White-robed Minister

Chapter 135 0133 [Shen Kuo Looking at the Moon Through a Telescope]

"Xu, the judge!"

"Xu, the judge!"

When Xu returned from the meeting in the second hall of the government office, he was greeted warmly by officials along the way.

His reaction was as if nothing had happened; he remained the same as before, bowing and smiling in return all the way.

When he returned to the signing hall, Zhang Kongmu respectfully reported: "Judge, these are the official documents that need to be signed today, and they have been sorted and categorized."

"Okay, put it down." Xu Lai nodded.

Zhang Kongmu respectfully took his leave.

Xu Lai said, "Wait a minute. Prefect Gong just called me to a meeting. It's the last time this year that we're reiterating that autumn taxes must not be discounted or altered to avoid disturbing the people. All kinds of travel expenses and losses must also not exceed a certain amount. Once I've written and signed the official document, you can take it and send it to the various counties immediately."

Zhang Kongmu stood quietly to the side, thinking to himself: Who would dare disobey? The seven suspended county magistrates are now waiting for the handover. You've caused a whole bunch of clerks to be exiled.

After the collapse of the rent, labor, and tax system in the Tang Dynasty, the Two-Tax System was adopted from the late Tang Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This system consisted of summer tax and autumn tax.

Summer taxes were generally paid in copper coins and cloth, and the conversion of these into cash caused the most significant disturbance to the people.

The autumn tax was actually better, as farmers could simply pay with grain. However, there were still ways to exploit them, such as charging extra for transporting goods and levying taxes on animals.

The official document that Xu Lai was about to sign at that moment was to prohibit each county from exceeding a certain percentage of its transportation expenses and provincial expenditures.

Moreover, there are tax reductions or exemptions this autumn.

The specific details of how to reduce or exempt fees were to be discussed by the prefect and the sub-prefect, and then reviewed and approved by Xu Lai.

The summer and autumn taxes were collected in stages.

The first period from the first day of the ninth lunar month to the first day of the tenth lunar month is the first phase of collecting autumn taxes.

To encourage farmers to pay taxes, those who pay their taxes in September can have their "first payment" and "cost savings" reduced or waived.

The county government would be lenient and wouldn't nitpick about whether the grain was properly dried—unless it really had too much moisture.

"Take this and distribute it." Xu Lai handed over the signed document.

"yes!"

Zhang Kongmu held the official document in both hands, bowed, and retreated to the door. He only straightened his back after he had left the room.

Their respectful attitude was almost like that of a eunuch serving the emperor.

Xu Lai continued to review and sign documents. He was busy until mid-morning when a servant delivered a government gazette and a private letter.

Xu Laixian read the official gazette.

I glanced at all the news articles until I saw the Tsai Ing-wen protest, then I slowed down.

Cai Kang, who was thrown into the Censorate by the emperor to serve as a spy, actually performed his duties and did his job well, submitting memorials multiple times as a censor to cancel the Puyi Incident.

The emperor was deeply aggrieved by the scolding and summoned Cai Kang for a private talk, hoping Cai Kang could comfort him. Cai Kang, however, argued that the imperial edict regarding the emperor's affairs was wrong, which brought the emperor to tears.

Historical records clearly state that Zhao Shuzhen was so scolded by Cai Kang that he cried!

After crying, Zhao Shu dismissed everyone around him and asked Cai Kang with a wronged expression, "We used to be such good friends, why did you take the side of others?"

Cai Kang replied, "As the Assistant Director of the Censorate, it is my duty to advise Your Majesty. If I were not serving in the Censorate, I would not bring up these matters again."

As a result, Cai Kang was transferred to the position of Imperial Edict Drafter and concurrently served as the Director of the Imperial Academy. This meant he was responsible for drafting imperial edicts and also held the positions of Director of the Imperial Academy and the Imperial College.

Zhao Shu dared not keep Cai Kang in the Censorate any longer, for he feared losing his last friend.

After reading the official gazette, Xu Lai opened the private letter.

