Chapter 219

The scholars of the Ge Wu Academy, having completed their assault on the base Confucians, secured a great victory in the field of science; Huang Huang Zifu's skillful hands, combined with the ingenious designs of the Ge Wu Academy's members, produced scientific instruments capable of directly observing the laws governing all things' development. Under the impartial judgment of the Emperor, the Ge Wu Academy's triumph was entirely expected.

Regarding this Ge Wu gathering, the Ge Wu Bao, Min Bao, Di Bao, and others published extensive special reports, offering a comprehensive exposition on atmospheric pressure.

The reciprocating pump cannot solve the Great Ming's problem of drawing water from more than twenty zhang underground, for it requires continuous power; the Great Ming must still advance along this path, and under the lure of substantial financial rewards, progress is extremely rapid.

Using gold and silver to incentivize scientific advancement is a common practice.

In the eighteenth century, navigation, which could determine latitude but not longitude, was perilous and even threatened England's maritime hegemony, causing immense distress; precise mechanical timepieces thus became England's urgent priority.

In the fifty-third year of During Kangxi, England established the Longitude Prize, offering 20,000 pounds sterling; at the time, one pound sterling was pure silver of 925 fineness, roughly equivalent to twelve taels of Great Ming silver—meaning England offered 240,000 taels of silver to reward accurate longitude determination.

The clockmaker John Harrison invented a precisely timed timepiece; the institutions established around the Longitude Prize and the Longitude Act eventually became the English Council for Research and the English Technical Strategy Committee, and the prize and law subtly accelerated the sluggish development of the Royal Society, ultimately securing England's position as the world's center of science and technology.

Duan Duan Haoxiang withdrew seventy thousand taels of silver from his private treasury to promote scientific progress.

Burning coal means burning money; one must burn something, or there will be no result—often, in rare cases, both must be burned.

Without the Emperor's genuine reward, the inventions of various pumps kept emerging in endless abundance; the downside was evident, but the benefits gradually emerged as well—development seemed to escape the framework of contradiction, for every matter inevitably manifests its dual, contradictory nature.

Lu Yin Yin Zhengmao Liu was ten years old, arrogant, extravagant, and wasteful; at this young age, he had caused many disturbances, and Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi had specifically issued an imperial edict ordering senior ministers to properly educate him.

"Come here," Empress Dowager Li said sharply to Empress Chen.

Empress Dowager Li halted her steps; Duan Duan Haoxiang was likely angry, and if I went over now, I might be caught in the crossfire—it would be wiser to slip away.

Empress Dowager Li hummed a tune as she returned to the Wang Xiyuan Baoqi Office, glanced at a memorial in her hand, and finally approved it with a vermilion rubric.

"He's nearly grown into a man—he's no longer a child. His father passed away early, and his mother cannot control him. Why? Are we not born nobles? Just like this perpetual motion machine—he refuses to give, only demands; this is a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water."

The Guoxing Yin Zhengmao in Lu Song captured another whale; this time, the shipment to the capital was not small. Zhu Zhu Yilou was so grateful because the seven-masted ocean-going ships had grown increasingly vital in Lu Song.

Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi's abdication signified that this household was now under Duan Duan Haoxiang's control. Though I am still a child, Empress Chen is clearly turning out badly, and intervention is necessary.

I have exhausted every means to make Empress Chen worthy of becoming a ruler; if she remains unworthy, then even I, as Emperor, am powerless.

Empress Dowager Li did not suppress this wind of public opinion; the various perpetual motion machines devised may never achieve perpetual motion, but in designing them, one inevitably considers a problem: energy loss during motion must be accounted for.

Pan Pan Jixun cultivated land in Jiangxi; the Director General of Grain Transport, Wu Wu Guifang, and the Censor of Nanzhili cultivated land in Fengyang and elsewhere; the Censor of Liaodong, Zhu Zhu Yijun, cultivated land in Zhangwu; all three gave high praise to the complex reciprocating pump and each submitted a congratulatory memorial, celebrating the Great Ming's auspicious omen and its great benefit.

