Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 35 Confiscating the house
In Yuan Qingbai's previous life, the first manned hot air balloon was invented and manufactured by the French paper manufacturers Montgolfier brothers in the 1880s. It was inspired by the rising of shredded paper in a stove.

Yuan Qingbai invented the hot air balloon more than sixty years ahead of schedule.

Yuan Qingbai told Emperor Jing'an:

The large balloon of the hot air balloon can be made of linen, the hanging basket can be made of rattan, and the fuel can be charcoal, cotton fiber soaked with grease, or other materials.

The principle of a hot air balloon is thermal expansion and contraction, and the driving force is buoyancy...

The safety of the hot air balloon is quite good, and it is equivalent to a large parachute.

You can find some skilled craftsmen to make it, conduct experiments with pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, etc., and then carry people on it after confirming that it is feasible.

Yuan Qingbai also told Emperor Jing'an:
Because next month is Emperor Jing'an's birthday, Emperor Jing'an will definitely receive many valuable birthday gifts.

Even if Yuan Qingbai spent all his savings to buy expensive birthday gifts for Emperor Jing'an, it would not be special.

He wanted to give a special birthday gift.

And he associated the sky lantern with the hot air balloon, and wondered if he could build a large sky lantern and use a hanging basket to carry people to the sky.

He wanted to build a hot-air balloon. On Emperor Jing'an's birthday, letting the hot-air balloon carry people into the sky would be a special birthday gift.

There has never been a manned flight in human history.

Moreover, hot air balloons can be used for military reconnaissance, carrying soldiers into the air, and using telescopes to observe battlefields and enemy situations.

Yuan Qingbai first explained the hot air balloon to Emperor Jing'an in detail, and then conducted an on-site experiment using a hot air balloon model he made similar to the Kongming Lantern.

When Emperor Jing'an heard the explanation and saw the experiment, he was very moved.

Flying people into the sky is a feat in this era.

If such a feat could be accomplished, it would enhance the emperor's majesty and be beneficial to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

What's more, hot air balloons can also be used for military reconnaissance.

After Emperor Jing'an considered it, he said to Yuan Qingbai: "Okay, I will order this hot... hot air balloon to be built tomorrow. If it is really built, it will be a credit to you."

Yuan Qingbai smiled and said: "Emperor Grandfather, my grandson has already said that his original intention of getting this hot air balloon is to prepare a special birthday gift for you, and secondly, considering its use in combat, it will be beneficial to you and the Great Zhou Dynasty. "

"My grandson is not coveting any merit. I just hope that this hot air balloon can be built before your birthday and the test is successful. You will always enjoy it, and you will be satisfied."

Emperor Jing'an smiled happily.

Yuan Qingliang couldn't help but said: "Grandfather, can your grandson be in charge of making the hot air balloon?"

He is very interested in this hot air balloon.

Emperor Jing'an hesitated for a moment and then nodded: "Yes, you will be in charge of this matter."

He would not let the emperor's eldest grandson become the emperor, and hoped that the emperor's eldest grandson would be a wealthy prince for the rest of his life.

In this case, letting the emperor's eldest grandson be responsible for the job of making hot air balloons is not considered unprofessional.

What's more, in the eyes of this old emperor, making hot air balloons is a serious matter.

Yuan Qingbai wished that Yuan Qingliang would be responsible for this matter.

Emperor Jing'an's birthday is only over a month away.

When Yuan Qingbai thought about it, having Yuan Qingliang, the emperor's eldest grandson, in charge of making hot air balloons could avoid trouble, increase efficiency, and make it more likely to be on time.

"It would be interesting if this eldest grandson of the emperor becomes a wealthy prince who loves scientific research in the future..."

Yuan Qingbai thought funnyly while looking at Yuan Qingliang.

…………

The Chief Steward's investigation of the deficit in the Kao Mansion placed a heavy physical and mental burden on the third prince.

At the end of February, the third prince happened to encounter another tragedy.

The third prince gave birth to four daughters.

The first daughter and the third daughter both died the same year they were born. Only the second daughter and the fourth daughter are alive.

The second daughter is in her twenties this year and is the oldest among the third prince's children who are still alive. The second daughter's biological mother is the concubine He.

The fourth daughter was born just two years ago and is only three years old this year.

At the end of February, the third prince’s fourth daughter, who was only three years old, died...

Rao Shi, the third prince, was severe and mean. Faced with this tragedy of losing his daughter, he also grieved.

Yuan Qingbai also felt bad because of this. Although he was a time traveler, he had only seen this three-year-old half-sister a handful of times, but after all, she was his sister in this life.

On the day after his fourth daughter died young, the third prince had to endure his grief and came to Xining Palace to collect debts in order to clear up the debt.

Taizu Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty named twelve founding officials with different surnames the "Four Kings and Eight Dukes".

The "Four Kings" are the Duke of Dongping, the Prince of Nan'an, the Prince of Xining, and the Prince of Beijing.

Emperor Jing'an has issued a strict order, requiring the princes and relatives of the clan to make up for the shortfall.

The ministers of Nanshufang who had a deficit have all made up for the deficit.

The matter of heroes with different surnames is quite troublesome and difficult to deal with.

After careful consideration, the third prince decided to take action against the Prince of Xining County. He had already consulted Emperor Jing'an about this matter.

On this day, the third prince, holding the Emperor's Sword, led numerous palace guards and pro-military camp officers and soldiers to the Xining Palace and surrounded the entire palace.

The Prince of Xining County, who was in the palace, was shocked and angry. He came to the third prince and said with a dark face: "What are you doing? What serious crime have I committed? I let the laborers mobilize a crowd to surround my Prince Xining's palace!"

The third prince said with a cold face: "You have lost more than 200,000 taels of treasury silver. I have discussed with you several times and asked you to make up for this shortfall, but you don't care."

"It is natural to pay back debts. What you, Prince Xining, still owe is a national debt. Besides, it is not impossible for your Prince Xining's Palace to repay the money."

The Prince of Xining County said angrily: "I have told you several times that I am not trying to escape the debt, but the money is really a large amount. I can't make up for it at the moment, so I will give you a few years of grace..."

The third prince interrupted: "There is no need to talk too much. You are trying to use grace to escape your debt. Do you think I am a fool who can't see that your tricks are working?"

"Your Majesty is merciful and considers the merits of your ancestors. He has always been very kind to you, but you don't take His Majesty or the laws of the country to your heart. You think this shortfall can be ignored."

"I have talked to you several times. Now that I have raised troops here, I will stop talking nonsense with you. I will only ask you once. You will start making up for the shortfall today. Are you willing?"

The Prince of Xining County was anxious and scared, but he still took a chance.

Because he didn’t think that the third prince’s task of checking the deficit could be carried out smoothly, and also because the princes secretly came to him and said they would help him...

After hesitating, the Prince of Xining County said in a deep voice to the third prince: "Stop, I will enter the palace to face the Holy Emperor!"

The third prince snorted coldly, immediately raised the Emperor's Sword, and shouted loudly: "Search the house!"

Prince Xining: "..."

Following the third prince's order, many palace guards and pro-military camp officers and soldiers integrated into the Xining Palace...

(End of this chapter)