"It's true, but it's just a grasshopper after autumn. In front of our Ming Dynasty, it won't be able to hop around for a few more years."
"When Feng Xue's web is finished, we will close it and catch all those who disobey the court and disrupt the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Biao spoke coldly.
"By the way, Feng Xue, since I am now responsible for promoting the imperial examination reform, you are responsible for promoting, um, industrial construction."
"I plan to add the next step of the imperial examination reform in the next autumn."
"You remember to write it down."
Zhu Biao then said to Xiao Han again.
"Easy to say."
"In a few days, I will start compiling "Economics of the Ming Dynasty" and "Essential Techniques of the Ming Dynasty's Engineering Studies". I know what you are thinking."
"Don't worry, I will give it to you as soon as possible so that you have enough time to understand before then."
"After all, I know that our old Zhu family's financial awareness is surprisingly poor. If you don't understand something, you can ask me directly."
The corners of Xiao Han's mouth curled up.
"What you said...although it is true and well said, don't say it next time."
Zhu Biao's mouth twitched slightly.
"By the way, I need a batch of experimental fields to cultivate high-quality rice here. When the wasteland is opened, remember to give me one."
Xiao Han said to Zhu Biao.
"How big do you want it to be?"
Zhu Biao asked.
"A few hundred acres, maybe."
Xiao Han Xiao Han said.
"Then you don't have to wait for land reclamation, I have it right here."
"When I get back, I will select hundreds of acres of the best quality Ming Dynasty farmland as experimental fields."
Zhu Biao said.
"There is no need for this. As an experimental field, the most important thing is to show the experimental results."
"If they are all paddy fields with top fertility, the data obtained from the experiment will be higher, so you can just give me average paddy fields. It is best to arrange them for different environments."
"In addition, I also want some smarter folk, preferably those who understand some of the key techniques of Ming Dynasty agriculture."
Xiao Han spoke again.
"This is a bit difficult."
"After all, I have seen a lot of the essential skills of Ming Dynasty agriculture, but when it comes to proficiency, I really don't have many."
"However, in the spring of the past two days, many people who wanted to take the Ming Dynasty Agricultural Science Examination failed."
"Not too many, maybe a few hundred people."
"How about I issue an imperial edict for you and you just call them together to make a selection?"
"Anyway, many of them came to Yingtian Mansion on a one-way trip, and now they are collecting relief food with the refugees. They are wasting food in vain if they take them here in Jinling."
Zhu Biao said to Xiao Han.
"oh!"
"I've been so busy these past two days that I actually forgot about them."
"Okay, you can summon him tomorrow and issue an imperial edict."
Xiao Han nodded.
It is indeed very busy during this time.
As a result, Xiao Han only looked at those who participated in the palace examination and ignored those who failed in the spring examination.
"Remember to screen it for me."
"After all, we are not electing officials this time. Those with personal farming experience are the best. As for theoretical knowledge, it is actually not that important. After all, the theoretical guidance can only be completed by a few of us."
Xiao Han added.
"Ha ha!"
"It's you who made the mistake this time."
"There is no one who can stay and never come back, not even a child of a powerful family or a rich businessman's family."
"They are all poor people. It's hard to find anyone among them who doesn't know how to farm."
Zhu Biao smiled.
The next day.
By cooperating with Xiao Han, Zhu Biao chose the reason why the husband issued the imperial edict, and successfully escaped from the various pre-wedding preparations that Queen Ma kept asking for.
"Fengxue, these are the common people who failed the exam and couldn't go back."
Zhu Biao took Xiao Han to a disaster relief shed.
The people in this disaster relief shed are completely different from the other refugees waiting to receive their porridge.
Although they were still as dusty and dirty, their clothes were in rags, and there was even a strange smell in the relief shed.
But none of these people's eyes showed the exhaustion and numbness of running around. They all had determination and persistence in their eyes.
Even when it comes to eating porridge, he is not as greedy as other refugees. Instead, he is absent-minded and pays more attention to the two books in his hands.
A Ming Dynasty Agricultural Essentials and a Ming Dynasty Dictionary.
