Regarding South America and sweet potatoes and potatoes, Li Chengdao naturally did not read them from any ancient books.
The problem of food was still a problem that plagued all countries in the world until the late Ming Dynasty.
If the Byzantine Empire knew about the existence of sweet potatoes in South America, they would send people to search for them.
Sweet potatoes could produce dozens or even hundreds of dan per mu!
The famous enclosure movement in foreign history was due to it.
Why would people use precious farmland as a sheep pen?
It was because of the existence of crops with extremely high yield like sweet potatoes!
As a result, the population of the later Qing Dynasty was ten times higher than that of the Ming Dynasty. This was all supported by crops such as sweet potatoes and potatoes.
One could imagine how meaningful these crops were!
Li Chengdao organized the fleet to search for these crops not only to solve the needs of the war, but also for the future, because he knew their importance.
Before Da Qian unified the continent, he didn't have the strength and capital to do so, but now he could.
However, traveling to South America was no small matter.
The Central Plains was the first to embark on the voyage era. Its peak was during the Ming Dynasty when Zheng He went to the West. However, as of now, the strength of the voyage was still insufficient.
The biggest problem was that they didn't have a long-distance voyage treasure ship.
Li Chengdao attached great importance to Yuanyang.
Therefore, he took some time out of his busy schedule to specially summon the person in charge of the manufacturing bureau to discuss this matter with him.
.........
In the royal study.
The chief secretary of the manufacturing bureau walked into the royal study under the guidance of the eunuch and bowed.
"Your humble servant Zhao Chong greets Your Majesty!"
Zhao Chong knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply.
Li Chengdao was drawing something with a charcoal pencil behind the dragon table. He did not even raise his head when he heard this."Get up. Zhen called you over because I have something to discuss with you.”
After obtaining Li Chengdao's permission, Zhao Chong stood up and said,"This humble subject is terrified. I wonder what Your Majesty wants?"
He wanted to say something, but when his gaze fell on the drawing on the table, he was stunned.
"G-Map?"
The reason why he was surprised was because Li Chengdao was lying on the dragon table, borrowing Lu Chi and other tools to draw a map!
The emperor was drawing a map with charcoal?
Li Chengdao raised his head and saw Zhao Chong looking straight at him. He couldn't help but laugh."That's right, this map is what Zhen wants to discuss with you.”
After saying that, he threw away the charcoal pen, picked up the entire map, and blew off the charcoal dust on it.
This map was slightly crude, but Zhao Chong could still recognize that it was a nautical chart!
After calming himself down, Zhao Chong cupped his hands and asked in puzzlement,"Why did Your Majesty draw a nautical chart?"
Li Chengdao did not hide anything and said directly,"I want to set up a long voyage fleet to go to a continent overseas to search for a few crops on land.”
"Those crops are very magical. Each of them can produce tens or even hundreds of stones per mu, which can solve the food shortage of the people of Great Gan.”
This was a matter that was discussed in the imperial court. Zhao Chong was only the chief secretary of the manufacturing bureau under the Ministry of Works. How would he know about this?
Therefore, he was very surprised.
"There's actually such a divine crop in the world?”
Zhao Chong said in shock.
A yield of tens or hundreds of stones per mu was simply an immortal item!
Even if he was not familiar with agriculture, he could understand the significance of such crops.
However, he quickly collected his thoughts and roughly understood why Li Chengdao was looking for him today.
"Your Majesty, do you want the manufacturing bureau to build a batch of ocean-going ships?”Zhao Chong asked.
"Yes, that's right."
Li Chengdao nodded and admitted, then said,"The ships of the voyage fleet must have the ability to travel long distances. Otherwise, it will be difficult to reach the overseas continent.”
Hearing this, Zhao Chong hesitated for a moment before cupping his hands and saying,"Your Majesty, although I want to contribute to the country, with the current technical strength of the manufacturing bureau, it's really not enough to build a long-distance treasure ship."
He had always been pragmatic and would not boast.
He would do what he could and say what he couldn't.
"Of course I know. That's why I called you over.”
Li Chengdao blinked, then smiled and took out several other blueprints." These are some of my rough ideas for the voyage treasure ship. Take them back and let the craftsmen study them.”
"This theoretical knowledge is the same. Perhaps it has inspired them.”
Although he had already transmigrated to this world for a full ten years, he did not know if it was because he had transmigrated before, but Li Chengdao's memories of his previous life were very clear.
He was a librarian in his previous life and had read many miscellaneous books. He did not expect that it would come in handy now.
The nautical chart, the blueprints of the ocean treasure ship, and the theoretical knowledge were all created by him based on the current situation.
Although it might not be feasible, he felt that it would not be useless.
Zhao Chong took the blueprints from Li Chengdao with a dumbfounded expression.
After looking at it for a while, he suddenly raised his head. His face was filled with disbelief as he stuttered,"Are these your thoughts, Your Majesty?”
"Why? Is there a problem?"
Li Chengdao raised his eyebrows, thinking that something had gone wrong with his half-baked work.
After all, Zhao Chong was a professional and was much better than him in this field.
"No, no, no!"
Zhao Chong hurriedly shook his head like a rattle-drum.
He held these blueprints and exclaimed,"Although the structure is somewhat illogical, such a concept, structure, and theory is something this lowly official has never heard of before!”
"I will go back and let the people in the research department study it. It will definitely greatly improve the current ship manufacturing technology and even build a real ocean-going treasure ship!”
Zhao Chong's tone was filled with excitement. He wanted to run back and study it immediately.
Li Chengdao was relieved. He patted his shoulder and said,""Don't let me down. The future of the empire is in your hands.”
Zhao Chong was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed,"This lowly subject, this lowly subject will die for you!"
Li Chengdao couldn't help but laugh. After encouraging Zhao Chong a little more, he sent him away.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。