Qin Official

"That's right, apply what you learn!"

Before Heifu started to teach the Mohist Cheng Shang, Zhang Cang burst into laughter and interrupted, smelling of alcohol:

"Hei Fu, you are still a little late. I learned this lesson more than twenty years ago."

He shook his head and said: "The Master was sitting in Lanling that day and told everyone that if you know something but don't do it, you will be tired even if you are diligent. This means that knowing is not the purpose, knowing is for use. Knowing without using can not be turned into action. No matter how rich the knowledge is, it is useless..."

Heifu immediately said: "Yes, Xunzi and I have the same view on this point. Moreover, truly useful knowledge is not only for you to use it yourself, but also for others to use it! It is not only for young people to use it, but also for others to use it!" Some people use it, but everyone in the world can use it!”

"Let everyone in the world use it?"

Cheng Shang was stunned. Although the Mo family was famous for their ingenuity, they only regarded it as a means, not a goal, so they did not think about it in this aspect.

Heifu took Zhang Cang as an example: "Zhang Cang finished writing the first volume of "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" last year. In the first six volumes, the "Fangtian" chapter involves the precise measurement of acres, and the "Millet" chapter is about the proportional calculation of grains. In other words, "Shaipen" is related to the distribution of salary, "Shaoguang" and "Shanggong" are about the calculation of civil engineering quantities, and "Jiansu" involves the apportionment of taxes..."

"By the way, there is also "Abacus", which specifically talks about the usage and techniques of abacus. All of the above are extremely practical, with simple examples. Could it be that it was written for himself? It was written for his son's disciples ?”

"wrong!"

Zhang Cang was also drunk and struck the case loudly: "I wrote this for everyone in the world to read! The six arts of a gentleman are rituals, music, archery, and numerology. However, I want all the scholars, farmers, industrialists, and merchants in the world to be able to use the art of numerology." !”

This "Nine Chapters on Arithmetic" is Zhang Cang's best fulfillment of Xun Qing's "unity of learning and practice".

Fatty understands very well that if he is obsessed with profound mathematical problems and cannot extricate himself, then this book will ultimately be for the entertainment of a small group of people and will not benefit the public or benefit the world.

Therefore, Zhang Cang wrote the practical six volumes at the front, and the more theoretical "Prosperity and Insufficiency", "Pythagorean" and "Equations" at the back. Because for most people, the first six volumes are enough. If someone is not satisfied after reading the first half, they will naturally want to read the last three volumes and embark on the path of studying numerology...

"If I hide the mathematical knowledge that I want to understand and give it only to my son and disciples, it will be lost sooner or later."

Zhang Cangjiu seemed to have woken up and became serious. He agreed with Heifu's statement: "Zi Yin, if a knowledge is so advanced that no one uses it, it will soon be extinct and lost."

The lower foundation determines the superstructure, and the same goes for knowledge.

No matter how good the theory is, it must be useful in the field of application before it can be carried forward. With its huge audience base and practical benefits, it will in turn promote the development of the theory.

Moreover, process technology must be studied by a group of people together in order to make progress. If one person works behind closed doors, he may develop backward skills.

There was a lack of technical books in ancient times. Later generations thought that it was because the literati did not pay attention to technology. In fact, this may not be the case. It could also be that the craftsmen hid their unique skills and did not let others know about them, and eventually they were not passed down.

This problem is not only common in China, but also in Japan and the West. It was not until the development of the patent system that rewarded open technology that craftsmen gradually dedicated their unique skills.

The real way to break the complacency of craftsmen is to rely on the development of science. The decades of experience gained by craftsmen are not as good as the results derived from science. This makes ancient craftsmen completely lose their trump card.

Heifu understands that the patent system is of course impossible, but the Qin Dynasty can encourage military merit, can encourage Li Tian, ​​and can also encourage some craftsmen to innovate and invent!

If Mohists who truly mastered "science" in this era participated and helped the government train craftsmen, it might be possible to advance the process of science-led craftsmanship...

After Heifu and Zhang Cang talked about it, Cheng Shang finally came to a realization.

