"This," Cao Zheng was a little confused. He had never considered the problem from the perspective of the earth being a ball, so he didn't know how to answer it for a while. Not only him, but also Zhou Wei and Sichengtang were a little confused.
"Your Majesty, if it is true as your Majesty said, it is difficult to deny that the earth is a ball, but it is also impossible to prove like the reversal theory." He thought for a while and then said.
"It's true. This can only be used as an explanation." Yunxi actually already had a way to confirm it in his heart, and planned when to confirm it, but now he changed the topic: "Besides that, can you two also Is there anything else you don’t understand?”
"Your Majesty, I and others have many puzzles about astronomical phenomena, but the biggest puzzle is why the sun, moon and stars hang in the sky and do not fall down."
Sichengtang on the side couldn't help but nod. This question can be said to be the ultimate question in astronomy. Ancient people in both the East and the West were very puzzled. In the end, the West turned to theology for help, believing that there was a first driving force to push them to move like this without falling. , until Newton, the first true scientist of mankind, proposed the law of universal gravitation.
Dongfang put forward the theory of Xuan Ye: "The sun, moon and stars naturally float in the void, and they all need gas to move on them." He created the theory that the sun, moon and stars float in the gas, and in further development, he believed that Even the sun, moon and stars themselves are composed of gas. However, there is a huge problem with Xuanye's theory, that is, if they are suspended in space, it cannot explain why they circle the earth every day, so it is also rejected.
Similarly, Yunxi could not prove the existence of universal gravity with mathematical models, not to mention that he was more willing to inspire others to solve this problem.
So Yunhe thought about mentioning a few things about gravity using words that were in line with the cognition of people of this era. However, seeing that they did not think in the direction he guided, he could only put it down for the time being.
After finishing all these astronomical questions, Yunxi stood up, glanced at Cao Zheng, Zhou Wei and Sichengtang, and said to them: "Cao Zheng, Zhou Wei, I want to give you two a new official position. Are you two willing?"
The two of them suddenly felt nervous. At this time, if they were given new official positions, it goes without saying that they could only be related to astronomy. Maybe they would be admitted to the Imperial Heavenly Prison.
The two of them were not willing. Although they liked to study astronomy, at this time, studying astronomy was generally considered to be unprofessional even if the relationship with the crime was not considered. As for astronomy, as long as a calendar can be formulated according to it, it would be enough. What are the others used for?
The two of them can imagine what kind of criticism they will receive in their lives if they accept Yunxi's appointment. Cao Zheng is better off. After all, he is a noble son. A beating and being laughed at by everyone in the social circle is all. Maybe he will be taken seriously by everyone in the future because he can be received by the emperor. Zhou Wei is different. As a civil servant, he suddenly became an astronomical scholar who is considered to study the gods. For people with astrological signs, most of their friends will no longer associate with him, and the people in his hometown will scold him. Zhou Wei's father is in poor health, and he will be angry again.
But Cao Zheng secretly glanced at Yunxi's eyes and felt that he could not go against Yunxi's words. At least both of them could not reject Yunxi's appointment. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to accept your Majesty's official position."
Zhou Wei hesitated for a long time and finally said: "Your Majesty, as a second-class Jinshi, although I like to study astronomy, astronomy has little to do with the national economy and people's livelihood. I am willing to handle matters related to the national economy and people's livelihood for your majesty. I dare not do anything else."
It goes against the teachings of Confucius."
Yunxi felt a little regretful, but it was expected. So he said without anger: "That's fine."
"In that case, Zhou Wei, I still remember your handwriting. It's well written and the article is also very well-organized." As Yunxi spoke, he sent his guards downstairs to buy pen and ink. After buying the pen and ink, he continued: "You
Prepare a decree for me."
"Emperor Fengtian Chengyun decreed that from now on, the Qintian Prison will be abolished." Yunxi's first sentence made Zhou Wei's hand tremble and he almost made a typo, but Yunxi did not look at him but stared at the ceiling.
So I don't know that he paused for a moment, but continued: "Taking the meaning of studying things to gain knowledge, we established Gezhiyuan to study the causes of astronomy, geography, changes in physical properties and many other phenomena, study mathematics, and compile calendars."
"Gezhiyuan has one president, the fourth rank, and one deputy, the fourth rank, and there are also official positions such as chief registrar. Gezhiyuan does not belong to any department, just like the Taiyuan Hospital, Haiwuyuan, etc."
"Yang Shiqi from Zhongshushe will be the president of Gezhi Academy, in charge of the affairs of the academy, and Cao Zheng will be the deputy academy, in charge of research. If any of the officials of the former Qin Tianjian Yamen who have studied astronomy and geography, etc., are incorporated into Gezhi Academy
hospital."
What Yunxi proposed was an institution similar to the modern Academy of Natural Sciences.
Because of the long-term centralization of power in China, China despises knowledge that cannot serve as an official or promote agricultural production. He cannot change the status quo of centralization. In order to develop science in the Ming Dynasty, he must support those who like to study science, and it cannot be done secretly.
The support must be public and allow them to serve as officials, so as to attract more people to devote themselves to science.
Of course, it is possible that someone will overthrow the government, but this is all he can do now.
As for why we didn’t directly invent the word ‘science’ and call it Gezhiyuan, first of all, the translated word science actually does not fully reflect the original meaning of sce. Many translators in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China opposed directly borrowing the translation from Fusang people and proposed using
"Gezhi" or "Gewu" are more appropriate words; secondly, using the word "Gezhi" from traditional Chinese culture is also easily accepted by Chinese scholar-bureaucrats.
'It is not only necessary to establish a Gezhi Institute to encourage research, but also to translate books from the West, and select aspects that are ahead of the Ming Dynasty for Cao Zheng and others to conduct research. Not only must they learn their style, but also their way of thinking in research.
There has been a century-old translation movement of Cannibals, which translated books from ancient Greece and Rome into Cannibals, coupled with their own independent creations, thus creating a situation where Cannibals has led the world for hundreds of years. China can also copy Cannibals.
The method of cannibalism developed the science of the Ming Dynasty, or it is called Gezhi.'
'Whether it was the great voyages or colonial plunder, they were the main reasons why the Fu Fu people later dominated the world. The most important reason was that their science had developed greatly, and the wealth gained from colonial plunder only served as a catalyst. As long as the Ming Dynasty
If his style can always be ahead of the world, Ming Dynasty will definitely be able to always be the most powerful country in the world.' Yunxi thought.
At the end of his mind, Yunxi raised his head and said, "Cao Zheng, Gezhiyuan will definitely become a very important place in the Ming Dynasty in the future. You will never regret coming to Gezhiyuan."