After returning to the capital, Xiang Nan began to reward all the ministers.
There are really many gifts for this trip, some of which need to be attributed to the internal affairs government, and some are used to reward the princes and nobles and members of the DPRK. For example, some jewelry, jewelry, fabrics, carpets, wine, etc.
In fact, although Xiang Nan was never soft on corrupt officials, he would kill every one he found. But he also knows how to win people's hearts, and he has never been stingy with rewards for those officials who are diligent, honest, loyal, filial and benevolent.
After all, if you want a horse to run, you have to let it eat more grass.
For example, in the late Ming Dynasty, the reason why Zhen Zhen was the emperor was that no ministers were willing to help him. Even during the Spring Festival greetings in the last year, Emperor Chongzhen waited for several hours in the palace for ministers. The ministers arrived late and did not take him seriously as the emperor at all. It was because Emperor Chongzhen was mean and ungrateful and wanted to take credit. I have made mistakes, and I have never been willing to understand my subordinates.
Therefore, fewer and fewer officials were willing to work for him. As a result, although he was a noble man, no one could use him. He was eventually hanged on a coal mountain. Only one **** was willing to die for him.
Most of the beauties brought back by Xiang Nan from this trip were rewarded to princes, nobles, princes, grandsons, etc., leaving only eight people in the palace.
Because these eight people are really beautiful, and each of them is as good as the top stars.
For example, the beauty Aisha presented by the Central Asian tribes has exquisite features, graceful figure, and white complexion. In terms of appearance, she is not inferior to beauties such as Gulinaza, Dilraba, and Hanikezi.
Fatima, the beauty presented by the Persian tribe, has a high nose, deep eyes, bright eyes, picturesque eyebrows, and graceful figure. In terms of appearance, she is no better than beauties such as Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Difference…
Therefore, Xiang Nan took the eight most beautiful ones into the harem, and gave away nearly a hundred others to the princes, nobles, princes, and grandsons. There were also dozens of people who were not of high status but were good at singing and dancing, so they were sent away. Nanfu.
Nanfu was the Qing Dynasty court opera undertaking and management organization, established during the Kangxi period. There are several institutions under the government, including internal studies, external studies, Shifan studies, Zhonghe music, Xiansuo studies, etc.
The Nanfu was responsible for the accompaniment of songs and dances during the palace banquets, the opera performances when the concubines listened to music, and the music accompaniment during sacrifices. Among them are palace maids, eunuchs, and folk artists, all in all.
If princes, grandsons, princes, nobles, and high officials find good artists, they will often bring them to Nanfu for the entertainment of the emperor and concubines.
For example, Bai Ruiji in the play was sent to Nanfu by Ruyi's father Narbu. The reason why Zhen Huan chose Bai Ruiji to seduce the emperor and deliberately stir up trouble in the palace was because she used Bai Ruiji's identity to make people in the harem mistakenly think that Bai Ruiji was Ruyi's person, thus causing trouble for Ruyi.
Therefore, sending those foreign women to Nanfu is equivalent to taking them into your own pocket. If you like them, you can favor them at any time, and they do not occupy the quota of concubines.
…
After returning from the Western Regions, Xiang Nan was in a much better mood, and then he came up with a new gadget.
On that day, he called the concubines and princes in the harem to the square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He first asked the concubines to line up according to their grades, and then he got into a tripod covered with black cloth.
There is a large box on the tripod, and there is also a small pot on the box, which looks weird.
The concubines were confused and didn’t know what this was, when they heard Xiang Nan shouting from behind the curtain, “Everyone, please laugh.”
When the concubines heard this, they didn't know why, but they still laughed. At this moment, there was a bang, and there was a sudden explosion in the small pot, followed by a flash of light and a rise of white smoke.
The concubines were all shocked.
“Oh, don’t be afraid, it’s okay, here’s another one. Remember to smile!” Xiang Nan poked his head out from behind the curtain and shouted.
The concubines had no choice but to smile again.
“Okay, let’s change the prince.” Xiang Nan then said.
The princes watched twice and were basically mentally prepared, so they were not afraid. They all stood up and smiled. When the white light flashes and the white smoke rises, it's over. But what exactly is this doing? Everyone is still confused by Monk Zhang Er.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing?” Ruyi asked curiously.
"Yes, Your Majesty, what is this for?" Hailan couldn't help but asked in confusion.
“You’ll know tomorrow.” Xiang Nan said with a smile.
…
Turning around, he took two stacks of photos and handed them to the concubines and princes.
Ruyi and others were surprised after taking the photo. They saw that on this small piece of paper, there were actually faces of dozens of them. They were clearer than drawings. It was as if they had been shrunk. It's the same as putting it on top.
On the other piece of paper, there are also photos of nine elder brothers, which are also vivid and very realistic.
“Your Majesty, how did this happen? Could it be that the souls of my concubines, elder brothers, and others are above?” Ruyi asked in surprise.
“Huh?!” Hearing what she said, all the concubines panicked.
The people on the paper were so lifelike and in black and white that they really couldn't help but think of ghosts.
When Xiang Nan heard this, he laughed and said, "Don't make a fuss, there is no such thing as soul in this world. This is called photography, it is science."
“Photo?” Everyone was a little confused.
Xiang Nan then briefly introduced the principles of photo development.
In fact, the principle of a camera is easy to understand, which is the principle of small hole imaging. Mozi during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period had already noticed this phenomenon.
However, to preserve this image, you need film and photo paper. The process is very complicated and cannot be explained in a few words.
Fortunately, Xiang Nan is very familiar with chemical industry, photography, etc., so he was able to come up with this camera. Historically, the first camera was invented by French scientists in 1822.
However, the technology at that time was not up to par, and the photosensitive materials were too slow. It took eight hours to expose a photo to produce an image, and the image was very blurry.
Until 1888, Kodak introduced film based on silver bromide photosensitive material, which made a leap in camera technology. Most of the cameras familiar to later generations date from that time.
When everyone heard this, they were all amazed.
I didn’t expect that this kind of technology exists in the world. It’s much faster and simpler than painting.
You must know that if the emperor wanted to leave a portrait before, he would have to sit there for several hours without moving. In this way, the court painter Lang Shining could slowly outline and depict.
It is much more convenient to take pictures, just stop there and you will be there in an instant.
“Your Majesty, you are truly a genius.” Ruyi couldn’t help but admire.
It’s really amazing that such wonderful things can be created.