BSI Chapter 98 0096 [The Rumors Are Extremely Outrageous]
Chapter 98 0096 [The Rumors Are Extremely Outrageous]
Chapter 98 0096 [The Rumors Are Extremely Outrageous]
In a side hall of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Feng Jing asked, "Why can this big ball fly?"
"Just like releasing sky lanterns during the Lantern Festival, it's the buoyancy of the air that's at play," Shen Kuo said. "We were inspired by Xu Xingzhi to first study the buoyancy of water, and then we decided to make the sky lanterns very large."
What is air buoyancy?
Although Feng Jing didn't understand, one thing was very clear: this was Xu Lai's idea, and the others were just following along.
Xu Lai said, "Shen Cunzhong contributed the most."
Xu Anshi said with a smile, "I contributed the most money."
Feng Jing asked Shen Kuo, the only scholar among those present who had passed the imperial examination, "What else can you do?"
Xu Lai said, "Brother Cunzhong used to be a county clerk and oversaw the construction of local water conservancy projects. He is also well-versed in astronomy, calendar systems, geography, military strategy, and yin-yang theory."
Feng Jing then asked Yu Shuying, Yu Sigong, and Lu Zhiyuan, "Do all three of you hold official positions through hereditary privilege?"
The three men quickly reported their official titles bestowed upon them by imperial favor.
Feng Jing asked, "Did you guys also build the telescope?"
Everyone pointed at Xu Lai.
Feng Jing then inquired in detail, leaving no stone unturned, just like checking a household registration.
"Wait here, don't wander off."
After asking his questions, Feng Jing instructed, "I definitely won't be back for lunch, so you'll have lunch at the government office."
Soon, Feng Jing disappeared without a trace.
Yu Sigong muttered, "Is this to help us claim rewards for our contributions?"
"Possibly," Xu Anshi nodded.
Yu Shuying and Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. Neither of them was confident of passing the imperial examination. They were just hoping to get a slight promotion this time, which might shorten the years required for them to accumulate seniority through hereditary official appointments.
Lu Zhiyuan asked, "Could we manufacture a lot of hot air balloons and telescopes and distribute them to the soldiers of the various border armies?"
"Won't."
Xu Lai said with great certainty, "The political situation is unstable and the finances are tight. The ministers do not want the border troops to cause any trouble. As long as the Liao and Western Xia do not launch a large-scale invasion, the court will surely back down even if border troubles occur anywhere."
Why did Ouyang Xiu stand idly by while his prized disciple Zhang Heng was demoted?
It's all for the sake of political stability!
The ministers will not consider anything else unless the conflict between the Empress Dowager and the new emperor is resolved.
After leaving Kaifeng Prefecture, Feng Jing took a carriage straight to Fu Bi's residence.
Fu Bi was his father-in-law.
At the end of last year, Fu Bi returned to the capital after completing his mourning period and is currently serving as Privy Councilor.
"It's almost lunchtime, why are you here alone?" Fu Bi jokingly complained to Feng Jing for not taking his wife to her parents' home.
Feng Jing bowed respectfully and went straight to the point: "Today, several sons of officials launched hot air balloons on the banks of the Yellow River, attracting at least ten or twenty thousand onlookers."
"What kind of balloon is so amazing?" Fu Bi asked curiously.
At that time, the ball used in Cuju was also called a leather ball or a balloon, and Fu Bi thought he was playing a Cuju match.
Feng Jing said, "It's about making the sky lanterns released during the Lantern Festival extremely large, large enough to carry people high into the sky. Your Excellency, if our army were to face the Liao or Western Xia, and we suddenly raised one of these in the central command, the entire battlefield would be laid bare. It can fly higher than any enemy watchtower or watchtower!"
Fu Bi, who had been to the battlefield more than once and now served as the Privy Councilor, immediately became serious upon hearing this: "Is this really true?"
"Absolutely no exaggeration. Tens of thousands of people witnessed it firsthand," Feng Jing said, taking out his binoculars again. "This is called a binocular, also known as a telescope. Standing on the banks of the Yellow River, if you use this binocular, you can clearly see the outlines of pedestrians on the opposite bank. Your Excellency, if a hot air balloon were equipped with a binocular—"
Xu Lai's telescope didn't have a high magnification, after all, it was a prototype.
However, once the principle is understood, and with the help of skilled craftsmen, the multiplier can be continuously increased.
Fu Bi asked, "Who built it?"
Feng Jing produced a list: "The person in charge is Xu Lai, a student of the Imperial Academy. He ranked first in last year's annual examination and has already been granted exemption from the provincial examination. He is a disciple of Yu An, the Daoist priest."
"The person who built it was Shen Kuo, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). He was the son of the late Shen Zhou, the transport commissioner of Jiangdong Road, and the nephew of Xu Dong, the author of the 'Tiger Seal Classic'."
"The rest of the people were merely assisting."
Fu Bi took the list. Feng Jing was extremely meticulous, even noting down the names of Xu Anshi and Lu Zhiyuan's elders. He also added notes on everyone's special skills.
