diymy Chapter 109 Second Trip to the Capital
Chapter 109 Second Trip to the Capital
Lu Ji Carriage and Horse Shop, Jinan Prefecture.
Lu Yan was inspecting the water-based prototype in the backyard when he suddenly heard a commotion in the front yard.
"Boss! Boss!"
Hu Jingshui stumbled in, her face full of excitement, waving a letter in her hand.
"People from the capital have arrived! They're from the Directorate of Ceremonial!"
Lu Yan paused in his movements, his heart skipping a beat.
The Directorate of Ceremonial was one of the most central power institutions in the Ming Dynasty. Wang Tiqian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was Wei Zhongxian's right-hand man.
"Where's the letter?"
Hu Jingshui handed over the letter.
Lu Yan opened the envelope and read it carefully.
The letter was written by Wang Tiqian himself. The words were polite, but the meaning was very clear—the Emperor was very interested in the set of water system drawings and summoned him to the capital for a face-to-face meeting.
"The opportunity has arrived."
Lu Yan muttered to himself, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
He carefully put the letter away and said to Hu Jingshui:
"Go and invite Uncle Zhao and Changying over."
"yes."
……
A moment later, Zhao Tie and Zhao Changying arrived in a hurry.
Lu Yan handed them the letter, read it through, and then said:
"The Emperor has summoned me to the capital; this is a tremendous opportunity. I will depart tomorrow."
Zhao Changying frowned.
"Master, the capital is a dangerous place; we must proceed with caution."
"I know." Lu Yan nodded. "That's why I'm only taking you and ten guards with me to the capital this time. The rest of you will stay in Jinan and must not slack off."
"yes."
"Uncle Zhao, the prototype needs to be checked one more time to ensure it's perfect. I might need to demonstrate it on-site during my trip to Beijing."
"Don't worry, sir," Zhao Tie said. "I'll go and prepare right away."
"Jingshui, you stay in Jinan and oversee the overall situation. The carriage and horse trading business must continue, and the salt permit matter must also be monitored. If anything happens, send someone to report it immediately."
"yes."
Lu Yan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside.
"This trip to Beijing presents both an opportunity and a challenge."
He muttered to himself.
"Success or failure hinges on this."
……
May 15th.
The private residence of Wei Zhongxian in Beijing.
Lu Yan followed a young eunuch through many courtyards and arrived at a spacious study.
"Lord Lu, His Highness the Ninth Prince is waiting inside. Please come in."
Lu Yan took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the study.
In the study, Wei Zhongxian sat on a rosewood chair, holding a cup of tea in his hands, sipping it slowly.
Today he was dressed in a black casual suit, wearing a black gauze hat. He had a thin face, no beard, and a pair of triangular eyes that were half-open and half-closed, revealing no emotion.
"Your humble servant Lu Yan pays respects to Your Majesty."
Lu Yan knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times.
"Get up."
Wei Zhongxian's voice was hoarse and low, revealing no emotion.
Lu Yan stood up, his hands hanging down, his eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at him.
Wei Zhongxian put down his teacup and looked him up and down.
"You're Lu Yan?"
"Exactly."
"Raise your head."
Lu Yan raised his head as instructed, and his eyes met Wei Zhongxian's.
Wei Zhongxian's gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he could see right through him.
Lu Yan felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm and met the gaze with composure.
A moment later, Wei Zhongxian withdrew his gaze, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"Not bad, you have some guts."
He pointed to the chair next to him.
"Please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
Lu Yan sat down on the chair, but only on one side, leaning slightly forward to show respect.
Wei Zhongxian didn't beat around the bush and asked directly:
"Can you even build that water system?"
"Yes," Lu Yan replied confidently. "Give me three months, and I will definitely finish it."
"Three months?" Wei Zhongxian narrowed his eyes. "His Majesty can't wait that long."
"Your Majesty, rest assured," Lu Yan said. "I have already built a prototype in Jinan, and the principles and processes are mature. Three months is a figure that allows for flexibility. If we work quickly, it can be completed in two months."
"Two months?"
"Two months."
Wei Zhongxian nodded, then asked:
"How much silver does this water system cost?"
"Building a medium-sized fountain in the Imperial Garden would cost approximately five thousand taels. A large one, complete with a rising stage and automata, would cost approximately ten thousand taels."
"Ten thousand taels?" Wei Zhongxian frowned. "That's not cheap."
"Your Excellency, this water system is more than just a fountain," Lu Yan said. "It demonstrates a concept—utilizing the power of nature to drive mechanisms and accomplish what is difficult for humans. This concept, if applied to military or agricultural applications, would have immense value."
"Oh?" Wei Zhongxian became interested. "Tell me about it."
"For example, water-powered waterwheels can irrigate farmland; one waterwheel is equivalent to ten strong laborers. Water-powered forging hammers can forge weapons, several times more efficient than manual labor. Water-powered spinning wheels can weave cloth; one water-powered spinning wheel is equivalent to twenty weavers."
Lu Yan spoke eloquently, describing the principles of hydraulic machinery from later generations in the language of this era.
Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly as he listened.
Although he didn't understand mechanical principles, he understood one thing—anything that can make money is a good thing.
"Can you really do what you're saying?"
"Yes," Lu Yan said confidently. "This humble official is willing to sign a pledge."
Wei Zhongxian pondered for a moment, then asked a few more technical questions.
How tall should the reservoir be?
"At least three zhang (approximately 10 meters). The higher it is, the greater the water pressure, and the higher it sprays."
What material are the pipes made of?
"Copper pipes are best, as they don't rust easily. If you want to save money, you can use ceramic pipes, but they won't last as long."
"How does the doll move?"
"Water power drives gears, which in turn drive connecting rods, which in turn move the puppet's hands and feet. The principle is similar to that of a chiming clock, only the power source is different."
Lu Yan answered fluently without the slightest hesitation.
Wei Zhongxian became more and more satisfied as he listened, and the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
"good!"
He slapped the armrest and stood up.
"Lu Yan, we like you."
He walked up to Lu Yan and patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright, go back and build it. Once it's finished, bring it to the Imperial Garden. The court will not treat you unfairly afterward."
Lu Yan immediately knelt down on the ground.
"This humble official thanks Your Excellency for your guidance!"
"Get up," Wei Zhongxian waved his hand. "As for the money, go find Wang Tiqian. He'll take care of it."
"yes."
Lu Yan stood up, bowed, and withdrew.
He walked out of the study and let out a long sigh of relief.
First hurdle passed.
……
That night, Lu Yan stayed in the inn, drawing and writing on paper by the light of an oil lamp.
What he drew was a sketch of a network of relationships in the capital.
"Wei Zhongxian is the core figure, but we can't rely on him alone."
He muttered to himself.
"We need to make more friends and weave a larger network."
He wrote down several names on the paper—Wang Tiqian, Liu Cheng, Cui Chengxiu, Tian Ergeng…
These people are the core figures of the Wei faction.
"This trip to Beijing can't be in vain."
He put down his pen, looked at the name on the paper, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"It's time to go pay respects at the pier."