Chapter 74: The Seeds of Science, One Hundred Thousand Whys

Just as Zhang Yi had said, everyone is mortal, and the human heart is fickle and uncertain. His feelings toward Zhu Yuanzhang were much the same—there were both good and bad aspects. Zhang Zhengchang did not wish to dwell on this issue, instead continuing to recount the events that had transpired in the palace.

From time to time, Zhang Yi would interject, asking what Xu Da looked like, or what Zhu Biao was like. He was full of curiosity about these historical figures, but had little interest in actually crossing paths with them.

When Zhang Zhengchang finally finished his account, Zhang Yi sighed.

"I guessed as much—Kong Kejian was indeed feigning madness, but he has underestimated our Emperor far too much. Trying to play mind games? In this era, who can best him at such things? Hu Weiyong, Liu Ji, Li Shanchang… even if you added these men together, they wouldn’t be a match for His Majesty. Let alone Kong Kejian, who isn’t even fit to carry those men’s shoes!"

In the end, Kong Kejian could not escape his original fate and was kept in the capital by Zhu Yuanzhang. In the original course of history, this occurred several months later, but the outcome was much the same.

Zhu Yuanzhang was the strongest man of his age, without exception. To play mind games with him? Kong Kejian was simply too naive and reckless. Moreover, Old Zhu was unlike other emperors—most emperors were born into the purple, accustomed from childhood to following the unspoken rules of the nobility, always leaving themselves a margin when they acted.

But Zhu Yuanzhang was different. Since the days of Han Gaozu Liu Bang, how many centuries had it been since China saw such an emperor? And his temperament was an extreme of its own, even when compared to the chivalrous Liu Bang.

He was a man who would dare to upend the table!

Now, Kong Kejian was paying the price for his cleverness. Since he pretended to be mad, Zhu Yuanzhang kept him at Yingtian Prefecture, forcing him to continue his act... For a long time, he would not dare to "recover." If he did miraculously recover, would that not make it clear to all under heaven that he had been deceiving the emperor?

Thus, for the sake of the Kong family, and for the sake of his grandson who was soon to be sent to the capital, Kong Kejian had no choice but to persist in his charade.

For a sane man to feign madness—what a cruel fate!

But this was precisely why Zhu Yuanzhang kept Kong Kejian, making him suffer as he did.

"By using the honor of the Zhang family to humble the confidence of the Kong household, he both asserts his own authority and shows the world how they must conduct themselves before the emperor... Thanks to the Kong family, the Zhangs will enjoy some good days ahead, but Father must be ever cautious. The Hongwu Emperor is unpredictable—never grow arrogant!

Especially now, with monks and priests forbidden to travel, and only the Orthodox Unity School enjoying the emperor's favor, anyone wishing to leave the secular world will certainly turn first to the Orthodox Way. In these circumstances, Father, you must not open the gates too widely, lest disaster befall us..."

From Zhang Zhengchang, Zhang Yi learned that Mount Longhu had been commissioned by the emperor to pray for the spirits of the northern lands.

This was the reward for playing their part in the emperor’s great political performance. By this special privilege, disciples of the Orthodox Unity School—not only members of the Zhang family—could leave their temples and walk among humankind.

It was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for Mount Longhu to expand its influence, but also the seed of potential disaster.

To grow arrogant from imperial favor is a dangerous thing!

Zhang Zhengchang nodded. By now, he dared not ignore Zhang Yi’s advice. Whenever pride threatened his heart, he only had to recall Kong Kejian’s fate for a cold chill to settle over him.

"As for Master Kong, who knows what will become of him..."

As a fellow head of a great household, Zhang Zhengchang could not help but feel a touch of melancholy at Kong Kejian's fate.

"Since he chose this path, there is no turning back. Now, what keeps him alive is only the hope for Khuoku Temur in the north and the defense of the Yuan capital. Once Dadu falls in August and the Yuan army suffers defeat in Shanxi in November... the Lord Sage himself may find no reason to go on living."

Zhang Zhengchang fell silent. The certainty in Zhang Yi’s words suggested he had already glimpsed the future.

Such abilities—Zhang Zhengchang, though a Celestial Master himself, found them uncanny as if witnessing a spirit.

