Although the terms Zhong Jinwei said were new, Xu Guangqi could understand them. Although the words were a bit ugly, this was the truth.
Xu Guangqi hesitated for a while, and finally said frankly: "Yes, the good people of the Ming Dynasty can be roughly divided into four classes: scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, with scholars ranking first and farmers second. But for now, workers are the top class.
Characters will be respected by scholars and will often be their guests. However, it is still impossible for workers to lead scholars. In addition, many scholars have turned to businessmen, so the original status of businessmen was the lowest, but now it is not necessarily the case.
On the contrary, peasants, even top figures, are still not treated equally by scholars, let alone peasants leading scholars."
Zhong Jinwei nodded after hearing this. If this concept of hierarchy is to be changed, it cannot be changed overnight.
But now he wants to take advantage of the opportunity of establishing a research institute to change some aspects.
Thinking of this, he said to Xu Guangqi: "Before I left Beijing, I told Duke Angui Yi'an, who was in charge of several factories at that time, to ask him to improve the treatment and status of the craftsmen and put together a plan for the emperor.
I don’t know if he has done it, but this can definitely be used in the academy.”
Xu Guangqi had talked so much with Zhong Jinwei and had basically grasped Zhong Jinwei's main intention. He stroked his long beard under his forehead and said while thinking: "Does Zhongxing Hou mean to improve the status of so-called researchers in the institute?
?”
"Yes, to be serious, this research institute is related to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, I am going to suggest to the emperor that all researchers who enter the Ming Dynasty national research institute, regardless of whether they are farmers, engineers, or businessmen, should be given
Special treatment. They can be given official positions so that they can gain respect from the world, and also allow them to control the direction of research and lead the research projects of the institute."
Zhong Jinwei looked at Xu Guangqi seriously, and after speaking sincerely, he saw that Xu Guangqi was thinking, so he added: "In the future, we can also establish provincial research institutes, prefecture-level research institutes, etc., and the treatment and status at each level are different.
, those who do well can be promoted step by step.”
It has been almost a year since he came to Ming Dynasty. During this year, he has understood that reform is not that easy. If there is no bloody storm and unless the interests are highly consistent, the reform will definitely take a long time. Especially
It is something that involves ideas and concepts, and requires enough time, unless you do it on a local scale first.
It would be too difficult to immediately implement it nationwide to give technical talents such as craftsmen equal treatment as scholars. But in the research institute, Zhong Jinwei is now somewhat confident.
Xu Guangqi thought about the importance of the institute, thought about what Zhong Jinwei said about laymen guiding experts, and thought about the world situation, and he agreed with Zhong Jinwei's statement.
Therefore, he nodded and then added: "The lower official thinks that this statement can be vague at the beginning, and does not specifically mention the affairs of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce. As long as you have special expertise in a certain aspect, you can bring great benefits to the Ming Dynasty."
Those who have made great changes can enter this research institute. In other words, if a scholar has expertise in a certain area, he can also enter a certain research institute and enjoy the treatment and status of a researcher. What do you think of Zhongxing Hou?"
Zhong Jinwei clapped his hands when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Sir Xu, you are indeed very thoughtful."
After praising Xu Guangqi, he expressed his own opinion along this line of thinking: "It is necessary to conceptually blur the concept of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce. There is no such term in the institute, which all take research as the main purpose.
No matter who produces the results, they will be treated equally and rewarded."
Xu Guangqi nodded. He was the number one person in Ming Technology. He understood that doing this would indeed bring benefits, so it made sense.
Zhong Jinwei felt thirsty after talking, took a sip of tea, and then continued to lecture Xu Guangqi with great interest: "Master Xu, later we will establish research institutes on cement, glass, and, by the way, ordnance and other aspects, comprehensively
How about developing all walks of life, vigorously pushing forward the productivity of Ming Dynasty, and making Ming Dynasty more prosperous?"
Xu Guangqi imagined the prospects mentioned by Zhong Jinwei, and his heart, which had been calm for many years, became a little excited.
But before he could speak, Zhong Jinwei spoke again: "Master Xu, do you think this is a good idea? Let's strike while the iron is hot and settle the matter directly. Master Xu will come up with a specific plan, and we will go to the factory first and settle the matter."
Several research institutes have also been established and merged into one general Ming Dynasty Royal Research Institute. Its subordinate research institutes include agriculture, glass, cement, steel and other research institutes. In the future, various research institutes such as gunpowder, ordnance, and shipbuilding will be added. What do you think?
"
Xu Guangqi nodded after hearing this and said: "Okay, I will write a first draft and then we can discuss it together."
"Okay, that's it. I'll go see Mr. An early tomorrow morning. Oh no, it's Song Yingxing now. Let's put the frame up first." Zhong Jinwei said excitedly.
Xu Guangqi was not as excited as Zhong Jinwei. He thought of a question, frowned and asked Zhong Jinwei: "Zhongxing Hou, you do so much together, where does the money and food come from?"
Zhong Jinwei did not hesitate at all and replied with a smile: "I heard from the emperor that state-owned enterprises have made a lot of profits. It is better for the state-owned enterprises to invest. In the future, if the results produced by various research institutes are converted into profits, each research institute will keep a portion for research.
The fund is fully used."
Seeing that Xu Guangqi seemed a little confused, he said directly: "Ignore these for now, I have a set of ideas to solve the problem. You write the plan first, and I will deal with the factory first. After we meet, we will quickly deliver the memorial to the emperor. In the past,
I have said something, and the emperor seems to agree, so this matter will be put into operation as soon as possible."
Xu Guangqi saw that Zhong Jinwei was in a hurry and wanted to do something big and hard, and knew that he was excited at this time. If he said something else, Marquis Zhongxing might not be able to listen, so he nodded in agreement and let's do this for now.
Seeing that things were almost done, Zhong Jinwei stood up and left, thinking of going home and thinking about tomorrow's affairs.
When he just left the study, he remembered something and said to Xu Guangqi who was following him: "Did you receive any chili peppers a few days ago?"
Xu Guangqi was stunned for a moment and asked hurriedly: "What is chili pepper?"
Zhong Jinwei knew that he had spoken too quickly, so he changed his words and said: "It's the pepper, which was also introduced from overseas. I found it when I was ransacking my house in Zhangjiakou, and I asked someone to send it to the capital. Didn't you receive it?"
When he saw Xu Guangqi shaking his head, he said: "I'll send someone to get it later and send it to the Agricultural Research Institute. This pepper is a good thing, so grow more of it."
Xu Guangqi was a little curious about what this thing was, but he didn't care much about it now. He was already drafting the plan.
In the next few days, Zhong Jinwei and Xu Guangqi were both worried and busy about the institute.
At this time, another unexpected situation occurred on the Liaodong battlefield, which made the Ming army and Jianlu, who had been calmly confronting each other, nervous.