Accuracy determines so many things.
Now, Zheng Kui, the "Printing Press Project Huangming University Research Group" mold firing team, is also facing this problem.
Some of the young master craftsmen know how to burn kilns very well - although they are burning green bricks, Zheng Kui knows many tricks about making fire. There are people who are very knowledgeable about casting, but the guns they used to cast were relatively crude guns.
Only now did they realize that despite having the drawings, it was still not easy.
Shen Zhongming explained to them personally.
"Knowing that these movable type molds have been around for hundreds of years, why are there still more volumes printed with engravings?"
Zheng Kui and others naturally shook their heads in confusion.
"The main reason is that it is extremely difficult to make each character model the same size." Shen Zhongming also brought a few models, "Look, these character models are thinner than your little finger, but you can't tell that they are different in width or height when held together. But when you get on the board frame, you will find that some can be stuck in the slots, while others are loose, and the height is not exactly the same. Therefore, it is necessary to use soft grease to flatten and stabilize it."
Shen Zhongming showed it to them and asked them to compare it directly with each other. They found that there were still slight differences.
"Furthermore, these character models are all engraved in reverse Chinese characters, so it is difficult to find the characters. Although there are radicals now and there is an additional way to find characters, it is still difficult to find." Shen Zhongming explained, "These character models are all four It is common for a square-shaped book to have a character placed upside down during plate making. Therefore, engraving is still the main method for printing books among the people."
Zheng Kui seemed to understand, but listened to the dean solemnly say: "If the printing machine can be trial-produced, if you want to make it easy to use for engraving in the future, the type molds that your majesty said are also extremely important. You must not accept this responsibility because of it." I thought it didn’t matter, there is a lot of knowledge here!”
Now Zheng Kui understood. He thought the dean was just here to cheer up their fringe group.
In the imperial city, the inner court and the Ministry of Industry already had workshops, and they could go there to do experiments.
However, Shen Zhongming quickly gave them clearer and more specific requirements for the new character model: the top and bottom of the character model must have positive inscriptions in Yin and reverse inscriptions in Yang respectively.
The inscriptions are written on the side to make it easier for others to find and recognize the words in the future. On the positive side, there is also a small triangle missing in one place, so that you can confirm whether the writing is in the right direction when you put it into the slot on the board.
As for the size of the fonts when they are cast, it depends on them.
How precise the mold should be, and how to mix the ingredients during casting so that they will not shrink to different sizes after cooling, all of this needs to be tried little by little.
Or after the casting is completed, there can be a method of fine polishing - it should be simple, after all, there are a lot of fonts, and polishing them one by one will cause problems.
After receiving the task, the group had a big headache.
"...Making projectiles is much simpler than this. It's like embroidering on iron."
"If you want to be so precise, you can only use the lost wax method." The young master of casting asked Zheng Kui, "Can you do it?"
"...How can a black kiln factory use the lost wax method?" Zheng Kui was helpless. He was just a green brick maker. "I understand what you are saying. Whether it is a clay model or an iron model, I am still a little unsure. Burnt out.”
To make such fine calligraphy molds, it is natural to make molds for the character molds first.
"Then let's discuss how to make this character model. I think that since printers have so much trouble making plates, it's better to think about the character model and the board they use to place the character model together, and then make a set of things. .”
"Exactly! If we only make lettering, I'm afraid we won't be able to make it the same size and height as the dean said, and it will be smooth and stable after being placed!"
Zhu Houcong pays attention to this matter, mainly because of its driving role in machine production, precision manufacturing, process technology, etc.
Now the emperor attaches great importance to it, and many people below him have taken action to try to improve the details.
Zhu Houcong, who had experienced some things, naturally never forgot that there was another simple way: carving a wax paper seal.
But in essence, wax paper still requires a lot of manual work, which is tiring and error-prone. The so-called wax paper that existed at this time was not a specialized engraving wax paper, and even if we did not consider the development of new inks suitable for this kind of engraving wax paper, in Zhu Houcong's impression, a piece of engraving wax paper could only print a small number of copies. to reimburse.
This will cause great consumption of wax, and the problem is: wax found a way to extract white wax from the secretions of white wax insects in the Song Dynasty. Although the cost has been reduced a lot, at this time candles are still "tribute" level, and one candle The price is as high as more than a hundred dollars.
At present, the producers of this white wax are all in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the method used is to cultivate white wax insects. Perhaps the surge in demand will reduce the cost of wax, but the subsequent impact is that the income of white waxworm farming in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is similar to that of silkworm farming, and it will definitely increase significantly.
It is a small matter to change rice into wax, and it is also a small matter to gain another economic dividend in Jiangnan, but how significant is the promotion of this method to the promotion of the entire technology?
On the contrary, screws, studs and nuts appeared in Ming Dynasty, and their significance is too great.
Things had been arranged, and the emperor finally turned his attention to the national policy meeting.
On November 15th, we hope that the Japanese-North Korea meeting will remain the same, and those who have known in advance that the second issue of "Ming Pao" will be published on this day have naturally been waiting for this issue of the newspaper for a long time.
