In the seventh year of the Great Ming Qi (1627 AD), Wang Zheng wrote the book "Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Records" and began to publish it.
"Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Record" is divided into four parts. The first three parts are mainly for translating Westerners’ scientific knowledge and applied technology, and the last part is Wang Zheng’s own invention, mainly including self-grinding, bicycles, and wheel pots. If they can be manufactured, they will be the most advanced civilian scientific and technological achievements of this era.
However, the publication of the book "Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Records" did not attract the attention and attention of the Ming elite. There are two main reasons:
One is the elites who have the right to speak in Ming Dynasty. They learned the books of sages and sages since they were young. They couldn't understand these scientific books at all, so they dismissed them as "wonderful skills and ingenuity" and rejected them. The second was Wang Zheng did not have sufficient funds and manpower to transform these scientific and technological achievements into tangible objects, so that the people of Daming could feel that the scientific and technological achievements have brought convenience to their daily lives.
Until Zhu Youjian saw the book by accident.
The birth of any new thing is not smooth. Copernicus was burned alive on a Roman square by the church because he preached the "heliocentric theory." The book Illustrated Records is already a good result. If Wang Zheng wants to shed his tears, he can't find a place if he gets a "literal hell" or something.
Zhu Youjian decided to help Wang Zheng. To help him is to help himself and to help Daming.
After Daming established the Academy of Sciences, Zhu Youjian first served Wang Zheng as a deputy dean. At the Academy of Sciences, he had sufficient time to conduct scientific research and perfect his scientific inventions.
Later, after three years in Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian summoned Wang Zheng in the Palace of Qianqing.
"Caomin, see Your Majesty." Under the guidance of the eunuch, Wang Zheng tremblingly gave Zhu Youjian a great gift.
"Wang Aiqing doesn't need to be polite, give a seat and serve tea."
"Your Majesty Xie." Wang Zheng stood in front of Zhu Youjian at a loss. He didn't dare to sit on the solemn mahogany chair. After being pointed by the eunuch, he wiped the chair three times with a wide cloth sleeve, which was only half of it. He sat down, he couldn't understand why Zhu Youjian summoned himself, the little official who had already resigned.
Seeing that Wang Zheng was too restrained, Zhu Youjian smiled and asked, "Wang Aiqing, how about Daming Academy of Sciences? Is the environment here more suitable for scientific research than being an official?"
"Your Majesty..."
"Wang Aiqing don't need to be nervous, just say what you have." Zhu Youjian seemed to be coaxing the child, for fear of a little careless speech, frightening the great scientific master. The loss is not light.
"Your Majesty, Cao Min likes his current work very much." Wang Zheng believes that although the current work is monotonous, there is no heavy civil affairs interference.
Zhu Youjian guesses the same. Looking at Wang Zheng's appearance, he is not like a person who is greedy for power, but more like a child breaking into a scientific labyrinth. "Wang Aiqing, "Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Record", is there any progress now?"
"Your Majesty knows Cao Min's book?" Wang Zheng suddenly seemed to have met a bosom friend. He fixedly looked at Zhu Youjian, breathing quickly. If Zhu Youjian was not the emperor, he might have rushed to call his brother.
"Of course I know, if it weren't for this book, do you think you could enter the Daming Academy of Sciences?" Zhu Youjian then revealed his original intention.
Wang Zheng knew that Zhu Youjian always attached great importance to the development of science. He did not expect that Zhu Youjian had been paying attention to himself. He was ashamed: "Your Majesty, the Caomin is dull. The Western artifacts contained in the book have not been carried forward in Ming Dynasty. They are Caomin. I couldn’t actually manufacture the artifacts I designed."
Didn't create a real object, and still stayed at the theoretical stage, how do you know its pros and cons? How can the people of Ming Dynasty enjoy the convenience brought by science? Zhu Youjian is also a little ashamed. He has always been concerned about the military and political reforms of Ming Dynasty, but has neglected the development of the most important civil science. "Wang Aiqing, I have read your "Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Record", let's put it together. All in all, let’s see if you can make your strange weapon."
"Your Majesty, can it really be made?" Wang Zheng's eyes widened, as if Zhu Youjian was telling a story from the Arabian Nights.
"If you can't make a real thing, what use is this book? Is this scientific knowledge just on paper?" Zhu Youjian ignored Wang Zheng's surprise, "Westerners learned this knowledge, but made it. Corresponding physical objects are produced, which not only benefit the people, but also earn money."
"Earn silver?" Wang Zheng was short of silver. If he had silver, he would have tried to make these artifacts. "Your Majesty, can Da Ming really make these artifacts?"
"You have to try it before you can know, but some artifacts can definitely be made," Zhu Youjian opened the "Far West Qiqiu Illustrated Record", "My favorite is this bicycle. If you can really make a bicycle, then It is much more convenient for ordinary people to hurry. Daming now has many concrete roads, which are especially suitable for bicycles."
"Your Majesty, Caomin tried to use wood to make it, but it couldn't be used." Wang Zheng was a little disappointed, but in front of Science and Zhu Youjian, he did not dare to lie.
"Wood is too bulky, so naturally it won't work. It will need to be made of steel in the future." Zhu Youjian is also polite, "Wang Aiqing, your bicycle, there are still many areas that need improvement."
