Shen Kuo finally received the letter from his hometown.
He couldn't wait to open it and read the handwriting of his wife Zhang's Juanxiu on the letter.
Zhang said that she had already set off from her hometown Qiantang.
You can reach Bianjing around mid-June.
Not only Shen Kuo's only son Shen Chong was accompanying him, but also several of Shen Kuo's nephews.
They came to Bianjing to join Shen Kuo and prepare for the next imperial examination. Although the Liangzhe Road where Qiantang is located was not as test-intensive as Jiangnan West Road and Fujian Road.
But he is also the king of scrolls in the Song Dynasty.
The admission ratio is that hundreds of people compete for one spot all year round.
Basically, if you are not a genius, you can't win over others.
Therefore, they could only come to Bianjing to seek refuge with Shen Kuo, and in the name of "serving their uncle", they used the back door left by the imperial examination system of the Song Dynasty for high-ranking officials.
This is the so-called 'ultimatum test'.
According to the system, the children of officials above the local supervisory level who are more than 2,000 miles away from their place of origin can take the ultimatum examination on the spot.
The admission rate for the final examination has been stable at more than 30%.
It can be said to be a fast track for the children of high-ranking officials to enter officialdom.
Shen Kuo's appointment in the capital was far more than two thousand miles away from his hometown of Qiantang, which fully met the standards for the imperial examination.
In addition, Zhang also said in the letter that he had already compiled more than half of the "Map of Prefectures and Counties in the World" that he had worked hard to draw over the years, and would bring it to the capital carefully, telling him not to worry.
Finally, Zhang told Shen Kuo to do things well and never make mistakes.
After Shen Kuo read his wife's letter home, a trace of rosiness suddenly appeared on his face.
Zhang was his successor, almost fifteen years younger than him, and the apple of Zhang Chu's eye who promoted and valued him.
It can even be said that Shen Kuo watched Zhang grow up.
The relationship between the two is very complicated!
Outsiders have no idea and cannot understand it.
All in all, for Shen Kuo, Zhang was not only his wife, but also the pillar of his life. She was also a virtuous wife who could help him in many things.
To be honest, Shen Kuo always felt that something was missing these days after leaving Zhang's family, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
Now, Shen Kuo is relieved that his wife is going to Beijing.
He thought for a while, then rode on his horse, preparing to go out to buy some of his wife's favorite gouache.
Just went out and led the horse.
An official who was renting next to him came out with a smile and bowed his hands: "Shen Tiju... Shen Tiju..."
Shen Kuo glanced at the other party and asked suspiciously: "Is there something wrong with Wang Hucao?"
The other party approached Shen Kuo mysteriously and asked in a low voice: "I heard that there is a magical secret technique for lifting, which can turn water into copper... I don't know... is there any secret method for that?"
Shen Kuo was immediately alert and said sternly: "What kind of magic is this? I am a scholar, and I can't talk about my strange powers!"
The official frowned: "Then how does lifting turn water into copper?"
yes!
If you don't have magical magic, how can you turn water into copper?
Shen Kuo sighed and said, "Don't you just take a step to listen and study things to know them?"
"This is the teaching of a saint!"
Shen Kuo thought of the young master's words that day and said sternly: "It's just like water. When it's hot, it turns into vapor, and when it's cold, the vapor condenses into water droplets!"
"Saints know their nature and principles, so they use them in the world!"
"You should study hard and don't ask for more explanations!" Shen Kuo warned half scolding.
He has the qualifications!
Not to mention that he was once an important minister waiting to be appointed!
Even now, Shen Kuo's salary officer is also asking for a doctor!
Yuanfeng sent Luge to the twelfth level of the twenty-fifth-level Beijing court official. The only ones above him were the chief officials of the three provinces.
Not to mention that he is a close minister of the emperor and a banquet official.
The official was stunned when Shen Kuo said this.
"Studying things to achieve knowledge?" He blinked. What does this have to do with turning water into copper?
…
An hour later, Shen Kuo was exhausted.
Because along the way, he met no less than twenty people who came to ask him about the 'secret method of the gods'.
Several times, I was even watched by passers-by.
Many people gathered around him, shouting: You are Shen Tiju who turns water into copper, right? Please also teach us the secret method!
This made Shen Kuo unable to go shopping in Wa City at all, so he had to go home in a hurry.
When he arrived near the rented house, Shen Kuo saw that soldiers from Kaifeng Mansion had gathered in front of his house.
After asking, I found out that someone tried to enter his yard to steal, but was discovered by several passers-by and was caught on the spot.
You knew without asking that he must be the one who wanted to steal the 'secret method' from Shen Kuo's house while he was away.
This made Shen Kuo anxious.
Although the right wing of Kaifeng Mansion came to inspect and assured him that he would definitely protect his safety.
Several soldiers will be stationed and a military store will be built near his home.
But Shen Kuo still felt that this place was unbearable.
Moreover, Shen Kuo also knew that if he couldn't explain clearly, similar things would inevitably happen one after another, and it would be difficult to prevent them!
After all, everyone in the world will only know that he, Shen Kuo, used an almost immortal method to turn water into copper!
So he instinctively concluded that he, Shen Kuo, had mastered some secret method or technique, maybe he could turn stone into gold!
People who want to steal his secret will line up from Bianjing to Luoyang.
Can he stop it? Unstoppable!
Therefore, he must explain clearly!