It is self-evident that the imperial court launched this newspaper at this time, which was to comply with the new law and publicize government decrees in the name of the imperial court.
There must be some important news in this issue!
When this issue of the newspaper got into the hands of many people, many people frowned in unison.
How come it’s only been fifteen days and this issue of the newspaper has been released like this?
…
The emperor did not pursue printing quality, and the Ming Pao Press worked frantically with limited manpower. The second issue of Ming Pao was far less beautiful than the well-prepared first issue.
Fortunately, although the handwriting was ghosted, blurred, and even slightly dragged out, every word on it was correct.
The focus is mainly on the content.
Many people still don't fully understand all the simplified characters, and the new style also requires getting used to. However, there are not many copies of the newspaper. Most of the people read it together, discussing and guessing among themselves. They can barely read it from the context.
In the Imperial College, Tang Shunzhi naturally asked for help from the dian book immediately and looked at it with his classmates.
He had a handwritten "Jiajing Dictionary" "privately kept" for a long time, and he basically knew all the abbreviated characters.
At this moment, he read softly: "A letter from His Majesty the Emperor to the people of the world."
Pointing to the many empty columns on the left side of the front page of this issue of "Ming Pao" based on the existing top grid format and the new format from left to right and top to bottom, Tang Shunzhi said: "Your Majesty has written for you."
The supervisors all pursed their lips and said sternly: Isn't this just like an imperial edict?
How exquisite is the imperial edict? How solemn was the announcement?
Before listening to the holy edict, do you need to bow down first?
But there was no official announcement, only a newspaper that seemed a bit rough...
Tang Shunzhi read this letter, as if he was reading out an imperial edict. The atmosphere in the room seemed a bit strange for a moment.
At this moment, someone really found out that this was the emperor's writing, and first put the rough-printed newspaper respectfully, and then made a big salute - most of them did this because they were in public places. Or the middle and low-level officials in various yamen.
Then, they stood up on their own and read the letter carefully.
[All the subjects of the world, read the newspaper as if you were in front of me. 】
Isn’t it because of this sentence?
But everything needs to have a head to show solemnity.
After all, Zhu Houcong couldn't speak in clearer words for this newspaper all of a sudden - printing was already so difficult, and purely oral language was not formal enough and had too many words.
[It has been five years since I ascended the throne, and I have already raised two princes. There is a proverb that goes, start a family and build a career. My career is the well-being of the people of Ming Dynasty. Every family is better off than before, and the country of Ming Dynasty is richer and stronger than before. 】
[To this end, many things have happened in the past five years. 】
[In the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, Westerners invaded, and Master Wang won. During the typhoon in the first year of Jiajing and the drought last year, all provinces were able to provide relief. In the fourth year of Jiajing period, Huguang rebelled and was put down. 】
[My vassal King Jitong wants to use the new law to enrich the country. I know it will be difficult. 】
[Fortunately, the king and his ministers at the center of the imperial court are united, and now the country is stable. The new law has been tried out in Guangdong and Shandong, and has been quite effective. 】
[On the occasion of the National Policy Conference, I would like to use Mingbao to speak to the people of the world. 】
[What the Jiajing New Law seeks is that enriching the country and enriching the people are not inconsistent with each other. Scholars, farmers, industrialists and merchants are all my subjects. I keep them in my heart and hope that everyone can live a good life. Only then can we be called the wealth of the country. 】
[The new law has been tried and effective, and will be gradually implemented in all provinces of the Ming Dynasty starting from the fifth year of Jiajing. At the national policy meeting, the monarch and his ministers will also discuss priorities in detail. 】
[In order to implement the new law well, I have decided to establish a Prime Minister and Minister of State to take charge of many civil affairs of the Ming Dynasty. 】
Seeing this, everyone opened their mouths.
This thing that only a few people know about is finally announced to the world here.
A prime minister reappeared in the Ming Dynasty, and he was still a prime minister with real power, not a title.
The meaning revealed from it is really too great.
The old Zhu family has a much stronger grip on power than the old Zhao family, but now they are actually taking concrete steps to release some power.
