The room goes through the late Ming Dynasty, and the back door leads to North America at the beginni

Chapter 353 Three Scientists

Dean of the Academy of Sciences?

Song Yingxing was stunned when he heard this.

Song Yingxing didn't know what the Academy of Sciences was before, because there had never been a department called the "Academy of Sciences" in all dynasties.

It is the word science. In Song Yingxing's previous understanding, if he heard it, he would first associate it with the explanation of "the study of imperial examinations", and it would never be related to the craftsmanship.

However, Song Yingxing of Tongzhengyuan and Hanlin Academy knew about it.

The Tongzhengyuan is mostly similar to the General Affairs Department of the Ming Dynasty. Its chief officer, the Tongzheng envoy, is the third rank of Zheng. In the Ming Dynasty, a Shangshu was only the second rank of Zhengsheng. The third rank of Zhengzheng definitely belonged to the senior officials of the court.

As for the Hanlin Academy, it is even more famous.

Generally, only the top few in the palace examination have the opportunity to be selected as Shujishi and enter the Hanlin Academy. Therefore, the Hanlin Academy can be said to be the place where big men of the imperial court are trained.

Those who can serve in the Hanlin Academy are either distinguished and profound literary figures, or young talents who are noticed and favored by the emperor.

Liu Sheng listed the Academy of Sciences together with the Tongzhengyuan and Hanlin Academy, which shows the high status of the Da'ei Academy of Sciences.

It can be seen from this that even if the position of dean of the Academy of Sciences is not a high-ranking official, he must be someone favored by Liu Sheng.

Song Yingxing was stunned for a moment, first surprised, and then a little worried: "The common people are scared, wondering what the responsibilities of the president of the Academy of Sciences are and whether he is qualified."

In later generations, the word "science" was actually a passing word.

It’s not that the word “science” doesn’t exist in Chinese, but it rarely appears. Even if it does appear occasionally, it will most likely remind people of “the study of imperial examinations.”

The word "science" in later generations was originally translated in Japan from the Latin word "knowledge, learning". Because Japan had mostly used Chinese characters earlier, it was translated into "science".

Many pioneers in modern China who understood science did so through Japan (because it was so recent), so later generations also used the word "science".

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Tokugawa shogunate had a similar attitude towards Westerners and science-related knowledge as the Ming Dynasty, and was even more closed-minded. Naturally, the word "science" had not yet appeared.

Now that Liu Sheng has used the word "science", it can be regarded as the first "invention" by Dayei, and it cannot be regarded as a new word.

Seeing that Song Yingxing was confused, Liu Sheng said, "The affairs of the Academy of Sciences are a long story. Why don't you, Mr. Song, sit down and listen to me explain it slowly?"

After speaking, Liu Sheng motioned for Song Yingxing to sit down.

After Song Yingxing was flattered and sat down halfway, Liu Sheng began to speak slowly, "I divide science into five categories: natural science, social science, thinking science, formal science and interdisciplinary science.

If you study carefully, science can actually be traced back to the pre-Qin period when hundreds of schools of thought contended. Of course, the hundreds of schools of thought at that time were mostly social sciences and thinking sciences.

The craftsmanship that Mr. Wang has studied before is actually most closely related to the natural sciences..."

The conversation between Liu Sheng and Song Yingxing lasted for an hour or two.

In the meantime, the maid serving in the Fengxian Palace made tea and water several times.

After the chat, Song Yingxing not only had a deep understanding of the concepts of science and the Academy of Sciences, but also admired Liu Sheng.

At this time, just like Li Banghua before, he suddenly remembered a folk rumor about Liu Sheng - it was said that this man had no relatives in the Ming Dynasty. If he appeared out of thin air, he would actually be a banished immortal.

Previously, he thought that this statement was mostly nonsense from ordinary people, but now he couldn't help but believe it.

Otherwise, how could Liu Sheng, who was in his twenties and thirties, be able to establish Dawei and have such a deep and broad understanding of science?

You must have known it since you were born!

"After Song Qing becomes the dean of the Academy of Sciences, I will ask the Ministry of Personnel to appoint some officials responsible for management as soon as possible. If Song Qing has any candidates, he can also recommend them.

Then, on the one hand, we need to look for talented people who are willing to study the way of science. On the other hand, we need to promote the way of science, so that more people can contact, understand, and even learn. "

Although Song Yingxing was already in his fifties, after chatting with Liu Sheng, he felt excited, as if he had returned to his high-spirited teenage years.

He immediately responded: "Wei Chen will do his best to build Da'ei Academy of Sciences, even until his death!"

Liu Sheng smiled and said: "If Song Qing is thinking about the Academy of Sciences, he should not just die. Instead, he should take care of his body and live a long life. Only in this way can he devote more efforts to the development of science."

Song Yingxing couldn't help but smile after hearing this and said: "Wei Chen obeys your order."

At the end of the conversation, Liu Sheng said again: "I have a few ideas for finding scientific talents. Song Qing can refer to them, and I will also ask Xunfeng Guard and Xiuyi Guard to allocate manpower to assist.

