"It's you." Chongzhen was overjoyed when he heard this.
"Chen Zilong, from now on you will be in charge of the Agricultural Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"You can also select a hundred scholars from the scholar camp to serve as agricultural scientists for Shizhong."
"In Xuzhou, Nanzhi and even the entire Ming Dynasty, the promotion of planting sweet potatoes, corns and potatoes is the sole responsibility of Agricultural Science. However, what you need to do first is selective breeding."
Chongzhen repeated what he had just said.
"I accept the edict." Chen Zilong happily accepted the edict.
In another time and space, Chen Zilong committed suicide after failing to resist the Qing Dynasty. But in fact, what he liked to do most was not fighting, but studying knowledge, so he was very happy with Chongzhen's appointment, especially as the agricultural officer.
In this matter, we can also carry forward the knowledge of our teacher Xuan Hugong and benefit Li Shu.
As long as it benefits Li Shu, Chen Zilong is willing to do it.
What's more, the professional counterpart in this matter can carry on the teacher's legacy.
Chongzhen was also very happy because the Ministry of Internal Affairs was gradually being improved.
Now, in addition to the deputy director Ma Mingluan, there are already three departments, and all three are assigned to Shizhong, namely, the missionary department is assigned to Ruan Dacheng, the agricultural department is assigned to Chen Zilong, and the medical department is assigned to Shizhong Fu Shan.
In the future, other departments will also need to gradually improve, but there is no need to rush.
Chongzhen's attitude towards this was that he would rather do less than overdo it, and would rather take a smaller step to avoid getting into trouble.
After telling Gao Qiqian to collect the harvested corn potatoes and sweet potatoes, Chongzhen returned with Zhu Cijiong and Shi Ziying.
Although Gao Qiqian didn't say anything about this, it could be seen that he was still unhappy in his heart. After all, this eunuch was still ambitious, so he didn't want to take the little eunuch to farm, but was more willing to serve Jun Qian.
But Chongzhen would not care about this. In the future power structure of the Ming Dynasty, there would be no place for eunuchs. From now on, the only mission of eunuchs would be to do menial jobs in the palace.
…
As soon as Chongzhen returned to Xuzhou, he received another good news.
The artillery instructor hired from Macau through Bu Mika finally arrived.
Also arriving in Xuzhou were fifty Portuguese mercenaries.
This is the second time that Macau has sent a mercenary team to the Ming Dynasty.
More than 20 years ago, Macau sent mercenaries to train artillery for the Ming Dynasty.
It is a pity that later this artillery force, along with hundreds of red cannons, were used to build slaves.
So this is the second time that Macau has sent instructors and mercenaries to the Ming Dynasty, but the number is not as large as last time.
"Your majesty, the generous, great and heroic emperor, the king of kings in the entire East, Qu Sawei from far away Europe obeys your call and brings fifty loyal Portuguese warriors across thousands of mountains and rivers to wait for you.
Send, God can testify, we will become your most loyal servants."
When Qu Shawei came up, she was full of passionate Western flattery.
Well, this is all for the sake of money. Money can make all the difference, so a few words of flattery are nothing.
Chongzhen was not stupid enough to believe these lies. After listening to the interpreter's translation, he asked: "Qu Shawei, it's only over a thousand miles from Macau to Xuzhou. Why did you walk for more than two months?"
"Your Majesty, calm down." Qu Shawei quickly explained, "We could have arrived a month ago, but we were delayed waiting for a merchant ship from Goa, because this ship has the artillery observation equipment that your Majesty urgently needs."
"Observation instruments?" Chongzhen asked with a thought, "Are all the observation instruments ready?"
"Everything is ready." Qu Sha waved her hand slightly and said, "The telescope and astrolabe for geodesy, the compasses, protractors and set squares for drawing. I also specially brought two more pairs. Of course, I am generous.
As you know, Your Majesty the Emperor, these artillery observation instruments are very sophisticated, so they are quite expensive."
Chongzhen asked with a smile: "Just tell me, how much is it?"
Qu Sha waved her hands slightly and said, "A total of ten taels of silver, Your Majesty."
Chongzhen burst out laughing when he heard this, thinking that the red-haired ghost only had this little vision.
At that moment, Chongzhen ordered Wang Chengen to get twenty taels of silver for Qu Shawei, which was just a small amount. As long as Qu Shawei could train the artillery for the Ming army well, let alone twenty taels, what's the harm in giving him two thousand taels?
But Qu Shawei was extremely happy: "God, Your Majesty the Emperor, you are so generous. I feel extremely honored to be your servant. Qu Shawei will definitely do his best to train the artillery troops for Your Majesty."
"Then don't stay here and talk nonsense." Chongzhen said directly, "Let's go to the military camp to demonstrate first."
After listening to the interpreter's translation, Qu Shawei said happily: "Of course, this is what your servant should do."
However, Qu Shawei obviously lacked estimation of the complexity of the Ming army's artillery models. Therefore, when he followed Chongzhen to Ma Huabao's camp and saw the artillery equipped in Ma Huabao's town, he almost became stupid on the spot.
