When Zhang Ximeng came to Jimin Academy, he naturally did not accept flowers and applause. He brought many newly compiled lecture notes and some experimental equipment, including many glass products, bottles and jars, and two quite large telescopes.
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Liu Sanwu was a bit overwhelmed by these things.
"Xiang Zhang, these, are these your latest achievements?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed, "It's not mine, but the ingenuity of countless people. Take this telescope, for example. It was originally made by craftsmen in the army. It is the kind of single-cylinder clairvoyance. Have you seen it?"
Liu Sanwu thought for a while and then said: "I remember that when your Majesty went to Yashan, there seemed to be this thing, and he used it to observe the tide and sea conditions."
After Liu Sanwu finished speaking, he couldn't help but sigh, "It was just a thing for fun at the beginning, how could it be made so big?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "It is precisely because it is so big that we can see far. To be honest, if you place this thing on the top of a mountain, you can observe the moon in a clear night sky!"
"Moon?" Liu Sanwu was shocked, "Xiang Zhang, this, this is what the Imperial Heavenly Prison should use! Looking up at the sky, this is the power that only His Majesty should have!"
Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, "Are you worried that if I play with these things casually, I will deceive you?"
Liu Sanwu's old face turned red and he shook his head quickly, "Xiang Zhang is flawless and considerate. How could he deceive the emperor?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Don't worry, His Majesty is using it on Zhongshan Mountain! He is tired of seeing it."
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Zhu Ying said that Zhang Ximeng had prepared many subject lectures, which was true, but he did not know everything.
In fact, Zhang Ximeng still attaches great importance to technological development.
When the Zhu Jiajun entered Chuzhou, the most important thing was to protect the blacksmith furnaces and preserve the workshop handicrafts. After that, every time they captured a place, the craftsmen were the most important.
Moreover, Zhang Ximeng also registered craftsmen as military personnel and enjoyed the same treatment as soldiers.
Later, the patent law was promulgated and heavy rewards were given to inventions and creations.
These things are well documented.
However, due to the large number of warriors in the Ming Army, they were extremely powerful, which made people ignore the scientific and technological progress of the Ming Army.
But these improvements are real.
For example, the armor of the Ming army was lighter and stronger, and the weapons were extremely sharp and durable. This alone greatly reduced casualties. From middle and high-level generals to ordinary soldiers, the casualty rate of the Ming army was very low.
Secondly, things like telescopes were already developed before the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Ximeng initially thought it would be troublesome, but after dealing with some old gentlemen, such as Zhu Sheng and others, he learned that in the pre-Qin period, crystal stones were used to treat eye diseases.
Obviously, that crystal stone is not for eating.
As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were already craftsmen who were skilled in polishing crystals and making glasses.
And there is not only craftsmanship, but also theory. Mozi recorded a lot of optical knowledge.
Literary men like Zhu Sheng often buy themselves a pair of glasses for reading when their eyesight is not good enough and they cannot read the fine print clearly as they get older.
After Zhang Ximeng entered Yingtian, he found a group of craftsmen who could polish crystals.
He first ordered a batch of reading glasses, carefully observed the craftsmanship, and then asked the craftsmen to make some concave lenses. Then naturally, one afternoon, Mr. Zhang, who was sitting under a grape trellis, was hit by a grape, and he suddenly had an epiphany.
Then "clairvoyance" was invented.
The emergence of clairvoyance has naturally given the generals a great help. They can stand high, see far, and command more conveniently and smoothly. Thousands of soldiers can use their fingers like arms.
But that's all.
There is no subversive effect after all.
Zhang Ximeng thought for a while and understood what was going on... Crystals exist naturally, but they have been polished by craftsmen and made into telescopes, which is far from earth-shaking.
What really matters is the material!
Only by making breakthroughs in materials can we truly change the world...such as glass!
When Zhang Ximeng began to pay attention to glass, he discovered another problem. Glass is not a strange thing and can be traced back to the pre-Qin period.
It appeared widely at that time and was used as a substitute for jade. It was customary to use glass in inlaid decorative objects, such as jars and sword hilts.
When Zhang Ximeng was reading historical materials, he felt that the origin of all things was the Spring and Autumn Period.
In fact, in the land of China, there was a period of time when technological inventions were highly valued, and there was an era when craftsmen were respected... As for why it changed later, it seems that there is no need to say more.
In addition to the early days of glass manufacturing, Zhang Ximeng also discovered that craftsmanship has been passed down through the ages. In the Yuan Dynasty, there was a special Jade Bureau, which, as the name suggests, was used to make glass.
However, from the pre-Qin period until the Yuan Dynasty, most of the products produced were colored glass.
Moreover, its usage is different from that of later generations. Most of these glasses were used to replace jade.
This also involves a problem, that is, the glass technology developed in China in the past dynasties is different from the transparent glass that became popular in later generations. It belongs to the technology tree of lead-barium glass.
The next thing is simple. There are craftsmen and there is no shortage of craftsmanship. All we need to do is correct the technology tree and change to the soda-lime glass route to get the finished product.
But the facts prove that Zhang Ximeng still simplified the problem.
The biggest problem with firing soda-lime glass is that it requires a higher temperature, which is far less easy to fire than colored lead-barium glass.
So the furnace temperature must be raised, and then the craftsmen who make glass and the craftsmen who make iron come together!
