At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 398 Lights
Seeing that the Spring Festival is just around the corner, if the issue of the candlelight is not resolved, it is hard for Cao Nai to imagine how he, the chief examiner, will be scolded.

When someone else is an examiner, they are all students and old officials all over the world, gaining fame and fortune, but it is better for themselves, but it becomes an errand that offends others.

I came to interview Sheng today, he is ready, either, to solve the problem, or, I will quit this chief examiner!

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly, and asked, "Wynn, what's the matter with the Gong Yuan?"

Huai En hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, the slaves are also thinking about the safety of the students. In the third year of orthodoxy, the Gongyuan caught fire, killing and injuring dozens of people. Such an accident must not happen again!"

Cao Nai's old face flushed red, but when he heard what Huai En said, he was speechless for a while.

The Gongyuan of the capital was built in the 13th year of Yongle on the former site of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites in the Yuan Dynasty.

There are five couplets at the gate of the whole building complex, and there are two gates and five couplets inside.When the capital was moved, the construction of the city wall and the imperial palace was underway, and financial and material resources were scarce, so the construction of the Gongyuan was crude and simple, using cheap materials such as planks and reed mats to build an examination shed, surrounded by thorns to form an outer wall.

As the number of candidates who came to Beijing to take the exam increased year by year, the simple Gongyuan seemed overcrowded and had to be continuously expanded.

However, no matter how it is expanded, this place is always a hidden danger, because according to the regulations, as long as the exam starts, the door must be locked, and for three days in a row, the examinees have to eat, drink, and mess inside.

Candidates use charcoal fires for cooking and heating, and candles for lighting. A little carelessness can cause a fire.

Although many large tanks of water were placed in the tribute courtyard for fire fighting, it was not enough, and fires occurred frequently in the tribute courtyard.

In Chunwei, which was orthodox for three years, a fire broke out on the first day of the exam, killing and injuring dozens of people.

You must know that these students are the pillars of talent selected by the whole country, and the damage caused by a fire cannot be measured by money.

In this case, things will be difficult.

Wynn is cautious, guarding against the passing of time, and can't be wrong.

However, the actual situation is that without candles, the exam must be closed after dark, and three days may not be enough.

Cao Nai said angrily: "Your Majesty, this old minister is not an appropriate examiner!"

Rather than being scolded by the students, it's better to simply say, I quit!
Whoever likes to do it!

Zhu Qizhen was also in a difficult situation immediately. If he did not issue candles, it would affect the exam. If he issued candles, there would be a fire hazard...

This is an endless loop.

At this time, Zhang Yi stepped forward and said, "My Majesty, if you want to ban fire and candles, why not make the following decree to extend the exam time, would that be good?"

Zhu Qizhen thought for a while, and said: "How much is appropriate to extend? The rules have already been set, and all candidates have prepared in this way. Even if they want to change, they must make sufficient preparations and give everyone enough time to change the rules in such a haste. , I am afraid that it will be very detrimental to the candidates and the court."

The monarch and his ministers were in trouble immediately, and the spring was coming, so they couldn't wait, so they had to solve it immediately.

Wynn looks pitiful, but he has already made up his mind. Anyway, I will ban it. As long as I don't catch fire, it's nothing to do with me. As for the rest, it has nothing to do with me!

Cao Nai said with a dark face, "The old minister thinks that fire prevention should be strengthened, more people should be sent to patrol the tribute courtyard, more water tanks should be prepared, and candles should still be distributed as usual, so as not to affect the students' exams."

Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to say: "This matter can't be done across the board, and at the same time, it must be handled carefully. Cao Qing's family, Zhang Qing's family, you two go down and think of a way. ?”

Huai En hurriedly replied: "The servant obeys the order!"

Cao Nai and Zhang Yi had no choice but to get up and leave, and they returned to Wenyuan Pavilion to re-designate various matters concerning fire prevention for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The next day, Cao Nai sent a civil servant to send the newly drafted regulations to the Supervisor of Rites, but he called back not long after, and the reply was that it would not be approved!

Now, Cao Nai couldn't bear it anymore, and immediately went to find Wynn desperately.

But Zhang Yi stopped him and said, "It's not like I didn't look for it yesterday, is it useful?"

"What do you propose?"

Cao Nai slapped the table angrily, and said angrily, "I still don't believe that a bastard with no eggs wants to meddle in the imperial examination? Who does he think he is? Forgot how Wang Zhen died?"

Zhang Yi persuaded: "Continuing like this is not an option. The emperor also said that the supervisor of ceremonies should cooperate as much as possible. However, how to do as much as possible, there are many things that can be done!"

"He still dares to resist?"

