"Yes, it's called a pocket watch."
Fang Zheng looked at his pocket watch and was filled with emotion.
This thing was given to the county before I left the county, and it was not until yesterday that the mass production of the imitation was completed.
Usually when you hand over a task, everyone in the county will focus on it.
I didn’t expect a small pocket watch to take so long this time.
Judging from the letters from the county, the complexity of the workmanship of this thing gave the top craftsmen in the county a headache. They first found a sketcher and left a sketch of each process before starting further research on the sketches of each component.
However, the benefits are obvious. Taoyuan County has learned a lot of new structures.
Although I haven't fully understood it yet, one-to-one imitation is not a big problem.
After all, this thing is not a high-end product like the chips of later generations. You can still imitate it if you want, just rub it by hand.
The pocket watch was an important step in convincing the court to open the sea.
Dajing's timing tools are still relatively crude. Ordinary people basically look at the sky to keep time. It is probably accurate, but it is obviously not enough for the senior officials of the imperial court.
Fang Zheng also felt quite dependent on the pocket watch after a short period of use. Once he got used to this extension of his senses, it would be difficult to go back. Without the watch, he would have a serious lack of control over his life.
Modern people don't feel much about this because there are timekeeping tools everywhere. However, the historical status of pocket watches is very important. The sophisticated concept of time will give rise to various systems unique to modern civilization, and only then can refined work collaboration be realized.
It can be said that this is the companion magic weapon of leek essence and social animals.
Because people are too fond of pocket watches, a practical and luxury tool, the continuous development of new products has led to crazy advances in various mechanical structures, resulting in explosive development of technologies such as gears and lathes, which can be called the mother of industry.
The two seeds representing destruction and creation in human civilization have fallen into Fang Zhengyi's hands at the same time!
Now is the process of burying it in the soil and waiting for it to bloom and bear fruit.
However, this supposedly shocking wonder once it appeared on the scene was disappointed because Fang Zhengyi boasted too much.
Emperor Jing and Baiguan obviously lost interest and thought that Fang Zhengyi was blowing nonsense.
Emperor Jing said without interest: "Then what is the pocket watch used for?"
Fang Zheng's interest continued and he said loudly: "Your Majesty, this thing can tell the time."
"Is that all?" Emperor Jing frowned. At this moment, many people had withdrawn their gazes and returned to normal.
There are too many timekeeping tools in the past. Sundials, hourglasses, and incense sticks can all be used to tell time. These things are superfluous.
"No! It's not just that. The previous timing tools can only record approximate time, but it can be accurate to every moment!"
"Please let me personally distribute the gifts to Your Majesty and all your colleagues."
Emperor Jing waved his hand and motioned for him to send it down.
As soon as Fang Zheng picked up the box, he walked to Emperor Jing first and picked up the first pocket watch.
Not every pocket watch placed in the box is different, but the appearance is carefully designed according to official titles according to Fang Zhengyi's plan.
The one used by Emperor Jing is naturally engraved with a delicate golden dragon, surrounded by gold and jade, which is very beautiful.
The dial inside has also been redesigned, using Chinese characters instead, and adding a glass cover that was not in the previous design.
As soon as he got the pocket watch, Emperor Jing started playing with it with great interest.
The weight of this little thing is heavy on the hand, so it is just right for playing with.
In particular, there is a small button on it. Jingdi pressed it naturally, and the watch cover slowly popped up with a click, which was very damping.
Press the lid and there will be another click, and the sound will be clear and decompressing.
Fang Zhengyi continued to hand it out, and the second one was Li Yuanzhao. He eagerly took it and looked over it.
The third one is Guo Tianyang. Brother Guo has been greedy for a long time. He glanced at Fang Zhengyi and started to study it quietly.
Then they began to be distributed continuously, and everyone immediately held the watch and pressed the button.
Until it was sent to Yang Yingcai.
Fang Zheng stretched out his hand and handed it over, smiling and saying, "Mr. Yang, this is for you."
As for reaching out and not hitting the smiling person, Yang Yingcai cupped his hand and said, "Thank you, Mr. Fang, but I didn't give you a gift, so it's still no reward."
Fang Zheng said in a low voice: "Mr. Yang, although you and I have never gotten along, this is all my good intention. You can take it first. If you don't like it, you can return it to me later."
"But... I suggest you keep it. This is not a bribe, but it is of great use. You will know it later. When serving as an official in the court, whether the name is more important or the people of the world are more important, Mr. Yang must weigh it carefully. .”
Listening to his rare gentle voice, Yang Yingcai sighed and said, "Well, thank you Master Fang for the gift."
Everyone is like this, and if I say anything harsh, it means that I have failed as a human being.
Although Fang Zhengyi didn't like him, it was related to the welfare of the world, so it didn't matter if he tolerated it!
