The legend of the king of crossing

Chapter 48: Laboratory

Shen Kuo's "Mengxi Bi Tan" includes three parts: "Bi Tan", "Bi Tan" and "Continued Bi Tan".When it was handed down to later generations, a lot has been lost.

Among them, the remaining 26 volumes of "Bi Tan" are divided into seventeen sections, which are "stories, dialectics, rhythm, imagery, personnel, government affairs, wit, art and literature, calligraphy and painting, skills, utensils, magic, strange things, and fallacies." , sarcasm, magazines, drug discussions". There are three volumes left in Bu Bi Tan, including eleven of the above contents. "Continued Bi Tan" has only one volume, and it does not distinguish between schools.The book consists of 18 articles, covering astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, meteorology, medicine, agronomy, engineering technology, literature, historical events, music and fine arts.Among these entries, those belonging to humanities, such as anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, music, etc., accounted for about 36% of all entries; those belonging to natural sciences accounted for about 46% of the total, and the rest were personnel information , military, law and miscellaneous anecdotes account for about [-]% of the book.

In terms of content, "Mengxi Bi Tan" describes and expounds natural science knowledge in more than one-third of its length, which is rare in ancient writings.The scientific and technological knowledge recorded in the book is of extremely high value, and basically reflects the level of scientific development in the Northern Song Dynasty and his own research experience. Therefore, the British scholar Joseph Needham called it "a milestone in the history of Chinese science" and Shen Kuo was also praised as "a milestone in the history of Chinese science". The most remarkable figure in the whole history of science".

As for the missing part, it will not be found in later generations.

From what Shen Yiqiu said, it can be heard that what he studied was the part of natural science called Wushu in ancient times, and his new work "Huaiji Bi Tan" is all about natural science, isn't it the encyclopedia of science in this era?

I dream of it.

In the hundreds of years since the Song Dynasty, European countries have come to the forefront of the world through scientific revolutions one after another.

I hurriedly said: "Sir's "Kuiji Bi Tan" is the same as your ancestors' sayings, and it will definitely be handed down to future generations. Where is this book now? Let me appreciate it."

Shen Yiqiu said: "Your Majesty, this book is in the experimental room in the backyard, I will go get it now."

"Wait, what does the master mean by the test room?"

Shen Yiqiu pointed at Quanjue and said with a smile: "The term "Experimentalism House" was invented by Quanjue. It has two functions, one is to verify various theories in the book, and the other is to make some small inventions and creations."

"Isn't this the laboratory?" I laughed dumbly.

Shen Yiqiu was taken aback for a moment, and asked at the same time: "Your Majesty, what is this laboratory?"

"The laboratory is a place for experiments, and it can also be said to be a place for the production of scientific and technological materials. Let me give you an example. You read in the book that oil can be used for lighting, so you will do an experiment to prove it. The place where the experiment is done is called the laboratory, which is very close to the meaning of Quanjue."

Quanjue thought for a while and praised: "The name chosen by the emperor is more appropriate, and it will be called the laboratory from now on."

I nodded, stood up and said: "Sir, Quanjue, let's go, I will go with you to the backyard to see the laboratory."

"The master and the apprentice are really talented. They were able to completely revise the natural science part of "Mengxi Bi Tan" and even set up a laboratory. It seems that my trip to Kuaiji has made a lot of money. "Thinking of this, I suddenly thought of Fang Ling again, if Fang Ling heard me say that I made a lot of money, he would definitely say that I am in business again.

When Quan Jue saw that I was going to the Lab in person, he was also flattered and hurried to lead the way.

The five big rooms in the backyard are what Shen Yiqiu called the experimental room. Let’s enter the rightmost one first. After entering, we can see that it is in disarray, and there is only one small passage to pass through. Products, thread-bound books are placed everywhere, glass bottles contain many kinds of liquids of different colors, kerosene in wooden barrels, gunpowder wrapped in oil paper, small detonators, simple astronomical instruments of various styles, sophisticated bows and crossbows etc.

This is like a comprehensive laboratory for future generations.

Shen Yiqiu took out a stack of thick manuscripts from a pile of items on the table and said, "Please read it, Your Majesty."

I casually flipped through a few pages, and it was really all about natural science, but I only knew most of the content but didn't know why.I handed this stack of manuscripts to Xiaoqi beside me and said: "Put it away for me first, and read it after visiting this laboratory."

I walked slowly along the narrow passage in the house, and carefully looked at the items on both sides as well as the manuscripts. The content here includes most subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy and geography. I don't know what it is, but my intuition tells me that these things are ahead of their time.

This Shen Yiqiu, Quan Jue's master and apprentice really surprised me, far exceeding my expectations.Like Shen Kuo, Shen Yiqiu was also a great scientist of his time, more focused and practical.

The second room was almost the same as the first, with things in a mess.The largest and most eye-catching one is a large sand table stacked on a table, with rivers, forests and cities on it, it is simply a three-dimensional map of the Song Dynasty.

The sand table originated in the Han Dynasty, but it was really widely used after the First World War.

Shen Yiqiu and Quanjue followed closely behind me. Seeing that I was watching so seriously, they introduced to me the production process of this three-dimensional sand table map in detail. The geographical location marked on the sand table is basically consistent with my memory. , I couldn't help but praise secretly, it's accurate.

Other research results, like my conjecture, are beyond my understanding of this era.There are concave-convex mirrors, compasses, petroleum lighting devices, etc., in short, they are all kinds of things, involving a wide range of aspects, perhaps due to manpower and material resources, etc. Most of these finished products are relatively rough, obviously because the craftsmanship is not in place. I will be worried. With my support and the assistance of the whole country, what are you worried about?

These achievements are very common in later generations, but they are a big step ahead in this era. The only shortcoming is that they are not very practical. This should be due to Shen Yiqiu. knowledge, then many of the achievements here can become practical things with a little improvement.

"Officials, it's getting late. It's past time. Let's watch it tomorrow." Seeing that it was late and I was still watching with relish, Quan Jiu came forward to persuade me.

It was close to two hours, and we only finished half of it. I knew I couldn't finish it all at once, so I said, "So fast? It's time, okay, go to bed, and watch it tomorrow."

Back in the house, I said to Quan Jiu: "Jiu'er, you have made a great contribution this time, and I will reward you when you go back."

Quan Jiu wondered: "Officials, Jiu'er doesn't understand, and I don't want any rewards, Jiu'er is useless, I just hope that I can rejuvenate my court with the official family, and I will be satisfied."

"Ji'er, you don't know, your younger brother and his teacher are all great talents, and the conversion of their research results will definitely bring about earth-shaking changes to my dynasty, hehe, let's not talk about this, after going back You can move to Ninggan Palace, Ninggan Palace is too big, and I feel that the popularity is too scarce even if I live alone."

"Move to Ninggan Palace?" Quan Jiu was stunned.

"Yeah, why, isn't Jiu'er willing?"

Quan Jiu looked at me with wide eyes and didn't speak. Two lines of tears flowed from her eyes. She threw herself into my arms and hugged me tightly.