[Second Update.] There is a shift around twelve o'clock, which is the third shift today. Tomorrow's first update, please read it tomorrow morning]

In the brand new oil lamp, the cotton wick is burning smoothly.

The light shining on the letter paper is no longer the swaying of the candle, but bright and stable. Compared to candles, the light is much stronger.

After looking under the lamp for a long time, my eyes will not be too sour. Compared to when using candles and old-fashioned oil lamps, I spent a little more time reading.

Han Gang is very concerned about his vision, and he is also very concerned about the health of his children's vision, and he doesn't want them to wear glasses early. The benefits of such oil lamps for the protection of vision are self-evident.

It's a new type of oil lamp.

Outside the glass lampshade, there is a copper frame as a shell protection, and the oil pot below is also cast in brass, made by Seiko, and engraved with the pattern of rich and rich branches.

Compared with the kerosene lamps of later generations, there is only one point that can directly adjust the length of the wick from the outside, and the wick can only be adjusted by opening the lampshade, so as to control the brightness of the oil lamp.

However, compared to the structure of the glass lamp, the oil used in it is a little more significant.

Its raw material comes from oil produced in Yanzhou. The product is obtained after distillation. However, the output is not large, and the raw material output rate is also small. If the temperature cannot be measured, the only way to know the heat is to know it through experience.

In Han Gang's eyes, this kind of oil refining lacks technical content even more than the local oil refining in later generations. But for the sake of the oil that was made, he couldn't have any complaints.

The shift from bio-oil to mineral oil for daily lighting is a big step forward.

It's just that only a small part of the product after refining can be used as lamp oil.

After petroleum refining, there is a large amount of asphalt that solidifies quickly, and a slimy, pungent smell of oil slurry that cannot be ignited.

Under Han Gang's opinion, asphalt was used on many roads in the capital, mainly in conjunction with cinder. Rather, it should be a slurry of heavy oil,

And before the lamp oil comes out, there is still a section of waste oil.

This waste oil cannot be used as lamp oil. If you put it away, it will fill the room with a smell, and it is impossible to put it in an oil lamp without a lampshade. When an oil lamp is placed in a glass lampshade, when lit, it sometimes even bursts open and shatters the oil lamp.

In order to eliminate the interference of this waste oil, it is necessary to refine one furnace first, and then the second furnace can harvest the lamp oil. And where the waste oil goes, it is poured into the jar and becomes a sharp weapon when defending the city.

Of course, Han Gang knew what the waste oil was in his letter, but he couldn't think of how it could be used in this era other than for military use. Could it be that if he writes back, he can add some sugar to the waste oil to make the oil tank more powerful? You can't use it as a cleaning agent, right? Speaking of which, I wonder if it will come in handy when making lacquerware.

Han Gang thought that after all, it was still necessary for people to study to know the Dao, and maybe someone could write enough papers to be published in Nature.

As the preparation for postal and express subscriptions grew, so did Nature. In the new issue of Nature, it has been written on the last page that it will be changed to a subscription-based distribution system in the future. Authors who are selected will receive a one-year new journal free of charge, starting from the following year.

Han Gang borrowed people from two newspapers and asked them to help with the subscription and subsequent delivery, and each sent a steward to deal with the distribution problems. When "Nature" was released, it borrowed the channels of two newspapers, and this subscription and sale were naturally continued, and Han Gang and Su Song had no intention of doing it themselves.

More than 3,000 readers in the capital who are ready to subscribe to "Nature" have registered at various sales offices, whether it is following the trend or really liking qixue, today's Gewuzhixue is really very popular.

Han Gang didn't know how many of them really wanted to study the science of things, and he didn't know how many people would continue after their interest, but he believed that as long as he saw someone who could continue to gain from it, the future would be bright, and no matter how tortuous the road was, it would not change the direction of progress.

Just like the distillation of oil, it greatly expands the distillation process that was originally limited to sake brewing. With the guidance of theories and the evidence of side references, the speed of development will only get faster and faster.

Feng Congyi mentioned in the letter that oil refining and new oil lamps have little to do with Han Gang. He just wanted to get the ink used for printing and distill the oil, which was the result of the whim of a Qi disciple in Yanzhou. And the result is unexpectedly pleasant.

In Feng Congyi's letter, in addition to mentioning a few new inventions, the others said that the internal affairs of the Yongqin Chamber of Commerce were large and small, as well as the development of various industries since the beginning of this year. In addition, it is Han Gang's parents.

In Feng Congyi's heart, the second elder's physical condition is not bad, and his spirit is very good. Now living in Zhuangzi, Han Qianliu has to go around the field every day, and Han Ah Li also has someone to talk with. The two old feudal lords and old feudal monarchs, on their birthdays, state officials, county officials or their families have to come to cheer. No one dared to let them suffer a little anger. Of course, this day is comfortable.

But Han Gang knew that he was already old, and the two elders were all in their sixties, and with the average life expectancy at that time, it was difficult to say how much time there was. is not from a rich family, but can be pampered since childhood, and the body is well maintained. The two old men have worked hard for many years, and the root of the disease has long been fallen, and it may suddenly attack at any time.