For example, Lu Zhiyuan claimed to be skilled in arithmetic and civil engineering. Feng Jing, too lazy to verify the truth of his claim, simply wrote down his words verbatim.
"Let's eat first," Fu Bi said.
He picked up the binoculars and headed towards the dining room, using them to look around along the way.
After lunch, Feng Jing was dismissed.
Fu Bi, carrying a telescope, went to visit Han Qi.
Today is a day off, but Han Qi is not at home.
After waiting for quite a while, Han Qi finally returned from the palace.
The two were old friends and hadn't fallen out yet; their relationship was at its best. Without exchanging pleasantries, they walked into the study together.
"I just went to the palace to see the Emperor," Han Qi said.
Fu Bi asked, "Is His Majesty feeling better?"
Han Qi replied, "He's in good spirits and even asked me about the preface to the *Liji Zhengyi*."
Upon hearing this, Fu Bi immediately understood that the emperor was finally willing to trust and cooperate with the civil officials.
He repeated Feng Jing's words: "This morning, someone released a hot air balloon on the banks of the Yellow River—"
The two exchanged views on the matter for a while.
Han Qi, holding the list, said, "There can be no war for the next five years."
"I understand," Fu Bi said, indicating his understanding.
With the Empress Dowager and the Emperor looking like ghosts, and the national treasury being completely empty, how could we dare to launch a military campaign within the next five years?
Have Han Qi and Ouyang Xiuzhen forgotten their ambitions from their youth?
They haven't forgotten!
But they have experienced too much and know too much, so they think more and act more cautiously.
They are now only doing two things:
First, to ensure a smooth transition of power and maintain basic stability throughout the country.
Second, promote those who are lagging behind and cultivate talent. The task of reform should be entrusted to young people.
Later, the core figures of the two parties, the New and the Old, who fought tooth and nail, were almost all promoted by them.
Han Qi looked at the list and said, "This is Shen Kuo. I know his father and have read his uncle's military books—I am currently preparing to compile the 'Veritable Records of Emperor Renzong,' and there are still vacancies in the Imperial Academy. Let him take the examination, and if he passes, he will be given an Imperial Academy position."
For grassroots staff, the selection process was still the same, with no difference in rank compared to Shen Kuo's normal assignment to a post outside the capital.
But once they obtain a position at the museum, they become a reserve talent for the central government!
Of course, one must pass an exam, and there are more than just one or two people taking the exam.
Shen Kuo thus obtained the qualification to take the exam, a qualification that required a minister's recommendation. Free registration was not permitted.
But since Han Qi had taken a liking to him, as long as Shen Kuo didn't perform too poorly in the exam, he would basically be accepted. He would usually help Han Qi compile the "Veritable Records of Emperor Renzong," proofread the calendar in the book, and be seconded to other departments when he had free time.
Which department will I be seconded to?
Ordnance Bureau!
Han Qi wanted Shen Kuo to continue improving the hot air balloon and telescope, and to reduce manufacturing costs. This would allow for rapid mass production in future wars.
Han Qi then looked at Xu Lai's name: "This Xu Lai, I've heard of him very well. Ou Jiu mentioned him, Gong Er mentioned him too, and they all praised his Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Virtues. The next exam is the Liang An list; if he passes and becomes a Jinshi, he'll be at a great disadvantage. Let's promote him—"
"A trial appointment as a registrar in the Directorate of Works is sufficient."
Any title containing the words "probationary rank" does not represent an actual official position.
They didn't even receive a salary.
This title is only activated if one passes the imperial examination or is recommended by someone; otherwise, it's just something to sound nice.
Once Xu Lai passes the imperial examination, the title will be triggered instantly. His initial official rank will be higher, even offsetting the negative effects of the Liangyan List.
This was a reward for Xu Lai's invention of the telescope and the hot air balloon.
Of course, it was also to give Yu Jing face and help promote Yu Jing's disciples.
The telescope was taken away by Feng Jing, and the hot air balloon was detained in Kaifeng Prefecture. Xu Lai and the others ate lunch and then went home in a daze.
Five days later, Han Qi finally sent an imperial edict to Xu Lai and a summons to take the exam to Shen Kuo.
"A summons for examination?"
Shen Kuo stared blankly at his examination admission ticket for a long time.
The recommendation slots for this kind of exam were controlled by high-ranking officials such as the military governor and transport commissioner. How could someone really get a slot by building their own hot air balloon?
Shen Kuo said to his friends, "There's still a month until the examination, and I need to prepare for it, so I won't be doing experiments with you."
The official sent by Han Qi reminded them, "Prime Minister Han has ordered that you are forbidden from privately manufacturing hot air balloons and telescopes. The blueprints must not be circulated!"
Everyone readily agreed.
The official then said to the Yu family uncle and nephew, "All of you who hold official positions through patronage should have this merit recorded."
Yu Shuying and the others were immediately delighted. Although their official rank had not been promoted, they had at least gained some experience.
