Chapter 872 A Dream of Youth 404
Xie Ning went to the Military Equipment Bureau to retrieve something she had previously commissioned the craftsmen there to make: a telescope, also known as a clairvoyant telescope.
During the Han Dynasty, there was a practice of shaving ice into a round shape, holding it up to the sun, and using a stick to catch its shadow to start a fire. Later, in addition to ice shards, there were also crystal and glass. The main purpose of the lens was to magnify for viewing, starting fires, and reading small texts.
The Imperial Hospital was equipped with crystal mirrors to treat minor wounds.
It is evident that the artisans of the Great Zhou Dynasty were capable of making lenses, and their skills were quite advanced. Therefore, they could certainly make the lenses that Xie Ning needed. Although she herself could not make glass, she still remembered some of the simpler principles of telescopes.
It consists of a concave lens and a convex lens, namely the eyepiece and the objective lens. It has a simple structure and can directly form an upright image.
Such a device could be very useful in the military.
So Xie Ning had the craftsmen in the military equipment department try to make such lenses. Not long ago, they finally found a suitable lens and slowly put them together to make the telescope.
Xie Ning wanted to name it Telescope, but the Director of the Military Equipment Bureau insisted on calling it Thousand-Mile Eyes, saying that the name sounded better and was more imposing. Xie Ning did not argue with them about these things, so in the end, it was named Thousand-Mile Eyes.
As for the mirror, it was accidentally invented by an apprentice who worked with the master craftsman. However, there were still many blisters at that time. Xie Ning saw it during his inspection and was quite surprised. He then rewarded the apprentice and let him continue experimenting.
In the end, they actually created a smooth and clear mirror, though it wasn't as clear as those of later generations. But once you start, you can always improve the clarity step by step.
The promulgation of the patent law boosted the enthusiasm of most craftsmen, who were more willing to delve into new things, thus slowly improving the overall technological level of society.
Xie Ning could tell that the young apprentice was deliberately showing off in front of her, probably afraid that the master or other officials would seize the technique.
Xie Ning directly promoted him, so that he wouldn't have to be an apprentice doing odd jobs under other master chefs.
Then, upon returning, I brought up the matter of improving the patent law to prevent others from stealing our technologies.
Xu Hongying was overjoyed to see that Xie Ning had brought her a telescope. She had been craving it, but she hadn't received one; only people in positions like the Left Prince Consort had them.
Xie Ning taught her how to use it for a while, then smiled and said, "The production capacity is still low now, but once the technology is stable, it can be used throughout the entire army."
Xu Hongying went to Lingnan, while Xie Ning left Chu Xu and Song Sanlang behind. Apart from these people, the rest were all under Yan Xi's command. They did not have Xu Hongying's qualifications and military achievements. When they entered the Imperial Guard Cavalry, they basically started from the bottom.
It was tough, but it also had its advantages. It allowed you to build relationships with the soldiers at the grassroots level, which was crucial for the morale of the troops.
The army marched south, and Chu Xu followed Xie Ning back to her residence.
Chu Xu did not have her own residence; she and several other female soldiers and generals who joined the army lived in Xie Ning's residence.
Besides them, there were several advisors and retainers.
The higher she climbed, the more positions she held, and Xie Ning felt the workload was heavy. In addition, she also had to handle some affairs besides official duties, and her energy was limited. It was indeed difficult for her to support herself alone, so she needed to recruit some retainers to work for her.
Many people came to her, including men and women, candidates who failed the imperial examinations, people who were unable to enter officialdom due to crimes, and others.
Xie Wangzhi also had many retainers, who usually lived in the outer courtyard. Now that Xie Wangzhi was serving in Luzhou, some of his retainers accompanied him.
Xie Ning couldn't control Yan Xi's people, but Chu Xu was someone she had brought out, so Xie Ning had her stay by his side and talk about the distribution of power within the Imperial Guards and cavalry.
There are also some people Xie Ning is on good terms with there. Chu Xu can get in touch with them to integrate more quickly and easily.
Chu Xu listened very attentively. When she first joined the army, she was only tall and strong. Then she learned how to kill and how to move in formation on the battlefield.
Then they arrived in the capital, where Xie Ning had them taught to read and write.
Their rapid growth was inseparable from Xie Ning's support. Chu Xu didn't think that she and the other female soldiers had anything that Xie Ning should give them, because compared to Xu Hongying, who had exceptional martial arts talent and was skilled in combat, they were really nothing.
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