Chapter 15 Setting Up a Department

Grand Censor Ma Ren immediately stood out after Feng Jin announced that those with business could speak and those without could leave.

"Your subject has something to report!"

After stepping forward, Ma Ren said solemnly, "Your Majesty has been lacking energy recently. I believe you should consult a physician to avoid neglecting state affairs."

Ma Ren's words were polite, but the meaning behind them was clear.

He hoped Lin En could "return to the right path" and not indulge in wine and women.

Lin En was amused; he was doing serious work!

He valued Ma Ren's loyalty and waved his hand, saying, "I understand."

Subsequently, the other ministers also presented their reports one after another.

Seeing that the ministers had spoken their piece, Lin En took out Yang Yongqi's memorial suggesting candidates for the Minister of Works, and said, "Esteemed ministers, who do you think is suitable for the position of Minister of Works?"

The ministers subconsciously looked at Yang Yongqi with strange expressions.

Because Yang Yongqi had already listed several people in his memorial, but now His Majesty was asking everyone to make suggestions, which meant he was dissatisfied with Yang Yongqi's recommendations?

Yang Yongqi was also very surprised.

He had recommended a total of five people, all of whom were talented individuals in the Ministry of Works with both experience and technical skills.

Moreover, he had made the recommendations based on the principle of fairness, and he didn't understand why Lin En would do this.

The ministers also didn't understand, and before figuring out what was going on, they cautiously remained silent.

Lin En wasn't surprised by this.

To be honest, Lin En also knew about the five people Yang Yongqi had recommended. They had already begun to distinguish themselves when Wei Zhengli was still the Minister of Works.

Under normal circumstances, Lin En would have agreed long ago.

But now he couldn't, because Lin En had a very important plan.

Seeing that the ministers were not speaking, Lin En winked at Feng Jin.

Feng Jin then held the booklet with the words "Physics" written on it and walked down the steps, coming to Yang Yongqi.

"Lord Yang, please."

Yang Yongqi looked at the booklet, filled with doubt.

What was this "Physics" book? Why had he never heard of it?

Lin En then said, "Esteemed ministers, I've said before that there are many books in the palace collection. This is one of them. After reading it, I found it quite amazing. Esteemed ministers, please take a look."

Hearing that it was a rare book from the palace, Yang Yongqi quickly took it and opened it.

But after only reading the first page, he looked bewildered.

What was all this about?

Lin En smiled and said, "Lord Yang, contemplate the areas you find confusing first, then pass the book on to the other lords."

For a full hour, nearly a hundred ministers in the hall all took a look.

But almost all of them couldn't read beyond the first page.

Because they didn't understand at all!

Only some ministers from the Ministry of Works showed surprised expressions after reading it.

The things written in this booklet were surprisingly consistent with some of the things they usually studied!

After the booklet was collected, the Vice Minister of Works immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe this book was written by a divine being! Some of the content has opened our minds!"

Lin En nodded and said, "After reading it, I also found it very incredible."

Then, Lin En looked at Yang Yongqi, "Lord Yang, I believe that based on the content of this book, it has far exceeded the current scope of the Ministry of Works, and a new department should be established."

"I believe it should be called the Ministry of Science and Technology."

Hearing this, the ministers understood why Lin En hadn't chosen the Minister of Works from those few people.

He probably wanted to choose the head of the new department first, and then choose the Minister of Works.

As the ministers were thinking, they heard Lin En chuckle, "Esteemed lords of the Ministry of Works, you have all read this book. Who is interested in joining the Ministry of Science and Technology?"

Immediately, several ministers stood up and said, "I am willing!"

Of course, among these people, some were genuinely willing.

Others had opportunistic ideas, thinking that Lin En was establishing a new department and would definitely look at them differently.

Lin En didn't mind and said with a smile, "After entering the Ministry of Science and Technology, esteemed lords, you will first need to be students."

The ministers were all dumbfounded.

Had they heard correctly?

They had to start as students again?

But soon, they discovered a loophole.

Even if they were willing to be students, who could be the teacher?

The content of that book needed to be carefully studied by everyone.

In their confusion, some astute ministers looked up at Lin En in disbelief. Could it be that His Majesty would be the teacher!

Just as they were thinking, they heard Lin En say with a smile, "I will impart the contents of this book to you."

"哗——" (Sound of commotion)

As soon as Lin En finished speaking, the whole place erupted in an uproar.

It wasn't because Lin En was condescending to be a teacher, but because they couldn't understand the things in the book. Did Lin En understand them?

A minister from the Ministry of Works mustered his courage and asked, "Your Majesty, does this mean that Your Majesty can understand the contents of this book?"

Lin En nodded with a smile, "I have been pondering these things these past few days."

The ministers were stunned.

No wonder state affairs had been neglected these past few days. They thought Lin En was going to act perversely again.

Since there was a teacher and ministers willing to learn, the Ministry of Science and Technology was quickly established.

Lin En would then take time every afternoon to answer the questions of the ministers in the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Five years passed in a flash.

The Great Wei at this time had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to five years ago.

In these five years, with Lin En's strong support, the Ministry of Science and Technology had developed many tools to improve productivity and had vigorously promoted them throughout the Great Wei.

Under Lin En's careful management, the people in various places lived prosperous lives. In particular, the various new crops brought back from the Western Regions and overseas solved the food problem for the people of the Great Wei.

During the morning court today, Minister of Rites Zhao Liting reported that the Crown Prince and the five imperial eldest sons born in the same year were already six years old and should begin their studies.

Lin En smiled and agreed.

Minister of Rites Yang Yongqi was about to step forward to recommend candidates.

However, Lin En took out several books and said with a smile, "The Crown Prince and the princes will be personally taught by me."

This scene surprised the ministers.

But they weren't that surprised.

Because over the past five years, Lin En had successively brought out many books that opened everyone's eyes.

And after verification, these books had a huge impact on the Great Wei!

Now everyone had only worship left for these books.

After the court session, Lin En came to Chengqian Palace. The Empress had already heard the news and arrived with the Crown Prince.

Lin En greeted them with a smile, then took the second son, still in swaddling clothes, from the Empress's arms.

After coaxing him for a few words, Lin En looked at his eldest son, the Crown Prince, beside him and said, "Do you have any new questions today?"

When the Crown Prince was four years old, Lin En began to tell him some scientific knowledge. Now the Crown Prince had intelligence far beyond his peers.

Hearing Lin En's question, the Crown Prince said loudly, "Father, your son wants to make it possible for people to fly in the sky in twenty years!"

Lin En laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly.

At this time, hearing the news that Lin En had arrived at the palace, a group of concubines came with their children, surrounding Lin En in the middle.

Looking at the surrounding concubines and his intelligent sons and daughters, Lin En felt a surge of pride.

"In the future, we will surely conquer the stars and the sea!"