noveltune Chapter 5495 The End of Heaven and Earth
Chapter 5495 The End of Heaven and Earth
Chapter 5495 The End of Heaven and Earth
Inside the Taiji Palace, Li Chengqian, dressed in casual clothes, stood with his hands behind his back in front of a stone sundial. Referring to the records in the book in Li Chunfeng's hand, he discovered that the shadow cast by the sun on the gnomon was indeed getting shorter and shorter, and the weather was getting hotter and hotter...
This is common sense, and Li Chengqian once understood it, but he only "knew what it was but not why it was so."
So he asked in astonishment, "Does the Grand Astrologer mean that the sun is closer in summer and farther away in winter, which is why it's cold in winter and hot in summer?"
I had read "Two Children Arguing About the Sun" when I was in elementary school and once thought it was a philosophical question, but it turned out to be a real "study of things".
Li Chunfeng nodded: "Your Majesty is wise, that is indeed the case..."
He turned a page and pointed to the record above: "Your Majesty, please look. This is data sent back by officials from the Imperial Observatory from the newly established kingdom. Chang'an has already entered summer, but the newly established kingdom is in winter. The sun's trajectory in the two places is exactly opposite."
Li Chengqian frowned, puzzled: "Why is that?"
Li Chunfeng turned another page and pointed to a picture: "This is an image drawn based on the observations of the sun's trajectory by the astronomical observatories that are located all over the world. Look at these two lines... The Grand Commandant first proposed the existence of these two lines and named them the 'Tropic Lines'. They are divided into two lines, one in the north and one in the south, meaning 'the sun returns here'. It always moves north and south within this area. When the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer, it is the 'Summer Solstice', and the sun begins to move slowly from here. When it reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, it is the 'Winter Solstice', and the sun begins to return north."
Chinese astronomy was unparalleled in the world, leading the world for thousands of years. However, due to geographical limitations and a narrow perspective, it was never able to break free from the constraints of the Chinese Nine Provinces. It focused on the calendar, solar terms, solar and lunar eclipses, and celestial movements of the local area and surrounding regions, without involving the concept of the tropics in global geography or the Earth's spherical coordinate system.
This is the first time in history that astronomical observations have been conducted in the Southern Hemisphere.
Li Chengqian exclaimed, "This is a tremendous astronomical discovery, worthy of being recorded in history! But how did the Grand Commandant know about this? He has never been to the Xin Jin Kingdom!"
"The Grand Commandant is indeed a man of unparalleled learning, a figure of unparalleled brilliance throughout history! But that's not all..."
Li Chunfeng excitedly flipped through a few more pages, pointing to a map divided into sections by vertical lines of equal distance: "Following the Grand Commandant's guidance, we divided the land into equal sections, and then selected suitable locations along each section to set up observatories. We discovered that the time span of the Tang Dynasty's territory varies from east to west!"
Li Chengqian looked up at the sun, wondering if he was being overwhelmed by the heat. Why couldn't he understand anything?
"What do you mean?"
Li Chunfeng pointed to the projection on the sundial: "For example, at this very moment, the time in Chang'an is 3:45 AM on the first day of the fifth month of the ninth year of Renhe, while in Liaodong City, the time shown on the sundial is 1:15 AM on the first day of the fifth month!"
Li Chengqian, who prided himself on not being a renowned Confucian scholar of his time but having read countless books, could not understand such matters: "Why?!"
Li Chunfeng explained: "Because the tool for determining time is the sundial, and the principle of the sundial is the angle of the shadow formed by the sun's shadow on the hands of the sundial... Sunrise occurs at different times, and sunset occurs at different times, so the time is different in different places! According to the records transmitted from Liaodong City and the Western Regions, the sunrise time in the two places differs by one hour!"
Li Chengqian was speechless.
He doesn't understand why there would be a difference in time.
If there is a time difference between Liaodong City and the surrounding area, is there a place in the far west that is more than a day away from Chang'an?
The first day of the fifth month in Chang'an is the thirtieth day of the fourth month there.
Is there a place further to the east where it is already the second day of the fifth lunar month?
Li Chengqian rubbed his temples, his mind a jumbled mess, completely defying common sense...
Chief Eunuch Wang De hurried over and whispered as he approached, "Your Majesty, the Grand Commandant requests an audience."
Li Chengqian's headache grew worse: "Could it be because of that matter that's been making headlines in the court lately?"
The development of Dongting Lake and Liaodong was in full swing and progressing smoothly, but the "Emperor's Party" and the "Crown Prince Party" in the court were fighting fiercely. Especially when Xu Jingzong sent people to "infiltrate" Liaodong and "steal" various manufacturing technologies, the two groups became increasingly hostile and often cursed each other in the Taiji Hall, with spittle flying everywhere.
One side argued that "taking without asking is theft," and how could one steal what others had worked hard for? They vehemently condemned Xu Jingzong as having low character and depraved morals.
The other side argues that "the nine provinces are unified, and the world is one," meaning all land, regardless of north or south, belongs to the Tang Dynasty. If Liaodong can be used, why can't Dongting Lake? One should have a broad vision and a strategic perspective, not be narrow-minded and confined to one's own territory…
They attacked each other's character and morality on one hand, and offered their perspectives from a national standpoint on the other, resulting in a protracted and contentious debate.
For two consecutive months, Li Chengqian didn't even bother going to the Taiji Hall. Court assemblies were canceled, and matters were only discussed with ministers in the Hall of State Affairs and the Imperial Study.
