"Am I presumptuous?"
Chen Jinglun was completely prepared: "Then tell me, is there any way to solve the problem raised by His Majesty?"
"As long as you can, I take back what I just said and accept the punishment. If you can't, then please consider His Majesty's proposal!"
Good guy!
The ministers were also shocked by Chen Jinglun's saucy maneuvers.
For a common person to angrily scold a third-rank official in the current dynasty, he is simply extremely stubborn.
Moreover, if we directly say that we will plant 200,000 hectares first and amend the tax laws, we won’t be afraid of the wind blowing our tongues.
But after they calmed down and thought about it carefully, they felt that Chen Jinglun's proposal was very reasonable.
"you……"
"cough……"
Just as Feng Sengtong was about to retort, Chongzhen coughed slightly, and the court immediately fell silent.
"Chen Jinglun, if you have something to say, say it nicely and don't get angry!"
After Chongzhen finished speaking, he immediately said: "My dear friends, you can speak freely and share your opinions. I won't care about what you say today!"
After some operations, the meaning of favoritism is very obvious.
"I agree with Chen Jinglun!"
"I also agree that if you are poor, you will change, and if you change, you will be successful. Although it is difficult, just solve it bit by bit!"
"Yes, the current situation does not allow us to stick to the rules. When spring starts, we will try to plant a part first, increase the planting area bit by bit, and solve other problems in the process."
"I ask your Majesty to vigorously promote it to solve our country's food dilemma in the Ming Dynasty!"
Four cabinet ministers and six ministers knelt down and asked Chongzhen to issue an order to vigorously promote it.
They also realized at this moment that there were Song Yingxing and three people standing in the middle. Isn't this obvious?
Combined with what the emperor said at the beginning, it is useless for anyone to stop it today. The promotion of potatoes and sweet potatoes is a foregone conclusion.
Seeing that the cabinet and the six ministers agreed, everyone had no choice but to agree.
Chongzhen naturally knew what the opponents thought. They were simply afraid of promoting sweet potatoes and potatoes. Such high-yielding crops would make the people self-sufficient and would no longer borrow money from the gentry.
Naturally, they can no longer collect more rent, which affects their own interests, so of course they must oppose it.
Sweet potatoes were introduced to Fujian and subsequently grown in Fujian and Guangdong. They were not promoted to Nanjing for thirty years, except for the fact that poor transportation and communications prevented the spread of sweet potatoes to the north.
The obstruction of the gentry and officials was also a large part of the reason.
Xu Guangqi once wrote to the cabinet to recommend the promotion of these crops, but there was no response from the court until the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Either the emperor did not pay attention to this situation, or the cabinet detained it. Chongzhen estimated that the latter was more likely.
The most important point is that the Ming Dynasty lacked officials with long-term vision and skills like Xu Guangqi. Most officials only talked about the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, were busy with party disputes, and did not do practical things.
Since he knows that Ming Dynasty already has potatoes and sweet potatoes, he must promote them, and no one can stop them.
"Since all of you have agreed, I would like to establish a new ministry called the Ming Agricultural Research Institute.
Responsible for the research and promotion of agricultural technology, by studying the characteristics of crops, improving planting methods, and ultimately increasing yields.
At the same time, he is responsible for teaching agricultural technology. From now on, all state and county agricultural advisors in charge of agriculture must come from the Daming Agricultural Research Institute!
There will be a dean, a left and right supervisor, and a chancellor, as well as several doctors, professors, and teaching assistants! "
PS: Doctors, professors, teaching assistants, etc. have existed since ancient times and are official positions in the Imperial College.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Guo Yunhou, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, his eyes lit up and he immediately said: "Although it is difficult to say in the short term, in the long term, it will definitely be effective. Even if the yield per mu increases by one stone, it is a huge achievement."
"Master Guo is right, Your Majesty is wise!"
After the ministers had finished their congratulations, Chongzhen continued: "Sun Aiqing, you preside over the court meeting to discuss how to determine the rank of the Ming Agricultural Research Institute!"
