Chapter 971: Chapter 969: Something Is Missing
Although the Emperor fully supported it, the Imperial Court was mostly composed of literary officials, primarily of scholarly background, which resulted in persistent resistance to drafting and implementing patent law.
With Jinrong and the involvement and suggestions of many behind him, the content of the patent law not only included clauses for protecting the achievements of craftsmen but also proposed grading and status guarantees for those who made significant contributions.
Under Jinrong’s proposal, which is actually Ye Xinyan’s suggestion, craftsmen are to be graded based on their output and contributions. Craftsmen of different grades enjoy different levels of official salary from the court. They also receive preferential treatment, including not having to kneel before officials, akin to the treatment of scholars.
This references Xinyan’s past life, where during the early rise of industry, such measures were implemented to encourage workers to improve their skills.
In an era without widespread literacy or compulsory education, such a grading system and favorable treatment greatly motivated craftsmen to enhance their skills and encouraged more people to join the Craftsmanship Sector.
However, this equated craftsmen to having titles of merit. Although it only targeted a small group of exceptionally skilled craftsmen who made outstanding contributions to the court and the populace, it seriously challenged the status and dignity of the scholarly class.
Thus, there was considerable resistance during the revision of the law.
Even the four ministers in the Cabinet were not of one mind.
Han Yanhui naturally supported it, while Wei Xin’s two members did not, but intimidated by the Emperor’s power, they maintained an ambiguous stance. However, when matters related to this arose, they delayed and evaded, even creating obstacles.
Among them, Liu Chengzhi, from an aristocratic family, was the most vehement opponent.
The Emperor turned his gaze towards the four elders in the Cabinet. The people of the capital began to question the Ji Family representing the Clean Stream, which directly extended to doubting the moral integrity of scholars.
Thus, this was truly an excellent opportunity to suppress many of the rigid and pedantic literary officials.
Liu Chengzhi’s face turned grim upon hearing Jinrong’s words. Observing the Emperor’s expression, fearing the matter would be finalized, he hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully said, "The law is the legacy of our ancestors and should not be changed. Your Majesty seeks prosperity for the realm and wants to try this, and we ministers are willing to assist Your Majesty in completion. But revising the law is a significant matter and should not be rushed. As for granting craftsmen official salaries, I believe it goes against the sage’s teachings and should be handled with caution."
Jinrong remained seated but spoke, "Minister Liu must have heard the rumors in the capital these days, right? People are discussing that if scholars bring no concrete benefits to the populace or the realm, then why should the people still support and maintain them?"
Liu Chengzhi’s face flushed red, internally cursing Ji Xiaoyuan for currying favor without perspicacity, having chosen a poor ally, and failing even to finish the job properly, ultimately dragging many into humiliation and loss.
Though he thought this internally, outwardly he remained embarrassed and angry, furiously asking, "Your Highness has also read the sages’ book, how can you so sully the literary elegance?"
Jinrong calmly said, "I lack such ability. It’s merely many scholars failing the teachings of the sages, thinking only of their own gain, hardly considering the wellbeing of the populace. It is self-invited disgrace."
"Enough! All these scholars arguing heatedly, how unseemly is this?" The Emperor admonished the two and straightforwardly turned to Han Yanhui, stating, "The harvesting of buckwheat in Yuanzhou and the tools used in court works have proven the importance of craftsmanship and handicraft development. The patent law must be implemented, finalize the articles by year-end and implement them next year."
Wei Xin opened his mouth, but isn’t this decision too arbitrary?
Before he could figure out how to speak, the Emperor’s voice grew colder: "Minister of Rites Huang Jingtao is getting old, perhaps lacking in energy? This small matter being delayed over a year with no result - if it really can’t be resolved, perhaps it’s time to replace him."
Among those present, apart from Han Yanhui and Jinrong, the hearts of the others tightened.
This task was assigned to the Ministry of Rites, if Lord Huang is indeed aging, does this not mean he should retire to his hometown?
If this happens, the top candidate to succeed as Minister of Rites is Assistant Minister Sun Tingyue. The youngest daughter of Vice Minister Sun was sent to Prince Yu’s Mansion as a concubine of His Highness Prince Yu.
Liu Chengzhi felt a chill inside, knowing that this matter might not be sustainable anymore. If His Highness Prince Fu desires to re-enter the court, it would take two or three years, and Prince Yu’s power cannot be allowed to grow too strong within these two or three years.
Currently, Prince Yu acts as the Assistant Manager of the Ministry of Personnel, and the granddaughter of the current Grand Secretary is Prince Yu’s Principal Wife. Prince Yu’s close ally Jiang Yifan is now in the Ministry of Works, though only ranked as a counselor, the affairs under his jurisdiction far exceed that of ordinary counselors. Most were assigned directly by His Majesty, and even the Deputy to the Cabinet Minister overseeing the Ministry of Personnel, Liu Chengzhi, has no authority to intervene.
If Vice Minister Sun were to succeed as Minister of Rites, Prince Yu would gain another major support.
Meanwhile, Wei Xin and the two ministers, after hearing the Emperor’s words and observing Jinrong’s demeanor, experienced a substantial shift in perspective. While they wished to uphold the status of scholars, their own official positions and future prospects took precedence.
The current Emperor seeks to advance craftsmanship, and if He intends for Prince Yu to inherit the throne, then they must carefully consider whether to continue opposing the Emperor and Prince Yu’s proposals, thereby severing their own family’s prospect of prosperity for two generations?
Each person present considered their own interests and positions, unknowingly letting the Emperor arrange for the patent law.
In the following days, when officials learned that the Ministry of Rites had indeed accelerated the drafting of the law, those unafraid to speak brought the matter to the court, advocating for careful handling of ancient laws.
Officials who supported reform naturally refused to yield, resulting in a heated dispute, with words flying on both sides, creating chaos in the court.
Initially, the Emperor tried reasoning, but seeing that it was ineffective, he became furious, slamming the table and rebuking angrily: "Is the sage’s way to let the people live in distress while scholars occupy high positions, being blind to it?"
"The sage said: ’The people are precious, the state is secondary, and the monarch is light.’ Are you saying after reading a few distorted sage books, you consider yourselves more precious than the people, the state, and even me? In the eyes of the sage, the people are precious, but to you, they are low, unable to be educated. Is this how you read the sages’ books?"
"All of you, go reflect in confinement!"
This furious reprimand from the Emperor effectively silenced the ministers opposing reform, achieving significant results.
However, the Emperor felt something was missing... What was it?
Oh, he remembered...
The Emperor looked at Han Yanhui and Liu Chengzhi, saying: "Go back and list these officials distorting the sage’s teachings, punish them according to the degree of distortion, ranging from half a year to two months salary deduction, order the Ministry of Personnel to record it, and report back to me."
Having said this, the Emperor left in a huff.
...
Shortly after the court received the good news of the buckwheat harvest in Yuanzhou, Yin Xiaocheng, sent to quell civil unrest in the Yuanzhou region, returned to report, and accompanied by those dispatched as imperial censors to various places.
Unlike the harvest good news in drought-stricken areas, the news brought back by the censors greatly enraged the Emperor, and even many court officials were quite shocked upon learning the news.