Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Zhang Shikang was not a man who made promises easily, but now he had mentioned the word "three years" to his brother Chongzhen, to the generals of the Huben Army, and now he had to tell Bi Maokang and Song Yingxing as well.

This certainly did not mean that Zhang Shikang was getting cocky. He just wanted to boost the confidence of Song Yingxing and the others, letting them know that he was not joking or bragging, and that they would be right if they did as he said.

There is no way. Although the power he holds is great enough, he is still too young and has to instruct various real bigwigs in their original professions.

This is just like a little kid teaching an experienced fisherman how to fish. You have to convince the fisherman that if he listens to me, he can catch bigger and more fish.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Shikang took Emperor Chongzhen on a carriage back to the capital. Along the way, Zhang Shikang was still thinking about how to motivate the craftsmen.

But Emperor Chongzhen was holding a bag of various seeds, deep in thought. He was still thinking about the planting method that the old master had just taught him.

For example, the bundle of sweet potato vines. The old master said that all the sweet potatoes had been planted, and that sweet potatoes could be grown using sweet potato vines, so he cut a bundle for him from the sweet potato field.

Although the old master said that the vines would still survive even if they were planted two days later, Emperor Chongzhen did not believe it. He was worried that the vines would wilt and would not survive, so he was thinking to go back quickly and plant sweet potatoes when he had free time tomorrow.

"Your Majesty, I think I will have to have a meeting with Haizhong and the others tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Let's discuss the issue of improving the treatment of craftsmen. Do you think it would be feasible if we add science and engineering subjects to the imperial examinations?"

The traditional concept at that time not only did not care about clear calculations, but craftsmen were also at the bottom of the contempt chain.

But Zhang Shikang knew clearly that the development of science and technology was absolutely inseparable from various great inventors, and these so-called great inventors were actually various craftsmen.

Many achievements of the Industrial Revolution were invented and improved by European craftsmen in the course of their work.

Agriculture can feed the people, but it is difficult to make a country strong. Industry is the real weapon for a strong country.

Whether it is grading craftsmen or increasing their income, it seems to be giving craftsmen better treatment, but in fact there is still no good channel for advancement.

For example, they were responsible for building palaces, bridges, making various instruments, smelting and many other projects, but the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Works were all Jinshi graduates.

These Jinshi scholars are very familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, but if you ask them how to smelt steel, how to improve smelting technology, and how to increase the smelting temperature, they will probably be dumbfounded.

This is very unreasonable, but if the Ministry of Industry is full of various science and engineering gurus who are capable of chemical experiments, smelting and are proficient in mathematics, then it would be a different picture.

After Zhang Shikang finished speaking, he didn't hear any response from his brother Chongzhen, so he poked him with his elbow.

"Ah? Wuji, what did you say?"

Emperor Chongzhen was obviously thinking about other things and didn't even pay attention to Zhang Shikang's nagging.

"Your Majesty, how could you do this?

You are the ruler of a country, and I am discussing with you something important that will benefit the revival of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhang Shikang's face was full of black lines, and he repeated his words again.

This brother Chongzhen didn't like girls, nor did he like practicing calligraphy or other elegant hobbies. He was just focused on dealing with memorials that he would never finish.

Zhang Shikang felt that his body would not be able to bear such hardship sooner or later, so he hoped that this brother could find a hobby. But he didn't expect... after several days of hard work, this brother... was so interested in farming. He was really speechless.

"Oh, you're talking about this.

You can discuss it with Lord Hai and the others. If they have no objection, then you can give it a try.

I trust you."

Emperor Chongzhen was obviously not thinking about this.

Although adding new subjects to the imperial examination was not a trivial matter, if it had been proposed by other ministers, Emperor Chongzhen would certainly not have said so, after all, the imperial examination was a major national event.

But since this suggestion was made by Zhang Shikang, that is another matter.

Although Zhang Shikang is young, his reforms in the past two years are obvious to all, and each reform has been fruitful.

Of course, even if there is no effect, or even a bad effect, Emperor Chongzhen would not panic. Even though things were so chaotic before, this guy was able to put things right, so he was not worried.

If things aren't done well, just hold this guy accountable.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for not forgetting to entertain me despite your busy schedule." Zhang Shikang said with a pout.

But Emperor Chongzhen didn't even pay attention to him. His mind was full of the things that the old masters taught him to pay attention to when growing various fruits and vegetables.

When the carriage arrived at the imperial city, Emperor Chongzhen got off the carriage and reminded Wang Chengen to be careful not to damage the bag of seeds.

But he forgot to say goodbye to Zhang Shikang and seemed to remember it only after he took a few steps.

"Wuji, I will not go to Tianjin the day after tomorrow. Oh, you can bring the prince and Kunyi with you."

After saying this, Emperor Chongzhen walked into the palace without looking back.

Zhang Shikang was left smacking his lips, feeling that Brother Chongzhen had changed.

The two of them had originally agreed to go to Tianjin Satellite TV together to inspect the construction of the shipyard and military port.

When Zhang Shikang returned to the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion, it was already dark.

Coincidentally, as soon as Zhang Shikang entered the door, he saw his father coming back with his hands behind his back, and he seemed very happy.

Zhang Zhiji was followed by two servants, one of whom was holding fishing gear and the other was carrying a wooden barrel. Zhang Shikang tilted his head and took a look, and there were actually two fish in it.

"Dad, didn't you go for a walk around the street?" Zhang Shikang said with a smile.

His father had been unsuccessful for three days in a row, and today he caught two fish. No wonder he was so happy.

Sometimes a man's happiness is just that simple. The Duke's family is wealthy and can afford all kinds of fish. But no matter how expensive the fish is, it cannot compare to the precious fish he catches with great effort.

Zhang Shikang had seen fishermen catch big fish and carry them on their backs to show off.

"Is your father so superficial?" Zhang Zhiji spat in dissatisfaction, and then went to change his clothes. After that, he did not forget to ask the servant to send the two fish to the kitchen:

"One is steamed and the other is braised."

Zhang Shikang picked up the two fish and found that one was a carp and the other was also a carp.

Steamed carp, are you serious, Dad?

"Third Young Master, the master has been wandering around the street for more than an hour. If it wasn't dark, he would have wanted to go to the Taining Marquis's house!" A servant whispered to Zhang Shikang.

Zhang Shikang laughed out loud when he heard this, and then went to the backyard.

As soon as he arrived at the backyard, he saw the old housekeeper coming over with a wooden box.

"Third Young Master, there's something coming from Nanjing." As he said that, he handed over the box.

In Nanjing, all Zhang Shikang could think of were Chen Yuanyuan and the other maids.

Zhang Shikang returned to the house and opened the wooden box. On the top was an envelope. When he saw the words on it, he found that it was indeed a letter from Liu Rushi and the maids.

So Zhang Shikang sat at the table and opened the envelope.

"My dear, I am writing to you.

......"

……