The official continued, "Here are three hundred strings of cash. That's for your hot air balloon and telescope; the rest is a reward, which you can divide among yourselves."
After this fellow left, everyone congratulated each other.
The Yu family, especially the uncle and nephew, felt they had found a way out. They would continue to study mathematics and geometry, continue to conduct physics experiments, and strive to invent more new things and make contributions.
"What is this?" Xu Lai asked, looking at the imperial edict.
The official system of the Song Dynasty was too complicated; Xu Lai truly didn't understand it.
Shen Kuo laughed and said, "The lowest rank of the selected candidates is similar to a probationary county magistrate. But a probationary county magistrate is generally awarded to newly appointed Jinshi who have not yet obtained a real position. You can think of your position as a commoner without a background. There is no salary, no real position, and it will only be useful when you are officially appointed to a post."
Xu Lai thought to himself: This is damn complicated. I need to change it in the future.
Shen Kuo is very happy now; he has no idea that the trajectory of his life has changed.
If Shen Kuo had obtained a position in the Imperial Academy through the imperial examination, he would not have met his second father-in-law. Even if his current wife had passed away, he would not have remarried that shrewish woman.
That tigress not only abused him, but also kicked his son out of the house.
Zhang Anji's makeup skills are getting better and better.
He glued on a beard and spoke in a gruff voice, so no one realized that he was actually a eunuch.
Emperor Zhao Xu enjoyed visiting the streets to observe the lives of ordinary people, and Zhang Anji was ordered to go out on these visits every few days.
Today he chose a tavern.
"Bartender, bring me half a liter of good wine, and half a pound of mutton!" Zhang Anji shouted.
"Please wait a moment, sir, it will be here shortly!"
Even though there were empty tables, Zhang Anji shared one with other diners and shouted, "Give them each half a pound of mutton, and it'll be on my tab!"
The two diners quickly expressed their gratitude.
Zhang Anji said, "My master has just returned to Beijing. Does he know any interesting stories from the capital?"
One diner chuckled, "You've come to the right person! A major event happened in the capital a few days ago!"
"What's the big deal?" Zhang Anji asked.
Another diner said, "Several scholars from the Imperial Academy have created wondrous objects that can fly into the sky."
"Nonsense, it was made by a scholar surnamed Shen."
"Not a scholar surnamed Shen, but someone whose surname is—what was it again?"
A diner at the next table joined the conversation: "His surname is Xu. He's my neighbor's nephew's brother-in-law, a clerk in Kaifeng Prefecture. He went outside the city with the prefect that day. He heard everything clearly!"
Another diner said, "You've all been fooled by the government. It wasn't man-made at all. I heard that it was a high-ranking monk from Kaibao Temple who chanted mantras and prayed to Buddha, and Buddha bestowed down a magical treasure."
Zhang Anji was completely bewildered: What the heck? A magic weapon?
A diner at the next table angrily said, "You're always talking nonsense. What kind of Buddhist treasure is this? It was clearly made by a student surnamed Xu. My neighbor's nephew's brother-in-law heard it clearly."
Someone else chimed in, "It wasn't Kaibao Temple, nor was it a student from the Imperial Academy; it was a Taoist priest from Liquan Temple performing a ritual."
Zhang Anji: The Taoist priests have also come out?
More and more diners joined the debate, resulting in a variety of conflicting and chaotic opinions.
Zhang Anji didn't know who to trust.
After finding out the location of the incident, Yu hired a car to leave the city and arrived at the Yellow River.
There were actually a few ignorant men and women kneeling at the hot air balloon launch site, kowtowing and offering incense.
"What are you worshipping?" Zhang Anji asked.
Some people say to worship the Bodhisattva, others say to worship the Taoist priest, and still others say it can help one pray for a child or ward off disasters.
Zhang Anji was completely bewildered.
He saw a ferry coming and quickly ran to the shore to wait.
After the passengers disembarked, Zhang Anji immediately boarded the boat, tossed out a string of copper coins, and asked, "Boatman, do you know anything about the strange object ascending to heaven?"
The boatman laughed and said, "I saw it with my own eyes."
"What exactly happened?" Zhang Anji asked.
The boatman said, "A few scholars made a huge ball, lit it, and it flew into the sky. Officials from Kaifeng Prefecture came and took the ball away."
"What are the names of those scholars?" Zhang Anji pressed.
The boatman shook his head: "It was too far away, I didn't hear you clearly."
Zhang Anji went to Kaifeng Prefecture to inquire, waiting until after get off work hours and questioning several officials, finally managing to reconstruct the basic truth.
He returned to the palace before dark, excitedly saying, "Your Highness, that Xu Lai has caused another huge commotion! Tens of thousands of people from Dongjing have come out of the city to see what's going on!"
"Xu Lai again? What did he do?" Zhao Xu asked curiously.
Zhang Anji said, "He made a big balloon that can carry people into the sky."
Zhao Xu gave him a look that said, "Are you kidding me?": Flying to the sky? ???
(A humble request for monthly votes mid-month.)
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