At this time, upon hearing Emperor Chongzhen's words, Prince Zhu Cixiang lowered his head and did not dare to answer.
Not to mention that the son is naturally afraid of his father, and not to mention that his father is a nine-five-year-old man, just Emperor Chongzhen's current wiseness and martial prowess is enough to make him feel guilty.
Seeing him like this, Emperor Chongzhen did not get angry, but said calmly: "I will teach you a lesson today, what is the small way and what is the great way? Listen carefully!"
Hearing that there was no severe rebuke, Zhu Cixi felt relieved and quickly responded respectfully: "My son, I will obey your orders!"
Emperor Chongzhen turned around and looked around. Seeing that everyone else was very curious, he stood up, walked into the courtyard, and came to the edge of the general's cannon. After standing still, he turned around and looked at Zhu Cihong who was following behind him. Said: "Tell me, why is this artillery so powerful?"
"Back to my father, it was caused by burning gunpowder!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Cixiang found that the question was not difficult and he immediately answered.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately asked: "Why?"
Zhu Cixiang remained unhurried, but instead straightened his chest a little more. He looked at Emperor Chongzhen and said: "Gunpowder is mainly saltpeter and sulfur, supplemented by plant ash. Nitrate is extremely yin in nature, and sulfur is extremely yang in nature. Yin and yang are two divine things. We meet in a space where there is no space to accommodate. When it comes out, the characters will be stunned, their souls will be scattered, and their soul will be shattered."
Beside him, Song Yingxing couldn't help but nodded slightly after hearing this. The prince's reply was what he taught and is recorded in "Tiangong Kaiwu".
Others couldn't help but glance at Song Yingxing. Could it be that the emperor's teaching this time was actually to support the two of them? Just to examine the content of their teachings? If this is really the case, why does the emperor say that there is a distinction between a minor path and a major path?
Only Zheng Zhilong felt that this was probably just an introduction. With the emperor's unconstrained thoughts, it was definitely more than that.
Sure enough, Emperor Chongzhen continued to ask the prince: "Why does the mixture of sulfur, saltpeter and plant ash have such an effect, but sulfur, soil and bricks do not have such power?"
"..." When Zhu Cihong heard this, he was immediately dumbfounded. It seemed that he had never been taught this question before! Subconsciously, he turned to look at Song Yingxing.
"Huh?" When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't help snorting and snorted. Zhu Cixiang was so frightened that he quickly turned back, "I ask you something, if you know it, you know it, if you don't know it, you don't know it!"
"My son... I don't know!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Cixiang quickly lowered his head and answered, his voice much softer than before.
After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong thought to himself, Look, here comes a weird idea!
Emperor Chongzhen did not explain, but continued to ask: "Let me ask you again, gunpowder must be burned in a closed space to produce huge power, but it cannot be used in an open place. Why is this?"
"This..." Zhu Cixiang wanted to answer this question, but found that he didn't know what was going on, so he had to change his words and said, "I don't know!"
"Then let me ask you again!" Emperor Chongzhen asked another question, "Is there something similar to gunpowder? After mixing with each other, under certain conditions, the power produced is greater than that of gunpowder. Do you want it to be ten times bigger or a hundred times bigger?”
Zhu Cixiang was stunned when he was asked again. Seeing his father staring at him, he guessed: "My son thought that there should be no such divine object in the world!"
The people listening around were also surprised by Emperor Chongzhen's series of questions. The answer in their minds was basically the same as that of the prince. Even Song Yingxing himself is like this.
In his book "Tiangong Kaiwu", he records the phenomena more than elucidating the reasons.
But at this time, the emperor was giving a lecture to the prince, and the others could only listen in, and no one dared to interrupt. In fact, there was no way to get a word in.
Hearing the prince's answer, Emperor Chongzhen looked disappointed, shook his head and said, "As the ancients said, you know what it is and why it is so. You don't understand why gunpowder is so powerful, so why do you dare to make such a conclusion? Are there no more powerful explosives in the world?"
Seeing Zhu Cixiang lowering his head, Emperor Chongzhen continued to teach him: "Gunpowder has existed for thousands of years, but it has always been the same power. At most, the power is different due to different mixing ratios, but it has never been too different. This is Why? It’s because since ancient times, no one has thought about the problem I mentioned or explored its essence, but only attributed it to yin and yang.”
