Alchemists are also found in China, and are generally called alchemists or warlocks.
Alchemists are the general term for practitioners of astrology, medicine, and divination, and many of them practice alchemy.
When the two Song Dynasties alternated, the war once spread to Jiangxi, and then bandits broke out everywhere. Even the Zhang family was robbed and thousands of volumes of books were burned.
Zhang Jinping's brother Zhang Tao found the fragments of "The Essentials of Copper Leaching" from the ashes, re-completed them and presented them to the court again. Only then did the Southern Song Dynasty send officials to restore the wet-method copper smelting field in Jiangxi, and it became an important copper material in the Southern Song Dynasty. source.
When Zhang Tao wrote the preface to this book, he wrote: "According to the book "Shen Nong's Materia Medica", Shi Dan says that gods can transform iron and copper into gold and silver. Therefore, alchemists are trying their best to do this, but Without exploring the reason, everyone is looking for it among the fires, thinking that it is for the purpose of elixirs..."
These alchemists went to alchemy after reading "Shen Nong's Materia Medica".
Some alchemists also believe that the gold, silver, copper and iron in the book allude to certain materials for alchemy, which can be refined from stone gall (gall vitriol).
At this moment, among the Taoist priests who were watching the emperor's experiment, there were those who used alchemy furnaces to refine stone gallbladder.
"Princess, you can read the preface of "The Essentials of Copper-leaching"," Zhu Guoxiang said.
Zhang Jinping was quite excited. This preface was the first edition and was written by her great-uncle Zhang Jia.
Zhang Jinping opened the title page and read: "The principles of all things can only be mastered by saints; the uses of all things cannot be mastered by saints. If they are restrained and restrained, their nature will be exhausted. Therefore, "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" records: "Stone gall can turn iron into Bronze. 'Believe it or not, the wonderful supernatural power is so great! All the works were done by saints, but the theory exists, and the techniques for their transformation have lasted for thousands of years..."
After reading, Zhu Guoxiang started to talk about the topic: "Is it true that only saints can do all kinds of things? Is it true that only saints can be poor in the principles of all things? Is it true that only saints can control the use of all things? No! "
Zhang Jinping was stunned. The emperor's words actually completely refuted her great-uncle.
Zhu Guoxiang said: "Ordinary people can also study the principles of all things. Ordinary people can also control the uses of all things. Ordinary people can also do hundreds of things. If only saints can do these, then all of you in front of you can do this. , as long as you can seriously study agriculture, chemistry, and physics, you can also become a saint in this world!"
Leaving aside the important ministers of the cabinet, the few people present who were unsuccessful candidates were filled with passion by the emperor's words.
Zhu Guoxiang pointed to his son who was watching the fun: "The prince insists on inviting Cai Lun into the Confucian Temple, even if the scholars in the world oppose it. Why? Inspire the talented people in the world to do hundreds of things. Those who can do hundreds of things. Those whose deeds have been passed down for thousands of years and can still benefit all people can be called saints. Although Cai Lun has poor conduct, he improved the art of papermaking, so he deserves to be worshiped by future generations."
As soon as this statement came out, many ministers wanted to refute it.
But before speaking, they all turned to look at Prince Zhu. Then they all stopped, because they knew that even if he committed suicide here today, the prince would not be able to change anything.
Zhu Guoxiang said to his daughter-in-law: "The Crown Princess can write a letter home and print the "Copper Dipping Synopsis" next time and change the author's name to your great-grandfather."
"Yes!" Zhang Jinping saluted and accepted the order.
When Zhang Qian wrote the book "Synopsis of Copper Dipping", he was too embarrassed to sign it himself, so he asked his son who had an official status to sign it before dedicating it to the Northern Song Dynasty court.
Because only saints can "do hundreds of works", even if the technology is improved and written down in books, it is just a restoration of the saint's lost skills.
What qualifications does a white person have? It must be a son with an official status to write a book.
Zhu Guoxiang also said: "The Tongzhengyuan issued an edict to inform all the people of the world. From now on, everyone can write a book about Baigong's works, regardless of whether he has any fame or not. The cabinet issued official documents to officials in various places to let them encounter Baigong's works.
Those who write books should be commended and rewarded. The best among them can be recommended to the imperial court!"
"yes!"
The Tongzhengyuan and cabinet officials agreed together.
Zhu Guoxiang asked those who failed the exam: "Are you willing to become a saint in this world?"
These guys were planning to resign and go home, but now they were provoked by the emperor, and most of them actually said: "I don't dare to be a saint, but I am willing to work for a saint!"
Including Wang Zhongfu, they are also eager to study chemistry.
Chemistry master Wang Chongyang?
Zhu Guoxiang continued: "Mathematics, agriculture, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography, these six subjects will be taught in Taixue. In Taixue's annual examination, ten people were originally scheduled to be admitted as Jinshi. It is decided today.
The rules are that among these ten Jinshi, six should be outstanding students from these six subjects."
The officials were a little confused, but they were ecstatic after failing the exam.
In ancient times, it was very difficult to promote natural science. Mathematics was already considered the simplest. Unlike Confucian classics, it was just a matter of studying hard.
For the time being, we can only add basic knowledge of natural sciences to official county and government textbooks. Then let those elites learn through Taixue, and motivate students through Taixue exams.
In the future, Tai students should study both Confucian classics and natural sciences.
Moreover, as long as one of the natural sciences can take the first place in the examination, they will be awarded the status of Jinshi.
Six of the ten places were occupied!
The remaining four are the ones who have learned Confucian classics well.
