Chapter 606 Zhang Xiang’s head is buzzing!
Just after crossing the Yahong Bridge, I saw rows of poplar trees planted behind the embankment on the east side of the Bing River. They were straight but not tall and were all planted in the past two years.

Zhang Dali from Fengrun Woolen Fabric Factory, who was chosen by Zhu Yijun as the “envoy to welcome the emperor”, pointed to the row of flood and windbreak forests stretching for twenty to thirty miles and said proudly.

“Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhang, in the 46th year of the Jiajing reign, our woolen cloth factory was built in Fengrun. Since that year, every ten-day holiday, the workers’ union has organized us to plant trees by the river.

The factory was also very supportive. It allocated money and grain to buy saplings, subsidized our meals, provided tea, and also offered prizes to reward advanced tree-planting units and individuals. The prizes were considerable, and everyone was very motivated.

Of course, it is not only necessary to plant trees, but also to maintain them. After a few years, a forest has grown here. However, people on the other side of the river often come here to steal and cut down trees.

Damn, how can we let them cut down the trees we planted with so much effort?

We formed a forest protection team and took turns on duty after work. We severely beat up any wood thieves we caught. After a year or two, fewer villagers dared to steal trees.

After listening to Zhang Dali’s introduction, Zhang Xueyan, the chief secretary of the cabinet, who was following behind him, couldn’t help but whisper to Zhang Juzheng: “Prime Minister, the hatred between the east and west sides has its origins.”

He and Yang Jinshui rushed to Hongjiaqiao Post Station last night.

Before this, the two of them went to Luanzhou as advance guard. When they heard that Zhu Yijun and his party had stopped, they immediately rushed back. This morning, they went to the farmland and the factory as advance guards respectively.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yang Jinshui who was following closely behind Zhu Yijun in front of him, and felt a little annoyed.

Ever since Feng Bao was called to Chengde to supervise the construction of the imperial palace, he had been like a blind and deaf person in the Imperial Household Department.

Chen Ju, who was temporarily in charge of one of the Imperial Household Departments, was an honest person who advocated peace and tranquility, and had a good relationship with Zhao Zhenji.

Another great playwright, Yang Jinshui, had a good relationship with Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun.

It is unbelievable that he, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, has no ally in the Imperial Household Department.

We have to think of a way to get the emperor to call Feng Bao back.

Zhang Xueyan spoke in his ear, immediately bringing his thoughts back to reality.

Zhang Juzheng nodded: “The factory is a new thing, and neither you nor I know much about it. Let’s see how the emperor and eunuch Yang deal with it.”

Zhang Xueyan glanced at Zhang Juzheng and said nothing more.

Zhu Yijun found this very interesting. He turned to Yang Jinshui and said, “You have put a lot of effort into these factories. You should listen to my words and do your best to do them step by step.”

“Your Majesty, you have foresight and foresight. I will do the right thing by following your instructions.”

Just after passing Yahong Bridge, there is a cement road that stretches for two or three miles, all the way to the factory gate in the distance.

Looking at this four-meter-wide cement road, Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard and couldn’t help sighing, “Cement roads, Pan Shaoyin built all this kind of cement roads when he renovated the old city in the south of the capital.”

Zhang Xueyan immediately agreed, “Prime Minister, this cement road has many advantages.

It does not raise dust, and it does not become muddy when it rains. It is very flat, and a carriage can drive on it without any bumps. Cement is not expensive nowadays, but the key is to lay a good roadbed, which is very particular.

Without the guidance of the road research institute, even if you build a cement road, if the foundation is not laid properly, the cement road surface may collapse and become useless in two or three years.”

Zhang Juzheng turned and looked at him, “Zi Yu has a lot of experience in road construction.”

“Prime Minister, the cement road from Taiyuan to Datong was built by me when I was the councilor of Shanxi. It was because of this road that I was recommended by Wang Butang and Mr. Huo to be the governor of Shanxi.”

Yes, Zhang Xueyan is a capable official who can handle complicated affairs, so I appointed him as the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet to handle the complicated affairs of the Cabinet.

Talking along the way and pointing at both sides of the road, Zhu Yijun and his party soon arrived at the first stop in the factory area.

Facing us is a big gate, in the style of a flat-topped archway, with a line of copper characters on it: “Fengrun Woolen Cloth Factory”, shining in the sun.

Below were two iron gates, fully opened.

There is a tall red brick wall on both sides of the gate pillars.

Song Gongliang has already led the Yulin Army to deploy defenses everywhere here. Soldiers standing guard can be seen everywhere at the gate, the wall, and inside.

A group of people stood at the gate to greet us, led by Director Wu, whom I had met yesterday.

After the noisy ceremony, Zhu Yijun, Zhang Juzheng and their entourage walked straight into the factory gate. A ten-meter-wide, flat concrete road blinded everyone’s eyes.

What is even more unexpected is that there are short cedar trees on both sides of the cement road, and between the trees are brick flower beds full of flowers.

