Great Qin Emperor

Chapter 30 Amazing Skill

"They are all masters. I didn't expect to listen to my command. I really feel a little flirtatious. Maybe this is the feeling of a good general who was so happy with Han Gaozu. It's not bad." Zhou Chong looked at Wei Wei. Master Liao and his disciples kept busy under his orders, thinking very narrowly in their hearts.

Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, grabbed Han Xin and asked Han Xin how many soldiers and horses he could bring while talking and laughing. Han Xin replied [-].Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty asked Han Xin how many soldiers he could lead, and Han Xin boasted that the more the betterHan Gaozu asked Han Xin again, why did you get caught by me when you could lead so many soldiers.Han Xin lamented that Han Gaozu was not good at leading troops, but he was good at leading generals. This is a special ability bestowed on him by God, and it cannot be recovered by manpower. Liu Bang laughed.

It's not that Zhou Chong is self-righteous and self-comforting. If it were someone else, he would feel the same flirtatious feeling in his position.Wei Liao is a well-known military strategist in Chinese history, a generation of strange people, who never thought that he would obey Zhou Chong's assignment in order to get paper. Anyone who goes through such a strange experience will feel happy.

"Mr. Zhou, why use bark instead of bamboo or hemp?" Wei Liao asked Zhou Chong while pawing at the bark.

Zhou Chong replied with a smile: "There is more bark than bamboo and hemp, and the raw materials are much richer, and more paper can be made."

For this point, Wei Liao agreed very much, saying: "If the bark of a tree can be used to make paper, then paper will be popular in the world. Mr. Zhou's technology must be a shocking technology that will change an era. Scholars will never I was troubled because of the bulkiness of the slips, it was really a great event to open up the land, and the merits are immeasurable!"

Zhou Chong Paper just wanted Wei Liao to have a good writing tool, and he didn't think about helping the scholars all over the world. After he said this, he thought a little dizzily: "If we promote paper to the world at this time, let everyone Everyone writes on paper. Could I be a famous craftsman in Chinese history? In modern terms, I would be a famous scientist, surpassing paper-making experts like Cai Lun and Zuo Bo. If so, wouldn’t I become famous overnight? ? All of a sudden, it will become famous in history?"

Chinese civilization has a long history, but I personally think that there are three major milestones in its development: one is the invention and improvement of writing, not to mention the importance of writing, my friends also understand.The second is the invention and use of paper, which makes writing more convenient and facilitates cultural exchanges.The third is the invention of printing, which makes cultural exchange more convenient.

If paper was really invented in the Qin Dynasty, it would surely be popularized all over the world at a very fast speed, replacing cumbersome letters. What Zhou Chong did would become a milestone in the history of Chinese civilization, making an indelible contribution to the development of Chinese civilization. His great contribution cannot be overstated.

Such a major historical achievement, Zhou Chong never thought about it, how can he not feel dizzy?
Zhou Chong, who was in a daze, was awakened by Wang Ao's doubts, and only heard him say: "We have used bamboo and hemp to make paper, and the paper we made is very rough, and it will break when touched. I haven't tried it with bark." Yes, can it be done?"

Later generations thought that it was Cai Lun who invented the craft, but it was not the case. Cai Lun just made some improvements on the basis of his predecessors, which changed the low-yield and rough-textured paper, greatly improved the output, and made a leap in quality. , easy to use.In the Warring States period, papermaking already existed, but the word rough paper at that time was not enough to describe its low quality, and it was basically useless.There is also paper that can be used, but too little.

Wei Liao's opinion was different from Wang Ao's. He had great confidence in Zhou Chong, and said, "Wang Ao, don't talk nonsense, Mr. Zhou's magical skills must be extraordinary, just wait and see."

"Mr. Liaozi has won the prize." Zhou Chong said humbly, "As far as Zhou Chong knows, the paper made from tree bark is much better than that made from bamboo and hemp, and it is suitable for writing."

The lignin, pectin, and protein contained in the bark are far higher than those of bamboo and hemp, and the paper produced is naturally much better.Of course, there are also difficulties, that is, the difficulty of degumming and pulping is much greater.

"May I ask, sir, are you going to burn lime and use lime slurry to pickle the slurry?" Although Wang Ao was not as solemn as Wei Liaozi, he was a little more active.

Zhou Chong was a little surprised when he heard his words, and praised in his heart: "The wisdom of the ancients is beyond words, very high! If it weren't for my 2000-year extra civilization, it would really be nothing compared to them. It’s not worth mentioning. The method of making pulp with lime was only popular in the Han Dynasty, and they have tested it out now, which is really rare.” He said: “Zhou Chong’s method of making pulp is similar to that of Mr. The difference is that instead of using lime, we burn grass and trees and take the ashes."

The master and the apprentice never thought of this point, nor did they try it. They were very curious, even a prudent person like Wei Liao couldn't help being surprised, and asked, "Can plants be used to collect ashes and make paper?"

"You don't need to ask. Isn't that how future generations do it?" Zhou Chong joked in his heart that they asked a question that shouldn't be asked, and said, "That's natural."

Facts have proved that plant ash is more alkaline than lime and is more suitable for degumming and pulping, and the quality of the paper produced is much higher.Cai Lun used plant ash instead of lime to make paper.

The interest of the master and the apprentice increased greatly, and they said in unison: "Go, burn the grass and trees." Holding the ax, they aimed at the trees and swung their arms.

If it were someone else, they would definitely think that the master and apprentice were impatient.However, Zhou Chong tasted the unique and valuable quality of the two masters and apprentices: the scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts!

The reason why the master and the apprentice acted like this was not because they were impatient and wanted to see what happened, but because they wanted to find out and get to the bottom of it. This is the scientific spirit we are advocating now.This kind of spirit is called "field spirit" by a well-known Chinese university, which means to experience it in person, not hearsay or guessing out of thin air, how precious it is!
The reason why the Chinese civilization can be long and splendid is not that our ancestors had this valuable quality? The scientific phenomena in "Mozi" were tested by Mozi himself, but there are many phenomena that he cannot explain because of the times.

Those modern people who pretend to be scholars and deceive everywhere, the so-called "scholars" who only want to make money, can ask themselves!

Zhou Chong was also moved. He walked to another tree with an axe, rounded his arms, and chopped at the tree.For a while, the sound of thumping and logging fell incessantly.

Wei Liao, master and apprentice, sang loudly: "Tingding, a bird chirping, came out of the deep valley and moved to the arbor. The chirping of the chirping is asking for its friend's voice, and the bird is also asking for a friend's voice. It is a poor man, Do not ask for friendship, God listens to it, and finally peace and peace. The wood is cut down, the wine is beautiful, and there is fat, so I will speed up the fathers. I would rather not come, I will not care about myself, I will sprinkle and sweep in the can, and I will give it to you Eight gui. Since there are fat males, let the uncles be quick, and I would rather not come, and I will be blamed. Logging is in the mountains, wine will grow, beans will be practiced, and brothers will not be far away. The people lose their morals, and they are guilty. , If there is wine, drink me, if there is no wine, drink me. You can beat me, squat and dance me, let me be free, and drink this."

This is "The Book of Songs • Logging". The master and the apprentice sang very melodiously with ups and downs.

Looking at the enthusiastic master and apprentice, Zhou Chong felt a drum in his heart: "This papermaking technique is different from making tofu. I made tofu when I was young, and I only read about the papermaking technique in books. I haven't tried it yet. If a Mistake, can’t make it, it’s a small matter to lose my Tofu Zhou’s face, and waste the enthusiasm of the master and apprentice, what should I do?”

(End of this chapter)