Bringing the Railway to Daming

Qixia Mountain Chemical Experimental Zone.

Although Liu Kuan was the dean of Tiangong Academy, he still had to go through multiple identity checks and verifications in accordance with regulations before he was allowed to enter the park.

After a somewhat formal inspection of several related research institutes of three acids and two bases, Liu Kuan came to the "Photosensitive Materials Research Institute".

This institute was established almost two years ago, and not many people know about it - because even if many people see the name "Photosensitive Materials Research Institute", they don't know what it does or why it was established.

Unlike three acids and two alkalis, with the deepening of natural science education, many people now know the importance of chemistry and chemical engineering, and also know the important position of three acids and two alkalis in the chemical industry.

The term "photosensitive material" was already an unknown term in the chemical world, which had only just been born in the Ming Dynasty.

The director of the institute (last year, the heads of all institutes under the Tiangong Institute were renamed directors instead of ambassadors) is named Zhang Guangzheng, a natural science talent trained by school education, and he is only 26 years old.

After meeting Liu Kuan, Zhang Guangzheng simply saluted and took Liu Kuan and his party into a laboratory in the research institute. Of course, before Liu Kuan entered, the guards went in first to confirm that it was safe.

After entering, Zhang Guangzheng took Liu Kuan to a table covered with a black cloth.

When they lifted the black cloth, they saw a large transparent glass cover underneath.

"Please look, this is the research result we obtained a while ago."

Yang Shiqi, who was following behind Liu Kuan, looked over and saw a metal plate about half a foot wide and over a foot long placed on the table under the glass cover. It was suspected to be made of copper, and there was a lifelike picture on it.

The painting shows three figures drawn in black and white, bowing. Although the facial features are not very clear, the background behind the figures and the general outlines of the figures look very real, as if they were imprinted in the real world!
Since Yang Shiqi became Liu Kuan's secretary, he has made up for a lot of knowledge in natural sciences in the past two years. He also helps Liu Kuan with some work matters on weekdays, so he naturally knows why this research institute was established.

It is to prepare for the study of cameras.

As for what a camera was, he had also heard Liu Kuan mention it. He said it was a special machine that could photograph people, scenery, and other objects, creating "paintings" that looked exactly like the real thing.

Although Yang Shiqi respected Liu Kuan and believed in his knowledge and ability, he still found it difficult to imagine how to develop that camera.

He felt that even if this could be accomplished, it would probably take seven or eight years, or even longer.

Unexpectedly, the "Photosensitive Materials Research Institute" was established less than two years ago, and it has developed what we see before our eyes - although this "picture" is on a metal plate, isn't it just like what Liu Kuan said, photographing people and objects as if they were real imprints?

When Yang Shiqi was surprised, Liu Kuan was also quite pleasantly surprised.

He asked, "Is this made of copper plates and silver iodide?"

Zhang Guangzheng said, "Yuan Zheng's insight is that silver iodide is indeed used as the photosensitive material. Silver iodide is more sensitive to light, so the photoplate made with it as the photosensitive coating is clearer than that made with asphalt and tin plate."

Liu Kuan nodded slightly and asked, "Then what did you use to dissolve the non-photosensitive part of the silver salt?"

Zhang Guangzheng said, "This is a special solution obtained after many experiments with sulfuric acid, pure salt, and other substances. I named it sodium thiosulfate according to the element combination nomenclature."

Liu Kuan was a chemistry idiot to begin with, and his current chemistry level might even be lower than Zhang Guangzheng's. Upon hearing this, he could only nod his head without commenting - he didn't want to make a fool of himself in front of his subordinates by making random comparisons.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How long does it take to expose this photosensitive paint before it develops?"

Zhang Guangzheng said, "With the strong light used in our research institute, it only takes a few seconds to develop the image after turning on the light."

"Very good." Liu Kuan smiled with satisfaction.

He remembered that the institute had previously used asphalt and tin plates to make shadow plates, which required several hours of exposure before development and had no practical value.

Now that exposure and development are so fast, we have laid the foundation for developing cameras. No wonder Zhang Guangzheng dared to say in the document that the project has made a major breakthrough.

After carefully admiring the copper shadow plate in front of him for a while, Liu Kuan said, "Since you can develop a sensitive photosensitive material like silver iodide and a suitable fixing solution, the next step is to consider how to transfer the image to paper to form a photograph."

"You should remember the information I gave you about the research institute, right? You can consider developing a film that can be used to repeatedly produce identical photos through processes such as exposure, development, and fixing."

Zhang Guangzheng nodded first, then said, "Director, we have actually started research on this aspect and have some ideas. We were hoping to ask for your guidance."

"Tell me about it." Liu Kuan felt a little guilty.

Zhang Guangzheng said, "The materials provided by the Academy mentioned that rubber could be used as the material for the negative. However, after much research, we found that it was simply not feasible."

"Therefore, I think it might be possible to try experimenting with other glue materials, such as other tree glues, fish glue, shellac, etc."

Liu Kuan actually didn't know what materials photographic negatives and movie films were made of, or how they were made.

