People in Hongwu, from heavenly master to emperor master

Chapter 182 Science is the Way of Heaven
Zhang Yi thought for a while, if he just simply recounted the concept to Lao Zhu, he probably wouldn't understand.

He jumped up from the chair, and after a while Zhang Yi found many irregular stones from the corner.

He put the stones on the table and began to stack them under the watchful eyes of Lao Zhu and his son.

Zhu's father and son saw that Zhang Yi actually stacked these stones without any adhesive to form a bridge?

"What's this?
In other words, what does Uncle and Brother Huang look like? "

"It's very similar to our common arch bridge!"

Zhu Biao took the lead in answering. The bridge Zhang Yi stacked was the arch bridge in reality. However, arch bridges are very common in reality, but a child stacked stones, which is more shocking.

There is no support between stones and stones, but a bridge can be formed, which is a very fun game for children.

"Do you want to learn, I will teach you!"

Zhang Yi taught Zhu Biao hand in hand, and it didn't take long for Zhu Biao to learn it.

There was a cheerful smile on his face. Since he became the prince, he hadn't played this kind of childish little game for a long time. Today, he was satisfied, and he just showed some youthful nature.

"It's not difficult to learn this thing, but I want to ask my uncle and Brother Huang, why is this happening?"

Zhang Yi asked Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang a question. In their view, Zhang Yi played an interesting game for them, but they really didn't know why it had such an effect.

"Actually, there is a knowledge involved here, called mechanics. In fact, the principle behind the arch bridge is nothing more than turning the bending moment stress originally generated by the load into compressive stress or most of it into compressive stress through a horizontal thrust. The difference between an arch and a beam The biggest thing is the existence of horizontal thrust, if the action point and direction of the resultant force of this horizontal thrust, the support reaction force and the load acting on it just pass through the axis of the arch..."

Zhang Yi also found a piece of paper and pen, and drew a force diagram for Lao Zhu and his son, but the two were dumbfounded by what Zhang Yi said.

They could understand every word Zhang Yi said, but together they couldn't understand anything.

The father and son were sitting on pins and needles, and finally listened to Zhang Yi's long explanation, and the two breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Biao is also learning arithmetic recently, but he found that compared with what Zhang Yi said, arithmetic is easy to learn.

After Zhang Yi finished speaking, he snickered:
"Uncle, can you spot the difference?
Technology mainly solves how to do it, but the significance of science is, why can it do this? "

"One hundred thousand why?"

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately remembered a book Zhang Yi had written before, and somewhat understood what Zhang Yi meant by these words.

That book is full of various whys.

Behind these why is science?
"That's right, it's like a simple bridge-building technique, the ancestors discovered that it can be done, passed on from master to apprentice, this is technology!
Because most craftsmen are illiterate or have a low level of education, few of them think about why?
Even if there is, because there are no tools such as arithmetic, few people will study this kind of thing.

And even if someone studies it, their results may not be handed down in written form.
Those scholar-bureaucrats who have knowledge will not waste too much energy on it!

But if the threshold for knowledge dissemination is lowered, sooner or later among those craftsmen who study bridge-building, some people will wonder why?
Because of these reasons, the Institute of Architecture gradually formed, and the prototype of mechanics will also be born because of this...

Knowing why, craftsmen are not just following the master to build bridges, they can apply these principles in other aspects! "

Zhang Yi messed up those stones and performed a "magic" for Zhu's father and son again.

He put an irregular stone on the table with a pointed end, and logically it would definitely not be able to stand up.

But Zhang Yi put another stone on top of this stone, and so on.

"impossible……"

Old Zhu's face changed suddenly. Under Zhang Yi's hands, those stones were placed in front of Lao Zhu in various strange and weird ways.

If Zhang Yi had never mentioned the so-called "mechanics", in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, everything Zhang Yi did was no different from immortal methods.

Zhu Yuanzhang still couldn't understand the principle of Zhang Yi's theory, but it didn't prevent him from understanding what Zhang Yi wanted to express.

This child has always had his own truth in his heart.

Small tricks can give a glimpse of the avenue.

He used to understand Zhang Yi's art and Taoism, but now he wants to overthrow it a little.

The way Zhang Yi said in his heart is not the kind of fantasy preaching, let alone the Confucianism!

Studying the laws of things, this kind of thing called science, is Zhang Yi's way.