"I obey the decree!"
Sun Chengzong pondered. The Ming Agricultural Research Institute was different from the Ming Military Discipline Inspection Institute and the Ming Land and Resources Administration. Both of them were involved in actual management.
Especially the Military Discipline Inspection Institute of the Ming Dynasty, which is on the same level as the Six Ministries, and even the cabinet cannot interfere with its affairs.
It has absolute authority over the appointment, removal, punishment, assessment, etc. of military generals.
But according to the emperor, the Daming Agricultural Research Institute is only responsible for the research of agricultural technology and does not participate in the operation of the court, so it doesn't matter.
"Everyone, please share your opinions!"
The ministers expressed their opinions one after another. Some said that it should be set up according to the private academy, some suggested that it should be set up according to the Imperial Academy, and some suggested that it should be set up according to the four bureaus of the inner court.
After deliberation for a full two-quarters of an hour, it was finally decided.
Sun Chengzong came out and said: "Your Majesty, the results of our discussions have been reached. The Daming Agricultural Research Institute is only responsible for technical research, and its rank is on par with the Dali Temple.
The dean is of the third rank, the supervisor and the chancellor are of the fourth rank, the doctor is of the fifth rank, the professor is of the sixth rank, and the teaching assistant is of the seventh rank.
Such skills reflect the importance of the court, make the people feel authoritative, facilitate later promotion, and are independent of the six ministries and nine ministers of the cabinet.
No one is allowed to interfere except His Majesty, let them concentrate on their research. "
Chongzhen was very satisfied with Sun Chengzong's proposal: "Continue, since all the dear friends have agreed, then Song Yingxing will be the first president of the Daming Agricultural Research Institute, Chen Jinglun will be the director of the left hospital, and Chen Chuangui will be the chief doctor!
In addition, in order to commend Chen Jinglun's father, Chen Zhenlong, who risked his life to introduce sweet potatoes, countless people were named Changlebo, and various counties in Fuzhou Prefecture built meritorious temples to commemorate Chen Zhenlong. What do you think? "
Naturally, the ministers have no objections. No matter who takes the position, it will not pose a threat to their power. Even if it is designated as a first-class official, it doesn't matter. As for who takes the position, it doesn't matter.
As for the title of Changlebo after Chen Zhenlong, the sweet potato production has been confirmed in Fujian. With such credit, it is not an exaggeration to grant him the title.
Looking at the three people who were a little stunned, Li Banghua shouted: "Song Yingxing, Chen Jinglun, and Chen Chuangui, you still don't thank me!"
The three people who woke up immediately knelt down: "I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
"Get up!"
Chongzhen continued: "The Ministry of Industry is responsible for selecting a site outside the city to build a Daming Agricultural Research Institute. It will first prepare the drawings and send them to me for review; in addition, the agricultural tools required by the Agricultural Research Institute will be provided."
"The Ministry of Household Affairs will hand over all the fields seized by Chen Derun, Ke Yinyue, Wei Zhongxian and other remaining criminals in Beijing and surrounding counties to the Agricultural Research Institute! And allocate 100,000 taels of silver as the start-up capital of the institute."
"The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for transferring agricultural officers from Northern Zhili and other places to return to Beijing and join the Agricultural Research Institute!"
"The Five City Inspection Department sends people to take turns to guard the Daming Agricultural Research Institute. Non-Agricultural Research Institute personnel are not allowed to enter without application. Violators will be taken down immediately and will be punished accordingly!"
"I obey the order!"
Fan Jingwen, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Fan Zhuangwei, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Guo Yunhou, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Li Banghua, the Admiral of the Five Cities Inspection Department, all responded.
Seeing the responses from the four people, Chongzhen looked at Song Yingxing.
"Song Yingxing, you can use the fields around Beijing first. I have prepared another 400,000 acres of fields for you."
As soon as Chongzhen said these words, the officials were stunned.
Four hundred thousand acres, equivalent to four thousand hectares, is a considerable amount in any place. Where did the emperor get it?
