People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 424 Establishing Zhao Zhen Prize
"Boom, boom, boom, boom!"

Outside the east city of Bianliang City in the Song Dynasty, steam engines roared in operation in steel factories, textile factories, and cement factories.

White steam mixed with black gas billowed out of the chimney, making half of the sky outside the east city seem much darker.

Farther away, shiploads of coal and iron ore were being transported from the canal to the north.

Strictly speaking, Bianliang today is not actually an industrial production base, and it is far from becoming a foggy city like London during the first industrial revolution in Britain.

Because Bianliang is too far away from coal mines, iron mines, wool, and cotton production areas, transportation costs are high, and investment is huge, but returns are slow.

As a result, few private businessmen are willing to invest in heavy steel and labor-intensive industries other than brick factories in Bianliang.

Therefore, the only two steel plants, more than ten textile plants and four cement plants in Bianliang were all opened by the Song Dynasty court. They suffered losses in the early stage of operation and are now barely able to maintain their capital.

In comparison, brick factories and briquette factories have low investment and large returns. Although briquette factories are still limited by coal costs, they are still better than steel plants.

At this moment, inside the Chenhui Gate in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, Zhao Zhen was standing on the Chenhui Tower and scanning the east city.

Standing on the five-story Chenhui Tower, you can see the mountains and small mountains at a glance. Zhao Zhen looked at the rows of streets in the inner city and the outer city, as well as the construction outside the city everywhere, and he couldn't help but feel emotional.

Now that the raw materials are sufficient, the technology is up to standard, and there is no shortage of manpower, it is time to implement his power generation plan.

The two went downstairs, and when they arrived at the lobby on the first floor of Chenhui Building, Zhao Jun and others walked in from outside.

In order to make the palace bloom with flowers all year round, the vegetation here is naturally evergreen all year round, and there are dedicated gardeners to take care of and prune it.

But it didn't take long for something to go wrong.

Zhao Zhen has been building power plants in recent months.

He spent a day investigating and researching yesterday, and finally found the problem this morning.

Zhao Zhen turned around and asked Wang Shouzhong: "Shouzhong, how many people are there in Bianliang now?"

Zhao Zhen was very satisfied, and then he lowered his head and looked at the Jinshui River downstairs in Chenhui.

At least we can see this change in our lifetime.

This is also the outlet of the Jinshui River flowing through the palace.

After the mechanical failure was resolved, it was finally ready for official operation.

The Song Dynasty might not be able to build skyscrapers of 50 meters or even 100 meters.

In the past, there was a suburb outside Dongcheng, with only some villages and farmland. How could it be like this place now?
The current prosperity of the Song Dynasty was something he could not even imagine before.

Decades later.

After the factory building was repaired, the wires were installed, the light bulbs were screwed on, and the steam engines were all in place, we officially started trying to generate electricity.

But in order to solve the increasingly serious problem of river pollution in the city, Zhao Jun moved a large number of workshops in the city outside the city. Blacksmith shops, printing factories, dye shops, and paper mills all moved outside the city with subsidies and land purchases.

In fact, Zhao Zhen had already conducted a trial run yesterday, rehearsing, and successfully made the sixteen incandescent lamps in the Chenhui Building shine brightly.

Although we talked about this in the meeting yesterday and showed them here before, they have not seen it in action yet.

Downstairs in Chenhui, there are lush flowers and plants all around. Winter is approaching, and the rain is still falling outside. The entire Bianliang is shrouded in mist and rain, but these flowers and plants show no sign of withering.

Wang Shouzhong noticed a group of people coming from the direction of Linhua Gate in the distance and reported to Zhao Zhen.

"Your Majesty, the Governor and others are here."

Wang Shouzhong responded quickly and respectfully.

Especially near noon, it is lunch break for factories and workshops of all sizes outside Dongcheng, and many workers come out to eat one after another.

There are countless people going out to shop and work, and the dense umbrellas directly cover it into a sea of ​​people.

The current technological level of the Song Dynasty has basically reached the level from the late 18th to the mid-19th century.

Is there something big going on today?
Zhao Zhen said: "Go downstairs and have a look, just in time to show them my results."

Maybe we can see that kind of skyscrapers in our later years. After all, Da Sun once said that buildings over 50 meters appeared in large numbers at the end of the 19th century.

These copper wires were mounted on wooden frames and connected to various palaces, buildings, and laboratories in the back garden, and light bulbs were hung in these places.

Large factories such as steel plants and textile factories must have their own canteens.

Zhao Zhen glanced outside the city. Although it was a rainy day, there were many umbrellas on the streets of Maxing Street in the inner city of the East City.

Zhao Zhen looked over and saw Zhao Jun and the others from a distance.

