Chapter Thirty-Four: Regretting Not Meeting Sooner

  "What?!?!" Zhang Lei was so shocked by this name that he almost jumped up.

  Xu Min was also startled by Zhang Lei's reaction, shrinking his neck and saying gloomily: "What's wrong?"

  Zhang Lei realized he was a bit out of it, so he took a deep breath to calm his excited mood and said: "Nothing, nothing. It's just that I've always admired Xu Shangshu's translation of 'Elements' and never thought I'd have the chance to meet him in person, so I couldn't help myself."

  "Hehe, you're really good at flattering people! Alright, I'll take you to see him. He's the Minister of Rites, and he's very busy - I often can't even get an appointment with him." Xu Min smiled like a little girl who hadn't grown up yet.

  "Well, I'm really lucky then." Zhang Lei said with a smile.

  "Good luck won't favor fools... Let's go."

  Xu Guangqi was temporarily absent from the downtown area, presumably to seek more quietness. Zhang Lei and Xu Min both walked for three quarters of an hour before arriving in front of a mansion.

  This house looks simple and unpretentious from the outside, just like an ordinary commoner's home, it's hard to imagine that a high-ranking official would live in such a place.

  "My uncle is just temporarily staying here and isn't the kind of person who wants to draw attention to himself, so he found this quiet place." Xu Min seemed to sense Zhang Lei's confusion and spoke before he could ask a question.

  Zhang Lei nodded and said: "Minister Xu is a good official."

  The two gatekeepers were tall and sturdy, with prominent temples and well-developed muscles. The precious swords hanging from their waists seemed to be gleaming with a cold light. Indeed, it was no wonder that this was the residence of a high-ranking official, for the gatekeepers were all top-notch martial artists.

  "Miss Xu is back, and this is..." The two of them saw Xu Min come over, both eyes shining brightly, but when they saw Zhang Lei by her side, their expressions suddenly turned cold.

  "Hey, hey, what's with the looks you two are giving each other? He's a great guy I found, and Uncle will definitely like him."

  "So that's how it is, haha, I thought Miss Xu had brought back Master Ruyi. Please come in, please come in, the old master should be in the study now." The two of them heard this and suddenly felt a huge weight lifted off their minds, bursting into loud laughter.

  The courtyard inside and outside looks equally simple, with no decorative items on the wood, it's hard to imagine that Xu Guangqi would live in such an environment. It's like it's unimaginable that the world's richest man would ride a bicycle out of the door.

  With Zhang Lei arriving at the study door, Xu Min suddenly changed into a different person. Her cheerful and carefree demeanor was nowhere to be found, replaced by a sweet and serene expression that made her almost unrecognizable from just moments before. She knocked gently on the door and called out softly, "Uncle Guangqi."

  "Is it Minmin? Come in." A slightly aged and gentle voice came from inside.

  Pushing open the door and entering, a painting is directly in front, an antique shelf on the left, and a bookshelf on the right, filled with all sorts of works. Below are two chairs, sandwiching a square table with porcelain on top. Xu Guangqi is sitting under the window in the southeast corner of the room, writing hastily.

  "Uncle, are you writing again? Don't overwork yourself, take a good rest, and let the young people handle some things."

  Xu Guangqi was a jinshi in the 32nd year of Wanli (1604). He was well-versed in astronomy, calendrical calculations, and firearms. He converted to Catholicism and studied with Matteo Ricci from Italy. In 1640, he served as an official compiler of historical records and collaborated with the missionary Johann Schreck to create celestial globes and other astronomical instruments. The following year, he was impeached, feigned illness, and resigned his post, retiring to Tianjin to cultivate the land.

  In the forty-seventh year, the Ming army was defeated at Saerhu, and he requested to take effect himself. He was promoted to River South Road Yu Shi and practiced soldiers in Tongzhou. When Xi Zong ascended to the throne, his will could not be carried out, so he used illness as an excuse to return home. In the first year of Tianqi (1621), he resumed his post and strongly requested to cast red barbarian cannons to defend against enemies. Later, he offended Wei Zhongxian and was dismissed from office. In the first year of Chongzhen (1628), he was summoned back and ordered to direct the Lüqing army. Three years later, he presented a memorial on cultivating fields, water conservancy, relieving famine, salt laws, and other urgent matters of the time. He was promoted to Minister of Rites and ordered to correct the calendar with missionaries Long Huamin, Deng Yuhuan, Luo Yage, and others. In the fifth year, as Minister of Rites and concurrent Grand Secretary, he participated in government affairs.

  Zhang Lei, however, met him before Xu Guangqi entered Beijing. At that time, he was already 70 years old and in his twilight years.

  "Uncle, I've brought back a young man for you. He's quite something." Xu Min continued to introduce Zhang Lei.

  Xu Guangqi finally looked up, glanced at Zhang Lei and said to Xu Min: "Min has always been high above the top, those rich young masters you can't even look at, it's rare that this time you bring back a little boy for me to see... hmm, not bad, he looks quite spirited."

  "No more, Uncle is teasing me." Xu Min pouted and said: "It's not what you think, he was seen by Minmin on the road, I knew you were interested so I brought him back, and it has nothing to do with Minmin at all."

