Great Song

"Wang Shao not only defeated the Qiang tribe, but also repelled the Tubo invading soldiers and horses?" Hearing the report, Zhao Xu jumped up from his seat directly, with surprise on his face.

"Exactly! This is a report, and I invite the officials to read it." The messenger presented the report with both hands.

Zhao Xu snatched it and watched it eagerly.Earlier, Wang Shaozuo invited him to fight, planning to fight the Qiang tribe around Qinfeng Road, and he agreed.Unexpectedly, in only two months, there will be such a big victory that shakes Taoxi!

I saw that Wang Shao first praised Bian Que's achievements in his memorial, saying that without smooth roads and sufficient armaments, he would never have been able to send troops so quickly.He also focused on the effects of the five hundred small cannons.The Qiang people occupied the mountain and shot down, causing the Song army to be repeatedly frustrated and unable to advance an inch.He ordered a partial division with Shenwu artillery to bypass the enemy's flank, fired a volley, and immediately tore the Qiang people's positions, and then sent troops to defeat them.Not only that, but several Qiang tribes were frightened and knelt down to ask for surrender.

With this great victory, Tubo immediately sent troops to help after hearing the news.Unexpectedly, Wang Shao used the Qiang tribe to send troops to lure the enemy, and he led his troops to bypass Wusheng, defeated the Tubo forward in one fell swoop, and occupied Wusheng City.

This report is written concisely, but it is soul-stirring to read.In this way, Xihe was penetrated into a corner by Wang Shao, and he could build an army and establish a state.It is not impossible to continue to expand the results of the battle and restore the homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties in the future!

Zhao Xu's hands trembled with excitement, and his eyes were slightly red.He did not trust the wrong person!The heavens did not punish him for his exploits of opening borders and reclaiming land!

"Hurry up and declare to all the ministers of the Second Mansion! I want to set up a state in Taoxi, and set up a route of troops!" Zhao Xu shouted loudly.But Wang Shao said that he is willing to restore Hehuang for the emperor and make great achievements again.How could he let go of this great opportunity to expand the border!

He wants to promote Wang Shao, give him more soldiers and horses, and more artillery, so as to flatten Tubo and regain his homeland for him!

With his heart pounding, excited Zhao Xu had to press down on the table to stand firm.In the ecstasy, a thought floated up.That's right, thanks to the artillery, Wang Shao was able to achieve this feat.The artillery and gunpowder are all credited to Mr. Tongxuan.It seems that this Taoist priest is really an auspicious gift bestowed on him by the heavens, and he must be rewarded for it!

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The entire court was delighted with this unexpected victory.Zhen Qiong is still nesting in the alchemy room, immersed in alchemy.Regarding the experiments on the replacement of vitality, he has completed seven to eighty-eight, and also proved the essence of some transformations.When the elemental substance is combined with the vitality, it can produce elemental, deficient, and excessive elements.Acids or brines can displace one metal from another, but alkalis are extremely difficult to do.Does the alkaline water already contain some kind of strong metal?By analogy, if the metal in alum is also strong, can the metal be separated out with alkali?

It turned out that he had gone the wrong way!This important event that has been on my mind has finally come to fruition, how can we not let Zhen Qiong be ecstatic, forgetting to eat and sleep?

But before he could continue his research, Xiao Huangmen, who was full of joy, came and said that the emperor had announced him into the palace to receive the reward.

"Ah? What kind of reward are you getting?" Zhen Qiong was at a loss. In the past few months, he just ran a newspaper and practiced alchemy, and did not create anything new at all.Since when did the Son of Heaven be so generous that he should be rewarded if he has nothing to do?

Wait, isn't it because of the "heliocentric theory"?Zhen Qiong was so excited that she almost thought that the emperor believed this statement and wanted to find him, the "initiator".But didn't Brother Miao say that the Son of Heaven would definitely not like "heliocentric theory"?

Fortunately, the little yellow gate didn't mean to be closed, and said with a smile: "It was Hehuang who won the battle. I heard that General Shenwu has shown his prestige. Don't the officials want to reward Mr.?"

Isn't "Shenwu General" just a reduced version of the artillery?The artillery was used on the battlefield, and a big victory was won?Zhen Qiong immediately regained her spirits: "Is it really used? Wait, I'll change into my clothes and enter the palace immediately!"

How could Zhen Qiong miss such a great event?After changing into a brand new robe, he happily followed the little yellow gate into the palace.

The emperor is still in the Chuigong Hall, but this time there is no minister by his side.Seeing Zhen Qiong, he smiled and said: "The gunpowder made by Mr. Tongxuan is really useful. Wang Shao defeated the Qiang tribe in the first battle and won the military victory. It is all thanks to General Shenwu."

Zhen Qiong's eyes twinkled: "You really won? How did you do it? Is such a small cannon effective?"

It looked like he had seen something interesting.Zhao Xu couldn't help laughing, and said to the servant beside him, "Show the battle report to the gentleman."

