Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 169 The Dragon Sucking Up Water! (One more chapter at 21 PM)
Zhao Rui shivered, stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said.

"Reporting to Magistrate Zhang, this matter arose because of me, Zhao Rui, and I should take full responsibility. If my cousin makes any mistakes, I am willing to be punished along with him!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu smiled slightly and looked at Zhao Shizhen.

"Get up. Let's not dwell on the past."

The more he said this, the more frightened Zhao Shizhen became, and he kowtowed repeatedly, speaking with tears streaming down his face.

"I have spoken without thinking in the past. If you wish to punish me, please do so. However, please give me the opportunity to develop this spinning machine!"

This unprecedented divine artifact is something I would gladly sacrifice my life to successfully develop!

For Zhao Shizhen, the minor position of Registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial was no longer of any interest; studying "craftsmanship" was far more attractive than fame and fortune.

Zhang Yunxiu found it amusing. "You're getting this excited over a Jenny?"
If he were to be presented with steam engine blueprints, wouldn't he be instantly sent to heaven?
But he still said, "It's nothing to talk back to my father. If my father cared, do you think you could have stayed in the Court of State Ceremonial for so long?"

Zhang Juzheng did indeed eliminate dissidents.

However, he could not be considered ruthless. If he had really gone all out, given Zhang Juzheng's power, none of these opponents would have had a good ending.

In fact, Zhang Juzheng's methods were very "pragmatic".

That is to use swift and decisive measures to suppress all opposition and to implement the new policies with overwhelming force, so as to save the Ming Dynasty, which is now terminally ill.

This is something that ordinary officials would naturally not understand.

Zhang Yunxiu paused, and seeing that the other party still showed no sign of getting up, he couldn't help but say with a self-deprecating smile.

"If we're talking about the number of times and the extent to which I've argued with Uncle Zhang, it's far more than it's to you."

Upon hearing this direct address, Zhao Shizhen, kneeling below the hall, froze, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

But then Zhang Yunxiu slowly walked up to him, gently patted his shoulder and said...

"Registrar Zhao, please focus on your research. You can ask your cousin: I am completely open and honest with my own people, but I am ruthless and decisive with my enemies."

As long as Zhao Zhubu focuses on his research and doesn't get involved in the various disputes in the court, it wouldn't be difficult for him to be promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies and to have a research institute set up for him in the future.

But if you harbor any disloyal thoughts, then the fate of Minister Xu and Imperial Censor Yang will be your future!

These words clarified the stakes, and Zhao Shizhen's eyes flickered with hope one moment and fear the next, thinking of the fate of the other two.

He maintained his composure and bowed again.

"This humble official will certainly do everything in his power to repay the kindness of Magistrate Zhang!"

Zhao Shizhen had witnessed the various achievements Zhang Yunxiu had made in recent days.

In the past, while the scholar-official class did not particularly reject "strange skills and ingenious crafts," they never valued them either.

If you treat it as a pastime in your spare time, no one will object.

But someone like Zhang Yunxiu, who brings all sorts of skills to the forefront and is even able to effectively solve problems, is undoubtedly the first person I've ever seen.

Seeing that his "ingenious skills and ingenuity" could be recognized and produce results, how could Zhao Shizhen not be excited?

"Not bad!"

Seeing Zhao Shizhen's obedient appearance, Zhang Yunxiu nodded in satisfaction, gently helped him up from the ground, and encouraged him.

"From now on, follow me, and I will make you the Edison of the Ming Dynasty!"

Edison?

Although he didn't know what Zhang Yunxiu was saying, he was even taken advantage of by him and suddenly became the other party's apprentice.

However, Zhao Shizhen did not resist much. He seemed to know better and knelt down again to pay his respects.

"Your disciple Zhao Shizhen pays his respects to his esteemed master! When an auspicious day is found, I will prepare a generous gift and personally visit your residence to pay my respects!"

"Nothing to do~Nothing to do~I'm afraid you won't have time for a visit anytime soon."

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand, then revealed a meaningful smile.

At this moment, Zhao Shizhen realized why the other party had summoned him today.

He pondered for a moment and then asked.

"Master, do you have any new ideas?"

He had already formed a pattern in his mind that any idea Zhang Yunxiu put forward would almost always be unprecedented and even subvert common sense.

