After talking about 'printing', it was time to get to the main topic of the day. Li Mu welcomed Li Shimin and three others into his studio and showed them the finished Quyuanli.
Entering the room, the three of them were slightly surprised. No one came in to Li Mu's studio except Li Chongyi on weekdays. This was Li Ji's first time here. Seeing the room full of tools and
The three of them didn't talk about the raw materials, but secretly admired them in their hearts. It seemed that Li Mu could come up with so many things, and it seemed that it was not without reason. He had really studied it secretly.
The curved shaft plow was placed on the workbench. Li Mu moved it down and placed it on the ground for Li Shimin to demonstrate.
"Your Majesty, please take a look. Compared with the original plow, the most obvious difference between this new type of plow and the original plow is the plow shaft. The original plows had straight shafts. After my experiments, they were improved into curved shafts. This improvement
It can save a lot of animal power."
"Secondly, I added three parts, the plow blade, the plow arrows and the plow disc. If you push the plow blade forward, you can make the plow arrows go downwards, and the plowshares will go into the soil deeply. If you lift the plowshares, you will make the plow arrows go up, and the plowshares will go into the soil shallowly."
The function of the plow disc is to allow the plow body to swing to enhance maneuverability."
"The part next to it is called the plow wall. The plow wall not only breaks up the soil, but also pushes the plowed soil to one side, reducing the resistance of the plow."
"The key point is this plowshare. This plowshare is a double-layered plowshare. The small plowshare at the front can break the soil easily, and the large plowshare at the back can further expand the broken soil. The purpose of this is also to save labor. I have done experiments in open fields and used this plowshare.
A double-sided plowshare can be pulled by an adult man. This way, farmers without livestock can also use this new type of plow, which greatly improves the efficiency of farming."
Although Li Shimin didn't quite understand the principle, he understood what Li Mu said. This new type of plow can be pulled not only by animals, but also by people. This is great, because there are not many cattle in the Tang Dynasty.
, and cattle are not something that can reproduce in large numbers in a year and a half. If humans can replace cattle, wouldn't that solve a big problem?
Li Shimin confirmed and asked: "Can people really pull this new type of plow?"
"I am sure it can be done. I have tried it myself."
"Take me to find an open space, I want to try it myself."
Changsun Wuji hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, no, you are the emperor, how can you do such a lowly thing?"
"I work for the people, how can I be humble?" Li Shimin asked Li Mu to come with him, and the two of them carried the plow out. There was a place ready to plant flowers in the front yard. Li Mu put the plow on the ground, took the rope and looked at Li Shimin, saying
: "Your Majesty, do you really want to test it yourself?"
"Of course, am I joking with you?"
Li Jidao: "Your Majesty, I will take your place..."
"Stop talking nonsense, come on!" Li Shimin motioned to Li Mu to get started, and Li Mu had no choice but to accept the order and tied Li Shimin up with a rope instead of an ox yoke. Changsun Wuji looked on and frowned. In his opinion, the dignified emperor was doing a job.
Damn, that's really outrageous.
"Your Majesty, you can pull now." Li Mu held the tip of the plow and said to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin heard Li Mu's signal and imitated the way of plowing cattle and pushed forward. Sure enough, he could pull. Although he could obviously feel the resistance, it was indeed not difficult for an adult man to complete.
Li Shimin pulled forward about ten meters and looked back at the dug ditch. He was very satisfied and said: "Li Mu, it is as you said, very labor-saving and very flexible. From this point of view, let alone twice, even if it is
It's possible to triple it, and you're really going to get rich this time."
Li Mu helped Li Shimin untie the rope and said, "Your Majesty, I have no intention of making money from this."
"Oh?" Li Shimin said in confusion: "I can understand that you don't plan to use printing to make money. You don't plan to make money with this new plow. Don't you love money?
The minds of people in the Tang Dynasty had not yet been brainwashed by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Even the emperor did not feel that everything in the world belonged to him. Regarding personal inventions, whether it was the monarch, the court, or the social environment,
He respected it very much. Secret methods, secret recipes, etc. were privately owned, and it was illegal for others to steal them. Therefore, whether it was printing or this new type of plow, Li Shimin recognized that it was Li Mu's private property and never thought of asking him to donate it selflessly.
"I love money, but I don't love money." Li Mu, a dramatist, said with a righteous expression: "Without money, I can't give my family a good life, so I love money. But I don't want to do anything.
They are all for money and benefiting the country and the people. I think that if you use this to get money, it is actually a despicable act. It goes against my principles as a human being and also goes against my attitude towards money."
"Your Majesty, please recall that these things I have invented so far, as for wine, have been used to make profits, because wine is not necessary, and people's lives will not be affected if they don't drink. People who like to drink can afford wine.
People are not considered ordinary people. However, when I earned money, I did not spend it myself. I used it to build a craftsman's workshop without asking the court for money. Other things such as horseshoes, printing, and new plows are all detrimental to the country.
It’s not that I don’t know the benefits of useful things, but I just want to give them to Your Majesty to strengthen the Tang Dynasty, and I don’t want to use them to make money.”
Li Mu's words were sincere, and the facts were in front of him. Li Shimin could not believe it. Li Shimin was so moved that he took Li Mu's hand and said, "I am very pleased that you can have such thoughts at such a young age. You have given me these few words."
Everything has contributed to the country, and the contribution is not small, and I know it well. If you have merit, you must reward it. If you don't want money, I can only reward you with an official position. But you are already a county prince at a young age, and you will be rewarded if you go up.
It is really……"
"Your Majesty, I don't want an official position or title. I think my life is pretty good now. I don't lack anything and I don't need rewards."
Who doesn't like such a minister? Li Shimin was very happy. The more Li Mu said this, the more he felt that he should express his gratitude. After thinking for a while, he said: "It is not a wise king not to reward meritorious service. If you offer me three things, I will also give them to you."
You have three rewards. Horseshoes are good for the army. I specially appoint you as an army guard and give you a squad of Imperial Guards as a guard. Printing is good for culture and education. I appoint you Doctor of the Imperial Academy. You will not take up the post. It is just to commend you for your contribution.
As for this new type of plow... I really don’t know how to reward you, so I will name this plow after you so that everyone in the world can accept your kindness. How about it?"
Li Mu hurriedly said: "I dare not accept so many rewards. If Your Majesty insists on a reward, I will accept the first one. As for Dr. Guozi, I still don't want it. I really don't dare to mislead my disciples. In addition, the new plow,
I think it’s best to name it after His Majesty’s reign. Only Your Majesty can deserve the gratitude of the people of the world.”
Li Shimin was a little moved, but he was too embarrassed to take advantage of Li Mu, so he pretended to be reserved and said, "This is not good."
Li Ji observed the words and quickly advised: "Your Majesty, please don't reward too much. Li Mu is still young, and there will be many opportunities to reward him in the future. Rewarding too much at once will arouse the jealousy of others, which is not a good thing for him."
Changsun Wuji also added some words of persuasion, and Li Shimin finally agreed and said: "Since you and others have advised you like this, I will accept it and just do it this way, call it 'Zhenguan Plow'."