novelSusiti Chapter 21: Xu Xianchun, the leader of the Five Tigers
Chapter 21: Xu Xianchun, the leader of the Five Tigers
Chapter 021
"Toy?"
Thirteen-year-old Zhu Youjian was still a playful boy. When he heard about toys, his eyes lit up involuntarily: "What toys?"
"A toy that the young master will love so much he won't let go!"
"Hmph, what toys haven't I seen? And you're still so fond of it?"
"If you don't believe me, young master, we can make a bet!"
Chen Ying smiled faintly and said, "It will only take seven days!"
"Seven days? This young master can afford to wait!"
"but……"
"But what? Boying is asking the young master for a favor."
"speak."
"The Manufacturing Bureau has been facing some trouble lately. If there are any petty thieves causing trouble, it may delay the car manufacturing progress. We hope that you, sir... will do us a favor."
Zhu Youjian and Cao Huachun exchanged a glance, and Cao Huachun nodded slightly.
"Alright, within seven days, no one will dare to disturb the Yongcheng Construction Bureau."
Since the establishment of the Manufacturing Bureau, it has produced six products. Whether it is an iron-shafted plow or a seeder, they all have one thing in common: they are irreplaceable.
Even if cargo-carrying four-wheeled carriages were manufactured, they were not irreplaceable in this era. Unlike later generations, the Ming Dynasty mostly used water transport for goods transportation. Taking Guide Prefecture, a state with seven counties, as an example, the Song River, Sui River, Tuo River, Bao River, and Sha River basically flowed through most of the eight counties.
Goods transportation in Yongcheng mainly relies on river transport. In comparison, the canal has a larger carrying capacity and lower transportation costs. Even if all four-wheeled cargo wagons were manufactured, the market prospects would be limited.
The problem is, it's different when it's converted into a motorhome. These days, long-distance travel is a real ordeal. Taking a boat is too slow, and some people even get seasick.
Most importantly, Emperor Tianqi (Zhu Youxiao) gave Chen Ying the design inspiration to design a four-wheeled carriage, the first step of which was to modify the dimensions of the carriage.
Chen Ying originally designed the carriage to be 15 feet long and 6 feet wide, considering that the pulling capacity of a horse is limited; even two horses could only pull a maximum of 1,500 kilograms. A larger carriage would be meaningless.
Now that there's no need to carry cargo, it can be designed to be larger. The Ming Dynasty is not like the later world, where there's a six-meter limit. He changed the length of the carriage to 24 feet (7.44 meters), the width to 8 feet (2.48 meters), and the height to 6 feet.
The dimensions of the other wheels, spokes, and axles remained unchanged. Chen Ying gathered the carpenters from the Bureau of Carriage and divided them into three groups: one group was responsible for building the chassis and carriage structure, one group made the furniture inside the carriage, and one group was responsible for making sofas and fabrics.
Unlike later motorhomes, this four-wheeled carriage was not designed with multiple beds. Instead, it had only two beds, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom.
First, the living room area is designed as a U-shaped booth. The small table in the middle can be lowered down to form a large bed that is about 1.8 meters wide and 2.2 meters long.
Located in the small kitchen area, there is a dedicated area for maids to cook simple meals and brew tea. It is designed as a maid's bed that can be combined with the seats.
At the very back of the carriage was a wash area and a flush toilet. Although the flush toilet looked complicated, the principle was actually very simple. The work of firing the toilet and washbasin was directly handed over to Wang Baishun and Shen Keqin.
Chen arranged everyone's work and held a simple mobilization meeting. He said that the Bureau of Manufacturing needed to come up with new ideas in the future. Only if this new type of carriage sold well could they all have food to eat.
Because it concerned the livelihoods of all the craftsmen, everyone was very proactive and enthusiastic. Within just three days, the various parts of the carriage were basically completed, and the intense final assembly process began.
