Especially since the end of the war in the late Qing Dynasty, the development of the Ming Dynasty began to enter the fast lane.
First, electricity was discovered, and then a series of research and exploration on electricity came into being.
When he saw that the time was ripe, Zhu Biao came up with the idea of a light bulb, and during an occasional conversation, he inspired bachelors from the Academy of Sciences to try lighting using tungsten filaments.
Then, quite naturally, the light bulb was invented.
At this time, in the late Qing Dynasty, there were still twenty years before Edison invented the electric light.
The invention of the light bulb made countless scholars in the Academy of Sciences revel in it.
Especially those bachelors who have not opened the Qi Sea Secret, they discovered for the first time that even if they do not have extraordinary power, they still have the ability to control the extraordinary.
A light bulb is synonymous with transcendence in their eyes.
This made them excited.
Then good news came one after another. First, the utilization rate of steam engines was greatly improved, and then another power source was invented under Zhu Biao's inspiration.
internal combustion engine.
In fact, as early as more than ten years ago when the steam engine first appeared in Da Ming Dynasty, Zhu Biao had consciously proposed a thermal engine device that burned fuel inside the machine and directly converted the heat energy released into power.
But at that time, the Ming Dynasty still lacked basic scientific knowledge, and the bachelors in the Academy of Sciences could not understand what Zhu Biao was talking about.
Is there any better power device in the world than the steam engine?
But now ten years have passed. By studying various scientific books that Jinyiwei has continuously brought back from the West, and even innovating on these basic knowledge, they are no longer as ignorant as they were ten years ago.
Now there is no need for Zhu Biao to guide them too much. Naturally, they want to develop a power device that is more advanced than the steam engine.
The research and development of internal combustion engines was naturally put on the agenda.
To be honest, whether it is electricity or an internal combustion engine, Zhu Biao's original idea was to try to use spiritual power to replace fuel as a power source.
After all, this energy is clean and pollution-free.
But after more than ten years of research, he finally gave up.
Spiritual power is indeed an all-powerful source of mysterious power. Whether it is using spiritual materials to build weapons or machines, it is easy for these researchers who have opened up the air sea.
For example, the God-killing No. 1 cannon that sank the British flagship with one shot before.
Another example is the psychic car that was developed a few years ago.
But there is always one problem that cannot be solved, and that is the cost issue.
Ordinary materials simply cannot withstand the spiritual pressure of the psychic talisman array.
And if all spiritual materials are used, the price of making a spiritual vehicle or a god-killing cannon will be too expensive.
Even with the backing of a superpower like Ming Dynasty, shells as powerful as the God-killing No. 1 cannon could not fire a few rounds.
It may be feasible to use psychic materials to make powerful weapons to scare the enemy, but it is extremely difficult to promote psychic technology to the people and improve people's livelihood.
A lighting talisman can easily solve the lighting problem, but a lighting talisman requires a bachelor of the Academy of Sciences who has opened up the air sea to spend a quarter of an hour to carve it.
This is just the labor cost, as well as the various spiritual materials used in the talisman. The cost of a lighting talisman is definitely more than the same weight of gold.
I believe that no one in the Ming Dynasty today would be so extravagant as to use a talisman comparable to gold just as a lighting tool.
At this point, Zhu Biao finally realized that the integration of spiritual energy and technology was just a delusion, or in other words, considering the current level of technological development, wanting to use spiritual energy at a low cost could only be a delusion.
It would be more practical to develop basic science honestly.
Whether it is Zhu Biao's previous life or the current world of the late Qing Dynasty, it is clear that only the development of basic science can improve the productivity of the entire world and enable every citizen of the Ming Empire to have enough food, clothing, and lighting tools such as electric lamps.
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Perhaps in the longer future, when Ming's technological level surpasses that of the late Qing Dynasty or even surpasses the 21st century from which he traveled, psychic powers can be widely used in basic science.
After all, there is a saying that has been circulating in previous lives.
The end of science is theology.
Theology can also be explained scientifically.
Zhu Biao is looking forward to such an era coming.
The invention of the internal combustion engine means that in the near future cars will no longer rely on spiritual energy to drive, it means that agricultural machinery will be popularized, and it means that road transportation tools such as trucks will appear in large quantities.
