"Science, what does science mean?" This was the first time Lu Yan heard of this word.

"Science..." Liu Tao thought about it and he clearly explained the orthodox explanation, but it involved some special terms, such as "objective things", and needed further explanation. I thought about it and just changed the explanation.

So after thinking about it carefully, he explained: "It is based on a testable basis to explain the laws of the formation and operation of all things in the world... Canshan, you should know the study of things and knowledge in "The Book of Rites: The University", right?"

"Yes, studying things, achieving knowledge, sincerity, uprightness of the heart, self-cultivation, managing the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world, these are the common goals of our scholars." Lu Yan nodded.

He said that, after hundreds of years, the first four were forgotten, and only four were left to cultivate themselves, manage the family, govern the country and peaceful the world... Liu Tao couldn't help but complain. When he encountered something that could not be explained, he would either throw it to "punishment from heaven" or "respect the ghosts and gods and stay away from it."

"Science simply means it is actually the process of investigating things and learning knowledge. In fact, in this regard, I highly recommend Xunzi." Liu Tao said casually, "but don't tell others."

"Well, I understand." Lu Yan was also stunned, then nodded to show that he understood.

Xunzi's theory was not mainstream in the Han Dynasty. In particular, Confucianism planned to put a layer of shackles on the monarch's neck, which was the response of heaven and man, the Three Bonds and Five Constant Persons, and raining in the sky, it could be a loss of virtue by the monarch.

At this time, I talked about materialism with them, and it was basically the "class enemy". So, the descendants of Xunzi, the Xun family of Yingchuan, probably spread the theory of their ancestor Xunzi, secretly and dared not talk about it publicly.

Liu Tao said that he praised Xunzi, and he could do it privately, but not publicly, otherwise he would be done.

Soon, a soldier brought a bucket of water. Liu Tao took the saltpeter powder and came to the side of the bucket, smiled at Lu Yan and said, "Now, let's witness the miracle moment of science!"

After saying that, he poured saltpeter powder into the water, poured a whole bag of half a pound of saltpeter powder into it. Then he specially found a wooden stick and stirred it inside to allow the saltpeter and water to fully mix it.

In this way, slowly, some fog appeared in the bucket, and the fog became more and more. About ten minutes, Liu Tao lowered his head and knocked on the bucket, and the water inside was completely frozen.

"According to this standard, about four liang (Han liang), it's almost the same. There is no need to be that much..." Liu Tao stood up and looked at Lu Yan, "or should find a value, about how much water is added to the saltpeter to freeze."

"……………………” Lu Yan had not reacted yet, and was frightened by the scene in front of him.

It was just a bucket of water, but on such a hot day, it turned into a bucket of ice. It was simply unbelievable!

"It's back!" Liu Tao stretched out his hand and patted him. Lu Yan finally came to his senses.

"Oh? Oh...brother, what did you say just now?" Lu Yan asked a little embarrassedly.

"It's rare to have ice, don't enjoy it?" Liu Tao pointed to the ground, "It's okay to eat directly, but for the sake of safety, it's better not to try it easily. But it's so cool, it's also comfortable to study around here."

"Brother, can this ice be eaten?" Lu Yan couldn't believe it.

"It is said that eating it will not harm the body, but if you add half a kilo of saltpeter, the taste will probably not be much better. There seems to be a saying that it will cause diarrhea, which is hard to say... But if you eat so much ice, most people will also suffer from diarrhea." Liu Tao thought for a while and said.

"Then forget it..." Lu Yan hesitated a little and finally did not dare to try. But then again, on such a hot day, it was indeed very enjoyable to be able to lean against this bucket of ice. As well as the surrounding temperature dropped a little.

"Speaking of it..." After immersing it for about a while, Lu Yan came to his senses, "Why does this saltpeter melt into the water, so why does the water freeze?"

"It seems that after the two are mixed, they will absorb the heat in the water. The heat in the water is absorbed, so it solidifies. In fact, you will know that there is still a part of the saltpeter inside that is not completely integrated into the water..." Liu Tao pointed to the wooden barrel.

Lu Yan looked carefully and found that there was some saltpeter powder under the ice surface of the wooden barrel. He remembered Liu Tao's earlier remarks and nodded: "No wonder my brother said that only four taels are enough."

"On the other hand..." Liu Tao pointed to the wooden barrel, "As long as this bucket of ice is dried, you will still get the same saltpeter. Although it is a little more troublesome, it can actually be used repeatedly."

It is hard to say whether it can be achieved by boiling salt. After all, if it is an iron or metal vessel, you are worried that it will react after heating. To be honest, Liu Tao's chemistry and even physical scores are actually not very good.

"Is this what my brother calls science?" Lu Yan looked at Liu Tao.

"Strictly speaking, this is not counting..." Liu Tao thought for a while, "After all, we need to understand the existence of 'temperature', and then we need to understand what factors are after saltpeter is integrated into water, so that it can absorb the heat in the water and freeze the water."

He paused and said solemnly: "The science of exploring and proofing can accurately prove and stand tests, rather than thinking about the laws of all things in the world by imagining or speculating.

"There seems to be similar ideas in "Xunzi"." Lu Yan thought for a while.

"If you want to say "Xunzi", what I admire most is actually the saying "Heaven moves forever, not for Yao, not for Jie". The alternation of sun and moon, the transformation of spring, summer, autumn and winter should be a natural phenomenon, and it can eventually unravel the mystery." Liu Tao looked at Lu Yan, "rather than the concept of 'the king loses virtue, or XX loses virtue'."

"The problem is that these words are not allowed to be taken out and said publicly," Lu Yan persuaded.

"Of course I know this..." Liu Tao was really annoyed when he said this.

Confucianism sets the resonance of heaven and man to have a chance to attack the emperor or even a political enemy in terms of morality and public opinion. After all, the greatest ideal of Confucianism is to "the emperor rule with his pride" and just give them all power.

But one or two problems come from the family, and they advocate "family, country and the world". If your family is not full, how can you take care of the people? Then, when there is a problem, the people are resentful, and immediately a "response from heaven and man" and say that "the king has lost his virtue" and asks the emperor to take the blame.

As for the emperor who is gone, it doesn’t matter. If you change someone to be the emperor, you will just change someone to play with him.

The problem is that under such rules, Liu Tao's remarks are equivalent to being enemies of Confucianism and most aristocratic families. Scientific theory cannot be played, and even if it makes Confucianism speechless, it is useless. Others can spray him to death with saliva.

This is also the reason why he urgently hopes to change the rules or become a rulemaker. He really doesn’t have the time and energy, mainly because he doesn’t have the patience to accompany all the aristocratic families, masters of Confucianism, and great scholars of Confucianism to slowly play the art of compromise.

"It's just this ice..." Liu Tao pointed to the bucket.
Chapter completed!