Chapter 359: Taiwan

Wen Kan's stance was very clear: major temple affairs would still be decided by the two senior officials, and if there was any business requiring contact with other ministries or the Grand Secretariat, that could be left to him.

"Weiqing, Changgeng, although I have been appointed to oversee the affairs of the Court of Agriculture, the weight of state affairs makes it difficult for me to be present on a daily basis. It would be more appropriate for the two of you to shoulder the daily operations. I have gathered you here today precisely to consult together on how to commence the court's work as quickly as possible, striving to achieve results at the earliest opportunity to honor His Majesty! Weiqing, why don't you speak first?"

"Since the Chief Grand Secretary has commanded it, this humble official shall offer a modest brick to attract jade. If there are any improprieties, I humbly request the Chief Grand Secretary and my two colleagues to offer corrections!"

Yan Junshan said with a smile, cupping his hands in salute.

"In accordance with the imperial edict, and to embody His Majesty's intent, this humble official spent several days reviewing the archives of the former Song dynasty's Court of Agriculture, and has resolved to establish under the court the Taicang Bureau, the Agriculture and Forestry Bureau, the Animal Husbandry Bureau, and the Fisheries Inspectorate. Each bureau shall be headed by a Director of the sixth grade and Assistant Directors of the eighth grade, while the inspectorate shall have a Superintendent of the seventh grade and a Deputy Superintendent of the eighth grade. The clerks and officials under each bureau and inspectorate shall be drawn from the Ministry of Revenue and the various county and prefectural offices under Shuntian Prefecture!"

Establishing a new department requires preparing a great many things. The selection of officials, the recruitment of clerks and secretaries, and the hiring of relevant technical personnel alone would consume considerable time and energy—this was the main reason Zhu Youjian had not placed Song Yingxing in the position of Left Vice Director.

Were it not for a capable minister skilled in bureaucratic affairs like Yan Junshan handling matters, Song Yingxing, who only knew how to bury his head in hard work, would never have been able to cope with all these trivial details.

"Weiqing has done well, and I will naturally report this to higher authorities! However, in my view, the matter of arranging the court's internal structure can proceed at a more measured pace. I believe the most urgent task is to take advantage of the winter lull for the Court of Agriculture to produce a practical and feasible plan, striving to show tangible results by next year—only then will His Majesty and the court regard this office with fresh eyes!"

Wen Tiren decisively cut off Yan Junshan's exposition regarding the planning and layout of the Court of Agriculture, speaking his own thoughts openly and frankly.

In his view, the offices and bureaus could be established gradually, increased or decreased according to actual circumstances—but letting the Emperor see results from the Court of Agriculture as quickly as possible was what truly mattered.

The Emperor would not care how many bureaus you had established or how many hands you had recruited. What the Emperor cared most about was what concrete benefits your Court of Agriculture could bring to the agriculture of the Great Ming.

Although Yan Junshan was highly capable, he had never served in a principal position before, and so lacked strategic thinking and vision for the future of the entire Court of Agriculture. As a result, he had been busy with the construction and arrangement of the court's framework, overlooking Zhu Youjian's original intention in establishing it.

Wen Tiren's words brought Yan Junshan to his senses, and he immediately realized that his approach had clearly been to grasp the branches while neglecting the roots.

"The Chief Grand Secretary truly sees far and wide, striking the crux of the matter in a single phrase! This humble official's deliberations were indeed incomplete—I failed to grasp His Majesty's intent in establishing this court, and I am deeply ashamed! Might the Chief Grand Secretary have any plans he would be willing to impart to this humble official?"

Yan Junshan's words were not flattery—they were genuinely heartfelt.

Whatever the outside world thought of Wen Tiren, those few sentences alone showed that the man had not reached the position of Chief Grand Secretary merely through imperial favor, but possessed a mind beyond the reach of ordinary men and an accurate judgment of affairs.

"I would hardly call it imparting wisdom—what I have to say came to me only by chance. Weiqing was known as a capable official in the Ministry of Revenue, but your perspective has yet to break free of old conventions! Yesterday, while conversing with Zhenyu on official matters, he offered some modest views on the court's affairs. He said: if this court is to establish its foundation, the most essential thing is to increase per-mu yields. Should that prove effective, it could be called an achievement for the ages!"

Wen Tiren first expressed his understanding of Yan Junshan's diligence in official matters, then smoothly brought Wen Kan forward.

"What Director Wen says is most reasonable! This strategy is truly the very foundation of the Court of Agriculture! This humble official believes we may begin work on it immediately!"

