Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

It’s not that the craftsman didn’t understand what Zhang Shikang said, but the reward was so outrageous that they couldn’t believe it.

After all, a few years ago, most of them were craftsmen who were looked down upon by everyone, and anyone except ordinary people could get their work for free.

But now, not only do they have status and generous salaries, but they can even be rewarded with titles as long as they can solve the difficult problems in the book?

That’s a title!

Historically, only those who have achieved great merit on the battlefield have the opportunity to be knighted.

Now, these previously poor craftsmen can also obtain titles, and they can even inherit them!

How could this not shock them? Beyond shock, they couldn't believe it.

Even though what Zhang Shikang had done in recent years was enough to convince them, they still urgently needed confirmation.

"Yes, and perhaps even more than that. If you can overcome the difficulties, you can also participate in the evaluation of the Great Invention Award and Innovation and Progress Award established by the court. If you win, you will receive double the reward."

Zhang Shikang confirmed this to the craftsman calmly.

So everyone in the square became excited. They looked at the book in Song Yingxing's hand with fiery eyes, as if they had seen the most precious treasure in the world.

Even the steady Song Yingxing was startled and hid the book in his wide hem of his clothes.

Zhang Shikang encouraged the prospective students present and ended the celebration.

He followed Song Yingxing and others to the General Administration of Manufacturing. It was almost time for dinner, so Zhang Shikang planned to have a meal at the General Administration of Manufacturing and ask about the research and development progress of various projects.

However, as soon as Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang and others arrived at the General Administration of Manufacturing, they started to look through the book of answers.

Even the oldest Wang Zheng was no exception. Several people were as serious as if they were watching a widow taking a bath under the wall. Sometimes they frowned, sometimes they nodded, but most of the time they frowned, frowned, and frowned again.

Most of the concepts in it are still too incredible for them.

For example, one of the descriptions that cannot be considered a subject is that steam power will promote the upgrading of the entire society, and the widespread use of electricity will be the second major progress.

When technology develops to a certain level, artillery can even accurately hit the enemy's headquarters at a distance of tens of thousands of miles.

When technology develops to a certain level, a machine called an airplane will be created. This machine can fly into the sky at the speed of a dragon. Through this machine, bombs thousands or even tens of thousands of times more powerful than black powder bombs can be dropped into the heart of the enemy country.

This bomb is called a nuclear bomb, also known as a mushroom bomb. Just one bomb can destroy hundreds of thousands of enemies.

When technology develops to a certain level, the flying machines manufactured can even break out of the earth and head into the universe.

……

Song Yingxing and others all knew Zhang Shikang's character and understood that Zhang Shikang would never joke with them about such an important matter.

It is also because of this that even though Song Yingxing and others find many concepts incredible, they do not think those concepts are fantasy.

Because there are many concepts in it that Zhang Shikang had told them before.

For example, some of the chemistry experiments mentioned in it require the use of something called a beaker.

The beaker is made of glass, which is a very stable inert substance that does not react easily with other elements and is the best instrument for chemical experiments.

Zhang Shikang had told Song Yingxing the importance of glass as early as when he asked him to develop glass.

Today, the General Manufacturing Administration has hundreds of workers in its glass workshop alone.

In addition, glass is not only made into mirrors, but also into windows, beakers, test tubes, magnifying glasses, telescopes, reading glasses, etc.

And these practices are completely consistent with what Zhang Shikang described in the Book of Answers.

In addition, Zhang Shikang also revised the world map presented to the court by Matteo Ricci during the Wanli period in that book, namely the Kunyu Wanguo Quantu.

Not only that, Zhang Shikang even marked the locations of gold and silver mines in North and South America and Australia.

This shocked Wang Zheng and others even more. The way they looked at Zhang Shikang changed from disbelief to admiration, and finally to awe.

Can one person really understand so many subjects?

But he is only in his early twenties?

Who is His Highness, and how does he know these strange concepts?

While reading the book, everyone's views on Zhang Shikang were also undergoing tremendous changes.

They had also heard about what happened in the morning court a few days ago and knew that the current emperor had always trusted Zhang Shikang very much, even to the point of doting on him.

But now it seems that His Highness is worthy of it!

Not to mention His Highness, even if they had such a great talent, they would also try their best to ask for advice.

The fact that the Ming Dynasty was able to transform from being impoverished by internal and external troubles to being peaceful and prosperous in just a few years is enough to prove your Highness's ability.

While Song Yingxing and others were brainstorming intensely, Zhang Shikang was drinking tea in a bored manner.

The Book of Answers was certainly his masterpiece, but there was nothing to be too proud of. After all, the knowledge was the crystallization of human wisdom over hundreds and thousands of years.

Later scholars classified it into different categories and compressed it into the nine-year compulsory education textbooks, but he simply copied and pasted it.

Song Yingxing and others glanced at him from time to time while reading. Their eyes were very strange, and Zhang Shikang found it very funny.

"Your Highness, I cannot understand most of the concepts in this book.

"But I believe that, according to Your Highness' instructions, this book cannot be made public, otherwise there is a risk of leakage." Song Yingxing said very cautiously.

Wang Zheng nodded upon hearing this and said:

"I think it would be a good idea to categorize the concepts in this book, and then, based on each category, filter out those that cannot be made public and those that can be made public.

His Highness is extremely talented and has already come up with many very appropriate subject names, such as chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography, etc.

Then we can discuss who will be responsible based on the specific terms."

Everyone discussed it one after another, and with the collision of ideas, they soon came up with many constructive suggestions.

Zhang Shikang was very satisfied with this.

"Gentlemen, you are all the most outstanding masters of our Ming Dynasty. Since I have handed this book to you, it is up to you to decide how to deal with its contents.

Oh, I just want to say one thing: for certain projects related to national defense, not only must reliable craftsmen be selected, but confidentiality must also be maintained. Even family members must not be told about it."

Zhang Shikang thought for a while and said.

Everyone nodded when they heard this. At this point, they were completely impressed by Zhang Shikang.

Wang Zheng stroked the thick book, looked at the title and said:

"Your Highness, this book has made great contributions to the development of science and technology in our Ming Dynasty, and it has been of great help to the revival of our Ming Dynasty.

The title "The Book of Answers" is apt, but it lacks some flavor."

"Oh, Mr. Wang, do you have a suitable title for the book? Feel free to tell me." Zhang Shikang said gently.

Wang Zheng stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then said meaningfully:

"Qu Yuan, a great scholar of the State of Chu, once wrote Heavenly Questions. The more than 170 questions in Heavenly Questions express Qu Yuan's confusion about the origin of the universe and the laws of nature.

Your Highness's work can just help Qu Yuan and Qu Lingjun solve their doubts.

I think it would be better to call it "Reply to Lingjun"?

……