Yan Su was the inventor of instruments such as the compass, the drum, and the lotus leak.
Bi Sheng, the inventor of movable type printing.
Shen Kuo, the author of the strange book "Mengxi Bi Tan".
The above three are the few scientists from the Northern Song Dynasty that Zhao Yang knows, but he knows nothing about more specific information.
But he also has a way.
After all, both Yan Su and Shen Kuo had inventions. As long as they find their inventions that were collected in the warehouse of the Ministry of Industry, someone will tell them the information about the inventor. After all, the invention that can leave its name in history will definitely be in the warehouse of the Ministry of Industry. You can find imitations here, which may even be genuine.
The same goes for Shen Kuo. As long as he writes "Mengxi Bi Tan", it will definitely be collected in the palace's library. Just ask the administrator of the library.
With a solution in hand, Zhao Yang led the people straight towards the courtyard of the Ministry of Industry.
The Ministry of Works was one of the six ministries, but the Six Ministries of the Song Dynasty existed in name only. Most of their rights and functions were assigned to the almost omnipotent Three Divisions. Their scope of authority included military households, workers, and ritual officials except the Ministry of Punishments. In the five ministries, even important officials such as Shangshu, Shilang, Langzhong, and Yuanwailang have become civil servants in name only, leaving only a few subordinate agencies that have been greatly reduced.
Half an hour later, under the guidance of passers-by, Zhao Yang and his group arrived at the so-called Ministry of Industry Office. It seemed to be a large office, but it looked unusually deserted.
When I looked up, I saw the old plaque that read "Shang Shu Provincial Ministry of Industry". Not only was it covered in dust, but most of the paint was peeled off, which showed its current status in the court.
"Open the door!"
While Zhao Yang was frowning and staring at the plaque, Wang Zhongzheng turned his head and signaled an imperial officer named Wang Ming to step forward to call the door. The latter stepped forward knowingly and tapped the copper ring on the door, shaking the door. The patent leather on the ground door rustled.
After a long while, someone came to open the door. After opening the door, he stuck his head out and frowned at Wang Ming, who called the door. He looked like he wanted to yell, but when he saw Wang Ming's clothes, he gave in. Swallowed it back.
"What do you guys have to do...?"
The man looked at the group of people outside the door in surprise and confusion, wondering why this group of people who looked like introspective guards came to their Qingshui Yamen.
Wang Ming pushed half of the door open and said in a deep voice: "My husband... I am the newly appointed minister of the Ministry of Works. If you have something to do, I ask you to wait and ask the people inside to come out to greet you."
Before Zhao Yang could say anything, he saw the man looking at Wang Zhongzheng and others before turning around and running back to the house.
Not long after, a group of government officials wearing soap-colored official uniforms hurried over. The leader, an older man, raised his hands to everyone and asked, "Who is here on business?"
, compared to Wang Zhongzheng and Wang Ming, who were accustomed to being high and low in the palace, Zhao Yang was still very polite. He held his hands and said warmly: "I am the first commander of the Fifth Army of Tianwu Zuoxiang, the Ministry of Works Department. Yuanwailang Zhao Yang, I don’t know what to call you?"
The commander of the Tianwu Army? A foreign minister from the Ministry of Industry?
This kid?
A group of people looked at each other, seemingly in disbelief.
Seeing this, Wang Zhongzheng took out his waist card and said in a deep voice: "Young Master was awarded the title of Yuanwailang by the official yesterday. He hasn't had time to get his waist card yet. You can take a look at mine later to see if there are any fake ones." .”
Everyone took a closer look and saw the words "Enter the Internal Affairs Ministry" engraved on Wang Zhongzheng's waistband. They were shocked and their expressions suddenly changed, and they saluted again.
Looking furtively at the sword hanging on Wang Zhongzheng's waist, the group of people who had vaguely guessed the identity of the visitor were secretly stunned: It was actually a royal weapon of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!
"Yang Yi, the envoy of the Ministry of Workers and Workers' Inspection Act, pays homage to Shangguan."
