The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 69 Jing Ke is the only one

Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his thigh and said: "We have always wondered that scholars should be the most intelligent."

"Why are the people selected through the imperial examination mostly empty-talkers? It turns out that this is the problem."

"How about we add some subjects to test the ability of scholars to do things?"

Chen Jingke said quickly: "Absolutely not. It is difficult for ordinary people to support a scholar, and there is no spare capacity for him to read more books..."

"If we add more subjects, I'm afraid it won't be long before the entire dynasty is filled with the sons of ministers, and ordinary people will have no chance of making a comeback."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with deep approval: "You are right, we have considered it simple. Do you have a way to solve this problem?"

Chen Jingke nodded, then shook his head: "There are ways, but with the current national power of the Ming Dynasty, it is extremely difficult to do it."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly sat upright and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao also looked at him.

Chen Jingke's heart moved and he decided to take the opportunity to popularize the concept of productivity to them.

Regardless of whether it is useful or not, just listen to the ear sound first, and it will always have some effect over time.

"Develop productivity."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand, he was very excited.

Every time Chen Jingke utters a new word, he will propose a new direction.

The key is that this new direction is targeted and can help Daming.

So now that he heard a new word, he was naturally very happy.

Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao are similar.

Zhu Xiongying was even more convinced of Chen Jingke and was very happy to hear that he was going to give a lecture.

“What is productivity?”

"Productivity is..."

Chen Jingke explained productivity and production relations to them in detail.

"In ancient times, people drank hair and blood, and after mastering fire, they began to eat cooked food..."

"Youchao invented the house...people walked out of tree caves and caves and lived on the plains..."

"Shen Nong tasted hundreds of herbs, people mastered medicine, and their life span was extended..."

"With the invention and use of copper and iron, people can work more efficiently..."

“It used to take several months to make a set of furniture, but after the advent of saws, chisels and other tools, it only takes a dozen days.”

"The Quyuan plow appeared... The work that originally required two people and two oxen can now be done by one person and one ox..."

"The same people and animals can cultivate more land and produce more food."

"The cultivation of improved seeds, the use of water and fertilizer, etc., have effectively increased food production."

"Thousands of years ago, the yield per mu was only one hundred catties, but now it can reach two hundred catties. If cultivated properly, three hundred catties is not impossible."

"Before the advent of printing, books were very valuable if they were copied by hand. Only wealthy people could read them."

"After the advent of printing, the price of books dropped to the point where ordinary people could buy them, and ordinary people could also afford to read books."

As each example is given, everyone's understanding of productivity and production relations becomes deeper and deeper.

Chen Jingke finally concluded: "It seems simple that the common people can afford to read, but upon closer inspection, it is the result of thousands of years of development of productivity."

"If there were no flames in houses, if there were no iron tools such as curved shafts and plows, if there was no high grain yield, if there was no paper printing technology..."

"It would be impossible to have the great situation where people can study now."

"So, all this can be attributed to the development of productivity."

“If the Ming Dynasty paid attention to the development of productivity, many problems could be easily solved.”

"In the future, cultivators will have their fields, residents will have their houses, and workers will have their industries... It is not impossible for the people to have food and clothing without worries." Zhu Biao murmured: "The cultivators... this is the world of great harmony. It's true. Can it be achieved?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was also a little yearning for it, but he soon came to his senses: "Young man, don't fool us. You also said it, it took thousands of years to develop like this."

"And most of these inventions are uncontrollable. Even if I, Ming, want to develop them, there is nothing I can do."

Chen Jingke sighed in his heart and asked: "Your Majesty, if you are not satisfied with the power of the artillery, what will you do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang replied casually: "Of course I want the Ordnance Bureau to think..."

Halfway through his words, he suddenly stopped.

Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao also woke up at the same time.

The Ordnance Bureau can develop more powerful artillery, and other yamen and craftsmen can naturally develop other better things.

Productivity can naturally be improved in the same way.

Only Zhu Xiongying scratched his head, wondering why Grandpa Huang suddenly stopped saying what he said.

But now everyone had no time to pay attention to him, they were all lost in their own thoughts.

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment and said, "This requires a large investment of money and food."

Chen Jingke said: "Yes, and investing money and food may not necessarily yield results."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and sighed: "With the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, we don't have the extra money and food to invest in it. Let's discuss this matter in the future."

Chen Jingke felt a little disappointed, but he didn't say any more.

Blindly pursuing scientific research is a waste of manpower and material resources and has no meaning.

Today is just a popular science for them to let them know the importance of productivity.

When the arithmetic circle grows in the future, he will slowly teach everyone some basic science knowledge.

Then produce some high-value results, such as glass.

Transparent glass and flat mirrors are rare treasures in this era, and they can make money as fast as opening a banknote printing factory.

Why doesn't he invent now, help Lao Zhu solve his dilemma, and earn wealth for himself at the same time?

It was true that the time was not ripe at first, but now I am waiting for an opportunity.

An opportunity for Zhu Yuanzhang to value science and scientific research.

Ma Xiuying praised: "Although the imperial court cannot take the initiative to study it for the time being, today Jing Ke has popularized a new knowledge for me..."

"It also found a unique way forward for Ming Dynasty."

"I always thought that I read more and knew as much as anyone else."

"Only when I compare with you will I realize that I am actually just like those scholars who like to talk nonsense. I only read dead books."

Zhu Biao also said with deep approval: "Yes, I have seen all the examples Jing Ke mentioned in books, but I have never thought of connecting them together..."

"It is said that reading history can tell the rise and fall of dynasties. We are also reading history, hoping to find the laws of the rise and fall of dynasties and extend the life of dynasties."

"...But Jing Ke is the only one in the world who can really read history."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, his expression showed deep recognition.

From the moment they met to the present, Chen Jingke has sorted out several lines for them in the history books.

Every line can bring them great inspiration and influence the formulation of subsequent national policies.

Some are already changing the national policy of the Ming Dynasty.

Chen Jingke had only been in the palace for less than half a year, and his influence on the Ming Dynasty had already exceeded that of most people except for those who contributed to the founding of the country.

If the current situation continues, he will definitely be the mainstay of Ming Dynasty in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became profound.

(End of this chapter)