The criticism has become more and more intense, and has even begun to reach the point of being hair-raising.

At this time, Zhang Anshi was sitting firmly on Diaoyutai.

His current thoughts are on agriculture.

Both Henan and Guanzhong have a large amount of farmland. Once the land is divided, the promotion of grain seeds and new agricultural tools will become the most important issue.

In this regard, Zhang Anshi had to turn to Deng Jian for help.

Deng Jian has opened an agricultural school in Taiping Prefecture.

In addition to recruiting more than 1,700 students, he is also responsible for research on his vast experimental field.

Deng Jian's current direction is mainly in two aspects. One is to improve improved varieties.

On the other hand, new crops from various places are cultivated.

He also studied crops from the West, Africa, India, China, America, and even crops from other climatic conditions in the Ming Dynasty that were brought by sea.

The theory of agriculture has not really spread in this era, but various experimental methods have made great progress under the leadership of Deng Jian.

The crops finally cultivated through different soils, different temperatures and different fertilizers have to be entered into data every day and then selected over and over again to select the best varieties, which has now become one of Deng Jian's main responsibilities.

To do this, you first need to have great endurance. After all...it is not easy for wealthy and knowledgeable people in this era to teach them to work with their crops with their faces facing the loess and their backs turned to the sky for many years.

In ancient times, scholars were intellectuals, and they would never bend over to do farm work.

In addition, an experimental field of this scale also requires a large investment of funds. Without continuous investment, this kind of systematic agricultural research cannot continue at all.

Fortunately, all these problems have been solved now. This agricultural school has recruited many scholars, but most of them are civilian children from Qixia. Those scholars who inherit poetry and calligraphy do not bother to study this, but these civilians trained through Taiping Mansion

Children, in fact, do not expect to be able to leap over the dragon gate, be the number one scholar in high school, or have any fame. What they hope for is that they can live a better life than their parents.

What's more, these people are originally from civilian backgrounds, and many of them are children of farmers. They already have common sense about farming, and they have also read books. It is easy to adapt to both theory and practice.

As for the funding issue, it was not Deng Jian's business to worry about. Taiping Prefecture usually allocated the most money and food to agricultural schools every year.

Therefore, over the years, Deng Jian has been breeding and selecting crops over and over again, and now he has begun to reap a lot of harvests.

Knowing that Zhang Anshi was coming, Deng Jian had been waiting at Minglun Hall early.

When Zhang Anshi arrived, Deng Jian smiled and said: "Drink tea first."

"There's no need to drink tea, Uncle Deng..." Zhang Anshi said, "I just want to ask for advice on grain cultivation."

Deng Jiandao: "This... has to be done step by step. Over in Henan, the Agricultural School has also purchased some land and planted some test fields. Henan and Guanzhong are two places suitable for growing wheat. Now... there are several varieties.

, one of which we think is the most suitable.”

Zhang Anshi said seriously: "I'd like to ask Uncle Deng for some advice. I don't know how many kilograms per mu can be."

Deng Jian did not hide anything, so he said: "The higher the yield in the wheat field, the better. Although high-yield wheat has been grown in the experimental fields, in the end when it was promoted, it was found that it could not be promoted."

Zhang Anshi said in astonishment: "Why is this?"

Deng Jiandao: "Due to insect pests and drought, the wheat fields in the North are most worried about this. No matter how high the yield is, if there are insect pests and drought, the harvest will still fail. And once the harvest fails, the livelihood of the year will be completely over.

For ordinary people, such risks are absolutely unacceptable."

After Zhang Anshi heard this, he immediately stood in awe.

This is professionalism!

In this era, various pesticides have not yet become popular, not to mention various severe drought factors. It is said that farmers depend on the weather for their livelihood. This is really true, because once a disaster occurs, there will be no harvest.

Deng Jian took a sip of tea and added: "Actually, whether the output increases is secondary, because an increase in output means a good year, and the price of grain will fall in a good year. So what the people value most is stability.

"

Zhang Anshi said: "I understand, what Uncle Deng means is not to pursue production?"

"No." Deng Jian shook his head and said, "Should we strive to maximize yields on the premise of disaster prevention, or should we focus on pest control and drought resistance. We only understood this when we promoted agricultural seeds in Zhili.

Therefore, I have been selecting wheat and rice seeds that are pest-resistant and drought-resistant. Now, I have selected several varieties. The yield is indeed not as high as some high-yielding grain varieties, but... the harvest is not bad, Anshi

Since we plan to make a difference in Henan and Guanzhong, we think these varieties are suitable."

Zhang Anshi said in a relaxed tone: "That's very good. With Uncle Deng's words, I can rest assured."

Deng Jian smiled and said, "You are always reckless, and we haven't finished talking yet."

