"Chen Qing, what do you think of what I teach?" Yunxi said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty's lectures are naturally good. I was looking out the window just now. All the students were looking at the podium very seriously. No one was distracted, which shows that your Majesty's lectures are good. But I have the audacity to say this, why are you teaching this to the students?" Chen Ji
said.
At this time, Yunxi was naturally at Wucheng Academy and had just finished teaching a class. This was the seventh class he taught at Wucheng Academy. After listening to the first six classes, Chen Ji felt that the emperor's views were a bit strange.
, but after all, it was a very useful thing, and he did not raise any objection after the class; but he thought that the content of today's class was really useless, so he couldn't help but mention it to Yunxi.
Yunxi's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly: "Does Aiqing think what I taught them today is useless?"
"Your Majesty, although your Majesty is teaching the students today about fire cannons, even if the students become generals in the future, why do they need to know the principle of how fire cannons can launch projectiles?"
"I have never been a general, and I would not dare to speak nonsense if I were to use troops to fight. But in the fourth year of Jianye's campaign in Annan, and last year in the Western Regions, I was graciously followed by His Majesty, and I have seen how generals command. In my opinion, they
You only need to know the range of the fire gun and how to use the fire gun to maximize its effectiveness. Why do you need to know the principle of launching projectiles?" Chen Ji bowed and said.
In fact, in his opinion, as a general in charge of the army, you don't even need to know these things. You only need to know the advantages and disadvantages of the fire gun soldiers, and be able to determine when to send the fire gun soldiers to the battlefield; but he thought about it,
He felt that most of the generals appointed by Yunxi would gradually rise from the grassroots level, and would at least hold the post of a thousand households for a period of time, so he included those things among the things that generals should know. However, he still firmly believed that he did not need to know the principles.
"Ai Qing is right. As a commander in chief, you really don't need to know; but as an official of the General Armament Department of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, you need to know this."
"Even if we only talk about firearms, there are thousands of possible changes, and the improvement directions proposed by different craftsmen are different from each other. Although the Ming Dynasty was rich, it did not have enough money to try every improvement direction proposed by each craftsman. This required
Officials of the General Armament Department have chosen useful directions for improvement."
"But if the officials in charge of this job don't know the principles behind how firearms can be used, how can they judge which craftsman's method is beneficial? So they need to know the principles." Yunxi said.
"Of course what your Majesty said makes sense, but how many of these fifty students will be officials of the General Armament Department? I dare to say that there are only two or three people at most, and maybe even none. The principle of firearms can be fully explained in
Let’s briefly talk about it before they go to the General Armament Department to serve as officials, there is no need to teach them now,” Chen Ji added.
"I think what Aiqing said is a bit biased." Yunxi was not angry and said calmly: "If it is as Aiqing said, then what is the use of students learning vocal music and calligraphy? Just because this is what Confucius thinks should be learned.
What's the matter?"
"I don't think so. The reason why I ordered vocal music and calligraphy to be taught in the Imperial Academy, the Martial Arts Hall, the Royal Academy, the Women's Academy and even the Five City Academy is because learning these things can cultivate a person's sentiments and make him a gentleman.
, at least he won’t become a quarrelsome person.”
"I believe that the things I teach them personally have the same effect. I am not trying to make students become gentlemen, but I am teaching them a way to think about problems by telling them the principles of firearms."
"Ai Qing must have heard it just now. I didn't tell them directly, but I took out a few firearms to demonstrate on the spot, and then let them demonstrate on their own. Then I disassembled the firearms and let them see the internal structure of the firearms. Pay attention to
Find out which parts play a role when launching projectiles, and deduce the principle of firearm launch step by step."
"Through this method, they learn how to think about problems, which they will use no matter which yamen they serve as officials in the future, or even if they do not."
"And isn't this just what the sages meant? "Book of Rites and Great Learning" says: "The way to know is to study things, and then we will know them."
The truth is: "I think that what I taught them is exactly in line with the study of things and the development of knowledge."
"What your Majesty said makes sense, but I thought wrongly." Chen Ji himself was not a particularly conservative person, so he was persuaded by him and bowed in salute.
"It's good if Aiqing can figure it out." Yunxi said this, and then said: "Aiqing, remember that next time before I come to Wucheng Academy to give a lecture, I will prepare a wooden barrel with a hole about seven minutes high on the side.
Also prepare a steelyard, a wooden barrel filled with water without holes, and a heavier ladle."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Ji had no idea what the purpose of Yunxi asking him to prepare these things, but of course he couldn't go against His Majesty's words, so he agreed.
Yunxi gave him a few more instructions, asked about the situation in the school, mounted his horse and left the Wucheng School.
He immediately came to Gezhi Prison with his guards. Yang Shiqi was very surprised when he heard that His Majesty was coming. He immediately came out to greet him. When he saw Yunxi, he knelt down and saluted and said: "I have just seen your Majesty, Gezhi Prison. Yang Shiqi, long live your Majesty."
age!"
"My dear, please get up." Yunxi smiled and asked the guards to pull him up: "You don't have to pay such a big courtesy to me."
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and I should be polite as I please." Yang Shiqi said with a smile, bowed and asked, "Does Your Majesty have anything to say to you today? Why don't you announce that I'm going to the palace to pay an audience?"
"I have nothing to do. I just happened to pass by Gezhi Prison on my way out of the palace, so I came to take a look." Yunxi said with a smile.
Yang Shiqi didn't believe this. If he just said a few words to someone he met on the road and then entered the gate of Gezhiyuan, he must have something to tell him. But if His Majesty doesn't say it now, he won't ask, he will just be more careful.
, and said respectfully: "In that case, Your Majesty, why don't you guide Your Majesty and take a look inside Gezhi Courtyard?"
"Okay." Yunxi said with a smile, and then started walking around the Gezhi courtyard under the leadership of Yang Shiqi.
"Yang Qing. I remember that I told you a few questions when Gezhiyuan was just established at the end of the year before last year, and asked you to explain to the people in Gezhiyuan when you come back why this happened. Are there any results now?" Yunxi walked as he walked.
, asked as he asked.
"Your Majesty, after I returned to Gezhi Prison that day, I ordered people who are proficient in mathematics to study. Some problems have been studied, but some problems have not been studied yet." (To be continued)
