I'm in the Red Mansion

At the end of the year, that's thirty-six taels of silver, enough for them to build a courtyard house with green bricks and green tiles!
With a new yard, I won’t have to worry about finding a wife for my son anymore!

It’s a pity that they don’t understand the new knowledge at all, so they can’t get the high salary even if they want it.

However, this time, they realized the benefits of their new learning.

They decided that after they returned, they would let their kids learn new things.

Now that they are old, they can't go to study.

But it’s not too late to let the kids at home learn.

New schools can be found everywhere and the tuition fees are not high.

They finally see clearly that from now on, the benefits of learning new things will only increase.

There is absolutely no harm in letting your children learn new things.

Of course, new learning also has disadvantages.

For example, compared with the Four Books and Five Classics, the New Learning seems inferior.

Because new students cannot take part in the imperial examinations.

But the imperial examination was truly a situation where thousands of troops were trying to cross a single-plank bridge.

How can it be so easy to pass the exam?

Most of them are descendants of poor peasants for eight generations, and there has never been any educated person among them.

How could I dare to hope to pass the imperial examination and become an official?

Therefore, it is better to learn new things directly.

Learning new things not only saves money, but is also practical.

They even reminded their children to learn mathematics well.

Because they found that when doing work, those who are good at math are always reused...

……

At this time, Jia Cong was paying attention to the progress of railway construction while planning Jiaozhi.

Jia Cong has always felt that if Jiaozhi could not be broken up as much as possible, there would definitely be problems later.

Therefore, at the beginning, Jia Cong even advocated the forcible relocation of the people of Jiaozhi.

Later, he was opposed by three grand secretaries, and Jia Cong himself felt that he had not considered it carefully.

Therefore, Jia Cong now began to think of other ways.

Jia Cong was going to adopt the strategy of later immigration.

People in poor places always want to migrate to rich places.

Jia Cong believed that as long as the operation was done properly, the people of Jiaozhi would not be exempted.

Next, it is necessary for good people to publicize it.

Moreover, Jia Cong planned to restrict the relocation of the people of Jiaozhi rather than encourage them.

Of course, the restrictions should be relaxed a little.

Because if the imperial court encouraged the people to relocate, there would definitely be smart people who would think there must be a conspiracy.

But if you restrict them from moving, they will feel it is unfair and will try every possible means to move to the Central Plains.

There are many business opportunities in Jiaozhi.

These business opportunities can attract businesses to settle in, and will definitely move a large number of people there.

For example, rubber plantations, crop plantings, and some mineral resources.

Of course, not only will businesses move in, but the imperial court will also build a dock here.

Jiaozhi has a very long coastline and a superior location.

Jia Cong attached great importance to the development of Jiaozhi.

The people of Jiaozhi wanted to move out, and people outside wanted to move in.

In this way, convection will be formed, and Jiaozhi will soon be completely sinicized.

Jia Cong was formulating a strategy. After thinking for a long time, Jia Cong personally wrote a letter to Feng Ziying.

He would not feel comfortable leaving this kind of thing to others, but Jia Cong felt extremely confident letting Feng Ziying do it.

Time passes like a flash, fleeting.

Soon, another year will pass.

Many things happened this year, including several major events for China.

However, due to time constraints, no results were seen.

However, by next year, we will be able to see the first results of many of our plans.

For example, the hydroelectric power station can almost be built.

For example, the laying of railroad tracks, although generally speaking, will take many years to complete.

But the first section will definitely be paved and can be used by trains.

Jia Cong believed that by then, many people would be surprised.

Besides, those international students he sent out should be coming back soon, right?
Jia Cong believed that the return of these people would make China very lively.

Jia Cong was actually looking forward to it.

However, at the end of the year, the cabinet's chief minister, Grand Secretary Kou, accidentally contracted typhoid fever and was bedridden.

Jia Cong was very worried and went to visit him in person.

Generally speaking, if an important official falls ill, the emperor would usually send an imperial physician and bring supplements to show his concern.

But for Jia Cong, his medical skills are better than those of the imperial physician.

It can be said that the imperial physicians of the Zhongyuan Dynasty lived a very humiliating life.

Because the emperor is in good health, he will never get sick.

Whenever the empress dowager, the queen, or the concubines fell ill, they didn't need to diagnose or treat them.