"The problem is... this isn't considered a resistance!"

Zhang Yi shook his head helplessly, and said: "The emperor also admits that fire prevention in the Gongyuan is a major event, and how many people were killed and injured by a fire in the three years of orthodox Chunwei? At that time, the emperor was still a child, but it is different now. For the reason of fire prevention, what else can the emperor say?"

"Tell me, what is this called!"

Cao Nai was really helpless, he was really aggrieved as the chief examiner.

Zhang Yi smiled lightly and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Cao. In fact, this matter is not that difficult..."

"Oh?"

Cao Nai stared at him closely, and asked, "If you have any ideas, come quickly!"

Zhang Yi pondered for a moment, and then said: "You and I, as well as the officials from the Ministry of Rites, we are all worried, for whom?"

"Of course it's for the students who came to catch the exam!"

"That's it."

Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Since it's for the students, why are we in a hurry?"

"Your words... As the examiner, I am naturally anxious!"

"Did Mr. Cao do something to offend the student?"

"of course not!"

Cao Nai was a little confused, so he said, "Isn't the supervisor of ceremonies acting as a hindrance..."

Suddenly, he seemed to understand.

"You mean to tell the truth to the scholars who came to take the exam and let them put pressure on the court?"

Zhang Yi nodded and said, "Exactly!"

Cao Nai thought it over and over again, but now that's all he can do.

If it provokes public outrage, let's see how that eggless eunuch ends up!
Sure enough, on the second day, the news that the Supervisor of Rites did not distribute candles to the Gongyuan spread like wildfire.

When the students who came to rush for the exam heard about it, they were immediately filled with righteous indignation, and filed complaints with the Ministry of Rites one after another, demanding an explanation.

Although lighting the lamps at night is not a big deal, it is related to the imperial examination, and any detail is enough to determine the future fate of the students present, so naturally it should not be underestimated.

Kuang Ye, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, was also very helpless, now it was too late to block the news, so in desperation, he had to rush to Wenyuan Pavilion to tell the truth.

Cao Nai and Zhang Yi's reactions were very calm, and they were still drinking tea leisurely.

Kuang Ye frowned and said, "The students outside are all in trouble, you two still have the heart to drink tea?"

Zhang Yi unhurriedly poured a cup of tea for Kuang Ye, and said, "Don't worry, this is Longjing before the rain, come and taste it!"

Kuang Ye happened to be thirsty, so he brought it over and drank it in one gulp.

"You two, I, Kuang, have already prepared to retire and return home. I don't want to make any trouble before I leave. Now that the situation is out of control, what should I do?"

Kuang Ye will be 70 years old in three months. He is ready to resign, let go of his burden, and go home to spend his old age peacefully.

But I didn't expect that before I left, I would make such a move.

"The news was released on purpose by the old man!"

Cao Nai didn't hide it at the moment, and directly told the truth.

"Cao Gong, you are...why?"

Kuang Ye is very puzzled. Now that the problem has not been solved, it is too late to suppress it even if you try your best. You still take the initiative to poke it out?

Do you think things are not big enough?
You are the chief examiner!
Zhang Yi explained: "Yesterday, the two of us went to the emperor and explained the matter clearly. After the emperor listened, he only asked the supervisor of ceremonies to cooperate. But can the supervisor of ceremonies cooperate? In desperation, I and Cao The public thought of this method, since it is a problem caused by the Li Supervisor, let the students make a fuss, and see how the Li Supervisor ends up!"

After Kuang Ye heard it, he immediately felt that it made some sense.

The key to this matter lies in the excessive control of the supervisor of ceremonies. In order to prevent fire, he even cut off the candles of the imperial examination.

It stands to reason that it is a good thing for you to take strict precautions. It is okay to prepare more clean water in the Gongyuan and send more people to patrol.
This is clearly an act of inaction!

Kuang Ye thought about it and said, "The students are getting more and more noisy, will they alarm the emperor?"

"It's about alarming the emperor!"

Cao Nai was still angry at this time, and said: "You students are the pillars of my Ming Dynasty. The Supervisor of Rites has already offended everyone. This time the emperor will definitely not protect him again!"

The supervisor of ceremonies, Xiao Jing, came in a hurry.

"Eunuch, it's bad!"

Wynn was not on duty today and was resting with his eyes closed. He said slowly, "Why are you panicking?"

"A large number of students came to the Ministry of Rites to ask for an explanation, and the disturbance was very serious!"

"Oh?"

Wynn opened his eyes and asked again, "what's the trouble?"

"It's because I heard that this year's Chunwei is not worthy of issuing candles, so the students have asked the Ministry of Rites to give an explanation..."

