The next day is Jiazi (the third day of the lunar month).
Song Yongchen entered the palace and presented a sand table on the east and west roads of Beijing.
Shen Kuo also entered the palace and presented the first movable lead type that could be used for printing.
Yes, he ultimately chose lead alloy for his movable type.
Movable type is made of lead, tin (actually antimony), and a cooled alloy that is melted and tin is melted.
Mainly because of its cheapness.
Of course, the disadvantage of movable lead type is also obvious, that is, it is poisonous!
However, human life is very cheap in this era.
No one cared at all - after all, this was the feudal era when the average life expectancy was thirty or forty years old!
After placing the movable lead type with a square body on the desk and admiring it for a moment, Zhao Xu said to Shen Kuo: "You should also be careful about the ink issue!"
"We need to select ink that prints clearly, is cheap, and can be mass-produced..."
“It’s better not to use the traditional pine smoke making process!”
That's too expensive!
Da Song Dynasty certainly has good ink!
For example, Huimo...
But this is not something that ordinary people can afford!
Even in the Song Dynasty, the price of a stick of Huizhou ink was a luxury item that a middle-class family could not afford with a year's income.
It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive, at worst it can be mass-produced and the cost can be shared evenly.
The key is that it’s time-consuming and complicated!
It often takes two or three years to make a batch.
Shen Kuo frowned as he listened.
This requirement is not low!
Then, he remembered the oil he had discovered in Yanzhou.
That thing is quite cheap, and is available on the ground in Yanzhou. The printing is clear, but I still need to think of a way and experiment more.
Zhao Xu could almost guess it by the way he looked at him.
After all, when ink is linked to cheapness, what else can it be but oil?
At present, Yanzhou's oil production should be sufficient and it is just a matter of drilling wells.
We'll talk about the future...the future!
After seeing off Shen Kuo, Zhao Xu called Song Yongchen to his side and asked about things in the bureau that was now focused on manufacturing weapons.
It's mainly about the gunpowder testing facility outside the city.
I heard from Song Yongchen that the Gunpowder Laboratory now has more than a hundred craftsmen, and they were divided into more than a dozen different groups by Shen Kuo, each experimenting with different gunpowder ratios.
Zhao Xu nodded slightly, expressing satisfaction.
Then, Zhao Xu began to assign a new job to Song Yongchen: "Zhaoxuan, please send someone to take charge of the sand table in the west and south of Beijing first. I have an important matter and I want to appoint Zhaoxuan!"
"Everyone, please give me your instructions!" Song Yongchen immediately bowed to listen.
"I want Zhaoxuan to promote Dongranyuan..."
Song Yongchen raised his head and looked at Zhao Xu.
"I found some secret recipes for pigments from ancient books..." Zhao Xu handed a piece of paper with several formulas written on it to Song Yongchen: "Zhao Xuan went to Dong Dyeing Institute, successfully mixed them, and secretly produced and stored them. …”
"Maybe it will be useful when Song and Liao Jiaozi are released next year!"
Now, there are generally four types of anti-counterfeiting methods used by Jiaozi of the Song Dynasty.
First: Print on special paper that is only controlled by the royal family.
Second: The special plate pressing technology makes Jiaozi's patterns complex.
Third: The special monogram design allows laymen to see through it at a glance, even if they imitate it.
However, the above three only constitute technical barriers and increase the difficulty, cost and energy for outsiders to forge.
It is impossible to completely eliminate counterfeiting.
So there is a fourth anti-counterfeiting measure: recycling old Jiaozi and issuing new Jiaozi every three years.
Each issue of Xinjiaozi has different patterns, monograms, and different paper.
This is equivalent to making all the hard work of the forger disappear in an instant!
However, the trade relations between Song and Liao were different.
Because this is issued once a year, and the face value is copper coins instead of iron coins.
Zhao Xu knew that after its release, he would definitely accept the challenge of "dynamic people" from Liao and Song Dynasties.
Therefore, we can only temporarily increase pigment anti-counterfeiting.
Different coloring techniques and new colors are used to increase anti-counterfeiting techniques.
It just so happens that Zhao Xu studied oil painting techniques in modern times, so he learned many pigment mixing techniques.
