Jinmingchi, a famous garden in the Song Dynasty, also known as Xichi and Jiaochi, was located outside the Shuntian Gate of Tokyo in the Song Dynasty.
It was first excavated in the Five Dynasties and later Zhou Dynasty, and was built many times by the Northern Song Dynasty, turning it into a royal garden with a large scale, complete layout and beautiful scenery.
This Jinming Pond was destroyed when the barbarians of the Jin Kingdom invaded the south, and even the water transport ceremonial platform should have been destroyed at this time.
At this moment, the water transport instrument tower stands on the small island in the Jinming Pond.
Only then did they arrive at the Jinming Pond. Under the guidance of the eunuch who was in charge of the royal garden, Gao Zhang and his party boarded a canoe at the Jinming Pond and headed towards the island in the center of the pond.
Soon, I saw a building that was very different from the various palace structures on Jinmingchi Chixin Island.
"Your Highnesses, Yang Zhongguan, Zhuangyuan Gong, look over there, that is the water transport ceremonial platform."
The eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs raised his finger and pointed there.
Gao Zhang stared blankly at the wooden structure, which was about four feet high and more than two feet wide at the bottom.
This is naturally the Water Transport Instrument Platform. It is a wooden structure with a square base, a wide bottom and a narrow top.
Soon, the ship slowly stopped at the pier of Chixin Island, and the two young highnesses held hands and walked quickly towards that side.
Yang Jian, the confidant eunuch who had been ordered by the officials to accompany them throughout the whole process, could only follow the footsteps of these two naughty children at this moment, fearing that anything might happen to them while they were running around.
As for Gao Zhang, he was slowly looking at this first hydraulic mechanical astronomical clock in history with a sense of appreciation and awe.
Finally, we came to the front of this hydraulic mechanical astronomical clock with a purely wooden structure. We can see that there are five floors of wooden pavilions in front of it, and each floor has its own name.
The person in charge of managing this place was an official from Qin Tian Jian. Seeing that Gao Zhang, the champion, was very interested, he introduced in detail the functions of the five-story wooden pavilion of the Water Transport Ceremony Platform.
The top floor is responsible for telling the time, with a total of twelve wooden figures.
The second floor is responsible for the wooden pavilion on the second floor, which is responsible for reporting the beginning and the right time. The wooden pavilion on the third floor is responsible for reporting the time. The wooden pavilion on the fourth floor is responsible for telling the time at night...
There are corresponding wheels or rims in each wooden pavilion, and wooden figures holding signs are hung on them; or the arms of the wooden figures at the door are moved with the teeth to beat musical instruments.
Gao Zhang was dumbfounded when he heard this. He didn't expect it. This water transport instrument was actually far more complicated than he imagined. No wonder it was called a hydraulic mechanical astronomical clock.
But the problem is that people in this era have even developed this thing, but they have not considered how to reduce and simplify this huge thing.
But it is right to think about it. Ancient scientific researchers would think that this kind of good treasure is so high-end and used for scientific research.
It's simply impossible to think about it in terms of practicality.
"Little brother, can you understand?" Zhao Fujin and Zhao Huan, who looked confused, raised their heads and looked at Gao Zhang, who was nodding frequently.
Gao Zhang showed a gentle smile and nodded towards these two people.
"I understand a little bit, I understand a little bit."
"Then how does this machine work?" Zhao Huan couldn't help but ask his own question.
Facing these two children, Gao Zhang thought for a while and decided to explain to them in a way that he understood.
He reached out and picked up a branch from the ground next to him, drew a standard escapement on the open space, and then drew a few gears.
The water flows through the machine and drives the gears, but the escapement on the side is responsible for controlling the speed of the gears. As the saying goes, to escape is to close, and to escape is to release.
Only in this way can the speed of the gears be ensured to be stable enough, and the rotation of the gears will naturally drive those wooden mechanical figures to stand up and tell the time.
"..." Not to mention the two little kids Zhao Huan and Zhao Fujin, even the eunuch who had some brains and the scheming Yang Jian looked equally confused.
Only the Qintianjian official in charge of the water transport ceremonial platform saluted Gao Zhang with admiration on his face.
"The Zhuang Yuan Gong is really powerful, but after listening to Xiaguan's explanation, he was able to explain the movement principles of the water transport instrument platform so clearly in just a few words, which is far inferior to Xiaguan."
"But we still don't understand. Brother, can you say it more simply."
Zhao Fujin couldn't help but pursed his lips and looked at Gao Zhang with some frustration.
Gao Zhang saw Zhao Fujin and Zhao Huan both looking expectantly at him.
Haha, I am thinking about getting rich by relying on this escapement. In this case, it is not impossible to impress these two little kids.
"Otherwise, wait until I simplify the water transport instrument and make a model. Then you can know the principle of the operation of the water transport instrument."
This time, Zhao Huan spoke before his sister could speak.
"Little brother, can you even make this water transport instrument platform?"
"Such a large machine may be difficult, but I can simplify it and make it about this big..." Gao Zhang made a three-foot-square gesture with his hands.
Everyone, including the Qin Tianjian official who had flattered Gao Zhang just now, looked at Gao Zhang in a strange way. Of course, it was not more admiration, but as if he was bragging.
The main reason is that this official from Qintianjian is a scientific researcher, he doesn't know much about interpersonal relationships, and he speaks more directly.
"Master Zhuangyuan, although you know the movement principle of this water transport instrument platform, I think it is impossible to make it so small in a short time."
"After all, this thing was started in the first year of Yuanyou, and it was not completed until the seventh year of Yuanyou."
Gao Zhang glanced at Qin Tian Supervisor Bo and showed an implicit smile.
"Thank you for reminding me. I am only talking about trial production. If it doesn't work, that's it. If it can work, that would be great."
After hearing Gao Zhang's answer, the Qintian Supervisor Bo was silent for a long time before speaking.
"If Duke Zhuangyuan can make it, please let me see its true appearance."
"Of course there won't be any problem." Gao Zhang nodded towards Su Lord Bo in front of him with a matter-of-fact expression.
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After leaving the water transport platform, we took a boat and headed towards the bank of the pond.
Zhao Huan came to Gao Zhang's side and whispered.
"If you think it's too difficult, little brother, you can just don't do it. After all, my sister and I are just curious and don't want to embarrass little brother."
After hearing this, Gao Zhang looked at Zhao Huan, who looked a little worried.
I really didn't expect that he knew how to consider others, which at least showed that this kid was not bad at heart.
Gao Zhang glanced at Zhao Fujin, who was playing in the water with a small stick at the side of the boat.
He whispered in Zhao Huan's ear.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. If the official is not sure, it is impossible for him to express this attitude."
"Three days later, the official will send the real object to the palace. At that time, the two highnesses will be invited to come and judge."
"real?"
Seeing Gao Zhang's serious nod, Zhao Huan couldn't help but rub his fingers together with excitement.
"Can you really build a water transport instrument platform in three days?"
Gao Zhang's face looked a little dark. Are you trying to force me to brag?
"No, no, no, what I'm making is not a water-operated ceremonial platform. What I'm making is a clock, or a clock for short."
PS: There are only two updates today. Let’s rest first and continue working hard tomorrow.
(End of chapter)
