Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 118: Setting up an Intelligence Bureau, Qin Jin enters Beijing! [Subscribe]

When Liu Kuan heard that Zhu Yuanzhang asked him to write another memorial, he felt as if he had shot himself in the foot.

Fortunately, this memorial is not difficult to write. By referring to relevant content such as big data, archive management, and information retrieval in later generations, and combining it with the actual situation of the Ming Dynasty, it is probably enough to write more than a thousand words.

However, he cannot always do all the hard work. Zhu Yuanzhang also needs to play a greater role in changing the Ming Dynasty.

He then brought up another matter.

"Your Majesty, speaking of developing science and technology, I have something else to report."

Zhu Yuanzhang loved to hear this and asked with a smile, "What's the matter?"

Liu Kuan said: "If we want to develop science and technology, we must promote education; and if we want to promote education, we must make books cheaper; and if we want to make books cheaper, we must improve printing technology."

"As far as I know, woodblock printing is still the mainstream in the Ming Dynasty, supplemented by movable wood type printing."

"Woodblock printing, with one edition for each book, is time-consuming, wasteful of materials, and labor-intensive, so it's difficult to lower the price of books."

"Although wood movable type printing is low-cost, the quality of printed products is difficult to improve. It is very low-quality and can only be used to print some unimportant books, but it is difficult to produce high-quality products."

"I've heard that besides wooden movable type, there are also clay movable type and Tao movable type. Unfortunately, they are not as convenient as wooden movable type. In fact, it's just that they haven't found the right direction."

"Historically, one or two hundred years later, copper movable type and lead movable type were invented. Lead movable type eventually replaced woodblock printing and became the mainstream of book publishing."

"Therefore, I request Your Majesty to have the Ministry of Works establish a project team to research printing technology based on movable lead type. If this is accomplished, it will be a century-long achievement!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded after hearing this.

Although he didn't understand printing, he felt that what Liu Kuan was talking about shouldn't require much manpower or money, so he said, "Then you should write another relevant memorial and submit it. The Science and Technology Department was established to promote science and technology in our Ming Dynasty. This matter will be handled by the Science and Technology Department."

"Wei Chen accepts the order."

The memorial on the research of movable type printing only needed a few hundred words to be completed. Instead of feeling depressed, Liu Kuan felt happy.

He wanted to promote the journal "Natural Science" and needed to use movable type printing.

Now that the project has been approved by the Science and Technology Department, he will be the first to enjoy the results in the future. Why not do it?
After Liu Kuan left Fengxian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered someone to summon Mao Xiang.

Mao Xiang thought that he was being asked about Li Shanchang again, so he had no choice but to come over.

After the ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You are going to recruit a group of special talents. They are mainly divided into two types: one is those with strong memory, and the other is those who are good at mathematics."

"We will establish an intelligence bureau within the Jinyiwei and Guangmingwei, dedicated to analyzing and managing intelligence. This is very important, and you must do it with all your heart."

Mao Xiang had a bitter look on his face. He wanted to say, "Your Majesty, could you please stop adding more burdens to our Jinyiwei?" But he didn't dare to and could only reply "Yes" sullenly.

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to see through his thoughts and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid of the hard work - I will grant the Jinyiwei another 100,000 strings of cash as funding. If you do your job well, you will have no shortage of rewards."

Mao Xiang's spirits lifted upon hearing this, and he quickly said, "I'm not afraid of hard work, I'm just afraid of delaying the mission Your Majesty has assigned me."

"Then recruit more people and absorb more talents."

"The general understands."

Zhu Yuanzhang still had a smile on his face as he watched Mao Xiang leave the hall.

He had already decided that as soon as Liu Kuan presented the memorial on the Great Case Documents, he would have someone copy a copy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Guangming Guard.

With the great case-writing skills and two factories and two guards in hand, he will be able to control the Ming Dynasty more firmly in the near future.

As long as the successor rulers make good use of these, they will not have to worry about treacherous ministers and rebellious parties, nor will they be afraid of foreign enemies spying on them.

The Ming Dynasty will last longer!

···
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The ninth day of December.

morning.

The wind was cold on the Yangtze River and the sky was gloomy, as if it was going to snow.

Fortunately, although the weather was cold, the river surface was not frozen, so the river outside the capital city was still a scene of boats coming and going and sails like clouds.

Among these ships, two official ships are particularly conspicuous.

Because one of the ships was flying the flag of the King of Qin, and the other was flying the flag of the King of Jin.

However, the princes of Qin and Jin arrived in the capital at the same time today.

The two official ships stopped in tacit understanding not far from the cross-river bridge, and under the control of the boatmen, they were only ten feet apart.

Qin Prince Zhu Chong, wearing a prince's dragon robe and a winged crown on his head, was the first to appear on the deck.

He looked to be in his twenties, with a short mustache between his upper and lower lips. He was tall for the time of his life, though slightly overweight, with a round face.

After he left the cabin, he shouted to the official ship opposite, "Why are you still hiding, Third Brother? Could it be that you can't bear to leave the beautiful woman in the cabin?"

As soon as he finished speaking, another young man in similar attire walked out of the cabin.

This man was taller than Zhu Chong, with a large rectangular face, thick short beard around his lips, chin and even cheeks, thick eyebrows and eagle eyes, and seemed to look more mature.

This person is naturally Prince Jin Zhu Xing.

He didn't take Zhu Chong's teasing seriously and bowed, saying, "I haven't seen you for three or four years. You've gained some weight, brother."

Zhu Chong laughed and said, "Don't talk about me, look at you, haven't you gained weight too?"

"I'm afraid my second brother's eyesight is not good. I am strong, not fat. If you don't believe me, you can come and wrestle with me and feel it for yourself." Zhu Chong did not respond.