Immediately someone sent a memorial.Different from what was going to be published in the "Beijing News", this victory report detailed the process of winning, as well as the number of battles won.Zhen Qiong didn't care how many people were killed or how much land was occupied in this battle, she only picked up the place where the artillery was described.What is "scattered bullets, breaking the enemy's formation", what is "no one can avoid within fifty steps", what is "the thunder is so loud that all the bandits kneel down and beg for mercy".Compared with storytelling, it is naturally much more bland, but watching it also makes people feel agitated and difficult to hold.

After seeing the head for a while, Zhen Qiong said with emotion: "This is still a small cannon. If it is replaced by a big cannon, the results of the battle will definitely be greater!"

A cannon that can only fire scattered bullets, is it called a cannon?If the cannon salvo is changed, I am afraid that the enemy's city walls will be blown down!

Zhao Xu coughed in embarrassment when he heard the words: "General Shenwei has to supervise the construction slowly, but the terrain of Hehuang is not suitable for deployment, so it should be used in a big battle."

In his mind, Hehuang was just some Qiang people and Tubo people, and he was not an armpits.When the Xixia was conquered, the army came out together, and it was time to use cannons.Of course, the imperial court must have had money at that time, so it shouldn't be too much trouble to build four or five hundred cannons, right?

Zhao Xu couldn't help thinking about it, but Zhen Qiong just said it casually.Although he likes cannons, he didn't intend to see the scene of cannons firing in unison.Let him look at the battle report when he turns back, and he will have enough fun.

After echoing a few words casually, Zhen Qiong put down the memorial and just waited for the "reward".Zhao Xu looked at the small path under the steps, but hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice: "Sir, the study of heaven and man was taught by the gods. Do you know how the heavenly way affects the human way?"

He didn't dare to ask "heliocentric theory" directly, but Zhen Qiong has always talked about the word "good fortune", so it shouldn't hurt to ask, right?

He understands this!Zhen Qiong immediately became energetic: "Of course the way of heaven has an impact on people. Only by better understanding the principles of heaven and earth can people learn how to deal with everything around them. It's like alchemy. Bronze blades were still used for fighting thousands of years ago. Later, I learned how to increase the temperature of the furnace, so I smelted iron and used it as a weapon. And the glass, if no one studies it, I’m afraid it’s still burning colored glaze. It’s so turbid, how can I make glasses, lanterns, etc. ?”

Hearing his eloquent talk, Zhao Xu was a little disappointed. What he wanted to ask was not these small techniques of refining, but the real ethics of principles.Enduring it, Zhao Xu couldn't hold it back after all, and went deeper: "Does the Dao affect Renjun that day?"

ah?Zhen Qiong was a little dazed: "What's the impact?"

Seeing his appearance, Zhao Xu immediately tightened his mind: "Since human beings behave naturally, there must be some reason for the changes in the world. If it wasn't inspired by God, how could there be all kinds of changes?"

"Humans follow nature, and they are not natural legal persons. How can everything be forced on people?" Zhen Qiong was even more confused, "Besides, there are so many countries in the world, all of which can see the same celestial phenomenon. Enlightenment It's all the same, why don't you mess it up?"

When Zhen Qiong said "so many countries", the faces of the servants around turned pale, and they knelt down several times.Zhao Xu's face was not very good-looking, and he insisted: "How can Liao and Xia be called a country?"

Although he has an agreement with the Liao Lord as the uncle and nephew of the Chanyuan Alliance, and the Xia Lord also calls himself the nephew of the Great Song Dynasty, he is still the only real emperor!

"I didn't mention Liaoxia either. The glass from Dashi is not bad, and it is also a big country. There are also Zhenla, Tianzhu, Sanfoqi and so on. Aren't they all states, do they have monarchs?" Zhenla But Qiong heard from Han Miao that his white sugar business has reached Tianzhu, and he can make a lot of money by selling brown sugar from Tianzhu.

Zhao Xu couldn't help frowning: "They're all foreign countries..."

"Even if it is Fanbang, the area is probably not small, right? Some of them have to travel thousands of miles to get there. The size of the world is beyond the imagination of the world. Just look at the rotation of the earth, and the location of the Song Dynasty is only a corner of it." Zhen Qiong simply said road.On such a large earth, every country is guided by the same celestial phenomenon. It is impossible to think about it.

Zhao Xu is really speechless this time. Is the country very big if you can sail thousands of miles?Didn't those foreign countries take boatloads of gold, silver, and spices to exchange for silk, porcelain, lacquerware, etc. What qualifications do such barbarians have to call themselves countries?

However, this little way said so firmly, it made Zhao Xu waver again.After a long silence, he said: "The earth rotates, how do you know the position of Da Song?"

This is easy to say!Zhen Qiong immediately learned what Shen Kuo had said: "Isn't the earth a ball? There is a curved surface on it. Because of the curved surface, the speed of the pendulum is different. If it is placed at the two poles, it can make a circle in twelve hours. If it is placed At the equator, there must be no movement. According to this rule, you can calculate the position by taking the rotation speed and angle of the pendulum!"

