Jingming

Chapter 298 What does Taoism have to do with fertilizer?
Jin Kela still followed.

Now, he has not only been to the Forbidden City, but also entered the Qianqing Gate with the emperor, passed the Sangong and Six Courtyards of the Later Dynasty, and passed through the Imperial Garden.

He didn't dare to lift his head, and he didn't dare to glance at him from the corner of his eye!
Tao Zhongwen was better, although he didn't lower his head, but his eyes remained calm and did not move, and he walked forward without haste.

I was still thinking about this unexpected situation in my heart: the emperor was neither seeking Taoism and longevity, nor praying for good fortune, but for... the way of physics?

All the way to Qin'an Hall, Zhang Zuo was already waiting there.

"All ready?"

After Zhu Houcong asked, Zhang Zuo immediately replied: "Onion and garlic, icing sugar, alkali powder, dry sand, strong wine, the four treasures of the study, servants and maidservants are all ready."

"How many times did you steam the spirits?"

"It didn't work last time. Your Majesty said that the more mellow the better, the servant ordered people to steam it again and again. Now this strong wine, even people who are very good at drinking shochu, dare not enter their throats. The servant has already tried it." , It is indeed burning at one point, and the situation afterwards is like a nightmare!"

He was terrified after speaking, but Zhu Houcong nodded. It seems that after trying several times, this time it worked.

If you study carefully, you will know that the method of distillation appeared very early.However, it is really a matter of nearly 200 years to use it in wine making.Today's wine has a much higher alcohol content than that in Tang and Song Dynasties, which is why there are fewer and fewer records of drinking like Li Bai and Wu Song in literary works after Ming and Qing Dynasties-I can't stand it.

The word shochu refers to this kind of steamed wine.

But what Zhu Houcong wanted was higher alcohol, which was of great use.But at present, progress is much slower than Zhu Houcong imagined.The reason is probably that there are many problems such as temperature control and airtightness that are not easy to volatilize.And in the case that there is not enough food, Zhu Houcong does not want to rush to promote the preparation of this thing when the wine yield is not high.

I only have a vague memory. If it is to be used for disinfection, the alcohol content must be well controlled.

Fortunately, Zhu Houcong is not going to use it for disinfection now, but to use it to ignite a fire.

In the open space behind Qin'an Hall, two small desks were placed there.

"These two experiments, one moving and one quiet. Let's look at the quiet ones first, Zhang Zuo, come here."

In the Forbidden City, although Zhang Zuo was the chief inspector of ceremonies, his current responsibilities were scattered and free, not as important as Huang Jin's.

It is rare that the emperor has a special errand assigned to him, and Zhang Zuo has become a "researcher" these days.

Now he worked extremely hard, rolled up his sleeves and went to a table, and began to peel the onions and mash the garlic.

"Come here and take a closer look." Zhu Houcong walked forward with Tao Zhongwen and Jin Kela, "Ordinary green onions and raw garlic."

"...Your Majesty, I don't know what method is this...experiment?"

Zhu Houcong smiled: "It's not some kind of cultivation method, as long as Taoist Taoist sees it."

I saw that Zhang Zuo quickly mashed the onion roots and garlic cloves separately, and then filtered out some juice with a cloth cloth, and put them on a small dish.

Afterwards, Tao Zhongwen watched him pick up two new brushes, dip them in different juices, and start writing on two pieces of paper.

At the beginning there was still a wet print, but after a while, the print dried up, and the blank paper looked as if nothing had been written on it.

"Bring the candle."

Zhang Zuo turned around and ordered, then picked up a piece of paper and looked at the emperor: "Your maidservant, try one first."

He asked for instructions first for everything, and when he got permission, Zhang Zuo carefully held the piece of paper, placed it at a certain distance above the flames, and ironed it back and forth.

Jin Kela's eyes were wide open, the wet printed white paper could no longer be seen before, but now brown and yellow handwriting slowly appeared on it.Although the strokes are not as neat as those written with ink, they are easy to recognize.

This scene looked a bit miraculous, but Tao Zhongwen was still quite calm.

"It's done!" Zhang Zuo seemed more excited than him, "Your Majesty, if you write secret letters in this way, it will be of great use!"

Zhu Houcong chuckled lightly: "Why do you have to work so hard? Taoist Priest Tao knows this method?"

Zhu Houcong naturally saw the different reactions of the two audiences.Tao Zhongwen saluted after hearing the words: "I have heard a little bit."

