Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 224 The happiest episode

The afternoon lectures are aimed at outstanding freshmen from Baijiayuan and Universityyuan.

The main points of Zhu Changluo's speech were naturally the questions that had arisen in his mind when he was "crazy" some time ago.

At present, the new students of Baijia Garden and University Garden are basically the best in Confucian classics, and of course they are more confused about the series of questions raised by the emperor.

Isn't it the emperor who is giving lectures? Why does it seem like the emperor is asking for advice?

They were all sitting on the stone platform next to the Biyong Hall and on the cross-shaped bridge over the circular pool.

The people in the hall understood more clearly: the emperor felt that what he called "natural philosophy" was more important. After all, the great scholars in the past had thought about too many issues about human beings.

Among the students, there were some who listened with great interest or looked thoughtfully.

After he finished speaking, he deliberately asked, "I firmly believe that studying things can lead to knowledge, and studying things means observing everything in the world and pondering the principles behind them, not just sticking to books and scriptures. Have any of you pondered over the principles of the confusing questions I just mentioned? Can you help me solve them?"

What Zhu Changluo mentioned before were all some doubts involving the principles of physics and chemistry, which are naturally unconventional for most people.

However, one of them actually spoke up: "Students can try to solve this puzzle."

Zhu Changluo perked up: "You say."

The man looked not young anymore, probably around thirty years old.

He stood up and bowed, then said, "Your Majesty, I just had a question. The craftsmen who built the three palaces were all tall people, but why were they as small as ants in the distance? I have read the reason for this in the Mohist Classic."

"Mojing?" Zhu Changluo was even happier. "Please tell me more."

"Yes. The Mo Jing Jian Tuan says: If the object of observation is close, then the object of observation is large and the scene is also large; if the object of observation is far, then the object of observation is small and the scene is also small, but it must be correct."

"…Explain it in detail."

"Yes...here we are talking about a round mirror. Ancient mirrors are all slightly convex. I have also seen what Shen Cunzhong said during the Song Dynasty: The ancients cast mirrors. Large mirrors were flat, and small mirrors were convex. If the mirror is concave, the face is large, and if it is convex, the face is small. A small mirror cannot fully reflect the face, so it is made slightly convex to contain the face and make it small. Then, although the mirror is small, it can fully reflect the face. Then, the size of the mirror is measured, and the height is increased or decreased, so that the face and the mirror are often of the same size. This is the ingenuity of the craftsman, which later generations cannot create. Compared with the ancient mirrors, they are all scraped and polished to be flat. This is why Master Kuang is so disappointed with his soulmate."

He said a lot of ancient sayings, probably "young students are accustomed to quoting classics."

But when Zhu Changluo heard him mention Shen Cunzhong, he couldn't help but ask: "But did you mention it in Mengxi Bitan?"

"That's right!" The young man's eyes lit up, and then he hesitated and said, "I thought that the pupil is also convex, so it should be the same principle. If the pupil is sunken, then it should be the other way around: small when close, large when far away. Moreover, for people who are too far away, it will be the opposite, small when close, large when far away."

Zhu Changluo was overjoyed: "What's your name? Where are you from? How old are you?"

"…My student Wang Zheng, courtesy name Liangfu, is from Jingyang County, Xi'an Prefecture." The man seemed a little nervous, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "I am thirty-three years old this year…"

Although he was over the "age limit", Zhu Changluo didn't care.

Instead, Xu Guangqi explained, "He was admitted to the Hundred Family Garden by the grace of the Shaanxi Provincial Censor. He was a successful candidate in the Shaanxi provincial examination in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign. His uncle Zhang Jian is now the Tongzhi of Datong Prefecture. He is a famous scholar in Guanzhong and was also invited by the Imperial Academy of Rites, but he declined due to old age and illness. I have examined the new students in the Hundred Family Garden and selected him to listen to your majesty's lectures."

Zhu Changluo had an idea in mind.

