Chapter 970: Chapter 968: This Is an Opportunity
It seems that suddenly, everyone has come to understand that if anything benefits the common folk, it is those craftsmen who create new tools who seem more able to bring tangible benefits and improve the conditions of the people.
Moreover, it’s much easier for ordinary people to send their children to learn a craft than to send them to study.
Just like in recent months, the widely praised Guangsha Construction. The apprentices they recruit not only learn a craft but are also provided with materials by the employers to learn to read and write.
If a craftsman can work in a place like Guangsha Construction, not only do the master craftsmen earn substantial wages, but the apprentices also become literate. If they excel in literacy and their craft, they can earn tip money, and can look forward to a promising future.
This is much better than spending silver on education. Those destitute scholars on the streets are merely holding up appearances while waiting to die. Where are the glamorous opportunities and treasure houses waiting for them? Wait for the next life.
To put it bluntly, whether it’s studying or learning a craft, it’s all about earning a better life for one’s family.
Just as these discussions quietly emerged from various corners and intensified, the harvest reports from Yuanzhou and neighboring prefectures and counties were submitted to the capital.
Although Yuanzhou experienced its first rainfall as late as July, due to the timely dispatch of plowing cattle and various new farming tools by the court, the speed of rush planting and harvesting increased by more than double. Especially those farming tools, whose effects were miraculous and highly praised by local officials and civilians.
With this buckwheat harvest in the disaster-stricken areas, along with the court’s relief grains as a supplement, thousands of people found sustenance. Not only did this sustain the people, but the court’s pressure also substantially decreased.
The memorials were delivered in the afternoon, and the four ministers in the Cabinet thought it was good news, which of course needed to be promptly delivered to the palace to cheer up the emperor.
The emperor was at this moment scolding Jinrong, tapping his finger on the table, annoyed: "This is outrageous! The sages educated the ignorant masses, which is why we have the prosperity of The Celestial Empire. Otherwise, wouldn’t the people of the world still be ignorant beings eating raw meat and drinking blood? You’ve gone too far this time, outrageous!"
When suspicions arose in the capital regarding the Ji Mansion and the Clean Stream, Lih Mian reported it to the emperor.
Lih Mian implied that the reason this matter spread so widely and logically in such a short time was due to the manipulation of people from Prince Yu’s Mansion.
The emperor understood the reason without much thought, which is why he summoned Jinrong to the palace.
Jinrong, however, remained unconvinced: "Of course, there is merit in education. If it were possible to enable all common people to read and reason, it wouldn’t be unworthy. However, elevating such a small group of people this high, and for the sole purpose of elevating them, treating the study of classics and histories as the highest, most important affair under heaven, and trampling all other professions underfoot, restricting their development, seems a bit excessive."
The emperor’s brows twitched, but he didn’t immediately refute.
What Jinrong said, the emperor also acknowledged. Ever since the railways were operational and the tools produced in Yuyuan Prefecture were used, the emperor truly felt the flourishing of craftsmanship and the significant role of artisans. However, Jinrong shouldn’t be so impatient and push things to this extent at once.
If such rumors only circulate in the capital, it would be better. At least here, with the Son of Heaven’s authority, if unexpected events occur, they can be promptly suppressed and controlled.
The problem is, these rumors already show a tendency to spread outward. If such discussions spread to other prefectures and counties, or even to distant lands, where the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, if they spark the indignant rage of scholars, and then there’s someone with ulterior motives fueling the fire, if things go awry, it would become a major incident.
Although not many scholars can afford education, if all the scholars in the world gather together, their numbers would be considerable.
The emperor turned over many thoughts in his mind, yet persisted in his viewpoint: "In any case, your methods are too impatient, your progression too rapid. Since this matter has already had some effect, arrange immediately for your people to stop, no dilly-dallying or delay!"
"Such a good opportunity, what a pity."
Jinrong mumbled, rolling his eyes and reluctantly agreed. The emperor caught sight of his expression, swung a memorial across the room at him.
The emperor rebuked: "Not only do you defy the royal command, but you also learned to show attitude to me!" This boy, isn’t this the first time? If he were to gain the position of Crown Prince, wouldn’t his arrogance reach the skies?
"No such thing! Imperial Father, you must be mistaken." Jinrong, with a look of respect, quickly stood up, picked up the memorial, and returned it to the emperor. In his heart, however, he couldn’t stop complaining, thinking this was exactly what Ye Zi described as tyranny; Imperial Father, this is utterly unreasonable! How is he wrong? His work is well done, meticulously executed!
If not for the opportunity he created, how else could those revered scholarly dignitaries be shown to be humans alike, with private desires and unspeakable thoughts?
At this moment, the four ministers headed by Han Yanhui requested an audience, presenting the memorials reported by officials from places like Yuanzhou.
The emperor gestured to let them sit. He took the memorials and read them through, feeling elated, then read from start to finish again, genuinely overjoyed.
Though the buckwheat harvests in these places were pleasing, the real pivotal factors guaranteeing timely cultivation were the plowing cattle transported from the cattle farms and the new farming tools sent from Yuyuan Prefecture.
The emperor solemnly placed the memorials on the desk and said with a smile: "This drought coincided with an empty State Treasury, but thanks to several devoted ministers and court officials making every effort to balance resources, money, grains, goods, seeds, and farming items could be supplied in time. The efforts of all the devoted ministers cannot go unnoticed."
The four ministers who had already sat down stood up in unison, cupping their hands in salute: "His Majesty’s vast blessings bring this timely fortune. We only exerted slight effort and do not deserve such praise from His Majesty."
The emperor, smiling benignly, gestured for them to sit and said: "This truly is joyous news. Since the raising of plowing cattle yields benefits and can promote farming, decree that any household or business wishing to establish cattle farms in any prefecture or county may receive assistance from the local government office."
Han Yanhui and others quickly agreed.
"As for the farming tools," the emperor turned to Jinrong, "the farming officials of Yuanzhou state that the tools produced by the Mechanical Workshop hold great efficacy. Discuss with the Ye Family girl what conditions would allow her to disseminate the blueprints and production methods of those tools, so that the people across the nation can benefit."
Jinrong hesitated for a moment. The recent issue with the Ji Mansion has already led the public to view scholars differently. Now that places like Yuanzhou have benefited from the new tools and the conveniences they bring, shouldn’t this timing be used to advance legislation on patents and the process of standardizing artisan levels of treatment?
But with so many people present, he couldn’t retort, so he responded perfunctorily: "Yes, your son will return to consult with the Jiang couple. Honestly, father is worrying unnecessarily. If there are profits to be gained, once a few of these tools are sold, there will be plenty of imitators."
The emperor noticed Jinrong’s perfunctory tone and attitude, frowning: "What? Is there a difficulty?"
Jinrong pondered his words and said: "I believe this is the time to discuss the role of handicrafts and artisans, and other matters can be set aside temporarily."
As soon as he said this, others were fine, but Liu Chengzhi’s expression immediately turned sour.