People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 98 The Big Picture
He could foresee that, according to Xu Chen's idea, if the "Nature Classic" continued to include the results of natural research, after several decades, a hundred years or two hundred years, this magnum opus would eventually become the greatest crystallization of human wisdom in history.

If there can be even a tiny trace of Zhang Zhongjing in one of these tiny corners, then I will have no regrets in this life.

In the face of such things, still thinking about the moral character of scholars and loyalty to the emperor and the country, your vision is too narrow!

Moreover, he could no longer regard Xu Chen as a traitor. In his eyes, Xu Chen was just a little younger. Otherwise, just from what Xu Chen had produced now, he could have seen the potential of a sage.

Not to mention anything else, the value of Zhang Zhongjing's natural science methodology alone is immeasurable.

After discovering a tool for exploring the world, Zhang Zhongjing felt full of energy, as if many things were waiting for him to do.

I am going to try to make a bigger sky lantern and become the first human to fly into the sky.

I need to think seriously about how to apply natural science methodology to medical exploration. If I can combine the two, I may be able to create a new medical path.

Zhang Zhongjing said goodbye and left. Xu Chen did not plan to stay on the city wall any longer. After instructing the Yellow Turbans to evacuate the people, he went back to the office.

He was very satisfied with the result of lighting the sky lanterns today. Such a high-profile act was actually a demonstration and promotion of the methodology of the natural Taoist worldview.

Promoting the way of nature is not only for the purpose of spreading the religion, but also to leave a mark of scientific thinking in this era.

If scientific thinking can be rooted in the hearts of the people, then even if one's great cause fails, coming to this era will be meaningful enough.

Theology and science are inherently incompatible, and their ways of understanding the world are diametrically opposed. However, Xu Chen only borrowed the skin of theology, and his core has nothing to do with theology at all. But it is easier to do things with this skin.

If Tian Shitou and Wang Dang were asked to do research, they would most likely be unwilling to do so. But if you tell them that this is spiritual practice, then they will be willing to give it a try.

Of course, so far, the Natural History Sutra has only involved the part of world view and cosmic view. To form a complete Confucian classics construction, Xu Chen will need to slowly add every content of sociology in the future. However, this is not a matter of overnight and requires time to settle.

Moreover, Xu Chen's work is not just about writing a scripture. Apart from the scripture, he also needs to build up the organizational structure of the cult and think carefully about what position the cult should play in society in the future.

Since the scriptures of the religion have become a kind of scientific core, if one wants to develop and expand this system and spread it to every corner of the world, the attributes of the Yellow Turban Religion must not be abandoned. After all, the existence of the scriptures is to provide a legal basis for the religion. The two complement each other and are indispensable.

Xu Chen also knew that he had to control the speed well. If an existence like the Divine Cult was not controlled well, the backlash would be huge. Fortunately, he now had some clues.

While he was still in deep thought, a Yellow Turban came to report that all the craftsmen recruited from his jurisdiction had been brought to Yuyang, which immediately perked up Xu Chen.

Come to life!
Although the Yuyang government office is not large, it has an open training ground. Originally, it was the place where the county lieutenant trained his soldiers, but now it is suitable for accommodating more than a hundred craftsmen and talented people.

These craftsmen sat down in the training ground and waited, and they couldn't help chatting with each other.

When they talk now, they all refer to the miraculous sight of Xu Chen lighting the sky lanterns that they just saw. Even when they think back on it now, they are still amazed. It was truly like seeing flying objects with their own eyes.

Everyone was sighing at their good luck as they arrived just in time to witness this scene.

After this, many people really regarded Xu Chen as a deity, and were looking forward to seeing the Heavenly Master up close.

As a result, when Xu Chen came later, he was a little uncomfortable seeing everyone staring at him. The way these people looked at him was really fanatical, a bit like the way believers looked at their leader.

This made Xu Chen feel helpless. He didn't really want to do this, but with his identity in this era, he couldn't prevent such things no matter how he avoided them. Especially today's performance, which was almost a miracle in the eyes of others, exacerbated the situation.

Even in the era of technological explosion in later generations, there were still people who worshipped the leaders of religious cults.

Xu Chen had no choice but to accept it. The only way he could think of to change people's thinking as much as possible was to wait until basic education was implemented and then start to establish scientific awareness in the new generation from a blank slate.