It's a shame to say that these two groups have never cooperated before.
Glassmakers look down on blacksmiths... What are you playing with?
Aren't they just worthless pieces of iron?
Weapons and kitchen knives are made to kill people.
You see, when we make glass, what we make is called medicinal jade!
A gentleman is like jade!
We are just making jade.
Only the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers can give birth to jade.
What we do to make glass is to conquer the heaven and earth, it is a divine method!
Moreover, our finished products are all for high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and even the queen’s phoenix crown is made of our products.
What do you blacksmiths compare to us?
Good guy, it turns out there is a chain of discrimination among craftsmen!
Zhang Ximeng severely criticized the glass craftsmen, and personally organized a joint research project... Not to mention, under his intervention, Ming Dynasty's glass firing technology made a leap, and finally fired in large quantities in the eighth year of Hongwu.
Transparent glass was produced. It could also be fired before, but due to impurities, it would have a light green color.
It was not until the eighth year of Hongwu that the problem was completely solved and the yield rate reached 85%.
At the same time, the iron smelting industry in the Ming Dynasty also improved a lot.
We are moving forward and making progress together.
Moreover, Zhang Ximeng also found that due to the barriers in the industry, craftsmen are very reluctant to communicate with other people, let alone outsiders, even those in their own industry. They guard each other, just like guarding against thieves.
Although Zhang Ximeng severely criticized this situation, he felt that this problem was difficult to solve.
Unless basic science is spread, so that more people understand technology and can participate in inventions... Take off the mystery of various technologies, so that craftsmen cannot cherish their own skills. At the same time, the status of craftsmen must be improved to solve problems smoothly.
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So this is why Zhang Ximeng decided to come and give lectures.
In the past few years, he has completed the redrawing of provinces, reformed the official system, established the Ministry of Commerce, established compulsory education, and opened up connections with overseas countries.
It can be said that everything is ready. Next, we only need to promote scientific progress and explode productivity. We will be able to lead the Chinese people to advance with unparalleled power!
But before that, Zhang Ximeng had to set off from Jiangzhou, go to Jimin Academy, and go straight to his destination.
Liu Sanwu came to greet Zhang Ximeng. Among the gentlemen who came with Liu Sanwu, there were also Qi Tai, Lian Zining and others, all of whom were famous teachers.
Zhang Ximeng just said hello to them and gave them a few words of encouragement.
After all, with Zhang Ximeng's self-cultivation, he can still be calm.
After all, even if the garbage is sent to a power plant, it can generate electricity.
You can't discriminate against people just because they are idiots.
After all, it's not their fault that they are idiots, it's the person who promoted them to that position who is the stupid one.
Zhang Ximeng remained calm and went to Jimin Academy.
At this time, Jimin Academy was almost boiling.
What?
Prime Minister Zhang is coming to give a lecture!
When there are saints and sages in the world, the Master is still alive.
The right minister of King Lu, the first person to assist the emperor.
Auxiliary Guoyuanshi!
There are too many haloes on Zhang Ximeng's head, one by one, which can blind the eyes.
There are so many students, including teachers, who all admire Zhang Ximeng.
Soon, the teachers and students of Jimin Academy learned the good news. They needed to select a few students who were both good in character and academics to go and greet Prime Minister Zhang.
There is no student who is not excited and rushing to sign up!
Perhaps there is only one exception, and that is Zhang Shuning!
This kid discovered for the first time that his father is so popular?
What if I see my dad?
What if people find out that he is the son of Zhang Xiang?
Oh my God!
Who will tell me?
Zhang Shuning held his head and wanted to cry but had no tears.
But at this moment, a man came in front of Zhang Shuning and suddenly said: "Stand up."
Zhang Shuning subconsciously stood up. The person who came was his teacher. The teacher stared at Zhang Shuning carefully for a moment and suddenly burst into laughter.
"What a good child! He looks good and has good grades. Not only can he read, but he can also ride a horse and shoot an arrow... These are the students of Jimin Academy. They have all six skills. They are very good and can't be better!"
Zhang Shuning was dumbfounded. Why do you, a teacher, praise your students like this when you have nothing to do?
The teacher smiled and said: "Sun Ning, come with me. The school has decided that it is up to you to greet Xianggong Zhang!"
At this moment, Zhang Shuning's head was empty.
What?
Want me to go meet my dad?
What do you think?
What did I tell him?
Welcome, father?
Isn't this crazy?
Zhang Shuning's whole body felt bad.
But how did the teacher know this? He just thought Zhang Shuning was so happy that he couldn't help but stretched out his hand to pull Zhang Shuning, "Let's go, we still have to compete with those students! But we Shuning are good at everything, they can't!"
Sure enough, Zhang Shuning passed the examination smoothly, and the school gave him a set of exquisite red clothes, a hat, and flowers on it, making him look like a groom.
"Look, this is our sign, what we look like!"
The teachers were full of praise and the students were extremely envious... As for Zhang Shuning, his blood ran cold!
At this moment, a horse galloped up.
"Prime Minister Zhang is here, it's still twenty miles away! Hurry up and greet him!"
The teachers and students were all shocked. The teacher pushed Zhang Shuning, who was completely stunned, and said, "Let's go quickly, don't delay the important event!"
Just like that, the puppet-like Zhang Shuning was pushed out of the school...