So, while the people from Kaifeng Mansion were patrolling, and there were many people watching around.
Shen Kuo cupped his hands and said to the inspector: "Inspector, my neighbors..."
"A certain person is a disciple of a sage. The sage said: Respect ghosts and gods and stay away from them!"
"I have always practiced the teachings of saints, let alone saying that there is no magical secret method. Even if there is a so-called magical secret method in front of my eyes, I will turn a blind eye!"
"There are rumors that the so-called pouring water into copper is really a mistake!"
"The method is to soak iron in bile water and exchange iron for copper!"
"It's a truth derived from the scriptures of sages!"
"This principle is the same as water turning into gas when heated, and water vapor turning into water droplets when cold!"
"If you are interested, you can try it!"
"There are gallstones available for purchase in pharmacies in the capital! You can buy gallstones yourself. After crushing them, soak them in a water vat. When the water in the vat changes color, take pig iron and soak it in it to obtain copper!"
"Everyone can try this method, and everyone can use it!" Shen Kuo bowed and bowed: "It is completely different from the so-called ghosts and gods, and the so-called alchemy!"
Everyone listened and became quiet.
Really?
Most people don't believe it.
But Shen Kuo's conclusive words didn't seem to be false.
Gallstones in Bianjing City can indeed be purchased at will.
What if everyone could use gallstones to smelt copper?
Many people's hearts were beating fast.
This is a ready-made way to make money!
How much does gallstone cost per pound? Ten pounds of gallstones and one pound of copper are all pure profits!
It should be noted that the copper coins of the Song Dynasty always used at most three pounds of copper, and the rest were lead and tin.
And when pure copper is used to make copperware, the profit is even greater!
Therefore, on this day, large quantities of gallstones were purchased in major pharmacies in Bianjing City, including the government-run Pharmacy.
At first, people in pharmacies and pharmacy stores were doing business with smiles.
You know, few people are willing to buy things like gallstones.
Now I can sell many years of inventory in one fell swoop, which is so exciting!
But soon, they discovered something was wrong!
Therefore, gallstones are expensive in the capital.
Those with discerning eyes have already started to make information gaps.
We sent people to Luoyang, Daming Mansion, Yingtian Mansion and other places to search out all the local cheap gallstones before the news spread!
Those who hold great power move faster!
For example, the servants of Gao Zunyu's family and Xiang Zongliang's servants have all gone straight to Xinzhou.
Copper is soaked in water, and the lesson profit is only 10%!
This is a hugely profitable deal!
Only a fool would not do it!
Moreover, their courage is now gradually growing.
Because the little official is benevolent and filial, he will protect them!
…
They are different from those Cuodas in Bianjing City whose eyes have turned into money holes.
Sima Guang felt greatly relieved at this moment.
He took a rare sip of wine, then stroked his beard, and said to Su Shi who came to his house to say goodbye and was about to go to Mizhou to take up his post: "Zizhan, it is indeed a blessing for us to meet the Ming Dynasty as a scholar-bureaucrat! "
Su Shi also couldn't drink. If he had even a little bit of alcohol, he might pass out drunk.
But he also tried to take a sip, and then his face turned red and he felt a little drunk.
"What Mr. Sima said is true! It's true!" Su Shi was drunk and thought about it endlessly: "Today's emperor admires Chinese literature, extends grace to all people, and benefits the common people. He is actually the first person in the history of our dynasty!"
Although Renmiao also loves the people.
But when he was in power, he still wanted to get his head into Brother Kong Fang.
Tea Law, Salt Law, Mining Tax, Commercial Tax...
That's not a penny!
Especially for a tea law, if it is changed over and over again, either the government will suffer losses, or the people will suffer losses.
It was awkward no matter how hard I tried to change it, but in the end I just didn’t change it at all.
But now that the emperor has only been on the throne for three months, he has already extended grace to all the people and revealed his intention to reduce the burden on the people!
Su Shi believes that mining class is just the beginning!
The young master admires Han Wen. When Han Wen was in power, he not only paid thirty to one land tax, but also exempted and exempted the land tax of the people across the country many times!
"That is, the villains are entrenched in this court...the local evil parties still exist..." Su Shi said softly: "I don't know when they will be expelled..."
"There are also Wang Anshi's evil laws!" Sima Guang said in a deep voice: "The laws for exemption from service, the law for young crops, and the law for exemption from work are harmful to the people. They should all be abolished so that the people of the world can truly breathe!"
Su Shi's wine wakes him up instantly.
He hated the Green Seeding Law with all his heart.
The exemption from service law is a good law!
When he was in Huangzhou, he saw and experienced the local high-class households. After the implementation of the exemption law, there were gradually more and more people. He also heard the real voice of the people - although the officials asked them to pay money, they still had to pay the money. It’s better than destroying your family!
Besides, payment under the exemption law is based on household status and property.
The fifth-class households actually have to pay very little.
Moreover, isn't it now said by the capital that the labor law will be adjusted, and that in the future, the fees for fifth-class households may be halved or even eliminated?
Sima Guang continued: "There is also Lu Huiqing from Hedong, we must get rid of him!"
"Otherwise, sooner or later it will be a disaster for the world!"
Su Shi swallowed, hurriedly lay down, and pretended to be drunk.
Although he also hated Lu Huiqing, Su Shi heard that Lu Huiqing sent troops this time because of his young master's order.
(End of chapter)
