Great Song

Chapter 123

In the early morning of the next day, Zhen Qiong rushed back to the Taoist temple in a hurry, called two apprentices, and said with a straight face: "Master, I have to change my research direction, and we are going to start refining Qi!"

Why does this "refinement of Qi" sound similar to Neidanshu?Rao Qingfeng was so calm, he couldn't help showing a look of astonishment: "Master, don't make alchemy anymore?"

"Qi refining is also closely related to alchemy. Now Baoying Temple is also a grand temple allocated by the imperial court. It can't be limited to alchemy, you have to broaden your mind!" Zhen Qiong said earnestly.

Since becoming the master of Baoying Temple, he has actually taken on many projects, and he has never been short of funds. He has been busy all year round without touching the ground.However, most of these projects are needed by the court, and some are for Brother Miao.His original plan to refine alum and search for new metals has been shelved by him for a long time.

It is not surprising that it takes years to study a new metal.Zhen Qiong did not lose confidence in this matter, but the urgent thoughts at the beginning have disappeared.On the one hand, because he didn't need this new metal, he became famous and established a school.On the other hand, there are too many trifles, one project after another all day long, and pondering about the things of the water fire school and the herbal school, how can I calm down and make alchemy?

But the moment he saw the sky-viewing mirror last night, what he thought in his heart was very different.A hammer to the east and a stick to the west is not a solution.And "Qi" is one of the foundations of alchemy after all.Although it is invisible, but in the process of alchemy, it must be involved at all times.If you don't understand the principle of "Qi", it will be difficult to break through the barrier after all.

It's just that when he was learning alchemy, his little Taoist temple really didn't have the conditions for refining qi, and even his master didn't teach it very much.Do your own research and start from scratch.

But Zhen Qiong had no fear in her heart, instead she developed some pride.This is the knowledge that can become the foundation of Lipai!What's more, Shen Kuo and the others plan to study astronomy, and the concept of "vacuum" cannot escape.If he can work hard on Qi refining, maybe he can also cooperate with the two of them to promote the "Earthquake Theory" to come out as soon as possible.

He had promised Brother Miao that he would show him the stars!

How could Qingfeng and Mingyue guess such complicated thoughts?With a blank face, he followed his mentor and devoted himself to the great cause of "qi refining".This movement is really not small, several new-style alchemy furnaces need to be newly built, large glass vessels are needed, and materials for sealing the mouth of the jars need to be found.After all the tossing, even Chi Liaozi was alarmed, and came to ask him why.

Zhen Qiong was very frank: "Brother has found a new path, but I can't stand still. I have to work harder!"

The theory of "vitality" is one of the foundations of Taoism, and there is nothing wrong with delving into it.Seeing Zhen Qiong's hard work, Chi Liaozi agreed and encouraged him repeatedly.Duan Xuanshuang's face turned pale when he heard this, and his eyes were full of sympathy when he saw Qingfeng and Mingyue.That brat Zhen Qiong, who is really good at refining alchemy, forgets to eat and sleep.Do you need to work harder?I'm afraid it's not about exhausting people to death.

It's just that what kind of regulations are used to refine gas with a stove is really curious...

Few people know about the small changes in Baoying Temple.However, a new article in "Ri Xin Bao" has attracted some people's attention.

"What does "Ri Xin Bao" want to do?" Looking at the "Ji Xin Bao", Cheng Yi's complexion was not very good.

Before that, he and his elder brother wrote an article in "Mingde Daily", refuting that merchants used "midwifery techniques" to make profits and ruin the atmosphere.However, after writing a few articles, I did not receive the expected effect at all.Those merchants are still mercenary and don't care about the discussion at all.Few people in the scholar community responded, and I don't know if it's because of their interests, or because they really think this method works?However, the craftsman in his family has not even produced a "microscope", so there is no way to refute the claims of "fine Gu" and "external evil".It's so insignificant that it really makes people feel depressed.

Now that the matter of "midwifery" has just passed, Meng Xisheng, who hasn't published an article for a long time, suddenly published a small article about "Qi", how can we not make people vigilant?

"This article is Meng Xisheng's usual style of writing, but the things written, in detail, are somewhat similar to my uncle's study of qi." Now that "Ming De Bao" uses essays to study classics, Cheng Hao is naturally more sensitive to this aspect .

This new article is indeed Meng Xisheng's usual style.Place the candle in clear lime water, light it, and cover it with glass.After a while, the candle will automatically go out, and the lime water will become cloudy and the water level will rise slightly.The steps are detailed and concise, and it is easy to repeat them.However, the discussion is different from usual.In this article, it is the "vital energy" that makes the fire burn. When the vitality in the cup is burned out, "turbid air" is born again.The turbid air can be absorbed by the lime water again, and deposits appear. Without this part of the turbid air, the water in the cup pours in and naturally fills the place.

There are twists and turns, interlocking and interlocking, making it hard to pick a mistake.However, the underlying meaning is deeper.It is nothing more than the saying that "heaven and earth combine Qi, and all things are self-generated". It is said that everything in the world comes from Qi, and even the fire needs the assistance of "vital energy".But the disappearance of vital energy and the generation of turbid energy coincide with the principle of the evolution of yin and yang, and the reading is almost seamless.

Regarding one of "Qi", the Cheng brothers are quite familiar with it.Their distant uncle, Zhang Zai, created his own "Qiology", saying that Qi transforms all things.However, although their "Confucianism" also values ​​"Qi", they believe in "Qi can perish, but Li does not perish".Now that such a "theory of primordial turbidity of qi" pops up suddenly, it actually has the meaning of "qi comes first".

