In the lesson that Emperor Chongzhen taught the prince, he once looked forward to the future and described scenes such as a car that could travel day and night without getting tired, a ship that could sail automatically against the wind, someone who could fly in the sky, etc., day and night. There can be a long, long way between them.
At that time, Emperor Chongzhen shocked countless people when he said it, but everyone just listened. Although it was said by Emperor Chongzhen, he was only doubtful at best.
But as the steam engine was built and it became clear that burning coal would produce power, some people began to believe it. Now, when Emperor Chongzhen once again came up with a good thing called "cement" that could be used in road construction, they were even more convinced that the emperor was really not just talking.
Looking at the expressions of these ministers in the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Chongzhen emphasized again: "As long as the natural knowledge I taught you can be fully mastered and applied, I can tell you that what I have said before will speed up." Presented in front of the world. When the time comes..."
At this point, he himself felt a little yearning, and said affectionately: "...If I go to the south to conquer in person, I only need to lead the army in the car, and when I wake up, I will be in the south. Our firearms are also There is no need for such troublesome loading and shooting, but as long as the trigger is pulled, the lead bullets will be shot out continuously. The shells are no longer solid bullets, but will explode after flying out and landing. And they are not just that short. The distance can reach invisible distances. Also, our ships no longer only sail on the water, but can also sail in the water and launch attacks on the enemy from underwater..."
Emperor Chongzhen once again looked forward to the future, and once again shocked the officials in the Wenhua Palace. However, some of these things are really difficult for them to imagine.
Finally, a governor of the Fifth Army Commander's Office couldn't help but reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I don't understand how this boat can swim in the water, it's not a fish!"
To them, this is outrageous.
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately retorted: "Fish can swim in the water, why can't boats? Do you know why fish can swim in the water? If you understand this and imitate it when building a boat, why can't it not work?" "
"..." His words not only stunned the general, but also the other civil servants in the Wenhua Hall were speechless.
Why can fish swim in water, both on the water and in the water?
To be honest, these scholar-bureaucrats have never thought about this issue. It's like fish can swim naturally. Why?
Emperor Chongzhen looked at their looks and knew their shock, so he explained to them: "I can tell you, the reason why fish can swim on the surface and under water is because there is an organ called a swim bladder in the fish's belly, which is the air sac. Pass By adjusting the air inside, the fish can switch between the surface and underwater, and the air inside also helps the fish breathe."
After explaining the principle, he stared at the shocked courtiers and continued: "If we build the boat like a fish and change its buoyancy by absorbing or expelling water, can we make the boat look like a fish? Already?"
In fact, in the Western world, some people have already proposed such an idea and are already practicing it. Of course, if the original historical development is followed, the first submarine that can be used in actual combat will still have to wait until the American Revolutionary War. The submarine that could successfully blow up enemy ships had to wait until the American Civil War.
At this time, the courtiers in the Wenhua Palace were all shocked after listening to Emperor Chongzhen's words. Listening to the emperor's talk, they seemed to have really seen such a thing. And it's not just this, including ships, cars, etc., it seems that the emperor has seen them before.
At this time, they couldn't help but think of the earth-shaking changes in the emperor since Taizu's dream. Therefore, they immediately attributed Emperor Chongzhen's erudition to the fact that Emperor Taizu took the current emperor to heaven and saw the situation on the other side of the gods, so they came up with such incredible statements.
In the Wenhua Hall, many people have made their decisions. After returning home after leaving the court, I must see with my own eyes whether there are any air bags in the belly of the fish that the emperor mentioned.
At this time, although they had not seen it, they were basically sure that it definitely existed.
While they were thinking, they heard Emperor Chongzhen raise his voice and emphasize again: "Now, you should know why I want the prince to take the lead in applying natural knowledge and participating in the scientific examination. I can say it again, If we study a lot of these natural knowledge and apply them in practice, they will definitely bring about earth-shaking changes for us. By that time, let alone the territory of the Ming Dynasty, even if it is twice as big, it will not be beyond our reach!"
After talking and talking, it finally came back to the matter of territory. Only then did all the courtiers in the Wenhua Hall truly understand. It turned out that the emperor had been explaining from beginning to end why he no longer set up the Xuanwei Department, but instead The provinces were under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court.