One of them is Xu Guangqi of Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture. Although he passed away, he left behind works such as "The Complete Book of Agriculture", "Taixi Water Method", "Sweet Potato Shu", and he also translated Western scientific works such as "Elements of Geometry".

While collecting Xu Guangqi's works, we can also see if he has students or heirs who will inherit his academic mantle. If so, they can be recruited into the Academy of Sciences.

The second one is Fang Yizhi from Tongcheng County, Anqing Prefecture. Although this man is one of the four young masters of Fushe, he is quite different from the other three. He once studied physics under Bai Yu and Wang Xuan. Wang Xuan, a native of Jiangxi, once wrote "Physics", and Fang Yizhi was inspired by him. In the past two years, he has been writing a book called "Little Knowledge of Physics".

However, this man became a Jinshi the year before last and now serves as a lecturer of the Hanlin Academy in the Ming Dynasty in Beijing.

If he can be invited here, the Physics Department of the Academy of Sciences will have a founder. Even in this subject, with the talent of method and wisdom, he can achieve something. "

At this point, Liu Sheng stopped.

I just feel that Fang Yizhi is now in Beijing and holds a position as a close associate of the Ming Emperor, such as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and is also one of the lecturers of Prince Ding and Prince Yong.

Damei wants to invite him back, but I'm afraid it won't be easy.

It would be okay to let Xunfengwei use abnormal means to get him out of the capital, but we are afraid that he will be dissatisfied and will not do research well when he enters the Academy of Sciences in the future.

Really troublesome.

So he went on to talk about the third person, "This third person is Wang Hui from Jingyang County, Xi'an Prefecture. This person is seventy-two years old.

He was a Jinshi in the second year of Tianqi's reign, and in the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign he went to Liaohai Road to supervise the army. Later, he was implicated by Sun Yuanhua due to the "Wuqiao Mutiny" and was convicted and exiled from the army. He was later pardoned and returned to his hometown.

This person has done a lot of research and writing in mathematics and physics, especially in mechanical physics. He has written books such as "Illustrated Notes on Strange Weapons of the Far West" and "Illustrated Notes on Newly Made Various Weapons". His deep research on mechanical physics and its numerous applications are astonishing. Called the best in the world.

Before the invaders invaded Xi'an this year, I sent the Xunfeng Guards to Shaanxi to prepare to protect Wang Hui and invite him to Nanjing.

According to Xunfengwei, although there were many twists and turns in this matter, fortunately Wang Hui and his family are currently safe and on their way to Nanjing. "

Song Yingxing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard that there was finally someone who could probably come to the Academy of Sciences - if the three people Liu Sheng mentioned were either dead or outside the territory controlled by Da'ei, he really didn't know how to invite them here.

Thinking that a senior who studies science will come to Nanjing, Song Yingxing said: "When Mr. Wang comes to Nanjing, I will ask him for advice."

Liu Shengdao: "Wang Hui is old. After he comes to Nanjing, just let him continue his previous research and lead students. Song Qing, as the dean, should take responsibility for the construction and development of the Academy of Sciences. There is no need to let him Wang Hui asked."

This is to prevent Wang Hui from intervening in the management of the Academy of Sciences.

If Song Yingxing had some realization, he didn't ask why.

Liu Sheng didn't explain either. He believed that when Wang Hui came, Song Yingxing would naturally know the reason for his instructions.

Not only because Wang Hui was old, but also because Wang Hui was a very devout Catholic.

In fact, many scholars who studied science in this era had some relationship with Western sects such as Catholicism, or at least had interactions with missionaries.

Many of them have become religious.

But after joining the religion, there are also casual believers and devout believers. Wang Hui is a devout believer.

Not to mention his research on mathematics and mechanical physics, he also translated many Catholic classics, teaching books, etc., and even held himself to Catholic standards in life.

For example, have missionaries baptize family members.

For another example, more than ten years ago, because his wife Shang had only two daughters and no children, he took the fifteen-year-old Shen to continue the family line under the pressure of his father and other relatives.

However, taking a concubine is a serious crime in Catholicism, and Wang Huichang felt painful about it. After several years of being married to Shen and giving birth to his second son, he actually wanted to remarry Shen to someone else!

Even the missionary Jin Nige, who was close to him, felt that this matter was too contrary to Chinese legal principles and was unwilling to help him.

Mrs. Shen even cried bitterly and expressed her willingness to join the religion and remain chaste for the rest of her life. His wife Shang also strongly opposed it. Wang Hui then had to give up.

It can be seen from this incident that Wang Hui is definitely a devout believer, and he is also relatively active in preaching.

Liu Sheng did not want Western sects to overly influence the Dalian Academy of Sciences, so he naturally did not want Wang Hui to interfere in the management of the Academy of Sciences...

In the afternoon, the guard came to the front hall to announce, "Your Majesty, the famous doctor Wu Youxing is waiting in the front hall."

Liu Sheng's face lit up with joy after hearing this, and he immediately said: "Hurry up."

Soon, under the eunuch's call and under the guidance of the guards, a thin old man about fifty years old entered the Fengxian Hall.

　Second more.

　　Good night~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)