Fenghou

"Exactly!"

"Is there any one with three buds?"

"Yes! There are five plants with three buds, here."

Liu Xiangyang pointed to several corn plants, Chen Qing looked closely, and sure enough, three buds formed, "Did this happen by chance?" Chen Qing asked again.

"No! This is the seed that produced three bracts last year. We tried to plant [-] seeds in this corner, but only five plants produced three bracts. We plan to continue trial planting next year or so for about five years. , stabilize the seeds with three bracts."

Chen Qing praised: "That's why I came to Taixue today. I saw many people growing pumpkins on the road, and I was thinking, can we grow that kind of big, round, golden pumpkin?

But it is obvious that special people are needed to do this kind of thing, so I thought of Taixue, which is actually the main purpose of my running Taixue, to continuously research, improve the technical level, and cultivate high-yield crops in agriculture.

Seeing that you are cultivating three-bud corn now makes me feel very relieved, which shows that the direction of my school is completely correct. "

Orihiko quickly said: "Thank you for your highness's instruction. Taixue has been running for several years, and we have slowly figured out the direction by ourselves. Taixue trains students in two directions, one is to research technology, and the other is to promote technology. , promoting technology is actually going to various places to be a technical officer, but researching technology requires a calm heart. Cultivating and planting year after year is the most difficult thing, and usually it takes a lifetime of research, but some people like to do such things, the key is to solve their problems. Worry about the future."

Chen Qing nodded, "Professors who specialize in research should be given positions and generous salaries, and they should also have official houses and courts like other officials to solve their housing worries. If they make achievements, I will pay them back. Give a big reward!"

A group of professors at the back were all beaming. His Highness wanted to give the official residence and the official courtyard, which was what they were most looking forward to.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, we can rest assured with His Highness's words!"

Chen Qing was surrounded by the crowd again and came to the pumpkin garden. There were two acres of land, and the pumpkins inside were the size of a basketball, much larger than the roof pumpkins seen on the road. , of course the seeds are different.

Chen Qing walked into the field and carefully inspected the pumpkins, which were bigger than the pumpkins he had planted before, and they grew gratifyingly, and it seemed that they would grow very big in the end, Chen Qing turned around and asked, "Who planted this pumpkin? "

The first thousand 320 nine chapters compiled

A middle-aged man raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, it was planted by a villain!"

"What's your name?"

"The villain's name is Yang Du, from Yaozhou!"

Chen Qing asked with a smile: "This should be your first time growing pumpkins! What's the secret to growing them so well?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness, the villain has grown winter melons for three generations. The winter melons my father planted weighed forty to fifty catties each. The villagers called him the King of Winter Melons, so my father taught me some tricks. The selection of seeds, soil, water quantity, fertilization and light are very particular. For example, the soil quality here is silt dug from the river, and then the manure from the chicken manure pile is added. My father found that poultry manure is more suitable than human and animal manure. Planting wax gourds, and spraying sulfur powder around to kill insects, etc. There are dozens of tricks!"

At this time, Liu Xiangyang said from the side: "Two days ago, a wealthy businessman approached us and wanted to cooperate with us. He paid for the land, and we provided the seeds and cultivation technology to grow high-quality big pumpkins together. We cannot make decisions, Your Highness." Do you think this plan is feasible?"

These businessmen were quite discerning, and immediately smelled business opportunities, but Chen Qing would never agree to this business model, which would lead to a monopoly of high-quality seeds, which was not conducive to the court's promotion of high-quality crops to farmers all over the world.

Chen Qing shook his head and said: "Your tasks are teaching and research, and any expenses you need will be borne by the Internal Affairs Hall, which will give you enough money to conduct research. The results of your research must be handed over to the government, and the government will promote them to farmers. Everyone in the world can have enough to eat, this is our cause, not for some businessmen to make profits, understand?"

Everyone was ashamed, and saluted together: "Your Highness taught us, we will remember it in our hearts!"

Chen Qing nodded and asked Yang Du again: "Do you teach Tai students?"

"Yes! The villain has taught twenty Tai students."

"It's not easy. Growing melons is so good and teaching students. Is there any difficulty?"

"This..." You Xue was present, and Yang Du didn't know how to answer.

Chen Qing turned his gaze to Liu Xiangyang, and Liu Xiangyang hurriedly stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Because he is a farmer, we can't give him an official position, so we can only hire him as an unemployed professor."

"Who said no?" Chen Qing asked with a serious face.

