Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1680

Chapter 1680

The news that the sage personally welcomed the Persian envoy into the city was the biggest talking point in the streets and alleys of Luoyang in September.

Give enough face, give enough courtesy, let the world know that the sage attaches great importance to the new learning.

At this moment, the business bookstore under the Ministry of Internal Affairs is booming, and all kinds of mathematics books are almost sold out.Some scholars who felt that they could not compete with others in the way of writing, their inner persistence was also shaken, and they thought about trying to study agriculture or mathematics, but there was only one and a half years left, and they didn't know if it would be too late.

There are also some builders in Beijing who are paying attention to the arrival of Persian scholars.

The last time was the arrival of Master Mani 30 years ago.Later, he compiled a copy of "Geometry", which was rewarded by the King of Xia. After several revisions, it was finally finalized and became a compulsory textbook for mathematics students, and most of the examination questions came from it.

Construction professionals should also learn this book, and it is the key point among the key points.

After completing the studies, combined with the knowledge of "Mechanics"-to be honest, the content of this book is still relatively crude-the construction scholars have completely entered a new realm.

On September [-]th, at the request of the sage, Bardia, a Persian, gave a lecture in the Imperial College of Dongdu, and mentioned the theory of "arc triangle body potential" (spherical triangle).

In addition to mathematics students, there are also a large number of students with bachelor's degrees in construction.

The effect is quite sensational.

Students of mathematics are intoxicated by newer and more systematic knowledge.

Construction students saw the possibility of applying it to architecture.

The biggest problem facing the arch and dome structure is the problem of lateral thrust.

If you just build a small arch, or a small grave, you can completely offset the side thrust by thick walls or the ground.For example, in the arched structure of the Zhaozhou Dashi Bridge, the land on the river bank is used to counteract the side thrust and prevent it from collapsing.

But the cost is too high. Is there a way to subtly reduce or even offset the side thrust through mathematical and mechanical design?

Of course there are, and this involves advanced mathematical principles such as spherical triangles.

Overall, the lectures were very successful, but there were some hiccups.

Some old craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry, General Supervisor, and Shaofu Supervisor who built the Luoyang Palace City went to listen.This Bardia is also very blunt. He believes that the huts designed and built through the knowledge of mathematics and mechanics are, in essence, greater than the magnificent buildings built with a lot of manpower and material resources regardless of cost. Beautiful, spectacular, but a being without brains and minds.

Naturally, this remark greatly offended people.

Since the Tang Dynasty, they have coerced all parties and failed to conquer them. How might the great powers of the Central Plains, Chang'an and Luoyang be so huge, magnificent and majestic, how could they be inferior to others?

Therefore, some people refuted it on the spot with various design styles, material specifications, and construction details stipulated in the "Ying Repair Order" that had existed since the Tang Dynasty.

With the help of an interpreter, Bardia skimmed through it roughly.

Of course, in such a short period of time, it is impossible for him to read it carefully, and he can only take a quick look at it to get a general idea.

Suddenly, he stopped translating, pointed to one of the pages, and asked, "Why do you have to use such a specification of wood?"

That is the appendix of the "Ying Repair Order" common to the Tang and Xia dynasties. It generally talks about the specifications of the prepared materials. For example, a certain section stipulates that the section of the bucket arch is "fifteen minutes high and ten minutes wide", and wood of this specification must be used.

After hearing this, the craftsmen found it difficult to answer.Because the ancestors handed down the rules to do so, how can they change?

"Trees vary in size and thickness, if all of them are of this size—" Bardia said.

"Material points." The interpreter said in Chinese.

Baldia probably understood that "material grade" means specification, so he continued: "If you use this type of wood, the scope of your material selection will be much smaller. Maybe you need to go to a distant forest to choose. Isn't this a waste? ?”

"My Great Xia has a vast land and rich resources, so I just go to a few more places and choose more. If it doesn't work, I can recruit slaves. If you spend a little more money, even if you log from Guizhou and Jiangxi, I can transport them to you." A craftsman said with a little pride. : "The pontoon bridges in the three cities of Heyang are cut wooden boats in Hongzhou, Jiangxi, and then sailed on dry land to transport them to Heyang. Have you ever seen them before?"

"Now Hongzhou can't build this boat anymore, we have to go south to cut wood." Someone said in a low voice.

No one paid any attention to him, and everyone looked at Bardia.

"Waste, there is no need to strictly specify the material content. We can use different specifications of materials through mathematical calculations during construction, which can reduce a lot of waste." Bardia repeated.

"Every house construction system is based on materials. It is clearly stated in the "Ying Repair Order", and it is on the first page." What should I do if something goes wrong?"

"I calculated through mathematics, nothing will happen." Baldia said confidently.