This letter was sent by Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo first discussed the Yingtian Prefecture reorganization case, congratulating Xu Lai on his rising fame while also expressing concern for him. He also mentioned that Shen Qi was a close friend of his and advised Xu Lai to get closer to him.

Then, Shen Kuo talked about his own situation. Because of his improvement of telescopes and hot air balloons, the court promoted him from "Reviewer" to "Proofreader" for his meritorious service in assisting in the compilation of the "Veritable Records of Emperor Renzong".

The position of proofreader in the Imperial Academy was the limit for selecting people to serve in the Academy; any higher position had to be filled by officials from the capital.

The last paragraph of the letter brought Xu Lai a very unexpected surprise.

"This Mid-Autumn Festival, the floodwaters have receded. I admired the bright moon and a wild thought arose in my mind: If this object can be used to observe distant places, how can I be sure that it cannot be used to see the moon? So I closed my door and refused visitors, and spent many days pondering and refining its design, striving to make it bright and clear so that the view could be clear."

While admiring the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Kuo suddenly had a brilliant idea: to improve the telescope to observe the moon.

The next section describes the lunar landscape as observed by Shen Kuo.

"—After the clouds had completely dispersed, I raised the mirror and gazed up at the moon. At first, it was quite blurry, but after adjusting the mirror, when it was just wide enough for my eyes, I was suddenly astonished. I had always heard that the moon reflected mountains, rivers, and cassia trees, but these were all just stories. Now I saw that its surface was not smooth, but rather mottled like sand dunes, with the unevenness of mountains and valleys. Its color was a pale blue, with traces of ochre, like frozen clouds tearing silk, like the chapped bark of an old tree. The brilliance I had seen was actually the reflection of accumulated stones. Where light and shadow met, the raised areas shone like silver pebbles, and the concave areas were as dark as deep pools, each detail clearly visible, almost beyond my imagination. I stared at it for a long time, feeling its clear radiance pierce through me, and my very soul was stirred—"

Upon seeing this text, Xu Lai smiled.

Then came Shen Kuo's plea for help: "—After observing it, I was drenched in sweat. I privately thought that such strange phenomena were a secret of Heaven, not something a subject should presume to peek at. Although I wished to record it and report it, I feared it would shock the world and invite ridicule for its absurdity; if I kept it a secret, I would betray your kindness in passing on your knowledge. I was caught in a dilemma, hesitating for days, not knowing who to report to first, nor whether this thing could be presented to the Emperor. I only hope that you will enlighten me."

Shen Kuo was terrified by what he saw of the moon and didn't know who to tell or whether he should present it to the emperor.

He actually wrote a letter to solicit Xu Lai's opinion.

In the afternoon, after finishing his work, Xu Lai picked up his pen and wrote a reply to Shen Kuo.

He first thanked Shen Kuo for his concern, then congratulated him on his meritorious service and promotion. He then suggested that Shen Kuo give the telescope to Ouyang Xiu to observe. After Ouyang Xiu had finished observing the moon, he would then seek his opinion on whether it should be presented to the emperor.

Xu Lai wrote a letter to Yu Zhongxun and Pianpian, asking Zhang Kongmu to help send all three letters out. Then he strolled back to the back of the signing hall.

Bu Chao hadn't returned yet; he was wandering around outside.

This guy's Mandarin is getting better and better, and he even has a Shangqiu accent. I reckon if he practices for another month or two, he'll be able to pass for a local.

Xu Lai walked to the backyard, dragged out a chair, and sat under the shade of a tree to enjoy his leisure time.

September (lunar calendar) is almost over. A few days ago, there was an autumn rain that brought the temperature down to the point where we had to wear autumn clothes. Today it's warmed up a bit and the sun is out. It's quite nice to take a nap while basking in the sunset.

Hearing the noise, Yu'er quickly came over to check.

Seeing Xu Lai lying under the tree with his eyes closed, she immediately took a thin blanket and gently covered him with it, afraid that her husband would catch a cold.

Back inside, Yu'er continued sewing autumn clothes.

She and Bu Chao were all from Guangdong and unfamiliar with the northern climate. Xu Lai got so busy that he forgot about the season. Although the cook was a local, she hadn't expected them not to prepare any clothes.