The sofas in the booths were made of tanned sheepskin, with springs at the bottom and freshly fluffed cotton padding. Originally, Chen Ying was going to use the cheapest coarse cloth, but Zhang Zhengyu stopped him. He brought more than a dozen bolts of fine Shu brocade and twenty-five sheepskins from his residence.
On the morning of the seventh day, the last side panel was installed.
Chen Ying personally inspected every mechanism. The lifting and lowering of the cab was smooth, the side walls folded down smoothly, and the roof curtain could be opened and closed freely. He had Chen Daniu drive the empty truck around the dirt road outside the construction bureau a few times, and the shock absorption of the truck was good.
Just after noon, Zhu Youjian arrived.
This time, he only brought Cao Huachun and four guards, with Zhang Zhengyu accompanying him. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Zhu Youjian's gaze was immediately drawn to the wooden carriage.
"Young master, what do you think of this toy?"
Zhu Youjian said indifferently, "It's just a four-wheeled carriage, what's so special about it?"
When it comes to the most luxurious carriage, nothing beats the Emperor's Jade Carriage. This was the most luxurious carriage in ancient times, the emperor's exclusive vehicle. Rolls-Royce pales in comparison.
The grand carriage was larger, taller, and more luxurious than this horse-drawn carriage.
"Young master, please get in the carriage for a look!"
Chen Ying opened the car door, and Zhu Youjian boarded the carriage, only to be stunned.
The interior of the vehicle is spacious and bright, with open front and back. The front compartment has a booth sofa with a fixed pen holder on the table in the middle. Walking to the back, through a folding door, there is a small kitchen that is only three feet wide. The small kitchen also has a folding bed with storage space underneath, a small stove embedded in the stove, and pre-made baking trays, kettles for boiling water and tea, small woks, soup pots and other kitchen utensils.
Further on, there's another folding door. Although the bathroom is small, it has a wet and dry separation. There's even a small sink next to the toilet, as well as a bamboo shower head with a built-in water tank that allows you to adjust the temperature for a simple shower.
"There's no difference!"
Faced with Zhu Youjian's stubbornness, Chen Ying did not rush to defend himself. He demonstrated the mechanism, and the table and chairs lowered down to be level with the seat. A cushion and a sheet were then laid out, and it became a bed.
Zhu Youjian stared intently, "This carriage... can people live in it?"
"Exactly."
Chen Ying explained, "This vehicle is called a four-wheeled motorhome. It has a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, all of which are located here. As you can see, this is usually the reception area, where five to six people can sit facing each other. The table in the middle of the booth can be lowered to form a bed, which is more than enough for two adults. The bathroom at the back of the vehicle not only has a toilet but also a water tank for simple washing."
Then Chen Ying operated the side wall. As the latch was removed, he turned the pivot, and the side wall began to slowly descend. When it was parallel to the carriage hall, it was supported by two wooden pillars to form a terrace.
The terrace was neither large nor small, about six feet wide and sixteen feet long, with the roof curtain then being opened.
Chen Ying took out a folding table and folding chairs from a hidden compartment at the bottom of the carriage, arranged them together, and continued, "After the side wall is folded down, a small terrace six feet wide is formed, where you can put tables and chairs to enjoy the view. When the curtain on the roof is raised, it becomes a canopy, providing shade and shelter from the rain. In the summer, if you open the windows and raise the canopy, the interior of the carriage will be well-ventilated and cool, far better than the stuffy room in an inn."
Zhu Youjian was intrigued, and his voice grew urgent: "Then... how will we solve the problem of bumpy ride? With such a long carriage, I'm afraid..."
"Young master, please look here."
Chen Ying pointed to the wheels: "This vehicle uses a dual shock absorption system. One is spring shock absorption, with each wheel independently suspended; the other is axle shock absorption, with an additional shock absorption device between the body and the frame. The two work together to make the vehicle feel like it's on flat ground, even on bumpy roads."
