Chapter 1484 The great discovery of astronomy - the first to join the science
"But sunspots are not just black dots or squares. If you use your clairvoyance to the maximum, you can see that different sunspots look completely different, and they are strangely shaped." Cao Zheng briefly introduced the appearance of sunspots. .
"Why are there sunspots? What are these sunspots? Are they really leftover firewood?" Wen asked.
"Your Highness, I don't know this yet, but sunspots are definitely not leftover firewood. The sun is red or yellow, and it is very similar to magma. Even if it is really burning with firewood from the sky, there will never be any on the surface. There are so many embers left after burning." Cao Zheng replied.
"Why not?"
"Your Highness, have you ever seen magma? The temperature of magma is extremely high. If you throw firewood down, it will be burned out in an instant, leaving no ashes at all."
"But the sun will not use firewood on the earth to burn, but firewood in the sky."
"Your Highness, the temperature of the sun should be much higher than the temperature of magma. Since the firewood on the ground will be instantly burned by the magma on the ground without leaving ashes, the firewood in the sky should also be burned by the sun in an instant without leaving ashes. Leave ashes behind." Cao Zheng said.
"This," Wen was at a loss for words for a moment, and then said after a pause: "Although this inference sounds very reasonable, the inference is an inference after all, and it may not be correct."
"Your Highness is right. So from now on, I will continue to observe the sun and try to find evidence to prove this inference as soon as possible." Cao Zheng said.
Wen was about to ask something more, when Wen Qi suddenly interrupted: "Father, there is nothing to see, right? After looking at all this, what important conclusions can we draw in the end?" Hearing what he said, Wen could only keep silent. Word.
When Yun heard this, he signaled to Sichengtang. Sichengtang was absent-minded and did not see it. After being reminded by Cao Zheng, he took a step forward and bowed to Yun, then said: "Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, through observation After calculation of the stars, the moon, the earth and the sun under our feet,...(calculation and inference process), we can conclude that the earth is indeed revolving around the sun. This is enough to prove that the earth under our feet is indeed spherical."
"It turns out that the earth is indeed revolving around the sun." Someone whispered. When Sichengtang proposed this theory a few years ago, the evidence was actually insufficient. It was only because the officials and people of the Ming Dynasty did not care much about this theory that they did not This led to large-scale debates, but also led to fierce disagreements among people who loved studying astronomy. At that time, it affected Ge Zhijian's normal research, and it took several months for him to get better.
But with this evidence, those who oppose this heliocentric theory can no longer put the quilt over their heads and pretend not to see it.
Except for the officials of Gezhi Prison, the other princes and guards present did not care much about this theory. However, because of their relationship with Zai Yun, they all knew it more or less, and they were somewhat resistant to such a counterintuitive theory of heliocentrism. At this time, I couldn't help but sigh.
"From now on, the earth under our feet will be called the earth." Yun officially named the planet under his feet, and of course he adopted the name of later generations.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Cao Zheng agreed quickly.
Sichengtang and others calmed down and continued: "In addition, through observation, we can also know that while the moon is revolving around the earth, it is also rotating on its own axis, just like a football. The sun also rotates in the same way, and the earth rotates on its own axis. Same thing."
"The earth is rotating?" Wen Luo said in surprise: "How can the earth be rotating? If it is indeed rotating, why can't it be felt?" Not only she, but everyone present was very surprised. This is so contrary to common sense.
"Because the earth is too big." Cao Zheng explained: "Your Highness, by observing the sun and measuring the shadow length of wooden poles of the same length standing upright on the ground at different times and in different places, we can measure the circumference of the spherical earth. It is eighty thousand miles long, and the rotation is relatively slow, so people cannot feel it."
"Eighty thousand miles?" Wen Luo said in surprise: "How long is one week of the earth?"