Seeing him accept it, Fang Zheng smiled and continued to release it.
After everyone had finished distributing the money, Fang Zhengyi raised the pocket watch in his hand again and said, "Everyone, let me tell you how to use this pocket watch. There are two needles on the dial..."
"It's that simple. In addition, if the pocket watch is used for a long time, it may cause inaccurate timing. You should always check the watch to ensure it is on time."
Emperor Jing and the officials suddenly became enlightened after hearing this.
Holding the watch in his hand and looking at it carefully, the hall was silent for a while, everyone was waiting for the minute hand to move.
After two or three minutes, they raised their heads one after another, with surprises in their eyes.
As a timekeeping tool, this little pocket watch can be so precise. Wouldn’t it be much easier to arrange your work schedule in the future?
Emperor Jing admired: "It's so convenient, it's really a good thing! Fang Qing, you have made a great contribution."
Fang Zheng pursed his lips and smiled: "I don't dare to take it seriously. As long as Your Majesty and your colleagues like it, it will be fine. With this thing, we can cooperate better and solve problems for the people."
"There will be a giant pocket watch in Taoyuan County in the future, which can be placed at home as a decoration and to tell time. However, it has not yet been successfully produced. Once successful, everyone will be able to buy it in the capital!"
"I have wasted too much time today, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Emperor Jing laughed and said, "Okay, that's good! Let's wait until the next court to study the merits of this pocket watch. Let's get down to business first."
...
The court meeting finally ended, but this time many people were absent-minded due to the intrusion of pocket watches.
Take a look when you have time, take a look when you have time.
It was not until the next court that I could finally speak freely, and many people immediately gathered together in twos and threes.
The same goes for everyone in the cabinet. Zhang Dongxiang held his pocket watch and said impatiently: "Look, what time is it for you?"
"I'm eight fifty." Li Yansong said, "What about you?"
"I'm eight-fifty too. It's so accurate. It's amazing! The Iron Rooster really plucked its feathers today." Zheng Qiao said happily.
"Hahaha, what Mr. Zheng said is true. He can't sell this thing for a thousand taels! The Iron Rooster actually plucked its feathers today. Go out and see if the sun is coming out from the west."
"Wait a minute, I'm eight forty-nine!"
"Then you're not allowed. Adjust it. Adjust it quickly."
Looking at the lively scene, Fang Zhengyi smiled all over his face, and waited until Li Yuanzhao came down to look for him and the two of them before preparing to leave the palace.
But at this moment, Yang Yingcai's figure stopped in front of Fang Zhengyi and said hesitantly: "Master Fang, how much does this pocket watch cost? I'll buy it!"
There were a few people watching behind Yang Yingcai, most of whom came to ask about the price and didn't want to owe a favor.
"Master Yang, this is nothing. If you really want to care about the price, it is a priceless treasure. But as a gift, the price depends on you." Fang Zhengyi said lightly.
Yang Yingcai looked even more embarrassed. He didn't expect Fang Zhengyi to be so magnanimous, but now he seemed to be worrying about it.
But I really can’t bear to give up my pocket watch. If others don’t have it, I’m afraid it will be difficult to cooperate in the future.
At least punctuality is a huge problem. This timekeeping tool is so accurate and convenient that it cannot be compared with other tools.
After struggling for a long time, he finally sighed: "Then...Thank you, Mr. Fang. Yang owes you a favor."
"Thank you, Master Fang!" Seeing that Yang Yingcai's attitude had softened, the others behind him all said the same, feeling as if a knot in their hearts had been lifted.
Fang Zheng didn't care at all: "Such a trivial matter, what kind of favor can we talk about? Mr. Yang is too polite, goodbye!"
After that, he followed Li Yuanzhao out.
Li Yuanzhao wondered: "Lao Fang, why are you so generous this time? I think such a good thing will sell for at least a thousand taels!"
"Tsk, tsk, with it, newspaper reporters can go to and from get off work on time every day, and no one can be late or leave early!"
"Your Highness is wise, but it is only a trivial matter when it comes to opening the sea. The pocket watch is actually a Western creation that I got from King Wu. Besides... these people are free spokesmen, and they will make a lot of money in the future!"
"Western creations... Western creations are so powerful! Then what does their country look like?" Li Yuanzhao murmured, "Why don't you take this opportunity to talk to your father about opening up the sea?"
Fang Zheng smiled and patted him on the back: "Don't worry, Your Highness, he shouldn't be very powerful. It's probably just a partial subject. They don't even have gunpowder."
"I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. It won't be too late to wait until His Majesty and the courtiers have a better understanding of this thing."
"Let's not talk about it for now. The gunpowder weapons in the county have been made. We are going to do a big thing. You must be interested..."
