Daqin: Zulong's Traveling Frog

Chapter 111 Seismograph

Houfeng Seismograph.

According to historical records: "Casted in refined copper, the member is eight feet in diameter, and the cover is raised, resembling a wine statue."

Roughly speaking: The seismograph is made of pure copper, with a diameter of 8 feet [about 1.6 meters], like a big wine bottle.

There are eight dragons outside, each with a copper ball in its mouth, and a toad under each dragon's head, with its mouth open, ready to catch the copper ball spit out by the dragon's mouth.

If there is an earthquake, the dragon will vibrate and spit out copper balls, and the toad will catch it, and the eight dragon heads point in all directions, and you can find out the approximate location of the earthquake by following the directions.

What is even more amazing is that according to historical records, the seismograph can predict earthquakes five days later, which is more than 1000 years earlier than the prediction technology of later generations in Europe.

When the ground motion meter appeared in front of the big bronze case, Qin Wangzheng seemed to have been drained of strength, and his shrewd and bright eyeballs suddenly dimmed.

Zhao Gao was dumbfounded by the new eunuch. He looked at the seismograph in shock, frowned, and whispered, "What is this? Why did it appear in Zhangtai Palace out of thin air?"

Before Zhao Gao could think about it, Qin Wangzheng stood up and went straight to the seismograph. Zhao Gao was always cautious, constantly guarding both sides of Qin Wangzheng, preventing the mechanism from launching a sudden blow to Qin Wangzheng.

Qin Wangzheng touched it lightly with his hand, but there was no movement, but the system's notification sound came.

[Seismograph: According to the marbles spit out by the faucet, the direction of the earthquake can be measured]

Qin Wangzheng's eyes lit up, he swept away his previous fear, looked at the seismograph again, and exclaimed: "This thing can accurately predict earthquakes!"

Zhao Gao frowned.

Predicting earthquakes is simply wishful thinking. Even ancient books cannot record the method of predicting earthquakes. Could this fancy machine be able to predict accurately?

Although Zhao Gao disdained the seismograph in his heart, and the muscles on his cheeks drooped loosely, he said with a surprised look on his mouth: "Your Majesty, if you can really predict an earthquake, wouldn't you be able to notify the people in advance to prevent it and reduce earthquake losses? "

Qin Wangzheng nodded lightly, and said with serious eyes: "That's right!"

Staring at the seismograph, Qin Wangzheng gradually relaxed his frown, and immediately called the left and right prime ministers and Li Si into the hall.

Li Si entered the main hall, stared at the seismograph with wide eyes, and asked doubtfully, "Could it be that your lord invented the method of enriching the country and strengthening the army?"

After the left and right prime ministers Changping Jun and Kui Zhuang saw it, their broad foreheads twitched tightly, and their eyebrows were drawn into a straight line.

Qin Wangzheng smiled slightly, and explained to the crowd: "Recently, the land of Han and Zhao has not surrendered, and there are rumors that in five days, there will be a huge earthquake in the Guanzhong area, and the ground will be shattered by three hundred feet!"

Li Si and the others naturally knew that they had secretly investigated the matter, and they didn't take it seriously compared to the rumors spread by the nobles of Han and Zhao.

Qin Wangzheng ordered a fortuneteller to do divination, and it was a bad omen. This made Qin Wangzheng gasp, and ordered Qin Mo to build a machine that could predict the direction of an earthquake!

It's just that the effect is not good. Qin Mo searched through ancient books and squeezed his head, but still couldn't find a way to predict earthquakes.

But Qin Wangzheng pointed to the seismograph in front of him and said: "This thing is called the seismograph, it can spy hundreds of miles away, and accurately predict earthquakes!"

The corners of Li Si's eyes twitched, his brows frowned, Chang Pingjun and Kui Xing were silent on the surface, but turbulent waves started up in their hearts.

No one can believe that a flashy and luxurious machine can accurately predict earthquakes?
Even Qin Mo, who is known as the world's machinery, can't make it. Could it be that the seismograph is enough?

Seeing the silence of the crowd, Qin Wangzheng's complexion gradually turned solemn, but Zhao Gao saw Qin Wangzheng's displeasure, and said indifferently: "Your Majesty, since the seismograph can predict earthquakes, but there is no movement today, does it mean that Han Zhao Is the rumor of the land a lie and a rumor?"

Qin Wangzheng's brows gradually loosened, his eyeballs sparkled, he raised a smile, and said: "Sure enough, when fortune tellers make mistakes, it's just nonsense for such ominous omens!"

Seeing Qin Wangzheng angrily scolding the fortuneteller, the three of Li Si agreed one after another, insulting the fortuneteller in unison, and reminding Qin Wangzheng not to be too obsessed with it.

Everything can be solved, superstitious divination is counterproductive, it is equivalent to self-comfort, it is better to face the problem directly!

Qin Wangzheng nodded frequently, and was about to order to dismiss all the alchemists who were obsessed with absurd spells and who kept saying they knew the way of longevity. Li Si also took the initiative to take over the matter and was about to do so.

Suddenly, the seismograph in front of him trembled violently, the mechanism was running, and the internal mechanical friction sounded continuously. A steel ball was spit out from the dragon's mouth and fell into the toad's mouth.

The direction indicated is northwest.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, a trace of surprise flashed in their eyes, and their faces were full of disbelief.

Is it true that the seismograph can predict the failure of an earthquake as Your Majesty said?

Is the fortune teller's divination true?Are the rumors about the land of Han Zhao true?

Qin Wangzheng took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, and said seriously: "It seems that there is really an earthquake in the northwest region?"

A quarter of an hour later, the imperial edict of Qin Wangzheng was issued, and ten fast horses, who had traveled a long distance, stepped on the suspension bridge, used the Zhangtai Palace, and went to the two counties of Longxi and Beidi in the northwest to inform the officials at all levels that an earthquake would occur in a few days. .

After the imperial edict was issued, counties and counties at all levels posted notices in the city and informed all townships and lis to make preparations.

After learning that the earthquake was about to happen, there was a sense of restlessness in the countryside, and the people took their rations and headed to Guanzhong.

The officials of Beidi and Longxi counties also reinforced the city to prevent the earthquake from causing the city wall to collapse, and urged the people in the city to evacuate.

However, two or three days later, the news of the earthquake still did not spread.

The terrified officials in Zhangtai Palace also became agitated and questioned the seismograph. Some people who came to Guanzhong were about to rush back to Longxi and Beidi counties with their bags.

Qin Wangzheng also began to question the authenticity of the seismograph, but looking at Xiao Zhinu's sincere eyeballs, he knew that Xiao Zhinu would never be able to deceive.

Meeting the next day.

Civil and military officials persuaded Qin Wangzheng one after another, withdrew the imperial edict, and asked the refugees to withdraw to the two counties of Longxi and Beidi to continue farming.

Even Li Si couldn't believe it, and questioned: "Can a dragon's head cooperate with the toad's mechanism to predict earthquakes?"

Facing the doubts from all the officials, Qin Wangzheng remained silent on the surface, but calm in his heart, explaining: "A horse stumbles, and a man stumbles!"

"It's not that even a precise and meticulous columbine can't guarantee perfection, let alone a seismograph?"

"Although the budget for the seismograph was wrong, it cannot be totally denied."

All officials in the court, Chinese and military officials echoed in unison, and Qin Wangzheng was about to draw a pen. Suddenly, a scout received the imperial edict and shouted: "Eight hundred miles, hurry up! Your majesty has a clever plan, an earthquake occurred in the two counties of Longxi and Beidi, and the ground cracked." Three hundred feet!"

(End of this chapter)