Fifty meters ahead on the cement road, there is a screen wall, which is longer than the screen walls of ordinary houses and appears shorter in comparison.

There are four characters engraved on the stone slab: “Strengthen the country and enrich the people!”

Director Wu explained, “This is the emperor’s handwriting that we have copied from the engraved version of the Imperial Edict.”

Zhu Yijun nodded and said: “These four words were written by me for the Shanghai Commercial News in the second year of the Longqing reign. The Luanhe Daily also reprinted them, and they all used engraved plates to carve out my words.

You guys are just copying.

Zhu Yijun shook his head.

What, Your Majesty doesn’t think it’s a good idea?
Director Wu was very nervous and subconsciously looked at Yang Jinshui.

Yang Jinshui glanced at him, with a smile on his face, and blinked calmly.

Be patient!

“Master Zhang, my handwriting has failed to live up to your teachings. It is so ugly. My face is burning when I see it engraved here. I am so ashamed.”

Zhang Juzheng quickly replied with a smile: “Your Majesty is in charge of the country and has a lot of things to worry about. It is natural that he would delay such trivial things as practicing calligraphy.

But the emperor’s handwriting is resolute and powerful, and has a unique charm. “

“Master Zhang, please stop exaggerating. I know my handwriting well. The best calligrapher in the inner court is Feng Bao, followed by Chen Ju, Lu Yong and Yang Jinshui. Li Chun and Qi Yan also have their own strengths.

In the outer court, Master Li writes the best, followed by Mr. Wen Chang, and then it’s Master Zhao and you, Master Zhang.

Well, how long has Feng Bao been in Chengde?”

Yang Jinshui replied, “Your Majesty, Eunuch Feng left for Chengde a few days before the Dragon Boat Festival, and it has been two and a half months now.”

“You are the Minister of the Imperial Household. The construction of the palace will be funded by your own money. You know the progress best. How is the construction of the Chengde Palace going?”

“In reply to the emperor, under the supervision of Eunuch Feng, the foundation and main frame have been completed. The remaining work is just a matter of polishing. The next most important step is to inspect the completion carefully.”

“Inspection is very important. Now is a slow process, and we can’t let Feng Bao get stuck in it and delay things. Send an order to summon Feng Bao to Lulong City, the capital, and wait for me.

I still need to learn more from him about my calligraphy.”

“According to the order!”

Zhu Yijun and Yang Jinshui sang the same tune and decided to recall Feng Bao with just a few words. Zhang Juzheng was unable to react for a while.

God’s will is unpredictable!
I was just thinking of a way to get Feng Bao back. Fortunately, I had an ally in the Imperial Household Department to take care of him. Unexpectedly, as soon as I finished thinking about it, the emperor made the decision to call Feng Bao back.

why?
The emperor does not act on impulse. He must have thought of something before making this decision.

Could it be that he saw the prosperity of Luanzhou factories? Almost all the coal, iron, smelting, machinery, woolen and other new factories in Ming Dynasty were built by Yang Jinshui. If Luanzhou was so prosperous, Shanghai and Taiyuan must be no worse.

These three large plates were all built by Yang Jinshui himself and they are his basic plate.

After seeing his true strength, the emperor became afraid and found an excuse to recall Feng Bao to maintain the balance of power in the Imperial Household Department.

But in order to take Yang Jinshui’s feelings into consideration, the emperor deliberately turned around and asked him.

There were several people around the emperor, and he could have asked anyone, but he had to ask Yang Jinshui.

Yang Jinshui was also tactful and answered immediately and clearly that the Chengde Palace was almost completed and Feng Bao could come back.

In this case, no matter what Feng Bao felt, he had to accept this favor.

It was Yang Jinshui who gave the emperor advice, and only then did the emperor agree to recall Feng Bao.

If you don’t acknowledge it, the Emperor and all the officials will think you are ungrateful, and you will be in trouble in the future.

The Emperor has really inherited the true teachings of his grandfather, Emperor Sejong. He does things in a roundabout way and only gets to the point.

The group walked around the screen wall and faced a building about 20 to 30 feet high. It was a rectangular building with a flat roof and twelve cement columns in front, connecting the top to the ground. It had the style of an ancient Greek temple, but looked more like another building.

“Great Hall. Is this the Great Hall of your factory?”

Zhu Yijun raised his head and asked.

Director Wu quickly replied: “Your Majesty is wise and can see the use of this building at a glance.

In reply to the emperor, this building is the conference hall of our factory. It can accommodate 1,200 people for meetings. It also has a sound wall so that people at the front desk can hear the speeches from far away.

Our factory’s monthly and annual meetings, as well as regular art performances, publicity conferences, and mobilization conferences are all held here.”

“Are all the workers inside?”

“In reply to the emperor, our factory has 3,000 workers, so we selected the annual and monthly outstanding workers, managers of various departments in the factory, members of the workers’ union, as well as representatives of ordinary workers and representatives of workers’ families, a total of 1,200 people, and they are all in there now to receive the emperor’s summons.”