This is no different from a challenge for Ercheng, who values ​​"natural principles".However, it is not so easy to discern the truth.Why can the same amount of "dirty qi" be produced when the "vital qi" is burned out?Why can this "turbidity" be swallowed by lime water?If you swallow an inch, the water will rise by an inch. Doesn't it mean that the "qi" has not dissipated and is endless?What is that hanging in the glass, empty, not consumed by fire, not swallowed by lime water?

"Confucianism", after all, still has to talk about "Tao" and "reason".If you don't even know the truth, how can you convince others?

The essay given by Meng Xisheng is really a headache.

Cheng Yi also sighed: "If my uncle sees this essay, I'm afraid it will be taken as a confidant. I never thought that Meng Xisheng would have such an idea."

"This man has extensive knowledge, how can he not have his own arguments?" Cheng Hao was not surprised.It is impossible for Meng Xisheng to say amazing things without some real talent and learning.It's just that "reason" and "qi" involve all things and the universe after all, so we should not be careless.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Get some candles and glasses first, and try this method."

Since the truth is there, if you practice it a few more times, are you afraid that there will be no reason?

Others are still worrying about vitality and turbid qi, but the Taoist boys in Baoying Temple have already begun to have a headache about the difference between turbid qi.

"There is only vitality, which can support the growth of all things. Among the turbid air, there are many types. For example, wood, coal and stone can all produce carbon gas, and sulfur can produce sulfur gas. Carbon gas is so strong that it can kill people. Sulfur gas has a foul smell , It is also highly toxic, but it is quite easy to distinguish. There are also metals that enter acid, which can produce clear gas, which is colorless and odorless, and turns into water when heated. Oh, by the way, methane may be formed in a closed waterway, and it will explode when exposed to fire. "If you want to refine Qi, you must first teach your disciples what you know.Zhen Qiong was also unambiguous, and first told his disciples everything he knew.

Mingyue was dizzy when she heard this: "Teacher, when you light the candle, what kind of aura is produced? After being absorbed by the lime water, what kind of aura is left?"

The small theory in "Ri Xin Bao" was taught by Zhen Qiong to Shen Kuo, so naturally she also demonstrated one or two to her disciples.

Satisfied with Mingyue's keenness, Zhen Qiong explained: "The candle burns the wick, which is twisted out of the hemp rope, and what is burned is naturally carbon gas. The carbon gas can be absorbed by the lime water, and what is left is the Inert gas. Inert gas is invisible, colorless, odorless, and non-flammable. It seems to contain more in the atmosphere than vitality, but how much it is will be measured slowly."

In the Jinshi school, only the "vital energy" is emphasized.Basically rely on blowing wind, keep blowing wind.There are not many studies on other gases.Don't you want to test these things that you know about?

Hearing this, Qingfeng and Mingyue couldn't help nodding their heads.To test their familiarity, just keep tinkering, and then weigh and analyze after tinkering.

Seeing that the two of them understood what she meant, Zhen Qiong didn't hesitate: "Put everything in the glass bottle, let's start refining qi! You have to be careful, all qi will dissipate, some are more dangerous than gold and stone, so don't be careless!"

The master and apprentice quickly threw themselves into the intense and orderly experiment.Within two days, Han Miao felt something was wrong.I personally went to Baoyingguan to inquire about it, only to find that Zhen Qiong had changed her research direction, and became more busy than ever.How is this going?Didn't you practice alchemy well before, why did you suddenly start refining qi?

Thinking of the essay that Shen Kuo had just published in the newspaper, Han Miao frowned and went to visit without saying a word.It was not Shen Kuo who was looking for, but Su Song.

"Ling Xiaozi refines Qi and writes theories in his records. Why does Jingsheng seek me?" Seeing Han Miao, Su Song was still a little surprised.Obviously those two started to study "atmosphere", how did Han Miao find himself in such a short time?

"Qiong'er changed her mind after looking at the sky. I'm afraid that some major event happened, which caused the two of them to change their conversation. The boy thought about it for a long time, and felt that there must be a deep meaning in it, so he came to disturb Brother Su." Han Miao smiled. No change, said slowly.

Zhen Qiong is not one who can hide her words, and Shen Kuo is quite straightforward in dealing with people and things.If it is said who among the three made up his mind, it must be Su Song.And if Zhen Qiong can keep his mouth shut, how could things be trivial?

These words really hit the nail on the head, Su Song was silent for a moment, and sighed softly: "This matter is of great importance, so it is inconvenient to discuss it with Jing Sheng..."

"Brother Shen has already published an article in "Ri Xin Bao", and I'm afraid there will be more actions in the future. No matter what you want to do, you should tell the boy." Han Miao couldn't see the intention of that essay ?How can there be such a reason in the world for using the "Ri Xin Bao" as a hacker, and still hiding it from my master?

Su Song couldn't help frowning, it was really unreasonable to use the "Ri Xin Bao" to publish such a shocking story without telling the master first.Looking at the expression on Han Miao's face, one can also see the concern in his heart.It's nothing more than myself and Shen Kuo, Zhen Qiong is his lover after all, so it's not good to keep it a secret.

After thinking for a long time, he sighed again, and finally said: "This matter all started because of Ling Xiaozi's words. After looking at the sky mirror, he told me and Cunzhong that the earth is like a ball, not only It rotates by itself every moment, and it will go around the sun."

The author has something to say: vital gas-oxygen, inert gas-nitrogen, clear gas-hydrogen.There is no need to explain the rest.