The leading official woke up first and hurriedly returned the courtesy to Zhao Yang.
While returning the gift, I couldn't help but be secretly surprised at what the origin of this young man was, and that he was actually being guarded by imperial guards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Prosecutorial envoy?
Zhao Yang murmured to himself, not knowing how to address the other party: "Uh, Yang... the case envoy?"
"Your Majesty, please give me your instructions." Yang Yi, the prosecutor's envoy, paid his respects again.
Just don’t show timidity...
Secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Zhao Yang raised his hand to support the other party and said warmly: "Mr. Yang, today I'm coming to...the Ministry of Industry. I have something to ask for your help. Help me find a few people."
"Who?" Yang Case asked subconsciously before he realized that everyone was still outside the door. He quickly invited Zhao Yang and his party into the office, and invited him to the squad room where he handled official business.
Before entering the door, Zhao Yang saw the wooden sign "Inspection Act of the Ministry of Industry" hanging outside the house. He couldn't help but asked: "Mr. Yang, forgive my ignorance, what do you do... Inspection Act?"
Yang Case felt that this young man of noble origin was not difficult to get along with, so he explained with a smile: "Shangguan said something serious. His humble position is to inspect the laws and regulations. It is one of the permanent offices of the Ministry. It is mainly responsible for reviewing the edicts and regulations of the Ministry. If there is a government order issued regarding laws, etc., it will be sent to the lower office first, and then the lower office will convey it to other case departments."
"Are there other case departments?"
"Yes." Case Commissioner Yang nodded, raised his head and pointed to the squad rooms around the courtyard, and said, "There are also construction cases, materials cases, weapons cases, knowledge cases, etc., which are all cases of the headquarters."
Seeing Zhao Yang's confused look, he briefly introduced the functions of each case department.
Only then did Zhao Yang realize that the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry at this time was actually not as small as he thought. There were still many officials and craftsmen under its jurisdiction, but they were far less than in its heyday.
After inviting Zhao Yang to take a seat in the house and serving tea, Yang's envoy asked: "I wonder who the superior is looking for?"
Zhao Yang thought for a moment and said, "Does Envoy Yang know the guide car?"
"Ah." Officer Yang responded blankly and said, "I have one in the warehouse of the Ministry of Industry, and it was made by Yanlong Tu..."
Zhao Yang knew he was right as soon as he heard it: "Yes, it is...Yanlongtu? Yansu?"
"Ah." Yang Anzhi looked a little strange and nodded: "Bachelor of Longtuge, Bachelor of Yan Su, Bachelor of Yan Zhi."
"A direct bachelor of Longtuge..." Zhao Yang scratched his chin.
During this period, someone in Wang Zhongzheng's group frowned and said a few words to Wang Zhongzheng, causing Wang Zhongzheng to also look surprised.
The expression on Yang's case was also very subtle: "Shangguan, do you want to see Yanlong Tu for something?"
"What?" Zhao Yang keenly sensed that something was wrong with Yang's expression.
Wang Zhongzheng, who was standing by, hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "I don't know that the person Yuan Wailang is looking for is Yanlongtu. Yanlongtu... seems to have passed away."
"Dead?" Zhao Yang was stunned when he heard this, and then looked at Yang Case.
Yang Case nodded and said, "Yes. If I remember correctly, Yan Longtu passed away in the first year of Kangding, eight or nine years ago."
"..." Zhao Yang was speechless.
It was hard to find the person, but he has passed away. It is really a pity that the Song Dynasty has lost a talented person.
After thinking for a while, he asked: "Does Yan Long Tu have any heirs?"
Case Commissioner Yang nodded and said: "There is a son named Yandu, who seems to be working in the Ministry of Household Affairs..."
Zhao Yang turned his head and looked at the imperial equipment behind him. One of them hurriedly took the order and said: "I'm here to find out more about it."
