Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 708 Talent for Governing the Country 7

The next morning, Yun Chu accompanied Zhao Gongzi Dan to the highest observatory in Handan. As dawn broke, the eastern sky began to lighten with the pale glow of dawn.

"Young master, have you ever thought about why the farming season is so important?" Yun Chu pointed to the sky, "Spring sowing, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage are all due to the regularity of the stars' movements."

Young Master Zhao Dan gazed eastward: "Sir, are you saying that celestial phenomena are related to agricultural activities?"

“Exactly.” Yun Chu unfolded a star chart. “Look, when the handle of the Big Dipper points east, it is springtime; when it points south, it is summertime. By observing celestial phenomena, one can predict the changes in the seasons.”

She took out a simple sundial. "This thing can measure the length of the shadow and determine the season. If you can master this, you can predict droughts and floods and guide agricultural activities."

A realization flashed in Zhao Gongzi Dan's eyes: "No wonder there was such a severe drought last year, catching farmers off guard. If they had known about the weather changes earlier, they might have been able to prepare in advance."

"The way of Heaven operates according to its own principles." Yun Chu smiled. "Just as water flows downhill and fire burns upward, everything has its own laws. Governing a country should also be like this, following the natural order and guiding it according to its circumstances."

In the afternoon, Yun Chu led Zhao Gongzi Dan to a smelting workshop outside the city. The furnace was roaring, and the craftsmen were busy at work.

"Does the young master know why objects made from different ratios of copper and tin have varying degrees of hardness?" Yun Chu pointed to the furnace. "Six parts copper to one part tin is the standard for bells and tripods; five parts copper to one part tin is the standard for axes and hatchets. This is recorded in the 'Kaogongji' (Record of Trades), and it is indeed the principle of metallurgy."

Young Master Zhao carefully observed the craftsman's work: "Sir, are you saying that everything has its own 'principle'?"

“Not bad.” Yun Chu picked up two pieces of ore. “This is hematite, rich in iron; this is pyrite, with a higher sulfur content. If we don’t understand their properties, we’re likely to fail during smelting. The same applies to governing a country. If you don’t know the suffering of the people, how can you talk about governing?”

A few days later, Yun Chu brought Zhao Gongzi Dan to the site of a newly built water conservancy project. The canal water flowed gently, irrigating the newly reclaimed farmland.

"Young master, have you ever considered why water can carry a boat but also capsize it?" Yun Chu pointed to the water flow. "Water has buoyancy, so it can support boats; but a rapid current can also wash away the banks. This is the way of nature."

She took out a bamboo tube and inserted one end into the water: "You see, the water can rise up along the tube; this is the principle of 'capillary action.' If we can make good use of this principle, we can design more sophisticated irrigation systems."

Young Master Zhao Dan pondered for a moment: "Sir, I once saw children in the village school using bamboo tubes to draw water to water flowers. Could it be the same principle?"

“Exactly.” Yun Chu nodded approvingly. “Knowledge is not about being profound, but about being practical. If we can apply these principles to people’s livelihoods, that is true wisdom.”

Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye, and Yun Chu began to teach Young Master Zhao Dan medicine and agriculture.

"Does the young master know why the 'five grains' are rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans?" Yun Chu led him into a field. "Different crops adapt to different soils and climates. Rice likes water, and wheat is cold-resistant; this is the nature of things. If you force rice to be planted in dry land, it will inevitably lead to a poor harvest."

She squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil: "Look, this soil is loose and rich in humus, suitable for planting beans; that soil is heavy and sticky, suitable for planting rice. If we can understand the properties of the soil, we can adapt to local conditions and improve the harvest."

Prince Dan of Zhao carefully recorded: "I have ordered people to draw a map of the soil in the State of Zhao and mark the crops that are suitable for planting in different regions."

“Good.” Yun Chu smiled. “Governing a country is like farming; one must know the right time and place.”

As winter approached, Yun Chu taught Young Master Zhao Dan the techniques of salt making and wine brewing.

"Salt is the king of all flavors and the foundation of people's livelihood." Yun Chu demonstrated the process of salt production in salt fields, "Seawater evaporates under the sun, and salt crystallizes. This is the principle of 'the separation of the properties of things'."

She then took him on a tour of the brewery: "Grain fermentation produces fine wine. This process is delicate, requiring precise control of temperature, humidity, and time. If you can master this, you can not only obtain fine wine, but also understand the principle of 'change'."

Young Master Zhao Dan suddenly realized: "Sir, are you saying that everything is in constant flux, and governing a country should also be done by adapting to changing circumstances?"

