() "Master Zhong, do you think that through this kind of research institute, it is possible to increase the sweet potato yield per mu to such a high level?" Emperor Chongzhen asked Zhong Jinwei with a hint of disbelief. Twelve stones per mu was really impossible in ancient times.
Imagine.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhong Jinwei nodded affirmatively.
Then he naturally thought of Yuan Longping's hybrid rice, and with a thought in his mind, he began to seduce Emperor Chongzhen again: "Your Majesty, the research institute in my hometown has also developed hybrid rice, which has many advantages like this sweet potato.
The output is also large. After these things are researched, do you know how many people my hometown can support?"
"How many people?" Emperor Chongzhen was very concerned about this topic. Seeing Zhong Jinwei's demeanor, he seemed to be able to feed a lot of people. He secretly estimated that if it were not for years of low temperature and drought, the grain output of the Ming Dynasty would be more than enough to feed the current population. Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas
Even if rice was replaced by mulberry and cash crops were grown, there were not many famines. Calculating this, it would be enough to have twice the population of the Ming Dynasty in later generations. After all, it is easy to double the population, but it is difficult to double the cultivated land and output.
"What is the current population of the Ming Dynasty?" Zhong Jinwei did not reveal the answer directly, but became concerned about the current population.
"About 150 million people." Emperor Chongzhen answered Zhong Jinwei with a little pride. In all dynasties, the Ming Dynasty has the largest number of people.
"Then I can tell your Majesty now that there are more than 1.3 billion people in my hometown, and there has never been a famine. There are even fields in some places that have been barren, and nothing has happened." Zhong Jinwei said this with a thought in his heart.
It's a bit of a joke, just to see if anyone is frightened.
"Master Zhong, are you serious?" Emperor Chongzhen stared into Zhong Jinwei's eyes, a little surprised.
Xu Guangqi was even more confused and his jaw dropped to the ground. He was the person who knew the most about overseas countries in the Ming Dynasty, but as far as he knew, the overseas countries seemed to be very small, and some were not even as big as a province in the Ming Dynasty. Even the largest country,
The population is not as good as that of the Ming Dynasty. Where is the hometown of Zhongxing Bo? There are as many as 1.3 billion people. Xu Guangqi cannot imagine how big a country it is.
"Your Majesty, how could I deceive the emperor? I wonder if your majesty remembers how high the house where I live is and how many people can live in one house. You can probably guess it." Zhong Jinwei reminded Emperor Chongzhen.
Emperor Chongzhen thought of the high-rise buildings he saw on Zhong Jinwei's mobile phone. He thought about how big a city it would be with so many people living together. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but become fascinated.
Xu Guangqi was very puzzled when he heard the conversation between Zhong Jinwei and Emperor Chongzhen. As far as he knew, the emperor had never been out of the capital. How could he know the height of Zhongxing Bo's overseas house? If he knew it from the painting, then Xu Guangqi didn't
I will believe it. If Uncle Zhongxing paints the house as high as he likes, there is no actual reference value at all.
Without thinking, he saw Emperor Chongzhen come to his senses and nodded, confirming Zhongxing Bo's statement. Xu Guangqi couldn't help but wonder, could it be true?
Emperor Chongzhen had completely forgotten that Xu Guangqi was still standing on one side. He said to Zhong Jinwei with bright eyes: "I remember, there are really so many people. Master Zhong, tell me quickly, what is there in this institute?"
Magical power can actually create something that can feed so many people."
Zhong Jinwei wanted to seduce Emperor Chongzhen to ask this question, and now he got his wish, so he replied: "Your Majesty, this research institute actually has no magic power and is not unusual at all. It just gathers some experienced people to study the habits of crops.
Specializing in various experiments to cultivate high-yielding and durable crops."
"Okay, I will immediately issue an order to the two capitals and thirteen provinces, asking each locality to select some experienced farmers and send them to the capital for research." When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately prepared to take action. It turned out that solving the famine was so simple.
I understand that I have been thinking about it for so long.
"Your Majesty, wait a minute." Zhong Jinwei quickly interrupted Emperor Chongzhen. If it was really that simple, Ming Dynasty would have already figured it out by himself, and there was no need for him to mention it.
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei doubtfully, "Hey, what else is going on?"
"Your Majesty, this research institute is as simple as it is simple, but it is also very difficult to say it is difficult. It is a systematic project." Zhong Jinwei explained to Emperor Chongzhen with a wry smile.
Emperor Chongzhen felt a thump in his heart. It seemed that it was really not that easy. He faced Zhong Jinwei and asked for advice: "I don't think it will be that easy either. I was just excited. Master Zhong, how do you do this?
Research institute, please elaborate on it."
"Your Majesty, this research institute cannot just find a few old farmers. If Your Majesty just wants to increase production a little bit on the current basis, then you only need to let experienced farmers go to various places to exchange and teach each other their experience. Maybe
Yes, there is no need for this so-called research institute. But if Your Majesty wants to significantly increase the yield of food crops, then you must have a research institute and spend a lot of energy on it."
Zhong Jinwei noticed that Emperor Chongzhen and Xu Guangqi were listening carefully, so he continued: "First of all, the people in the institute must be able to write and record various problems encountered; secondly, they must be familiar with all kinds of crops, such as
, we have an understanding of the growth process of crops, the impact of climate, and the impact of pests and diseases, and we all know the reasons why crops grow well and why they grow poorly; thirdly, people in the research institute must also be able to conduct data analysis and statistics. In short,
There are a lot of disciplines and infrastructure involved.”
Zhong Jinwei said everything he understood in one breath. The research institutes of later generations were almost like this, Zhong Jinwei thought irresponsibly.
Emperor Chongzhen sounded a little confused and said directly to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, I don't understand what I heard. But in general, I feel that people in this institute need to know a lot of things, right?"
Zhong Jinwei nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty. The researchers at my hometown research institute are all equivalent to Jinshi, or they are the top people in their industry."
Emperor Chongzhen remembered that Zhong Jinwei once said that he was almost a civil servant. With such a measure, his confidence in establishing the research institute was hit.
He pondered for a moment, and based on his trust in Zhong Jinwei, he asked for advice: "Master Zhong, I want to start this research institute, how should I do it step by step? Even if I can't do it, my son will continue to do it, and he must do it.
, so that the people of the Ming Dynasty will no longer starve."
Zhong Jinwei nodded vigorously and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, don't be discouraged. After so many years of development, the research institute in Chen's hometown is among the top. Of course, Ming Dynasty cannot compare with Chen's hometown now, but as long as we do it step by step, I believe that
There will be some gains soon."
"Okay, Master Zhong, tell me."
"Your Majesty, the urgent approach now is to convene experienced farmers across the country and set up research groups in the 13 provinces of Ming Dynasty and Ming Dynasty to exchange crop experience and recommend good crops in their respective regions for trial planting. If successful, promote them
The whole province. Then representatives of experienced farmers from the two capitals and thirteen provinces brought advantageous crops from their respective provinces to the capital for nationwide exchanges, trial planting, and promotion. I believe that by doing this, we will gain something within a few years."
This emergency approach does not cost the court much energy and money. It is simple to do and should not be a problem. Emperor Chongzhen nodded and expressed his approval. Then he asked with concern: "If there is an emergency, what about the long-term approach?"