Mystery makes me strong

Chapter 2756 The Real Key to Industry

As the debate progressed, the atmosphere in the court became increasingly tense.

Emperor Jiajing raised his hand and rang the bell, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"My dear ministers, I have heard what you have seen."

"We really need to be cautious when it comes to southerners."

He paused and continued, "I think it would be a good thing if the skills of the southerners could be used by our Ming Dynasty."

"But as you have said, this person is equal to everyone, and we must be on guard."

"Therefore, I have decided to set up a special agency to be responsible for communication and monitoring with the southerners."

The emperor's eyes became firm: "This institution will be directly managed by the cabinet."

"Xu Aiqing is in charge of taking the lead."

"We need to learn their skills, but also guard against their ambitions."

"Southerners can teach skills, but they are not allowed to interfere in state affairs or discuss state affairs."

"Violators will be severely punished."

In this way, the Ming Dynasty court quickly reached a consensus.

However, some young officials were thinking about how to use the skills of the southerners to improve the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty.

Now the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty are exposed everywhere.

First, the frontier troops were underpaid and too weak to be of much use.

The rebellion in the southeast has just been quelled, but the threat to the north is becoming increasingly serious.

Second, people’s livelihood is declining, tax revenue is decreasing year by year, and the amount of land that can be taxed is getting smaller and smaller.

Third, court struggles are becoming more and more serious, and more and more people are unwilling to do their work.

Even during court meetings, one-third of the seats were missing.

Fourth, civil unrest occurred frequently in various places, and a major chaos was about to break out.

However, they heard that the southerners had powerful weapons, so they wanted to imitate them.

Jiajing's decision made the officials in the court nod their heads.

The ministers agreed with the emperor's wise decision. Although they had different opinions on how to use the southerners, they reached a consensus under the emperor's decision.

The court meeting ended and the ministers left the court one after another.

Everyone had a thoughtful expression on their face.

They knew that the arrival of the southerners would bring new changes to the Ming Dynasty, and they had to respond with caution.

Emperor Jiajing returned to the Wanshou Palace alone.

He looked through the window into the distance.

His heart was full of anticipation.

The emergence of the southerners is undoubtedly a double-edged sword. If used well, it can bring longevity; if used poorly, it may destroy the country.

Of course he would choose immortality.

It doesn’t matter if the country is destroyed, as long as he lives forever.

Of course, it would be best if he could live forever and continue to be emperor.

He took a deep breath and decided to personally oversee the new organization and make sure everything was under his control.

He hasn't done this for a long time.

……

Wen Rensheng looked at Emperor Jiajing and had to say that he was really similar to the character in the TV series.

Put yourself first and the Ming Dynasty second.

I'm obsessed with immortality.

But he is smarter than others and he doesn't take pills randomly.

Use various gloves to avoid being tired and ensure that you can practice Buddhism in a calm and peaceful manner.

Therefore, with the balance of many factors, he can still live to 60 years old.

Among ancient emperors, this lifespan is very long.

Many emperors who sought immortality had a short lifespan.

For example, his son did not seek immortality, but instead only lived to be in his thirties.

……

Amid the morning mist, a workshop on the outskirts of Beijing gradually awakens under the shining sun.

This is where a special group of people gather.

They are all students of Nanren.

Only one time traveler was brave enough to come here and interact with Daming.

Mainly because they didn’t carry much when they crossed.

So he did not rashly go to war with the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, at this time, the Ming Dynasty still had the power to repel the Westerners, which shows its ability to mobilize resources.

Most places are relatively safe.

So no matter from which perspective, they did not directly attack the Ming Dynasty, but instead reached out to many forces in Southeast Asia.

And now, they need the Ming Dynasty's market and labor force.

It would be too slow for them to just do it on their own.

So they decided to contact the Ming Dynasty.

They were not worried that their technology would be learned by the Ming Dynasty because history had already proved it.

If you don’t learn the core and optical technology, you will end up with nothing.

And if they learn all of them, it actually means a victory for them as time travelers: they get a familiar environment again.

So the time traveler brought knowledge and technology from another world, trying to sow the seeds of industrialization on the land of Ming Dynasty.

……

On this day, the atmosphere in the workshop is different from usual.

Because a young official, Li Hancheng Hanlin, was sent here by the court to supervise the work of the southerners.

Li Hanlin was wearing a green official robe, a black gauze hat, and a jade pendant around his waist that symbolized his status.

He has a handsome face and a firm look in his eyes.

He is a capable official with great ambitions and abilities.

Not a sour literati.

Has its own sharpness.

He stepped into the workshop and looked around.

What he saw were the busy figures of the Southern students and some mechanical devices he had never seen before.

His eyes finally fell on a southerner dressed in strange clothes.

That was the person in charge of the workshop, Zhao Tiezhu.

