Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 58: Another Memorial? Mathematics is the Foundation of Science [Seeking Follow-up Reading]

"As you said, the more steel produced, the better. However, we still have a question - there should be a limit to the amount of iron ore underground, right? If we mine too much and use up all the iron ore in the Ming Dynasty, what will happen to future generations?"

Liu Kuan was slightly surprised when he heard what Zhu Yuanzhang said.

I thought to myself, Old Zhu has a long-term vision.

However, as a founding monarch who was able to create a feudal dynasty that lasted for two or three hundred years, his vision could not be short-sighted.

Unless you lack sufficient knowledge in a certain area, such as economics...

After coming to his senses, Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty's concerns are indeed reasonable. That's why powerful countries in later generations have opened mines in other countries, smelted copper, iron and other minerals into basic materials, and then brought them back to their own countries for use."

"Or they could simply build various factories in other countries. Well, in other words, large-scale workshops. They should use the cheap manpower and material resources of other countries to produce goods and then sell them at high prices in their own country and neighboring countries, thereby making a huge fortune."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang widened his eyes again, obviously surprised again.

Then he sighed, "Mining other countries' mines, using their manpower and material resources, and then selling the products to that country at a high price, this future powerful country is truly treacherous. But how could the country whose mines are being mined be willing to do that?"

Liu Kuan smiled helplessly and explained, "Some things can only be produced by powerful countries because they have the technology. Most poor countries cannot produce them."

"Or even if they are manufactured, due to technical problems, they are not as good as others and the cost is higher, so it is better to buy the same products made in powerful countries at a higher price."

"Furthermore, for some very poor and weak countries, having a powerful country build a factory would actually help their people find jobs and earn money to support their families, and the factory would also pay taxes. It's a kind of mutually beneficial situation that is forced upon them."

"Later generations will call such countries resource-exporting nations. While this type of development model may be fine in the early stages, it will inevitably be plagued by drawbacks in the middle and later stages, and it will be impossible for them to develop into powerful nations."

"If a country wants to become a strong nation, it must develop science and technology, master the world's cutting-edge technology and weapons, and even possess the world's only high-tech!"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment after hearing this and said, "It seems that the competition among powerful nations in the future will be a competition between science and technology, and the sooner it develops, the better."

"Speaking of which, I now truly understand the importance of science and technology. However, how should our Ming Dynasty develop science and technology right now?"

Over the past few days, Liu Kuan has actually thought a lot about how the Ming Dynasty should develop science and technology.

Upon hearing this, he said, "If the Ming Dynasty wants to develop science and technology, it must start with education. Ever since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty abolished all schools of thought and promoted Confucianism alone, Chinese scholarship and education have actually gone astray."

"Especially during the Song Dynasty, with the prevalence of the imperial examination system, academics placed a greater emphasis on studying Confucian classics."

"Historically, after Your Majesty reopened the imperial examinations in the 15th year of the Hongwu reign, he mandated that Confucian scholars write in the eight-part essay format. This situation became even more extreme, and Chinese scholarship reached a complete dead end, making it difficult for it to intersect with science."

At this point, Liu Kuan noticed that Lao Zhu's face turned ugly, so he made a big turn.

"However, now that Your Majesty understands the importance of science and technology, and the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations have not yet been reopened, this is a golden opportunity for Your Majesty to correct the shortcomings that have plagued China since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established Confucianism as the only official ideology."

Perhaps Liu Kuan's turn of phrase was a bit abrupt, and Old Zhu was a little impatient. "Don't say these general words anymore. Just tell us what to do specifically... Well, you can go down and write a relevant memorial."

Write another memorial?

Liu Kuan felt overwhelmed.

Small topics like "Suggesting the opening of a cross-river bridge", "Reform of the ironworks", and "Methods for manufacturing telescopes" are fine. He doesn't need to think too much and just needs to write down what he knows and thinks.

However, for major topics involving the entire country, such as "Reform of the Six Ministries" and "How the Ming Dynasty Developed Science and Technology", he had to consider many aspects and write very carefully.

In his opinion, the difficulty is almost as great as writing a graduation thesis.

So he bit the bullet and said, "Your Majesty, I haven't finished writing the memorial on the reform of the six ministries yet. I'm getting married in a few days and I'm also responsible for building trains. Can I put off writing the memorial on the development of science and technology for now?"

Old Zhu said, "If we don't write a memorial, are we going to just say whatever comes to mind, as you did just now? How can we form a system? And how can we convince others?"

"But you do have a lot on your shoulders right now. We can allow you to write this memorial after you get married, but you can't not write it."

"With all this extra work, Lao Zhu, why don't you give me a raise?" "Why are you like some bosses in later generations, just asking me to work more but never mentioning a raise?"

Liu Kuan couldn't help but secretly complain a few words, and then said with a hint of helplessness: "I understand."

Then he felt that it was too easy for Old Zhu to let him do all the work.

It would be better to let Lao Zhu do some simple preparatory work for the development of science and technology.

He then said, "Your Majesty, in order to develop science, we must first develop mathematics. As later generations have said, mathematics is the foundation of science."

"I'm afraid it will take quite some time for me to write this memorial on the development of science and technology."

"Your Majesty, please first order the collection of all books related to mathematics and arithmetic, and gather those who are proficient in or interested in mathematics from all over the world to organize and summarize these books, so as to understand the current development of mathematics in the Ming Dynasty."

"In addition, mathematics can be added to all official schools and imperial academies throughout the country and listed as a compulsory subject in the examinations."

"Developing science and technology is not something that can be done overnight. Without the foundation of mathematics, it will only take longer. Therefore, it is necessary to attach importance to mathematics in advance."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded after hearing this. "Mathematics is the foundation of science? Well, I know about this and will ask someone to do it."

After talking for so long, Liu Kuan's mouth was dry.

Considering that he had finished what he needed to report, he said, "Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

Zhu Yuanzhang knew that if he wanted to talk to Liu Kuan about future generations, he could go on and on - after all, it was six hundred years away from the future, and there would be earth-shaking changes in the future, so there didn't need to be too much to talk about.

Liu Kuan wanted to go back and rest, as he also had government affairs to deal with, so it was impossible for him to continue chatting like this.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said, "Okay, go down... By the way, tomorrow is Huilan's birthday, don't forget."

Liu Kuan didn't expect that Old Zhu would remind him of Zhu Huilan's birthday.

Well, it might also be that Queen Ma asked him to remind her.

After all, Mr. Zhu has so many children, it is unlikely that he can remember the birthdays of every one of them.

In any case, this shows that Mr. Zhu attaches great importance to his marriage with Zhu Huilan.

He replied, "I understand. This is the reason I returned to the capital."

Old Zhu nodded, "It's good that you know what's going on."

At this point, the casual conversation between the emperor and his ministers finally came to an end.

Liu Kuan walked out of the Forbidden City and began to think about Zhu Huilan's birthday tomorrow.

If this happened in the future, he would definitely invite his fiancée to a big meal or a candlelight dinner, give her flowers and birthday gifts, and then take a day off to play with her.

Although his fiancée is now the third princess of the Ming Dynasty, he only needs to give her a birthday present.

"I wonder if I can meet her tomorrow to give her a gift? With the wedding so close, I'm afraid it's unlikely."

　Please collect, read and vote.

　　[The chapter was reviewed again. There was a plot about mobile phones and chips in the middle, about 400 to 500 words. It didn’t pass the review and had to be deleted.]

　　Sorry for the late update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)