The emperor himself diagnosed and treated them, and the medicine worked.

The role of the imperial physician was just to treat the illnesses of ordinary palace maids and eunuchs.

Or maybe the important officials will go and invite them.

This made them completely lose their dignity, but they could do nothing about it.

Because the emperor's medical skills are really better than theirs.

Jia Cong went to Kou's house in person, and even brought the prince with him.

Because Academician Kou is not only a pillar of China, but also Jia Cong's master.

Without the guidance of Master Kou, he would definitely not have passed the imperial examination and become the top scholar.

Without the protection of Master Kou, he might not have been able to get to where he is today.

Master Kou was truly like a teacher and a father to him.

Soon, Jia Cong arrived at Kou's house.

Jia Cong came to Kou's house quite often. When he was in the early dynasty, he worshipped Prime Minister Kou as his teacher and often came to ask Prime Minister Kou for advice.

After becoming the emperor, he could not come as frequently as before.

But Jia Cong also came to Kou's house frequently.

Because Jia Cong came suddenly, the Kou family was not informed in advance.

Therefore, the Kou family was caught off guard.

Kou Jie hurriedly led his men to prepare for the reception. Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "Brother, you know me well. Why do you need so many false formalities?"

"Take me to see the master quickly. I heard that the master has been sick for a few days, but he didn't ask for leave. You shouldn't have told me earlier."

Kou Jie said helplessly: "Your Majesty, you also know what kind of person my father is. How can you persuade him?"

Kou Jie took a step back, not daring to walk side by side with Jia Cong.

And he was respectful in his words and actions.

Jia Cong couldn't help feeling bored.

Before he ascended the throne, he and this Senior Brother Kou had a very good relationship. But after he ascended the throne, the two of them gradually drifted apart, just like Xun Ge'er and Runtu.

However, Jia Cong also knew that there was nothing that could be done about it.

Perhaps he could keep his original aspiration in mind, but for Kou Jie, it was definitely impossible.

If the two of us were in each other's shoes, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to do it either.

After all, living with a king is like living with a tiger, people will change.

Soon, Jia Cong arrived at the bedside of Academician Kou.

Upon seeing this, Grand Secretary Kou hurriedly stood up to salute, but Jia Cong took a few quick steps to stop him.

"Master, you were sick and you didn't tell me. Don't you know that my medical skills are better than the imperial physician's?"

Kou Daxueshi coughed twice and said, "Your Majesty, how could this old minister not know?"

"But you are not a doctor who saves lives. You are the emperor. You are responsible for the people of China."

"I am an old minister who has caught a cold. It is just a minor ailment. How dare I trouble Your Majesty to worry about it?"

Jia Cong opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.

It was impossible to reason with Master Kou about the truth, so Jia Cong simply gave up.

Next, Jia Cong sat in front of the bed and took the pulse of Kou Daxueshi for diagnosis.

After taking the patient's pulse, Jia Cong's expression became quite complicated.

When Kou Daxueshi saw this, he couldn't help but smile and asked, "I wonder what's the problem, Your Majesty? If I have an incurable disease, I hope Your Majesty will not hide it and tell me the truth. I have already seen through life and death and I am not afraid of death."

Jia Cong sighed and said, "Master, don't worry. Your illness is not serious. It's just because you think too much and worry too much, which has hurt your mind."

"I'll send some medicine when I get back. Master, you must rest assured and take care of your generals."

"This is all my fault. I didn't consider Master's age and health, and caused him to work too hard."

"From now on, Master, you should work less and take care of yourself. The country cannot do without a loyal minister like you!"

After hearing this, Kou Daxueshi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Majesty has filtered it. Although this old minister has been a little overworked, I feel relieved."

"Your Majesty, do you know how anxious and worried I was when I was an official in the previous dynasty?"

"It's rare to meet a wise ruler like the emperor. How dare this old minister not do his best?"

"No matter how tired I am, I feel relieved."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I, your old subject, have not lived long enough!"

"This old minister also wants to see what kind of prosperous era the emperor will create!"

"I feel that this will be a prosperous era never seen before, right?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Master, you will definitely see this. Master has also made an indelible contribution to this prosperous era!"

The two masters talked for a few more words. Seeing that Academician Kou was not in good spirits, Jia Cong stood up and said goodbye.

