The Young Dragon of the Ming Dynasty: Bound to an Industrial Blueprint from the Start

But they soon discovered that although the young prince was curious, he never touched anything dangerous indiscriminately, and instead asked a frightening number of questions.

On this day, he once again "wandered" to the vicinity of the workshop area that specialized in making weapons for the imperial court.

The air was thick with the smoke from burning coal and the heat of forging metal, and the clanging sounds of hammering filled the air.

Chuntao and Liwei followed closely behind, one carefully watching over them, the other vigilantly looking around.

Zhu Zhanji's gaze was drawn to a blast furnace that was blasting iron, and he tried to walk inside with his short legs.

The guards were surprised to see a richly dressed, heavily protected child approaching, but they dared not stop him. Everyone in the workshop district knew that the Prince of Yan's mansion had produced a little grandson who loved to see all sorts of strange things, and that he even had a token personally bestowed by the Prince of Yan.

Chun Tao quickly stepped forward, half-blocking Zhu Zhanji, and raised her voice to an old blacksmith by the furnace who was wiping sweat and whose face was covered in soot, "Master, my young prince is curious about this furnace and would like to ask a few questions."

The old blacksmith then noticed the newcomers. Seeing the commotion, he hurriedly put down his work and bowed, saying, "This humble servant greets Your Highness."

"No need for such formalities, Master." Following Zhu Zhanji's prior "reminder," Chun Tao took the lead, "Your Highness wishes to ask, won't this large bellows blowing cool air onto the stove actually cool down the fire?"

The old blacksmith breathed a sigh of relief and replied respectfully, "No, young lady, the wind is blowing air in, and when the air is plentiful, the fire burns brightly."

Although the wind was cool, the total heat generated by the burning charcoal was greater, causing the iron to melt faster.

After hearing this, Zhu Zhanji tilted his head as if trying to think, then tugged at Chun Tao's sleeve and whispered a few words in her ear.

Chun Tao understood and turned to the blacksmith, her tone carrying a perfectly timed, inspired curiosity: "Now that you mention it, Your Highness, I'm reminded of an interesting saying I read in a miscellaneous book."

He said, "What if the air blowing in was first warmed up against the outside of the stove, turning into hot air before being sent in? Wouldn't that prevent the stove from cooling down, and instead allow the charcoal to burn more thoroughly and save on fuel?"

Upon hearing this, the old blacksmith's face immediately showed surprise and deep thought. He couldn't help but look up at Zhu Zhanji, who was being led by Chuntao and had a "pure and curious" look on his face.

He rubbed his rough hands and slowly said, "This, preheating the wind? Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember my master mentioning something like that, saying that it makes sense. When the wind is hot, it brings in more heat, and the charcoal fire will burn more thoroughly."

However, this method is quite troublesome to implement, and ordinary stoves cannot be used.

He sighed inwardly: This young nobleman's reading is truly remarkable; he actually managed to ask about such a crucial yet obscure tip.

"Thank you for your explanation, Master." Chun Tao nodded with a smile, thanked Zhu Zhanji on his behalf, and then led him away.

Similar scenes played out repeatedly in the days that followed.

In the carpenter's workshop, Zhu Zhanji would "curiously" point to the complex mortise and tenon structure, and Chun Tao would ask on his behalf why it was designed this way and whether there was a simpler and more reliable method.

At the kiln where glass is fired, he would stare at the glaze, and Chun Tao would ask him about the relationship between the formula and the firing temperature.

Even when he saw the waterwheels used for irrigation in the palace, he would ask Chun Tao to inquire about the relationship between the size of the waterwheel, its rotation speed and the amount of water it could lift, and whether it could drive other mechanisms.

Each time, the question was raised under the pretext of "the young prince's curiosity about something he read in a miscellaneous book".

The questions themselves often sound naive at first glance, but upon closer examination they touch upon key aspects of the industry or areas for improvement.

The craftsmen were initially nervous, but seeing that the young prince never interfered and just listened quietly to their answers, occasionally offering one or two ideas "from books, but not sure if they were feasible" through Chun Tao, they gradually relaxed and became more willing to say a few more words.

After all, being consulted by a respected person, even if it's just to relay a message, is an honor, especially since some of the questions do indeed prompt them to think.

Zhu Zhanji quietly absorbed these firsthand, down-to-earth experiences.

The blueprints in his mind were the skeleton, while the tips, problems, and understanding of material properties accumulated by these craftsmen over generations were the flesh and blood.

He also observed which craftsmen had a sparkle in their eyes when answering questions, spoke with pride when mentioning their craft, and were willing to ponder over "novel" ideas rather than simply rejecting them.

The roles of Chuntao and Liwei were also solidified in this process.

Chun Tao is quick-witted and articulate, and gradually becomes Zhu Zhanji's "spokesperson" for communicating with the outside world. She can accurately understand Zhu Zhanji's brief whispers or eye signals and transform them into appropriate questions that are in line with the identity of a "prodigy with curiosity".

Li Wei, like a shadow, silently handled the small tasks that Zhu Zhanji occasionally entrusted to him through Chun Tao, which required a little extra effort or discretion.

For example, he might bring back a "broken" tool that he was interested in to his residence, or send a simple sketch drawn by Zhu Zhanji to a skilled but taciturn craftsman who had noticed him, to "seek advice".

The days flew by in Zhu Zhanji’s planned “curiosity” and “learning”.

News of the war in the south was sometimes good and sometimes bad, and the atmosphere in the Prince of Yan's residence fluctuated accordingly.

Zhu Di returned to his residence even less often, and when he did, he was usually exhausted, discussing matters with his advisors and generals until late at night.

Zhu Zhanji obediently did not disturb him, but instead used this relatively "free" time to run to the library more diligently or "immerse" himself in the corners of various workshops.

As he learned more and more characters, the questions he asked became increasingly difficult for Chuntao to answer accurately.

In the blink of an eye, it was the fourth year of Jianwen's reign. Zhu Zhanji was three years old. He had grown a little taller, and his walking, sitting and lying down had lost much of the unsteadiness of an infant. He was more like an overly intelligent and quiet toddler.

At this moment, Zhu Zhanji knew it was time to visit the small mountain village where he had been granted the title.

Xishan Villa, amidst the lingering chill of early spring, welcomed its three-year-old young master.

When the carriage entered the village, the scene that Zhu Zhanji saw was not far from what he had expected: barren, quiet, and even somewhat gloomy.

The villagers knelt to greet them from afar, their heads bowed so low they almost touched the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Zhu Zhanji chose to stay in a quiet courtyard near the back mountain.

After settling in, he did not rush to summon the head of the estate or inspect the terrain, but instead instructed Chun Tao: "Tomorrow, let's take a walk around the estate and look at things."

Ask the farmers how they live, what farm tools they use, and what kind of firewood they burn.