"Eighty thousand miles is not too long." Wen Qi said: "Yin Fan, Shang Fan, and the vassal state granted by the second uncle are fully 20,000 miles away from the Central Plains, and the Fu Zhufan Kingdom is at least 20,000 miles away from the Ming Dynasty. This is more than 40,000 miles, and half as long will be enough." Wen Qi was surprised when he heard about the length of 80,000 miles, but he immediately remembered that the Hanzhou continent that Zhu Bo, Zhu Zhen and Zhu Yun sealed was 20,000 miles away from the Central Plains. Castile is 20,000 miles away from the Central Plains, and it suddenly doesn’t seem that long.
"This means that the distance between the two uncles and the second uncle's fiefdom from the Central Plains is two and a half times the length of a week. If the Central Plains is directly above the earth, then the place where they are located should be diagonally above, and they should be tilted "It's right to stand, why not. No, no," Wen finished saying this and suddenly realized something was wrong: "If the earth rotates, then there is no right way up. Then when the Central Plains turn to the bottom, why do we stand? On the earth, don’t fall?”
"Your Highness, I don't know this yet." Cao Zheng could only say.
"Wen, this matter is indeed elusive. More than a thousand years ago, during the Han Dynasty, someone proposed the idea that the earth is a sphere, but they could only give up because they could not explain why people could stand on the earth without falling. If not, Observing the sun, moon and stars has indeed proved that the earth should be a sphere, but I am afraid there will still be people who use this as an excuse to refuse to admit it. But even if it is proved that the earth should be a sphere, the question of why anyone can stand on the earth without falling off still cannot be solved. .If you want to know, you can do some research on your own, and maybe you can figure it out." Yun said with a smile.
His last sentence was actually just a casual remark, but he didn't expect that Wen actually replied: "Father, I do have this intention."
"What?" Yun thought she heard wrongly.
"Father, I came to Gezhijian today and saw what everyone in Gezhijian studies every day. I feel that what they study is very interesting, and I am willing to study it," Wen said again.
In the past, I had no idea what people in Gezhijian study all day long, and I have no idea what science is. Today I came to Gezhijian and took a look. I also looked at the moon, the Milky Way and the sun through clairvoyance and a projector. I was immediately shocked. The sky was so beautiful. So vast, the earth is so small compared with the sky. He was deeply intoxicated by the vastness of the sky and felt that the things he liked in the past were insignificant, so he decided to devote himself to scientific research.
"Are you sincere?" Yun said, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
"My son, I am sincere. I ask my father to grant me your permission."
"Sixth brother, how could you do this? You are very smart, and you should use it to be more useful. It cannot be said that it is useless to study these things, but it is still less useful." Wen Qi immediately advised.
Wenyuan even said: "Sixth brother, whether it is merchants, craftsmen, medicine, science, etc., it is a small way after all. The only way is to govern the country and the people and lead the troops to fight. As the son of my father, how can you abandon the big way and follow the small way?
Reason?"
"Second brother, third brother, you don't need to persuade me any more." Wen said, "My brother has made up his mind. What's more, why can't the royal family delve into minor ways? My uncle, King Zhou, studied medicine, and uncle Zhou Shizi studied opera, poetry, and songs. Aren't they both minors? Why, father?
Not only did the emperor not object, but he also supported them very much?"
"Well," Wen Qi wanted to say, 'How can that be the same? You are the son of your father, they are the vassal kings, and the uncle of the King of Zhou is unwilling to join the vassal, so of course it is better to study the small way that is beneficial to the country, rather than the big way'. But now
There were four other officials from Gezhi Prison and seven or eight guards. It was not appropriate to say this. He thought for a while and could only say: "Uncle King Zhou and Uncle Zhou Crown Prince have already formed a liking for each other, and even the father cannot correct it.
I can only acquiesce."
"My younger brother's preferences have become established and are difficult to correct," Wen added.
"Why are you so stubborn?" Wen Qi scolded, and just as he was about to say something else, Ting Yun suddenly smiled and said, "Wen Qi, you don't have to say anything."
Wen Qi hurriedly stopped talking, waiting to hear Yun's persuasion or rebuke, but a scene that surprised him even more appeared. Yun actually said: "Wen, since you like science, my father allows you to study it."
"Thank you, Father." Wen immediately agreed happily, knelt down and saluted.