Zhao Xu just felt a little dizzy, what about the poles and the equator, aren't these words used on the celestial sphere, why are they all moved to the ground?However, at this moment, "the land is like a chicken" has become a common opinion among scholars. He hesitated for a while, and could only say: "Can you really calculate the location of the Great Song Dynasty in this way?"

"Yes! I can count now!" Zhen Qiong immediately puffed up her chest.

Zhao Xu shook his head: "No, I still need to find someone to set up high platforms in various places, and measure it."

The difference in speed is just what Zhen Qiong said, it may not be true.Of course he had to send someone to test it first.

Zhen Qiong didn't make sense to this, and added: "Maybe there are places where the sunrise and sunset are opposite to our time, and some places have different seasons from ours. The earth is vast, is it a joke?"

Zhao Xu: "..."

He was a little dizzy again.It is already difficult to imagine that the earth is round. Isn't this kind of thing that is different from my own sun and moon, and the seasons are different from the "Shan Hai Jing"?

But what if these are also true?In fact, now, the area of ​​Daliao is not much smaller than that of Daliao, and the glass and spices shipped from Dashi are indeed worth thousands of gold, and the rich are countless.Can't the head of this kind of country be called lonely?But in this way, "under the whole world, is it the land of the king; on the shore of the land, are the ministers of the king", what is it?

Zhao Xu's hands shook a little again, and the good mood of Dasheng was gone.After a long time, he murmured: "Then how will I govern the country?"

These words are actually self-talk.If none of the changes in the world were directed at him alone, how would he be sure that what he did was correct?

Zhen Qiong mistakenly thought that this was said to herself, so she couldn't help feeling a little puzzled: "I don't know about this, shouldn't the officials ask those courtiers?"

Zhao Xu suddenly raised his head and looked straight over.But there was no hint of "admonishment" on the side of the trail, it was just ignorance.With a trembling heart, Zhao Xu slowly clenched his fists.

Yes, the sages have said this too.

"The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least. That is why the people of Qiu are the son of heaven, the son of heaven is the prince, and the princes are the great officials. The princes are in danger of the country, and they are changed. Sacrifice is done, and prosperity is clean. , when the sacrifices are made, but when the drought is dry and the water overflows, the country will be changed."

"Jie, Zhou lost the world and his people; he who lost his people lost his heart. There is a way to win the world: if you win the people, you win the world. There is a way to win the people: you win the heart, you win the people Hey. There is a way to get his heart: if you want to get together with him, don’t do anything you hate. Those who drive the people for Tang and Wu are Jie and Zhou.”

This is what the ancestors said, and it is also the hadith of the Taizu of this dynasty.If there is no benevolence and virtue of the Taizu, how can the yellow robe be added to the body, and the destiny will return?If there is no benevolence and love for the people, why would Renzong posthumously have the word "benevolence"?The heaven and the earth are naturally to be feared, but shouldn't the thousands of people be feared?When pushed to a dead end, they will naturally rise up, saying "the sky is dead" and "the five virtues take turns".

There was a thin layer of sweat on his back, and Zhao Xu had already woken up.These words are different from Wen Yanbo's saying that "the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together", and they are even more alarming.Since he is the son of heaven, he must be a benevolent and holy king, not a "single husband" that everyone can punish!

"I've been taught." Zhao Xu felt that the boulder that had weighed on his heart these days had loosened a bit, and stood up and bowed to Zhen Qiong.

Zhen Qiong: "???"

What did he teach?Doesn't this make him ask others?

But the emperor saluted, and Zhen Qiong couldn't back down, so he quickly returned the gift and accepted it, and got a bunch of rewards from the boss.Thinking about not mentioning the troublesome matter of "heliocentric theory" today, Zhen Qiong became a little happy again.It's better to tell brother Miao about the big victory.

The author has something to say: Wang Shao did win a big battle in history, led the battle of Xihe, recovered the five prefectures of Xi, He, Tao, Min, Dang, and Qi, and expanded the border for more than [-] miles, which can be called the first in the Song Dynasty.Now that we have guns, it's even more powerful.

Both passages quoted are from Mencius.Zhao Xu's background is a bit special. His father was fostered in the palace when he was a child. He was originally going to be adopted, but Renzong suddenly gave birth to a son again, so he returned it.Later, his son died again, and Renzong found Yingzong before his death, and established the prince again.At that time, Yingzong was in his thirties, and at first he was reluctant to accept the order. Later, when he accepted the order and ascended the throne, he lost his mind and became seriously ill. Father fought for fame, but in the end he was ill for three years after being in office for four years, and died.Under such circumstances, Zhao Xu's sudden pressure to ascend the throne can be imagined, and it is not surprising that he has doubts about his orthodoxy. "Heaven-Man Response" is really not only for the common people, the one who believes in it the most should be the emperor, this is an important part of alienating the "emperor".If there is no divinity, how can you speak the Dharma?