The Minister of Works waited outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity for the emperor's will.
The eunuch entered the palace to report.
"Call him in," Zhu Houzhao ordered.”
After the Minister of Works entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he bowed and said,"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Bestow your seat."
After the eunuch brought over an armchair, the Minister of Works sat down and Zhu Houzhao said,""Navy Governor Wang Hong has sent a good report. In the waters of Guangdong Province, the Imperial Navy has won a complete victory. They have destroyed seven ships and captured six ships. They have captured more than two thousand people from the Franks and imprisoned them in the naval prison.”
The Minister of Works cupped his hands and said," Your Majesty, we have seen some results in building the Empire's navy. This is a small show of strength. We will make the little barbarians surrender!"”
Zhu Houzhao handed Wang Hong's memorial to the Minister of Works and said,""Take a look at Wang Hong's memorial."
"Yes."
The Minister of Works carefully received the memorial.
After reading all the memorials, he frowned…
"Your Majesty, could it be that the cannons of the Franks are more powerful than the cannons of our empire?”
"What's wrong? Is it very unexpected?"
" Your Majesty, Governor Wang Hong's memorial seems to be dissatisfied with the results of the naval battle. He probably wants the navy to have more advanced ships and cannons…"
After the Minister of Works said this, Zhu Houzhao smiled and said,"That's right. Wang Hong hopes that the Imperial Navy will be equipped with more advanced ships. I have an idea.”
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"If the ship is built with steel, will it work? Will the power of the ship be affected…"
"Iron Ship!"
The Minister of Works exclaimed. He had never thought that the Emperor would have such a ridiculous idea.
"Your Majesty, how can iron enter the water? If Tie went into the water, wouldn't he sink directly?”
"Directly sink?"
Zhu Houzhao stood up and poured the bird's nest porridge away, leaving a silver bowl behind. He placed the silver bowl in the basin.
There was warm water in the basin, and the silver bowl actually floated on the water.
The Minister of Works was stunned.
"If this silver bowl can float on the water, can't an iron ship float on the water?”
The Minister of Works was shocked.
After a while, the Minister of Works 'eyes suddenly lit up. He cupped his hands and said,"I understand."
"Go down. Zhen will give you three months. Zhen wants to see an iron ship that can enter the water!”
The Minister of Works had already understood the principle of the silver bowl floating on the surface of the water. He confidently received the decree."I will not disappoint Your Majesty!"
How's the progress of the cannon research?"
"Your Majesty, there hasn't been much progress.”
" I asked Wang Hong to send a Fran Machine Cannon for the Ministry of Works to research. Although the Empire's navy is very strong now, I dare not slack off. If I slack off for even a moment, I might be overtaken by the technology of other countries…"
"I dare not slack off…"
How's the progress of making the cannonballs?"
" Your Majesty, the fire cannonball can't directly increase its range. However, I've developed a blossoming cannonball. If the shell is slightly thinner, the cannonball can cause a violent explosion when it hits a hard object..."
"The research and development results are not bad! He picked up this blueprint and used it as a reference.”
Zhu Houzhao gave the general structure diagram of the later cannonballs to the Minister of Works. At the same time, he also gave the firing principle of the later guns to the Minister of Works.
The Minister of Works felt as if he had obtained a treasure.
However, he did not dare to ask the Emperor where these blueprints came from. As an official, what he needed to do was to do the best, the best, and the best for the things the Emperor had given him!
Zhu Houzhao didn't know how to research and develop artillery shells, and he didn't have the time to think about it. He only provided the Ministry of Works with a concept and idea. As for how the Ministry of Works would develop it, that was the Ministry of Works 'business. Zhu Houzhao only looked at the results, not the process.
If it was done, he would receive the reward.
Not good! Receive punishment!
Zhu Houzhao had allocated 800,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Works, not for them to eat and drink. Zhu Houzhao did not support incompetent officials!
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand at the Minister of Works and dismissed him.
After the Minister of Works left the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he kept wiping away his cold sweat. The Emperor had given him so many orders for scientific research and development in one breath, which made him feel like he had a headache. He even wondered if the 800,000 taels of silver allocated by the Emperor was enough for the research…
After the Minister of Works left.
Zhu Houzhao gave Wang Hong's memorial an instruction.