After listening to the people around, many people couldn't help but start to think deeply about this problem. If we really find out its essence, can we find something more powerful than gunpowder?
After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he saw Zhu Cixiang lowering his head and looking at his feet, silent. He roughly guessed something in his mind, and said to Zhu Cixiang: "You are the prince, so you don't have to explore the essence yourself. However, you will be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the future. How the Ming Dynasty will be in the future depends largely on you. Awareness of all things.”
"If you have an inquiring heart, you will definitely guide your people to explore the unknown; if you just want to live forever, I won't talk about it. There have been examples in previous dynasties." When Emperor Chongzhen said this, he said earnestly, "The emperor likes , will inevitably have a significant impact on Ming Dynasty. Tell me, does this matter have anything to do with you?"
Hearing this, Zhu Cixiang raised his head and looked at Emperor Chongzhen, with a hint of enlightenment in his eyes. He understood why his father wanted to say this to him, and he quickly replied: "My son, I understand!"
Emperor Chongzhen looked at him and said in a firm tone: "I can tell you clearly that what I am talking about must exist. However, it has not been discovered by anyone who is interested. You have to know that if this kind of thing is Countries that are hostile to Ming Dynasty discovered it first and then used it against Ming Dynasty. Do you think Ming Dynasty can resist it? Be prepared for a rainy day. Only by being ahead of the enemy in everything can you be invincible!"
Hearing this, Zhu Cixiang was surprised at first, then nodded, and finally said with a little doubt: "My father is wise and powerful, and he has conquered east and west. Now won't the world be at peace soon?"
Indeed, as far as the people in the capital are concerned, the military disasters they suffered were basically caused by the Mongols and later the Jianlu. Now Emperor Chongzhen has wiped out all the Mongolian tribes near the Ming Dynasty, and has recovered them. Even the fierce Jianlu are just hanging on. For them, the next step is peace in the world.
Therefore, the prince's words resonated with many people in the courtyard! They all felt that the emperor's intention of teaching the prince was good, but it was a bit alarmist.
However, there are also some mature ministers who are thinking that there may be another Jianlu in the future. Although the emperor's words are a bit exaggerated, he still needs to be vigilant.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen curled his lips with a sneer, and suddenly called his name: "Where is Zheng Zhilong?"
"The general is here!" Zheng Zhilong was suddenly called, and was startled. He immediately stood up and echoed with his hands clasped in fists.
Hearing this, other people looked at Zheng Zhilong one after another. They wondered why the emperor named Nanmanzi, who had been dismissed from the post of chief soldier of the Denglai Navy, at this time?
Just listen to Emperor Chongzhen saying to Zheng Zhilong: "I ask you, if the Western Yi possesses the amazingly powerful new gunpowder I say, what will they do?"
Zheng Zhilong definitely knows Xiyi best among the people present.
There were businesses, wars, and alliances.
At this time, after hearing the emperor's question, Zheng Zhilong understood the intention of the emperor's question, and said in a decisive tone: "General, I am sure that whether it is Fo Langji, Hongyi, or Lu The Spaniards in Song Island are all eyeing the Ming Dynasty. In the past, they tried to occupy the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but they were repelled and could not be defeated before they listened to the Ming Dynasty. "
After grasping the emperor's intention to speak for himself, he felt that what he said here was not enough, so he added: "These Western barbarians are all ambitious and want to take advantage of whatever good they see. If nothing else, just Many places in Southeast Asia have actually fallen into their hands, enslaving the local people and using them as cattle and horses!"
Hearing this, most people in the courtyard were shocked. Regarding the understanding of Western Yi, most of them actually only stayed in the impression of Western Yi missionaries. When they heard that Xi Yi was so vicious, their knowledge was refreshed.
At this moment, someone suddenly shouted loudly: "Stop talking nonsense!"
Who is this, so brave, that he dares to scold Zheng Zhilong in front of the emperor? Most people thought this and turned their heads to look over.
At this glance, they suddenly realized that it was Chen Zilong, the Secretary of Agriculture, one of the two most favored officials. After seeing him clearly, it is not surprising.
Chen Zilong was Xu Guangqi's student, so naturally he had the best friendship with Xiyi. It was not surprising that he scolded Zheng Zhilong, a general.
