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

Zhang Shikang's voice changed from calm to passionate. After his speech, there was a moment of silence in the square, followed by thunderous applause.

Mao Yuanyi wiped away tears, her face full of excitement.

He was the first senior craftsman to defect to the Xishan Camp. His only wish at that time was to rejoin the army and avenge his humiliation.

But Zhang Shikang told him that he had to make the turtledove-foot gun first.

After he made the banjiu-foot gun, Zhang Shikang said that he wanted to make the Rumi gun.

When the Rumi gun was successfully developed and began mass production, Zhang Shikang said that the matchlock gun was outdated and a musket with a volleying action should be developed.

Zhang Shikang also promised that military merits could be obtained for developing weapons.

So they did this for three years. By now, Mao Yuanyi was no longer Zhang Shikang and was clamoring to join the front line to fight.

Because Zhang Shikang did not deceive him, he was awarded the title of Krupp for his innovations in firearms, armor, and cold weapons, and received far greater rewards than fighting on the battlefield.

Mao Yuanyi also gradually realized that his strength was not in fighting and killing. Compared with killing enemies in the battlefield, his skills could not only improve the soldiers' defense and reduce the casualties of his own soldiers, but also expand the effect of killing the enemy.

This is Mao Yuanyi's mission.

Therefore, when Zhang Shikang recounted the small, dilapidated workshop in the military camp, Mao Yuanyi felt the same way.

Zhang Shikang waved his hand again, and when everyone around him quieted down, he continued:

"There's no need to elaborate on the three schools of land, sea, and science. I'll first answer your questions: what exactly does the Royal Academy of Sciences do? And whether it recruits students."

When this topic came up, the prospective students from the other three schools were fine, but the craftsmen from the General Manufacturing Bureau all pricked up their ears.

The treatment at the Royal General Manufacturing Bureau was good, which was also the basis for the General Manufacturing Bureau to become a holy place that craftsmen all over the world yearned for.

Then the higher authorities proposed to build a special academy of sciences, but did not specify what this academy would be for.

The higher-ups just said that the treatment at this new academy will be a step higher than that at the General Administration of Manufacturing.

From then on, the craftsmen of the General Administration of Manufacturing began to ask each other about the situation, and many of them also went to consult Song Yingxing and other senior executives of the General Administration of Manufacturing.

However, even Song Yingxing only knew the general situation of this academy of sciences, such as that it must be an institution dedicated to scientific research.

After all, the biggest function of the General Administration of Manufacturing is manufacturing. Although it also undertakes some research and development functions, it is not its main business after all.

The Academy of Sciences just made up for this, but because Zhang Shikang did not reveal too much information, he was busy fighting everywhere for various reasons.

As a result, Song Yingxing and others actually did not understand how Zhang Shikang planned to establish this so-called Royal Academy of Sciences.

“First of all, as the name suggests, the Academy of Sciences naturally takes scientific research as its ultimate goal.

Developing the latest muskets, innovating artillery, and developing new warships all fall within the scope of the Academy of Sciences, but they are only part of it.

In addition to military research, the Academy's research and development directions will also include civilian fields and some non-profit but meaningful scientific research projects.

How should I put it? For example, theoretical research in astronomy, geography, biology, etc.

After all, Zhang Shikang is the successor of nine-year compulsory education, and he knows that in the field of scientific research, it can be roughly divided into theoretical research and applied practice.

For example, Academician Qian Xuesen belongs to the latter, and he can develop national advanced equipment based on physical theories.

Professor Yang Zhenning belongs to the former. Compared with the latter, theoretical research cannot directly produce economic benefits, and requires more massive funds and advanced technical support.

This means that if the country does not focus on supporting it, progress in theoretical research will be slow. This has been the case in later generations and is also the case in the Ming Dynasty today.

After all, this thing does not generate any economic income, but scientists also need to eat and support their families.

For example, people who are interested in animals and plants and devote themselves to research, as far as the current situation in the Ming Dynasty is concerned, if these people do not have the endorsement and support of the court, they will only be regarded as having strange and cunning skills and not doing their job properly.

But whether they are zoologists, botanists, geologists or historians, they all play a significant role in the entire society.

To study the evolution process of animals and classify them into categories, the Ming Dynasty also needs a Darwin. This is the meaning.

Studying geology allows us to understand the past and present of the Earth through geology. Only by knowing where we come from can we know where we are going. This is also the meaning of the matter.

This process is long and arduous. Without the support of the court, individual power is destined to be insignificant.

But even though Zhang Shikang tried very hard to explain, people at that time had no concrete concept at all, and many people still didn't quite understand it.

So Zhang Shikang changed his words and continued:

"In short, the Academy of Sciences will establish numerous research projects in the future, and each of these projects will be evaluated by this king, Mr. Song, and other leading figures.

Once the assessment is successful, the project can be officially launched for research, and the court will allocate sufficient funds for these projects.

The project leader can appoint a deputy or recruit outstanding disciples from the General Administration of Manufacturing or the Polytechnic University.

Once the project is completed, the project initiator can receive a minimum reward of 100,000 taels, as well as rewards including but not limited to promotions and advancement to higher ranks.”

To put it simply, it is a model in which doctoral supervisors lead projects and select outstanding talents from various schools, leading the projects while passing on the knowledge.

When it comes to money, most people nodded in agreement, but someone immediately raised a new question.

"Your Highness, I still don't understand. What are the so-called project items? Is there a specific direction to choose from?"

"Good question!" Zhang Shikang smiled at the craftsman.

This is actually a very good question. Today's Ming Dynasty craftsmen basically create and produce products step by step.

Few craftsmen would come up with the idea of ​​innovating their current skills, or even develop new firearms or new technologies.

After all, I have not received much education and I don’t have the ability to think divergently.

After Zhang Shikang finished speaking, he took a large book from a guard behind him.

The book was quite thick, at least an inch. Zhang Shikang carefully showed the book to the people around him.

In the sunlight, four large characters were written in neat regular script on the cover of the book.

Book of Answers.

……