" I have understood what you have said. Continue to patrol the Empire's seas and fight against pirates. The Ministry of Works is developing new ironclads and cannonballs. Send a Franc cannon to the Ministry of Works. I am very pleased with the victory of the Franc fleet. You have lived up to my expectations…"
After Zhu Houzhao approved Wang Hong's memorial, he ordered the imperial guards to send the approved memorial to the Guangdong Provincial Navy Headquarters.
……
After Zhu Houzhao gave his comments on Wang Hong's memorial, he continued to read the other memorials.
While Zhu Houzhao was reading the memorial, the eunuch entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity and reported,""Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites, Yang Yiqing, requests an audience…"
"Summon him in."
Zhu Houzhao issued an edict.
The Minister of Rites, Yang Yiqing, entered the main hall. After kowtowing to the Emperor, he reported,""Your Majesty, the imperial examination has already completed the provincial examination. The candidates who passed the examination have all rushed to the capital to take the examination. Your Majesty, please set the examination questions for the candidates of the world and select capable officials for our empire!”
Yang Yiqing handed over the memorial in his hand and reported,""Your Majesty, this is the Top Scorer of the provincial examination.”
Zhu Houzhao received Yang Yiqing's memorial.
The empire had two capitals and thirteen provinces. The champion of each province would be submitted to the imperial court.
There were a total of fifteen names. These fifteen people were the first place in the provincial examination and were called Top Scorers.
The first place in the general exams was called Hui Yuan, who was hand-picked by the head examiner.
The palace examination was held in the Palace of Peace in the Forbidden City. The emperor presided over it personally. Those who went to take the examination were Gongshi. After passing the examination, they were called Jinshi. The first place in this palace examination was "Zhuangyuan".
Lian Zhong San Yuan was a talented person.
First place in the provincial examination, first place in the general examination, first place in the court examination.
If he hit three consecutive targets, he would definitely be valued by the Emperor…
Zhu Houzhao opened the memorial that Yang Yiqing had submitted.
A few familiar names came into view.
Xia Yan. Jiangxi Jieyuan.
Wen Zhengming. Jiangnan Top Scorer.
Xia Yan, a famous cabinet minister in history…
Yan Song had always feared Xia Yan before he died. Later, Yan Song framed Xia Yan, and Xia Yan was unjustly imprisoned. Yan Song then sat on the position of Chief Assistant of the cabinet.
Wen Huiming was one of the four gifted scholars in Jiangnan.
Unfortunately, the Four Talents of Jiangnan had all stopped at the Juren level, and were depressed.
A few years ago, Tang Yin had been banned from taking the exam for life because he was a wanderer. When Tang Yin went to the capital to take the exam, he stayed in a brothel and was chased out of the examination hall by the head examiner. It was equivalent to copying papers and banned from taking the exam for life.
He didn't expect Wen Huiming to be a Top Scorer.
However, if he failed the general exams, he would still not be able to enter the court as an official…
Since this Xia Yan has the talent of a chief assistant, then when the exam is held, I will take a look at your essay!
In addition to these Top Scorers, there were still a large number of talented candidates who did not appear in the memorial.
Zhu Houzhao was filled with anticipation.
How many good officials and generals would the empire provide for this imperial examination?
"Your Majesty, please set the question."
"Give me your hand."
Yang Yiqing extended his hand in front of Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao wrote two words on Yang Yiqing's hand.
"Let's use this as the topic."
"Yes."
Yang Yiqing, the Minister of Rites, walked out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity after taking the examination questions.
His Majesty wrote two words on his palm: Navy.
The examination questions could not be known by a second person before the start of the examination. The emperor only told the chief examiner. When the examination began and the candidates entered the venue, the chief examiner would tell the examination questions to all the candidates to prevent cheating...
……
Guangdong Province Navy Headquarters.
After the imperial guard entered the navy headquarters, he announced,""Imperial Navy Governor Wang Hong accepts the decree!”
Wang Hong knelt on one knee.”
The imperial guard unfolded the imperial edict and began to read out the memorial that Zhu Houzhao had written to Wang Hong!
In the naval prison, more than 2,000 prisoners of Franch were completely disheartened. Although they knew that the Empire was strong, they never thought that the Empire's navy would be so powerful.
They ran amok on the ocean, invincible.
However, in front of the Empire, he had suffered a defeat. Moreover, this defeat was a complete crushing defeat!
The Franch ships that they believed in were nothing in front of the Imperial Navy!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。