Chapter 1065: What Does "Harvesting Leeks" Mean?
Zheng Sen surveyed the docks and was filled with a profound sense of awe. It was clear that any worker on Zhoushan Island lived a far better life than the laborers serving under the Zheng family.
Indeed, Mr. Li truly went above and beyond for his people.
Shi Lang asked, "Sen, look ahead. That's our newly established Zhoushan Naval Academy. Do you want to go see it?"
"Of course I do!" Zheng Sen recalled Mr. Li mentioning it once—a naval school on the island that taught sea warfare. For a boy like him, it held immense appeal.
At the school gate, soldiers, armed to the teeth, stood guard. Even Shi Lang had to present something called a "student ID" to enter.
Zheng Sen felt a flicker of apprehension, as he had no student ID. However, the squad of soldiers had clearly received orders from above. They produced a portrait, compared it to Zheng Sen's face, asked his name, and then allowed the two boys to step inside.
Zheng Sen inquired, "What exactly do they teach here? Why is the security so tight?"
Shi Lang replied, "You'll see when you look. Come, there's a classroom ahead, a lesson is underway."
They crept to the window of the first classroom. Inside, standing at the podium, was a Celestial Vessel Pilot from Bai Family Fortress. This man had formerly been a retainer of Bai Yuan. Born by the shores of Horseshoe Lake, he had been a strong swimmer since childhood. He later joined the Gao Family Village navy at Qichuan Ferry, responsible for piloting celestial vessels. For years, he had been at the forefront of piloting these celestial vessels, accumulating extensive experience.
His finger moved to the ship's deck. "Look closely, everyone, here is a strange panel. This object is called a 'Sun-Capturing Panel.' It is a divine artifact lent to the Heavenly Lord by the Sun-Rooster Star Lord, who then bestowed it upon us. When this divine artifact is struck by sunlight, it converts the sun's rays into electricity, which is then sent to the batteries in the ship's hull and stored..."
The students below chorused, "So that's how it works!"
Zheng Sen, eavesdropping from outside the window, felt his mind reel. "What?"
The pilot continued, "Then, when we activate this switch at the ship's bow, the electricity stored in the batteries is released and flows along these wires to this spot... Here lies an enormous machine, named the 'Celestial Engine.' Once energized, it spins at incredible speeds, driving the propeller at the stern."
The pilot's pointer indicated the propeller at the ship's stern. "This, everyone, is the only thing we mortals can truly comprehend. It propels the water through rotation, allowing the celestial vessel to move."
The students began taking notes.
Zheng Sen, however, listened like a stunned fool. "No wonder that ship could move so quickly without sails or oars! So this is how it works! It's incredible, truly incredible."
Shi Lang chuckled. "Now do you understand why the things on our island must be kept secret?"
Zheng Sen was momentarily dumbfounded. "Is it really alright for me to know such confidential matters?"
Shi Lang replied, "Since the Heavenly Lord says you may know, then it is alright."
Zheng Sen asked, "The Heavenly Lord is?"
Shi Lang answered, "The Heavenly Lord is Mr. Li."
At this, Shi Lang threw up his hands. "Actually, the Heavenly Lord has been uncommonly gracious to your Zheng family. The first time he met you, he gave your second uncle a marine chronometer. Now, he's allowed you onto the island, giving you access to our inner secrets. Your Zheng family must be truly extraordinary."
Zheng Sen replied, "Oh?"
A nervous flutter stirred within him.
The two boys slipped away from the first classroom window and moved to the second classroom.
Just as he peeked through the window, Zheng Sen jumped in surprise. For there, at the podium, stood Li Daoxuan himself!
Zheng Sen exclaimed, "What? Mr. Li is teaching himself?"
Shi Lang nodded. "This session is geography... The Heavenly Lord carves out a sliver of time each day to teach everyone geography."
Saying this, Shi Lang tugged at Zheng Sen. "Come on, let's go straight into the classroom to listen; no need to hide by the window."
They softly knocked on the door. Then Shi Lang called out loudly, "Shi Lang and Zheng Sen request temporary permission to join the class."
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Come in."
Shi Lang quickly pulled Zheng Sen into the classroom, and they stood at the very back.
Li Daoxuan didn't acknowledge their presence and continued his lecture. "The place we inhabit is a giant sphere, named Earth... Earth has seven continents and four major oceans. And where we are now is called Asia, and the vast ocean beside us is the Pacific Ocean."
He lifted a massive bronze globe from beneath the podium. He set it down on the table with a heavy thud, and Li Daoxuan's finger pointed to one spot. "We are here now."
He then swiftly shifted his finger. "Here is the Qing Empire... Here is Japan, here is Annam, here is the Strait of Malacca... Here is Portugal, and here is the Red-Haired Country..."
Zheng Sen exclaimed, "Wow! Wow! What an education! So that's what the Red-Haired Country looks like."
Li Daoxuan's finger began in the Red-Haired Country, traced along the winding European coastline, all the way to Africa, then rounded the Cape of Good Hope, plunged into the Indian Ocean, continued to Southeast Asia, and finally landed on Formosa...
"Look, everyone! See how far the Red-Haired people's ships have traveled!"
The classroom instantly fell silent.
That incredibly long shipping route truly left them genuinely awestruck.
Li Daoxuan said, "We must acknowledge the significant disparity in naval technology between ourselves and the Western powers, and then strive to catch up."
The students declared in unison, "Acknowledge the gap, strive to catch up!"
Zheng Sen couldn't help but echo with a fervent cry, "Strive to catch up, strive to surpass!"
Li Daoxuan smiled at him. "Young man, those four words, 'strive to surpass,' are truly commendable."
"Alright, I've laid out the general situation for you," Li Daoxuan said. "Now, let's return to our own region and discuss the monsoons and ocean currents along our southeastern coast. This is indispensable knowledge for long-distance voyages in the age of sail. Of course, in the future, when we use steamships, the influence of monsoons and currents will be minimal, even entirely negligible. However, while we may disregard them, the Westerners using sailing ships certainly cannot. Once you master the knowledge of monsoons and ocean currents, you'll know precisely when the Westerners will arrive and when they must depart."
Shi Lang raised his hand.
Li Daoxuan invited, "Yes, student, please speak."
Shi Lang asked, "If we know when the enemy comes and goes, we can ambush them, right?"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "This student's point is excellent; that's precisely the logic. However, we shouldn't just think about warfare; we must also consider commerce. When you know when the Westerners will arrive, you can prepare your specialty products like silk and ceramics in advance. And as soon as they show up, you can wield the sickle and ruthlessly 'harvest the Westerners' leeks.'"
The students all laughed.
Zheng Sen was utterly bewildered. "What does 'harvesting leeks' mean?"
Shi Lang whispered, "It's a kind of vegetable that grows back quickly after being cut, allowing you to harvest it repeatedly..."
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