"Oh, no, this must not be true." Qu Shawei put her head in her hands and said, "How could it be so chaotic?"
The fifty Portuguese mercenaries who came with Qu Shawei also looked at each other, because in the past twenty years, artillery in various European countries has gradually standardized their models.
For example, there are only seven models of Spanish artillery left.
Another example is British artillery, which is divided into several models based on projectile weight.
This is how the model divisions of 8-pounder, 10-pounder and 12-pounder guns came about.
In short, these artillery pieces are already highly standardized. Not only the projectiles, but also the parts can be used in common. That's why the professional subject of artillery observation emerged.
Without the standardization of artillery, there would be no artillery observation.
However, the artillery of the Ming army was not standardized at all.
Model regulations are messy, and even the calibers of the same model are inconsistent.
The last time Macau sent instructors and mercenaries to the Ming Dynasty, the artillery equipped by Portugal's own army and navy had not been standardized, so it was naturally impossible to bring standardization to the Ming Dynasty.
However, there are already introductions to standardization in works such as "Illustrations of Weapons" and "Fire Attack Pact".
But it is only a general introduction, and it only mentions how to standardize it specifically. After standardization, the artillery can be divided into several models. What are the specific size parameters of each model? These contents are not included at all.
"Oh, my God." Qu Shawei said to Chongzhen with a bitter look on his face, "Your Majesty the wise emperor, your servant Qu Shawei is really an excellent artillery observation expert, but there is no way to detect two targets.
It is absolutely impossible to assign the same shooting parameters to artillery pieces that have nothing in common."
Chongzhen smiled and said, "Just assume that the parameters of these artillery pieces are the same."
"Ah? Assume that the parameters of these artillery pieces are the same?" Qu Shawei was stunned and asked, "How do you assume this?"
"You can assume whatever you want." Chongzhen pointed at the scholars behind him and said, "I will give you one month. Within one month, these students must basically learn artillery observation."
There were probably more than a hundred scholars standing behind Chongzhen.
This is the first batch of artillery picked by Chongzhen, and there will be a second batch and a third batch later...
Chongzhen's goal was to have every scholar learn artillery observation and ballistic calculations.
"No, no, no, this is absolutely impossible." Qu Shawei was so anxious that he waved his hands and said, "Dear Your Majesty the Emperor, your servant Qu Shawei has absolutely no disrespect, but teaching these students observation within one month, this
It is absolutely impossible, no one can master artillery observation proficiently in one month."
"Listen up, I don't require proficiency." Chongzhen corrected, "I only require rough steps to learn, or to be more precise, learn the observation methods and procedures, and remember the calculation formula of the ballistics."
"Oh God." Qu Shawei said in surprise, "His omnipotent Emperor, you actually know ballistics? Do you also know that there are formulas for calculating ballistics?"
"I know a lot more than you think." Chongzhen snorted and added, "So don't try to be clever. Just try your best to teach these students how to observe and calculate ballistics as soon as possible."
Things like observation principles and calculation formulas are as difficult as climbing to the sky for the uneducated soldiers, but for these scholars who are literate and have a considerable cultural foundation, it is not difficult.
It is not difficult to learn basic observation methods and memorize ballistic formulas within a month.
Of course, learning observation methods and memorizing ballistic formulas does not mean that you have become an excellent observer. This must be supplemented by a large amount of observation accumulation.
However, this stage is not yet achievable.
Because even the standardization of artillery has not been realized, there is no way to accumulate observations.
Chongzhen said again: "In short, you only need to be responsible for teaching. If you can handle this job well, I will not treat you badly. I can even make you the commander-in-chief of the artillery."
"Commander-in-Chief of the Artillery?" Qu Shawei suddenly became interested and asked, "Approximately how many cannons are there?"
"There will be a lot of cannons, many more cannons than you think!" Chongzhen smiled and continued, "The most conservative estimate is that there will be tens of thousands of cannons!"
Chongzhen actually only said half of what he said.
The artillery commander-in-chief is only responsible for artillery construction and training.
"Tens of thousands of cannons?" Qu Shawei opened her mouth wide enough to swallow a goose egg.
Chongzhen added: "In addition, I can also offer you a generous salary."
Qu Shawei stopped pretending now, licked her lips and asked, "How rich can it be?"
"Monthly salary fifty taels!" Chongzhen directly offered a price that was enough to break Qu Sha Wei's defense.
At that moment, Qu Shawei raised her hand and said: "Your generous Emperor, your servant Qu Shawei has been conquered by your vision. Salary or no salary is really nothing. The main thing is that your servant Qu Shawei really loves you."
This is a job, so don’t worry, these students will be taught how to observe and calculate ballistics within a month.”
Chongzhen smiled slightly and said: "By the way, these students have not studied modern mathematics."
"Eh, hmm? Ah!" Qu Sha was stunned for a moment, and then realized that she had never studied mathematics? In other words, she had to start from the most basic mathematics? Oh my god, I was fooled!
