The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 378 Offensive and defensive momentum
At this moment, Ma Jun was squatting in the mansion, with his head down, busy with something.

Cao Mao stood beside him very seriously. When Ma Jun pressed the template hard on the paper, Cao Mao couldn't help squinting his eyes. When Ma Jun lifted the template, obvious handwriting had appeared on the paper. Ma Jun took out the paper and handed it to Cao Mao.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, is this what you want?"

Cao Mao laughed, took the paper, and looked very excited.

"Yes, this is the art of printing!"

"Ma Gong is a great talent!"

Ma Jun hurriedly shook his head and said humbly, "Your Majesty, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty used this method when he erected a stone scripture in front of the Imperial College and engraved seven books on it."

"This is not my credit. This is something that already existed. I, an old minister, can improve it. The principle is very simple."

Ma Jun did not take credit for it. When Cao Mao mentioned printing to him, Ma Jun performed "printing" for Cao Mao on the spot, because this thing had existed for a long time. Of course, what Cao Mao wanted was an advanced version like movable type printing. However, even the advanced version was based on the same principle as the original version.

Cao Mao knew the general idea, and Ma Jun could naturally make it, after all, he was the most outstanding inventor at that time.

Cao Mao looked at Ma Jun with more and more fondness.

It is good to have a ready-made inventor. Ma Jun has strong hands-on ability, and the only limitations he has are probably his imagination and raw materials. Cao Mao, on the other hand, has many new things. One is a theorist, the other is a practitioner, and the results that the two can achieve will definitely not be small.

The development of these sciences and technologies will certainly have a huge impact.

Ma Jun pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, please give me ten days to try a few more times and see how much I can improve."

Cao Mao had already told Ma Jun his ideas about movable type printing, and Ma Jun quickly understood.

Ma Jun's idea seems to be to make some changes to the "printing" process, making it semi-automatic, or more convenient and labor-saving. He even said he wanted to try water power.

Cao Mao's eyes widened when he heard this. Why does it feel like you're not planning to make printing machines, but photocopiers?

Actions that are too advanced may not be realized, but Cao Mao admired Ma Jun's bold idea.

During these days, Cao Mao was particularly fond of Ma Jun. He gave him many rewards, helped him replace his household slaves, and appointed a group of people to help him with his work, who were considered his nominal disciples. He also changed his mansion and took all aspects into consideration.

Including his former slaves, they all received favors because of Ma Jun's relationship, were pardoned from their status as slaves, and were allowed to stay with Ma Jun as free men.

Cao Mao took Ma Jun aside, and the two of them drank tea while Cao Mao talked about many of his ideas.

Even Ma Jun was amazed at the emperor's brilliant ideas.

"You're using water as the driving force. Can wind also be used as the driving force? Can fire also be used as the driving force? Can fire and water also be used as the driving force?"

Ma Jun was stunned when he heard this.

The two chatted for a long time, or rather, Cao Mao talked for a long time. Ma Jun, probably due to a congenital defect, did not like to talk, and he preferred to solve problems with his hands.

Therefore, it was always Cao Mao who was talking and Ma Jun who was listening.

Cao Mao didn't know how long he had been talking, but he became more and more bold. He talked about a lot of scientific knowledge, not just mechanics, but also a lot of basic content. He even almost talked about things related to electricity.

Cao Mao didn't know how much Ma Jun could understand, so he tried his best to tell him all the scientific knowledge he knew and let him figure it out on his own. As an unrivaled scientist of the contemporary era, with the nourishment of this knowledge, he didn't know how far he could develop.

I will talk to Ma Jun about these things when I have the chance in the future.

However, Cao Mao's time was really precious. He spent half a day with Ma Jun, and the remaining half a day with Wang Chang and Zheng Chong.

When Cao Mao said goodbye and left, Ma Jun was still in a confused state. It seemed that he had heard too much today.

His servants looked at him with some concern.

He had just listened to the two people's conversation for a long, long time, but until now, he still didn't understand what they were saying.

"Homeowner?"

The retainer wiped the sweat from Ma Jun's forehead with a cloth, and Ma Jun suddenly looked at him.

Without waiting for the retainer to react, Ma Jun picked up the cloth in his hand, threw it into the sky, and watched him fall.

The retainer was stunned, "Master?"

"Gravity! This is the gravity your majesty is talking about."

"Here, here, find me a water tank!"

"what??"

Cao Mao's next stop was Zheng Chong's mansion.

At this moment, Zheng Chong learned that Cao Mao was coming and came to greet him happily.

Zheng Chong hadn't been so happy for a long time. He was finally dismissed!
From now on, I don’t have to live in fear anymore. I can finally read my own books and study my own classics with peace of mind.

If possible, he wouldn't even want the position of Sikong.

Of course, he was already very satisfied to be able to turn down the job at the Secretariat. Wang Chang stood behind Zheng Chong with a smile on his face. Cao Mao met the two ministers respectfully and then followed them into the study.

