I, the queen and the father, start with a deer as a horse

Wu Mingkong was slightly taken aback when he heard the name "Yuan Xincheng".

In her impression, Yuan Xincheng is a handsome scholar, although he is already old, but he has an extraordinary temperament and is gentle and elegant.

But the person in front of him looked no different from a farmer who often worked in the fields.

No one would believe that he was a Hanlin bachelor.

"You are Yuan Xincheng? How did you become like this?"

Wu Mingkong looked at him and said in a little surprise.

Yuan Xincheng replied: "I didn't know His Majesty was coming, I didn't tidy up my appearance, and disturbed Your Majesty, I'm guilty!"

Wu Mingkong said: "That's not what I mean, what I mean is why you have become so black?"

Yuan Xincheng was startled when he heard this, then reached out and touched his face, and said, "I have been studying agriculture painstakingly for the past three months, but I don't care about these things."

"How can you, a Hanlin bachelor who doesn't care about farming and mulberry, study agriculture?"

Wu Mingkong asked out the doubts in his heart.

Yuan Xincheng said: "There are books about agriculture in Zhufengxuan. I often read them when I was in the Imperial Academy. Although I never put them into practice, I have some insights in my heart."

The voice fell.

Fang Xiu, who was on the side, explained: "Yuan Xincheng took the initiative to serve as the dean of the Agricultural Academy. Before that, he had done some research on agricultural classics."

Wu Mingkong was a little surprised when he heard this. He looked at Yuan Xincheng and said, "Why are you interested in agriculture as a scholar?"

Yuan Xincheng heard Fang Xiu's voice, first saluted him, called Fang Xiang, then looked at the empress, and explained:

"Agriculture is the foundation of the country. I have been interested in agriculture since I was a child, but I was born in a family. My father taught me that everything is inferior. Only reading is high. Self-cultivation, family governance, and world peace are the supreme pursuit of a scholar...

Therefore, I had no choice but to give up my interest in agriculture, and kept studying the books of sages and sages until I was awarded a Jinshi and entered the Hanlin Academy.

Half a year ago, I accidentally learned that Zhufengxuan in Chang'an City had various rare books, so I went for a stroll, and I saw many ancient books about agriculture there. It is the most important thing.

However, the imperial court did not pay enough attention to this aspect. I wrote several times to ask Guozijian to send people to study agriculture, but I have never received a reply.

Until three months ago, I heard that Fang Xiang was going to build four major academies, including the Agricultural Academy, so I took the initiative to find Fang Xiang, hoping to join the Agricultural Academy. "

Needless to say, Wu Mingkong can understand the following words.

In short, this guy has been interested in agriculture since he was a child, but he has never had the opportunity to delve into it. It was not until Fang Xiu paid attention to agricultural research that he had such an opportunity.

"You said just now that agriculture is the foundation of the country. As far as I know, the imperial court has always attached great importance to agriculture. Among other things, agriculture is ranked second among scholars, farmers, businessmen and commerce!

In addition, the Imperial Academy has to compile books on agriculture every few years to teach farmers how to grow food. How can it be said that the imperial court did not pay enough attention to agriculture? "

Wu Mingkong looked at Yuan Xincheng and said.

Yuan Xincheng said: "The agriculture mentioned by His Majesty and the agriculture mentioned by the minister are not the same thing."

Wu Mingkong frowned slightly when he heard this.

The so-called agriculture is nothing more than making more harvests. No matter how to study it, it is nothing more than starting from the weather, fields and manpower. Can this agricultural academy conjure food out of thin air?
Yuan Xincheng seemed to see what the little empress was thinking, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, do you know how to make more food?"

Wu Mingkong said: "It's nothing more than watering more, making the fields fertile and pulling out weeds."

Yuan Xincheng said: "Why can more food be produced by watering more, pulling out weeds, and fertilizing the fields?"

Hearing this question, Wu Mingkong was a little dissatisfied, and thought: the law of heaven and earth is like this, you ask me why it is like this, how can I know?

Just when she was about to express her dissatisfaction, Yuan Xincheng immediately explained:
"According to the current research of the Agricultural Academy, there are several things that are needed for any crop to grow, one is light, the other is water, and the third is some other substances...

As for what these substances are, different crops need different ones. Therefore, different fertilizers can be applied to different crops.