"Mozi believes that craftsmen always need a scale as a measurement when constructing. A skilled craftsman can depict it completely accurately. Although an unlucky craftsman cannot be completely accurate, if he acts according to the scale, the effect will be better than relying solely on his own personal ability to explore."

He raised his head and said, "Sheriff, I understand. What you want the Mo family to do is that ruler! Use the reputation and ability of the Mo family to become the standard for craftsmen in the world!"

Heifu was pleased: "Of course! Are you willing to help me accomplish this?"

Cheng Shang nodded: "I will go back to Xianyang immediately and urge Qin Mo to agree!"

"No, I'm not begging them to accept it."

Zhang Cang corrected him: "I'll tell you the truth. When we were in Linzi, because the Confucian scholars used the past to ridicule the present, and Prime Minister Li made some comments, His Majesty almost wanted to burn the opinions of hundreds of schools of thought, and Mohists were among them! If it weren't for the black If I try to stop him, the fire may have already reached Xianyang."

Cheng Shang had also heard about this, and now that he heard it, he was still frightened.

Heifu also answered: "That's right, Prime Minister Li said it himself, the common people should work hard as farmers and workers, and the scholars should study laws and regulations to overcome prohibitions. In his opinion, these three are the only ones that are useful, and the rest are useless. All books can be burned!"

"If the Mohists don't want to become a unique master, they must take advantage of His Majesty's decision and take over the matter and take the lead in starting an engineering school in Xianyang. If the Mohists want to survive in the Qin Dynasty, they must prove that they are a useful master!"

After saying this, Hei Fu handed over to Cheng Shang: "This is also my Hei Fu. Out of respect for Mozi and admiration for Mozi, this is the only way I can help the Mo family!"

…

"Yesterday you asked the Mohists to apply the knowledge in their Mohist scriptures to engineering skills, which is excellent. But then you said that you want me to apply Xun Qing's theory of heaven to farming, but I don't quite understand... …”

The next day, after drinking too much the night before, Zhang Cang, who was clamoring to "sleep together" with Hei Fu, woke up and found that Hei Fu was not sleeping with him at all.

He rubbed his sore temples and came to the courtyard. After being washed by the maid, he actually still remembered yesterday's argument.

Hei Fu just slept in the next room with his clothes on. When he heard Zhang Cang's words, he immediately perked up and wanted to continue lecturing Zhang Cang on the small blackboard, but found that it actually had the four simplified Chinese characters "United Workers and Peasants" written on it!

I don’t know what I was bragging about yesterday when I was drunk. I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. I stretched out my hand to wipe it off quickly. Then I coughed a few times and said:

"Although you, Zhang Cang, are knowledgeable, you come from a wealthy family and are no match for me, the son of a Guizhou leader who has been digging in the fields since childhood. Then I will continue to talk to you about farming!"

Heifu first asked Zhang Cang three simple questions.

"What's the grain for?"

"Why five dishes?"

"Why six animals?"

Zhang Cang felt that he had been insulted and became furious: "Do you think I am really indifferent to all four body parts and five grains?"

Heifu raised his eyes and looked at Lao Zhang's weight of two hundred kilograms. If nothing else, it was true that he was not working hard.

But after all, Zhang Cang has a lot of knowledge, and he has five grains: rice, millet, millet, wheat, and bean sprouts. Five vegetables: sunflower, leek, xiè, green onion, and hyacinth. The six animals are pigs, cows, sheep, horses, chickens, dogs... He can name them all accurately. In addition, which county produces what, the quality of grains, the habits of livestock, and the key points of feeding can all be said. After all, in addition to being a fat technical geek, he is also a big foodie.

After Zhang Cang finished talking, Hei Fu held up his hands and smiled and said, "Well said, but let me ask you one more question."

"Say!" Zhang Cang raised his short neck, showing an attitude of accepting everyone who came.

But Heifu's words once again stunned Zhang Cang.

"Do you think that people in the world can grow and raise these grains, vegetables, and livestock from the beginning?"

…

ps: I’m busy going out and don’t have time to code more. This chapter is a bit short, so I won’t have to wait until tonight.