The study room was extremely messy at this moment, with all kinds of books thrown around and countless papers.

Cao Mao had nowhere to stay.

Zheng Chong was a little embarrassed. "I didn't know that Your Majesty had come and couldn't clean up in time. Why don't we go to the side room first?"

"No need to do that. These are enough to show how much you care about state affairs!"

Zheng Chong has finished his legal work and is now working with Wang Chang to write a handbook for officials to govern.

In fact, books teaching people how to be officials are not uncommon. For example, the common "Mencius" and "Xunzi" actually include the principles of administration and being a person. However, the specific popular science guide to being an official has to start with the "Book of Political Affairs" in the Tang Dynasty. The complete version is naturally Zhu Yuanzhang's "Things to Know When Taking Office".

And what Cao Mao wanted to write now was exactly the kind of information that Zhu Yuanzhang had to know when taking office. There was no need to lecture officials on the principles of moral governance, but to let them know directly what to do!

This requires sufficient experience. Wang Chang and Zheng Chong are quite suitable for this task. Gao Rou is also suitable, but Cao Mao does not want this book to be abolished because of Gao Rou.

Under Cao Mao's order, the two big men began to work together to write this official governance manual.

Zheng Chong has participated in many compilations, but never this kind of one. If it were in the past, he would definitely refuse, but now, he will treat it as an equal exchange with His Majesty. I will write this book for you, and don't let me go to the Secretariat to take the blame after it is finished.

Wang Chang was very active and proactive. After all, it was he who proposed improving the overall quality of officials, so naturally he had to take charge of this matter personally.

Zhong Hui actually wanted to do this too.

However, Zhong Hui was too idealistic, and Cao Mao did not dare to let him interfere. If he wrote a guide to being an official, he was afraid that it would lead the officials of the entire Wei Dynasty astray.

Zheng Chong and Wang Chang are still more reassuring.

The two of them already had a lot of ideas, and they summarized them based on their past experiences on how to deal with the powerful, thieves, merchants, etc.

Just when Cao Mao was chatting with them enthusiastically, Zhang Hua rushed into the mansion.

He came to Cao Mao and whispered a few words.

There was no expression unusual on Cao Mao's face. He smiled and nodded to Zhang Hua, then continued chatting with Wang Chang and others. After explaining everything, he left the place calmly.

"Zhong Hui keeps calling me a Saint King. Only today do I understand what a Saint King really is."

Wang Chang suddenly sighed, "Zhang Hua is a calm and composed person. He came here in such a hurry just now, obviously because of something important. He was willing to interrupt Your Majesty, but Your Majesty's expression did not change at all, as usual. It's no wonder that such a saintly king can accomplish great things."

He looked at Zheng Chong who was standing beside him. "What do you think?"

Zheng Chong looked at him blankly, "What did you say?"

Wang Chang couldn't help but laugh, "One day, Duke Zheng will surely become the head of all officials!"

At this moment, Cao Mao arrived outside the palace and followed Zhang Hua into the carriage. He then asked, "Are they almost here?"

"Yes, we are already close to Sili."

"Shi Bao and Hu Fen. They're coming together?"

Cao Mao pondered for a moment and asked, "Why did Hu Zun send these two people?"

"Perhaps he knew he was alone and powerless, and was ready to submit to Your Majesty."

Cao Mao's expression was very calm. "Hu Zun is not someone who would bow his head easily. He is a hot-tempered and fierce man. He doesn't even take Wang Chang seriously."

Zhang Hua asked, "Do we need to investigate?"

"Don't bother, just greet them according to normal etiquette!"

Cao Mao waved his hand, and Zhang Hua felt very depressed. His Majesty was so cautious towards Wang Chang, so why was he so contemptuous of Hu Zun?
There was no deployment of anything related to Hu Zun. Looking at Hu Zun was like looking at a dead man, even though Hu Zun was obviously a very good fighter.

Cao Mao said nothing at this moment and began to ponder over a countermeasure.

During these days, he has basically eaten up the inheritance left by the Sima family, and one talent after another has become his subordinate.

It's just that my absorption is a bit too hasty. Many people are even thrown out and entrusted with important tasks after just meeting them a few times. The main thing is trust.

In fact, this is still a very risky behavior.

But Cao Mao had no choice. The big families now seemed as docile as sheep, allowing him to bully them in various ways.

However, these docile sheep never stopped gnawing at Da Wei for a moment. Even now, they are still sucking blood and gnawing flesh.

Their threat was different from Sima Shi's. They could not actually depose or enthrone the emperor, or commit regicide or rebellion. Their threat was a threat to the country and came from their destructiveness to the Wei Dynasty.

However, now that the Four Expeditions and Four Towns are nominally in his hands, the prelude to the great unification can probably be slowly begun.

After the great unification is achieved, these sheep will not dare to show their teeth to me easily.

(End of this chapter)