Although he was over the age limit, he had been a juren for many years and had taken the special path of imperial favor. And his uncle was a great scholar on the list who could be recruited as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and he was also an official in the court, so it was not surprising that he could take the special path of imperial favor.

The key point is that Xu Guangqi understood very well the emperor's intention of setting up the Hundred Family Garden. After observing the new students, he gave Wang Zheng this opportunity. Isn't the emperor very surprised now?
Zhu Changluo was indeed surprised: "I see... But after hearing what you said, is it possible that the human eye is a convex mirror?"

Wang Zheng was shocked: "I just thought it should be the same principle, but human eyes..."

He hasn't thought about this thing.

"That's fine. If you can draw inferences from one instance to another, it will help me understand a little bit. Have you thought about other questions?"

Wang Zheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have been studying with my uncle since I was young, living in my maternal home, and it was all taught by my uncle. Your Majesty's doubts... I have also thought about half of them..."

"Then you can write it down and give it to Xu Xuezheng." Zhu Changluo looked at the others and said, "If you can solve the doubts, you can also write them down and give them to Xu Xuezheng."

Of course, it is not appropriate to keep asking questions here, all we want is a demonstration effect.

I reiterated once again that natural philosophy is also a path to the avenue of knowledge, and I hope they will not underestimate it.

"Since ancient times, people have lived together in groups. Since then, each has his own duties. Some are soldiers, some farm and fish, some are in charge of criminal justice, and some are in charge of construction. Everyone has his own duties and interests, and there is a reason for them. If we can understand the reason behind everything, why worry about not being close to the great way?"

After saying this, he looked at Wang Zheng and said with a smile: "If you can solve my puzzle, I will reward you with ten taels of silver as an encouragement."

At this point, the image of the emperor being very interested in these miscellaneous studies had been spread to these students.

Fang Xuejian took this to heart and thought about writing a letter to Zhang Jian, inviting him to come to the Taichang Temple as well.

If he doesn't consider the academic path, he should at least consider his nephew.

Jian was in the emperor's favor as soon as he entered the Imperial College. Shouldn't he come to the capital to help control the possible chaos in the academic world?
Even if those miscellaneous studies may be accepted into the classroom, at least they cannot take over the main subject.

On the way back to the Forbidden City, Zhu Changluo had already roughly figured out who were the nephews of Zhang Jian and Wang Zheng, and then he called Wang Xijue to the Yangxin Palace first. "Zhang Jian, Zhang Kongzhao?"

"I heard that he was appreciated by you in the past and was promoted to the governor of Kelan Prefecture in Shanxi?"

Wang Xijue originally thought that the emperor was calling him for something important, but he didn't expect that he was just asking about a person's experience.

So he talked about it.

In fact, it is quite strange that such a famous scholar in Guanzhong did not actually have the status of a Jinshi, and his highest academic degree was only a student of the Imperial College.

Therefore, he is still only a fifth-rank Tongzhi until today.

But now after listening to Wang Xijue's introduction, Zhu Changluo seemed to understand a little.

He learned a lot of things, and in his early years he had to mourn for too long because his father, grandmother and mother died one after another.

However, after being recommended by Wang Xijue to be promoted to the position of prefect, he ranked first among the officials in the province of Shanxi in the examination of meritorious officials in the 24th year of Wanli.

His achievements include: when the city was short of water, he summoned stonemasons to dig a well in the city. When the state was short of firewood, he explored the mines and dug coal. After digging the coal, he found clay to make ceramic vessels. After meeting local needs, he also sold the goods to other places to generate income. He also modified the looms to weave cloth to generate income as taxes.

When he arrived at Datong Prefecture and became the Tongzhi, his main job was to supervise military pay, but in addition to that, he also invented various combat equipment such as chariots, city-protecting hanging towers, tipping carts, and crossbows.

