flstandardbreds Chapter 141 Arrangement
Chapter 141 Arrangement
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Liu Ye nodded: "That's natural. This institution is called Lingao Technology Research Institute. For now, you're just a figurehead. You can choose any personnel you want, or if you fancy someone, I can kidnap them for you. Besides that, you can mobilize human and financial resources as you please. You can spend as much money as you want as research needs, and you can transfer whoever you want. No one can refuse you, including me."
The crowd gasped. They had initially thought Liu Ye was establishing an institution similar to the Imperial Observatory—a prestigious-sounding but ultimately empty shell, merely a way to elevate Liang Xiaoming's status as the "second-in-command." They hadn't expected the research institute to have such vast authority. Fortunately, it was only for technological research; if used for anything else, it would be far more terrifying than the imperial secret police.
Liu Ye looked at Sun Yuanhua: "Mr. Sun, you have a deep understanding of Western academia. Could you serve as an advisor to the research institute and also assist in the management of the technical school?"
"Advisor?" Sun Yuanhua didn't quite understand the term.
Liu Ye then realized that the ancients might not have understood this term, and explained, "It means having expertise in a particular field and being able to offer suggestions and opinions for consideration..."
Sun Yuanhua understood and said, "I understand. In ancient times, there were courtiers who served as advisors to the emperor. It was said, 'Advisors to Feng Tang, discussing generals and commanders.' It was also said, 'According to old customs, those who were well-dressed, dignified in appearance, and learned were often appointed as advisors, and were even made censors.' Perhaps this is what you mean by 'advisor'?"
Liu Ye nodded: "More or less."
“Brother Liang’s scholarship is beyond my comprehension. I dare not accept the position of advisor. I may be able to offer some modest assistance in consulting and filling in any gaps in my knowledge,” Sun Yuanhua said modestly. “As for assisting in the management of the school, I recommend my friend Liangfu. His knowledge of Western learning far surpasses mine.”
"Liangfu?" Liu Ye thought for a moment, remembering that he was a staff member brought by Sun Yuanhua from Shandong, and Liangfu was his courtesy name. "Could it be Mr. Wang Zheng?"
"Indeed. Before Liangfu entered officialdom, he researched and developed hydraulic, wind, and heavy-duty machinery, and wrote about them. In the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, he collaborated with the missionary Deng Yuhan to compile a book that covered geocentrism, the center of gravity and its solution, the calculation of water volume, floating body volume, specific gravity, simple machinery and their combined use, and many other subjects, bringing together the best of Western mechanics. In today's world, if we talk about Western learning achievements, only my mentor can be compared with him."
The others were completely bewildered, but Liu Ye and Liang Xiaoming both gasped in astonishment. In the early 17th century, they only knew of Xu Guangqi as someone who had researched Western science to such an extent; they never imagined that this little-known Wang Zheng was such a remarkable figure. If Sun Yuanhua hadn't brought it up, they would have almost missed out on such a talent.
What they didn't know was that Wang Zheng was one of the few scientists in the late Ming Dynasty and one of the earliest Catholics. After entering politics, he focused on practical learning and later taught mathematics and economics in his hometown. He was dedicated to teaching Western academic knowledge and made outstanding contributions to spreading Western science and promoting cultural exchange. He and Xu Guangqi were known as "Xu in the South and Wang in the North".