This is the difference in concept.

Chinese craftsmen believe that it is possible to assemble and stack buildings with specific specifications of materials through rules such as building French, and the speed is still very fast.Because not only do various materials have "materials", but even housing regulations are certain, which is equivalent to prefabricated materials and modular housing in later generations, with high efficiency and fast speed.

That, Bardia argues, would be hugely wasteful.

Some materials may still be found nearby. What if it is a thick column?According to what they meant, they had to go to the southern forests thousands of miles away to search for them, cut them down and then transport them back.

What kind of shipping cost is this?Bardia dare not imagine.

To make matters worse, trees grow in cycles.Timber is easy to damage and is more susceptible to fire. At this rate of consumption, sooner or later, future generations will not be able to find enough wood to build the palace.More precisely, later generations could not find any wood that met Miyagi's "material classification".

What should I do?

He believes that it is possible to build a house by changing the design, doing mathematical calculations on the spot, and using whatever materials are available.

As a column supporting weight, it is really not acceptable if it does not meet a certain specification, and there may be safety hazards.But I can reduce the weight it needs to bear through design.

In Constantinople, Baghdad, Bukhara and other places, nobles built manors and castles, and never stipulated what length, width, and thickness of materials must be used.In fact if you look around you can often find a mix of long and short materials.

In order to ensure safety, the nobles hired mathematicians to perform a large number of mathematical calculations on the spot, designing while making-the general design was determined in advance, but the detailed design was not necessarily the case.

In short, it is similar to specifying the shape and structure of a house in advance, and then using the same strictly specified materials for modular splicing.

The other is to use local materials.If the material does not meet the requirements, the designer analyzes the force on site and performs mathematical calculations, and may re-change the design.

The former is very fast, and if the materials are sufficient and transported in place, it can be built for you in a short time.

The latter is slower, and it is normal for the construction period to be delayed for decades. Some castles even require three generations of grandparents and grandchildren to build before they can be finally completed.

"Also here, why is it stipulated that the pillar should have one or half side feet?" Baldia turned a page and asked.

Side foot means inclination.A side foot, probably less than 1%, is stipulated in the construction method, but the reason is not mentioned.

"A law is a law," someone said.

This answer is obviously a bit perfunctory.

"If not, the tenon-and-mortise building is prone to collapse." This answer is a bit sincere.

"Why did it collapse?" Bardia asked.

Unable to answer.

"I've never been exposed to this design, but I took a look and I understood why." Bardia said: "This is actually using the roof to generate a kind of thrust to stabilize the structure of the house. Whoever wrote this book may understand , because he came up with this design, which is very effective, but why don't you understand?"

The craftsman was speechless.

Would the ancestors really understand this?maybe.

He actually knows the usefulness of the side foot. After all, he has been an old craftsman for half his life and has rich experience, but he didn't fight for this face just now because he suddenly remembered a problem that has troubled him for a long time: his ancestors stipulated that one side foot should be tilted. ?Is half okay?What about two?

This question has been lingering in my mind.

He has never done such an "unorthodox" thing. The building code stipulates that one foot should be tilted to the side. He strictly does this and has never surpassed it in his life.

When I was young, I was full of curiosity. I once asked the master, but the master couldn't answer it, and the master didn't study this question carefully.Generations after generations, they all passed on the experience of their ancestors, and they came this way.

Sometimes, there will be a few amazingly talented and brilliant people, and then because of a coincidence, or being appreciated by a big person, they have a higher status, dare to delve into these details, and then modify the construction procedures, but this kind of people seem to be just scratching the surface.

"Finally, let me ask another question." Baldia closed the construction program and said, "If I change the roof into a vaulted roof, how do you choose the materials?"

Everyone was silent.

This question is clearly over the top.Because it is not written in the building formula, the shapes of the houses in the book are all prescribed, and even list dozens or hundreds of buildings with different functions, such as pavilions, bridges, towers, etc., each of which has a corresponding construction Method, selection of material specifications.But if the shape of the building is not among the hundreds, they will not be sure.

Perhaps, only a few people with official status in the general prison have such a certain degree of certainty.They have been immersed in this way all their lives, and they have a very deep understanding of the construction method. It is possible to break through the stereotypes and be ingenious, but it is only "possible".At least when designing and building the Hall of Hehuan, they flinched.

"On the way to Luoyang, I heard a saying, 'every change is inseparable from its sect'." Bardia finally said: "Have you mastered the 'zong'? If you don't master the sect, you won't be able to 'change'. I have never been exposed to your architectural style, and I have never designed it, but give me a few months to understand, I can design your traditional palace, but you can't design our palace, because I After mastering 'Zong', I will 'change'."

