Chapter 283: The Wheel of History Turned
Chapter 279 of "The Great Ming in the Box" kicks off revealing secrets: Song Yingxing was somewhat moved: âSo many fine books, all freely available for me to... Keep reading!
Song Yingxing was somewhat moved: âSo many fine books, all freely available for me to read and study as I wish. How am I worthy of such great favor?âZhao Sheng smiled: âYou possess exceptional talent, Mr. Song. Only when books like these are given to you can their greatest value be realized. If not for you, then who should see them?â
A sudden thought occurred to Song Yingxing: âEh? Wait⌠Is it possible⌠that Daoist Ma was sent by youâŚâ
Zhao Sheng: âIndeed. Deity specifically tasked Daoist Ma to go out and invite you here. Deity also gave the instruction that these books are entirely at your disposal. You neednât worry about any expensesâfood, clothing, living costs here in Gaojia VillageâDeity has arranged everything. You need only focus your mind on your research.â
Song Yingxing was puzzled: âExactly⌠who is the Deity?â
Zhao Sheng: âThe Deity is the god of Gaojia Village.â
Song Yingxing didnât quite grasp this, assuming it referred to some local gentry or petty king instead. He clasped his fists respectfully: âThen this humble one truly thanks the Deity. However, I feel uneasy accepting such provisions without contributing. I wish to impart everything I know to the school.â
Zhao Sheng: âHaha, that would be most excellent! In fact, Deity already has something specific in mind, Mr. Song. We hoped you could teach the village blacksmiths.â
Song Yingxing: â?â
Zhao Sheng: âFirearms!â
Song Yingxing smiled: âSo, Firearms. The methods for crafting them are hardly secret knowledge. If the Deity requires it, I am certainly willing to teach the blacksmiths.â
He took out paper and pen, and with swift strokes, sketched right there and then. In no time, a design for Firearms appeared on the paper, every small component depicted clearly.
Zhao Sheng smiled as he collected the drawing, then continued: âDeity has another matter to discuss with you.â
Song Yingxing: â?â
Zhao Sheng produced a spring: âYouâve already encountered this, Mr. Song?â
Song Yingxing nodded: âI have. Itâs quite fascinating.â
Zhao Sheng said: âDeity points out that Firearms currently require the ignition cord to be lit before firing, which is cumbersome. Why not install a piece of flint at the touch hole? Set a striking anvil beside the hole. When firing, pull the trigger. Under the springâs force, the flint would strike heavily beside the fire hole, producing sparks that ignite the gunpowder⌠Thus, the Firearm could fire instantly, eliminating the need to wait for the cord to burn.â
Hearing this, Song Yingxing froze entirely. After several seconds, he slapped his forehead sharply: âSo thatâs how it could be done! Right! With springs, this can actually work!â
Zhao Sheng smiled: âThe method of creating a firing pin using springs has already been mastered by our village blacksmith, Blacksmith Li Da. By slightly modifying the device he made, it can be adapted into a flintlock ignition mechanism⌠However, the spring elasticity he achieved still isnât optimal. We would appreciate your help, Sir, in further refining it.â
Song Yingxingâs eyes lit up: âIntroduce me! I need this blacksmithâs assistance to build the device I just envisioned! Hahaha! I can see it! The method to transform the Firearm into a Flintlock Firearm!â
High in the sky, Li Daoxuanâs face broke into a satisfied smile. Excellent, excellent. Having recruited a top-tier scientist truly made a difference. The weaponry of the Gaojia Village Militia was set to make a tremendous leap forward.
And he hasnât even begun learning mathematics, physics, or chemistry yet, Li Daoxuan mused. Once he starts studying those⌠alas⌠all sorts of chaotic equipment could be built.
Very good. No need to rush. Gentle guidance is the way.
Ningxia, Yinchuan, a relay station.
Li Zicheng, working there, was feeding hay to a station horse, when he suddenly heard the stationmasterâs voice: âHuang Laier, come here!â
Huang Laier was Li Zichengâs childhood name.
Hearing the call, Li Zicheng obediently approached the stationmaster: âLeader, what do you require of I, your humble servant?â
The stationmaster sighed: âThe Emperor has ordered funding for relay stations cut. Youâre aware of this, I assume?â
A sense of foreboding rose in Li Zichengâs heart: âI am.â
Stationmaster: âYouâre a smart lad. Hearing that, you should understand.â
Li Zicheng felt his heart sink: âLeader, the Emperor cut the station funding to prevent passing officials from demanding extravagant station services beyond the allowable standards. We merely need to reduce the provisions we give to officials. Why must you dismiss me?â
The stationmaster sighed again: âThe Emperorâs intentions were goodâwanting us to lower our expenditures on entertaining officialsâbut the reality is, the silver demanded by those officials simply must be provided! Trying to save money under these circumstances? The only option left is to cut down on station personnel.â
Li Zicheng: ââŚâ
Stationmaster: âYou are a capable man. Youâll survive outside this station. Here is three taels of silver from me personally. Take it and return to your hometown to make a living.â
Li Zicheng sighed heavily, clasping his fists: âLeader, you also face difficulties. Huang Laier wonât accept this silver. When one door closes, another opens. Iâm off.â
The stationmaster waved to him: âHuang Laier⌠live well.â
Li Zicheng gathered his belongings and strode out of the station. He pondered the vastness of the world, yet nowhere seemed a fit place for Li Zicheng. Ah well, better just go back to my old hometown, Mizhi.
In Chongzhen Year Two, facing grim economic conditions, Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian, in a bid to save money, abolished numerous relay stations. Li Zicheng found his rice bowl shattered.
Li Zicheng became an unemployed youth.
The wheel of history began its relentless turn forward.
Chengcheng County town.
Gao Yiye was overseeing Xia LĂź, Qiu Ju, and Dong Xue, the three young women, working diligently on the illustrations for the fourth volume of âDao Xuan Deityâs Demon Elimination Taleâ. By this volume, the exquisite level of their drawings could rival any fine picture book.
These young women were truly commendable examples of educated women in ancient timesâmastering the lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In that era, women with such broad âmiscellaneous learningâ, surpassing even that of a brothel girl, were rare finds. Yet their skills could only find employ in brothels, a stark reminder of the eraâs tragedy.
After Gao Yiye redeemed and freed them, the women no longer had to kowtow and flatter men. Their new benefactor insisted they merely draw pictures and do a bit of writing and calculating, in exchange for warm clothes and sufficient food.
They felt their talents were respected, and naturally responded with immense gratitude and dedication to their work.
Just then, Gao Yiye heard a voice: âYiye!â
Gao Yiye quickly looked up: âWhat are your commands, Deity?â
Li Daoxuan chuckled: âUnder Song Yingxingâs guidance, the carpenters back in Gaojia Village have built the latest models of spinning and weaving machines. Iâve ordered Thirty-Two to deliver those two items to the county town as soon as possible.â
Gao Yiye understood instantly: âSo women in the county town can also start spinning and weaving?â
âPrecisely!â Li Daoxuan affirmed. âWomen represent vital productive capacity. Leaving them idling at home is a massive waste of social resources. Itâs time to mobilize the women here in the county town as well. Follow the model of Gaojia Villageâs fabric shop here. Sell cotton to the women at low cost, then buy back the finished woven cloth at standard market prices.â
Gao Yiye responded promptly: âAs you command!â
As their exchange concluded, Xia LĂź suddenly spoke up: âHonored Deity, in our Chengcheng County town, the women possess one special skill that might merit your attention.â
Li Daoxuan: âOh? Please elaborate.â