When Zheng Zhilong heard about it and saw that it was him, he gave up at first. He was a lecturer to the prince and a favorite of the emperor, so he was not easy to offend. But when he came back to his senses, he was no longer afraid. You know, this is the emperor's will. Chen Zilong is just a minister, and he can still be greater than the emperor.
So, he glanced at Emperor Chongzhen, and sure enough he saw the emperor encouraging him with his eyes. In this way, he felt relieved, turned to Chen Zilong and said, "I wonder if Yuan Wai Lang has any advice?"
For Chen Zilong, Zheng Zhilong was a military commander and was dismissed from his post, so he didn't have much scruples and yelled at him on impulse. But after finishing the scolding, he came back to his senses when he saw Zheng Zhilong glance at Emperor Chongzhen and then ask him, is the emperor teaching the prince, does he have a place to be arrogant?
Thinking of this, sweat broke out on his back. He was afraid that the emperor would think he was arrogant because of his favor. So he immediately organized his thoughts and his attitude was not so aggressive. He just stared at Zheng Zhilong and said: "As far as I know, , the Western Barbarians are not as vicious as you said. They are all knowledgeable and talented, and many of them have knowledge that I have never seen before in the Ming Dynasty. And they are all polite and polite. Although they look like Western Barbarians, they have ancient Be a gentleman! Don't overgeneralize and make alarmist remarks!"
Hearing that his words were much more polite than before, Zheng Zhilong knew that this was because of the emperor's presence. He felt even calmer in his heart. Thinking back then, he was also among the pirates, and he had experienced a lot of verbal fights and so on. Therefore, he kept calm and asked: "Do you know, Chen Yuanwailang, these people you are talking about, they were originally How was it done in places like Fujian and Guangdong during the Ming Dynasty?"
Chen Zilong was stunned by this question. He really didn't understand this point.
Zheng Zhilong didn't wait for his answer, he raised his voice, straightened his back and continued: "What Yuan Wailang saw is true, but he only became good after being taught a lesson by me, Ming, in Fujian and Guangdong." . This is actually no different from what I said before. The weak ones have been bullied by these Western barbarians. Only those as powerful as my Ming Dynasty will do things according to my Ming Dynasty's rules!"
Chen Zilong frowned and was thinking about how to refute when he suddenly heard Emperor Chongzhen say: "Chen Qing thinks they are knowledgeable and talented, and they have a lot of knowledge that I have never seen before in the Ming Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Chen Zilong suddenly came back to his senses. It seemed that the knowledge of the Western Yi people was not so outstanding when it came to the emperor. At least those books published by the emperor, and some of the revised knowledge, even those Western Yi were very surprised.
When he thought about it, he realized that he had ignored the emperor's point. He couldn't help but became speechless and was speechless.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Emperor Chongzhen was not angry and continued to say to him: "Does Chen Qing think that Xiyi is better at knowing what is happening and why?"
Seeing that the emperor did not dwell on what he had just said, Chen Zilong breathed a sigh of relief. However, at this time, although he was more of a technical official, he was not stupid. He knew that what he said would not please the emperor, so he was a little confused about what he should say or not.
"Answer the truth!" When Emperor Chongzhen saw this, he didn't know what he was worried about, so he said directly, "In learning, one is one, two is two, the prince is listening, don't worry!"
Hearing this, Chen Zilong felt a little more at ease, and immediately bowed and echoed: "Wei Chen thought it was true!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately asked: "What I just said is ten times or a hundred times more powerful than today's gunpowder. With their kind of detection knowledge, if it really exists, is it possible that it will be discovered?" Did they find out first?"
As soon as he finished speaking, combined with what Zheng Zhilong said before, not only Chen Zilong, but also everyone else could not help but be shocked.
Could such a thing really happen?
No matter how good Chen Zilong's personal relationship with Xiyi is, first of all, he is a native of the Ming Dynasty and an official of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, he will sit on the side of the Ming Dynasty after all. After some evaluation in his heart, on such a cold day, then There was a hint of sweat on his forehead. Remembering the emperor's words to tell the truth, he had no choice but to answer truthfully: "I thought it was possible, but it is possible!"
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen ignored Chen Zilong, but turned to look at the prince and said: "The way to be a king is not to pay attention to the details, but you must understand the general trend. Otherwise, you will not be able to recognize the future, and you will be beaten if you fall behind. ,understand?"