“Okay.” Zhu Yijun turned to Yang Jinshui and said, “Go in and explain it to everyone first. I will go in. You don’t have to kneel or kowtow. This hall is not a place to kowtow. Just cross your hands and bow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Yang Jinshui, dressed in a Feiyu suit, lifted up his collar and walked in quickly.

Zhang Xueyan couldn’t help but whisper to Zhang Juzheng: “Prime Minister, the emperor has never been here, how come he is so familiar with the Great Hall here?”

Zhang Juzheng replied quietly without turning his head, “When Yang Jinshui built the first batch of factories in Luanzhou, it is said that the layout and architectural drawings of the factories were drawn by the emperor.

Later, factories in Luanzhou, Taiyuan and even Shanghai basically had the same layout and the same architecture. “

Zhang Xueyan took a deep breath, but before he could sigh, Zhu Yijun in front of him lifted his clothes, walked up six steps and stood on the platform of the Great Hall.

Zhang Xueyan, Zhang Juzheng and others hurriedly followed.

The columns are in ancient Greek style, but the gate is in local style, a wooden gate with carvings and paintings, which is heavy, imposing, gorgeous and beautiful.

There are three doors in total. The main door is slightly larger, while the left and right doors are slightly smaller. They are all double doors and are all wide open.

Zhu Yijun took the lead and walked into the main gate.

Inside is an antechamber with a door on each side in front, leading directly into the hall.

Zhu Yijun did not go through the main entrance. Instead, he turned around and walked into the left aisle at the farthest end. Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Xueyan and others followed closely behind him.

Where does this corridor lead to?

Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Xueyan were shocked.

A soldier from the Yongwei Camp was standing some distance away in the aisle. When he saw Zhu Yijun coming, he saluted.

Those wearing new military uniforms raised their right hands to the edge of their hats and gave the new military salute.

He wore an old-style mandarin duck jacket, held the hilt of a sword in his left hand, placed his right palm downward across his chest, and gave an old-style military salute.

Although it is called an old-style military salute, it is not actually old. In the 43rd year of Jiajing, Qi Jiguang was transferred to the Beijing Camp for military training, and the salute was formulated by Zhu Yijun, who was then the prince of Yu.

The walls of the corridor were all lined with windows that were more than a meter high from the ground. They were fitted with glass and allowed bright light to shine into the hall.

Every so often, there was a door leading to the meeting hall. The doors were all closed, and Yang Jinshui could be heard speaking loudly inside.

“The Emperor is coming. He has said that there is no need to kneel down and bow. Just cross your arms and bow. Then applaud enthusiastically.”

At the end of the corridor is the back hall, which is a bit dark and filled with officers and soldiers from the Yongwei Battalion and the Fengchensi Military School.

Following Zhu Yijun and turning two corners, I saw the front desk in front of me and Yang Jinshui standing on the stage.

Behind him was a row of seats, with the widest armchair in the front, and a futon embroidered with a dragon pattern on the seat.

There is a chair at the back, one step behind that, and one step behind that is a row of chairs, for a total of twelve chairs.

There were thousands of people sitting densely packed in the audience.

They sat in a long row of chairs, each connected to the left and right, separated by armrests.

The space between the front and back is not wide, with enough space for the knees to sit down. There is a straight aisle in the middle of the left and right, leading to the two doors in the front hall.

There are three rows of horizontal aisles in the middle, each connecting two doors on the left and right, leading to the left and right aisles.

Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Xueyan looked at each other. Yes, the blueprint of this building was a simple diagram drawn by the emperor, and then completed by the painters and craftsmen from the Ministry of Works.

Zhu Yijun turned his head and glanced at Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Xueyan.

Master Zhang, Zhang Changshi, follow me.

As soon as Zhu Yijun appeared in the foreground, thousands of people raised their arms and bowed in unison, “Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“No need to be polite!” Zhu Yijun smiled amiably, waved his hand, and answered loudly, “This time, the Prime Minister Zhang Xiang is also here with me to visit you. Everyone welcomes him.”

Seeing Zhu Yijun’s familiarity, Yang Jinshui, who would not change his color even in the face of a collapse of Mount Tai, was stunned for a moment. However, he reacted quickly and made gestures to Director Wu, the manager and the directors of the workers’ union in the audience.

Applause, applause loudly!

The emperor issued an oral order to simplify the etiquette. When meeting the emperor, one had to cross one’s hands and bow deeply. The prime minister could not enjoy such treatment.

The emperor and his subjects receive the same treatment, so how is the emperor’s supreme status reflected?
Thunderous applause broke out in the hall. Zhu Yijun waved his hand vigorously towards the backstage, signaling Zhang Juzheng to come out quickly.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Zhu Yijun’s gesture and subconsciously walked out of the backstage. Suddenly, he found that thousands of eyes were staring at him, and thunderous applause rushed towards him like a tide, quickly drowning him.

At this moment, the knowledgeable Zhang Juzheng’s head was buzzing.

(End of this chapter)