“Exactly.” Yun Chu nodded. “Like brewing wine, if the temperature is too high, it will turn sour; if it is too low, it will not ferment. The same applies to governing a country. If the laws are too strict, the people will resent them; if they are too lenient, there will be disorder.”

As spring returned to the earth, Yun Chu began to teach Young Master Zhao Dan more advanced knowledge.

She led Prince Dan of Zhao to the top of a high mountain, overlooking the land of Zhao: "Prince, have you ever thought about why mountains have different heights and rivers have different speeds?"

"Please enlighten me, sir," said Zhao Gongzi Dan respectfully.

“The earth is not flat, but rather undulating.” Yun Chu unfolded a simple topographic map. “High places are mountains, and low places are valleys. Water flows downhill, thus forming rivers. If we can understand the topography, we can design more reasonable roads and water conservancy projects.”

She then took out a lodestone: "This object can point south, because the universe has its own magnetic field. If we can make good use of this principle, navigators will not get lost."

Zhao Gongzi Dan's eyes gleamed: "I have already ordered the creation of a 'compass' for surveying terrain and navigation."

"Good." Yun Chu nodded with satisfaction. "The value of knowledge lies in its application."

On a hot summer day, Yun Chu taught Zhao Gongzi Dan the principles of optics and thermodynamics.

She took a piece of ice and sculpted it into the shape of a convex lens: "Sunlight passing through this ice can be focused to start a fire. This is called 'light refraction.' If we can make good use of this principle, we can create more sophisticated fire-starting tools."

He then took a bronze mirror and adjusted its angle: "Look, sunlight reflected here can shine into a deep well. If we can master this technique, we can design brighter palaces and residences."

Young Master Zhao Dan exclaimed in amazement, "Sir, why are these principles so rarely recorded by our predecessors?"

“It’s not that our predecessors didn’t know, but rather that few people systematically summarized it,” Yun Chu explained. “Knowledge is like water; it accumulates drop by drop until it becomes a river. What I teach is simply a summary of the experiences of our predecessors, systematized.”

During the autumn harvest season, Zhao Gongzi Dan was already able to independently design water conservancy projects and promote new farming techniques at the village school. He personally went to the fields, worked alongside the farmers, and understood the practical difficulties.

One day, King Zhao summoned Yun Chu: "I heard from Dan'er that the master taught him the 'principle of leverage,' which enabled him to design a more labor-saving water-lifting tool, greatly improving irrigation efficiency?"

"Exactly," Yun Chu replied respectfully. "Using a little to move a lot is a wonderful application of physics."

King Zhao nodded: "Dan'er has changed a lot recently. He no longer talks about benevolence and righteousness, but is actually thinking about how to make the people live in peace and contentment."

Yun Chu smiled and said, "The key to governing a country lies in the unity of knowledge and action."

On the winter solstice, Prince Dan of Zhao established the "Hall of Investigating Things" in the palace to collect various natural phenomena and technological records, and organized scholars to study and summarize them. He personally participated in the research and applied his knowledge to practical governance.

“Sir,” he showed Yun Chu a newly prepared agricultural calendar, “based on celestial observations and soil analysis, I have adjusted the sowing times in various regions, and I expect next year’s harvest to increase by 20%.”

Yun Chu looked at him with satisfaction: "Young Master has already grasped the essence of 'investigating things to acquire knowledge'."

Young Master Zhao bowed deeply: "Without your guidance, I would still be a young master with only a superficial understanding. Now I realize that governing a country is not about empty talk, but about understanding principles and putting them into practice."

Yun Chu gently stroked the bamboo slip, which recorded Zhao Gongzi Dan's growth over the past year: "Knowledge is like a seed, sown in the heart, and will eventually blossom and bear fruit. Gongzi has moved from 'knowing' to 'doing,' and this is true growth."

Outside the window, snowflakes drifted down, and palace lanterns shone brightly. Young Master Zhao Dan continued studying the *Gewu Zhi* (Treatise on the Investigation of Things) taught by Yun Chu, pondering how to transform knowledge into policies that benefit the people.

The seed planted in the thatched-roof schoolhouse has taken root, sprouted, and grown strong in the Handan palace.

Yun Chu knew that the points were within reach, but more importantly, she witnessed the transformation of a future wise ruler—from an ignorant youth to a crown prince who cared deeply for the people, from someone who talked about benevolence and righteousness to a ruler who put knowledge into practice.

This is her greatest achievement on this trip.