The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

Zhu Ziming didn't say anything more and calmly accepted Chongzhen's bow.

Sweet potatoes, also known as the "Three Treasures of the Nongzheng Era," were already recorded as being cultivated in Fujian and Yunnan during the Chongzhen reign. Later, Xu Guangqi specifically recommended them for famine relief in his "Complete Treatise on Agriculture," but they were not promoted nationwide before the Ming Dynasty collapsed.

Its potential was not fully realized until after the change of dynasties.

During the Qing Dynasty, it was precisely the widespread adoption of these three things that led to the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns, a period of great prosperity in which the national population reached an unprecedented peak.

Therefore, if these three things could be effectively organized and promoted during the Chongzhen era, they would have greatly alleviated the severity of the famine in the five provinces of North China. Zhu Ziming's statement that at least half of the people would be spared from starvation is by no means an exaggeration.

Emperor Chongzhen's statement that he thanked Zhu Ziming on behalf of the people was entirely appropriate.

However, regarding this rare natural disaster that befell Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Ziming felt that this was all he could do; it was impossible to use the resources of this world to save the Ming Dynasty in another timeline.

The only way for the Ming Dynasty to be truly saved is through self-salvation.

"I do think there is a suitable person to promote these three crops."

"Who?"

Emperor Chongzhen hurriedly asked, "In the past, it was always Emperor Chongzhen who consulted Zhu Ziming on personnel selection, from Yuan Chonghuan to Sun Chengzong and then to Hong Chengchou. Emperor Chongzhen always attached great importance to Zhu Ziming's opinions on personnel selection."

This time, it was Zhu Ziming who took the initiative to recommend someone. Emperor Chongzhen was very curious about who Zhu Ziming would recommend to him.

Zhu Ziming replied, "Xu Guangqi."

"Xu Guangqi?"

Upon hearing this name, Emperor Chongzhen paused for a moment.

Just recently, during a small court assembly discussing taxes, someone suggested that the stamp tax system, similar to that of Lang Ji, could be adopted. This suggestion was met with a barrage of criticism from almost the entire court.

That person was Xu Guangqi.

Unexpectedly, the person Zhu Ziming mentioned was none other than him.

Zhu Ziming said: "The reason why we chose Xu Guangqi to promote it is because Xu Guangqi realized the importance of these three things earlier than anyone else during the Chongzhen era. His book, 'Complete Treatise on Agriculture,' can be said to be a culmination of the agricultural science of his predecessors and a summary of the agricultural science and technology accumulated by the Chinese working people over thousands of years."

"There is a chapter called 'Sweet Potato Treatise' in the Complete Treatise on Agriculture, which is a detailed guide to the production of sweet potatoes. It also emphasizes the promotion of sweet potato planting for famine preparedness. It's a pity that it was not taken seriously at the time."

"Therefore, Xu Guangqi is the most suitable person to promote these three crops, and you can authorize him to promote them."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded.

Zhu Ziming said, "Speaking of Xu Guangqi, we must emphasize this figure, because Xu Guangqi is one of the greatest scientists in Chinese history."

Although Emperor Chongzhen did not understand the term "science," Zhu Ziming's assessment greatly shocked him, because he did not say that the Ming Dynasty was the greatest, but rather that it was one of the greatest in the entire history of China.

"Xu Guangqi studied Western astronomy, calendar, mathematics, surveying, and water conservancy under Matteo Ricci in his early years. He devoted his life to the research of science and technology, wrote diligently, and was an active promoter of introducing and absorbing European science and technology."

"He collaborated with Matteo Ricci to translate Euclid's Elements, which was the first systematic introduction of European geometry. He also created Chinese geometric terms such as point, line, and plane, which promoted the modernization of Chinese mathematics. In addition, he participated in the compilation of works such as Measurement Methods and Western Water Management, introducing Western astronomy, water conservancy, and measurement technologies to China."

"Xu Guangqi also made significant contributions to the military field. He explored various aspects of firearms, including their use in urban defense, siege warfare, and coordination between infantry and cavalry."

"Xu Guangqi was not only proficient in mathematics, agriculture, and military affairs, but also had profound knowledge of astronomy and calendar. He was the first to introduce the concept of a round Earth to China. In his translations, he named the planet we live on 'Earth' and adopted a 24-hour system, changing the Chinese people's 'twelve-hour system' to 'twenty-four-hour system'."

"It can be said that Xu Guangqi was a man who transcended his time, and he was also the first person to let the Chinese people look at the world."

This was yet another extremely high evaluation, which shocked Emperor Chongzhen and forced him to re-evaluate Xu Guangqi.

Xu Guangqi was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 32nd year of the Wanli reign, but his official career was full of setbacks. He was demoted many times for speaking frankly and remonstrating with the emperor. During the Tianqi reign, he was dismissed from his post for refusing to align himself with the eunuch faction. However, during the Chongzhen reign, Chongzhen recalled him.

The reason he summoned Xu Guangqi back was not because of the science Zhu Ziming had just mentioned, but to have Xu Guangqi compile a calendar for the Ming Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, Xu Guangqi's influence was so great.

Zhu Ziming said, "Unfortunately, according to the course of history, Xu Guangqi died in office in the sixth year of Chongzhen's reign. In other words, from now on, Xu Guangqi probably only has five years left to live."

"But these five years are very important. If the Ming Dynasty really wants to embark on the path of reform, it must make good use of Xu Guangqi's five years."

"Because Xu Guangqi's contributions were not only in pacifying the country and resisting foreign aggression, but more importantly, in his forward-thinking vision of the West and his ideas and spirit that transcended his time."

"While most people believed that the Ming Dynasty was a superior nation and that all the world's inhabitants were barbarians, it was actually a time when the West, despite frequent wars, was undergoing a major transformation. Through colonization, technological and ideological changes, they were gradually accumulating the potential to surpass the East."

"While almost no one was aware of this, Xu Guangqi had already begun to come into contact with the West and absorb Western knowledge."

"Although Xu Guangqi actively studied Western science, he did not blindly worship the West. He proposed 'to achieve superiority through integration.' Xu ​​Guangqi's spirit is still relevant today."

"Therefore, if the Ming Dynasty wanted to embark on a path to become a super empire that surpasses any dynasty in history and shakes the world, it could not do without Xu Guangqi's ideas and spirit of 'integration to achieve superiority'."

The path to a super empire that surpasses any dynasty in history and shakes the world?

Just hearing these words made Chongzhen's eyes light up.

Before he came, his ultimate goal was to revitalize the Ming Dynasty. After arriving at the bookstore, his goal was only to pull the Ming Dynasty back from the brink of collapse and allow it to continue. He never dared to imagine that the Ming Dynasty would become a super empire that surpassed any dynasty in history and would shake the world.

Could it be that Zhu Ziming is able to help him do it?

Thinking of this, Chongzhen's gaze towards Zhu Ziming unconsciously became more ardent...