Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 16: Wise Man Planting Rice, Science and Technology [Seeking Follow-up Reading]

Liu Kuan did not directly answer Zhu Biao's question.

He said, "As far as I know, the rice yield in Daming is about 300 to 400 kilograms per mu, right?"

Hearing this, Zhu Biao couldn't help but show a strange look.

It's not that he didn't know the rice yield per mu in the Ming Dynasty - in order to train Zhu Biao to become a qualified heir to the throne, Zhu Yuanzhang did not spoil him. Instead, he often let Zhu Biao go deep into the people and experience their sufferings.

He also asked Zhu Biao to farm with him.

So Zhu Biao knew the rice yield per mu.

It was because he knew this that Zhu Biao felt surprised by Liu Kuan's words.

Then he said, "Mr. Liu, I'm afraid you've remembered it wrong. The rice yield per mu in Daming is only a little over one stone, or about two hundred catties. Even the best farmland can hardly yield three or four hundred catties per mu."

Liu Kuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Those three or four hundred kilograms should be the per-acre yield of rice in Jiangnan during the middle and late Ming Dynasty."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang said happily, "So, the rice yield per mu has nearly tripled under my rule?"

Liu Kuan nodded and said, "That should be the case. First, during this period, the people's farming techniques have improved. Second, in a stable farming environment, grain seeds have been carefully selected from generation to generation, and the yield per mu has naturally increased."

"But compared with hybrid rice, a yield of 300 to 400 kilograms per mu is nothing."

A yield of three or four hundred kilograms per mu is not worth mentioning?
Upon hearing this, the smile on Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned into surprise and suspicion.

Liu Kuan continued, "Before I traveled through time, I read a piece of news—well, something like an imperial court announcement or gazette. It said that three randomly selected rice fields in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan, had yielded 2,500 kilograms per mu in a single season."

"Even on a national scale, the average per-acre yield of hybrid rice in a single season is close to 1,000 kilograms."

Yield of 2,500 kilograms per mu? !

The national average yield per mu is also close to 1,000 kilograms?!
Inside the Dashan Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, Empress Ma and even the palace maids and eunuchs serving around them were all stunned for a moment.

If Liu Kuan had not previously stated that he came from the future, Zhu Biao and others would have really thought that he came from heaven.

Because in their opinion, a rice yield of over a thousand kilograms, or even more than two thousand kilograms per mu, is simply not possible in the mortal world. Only the fairy rice in heaven can have such a yield.

Zhu Yuanzhang was the first to come to his senses. He couldn't help but question, "Master Liu, are you sure you're not mistaken? How can the rice yield per mu reach 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms?!"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "With the farmers in the Ming Dynasty who are illiterate, don't understand science, and rely solely on experience, it's natural that they can't grow rice that yields over a thousand kilograms per mu."

"But in later generations, with the development of science and technology, there were sages similar to today's great scholars who specialized in studying how to increase crop yields."

"There are more than one such wise men in later generations. One of them, several decades before I traveled through time, dedicated more than a decade to farming and finally developed high-yield hybrid rice."

"He then conducted in-depth research and continuously improved grain varieties, achieving yields of over 1,000 kilograms per mu. He even developed rice varieties that could grow in saline-alkali land and seawater."

"In later generations, China's population exceeded 100 million. Even with the availability of crops like sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes, many people still didn't have enough to eat, and famines occurred frequently."

“But after the advent of hybrid rice, and subsequent increases in yields of other crops thanks to scientific research, China’s food problem was solved, and the people no longer had to worry about famine.”

"We can even sell the surplus grain overseas to alleviate famine in some underdeveloped countries."

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao and others were shocked again.

Great scholars study how to farm and increase crop yields?

If Liu Kuan had not said so, they would not have dared to think about such a thing - at that time, the great Confucian scholars were all well-educated people, and every day they were either debating and lecturing, or discussing national affairs.

Even if there are people who farm, it is to cultivate their sentiments and embody the style of passing down the tradition of farming and studying.

As for people who have been working in the fields for more than ten years just to study how to increase crop yields, it seems that there has never been such a thing.

"Great!" After coming back to his senses, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but clap his hands excitedly, "Such sages are truly worthy of being called great scholars!"

"It's much better than those corrupt scholars who secretly point fingers at us all day long, saying this is unkind and that is unrighteous!"

"It's a pity that this man was not born in the Ming Dynasty. If he were, we would definitely crown him a sage!"

Zhu Biao also expressed his feelings: before this, he thought that his teacher Song Lian was a first-class scholar.

But when he learned about the wise man in later generations, he felt that even his teacher Song Lian was far inferior to him.

Although Song Lian had a high level of Confucian knowledge, he was unable to increase the grain yield per mu to over 1,000 kilograms, and was unable to solve the food problem for a population of 100 million.

Liu Kuan said: "While the contribution of that wise man was indeed enormous, the fact that China already had a considerable scientific foundation and certain technological conditions at that time was also an important factor."

"If Your Majesty wants such wise men to appear in the Ming Dynasty, you must promote science and develop technology to cultivate them."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said, "Can our Ming Dynasty also cultivate such a wise man?"

Liu Kuan reiterated, "As long as Your Majesty is willing to promote science and develop technology, it will definitely be possible to cultivate it."

“What is science and technology?”

"Forehead···"

Liu Kuan was silent for a moment. He did not have the ability to remember everything he saw. After graduating from university, he was used to relying on the Internet to search for various information and was too lazy to memorize.

