prosperous age

"Shandai, I advise you to keep a close eye on the Agriculture Department. Once these problems are solved, the court should vigorously promote this product."

In Zhang Juzheng's eyes, the role of sweet potatoes has surpassed that of imperial wheat, whose yield per mu was only a little more than one stone at that time.

However, Wei Guangde knew very well that the current output of 200 to 300 kilograms was certainly not the limit of sweet potatoes and imperial wheat. This output could be doubled in the future.

Of course, this is closely related to scientific farming and the use of chemical fertilizers in later generations.

But in Wei Guangde's opinion, one must first familiarize himself with the habits of crops, improve planting methods, and then find ways to gradually select excellent varieties to increase yields. This is the right thing to do step by step.

He needs to solve the planting problem first before dealing with other issues. He can't achieve the desired result in one go and directly produce crops that yield 1,000 kilograms per mu.

Even the rice in the south only yields two stones per mu at present, and the hybrid rice can yield over a thousand kilograms, so don't dream of it.

The problem facing imperial wheat and sweet potatoes now is that the Ming Dynasty does not understand these two crops well enough. Just like imperial wheat, although it has been planted in the palace for decades, it has been treated as an ornamental plant instead of trying to find ways to increase its production.

As a result, the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau could only learn about planting problems from the gardeners in charge of looking after the flower gardens in the palace. There was no information at all about the planting density of imperial wheat and its adaptability to the seasons, which were very important and had a great impact on the yield. They could only cross the river by feeling the stones and try little by little.

Sweet potatoes actually have similar issues that need to be studied.

Moreover, because the Ming Dynasty had a vast territory and the climate differences between the north and the south were huge, even in different provinces, the imperial wheat and sweet potatoes had to be planted in slightly different ways, so it was still too early to truly promote it on a full scale.

However, as a technical reserve, Wei Guangde believes that it is necessary to continue to do so, especially since sweet potatoes are extremely drought-resistant.

In the late Ming Dynasty, there were successive years of severe drought in the north, and agriculture completely lost its water source for irrigating crops.

However, due to the tight water supply, wheat and rice cannot be grown, and even sorghum may have some problems, but there is no problem in growing sweet potatoes.

During the entire growth cycle of sweet potatoes, very little water is required. Even too much water will directly affect the yield and lead to a total loss of production.

Of course, the northern part of the Ming Dynasty is not facing the problem of water shortage yet, but the Yellow River floods are still a difficult problem that the court needs to deal with.

However, Wei Guangde has noticed one thing through the memorials submitted by the provinces in the Yellow River Basin, that is, there seems to be a certain decrease in precipitation in the Yellow River Basin between last year and this year.

Although it was not obvious enough, it was reflected in the memorials that the flood was not that serious, at least it did not break through the dams.

Perhaps this was the important reason why Pan Jixun was successful in controlling the Yellow River and using the method of controlling water and attacking sand.

The officials at that time only saw that floods had decreased after Pan Jixun controlled the water and attacked the sand, but did not pay attention to the decrease in precipitation in the north at that time.

In the middle and late Wanli period, there was a slow but continuous trend of decreasing precipitation in the entire north, which continued until the Chongzhen period, when the water shortage dilemma in the north was exposed.

At this time, the court problems were even more chaotic than those during the Wanli period. In addition, Emperor Chongzhen made a series of stupid decisions, which eventually led to the country's demise.

Strictly speaking, the fall of the Ming Dynasty had a bit of a flavor of "God's will" in it.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng attached so much importance to it, Wei Guangde couldn't help but be moved.

Although there was not much opposition in the court to his proposal to re-establish the Agricultural Promotion Bureau, most people did not agree with it and even thought it was a fantasy.

After all, what farmers plant is a custom formed over thousands of years. They themselves don’t know it and need you, the court, to find crops for them.

The original Agricultural Persuasion Bureau was actually an agency that urged local governments to reclaim wasteland and cultivate land, and it did not involve the selection and breeding of crops.

However, the duties that Wei Guangde set for the new Agricultural Promotion Bureau were to find new crops and promote them vigorously after understanding their habits.

Because it was not taken seriously and Wei Guangde did not want to get involved, the status of the Agricultural Persuasion Department was actually very low at the beginning.

Although the Agricultural Persuasion Department is a department-level unit, the heads of the six regular department-level departments are all "Langzhong", a fifth-rank official, while the head of the Agricultural Persuasion Department is only a sixth-rank official, which is two levels lower.

At the local level, the persons in charge of several plantations set up by the Agricultural Promotion Bureau were merely chief clerks in charge of the gardens, and their rank was only eighth.

That was why Wei Guangde said that once he succeeded with Director Zhao, he would find a way to raise the rank of the Agricultural Persuasion Department to at least the fifth rank of a normal "department"-level unit in the six ministries.

