Chapter 45: Physics

Behind the Fang Residence spirit screen, the spirited Fang Yizhi strode out to greet the waiting Zhou County Deputy.

"My father has gone out today. If Lord Zhou has any urgent business, you may first inform this Latecomer Student."

Zhou County Deputy said somewhat anxiously, "Aiyah, how can the timing be so unfortunate? But Yang Tangzun specifically instructed that I must find Mr. Fang and inform him in person."

Fang Yizhi asked in surprise, "Does the County Deputy have a matter of the utmost urgency?"

Zhou County Deputy lightly clapped his hands. "Wang Gongbi, disregarding the obstruction of Yang Tangzun and Pi Daren, has actually led troops across the river. At this moment, the Chizhou Troops have already crossed the Tongcheng County Boundary and are encamped outside Liantan Town today."

"The Chizhou Troops have reached Liantan!" Fang Yizhi's expression changed drastically. Liantan Town was an important town in the south of Tongcheng, situated on the Official Road from Anqing to Tongcheng, only sixty-plus li from the Tongcheng County Seat.

The Official Road from Anqing to Tongcheng was in good condition, entirely paved with stone slabs. This meant that if the Chizhou Troops wished, they could reach the Tongcheng County Seat within a single day. Wang Gongbi had swapped one concept here, replacing "not entering Tongcheng" with "not entering the Tongcheng county town." This move avoided overly provoking the Tongcheng gentry and rioters, yet the distance was very close; once the bandits stirred up trouble, he would not be caught unable to react in time. And when reporting to Zhang Guowei, he would write that they had already entered Tongcheng, which would give the Grand Coordinator an explanation. If someone impeached him later, he would also have a way to deflect blame.

Wang Gongbi's move exerted immense pressure on both the officials and bandits of Tongcheng. From the moment news arrived that the Chizhou Troops had entered Liantan Town, the Tongcheng County Yamen was thrown into chaos again. The already few remaining runners and clerks fled in even greater numbers, and some of the commoners who had stayed also fled back to the countryside. At the same time, it made Pang Yu feel a great sense of urgency. If the Chizhou Troops succeeded in pacifying the rebellion, then those tens of thousands of taels of silver from the bandits would have nothing to do with Pang Yu.

"The news was delivered by a Xiucai from Liantan. Lord Yang had me immediately seek out the various gentry for discussion. This official first came to find Mr. Fang and ask him to take the lead in convening everyone. We absolutely must have the local gentry step forward and send a few people to Liantan to argue on solid grounds. We definitely cannot allow those Chizhou Troops to advance any further."

Pang Yu, following behind the County Deputy, carefully observed Fang Yizhi and found him somewhat flustered. He turned around and then stopped, seeming still unable to make up his mind. It appeared he was truly frightened by the Chizhou Troops.

At this time, the common people's impression of soldiers was not much different from that of Roving Bandits or Local Bandits, especially Guest Armies from other regions. They were all outsiders who did not need to consider whether they would meet again in the future, so their methods were particularly ruthless.

Fang Yizhi thought for a moment and finally said, "My father is indeed not at home today, but this Latecomer Student knows where he is. I can immediately send someone to inform my father and ask him to rush back."

Zhou County Deputy said urgently, "Then why not have this official go together with Young Master Fang? We could discuss with Mr. Fang on the return journey."

A troubled expression appeared on Fang Yizhi's face. He hesitated and said, "But the place my father went to is truly not very convenient. Please, Lord Zhou, wait a short while in the Study. This Latecomer Student will send someone to request him immediately."

Hearing him say this, Zhou County Deputy had no choice but to agree. Fang Yizhi hurriedly found a household servant, whispered a few instructions to the man, and the servant, skilled in riding, galloped off on horseback.

The task Yang Fangzao gave Zhou County Deputy was to find Fang Kongzhao as quickly as possible. Although the Tongcheng gentry had been somewhat displeased last time, and some were dissatisfied with Fang Kongzhao, when it came time to decide on major matters, everyone still thought of the Fang Family first.

Zhou County Deputy followed Fang Yizhi to his Study, and naturally, Pang Yu and Mr. Yu could only follow behind. The Fang Family's deep compound with grand courtyards was stately yet not extravagant, with flowers and grasses interspersed and water features and stones artfully arranged in the gardens. Just looking at this courtyard, Pang Yu knew the Fang Family was one of both wealth and rank.

Pang Yu and Mr. Yu originally were not qualified to enter the Study, but Fang Yizhi's Study was divided into an outer room and an inner room. The sun was somewhat scorching today, so Fang Yizhi allowed the two into the outer room and even had a Maid give each of them a round fan.