"Improved? Your Majesty, Cao Min really doesn't know how to improve?"
Zhu Youjian began to popularize scientific common sense, "No artifacts are eternal, all artifacts will be replaced by new artifacts that constantly appear, just like bicycles. It turns out that people can only rely on horse-drawn carriages, or even on foot, to travel. With the advent of the world, people will use bicycles in large numbers. With the advancement of science and technology, bicycles need to be continuously improved and will be replaced by other more advanced artifacts in the future."
"..."
"Therefore, I think that there are still a few things that need to be improved in the bicycle you designed." In the face of science, Zhu Youzhen doesn't care about face.
"Caomin asks your Majesty for guidance." Wang Zheng nodded slightly. He didn't create a usable object. He basically stayed on paper. He naturally didn't know the advantages of bicycles and the areas that needed improvement.
Zhu Youjian is also not welcome, "First of all, the front and rear roulette cannot be large in front and small in the rear, nor can it be small in front and large in the rear. The former is more laborious, while the latter will reduce the speed of the bicycle."
"Your Majesty, should the front and rear roulette be the same size?" Wang Zheng deserves to be engaged in mechanical research all the time, and Zhu Youzhen can understand it with just one point.
"It is precisely that the front and rear wheels are the same size, so that the balance between labor saving and distance saving can be maintained, and the bicycle will have practical value. When the conditions are met in the future, you can try to make some bicycles with different front and rear wheels. Try again if they are convenient to use."
"Your Majesty, the Cao Min understands, if it weren't for your Majesty's guidance, the Cao Min didn't know, your Majesty is really a genius." Wang Zheng saw Zhu Youjian full of terminology and had to be convinced.
genius? Haha, in our age, this is pediatrics, Zhu Youzhen secretly laughed, he did not refute Wang Zheng’s compliment, "Wang Aiqing, and this handlebar, you design a straight line, if you use it, it will be a rider. With arms open, you have to lie on the bike, which is uncomfortable and cannot fully use the strength of the waist and abdomen.
Wang Zheng carefully studied the bike map he designed, and it turned out that, as Zhu Youjian said, the handlebar is too long. The cyclist must hold the two ends of the handlebar with both hands, open his arms fully, and lean forward. According to the size marked on the picture, the rider’s chest almost lays down on the handlebar, "Your Majesty, can you make the handlebar shorter?"
“The handlebars are designed to be shorter, in principle, but the bicycle has to carry the weight of a person, and sometimes carry goods on the rear bracket. In this way, the stability of the bicycle will not be enough. Don’t forget, the bicycle only has Two wheels." Zhu Youjian felt that it was still a bit difficult to impart knowledge to this great scientific master.
Fortunately, Wang Zheng has a good research spirit, "My Majesty, how should the handlebars be changed?"
Zhu Youzhen remained silent and looked at Wang Zheng with a smile, hoping that he could come up with an improved method.
Wang Zheng frowned, thought for a while, and finally shook his head, "Your Majesty, the grass-minded people are dull, and can't think of a solution for a while, ask your Majesty for advice."
"Haha, I have read this "Far West Wonderful Equipment Illustrated Record" many times. Every time I see the handlebar of this bicycle, I feel uncomfortable. After many days of hard work, I think of a solution. "When Zhu Youjian couldn’t explain the source of knowledge, he could only flicker," I think, the handlebar of the bicycle should not be made into a straight bar, but made into an arc shape, with the two ends of the handle facing backwards. Bend, so that riders can easily get on both ends of the handlebars for two people."
"Arc? Bend?" Wang Zheng muttered in a low voice, as if he didn't quite understand.
Zhu Youjian had no choice but to ask the eunuchs to get paper and pen and draw a picture of the handlebar on the paper.
"Ah? That's the way it turns out?" Wang Zheng understood. "The Cao Min is really confused, I can't think of it, Your Majesty... Your Majesty is really a god and man."
"Haha," Zhu Youjian was still stunned regardless of Wang Zheng, "and there is no need to fill the middle of the front and rear discs with copper rods. The brass texture is softer and will easily deform in the future. You should switch to harder steel."
"Steel? Your Majesty, does Daming have such hard steel?" Wang Zheng expressed objection for the first time.
"Daming can produce this kind of steel. Wang Aiqing can rest assured. Isn't the barrel of the flintlock steel made of hard steel? And the base of the artillery is also made of this hard steel."
Zhu Youjian originally wanted to change the solid tires to hollow inflatable tires, but finally gave up. Now there is no rubber to make inner tubes.
Of course, Wang Zheng could not produce this kind of improved bicycle. Zhu Youjian handed over the production task to the Firearms Bureau and asked the craftsmen of the Firearms Bureau to produce a batch of bicycles according to the drawings, and then according to the actual use situation, Improve the bicycle.
It took more than a year for the Firearms Bureau to finally produce a batch of bicycles that can be used in practice.
In order to highlight the mysterious effect, Zhu Youjian ordered the Ouchi guards to learn to ride a bicycle secretly.
Bicycle riding is very easy to master. If the training method is proper, you can master the performance of the bicycle in half a day, and you can test it independently in three days. If you want to fully master the riding technology, you can freely exercise, load, and load on the concrete road. But ten days and a half months.