Although the older princes had all practiced martial arts since childhood and he was two years older than Zhu Ying, the third prince was naturally strong and surpassed him in martial arts from the age of ten.

It is estimated that among the adult brothers now, only the fourth brother can defeat the third brother because of his proficiency in archery and horse riding and superb martial arts.

To change the subject, he looked up at the bridge spanning the Yangtze River and exclaimed in admiration, "I heard in Xi'an that a fairy bridge had fallen into the river near the capital. At first, I refused to believe it. Later, someone from the capital came to confirm it, and I only reluctantly believed it."

"Even now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I still find it incredible. Third Brother, how do you think this bridge is built across the river? And it's so magnificent. Could it really be a fairy bridge that fell from the sky?"

Zhu Yi turned sideways and looked up at the bridge, his eyes full of shock - in fact, he had seen it from afar when he came here before, but looking at it up close, the bridge seemed even more majestic, as if it did not exist in this world.

But he said, "How do we know?"

Zhu Chong withdrew his gaze from the bridge and asked again, "Third brother, do you know why the emperor summoned you and me back this time? According to his rules, you and I cannot return to the capital at the same time."

Zhu Ying shook his head. "How would we know? Second brother, don't try to guess. Once you enter the palace and see our father, you'll know for yourself."

Having said that, he turned and entered the cabin.

Soon, the official ship flying the flag of Prince Jin sailed towards the special dock for the patrol navy near Liyifeng Gate.

Zhu Chong spit into the river with a gloomy face, then went into the cabin, and then the official ship also sailed towards the navy dock...
It was already noon when the two of them met Zhu Yuanzhang in Fengxian Hall.

"My son, I pay my respects to my father!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked down, taking a closer look at the two of them. A smile just appeared on his lips and then disappeared again. He said calmly with a stern face, "Get up."

"Thank you, Father!"

Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the dragon throne, sat down, and said, "Since you two are tired from the journey, let me make it short. I summoned you back to the capital for two important matters."

"First, we intend to change the feudal system. You two are the first among the brothers to be enfeoffed, and have been enfeoffed for over three years. Therefore, we would like to hear your opinions on this matter."

"Secondly, your performance since taking up your post has been truly unsatisfactory. Not only has it brought shame upon us, but it also leaves us feeling uneasy."

"It just so happens that we have changed the training methods for the princes, and the Grand Master has added two new courses. So, I will recall you to the capital to study for a few more years and hone your skills."

After hearing this, Zhu Chong and Zhu Ying both widened their eyes.

Zhu Chong even shook his head, wondering if he had heard it wrong.

This is not only changing the feudal system, but also allowing them to return to the main hall to study. Does this mean they are no longer planning to let them guard the border?
After coming to his senses, Zhu Chong noticed something else and asked, "Father, where is my fourth brother? He hasn't come back yet?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "He has already come back once, but we drove him back to Peking again."

Zhu Chong's eyes lit up immediately, and he asked, "What wicked thing did Fourth Brother do to cause Father to expel him?"

But he had already decided in his heart that he should imitate her so that he could return to Xi'an as soon as possible and continue his life as a vassal king - in the capital, there was an old man in charge and he could hardly do anything. How could he live comfortably as in Xi'an?
But Zhu Yuanzhang said, "He is going to be a vassal overseas."

Overseas vassalage?

Zhu Chong blinked and again suspected that he had heard wrongly.

Or maybe he's still on the boat, dreaming?
So he secretly pinched his thigh.

Ouch, it hurts. This must be a dream—the Fourth Brother is actually going to be sent abroad? What does it mean to be sent abroad? It's almost like exile, right? Is he stupid?

When Zhu Chong was playing tricks and was full of doubts, he heard Zhu Ying ask directly: "Father, what does it mean to establish a vassal state overseas?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "This matter cannot be explained in a few words. Go visit your mother, then go back to wash up and rest, and come see me in the afternoon."

Zhu Xing and Zhu Chong were speechless after hearing this, thinking, don't keep us in suspense like this.

But they didn't dare to refute anything, so they could only say goodbye and go to pay a visit to Queen Ma...
The two came out of the imperial city, braved the cold wind, and rode their horses together towards the mansion.

Zhu Chong said, "Third brother, although the Queen Mother didn't reveal much, from what she said, I can tell that these changes in the capital, as well as Father's plan to change the feudal system, are probably closely related to our third brother-in-law."

This time, Zhu Ying didn't say anything but nodded.

Zhu Chong's eyes rolled and he said, "How about we secretly pay a visit to this third brother-in-law before we go to the palace this afternoon?"

Zhu Ying turned his head and looked at me like I was an idiot. He said, "If you want to go, you go. I won't go."

Zhu Chong knew that his so-called secret visit to his third brother-in-law was a cover-up and would surely be discovered by his father. By dragging Zhu Ying along, he hoped to have someone else share the blame.

Seeing that Zhu Ying was not fooled, he could not help but sneer, "Third brother, you are so timid. You have grown so tall for nothing."

"drive!"

Zhu Ying suddenly shouted, increased the speed of his horse and ran forward.

Zhu Chong was frightened, and when he came to his senses, he cursed: "You're crazy!"

After a while, he returned to the palace and summoned the steward who stayed in the Qin Palace in the capital.

"Long live the king."

Zhu Chong waved his hand and said directly, "Tell me everything about the Third Prince Consort Liu Kuan. If you know too little, send someone to find out now, or you'll be scolded by me later."

　Second update.

　　Thanks to [萌之力] for the reward of 100 Qidian coins!
　　Thanks to [2021***9737] for the reward of 100 Qidian coins!
　　Good night~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)