Pigments prepared with orpiment are the best choice for rendering the sunset; grinding limonite ore into powder, calcining it and adjusting it, it can turn into caramel color, and further adjustment can turn it into deep black; in addition, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, Some people have already calcined and ground azurite to make green pigment...
Of course, these paints are very expensive, so it's impossible to cover them all.
Coloring can only be done in key places.
For example, where the currency value, issue date, and monogram are written, different pigments are used to prevent counterfeiting.
Zhao Xu feels that, combined with other existing anti-counterfeiting methods, it should be able to last ten years.
Ten years from now, there will definitely be new anti-counterfeiting technologies.
Song Yongchen respectfully accepted the secret recipe given by Zhao Xu, and then took the order: "Old minister, I will obey the order..."
"Keep it confidential!" Zhao Xu warned.
"Old minister, I understand..." Song Yongchen bowed again.
Watching Song Yongchen leave, Zhao Xu said to Feng Jing: "Let's go... to Baoci Palace..."
…
Zhao Xu walked into Baoci Palace, and the two palaces were talking and laughing.
Zhao Xu stepped forward to say hello, and was pulled by the Empress Dowager to sit next to her.
"Sixth brother summoned the minister again today?" asked the Queen Mother.
"Yes!" Zhao Xu told the story about Song Yongchen and Shen Kuo entering the palace and presenting movable lead type and sand tables.
He also asked Feng Jing to bring the movable lead type presented by Shen Kuo to the two palaces.
Neither of the two palaces understood it very well, but they were still very happy looking at the small lead type.
"According to the official opinion, in the future, only a few sets of movable type will be enough to meet most of the printing needs in the world?" the Empress Dowager asked curiously.
Zhao Xu shook his head and said: "Mother, movable type can only meet the most basic needs..."
"If you really want to print the meanings of saints' scriptures or Buddhist scriptures, engraving is the most appropriate way!"
Shen Kuo and he reported on the printing experiments with lead movable type.
The handwriting is not as clear as the engraving!
At least for now, that's the case.
It is necessary to wait for future breakthroughs in ink technology and iteration of printing technology before it is possible to replace engraving.
After hearing this, the two palaces immediately exclaimed and lost interest in this movable type.
Only Zhao Xu still pays attention!
Not only because movable type is the future, but also because this thing can also play an important role now!
For example, Zhao Xu had asked Feng Jing to notify Song Yongchen that a printing office had been added to the Detective Department.
In a few days, we can try to publish a tabloid controlled and reviewed by Zhao Xu.
Let’s first take possession of Bianjing’s public opinion mouthpiece and then talk about it.
Of course, you have to be careful about this matter.
Therefore, after a while, Shi Deyi will change the printing location of the tabloid to outside the city.
Then choose a white glove and put it in front to act as a cover.
Zhao Xu accompanied the two palaces. After chatting for a while, he suddenly said: "Mother-in-law, queen mother, when I summoned Shen Kuo just now, I heard Song Yongchen say that Shen Kuo has been so busy with official duties since he came to Beijing that he didn't even have a day off. I am recuperating at home for a few days..."
The two palaces looked at each other and asked the Queen Mother: "Is this Shen Kuo so loyal to the country?"
She thought that Zhao Xu wanted to promote Shen Kuo, so she asked, "How is Sixth Brother going to reward him?"
Zhao Xu smiled, held Empress Dowager Xiang's hand, and said: "Mother, I am thinking about more than just Shen Kuo..."
"When I heard what Song Yongchen said about Shen Kuo, I thought of my mother-in-law and the queen..."
Zhao Xu reached out and grabbed the hands of the Empress Dowager with one hand and the Empress Dowager with the other, and said: "In these days, I have personally seen my mother-in-law and queen mother, bless and support my son, and work hard for the country and the country..."
"I'm really worried about the health of my mother-in-law and my mother-in-law..."
The two palaces were immediately delighted.
Especially the Empress Dowager. She held Zhao Xu's hand tightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Mother!"
"It's enough to say that you are an official!"
Queen Mother Xiang also followed suit: "The Queen Mother is not working hard either... The Queen Mother is not working hard either..."
Tell her that Brother Liu's words of concern are enough.
"Mother, Queen, please listen to me..." Zhao Xu said, looking at the two palaces.
The two palaces then looked at him quietly.