Of course, it also means that the era of armored tanks is coming.
The invention of the light bulb represents the formal application of electricity in daily life.
The invention of these two things can be regarded as a historic moment for Ming Dynasty.
Naturally, the people of Nanjing were the first to enjoy the convenience brought by this advanced technology.
During the Lantern Festival in the 16th year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang had a rare opportunity to return to the world of the early Ming Dynasty from the arduous daily work of the late Qing Dynasty.
Together with Empress Ma and Zhu Biao's family, they took to the streets of Nanjing.
dusk.
People were coming and going in the noisy but harmonious streets, and everyone had a smile on their face, enjoying the joyful atmosphere brought by the Lantern Festival.
Various lantern riddle guessing activities have been set up by the shops facing the street. Although it is just dusk now, all kinds of lanterns have been lit up and dotted on the streets, making the festive atmosphere even more intense.
"We are hungry, let's go find a place to eat!" Zhu Yuanzhang hugged Zhu Xiongying and said with a smile on his face.
This was his Ming Dynasty, and this was the life he most longed for when he was a cowherd boy.
With three meals a day, enough food and clothing, there will be no natural disasters or military disasters.
The Yuan Dynasty could not give him such a life, so he was forced to pick up the sword.
But now, not only has he realized his dream, but he has also led hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty to realize their dreams together.
He was very satisfied with this.
"I know there is a very delicious noodle shop in front of me. It seems to be opened by a Sichuanese. It's called Youpo Spicy Noodles!" Zhu Biao suggested with a smile.
"Let's go and have a taste!" Zhu Yuanzhang's throat suddenly rolled unconsciously when he heard the spicy food, and he couldn't help but speed up while holding Zhu Xiongying.
Soon the family sat down, and Zhu Biao went to the side to buy some sesame seed cakes, and each person got one.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a bite directly without even looking at it.
Then he realized something was wrong. When he opened the sesame cake, he saw that there was meat inside.
“Such delicious fat meat!”
"This boss is so smart, he actually came up with this method to sell sesame seeds!"
Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and looked at the Shaobing stall. He found that people were already lining up to buy Shaobing with meat, which made him smile.
He still remembered that when he led his troops into Nanjing for the first time, he also came here to buy sesame cakes. At that time, let alone sesame cakes with meat, they were just ordinary sesame cakes, and very few people came to buy them.
But now, it is obviously really different.
"You have done well during this period!" Zhu Yuanzhang praised Zhu Biao.
“There are better ones!”
Zhu Biao was not modest at all. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma and Chang Tongyu with a smile: "You will find out later. I have a surprise for you during this year's Lantern Festival!"
"You brat, you dare to show off even in front of me!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and scolded, but he was also looking forward to it.
Seeing how serious Zhu Biao was, it was obvious that the matter was not trivial.
After everyone had dinner, they continued to wander on the street.
It was completely dark at this moment. Although a lantern was lit, the light was of no use in the dark night.
"Chongba, it's getting dark, why don't we go back first!"
"It's a good idea to let the guards have a rest for the night and spend time with their families!" Queen Ma said softly.
"It's almost time!"
"Father and Queen, look over there!" Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Zhu Biao pointed to the end of the road and motioned for everyone to take a look.
In fact, there was no need for Zhu Biao to remind Zhu Yuanzhang and others that their attention had already been attracted.
At the end of the street, two dazzling lights lit up silently in the dark night.
Someone on the street let out an exclamation.
They had never seen such bright lights.
And this is just the beginning, soon one light bulb after another lights up one after another.
The covers of these street lamps are made of glass of different colors, so the colors displayed are also colorful.
For a time, the whole street and even the whole of Nanjing were shrouded in this gorgeous light.
"Grandpa, you are so beautiful!"
In a tea shop not far away, a little boy of seven or eight years old exclaimed with a milky voice.
There was light twinkling in his eyes, like bright stars.
"right!"
"I think so too!" Xu Yuan hugged his little grandson and looked at the lights with a smile on his face.
Although he belongs to the Institute of Psychic Energy, which is not the same department as the Institute of Electrical Energy, he knows that these lights were researched by colleagues from the Academy of Sciences who spent day and night after hard work.