Once inside Fang Yizhi's Study, Pang Yu stealthily swept his gaze around. He saw placed against a wall an incense stand made from a natural jujube root. In the center was an official's desk, behind which were placed two long swords. Further back was a superior Lingnan brocade-stone cloud-and-mist screen. On the official desk, besides brush, ink, paper, and Inkstone, there was also a glazed lamp, plus a lamp fixture with a gorgeous lampshade. The lampshade was brilliantly multicolored and crystal clear, something Pang Yu had never seen in the Ming Dynasty, and it was the most eye-catching object in this Study.

Seeing Pang Yu staring at that lampshade, Mr. Yu covered half his face and whispered to Pang Yu, "That on the desk is a Yunnan filigree-glass lamp. The material is amethyst and Agate. After being boiled soft, a certain lichen is dotted in. Once it forms threads, they are embroidered onto silk, which is why it is so dazzling and captivating. But the price—our two years' worth of wages and food allowance couldn't buy a single one."

Pang Yu glanced at Mr. Yu in surprise. Seeing Mr. Yu nod affirmatively, he couldn't help but look at the Fang Family's wealth with new eyes. If the households of the Tongcheng gentry all lived at this standard, then the price of over a thousand taels that Huang Wending sold that Acting Emperor Fire-Exemption Banner for was indeed quite fair.

After Fang Yizhi served tea to the County Deputy, he apologized once more. He and the County Deputy happened to have nothing to chat about, so Fang Yizhi had to find something to do himself to avoid an awkward silence. He tidied up the desktop, and Pang Yu caught a glimpse of a book with the words "Principles of Things" written on the cover.

"Strange, what did ancient people study in physics class?" Pang Yu wondered to himself.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside. A young man, drenched in sweat, jumped over the threshold of the Study. Before he even stopped, he called out to Fang Yizhi, "Big Brother, in the 'Water' chapter, it writes of this 'Dead Sea': 'Taste salty, nature coagulated, produces no waves, and nothing sinks, no aquatic life is born.' (Note 1) Who told you this? How could there be such a strange place? It doesn't sound real. Can you take me to see it?"

Fang Yizhi put on a stern face and said, "Your brother has an honored guest today. This is County Deputy Lord Zhou. You must not be rude."

After saying this, he added to Zhou County Deputy, "This is my younger brother Fang Qiyi. His temperament is a bit unrestrained. Please do not take offense, my lord."

Zhou County Deputy did not dare take offense. A young son from such an established aristocratic family might pass the Presented Scholar exam any day and then become his superior in turn; such a person absolutely could not be offended.

Thereupon, Zhou County Deputy said politely, "I have heard that Mizhi knew literature and history at six, could compose essays at nine, mastered the Six Classics at twelve, and is also proficient in swordsmanship—truly a talent in both pen and sword. Your younger brother must also be a hero in his youth."

Fang Yizhi hurriedly said a few modest words, but Fang Qiyi persisted relentlessly, "I just have one question. Brother, just tell me and I'll leave. Is that Dead Sea you wrote about real?"

Fang Yizhi said impatiently, "It was also told to me by a Jesuit. It is probably real."

Fang Qiyi let out a somewhat disappointed "Oh," and was just about to leave when he heard a voice from the outer room answer loudly.

"There is indeed such a sea. It is actually a salt lake, located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the West. It is the lowest-altitude lake in the world."

Everyone in the room looked toward the outer room in surprise. They saw Pang Yu fanning himself with his round fan, his expression composed. "And Young Master Fang can even create a small Dead Sea right here at home."

Before Fang Qiyi could speak, Fang Yizhi actually left the County Deputy, strode a few steps to the outer room, and said excitedly, "I heard them say it is indeed a salt lake not far from the sea. How do you know this? Could it be you have been there?"

Pang Yu almost blurted out that he had been there, but then he immediately remembered his current status. He bowed respectfully and said, "This humble one, Pang Yu, once studied under a reclusive master beyond the world. It was he who told me."

"So that's it. What you just said about being able to make a small Dead Sea—is that true? How can it be done?"

"Young Master Fang's records are already quite clear. The reason it does not sink things and produces no aquatic life is all due to its salty taste. The salt content in the Dead Sea is eight times that of ordinary seawater. Its specific gravity exceeds that of the human body, so even a person who cannot swim can float on it. Also, because the salt content is too high, neither fish nor shrimp can survive in it, hence the name Dead Sea. If Young Master Fang wishes to make one, you need only fill a pool with water and then dissolve a large amount of salt into it."