[The Heavenly Family inherits the respect of the subjects of the world, and I also respect the hard work of the people of the world, and the loyalty of the officials and gentry of the world. The purpose of determining the titles, honors, merits, and titles is to tell the people of the world: Under my rule, everyone can think about the future. As long as you have made meritorious service to the country, no matter how big or small, I can use these four titles to make a mark here. 】
[I, the descendants of the Yan and Huang Dynasties, have been passed down for thousands of years, and dynasties in the world have changed. I do not deny that the world is not exclusive to the emperor and his family. If I cannot allow the people of the Ming Dynasty to live and work in peace and contentment, the Ming Dynasty will eventually come to an end. 】
[Today, I have appointed the Prime Minister and the Minister of State to make a covenant with the officials and gentry of the world: I have the ambition to rule the world with those who are equipped with talents and virtues. 】
[Now I will implement the new law to all provinces and make a covenant with the people of the world: I have the ambition to make your livelihood prosperous for the people who abide by the new law. 】
[Now a new learning has been introduced to the world for the first time, and I have made a covenant with the people of the world: People who are literate and sensible, I hope that you can learn and use it. 】
[I established the Imperial College of the Ming Dynasty to breed fine seeds to feed my subjects, improve military weapons to defend our Ming Dynasty, and study all kinds of methods to promote the prosperity of all industries, in order to protect the country and enrich the people. 】
[I have established a public security department, a nursing home, a medical home, etc. to clean up water conservancy and control floods, and will continue to protect the environment and the people. 】
[All the expenses in my palace are purchased, and the waste from various places is presented as tribute. This is to set an example for the world. Although my family is big, we must live a careful life like thousands of families in the world. 】
[After the establishment of the Prime Minister and the Minister of State, I have more time to understand the public sentiment. I can speak to you in this Mingbao and in the letters of the wise people. 】
[I talk to businessmen, listen to how they make money, and warn them about the taxes they should pay. 】
[I talked to the craftsmen, listened to how they made ingenious things, and studied the principles with them. 】
[I talked to the old farmers, listened to their farming tips, and asked them to impart their experience. 】
[In the future, I can also talk to you, listen to your wishes, and listen to your difficulties. 】
[Under the new law, what I can give to the people of the world are many opportunities to make achievements and leave a name in history. 】
[I am only twenty years old, and my ambition to recreate the Ming Dynasty is unwavering. Whether it is against the current or with the trend, all the people in the world can think carefully. 】
[The upper and lower parts of the Ming Dynasty are all integrated into one body, and this body forms the country. 】
[A rich and powerful country is for the prosperity and security of its people. 】
[I hope that in the Ming Dynasty, everyone in the mountains and rivers of China can have enough to eat and live a better life. 】
[I will spend my whole life doing this. 】
Without "I admire this", the letter ends here.
The letter is actually not long, just a few hundred words.
Some people were thinking after reading and listening, and some people saw the following "His Majesty the Emperor Answers Ten Questions to the Editor-in-Chief of Ming Pao".
If I talk about feelings, it really feels like I am listening to the emperor say something in person, nothing grand or formal.
The biggest difference is that the emperor does not seem to intend to maintain the mystery between the emperor and the Tian family.
Everyone knows that mystery itself can promote coercion.
What the emperor wants to convey seems to be a very friendly image - after so many major treason cases last year.
But that sentence about going against the current or following the trend also makes people really think about it: only on the implementation of the new law, he is resolute and cannot disobey it.
Scholars have learned a little more from it.
Those who can read this newspaper now are naturally scholars. But what the emperor talked about more was the real people of the Ming Dynasty besides the farmers, craftsmen, and businessmen, including the royal family members, relatives, dignitaries, and officials.
People don’t know how to read newspapers!
Tang Shunzhi looked at the "Answers to Ten Questions" at the end, which included specific questions such as how ordinary people should be awarded rural sages, what would be done by medical hospitals and the existing Huimin Pharmacy, and the purpose of establishing Huangming Primary Schools in various places.
The emperor cares about people's livelihood, so readers who read newspapers and current and future officials must also consider: if they follow the trend, their opportunities will naturally lie in how to do these things well. Titles and titles are relevant to them.
At this moment, the court meeting that had been renamed the National Assembly Hall was just coming to an end.
The court counselors listened to the imperial edict in person and knew that there would be a prime minister and minister of state.
"In the future, during the Zhengdan Palace Meeting, the Prime Minister and the Minister of State will, in the name of the State Council, inform all officials of the results of last year's administration, the handling of many important matters, the problems that have arisen, and the plans for the coming year's administration."
Zhu Houcong sat there and spoke, and his voice was spread outside the hall.
"The first Prime Minister, Minister of State and other new important officials will be recommended by the ministers at the national policy meeting and appointed by me. After being selected, I will set up a minister of worship at the National Assembly Hall in the twelfth lunar month. "
Fei Hong couldn't help but his heart skipped a beat.
Is there any ceremony?
The list of words has been knocked down, and Zhu Houcong summoned him to the Yangxin Hall for a heart-to-heart talk yesterday.
Zhu Houcong gave him some basic information on some specific "guarantee" issues.
The rest are all false. Zhu Houcong said only one sentence: Unless his prime minister is really crazy and rebels, he will be guaranteed to enjoy the imperial temple.
This treatment will be officially announced.
He, Zhu Houcong, would first set the rules, then kill the prime minister he ordered first, and then invite him to the Ancestral Temple to accompany him as a worshiper. Will the two of them have sex in the underworld in the future?
It's strange that people nowadays believe this.
And Zhu Houcong told Fei Hong another point: If he makes a bad start, is it possible that the purpose of establishing the prime minister is to make subsequent people afraid of this and that and not dare to do anything?
This is a kind of "hidden rule".
Now, Fei Hong felt relieved and looked forward to the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The emperor pays homage to the prime minister.
Old Man Fei originally wrote a script, but he never thought that such a day would come to pass.
Let’s not talk about other things. Among the important ministers who followed the emperor, there are indeed more and more things that they didn’t dare to think about before.
"Disband the dynasty and start holding national policy meetings."
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"
(End of chapter)