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and all peoples have their own way!
"Knowing why, one thing can be changed to a large extent, and that is the disadvantage of relying on experience to inherit.

Just like the generals and scouts on the front line, they can use experience to judge how far the enemy is on the battlefield. This kind of experience judgment cannot be learned in a few years of life and death.

But if one masters trigonometry...it can be pretty much the same!
Another example is catapults, shooting cannons, that kind of parabolic trajectory, if you understand the principle, you can greatly reduce the cost of training through ballistics..."

After Zhang Yi's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao seemed to understand.

This is actually the same as the inheritance of Confucianism. The teachings of various schools of thought are also to refine the problems that people encounter into their own principles and pass them on.

It is also because of the Four Books and Five Classics that future generations have a path to follow to practice the Dao of Confucius.

Inheritance, enlightenment!
There are also those little tricks that are neglected.

There is a great way hidden in Zhang Yi's small art, and science is the great way in Zhang Yi's heart.

Words are used to convey Tao, and Zhang Yi wants to promote simplified writing.

It is to give others a chance to pass on their own way.

It is not necessary to become a believer in Confucianism to master writing. Zhu Yuanzhang admitted that he was a little moved by this matter.

After all, text is a tool, not someone's patent.

Zhang Yi briefly introduced ballistics and triangular distance measurement. As an emperor who was born in the army, he immediately understood the value of them.

However, according to Zhang Yi's introduction, if you want to master this method, you must have basic arithmetic literacy.

In other words, the prerequisite for mastering these methods is to master basic arithmetic.

Lao Zhu understood Zhang Yi's purpose of promoting mathematics into the imperial examination.

Arithmetic is the mother of all arts, it is true!
Using science to promote productivity and obtain more resources is, to some extent, a way to escape from the curse of the succession of dynasties in farming society.
However, he also had to pay attention to the hidden dangers when the common people opened up their wisdom.

Old Zhu can empathize with what happened to China hundreds of years later. As a nationalist, Zhu Yuanzhang is also furious about that future.

But people, after all, you have to think about yourself, think about the present!

Zhang Yi wanted to promote the simplification of characters. His plan was very good. He started with the Confucian family and used the influence of the Confucian family to try to weaken the opposition voices from the scholar-official class.

He has even woven a seemingly high-sounding reason for the Kong family.

Reducing the cost of enlightenment is to better promote the holy science.

For this reason, at least on the surface, it is difficult for anyone to dare to oppose it publicly.

However, Zhang Yi's plan actually has a fatal flaw, that is, no matter how much he encourages the Kong family and wants to simplify the text,
Absolutely can't get around the emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Only the emperor has the ability to turn simplified characters into an official behavior and promote it to the world.

If Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know Zhang Yi, he would probably have fallen for this kid.

But he was right in front of Zhang Yi, and he was still listening to Zhang Yi talking about the detailed plan.

If Zhang Yi can't convince himself, this plan cannot go on.

He wanted to open up the wisdom of the people, but he didn't give a plan that could reassure the court. Lao Zhu didn't hang other people's heads on the city wall of Nanjing, which was considered to be giving him face.

"Actually, there is a question that I have never understood. You are obviously a Taoist priest, but do you have immortals in your heart?
This way of science seems to be contrary to the way of gods. In my opinion, what you do is also a kind of harm to the Taoism itself!
If your father heard what you said, he probably wouldn't like it either! "

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the stone built by Zhang Yi and said:
"Just like this stone, if you don't tell me the principles of mechanics, I will probably admire you, but after you tell me the principles, you still want my incense?"

Zhang Yi laughed when he heard this:

"Uncle, my Taoist temple doesn't have much incense anyway!
In fact, in my opinion, everyone has their own understanding of Taoism!

In the boy's view, the Tao is the change of the rules, and studying the rules is studying the Dao!

From Xiaodao's point of view, science is just like alchemy, and it is also a kind of Tao!
In other words, science can also be regarded as a method of studying the way of heaven!
So Xiaodao's words and deeds did not violate Xiaodao's Dao heart. As for what others think?
Let me tell you quietly, we cultivators are not like the Buddhists next door who cry all day long to cut their flesh and feed it to eagles to save all living beings!

We Taoists are all selfish ghosts, just take care of yourself!
What other people think, none of my business? "

His upright look made Lao Zhu and his son angry and funny.