"Do you know why? Why does onion juice and garlic juice have this effect, but the juice of some things doesn't work?"

"Everything has its nature. Onion, garlic and spicy things have fire nature. Paper is made of grass and wood, and wood nature. Fire overcomes wood, onion and garlic juice and simmering fire attack internally and externally, and the paper will be scorched, revealing the writing."

Jin Kela admired Tao Zhongwen's eloquent talk.

Zhu Houcong could only be speechless.

It sounds plausible, but it's not at all.

These so-called "simple and easy-to-do small chemical experiments" were interesting and remembered by Zhu Houcong when he read some popular science articles and small videos.

Obviously because the vegetable oil and some other ingredients in their juices have a lower ignition point, they are burnt first.

"Then the next experiment, let's see what Daoist Tao thinks."

Zhang Zuo became more nervous when he heard the words, because he had tried this "experiment" many times, and it was just one time before.

Now, remembering His Majesty's instructions, he took the spoon.

Four spoons of sugar, one spoon of alkali powder.

Zhu Houcong silently watched him operate.

At this time, the folks are still eating "sour noodles" in large numbers.

Is it because they don't know that adding some alkali powder will taste better?of course I know. "Qi Min Yao Shu" records the method of making alkali: take a bucket of barley straw and soak it in water for seven days.Take it out and dry it in the sun, and smash it into powder.Add three liters of lime, boil it, and remove the slag to get about two catties of alkali.

The weeds on the edge of the field are everywhere, and there is no shortage at all.In a sense, what people want to eat good-tasting steamed buns is never the alkali, but the noodles.

There is not much demand, so there is not much research on alkali production.

But Zhu Houcong also roughly knows that alkali is very useful, at least what is acid-base and acid-base is a very deep point in the few chemical memories that have been stored.

Now, what Zhang Zuo is preparing to demonstrate is a beggar's version of the experiment called "Pharaoh's Snake".

Zhang Zuo's demonstration was very sacred, because the effect of the previous successful one shocked him a bit.

After paving the dried fine sand, Zhang Zuo opened the tightly sealed porcelain jar, and a strong smell of alcohol came out.

He looked at Zhu Houcong: "Your Majesty, you'd better step back, this servant is worried."

"...It doesn't matter." Zhu Houcong knew that the beggar gang's reaction would not be that violent, and it would not produce poisonous gas.

"Huang Jin, take care of Your Majesty." Zhang Zuo could only say so, and then ordered the next-door striker, "As soon as the wine is poured, light the fire, hurry up!"

He didn't know what the reason was, but after trying it a few times, the key was to be fast.

Otherwise, the fire would burn out before something unbelievable came out of the icing powder mixed with lye.

Some highly distilled alcohol was poured on the fine sand, and the little eunuch next to him hurried over with a torch.

Sure enough, it is burning with fire.

Tao Zhongwen knows that wine can burn.But when the wine was ignited, the color of the flames was different.

Then, Zhang Zuo quickly poured the mixed sugar and alkali powder on the burning fine sand.

There was nothing unusual at first, but after a while, a brown thing slowly arched up on the lump of powder, as if the roots of an old tree grew from the fire, and it really looked like some monster was crawling out of the fire.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Huang Jin only knew that Zhu Houcong had arranged for Zhang Zuo to prepare for these things, how could he know that there was such a scene?

"No problem."

Zhu Houcong turned to look at Tao Zhongwen and Jin Kela.

Jin Kela's eyes were full of shock, and his mouth was opened wide, while Tao Zhongwen also showed his eyes, and was thinking about something.

Because of the different materials used in this beggar's version of the experiment, the reaction is far less violent than those of the truly high-purity materials.Now Zhu Houcong just arranged for one or two demonstrations, and didn't think about the skills and exaggerate the atmosphere.

But Tao Zhongwen's expression is obviously not simple. As an "alchemist", he is very experienced in the two methods of "fire pill" and "water pill", and I don't know how many things he has seen after being burned.

But Tao Zhongwen had never seen such a spiritual, living creature-like reaction.

Isn't the purpose of alchemy to complement the body with immortal things such as gold and stone, so that it can also become immortal?Tao Zhongwen was actually shocked by the fact that there was activity in the dead things at this moment, but his expression management was excellent.

After the two experiments were over, Zhu Houcong asked, "Does Master Tao know, what is the reason for this?"