Amidst everyone's negligence, the temperature suddenly dropped a few days ago, and it was impossible to find suitable clothes to wear.

In the end, Xu Lai led everyone shopping and paid for a set of clothes for himself and his servants.

Yu'er felt extremely guilty and has been making clothes for Xu Lai these past few days.

"My lord, the meal is ready," the cook came over and whispered.

"oh."

Xu Lai suddenly woke up and found himself covered with a blanket.

He carried the blanket and chair back into the house and saw Yu'er still sewing. He couldn't help but go over and gently pat her head: "It's already dark, and you don't even know to turn on the lights. Aren't you afraid of going blind?"

"Hehe." Yu'er smiled sweetly.

Her husband would occasionally pat her on the shoulder or head, and she especially liked this kind of intimate interaction.

After putting down her needlework, Yu'er went to eat with Xu Lai. At first, she was a little embarrassed, but now she's used to eating at the same table with Xu Lai and feels like a young married couple.

As she helped the cook serve the food, Yu'er asked, "My lord, when will the winter silk and cotton be distributed?"

"It'll be soon, on the first day of the tenth month," Xu Lai said.

Yu'er asked again, "How much does the government give you?"

Xu Lai said, "12 bolts of silk and 20 taels of cotton."

"That's quite a lot." Yu'er began to think about how to make clothes. She had learned to prepare in advance and was already thinking about winter clothes.

Yu'er was actually secretly writing lyrics, wanting to show them to Xu Lai for appreciation, but the content of the lyrics made her embarrassed.

Even the embarrassing comic books he brought from Shaozhou were never used. Xu Lai was busy with work during the day and read books when he came back at night. He didn't have time to play during the week, and only had more contact with others on his days off.

Yu'er thought to herself: My husband must be waiting for his wife to come into the family.

Tokyo.

After agonizing for many days, Shen Kuo finally received a reply from Xu Lai.

He waited until his day off in early October, and early in the morning, he took his telescope and went out, like a thief, to Ouyang Xiu's house.

Through Xu Lai, he had already become acquainted with Ouyang Fei and Ouyang Bian.

"Brother Cunzhong, this telescope is really big. Is it the latest improvement?" Ouyang Bian stared curiously at the thing in his arms.

Shen Kuo said, "It is indeed the latest improvement. Is Minister Ouyang at home?"

'

Ouyang Bian said, "No, my father left early this morning."

Shen Kuo could only wait.

When Ouyang Xiu finally returned in the afternoon, Shen Kuo hurriedly went to see him.

"Lord Ouyang, there is something I am not sure if I should say," Shen Kuo said hesitantly.

Ouyang Xiu smiled and said, "Go ahead and tell me."

Shen Kuo said, "I looked at the moon with a telescope."

Ouyang Xiu, of course, knew about telescopes, and immediately asked jokingly, "Have you seen Chang'e?"

Shen Kuo said solemnly, "There is no Chang'e, nor a moon palace or cassia tree. The moon's surface is not smooth, and it doesn't even emit its own light. I suspect it reflects the sun's light."

Ouyang Xiu, who had been joking, immediately stopped smiling: "You really saw the moon?"

"Yes." Shen Kuo began to describe the surface of the moon in detail.

After listening, Ouyang Xiu remained silent for a long time.

Although the Northern Song Dynasty still adhered to the theory of the interaction between Heaven and Man, many officials held opposing views. They believed that various natural disasters and anomalies, including solar and lunar eclipses and meteors, were unrelated to human affairs.

Ouyang Xiu did not believe in the interaction between heaven and man, but suddenly he heard that someone could see the moon clearly. Moreover, as long as one had such a telescope, everyone could see it clearly, which made Ouyang Xiu feel curious, confused and panicked.

What would the emperor's attitude be?

What kind of trouble will happen if the news gets out?

Now, when officials criticize the floods and accuse the prime minister of causing the disaster through improper consultations, this astronomical telescope is the best weapon to refute them. But is this kind of information really suitable for dissemination?

Ouyang Xiu said, "Put the telescope here first, and I'll discuss it with Minister Han."

.