However, what excited him at this moment was not the matter of upgrading his rank, but what he had been considering, that is, how to form directly managed hierarchical offices between the major government offices of the imperial court and the local governments, that is, the tax office.

It seems that we can give it a try with the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau.

Previously, the Agricultural Promotion Bureau only selected some places in several provinces in the north and south to establish plantations and try to grow new crops, which were actually royal wheat and sweet potatoes.

"Brother Uncle, I intend to establish multiple plantations in different places in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, including Liaodong, so that after the results are achieved, they can be quickly promoted in various provinces.

At present, the Agricultural Promotion Department has only five gardens in the north and south. Our Great Ming is vast and rich in resources, and there are many differences between different places. With the current scale of the Agricultural Promotion Department, I am afraid that the planting experience collected will not be easy to promote. "

Wei Guangde said.

"That's fine. Let the provincial governments help select plantations. They must be representative so that the results can be promoted."

Zhang Juzheng naturally had no objection and agreed immediately.

"In this way, the Agricultural Promotion Department will have plantations in every province. I intend to establish branches of the Agricultural Promotion Department in the provincial capitals to directly manage those plantations. What do you think?"

Wei Guangde continued.

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly.

Logically, this management should be the responsibility of the Provincial Administration Office, which has a Rites Department that is specifically responsible for connecting with the Ministry of Rites. The management of the subordinate gardens by the Agricultural Persuasion Office is carried out through the Ministry of Rites, which sends documents to the Rites Department and then to those plantations.

Wei Guangde wanted to build separate government offices in each province, which was somewhat unconventional.

It’s not that the Ming Dynasty didn’t set up separate governments and yamen in local areas. They were all targeted government offices, such as the Salt Administration Office and the Grain Transport Office.

At least in Zhang Juzheng's view, the Agricultural Promotion Bureau certainly could not reach the level of being related to national affairs.

"I think the Agricultural Persuasion Department is extremely important. With the connection between Ming and overseas, I think a large number of overseas species will enter Ming. In fact, whether many things are suitable for Ming or harmful depends on the Agricultural Persuasion Department.

Uncle, do you still remember the chili peppers I sent to your house? "

Wei Guangde reminded.

"Well, that thing is okay. It does taste unique after adding it."

Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly.

The Wei family's farm in the capital already has special fields for growing that thing, so there is no need to transport it from Jiangxi to Beijing.

As the production of peppers increased, Wei Guangde gave them as gifts to various governments in the capital. He also passed on pepper seeds and planting experience. Many farmers in the suburbs of Beijing also planted small quantities of peppers.

"That thing actually came from overseas. I first saw it in the Duke of Wei's Mansion in Nanjing. Like the imperial wheat, it is also an ornamental plant in the garden.

They are bright red and in bunches, and look very pretty. "

Wei Guangde laughed. "Haha, so Shandai has already started working as the head of the Agricultural Department."

Zhang Juzheng joked.

"Haha, food is the most important thing for people. Besides, it not only satisfies our appetite, but also allows the people of Ming Dynasty to eat food of different flavors. I think it's a good thing."

Wei Guangde smiled and continued, "It has been more than ten years since I started planting it and now it has been promoted to the north."

"hiss"

Zhang Juzheng was slightly surprised. More than ten years is not a short time, and it requires a lot of perseverance.

Otherwise, just grow some for yourself and eat it yourself, and then find a way to promote it.

"My Ming Dynasty is based on agriculture. Although it takes a lot of energy, I think it is worth it."

Wei Guangde continued, "I say this to express that the affairs of the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau seem to be only about imperial wheat and sweet potatoes, but they may face many more affairs in the future.

Moreover, even if royal wheat and sweet potatoes are successful, they will not immediately stop their research on these two crops, but will also look for ways to increase yields.

Not only imported products, but also rice, barley, wheat, etc. grown in our Ming Dynasty, the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau will study them and look for ways to increase production.

In the future, there will be a lot of correspondence between the Agricultural Promotion Department and the various gardens below. The current method of transferring it through the Ministry of Rites is really troublesome, so it is imperative to establish a separate management office. "

After Wei Guangde finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Juzheng, waiting for his reply.

Zhang Juzheng was not worried about anything else. After all, it was the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau, not an important government office like the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Revenue. There was no possibility that Wei Guangde would try to seize power.

Moreover, although the literati at that time looked down on farmers, they also knew the importance of agriculture to the country.

Wei Guangde wanted to use the power of the court to find high-yield crops and increase the agricultural output of the Ming Dynasty. In particular, Wei Guangde emphasized the need to find cold-resistant and drought-resistant crops, and Zhang Juzheng also agreed with him.

It is almost impossible for farmers to find it on their own.

If such crops existed in China, they would have been discovered and promoted long ago.

From this we can see that we can only look overseas, perhaps such crops exist somewhere overseas.

Although it is not yet known whether sweet potatoes are cold-resistant, their drought-resistant properties have been confirmed by the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau.

