This question is really too difficult, and it is rare for Emperor Chongzhen's two thin and thin eyebrows to shrink into a thick ball.

When he raised his eyes, he saw Ji Qingwen standing in front of him and moving, so he asked, "Ji Qingwen, what's the matter with you?" Do you have some opinions on the finances of the imperial court? ”

Ji Qingwen was waiting for the people sent by Chongzhen to bring Xu Guangqi's "Geometric Original" and "The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration" over with him, where did he have the heart to think about the financial affairs of the imperial court? It's just that he doesn't have the concentration of the three cabinet scholars, and he has already had back pain after standing for so long, and he is just thinking of ways to exercise his muscles and bones.

Therefore, when Emperor Chongzhen asked, Ji Qingwen's mind was blank and he couldn't speak.

At this moment, I suddenly heard the eunuch's panting and intermittent voice from outside the Qianqing Palace: "Hui Wan...... Ten thousand...... Long live the book...... Book...... The book was fetched ......"

He obviously ran all the way and ran all the way back, I don't know if he broke the Olympic record in the middle and long distance running, but he broke through his physical limit.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he said coldly: "Okay, you can hand it over." ”

The eunuch outside the door listened, hurriedly got up and entered the house, and handed the two books to Emperor Chongzhen with both hands.

Ji Qingwen stood on tiptoe and looked at the cover, and his heart was suddenly relieved - sure enough, it was the two scientific works "Geometric Original" and "The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration", and no one secretly dropped the bag and harmed himself.

Emperor Chongzhen took the book, first opened the "Geometric Original" and read a few pages, only to see that the words here can be understood separately, and the combined sentences are like a book from heaven, so he put them aside, and then opened the "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration" and looked at it.

Although some European planting techniques are integrated, the basic principles are not much different from those of the Central Plains - in fact, except for some details, China's intensive farming technology in agricultural production has always been far ahead of Europe, and this advantage has been maintained until the second industrial revolution, before the invention of large-scale agricultural equipment.

Therefore, Emperor Chongzhen was still basically able to understand the "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration", turned more than a dozen pages with relish, and finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked: "Is this book really written by Xu Lao Aiqing?" ”

From Emperor Chongzhen's words and tone, Xu Guangqi immediately guessed that the emperor had no malicious intentions, so he generously stepped forward and said: "Back to the emperor, it was written by the minister before he entered the officialdom. It's a pity that the minister was very poor at that time, and he didn't have the money to print it in the world. It wasn't until Chongzhen met Master Ji Qingwen in the first year that he asked him to print it into a book, which can be regarded as a book left by the minister. ”

"Good! Good! Good! Emperor Chongzhen praised, "Other officials are vassals and elegant, and what pedantic and boring poetry collections and anthologies are written to be passed on to future generations, I see that there is no benefit to the world and economy, and it is far less beneficial than Xu Lao Aiqing who has the heart to leave an agricultural book for my Ming Dynasty." Good! Good! Very good! ”

Xu Guangqi also had a light on his face when he heard this, squinted his eyes and glanced at Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren, and thanked Emperor Chongzhen and said: "The emperor has praised it falsely, how can the old minister afford such a praise?" ”

"Yes, of course!" Chongzhen praised twice, and then raised his hand to greet the two eunuchs, "Are you all blind?" I haven't seen Xu Ge standing here for a long time! He is almost seventy years old, and he can't afford to move his muscles and bones, so he doesn't know how to move a stool for his old man? ”

This is the Qianqing Palace, not only the place where the emperor receives his close ministers to discuss state affairs, but also the emperor's daily living palace, so without the emperor's personal instructions, no one dares to say a word or take a step, let alone move the stool with great fanfare?

But eunuchs are different from courtiers, they don't have their own independent personality, and they are scolded by the emperor, so they have to quickly move a chair, put it behind Xu Guangqi, and invite him to sit down.

Chongzhen smiled and nodded, then picked up the "Geometric Original" that he had just thrown aside, and asked, "Xu Lao Aiqing, I really can't understand what is written in this book, I don't know what it says?" ”

Xu Guangqi truthfully introduced the "Geometric Original", and did not forget to add two sentences at the end: "Although the content here is boring, it is the basic principle of measuring the land, making weapons, and marching and arranging. ”

"So, last night, Xu Lao Aiqing discussed with Ji Qingwen about these two books?" Chongzhen asked again.

