Chapter 932: Chapter 930: Thinking That Far Ahead?
Jiang Yifan chuckled, "My little Ah Yan is still the smartest."
Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes skyward, feeling utterly frustrated. Smart my foot! How was she smart? Her mind was stuck on the matters Jiang Yifan and the others were scheming, afraid of any oversight that might result in consequences. Although Zheng Pengfei returned safely this morning, she was still worried things might take a turn.
Yet, that black-hearted Jinrong had already calculated everything, letting her husband take a position at the Ministry of Works.
How could she still feel comfortable earning heaps of silver from the Ministry of Works in the future? To support her husband, it was likely there’d be endless voluntary work for her at the Ministry of Works.
Dammit, it was a total loss of labor and silver, totally getting tricked.
Ye Xinyan suspiciously looked at Jiang Yifan and said, "What’s His Highness’s intention? I’m telling you, official is official, personal is personal. I won’t hesitate to earn silver where it’s due!" This was the time to hold firm, otherwise, both Jinrong and Jiang Yifan would just push further.
Jiang Yifan nodded with a smile, "I know, we won’t hesitate."
Ye Xinyan scrutinized Jiang Yifan from head to toe but suddenly lost steam. Jiang Yifan’s attitude lacked sincerity, but the reality didn’t allow for any sincerity.
Previously, the Ministry of Works wanted her to handle some urgent tasks, yet no matter which official stepped forward, she could hold her ground, haggling fiercely with sky-high prices.
She had Duke An as her backing, leaving the officials helpless, and they could only agree, biting their teeth. The most that came afterwards were accusations of her being unreasonable, mercenary, and reeking of the stink of money.
There was no loss at all.
But if Jiang Yifan took up affairs at the Ministry of Works, similar matters would be labeled as Jiang Yifan abusing his position for personal gain.
"Alright, stop putting on that money-grubbing face of yours." Jiang Yifan leaned over and ruffled Ye Xinyan’s hair again.
The biggest resistance to advancing patent laws comes from the Ministry of Works and related forces.
The manufacturing of various court projects and devices involves many interests. Grasping control over the Ministry of Works not only saves the court a lot of project silver but greatly benefits the improvement of craftsmanship and the promotion of advanced machinery.
That’s the shared understanding he reached with Hu Jing.
Jiang Yifan switched his tone, "This is a major issue. Ah Yan is a woman who understands the bigger picture, right? Haven’t you always hoped that our Great Xia Dynasty could prosper through handicrafts? The Ministry of Works better advancing these matters is something Ah Yan surely understands, right?"
Listening to Jiang Yifan’s tone as if coaxing a child, Ye Xinyan felt a shiver in her heart. But, the guy was right.
If Jiang Yifan could ascend in the Ministry of Works and gain some authority, maybe with the support of the emperor and Jinrong, early industrial development could take off.
In the world she grew up in, the reason her nation endured so many years of history being beaten down was widely believed to be mainly due to various dynasties placing studies and scholars on a pedestal, while suppressing commerce and those working in it.
Society’s collective energy and elite talent were poured into studying classics, ultimately resulting in low social productivity, and severe lag in industry and technology.
Despite numerous records of ingenious devices from ancient China’s ingenious craftsmanship, an unsupportive environment still saw the emergence of countless clever machines. With strong support for the development of handicrafts, this vast region could surely have its own industrial age.
Jiang Yifan observed Ye Xinyan’s expressions transform from fury to unwillingness, from discontent to reluctant acceptance, and eventually expecting something strongly.
This whole series of expressions, in Jiang Yifan’s eyes, was extremely lively and adorable, and truly admirable.
She, a woman, could strive to improve craftsmen’s status, fight for recognition for those working in handicrafts, and plot to boost the Great Xia Dynasty’s craftsmanship to foster what she referred to as the industrial age.
Yet, on the other hand, she was resolute in extracting as much silver as possible from various influential gentry, even from the court itself.
No wonder whenever Zheng Pengfei was mentioned, Ah Yan would click her tongue in envy, jealousy, and resentment.
She hadn’t considered her own tactics, which with her past actions, had already pushed the redistribution of wealth to the extreme, far surpassing Zheng Pengfei’s efforts.
"Also," Jiang Yifan said, "Has Ah Yan considered moving the Mechanical Workshop closer to the capital? Peach Grove is remote, and neither management nor skilled craftsmen can guarantee timely presence. Moreover, it’s far from the emperor’s watchful eyes; if great achievements are made, it’s actually quite dangerous."
Ye Xinyan had considered this, but Jinrong’s coronation plans hadn’t panned out, making it unwise to station the Mechanical Workshop in the complexly intersected powers of the capital. She hadn’t achieved anything yet, risking throwing silver away, might ultimately benefit others.
Additionally, she very much liked Peach Grove and hoped it could flourish, serving as a rear base. Without the Mechanical Workshop, merely raising cattle and making cheese wouldn’t have much developmental potential.
"If you wish for Peach Grove to continue thriving, you could focus on producing some not very important tools developed by the Mechanical Workshop there. For example, if agricultural tools are centered in Yuyuan Prefecture, over time, Yuyuan Prefecture and Peach Grove could develop into a hub for agricultural tool distribution, prosperous and less likely to arouse suspicion from those in power."
Ye Xinyan regarded Jiang Yifan with seriousness; could he think this far ahead? Like the major cities of later generations divided into political, financial, heavy industrial, and light industrial centers, etc.
"Is there any major flaw in my suggestion?" Jiang Yifan asked, surprised at Ye Xinyan’s gaze. He hadn’t experienced that fascinating world Ye Xinyan spoke of, so many things were still uncertain.
Ye Xinyan replied, "No, your suggestion is quite forward-looking. It’s just that with current underdeveloped transportation, one wonders if this model can work."
Jiang Yifan laughed, "That scared me! Since Ah Yan isn’t sure if it’ll work, let’s give it a try. We must try to discover our own right and wrong, and also to blaze a trail for future generations. Furthermore, we have rail transport, don’t we? When the need arises, we could build a track specifically for transporting agricultural tools."
Ye Xinyan nodded, "Then I’ll first plan it out. If His Majesty continues to value handicrafts and mechanics, and the court’s situation stabilizes, we’ll give it a try."
"Alright, if Ah Yan feels it’s feasible, I’ll find an opportunity to discuss it with His Highness."
Ye Xinyan asked in surprise, "You haven’t discussed it with His Highness yet?"
"No, not yet. Until I’ve talked to you, what’s the point of discussing it with him? We could plan all enthusiastically, but if you don’t agree, it’s a waste of our energy and time."
Ye Xinyan pouted, as if he prioritized her so much, why didn’t he tell her about the appointment at the Ministry of Works sooner?
The issues with the Ministry of Works and the Mechanical Workshop could be postponed, Ye Xinyan shifted the topic back, "I’m still worried about your affairs. You know, the Crown Prince has been involved in politics for twenty years, surely he has his own faction. Have you considered he might retaliate and possibly resent you more?"