Yes, he is clearly a time traveler, and his name is even more rustic than that of a native.

Zhao Tiezhu was wearing a short suit, a thick mask, and had his hair shaved, looking like a monk.

"Master Zhao, I'm here on the orders of the court to supervise the operation of the workshop." Li Hanlin's voice was calm.

Zhao Tiezhu turned around with a smile on his face.

But there was a hint of contempt in his eyes: "Master Li, welcome, welcome."

"What we do here is to help the Ming Dynasty progress."

Li Hanlin nodded.

He then began to participate in the daily operations of the workshop.

He carefully observed how these southern students worked.

The communication between them was equal, without any distinction of superiority or inferiority, which made him feel particularly uncomfortable.

Especially every time he came in, everyone just nodded and greeted him.

Some people were even so busy that they didn't even stand up to greet him. He came in like a ball of anger and no one paid any attention to him.

This made him extremely uncomfortable.

If this happened outside, he would have been dragged away and beaten with a stick long ago.

How is it possible that when the master comes in, the scholars, farmers, merchants, and craftsmen don't kneel down and kowtow, or stand aside and salute?

It's just asking for death.

During a discussion about workshop management, the dispute between the two sides finally broke out.

"Master Zhao, your way of doing things goes against the ethics of our Ming Dynasty. You don't know the hierarchy. How can you manage a workshop like this?" Li Hanlin frowned, his tone full of blame.

Zhao Tiezhu sneered in his heart.

That's the key.

Because of the hierarchy, no matter how good the industry is, it cannot develop.

the reason is simple.

The factory you worked hard to develop is squeezed into bankruptcy by people of higher status than you with just one sentence. What’s the point of continuing to develop it?

The ideas you worked hard to come up with and the products you made are taken away by the ministers with just a note. How can you make your own initial accumulation?
Therefore, although the Ming Dynasty had the embryonic form of a commodity economy, it could only be an embryonic form. Eventually it would be distorted into an integration of business and management. The size of the business depended on the size of the management.

Moreover, they are destined to be distorted, destined not to focus on industry and commerce, but on building big pipes.

The goal is wrong, so how can it be possible to develop into the pinnacle of industry and commerce?
In the end, it could only be a hodgepodge, and then it was burned down under the resistance of the impoverished people.

If this cycle continues, there will naturally be no possibility for industry and commerce to accumulate.

So Zhao Tiezhu responded calmly: "Master Li, what we pursue is the concept of equality for all."

"Here, everyone can express their own opinions, so that we can really unleash everyone's creativity." Li Hanlin shook his head and said, "Master Zhao, you are just daydreaming."

"Without a hierarchy, how can the workshop be maintained?"

"How do you get your order passed when someone is against you?"

"Everyone is equal, wouldn't that be chaos?"

"The reason why our Ming dynasty can be established is based on respect for superiors and subordinates."

Zhao Tiezhu insisted: "Lord Li, it is this hierarchy that restricts people's thinking."

"Besides, someone here has also said that the relationship between the ruler and his subjects is like that between father and son. The ruler regards his subjects as his own brothers, and the subjects regard their ruler as their own..."

"No, there is no king or father who is not right in the world. We, the subjects, are the daughters-in-law, and the kings and fathers are the mothers-in-law. Only the daughters-in-law suffer grievances, so how can the mother-in-law suffer grievances?" Li Hanlin said immediately.

When Zhao Tiezhu heard this, he thought, you are only saying this in the Ming Dynasty.

He shook his head and said, "If we want to achieve industrialization and make products, we first need equality. Everyone has equal rights. We cannot bully others by taking advantage of our power. We must have rules to protect ourselves."

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

“We also need to reach a consensus and have the ability to constrain, so that everyone can protect their own wealth and stimulate consumption and innovation.”

"Otherwise, you'll just end up with a bunch of junk and it'll just be a mess."

Li Hanlin understood some of it, but not most of it, and the more he listened, the more uncomfortable he felt.

However, he guessed that what the other party said should be Mencius's thoughts.

But Mencius had been overthrown long ago.

Whoever uses Mencius's teachings will not pass the imperial examination.

As for scholars, it is very difficult.

It is because Mencius talked about righteousness and emphasized that the ruler, his subjects, fathers and sons should be equal. In other words, if the ruler does not talk about gratitude and righteousness, the subjects will not talk about loyalty.

This is treason.

And the other party is not only talking about "Jun", but also about father and son.

If the father is not good to his son, the son may not be filial to him.

This obviously touches the foundation of etiquette.

And he also felt a sense of panic.

It doesn’t matter if the other party makes money, but if they touch the foundation of etiquette and law, it will be a dead end.

If I get involved with this person, I will end up in trouble.

So he just said a few words and left in a hurry.

He needs to find a way to solve this problem.

The debate quietly spread within the workshop.