After returning to the palace, Jia Cong prepared the medicine himself, and in order to prevent the message from being misrepresented, he also wrote down the precautions himself and sent them along with the medicine.

After all, Jia Cong was busy and didn't have time to visit every day.

So he sent people to the Kou Mansion every day to inquire.

This incident was even published in the Daxia Monthly.

When all the officials in the court and even the common people learned about this, they all sighed at the emperor's pure and filial piety.

Naturally, Jia Cong approved of this matter. Otherwise, how could it be published in the Daxia Monthly?
As an emperor, Jia Cong also needs fame, so naturally he has to put on a show.

Of course, his feelings for Master Kou were real, and his worries were also real.

It was just promoted through the Daxia Monthly.

Fortunately, Mr. Kou's illness was not serious and he recovered quickly, but he was still weak.

His health is seriously weak and he needs to be nursed back to health slowly, but there is no rush.

Time is like water, always silent. Before we know it, it is the end of the year.

With the experience of last year, this year we are proceeding step by step in an orderly manner.

Jia Cong wrote couplets early on and gave them as rewards to high-ranking officials in the court.

After receiving the emperor's calligraphy, these high-ranking officials regarded it as a treasure and carefully framed it and kept it.

The emperor's calligraphy is not easily available. This one can be passed down as a family heirloom, so it should be carefully preserved.

After the Little New Year, the court began to rest.

It was rare for Jia Cong to have a few days of leisure.

However, there was no heavy snow this year.

Of course, we can’t do as we did last year, when we took a group of young kids to build snowmen, have snowball fights, and play dog ​​sledding and have so much fun.

But they were not idle either. Jia Cong simply took a group of little kids to go winter fishing.

Of course, it won’t be as exaggerated as the winter fishing in Chagan Lake.

They just broke the ice to fish.

Although it was cold, the group of little guys were having a lot of fun.

However, after returning, several of them contracted typhoid fever.

The angry empress dowager called Jia Cong over and scolded him severely before letting the matter go.

This year passed by quietly.

(I wrote about it during the Chinese New Year last year, so I won’t go into too many words this year)
Not long after the Chinese New Year, the first section of railway track to southern Beijing was finally completed.

Jia Cong also ordered Johann Adam Schall von Bell to lead a team to inspect the laid railroad tracks. After correcting several inappropriate places, Johann Adam Schall von Bell came back to report that the tracks could be put into use.

Next, Jia Cong ordered people to transport the specially made steam locomotive to the rails of the Beijing Railway Station.

Seeing such a huge creature for the first time, everyone was shocked.

Only then did they realize that there was a rumor that this railroad track was used to run a large iron lump that was several dozen meters long.

This big lump of iron can transport millions of kilograms of things at a time, and they originally thought it was just a lie.

Now that I think about it, this can’t be true?
Of course, a locomotive alone is only about ten feet long, far from being as exaggerated as several dozen feet.

But this thing must weigh tens of thousands of pounds, right?

Such a big thing, can it really run?

Everyone was skeptical.

However, this steam locomotive is quite heavy, even without water or coal added.

Transporting the steam locomotive to the Beijing Railway Station was a huge challenge.

After arriving at the train station, moving the locomotive onto the tracks becomes even more troublesome.

Finally, after great effort, the steam locomotive was finally put on the rails.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell personally brought people to debug the system. After some debugging, they found that everything was going smoothly and it could run completely.

Tang Ruowang reported this to Jia Cong and asked Jia Cong to choose an auspicious day so that the train could start its trial run.

After hearing this, Jia Cong came up with an idea in his mind.

Jia Cong planned to take this opportunity to make a grand promotion for the train.

In other words, what he promoted was not just trains, but new learning.

The emergence of trains will inevitably have a huge impact on old things and concepts.

Let’s not talk about the concepts, but let’s just say that after the advent of the train, many carriage and horse-drawn companies, at least those along the train route, might have to close down.

This is the trend of the times. If you can't keep up with the times, you are destined to be eliminated.

Since this impact is inevitable, it is better to let it come earlier.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong gave orders to prepare for a test run of the train the day after tomorrow.

At that time, a carriage will be loaded at the back of the train, and he will bring a group of ministers to sit in the carriage to experience it personally.

When Johann Adam Schall ...

He hurried to the palace and tried his best to stop Jia Cong. (End of this chapter)