At this moment, he subconsciously wanted to take out his mobile phone to ask Baidu, but unfortunately he had already checked it on the bridge and his mobile phone was disconnected from the Internet.

His laptop, tablet, and mobile phone each contained some information useful to the Ming Dynasty, but none of them included an explanation of "what science is."

So, after a moment of hesitation, he could only say, "Science can be summarized as a practical method of understanding the universe—well, the natural world. It is also a specialized knowledge system that reflects the objective laws of nature, society, and thought."

"It includes many aspects, including Confucianism, as well as philosophy, social sciences and other categories within science."

Zhu Biao asked, "Is Confucianism also included in science?" Liu Kuan nodded. "From the perspective of later generations, Confucianism is the insights of our ancestors into life, society, and the natural world. It is a collection of content."

"Science, however, is a method of understanding the universe and nature. Since it is a method, it can also be used to study and research Confucianism."

Zhu Biao was obviously delighted by the idea that Confucianism was part of science, and then he asked, "Besides Confucianism, what other categories does science include?"

Liu Kuan said: "There are many, including mathematics, astronomy, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, sociology, etc."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang did not know what science was, he keenly noticed that Liu Kuan's remarks were too general and his tone was not very confident.

"Could it be that this guy didn't learn enough in his later life to say that he doesn't understand what science is?"

As soon as this thought came to Zhu Yuanzhang, he couldn't help but ask, "Could Master Liu help me develop science in the Ming Dynasty?"

Liu Kuan bowed and said, "It is my duty!"

Liu Kuan finds it difficult to describe what science is, but he knows how to guide the birth of science - after all, he grew up in an era that promotes science and has some understanding of the process of the birth of Western science.

Zhu Yuanzhang was relieved to hear Liu Kuan's confident response, though he didn't know why. He smiled and nodded, then asked, "What is technology? Is it related to science?"

This time Liu Kuan's answer was much smoother.

He said, "Technology is short for science and technology. Generally speaking, what is gained through scientific research into all aspects of nature is theory, and technology is the application of that theory."

"For example, the steam engine I mentioned earlier is a form of technology. And how a steam engine works and why it can drive a train is a scientific theory."

Zhu Biao said, "Then can we regard science as 'Tao' and technology as 'Shu'?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Your Highness, it's okay if you think so."

This is the end of our discussion of this issue.

Afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were very restrained and did not raise any other issues.

So after a while, this "family dinner" finally ended.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Mr. Liu, although you are unwilling to serve as the Minister of Works of the Ming Dynasty, since you are willing to serve the Ming Dynasty, I cannot treat you unfairly."

"Then I will grant you a mansion, a manor outside the city, a thousand strings of banknotes, a hundred pieces of silk, twenty male servants, and twelve female servants."

Although this reward was far less than the promise made to Liu Kuan when he was asked to build the bridge, it was already very good for Liu Kuan who did not even have a house in the later life.

Liu Kuan was not a man of high moral standards, so he immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "Zhao Cheng."

A eunuch stood up and answered, "Your servant is here."

"In a moment, you will take Young Master Liu to the mansion two hundred paces north of the bamboo bridge on Taiping Street, and find someone else to clean up the place."

"The slaves obey the order."

Zhao Cheng's expression was a little strange, but unfortunately he was facing sideways to Liu Kuan at the time, so Liu Kuan didn't notice.

Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "Pass it on to Mao Xiang."

"Chuanmaoxiang——"

As the eunuchs relayed the message, it didn't take long before a capable "general" entered the Dashan Hall.

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Mao Xiang saluted, and Zhu Yuanzhang simply nodded slightly, motioning him to stand upright. He then said, "Choose an elite general flag from the Yiluansi to protect Master Liu."

"Also, take my order and transfer one hundred men from the Imperial Guard Commandant's Office to guard Young Master Liu's residence. If Young Master Liu wishes to leave the city, these one hundred personal soldiers must accompany him and protect him to ensure his safety!"

"Wei Chen accepts the order!"

Liu Kuan next to him opened his mouth slightly in surprise.

After Mao Xiang left, he couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, I don't need so many people protecting me, do I?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You are the key to the continuation of the Ming Dynasty's destiny, bestowed upon us by God. We cannot afford to make any mistakes."

"If you weren't in the capital right now, we would have to send three to five thousand people to protect you. Now we've only sent a hundred or so, what's the point?"

After hearing what Zhu Yuanzhang said, Liu Kuan knew that it was impossible to let the personal troops protecting him withdraw.

But it’s a good thing this way, at least the possibility of him being killed by bad guys is greatly reduced.

Just as he was about to say goodbye, Liu Kuan suddenly remembered something and said, "Your Majesty, there are several bridgehead towers on the cross-river bridge. I want to go inside and take a look."

Zhu Yuanzhang was curious and asked, "What's in there?"

Liu Kuan shook his head, "I don't know either."

Originally, Liu Kuan planned to ride his bike on the cross-river bridge to enjoy the "Rolling Yangtze River Eastward Flowing", then go to the park under the bridge to buy a ticket and go to the bridgehead observation deck to take a look.

Unexpectedly, I passed through a heavy fog.

'Now you don't need to buy a ticket to visit there.' Thinking of this, Liu Kuan felt quite complicated.

　Please collect, read and vote.

　　[Also, in order to avoid being noticed by the author, I will downplay or not write some plots. I hope readers will understand.]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)