The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 518 Obsessed with Moral Natural Life
Li Zhizao was still a little confused at this moment.

Bi Maokang and Wang Zhengna both followed Yongnian Earl Wang Weixue to make and process equipment and muskets and artillery.

Xu Guangqi and Wang Xiangjin also began to experiment with growing various crops in the Baihe River Valley.

He ran around with everyone but had nothing to do.

What on earth did His Majesty bring him here for?

Wanli did not explain this.

Wanli took him directly into the Miyun Palace and into the lobby of the former county government office.

This time Li Zhizao was no longer confused.

His eyes immediately lit up when he saw the map hanging on the wall.

There are so many maps here!
Seeing his expression, Wanli couldn't help but smile and said, "Zhenzhi, what do you think of these maps?"

You have to look closely to find out.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao immediately moved closer to the map and took a closer look, just like a cat seeing a fish.

However, a hint of doubt soon appeared on his face.

There seems to be something wrong with these maps.

He stretched out his hand and roughly measured a few maps with his fingers. Then he couldn't help but shake his head and sighed, "These maps really open my eyes. Especially this map of North America and such a large world map. These are the first time I have seen them.

However, these maps are not very accurate; some appear to have been drawn casually, and the locations of mountains, rivers, and streams are probably off by hundreds or even thousands of miles.

Can you see that?
That’s right, some places on the map were just drawn by me based on my impressions!
Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "If you were asked to draw these maps, how accurate could you be? Within a hundred miles, within ten miles, or even within one mile?"

Shall I draw?
Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao asked with great interest, "Your Majesty, can we compare this with other maps?"

This is not a map of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty. There are not so many different versions.

Wanli shook his head slightly and said, "These maps were gradually revised. Other maps are not as good as these. There is no way to compare them."

Alas, what a pity.

Li Zhizao shook his head slightly and sighed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have never been to these places, let alone measured them. Without a large number of maps for comparison, I really cannot draw an accurate map."

You mean we have to go and measure it on site, right?
Wanli said without hesitation: "No problem, I can send a navy ship to take you there, you can go wherever you want.

I can send naval ships to take you to the East, West, North America, South America, and even the European continent.

We must have an accurate world map, otherwise, the map can only be put here for viewing and cannot be used as a nautical chart.

As the saying goes, a small mistake can lead to a big error. Last time, the navy ships used the map of the former Nurgan Regional Military Commission and took a detour via Heilongjiang to Songhua River, but they ended up in the wrong place.

They were just exploring the route, so if they went to the wrong place, it wouldn't have much of an impact. But if they were to reinforce during a war, going hundreds or thousands of miles off the track would very likely lead to the defeat of the war."

Can navy ships take me anywhere?
That would be great!
Li Zhizao couldn't help but rub his hands together, then said carefully, "Your Majesty, before we set off, I want to make something. Is that possible?"

Can you also make equipment?
Upon hearing this, Wanli couldn't help but ask curiously, "What do you want to make?"

How do you say this?

If it's easy to say, I'll just say it.

Li Zhizao thought about it carefully, then explained: "What I want to make is something for measuring.

The tools used for surveying nowadays are nothing more than a walking bow, a noose, a measuring cart, etc. These are all used to measure fields. It is easy to measure a few miles in radius, and it does not take much time to measure.

However, if you want to draw an accurate world map, these things will definitely not work.

I have thought about improving the measuring cart and building a measuring carriage.

However, I have never been able to find skilled craftsmen to help me, nor do I have the financial resources to do it.

Today, I saw so many workshops in the Mountain Resort and wondered if I could make a measuring carriage here.

Your Majesty, I wonder if you could allocate a few skilled craftsmen and some materials to me. If possible, I would also like to make a measuring boat.

This way we can also measure the distance traveled and draw maps more accurately."

What you want are just small things. Such good things should naturally be made.

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "No problem. Whatever kind of person or material you want, just go and ask the father-in-law for it."

That would be great.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao said impatiently, "Your Majesty, I would like to go and see the Emperor's father-in-law right now. Is that possible?"

Those who have expertise in a certain field are like this. They are like possessed by things related to their expertise.

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "Well, go ahead."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao immediately bowed and took his leave, then ran out of the door.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun was about to ask something, but Wang Xiangjin actually came quickly to ask for a meeting.

Seeing this, Wanli couldn't help but ask curiously, "Zijin, is there any problem?"

Li Fang seemed to say that you also have some knowledge about fertilizers, so I will just be frank with you.