To be honest, when the emperor said these things so persistently, Xue Guoguan committed his bad habit again, and he reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, even if the imperial court can control those places, they are all barbarian lands. Our property is limited, so even if the court can collect taxes, how much money will it have?"
It is worthy of being called a stone in a latrine, without any eyesight. It's enough that the emperor likes the achievement of opening up new territories. If you still care about how much taxes you can pay, aren't you making the emperor unhappy?
In the Wenhua Hall, many people were thinking this, and they were also a little gloating about the misfortune.
This Xue Guoguan firmly holds the position of chief minister of the cabinet. Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty's national power is booming. From the chaotic times like the end of the dynasty to a state where the country is more peaceful and the people are more peaceful and prosperous than the prosperous times in history, this first assistant will definitely leave his name in the history books. How could Xue Guoguan be so virtuous and capable, given such a good opportunity?
However, they did not expect that Emperor Chongzhen was not angry about Xue Guoguan's question, but replied seriously: "I believe that among you, as well as in the court and among the people, you will have such questions. Not to mention the south. , just talking about the north, I even want such a cold land, and I still insist on the Mobei tribe to join me, there must be some people who don’t understand, thinking that I am overjoyed and it’s for my face!”
Having said this, he stopped and glanced at the officials below.
Upon hearing what he said, the civil and military officials below lost the courage and quickly expressed their opinions such as "I don't dare".
Emperor Chongzhen sneered in his heart, it was really not sincere at all. But on the surface, he showed no contempt, let alone anger, and just explained lightly: "Have you ever thought about it, steam engines and the like are powered by burning coal. The more vigorous the combustion, the greater the power generated. Enough. One day in the future, there will be something underground that can replace the coal, making the fire burn more vigorously. What I described before must also be achieved with higher power. Burning coal alone is not enough... "
Hearing this, Xue Guoguan couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Your Majesty, is that the black oil and fierce fire oil in the ground?"
Petroleum has been discovered and used by humans very early, but it is only limited to places where it can be produced. But within the jurisdiction of the Central Plains Dynasty, there were very few such things.
Later, although it was used for transportation, it was inconvenient after all, so it could not become the main force used for combustion. Generally speaking, wood is still the main ingredient, coal is the supplement, and oil is ignored.
But at this time, Emperor Chongzhen mentioned it like this, and these ministers in the Wenhua Palace, who can be said to be one of the most knowledgeable people, can naturally think of it.
"Yes, Xue Qing is right!" Emperor Chongzhen nodded and affirmed: "It is this fierce fire oil. After being refined in the future, it can burn even more powerfully. Only the power generated by this can make cars and ships drive fast. Let the machine take people to fly to the sky. When that time comes, I can tell you that our daily lives are inseparable from this fierce fire oil. Gold is precious, right? And this fierce fire oil is more precious than gold!"
Hearing what he said, the courtiers in the Wenhua Hall suddenly fell into a daze again. It's a bit unimaginable to them. Is this really possible?
If Emperor Chongzhen had spoken these words eleven years before Chongzhen, they would have thought that the emperor was crazy and talking nonsense. But now, after so many years of foreshadowing, and with the emperor's power at the peak of his power, and having reasonably foreseen various possibilities for the future for them, to be honest, although they did not dare to be 100% sure, no one dared to deny what the emperor said. all of these!
At this time, most of them became more and more certain of their guess. Everything the emperor described is absolutely heavenly. Otherwise, the emperor would not be so sure and talk as if he had seen it with his own eyes.
Thinking of this, their worldview collapsed once again. Could it be that there really are gods and heavens, right?
Emperor Chongzhen didn't care what these people were thinking. He raised his voice again and emphasized loudly: "And those so-called barbaric places, there are actually countless fire oils underground. Now they have not been discovered. I went to occupy it first to seize resources for our descendants. It is to enable our descendants to enjoy the benefits that our efforts have brought to them, so that they can always lead the world!"
At this point, he saw that many of the dazed ministers below had come to their senses, and he said solemnly and earnestly: "The matter of opening up borders and expanding territories will always happen in the future, because I know that there are also There are many places where there is more fire oil buried underneath, which can be enjoyed by our descendants for hundreds of years!"
