Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 778 Scientists at the end of Ming Dynasty (third watch)

After Chu Yun and others returned to the capital, there was an uproar. Chu Yun had left here for more than half a year. At the same time, when he came back triumphantly, he brought the achievement of conquering Nanyang, and his reputation reached another peak!
In addition, after Chu Yun announced the news of Aila's pregnancy, his mansion in the capital was overcrowded, and officials from various six ministries and military departments came to congratulate him, almost breaking through the lintel.The people in the city also celebrated these two things at the same time, a scene of prosperity.In the face of incomparable prestige, no one would doubt Chu Yun's words, and here he can easily repair factories and railways without being opposed by the people.

Among these visitors were officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Industry.Chu Yun took advantage of their visit to inquire about the progress of various departments and what happened.For example, when Chu Yun left the capital, a major event happened in the Ministry of Rites among the six departments, which caused a sensation in the Ministry of Rites.

"Mr. Xu Guangqi did not survive this winter after all, and passed away at the beginning of the year. God will bless him." A blond official said to Chu Yun.

This official was not summoned by Chu Yun, but a missionary who came to the Ming Dynasty at the end of the Ming Dynasty. There was a well-known name——Tang Ruowang, who was recommended by Xu Guangqi, Minister of Rites, in the Qintian Supervisor in the capital three years ago. serve.

Later, Chu Yun reorganized the six parts, and Xu Guangqi and Tang Ruowang still worked in the six parts.Among them, Xu Guangqi is the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. His departure has a great impact on the Ministry of Rites. Many officials of the Ministry of Rites have relations with Xu Guangqi.For example, Tang Ruowang has a close relationship with Xu Guangqi.

"Seventy has been rare since ancient times, Mr. Xu Guangqi was seventy-one, and he has passed away well. It's a pity that I couldn't see him off for the last time." Chu Yun said sincerely.

Xu Guangqi's status in the late Ming Dynasty was no less than that of Lin Zexu in the late Qing Dynasty. They were both a group of people who advocated seeing the world with their eyes open.The last change of the lunar calendar in the world where Chu Yun lived was from the "Chongzhen Almanac" compiled by Xu Guangqi, Tang Ruowang and others. It can be said that it has influenced the most important achievements of the most extensive peasant class in China for hundreds of years. In it, the sky and the earth have been abandoned He regarded the earth as a sphere, introduced longitude and latitude... and also translated Euclid's "Elements of Geometry" with Matteo Ricci. The word "geometry" came from this, and became the favorite of many people later. nightmare.

For such an official, Chu Yun is of course still reused, but it is a pity that Xu Guangqi died when he began to pay attention to industrial science.

"Mr. Xu Guangqi said before his death that the atmosphere of science has improved, which is very comforting." Tang Ruowang said.

"Has the new calendar not been completed yet?" Chu Yun asked about the reform of the lunar calendar.

The calendar of the Ming Dynasty was inherited from the Yuan Dynasty, and the Yuan Dynasty was inherited from the previous dynasty. It was no longer applicable at the end of the Ming Dynasty. According to the records of the Ming Dynasty, after Xu Guangqi, Tang Ruowang and others compiled the "Chongzhen Almanac", it also caused controversy because of the new calendar and the old calendar. , The debate lasted for ten years. Finally, according to the records of celestial movements, Chongzhen discovered that the new calendar of Xu Guangqi and others was more accurate, and when the new calendar was about to be used, the Qing people had already entered the customs.At present, Chu Yun is also urging the Ministry of Rites to come up with the lunar calendar that he knew before.

"It will be completed in about next year." Another official from the Ministry of Rites said.

Chu Yun looked at the old official. He was a good friend of Li Tianjing, a calendarist and mathematician, with Xu Guangqi in his [-]s.

"The new calendar plays an important role in planting arrangements and farmers' understanding of the climate. You, Tang Ruowang and others will fulfill Xu Guangqi's last wish and formulate a new calendar," Chu Yun said.

"Yes, I wonder if the military chief should give Xinli a name?" Li Tianjing asked.

"Just call it "Lunar Calendar". This is a calendar specially formulated for agricultural production." Chu Yun thought for a while, and there was no more suitable name than Lunar Calendar.Simple and rude, but that's it. Ancient astronomy research came and went, and in the East it was mainly for agriculture and divination.

"This name is indeed very suitable." Li Tianjing, Tang Ruowang and others agreed.

"Why are the people from the Ministry of Rites mixed with officials from the Ministry of Industry? If I remember correctly, you should be called Song Yingxing." Chu Yun looked at the newcomers from the Ministry of Industry, an official named Song Yingxing.

"It's the official! The official happened to meet a colleague from the Ministry of Rites, and they came together." Although the man was over 40 years old, he couldn't help but excitedly said when he saw Chu Yun still remembered his name.

"Xiaguan was originally just a low-ranking person in Jiangxi Province. Later, the Ministry of Industry recruited people who were good at 'mathematics', 'craft', 'agriculture', and 'water conservancy', so they were selected. Later, the military commander, you suddenly asked Xiaguan to be in charge Compile an industrial encyclopedia to record the crafts and technologies of the past, present and future." Song Yingxing said.

Naturally, Chu Yun had a clear impression of the orders he gave himself. When he saw the name Song Yingxing before, he had the idea of ​​asking him to compile an industrial encyclopedia, listing and sorting out all the crafts and technologies he already had.

Of course, these books cannot be released to the public, but are protected by the military.Some core technologies related to security, Song Yingxing has no right to touch, Chu Yun asked people to file them secretly.

"How is the compilation of the encyclopedia going?" Chu Yun was somewhat interested in this matter.

"However, we have just started, and the new knowledge and skills are as complicated as a sea of ​​mist, and it may take a lifetime to browse them all." Song Yingxing sighed.

Hearing what Song Yingxing said, Chu Yun thought to himself that he needs to develop new technologies from time to time. Now that various technologies of the first industrial revolution and the second industrial revolution are mixed together, they are completely different from the machinery of the handicraft era. Understanding so many technical principles is simply impossible without extraordinary talent.

"The industrial encyclopedia does not need to be too detailed. It only needs to record its name, basic principles, and uses. After the subject is determined, it will be much easier to hand over to various departments of the Academy of Sciences to complete it?" Chu Yun suggested.

"The lower officials are so stupid that they didn't think of this." Song Yingxing patted his head and realized.

Chu Yun smiled slightly. The technologies of the two industrial revolutions are piled up together. I am afraid that there is no "encyclopedic" person in this world who can understand all the technologies.Song Yingxing thought that if he could handle it all by himself, it would be too exaggerated.

"If a book can be written in the future, I will come to the military master to ask for a title." Seeing that Chu Yun was willing to ask various departments of the Academy of Sciences to help, Song Yingxing was full of confidence in writing a book that will go down in history.

"I've already thought about it, and it's called "Heavenly Creation of Things." Chu Yun still felt that the name was more compelling than any encyclopedia. 1
(End of this chapter)