Behind these beautiful lights stand all the hard-working bachelors of the Academy of Sciences.
He was extremely proud of this.
"Grandpa, was this also developed by your Academy of Sciences?" The little boy looked at Xu Yuan with admiration.
"yes!"
"This is called an electric light. It borrows the power of lightning!" Xu Yuan tried his best to explain to his little grandson what electricity is.
"Grandpa, I want to enter the Academy of Sciences when I grow up." The little boy said with hope in his eyes.
"OK!"
"Then you have to study hard and strive to be admitted to the Academy of Sciences in the future!" Xu Yuan said with a smile.
"Yes!" The little boy nodded solemnly.
It was at this time that Xu Yuan saw Zhu Biao's family standing on the street in the distance.
Naturally, he had met Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang. When he saw that His Majesty and the Prince were also on the street, he couldn't help but trembled and wanted to get up and salute.
"Old Xu, you continue to play!"
"Today is the Lantern Festival, don't worry about the red tape!" Zhu Biao waved to him.
Seeing Xu Yuan, Zhu Yuanzhang finally recovered from the shock of the lights in the sky.
To be honest, there are very few things that can shock him, but today he did feel shocked.
He once again felt the power of science.
"Biao'er is right!"
"Academician Xu, please enjoy this Lantern Festival with your grandson!"
“It’s all thanks to you that Ming Dynasty is what it is today!”
"You are the heroes of our Ming Dynasty!"
"There is no reason in this world for a hero to salute us!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and waved to Xu Yuan, and the group of people gradually moved away.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang and others blending into the crowd, Xu Yuan felt inexplicably touched deep in his heart.
"Grandpa, who is that?" the little grandson next to him asked curiously.
"That is the founder of our Ming Empire, Emperor Hongwu!"
"It's all because of him that we can sit here leisurely looking at the lights and drinking tea like today!"
"We should all thank him!"
Xu Yuan's tone was full of reverence.
He is not from Nanjing, but fled to Nanjing from Shanyang eighteen years ago.
He still remembers the scenes he saw along the road at that time. Refugees dying of cold and starvation could be seen everywhere on both sides of the road. Every refugee was sallow and thin.
Those people looked at his son as if they were looking at a plate of meat.
On the way, his wife died of illness, and his father and mother also died. He tried his best to protect his son and fled into Nanjing, which was still called Jinling at the time.
He thought he and his son could finally survive, but he was wrong.
The crows in the world are all black, and Nanjing is the same.
Gangsters, bullies, robbers, thieves, he can't afford to offend anyone.
The money earned through hard work is not enough to send these people away.
And he still has a son to raise.
Just when he felt that he could no longer hold on, Emperor Hongwu invaded Nanjing.
At first he didn't feel anything, but gradually, he didn't know when, he found that life really started to get better. The bandits and bullies who oppressed him on the street disappeared and turned into teams of well-disciplined Ming Dynasty troops.
.
He had a chance to live again.
He finally had a full stomach.
He originally thought this was the best life in the world.
But in the seventh year of Hongwu, life began to change dramatically again.
He opened up the Qi Sea, and Jin Yiwei came to him and asked him to join the Academy of Sciences.
Until now, nine years have passed without realizing it.
Time flies really fast.
He now has his own house in Nanjing. His son was selected into the navy and was promoted to the rank of Hundred Households due to merit a year ago. He himself was also selected as a third-grade scholar in the last Academy of Science rating.
academician.
The most important thing is that he has a grandson.
With grandchildren, there is inheritance and roots.
Life is getting better every day visible.
He is very satisfied with his current life.
And he knew that there were many, many people like him in Nanjing, too many to count.
Not only Nanjing, but the entire Ming Dynasty was like this.
He had gone deep into the people for some tasks, and as far as he knew, there were shrines to Emperor Hongwu in many places among the people.
Obviously, everyone knows that this kind of life did not appear out of thin air. Everything was brought to them by His Majesty the Emperor.
And now His Majesty the Emperor not only ate Shaobing with meat, but also sweated profusely while eating spicy noodles.
To be honest, this kind of His Majesty is very different from the majestic Hongwu Emperor sitting on the dragon throne in his impression.