Wang Xiangjin explained in detail, "Your Majesty, I, Zixian, and Li Huatou have discussed this and we think we can try to find a way to improve fertilizers to increase the yield of sweet potatoes and potatoes.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes are root vegetables, so to grow strong roots, you should generally apply more bone meal and wood ash as a base fertilizer. Li Huatou had tried wood ash, but it didn't seem to help much, so we all thought we should try applying a lot of bone meal.

The problem is that bone meal is not a commonly used fertilizer and is not sold on the market. The bone meal that Li Huatou prepared for himself had long been used up in the herb field.

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask you to send me a large amount of bones. Could you please send me more?"

bone meal?

Phosphorescence!

Bone meal should be considered a natural phosphorus fertilizer.

Who would grind large quantities of bones into powder these days?
It seems that the gardener Li Fang also wanted bone meal last time. He asked the people in Hetao to keep the bones when they slaughtered cattle and sheep for food and send them to him in bulk.

However, this may not be enough. Sweet potatoes and potatoes are indeed rhizomes. If they are planted in large quantities, a lot of bone meal will be needed.

Wanli thought for a moment, then asked, "You think that applying a large amount of bone meal to sweet potatoes and potatoes will increase their yield, right?"

This cannot be said.

Wang Xiangjin pondered and said, "I have tried growing carrots and applying bone meal.

However, applying bone meal alone is not very useful. Bone meal seems to only make carrots have the potential to grow bigger.

If you really want the carrots to grow bigger, you'll have to apply other fertilizers later. Bone meal seems to only be used as a base fertilizer, and it's best to apply it at sowing time."

Are you so knowledgeable about fertilizers?

In fact, the output of wheat and rice in later generations was much more than it is now.

As for the reasons, variety may be only one aspect, and fertilizer is probably another aspect.

Wanli nodded slightly, then said solemnly: "Zi Jin, fertilizer is actually very important. If we can produce enough fertilizer to significantly increase the yield of wheat and rice, it will be more effective than clearing wasteland and planting crops.

How about this? You develop various fertilizers specifically for fruits, vegetables, wheat, rice, corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Then we can build a workshop and produce fertilizers in large quantities."

This makes a lot of sense.

Wang Xiangjin nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty is wise. I will definitely try my best to develop more fertilizers."

Yes, Not Bad.

Wanli nodded slightly, and then pondered: "There are a lot of swamps in the northeast of Changbai Mountain. If we want to open up wasteland and cultivate land there, we have to dig out all the silt in the swamp.

Silt is also a kind of fertilizer, right? When the time comes, we can build a workshop there and produce a lot of fertilizer."

His Majesty really understands fertilizers.

However, making fertilizer is a matter for the future. Now we need bone meal.

Wang Xiangjin nodded, then asked carefully, "Your Majesty, do you see this bone powder?"

Bone meal is also made.

Wanli pondered, "If you're just trying to plant some seeds, you shouldn't need a lot of bone meal, right?"

This trial planting naturally does not require too much.

Wang Xiangjin nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, we only need about a thousand kilograms of bone meal now.

However, if sweet potatoes and potatoes start to be grown in large quantities in the future, bone meal will probably require at least tens of millions of kilograms per year.”

This is not a big problem.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Well, I can order the Beijing Xingdusi to collect a few carts of sheep and cattle bones and send them to you.

As for the future, we can use fish bones to make bone meal in large quantities. Once we have more large fishing boats, we can easily produce hundreds of millions of pounds of bone meal a year, not to mention tens of millions of pounds."

That would be great.

Wang Xiangjin bowed repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I will go and think of other fertilizers. I will take my leave."

After saying that, he took a few steps back and walked out the door, then ran away like Li Zhizao.

These guys!

Why did they all run away?

Little Zhu Changxun looked at Wang Xiangjin's back and couldn't help asking, "Father, why are they so anxious?"

This is called obsession. People who are obsessed with certain fields are like this.

What makes them so obsessed?

What probably fascinates them is Tao, the Tao in certain areas.

This Tao can be said to be a truth or a principle.

The eight sections of "The Great Learning" are to investigate things, to seek knowledge, to be sincere, to rectify the mind, to cultivate the person, to regulate the family, to govern the state, and to bring peace to the world.

At this moment, he seemed to have completely understood everything.

Wanli murmured, "Be obsessed with the Tao, and virtue will naturally arise. A pure heart is a blessing to the family and the country."

(End of this chapter)