"..." Tao Zhongwen thought for a while, and then said again, "Beautiful alcohol and grains are made of water and wood. Icing sugar has the nature of wood and soil. Alkaline powder, gold, earth and wood have both. When it meets fire again, the five elements are complete, and life is endless. Your Majesty's technique is unheard of by the poor, so I don't know if you are right?"

Zhu Houcong only felt that it was a cross-server chat.Regardless of the phenomenon, he always leans on the five elements anyway.

He still speaks in such a decent way, and with his "highly educated" appearance, if Zhu Houcong didn't already have some mature and stable knowledge concepts, I'm afraid he would believe it.

So Zhu Houcong could only say: "Daoist Tao, your alchemy has gone astray."

"..." Tao Zhongwen didn't speak, but he was not convinced.

"Go into the palace and talk about it."

……

With the current materials and Zhu Houcong's very limited chemical knowledge, Zhu Houcong can't arrange an experiment with abnormal bursting effect.

With the inherent thinking of people in this era, it is unrealistic to expect that one or two small experiments will shock them inexplicably and discard the old experience accumulation.

But Zhu Houcong can deny his way, and then speak out his own reasoning, and then assist some other means, so that he can try his accumulated knowledge in another direction.

In the Qin'an Hall, the two sheets of paper were brought, one of which was baked and the other was not.

The plates that still kept those "scary outgrowths" were also brought and placed on the low table in the hall.

"The one who moves, the hub of the Tao."

In order to go in the right direction for the ideological understanding of various groups of people, Zhu Houcong has already looked for many ancient classics in his spare time.

Anyway, the six meridians note me.

Tao Zhongwen nodded when he heard the words in "Book of Changes" first.

"Hengqu Zhang also said in "Zhengmeng" that the shape gathers into a thing, and the thing collapses and turns back to the original. The fire of the car, once strong and vigorous, must return to something; mercury will fly when it sees the fire, and it does not know where it is going. It belongs to the ground. The gathering and dispersing changes, but its body does not benefit or lose." Zhu Houcong continued for a while, and then asked, "Just now, a huge thing was born in the icing powder, which is several times the size of the original thing. Is it true? Did it come out of nowhere?"

Tao Zhongwen couldn't answer this question.Jin Kela couldn't understand what the emperor said.

"Gold will not burn in fire, will not rot in water, and will be immortal for thousands of years in the earth. It is said in "Chan Tong Qi" that warlocks eat it and live a long life. The cinnabar red is like blood, so it is also regarded as the source of life. When mercury meets The fire will fly, and the alchemists also think that taking it will help them ascend. When alchemists practice alchemy, the furnace is placed in the direction of the five elements. Its main text is that it should not be leaked." Zhu Houcong asked with a smile, "Is what I said right?"

"...Your Majesty knows everything about Dan Dao."

Zhu Houcong really wanted to know something. In this era, there are a lot of people searching for him.

What he is talking about now is the alchemy priests from the source of thought to the specific practice, from the normal state of the industry to the state of personal psychology.

According to the guiding ideology of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, the theory of "Profit and Loss" is also used to condense the various appellations such as "Taixu", "Vital Qi", "Tai Chi", and "Tao" that are condensed in all things in the world. It is understood that if you want to seize the secrets of the sky and benefit yourself, you must not reveal the secrets of the sky and "damage" the world too much, so everyone has a secret name and method.

The same thing is called differently by different people.

There is one more thing Zhu Houcong can't say: there is a problem with the fundamental purpose of alchemy.Is there such a thing as alchemy for longevity, cultivation of Taoism and ascension?
But Zhu Houcong has neither method nor evidence to refute this point, and now he himself is an example: how did he come here?

The palace of Qin'an fell into a short period of peace, and then Zhu Houcong put aside all these things: "From my point of view, this is all obsessed with the surface and forgets the essence. With the grandeur of heaven and the complexity of everything in the world, how can it be simple?" Divide into the five elements and explain the reasoning? Daoist alchemy, if only relying on the theory of the five elements, can't be perfect. Take today's two experiments as examples, let me explain the reasoning."

One is because it will be fired at different temperatures: this is easy to explain, the same clay is fired at different temperatures, and different things such as pottery and porcelain will be obtained.Lead, iron, etc. have different temperatures at which they can be smelted and melted.