Song Yingxing, who had remained silent throughout, brightened at once and spoke up in approval.

"Indeed, indeed! Brother Wen has hit the mark with a single phrase! If this court can develop a set of methods to increase per-mu yields and spread them throughout the territory of the Great Ming, then from the Chief Grand Secretary on down, our names shall be remembered! Should this plan succeed, Brother Wen shall claim the foremost merit!"

"Hehe, as the saying goes, even a fool may occasionally have a good idea. The two of you must not overpraise Zhenyu. Let us conclude today's deliberations here! Once you return to your offices, immediately draft a joint proposal and send it to the Grand Secretariat. I will personally present it before His Majesty to seek the imperial decision!"

Two days later, Wen Tiren entered the palace bearing a memorial jointly signed by Yan Junshan, Song Yingxing, and Wen Kan, requesting an audience.

"This plan is excellent! I never imagined the Court of Agriculture would possess such ambition! Before the offices have even been fully established, you present such a fine proposal! It is clear that from Minister Wen on down, everyone in the Court of Agriculture has been diligent in their duties! My heart is greatly comforted! Companion, take this to the Directorate of Ceremonial for red endorsement and sealing, and have it delivered for implementation!"

In the warm-as-spring Eastern Warm Chamber, Zhu Youjian gave the order with a face full of delight.

Although he had established the Court of Agriculture out of regard for agriculture, Zhu Youjian, who had only a superficial understanding of farming, did not know how to increase grain yields per mu. As for how the information he had brought from later generations—things like deep plowing and fine cultivation—should actually be implemented, he was completely in the dark.

The memorial submitted by the Court of Agriculture, however, provided clear and detailed answers: how deep to plow, thinning spring seedlings, how to apply manure fertilizer, crop rotation in the fields, how many days between waterings, and so forth.

For ease of management, the memorial recommended selecting land in Daxing County of Shuntian Prefecture for trial implementation, then, after the best methods had been sifted from the worst, expanding throughout the capital region, with the goal of spreading the method across the entire territory of the Great Ming within three years.

Since it was not yet possible to estimate how much yields would increase per mu, the memorial from the Court of Agriculture did not mention the enormous benefits that full-scale promotion would bring. But it was easy to imagine that if this method were implemented everywhere, without even counting newly reclaimed land, the grain output of the Great Ming would ascend to a new level.

"Minister Wen, if this matter succeeds in the future, it will bring life-sustaining grain to countless commoners across the realm, and will lay a solid foundation for the stability of the Great Ming. Its merit shall be supreme! When that day comes, I will surely reward your achievements with grace and favor! I hope you will all work with steadfast dedication, continuously innovate, and research even more fine strategies to implement across the realm!"

Just as the northern borders of the Great Ming entered the cold of winter, the Shanxi migrants far away in Taiwan had only just shed their summer clothes for autumn attire.

In the second hall of the newly completed county office, Wu Qun, the Assistant Regional Commander from Shandong, dressed in casual clothes with sleeves rolled high, had one foot planted on the seat of a chair while his other leg hung down to the ground. In one hand he held a wax apple whose skin was red tinged with black, gnawing at it as yellow juice slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Old Wu, the red barbarians have come ashore by boat to spy on us several times now. I reckon it won't be long before they send troops. We've worked hard this past year and more to build up these achievements. If war breaks out, the common folk can take shelter, but how do we move villages and houses? I've heard those red-haired bandits are fond of burning buildings to force people out of Taiwan. Old Wu, you absolutely must think of a strategy!"

Lin Rong, the County Magistrate of Taizhong, sat opposite him with a worried expression, speaking to Wu Qun, who looked utterly unconcerned.

"This fruit isn't particularly sweet, but it's full of juice—not bad for quenching thirst!"

Wu Qun casually tossed the leftover core out of the hall, then raised a hand to wipe the juice from the corner of his mouth, rubbed his hands clean on his robe, and remarked.

"I say, Old Wu, did you not hear what I just said? Count Jinghai's people have also sent warnings that the red-haired bandits have added two more warships at the docks. That Fort Zeelandia is only a few hundred li from us. If they attack by land and sea together to raid and plunder, can our official troops hold them off? If we truly cannot, we should urgently request aid from the court!"

"Bullshit! What aid is there to beg for? Do you think my two thousand men here are vegetarians? Are these hundreds upon hundreds of Folangji cannons and muskets just for show? If it weren't for the terrible roads, I'd have taken that goddamn Fort Zeelandia long ago!"