A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 13 Yuan Shikai

"Since we want to talk about astronomy, we need to talk about the operation of the solar system. Generally speaking, it can be seen that the moon revolves around the earth, and then the earth takes the moon around the sun."

Li Yubalabala first talked about some views of the heliocentric theory. These are common sense for later generations, but now we have to start from the basics.

Yikuang nodded slightly: "I have generally heard of these before, but just started, that person was beheaded."

Li Yu just took a sip of tea to moisturize his throat, and almost spit out: "Chop, behead?"

Yikuang said, "Yes, that's Zhang Zhidong's apprentice, Yang Rui."

Li Yu was ashamed!It turned out to be Yang Rui from the Six Gentlemen of the Reform Movement of [-].

In fact, Yang Rui died somewhat unjustly. He was from Zhang Zhidong. With Zhang Zhidong's feelings for Cixi, how could he allow him to assassinate the Empress Dowager.

Li Yu thought he was going to become Bruno, so he made a false alarm. He continued: "It seems that the prince also accepts the heliocentric theory, so we can continue to talk about it."

He tried his best to use the words that fit the daily routine so that Yikuang would not understand.

"The revolution of the earth is one year, and the calendar determined by this is the solar calendar. Correspondingly, it is one month for the moon to revolve around the earth, and the calendar determined by this is the lunar calendar."

Yikuang interrupted: "Are you talking about the Western calendar? We use the lunar calendar, right?"

Li Yudao: "Your Majesty's lesson. Because both the solar calendar and the lunar calendar have some minor flaws, the first month and the end of each month in the solar calendar do not correspond to the full moon and the waning of the moon. Although each month in the lunar calendar corresponds to the full moon and the waning of the moon, each year there is only 354 days, 11 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

"Only our lunar calendar, to be precise, should be called the lunar and solar calendar, which combines the advantages of the two. The year happens to be the year of the sun, and the first and fifteenth day of each month perfectly corresponds to the phase of the moon."

Yikuang clapped his hands and said loudly: "Amazing, I didn't expect us to have something more powerful than foreigners!"

Li Yu suddenly felt that he was quite suitable to be a teacher, and suddenly Yikuang's interest was aroused.

They have lived under the shadow of Western powers for a long time, and they must be very excited to hear that they are better than foreigners in a certain field.

Li Yu also told him a lot about the most basic astronomical knowledge in the solar system, except that the earth is a ball and gravity is unacceptable to Yikuang.

Yikuang said: "That is to say, there is actually a ball under our feet? Isn't that funny! I remember that the American envoy also told me that they are just on the other side of the ball. It is difficult for them to eat and sleep hanging upside down every day." ?”

Li Yu couldn't laugh or cry: "Because of gravity and inertia, we can't feel it."

Yikuang patted the table and said, "What kind of gravitational force can it pull so many people upside down?"

Li Yu said, "According to what you say, the Americans must also feel that we are hanging upside down every day."

Yikuang calmed down for a while, but still didn't quite understand: "Hey...it makes sense! Then who is hanging there?"

"No one is hanging! The earth is too big, and we are firmly attracted to the surface by the earth's gravity. Otherwise, the water in the rivers, lakes and seas would be more terrible."

Yikuang said: "Oh, yes! If that's the case, wouldn't my palace be flooded, and the queen mother would also be flooded!"

Unexpectedly, this guy still thinks about Empress Dowager Cixi, he is really loyal enough.

Li Yu said: "Of course not! You just think, why do you jump up and fall down a little bit? It's the force that you didn't realize is holding you. This is the gravity of the earth."

Yikuang suddenly realized: "So that's the case, I understand a little bit if you want to say that."

Li Yu spent most of the day explaining the force of gravity to him, and even found an apple, and then demonstrated to him the experiment of "smashing an apple into a tree".

After tossing all night, Yikuang finally understood what is universal gravitation.

Yikuang suddenly felt that he could do it, as if he understood everything!

When I went to the palace the next day, I saw Rong Lu, the chief minister of military aircraft, and immediately grabbed Rong Lu.

"Come here! Rong Zhongtang, let me tell you a truth about why the earth is a ball."

Rong Lu was two years older than Yi Kuang, and asked curiously, "Prince Qing, when did you like studying foreigners' knowledge?"

"That's natural. The old man has always been eager to learn. Besides, I am the minister in charge of foreign affairs, so of course I have to understand foreigners."

Rong Lu said with a smile, "Then I'm all ears."

Yikuang raised his beard and said, "Do you know why Americans on the other side of the world are not hanging upside down?"

Rong Lu was a little taken aback by his question: "Why?"

Yikuang said mysteriously: "Because of gravity!"

"Oh? Gravity?"

Yikuang said: "Exactly, the earth under our feet is also revolving around the sun because of this!"

Rong Lu touched his beard: "Since they can attract each other, why didn't they collide?"

"This……"

Rong Lu's question suddenly went beyond the outline, and Yikuang only learned the superficial, so he had to say: "I'm going back to ask that little gentleman."

"What kind of problem can make it difficult for the prince?"

A loud voice came, it was Yuan Shikai who had returned to Beijing to report on his work.

Rong Lu greeted first: "Weiting (Yuan Shikai's word) is back."

Yuan Shikai immediately greeted the two central ministers: "Wei Ting met Rong Zhongtang and Prince Qing."

Yikuang said: "I heard that Wei Ting is running a college, so I'm also stepping up to learn Western learning."

Yuan Shikai is now the governor of Zhili and the minister of Beiyang, which is also the position of Li Hongzhang at the beginning, which can be described as a high position.

Yuan Shikai cupped his hands and said, "Oh? Western learning is extremely complicated, and the prince is really admirable."

Last year, he just invited to found Shandong University Hall, which is the predecessor of Shandong University.Now in Tianjin, Zhili, I also attach great importance to the construction of Beiyang University, the original Tianjin University.

Yuan Shikai was in a high position, so he did something practical, which was the general trend at the time.

Yikuang said: "Isn't that right, I just learned something yesterday, and Rong Zhongtang stumped me. Wait for me to go back to the school tonight and answer your questions tomorrow."

Yuan Shikai was a little curious about their conversation, and asked in a low voice, "Did the lord find a foreigner in the mansion?"

Yikuang immediately waved his hand: "Of course not a foreigner. The former chief professor of Tongwen Academy, Ding Weiliang, recommended a person to me yesterday, claiming that his level is no less than that of their university professors."

Yuan Shikai had run a school before, and he understood the difficulty: "Aren't you a foreigner? Are you Chinese?"

Yikuang said: "Yes, and very young, but in his early 20s."

Yuan Shikai immediately said: "There are still such talents, then I must pay a visit."

Both Yikuang and Yuan Shikai are smart people, Yuan Shikai's words don't just mean that he wants to know Li Yu, he also wants to enter the palace to give Yikuang some gifts.

Although the governor of Zhili is the head of the big officials in the frontier, he is not a Beijing official after all, and the relationship between the DPRK and China needs to be managed frequently.

Yikuang smiled slightly: "Then you should have learned a lot."

(End of this chapter)