The other, involves another issue.It is naturally difficult for Zhu Houcong to explain the molecular structure, but he just gave a simple example: if the same bucket of water is tightly covered and freezes in winter, the wooden bucket may burst.

His limited knowledge can only explain a little bit, but in the end he said: "Everything, first understand its properties and record it. Then do more experiments to know its changes. Only by persisting in this way can you get a glimpse of the Dao One or two. Dao produces one, one life two, Two begets three, and three begets all things. The principle of the Dao needs to be exhausted before you can see it. I said that you only distinguish between Yin and Yang and five elements, and try it aimlessly. This is to take a shortcut. Is there a shortcut to prove the Tao?

Tao Zhongwen is just not aware of it now, and it is mainly because the other party is the emperor: "Your Majesty is right..."

Zhu Houcong then gave an effective method: "The Taoist priest presides over the Qin'an Hall, and you can still make alchemy as usual. However, the Taoist priest should also try my method according to my offering. The future will be long, and I will return to you with you." There are many opportunities to learn from each other. But according to my method, Taoist Taoist, if he really has achieved something else, wouldn’t he be famous in history and a master of a generation? Taoist Taoist must not think that fertilizer making is a trivial matter, and crops are also living things. The principle of nourishing the crops is the principle of nourishing the life body?"

Tao Zhongwen was shocked when he heard it: This is the truth.Crops are also living things. If you have a clear understanding of why things benefit crops, you can indeed learn from them.

And, don't take the risk of trying some medicines.

As a professional, he naturally knows that some of the things he refines are dangerous, so there is a saying of putting on fire to get rid of its toxicity.

"If this is done, I will really be able to rely on Daoist Taoist Taoist to comprehend the Dao together. At that time, all the Taoist sects in the world will be under the leadership of Taoist Master. With my help and the strength of the world, the Daoist Dao can be expected. Taoist Master Tao Do you think so?"

Alchemy is actually very expensive, and many things are not cheap. Tao Zhongwen knew how long it would take him to accumulate the materials for a furnace.

Now the emperor, who is rich all over the world, has drawn this cake for him, which is much more effective than the previous two small experiments.

"Your Majesty has great faith, and the poor should do their best. The poor will also have a firm heart to seek the Tao. Just like what your Majesty said, the poor should not seek shortcuts and seek a pill to ascend."

Zhu Houcong laughed: "Just as I want to rebuild the Ming Dynasty, it cannot be done overnight. That being the case, let's start with a detailed discussion today. I am also puzzled by how Jin Kela can use those gold and stone things to enrich the crops. Taoist priest, Don’t hide your secrets anymore. Starting today, I will see you every day, and we will participate in the Dao together.”

"... see the poor Taoist every day?" Tao Zhongwen thought to himself that if this news spread, wouldn't he have the reality of a "national teacher"?
"That's natural!" Zhu Houcong still has a lot of things to brainwash him slowly.

However, Taoist priest Jiajing who no longer practiced Taoism, alchemist Daoist Tao Zhongwen, and manure master Daoist Jin Kela established a research group on alchemy.

The first research topic is: the principle of the natural benefit (fertility absorption) of gold and stone (inorganic matter) to crops.

In the Gongyuan, the candidates are answering the exam questions on the answer sheet.

On the other side of the Wenhua Hall, Fei Hong looked at Huang Jin in astonishment: "Won't Your Majesty discuss this matter with the ministers first?"

"Zongfu, Your Majesty is also thinking about this matter, but today is inconvenient. Your Majesty ordered me to come here to get the strategy drafted by Zongfu and the ministers of state. I will study it tonight and discuss it tomorrow."

"...I heard that all the famous alchemists who were ordered by the Daolu Department of the Ministry of Rites have entered the palace today?"

As the prime minister, Fei Hong felt that it was necessary to express his concerns. After all, it was rare for the emperor to decline the very important former cabinet meeting and the current state affairs meeting.

Huang Jin immediately said seriously: "The chief assistant must not be distracted. Although your majesty is indeed discussing with Tao Zhenren in detail, what your majesty cares about is only the fertilizer. I don't know how many times your majesty has expressed emotion. With easy-to-use, easy-to-transport and cheap fertilizers, Daming’s land may be able to harvest a few percent more grain. Zongsuke, that’s a big deal!”

However, Fei Hong really doesn't understand, what is the relationship between Taoists and fertilizers?
(End of this chapter)