Officials would occasionally ask questions like this, so naturally he had to find some information to write down from time to time, so as not to be unable to answer.

At this moment, a cement bungalow has been built by the river. There are two huge steam engines in the bungalow, and dense copper wires extend from inside.

There are high-rise buildings everywhere outside the city. Although they are all stair houses with a maximum of seven floors and no elevators, which cannot even be compared to a county town in later generations, this is already a great scene for Zhao Zhen.

"My Song Dynasty is getting stronger every day."

Dongyuan is located to the north of Zishan Hall. Going out from the east gate of Houyuan is the Gongchenmen complex road, which is also the back gate of the palace, and then passing through Linhua Gate is Dongyuan.

In this way, the imperial court reclaimed a large amount of land in the city for construction and development. Secondly, the pollution sources are transferred from the city to the downstream areas outside the city to alleviate the pollution pressure in the city.

However, this method cannot last long. Recently, dead fish have appeared in the lower reaches of the Bianhe River. In the future, sewage treatment plants will still need to be built to solve the problem of industrial wastewater.

Noon is not the time for meetings. For example, Zhao Jun has to go to tutor the prince in his studies at 1 noon, and will not go to Chongzheng Hall until 3 pm.

"Last year's population reported by the Department of Statistics at the beginning of the year was 217 million. This year's population has not been counted yet. It may be more than 240 million."

"Official!"

Everyone bowed their hands and saluted.

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Everyone, sit down. What happened? Has the plan to attack Xixia been made?"

He has been really happy recently, with good things happening one after another.

After the death of Li Yuanhao of Xixia, the Song Dynasty court had already begun preparations.

All kinds of food, weapons, and ammunition are being sent to the northwest.

Di Qing has also set off.

Fan Zhongyan and Zhang Kang are no longer needed in this war to destroy the country.

One of them is prime minister, and the other succeeded Wang Deyong as privy envoy this year.

However, Wang De used the opportunity to appoint the prime minister as the commander of the bodyguards, pro-army, horse and infantry forces, which was regarded as retreating to the second line.

If Fan Zhongyan and Zhang Kang are allowed to go out to fight again and fight a war to destroy the country, those two people will basically be unblockable.

Therefore, it is just right for Di Qing to go on an expedition, and in the future he can be regarded as a chief officer trained for the Ministry of War or the Privy Council.

Zhao Jun replied: "It's almost ready, and we should be ready for the official attack next month."

"Great."

Zhao Zhen sat on his chair, clenched his fists and said, "This time we must destroy Xixia and take back all the territories we Han people have lost."

"Not only Xixia, but also part of the Western Regions, including Jiayuguan, Yumenguan, Turpan, Hami and other places."

Zhao Jun also sat down and said with a smile: "Although the Gansu and Ningxia areas were border areas of Xiliang in ancient times and were mostly the residences of Qiang and Hu people, which are not the traditional habitats of our Han people, it is not enough to just take back these places. Since we in the Song Dynasty want To be on par with the Han and Tang dynasties, or even surpass the Han and Tang dynasties, one must of course conquer a vast territory, dominate East Asia, and radiate throughout the world.”

"Well, the eldest grandson still has the foresight."

Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly. Opening up territory and expanding territory has been the greatest achievement of an emperor since ancient times.

Didn’t the name of the temple of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty come from the expansion of territory?
Otherwise, without his outstanding achievements in his early years, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would definitely not be worthy of the titles of Emperor Wu and Shizong given his ignorance in his later years. "That's not actually why I came here today."

Zhao Jun glanced at Yan Shu and others and said with a smile: "We came here to tell you good news."

"That's just right. I also have good news to tell you."

Zhao Zhen also laughed.

"Then brother, you say it first."

Zhao Jun said.

"The power plant was successfully put into trial operation yesterday. Although there was a slight glitch, it should be able to run after I have eliminated the glitch. I plan to light up the backyard tonight!"

Zhao Zhen said proudly.

“Oh my god, are there finally lights?”

“The era of electrification is coming.”

"It's simply a great thing."

"The officials are truly gods."

"Good guy, bro, you are really awesome."

Zhao Jun opened his eyes wide, raised his thumbs up and said in awe: "Your ability in science and engineering is simply unparalleled. Our ancestors and grandchildren are invincible in the world when they combine arts and science."

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Zhao Zhen was so happy that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear.

He studied science because he knew that science was the general direction of the future. As an emperor, he attached great importance to science and would inevitably play a leading role.

Just like the king of Chu who had a slim waist, many people died of starvation in the palace.

Emperor Song was fond of science, so students all over the world would definitely study science, and naturally he would cultivate a large number of science and engineering talents.

The second and most important point is.