"The main reason is that the Ministry of Officials can't get through!"

Chen Qing was really annoyed and said: "Many of my generals are peasants, and Niu Gao is a peasant in command. Does the military department dare to say that Niu Gao has not passed the imperial examination and cannot be given an official position? I have said a long time ago that if you have the ability, you can As an official, the pumpkins that Professor Yang grows are bigger and better than the ones I grow.

"Your Highness is right. Many of our Taixue professors are craftsmen or farmers with special skills. It is impossible for them to take the imperial examination, but the people who take the imperial examination do not have their skills. This matter has always troubled Taixue. I implore Your Highness to resolve this employment issue for us."

Chen Qing nodded, "I will tell the official department later that the official department will change a lot of rules and regulations recently, and it will also change your unfair treatment."

……

Chen Qing returned to the official office, pondered for a moment, and said to Chao Qing: "Go and invite Zhang Counselor of the Ministry of Officials!"

Chao Qing hurried away, not long after, Zhang Miao quickly walked into the official room, bowed and said, "See Your Highness!"

Chen Qing smiled and waved his hands, "Please sit down!"

Zhang Miao sat down, and Chen Qingxiao asked, "How's the plan for reforming officials?"

"It's still being drafted, and it may need to be discussed with His Highness and the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

"What do you need to discuss?"

"Regarding the establishment of state officials, His Royal Highness requested that the Tang system be restored, but the Tang system had a flaw, that is, the imperial court had weak control over the localities, which resulted in the local government in the Tang Dynasty being basically controlled by the aristocratic family, and it was difficult to implement the imperial government's decrees. It is obvious that the imperial court has strengthened its control over the local area, and this humble position can be considered."

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "The control of the local government in the Song Dynasty is not just the appointment of the magistrate, the key is the real power at the road level, and the local government's finances and taxes are taken away by the transshipment department, so the local government is not as high as the emperor in the Tang Dynasty. Far away, there are mother-in-laws on their heads, who use the three ropes of criminal law, finance and taxation, and evaluation to tie the local government, and then implement the system of being officials in different places, the control of the local powerful and powerful families will be greatly reduced. It’s the same thing as being an official system in a different place, so don’t get too entangled.”

"Understood, I will continue to draft, and I will show the draft to Your Highness."

Zhang Miao was about to get up, but Chen Qing stopped him, "Wait a minute, I have something to do!"

"Ah! Your Highness, please tell me."

Chen Qing told Zhang Miao about his visit to Taixue today, which involved professorship, and said to Zhang Miao: "I have long advocated meritocracy, but this talent does not refer to reading. People with real skills, blacksmiths who can smelt high-quality refined iron, farmers who can grow high-quality grain, and shipwrights who can build long-distance ocean ships. How can we reform the regulations governing the appointment of officials?"

Zhang Miao thought for a while and said, "Actually, there is a way!"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "I would like to hear the details!"

"Does Your Highness know about systemic subjects?"

The examination is a kind of promotion examination aimed at outstanding civil servants in office. It can be said to be an upgraded version of the imperial examination, so it is also called a major examination. The content of the examination is not fixed, and the time is not fixed. It is an unconventional examination. After passing the exam, they will generally be reused. Su Shi and Qin Hui both made their debut through the system.

The system examination is generally used to select professional talents. For example, the Zuanbian Branch is used to select military talents, and the Caiying Department is used to select musical talents. It was set up by itself, but from the Tang Dynasty to the present, no system in any dynasty has taken subjects such as Dajiang Agricultural Sciences.

Zhang Miao's solution was to put new wine in old bottles, and use the bottle of Zhike to solve the official position of high-level craftsmen and peasants in Taixue.

Chen Qing understood what Zhang Miao meant, and said happily: "Then set up a blacksmith Sangnong subject, which does not test book knowledge, but only practical ability, and another foot Anbian subject, to select outstanding young men who are below the control level. general."

"When does Your Highness think it will start?"

Chen Qing thought for a while and said, "From this autumn to next autumn, the smelter Sang Nong Ke will be able to smelt the best iron, grow the most grain, grow the biggest melons, and spin the best melons." Cloth, who can make the best loom, who can forge the best weapon, who can develop the farthest projectile, etc., and then the selection of outstanding young generals will be held in the spring of next year, at the same time as the imperial examination, including the art of war Examination, weapon test and riding and archery test, those who pass the test will be awarded official positions at the same time."