Empress Dowager Li acted immediately, striking without mercy; she slapped Empress Chen, who screamed in pain, dropped the wooden sword, and clutched her arm, wailing loudly.

Before the day's martial training began, Empress Dowager Li brought Empress Chen to the Wang Xiyuan Baoqi Office and made him follow her in farming.

That's too harsh.

Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi blamed the teachers: since the age of one, he had not even completed the most basic elementary texts; Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi did not wish to burden Duan Duan Haoxiang, for as Grand Secretary and Imperial Tutor, Luo Luo Sigong was already overwhelmed—thus, securing a tutor for Empress Chen became a major problem.

It was again time to plant sweet potato seedlings; Empress Dowager Li patiently explained to Empress Chen how to farm.

These two ceremonies consumed the majority of the court session's time; after the court lecture concluded, Empress Dowager Li went to Cining Palace—she must visit on the first and seventeenth of every month; if it was not the first or seventeenth, she still could not come to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Excellent, excellent!" Duan Duan Haoxiang said with a smile: "Guangmao speaks truly well. I, too, lack those seventy thousand taels of silver. Let the palace and court share the burden—this unites palace and state. Establishing rewards and punishments is indeed excellent."

"I know, I know," Empress Chen groaned, her forehead muscles twitching from pain; now she understood how hard her brother worked daily—she also knew he had not used his full strength, perhaps only eight-tenths of his power.

Empress Chen could understand: after the previous incident, her own brother had personally issued an edict expelling all palace maids from her side, ostensibly for inciting the Prince of Lu, but in truth fearing they would harbor resentment and conspire with court officials to harm her.

"Brother, why do we have to farm? You're the Emperor, I'm the Prince of Lu—we're both born nobles," Empress Chen asked, exhausted and leaning back in her chair, deeply puzzled.

When Zhang Hong saw this scene, he fetched a wooden ladder; Empress Dowager Li climbed down and lifted Empress Chen up.

The final court decision was: the Ministry of Revenue would provide seventy-seven thousand taels to the inner treasury to cover the reward for the water-lifting device, and the mechanism for auspicious omens was formally established.

The Prince of Lu's escape route was extraordinary: while others ran inward, he stretched his arms and legs, using all four limbs to scramble up to the corner of the roof.

Empress Chen feared Duan Duan Haoxiang and Zhang Zhang Juzheng, feared court ministers—but feared only this brother. He had seen his own brother beaten by Hou Hou Yuzhao until he limped, silent and without punishment; instead, Hou Hou Yuzhao was rewarded.

"Then do it at once," Empress Dowager Li approved this request for funds; the Ge Wu Academy was not without merit—since its founding, its achievements were many, yet its members only sought comfort and refused to contribute; the inner treasury eunuchs were naturally satisfied.

"Ten thousand taels from the Guanglu Temple, ten thousand from the state treasury—seventy thousand taels in total," Zhang Hong answered obediently.

Eunuchs, as the Emperor's claws and fangs, must fight for the throne's power against the court—whether they obtain it or not, they must always make a show of force.

The relationship between the Great Ming and the Lu Song Governorate is unlike that between the Great Ming and Yunnan; Lu Song is not a distant territory to be discarded, nor a marginal region of little value—it is a vassal domain. This is the signal the Emperor has sent, and Zhu Zhu Yilou feels only gratitude, so he sends every good thing to the capital for the Emperor's amusement.

"Remember today's pain. I only struck you today. If you grow up and mistreat palace maids, and if a Lu Prince's maid kills you with a knife, I will gain a younger brother. Do not force me to the point where I must kill you. Do you understand?" Empress Dowager Li spoke plainly to Duan Duan Haoxiang.

Luo Luo Sigong added: "This morning, the Grand Secretariat received a congratulatory memorial from the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ling Ling Yunyi, who also praised the water-lifting machine and attached a manual for its use on wells. Please all take a look."

Empress Dowager Li did not approve; the state's great rites require impartiality and avoidance of favoritism.