Wang Xijue specifically mentioned: "Xiao Xiaqing also appreciated him. In the 26th year of Wanli, he concurrently managed the Ministry of War and ordered Zhang Kongzhao to organize more people to build those weapons and distribute them to various passes."

Zhu Changluo understood: the influence of his uncle and the interest of his nephew.

"You are fifty-eight this year?" Zhu Changluo asked again, "How is your health?"

"He was summoned to be a scholar of the Imperial Academy, but he declined due to old age and illness. Given his character, it is unlikely that he would lie."

"Then we must let him come to the capital and take good care of himself." Zhu Changluo said, "You can write a letter in person. I want to use him more! Tell him that I admire his nephew Wang Zheng very much!"

For Zhu Changluo, having such role models among the existing officials' families was of great significance.

Among the officials, there are some who are not resistant to practical technology and are interested in these areas, so Zhu Changluo should greatly encourage them.

For example, in the planning and construction of local water conservancy roads and bridges in the next three years, can we do without these technical officials?

The Ming Dynasty cannot always rely on manpower and material resources to pile up things. It needs more officials like Pan Jixun, He Shengrui and Zhang Jian.

Wang Xijue also felt the emperor's emphasis on these aspects since the emperor summoned him specifically to ask Zhang Jian about it. After returning, he immediately started writing this letter.

This time, Zhu Changluo also asked Liu Ruoyu to get the list of new students of the Imperial College.

He hadn't taken a close look at them before, but now he became interested.

Who knows, there might be a familiar name among them?
When he looked up, he saw two familiar names: Xu Xiake and Song Yingxing.

They are all elementary school students in the Imperial College.

There is also their admission channel: Xu Xiake did not have the status of a student, nor did he pass the exam. He was admitted to the elementary school with the help of Xiong Tingbi, the academic supervisor of Nanzhili.

Song Yingxing passed the exam.

The academic supervisors in every place have the power to grant favors. The best way is of course to go directly to the Primary School, since the students are just students, so the impact will not be big. Another option of entering the Hundred Schools must be considered carefully, after all, upon completion of the studies, they will be granted the same status as Jinshi.

However, Zhu Changluo had some knowledge of Xu Xiake and his son, and he should not be someone who would actively seek connections.

"Bring me the petition from the Southern Zhili Education Supervisor for imperial favor."

Zhu Changluo wanted to see how Xiong Tingbi gave his reasons.

They have power, but that doesn't mean they don't need to petition. Zhu Changluo had only granted permission to express his trust in them. Anyway, there was no need to be so strict before problems arose. The main purpose of the inspection of gentry last year was also to promote strict preferential treatment.

Liu Ruoyu went to the Qianqing Palace, found the title book, and Zhu Changluo began to read it.

He failed the boy's exam the year before last because he was too wild and too obsessed with geographical maps, just like his father.

But his family was famous. His ancestor Xu Jing and Tang Bohu were imprisoned together for cheating in the imperial examination. Xu Xiake's father hated officialdom and did not take any imperial examinations. He was willing to let his family fall into decline, but he was a famous well-read hermit in Changzhou Prefecture.

The reason why Zhu Changluo could see such a detailed introduction was because of Xiong Tingbi’s special introduction.

"I have learned literature since I was young, and I also like martial arts. I can draw a strong bow and like to study military strategy. It is a pity that his father and son are interested in the terrain of mountains and rivers. I think Your Majesty should cultivate talents in geography. I visited his family three times and persuaded him that there is no evil in the imperial examinations, and tempted him to travel all over the world as my staff in the future. His family business has been ruined and his father is already ill, so he agreed."

Zhu Changluo was very happy. Xiong Tingbi was expressing to Zhu Changluo his desire to achieve success in the military field, and also used the excuse of reserving military geography talents for future operations.

But it turns out that the poor traveler Xu Xiake did not get in through connections.

As for the other Song Yingxing… He’s sixteen years old, so what’s so strange about him only having the score of an elementary school student?
(End of this chapter)