Electricity originally belonged to the second industrial revolution in history, which brought mankind into the electrical age until the mid-19th century.
Relatively speaking, what was triggered by the first industrial revolution was actually a mechanical revolution. Ancient people could still understand this.
However, when it comes to electricity, lightning existed in ancient times.
Therefore, it would be much more difficult for Zhang Mingwei to activate the electricity technology tree during the Ming Dynasty than steam technology.
At this time, when he heard Emperor Chongzhen's question, he gave a wry smile and said: "Your Majesty, it is not difficult to make electricity, but it will require more manpower. For now, the most I can do is squeeze out time for everyone. Demonstrate an experiment about electricity. However, in terms of specific knowledge, we still have to wait for the newcomers to grow up!"
Zhang Mingwei is the Duke of Xingguo, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, the dean of the Capital Academy of the Ming Dynasty, the leader of various laboratories, the lecturer of the Financial Department, etc. He is busy all day long, and he is too busy with everything. He can only order something and then let people do it.
The matter of steam power, because many things are actually a matter of a layer of window paper. If he pierces the window paper, someone will do it. For example, Song Yingxing actually knows a lot. As long as Zhang Mingwei gives a little guidance, Song Yingxing can do it.
However, even Song Yingxing was blind when it came to electricity. Although Zhang Mingwei really wanted to engage in power technology, the foundation was really poor.
Likewise, it took Zhang Mingwei a little more than a year to give exams to the students studying at the Ming Dynasty Capital Academy. Those who pass the assessment will first promote some people to work as assistants in the laboratory, which are actually interns, and they will learn through hands-on experience.
There are also some people who will become teachers in the academy to teach more students.
As for himself, and even several of his direct disciples, there was not much time to teach basic courses.
Fortunately, two bureaucracies, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Department of Finance, have been established. Those who master new learning can obtain the qualifications to become officials without passing the imperial examination. Although he is a technical officer, he is still an official, which has attracted many scholars from relatively poor families to embark on this path.
Of course, this is also a cheap solution. In the future, it will still need to be formalized and there will be things like scientific examinations.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen heard Zhang Mingwei's words, but he was not too disappointed. He immediately said with great interest: "Okay, when will this experiment about electricity start? I also promised several noble concubines to watch it." For sure.”
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei thought for a moment and said: "Then tomorrow! But here in the palace, Princess Kunxing can come over to demonstrate. She has been following me and learned a lot. She just demonstrated, but there is no questionable!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he was not disappointed. He immediately smiled and nodded and said: "It seems that I really had the foresight to arrange Ainao to be with you. You can see the benefits!"
Zu Dashou on the side was dumbfounded. Princess Kunxing was with Duke Xingguo? What's going on?
While he was thinking about it, Zhang Mingwei finally finished dealing with Emperor Chongzhen, and turned to look at Xiazu Dashou, who was much older than expected.
So, he greeted Zu Dashou and said: "You are in Cao's camp and your heart is in the Han Dynasty. You have sent several messages, which are very useful. And this time, you also dealt a heavy blow to Jianlu's helpers and further weakened Jianlu's power." The strength and contribution are not small!”
Hearing Duke Xingguo's praise, Zu Dashou immediately humbled himself.
Zhang Mingwei didn't want to be polite to him anymore, so he said to him: "Regarding the situation in Liaodong, I will send a military captain there tomorrow. You can go back and sort it out today, and then talk about it in detail. As for the Jianlu side of Liaodong, we know the situation well." It’s still too little!”
Because of the current strategy, although it is difficult for Jianlu to obtain information within the pass, it also makes it difficult for the pass to obtain information from Liaodong. This time, Zu Dashou escaped and even lost his source of information in Liaodong.
Therefore, Zhang Mingwei's idea was to immediately understand the situation in Liaodong and see if any targeted measures could be taken to further weaken Jianlu.
In his plan, although for now, he believed that Ming Dynasty was stronger than Jianlu, he never thought about going into a head-on confrontation with Jianlu, because there was no way he could do it!
The longer time passes, the stronger Ming Dynasty will become, and the gap in strength between Ming Dynasty and Jianlu will further widen. By then, a lot of people will be saved from dying.
Emperor Chongzhen would naturally not disagree with Zhang Mingwei's arrangement.
So, the matter was settled.
……………………
Just before the yamen were dismissed, an imperial edict was spread to various yamen. Early the next morning, there was going to be a big meeting.
In other words, the court meeting was held in Huangji Hall, and basically all officials in the capital were required to attend.
This decree surprised many people, wondering what happened?
They speculated that it might be a good news on the grassland. The emperor was happy and wanted to hold this great court to discuss merit and rewards!
