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

She had the impression that Yuan Xincheng was a personable scholar, although he was old, he had an extraordinary temperament and was gentle and elegant.

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

Saying that he is a Hanlin Bachelor, no one will believe him at all.

"Are you Yuan Xincheng? How did you become like this? ”

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

Yuan Xincheng replied: "The minister didn't know that His Majesty had arrived, and he didn't tidy up his appearance, which disturbed His Majesty, and the minister is guilty!" ”

Wu Mingkong said: "I don't mean that, I mean why did you become so dark?" ”

When Yuan Xincheng heard this, he was stunned at first, then reached out and touched his face, and said, "In the past three months, the minister has been studying agriculture painstakingly, and he doesn't care about this. ”

"How can you, a bachelor of Hanlin who doesn't do agriculture, study agriculture?"

Wu Mingkong asked the doubts in his heart.

Yuan Xincheng said: "Zhufengxuan has books on agriculture, and he often browsed them when he was in the Hanlin Academy, although he never put them into practice, but he had some insights in his heart. ”

The voice fell.

Fang Xiu on the side explained: "The position of the dean of the Agricultural Academy was taken by Yuan Xincheng on his own initiative, and he had already done some research on the classics of agriculture before that. ”

When Wu Mingkong heard this, he was a little surprised, looked at Yuan Xincheng, and said, "You are a scholar, why are you interested in agriculture?" ”

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

"Agriculture is the foundation of the country, the minister has been interested in agriculture since he was a child, but he was born in a family, his father taught the minister from an early age that everything is inferior only to read high, self-cultivation Qi family rule the country and the world, is the supreme pursuit of a scholar......

Therefore, the minister had to give up his interest in agriculture and studied the sages and sages until he was admitted to the Jinshi and entered the Hanlin Academy, and he still did not stop and often read.

Half a year ago, the minister happened to learn that there were all kinds of lonely books in the Zhufeng Xuan in Chang'an City, and went to hang out, where the minister saw many classics about agriculture, after browsing, the minister deeply realized that if you want to govern the country and level the world, agriculture is the top priority.

However, the imperial court did not pay enough attention to this aspect, and the minister wrote several times to ask Guozijian to send someone to study agriculture, but he never received a reply.

It wasn't until three months ago that Chen heard that Fang Xiang was going to build four major academies, including the Agricultural Academy, so the minister took the initiative to find Fang Xiang, hoping to join the Agricultural Academy. ”

Needless to say, Wu Mingkong can also understand.

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, and it was not until Fang Xiu attached importance to the study of agriculture that he had such an opportunity.

"You just said that agriculture is the foundation of the country, as far as I know, in the meantime, the imperial court has always attached great importance to agriculture, not to mention anything else, agriculture is in second place!

In addition, every few years, the Hanlin Academy would compile a book of advice to farmers to teach farmers how to grow grain, 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 that Your Majesty said is not the same thing as the agriculture that the minister said. ”

When Wu Mingkong heard this, his brows furrowed slightly.

The so-called agriculture is nothing more than to make the harvest more, and no matter how to delve into it, it is nothing more than to start from the weather, fields and manpower, and this agricultural academy can conjure up food out of thin air?

Yuan Xincheng seemed to see the little empress's thoughts, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, do you know how to make the grain bear more?" ”

Wu Mingkong said: "It's nothing more than watering more, the fields are fertile, and weeds are pulled." ”

Yuan Xincheng said: "Why do you water more, pull out weeds, and the fields are fertile, so that the grain can bear more?" ”

Hearing this question, Wu Mingkong was a little dissatisfied, and said in his heart: The law of heaven and earth is like this, you ask me why this is the case, 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 second is water, and the third is some other substances......

As for what these substances are, different crops need different things, so different fertilizers can be applied for different crops.

In addition, different crops have different requirements for light and water, so the minister has taken a few students to study wheat in this field these days, which can also be said to be the material ...... of gewu, gew."

Yuan Xincheng said, pointing to a certain field, and said:

The minister divided the field into several sections, some of which were given plenty of light, and some of which were given light at night, and others which were given as little light as possible, to see how they grew after a while.

In addition to this, there are many similar controls, given a lot of water, a moderate amount of water, a small amount of water, and others, given different fertilizers, and ultimately look at the results of their growth.

In this way, when the next year comes, we will know what the most suitable conditions are 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 investigated, and finally the most suitable results can be found, of course, the agricultural academy does not only study these ......"

When Wu Mingkong heard this, his heart was full of doubts.

In addition to these, what else can the Agricultural Academy study?

Before he could ask, Yuan Xincheng continued:

"Your Majesty, have you ever wondered why different wheat grows at different rates and produces 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 nature. ”

Yuan Xincheng said: "What Your Majesty said is very true, then, is it possible to leave only the wheat with fast growth rate and high yield, that is, the wheat with good nature, and throw away the wheat with poor nature?" ”

When Wu Mingkong heard this question, his brows furrowed slightly, and he didn't know how to answer for a while.

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

There is a lot of genetic knowledge involved, and he saw many points in the book, but he has not yet conducted experiments, so he cannot confirm whether what he says in the book is true.

However, judging from the experiments he has done so far, most of the content in the book is credible......"

He said a lot in one go.

The little empress was stunned when she heard this.

In particular, what experiments, what genetics, and what cross-breeding are even more misty.

She thinks that she is also full of poetry and books, but she has never heard these words mentioned by Yuan Xincheng before!

"You're doing a great job, and hopefully next year, your cross-breeding will bear fruit."

Fang Xiu praised it from the bottom of his heart.

