Chapter 219: The Border City Shocks Chang’an
If they knew that the Emperor also fancied the male-attired Fake Li King, it would certainly provide a lot of scripts for film, television, and novels.
Gu Changxiao said to have her make more hot air balloons to fly in the sky, to give the bumpkins of Chang’an a bit of a shock. Let them see the true face of the desolate land that they opposed becoming a border city of the Capital City.
Gu Changxiao meant to do it during the capital relocation, but Jinsui received news that people from the Ministry of Works had arrived in Yanzhou and would reach the border city the day after tomorrow. She immediately had people prepare, and the hot air balloons took to the sky that very day.
First, shock the officials from the Ministry of Works, preferably to the point where they would obey without needing military training.
The results were very satisfactory. The hot air balloons were the first source of amazement, seeing the various large machines at the construction site was the second source of amazement, and then they saw the residential houses Jinsui had drawn.
The officials from the Ministry of Works shook their heads, “In that case, the houses will be too dark, and the courtyards too small. They won’t get sunlight during the day, and at night, relying only on candlelight will also be dim.”
Someone else proposed, “These windows are opened too large; it’s easy for wind to get in.”
Then Jinsui took them to tour the Ji Residence, which she had redecorated after Grandpa Ling left, specifically to set an example for the officials from the Ministry of Works and Yan Shiyi.
“This, this is glazed glass? To seal the windows with such large pieces of glazed glass?”
Jinsui raised an eyebrow, “This is glass, not as finely crafted as glazed glass. Haven’t you heard in Chang’an? Our border city’s glass products are sold all over the Northern Frontier.”
“Glass is already a common item in the border city; it can completely be used to seal windows in palaces.”
In the future, there will no longer be situations where one pokes a hole in window paper by dipping a finger in saliva.
The officials were a bit embarrassed, “To be frank, the situation in the border city has rarely been reported to Chang’an before.”
They weren’t telling the truth. In fact, news had been sent, but it was all processed by Prince Yu’s faction and spread as completely untrue information.
Such as the common people not having enough to eat or wear, people freezing or starving to death every year, bandits rampant, and mountain bandits everywhere, Li King’s rule being unjust…
But from the moment they entered the border city, they knew all this information was false.
Here, Jinsui led them into another room and had someone draw the thick curtains, instantly plunging the room into darkness.
Before the officials could panic, Jinsui pressed a switch on the wall. With two ‘dada’ sounds, a wisp of blue flame first appeared in the glass lamp, followed by two more wisps. The flames turned red, and the light was extremely bright.
Brighter than candlelight or lamp oil.
The officials couldn’t immediately recognize what kind of lamp this was, and they all approached with curiosity to observe. Jinsui pulled back the curtains and pointed to the pipes embedded in the wall:
“This is a gas lamp. It can be installed with pipes and lamps in rooms like this, and turned on and off at any time. It can also be lit with a portable lamp for moving around. By the way, the street lamps on our border city roads use this.
When building palaces, pipes can be reserved, and all can be converted to gas lamps, making any kind of house brightly lit.”
The officials were astonished again, “Is this also something unique to the border city?”
Jinsui nodded, “That’s right! Even Yanzhou City doesn’t have it. I specifically reserved it for the construction of the Imperial Palace.”
“But, but gas will run out someday! And, doesn’t this lamp fixture feel unsafe?”
“We can discuss these issues later. For now, I’ll take you to see the building materials.”
What was there to see in building materials? To build an Imperial Palace, of course, one would use glutinous rice water, bricks, and high-quality timber. It must be that the border city had few raw materials and needed to procure them from elsewhere, which is why they needed to consult with them in advance!
As a result, Jinsui led them into the cement workshop and then took them to see houses built with cement. Along the way, seeing Li Da Wu Qiong City, which was completely different from Chang’an, the officials could only marvel.
They dared not underestimate it in the slightest! Who was it that said the border city was a desolate frontier, unsuitable for a capital city!
“With cement, construction will be very fast. And His Majesty said that the Imperial Palace can be built slowly; as long as a few halls are completed first, the capital can be relocated.”
“Now, do you still find it difficult?”
The older officials were worried. Whether it was gas lamps, glass windows, or cement, they had never seen them before. Using them for the construction of the Imperial Palace was unprecedented, and they were worried!
However, the younger officials were eager to try. Since entering the border city, seeing the hot air balloons flying in the sky, the four-wheeled vehicles running on the ground, and the large cargo ships going all the way to the East Sea, they understood that the new capital city would be completely different from Chang’an.
If they refused new things and refused to learn and progress, they would eventually be eliminated. This is because the border city had many outstanding craftsmen waiting to replace them!
When the officials from the Ministry of Works arrived, Gu Changxiao had given them an edict: to obey Miss Ling’s orders implicitly. Miss Ling was the future Empress!
Therefore, although the officials were dissatisfied, they did not dare to show it and could only discuss with Jinsui as much as possible.