Deng Jian's eyes were soft. In his eyes, no matter how old Zhang Anshi was, he was still the child he had raised since childhood.

So after a pause, Deng Jian continued patiently: "In addition to grain seeds, we also need irrigation methods, and various measures. Even for fertilization, there must be rules. Of course... new farm tools... are also very important.

These links are indispensable.”

Zhang Anshi said: "These are secondary matters. Anyway, I can leave it to Uncle Deng to start the business, so I can rest assured."

Deng Jian couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "There is no problem with manpower, it's just about money and food..."

Zhang Anshi showed a big smile and said: "This is easy to handle, I will give you as much as you want."

He, Zhang Anshi, lacks everything, the most indispensable thing is money!

After talking about the serious business, it was inevitable to talk about some casual things. After that, Zhang Anshi walked around the agricultural school and was very interested.

Time flies, and the end of the year is approaching in a blink of an eye. The weather is getting colder and colder, and people begin to go out as little as possible.

At the end of the new year, snow fell from the sky and the earth was completely white.

Zhang Anshi was wrapped in thick cotton clothes and rode a carriage to the East Palace.

First I met my brother-in-law who had returned from Henan, and then I went to meet my sister.

Crown Princess Zhang first complained that Zhang Anshi wore too little clothes when going out. Then she mentioned her son Zhu Zhanji.

The mother-in-law was still a little dissatisfied, so she said: "It's almost the Chinese New Year, and I don't want to come back from Hezhou. She said she has a lot of things to do. Alas..."

Seeing his sister's slightly frowning expression, Zhang Anshi softened his heart.

So he said: "How about I give an order right now and tell him to return to Beijing immediately? Sister, this boy has stiff wings and no filial piety at all. Unlike me, I always feel sorry for my sister."

Mrs. Zhang immediately shook her head and said: "Come on, it can't be like this! It's not a bad thing that Zhan Ji is focusing on this matter. He is at this age when he needs more experience. What's more, he is now responsible for the welfare of the people of the state and does his best.

I should be honest, I am just an ordinary mother's complaint, but as a mother and a princess, I know the priorities of things."

After a pause, she said with a bit of concern and a smile: "What is he busy with in Hezhou?"

Zhang Anshi said with a smile: "This... it's hard to say. I let him do it and left other things alone, lest he think I was dictating. In fact, it was also to sharpen his mind. If he really couldn't do it well, I would clean up his mess later.

"

Zhang said: "As long as he doesn't mess up things, it will be fine."

Zhang Anshi shook his head and said: "Sister, I am somewhat sure about this. Speaking of it, I am not only his uncle, but also his mentor. As the saying goes, famous teachers produce great disciples. I will point to him in the coming year.

The state...has become the best state in the world."

"The best state in the world..." Ms. Zhang opened her eyes slightly, with a look of surprise on her face.

She is not an ignorant woman, and she knows the situation in Hezhou... in the whole of Zhili, it is only mediocre, sparsely populated, not much fertile land, and has little to show for it, whether it is money, food or other things.

Zhu Zhanji was still young, how could he make Hezhou the best state in the world within less than a year of being in power?

So Zhang smiled and said: "You, don't brag about him. Although Zhanji has many good qualities, he doesn't have such ability."

Zhang Anshi laughed and said: "Sister, if you don't believe it, just wait and see."

Seeing Zhang Anshi's eagerness to swear, Mrs. Zhang still just smiled, but did not continue to ask.

But Zhang Anshi's words still caused ripples in Zhang's heart.

Who doesn't expect his son to be successful? Zhu Zhanji is the grandson of the emperor and will control the world in the future. If she really achieves any great political achievements, as a mother and concubine, she will be proud and proud, and finally she will not embarrass the Zhu family.

.

At that moment, Zhang Anshi had dinner with his sister and brother-in-law in the East Palace, having a good time, and returned at midnight.

…………

"His Majesty……"

At this time, in the Forbidden City.

Zhu Di put down the Spring and Autumn in his hand, raised his head and said, "What's wrong?"

Outside the hall, snowflakes were flying in the air, and the flying snowflakes were submerged into the darkness.

But in the warm spring-lit literary building, Yi Shiha stood cautiously, bowed slightly and said, "There are already some clues here in Dongchang."

"Eyebrows?" Zhu Di couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Your Majesty has forgotten." Yishuha said with a smile: "The chief messenger who deceives the public with his monstrous words."

When Zhu Di heard this, he suddenly became energetic.

More than half a year has passed since this incident, but Zhu Di has always been thinking about it.

It's a pity that Dongchang and Jinyiwei seem to be working hard to investigate. Seeing no movement for so many days, Zhu Di originally thought... this must be an unsolved case.

But what Zhu Di never expected was that he would now have a clue.

And it was Dongchang who tracked it down first.
To be continued...