Datang Nongsheng

Chapter 552 The Hot Air Balloon Takes Off

In fact, the hot air balloon produced by the research institute is much more advanced than Sun Xiangfu imagined. First of all, the material selection is beyond his expectation. The textile factory can weave the tightest silk at present, even if it uses double Layers are also very light.

Moreover, they brushed animal glue on the tightly woven silk cloth, which not only makes it airtight, but also does not look as hard as brushing shoe soles. The hanging baskets are also the same as the later generations, hard rattan Made of strips, it is not only light, but also reduces the impact when it falls to the ground.

As for the fuel for heating, it even used purified kerosene oil. This thing also came into Li Shimin's sight after the Battle of Yanjin. Because the unpurified kerosene oil burned with thick smoke, it was the first time for Sun Xiangfu to burn it. When I saw this kind of crude oil that was only slightly filtered with sand, I suggested that this thing should have a better form, and then the research institute began purification research.

In fact, the purification of crude oil is not very difficult, it is just distilled and refined at different temperatures, but the safety is not easy to control, but the demand for this kind of refined fire oil is not large in the society, and only a small amount is produced. There is no problem at all for hot air balloons.

Then, at the request of Sun Xiangfu, the craftsmen produced several less labor-saving rope winches and installed them in the hanging baskets, and the people in Shanyang City had a lot of fun to watch.

Four colorful hot air balloons rose in four directions outside the city, and the approximate positions were fixed by ropes. The corresponding connected ropes were thrown on the winch, and finally connected to the big hot air balloon inflated in the school ground in the north of the city, and then, The big hot air balloon with a five-clawed golden dragon embroidered on the spherical surface began a test flight journey from the school ground in the north of the city to the gate of the south city, and circled the city for a week.

The people in the whole city were all excited about the launch of the hot air balloon, chasing the hot air balloon like crazy. Everyone was very curious about this kind of thing that can fly in Tianshan Mountain, and even many People kneel in the street, which is like a miracle to the ancients.

"Uh, it seems that we should say hello to the people in the whole city in advance."

In the hanging basket, Sun Xiangfu and Yan Liben looked at the fiery people under their feet, and their hearts kept beating. Beside the hanging basket, on a small desk, Sun Xiaomei's eyes were fixed on several small hourglasses and the oil level scale First, she needs to calculate the fuel consumption more carefully.

"Yes! But don't worry, Shanyang City's security management capabilities are still very strong."

"What I mean is that the publicity should be done in advance to prevent them from being so superstitious." Sun Xiangfu pointed to many kneeling people in the city.

"The people are full of reverence for the unknown. This is their nature. This can just maintain the sacredness of the imperial power. Does Zhengming think there is something wrong?"

"Of course not. Today they can be confused by a hot air balloon, and tomorrow they will be confused by other unknown things, or be instigated by others, or deceived by others. We should let them get used to rational thinking. It’s good to look at the unknown.”

Yan Lide thought for a while, and felt that what Sun Xiangfu said was indeed reasonable. In the period of the Three Kingdoms, there were sorcerers of the Taiping Dao who incited the people to rebel, which eventually led to the princes supporting themselves and the imperial power falling aside. This was also a major national security risk. People are used to seeing these unknown things rationally, which will make them more resistant to religious superstition.

"If that's the case, after we go down, let's make a list and explain it to the people."

"It's not enough just to explain it. I think it would be better for the common people to come up and experience it for themselves. The research funds of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry cannot be entirely paid by the imperial court. Such hot air balloon technology can actually be used to exchange for a lot of funds. Use these funds to do other technical research in more aspects. If Shanyang purchases [-] hot air balloons from the research institute and opens them to the common people for aerial sightseeing experience, I believe that many people will be willing to pay a high price for the ride of."

Hearing this, Yan Lide's eyes lit up. No matter what department it is, it is easier to do things with money in hand. For the main expenditure of the imperial court like the Ministry of Industry, it is better to have more sources of money, but there is another The problem is that it involves technology secrecy. After being overjoyed, Yan Lide frowned again and said, "Your Majesty once said that these new technologies should be kept secret. Once the common people master them, I am afraid there will be a lot of trouble."

When Sun Xiangfu heard the words, he laughed and said, "Many people know the principle of how sky lanterns go up into the sky, but why don't people make a hot air balloon like this that can carry people into the sky?
Because most of the common people do not understand material science. If they want to understand this and make this hot air balloon, they need to study and master some physics knowledge systematically. If there are more people who learn these things, the Ministry of Industry Research Institute will recruit more. The successor talents who study more advanced and complex technologies, in the long run, the advantages will definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

Besides, even though the imperial court has opened it up to the people to experience, the whole set of things is still in the hands of the imperial court. Within a certain period of time, it is no problem to keep it secret, and more use will make everyone appreciate it. Shortcomings have more understanding, thereby promoting the progress of its manufacturing technology. "

Since Sun Xiangfu said the truth, Yan Lide naturally couldn't say anything more, and said, "In this case, it is necessary for Zhengming and the old man to play to His Majesty together. In addition, if this is done, I am afraid that we will have to set up a school in Weinan." The factory specializes in its production, and the researchers of the Ministry of Industry Research Institute are only responsible for technical research.”