"The mother-in-law and the queen mother should know that the imperial physician Qian Yi currently comes to the palace every five days to diagnose the child's pulse, record the pulse and heartbeat, and inquire about diet, right?"
Both palaces nodded.
"I think this method of Doctor Qian's is very good..." Zhao Xu said: "It's a bit like Bian Que's method of treating pre-existing diseases..."
"So, I thought, Mingtai Hospital will select an imperial doctor, who will come to the palace every five days to consult the mother-in-law and the queen mother, record the pulse and heartbeat, and check the eating and sleeping conditions..."
"In this way, the disease can be nipped in the bud, and the mother-in-law and queen mother can live a long and happy life!"
"Perhaps, I can give you a prince or a princess in the future!"
After hearing this, both palaces were immediately moved.
"Good boy!" The Queen Mother hugged Zhao Xu.
Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help but stroke Zhao Xu's head: "My son is so benevolent and filial!"
However, this is not Zhao Xu's purpose.
Zhao Xu was in the arms of the Empress Dowager and said: "Mother, Empress, I still want to popularize this method..."
"First of all, push it away from the clan leader Qi Zhi..."
"Mrs. Han Yue (the biological mother of the Empress Dowager), Mrs. Qin Lu (biological mother of the Empress Dowager), the two imperial uncles, Da Zongzheng, etc. should have priority in enjoying this generous treatment!"
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang were extremely satisfied and said one after another: "Just follow the official one!"
The Imperial Physician Bureau of the Song Dynasty maintained so many imperial doctors just to show the emperor's grace.
This suggestion from the official family (sixth brother) is to further deepen the emperor's favor and is also a good way to treat Qi Zaizhi, the outsider of the clan, favorably.
that is……
If this happens, will there not be enough imperial doctors?
When the two palaces thought of this, they knew what to do!
Expand the recruitment of imperial doctors!
This is a small matter, a matter of will.
Anyway, the Song Dynasty already had enough redundant officials, so it didn't care about raising a few more tricks officials.
The two palaces then issued an edict to the Imperial Medical Bureau, in the name of Zhao Xu, ordering the Imperial Medical Bureau to select members to visit the two concubines, the two princes and the governor of the capital every five days for consultation at the elder's house in Beijing, and record the pulse and blood pressure. Heartbeat, breathing, diet, sleep status and archived.
By the way, Shen Kuo's name was also added to it.
At the same time, he ordered Qian Yi to serve the emperor with merit and move to an official position, and he was allowed to borrow Fei.
He also ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to open nine new examinations this year to recruit people from the square. Those who had already studied under the Imperial Medical Bureau were sent to various departments to treat illnesses for soldiers and officials.
The number of students above the imperial edict has been increased from 20 to 50, the number of middle-level students has been increased from 30 to 90, and the number of lower-level students has been increased from 50 to 150. Their salaries and benefits remain the same.
Note: In the Imperial Medical Bureau of the Northern Song Dynasty, there were students from nine subjects, divided into upper, middle and lower grades, all of whom were called studying doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
It should be similar to the current graduate students, who are doctors who passed the exam and were admitted to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
After these people studied in the Imperial Medical Bureau and were promoted to upper-class students, they were sent to various places to treat soldiers and officials.
After going through this process, you will become an official imperial physician.
PS: People with excellent medical skills and reputation are not subject to this restriction.
Note 2: Square people: Those who are high-class imperial medical doctors who return to Beijing after being released and participate in three examinations in the Ministry of Rites and pass the examination are called square people. Square people are qualified to serve as officials of the Imperial Medical Bureau. .
Therefore, the Imperial Medical Bureau of the Northern Song Dynasty was both a royal medical institution and a royal medical school.
Note 3: Northern Song Dynasty imperial doctors, astronomical officials, musicians and other miscellaneous people were basically collectively referred to as magic officers.
Before Huizong, the 19th rank below the imperial envoys of the Eastern Class, that is, the Imperial Medical Officers, were designated as Mokan transfer officers.
According to the prohibition law, unless there is a special decree from the emperor, the magician officer can only be promoted to the imperial medical officer, and can no longer be promoted.
Throughout the Northern Song Dynasty, the total number of magicians who could obtain the emperor's special orders probably did not exceed ten fingers.
(End of chapter)