The next day, they discovered that their guess was indeed correct. Emperor Chongzhen officially announced the great victory on the grassland at the beginning and issued a decree to reward him.
Although Zu Dashou had already received the news from the emperor yesterday, he was still very excited when the title was officially sealed.
At the same time, he kept staring at Duke Xingguo, wondering what the thing that Duke Xingguo was going to demonstrate was?
When the rewards for the great victory on the grassland were over, just when the civil and military officials thought that the great court meeting was about to end, they heard Emperor Chongzhen saying to them: "There is another very important thing today. Sir, I want to demonstrate a test of electricity. Come on. Come, gentlemen, come and take a look with me!"
Upon hearing this, everyone became curious and turned their attention to Duke Xingguo.
They all understood that Duke Xingguo's experiment was to be demonstrated in the court meeting. It was definitely a very important experiment.
However, many people were also a little worried. Just like before, Duke Xingguo boiled the water in the kettle and pulled out the steam train. If Duke Xingguo just demonstrated something like boiling water, they might not understand anything. If the emperor gets interested and asks by name what he has gained, he will be in big trouble!
When they were thinking this, Zhang Mingwei ignored them and asked Liu Jin to bring the things into the palace and place them in front of the emperor.
The officials behind the station couldn't see it, but the cabinet and the Supervisor of Ceremonies could see it clearly.
They saw that the things Xingguo Gong displayed were very strange. Many of them recognized individual things, such as copper wires, iron bars, magnets, etc. But why did these things look so weird? What is the purpose of combining them like this? What's the use?
Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the royal table, was also very curious. He didn't understand. Could such a thing be used to create electricity? Like lightning in the sky?
Zhang Mingwei did it himself. After setting it up, he smiled at Emperor Chongzhen and said, "Your Majesty, should I start now?"
"Sir, hurry up and start, I can't wait any longer!" Emperor Chongzhen urged with a smile upon hearing this.
So, Zhang Mingwei picked up an object and gestured, saying to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, this is an iron rod wrapped with copper wire. It is not magnetic and cannot attract iron, right?"
"Of course!" Emperor Chongzhen replied without hesitation upon hearing this. But after he finished speaking, he thought for a moment, stood up again, walked towards Zhang Mingwei and said, "How about I take a look first?"
Zhang Mingwei was playing with it by himself, and no one thought about whether this thing was dangerous. Therefore, I just watched the interaction between Emperor Chongzhen and Duke Xingguo with curiosity. People standing in the back row stretched their necks to watch.
"Your Majesty, please!" Zhang Mingwei saw this and responded with a smile.
By the time he finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen had already walked to him, took the iron rod wrapped with copper wire in his hand, looked at it carefully, found that there was nothing special, and then walked to the table where the objects were placed. , came to a pile of small iron pieces, tried to get closer, and found no magnetism!
So, he smiled and said: "It is indeed not magnetic and cannot attract iron."
When he said this, he picked up a magnet and touched the pile of small iron pieces. Suddenly, they were all attracted to the magnet. This proved that the pile of small iron pieces were indeed iron sheets and could be attracted by magnets.
So, the things were returned to Zhang Mingwei, and the small iron piece was put back into place with Wang Chengen's help.
Zu Dashou looked at this scene a little dumbfounded. One is the powerful Duke Xingguo, the other is the current emperor, and the other is the eunuch who is also known as the internal minister. Are the three of them doing this demonstration?
If someone had told him this scene before, he would never have believed it. After all, the emperor must be dignified, and the Xingguo Gong and the eunuchs in charge of the ceremony must also be dignified, right? You actually did it yourself?
However, others did not have such thoughts, because unknowingly, they had already become accustomed to it. They knew that their emperor had long been led astray by Duke Xingguo.
At this time, they were just staring at Duke Xing Guo without blinking. The experiment was placed so solemnly in the Huangji Palace during a court meeting. This experiment is absolutely extraordinary and must be carefully observed.
Zhang Mingwei first glanced at Emperor Chongzhen, then glanced at the civil and military officials of Huangji Hall, and then said with a smile: "Now, I will make this non-magnetic iron rod magnetic and able to attract iron."
After finishing speaking, he nodded to his assistant Liu Jin and motioned for him to take action.
So, Liu Jin immediately went over, walked to a strange object, held a handle and shook it.
The people in the hall saw the wheel between the two large magnets and began to rotate.
Then they all stared at Zhang Mingwei, but saw no change.
At this moment, Zhang Mingwei was seen holding the iron rod wrapped around the coil and reaching towards the pile of small iron pieces.
