Although Qian Qianyi was keen on official positions, he was still a literati at heart, and he was not at all aware of Chongzhen's political intention in asking him to edit this history book.

After listening to Zhu Youzhen's explanation, he lowered his head and thought for a long time before he asked cautiously.

"But Your Majesty, isn't it too impatient to edit this history book within a month? If you have to edit it in such a short time, there must be many errors and omissions in the book, and when it is criticized, I am afraid that it will damage the reputation of the imperial court? ”

Glancing at Qian Qianyi in surprise, Zhu Youzhen couldn't help but think silently in his heart, "This person is too cold and has an itchy scalp, and when he has an advantage, he was squeezed out of the court by Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru, and it is really not for nothing." ”

Zhu Youzhen had to remind: "We can call this set of books the first edition, and it is noted in the preface that if someone finds any errors, they can directly submit suggestions for improvement to the Daming Times, and the next version will be improved."

But if someone wants to overturn the purpose of this book by taking advantage of trivial issues, it is not a scholarly dispute between literati, but a matter of position.

A person who attacks the history of China from the enemy's standpoint is either not a Ming man, or he is a traitor who betrays his ancestors and recognizes a thief as his father, just like Bank of China, Qin Hui, and Zhang Hongfan. A traitor's question, do we need to care? ”

Qian Qianyi seemed to understand Chongzhen's intentions, and he couldn't help but be a little stunned, these words really didn't look like what a seventeen-year-old boy said.

However, he quickly reacted, and if the emperor was willing to give him such a task, it would undoubtedly be a sign of trust in him.

He immediately put aside all distractions and wanted to redeem the unfavorable image in Chongzhen's heart.

"Then when does Your Majesty think the beginning of this history book should be?" Qian Qianyi put his mind on how to edit a concise historical book that satisfied Chongzhen.

"Naturally, it started with the two emperors of Yan and Huang, because we are all descendants of Yan and Huang..."Zhu Youzhen found that in fact, 'the water is too cold' still has some benefits, at least this benevolent brother will not say no to himself.

When sending Qian Qianyi away, Zhu Youzhen said casually: "Qian Qing doesn't have to be busy alone, you can go to the Hanlin Academy to find a few assistants to help you, you just have to grasp the direction." ”

Qian Qianyi nodded yes immediately, and then left the upper study under the leadership of Wang Chengen. On the steps of the Qianqing Palace, Qian Qianyi couldn't help but turn around and grab Wang Chengen's hand, shook it and said, "There is a labor factory minister who has sent it." ”

Wang Chengen glanced at him in some surprise, and it wasn't until he felt some strange sensations in his palms that he understood why Qian Qianyi made such a strange move.

Wang Chengen held the ball of paper in his palm, careful not to let people notice, he smiled and said: "Qian Shilang is polite, I don't know who Shilang is going to Hanlin Academy, who are you going to start with?" ”

Qian Qianyi also replied with a smile: "I want to go to the Hanlin Academy to have a look, I don't know if the factory has any good suggestions?" ”

Wang Chengen's eyes flickered, and he said: "The miscellaneous family is just a slave who serves the emperor, and he has shallow knowledge, so what good advice can he have." However, the miscellaneous family has been to the Hanlin Academy a few times, but they think that Sun Bianxiu of the Hanlin Academy is more kind. ”

Standing on the white marble steps, after watching Qian Qianyi leave, Wang Chengen carefully opened the fist of his right hand and took a look, it was a 500 taels of Changyu Qianzhuang ticket.

Wang Chengen smiled, stuffed the ticket into his sleeve pocket, and turned around and walked towards the Qianqing Palace.

After lunch, Zhu Youzhen heard that the missionary John Tang and the Qin Tianjian Li Zubai had brought the utensils he had asked to make.

"Your Majesty, do you want to bring them to the study?" Wang Chengen asked.

"No, take them to Banzai Mountain, I want to see if this level can be used." Zhu Youzhen stood up a little happily and said to Wang Chengen.

At the foot of Long Live Mountain, Zhu You carefully inspected the tripods, rulers, and boxes of telescopes brought by Tang Ruowang and Li Zubai.

"Your Majesty, this instrument has been assembled before we came, and the fixed telescope can see the distant scene, but we still think that the telescope is still more convenient to use without fixing." Li Zubai translated the advice given by John Tang.

"That's because you're not using it the right way." Zhu Youzhen said as he began to assemble the original version of the level.

Because it is not a built-in telescope, and the light transmission of the lens is not so good, the measurement distance is about 60 meters, and the accuracy is in the centimeter level.

Tang Ruowang watched with interest, and Chongzhen commanded the little eunuch to run around with a wooden ruler. Finally, he couldn't resist his curiosity and asked the emperor to give him a few looks.

Zhu Youzhen explained the use of this primitive level, and said with emotion: "If you can change the adjustment method of telescope observation distance from hand pulling to the way of rotating the gear on the side, then..."