Wang De lowered his head slightly: "This old servant does not know."
Li Chengqian then asked, "How does the Grand Commandant look?"
Wang De said, "His expression was normal, showing no signs of joy or anger."
Li Chengqian sighed: "Summon him to the Imperial Study for an audience."
Although I was a little hesitant, I couldn't refuse to see it...
He turned and pulled Li Chunfeng aside, saying, "Grand Commandant, you are well-versed in astronomy and mathematics. I'm sure you have many questions you'd like to ask me, right? Let's sit down and chat."
With someone else present, surely Fang Er would have to consider the emperor's reputation and not act recklessly?
Li Chunfeng hesitated, but he wasn't stupid. He politely declined, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. The Grand Commandant often visits the Imperial Observatory when he has nothing to do, and his discussions with us on various scientific topics are very beneficial to everyone in the Imperial Observatory. At present, there are no urgent problems to be solved..."
"There's no need to delve into academic matters. Recently, a batch of Fushui wine from Yingzhou was sent to the palace. It tastes excellent. Have the imperial kitchen prepare a few dishes so we can have a few drinks."
Li Chengqian grabbed Li Chunfeng's sleeve and pulled him toward the Wude Hall.
Li Chunfeng had no choice but to leave with a wry smile...
……
Not long after returning to the Imperial Study, Fang Jun entered to pay his respects. After exchanging greetings with Li Chunfeng, he sat down and said with a smile, "Did the Grand Astrologer observe any celestial phenomena such as 'auspicious stars shining brightly' or 'five planets aligning' during his visit to the palace, and wish to report the good news to His Majesty?"
Li Chunfeng was slightly embarrassed, and cupped his hands, saying, "Grand Commandant, please stop mocking the Bureau of Astronomy. His Majesty summoned me today to explain some basic astronomical knowledge and the concept of 'time difference'."
Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, also seemed a little awkward.
As mathematical calculations become increasingly sophisticated and precise, and as observation techniques advance, the traditional explanations of "the interaction between Heaven and Man" used by schools like Yin-Yang and Confucianism have been gradually overturned. For instance, the "conjunction of the five planets" has long been considered the most auspicious omen, symbolizing dynastic changes, the emergence of a true emperor, or the beginning of a golden age. However, it is now known that it is simply an ordinary astronomical phenomenon where the five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—gather in a certain constellation of the ecliptic, and has absolutely no relation to the ups and downs of human affairs.
In particular, the various astronomical "strange phenomena" that occurred before the birth or ascension of certain emperors in historical records are pure nonsense.
The theory of divine right of kings and mandate from heaven began to gradually collapse.
This had a huge impact on the rationality of monarchs...
But the data presented by the "study of things" is clearly there, and even those great Confucian scholars who have devoted their lives to studying the classics cannot refute it.
Despite being filled with resentment, he immediately said, "Although the Grand Astrologer has explained a great deal, I still don't understand why there is a difference in time. Is it simply because the sun revolves around the earth?"
There is a natural thirst for knowledge, but there is also a deliberate intention to change the subject.
Fang Jun remained silent for a moment.
The current mainstream understanding of astronomy is in the "Hun Tian Theory" stage. It is extremely difficult to completely overturn this theory, because it requires not only super telescopes, stellar parallax observation methods, elliptical orbits and more complex geometric models, but also breaking through the ideological paradigm formed over thousands of years.
This is not simply a matter of recognizing the nature of astronomical phenomena...
After thinking for a moment, he did not answer the question directly, but said, "Your Majesty, I am assembling a fleet to carry out an unprecedented expedition."
Li Chengqian asked curiously, "What kind of expedition? Like crossing the ocean to find a new continent?"
The whole country was astonished when Fang Jun sent a fleet across the ocean to discover a new continent. After all, who could have imagined that there was a new continent on the other side of the vast ocean that was comparable to the Tang Dynasty's homeland?
Fang Jun shook his head: "It's more difficult than that. I want to see if a fleet that keeps moving in one direction can eventually return to its starting point."
Li Chengqian: "..."
Do you want to hear what you're saying?!
You call yourself a great Tang Dynasty scholar who excels in both poetry and prose, yet you haven't read the "Strategies of the Warring States"?
Don't you even know the story of "heading south while driving north"?
Li Chunfeng was also puzzled: "Going in one direction will only lead to the end of the world, how can it return to the starting point?"
Fang Jun said, "In the past, we only thought that the end of the world was an endless ocean, but now it has been proven that there is a new continent at the end of the ocean... So what is outside the new continent?"
Li Chunfeng remained silent. This question was like the "chicken or the egg" dilemma—no one could answer it.
Fang Jun continued, "So I just want to see, since the end of the ocean is the New World, then what is at the end of the New World?"
Li Chengqian suddenly felt a chill run through his body, a coldness that seemed to seep into his very bones, and even his voice trembled slightly: "If... I mean if, we really did return to the starting point in one direction, what would that mean?"
Li Chunfeng remained silent.
The answer is obvious: the only way to return to the starting point is to be on a sphere and travel in one direction.
But if that were the case, the world would be in chaos!
That would be far more shocking than the idea that astronomical phenomena are merely natural laws and have nothing to do with the interaction between heaven and man, because the entire Confucian system of reasoning based on heaven, earth, and man would completely collapse!
Fang Jun wants to overturn and completely destroy the entire Confucian doctrine!