  Zhang Lei knew it was his turn to speak, so he interjected: "Lord Xu, we met on the street, and Miss Xu even helped me retrieve my lost wallet and drawings. We two were strangers who met by chance, but fortunately, thanks to Miss Xu's introduction, I have had the honor of meeting Lord Shang."

  "That's right, that's what he said. I also brought him to see Uncle because I saw his drawings." Seeing Zhang Lei giving himself an excuse, Xu Min hastily added.

  One after another, they both mentioned the drawings. Xu Guangqi was a person very sensitive to mechanics and science, and in the entire empire, he could be considered a legend. "What's so charming about these drawings? Let me take a look."

  Zhang Lei sent the drawings up, and Xu Guangqi took a look, then said to Xu Min: "Minmin, you go out first, remember to close the door, and ask your sister Meng to bring over some good tea."

  "Hmph, again like this, once something is discussed I'm driven out." Xu Min said discontentedly.

  Xu Guangqi patted his own thigh and said: "You're just a girl from a good family, what are you doing listening to these things? Go on, go!"

  After Xu Min left, Xu Guangqi immediately stood up and pointed to the taishi chair, saying: "Young master, please sit down. I haven't asked your surname and given name yet? Who did you learn from?"

  "My humble surname is Zhang, and I am Zhang Chang, a common farmer from Xujiaying, under the jurisdiction of Chaohu County."

  Xu Guangqi motioned to Zhang Lei to sit down and said, "If Young Master Zhang doesn't want to reveal his lineage, I won't force it. I just have one question: did you draw this diagram yourself?"

  "Yes." Zhang Lei replied simply.

  "The old man's eyes are dull, and although he sees that the machine is ingenious and unparalleled, he doesn't understand what use it has. Please, Master Zhang, explain it to me." Xu Guangqi was embarrassed that after a lifetime of dealing with science, he couldn't even guess the purpose of this mechanical device.

  Zhang Lei was amazed that Xu Guangqi, as a first-class official of the imperial court, was so affable and close to him. On the one hand, he explained his original intention and use of making this tool, and also mentioned drilling machines and cutting machine tools.

  "Alas, it seems that I am indeed unable to keep up with the times. There are actually people like you in this world. In vain have I devoted decades of study, yet without any achievement whatsoever. Ashamed, extremely ashamed." Upon hearing that Zhang Lei had accomplished so much in just over a year, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but sigh and lament.

  Zhang Lei hastily said: "Mr. Xu, please don't say that. If it weren't for your translation of 'Elements', I wouldn't have been able to understand its principles. You should also be considered my teacher."

  "Young man, you don't have to comfort me anymore. It's alright, today's conversation has benefited me greatly, it's been many years since I've had such a feeling. Many of your ideas are even more advanced than Matteo Ricci's were back in the day. It's just a pity that he died too early and didn't get to translate all four volumes of 'The Elements' after the first one. Xu Guangqi was very impressed with Zhang Lei, and upon hearing that these ideas came from his own collaboration with Matteo Ricci on translating 'The Elements', he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. However, thinking about how they hadn't finished translating the entire book yet, he couldn't help but feel some regret."

  As soon as he mentioned this, Zhang Lei suddenly remembered his original intention of learning Latin and was overwhelmed with emotion. If he could cooperate with Xu Guangqi, wouldn't that be...

  "Mr. Xu, to be honest with you, I spent some time in Guangzhou last year and followed a missionary, a Catholic, to learn Latin, and my intention at the time was to translate the remaining part of 'The Elements'." Zhang Lei said.

  The first six volumes of the fifteen-volume "Elements" were translated by Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci, but after Ricci's death, Xu had to stop working on it. It wasn't until the Qing dynasty that the remaining nine volumes were finally completed by Li Shanlan (1811-1882), a mathematician of the Qing dynasty, and Alexander Wylie.

  Zhang Lei actually learned Latin for "Elements", which made Xu Guangqi extremely surprised. He smiled and said, "Young man, I'm getting more and more fond of you. It's really a feeling of regretting not meeting earlier. If I weren't old, according to my youthful temper, I would have pulled you to burn three incense sticks and become sworn brothers."

  "Governor Xu has taken pity on me, I'm just a commoner, an ordinary old hundred surnames. Being able to meet you today is already the blessing of eight lifetimes. If I can get Governor Xu's guidance, it would be like my ancestors' tombs emitting auspicious smoke." Zhang Lei said humbly.

  Just as the two were talking, Xu Min personally brought over two cups of fragrant tea and placed them on the table, smiling: "Uncle, you really are a foolish person, once you start talking about these things, you forget what your identity is."

  Xu Guangqi said unhappily, "Status? What status can I have? Just a Minister of Rites? Official positions are not tools for showing off oneself, but responsibilities for doing things for the people. The higher the position, the greater the responsibility. Alas, the current court is pitiful..."

  "Director Xu is indeed a man of noble character, I truly admire him. However, Director Xu should also not overexert himself and take care of his body." Zhang Lei changed the subject, having already run out of sarcastic thoughts to express about officialdom.

  "Alas, I don't want to bother with it either. Let's talk about your mechanical thing instead. Earlier you mentioned that in the field of woodworking, you've basically established a set of procedures. What are your thoughts on this going forward?"

  Starting point welcomes readers to visit, the latest, fastest and most popular serialized works are all on the starting point of original!