"Why do layers of cloth or armor reduce injury? Because the force is distributed among the components of these items, thus lessening the impact."
"It's like how one person can't lift 120 catties, but two people can lift it together with a wooden plank. It's the same principle."
"And where does all the force borne by these things ultimately go? Do you esteemed lords know?"
"..."
The ministers looked at each other, seeing only bewilderment on each other's faces.
This had nothing to do with the teachings of the sages; how could they possibly know?
Only Meng Yuan, the Minister of Works, spoke after a moment of hesitation, "Lord Chu, is all the force directed into the ground?"
"Exactly! Congratulations, Lord Meng, you are correct!"
Chu Chen looked gratified. As expected of someone in engineering, he knew a little bit about physics.
Meng Yuan, flattered, smiled sheepishly.
Seeing Meng Yuan answer correctly, Wu Sheng pondered whether this "physics" was not mere nonsense but held some true knowledge. He then changed the subject.
"But what does this have to do with selecting talented individuals for the imperial examinations? Physics cannot govern a nation or bring peace to the land. Governing requires the teachings of the sages. Even if what you say is logical, it is useless."
Wu Sheng finished speaking and looked at Chu Chen with a smile.
Physics might be ingenious, but if it cannot govern the country, what good is it? Let's see how you, young man, will respond.
Chu Chen merely smiled. Physics cannot govern a nation? In his previous life, a prosperous and technologically advanced era, physics was one of the three pillars!
Biology, physics, and chemistry contributed greatly to high technology.
"Who says physics cannot govern a nation? If Lord Wu believes so, it is because you are ignorant. Do you know the wondrous applications of physics?"
"What wondrous applications? I shall listen with great interest."
Wu Sheng sneered, intending to see how this fellow would argue.
For thousands of years, the nation has been governed by the teachings of the sages. Physics? A pipe dream!
"Minister of Works, Lord Meng Yuan, would you be willing to cooperate? So that this person may understand what it means for physics to govern a nation?"
Chu Chen ignored him and asked with a smile.
"I am willing to try," Meng Yuan nodded.
"Then, Lord Wu, please listen carefully."
Chu Chen reminded him and smiled, "Lord Meng, how many waterwheels has the Yunyue Kingdom built? Are they in every prefecture and county? What is their efficacy?"
Meng Yuan pondered and replied, "The Ministry of Works' Water Conservancy Department, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, has constructed waterwheels in all prefectures and counties, with one to three in each village. Their benefits are immeasurable, facilitating irrigation for surrounding farmlands. A single waterwheel, with a shallow channel, can irrigate hundreds of mu of fertile land."
Chu Chen asked with a smile, "Does Lord Meng know what principles of physics are contained within a waterwheel?"
"This, I do not know," Meng Yuan stroked his beard and replied with a shake of his head.
Chu Chen laughed heartily, "Waterwheels are driven by water flow or wind flow, and when necessary, by human or animal power. The force that drives them is the action force, that is the first point."
"The second point, the buckets of the waterwheel scoop up water and pour it into the channel. Why does the water fall? This is due to universal gravitation. What is universal gravitation? All objects in the world, when in the air, are attracted by the earth beneath them, pulling them down. This is universal gravitation."
"Just as a ripe fruit falls from a tree, it is because the branch cannot support the attraction of gravity, and thus it falls."
"And also like this..."
As he spoke, Chu Chen removed his official hat and tossed it gently upwards.
Under the gaze of the ministers and the Empress, the official hat slowly fell, and Chu Chen picked it up from the ground.
Waving the hat in his hand, Chu Chen smiled, "Scenes like this are seen everywhere in daily life, yet no one considers why. Physics is the study of the principles that govern everyday operations. Relying on just gravity and action force, one can design a waterwheel. With a shallow channel, a single waterwheel can irrigate hundreds of mu of land, saving countless amounts of human and animal labor and time. This allows farmers to cultivate more conveniently, with more time to reclaim or plant more fields, effectively increasing grain yields."
"Since ancient times, the people have considered food as their heaven. As long as there is grain, the foundation of the nation will not be shaken. And this is merely a small, minor application of physics. May I ask, Lord Wu, can this govern a nation and bring peace to the land?"
Wu Sheng's mouth twitched. He wanted to refute but did not know where to begin. Waterwheels had also been built near his family's fields, and he knew very well how effective they were.
"I never imagined that such profound mysteries lay within these common daily sights. The governance of a nation by the principles of physics is truly terrifying!"
"With just these two principles, waterwheels can be built to increase agricultural output. If physics can stand as an independent subject, it must have more than just one or two wondrous applications! What other knowledge does it hold?"
"Lord Chu, what you say makes me eager. I wish to see what is written in the books of physics."
The ministers of works, one after another, discussed amongst themselves, their faces filled with excitement.
No one understood the power of physics better than they did. With just a few hints, they could extrapolate from their daily work and think of many things.
Such as wooden cranes and pulleys for lifting, the forces acting on arch bridges, the load-bearing of culvert bridges – all of which were related to these two principles.
"Your Majesty, on my way here, I have prepared some booklets that describe physics. They can be distributed to all the esteemed lords for their perusal."
Seeing that his opponents were speechless, Chu Chen no longer paid them any mind and turned to bow with a smile.
"Granted," the Empress's majestic expression held a hint of curiosity as her thin lips parted.
Soon, palace maids and eunuchs distributed the booklets Chu Chen had brought to the hall, with the Empress receiving one for herself.
Opening the booklet, it contained both text and simple ink drawings.
The first chapter they opened deeply captured everyone's curiosity.
"Why does the sun rise in the east and set in the west? Why is there day and night?"
"For a trough of the same length, why does a spherical ball roll slower in a flat trough than in a concave-convex trough?"
"Why does water flow from east to west, and mountains and rivers descend from above? Why can birds fly with their wings?"
"For the same combustible material, straw ignites with just a spark, but why does wood, with varying moisture content, require a different fire intensity to ignite?"
"Why are water and fire incompatible? Why do humans need to breathe? What exists in the air?"
The pictures and characters enthralled the Empress and the ministers.
Even the military officials, who generally disliked studying the teachings of the sages, were engrossed, finding it extremely interesting.
Some of the answers completely overturned their understanding.
For instance, they believed birds could fly because of their feathers and wings, but the answer stated it was because their light bodies and feathers were not permeable, and by flapping their wings, they created airflow, which carried them aloft.
Similarly, straw, wood, and damp wood, having different ignition points, required different intensities of fire to ignite.
The content of the booklet was not extensive, but it made them reluctant to turn the page, reading it over and over again.
Finally, it was only when the Empress struck her gavel that they were startled back to reality.
"Esteemed lords, do you still believe that physics cannot govern a nation and bring peace to the land? Do you still think it is unworthy of being a subject in the imperial examinations?"
Chu Chen's lips curved slightly as he asked with a smile.