"Understood, is there anything else your Highness wants to explain?"

Chen Qing said again: "As for the professors of Taixue, they don't have formal official positions at present, but they still have to be given corresponding official treatment, including salary, welfare and house."

Zhang Miao is a very pragmatic person. He understands that King Yong valued industrial, commercial and agricultural talents. He knew that this is the foundation of rejuvenating the country and revitalizing the country. He nodded, "The humble job will be arranged as soon as possible!"

Zhang Miaoxing bowed and retreated.

Chapter 330 Return

It was already noon, so Chen Qing asked Zhou Kuan to have lunch and drink tea together at Qingfeng Teahouse. Chen Qing didn't see his father-in-law, Lu Jin. He is now the owner of Qingfeng Teahouse, and he put all his thoughts on running the teahouse. In the teahouse, it is usually in the teahouse, but Chen Qing also knows where the old man is now?

Lu Jin opened another Qingfeng teahouse in Nancheng. Naturally, it was a piece of land given to him by his daughter Lu Xiu. Five tea princesses with beautiful appearance and superb tea skills were recruited.

The opening of Qingfeng Teahouse, whose name was written by Chen Qing himself, caused a sensation in the south of the city. No.1 is the Longfeng Teahouse of the Wei Family, No.2 is the time-honored Chang’an Teahouse, and No.3 is the new Qingfeng Teahouse.

It's late August now, when the autumn tigers are raging, so ice cubes are also placed in Qing'an Teahouse, but the quantity is cleverly controlled. It doesn't have the refreshing feeling of summer, but it is also very comfortable like a spring breeze.

Chen Qing and Zhou Kuan sat down in their special seats. This is Chen Qing's exclusive private room, which is not open to the public.

The two sat down, and Zhou Kuan asked, "I heard that the negotiation in Lin'an broke down?"

In fact, the negotiation broke down a month ago, but this time Hu Yun wrote a detailed report and sent someone to Jingzhao, but did not send a pigeon letter, so Chen Qing only received the report yesterday.

Chen Qing smiled and said: "As expected, they made unrealistic demands. Of course I want the lion to open his mouth and ask for Fujian Road."

Zhou Kuan smiled and said, "What if the emperor agrees? Will you promise him?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "He will never agree, you may not understand the importance of Fujian Road."

"Tell me, what's important?"

Chen Qing dipped his finger in some mouthwash, and drew a sketch on the table, "From Lin'an to Lingnan, there are four roads to take in total, one is Jinghu South Road, the other is Jiangnan West Road, and the other is Fujian Road. The other is the sea route. Once I take Fujian Road, Fujian Road will be integrated with Jiangnan West Road. The Imperial Court and Lingnan Road will be separated from the land road. In the end, we can only take the sea road, but the sea road is basically taken by the Western Army. Once I do not allow the other party's officials to cross the border, the imperial court will completely lose contact with the two routes of Lingnan, and the only land controlled by the imperial court is Jiangnan East Road and Liangzhe Road. Both the emperor and the imperial court know the power of it, so You will never agree to give up Fujian Road to me."

"But we are determined to win Fujian Road, aren't we?"

Chen Qing nodded, "That's right. At the beginning, I deployed Quanzhou to take down the entire Fujian Road. At the latest after the spring of next year, our navy will take action. Whether the court admits it or not, we must actually control Fujian. road."

"It is estimated that the imperial court will come to negotiate with you again, one for face and one for face."

"maybe!"

Chen Qing said lightly: "If they want face, I can give them face so that they still own Fujian Road in name."

The two of them had dinner, and each ordered a cup of tea. Zhou Kuan said, "I talked with Zhang Miao about the reform of officials. I always felt that it was the same thing. What's the difference?"

"The name change is to decouple from the imperial court. In legal terms, the prefects and counties are all officials dispatched by the imperial court and have nothing to do with the internal affairs hall, but the governor and county magistrate have nothing to do with the imperial court. They are officials appointed by me and the internal affairs hall. This kind of decoupling is The imperial court and I are taking the first step towards a split, so the state officials seem to remain unchanged, but in fact they have changed, legally.

In addition, the county level has undergone relatively large changes. A county supervisor in charge of industry, agriculture and mining has been added, and three detainees have been promoted to rank nine. In this way, there are eight court officials at the county level, although the burden on the court is a bit heavier. , but it is of great benefit to the imperial court to control the county. "

"I understand His Highness's thinking. It is a good thing to strengthen the imperial court's control over the local area. You can try it first. If it doesn't work, let's change it slowly."