The Ming Dynasty Agricultural Essentials compiled by Xiao Han did not use the simplified Chinese characters of later generations. Many of the official Ming characters on it were very cumbersome. Those people who became monks and became scholars on the way, if they could remember half of the characters on it, they were already considered talented.
Most of them are reading books and dictionaries at the same time.
Those who can travel over the mountains and ridges from home to Yingtian Mansion to participate in the Spring Festival, naturally have stronger minds than ordinary people.
They did not think that their failure this time in Chunwei was because they were really incompetent, but because they had prepared too hastily and had not yet fully understood the essentials of Ming Dynasty agriculture.
They have to stay here and wait for the next imperial examination.
They believe that in the future they will be like those geniuses who succeeded the first time, successfully passed the imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty, were promoted to imperial officials, and honored their ancestors.
The worst case scenario is that when the Ming Dynasty's land reclamation comes out, they will work with the refugees to farm, and while farming, they will study the essentials of Ming agriculture.
If you fail the exam once, do it twice; if you fail twice, do it three times.
Anyway, we farm at home, and we farm here too.
If you work hard and make up for your shortcomings, you will succeed sooner or later. Even if you are not lucky enough to ascend to the Emperor's Hall in the end, at least you have worked hard for all this.
It's better to fall down on the road. I'm afraid of the high mountains and the long roads, so I can't move forward.
"Ahem!"
"Your Majesty has a decree!"
Looking at these shabby people who were still studying the essentials of Ming Dynasty agriculture seriously, Li Heng cleared his throat and shouted.
It was only then that most people saw the arrival of Zhu Biao and Xiao Han.
"That, that is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Oh my God, His Highness the Crown Prince actually came to our place!"
"It's true, you read that right."
"It's absolutely true. Before the Spring Festival that day, His Highness the Crown Prince delivered a speech in person. I saw it from a distance."
"Common people meet His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Come on, the common people see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
…
It took a while for these people to react. They all hurriedly put down the books and porridge in their hands and knelt down in front of Zhu Biao.
"Blessed by God!"
"The emperor issued an edict!"
"I cannot bear to see the common people who participated in the imperial examination and are unable to return home and stay in Yingtian Mansion."
"It happened to be that the British Duke Xiao Han opened up experimental fields and opened up the way forward for Ming Dynasty's agriculture."
"Public scholars who have been granted permission to stay in Yingtian can be elected as farmers cultivating the experimental fields. Anyone who participates in cultivating the experimental fields will be treated the same as local government officials!"
"Appreciate this!"
Li Heng's high-pitched voice echoed in the ears of the common people.
"Really, really or falsely?"
"We failed, do we still have a chance to become officials?"
"This, this is really great!"
Someone spoke in shock.
"Your Highness, the common people dare to ask."
After the shocked voice, someone who reacted spoke.
"Ask, I forgive you for not being guilty."
Zhu Biao said.
"If we become a subordinate of the British Lord, in the farming battle, will we still have a chance to participate in the imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty!"
The man raised his head and looked at Zhu Biao.
If they stay here, they will naturally not be willing to settle for a position equivalent to that of a yamen servant.
For these aspiring civilians, if they become farmers in the experimental fields but lose the opportunity to continue the imperial examination, they would rather wait here for disaster relief and open up wasteland and farm with the refugees.
"Can."
"Participating in the imperial examinations of the Ming Dynasty is your birthright. No one is qualified to deprive you of it as long as you have not committed a serious crime."
"In addition, I can tell you that when you become a farmer in my experimental fields, I and the top three winners of this Ming Dynasty Agricultural Examination will personally guide you in the important techniques of Ming Agricultural Science."
Xiao Han nodded slightly and said.
"Ask the British public."
"Are there any other costs?"
The person who spoke before asked Xiao Han again.
"have!"
"Everything in the world must be gained and lost."
“Food grows in the ground and never falls in vain.”
"Becoming a member of the experimental field, you will lose certain freedoms. You are not allowed to leave except for the prescribed holidays when you can go home to visit relatives."
"In addition, all theories and data regarding the experimental field research process are not allowed to be leaked."
