Chen Di reviewed the research projects of 100 Western scholars in one go. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 Info He promised financial support of various amounts to almost all scholars. A group of Western scholars rejoiced. This far-away East has come to the right place!

Chen Di found Hu Yuanchun. Now he is the head of Xingming Academy. Chen Di said: "Old man, I'll leave these Western scholars to you!" In the future, all students of Xingming Academy will learn Western science and technology! In addition, I would propose to the Cabinet that a science and technology department be established under the Ministry of Industry. All students who perform well in science and technology courses can directly enter the science and technology department to become a seven-grade outsider. ”

Hu Yuanchun said suspiciously: "Science and Technology Division? Unheard. ”

Chen Di nodded: "Advocating science and opposing superstition is one of the ways to strengthen the country!" Throughout the ages, science and technology have been regarded as some kind of miracle. Why has the Flying Tigers been able to win many battles in foreign wars? At most, the reason is the use of new firearms that are superior in technology! ”

Chen Di also said to the more than a dozen Western scholars he selected to study new firearms: "You don't have to go to Xingming Academy to be a professor!" I will arrange for you to take up an official position in the Ministry of War! ”

In the West, these people were infidels, prisoners. In the Ming Dynasty, these people have become respected professors and prominent officials. A group of Western scholars shouted: "Long live the Ming Dynasty!" Long live Your Excellency the Duke! ”

Chen Di said to Lima again: "I promised before that you would be allowed to preach in Daming. I now appoint you as the cardinal of the Ming Dynasty! ”

Lima hesitated a little: "Your Excellency, cardinals of the Holy See have always needed to be appointed by the Pope himself. ”

Chen Di shook his head: "No, I will establish a new church in Daming!" The Daming Church is not affiliated with the Holy See! The cardinal of the Ming Dynasty must be appointed by the Ming court! ”

Chen Di understands the importance of religious independence. so as not to subject the new church to the Holy See.

Lima was torn apart. As a clergyman of the Holy See, if he accepts Chen Di's request, it is tantamount to betraying the Holy See! It is so tempting to be called a cardinal of an empire of 10,000 people! He thought for a long time, and finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, I will follow the arrangement of the duke!" ”

Chen Di plans to set up a religious department under the Ministry of Rites to control the three major religions of Buddhism, Taoism, and God.

Chen Di asked Lima: "In the teachings of Catholicism, what is the first thing a believer should do?" ”

Lima replied: "Loyalty to God, of course!" ”

Chen Di laughed and said, "No! Catholics in the Ming Dynasty must first be loyal to the country! ”

Lima was surprised: "What? Loyal to the country? ”

Chen Di nodded: "A Catholic believer of the Ming Dynasty is first of all a citizen of the Ming Dynasty!" If you can't even be loyal to your homeland, then this believer has no faith at all! A man without faith is not worthy to be a believer at all! ”

Lima pondered Chen Di's words carefully, and then he nodded and said, "His Excellency Duke's words are very reasonable. ”

Chen Di made Lima the cardinal of the Ming Dynasty, and said to Madeira: "General Madeira, I promised you to become the sole agent of the Ming Dynasty's trade with the West. You can find Ma Ruyun, the shopkeeper of Fuxing Commercial Bank. I plan to have the Renaissance Company set up an ocean-going fleet to specialize in trade with the West! Of course, your armed fleet will escort the ocean-going merchant ships of the Renaissance Comptoir. Twenty percent of the profits are yours! ”

Madeira was overjoyed. There is nothing happier for him than to invest in the capital, as long as he leads his armed fleet to escort merchant ships, there is a huge profit to be gained.

After Chen Di met with a group of Westerners, he returned to the Xiyuan duty room.

In the room, Yan Song was reviewing a note.

"Diel is back? The Hu Zongxian you recommended is really a genius in governing the world! He has been governor of Zhejiang for less than half a year, and Zhejiang's finance and taxation have returned to the level before the war with the Japanese invaders! Yan Song said happily.

Chen Di said: "Oh? Hu Zongxian is a talent. Father-in-law, it seems that we should be exceptionally promoted for such a capable minister. I think he will be promoted to the governor of Zhejiang! ”

Yan Song put the fold in front of Chen Di: "Well, such a person should be reused!" When the time is right, it is not impossible to transfer him to Beijing as an official of the six departments! ”

Chen Di didn't look at the twist, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea: "People like Hu Zongxian are the materials for being a feudal official, but they are not necessarily the materials for being a Beijing official. Tangerines are born in the south and are oranges, and gardenias are born in the north, which is the truth. ”

Yan Song looked at Chen Di with a pair of old eyes: "Di'er, it's hard for you to know the essence of employing people at a young age!" Okay, let's do it like this, Hu Zongxian was promoted to the governor of Zhejiang, and the title of secretary of the military department! ”

Chen Di took out a sweet potato from his sleeve and put it in front of Yan Song.

Yan Songqi said: "What is this? ”

Chen Di said with a smile: "This is a group of grain crops brought back by Madeira from the West, called sweet potato, also known as sweet potato. The yield per mu of this thing is more than ten times that of wheat! ”

Sweet potatoes are a serious foreign product. It is native to the Americas. In another period of history, it was brought to Daming by Westerners during the Wanli period. The yield per mu of sweet potato is much higher than that of rice and wheat. The introduction of sweet potatoes into the Ming Dynasty contributed to the explosive population growth in the middle of the Ming Dynasty to another extent.

Yan Song looked at the sweet potato and asked with some doubts: "This thing。。。。。。 Can you eat it? ”

Chen Di nodded and said, "Of course you can eat it!" ”

After speaking, Chen Di took out a dagger, cut off a piece and handed it to Yan Song.

Yan Song took a bite: "Well, the taste is sweet and crispy." It's just that my father's old teeth don't seem to be able to stand it. ”

In the cabinet room, there is a charcoal stove. Chen Di turned on the charcoal stove and threw the sweet potato into it.

Chen Di continued to Yan Song: "Father-in-law, don't underestimate this thing. This thing has low requirements for climate, and even those places in Henan and Shaanxi that have been drought and flood for many years can be planted! If it can be promoted nationwide, I dare to guarantee that there will never be a famine in Daming again! ”

After a stick of incense, the fragrance of sweet potatoes permeated the cabinet room.

Chen Di took the fire chopsticks and took the sweet potato out of the charcoal stove. Then he broke it in half and handed it to Yan Song.

"This gray is not slippery, can you eat it?" Yan Song doubted.

Chen Di laughed: "Father-in-law, don't eat skin!" Try it with just the! ”

Yan Song took a bite of the sweet potato pulp, and it was really fragrant, and it was extremely soft and glutinous: "Mm-hmm!" It's so fragrant, so soft! Soft as a girl's breasts! Good stuff, good food! How many more do you have? Have someone send some to my house. ”

Chen Di smiled: "I will immediately ask someone to send a hundred catties to my father-in-law's mansion." Father-in-law, I plan to try to plant this sweet potato in the meritorious field in the capital first. If the effect is good, it will be promoted nationwide! ”

Yan Song took another bite of sweet potato: "Okay!" Do what you want! ”