Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 257 The Rise of the Fushe Society and Unfounded Criticism of the Court (Part 2)

The fourth year of the Chongzhen reign was another year for the imperial examinations.

The importance of this imperial examination to scholars is beyond doubt; it can be said that scholars rely on this to get ahead in life.

It is easy to imagine how much importance scholars attached to the imperial examinations.

Even before the New Year celebrations were over, many candidates for the imperial examinations had already arrived in the capital. After the New Year celebrations, the capital was filled with scholars and poets, and candidates gathered to take the exams. Everywhere you looked, there were people studying.

Zhu Jue didn't even bother to glance at it; he was currently focused on helping his two brothers-in-law develop their pharmaceutical businesses.

It's not difficult for the pharmaceutical industry in the Ming Dynasty to develop; there are readily available medical theories and experienced doctors. The key issue is the lack of ready-made medicines.

As the saying goes, even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. Without prepared medicines, and even with very few medicinal materials, it's naturally impossible to develop the pharmaceutical industry.

Therefore, the first step is to find a place to build a pharmaceutical factory.

Pharmaceutical factories don't need a large space; the key is that the environment needs to be good.

After all, medicine is meant to be ingested and used to treat illnesses; it wouldn't be good if it contained other substances.

Pharmaceutical factories definitely cannot be built near steel mills, foundries, or porcelain factories where there is a lot of coal smoke, nor can they be near cement plants or rubber factories.

With this exclusion in mind, there aren't many suitable places left in the capital to build a pharmaceutical factory.

In addition, the capital city has been developed to a considerable extent, making it difficult to find thousands of acres of vacant land to build a pharmaceutical factory.

After much deliberation, he decided to build the pharmaceutical factory on the site of the Wanshou Palace!

The Wanshou Palace was originally the Yan Prince's temporary palace, and it already occupies a large area, which is more than enough to build a pharmaceutical factory, at least for the early research and development and even small-batch production.

Crucially, the pharmacy acquired by Zhou Jian and Zhou Xuan was located right in Xi'anmen, less than a mile from the Wanshou Palace ruins.

Perfect timing! He was too lazy to come up with a name for the medicine, so he just named it Wanshou Pharmaceutical.

Building a pharmaceutical factory covering more than a thousand acres is incredibly easy for them right now. They can simply hire a few thousand craftsmen and it will be completed before spring.

However, obtaining enough medicinal materials to make medicine is not so simple.

These medicinal herbs take time to grow; it takes at least a year from planting to harvest.

He needs to hurry up and promote the cultivation of medicinal herbs.

Since Xu Guangqi is not currently in the Ming Dynasty, he can only recruit Guan Shaoning, Xu Guangqi's prized disciple.

Guan Shaoning was originally in charge of promoting the planting of mulberry and tea trees in Sichuan and Chongqing. He never expected that he would suddenly receive an imperial edict ordering him to return to the capital to preside over the imperial examination.

After receiving the imperial edict, he immediately made all the necessary arrangements and rushed back.

However, Sichuan and Chongqing are quite far from the capital, and the north was still covered in ice and snow at this time. It took several days for the imperial edict to be delivered, and by the time he got back to the capital, it was already the end of January.

Upon returning to the capital, he was naturally astonished by the horse-drawn railcars that were everywhere.

However, he was only shocked and did not investigate further. He still had to preside over the imperial examination, which was at the end of January and would begin in less than half a month.

The next morning around 7 a.m., he rushed to Yuxi Palace to request an audience.

Upon seeing him arrive, Zhu Jue immediately ordered people to gather the relevant individuals for discussion.

There are quite a few people involved. The emperor's brother-in-law Zhou Jian and Zhou Xuan must come, as well as Yuan You, Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang, Bi Maoliang, and others.

Fortunately, he had heard yesterday that Guan Shaoning had arrived, so he had Yuan You, Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang, and Bi Maoliang all come to Yangxin Hall to stay, so they didn't have to wait long.

However, after everyone had arrived, he did not immediately begin the discussion; instead, he started chatting with everyone.

Everyone was puzzled. His Majesty was known for his decisive and efficient work, so why was he chatting with them about everyday matters?

Not long after, an official from the outer court, dressed in a red robe, strode in, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

This left everyone even more astonished.

His Majesty even summoned officials from the outer court for a meeting!

This is truly the first time.

Zhu Jue raised his hand and introduced, "Li Shuchu, courtesy name Ketian, was a Jinshi in the Jiwei year of the Wanli reign (1619). He served as a principal clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue, and is currently a minister in the Ministry of Revenue."

Uh, a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue?

Although everyone was puzzled, they quickly got up and exchanged pleasantries politely.