"Father, this!" Wen Yuan, Wen Qi, and the other princes and princesses all looked at Yun.
"You don't have to read anymore. My father has already made his decision. How can the so-called golden words be changed?" Yun said.
"Why?" Wen Qi couldn't help but ask.
"You are all the sons of my father. Although my father hopes that you can expand the territory, I also hope that you can live a comfortable and happy life. Since Wen likes to study astronomy, studying astronomy will definitely make him happy, and my father's wish is fulfilled.
.”
"Besides, if he really doesn't like running the country and leading troops to fight, it may not be a good thing to force him to do it. My father can only let nature take its course." Yun called his children over, but the guards and officials couldn't listen.
Qing's voice said. But in fact, what he said was not the main reason. The main reason for allowing Zheng Wen to study science was, of course, to promote the development of science.
Although Yun vigorously advocates science, mainstream officials still look down on these people who study science regardless of their civil and military skills. Their status is still low. Most of those officials who are interested in astronomy, mathematics, etc. are unwilling to give up their civil and military positions and only study secretly in private.
After all, there are very few people like Cao Zheng, and even Cao Zheng's family was facing a crisis of marginalization at that time. Cao Zheng was allowed to do this in order to regain the holy family. He himself was actually regarded as an abandoned son. As for his subsequent abandonment,
They did not expect that their son would become the pillar of the family at first.
Therefore, greater efforts are needed to encourage the development of science. What can be more encouraging than a prince devoting himself to scientific research? When people see a prince dedicating himself to science, they will be more aware of the emperor's influence on it.
If you pay attention to it, more people will be willing to join it, and your goal will be achieved.
However, even the two reasons that Yun publicly stated were relatively sufficient. No one could find any words to argue, only Wen Qi asked again: "If after a few years, the sixth brother is tired of astronomy, why not
Are you willing to continue studying?"
"Then let him come back and learn the Tao again." Yun said with a smile: "You are not children from poor families. You spend several years devoting yourself to one thing. If it fails, there will be no possibility of getting ahead in the future. You can only go back to farming and working. "You are the descendants of the clan, the sons of the Son of Heaven, and you can start over from the beginning at any time."
Yun's reason is very strong. Even if Wen gets bored in the future, it will only be a waste of a few years. The family does not expect him to make money to support himself. He can learn other things from scratch, and he can be taught by the most powerful teachers in the country. So everyone There was nothing more to say, only Wen Yuan said to himself in his heart: 'If you find that your sixth brother is showing signs of being tired of astronomy, report it to your father immediately and let him return to the right path. It would be good to save one day from wasting.'
"Wen, although what you studied in school in the past slightly involved some science, if you want to delve into astronomy, you need to learn a lot of things, which cannot be studied from the beginning. You need to choose someone to be your teacher. , to teach you this knowledge. At present, the people who have studied astronomy the most in Gezhijian are Cao Zheng, the deputy supervisor, Sichengtang, the supervisor, and Zhou Wei. Who would you like to study with?" Yun asked Wen Dao.
"Father, my son is willing to study with Master Si," Wen said.
"Why Sichengtang?" Yun said with some surprise. Today Sichengtang has been acting in a daze, while Cao Zheng has been talking in a natural manner. Although Zhou Wei didn't speak much, he looked very good and had no words. Discourtesy. No matter from any point of view, today's Sichengtang should not be in Wen's eyes, so why would he choose Sichengtang?
"Because these phenomena today were first discovered by Master Si." Wen gave his own reason. He had already secretly asked Yang Zhu, who had not spoken here today, to confirm that these phenomena were discovered by Sichengtang. Since it was discovered by Sichengtang, Nawen felt that his level of astronomy should be the highest, so he chose him.
"That's it." Yun said with a smile, raised his head and said to Sichengtang: "Siqing."
"I'm here." Sichengtang came back to his senses and bowed in agreement.
"My emperor's sixth son has decided to study astronomy. But he only has a superficial understanding of astronomy and needs someone to teach him. After the Chinese New Year, I will let the emperor's sixth son study astronomy with you," Yun said.