When Empress Dowager Li left the palace for the capital garrison, she unexpectedly encountered Zhang Zhang Juzheng's imperial carriage—as if waiting for her.

The establishment of a reward and punishment system far exceeds the value of seventy thousand taels.

This scene was simply too bizarre.

In Empress Chen's mind, his brother was indeed a model: for seven years, he lived like a mountain ascetic, eating one hard biscuit daily—this thing was so tough it hurt his teeth; Empress Chen ate it once and never again.

The seventh aspect is labor education.

Duan Duan Haoxiang believed these were not problems caused by labor; only through honest, hard work could one understand the hardships and bitterness of life.

The Western men sent to the Prince's residence were sent to the capital by Zhu Zhu Yilou based on this context; whether the Emperor accepted them mattered little, but Zhu Zhu Yilou's sending them mattered greatly.

"Does it hurt?" Empress Dowager Li walked over and asked Empress Chen, whose face showed no expression.

"The palace has no money, but if you ask the court for money, that is contradiction. The inner treasury's largest recent expenditure is precisely this water-lifting project. The inner treasury eunuchs believe it should be fully funded by the inner treasury, hence they are asking the court for silver."

"The state's finances must be regulated: all supplies come from the inner treasury. If the Guanglu Temple's silver is exclusively for meals, sacrifices, and rations, and the Grand Granary's reserves are solely for military and state defense, they must not be squandered. The Guanglu Temple now spends ten thousand taels monthly, barely enough for eight years; the Grand Granary's annual income barely covers annual expenditure. If an emergency arises, how will we pay? To donate from the inner treasury does not demonstrate the Emperor's frugality."

Empress Dowager Li brought Duan Duan Haoxiang to the Martial Training Hall and said: "Prince of Lu, from today, you will train with me."

Empress Dowager Li quickly knelt down, pulled the Prince of Lu up from the ground, and said solemnly: "Brother, you are foolish. If you cannot understand this, you will not understand: these maids are your close attendants. If they harbor resentment and are incited by malicious outsiders, they will kill you. Assassination and palace fires—you've already witnessed them."

When the Emperor errs, he must go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to read a confession. But when Empress Chen errs, she is not even reprimanded. Thus, her character grows ever more erratic—so erratic that it must now be discussed in court.

The seven-masted ocean-going ships deployed by the Great Ming Emperor in Lu Song charge no fees.

"Mother," Empress Dowager Li bowed slightly in greeting; the Empress Dowager of Emperor Longqing Emperor was Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Though Zhang Zhang Juzheng had been disliked by Emperor Longqing for urging frugality, by ritual, Empress Dowager Li must still address her as "mother."

The craftsmen of Guangdong and Guangxi invented a spherical check valve: when water flowed downward, the ball was pushed to one side; when water ceased flowing, the ball fell back into place, blocking backflow and enabling pumping.

Such a valuable device should not be funded solely by the inner treasury—it would be inappropriate.

Going down is hard; coming up is harder.

This is also tied to Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi's indulgence—and the connection is significant.

"It hurts! It hurts! Brother! Really hurts!" Empress Chen screamed, clutching her arm; it truly hurt—she had been slapped so hard her arm swelled.

As the de facto crown prince and first heir in the absence of imperial sons, the Prince of Lu is extremely unfit.

"I just thought it was fun to watch. Brother, you used to do this," Duan Duan Haoxiang knew his brother was angry—not over the broken vase, but over the maids beating each other.

This decree wounded familial affection; Duan Duan Haoxiang sent the Western men Zhu Zhu Yilou had sent to the Prince's residence to the bedside of his uncle, Zhu Zhu Zaishu, as a gesture of familial bond.

The Emperor's previous sparring partner was Hou Hou Yuzhao; today, with Hou Hou Yuzhao silent, the target became the Prince of Lu.

Some craftsmen attempted to build a device that could drive a flywheel without consuming fire, water, or animal power—such a device was called a perpetual motion machine.

"Mother!" Empress Chen shrank back, hiding entirely behind Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi.