At this time, a soldier came in and said something to Chen Qing in a low voice. Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "I see, I'll go right away!"

"Is something wrong?"

"Zheng Tongquan is back, just arrived in Jingzhao!"

Zhou Kuan suddenly became excited, Zheng Tongquan went to Japan to exchange pig iron for silver, this is the matter of the Finance and Taxation Department!

He hurriedly said: "I will go back to the official office with you!"

Chen Qing smiled and shook his head, "It's not going back to the government office, it's going to the pier!"

"Then go to the pier!"

The two of them didn't care about drinking tea, so they got into the carriage and rushed to the Weihe pier. On the pier, they saw Zheng Tongquan from afar. He set out in spring and only came back in autumn. They haven't seen each other for half a year. .

Chen Qing secretly blamed himself, Zheng Tongquan is already 60 years old, and he can't let him cross the ocean and travel long distances like this, just this once!Fortunately, they also sent several young officials to go with Zheng Tongquan.

Zheng Tongquan walked up quickly, bowed and saluted, "See Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Uncle Zheng!"

Zheng Tongquan was shocked. This was what Chen Qing called him more than ten years ago. He could hear Chen Qing's gratitude to him from the bottom of his heart, which made him feel inexplicably moved.

"Serving His Highness is a humble duty!"

Chen Qing nodded and said with a smile, "How is it, did you succeed?"

Zheng Tongquan looked at Zhou Kuan next to him, saw him stretch his neck, his eyes were full of expectation, and smiled slightly: "Of course it's good news, our pig iron was warmly welcomed unexpectedly, Japan is at war, so all the famous names They came here to snap up our pig iron, of course they exchanged it for silver, and gold, basically one tael of silver for one catty of iron.”

Zhou Kuan was overjoyed, "Does it mean that you got back 50 taels of silver?"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "It should be more than that, he also brought armor, weapons and shields, right!"

Zheng Tongquan smiled wryly and said, "It was sold, but it didn't sell very well. They don't like it very much."

"Why?" Chen Qing was puzzled, since a war broke out, soldiers are not welcome?

"We didn't think carefully. The Japanese are very small, like children. Our armor is too ill-fitting for them. The weapons are too heavy. They can't handle the spears. They have to be remade."

Chen Qing couldn't help laughing, he had forgotten this factor, and it seemed that he wanted to customize armor for Japan.

"You sold your armor and weapons at a loss?"

"How could it be possible to lose money? It's just that I didn't get the huge profit I wanted. I originally wanted to get ten times the profit, but in the end I only got three times the profit. It doesn't feel like it's worthwhile to travel so far and only get three times the profit."

Chen Qing fully understands that Zheng Tongquan is not modest. Generally speaking, the profit of overseas trade is at least five times higher, so the profit is only three times higher, which is indeed a little less.

However, what they sell are all old armor and old weapons, and the value has to be discounted by half, and the three times the profit is relative to the cost of the recruit armor, so they are actually six times the profit.

At this time, several officials stepped forward to salute. There were five officials in total, and the leader was Chao Kun. He rushed from Quanzhou to Dengzhou to meet Zheng Tongquan and the others, and then went to Japan together.

These five officials will form the Overseas Trade Administration in the future, and Chao Kun will serve as the first executive order.

"How did you solve the problem of language barrier?"

Chao Kun hurriedly brought up a man about 30 years old. The man knelt down and kowtowed to Chen Qing, "Little Liu Qing pays homage to His Royal Highness King Yong!"

"Please get up!"

Chen Qing glanced at Chao Kun, "Who is he?"

Chao Kun introduced: "His father is from Quanzhou, Fujian Province. He went to Japan to do business with his father when he was very young. His father bought a shop in the port of Hizen Kingdom and became a merchant. He bought goods from Song Dynasty merchants and resold them to Japanese businessmen, they have stayed in Japan for 20 years. His parents miss their homeland. This time I brought their family back. His parents returned to their hometown in Quanzhou. This Liu Qing came to Jingzhao with us. He can speak Japanese language. In Japan, he is responsible for translating for us."

"Not bad! Not bad!" Chen Qing praised sincerely, this Liu Qing is definitely a rare talent.

Zheng Tongquan said with a smile: "Your Highness, let's go to the ship and have a look at the cargo!"

Chen Qing nodded, surrounded by everyone, and walked towards the big boat with Zhou Kuan.