If a person is shameless, there is really nothing you can do about him.

This guy called himself selfish, but what he was doing was seeking the well-being of China. It was also because of Zhang Yi's contradictory character that Old Zhu admired this child even more.

"But, your theory may not be able to pass the emperor's test!"

Zhu Yuanzhang straightened his face and said deliberately:
"You have mentioned the benefits of simplified characters, and you have also mentioned the disadvantages of simplified characters. If I were the emperor, even if I was deceived by you for a while, when I discovered the harm, I would prohibit the spread of simplified characters..."

Zhang Yi smiled when he heard this, and what Lao Zhu said may indeed appear in the future.

But what does it matter?
The subtle influence of opening wisdom on the imperial power cannot be discovered for decades.

At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang died long ago, and the inertia formed by history may not be stopped by an emperor.

How difficult is it to change the direction of history, let alone guide?
Zhang Yi is not so arrogant. His definition of himself is very simple, that is, to sow some seeds for this world.

However, this kind of truth is not suitable for telling the Huang family and his son.

He changed his rhetoric:
"Actually, this thing is a double-edged sword, if the emperor uses it well, it may not be a bad thing!
Uncle, do you remember Communication Studies? "

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned. He had been staring at Zhang Yi for a long time regarding communication studies.

This kid came and went, which made him very uncomfortable.

After finally hearing him take the initiative to talk about communication studies, Lao Zhu naturally remembered it.

"Communication studies, to a certain extent, can guide the changes of people's hearts, the so-called subtle influence, that's what it is 1
But when we talked about it last time, do you remember a premise?
To guide public opinion, what is the initial carrier of rumors? "

"Word!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had a flash of inspiration and suddenly realized.

He vaguely remembered what Zhang Yi said, that countless people can control the power of public opinion and communication, and that is through text communication.

If you want to break the monopoly, you need to make reading worthless, and everyone can read.

The disadvantage is that after the people's wisdom is opened, people's hearts will fluctuate, which is not conducive to the rule of the dynasty.

But then again, if people know how to read, is it a rumor... No, the carrier of transmission has also become larger!
"platform……"

Zhu Yuanzhang recalled the word and stared directly at Zhang Yi.

"That's right, the platform!

In a sense, as an individual, reading books can indeed enlighten people, but as a group, once there are more people, it is easy to become a rabble!
Guiding public opinion is a method of people's herd mentality..."

Zhang Yi roughly explained this method, especially about the herd mentality in psychology, and Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao were dumbfounded.

It's no wonder they don't have a city mansion. The things Zhang Yi said are hundreds of years ahead of this era after all.

Zhu Yuanzhang was excited. This is the emperor's mind he wanted, the emperor's mind that could compete with the Confucian scholar-bureaucrats for the right to public opinion.

What about herd mentality, about using a lie to cover up another lie...

The things Zhang Yi said were leftovers from later generations playing with them, and of course the ancients also played with them!

These methods, similar to the art of war, are used in public opinion warfare.

It fit Lao Zhu's appetite very well.

"Speaking of this, it is not unacceptable to open up the wisdom of the people, it mainly depends on whether the emperor has the ability to bear such consequences...

By the way, speaking of communication studies, what about the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" you promised me last time? "

"The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was what Zhang Yi promised to support his new bookstore when he met him last time, and it was also a social experiment that was going to be carried out.

To prove Zhang Yi's theory, it may distort the original history through text and novels.

"I'll write it out for you later!"

Zhang Yi agreed casually. He thought of one thing at this time, that is, Luo Guanzhong seems to be from the early Ming Dynasty, but this person belongs to Zhang Shicheng. Time to focus on your own book writing career!

Since Huang He wants it, he should write it out in advance!

Well, by the way, write about Journey to the West and the like, which traveler is not Wen Chaogong?
Ever since the supplementary textbooks became popular, Zhang Yi even pointed at writing books to help him make money.

After agreeing to this matter, Zhu Yuanzhang felt relieved. After thinking about it, he continued to ask about the matter that concerned him.

"Just now you said that the Ming Dynasty's destruction of the country was due to the invasion of foreign races. Could it be that the Mongols came back after more than 200 years?"

Zhang Yi shook his head and smiled:

"No, it's the Jianzhou Jurchen!"

(End of this chapter)