Although this carriage was not even a basic model in later times, the thing is, Zhu Youjian and Zhang Zhengyu instantly felt like children who had received a novel toy.
Even the toilet had to be tested. The biggest difference between this toilet and the toilets of later generations was that it utilized the space under the rear of the carriage to set up a huge black water tank that could store eighty liters of grey water, while the entire carriage was filled with sixty liters of clean water.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
"Would the young master be willing to try riding in the carriage?"
"nature!"
The Bureau of Construction had no horses and originally intended to find two mules to pull the cart, but Zhang Zhengyu had his servants bring the horses over and he drove the cart himself. Chen Yinghe accompanied Zhu Youjian in the cart, while Cao Huachun sat in the kitchen area.
The official roads in Yongcheng were uneven after the flood, with potholes everywhere, but the carriage traveled smoothly with only slight swaying. Zhu Youjian sat in the booth, the tea in front of him barely rippling.
"This car... is truly amazing!"
Upon reaching the pavilion eighteen miles west of Yongcheng, Chen Yingrang stopped the car. He got out and operated the controls; in a short while, the side wall folded down to form a terrace, and the roof canopy opened. Chen Yingrang set up a table and chairs on the terrace and invited Zhu Youjian to sit down.
It was Mid-Autumn Festival, and the afternoon sun was blazing. The autumn seedlings in the fields were lush and vibrant, creating a unique scene.
Zhu Youjian sat quietly for a long time before suddenly speaking, "Boying, do you know why I came to Yongcheng?"
"This humble servant is unaware."
"Your Majesty... My elder brother has become obsessed with woodworking in recent years and has made many exquisite objects. But he always feels that no matter how good these objects are, they are nothing more than playthings."
Zhu Youjian said earnestly, "I want to tell him that craftsmanship can also benefit the country and its people. Your iron plow, seed drill, and this carriage... are all proof of that."
Chen Ying's heart stirred.
Historically, Zhu Youjian had a deep affection for his elder brother, and these words were probably spoken from the bottom of his heart.
"My lord, objects themselves are neither good nor evil; it is the user's heart that matters. A knife can cut vegetables or kill. This carriage can be used for pleasure, or it can carry the people's life-saving food, saving countless lives. It can also carry the soldiers' armor and weapons, even changing the outcome of a war, and it can help officials travel around and deliver urgent reports. If all the craftsmen in the world put their hearts into making things, then the people's livelihood will be convenient and the country's needs will be met."
Chen Ying explained, "As the saying goes, without agriculture there is no stability, without industry there is no wealth, without commerce there is no vitality, and without an army there is no strength. Everything has two sides and cannot be generalized!"
"Well said, Chen Boying. It's a pity that someone as talented as you is relegated to Yongcheng."
Chen Ying smiled wryly: "Being able to stay in this corner and make a few practical things for the people is enough for this humble official."
"An Shou? But I've heard that your Supervisory Bureau is not peaceful."
Chen Ying remained silent: "Those who are not envied are mediocre..."
"Bo Ying, you're a genius!"
Zhu Youjian stood up and patted the carriage: "I really like this carriage. Thank you for your toy..."
"Young master, the price is three hundred taels!"
"What?"
"Three hundred taels of silver!"
Chen Ying calculated earnestly, "This cart consumed 862 catties of refined steel, over 1,300 catties of timber, plus 22 sheepskins. 300 taels of silver is just the cost price... I, Chen, don't care, but the Construction Bureau still has 1,259 mouths to feed..."
"Ha ha!"
Zhu Youjian burst into laughter: "Cao Ban is fat!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Give him five hundred taels of silver, and we'll ride back to the capital in this carriage!"
Chen Ying openly asked him for the cost of the carriage, which not only did not anger Zhu Youjian, but made him very happy. Since last year, when his elder brother, the emperor, conferred upon him the title of Prince Xin and granted him the fief of Xinzhou, he had become a hot commodity in the capital. Countless officials came to visit him, bringing gifts and seeking official positions.