Moreover, different crops have different requirements for light and water, and I have brought a few students in this field to study wheat in the past few days, which can also be said to be the study of things, the things of wheat."

Yuan Xincheng said, pointing to a certain field, and said:
"The minister divided this field into several pieces, some were given sufficient light, even at night, they were also lit with lights, and the others were given as little light as possible, to see the difference in their growth after a period of time.

In addition, there are many similar controls, giving a lot of water, moderate water, a small amount of water, and others, giving different fertilizers, and finally seeing the results of their growth.

In this way, in the coming year, we can know what are the most suitable conditions for the growth of wheat, how much water should be watered, how much fertilizer should be applied, and what kind of fertilizer should be applied. "

"These are the methods in the book, called experiments. With experiments, many things can be found out, and the most suitable results can be found in the end. Of course, the Agricultural Academy does not only study these."

Wu Mingkong was puzzled when he heard this.

In addition to these, what else can the Agricultural Academy study?
Before asking, Yuan Xincheng continued:
"Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why different wheats grow at different speeds and produce completely different grains in the same environment?"

Wu Mingkong thought for a while, and said: "In addition to the environment, it also has something to do with the nature."

Yuan Xincheng said: "Your Majesty's words are true. Then, is it possible to use some method to keep only the wheat with fast growth and high yield, that is, the wheat with good nature, and throw away the wheat with bad nature?"

Hearing this question, Wu Mingkong frowned slightly, not knowing how to answer for a while.

Seeing this, Yuan Xincheng said with a smile: "According to the method in the book, it can be realized through cross-breeding. The so-called cross-breeding is to select wheat with good nature and let them produce offspring according to the genetic method.

A lot of genetic knowledge is involved here, and Chen has seen many points in the book, but he has not yet conducted experiments, so he cannot confirm whether what is said in the book is true.

However, according to the experiments I have done so far, most of the contents in the book are credible."

He said a lot in one breath.

The little empress was stunned when she heard that.

Especially what kind of experiment, what kind of inheritance, what kind of cross-breeding, it is even more confusing.

She considers herself to be well-versed in poetry and books, but she has never heard of these words mentioned by Yuan Xincheng before!
"You've done a great job. I hope your crossbreeding will bear fruit next year."

Fang Xiu sincerely praised.

He knew that it was not easy for Yuan Xincheng, a Hanlin scholar who studied sage books hard since he was a child, to devote himself to agriculture and study the so-called "miscellaneous studies".

Yuan Xincheng heard Fang Xiu's words, turned to look at him, with a smile on his dark face, and said sincerely:
"If there is no Prime Minister Fang, the minister is still doing some trivial things in the Imperial Academy. I should thank Prime Minister Fang for giving me such a chance to study agriculture."

Wu Mingkong looked at Fang Xiu, then at Yuan Xincheng, feeling a little confused.

After a few breaths of silence, he asked very straightforwardly: "I didn't understand what you said just now, so tell me directly, what is the benefit to the imperial court if you study these things?"

When Yuan Xincheng heard this, he said solemnly:

"Returning to Your Majesty, the biggest benefit is that it can increase the production of food!

If we can cultivate high-yielding wheat and produce the chemical fertilizers mentioned earlier on a large scale, the harvest of my Dagan grain can be doubled. From now on, my Dagan will never be short of food again! "

Double it?
Wu Mingkong was startled, a little bit disbelieving.

"If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, I can explain it to Your Majesty"

Yuan Xincheng noticed the look of the little empress, took out a tattered book from his arms, opened it, and planned to explain.

Seeing this, Wu Mingkong waved his hand and said, "Since Fang Xiang is trying his best to establish the Agricultural Academy, you don't need to explain it. The most important thing now is to ensure that the fertility of the fields is not lost, that is, to study the agricultural academy you mentioned earlier. Chemical fertilizers, if you can produce chemical fertilizers this year, I will give you a reward of 1 taels of silver from the Agricultural Academy!"

The implication is that she believes that Fang Xiu will not waste money and energy on unimportant things.

Since Fang Xiu attaches so much importance to the Agricultural Academy, the Agricultural Academy must be able to double the amount of food.

She didn't believe Yuan Xincheng's words, nor did she believe in Zhu Fengxuan's book, but she believed in Fang Xiu.

When Yuan Xincheng heard this, his face showed excitement, and he said loudly: "I will definitely live up to the trust of Your Majesty and Prime Minister Fang!"