"If anyone leaks the status of the Ming Experimental Field, he will be killed without mercy!"
"If one person causes the core agricultural technology of the Ming Dynasty to be leaked outside the Ming Dynasty, he will be guilty of conspiracy and will implicate the nine tribes!"
"So, I advise you to think about it carefully. If you can't do it, don't get involved, otherwise you will lose your life in vain and even implicate your family."
"Finally, I would like to explain here that if you become a member of the Ming Dynasty Experimental Field, you will be affiliated to the Daming Agricultural College. The president of the college is personally served by our Crown Prince. Although you work hard like ordinary people on a daily basis, it is indeed A real official from the Ming Dynasty."
"Especially, if you succeed in the future autumn and spring, you can directly improve your salary and receive Ming Dynasty official uniforms. Of course, you cannot wear them when farming."
"Okay, now the choice is returned to you, please make your decision."
Xiao Han said coldly, first stating the requirements, explaining the price of violating the rules, and finally re-explaining the treatment.
Let Zhu Biao give him a sweet date first, then Xiao Han give him a big stick, and finally give him a sweeter date.
"In this case, ordinary people are willing to run for election as experimental field farmers and join the Daming Agricultural College. I hope that I will be lucky enough to join the British public and join the command of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The person who spoke before spoke immediately.
"And I am willing, too."
"Me too!"
…
Under Xiao Han's manipulation of big sticks and sweet dates, these ordinary people who failed the exam suddenly became enthusiastic, and they all rushed to save their lives to participate in the Ming Dynasty Experimental Field.
As long as you can control your mouth and stop talking nonsense, isn't it just a waste of your official career?
No matter how the land is grown, the salary from the imperial court will not affect the continued imperial examination. The key is to get the salary and official position directly after the examination, so that the person can still be in Yingtian Mansion.
Although you will lose some freedom, this is Yingtian Mansion, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, where the capital is located. I am reluctant to leave in a hurry, and there are fixed holidays, so there is nothing to hesitate about.
What?
Do you want to be an official or farm?
What I mean is, we don’t know anything other than farming, and we can’t do anything else if asked.
In the words of later generations, a direct professional counterpart is a state-owned enterprise, and it is also a state-owned enterprise with staff.
"Liu Zhuo, Xu Zhuxuan, Ma Ze, let's get started."
Xiao Han waved his hand and called his three "graduate students" to come up for interviews.
"Fengxue, how many people do you plan to recruit this time?"
The three of them took a group of civilian children who failed to pass the exam to interview farmers in the experimental fields. Zhu Biao asked Xiao Han.
"One hundred people. After all, the experimental field is not particularly large. A few acres per person is enough. If the experimental field needs to be expanded in the future, I will come to you again."
Xiao Han said to Zhu Biao.
"Then when will you expect results?"
Zhu Biao continued to ask.
"How would I know? It could be as short as ten years or as long as decades."
"But you don't have to worry. This thing is a work of continuous iteration. Every few years, the yield of the best varieties cultivated should be more than the previous ones."
"After all, according to my understanding, this thing is a process of continuously enriching and screening high-quality genes...enriching yield and disease resistance."
"What I said at the beginning was the time it might take to get to the state I envisioned."
"That goal is somewhat far away. I won't even know if I can get it before I die. But what can be guaranteed is that the new varieties launched by Daming Agricultural College will definitely get better and better."
Xiao Han opened his mouth to explain.
"So, the super rice you preset, which can produce several thousand kilograms per acre, is actually a limit state?"
Zhu Biao asked curiously.
"Actually, not really. As far as I know, that state can actually be further optimized."
"However, that is indeed a milestone-like production state. Under that state, even if our Ming Dynasty has more than one billion people, we can still feed it."
Xiao Han thought for a while and said.
"ah?"
"Can this continue to be optimized?"
"Then what will it become in the end?"
Zhu Biao said in shock.
"Who knows?"
"Perhaps after a few hundred years, a tree will grow directly from the ground. The tree is full of leaves, and under each leaf is a large bunch of rice. The weight of the grain produced can be several times greater than the other parts of the rice. times."