This only increased our anticipation.

Zhang Yunxiu remained silent, then turned to look at Zhao Rui.

The latter, quite tactfully, bowed and said with a slight smile.

"Then I'll go down first."

Zhao Shizhen frowned deeply, wondering why the other party was being so mysterious, and couldn't help but feel a little excited. After Zhao Rui left, Zhang Yunxiu paced a few steps in the hall, thought for a moment, and then continued.

"It's nothing particularly impressive. By the way, do you know about my Xishan Workshop?"

Zhao Shizhen sincerely praised, "This Xishan workshop relieves the plight of the displaced people by producing high-quality briquettes with ingenious methods and then selling them at low prices. It can be said that it benefits the common people and the country."

"I didn't ask you to flatter me."

Zhang Yunxiu slapped him on the forehead and said irritably.

"Tell me about the drawbacks of Xishan."

Zhao Shizhen covered his head, feeling somewhat aggrieved, but still answered honestly.

"The most crucial point is that Xishan is located on a water vein. If this problem cannot be solved, the coal production in Xishan will not be able to keep up, and many other problems will arise."

The matter of the water veins in the Western Hills has been widely discussed in the capital and beyond in recent days, thanks to the efforts of certain individuals. Even the children in the market know about it.

Zhang Shiyuan's Xishan workshop is going to go out of business!
Zhang Yunxiu smiled and asked, "Do you have any solutions?"

Zhao Shizhen was taken aback for a moment, then said with a hint of helplessness.

"As far as I know, Master's measures for mining coal in Xishan Workshop are truly unprecedented innovations."

Even if I studied the classics until my hair turned white, I could not have come up with such ingenious and exquisite inventions as coal conveyor rails, mining carts, transport winches, and briquettes.

My apprentice believes he has a deep understanding of the art of craftsmanship and finds it difficult to make any further improvements.

He frowned deeply, looking like he was racking his brains, and finally gave Zhang Yunxiu an answer.

"The problem of water seepage in mines has been difficult to solve since ancient times. Master can use a winch and leather bags, buckets and other items to transport the water out, but this method is time-consuming and laborious."

In my humble opinion, the winch could be further improved by forging it from fine iron and adding axles, pulleys, and other components, imitating a textile machine and lubricating it with kerosene.

What the hell!

Zhang Yunxiu's eyes widened slightly. This kid really is a mechanical genius!

You should never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients!
"Cough cough cough~"

Zhang Yunxiu coughed twice, a hint of approval appearing in his eyes, but he still shook his head and said.

“Your idea is indeed good, but on the one hand, refined iron is too expensive, and on the other hand, the craftsmanship required for these items is too intricate. It may be difficult to solve the problem in a short period of time.”

In terms of industrial productivity, it is a very difficult gap to cross.

Zhao Shizhen nodded in agreement and said, "What Master said makes sense."

He sensed a solution hidden in Zhang Yunxiu's words, and couldn't help but cup his hands in greeting.

"Please enlighten me, Master!"

With a smile, Zhang Yunxiu took out a blueprint from his pocket.

Upon seeing the blueprints, Zhao Shizhen's eyes lit up as if he had found a treasure.

When he saw the blueprints, he saw them as Zhu Yijun saw silver.

"This is."

Zhao Shizhen stared wide-eyed at the strangely shaped device on it. The main part was nothing more than a dragon-head-like object with a tube attached, and the details of the materials such as leather and bamboo were marked on it.

Below that is a note: "The main body is made of crude iron, with kerosene and beef tendon used in key areas to ensure airtightness."

Zhao Shizhen had high expectations, but upon seeing this thing, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

He looked up at Zhang Yunxiu and asked with some suspicion.

"Master, can this thing really pump water? Did you bring the wrong blueprints? It looks so ordinary."

"Stupid!"

Zhang Yunxiu reprimanded him without any politeness.

"The greatest truths are the simplest. Who told you that all objects have to be incredibly precise?"
We are pressed for time, and to solve the predicament of Xishan, we must make something simple.

Moreover, despite its ordinary structure, it can play a significant role!

"It can pump water?" Zhao Shizhen frowned deeply.

"That's natural!"

Zhang Yunxiu chuckled and said.

"Let me tell you, this thing has another name: 'Dragon Sucking Water'!"

(End of this chapter)