Looking at the back of the man with the imperial weapon leaving, Case Envoy Yang asked curiously: "Excuse me for taking this humble position, does Shangguan Xunyan Longtu and his son have something important to do?"
Zhao Yang thought for a while and finally decided to tell the truth: "I have the approval of the government and want to recruit skilled craftsmen from all over the world to reorganize the Ministry of Industry. I heard that Yan Longtu is well versed in invention and creation. I originally hoped that he would help, but I didn't expect..."
"It's so..."
Yang was surprised when he heard this. As an official of the Ministry of Works, how could he want to see the current situation of the Ministry of Works?
But the next moment he realized that he had lost his composure, and hurriedly suppressed the surprise in his heart, showing a look of sadness, and nodded in agreement: "What Shangguan said is absolutely true. Yan Longtu's death is truly a regret for me in the Song Dynasty."
For a moment, the room fell into silence. Even Wang Zhongzheng and the other imperial equipment did not dare to speak, and they all lowered their heads in silence.
In the end, Zhao Yang felt that the atmosphere was strange, and broke the silence with a cough: "Ahem, um, there is another person..."
The Yang envoy immediately broke away from the silence and said respectfully: "Who is the second person?"
"Moveable type printing, you know?"
"Shangguan said to engrave words on the board..."
"No, that's woodblock printing. What I'm talking about is movable type printing, which is to use clay to shape identical squares, carve single characters on them, and then use fire to harden them..."
As Zhao Yang narrated, Yang Anzhi's eyes gradually widened, and he couldn't help but praise: "Good! What a wonderful technique!"
After praising him, he frowned and said, "What Shangguan said about movable type printing is extremely wonderful! However, I have been in the Ministry of Industry for a long time, but I have never heard of it... I wonder where Shangguan heard about it?"
In the textbook.
Zhao Yang shook his head and said: "I also heard someone mention it, but the person couldn't explain clearly. I only know that this person is called Bi Sheng, and he has been engaged in printing for many years..."
Case Officer Yang stroked his beard and thought: "If you have been engaged in printing all year round, you must be a craftsman in the official workshop. I have a humble job and asked someone to ask. If I get any information, I will definitely report it."
"Thank you."
Zhao Yanggong handed over his hand, and then informed Yang Case about Shen Kuo and his work "Mengxi Bi Tan", but unfortunately Yang Case said he had never heard of it.
"It seems that we can only go to those bookstores to find the needle in the haystack..."
Zhao Yang sighed and secretly prayed that Shen Kuo had written that article. If he hadn't written it yet, then his efforts would have been in vain.
Seeing this, Yang Case hesitated and said: "In fact, there are many capable officials and craftsmen under our Ministry of Industry. If the superior official allows it, I am willing to contribute my modest efforts..."
Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "That's natural... If not, please ask Yang Case to take the lead for me and gather a group of capable officials and craftsmen. I wonder if Yang Case is willing?"
"I am willing to do my humble job."
Yang Anzhi was overjoyed and agreed immediately.
One is the Qingshui Yamen with few people, and the other is the newly established "New Industry Department" chartered by the government. Even a fool knows how to choose.
After half a stick of incense, Zhao Yang and his party left the office of the Ministry of Industry under the escort of Yang Case and others. They walked aimlessly on the street, waiting for the imperial officer who went to the Ministry of Household Affairs to inquire back with news. .
It was a bad start. None of Yan Su, Bi Sheng, and Shen Kuo could be found. The only consolation was to find out about Yan Su's son Yan Du, but he didn't know whether this person had the talent of his father Yan Longtu.
Zhao Yang was just thinking about it when he suddenly heard a faint noise coming from the street in front of him. It was quite noisy.
Zhao Yang sent someone to inquire, and the person came back soon to report: "Reporting to Yuanwailang, it seems that someone's carriage hit a passerby, and the servant made rude remarks, which aroused people's anger."
"Oh? Go and have a look."
Zhao Yang raised his eyebrows and headed towards the crowd in the distance with a bunch of imperial equipment.