Both the southerners and the indigenous workers in the workshops participated.

Some people secretly supported Li Hanlin's point of view, believing that without order of hierarchy, the workshop would fall into chaos.

Others agree with Zhao Tiezhu's philosophy, believing that equality is the only way for everyone to do good things.

Nor will we allow some ignorant officials to interfere.

……

On this day, Li Hanlin came to the workshop again.

He gathered everyone under a high platform.

He said sternly: "Everyone, the reason why our Ming Dynasty can prosper is because we follow the Confucian way."

"The superiors and the inferiors, the ruler and his subjects, the father and his son, are all strictly enforced."

"If we allow the southerners to preach equality, where will the order be? Where will the etiquette be?"

"When the time comes, the father will not be the father, and the son will not be the son. Wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"Never talk about this again!"

Zhao Tiezhu retorted: "Lord Li, the Ming Dynasty is prosperous? Not necessarily?"

“Everywhere I looked, there was famine.”

"There are refugees everywhere, and the price of hiring workers has become so cheap that it's enough to feed them for a month."

“Can this be called prosperity?”

"Why is this so? Have you ever thought about it?"

Li Hanlin was furious when he heard this: "You are slandering me!"

"You bastard, the court saw that you still had some respect in your heart, so they allowed you to open a factory in Beijing."

"I didn't expect you to take this opportunity to slander the court!"

Zhao Tiezhu said disdainfully: "Slander, I just told you the truth!"

He knew very well that the only condition for industrialization was equality and checks and balances.

Simply put, you cannot have an ancestor above you who can take away your achievements with just one sentence.

In fact, it is not completely equal, as long as there is a balance between the forces.

At this point, those truly feudal states are more likely to enter industrialization.

Because there is a check and balance between their lords and the king.

Lords can be transformed into large factory owners relatively easily.

Their property can be maintained.

In a place like the Ming Dynasty where there is only one emperor, you cannot keep your property even if you are a minister.

Because ministers will also step down and retire.

The industry was no longer viable at that time.

Just like Xu Jie, he had a lot of land when he was prosperous, but he had to give it up once he stepped down.

This is just a microcosm.

Ultimately, there are no so-called checks and balances here, and it is a completely unstable system.

Whenever there was a change of status between the emperor and the different powers, wealth and factories would be lost.

And the status changes quickly.

Ten years is enough for a minister who seems to be high and mighty to fall rapidly.

How can factory owners protect themselves during this short period of time?
This is the evil consequence of the lack of checks and balances.

Zhao Tiezhu had never thought of this before.

It was not until he traveled through time and space, and experienced conflicts with other time travelers and the plundering of officials when he was doing things himself, that he realized that if there was no concept of checks and balances and equality, then even if it developed, it would still be swallowed up by others.

Now that they cannot construct new checks and balances, they need to form a system that can protect everyone's rights and interests.

And let everyone reach a consensus and take the initiative to maintain it.

This consensus is especially true among the revolutionary army, which has gained popularity and will gain power.

This is the most fundamental thing.

He then started arguing with Li Hanlin.

Although Li Hanlin was unhappy, he still had some integrity - he disdained to use the official methods to deal with those who debated with him.

After all, he felt it was very turbid.

This debate lasted for a long time.

Until the sun set, the atmosphere in the workshop remained tense.

Li Hanlin was walking home alone.

He didn't ride in a sedan chair.

But my heart was full of doubts.

He knew that what Zhao Tie said was true.

The Ming Dynasty is now on its decline.

One hundred and fifty years have passed, and it is almost over.

It really feels that way.

More and more refugees froze to death, and the land became less and less.

The imperial court was in deficit every year.

Even the officials’ money cannot be paid. Isn’t this a sign of the end of the dynasty?

Did he think what Zhao Tiezhu said was right?

However, even if everyone is equal, can we save the Ming Dynasty?

He thought carefully that if everyone was equal, land annexation would be much more difficult.

No one would rely on the status of a juren to be exempted from too much tax. In fact, a juren could not be exempted from much tax.

According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the maximum amount of land that could be exempted was fifty acres.

However, because the juren had official connections, the specific implementation was completely different.

When the clerks and yamen runners were settling the accounts, basically all the land owned by the juren gentlemen were counted as inferior land, dry land, and poor land. In this way, the taxes collected were much less.

Going a step further, slowly you just stop collecting.

This is why many people above the level of Juren would make contributions.

The law is one thing, and its execution by the yamen runners and clerks is another.

If everyone is equal, and the scholars are the same as the common people, then the yamen runners will not treat them differently.

The fact that he could think of this shows that Li Hanlin is not an ordinary nerd. He has really come into contact with practical matters and experienced them personally.

Because he passed the exams all the way up from being a scholar or a juren.

I have personally experienced the change in the attitude of the yamen runners and clerks.

(End of this chapter)