My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 99: The Secret to Winning the Academic Conference

"A hot air balloon uses a combustion device to heat the air, and then the balloon can fly..."

After reading the letter, Zhu Yuanzhang's brain was half in shock and half in confusion.

He understood the concept of a hot air balloon. It was a huge ball with a basket hanging underneath. The air inside was heated and it could carry people flying.

It is simply unbelievable. Although Lao Li gave an example in the letter, it is like the Kongming lantern invented by Zhuge Liang before his death in Wuzhangyuan. The principle is the same.

It is not clear whether Zhuge Liang invented the Kongming lantern in Wuzhangyuan, but legend has it that during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a woman named Shen Qinniang invented a paper lantern woven from bamboo strips while following her husband to fight in Fujian. Burning pine resin was placed on the chassis, and the lantern flew into the sky due to the heat and was used as a military communication signal.

Because this lantern looks like Zhuge Liang's hat, it is called "Kongming Lantern".

But he still found it incredible. The hot air balloon was so big, I wonder how many times bigger it was than a Kongming lantern. Could such a big thing fly into the sky?
No matter how hard he tried to imagine it in his mind, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to see a hot air balloon carrying people soaring into the sky.

But this is easy to explain. What are the air and density that Lao Li mentioned? When we breathe in and out every day, we breathe air, right?
This world is really more magical than I imagined!

Alas, in front of Old Li, Old Zhu is like someone who has never been to school.

It seems that learning has no end, and we still need to keep working hard!
But since Lao Li said that this thing called a hot air balloon can fly, as long as we make this thing, the current problem will be solved!
Thinking about the shock and fear on the faces of those great scholars when they are carried up to the sky in the hot air balloon, my heart is filled with anticipation!

But, I, Old Zhu, also want to be like a god and ascend to the sky to see this world!

He ordered someone to put the glasses away and bring them to the inner hall, where Li Min and others had been waiting for a long time.

After Fang Xiaoru chose the glasses, he could not express his gratitude to Zhu Yuanzhang. When Xu Da and others saw that there were new glasses, they also curiously picked out a pair. However, when they put them on, they felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground.

"Your Majesty, since the great scholars have initiated a conference on academic discussion, their intention is obvious. They are trying to build momentum among the literary world and force the court to close the Academy of Artisans."

Li Min spoke in a deep voice, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

"I think that since they are coming for the Artisan Academy, we should accept the challenge. Although Lan Zhi and others are all famous scholars, I am also well-read in the classics and not unlearned. Let me meet those scholars!"

"Your Majesty, I am also willing to challenge and debate with the great scholars!" Fang Xiaoru also asked Zhu Yuanzhang for permission.

"Your Majesty, we are willing to fight and debate with the great scholar for the sake of the Craftsmen Academy!" Yang Siyi and others also said.

Seeing the selfless attitude of Li Min and others, Zhu Yuanzhang was also moved. Regardless of winning or losing, once they attended the academic conference, it would mean that they would be cut off from the literary world from now on!

"My dear ministers, I understand your intentions, but I wonder why only the Confucian scholars can debate the scriptures. Why not let people from all over the world debate together?"

"Your Majesty, why do you allow the world to debate?"

Several people looked confused and didn't understand what Zhu Yuanzhang meant.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased with their expressions, so he explained the newspaper matter to them in detail.

After everyone understood, they suddenly realized that this move was
Xu Da said quickly: "Your Majesty, I understand. Since we can create momentum in the literary world, we can also create momentum among the people!"

"Not only that, by letting poor students write articles in newspapers, we can divide the literary world from within, and thus win more students over to our side!"

Li Min was also excited.

"If this goes smoothly, the academic conference in ten days will be a sure win!"

"No, we must attend the Academic Conference. We must thoroughly conquer the minds of the scholars at the Academic Conference!"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Several people looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with doubt and curiosity.

"Since the Confucian scholars want to argue about the principles of heaven so much, let's let them go to heaven and see what the principles of heaven really look like!"

"Your Majesty, you must not do this. Although the Confucian scholars are reckless and have been constantly offending the court in recent days, they are not guilty of death!" Seeing that everyone was in a panic, Zhu Yuanzhang felt very happy in his heart. He knew that after saying this, several people would have this expression.

"No, no, I'm not a bloodthirsty person. You all come and take a look."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang laid out the blueprint of the hot air balloon and explained it in detail. The few people were almost shocked beyond words.

"Incredible, absolutely incredible, can we fly to the sky using this method?" Li Min exclaimed.

"If we can really fly to the sky, wouldn't we be like gods?" Yang Siyi looked longing.

"Although you said before that the strange man could do anything, I thought it was a bit exaggerated. But now it seems that you are right. The strange man is really a god who can do anything!"

Fang Xiaoru was not like the others. He had seen how powerful Li Han was and was so shocked that he was speechless.

How can a mortal go to heaven? It is simply unimaginable!

"Everyone, please listen to my orders!" Zhu Yuanzhang said seriously.

Everyone recovered from their shock, then knelt on the ground and listened respectfully to the order.

"Li Min, Yang Siyi."

"Chen is here!"

"I order the two of you to build the hot air balloon within ten days, no matter how much it costs, and make it in time for the academic conference to give the Confucian scholars in the literary world and even the people of the world a big surprise!"

"I obey the decree!"

When they thought about the hot air balloon being built and flying into the sky in front of the whole world, they couldn't help but get excited and couldn't wait to see that shocking scene!
"Wu Chen, Fang Xiaoru!"

"Chen is here!"

"The students are here!"

"I order the two of you to join hands with the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Court Book Bureau to publish the first newspaper of the Ming Dynasty before the day after tomorrow and regain the momentum of public opinion!"

After thinking for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang said:
"The articles do not have to be too profound or obscure. They should be vivid and interesting, just like stories, so that ordinary people can understand them!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

"Students obey orders!"

"Xu Da, Li Wenzhong!"

"Chen is here!"

"I order you two to select brave and careful soldiers and find an unmanned and secret place to test-fly the hot air balloon. The manufacture of the hot air balloon must be kept strictly confidential. I want to give the world a big surprise in ten days!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Then Xu Da said, "Your Majesty, I also want to test-fly the hot air balloon, is that possible?"

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at him, then smiled and said, "Why don't we go talk to your Miaoyun, and then talk to your wife, and tell them that their old Xu wants to go to heaven. As long as they agree, we have no objection."

Xu Da immediately said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. Can't I just not try?"

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(End of this chapter)