With the architectural plans drawn, the sand table built, the building materials transported, the cement and brick kilns ready, and a batch of skilled craftsmen assembled, along with the unique tools of the border city, half a month later, the officials from the Ministry of Works regained their confidence.
The construction of the Imperial Palace officially began. Jinsui’s Academy was again delayed, but after building two branch academies, Jinsui planned to start recruiting students first. The Academy, like the Imperial Palace, would be built slowly!
The Emperor of Great Xia had not yet developed the later Qing Dynasty emperors’ penchant for building gardens; all palaces were primarily practical, without excessive embellishments.
Especially the Imperial Palace of the new capital city, it was planned to be majestic and grand, without gaudy splendor, not like a palace of pearls and jade, but possessing the majesty and nobility of imperial power.
Jinsui thought Gu Changxiao would wait until the Imperial Palace was half-built before relocating the capital, but in July, he wrote to say that they would move before the end of the year.
They would first work in the old Prince’s Residence. He wanted to take the founding emperor of Great Xia as an example. At that time, the capital was poor and lacking in supplies, and the few halls that were completed first were very cold, forcing the concubines to crowd together.
It took more than three years to build the Imperial Palace into its current form. In comparison, the current situation was already good enough!
Jinsui advised him, “There’s no need to be so rushed. Relocating the capital is a major event; take your time.”
Taking too big a step would cause many people to fall behind, and leaving too many powerful people and gentry in Chang’an would lead to further trouble and constant rebellions, which would be very troublesome.
Gu Changxiao also said that he wanted to bestow marriage upon Han Xing and Miss Yan, and then leave them to guard Chang’an. Han Xing would not be recalled for at least three years, and anyone who dared to cause trouble would be subject to summary execution by Han Xing.
This power was immense! Han Xing was truly formidable; he gave the impression of a gentle and refined general, but when he drew his sword to strike, he was fiercer than anyone.
Jinsui told Yan Shiyi this news, and unexpectedly, this turtle said, “Which one? The surname Han is barely worthy of my sister!”
Jinsui directly elbowed him, “My Han Xing has looks, has a noble title, has a good physique, and is rich. How is he not worthy of your sister?”
Yan Shiyi suddenly said in a low voice, “If I go to Chang’an now, can I ask the Emperor to bestow a marriage upon me too?”
Jinsui was speechless, “Your brother won’t let you go! What, you’ve taken a liking to that girl in Chang’an?”
“Not really, it’s just that my brother said I should get married, but finding a wife is too troublesome. It would be easier to just let the Emperor bestow one. A marriage bestowed by the Emperor is insured.”
Jinsui felt she could never keep up with Yan Shiyi’s train of thought and deliberately said, “Why don’t you just learn from the noble ladies and throw an embroidered ball to choose a groom!”
Yan Shiyi actually said earnestly, “That won’t do! How can girls crowd together to snatch an embroidered ball? Playing polo, however, is acceptable!”
Jinsui really wanted to say that crowding together to snatch an embroidered ball wasn’t the issue, but it would be too disappointing if the prize turned out to be you.
In August, another batch of officials arrived at the border city in advance. Cheng Yu and Li Heng also returned together.
Cheng Yu’s face was grave. As a civil official, he could not be granted a noble title, but his rank had been promoted by three levels, making him a close minister to the Emperor, and the responsibility on his shoulders was immense.
Although Li Heng had not been promoted, the value of his position as Prefect of Yanzhou was completely different from before.
He had also brought his family over. He used to always think about returning to Chang’an, even if it was to retire. Now, he wanted to serve for another twenty years!
He never expected that after being a fence-sitter for so many years, and having his beard cut off in a fit of anger by Leader Ji, he would finally stand firm on the fence and receive such immense benefits.
Although it wasn’t a merit earned during the founding of the dynasty, it was close. In the future officialdom, as long as he didn’t court disaster, he could serve peacefully until old age.
He thought of his colleagues who were of higher rank than him but had firmly supported Prince Yu, all of whom had met their end at the Vegetable Market Mouth.
The first thing Li Heng did upon arriving at the border city was to have his eldest grandson kowtow to Jinsui, which inexplicably made Jinsui feel like it was shortening her lifespan!
Li Heng did not say it out loud, and he felt that thanking Miss Ling for cutting off his beard would be too strange and would be treated as a joke.
So he had his grandson kowtow on his behalf. From now on, he would be a firm ‘Empress’s Faction’ member.
Jinsui took Li Yu, who was only five years old, by the hand. Since he had kowtowed, she was considered a elder and had to give a meeting gift.
She smiled and asked him, “You’ve just arrived at the border city, what do you want? Sister Ling will decide; I’ll give you whatever you wish.”
The little boy pointed at the hot air balloon in the sky and excitedly said, “I want to fly up!”
Li Heng’s family was startled and quickly said it was just the child talking nonsense, and they wouldn’t dare to fly.
