow as a spirit?"

Deng Yan looked at him in surprise, "Is there really such a wonderful brewing method in the world?" ”

"It's true of nature that this method is called distillation, and from fermentation to brewing, it is very different from today's methods."

Deng Yan's eyes suddenly lit up, "Your Majesty said before that there is a big matter to be handed over to me, is that what you mean by winemaking?" ”

Liu Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, "That's not it, but this is also very important, do you know why I want to give it to you, instead of brewing in Shaofu?" ”

Deng Yan and he are friends, and the two often discuss current affairs together, and they both understand each other's thoughts.

"I know that if we can really make such a magical wine, those people will naturally rush to it, and it is difficult to find it.

But if it is placed in Shaofu, it is an official brew, and the secret recipe is easy to leak, not to mention, and the thick-skinned will ask you directly, not only can not make money, but it will cost a lot of money. ”

Liu Zhi smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed.

"Or do you understand my heart, now that the treasury is empty, those rich and powerful families are very rich, I want to build schools, build water conservancy, settle the victims and even use soldiers to fight, but I have no money.

It's impossible to reach out to the people, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued over the years, and if I don't want to improve the people's livelihood, I, the emperor, am afraid that I won't be able to sit still. ”

Deng Yan felt the same way, "Chen has a manor in the mountains on the outskirts of the city, which is located in a remote area, and there are a few good springs, which are just used as a winery.

Then go to the folk to find some wine-making masters, study the recipe together, and be sure to brew this good wine. ”

"Okay, only if I hand it over to you, I can rest assured, come, this is the formula, find someone to study it well, and ask me if you don't understand."

Liu Zhi handed over to him the recipes and processes he had carefully written.

"Huh? Your Majesty will also make wine? ”

Deng Yan looked at it and confirmed that it was written by Liu Zhi himself.

"This is the secret recipe of my grandfather's family when I was a child, but the ancestors of the Yun family thought that wine could make mistakes, and it was not allowed to brew in large quantities, nor was it allowed to be passed on or profited."

Liu Zhi had already thought about his rhetoric, anyway, no matter whether it was logical or not, who would dare to find him to get to the bottom of it?

As he spoke, he pretended to arch his hand to the sky, "Now for the sake of the common people in the world, I can't say that I have to disobey the ancestral teachings." ”

Deng Yan knew that although he didn't know where he got the formula, most of it was unspeakable, and he could only fake the name of his ancestor.

"Your Majesty is benevolent and dedicated to the people, if the ancestor of the Yun family knows that this can save the people, he will thank His Majesty for his kindness."

"Hahaha......"

The two looked at each other and laughed, Liu Zhi was in high spirits, and simply asked people to rectify some wine and food, and talked with Deng Yan.

After three rounds of drinking, Liu Zhi spoke, "The big thing I said before is to let you try to set up a private school." ”

"Start a private school?"

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were already many folk schools, but since Liu Zhi solemnly proposed it, it must be different.

"Your Majesty and I will tell you in detail, what should I do?"

"The private school I am talking about is not the same thing as an ordinary school where a master accepts a dozen Mengtong, but a large-scale school.

It is divided into a number of subjects according to the content learned, such as classics, arithmetic, astronomical calendars, agricultural economics, ...... Wait a minute.

Except for a few basic subjects that must be learned, the rest are elective according to interest or talent. ”

Deng Yan thought for a while and asked suspiciously: "It sounds a little similar to Taixue, I don't know what the difference between the two is?" ”

After a leisurely sip of wine, Liu Zhi patiently explained to him.

"Taixue is the highest institution of learning in a country, and in the future, it will only recruit talented students, and young talents who have already excelled in their own talents.

It has an ordinary school, starting from Mengtong to grade teaching, each level for one year, and only after passing the test can it be upgraded, so that it can be regarded as completing the study only when it is promoted to the last level. ”

Deng Yan lowered his head and pondered carefully for a while, "It sounds interesting, this is really concise and clear, and the rules for teaching and educating people can be used to select talents more accurately and quickly." ”

"If he can succeed, whoever can pass the ultimate assessment will be given the status of Maocai, and he can participate in the imperial court election without examination."

"In this way, I don't have to worry about not being able to recruit students, but how to grade it, I still have to find some people to discuss together."

Deng Yan was also interested, "Wait for me to do a good job of brewing first, the matter of building a school is too big, and I can't be in a hurry for a while, so I have to prepare slowly." ”

"Your current status is special, just doing these things, anyway, what are the obstacles, and I will support you, what are you afraid of?"

Liu Zhi smiled with three points of wine, and the two smiled heartily and raised their glasses to drink.

"There is one more thing, last time His Majesty promised to grant Liang Budo as a commonplace, it has not been fulfilled, it seems that some people in the DPRK are dissatisfied with this, what does Your Majesty plan to do?"

Because the Empress Dowager Liang still has a lot of power in the court, although nominally she is still in power with him and no longer listens to politics, but in fact she still controls some officials.

At that time, he promised to mention Liang Budo as a commonplace, but also to balance the power of the court, stabilize the Empress Dowager Liang, and gain time for a smooth transfer of power.

"I summoned Liang Budo, but he repeatedly insisted that he would not accept it, and even refused to enter the court as an official, wanting to retire and return to the field."

It's just that it's really no wonder that he is untrustworthy, this Liang Budo is cowardly by nature, and he has the experience of his brother, so he has long been afraid of his career, and would rather resign than do it.

"I see, but I'm afraid no one will believe it when I say it, and everyone mistakenly thinks that His Majesty has no tolerance for people."

Only Deng Yan dared to say this kind of thing to him in person, even if others were angry behind their backs, they would not say it directly.

"That's true, and if I were to watch from the sidelines, I would think the same way."

Liu Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly, "I heard that Taifu and he are good friends, let him persuade him tomorrow to see what he wants." ”