Xu Guangqi smiled and replied, "Yes." Your Majesty, these two books are books for the world, and the old minister is discussing with Lord Ji to jointly sign a concert, and wants to ask the emperor to agree to promote the content of these two books. No, the old minister was summoned by the emperor in the Qianqing Palace early in the morning, and he didn't have time to write a chapter yet! ”

Chongzhen pondered for a long time, and then said to Ji Qingwen: "Ji Qingwen, how many of these two books by Xu Lao Aiqing have you published?" ”

Ji Qingwen replied: "It hasn't been long since the minister's printing workshop opened, and less than 100 copies of the two books have been printed......

"Okay." Chongzhen said, "My proposition. The book "The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration" should be printed in large quantities and distributed to the Tianxia Academy of Learning, so that the teachings, gentry, and elders of the whole country can be taught to the peasants and the common people, and it will certainly be able to advocate the basic national policy of taking agriculture as the foundation in our dynasty, and then increase grain production, which can be regarded as sharing worries for the country. As for the book "Geometric Original", it is not good for the small people, it is easier for people to have a heart of disobedience, I think that all the copies of the current should be collected and sent to the Hanlin Academy, the Sixth Department and other Yamen, so that the officials can study and study. Xu Lao Aiqing, you understand what I mean, right? These two books are your writings, and in a few moments you will publish them in the newspaper according to my intentions. ”

As far as the development of modern science is concerned, the significance of the Geometry Prima is far greater than that of the Encyclopedia of Agricultural Administration.

Xu Guangqi knew this point, but he knew Emperor Chongzhen's temper well, and knew that Emperor Chongzhen's mood was only slightly better, and it was not the time to bargain with Emperor Chongzhen, so he hurriedly agreed.

Chongzhen nodded, then turned his head to Ji Qingwen and said, "Ji Qingwen, you know that I am a poor emperor, I have no money to do this matter, and I have to take money from your weaving yamen to do things, okay?" ”

Ji Qingwen hurriedly said: "Okay, of course!" Isn't the money for weaving the yamen the emperor's money? The minister must handle this matter well and handle it well. ”

Although Ji Qingwen is unruly, he is still reliable.

Emperor Chongzhen was half relieved when he heard Ji Qingwen's promise, and then turned his head to Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren and said: "One of you two is the first auxiliary minister of the cabinet and the other is the second auxiliary minister, you should pay more attention to this kind of thing, don't wait for me to do everything myself, you must know how to share my worries, okay?" ”

The significance of the establishment of the cabinet in the Ming Dynasty was originally to assist the emperor in handling state affairs, so Emperor Chongzhen's words were already accusing several cabinet ministers of dereliction of duty.

Faced with such a situation, Zhou Yanru, as the first assistant of the cabinet, could not help but come out with an attitude, so he took half a step forward and admitted his mistake: "The ministers are confined to government affairs, and they are indeed inconsiderate of these long-term policies for the benefit of the country and the people, and I ask the emperor to apologize." ”

But I heard Wen Tiren interject: "Long Live Lord is wise and wise, and has insight into thousands of miles, what kind of thing, as long as you blink your eyes in front of Long Live Lord, you can't hide it from the emperor." Although we are cabinet ministers and extremely popular ministers, we are all ordinary people, how can we have such a vision from the emperor? ”

Although Wen Tiren's sycophants were explicit and vulgar, they at least made the meaning clear, which made Emperor Chongzhen's mood feel better again, and said: "Okay, the praise of the saint is not like this." Today I am tired, the state affairs will not be discussed, and the food will not be left for you, so you should bow and retreat......"

As soon as Ji Qingwen heard that Chongzhen had ordered the eviction of guests, he hurriedly said: "The emperor is slow, Yuan Chonghuan's matter has not yet been settled." Please also ask the emperor to judge. ”

Hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen's mood that had just improved instantly fell to the bottom, and he replied with a stiff face: "Ji Qingwen, didn't you hear what I just said? I just said that the facts of Yuan Chonghuan's case are unclear and cannot be easily decided. Conviction and punishment can only be made after the outcome of the trial has been reached. ”