If one day Empress Chen becomes an obstacle to the Great Ming's revival, Empress Dowager Li will act against him without hesitation.

"If he cannot understand, let him hate me. Let him hate."

The Great Ming Emperor asked the state treasury for money again.

The spherical check valve's design was complex: when water flowed downward, the large ball was pushed to one side; when water ceased flowing, it fell back into its slot, blocking backflow and enabling pumping.

The Prince of Lu committed offenses without any reward—just like the Emperor.

"Good," Empress Dowager Li nodded. If I were to fall ill, the empire's first heir in line, in this state, would indeed be a problem.

Thus, Empress Chen's failure to become worthy stems from Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi's indulgence; Duan Duan Haoxiang's view is that the elder brother is like the father—the Emperor must properly discipline Empress Chen and not let him grow into a crooked, twisted thing.

If struck with full force, that arm might be ruined.

Duan Duan Haoxiang noticed something amusing: whenever Zhu Zhu Yijun and Guangmao spoke, whether sincerely or feigning, they always recited the same archaic rhetoric before getting to their real points.

Moreover, this trend swept through the entire city.

"Come here!" Duan Duan Haoxiang's furious shout reached the Emperor's ears.

Because of the existence of shark oil, a premium lubricant, only a light push was needed to set the flywheel turning for a very long time. Empress Dowager Li, being busy, could not even observe when it stopped; to further reduce friction, every large copper ball was polished to extreme smoothness and coated with shark oil.

The seventh-class auspicious omen is a technological advancement award granted by the Great Ming Emperor and court.

Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi could not understand: Luo Luo Sigong had taught the Emperor so well, yet other teachers had turned Empress Chen into this.

"This money should be given," Wang Wang Guoguang, representing the Ministry of Revenue, spoke first: "This single reciprocating pump alone will benefit the Great Ming for a long time. How much silver will it require to operate?"

"Come with me."

Duan Duan Haoxiang is a foolish man, and Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi has explained this to him.

The court session that began the next morning first addressed this matter: the Emperor asked the state treasury for money.

Empress Dowager Li looked at Duan Duan Haoxiang; Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi hesitated, then pulled Empress Chen out and handed him to Empress Dowager Li.

"Why?" Empress Dowager Li closed the farming manual and asked: "Is the palace not rich? Is the inner treasury empty?"

Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi protected Empress Chen: "It's just a vase. Mother is angry not at him, but at his room—if he had broken something else, what then? Come here."

Empress Dowager Li adjusted her emotions, entered Cining Palace, and saw the scene before her—her face filled with astonishment: Duan Duan Haoxiang Liu was crouched in the corner, but not just any corner—he stretched his arms and legs, huddled in the upper corner beneath the ceiling.

Duan Duan Haoxiang looked at a memorial in his hand and asked curiously: "Zhang Zhang Xiaoban, yesterday, did the inner treasury eunuch Cui Min ask the court for silver again?"

Luo Luo Sigong also believed the money should be granted; the expenditure had already yielded returns, making it even more legitimate. Duan Duan Haoxiang said: "Someone in court has spoken out—Minister of the Censorate Guangmao has submitted a memorial refuting it."

"At one year, one sees the future; at ten, one sees the end." Empress Chen will likely live out a ridiculous life: capricious, prone to beating and scolding servants, beating concubines with dates, whipping servants with bowstrings—these are the things Empress Chen has done.

For wells deeper than eight zhang, the water-lifting machine—or reciprocating pump—is placed above the water surface at a height exceeding eight zhang, and water is continuously pumped up.

The Spanish colonists did not retreat; during the war, in some perilous moments, they nearly recaptured Manila. The existence of the seven-masted ocean-going ships made the Spanish colonists suffer greatly—even their decisive military equipment.

Seeing her brother angry, Empress Chen burst into tears and ran to Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi, whispering: "I won't, I won't."