As for the older generation, their thinking has already been set, and it is difficult to truly correct it. The best way is to allow time to allow the metabolism of generations and ideas to complete little by little.

Of course, he will still try to transform these craftsmen in front of him. After all, he has high hopes for this group of people.

Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Xu Chen first smiled slightly, immediately relaxing the atmosphere at the scene: "Do you know what I called you here for?"

Perhaps it was because Xu Chen was not arrogant, which made everyone feel close to him. Soon someone answered boldly: "We can't do much except sell some skills to the leader."

"We will definitely do the work, but this is not the most important thing." Xu Chen looked at them with a meaningful tone.

Everyone was stunned. They didn't know what else they could do besides working.

But they soon found out. When Xu Chen's voice came over, they were dumbfounded, because what Xu Chen said was too unexpected. "The most important thing for you is to study."

After Xu Chen's calm voice fell, everyone became confused.

They racked their brains but couldn't figure out how learning had anything to do with them.

Xu Chen took everyone's expressions into consideration and smiled. These craftsmen in front of him had no idea what roles they would become in the future.

"I know that you can make pottery, forge iron tools, make wooden pieces, weave cloth, spin clothes, or... make elixirs, treat animals, and farm..."

Having said that, Xu Chen stretched out his index finger and waved it, and his tone became serious.

"But this is not enough. I need you to forge harder or more flexible steel, I need you to burn more transparent and smooth glass, and I need to create more sophisticated and complex mechanical equipment.

I also need higher-yield high-quality grain varieties, better-quality fertilizers, faster-growing pigs and chickens, ready-made medicine pills that are more convenient for patients to take, and more varieties of fabrics.

In short, I want more, better and faster for everything, and I need you to do all these things!"

After Xu Chen finished speaking slowly, everyone at the scene was stunned.

These requirements may not sound like a big deal, but only those who are in this business know how difficult they are.

No matter what trades the craftsmen are in now, their skills have been passed down bit by bit from their ancestors, and their skills have reached a very mature level. After all, it is the summary of experience of countless generations.

It is certainly not impossible to surpass the achievements of predecessors, but the one who can do it must be a genius in this industry.

Among all the people present, how many people would think that they are such a genius?

One blacksmith said awkwardly: "Master, if I have the ability, I will do whatever you ask, but as for the ironwork, I can only work for you according to the existing techniques. If you want something harder or more flexible, I don't know how to do it even if I want to."

Although the person who spoke was the blacksmith, he actually expressed what everyone was thinking.

At this time, Hu Tao, who was also in the crowd, began to murmur in his heart.

He wanted to create more sophisticated, complex and powerful machinery, but that was not an easy task. He inherited his carpentry skills from the old man, and that was all he knew. Even if he wanted to work for the Yellow Turbans, he did not have the ability to do so.

"Of course I know you can't do it now." Xu Chen laughed and said to everyone: "So, you need to learn, learn things that can make you achieve all this!"

Everyone then suddenly realized that this is what learning is all about.

But they still don’t quite understand what kind of learning will enable them to fulfill the requirements of the Grand Master.

Hu Tao thought, could it be that the Great Master has many top-notch craftsmen at his disposal, and wants people like him to learn more sophisticated skills from others? If so, it would be a great thing for him.

Craftsmanship is something that everyone, no matter who you are, treats as a family heirloom and keeps it hidden. If you want to learn someone else's unique skills, forget it without being worked like a slave for years or even decades.

They simply couldn't wait to have such an opportunity.

However, what Xu Chen said next was completely different from what they had imagined. They could not even understand the various words that came out of Xu Chen's mouth.

“When you come here, you actually have only one mission, which is to study. Even if you work, it is just the practical part of your study.

What you need to learn is not just recognizing words, but also mastering graphics, calculations, statistics, formulas, and how to control variables, repeat experiments, and quantify processes..."

As Xu Chen continued speaking, everyone became more and more dizzy. What was he saying was totally unintelligible. They had no idea what he was saying, let alone learning it.

It made them feel a bit overwhelmed. Is it possible for a craftsman like them to understand such a thing?
In fact, their concerns are not unfounded. These things are indeed not so easy to learn, and Xu Chen is well aware of this.

But he still holds on to his previous philosophy that nothing is easy in this world.

If one year doesn't work, then three years. If three years doesn't work, then five years. Maybe after ten or twenty years, you will have a group of scientific research talents that you can barely use.

(End of this chapter)