Xiao Han paused and said.
"Is this still rice?"
"It's just rice growing on trees."
Zhu Biao's mouth twitched slightly.
"Is it important?"
"As long as it can grow food, is edible, and is harmless, you don't care whether it's rice or not?"
Xiao Han spread his hands.
"It's the same truth. Having food is the last word. No matter what it is, didn't our ancestors turn weeds into rice, wheat, and sorghum for food?"
"It seems reasonable for us descendants to transform these things into other forms for the sake of food."
"If possible, I really hope that when we grow old, we still have the opportunity to play chess under the rice tree, and the smell of food when we look up is beautiful to think about. By then, I, the dean of the College of Agriculture, even if my political performance is average, He will be famous for eternity."
Zhu Biao laughed, deeply convinced.
"Maybe."
Xiao Han said, slightly in a trance. It seemed that the old man had said something similar. If the person who came to Ming Dynasty was not an ordinary young man like himself, but that person, Ming Dynasty, maybe such a scene would really happen. .
After selection by Liu Zhuo, Ma Ze and Xu Zhuxuan, based on their planting skills, theoretical level and physical condition, they successfully selected 100 experimental farm households from hundreds of ordinary people who failed to be selected.
Zhu Biao also directly took Xiao Han, "three Daming Agricultural College graduate students" and one hundred Daming Agricultural College experimental field experiment households to the experimental field he assigned to Xiao Han.
"Fengxue, this is your experimental field."
"According to your request, I screened the fields around Jinling City in Yingtian Prefecture of Ming Dynasty according to their fertility levels."
"We selected the fields with the highest fertility level that best represent the majority of paddy fields in the Ming Dynasty. Among these fields, we have taken into account fields with different conditions such as river bank paddy fields, mountain terraces, and depression ditch fields."
Zhu Biao said, pointing to a large circle of surrounding fields surrounded by mountains and rivers.
"Very good, that's what's needed!"
Xiao Han nodded with satisfaction.
"Okay everyone, congratulations on passing the selection and becoming farmers in my Ming Dynasty Experimental Field. From now on, you can be considered an official."
"I would like to emphasize here that it is not important how much grain is produced in the field. What is important is the yield data. Anyway, the grain produced in the experimental field has nothing to do with your salary. Your extra salary is not related to the experiment of our Daming Agricultural College. It’s about completion.”
"So, don't secretly cut corners because you think some of our operations are wasting food. Complete the experimental arrangements I gave you while maintaining quality and quantity. That's what you should do."
"Next, we will start planting the experimental fields. Liu Zhuo, Xu Zhuxuan and Ma Ze will teach you how to do it."
"The three of them are the top three in agriculture in this Ming Dynasty Spring Palace Examination. Their level is higher than any of you, so you listen carefully and study carefully..."
Xiao Han turned around and explained the rules to these farmers in the Ming Dynasty Experimental Field, and then said some dramatic words such as "You guys need to forge ahead" and "There are many things to learn."
Since Xiao Han had almost said the dean's lines, when it came time for Zhu Biao, the real dean of Daming Agricultural College, to speak, he just skipped it.
"It is true that Gu is not proficient in agriculture, but you have to remember that you are Gu's people. If you make a mistake, Gu will not let it go. But if someone bullies you, you can still report Gu's name."
Finally, amid the voices of the mountains shouting "Long live His Royal Highness!" and "Long live the British Duke!", the first team of the Ming Farmers College was formally formed and began to try to cultivate the first experimental field.
After a busy day, half of the several hundred acres of experimental fields were successfully planted with the efforts of more than a hundred people. According to Xiao Han's arrangement, several of the most popular rice varieties in Ming Dynasty were used as the first generation parents.
"It seems that you have been watching me since you started planting the experimental fields. If you have anything to say, just say it."
Xiao Han glanced at the three people who followed him back to the British mansion.
"Um... Mr. Guo, when do you think we will conduct genetic analysis?"
"We are all waiting to see your real agricultural skills."
Xu Zhuxuan, who was walking at the front, rubbed his hands and said expectantly.
(End of chapter)