The students who were unable to graduate successfully were actually not at a disadvantage. They understood Confucian classics and had all studied natural sciences. They would be capable no matter what they did back home in the future.
Moreover, they don’t all have to go back to their hometowns.
You can enter the Planetarium, the Department of Agriculture, and serve as a magic officer in the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of War, and Imperial Academy.
Perhaps, I can also join medicine in the future.
Li Bangyan's mind was full of thoughts at this moment. It was already too late for him to learn these things himself. Even his eldest son and second son could not learn it. But he could let his younger son learn it, and then arrange to enter Taixue, so that he could take a shortcut to obtain the title of Jinshi in the future.
Qin Hui was even more proud. He had already learned mathematics very well, and he was slowly learning physics. He even dabbled in the astronomy of the New Dynasty.
Among the various thoughts of the ministers, Zhu Guoxiang picked up a lump of gall vitriol and said: "This is stone gallbladder. It is as blue as bile, hence the name. The Zhang family's copper immersion technique uses bile water to refine it.
The bile water can be extracted on the spot. In fact, whether it is smelting copper from stone gallbladder or using bile water, the chemical principles are the same."
"We divide the same substance until it cannot be divided any more. If it is divided again, its properties will change. Then the smallest part is called a molecule. For example, copper molecules, iron molecules..."
Zhu Guoxiang could only explain it in this way. The more vivid and simple the better, even so he was afraid that people would not understand.
The experiment of making copper from bile vitriol took a little time. While the chemical reaction was slowly progressing, Zhu Guoxiang kept talking about various theories.
Everyone except Zhu Ming was confused.
Since the emperor does not want to refine elixirs, there is no need to stay. Zhai Ruwen bowed and said: "Your Majesty, there are still official documents in the cabinet that have not been processed. Please leave first."
"Let's all get busy." Zhu Guoxiang said.
As if they were pardoned, all the ministers said their goodbyes and left one after another. Even Qin Hui ran away. He knew that this thing was not easy to learn.
Only Li Bangyan stayed and volunteered to help the emperor.
After a long time, Zhu Guoxiang said: "It's getting late, so this experiment will be terminated."
Asking Li Bangyan to pick up the iron piece immersed in the solution, Zhu Guoxiang said: "What is attached to the surface of the iron piece is copper filings."
Li Bangyan took orders to scrape off the copper shavings, and everyone quickly came over to watch.
Several Taoist priests looked bitter. They read "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" but threw the gall alum into the alchemy furnace to make gold or elixir.
Now it seems that it is a bit off track.
Zhu Guoxiang said to the Taoist priests: "You can slowly recall and write down any strange phenomena you encounter in your daily alchemy making. We will analyze the experiments one by one in the future to see how these phenomena are caused."
"Yes!" The Taoist priests accepted the order.
It is too outrageous to teach the "Periodic Table of Elements" directly, and it is impossible to explain it. Even if you force it to be explained, there is no way to prove it to students.
At most, it will teach about basic oxides and common metals, so that students can have the concepts of elements, molecules, atoms, and ions without having to teach them.
When Taoist priests were refining alchemy, they encountered many messy situations.
It can be used as an object of observation and experiment to analyze and study these conditions. This is the purpose of Zhu Guoxiang's convening of Taoist priests.
Zhu Guoxiang also wanted to build a hand-cranked generator specially used for experiments.
Unfortunately, I only remembered the principle, so I asked someone to get a magnet, and then wound the coil. After several attempts, they all failed, and I don't know what went wrong.
It was getting dark and the royal family members left.
Juren, whose brain was heated for a moment and wanted to study chemistry, suddenly became calm again.
Is this thing really reliable?
Wang Zhongfu was also in a nervous mood. On the way back to his residence, he kept recalling what happened today. It turned out that except for some experimental phenomena, he had forgotten all the rest of the theory.
Compared with those who failed to pass the test, the remaining Taoist priests were in high spirits.
They even thought about it carefully and felt that many Taoist techniques in the past were most likely some kind of chemical or physical phenomena.
Of course, more of it is magic...
Sa Shoujian's jujube spelling skills were particularly impressive. He said he could cure all kinds of diseases by chanting a spell on jujubes, and he said he could get copper coins.
Master Sa decided to stay in Beijing to study chemistry and improve his attainments in Shenxiao Thunder Technique.
He has also been traveling in the north in the past two years and has heard about the Ming Dynasty's muskets and artillery. Every time he thinks about it, he wants to see it for himself, but I am afraid that his Shenxiao thunder method will still be at a disadvantage against the muskets and artillery.
Returning to his residence, Sa Shoujian asked: "What does my teacher think of chemistry?"
Wang Wenqing sighed: "Well, the officials are well versed in the creation of heaven and earth, and the various Taoist methods we practice are really not comparable to those of the officials. It is better to use those magic less in the future, and everything should focus on cultivating the body and nature. The art of inner alchemy
, it can still be practiced and can prolong life.”
Sa Shoujian nodded and said: "Inner Alchemy is the foundation of Thunder Method, and it should be practiced diligently. I heard that Zhenren Xue, who also practices Inner Alchemy, was given a Taoist temple in the south of the Yangtze River by the prince. Last year, he set sail to search for gold and silver."
"We found a lot of gold and silver, and the imperial court appointed a third-grade governor specifically for this purpose," Wang Wenqing said.
Sa Shoujian sighed: "Zhen Xue is really a role model for our generation, and ascetics should also share the worries of the imperial court."
(No, no.)
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!