Chen Boying was the only one in the world who dared to ask him for money, even knowing his own identity.
"This old servant obeys."
Cao Huachun took out a gold ingot from his person, weighing a full fifty taels, and handed it to Chen Ying: "This is fifty taels of official gold, which can be exchanged for five hundred taels of silver!"
"Thank you for the reward, young master!"
"You deserve it!"
Zhu Youjian then looked at Chen Ying, took the jade pendant from his waist, and handed it to him: "Keep this pendant. If anything happens, you can use it to send a letter to the Prince Xin's residence in the capital."
Chen Ying accepted the jade pendant with both hands. The front of the pendant was carved with a dragon pattern, and the back had a small seal script character "Jian". He knew perfectly well that this was the future Chongzhen Emperor, the current Prince Xin of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youjian.
"Thank you, young master."
"You're welcome."
Zhu Youjian looked at Chen Ying and said, "This Ming Dynasty needs craftsmen who can do practical work, and it also needs... officials who are willing to do practical work. Cao Banban, take my token and go to Guide Guard. Tell Liu Huan, the commander of Guide Guard, that the Yongcheng Construction Bureau and Chen Boying are now my men. Tell him... to behave himself."
Zhu Youjian also knew that Sun Chengzong had suggested to Zhu Youxiao that Chen Boying be promoted to the rank of a fifth-rank commander of the Ma Mu Garrison Command. However, the problem was that Chen Ying was not an official, and the process would be somewhat complicated and irregular.
More importantly, the proposal was discovered by the censors, who kept clamoring for His Majesty to retract his order, which greatly annoyed Zhu Youxiao. His purpose in coming to Yongcheng this time was twofold: to exchange techniques with Chen Boying and to support Chen Boying.
However, the problem was that Zhu Youjian was unaware that Wei Zhongxian had also taken action when he left the capital. In his view, the Tianqi Emperor valued Chen Boying so much, yet the civil officials were blocking the emperor from promoting Chen Boying. This was something the civil officials opposed, and he had to support them.
Since the formal channels were blocked, Sun Chengzong's suggestion was a good solution. Wei Zhongxian originally wanted to send anyone to Guide Prefecture, but Xu Xianchun, the leader of the Five Tigers, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, volunteered to go to Guide Prefecture.
Xu Xianchun went to Guide Prefecture to handle a private matter. Guide Prefecture was Hou Xun's hometown. As the right-hand man of Zou Yuanbiao, one of the three leaders of the Donglin Party, Hou Xun impeached him in the Red Pill Case and the Wang Ji Case. Before Xu Xianchun could deal with Hou Xun, Zou Yuanbiao promoted Hou Xun to the position of Inspector of Guizhou.
Xu Xianchun, naturally unable to reach Hou Xun, decided to seize the opportunity to storm Hou Xun's hometown in Guide Prefecture, hoping to find fault with Hou Xun. Just as Zhu Youjian arrived in Yongcheng, Xu Xianchun went to the Guide Guard Commandery.
Inside the office of the Guide Guard Commander, Liu Huan, the Guide Guard Commander, looked at the gold plaque on the table. The plaque was engraved with three large characters: "Jinyiwei" (Imperial Guard), and the reverse side read "As if the Emperor were here in person."
Liu Huan and the other officers of the Guide Guard knelt on the ground. Xu Xianchun looked coldly at Dong Qianli, the Right Commander, and asked, "What's your name?"
"Lord Xu, you are innocent..."
"Smack..."
Dong Qianli now had four finger marks on his face. Although Xu Xianchun was one of Wei Zhongxian's ten henchmen, he was a genuine martial arts graduate and had real skills.
Of course, Dong Qianli was no slouch either. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have half of their teeth knocked out after being slapped like that.
"Roar!"
Xu Xianchun coldly replied, "I'm asking you what your name is. Don't give me this nonsense!"