Wu Mingkong waved his hands and said, "Go ahead, I will take another stroll with Fang Xiang."

Saying that, he turned to leave.

Although she still didn't figure out what the so-called Agricultural Academy did.

But at least it can be determined that these people are really working hard.

that's enough.

Fang Xiu followed her and said, "Your Majesty is here, do you want to visit the other three academies?"

Wu Mingkong thought for a while, nodded and said: "Okay, the Engineering Academy spends the most money, so go to the Engineering Academy first."

After a while.

The two came to the Academy of Engineering together.

Compared with the Agricultural Academy.

The building of the Academy of Engineering is more atmospheric.

The material used is not traditional blue bricks, but cement.

It was the first time for the little empress to see a house made of cement, and she felt that it was a bit novel, so she couldn't help but look at it a few more times.

Especially the building in the middle, about five stories high, almost comparable to Fengtian Temple, but it looks more rustic than Fengtian Temple, with an indescribable beauty.

"Your Majesty, this is the main teaching building of the Academy of Engineering. It is made of reinforced concrete. It is the first reinforced concrete building built by the imperial court."

Seeing Wu Mingkong staring at the building of the Academy of Engineering, Fang Xiu explained.

"These buildings are quite novel, but I don't know how much they cost."

Wu Mingkong said curiously.

Fang Xiu thought for a while and replied: "As far as I know, the money used to build Fengtian Hall can be used to build ten main buildings of engineering academies."

Wu Mingkong was stunned when he heard this, and asked, "Is the construction cost of Fengtian Temple too high, or is the construction cost of this Engineering Academy low?"

Fang Xiudao: "Both."

Wu Mingkong was silent for a few breaths, and said, "If that's the case, the mansions in Xincheng can all be built with cement."

"That's what I planned." Fang Xiu replied.

The two chatted while walking.

After half a stick of incense.

The two entered the Engineering Academy.

The library is very empty.

A dozen or so men in linen clothes were circling a trolley carefully observing it with focused expressions.

"I said Lao Bai, the dean gave you [-]% of the money allocated by the court, and you made such a thing?"

"This thing looks so cumbersome, even if it is worth a hundred muskets as you said, it doesn't make any sense. After all, cannons are much more useful than yours."

The men circled around what looked like a trolley, talking a lot, and didn't notice the arrival of the little empress and Fang Xiu at all.

The scar-faced man known as Laobai heard everyone's discussion, snorted coldly, and said: "Although this musket is heavy and heavy, its function when mounted on the city wall is beyond the comparison of ordinary muskets and cannons!"

Then, he stepped forward, grabbed the handle of the cart, and said loudly: "If you don't believe me, go to the shooting range with me and see how powerful the musket I made is!"

When everyone heard this, they looked at each other and said in unison: "Okay! Let's go together!"

aside.

Fang Xiu looked at the thing that the man with the scar face was pushing, feeling a little dazed, and muttered to himself, "He actually made Gatling without a blueprint. This guy is a genius."

"What Gatling?"

Wu Mingkong looked at Fang Xiu and asked curiously.

Fang Xiu explained: "A musket that can fire multiple bullets in a very short time."

Hearing this, Wu Mingkong understood something, looked at the man with the scarred face, and said, "So that kind of musket is called Gatling, let's go and have a look together."

If it's really Gatling, we'd better stay away.

Fang Xiu thought so in his heart, but he didn't say so. Most of the students recruited by the Academy of Engineering are the guys who set up workshops in the Xiangguo Mansion. If there is no accident, there is no problem.

"Your Majesty will stand next to the minister, don't run around."

Fang Xiu said something, and winked at the guards on the side.

The guard immediately understood and walked towards the men.

After a while.

Those men showed astonishment on their faces, subconsciously looked at Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong, saluted one after another, and shouted in their mouths:

"See you Lord Hou!"

Fang Xiu waved his hand in response.

After a stick of incense.

Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong followed them to a certain shooting range.

The scar-faced man known as Laobai carefully inspected the musket that had put countless efforts into it.

Several Xiangguo Mansion guards stood on both sides, ready to deal with emergencies at any time.

Time passed minute by minute.

After a while.

Laobai finished the inspection, looked at Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong, and said respectfully: "My lords, can we start?"

Fang Xiu glanced at Gatling's direction, and after confirming that there was no danger, he nodded and said, "Yes."