Nowadays, all government affairs are under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Yuan. According to Zhao Jun, he, the emperor of the Song Dynasty, knows how to govern the country with a hammer?
Therefore, apart from learning about government affairs from the prime ministers in the afternoon, I didn't get much involved in the governance of the country.

Without the emperor's blind orders, the Political Yuan's governance became much more convenient and bold.

As a result, the Song Dynasty is now booming and its national power is soaring. The annual tax revenue has increased from only 1.4 to million guan in the second year of Jingyou's reign to million guan last year.

This is just the center.

Since local governments have to withhold 30% of taxes, if the local taxes all over the world are also included, it is not far away from exceeding 200 million yuan.

Therefore, it can be said that today's national strength has basically doubled, and productivity and GDP are also growing at a rate of more than 10% year by year and even 20% at one time.

Now Zhao Zhen has no reason to interfere in government affairs. Then he can only indulge in mathematical, physical and chemical experiments?
However, Zhao Zhen found that being obsessed with science didn't seem to be a bad thing.

With his current scientific research results, coupled with the soaring national power of the Song Dynasty, his future historical status will definitely be very high.

without any exaggeration.

After Xixia is destroyed, it can be regarded as the combined status of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Mendel, Faraday, Tesla, and Mendeleev.

If he works for a few more years and destroys the Liao Kingdom, then Taizong of the Tang Dynasty will have to be added to the list.

A few decades later, wait until Zhao Jun completes his strategy of unifying China, and even a hundred years later, the East Asian one-pole strategy.

Then he discusses the law of universal gravitation, the theory of relativity, etc. I am afraid that whether in the political world or academia, his status is that of a heifer standing on its head, and a bull soaring to the sky.

People like Li Shimin, Liu Che, Newton, and Einstein will probably have to step aside.

So Zhao Zhen is also very satisfied.

After all, he became the most powerful emperor and scientist in human history just by lying down. So what if he just hid in the palace all day doing experiments and ignored politics? What is there not to be satisfied with with this kind of status?
"Officials, I think we can set up an award, just like the Nobel Prize, to reward those who have made contributions to science."

Zhao Jun smiled.

"Oh?"

Zhao Zhen became interested and asked, "Does Sun mean that I am the first person to win the award?"

"No."

Zhao Jun shook his head.

"Can't I even win awards for my achievements?"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled.

Zhao Jun raised his index finger and said: "What I mean is that this award is no longer worthy of being awarded to me, but should be named after me."

"My name?"

Zhao Zhen's breathing became rapid.

"Yes."

Zhao Jun nodded and said: "Brother, think about it, your academics are already at the forefront of the world and no one can shake it. So how can it be possible to award the science award to you, which represents the highest level in the world? It's like the world's most powerful country. Wouldn’t it be funny to give yourself a certificate of world power?”

Zhao Zhen asked: "What does Da Sun mean?"

Zhao Jun smiled and said: "Since you are the number one in the world and your status is the highest, of course you are promulgating it to others and it is you who recognizes others. Then it is considered a medal, right?"

"Hey hey hey."

Zhao Zhen chuckled and said, "That makes sense."

"Then it's such a happy decision."

Zhao Jun made the final decision: "The Zhao Zhen Award will be established to be awarded to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, etc."

There is no mathematics in this, because Zhao Zhen's achievements in mathematics are much lower.

Although a qualified physicist and chemist cannot be too poor in mathematical skills, he is not that interested in mathematics.

Basically, it is enough to study at the high school level. As for college mathematics, it is still left to the group of mathematicians in the School of Mathematics to study.

In addition to Jia Xian, there are also outstanding talents like Liu Yi and Shao Yong among young people.

It is only a matter of time before mathematics is promoted, and Zhao Zhen does not need to study hard.

So now Zhao Zhen is quite successful in physics, chemistry and biology.

For example, in physics, mechanics, optics, and electromagnetism are studied.

In terms of chemistry, he studied inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and also wrote the "Periodic Table of Elements" and so on.

Not to mention biology, we have studied hybrid broad beans, hybrid rice, fungus culture, etc.

Among them, regarding microorganisms, his recently written "Treatise on Bacteria and Viruses" has aroused widespread discussion in the medical community and is considered a treasure by many medical circles.

Because this book records how Zhao Zhen cultivated fungi through moldy fruits and discovered the existence of penicillin.

Although mass production of penicillin is currently impossible due to the lack of effective methods for mass production of penicillin.

Just like later penicillin was discovered in 1929, but because there was no way to highly purify penicillin and mass produce penicillin, penicillin was not officially put into production until 1943.

But Zhao Zhen is undoubtedly at the forefront of the times. As long as he makes this discovery, in a few years, science and technology will become more developed and the technical level will improve day by day. It will be a matter of time before it is purified and mass-produced.

(End of this chapter)