Han Gang was also in a dilemma. It is impossible for him to give up everything now and return to his hometown to support his parents. And Han Qianliu and Han Ah Li are reluctant to go to Beijing to live, so now they can only entrust it to Feng Congyi and his wife first, and in a few years, let Han Zhong, the eldest of the children, go back to take care of them. Han Gang's eldest son is not a material for studying, so it is better to stay in his hometown and guard the door and learn how to take care of the family business. It's not like some of the children of the prime minister's family, except for the loser, there is no other specialty.

Feng Congyi's letter was written on many pages, and Han Gang turned them over one by one, and they could be bound to fill a book.

After a long time, he put down the letter. closed his eyes,

Wang Yi just pushed the door in, and saw Han Gang looking up, closing his eyes and recuperating.

"Official! Tired? She hurriedly asked, came over and gently patted Han Gang's shoulder, "Let's rest more in the evening, there are so many things in the court today, and I didn't see a break when I came back." ”

"It's fine." Han Gang opened his eyes, patted the little hand on his shoulder, and said with a smile, "It's not the year of the suburbs, it's not that much." Didn't see how early you came back today? Last year, I couldn't close my eyes for a few nights. ”

This year's Winter Solstice ceremony is not an informal outskirts, so it is not so tormenting.

After the court, the Taimiao used the ceremony of recommending millet to worship in the southern suburbs, and then returned to the Son of Heaven to return to his life, and entered to worship the Emperor Taishang and the Empress Sheng'an, which ended soon.

And the rewards given to the hundred officials and the three armies today are far less than the expenses after the sacrifice to the heavens. So that the treasury, which is not abundant, will not be completely dried up again.

"Didn't you say that for the past two days, we have been fighting over whether to fire a trumpet cannon at the court meeting? Didn't the officials fight with those in the Taichang Rite Temple? ”

The family members of the Chongchen family in Beijing have always been well-informed, and Han Gang didn't think it was different, "The husband is not in the two mansions, so he has already pushed it over." ”

The system of the court meeting has been in place for many years, and there are often some changes. This time, because the artillery raised the face of the imperial court in front of the envoys of the Liao State, it was valued by the queen.

Not only do you usually have to put a trumpet cannon, but this time at the court meeting, Empress Taishang still thinks that the empty salute will help the court prestige, so the court meeting will also start to smell of gunsmoke.

In this regard, the ceremonial officials of the Taichang Rite Temple objected several times, saying that it was not in accordance with the ancient rites. But Xiang insisted on her opinion to the queen, and there was no shortage of people in the court to support her. After the end, they quarreled.

If the etiquette family gathers for a lawsuit, that is, the brothers discuss the etiquette law, and they have to quarrel over the right and wrong of the etiquette system. Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi have argued, and Zhang Zai and Zhang Jian have also argued. The brothers of Lu Dafang and Lu Dalin, when they wrote the township covenant, they also had a dispute. It will never convince everyone.

Since they can't fight for an eyebrow, in the eyes of the Zaifu, it is better to do it according to the preferences of the Empress Taishang. But the ceremonial officials held on and argued, making the court uneasy.

This senseless quarrel, Han Gang hid to the side early, and pushed it all to the two mansions, he definitely didn't want to get involved—although in his opinion, the group of ceremonial officials just wanted to show their presence.

It is not an ancient etiquette to say that the salute is not in line with the ancient rites. But at the time of the Great Dynasty Meeting, a set of dance programs in the court is what kind of rules. When Han Gang had to wear heavy court clothes and dance with his class, he always felt that this custom of at least half of the barbarian blood was really stupid.

Wang Yi knew Han Gang's temper and didn't attach much importance to etiquette. It is completely incommensurate with his title of the great Confucian of his time.

However, in Han Gang's exposition of Qi theory, the so-called etiquette is not limited to the etiquette system, but grammar, the state system, and the order of the upper and lower levels, which is far broader than simple etiquette. Most Confucians, if they don't learn the "Three Rites", most of their views are similar to Han Gang's - everyone is afraid of the trouble of red tape.

"That's right." Han Gang suddenly opened his eyes, "All the money for the festival has been sent, right?" ”

"It's all sent down. It's all new money supervised by officials, and it was only exchanged at the gold and silver office yesterday. ”

Han Gang nodded, the new money began to be exchanged the day before, just so that the military and civilians in Tokyo could use the new money from today.

"What's going on in the house?" He asked.

"It is said that this time the money is well cast, the work is meticulous, and it is worth it when you look at it. It's not just the inside of the house, it's also said outside. ”

"That's good." Han Gang was relieved.

After preparing for so long, he didn't want any twists and turns, he just hoped to be able to succeed smoothly.

The mint issued new money smoothly, and there was nothing to worry about before the year.

Wang Sunsin's side could only wait for news, and maybe he would not receive the order from the Privy Council until after the beginning of spring. The Japanese side also had to wait for news from Yang Congxian. But even if anything, we have to wait until next year to think about it.

When I can spend the New Year in peace.