"Our Zhang family, apart from the ancestors Zhang Daoling and Zhang Jixian, has not produced an immortal in a long time!"

He kept these thoughts to himself, but his reverence for Zhang Yi grew deeper. Immortal or god—though the world called the Celestial Master of Mount Longhu a deity, Zhang Zhengchang knew he was not.

If the Zhang clan were ever to produce another immortal, it would surely be Zhang Yi.

"It's late. Father, Brother, you both must enter the palace to meet the emperor tomorrow. Let’s not talk any longer."

Zhang Yi took the initiative to end the conversation. Zhang Zhengchang nodded and rose to retire.

"I'll sleep with Second Brother!"

Zhang Yuchu, having not seen Zhang Yi for some time, was eager to catch up, and as children’s squabbles are easily forgotten, Zhang Zhengchang paid them no mind and went off to rest.

"I just woke up, I’m not sleepy. Brother, you’re the same, aren’t you?"

Watching his elder and Zhang Zhengchang leave, Zhang Yuchu grabbed Zhang Yi by the neck:

"If you’ve seen anything from the future, don’t hide it from your big brother!"

Annoyed, Zhang Yi pushed him off. "You’re a grown child now… If you have something to ask, just say it!"

"Did you copy down any interesting books from the future, like ‘Record of Subtle Words’ or something? I want to see them. Also, I have more questions..."

Zhang Yuchu was naturally gifted when it came to reading. In the prime of childhood curiosity, not even the most obscure topics could dampen his thirst for knowledge. He showered Zhang Yi with questions, leaving him rather exasperated.

Answering wasn’t difficult, but with each answer, because Zhang Yuchu had no real understanding of "science," Zhang Yi’s explanations only led to more questions.

"Why don’t you just write down the books you’ve read from the future for me?"

Zhang Yi did not wish to refuse his brother’s request, so he nodded in agreement.

"Go to bed! We have to go to the palace tomorrow..."

From the next room, Zhang Zhengchang’s voice could be heard. Zhang Yuchu dared not answer back and quickly went to sleep.

Left alone, Zhang Yi began to grind ink, intending to write something with a brush, but his poor handwriting dissuaded him. Instead, he took out the remaining pencil.

What book should he leave for Zhang Yuchu?

He dismissed the idea of something like ‘Journey to the West’ as unnecessary.

After some thought, an idea came to him. He wrote a title in large characters on the paper:

"One Hundred Thousand Whys"

This classic children’s science book from later times was an outstanding introduction to the wonders of the world. As he wrote and recalled, Zhang Yi realized that his one unique advantage after traveling through time was that, with effort, he could remember all the books he had read in his previous life.

"Why do people get fevers…"

"Why should you drink water when you have a fever…"

"Why can snakes crawl without legs?"

"Why should you wash your hands before meals!"

Zhang Yi wrote nearly a hundred such questions in one go, finally stopping when his pencil was almost spent. He was quite satisfied with the questions he’d selected.

‘One Hundred Thousand Whys’ would be the seed of science he left in the Ming Dynasty.

Other transmigrators might have to conceal the source of such knowledge, but with his "little immortal" status, he could be open about it.

After finishing, Zhang Yi felt exhausted. He set the pencil aside and stretched.

But in a moment of distraction, he realized Zhang Zhengchang was standing behind him, not asleep after all.

"You’re at an age when you should be growing tall. Staying up this late—aren’t you afraid you’ll harm your health?"

Zhang Zhengchang was angry, but Zhang Yi, for once, did not retort. Instead, he said,

"Tomorrow, after you see the emperor, you’ll probably have to leave again. Big brother wants to read, but I’m afraid I won’t have time to write everything for him!"

"No time? Then you recite, and I’ll write for you!"

With a cold snort, Zhang Zhengchang fetched brush and ink, preparing to get to work.

"What are you waiting for? Finish and go to bed!"

With an air of impending discipline, Old Zhang’s sternness made Zhang Yi feel strangely warm.

Obediently, he began to recite:

"Why doesn’t water burn?"

Ahem!

Zhang Zhengchang froze, dumbfounded before Zhang Yi could even give the answer.

(The end of this chapter)