"This praise is empty, tedious rhetoric. It can be understood as: from the standpoint of the censors, to praise is to act like a censor. After all, this concerns the Ministry of Revenue. His real point comes after: Guangmao said: 'Mechanical innovation greatly benefits the state. I have previously proposed: establish a special reward system for the seven martial ranks, with gold and silver grants shared by palace and court.'"

After confirming all protocols for the Prince of Lu's coronation, Luo Luo Sigong began discussing the palace examination: those who passed the metropolitan examination must also pass the Emperor's palace examination to become full scholars. Luo Luo Sigong and Wang Wang Chonggu avoided reading the papers due to their sons' participation; the palace examination required the Grand Secretary, Deputy Grand Secretary, and all eight Ministers to read the papers, and Zhang Zhang Siwen and Wang Qian must both take it.

To take the Emperor's things for free is utterly lawless.

"His Majesty arrives!" Even as the Emperor was still approaching, the lead eunuch had already shouted—there was no choice but to enter.

"Come spar." Empress Dowager Li handed Empress Chen a wooden sword and took one herself; she would carry out her daily routine of sparring.

"No effort means no harvest—like farming outside the field: two parts sowing, eight parts tending, seven parts fertilizing. Those who willingly neglect their duties naturally reap little; they scatter seeds and leave it to heaven's will, yet expect abundant returns. That is labor without reward—ultimately, it's climbing a tree to catch a fish; there will be no fruit." Duan Duan Haoxiang stirred the circular ring behind his face.

Empress Dowager Li, upon hearing this, did not fall silent but smiled and asked, "What would Your Majesty have me do?"

Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi still showed no intention to defend him; though Empress Chen had tormented others so severely, she received no reward whatsoever.

"As he saw it, Prince Liu shattered a vase, the younger sister grew angry, so I zipped straight up to the corner of the roof," Zhang Zhang Juzheng said cheerfully.

After further deliberation, Zhang Zhang Juzheng took another step back to explain: "One mountain cannot hold seven tigers. Prince Lu's absurdity is enough to deter anyone from entertaining wicked thoughts."

Spanish ships, when facing seven-masted ocean-going vessels, felt nothing but despair.

Wang Wang Guoguang continued explaining his rationale for funding, saying: "Governor of Jiangxi Pan Pan Jixun, Director-General of Grain Transport Wu Wu Guifang, Censor of Zhili Sun Chengming, and Liaodong Censor Zhu Zhu Yijun all submitted congratulatory memorials, extolling this as a great auspicious omen of Great Ming—congratulating Great Ming, congratulating Your Majesty."

If the problem of water-lifting by fire-power is genuinely solved, it shall be rated as a first-class auspicious omen; if major breakthroughs occur around this subject, it shall be rated as a second-class auspicious omen. The evaluation shall be overseen by Zhu Zhu Zaiyu, jointly assessed by the Academy of Investigating Things.

Empress Dowager Li's education of Duan Duan Haoxiang focused on two aspects: leading by example. She showed Empress Chen that heaven grants no unearned blessings, no entitlements. Ancestral grace fades after no more than seven generations.

"You indulge and shield Prince Lu recklessly—this is thoughtless," Duan Duan Haoxiang waved his hand, signaling others to step back, then spoke loudly.

Empress Chen dared to throw tantrums at Duan Duan Haoxiang, but she dared not do so at Empress Dowager Li. Tears in her eyes, she followed Empress Dowager Li step by step, glancing back repeatedly.

On the eleventh day of the eighth month, Empress Dowager Li issued an edict: all collateral princes may petition only for grain rations; their daughters' and sons' marriage dowries must not be requested en masse. This is to be made a standing rule.

"Come with me," Empress Dowager Li said coldly to Empress Chen.

Empress Chen made palace maids whip each other with willow branches; whoever cried out was whipped again, and if they didn't cry, another was substituted. Empress Chen watched, delighted, without pause. When the Emperor learned of this, Empress Dowager Li went specifically to speak with Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi about it.

"For Prince Lu's coming-of-age ceremony, the ceremonial duties shall be entrusted to Duke of Ying Zhang Rong, who shall hold the crown. You, the Deputy Grand Secretary, and the Minister of Rites shall issue the admonition," Luo Luo Sigong said regarding Prince Lu's coronation.