"What are your plans for the provincial offices?"

Zhang Juzheng finally asked.

After all, this is about increasing the official structure, which involves subordinate relationships of different ranks.

Now the Agricultural Promotion Department is only a sixth-rank government office in the imperial court, and when it is set up at the local level, it certainly cannot exceed this rank.

"We persuade the Agricultural Department to establish offices in various provinces. They will not only manage the plantations, but more importantly, establish an eye directly under the imperial court outside the three departments. They can monitor the agricultural conditions in various provinces, such as reporting on floods and droughts, so that the imperial court can grasp the local disaster situation in a timely and multiple manner."

Wei Guangde started by saying that, currently, any disasters in the local areas of the Ming Dynasty are reported to the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office, and only when other problems arise will the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office report it. Of course, the Inspectors also have the power of supervision.

Wei Guangde actually considered the Agricultural Promotion Bureau as a comprehensive department of the Agricultural Bureau and Meteorological Bureau in later generations. It not only managed agricultural affairs but also took climate conditions into account.

"Therefore, I think the chief of each province's agricultural promotion department should be arranged according to the seventh rank, with a secretary, who will be awarded the title of Wenlinlang, and among them, an eighth rank chief clerk will be appointed to manage various affairs and gardens."

After Wei Guangde finished expressing his thoughts, he waited for Zhang Juzheng's attitude.

Adding a dozen seventh-rank officials would not be a big pressure on the court, but what Zhang Juzheng had to consider was that these seventh-rank officials were all in the provincial capital, which was very attractive to officials.

Of course, a seventh-rank official in the provincial capital is definitely not as good as a magistrate of a superior county, but there are still many people who want to compete for these positions. After all, there are only so many superior counties.

Considering the local situation, it seems that the existence of the Agricultural Promotion Bureau does not pose a threat to the Provincial Administration Bureau and should not cause dissatisfaction among the people below.

"Shan Dai, please discuss this matter with the Ministry of Rites first. If the Ministry of Rites agrees, let them report this matter to the cabinet, and then we will discuss it."

Having said that, Zhang Juzheng's attitude has basically been made clear, he has no objection.

After coming out of the Prime Minister's duty room, Wei Guangde wrote a note to the Minister of Rites Pan Sheng, asking him to come to the cabinet to discuss matters when he is free tomorrow.

The matter had been settled, and Wei Guangde simply arranged for Lu Bu to stop by the Ministry of Rites on his way back and pass the note over.

This was not the first time that Pan Sheng served as the Minister of Rites. He had served during the Longqing period. However, due to his discord with Gao Gong, he chose to retire after two years.

Gao Gong's dominance at the time really offended many important officials in the court.

However, because of Emperor Longqing's favor, the officials really had no way to deal with him.

If Emperor Longqing had not passed away, there would have been no Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng at this time.

Don’t think that just because Gao Gong died last year, he would also die soon. The main reason why Gao Gong died of depression was that he was expelled by Feng Bao and Zhang Juzheng.

If he had power, Gao Gong would probably still be alive and well in the capital.

Pan Sheng was a standard scholar of this era. He was an honest official, kind and charitable, and a very easy-going person.

Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with the opening of offices in various provinces by the Agricultural Promotion Bureau, Wei Guangde still planned to give it a try with Dayi.

As long as we persuade the Agricultural Department to be established locally, and then separate the commercial tax from the Ministry of Revenue, and establish a separate tax collection office, it will be much more convenient even if it is still under the Ministry of Revenue.

At least there is a precedent to follow, so there is one less reason for the following voices of opposition.

All Wei Guangde could do was to try to reform the system of the Ming Dynasty bit by bit. If he made major changes directly, it would be easy for people to find fault with the "Ming Dynasty Code", and he was unable to cope with it.

The reforms were changed bit by bit, and then put on paper when the "Da Ming Hui Dian" was revised, and it became the so-called "ancestral system."

The "Da Ming Hui Dian", abbreviated as "Ming Hui Dian", is a code compiled in the Ming Dynasty with administrative law as its main content.

However, contrary to previous impressions, this book was not approved and promulgated by Zhu Yuanzhang, but was first completed during the Hongzhi period.

In the second year of the Tianshun reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, a cabinet minister suggested compiling a new book based on the changes and additions to the "Responsibilities of Various Departments".

However, "before the book could be completed", Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty passed away, and the matter was forgotten.

During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty, calls for this were raised again, with cabinet ministers submitting petitions in the sixth and tenth years of the Chenghua period, but all were left unanswered.

During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, some cabinet ministers proposed to either continue "The Responsibilities of Various Departments" or to publish a separate book alongside "The Responsibilities of Various Departments".

These proposals can be seen as the beginning of the compilation of the "Collected Statutes", which finally came to fruition in the tenth year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty. (End of this chapter)