The Moon in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 48: The Principles of Mechanical Engineering

"The last branch is the Chen Xiangli family. Our faction is the most pragmatic. We believe that the more convenient the equipment is, the easier it will be for the people. Therefore, our faction focuses on the research of machinery and is good at mechanical engineering."

"In addition, we do not believe that simple lobbying or a little chivalrous deeds can change the world. After Shang Yang's reforms in Qin, we saw that Qin was the country closest to our Mohist ultimate vision, so the minister Li family came to Qin."

"Similarly, there are many Mohists in my lineage. They are tired of the fighting in the martial arts world and the endless struggles. No matter how many people they save, the world has not become better. After learning about Daqin, many Mohists have joined our lineage."

"The number of Mohists in the world today is comparable between the lineage of Chen Xiangli and the lineage of Deng Ling."

Ying Zheng nodded: "I see, I understand. Now that the Mohist School has been divided into three branches, which branch is the main one?"

Xiang Lisheng replied: "Each of them is their own master, and neither belongs to the other."

Ying Zheng then asked: "I heard that the Mohist School has always had only one master, and it is said that all Mohist disciples must obey the orders of the master. Then should the Mohists of our Great Qin also obey the orders of the master?"

Xiang Lisheng hurriedly explained: "Of course there can only be one great master, but all three of us are legitimate."

"When we first separated, our three families were still close friends, and we jointly nominated a man of high moral character as the Great Master. However, the Great Master can only command the branch he came from, and the other two branches still have to discuss it. However, for ordinary minor matters, ordinary disciples will still obey the Great Master's orders."

"As time went by, it became increasingly difficult to jointly recommend someone, and naturally, the orders of the great master became less and less popular."

"Later, the minister Xiangli was settled in Qin, and Xiangfu was settled in Qi. They basically stopped paying attention to the orders of the great master."

"More than a hundred years ago, the masters have always come from Chu Mo. On the one hand, they attach the most importance to this, and on the other hand, it is because the Mechanical City is in Chu."

Ying Zheng asked: "Is the Mechanical City in Chu?"

"Yes, Chu is a vast country with a sparse population, far away from the Central Plains, with many mountains and rivers, and it is the most suitable place. In the past, Chu always respected our Mohist ancestor and granted a piece of land, so the Mechanical City was built in Chu."

"The Mechanical City was built by our ancestor in order to leave a piece of pure land for the world, so the Chu Mo clan leader who occupied the Mechanical City was also recognized by our two clans. The Mo clan advocates loving all and not attacking. Our two clans are not famous, so we will not fight over this matter."

"But from then on, the Master can only command his own lineage. As for the other two lines, we just need to show respect to the Master. We don't need to obey his orders. The Master can't command us, and the Master generally won't humiliate himself."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly: "I see."

Xiangli Sheng further explained: "Although my Mohist school advocates universal love and equality, the Xiangli family also knows what loyalty is."

"The Great Qin has always valued and treated the Xiangli family well. I have been loyal to the Great Qin for generations, so I will naturally only obey the orders of the Great Qin. Whenever there is any instruction, I will do my best as a subject."

"Today, in all countries of the world, the nobles are extravagant and immoral, and treat the people as if they were nothing."

"Only in the Great Qin, where the laws are strict, the government is stable and the people are harmonious, can the common people have the opportunity to advance."

"I also know that only when the world is unified can there be no more chaos. I am not a stubborn person, and I also know that things must be done step by step."

"The Xiangli clan has been in Qin for nearly a hundred years, enjoying the salaries of successive Qin kings, and have always been loyal subjects of the Qin. The Xiangli clan is known as Qin Mo to the outside world!" Ying Zheng smiled and waved his hands, "Mr. Xiangli has misunderstood. I don't doubt the Xiangli clan's loyalty to the Qin. I just don't know much about some of the things going on, and I'm just a little curious."

Ying Zheng did not really doubt Xiangli's loyalty. He had been in Qin for nearly a hundred years and had long become a true Qin citizen.

They call themselves Qin Mo to the outside world. This shows their loyalty to the extreme. Besides, the Mo family members are generally honest. They never get involved in officialdom struggles. As long as their military industry cake is not touched, it's fine.

Xiang Lisheng was also relieved. He didn't want to leave a bad impression in front of the prince's eldest son, so he smiled and said:

"I am also explaining this to you, sir. Some of the situations within our Mohist School are indeed complicated."

Ying Zheng stopped talking about this topic and instead asked about mechanical engineering. Ying Zheng has always been curious about this.

"Mr. Xiangli, I have heard that the Mohists have a mysterious mechanical technique that can make wood and stone walk. These wood and stone are dead objects, so why can they move? I don't know what the principle is."

Having said that, Xiang Lisheng became confident.

"Sir, do you know that there is vitality between heaven and earth?"

"Zheng knows that there is a true qi between heaven and earth, which is in and out, carrying the yin and supporting the yang, sticking together, firm and dense, and its qi does not disperse. It is called the primordial qi."

Xiang Lisheng smiled and said, "It is this vital energy that allows people to live and thrive by drawing it into their bodies. The strong in the world all need to use the power of the vital energy of heaven and earth. After all, human power is limited. Even when one is old and weak, there are masters with high realms who can draw the vital energy of heaven and earth into their bodies to maintain their strength."

"If people can do it, why can't things do it?"

"Since humans can use the energy of heaven and earth to perform all kinds of incredible methods, then there are naturally other ways to use the power of the energy of heaven and earth."

"In ancient times, it was rumored that Chi You created a mechanical giant to fight against the Yellow Emperor."

"Like my Mohist school, our ancestor Mozi discovered this. Although the ancient skills have long been lost, leaving only a few words, but under the unremitting research of my Mohist ancestor, he also created my Mohist mechanical art."

"Of course, the techniques of mechanical arts and living people are different, because the human body structure is too complicated, and people themselves have qi. Although this qi cannot be directly combined with the qi of heaven and earth, it can be used to communicate with the qi of heaven and earth and then slowly guide and assimilate. This is the basis for people to practice advanced techniques to connect with heaven and earth."

Seeing Ying Zheng nod in approval, Xiang Lisheng continued.

"But dead things cannot communicate and guide the vital energy of heaven and earth. For this, the ancestor has also found a way."

"Young Master, you know that people can use many techniques to draw the energy of heaven and earth into their bodies, and many moves can directly use the energy of heaven and earth, such as drawing talismans to directly use the energy of heaven and earth to attack."

"There are rules between heaven and earth. If these rules are guided by some correct methods, we can draw on the vitality of heaven and earth and use the power of heaven and earth."

"Some special patterns and symbols can mobilize the power of heaven and earth. If we improve and organize these special symbols and patterns, combine them into one, and carve them on inanimate objects, we can give inanimate objects the power to move."

(End of this chapter)