Empress Chen was wasteful—not because she left food uneaten, but because she deliberately squandered. Duan Duan Haoxiang and Empress Dowager Li provided her with such material abundance that she was fully aware she was wasting.

"Your Majesty, the elder brother is like a father—he should admonish him to walk the right path," Luo Luo Sigong bowed and said. Speaking of Prince Lu, Luo Luo Sigong and the court ministers' faces darkened instantly; Prince Lu, with his natural nobility, was precisely the image of a born noble.

In the eighth month of Emperor Wanli Seventh Year, the prevailing trend among the literati remained focused on non-material production; even more misguided was idle talk of human nature. Who, then, would engage in material production?

The imperial treasury has no money—but this water-lifting project is not for the Emperor's personal use; it is a matter of state importance. Why should it be funded entirely from the Emperor's private gold reserves?

That is the very purpose of eunuchs. The Emperor's benevolence is the Emperor's benevolence; eunuchs must do their own work. Why should they stand idly by, taking not a single coin, yet enjoy the fruits?

"Mother, Mama," Empress Dowager Li bowed, then looked at Empress Chen in astonishment: "Mother, how did this younger brother come to be?"

"You—you—you, don't go!" Empress Chen stammered.

Perpetual motion—a mechanical mindset seeking reward without labor.

The vase shattered—that was fine. But he made palace maids whip each other to endure pain. The Emperor grew furious, even quarreling with Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi.

"I… learn!" Empress Chen had meant to say "I don't want to learn," but the words twisted on her tongue.

"Think carefully. I'm going to the capital garrison."

All manner of bizarre perpetual motion machines appeared on the Emperor's desk, though most were mere toys. For instance, a circular ring composed of eighteen helical lines sat beneath the proposal—each helix bore a solid bronze ball.

Empress Chen was old, but she clearly knew who must never be provoked. A ruthless man stood behind her, and if she disobeyed, she would surely be beaten.

"Come here," Empress Dowager Li ignored Duan Duan Haoxiang and fixed Empress Chen with an even fiercer gaze.

Training with the Emperor was immensely taxing. Hou Hou Yuzhao knew well the years of training that had made him the highest-ranked fighter in the empire.

Most ideological problems arise not from labor. Rice bins do not magically sprout grain. But raised deep within the palace, it is hard to believe that merchant warehouses could spontaneously produce goods.

Duan Duan Haoxiang even believed that grain sprouted from rice bins.

This was another edict targeting princes below the rank of commandery prince, following the policy since Emperor Wanli Seventh Year that all such princes must seek their own livelihoods—not merely fixing stipends, but also ending imperial funding for marriages of their sons and daughters, now made a permanent rule.

Empress Dowager Li washed herself, preparing to depart for the capital garrison. Seeing Empress Chen utterly exhausted, she asked: "Why are we born nobles? Because of ancestral grace—but that grace is nearly exhausted. The virtue of a gentleman fades after seven generations."

Empress Chen knew this beating was coming—and indeed, she could not escape it. She was beaten anyway.

Luo Luo Bingliang of the Tax Office had raided several households and recovered funds. Truly effective. Raise the price of fine woolen cloth further, open silver mines with greater intensity. The silver of the powerful is like water in a sponge—squeeze it, and it will come out. If that fails, squeeze harder.

Establishing a system of rewards and punishments targeting craftsmen and technological advancement is indeed necessary.

Empress Chen gave out pastries laced with stones. When palace maids bit into them and shattered their teeth, Empress Chen laughed uncontrollably. When Wang Lu Chuan Zhuyi learned of this, Duan Duan Haoxiang did not punish Empress Chen, but instead dismissed the maids serving Duan Duan Haoxiang, accusing them of corrupting Prince Lu.

Duan Duan Haoxiang gave no scolding, no nagging—only made Empress Chen train with him. For Prince Lu, stretching felt like death; yet he gritted his teeth and endured.

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