Li Shuchu was also somewhat puzzled. Didn't His Majesty rarely receive officials from outside the court?
He had no idea why His Majesty had summoned him.

Zhu Jue said kindly, "Everyone, please sit down. Ke Tian, ​​you sit down too."

What exactly is this for?
After everyone had sat down, Zhu Jue asked, "Ke Tian, ​​are you familiar with the Compendium of Materia Medica?"

I certainly wouldn't say I'm not familiar with this person.

Li Shuchu said solemnly, "I dare not forget the family's teachings. I have been studying them under my father's guidance since I was a child. I dare not say that I can recite them fluently, but I can only say that I have them engraved in my heart."

Family-inherited knowledge?

This is the grandson of Li Shizhen, the Sage of Medicine!
Everyone finally understood.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and then asked, "Can you cultivate all the herbs listed in the Compendium of Materia Medica?"

How do you say this?

Li Shuchu thought carefully for a moment before cautiously saying, "My father was a physician and owned many medicinal herb fields. I have been growing many medicinal herbs with him since I was a child. I dare not say that I know how to grow all the herbs listed in the Compendium of Materia Medica, but I do know how to grow the commonly used ones."

Indeed, many things become simple once you find the right person.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then solemnly said, "Guest Emperor, I plan to cultivate a large number of medicinal herbs and then mass-produce finished medicines so that ordinary people can buy medicine for themselves when they get common diseases, and minimize their suffering from illnesses."

This cultivation of medicinal herbs requires a specialist. How about we transfer you to the inner court and appoint you as the Right Vice Minister of Agriculture, specifically in charge of medicinal herb cultivation?

Uh, he's been promoted to Vice Minister right away?

The Inner Court Vice Minister is a third-rank official.

The key is that he's doing what he's best at.

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchu nodded repeatedly and said, "This humble subject could not have asked for more, and I thank Your Majesty for your grace."

Yes, not bad, without the slightest hesitation.

This proves that you truly love this profession.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and then explained in detail: "Right now, Youcheng is promoting the planting of mulberry trees and tea in Huguang and Bashu. You should discuss in the next few days how to also promote the planting of medicinal herbs in Huguang and Bashu."

After the provincial and palace examinations, you will go to Huguang and Bashu to promote the cultivation of medicinal herbs. This year, it is best to achieve a yield of over one million catties for all kinds of commonly used medicinal herbs, and next year, it is best to achieve a yield of over ten million catties for all kinds of commonly used medicinal herbs.

So, is there any problem?
If you have any problems, please feel free to raise them, and I will try my best to solve them for you.

Uh, these are often in the millions or even tens of millions of kilograms?
Upon hearing this, Li Shuchu thought for a moment before cautiously saying, "Your Majesty, I dare to say that the herbs we commonly use are not just a few, but dozens or even hundreds of kinds."

If the yield of this one herb is over a million catties, then it would require thousands or tens of thousands of acres of land. Commonly used herbs all yield over a million catties, so that would require at least hundreds of thousands of acres of land. If they all yield tens of millions of catties, then that would require at least several million acres of land.

Are you worried about not having enough land to grow herbs?

Zhu Jue pondered, “You can first organize manpower in Huguang and Bashu to reclaim wasteland. No matter where the land is, as long as it is wasteland, you just need to organize manpower to reclaim it. In this way, it should not be a problem to gather hundreds of thousands of acres of land.”

As for the millions of acres of land to follow, I will find a way for you in the two capitals and thirteen provinces. In short, you don't need to worry about the land issue. I guarantee you will have enough land. You just need to focus on growing medicinal herbs. Any other questions?"

This herb is not just needed.

Li Shuchu cautiously added, "Your Majesty, there is also the issue of fertilizer. I might be able to find a way to solve the fertilizer problem for hundreds of thousands of acres, but I'm afraid I have no way to solve it for millions of acres."

Fertilizer is even less of a concern.

Zhu Jue replied without hesitation, "You don't know yet, do you? Right now, we're manufacturing fertilizer in large quantities over in the Americas. Don't worry, I can solve the fertilizer problem for you, not just for millions of acres, but for tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of acres."

There's plenty of fertilizer.

Li Shuchu nodded repeatedly and said, "Then there's no problem."

The herbs are fine; the next step is to develop the finished medicine.

The development of finished drugs is not actually that difficult. It mainly involves processes such as decoction, stirring, drying, and pulverizing, all of which can be accomplished with specialized equipment.

Developing such a simple device was a piece of cake for Song Yingxing; he only needed to give him a few pointers.

After everyone finished discussing, Zhu Jue immediately waved his hand and got to work.

This is how the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Daming began.

(End of this chapter)