Therefore, he was very self-aware and rarely gave researchers specific orders, such as requiring them to use a certain material or proceed in a certain way. After hearing Zhang Guangzheng's words, he said, "Since you think rubber isn't working well, then follow your own ideas and try other materials. Even if you don't get the results you want, you can eliminate some wrong choices and gain experience."

"I understand."

On the way back to the city from the Qixia Mountain Chemical Experimental Zone, Yang Shiqi and Liu Kuan rode in the same carriage.

On the way, he couldn't help but ask, "Director, what on earth is this camera for? Why do you value it so much?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "If a camera is developed, which do you think will be faster in recording a person's appearance or a scene? Will the camera's image be more realistic or the artist's?"

Yang Shiqi said without hesitation: "Of course the camera takes pictures faster, so the pictures it gets are more real and credible."

After hearing this answer, Yang Shiqi felt as if a floodgate had opened in his mind, and all kinds of thoughts poured out.

"What the director is saying is that we can use cameras to take photos of criminals and help patrol officers catch them?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "This is just the simplest application of cameras and photos. You can continue to expand your thinking and think about it in various aspects."

If Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, or students of the Dabentang, they would be able to answer many questions about the uses of cameras and photos at this time, because they have seen too many things in later generations.

Although Yang Shiqi had been with Liu Kuan for nearly two years, he had never even seen a mobile phone or tablet, so it was naturally difficult for him to think of the uses of cameras and photos at this time.

Seeing him thinking hard, Liu Kuan couldn't help but shake his head and said, "Since you thought of taking pictures of criminals for wanted notices, why didn't you think of taking pictures of the scenery?"

"For example, if the imperial court wants to repair a certain river, but the person in charge of the project is currently busy, can we send someone with a camera to the site to take photos and record the situation so that the person in charge can understand the river's condition earlier?"

Yang Shiqi was suddenly enlightened when he heard this, and then he couldn't help but say: "I think that if they really want to repair the river channel, the person in charge will definitely conduct an on-site inspection."

Liu Kuan was speechless. "Can't he just look at the photos first and then go on site when he has time? Besides, if Your Majesty wants to see the river before and after the renovation, doesn't he have to go there to see it?"

Yang Shiqi suddenly realized.

Liu Kuan continued, "For example, if the court decides to build an important fortification in a certain place and takes some photos after it's completed, can we let His Majesty, the ministers, and other people in the court who are not convenient to travel around see the results?"

"Also, in the military—if spies and reconnaissance personnel in the army had a camera and could locate enemy camps or granaries and take a few photos, wouldn't that allow the generals to gain more intelligence, or truly useful intelligence?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi already felt that cameras and photos were very useful, and sincerely praised: "The director has a far-sighted vision. Cameras are indeed very useful and have many uses."

Liu Kuan added, "Actually, there's another point. With cameras and photos, our Ming Dynasty can revise household registrations, waist badges, and other identity documents to better manage the people, find criminals, and even foreign spies with ulterior motives."

When Yang Shiqi heard this, he immediately showed a look of curiosity.

Yang Shiqi was a historical figure, and Liu Kuan was quite impressed by his gaze. He further explained, "The current household registration system and waist badges in the Ming Dynasty can only record a person's general appearance in words. At most, they can provide a portrait of an important person."

"Whether the portrait actually resembles the real person depends entirely on the artist's skill and whether he or she is realistic."

"But if we have photos, we can have every citizen who settles down take a photo and add their personal photo to the household registration file."

"Similarly, the badge can be made into a sturdy piece of paper. In addition to the necessary information such as the person's registered address and date of birth, it can also contain his photo."

"That way, it would be much harder for someone to impersonate someone else using a waist badge—and patrol officers could regularly check IDs, leaving criminals nowhere to hide. Of course, then it shouldn't be called a waist badge anymore; it could be called an 'identity card'!"

Put a photo on the household registration?

Will the waist badge be changed to a photo ID card?
Yang Shiqi imagined that scene and somehow felt a little scared.

He thought: If this is the case, criminals will have nowhere to hide in the future. And if the court wants to arrest someone, unless he hides in the mountains and forests and does not communicate with outsiders, otherwise, if he enters a place with people or patrols, he will be recognized and arrested!
The court's control over local areas and the people of the world will be greatly strengthened!
Liu Kuan noticed that Yang Shiqi's face suddenly looked a little grim, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong with you? Why do you seem unhappy?"

Yang Shiqi swallowed his dry lips and pretended to sigh, "I'm just thinking that after the advent of cameras and photographs and their widespread use, I'm afraid many painters and even artists will be out of work."

Hearing this, Liu Kuan inexplicably recalled that before he traveled through time, AI initially became a hot topic on the Internet because its paintings were so lifelike that they were even better than those of some painters. This led to a saying on the Internet at that time that "painters will be the first profession to be unemployed due to AI."

Now think about it, when cameras and photographs were invented in history, did painters also face the same panic of unemployment?
But later on, I didn’t see the profession of painter really disappear.

Thinking of this, Liu Kuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Don't worry about it - painters are always unemployed."

Painters are always unemployed?
Yang Shiqi didn't understand, but he felt that this sentence must contain a great mystery, and immediately began to ponder it secretly... (End of this chapter)