Li Zubai suddenly said cautiously: "Your Majesty's request, the minister may be able to encourage you to give it a try." ”

Zhu Youzhen suddenly said: "Ao, if you can continue to improve this instrument, then I will give you a credit." But how much time does it take to build this device now? ”

Li Zubai replied respectfully: "The minister, Father John Tang and the master of the Xishan Glaze Factory, after research, have solved the problem of the output of glass lenses. However, this grinding work can only be done by Father John Tong, and it can be completed in about a week. ”

Zhu Youjian played with another monocular, looked at the camera and said: "Let the craftsmen of the Liuli Factory continue to study, clearer glass, and solve the problem of small bubbles in the lens." Well, maybe you can try adding lead powder and experimenting with different proportions. Zhu Youzhen suggested uncertainly, later generations shouted every day that lead-containing glass is harmful to health, and presumably adding lead always has some effect.

After trying it a few times, John Tang said clearly: "It's really a magical idea, by fixing the telescope and rotating the ruler in the horizontal direction to observe the distance, you can measure the height difference between the two places."

This is much more accurate than estimating the difference in elevation with the naked eye, and it is a magical tool for building roads and digging canals. Your Majesty's wisdom is as vast as the sea. ”

Zhu Youzhen was somewhat useful, enjoying John Tang's compliments. He thought a little flutteringly, "It seems that this foreigner is just as skillful when he pats sycophants." ”

While several people were experimenting with the new equipment, a little eunuch hurried to tell Wang Chengen that Xu Xinsu hoped to see His Majesty.

Wang Chengen immediately walked up to Chongzhen and whispered a few words, Zhu Youzhen immediately said to Tang Ruowang and Li Zubai: "I have something to do now, you guys bring this instrument back first, Xishan Liuli Factory, let them continue to work hard, I want pure glass, the purer the better." ”

Li Zubai responded, but he asked with some puzzlement: "But Your Majesty, don't you keep this instrument?" ”

Zhu Youzhen replied casually: "No, as the first instrument, it can be used as a reference for you to make more accurate." In addition to instrument making, the person who uses the instrument also needs to be trained. You can teach the students of the military academy first, anyway, this will be a necessary instrument for the army in the future. ”

After watching the two of them leave with the instruments, Zhu Youzhen turned to Wang Chengen and asked, "Where is he now?" ”

Wang Chengen bowed down and said: "Xu Xinsu's identity is not suitable to enter the Forbidden Palace, so the minister asked him to take him to Neidongchang to wait for Your Majesty." ”

"Okay, you lead the way."

……

In a wing room of the Neidong Factory, Xu Xinsu was looking at the furnishings in the room. The interior of this room is very ordinary, not even as good as the décor of an ordinary large family, with only a table and a few chairs scattered around.

If he hadn't walked in here in person, he would probably not have believed that Dongchang, which made people all over the world frightened, look like this.

When Zhu Youzhen walked into the room, Xu Xinsu was squatting on the ground and knocking on the floor tiles, as if he was looking for some treasure.

"Did Xu find anything?" After standing quietly at the door and watching for a long time, Zhu Youzhen finally couldn't help but ask.

"Well, nothing." Xu Xinsu jumped up like a frightened rabbit.

After ordering someone to bring two cups of tea, Zhu Youzhen instructed Wang Chengen to guard at the door and not let people disturb his conversation.

Xu Xinsu, who lowered his head and drank tea as a cover, his face turned a little red, and Zhu Youzhen asked when nothing happened: "Mr. Xu, have you been to see it?" Who are those? ”

Xu Xinsu adjusted his mood and said: "The people sent by Governor Huang are indeed Dutch, and the leader is Peternats, the Taiwanese governor of the Dutch East India Company. ”

"Didn't they already send Bill as a representative? Why did you send someone over again? Zhu Youzhen asked with some curiosity.

Xu Xinsu, who had several trade relations with Peternatz, immediately said: "This Bill is not a representative sent by him, he left Taiwan for Japan on something, leaving Bill as the temporary acting governor of Taiwan." As a result, Bill took it upon himself to follow Grandpa Lu and others north, and now he hopes to replace Bill as the representative of the Dutch East India Company, because Bill is not qualified to represent the Dutch East India Company. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought for a while before asking: "What did he do when he went to Japan, have you inquired?" ”

Xu Xinsu shook his head, but he quickly said: "Although the minister didn't ask him, but the minister did know something, he and the Japanese businessman Hamada Yabei had an unpleasant quarrel because of the tax collection, and a batch of Japanese businessmen's raw silk was confiscated the year before last.

It is said that at the beginning of the year, Hamada Yabei returned to Japan with some Taiwanese natives and threatened to drive the Dutch out of Japan. I guess he went to Japan to settle the matter. ”

"Do you think he has made a deal with the shogunate?" Zhu Youzhen suddenly became interested in Peternatz.

Xu Xinsu thought for a while, "It shouldn't be, the look on his face doesn't look like he did things well." ”