But the little fellow insisted, grabbing Jinsui’s sleeve and saying he really wanted to fly, that he had seen people on it.
Finally, Li Heng made the decision, allowing him to fly once, but not too high. A bodyguard from the Li family and a soldier from the Black Feather Camp accompanied the little fellow on the flight. Although they only flew a few dozen meters high, it still made him extremely excited.
After coming down, he patted his chest and said, “Grandfather, your grandson doesn’t want to study and take the imperial examinations. Your grandson wants to be a flying soldier!”
Li Heng was amused and exasperated. The border city was not a place where children could quietly study. On the way into the city, not only his grandson but even his younger son and daughter were captivated and restless.
He thought about how, when he was in Chang’an, officials and powerful people had repeatedly inquired about the real situation in the border city.
At first, he told the truth. Except for being colder than Chang’an in winter, in terms of housing, roads, food, trade, water transport, farmland, etc., although not comparable to Chang’an, it wasn’t much different.
Especially after the opening of Northern Frontier Trade, commerce was extremely developed. Chang’an hadn’t seen foreign merchants for many years, but they were often seen in the border city.
As a result, no one believed his truthful accounts, believing he was being commissioned by His Majesty to persuade them.
Li Heng became annoyed. When anyone asked him again, he would just shake his head and say:
“After the capital relocation, when you arrive in Chang’an, you will know for yourselves. The border city changes day by day. I have been away for so long, the changes must be significant.”
He deliberately did not return to Yanzhou City first but accompanied the newly arrived officials to the border city, precisely to observe their expressions.
Their reactions made the annoyance in Li Heng’s heart completely disappear, and he felt refreshed! This was the feeling of them being country bumpkins entering the city.
The powerful people and gentry who were unwilling to come would guard the increasingly decaying and declining Chang’an! The border city belonged to those with a spirited heart and full of hope for the future.
Those old fuddy-duddies and pedants who only knew how to criticize could stay in Chang’an to guard the Imperial Mausoleum!
After Cheng Yu returned, Jinsui felt much more relaxed. Once the city construction was complete, she handed everything over to Cheng Yu. The first batch of students recruited by the Academy were female students, managed by Chen Yunniang, primarily teaching textiles, embroidery, and medical care.
The teachers were the young women and wives from the families of our Tuntian Camp. They had studied under Chen Yunniang for so long that they were fully capable of taking on the role.
Especially for the new profession of medical care, Jinsui personally wrote the textbooks, and several military doctors took turns teaching the classes.
Jinsui also occasionally attended a class. Every time she went, even the military doctors and medical apprentices came to listen. Everyone knew that studying medicine was hard, but once successful, both income and social status were higher than in other industries.
However, the admission for medical care was the strictest. As long as the assessment was passed, not only were tuition fees completely waived, but accommodation and meals were also provided, along with two sets of school uniforms per year.
Any parents with foresight would have their daughters first apply for medical care, and if they didn’t pass, then study textiles and become female workers.
Only parents who were focused on short-term benefits and hoped their daughters could start working and earning money quickly would have them study textiles or embroidery without thinking.
Jinsui originally only wanted to recruit female students in the border city, but after Yan Shiyi publicized it in Yanzhou, several hundred suitable female applicants also came from Yanzhou.
Fortunately, Yan Shiyi sent a group of embroiderers from the Yan family to serve as teachers, allowing them to accept so many students.
The Academy continued to be built while classes were already in session. Only the sign at the main gate was missing. Jinsui planned to wait for Gu Changxiao to arrive and unveil it.
In this way, our Technical Academy would be recognized by the Imperial Court. Even if it was looked down upon by institutions like the Imperial College, they would not dare to mock it.
In the blink of an eye, it was September, the autumn harvest. Jinsui specifically gave all the officials who had already arrived at the border city a day off, and officials from Yanzhou also arrived.
Cheng Yu led them to see the experimental fields’ bountiful harvest. It was after this that those officials completely accepted that the border city could be a capital city.
Because they harvested sweet potatoes, potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, and wheat with improved seeds.
On this day, the officials’ mouths were constantly agape, and they kept digging their ears with their little fingers, thinking they had misheard.
Potatoes, with a yield of up to two thousand five hundred jin per mu! Sweet potatoes, up to two thousand jin per mu! Tomatoes were even more exaggerated, with three thousand jin, and although the peanut yield was lower, only over three hundred jin.
However, peanuts had a very high oil extraction rate, were nutritious, tasted good, and could be used as both vegetables and grains.
Just like when she took Yan Shiyi to see the harvest last time, if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they would have absolutely thought the people of the border city were bragging!
Even the highest-yielding wheat in Chang’an couldn’t compare to the border city’s wheat, because here there was fertilizer, the wheat grains were large, and they were not prone to disease, with high yields.
By the time the officials became numb, looking at each other, the border city actually had so many crops with yields exceeding a thousand jin per mu!
It was no wonder Prince Yu was defeated! He knew absolutely nothing about the border city.
