My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 106 The real knowledge lies between heaven and earth
As the hot air balloon rose higher and higher, Wu Daoxing could only see that the ground was getting farther and farther away from him, and the people, houses, and streets on the ground were getting smaller and smaller.

People became the size of ants, and houses became like chess pieces, scattered across the star-studded land.

His breathing became more and more rapid until the houses could no longer be seen. The magnificent land was divided into pieces by streets, mountains and rivers, like a chessboard.

His legs felt weak, his head felt dizzy, and he was terrified. He held onto the edge of the hanging basket with both hands, holding on tightly, but his eyes were still fixed on everything outside, unwilling to move away.

At this moment, he fully understood the true meaning of Li Bai's poem!
The dangerous building is a hundred feet high, and I can pick the stars with my hands. But I dare not speak loudly for fear of disturbing the people in heaven.

Only when you actually go to heaven, do you suddenly realize how insignificant human beings are.

The whole world seemed to be under my feet, and when I looked up, the blue sky and white clouds were so close to me that it seemed as if I could pick a cloud with just a stretch of my hand.

Looking further into the distance, the distant skyline blends the sky and the earth into one. I will never forget that magnificent sight!
At this moment, Wu Daoxing felt like he was a free-spirited immortal, traveling across the universe!

Watching Wu Daoxing's expression changing from fear to excitement, to intoxication, and then as if he had realized something, with a look of relief on his face, Zhu Yuanzhang could understand his current mood very well.

After the hot air balloon had just successfully completed its test flight, he insisted on getting on the balloon despite everyone's objections.

When he first ascended into the sky, his feelings were, if not exactly the same as Wu Daoxing's at this moment, then there was no difference at all.

After flying into the air on a hot air balloon and seeing the vastness of the world from a heavenly perspective for the first time, he firmly believed that hot air balloons would be able to change the minds of great scholars.

How nice it would be if Lao Li was by his side at this moment. He had a lot to say to Li Han.

Without Lao Li, I couldn't even imagine that the Ming Dynasty would have undergone such earth-shaking changes, let alone going to heaven to take a look.

"Your Majesty, this hot air balloon was made by that craftsman, right?" Wu Daoxing suddenly asked.

"Mr. Wu is absolutely right. This hot air balloon was made by a craftsman!" Zhu Yuanzhang did not hide it.

"I think your Majesty did not participate in the academic discussion meeting, but brought this hot air balloon to the meeting. The reason is that he wanted us to understand for ourselves that the craftsman's skills can also burst out with such great power!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and did not deny it. He thought that Wu Daoxing was a very wise man and it was not difficult for him to see through this.

Wu Daoxing sighed and looked towards the distant horizon, as if he was thinking about something.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not disturb him, and like him, he looked at the magnificent scenery on the horizon.

After a long while, Wu Daoxing let out a long breath and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I once thought that all the knowledge in the world was in the books of sages, but now it seems that I was still superficial."

"Mr. Wu, you are too modest. Your talent and knowledge are unrivaled in the world. There is no need to belittle yourself." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, it was not until I stepped onto this sky that I realized how vast the heaven and earth are, and how insignificant we mortals are.

I deeply feel that the true and profound knowledge is actually hidden in this vast universe. All kinds of things in the past have blinded my eyes. It was your Majesty who brought me to heaven to see and opened my eyes. Today I know that this is the true way of heaven!"

As he spoke, Wu Daoxing bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for letting me see what the true justice is!"

"Mr. Wu figured this out on his own, so why thank me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang held Wu Daoxing up, not for any other reason, but because the hanging basket could hold four people, it was not suitable for making big movements.

Wu Daoxing stood up and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with an extremely sincere gaze. "Your Majesty, I have an unreasonable request. Please fulfill it!"

"Please speak, sir."

“Although the Craftsman Academy teaches craftsmen skills, which is a great merit, the principles of the sages should not be abandoned. The sages said that there is no distinction between the classes in education. I also want to join the Craftsman Academy. Even if it is just to teach people how to read and write, it would be a blessing!

Moreover, I have witnessed the power of this hot air balloon today, and I deeply understand that the craftsmanship also contains extremely profound knowledge. Learning is endless, and I also want to learn a little in the academy."

"Mr. Wu's idea is great, and the students of the Artisan Academy would love it. I approve it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wu Daoxing volunteered to teach at the Jiangzao Academy, and Zhu Yuanzhang was naturally happy to see it happen.

At present, the person with the profoundest knowledge in Jiangzao Academy is probably only Li Min. If Wu Daoxing, a great scholar of the time, were to come to Jiangzao Academy as a teacher, it would surely bring a very high reputation to the academy.

From now on, those scholars who want to say anything about the Jiangzao Academy will probably have to consider their own weight.

As the hot air balloon slowly landed, it caused waves of commotion again.

It was the first time they saw such a huge machine that could carry people into the sky. Everything seemed so dreamy and incredible, yet it was actually happening before their eyes!
Some people even believed that the hot air balloon would take His Majesty and Wu Daoxing to the sky, and they could even sit down and discuss philosophy with the gods.

When the hot air balloon landed, everyone's eyes were different from before.

Under the gaze of everyone, Wu Daoxing stepped out of the hanging basket and walked slowly towards the ring. Although his steps were slow, each step was firm and powerful!

Below the stage, literati, craftsmen, scholars and even ordinary people were all eagerly waiting, curious about what this great scholar who had ascended to heaven would say.

Wu Daoxing looked a little excited. He cleared his throat and said loudly:
"Everyone, today we gather here to discuss the true meaning of knowledge.

Since ancient times, we have respected the books of sages and regarded them as the source of knowledge.

However, today I stand here and want to tell you that knowledge does not only exist in the books of sages, it also exists in the land under our feet and in the vast world where we live. "

He paused, turned his gaze to the hot air balloon, and continued: "Today, I witnessed the birth of a miracle with my own eyes.

It was a hot air balloon, a wonderful thing made by the skillful hands of craftsmen. It took off into the sky and took us up into the clouds, allowing me to appreciate a sight I had never seen before.

Isn’t this a kind of knowledge?”

Below the stage, everyone was silent, all of them were deeply attracted by Wu Daoxing's speech, except for Qian Hongming and Hong Wenchang, whose faces looked as pale as death.

At this moment, the two of them were like ants on a hot pan, fidgeting with anxiety.

The moment they saw the hot air balloon take off into the sky, the two knew that they had lost this time.

But they didn't expect that the great scholar Wu Daoxing, whom they had high hopes for, would have such a drastic change in his attitude after riding in the hot air balloon!
When Wu Daoxing said this in public, he was establishing his voice in the literary world. From now on, the skills of craftsmen, like the sage books of literati, are both profound knowledge that can be accepted into the halls of elegance!

Every word he said was like a sharp blade, piercing the two men's hearts, piercing their last bit of pride and self-esteem!
Thanks to the book friends for catching the bug, it has been corrected, love you guys

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(End of this chapter)