******

If it is said that the construction of the Hehuan Hall back then made the group of architects who used mathematical knowledge to design buildings faintly overwhelm the traditional master craftsmen and craftsmen in status, making them uncomfortable, then the lectures given by the Imperial College this time are completely kicking. The nature of the museum has changed, and it doesn't give face at all.

After Shao Shude heard about it in the palace, he burst out laughing.

The so-called painstaking experience is to beat them mercilessly, so that it is possible to see changes.

In his opinion, traditional Chinese architects are too easy to fool around.

The construction procedure stipulates the structure and shape of the benchmark building, and even specifies the material specifications required for different parts. You can build blocks according to the building blocks. When the size of the building is different, scale it up or down. "Material points".

how?Want to build blocks for 1000 years like this, and live for 1000 years?

The concept of modular construction is indeed very advanced.

But you have to master the scientific theory first, and then improve the details of the process, instead of taking shortcuts at the beginning and finding ways in the process.

At this time, the level of architecture in Europe may not be as high as Persia, maybe it is on par.The construction method of others is indeed very cumbersome and inefficient. During the construction process, limited by factors such as insufficient funds and materials, the design was repeatedly changed and re-checked, so that a castle was repaired for decades or more than a hundred years, and a church It has been done for hundreds of years, and the designers have changed many times, but this approach is correct.

First master the basic knowledge of mathematics, architecture, materials, etc., and then use modular and standardized construction to improve efficiency.

"Honorable Khan, I feel like you've been fooled." In Lichun Palace, Bardia said, frowning.

"Oh? There is such a thing?" Shao Shude asked in surprise.

"I offended your architect, that's a problem," Bardia said. "Do you really want to build a palace?"

"Of course." Shao Shude said, "Why do you have this doubt?"

"I've been here for a month, and my main job has been writing books," Bardia said. "Never touched on anything about the palace. Even you, Khan, have never talked about the palace in front of me. .Where is it built? How big will it be? What will it be used for? I have never heard of it, not even a word."

"This is a big project..." Shao Shude said.

"Honorable Khan, you should not underestimate the observation power of mathematicians." Bardia said: "In this world, no one is a fool. In fact, before we left Bukhara, we expressed to the Grand Vizier Get over that worry."

"What did Jay Hanni say?" Shao Shude asked.

"Honorable Khan, Grand Vizier has seriously considered my opinion." Bardia said: "In fact, he hopes to hire some textile, agricultural and philosophical experts from your country after the construction of the palace is completed."

"I see. I underestimated the heroes of the world." Shao Shude was not at all embarrassed when Xiao Jiujiu was spotted, but instead smiled: "I remember that more than 100 years ago, Tang people went to Baghdad to help Dashi improve textile technology. Why? Didn't they teach you?"

Daxia's textile and agriculture actually depend on experience, the same as in Persia.

If this thing wants to enter the age of science, it needs metallurgy, mechanics, biology, chemistry and other disciplines, but how can these things work in this era?Whether it is Constantinople or Baghdad, even if there are chemists, they are very superficial and superficial.

In the field of textiles and agriculture, for now, it is more empirical than scientific.

In contrast, mathematics is much easier to develop.All you need is a brain, paper and pen, and you can continue to study.Later generations engaged in basic science, physics and other disciplines have evolved to a super-money-burning stage, but in the field of mathematics, the government only needs to support mathematicians themselves, and the cost is ridiculously low.

"Baghdad has changed owners, and Persia is not the same as before." Bardia said.

Shao Shude understood.

The world is changing, the sea is changing, the white clothes and food are all gone, Sasanian Persia is gone, the situation is changing, it is not certain whether Baghdad's textile technology will be preserved.It's not good at all, it's regressed, the level is not as high as Persia, and it's a fart!

"It's not impossible." Shao Shude said: "But I need you to bring something in exchange."

Baldia frowned and asked, "What do you need?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet." Shao Shude laughed, and said, "You better write a book in Luoyang. Learn more Chinese, and you can teach students in the future. I value you very much and are willing to pay for the truth. What do you need? Even if you bring it up, I will never be stingy."

Bardia sighed.

The Supreme Khan gave him a house, complete with furniture, servants and maids, and rewarded him with a lot of money, treasures, and even four female singers.

Khan is generous, and in his heart Bardia is more than happy to serve Khan.

But after all, he is a Persian with a mission, and he always feels a little guilty if he doesn't complete it.

Moreover, he could see that Khan was very concerned about all kinds of knowledge.But if one day the knowledge of Persia and even Baghdad is squeezed out, and Khan and his descendants no longer need it, what will happen to Bukhara?

He—can he return to his hometown of Bukhara?

(End of this chapter)