"Your Majesty, I read a Western arithmetic book two years ago called "The Astrolabe". It mentioned a symbol to represent the decimals (decimals) in our counting.
I thought that since Arabic numerals were to be popularized, it would be better to take the opportunity to popularize simple differential expression methods. "
As Sun Yuanhua spoke, he picked up a pen and clicked a dot on the paper: "This dot is used in the book to separate the integer from the following decimal, and the latter represents the decimal.
The width of the paperweight just mentioned is 5.5 centimeters using this method of expression. "
“Good method, easy to understand, easy to write, and matches the Arabic numerals very well, that’s it!”
Before the officials could react, Chongzhen fixed the decimal point representation method with lightning speed.
It was like they had a clear understanding. He was still thinking about how to explain it, but Sun Yuanhua solved the problem.
Okay, here comes a new expression method!
Except for Xu Guangqi and Bi Maokang, all the other ministers frowned.
There is really too much new content appearing today, which impacts what they have learned for decades.
Sun Yuanhua then cited several cases and explained the use of the decimal point. Although everyone was exposed to it for the first time, the people standing here were all extremely smart people and they could all understand it independently.
Originally, Chongzhen wanted to unify symbols such as percentages, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but he gave up after looking at everyone's expressions.
Doing too much at once will be unacceptable and not conducive to promotion.
"Okay, let's end the matters of units and symbols here first. Let Xu Aiqing take the lead in this matter, first compile the standardization of Arabic numeral writing and occasions,
It should be easy to use while retaining the characteristics of Chinese characters. Once completed, it should be submitted to Dong Nuan Pavilion immediately. "
At this point, he looked at Yuan Keli: "Yuan Aiqing, you will be responsible for the ruler. You will coordinate the Ministry of Works, Baoyuan Bureau, and Banking Bureau to make new rulers according to the new style immediately.
The ruler does not have to be thirty-three centimeters long, it can also be made fifty centimeters or one meter long. Don't fix it too rigidly.
The wood used to make the ruler should be selected that is not easy to expand and shrink, so as to ensure the accuracy of the scale.
The Baoyuan Bureau first made a hundred copper rulers and sent them to the chief secretaries of the two capitals and thirteen provinces, asking them to promote them immediately. This matter was included in their performance evaluation.
I hope that one year from now, Ming Dynasty will only have this kind of ruler! "
"I obey the order!"
Xu Guangqi and Yuan Keli both bowed and responded at the same time, and then Yuan Keli said: "Your Majesty, the new ruler laid the foundation of our Ming Dynasty industry and unified weights and measures. This is the contribution of China.
Please give your majesty a name for the new ruler to distinguish the old ruler from the new ruler and to facilitate historians' records. "
"Give me a name?"
Chongzhen raised his eyebrows slightly, he was just a bad name, it was really difficult for him.
But he still responded: "The ruler was invented by Lu Ban. Its technology is so ingenious that it is called Tiangong Ruler. Or it is called Ming Ruler after the Ming Dynasty.
Later, with the caravans, the Ming Ruler spread to all over the world, and it can also promote the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty. "
"Good, what a clear ruler, simple and easy to remember!"
"Promote the prestige of our country, and let the whole world use our Ming Dynasty standards. Thinking about it makes me excited."
"Of these two names, I guess the common people prefer to call it Tiangong Ruler. If this is the case, then in writing it is called Ming Ruler, and in ordinary times it is called Tiangong Ruler!"
"This is a very good move!"
…
After some discussion and flattery, the name of the new ruler was decided.
"Xu Aiqing, after you have Tiangong Ruler, assembly lines and standardization will not be a problem for you. When you go back, you will immediately explore the assembly lines and standardization of firecrackers and artillery.
Once everything is accurate and in place, we will rectify the manufacturing responsibilities of Jiubian and local governments.
But if the granular gunpowder cannot be dropped, I will still be of great use! "
Having said this, Chongzhen looked at Yuan Keli again: "Yuan Aiqing, immediately issue a transfer order to the firearms manufacturing factories in Xuanfu, Datong, Jizhen, Shanhaiguan and other border towns.
Transfer all skilled craftsmen back to the Firearms Research Institute to make all-out efforts to manufacture French cannons and general cannons! "
"I obey the order!"
Xu Guangqi and Yuan Keli responded immediately, and the rest of the people showed excitement on their faces.
The emperor's approach, combined with the arrangements for You Shiwei, indicate that the emperor may lead a large army to conquer Chahar in person later this year.
“Let’s stop here for this review, everyone, please leave!”
"Your Majesty, please leave!"
Everyone bowed and saluted Chongzhen, but there was one exception, and that was Bi Maokang, who fell into a sluggish state.
Chongzhen found out, and everyone also found out. Xu Guangqi was stunned and whispered: "Menghou, why are you so stunned? Your Majesty..."
"Shh!"
Chongzhen hissed: "I guess Bi Aiqing has thought of some good idea. Don't disturb him. Let's go to the side hall to drink tea and talk about some of the ideas we just had while waiting for him."
In the side hall, Chongzhen was drinking tea and eating snacks, while the others were discussing the Tiangong Ruler, and from time to time asked Xu Guangqi and Sun Yuanhua for advice on Arabic numerals.
In the Wuying Hall, Bi Maokang stood blankly, frowning, sometimes suddenly enlightened, sometimes thoughtful, and his fingers were beating lightly.
This state lasted for more than a quarter of an hour before Bi Maokang woke up. Looking at the empty Wuying Hall, his expression suddenly changed.
When he was about to go out, the little eunuch at the door whispered something, stopping him in his tracks.
"Your Majesty, Lord Bi Maokangbi is awake!"
"woke up?"
Chongzhen drank the cup of tea in one gulp and his spirits were shaken: "I always have a hunch that Bi Aiqing might surprise me!"
After the greeting, Bi Maokang immediately said: "Your Majesty, if the assembly line and standardization can completely control the quality of gunpowder, I suddenly have an idea, maybe it can change the shortcomings of slow gunpowder loading, explosive chamber, and misfire."
"What?"
"Is this true?"
"Marquis Meng, tell me quickly!"
Yuan Keli, Sun Chengzong, and Xu Guangqi stood up immediately after hearing this.
Although firearms are powerful, they have several major shortcomings, such as being easy to explode.
Fireguns are better. If the gun explodes, it means there is something wrong with the firegun operator, and the probability of death is low.
But the explosion of the artillery type means that the sergeants around the entire artillery can probably be killed.
Secondly, it fires slowly, mainly because the gunpowder is loaded slowly, and it needs to be pressed after loading. If it is loose, it will not shoot far, and if it is too tight, it will easily explode.
This aspect can only rely on experience and feel. It is very difficult to cultivate an experienced fire gun player.
In response to the problem of slow firing, some military generals have long proposed a three-line strategy, which is to divide the gunmen into three rows. After the first row has fired, they go to the back to reload, and the second row fires again, and they rotate in turn.
But even so, the cavalry charge was only a few breaths away from a distance of tens of feet.
According to this time, even a three-line strategy can only fire two rounds.
If this disadvantage can be changed, even if the speed is only increased once, the impact will be huge.
"Your Majesty, we need to test whether it works or not!"
"It doesn't matter, as long as you have an idea!"
Chongzhen waved his hand: "Whatever tools are needed, I will have someone prepare them!"
