Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 149 Experiment
In Qi Jingtong's mansion.

Li Dongyang and Liang Chu visited the Admiralty in person.

"My lords, to tell you the truth, the construction of the Ming Navy is also part of Qi's job. His Majesty has also urged him many times to build iron-clad warships and install the more than 500 Shenwei artillery and Fulang machine guns that were sent last time. On the warship, but, His Majesty, he doesn’t even think about it, how can a warship travel with such a heavy thing?”

"That's right, Master Li and I came to your house to discuss this matter. I heard from His Majesty that recently someone created a guy called a 'steam engine', which is said to be full of power."

"Yes, yes, we don't understand, how does His Majesty know the names of so many new gadgets?"

"Since someone assassinated His Majesty last time, His Majesty seems to have changed. His previous playful behavior has long since disappeared, and now he is focusing on governing the government."

"It may be that he has just become the emperor, and he is still very curious about everything around him. It has only been half a year. As long as your Majesty is in charge of state affairs, it is inevitable that we, the courtiers, will devote ourselves to Daming."

"However, have you noticed that His Majesty has become more and more lazy recently, and it seems that the childishness before has appeared again. This is not a good sign."

"And His Majesty has always advocated foreign wars. Those overseas dependent countries have accepted surrender and pay tribute every year. This has aggravated the conflicts with neighboring countries to a certain extent."

"Master Qi, have you ever heard of that steam engine overseas?" Li Dongyang frowned and asked Qi Jingtong.

"It seems that in Western countries, someone came up with something, but it is said that it was used on a bullock cart on the ground, replacing the cows and horses."

Li Dongyang took a deep breath and asked, "Then, what do those foreigners use to pull the carts instead of the cows and horses?"

"It seems to be using this. I also heard it from the pirates captured last time. I don't know the specifics!"

"Pirates? Where are they? We can interrogate them now." As soon as Li Dongyang heard that there were clues, he immediately became interested. If one or two clues were interrogated, the subsequent problems would be solved.

"Those pirates are very tough. I don't know where they came from. They were all imprisoned in the prison of the General Administration of Customs. If the two adults are to be interrogated, I will ask someone to escort them here now."

"That would be great!" Liang Chugong cupped his hands.

Qi Jingtong waved his hands and said, "I don't know if they have actually seen that thing before. If they also heard it from hearsay, it would probably be a waste of effort."

"Your Majesty, I don't know where you got that thing. We've never seen it before, let alone installed it."

"Well, since this is the case, let's ask His Majesty face to face, what is going on with this so-called steam engine?"

The three of them agreed to meet with Zhu Houzhao together, and ask him face to face what was going on with this so-called steam engine.

Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City.

Zhu Houzhao is reading the memorials. There have been a lot of memorials sent by various departments recently. In fact, Zhu Houzhao himself cannot make the decision on many things. He still needs to consult the cabinet and other ministers for their opinions.

The most exciting thing for Zhu Houzhao was the memorial sent by Datong Mansion, Ling Luoshi, the terrifying general, who described in detail the battle situation in the past month.

Zhu Houzhao felt that the crisis in Datong Mansion would be resolved sooner or later, but the Wala army would not retreat easily. They would resist the Ming army with all their strength, so Ling Luoshi was given more time to destroy Wala.

Zhu Hou was a little tired from taking care of him. He just got up and wanted to take the Tianzi Sword to practice martial arts outside. Since Yuhuatian taught him the invincible sword technique, he has relaxed his body and exercised, thinking that after mastering the sword technique, he can conquer the world Invincible.

At this moment, Xiao Fangzi ran in hastily, and saw that Zhu Houzhao was about to go out with the Tianzi sword, so he could only stand there timidly.

"What? Is there something urgent?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

"Returning to His Majesty, there is no urgent matter. It is just that several ministers in the cabinet want to meet with His Majesty, saying that they have something important to report."

Zhu Houzhao put down the Tianzi sword, sat on the dragon chair and said, "Let them come in and talk to me! I have neglected the government these days, and these ministers may come to persuade me."

"According to the order!"

Xiao Fangzi immediately ran out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and saw Li Dongyang and others standing on the square of white marble and bluestone waiting.

"His Majesty's oral order, the three adults will immediately enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

The three people filed into the Hall of Mental Cultivation according to their usual ranks.

"Three loves, I just have a happy event to tell you recently. There is news from Datong Mansion that the Oirat army has been driven to the grassland. Most of them have been killed by my army. There are still some finishing matters. It is estimated that it will not be too long. They will return to court in one day."

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

"God bless me Daming!"

Liang Chu and Qi Jingtong each patted Zhu Houzhao's flattery flatteringly. Li Dongyang learned the previous lesson and stood by without saying a word.

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have noticed something, and he didn't blame Li Dongyang, but asked him a question first.

"I heard Xiao Fangzi say that you have important matters to report to me. Is it because I have been lazy in government affairs recently, and you want me to go to court?"

Li Dongyang had the right to speak this time, and said first: "Your Majesty's dragon body is not in good condition. I will wait for some trivial matters in the court to be settled one by one. I hope your majesty will take care of the dragon's body."

After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "It's still Li Qing's family who understands me."

"However, Your Majesty, I have a question that I have been unable to understand. What is the 'steam engine' that Your Majesty mentioned before? I have never seen it before, and I hope Your Majesty will clarify it!"

"Hahaha!"

After Li Dongyang finished speaking, Zhu Houzhao burst into laughter immediately. Several ministers stood there, not knowing what they meant for a long time?

After laughing for a long time, Zhu Houzhao didn't speak, and asked Xiao Fangzi to bring a stove from the imperial dining room, get some firewood by the way, and fill the kettle with water.

Xiao Fangzi was also very puzzled, what would His Majesty do to light the stove on such a hot day?However, this is His Majesty's order, and it must be obeyed carefully.

Soon, Xiao Fangzi brought the stove from the imperial dining room and lit a fire outside the main hall. In less than a quarter of an hour, the stove was already burning vigorously.

Zhu Houzhao personally carried the teapot and put it on the stove, and then asked Xiaofangzi to bring a chair, and sat there chatting with Li Dongyang.

After a while, the water in the kettle began to boil.

Pointing to the boiling kettle, Zhu Houzhao said to Li Dongyang: "Li Aiqing, the westerners saw this kettle boiled. They had an idea and invented the steam engine. Let me ask you, what would you do if you saw the kettle boiled?"

"If you return to His Majesty, the minister will lift the kettle away."

"Hahaha"

Li Dongyang seemed to have realized something, but Qi Jingtong had already understood what Zhu Houzhao meant, and obediently withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhu Houzhao was very satisfied with his experiment, and his face was full of joy.

Li Dongyang and Liang Chu agreed, and slowly withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Along the way, the two were puzzled. What does the boiling water have to do with the steam engine?
"Although His Majesty has not been in court for several days, His Majesty's thoughts are all on the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, which is really rare!"

(End of this chapter)