I laughed and gave him the same thumbs up: "You are all extremely smart people, and it is easy to understand. So in the final analysis, there is only one thing I have to do, and that is to improve productivity."
"All of my foreign expeditions are to create a suitable environment to improve productivity; all of my farming equipment are to improve Da Qin's productivity. I can't believe that I can't do it alone, even if I am exhausted, I won't be able to achieve it."
"So I want to set up a school and open an imperial examination so that more people can learn and read. Only with knowledge can they inherit my ideas. If Guizhou has no ideas, everyone will just immerse themselves in farming and fighting, and the Qin Dynasty will be like a pool of stagnant water. Standing on its own laurels. You already know that there are many countries besides Great Qin, and Great Qin must not stop here!"
My words were so impassioned that everyone except Li Si nodded in agreement.
Li Si frowned and said, "Your Majesty, if everyone has their own independent thoughts, how can the imperial court govern the people? If they have their own ideas, they will be restless and attack the imperial court. Minister. How dare you agree with what His Majesty said!"
Everyone was shocked. They didn't expect Li Si to be so tough.
But I didn't care, smiled slightly, and said calmly: "Prime Minister Li's worries are not unreasonable. I will discuss this matter separately at the meeting tomorrow. Now I want to tell you some secrets!"
Taoyao was even more frightened when she heard this. Li Si's words had already frightened her. Next, I have to talk about the secrets of the imperial court. Is it appropriate for me to listen here?
I looked at Taiyue, a skinny little old man with a rather celestial demeanor. His sense of existence is very low, and I have basically never paid attention to him except for large-scale sacrifices. When Ying Zheng was still alive, he would often call him to ask about celestial phenomena, good omens and so on.
"Taiyue, do you know the world?"
Taiyue was stunned. It was a bit strange to summon him today. They had been talking about it for a long time and they had nothing to do with themselves. His Majesty suddenly asked him if he knew about heaven and earth. What did this mean...
Taiyue said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I naturally know this. The sky is round like a cover, with the sky high in the south and low in the north, so looking at it is like leaning on the cover; the place is like a chessboard, and you can see as far as you can see. It is boundless; the celestial bodies are like projectiles, their momentum is leaning, so they will never be seen."
I nodded and smiled: "But what if I told you that the earth is like a projectile?"
Taiyue's expression changed, and she cupped her hands and said, "Your Majesty, please stop making fun of me. Although I have little talent and little knowledge, I know a lot about celestial phenomena and geography. How can the earth be like a pellet?"
I shook my head and told Liu Bang the same story again.
Several people were stunned after hearing this.
Ignoring it, I continued: "I want to tell you a few things. First, after the glass imported by Gongshu is fired, you can make a telescope and a sextant with him. I have already given him the method of making the telescope. I’ll send someone to send you the method of making the instrument later.”
"Second, set up a burial stone at the south gate of Xianyang Palace. It should be the strongest stone, and a Qin Ge leaning against the guide should be placed on it. The starting point of the zero mile of the Great Qin Chi Road should be engraved on the burial stone, and the prime meridian should be engraved on the Qin Ge. Stone and Qin Ge must be made of the strongest materials.”
"Third, I will write a book about the astronomy and geography that I know and give it to you within one month. It includes longitude and latitude marks, four continents and four oceans, the movement of the sun and the moon, tidal currents, etc., all related to navigation. Knowledge, organize your subordinate officials to study seriously."
Taiyue was still in a confused state, and stuttered: "Yes... I follow your Majesty's order."
Li Si and Feng Jie suddenly realized that no wonder they called Taiyue here. It turned out to be about shipbuilding and sailing.
In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. Gongshujin sent someone to report that the kiln was being burned. Gongshujin was watching over there, not daring to leave at will.
I asked Meng He to prepare some meals, and we ate in the hall.
Taoyao is still a little cautious, after all, she is just a businessman. Most of the glory of the Ba family disappeared with the death of Ba Widow Qing. Now it is really not easy for her to support such a large family business alone, let alone a girl in her twenties who will still be in school in later generations.
Looking at Taoyao and Feng Jie, I smiled slightly and introduced: "Prime Minister Feng, this is Ba Taoyao, the head of the Ba family, a merchant in Da Qin."
Feng Jie was stunned for a moment and then realized that they were not lovers!
He said hurriedly: "Miss Taoyao has taken charge of a clan at such a young age, she has a bright future!"
The topic turned to Tao Yao, but Tao Yao lost her restrained posture and showed a polite smile. She cupped her hands and said, "I have met Prime Minister Feng. I have long heard that Prime Minister Feng is clear in politics and honest in his conduct. Today I see you. What a blessing!”
Feng Jie glanced at me and replied, "Miss Taoyao, that's a compliment."
I chuckled: "In the future, including trade in the Western Regions, many things will have to be handled by Ba Shi and Wushi, and the two prime ministers and Baichong will provide them with assistance."
The three of them naturally said yes.
"By the way, Prime Minister Li, how is the tariff issue?"
Li Si put down the chopsticks in his hand and replied: "Your Majesty, the revision has been basically completed. The revised "Golden Rules" can be submitted to your Majesty at the end of the month for decision. It has added tariffs, reduced city taxes for merchants trading in the Western Regions, and also There are other little things."
I nodded, and the others said nothing and finished their meal quietly.
It wasn't until the lanterns were lit that Gong Shujin ran over holding a piece of glass with a happy face.
"Your Majesty, it's done, it's done!"
I stood up and took the glass from his hand. The shape was not particularly regular, but the transparency was good. There was no problem in making lenses.
I nodded with satisfaction and praised: "Not bad, it was cooked the first time, very good!"
I passed the glass to others to see, and several people were amazed.
"Your Majesty, this is much more transparent than the glass given by the Western Regions!" Feng Jie looked at the glass in his hand with admiration and handed it to Taiyue.
Taiyue looked at the transparent glass in her hand and asked curiously: "Your Majesty, with this thing, can you achieve what your Majesty said and make people thousands of miles away still be in front of you?"
I nodded and said with a smile: "This is just an ordinary piece of glass. If you want to make a telescope, there is still a long way to go. First, according to my drawings, the glass must be polished into a flat piece with concave edges and a convex center. This glass is extremely It's fragile. I'm afraid you won't be able to achieve this step alone in a short time. But don't rush it, try it slowly."
Taiyue nodded and handed the glass to Gongshujin.
I breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, put this glass in the hall as well. Next, your main task is to make a telescope and a sextant. The telescope is relatively simple, but the sextant is probably more complicated." It takes some work.”
Everything that was produced for the first time by Zuofu is displayed in the hall. In the future, you can consider opening a museum and charging admission...
"By the way, I asked the person you are looking for to find Taiyue to examine astronomical knowledge. If it is available, he will work under Taiyue and study for a year and a half before going to the Panyu City Shipyard."
Then I asked a few people to go back, leaving Taoyao alone in the hall.