He knew that it was not easy for a bachelor like Yuan Xincheng, who had been studying the books of sages since he was a child, to devote himself to agriculture and study the so-called "miscellaneous science".

Yuan Xincheng heard Fang Xiu's words, turned his head to look at him, a smile appeared on his dark face, and said sincerely:

"If there is no Fang Xiang, the minister is still doing some trivial chores in the Hanlin Academy, and the minister should thank Fang Xiang for giving the minister such an opportunity to study agriculture."

Wu Mingkong looked at Fang Xiu, then at Yuan Xincheng, and felt that his brain was a little messy.

After a few breaths of silence, he asked very bluntly: "I didn't understand what you just said, I didn't understand it very well, and you directly told me, what is the benefit of your research on these for the imperial court?" ”

When Yuan Xincheng heard this, he said solemnly:

"Back to Your Majesty, the biggest benefit is that it can increase the yield of grain!

If we can cultivate high-yield wheat and then produce chemical fertilizers on a large scale, we will be able to double the harvest of our great dry grain, and from now on, we will no longer be short of grain! ”

Double?

Wu Mingkong was stunned, a little unconvinced.

"If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, the minister can explain it to Your Majesty......"

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

Seeing this, Wu Mingkong waved his hand and said: "Since the Agricultural Academy was created by Fang Xiang, you don't need to explain, the most important thing now is to ensure that the fertility of the fields is not lost, that is, to study the fertilizer you mentioned earlier, if you can produce chemical fertilizer this year, I will give you a reward of 10,000 taels of silver from the Agricultural Academy!" ”

In other words, she believed that Fang Xiu would not waste his money and energy on inconsequential matters.

Since Fang Xiu valued the Agricultural Academy so much, the Agricultural Academy must be able to double the grain level.

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: "The minister must live up to the trust of His Majesty and Fang Xiang!" ”

Wu Mingkong waved his hand and said, "You continue to be busy, and I will go shopping with Fang Xiang again." ”

With that, he turned and left.

Although she still didn't know what the so-called agricultural academy did.

But at the very least, it's certain that these people are doing their jobs.

That's enough.

Fang Xiu followed her and said, "Your Majesty is here, do you want to go to the other three academies to have a look?" ”

Wu Mingkong thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay, the Engineering Academy spends the most money, let's go to the Engineering Academy first." ”

A moment later.

The two came to the engineering academy together.

Compared to the Agricultural Academy.

The architecture of the Engineering College is more atmospheric.

The material used is not traditional bricks, but cement.

The house built of cement, the little empress saw it for the first time, and felt a little novel, so she couldn't help but take a few more looks.

In particular, the building in the middle, which is about five stories high, is almost comparable to the Fengtian Temple, but it looks more rustic than the Fengtian Temple, and there is an indescribable beauty.

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

Fang Xiu saw that Wu Mingkong had been staring at the building of the Engineering Academy, and opened his mouth to explain.

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

Wu Mingkong said with some curiosity.

Fang Xiu thought for a moment and replied, "As far as the minister knows, the silver used to build the Fengtian Hall can build the main buildings of ten engineering academies. ”

When Wu Mingkong heard this, he was stunned and asked, "Is the cost of Fengtian Hall too high, or is the cost of this engineering academy low?" ”

Fang Xiu said: "Both. ”

Wu Mingkong was silent for a few breaths and said, "If this is the case, the mansions in the new city can all be built with cement. ”

"That's what the minister intended." Fang Xiu replied.

The two chatted as they walked.

After half a stick of incense.

The two entered the engineering academy.

The inside of the academy was very empty.

More than a dozen men dressed in linen clothes were carefully observing around a trolley, looking attentive.

"I said Lao Bai, but the dean handed over to you all the silver allocated by the imperial court, and you made such a thing?"

"This thing looks so bulky, even if it's worth a hundred muskets, as you say, it doesn't make much sense, after all, artillery is much better than yours."

The men walked around what looked like a wheelbarrow, talking a lot, and they didn't notice the arrival of the little empress and Fang Xiu.

The scar-faced man known as Lao Bai heard everyone's discussion, snorted coldly, and said, "Although this musket is cumbersome, the role it plays on the city wall is not comparable to ordinary muskets and artillery!" ”

As he spoke, he stepped forward, grabbed the handrail of the cart, and said loudly: "If you don't believe it, then go with me to the shooting range to see how powerful the musket made by Lao Tzu can be!" ”

When they heard this, they looked at each other and said in unison, "Good! Let's go! ”

Side.

Fang Xiu looked at the thing pushed by the scar-faced man, a little dazed, and muttered to himself: "I actually got Gatling out without drawings, this guy is a talent." ”

"What Gatling?"

Wu Mingkong looked at Fang Xiu and asked curiously.

Fang Xiu explained: "A musket capable of emitting multiple projectiles in a very short period of time. ”

When Wu Mingkong heard this, he understood something, looked at the scar-faced man, and said, "It turns out that that kind of musket is called Gatling...... Let's go and have a look. ”

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 gentlemen recruited by the Engineering Academy were guys from the Xiangguo Mansion who opened a workshop, if nothing else, there was still no problem.

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

Fang Xiu admonished and gave the guards on the side a look.

The guards immediately understood, and walked towards the men.

A moment later.

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

"Meet Master 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 Lao Bai, carefully examines the musket that has poured countless efforts into it.

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

Minutes and seconds passed.

A moment later.

After Lao Bai finished checking, he looked at Fang Xiu and Wu Mingkong, and said respectfully, "Two adults, can you start?" ”

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