"What did you say?"

Before Xiao Jing finished speaking, Huai En had already stood up, his face pale.

"I see!"

Wynn frowned and paced back and forth.

"It must be those two from the cabinet who went to the emperor to sue our family yesterday, and now they are instigating the students to find trouble!"

"It's broken, the emperor needs to know, and he must blame..."

Xiao Jing watched Wynn talking to himself, but couldn't get in for a while.

"How about this, you go to the Ministry of Rites and tell the Minister of Rites, Kuang Ye, that the matter is of great importance, not to be reckless, but to be resolved properly, and our family will go to see the emperor now!"

After finishing speaking, he pulled his shoes and trot all the way to the imperial study.

"Your Majesty, it's not good!"

Zhu Qizhen raised his head and asked, "What's the matter?"

"A large number, a large number of students..."

Wynn ran in a hurry on purpose, and said out of breath: "Gathering in the Ministry of Rites to make trouble, servants, servants... have ordered people to tell the Minister of Rites to solve it properly, and here to ask the emperor... to make an idea..."

"Students making trouble? Why?"

"This... slaves and servants will die because of the fire prevention in the Gongyuan..."

Wynn knew he was wrong, so he knelt down to plead guilty.

He knew very well that as long as he took the initiative to plead guilty and admitted his mistakes with a good attitude, the emperor would usually not blame him.

I'm afraid that those dead ducks with a stubborn mouth will be caught by the emperor and die without knowing how they died!

"Didn't I tell you that the Supervisor of Rituals cooperated as much as possible, did you cooperate?"

"Slaves... cooperated..."

Zhu Qizhen is also helpless, why is it so difficult for you to do something.

"How did you cooperate? Still don't prepare candles for candidates?"

"The servant is worried, worried..."

"Report to the emperor..."

At this time, a little eunuch came in at the door. Seeing Wynn inside, he was too scared to speak.

Wynn was sweating profusely. He turned around and glared at him, which meant, why are you making trouble?

But Zhu Qizhen had already asked: "What's the matter?"

The little eunuch stayed on the spot, Wynn glared at him again and said, "The emperor is asking you something, talk!"

"oh oh……"

The little eunuch came to his senses, and hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness and Tong Xuan from the Electric Power Laboratory of the Academy of Sciences are asking to see each other, saying that there is a breakthrough in research, so I am here, I am here..."

Zhu Qizhen was thinking about the imperial examination, so he said: "Let them wait, I have something to do here!"

"Yes!"

The little eunuch went down to pass on the message, Zhu Qizhen said again: "What did you just say?"

"Speaking of..."

Wynn's mind turned sharply, and he replied: "Your maidservant, go and prepare enough candles for the Gong Yuan!"

"Okay, let's go!"

"Yes!"

Wynn's back was sweating coldly. After going out, he saw Zhu Jianshen and Tong Xuan.

"I have seen Your Highness!"

Zhu Jianshen asked: "Father, can you see us?"

Wynn hurriedly said: "The emperor is not in a good mood. If His Highness has nothing important to do, we'd better come back another day!"

Hearing this, Zhu Jianshen suddenly felt timid.

"Master Tong, let's come back another day!"

Tong Xuan really wanted to show the results to the emperor earlier, but seeing Zhu Jianshen's appearance, he couldn't refuse.

"Well, let's go back first."

"Master Tong will follow me back to the East Palace. We will install one in the East Palace, so there will be no need for candles at night."

Tong Xuan nodded and said, "Follow Your Highness's instructions."

The two came out of the imperial study room, went to the East Palace, placed the parts brought from the Xishan Laboratory on the floor, and then began to assemble.

The newly developed simple steam oven is also used here, which can be assembled into a steam engine with only one stove and an iron pot.

Using a steam engine instead of a hand crank can keep the electric lamp glowing continuously.

However, the carbonized bamboo thread used by Tong Xuan as the wick is still not as bright.

Moreover, there is also a problem with the glass cover, which becomes blackened over time.

Even so, the two are still very satisfied with their invention.

It wasn't until sunset that Tong Xuan bid farewell and left, but Zhu Jianshen still had a great time playing.

Zhu Qizhen came out of the imperial study room, surrounded by darkness, was about to turn around and leave, but found a light in the southeast.

He stopped, looked up, and asked, "The prince is back?"

The little eunuch behind him hurriedly said: "Go back to the emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came back in the morning, and asked to see you at the gate of the imperial study room. After knowing that you are busy, I will go back to the East Palace first."

"I remembered."

Zhu Qizhen nodded, then reacted, and said angrily: "You little bastard, you started playing with fire right after you came back?"

(End of this chapter)