"These are minor problems. I'll just say hello to my subordinates later. I believe that all major cities are very willing to develop such a tourism project. At that time, we need to train more ground staff. Serving hot air balloons."

"Everything will be arranged by Lao Zhengming."

The two of them were in the hanging basket, and they finalized the project until about two hours later, when the hanging basket returned to the school ground and landed, hundreds of thousands of people had gathered outside the gate of the barracks, looking into the camp. Fortunately, Wang Deyong, the internal servant who delivered the decree, had already been waiting here, otherwise, he might not have even entered the camp.

"Master Sun, Your Majesty, please explain the matter of the sky lantern to the common people clearly."

Hearing this, Sun Xiangfu and Yan Lide looked at each other and smiled. It seems that Li Shimin has a clear understanding of these things, so Sun Xiangfu asked someone to write a notice, and personally explained the hot topic to the people in front of the barracks. The general situation of the balloon made the common people who knew the truth of the matter sigh.

It turns out that there are sky lanterns made by people every year during the Lantern Festival. After some improvements, they can carry people to fly in the sky. However, the common people are more curious about what is in the sky. Balloon things, can you go to the heaven and see the gods.

For this reason, Sun Xiangfu had to do some science popularization for the people on the spot, saying, "Actually, there is nothing in the sky, only the clouds formed by the evaporation and cooling of water vapor. As for the gods you mentioned, I think they are just a kind of Spiritual beliefs do not actually exist, and those who want to go to heaven to see gods may be disappointed, because after reaching a certain height, people cannot survive at all.”

"This, how is this possible? There are no gods in the sky?..."

"Yes! Then where do the gods we usually worship live?..."

"Buddha, he should be in the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, not in our heaven, so they didn't see it..."

······
Sun Xiangfu didn't expect his own explanation, which would cause more doubts and confusion among the people. If he explained to them one by one, he probably wouldn't be able to explain clearly until next year. In the end, Sun Xiangfu had to announce in advance, "After a while, this hot air balloon will be open to all the common people in many big cities of the Tang Dynasty. If you insist that there are gods, you can go to the sky to see for yourself. Of course, for these gods and ghosts Things, later, the imperial court will issue a more detailed notice, you don't want to blindly believe in these things."

Hearing that he might also ride this big ball to the sky, the people's attention was immediately diverted. Seeing that Wang Deyong was still standing aside, Sun Xiangfu asked, "Your Majesty called me for something?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, please go to the Royal Study Room of the Xinggong Palace to discuss matters after you have settled this matter."

Hearing this, Sun Xiangfu stopped talking, and drove to the palace with Wang Deyong and Yan Lide.

After a long time, Sun Xiangfu squeezed out from the crowd and arrived at Shanyang Palace. At this time, in the imperial study room, the speaker was Ma Zhou who had been on an envoy to the Western Regions for more than two years.

"Your Majesty, the troops from the western countries will arrive in Dingxiang in five days. Among them, you may need to pay attention to some important people. The first one is the great prince of the Byzantine Empire, Heraclius III.

This Byzantine Empire is very powerful in the west. However, there is another newly-rising tribal alliance fighting against it. This leader named Muhammad is called a prophet by local religious believers. , has a strong appeal, and the army led by it can even defeat the Byzantine Empire many times.

When we set off to return, Muhammad was already preparing to establish a country, but his physical condition was not very good. He sent one of his four great sages, Abu Bakr, to establish diplomatic relations with my Tang Dynasty. Before joining their religion, he was a cloth merchant who came to Tang Dynasty. They wanted to seek support from Tang Dynasty to overthrow the Byzantine Empire in one fell swoop. "

Ma Zhou took the lead in taking the Arab Empire and the Byzantine Empire, which had not yet been established, because of the fact that during this period, these two forces played a pivotal role in the West.

Of course, what he didn't know was that Muhammad had passed away more than a month ago, and Abu Bakr, who was supposed to succeed him and become the first orthodox caliph in Christian history, came here because of historical changes. In the Tang Dynasty, another virtuous Ali of Muhammad succeeded to the position of caliph.

Sun Xiangfu didn't know much about the history of the Tang Dynasty, and he didn't even know much about the history of the West. After he arrived at the Imperial Study Room, although he only heard the second half of what Ma Zhou said, he was instinctively aware of the religious state. Resentment made him frown.

This kind of aversion, in addition to some cognitions of his later generations, also stems from the things he encountered just now. Religion and superstition are all destabilizing factors that can affect the country.

He didn't know that it was precisely because of his aversion that Datang maintained a kind of political correctness on Western issues, because, with the expansion of the Arab Empire established by Muhammad, it would border on Datang, Then, of course, the friction continued.

Historically, it was precisely because the Arab Empire defeated the Tang army in Talas that the Tang Dynasty lost control of Central Asia. Of course, this also has something to do with the wrong decision of the Tang army general Gao Xianzhi.

However, due to the butterfly effect, Gao Xianzhi may never appear in history. From the political point of view of Datang, it is in the best interest of Datang that there is no powerful country in the West.

(End of this chapter)