Emperor Daxing liked to give names to things.

Whether it's weapons, cities, rivers or whatever.

Therefore, Shen Kuo was not surprised that Zhao Xu suddenly named the clay model he made "Sand Table".

…

He sent Shen Kuo away and told him to make the sand table in the Gyeonggi area as soon as possible.

Zhao Xu ordered people to bring the sand table made by Shen Kuo to Baoci Palace.

Assemble this sand table in Bao Ci Palace.

When the two palaces met, their eyes lit up.

Zhao Xu introduced the two palaces, and the two palaces were also very interested. They pointed around the sand table and looked for streets and alleys.

Especially the Queen Mother, who grew up among the people.

Looking at the sand table, especially the place where Xinchangfang is located on the sand table, and the familiar streets and alleys nearby.

The Empress Dowager then praised: "What a wonderful workmanship! What a wonderful workmanship!"

"Yu Hao's reincarnation may be nothing more than this!"

The Empress Dowager was also very happy because she entered the palace as a young girl and only left the palace to marry the Yingmiao when she grew up. After getting married, she has been living in Pu Mansion and has basically no time to go out.

For decades, the Empress Dowager's activities in Bianjing City were only Kaibao Temple, Daxiangguo Temple, Jinming Pool, and Jinling Palace.

She is naturally curious about the outside world.

The sand table brought by Zhao Xu satisfied the curiosity of the Empress Dowager.

For the first time, she knew how big the city of Bianjing was, and for the first time, she knew how prosperous and lively the city was.

Zhao Xu took the opportunity to say from the side: "With this thing, the mother-in-law and queen mother will be able to know at any time what is happening in Bianjing City and where it is..."

"In the future, we will even be able to see at a glance the trends of mountains, rivers and rivers all over the world... and know the geography and landforms thousands of miles away..."

As the two palaces listened, their eyes gradually lit up.

Things they hadn't thought of before were now understood when Zhao Xu mentioned them.

This is an important military weapon!

Therefore, the two palaces issued an edict, ordering Shen Kuo to set up a special department in the bureau dedicated to manufacturing weapons to be responsible for the construction of sand tables.

An internal fund of 10,000 guan was also allocated to fund the Shatai Division.

He also ordered that all the sand trays built by the Shapan Si should be sent to the palace. The beams should be simple and only stones should be obtained. In the palace, a side hall near the Funing Hall should be selected to specifically store these sand trays.

At the same time, Shen Kuo was also ordered to give five copies of the short-term name Zhazi, and he was asked to nominate and recommend meritorious craftsmen for official appointments.

This has been the system since the Song Dynasty.

Those who create useful or useful things that involve the military will be rewarded with officials.

Although their official ranks are very low, most of them are not of the upper class.

But it’s also an inspiration to the craftsmen!

After doing these things, the two palaces, on Zhao Xu's suggestion, ordered people to send the sand table to the Yanhe Hall's banquet hall.

He also ordered people to open a special place on one side of the palace to place the sand table.

Zhao Xu's reason is naturally very upright - this is so that when the court meets in the future, when the courtiers report their speeches, the top and bottom can know the geography of the place where they are talking!

Note: Shen Kuo's flying bird drawing technique was later lost.

But in the Northern Song Dynasty, it was widely used and was used many times to demarcate national borders or military-state boundaries.

Note 2: Coal was widely used in the Song Dynasty and was also the main fuel in Bianjing City.

Note 3: In the Northern Song Dynasty, river management included planting trees in addition to building embankments.
Chapter completed!