Fang Yizhi did not understand the meaning of specific gravity, but he grasped the conclusion that one needed to add more salt. He immediately put on a look of sudden realization. He hurriedly walked two steps outward, then suddenly stopped and glanced back at Zhou County Deputy inside. From his expression, Pang Yu guessed that if the County Deputy were not here, he seemed ready to go experiment immediately.

Fang Qiyi immediately came over and pulled Pang Yu aside, asking for details nonstop. The County Deputy had no interest whatsoever in these things and said to Pang Yu, "Then Pang Yu, keep Young Master Fang company and chat for a while. This official will discuss the major matter of pacifying the rebellion with Mizhi."

Pang Yu hurriedly agreed. Fang Qiyi, with a youth's temperament, inexplicably excited, led Pang Yu out of the Study. They sat down right beside the winding corridor by the pond outside, and he held a book, asking questions incessantly.

"Officer Pang, have you seen the thing described in this line: 'In the streams of Fuyan, oil flows day and night, which is Yan'an Petroleum. Used to make lampblack ink, pine soot cannot compare.'"

"That should be petroleum. It is formed from animals, plants, and trees from at least a million years ago decomposing underground. When burned, it can produce energy. Several hundred years from now, it will become a resource that powerful nations fight over."

"Matters several hundred years from now—that reclusive master knew of them too? Then look at this line: 'At Ungachaka, there is water that sprays from the earth and immediately solidifies into stone.'"

"That sounds like a Volcanic Eruption. That water is called Magma. It is rock melted into liquid by extreme heat. The extremely deep parts of the earth are actually liquid. This brings us to the theory of Plate Tectonics..."

The two engaged in question and answer. Fang Qiyi felt as if he had discovered an enormous treasure trove, concentrating intently, unaware of the passage of time.

Under the blazing sun, the winding corridor was like a steamer. Pang Yu's round fan was almost useless. After speaking for a full half-hour, Pang Yu felt his mouth parched and tongue dry, and was forced to end the first science popularization lesson of the Ming Dynasty.

Fang Qiyi looked at this runner with an admiring gaze and praised, "I never imagined that our Tongcheng had such a great talent as Officer Pang, and he is merely a runner. What a waste of talent. It's a pity my elder brother had no chance to sit in today. In a few days, we must invite Officer Pang to make it up to him."

Pang Yu's eyes shifted. The Fang Family's people were extremely tight-lipped. Pang Yu had never been able to find out where Fang Kongzhao's manpower came from, much less the progress of Fang Kongzhao's preparations.

His own strength could not compare with any party. Especially now with the sudden emergence of the Chizhou Troops as an uncertain factor, both Fang Kongzhao and Huang Wending could make new moves at any time. If he wanted to snatch chestnuts from the fire, the timing had to be extremely precise. Therefore, Pang Yu had always hoped to grasp more intelligence on the Fang Family.

Looking at the excited young man before him, who was completely off guard, Pang Yu probed, "I'm afraid I won't have the time to visit you two young masters again until the civil unrest is quelled. But the bandits are still running rampant now. Who knows what month or year that will be."

Sure enough, Fang Qiyi laughed heartily. "Officer Pang need not worry. It won't be long now."

Pang Yu deliberately put on a stern face. "I am speaking the honest truth. Young Master Fang must not fob me off with false words."

Fang Qiyi leaned in and said seriously in a low voice, "It's true. My second uncle brought back a few Household Retainers, and Father has also hired several dozen Da Hang men. Those bandits won't be jumping around much longer."

"How would a youngster like you know this?"

"Of course I know. Because quite a few Da Hang men have already arrived in Tongcheng. They are staying in the Dragon Sleep Mountains, occupying the Ze Garden where my brother and I usually study. Otherwise, in such sweltering heat, why would I be suffering here in the Tongcheng Old Residence instead of escaping the heat at Ze Garden?"

Pang Yu's mouth hung open in surprise. He immediately guessed that the place Fang Kongzhao had gone to today was Ze Garden in the Dragon Sleep Mountains. That was why Fang Yizhi did not want Zhou County Deputy to discover the men and horses at Ze Garden.

Seeing that he had finally managed to surprise the all-knowing Officer Pang, Fang Qiyi looked at Pang Yu and laughed proudly.

……

Note 1: From Fang Yizhi's "Notes on the Principles of Things," Volume 2, "Water": "There is a sea, taste salty, nature coagulated, produces no waves, and nothing sinks, no aquatic life is born. It is named: Dead Sea. The nature of water differs so—will you deem it strange and not believe?" After the fall of the Ming, this book was transmitted to Japan. Influenced by this book, modern Japan translated the Western term "Physics" as "physics" (the study of the principles of things).