The next day, Xia Jing led a small group of guards to go to the iron workshop. As soon as she left the house, she saw King Qian and Mr. Zhang standing at the door.
"Princess, are you getting ready to go out? Where are you going?" When King Qian saw Xia Jing coming out, he came up to her with a smile. It was obvious from the first glance that she was waiting here specially.
When Xia Jing saw King Qian welcoming him enthusiastically, she was stunned for a moment, feeling a little uncomfortable.
After she came to her senses, she looked them up and down and said, "I have something to do when I go out. You two are trying to steal the jobs of the guards. Are you standing guard here?"
After hearing this, King Qian looked around. In order to show that he was not here to steal the guards' jobs, he hurriedly took two steps forward to put some distance between himself and the guards.
Mr. Zhang smiled and bowed his hand to Xia Jing, "Weichen is here with the prince to wait for you today."
"Wait for me?" Xia Jing was slightly surprised, "Wait for me if I have something to do?"
Mr. Zhang looked back at King Qian and explained with a smile: "The thing is like this. The prince and Wei Chen have always been curious about the princess's iron workshop, so they wanted to take a look around today when they have free time. Is it possible?"
Xia Jing nodded, "Okay, I just want to go to the iron workshop today."
"Thank you, Princess, let's go together then."
Mr. Zhang cheerfully turned around and asked King Qian to get in the car with him.
A piece of wasteland in the northeast corner of the north of the city has now changed its appearance. The former wasteland is now an iron workshop.
The workshop is very large and is surrounded by a high wall, which is strong and prevents outsiders from prying into it.
King Qian followed him in and kept looking around. The blast furnace in the smelting workshop was taller than the furnace in his military workshop, and its scale was no less than that of his military workshop.
"Princess, this furnace of molten iron of yours is probably equivalent to two furnaces of the King's Arms Workshop. Do you really need so much iron ore to refine it in such a big building?"
The most important thing is what do you want to do with so many iron blocks?
Xia Jing glanced at the row of blast furnaces and said with a smile: "Iron products are not popular among the people nowadays. Of course, the more the better. Even if you don't use it now, you can always be prepared by storing more. You will always need it in the future.
How can it be too much?”
King Qian: "."
He didn't think it was too much, he was just worried that his princess was more ambitious than him, and he was even more afraid that he wouldn't be able to control her.
Mr. Zhang was not familiar with smelting technology, but when he entered the workshop, he was attracted by the craftsmen working in the workshop.
He looked at everything in front of him in shock, "Princess, the craftsmen in your workshop are in good spirits, and they seem to be very active and motivated in their work."
Upon hearing this, Xia Jing glanced at the workshop, pointed to a craftsman and said: "This is the single blacksmith in our workshop. The others are either his apprentices or colleagues invited by him. There are also invitations from colleagues.
Come with us."
When she signed a labor contract with Shan Blacksmith, Xia Jing asked him to introduce any of his colleagues or friends to work in the workshop. The master level would cost five taels a month, and the apprentice would earn one tael a month.
In ancient times, this salary was considered a high salary in a humble industry like craftsmanship.
To put it bluntly, the seventh-rank officials in the imperial court only had a salary of 20 taels a month. In ancient times, it was very expensive to train a scholar, especially if you had to take the imperial examination and pass three passes and kill six generals, those who could pass the imperial examination could be said to be very rare.
Since it takes ten thousand people to cross the single-plank bridge to become a Jinshi, then Xia Jing, the blacksmith with a salary higher than that of the county magistrate, is the only one who dares to be the first.
Mr. Zhang opened his mouth in surprise and asked: "How much money do you give them per month, or do you think they work for you for free? But that's not right, they can't be so active if they work for free."
When Xia Jing heard this, she couldn't help but was speechless, "Of course I paid for the work. I don't have the overlord's terms like your government. The craftsmen don't get paid for their work, which is regarded as service. Moreover, they have to bring their own dry food to work for you. This is squeezing them."
Only if you can do things proactively can you be successful."
Upon hearing this, neither King Qian nor Mr. Zhang understood.
King Qian asked: "The craftsmen who work for the imperial court are considered to be serving. Isn't this how they have been here for thousands of years? Why do you still pay them? If it is not easy to do things in your own name, why don't you use this as a service?"
Is the workshop affiliated with the government?"
Xia Jing looked at him taking it for granted and shook her head, "It's impossible to generate enthusiasm if someone works for free. Since you want the horse to run but don't want the horse to eat grass, how can anything be so cheap in the world?"
Mr. Zhang interjected: "But if we do as you say, won't it increase the burden on the government?"
"If the government doesn't want to increase the burden, why should the common people increase the burden?"
Do you think they will turn against you until they are overwhelmed?"
King Qian: "."
Xia Jing snorted coldly and added: "The government has to find ways to solve the problem when it is burdened, just like other areas in Lingnan are still implementing the cleanup of hidden households, re-measurement of land, and registration. When this decree is implemented to the end, then
This autumn, the government’s taxes will increase exponentially.”
"In the same way, the people work for the government, and the government pays them wages. With the money from work, the people can improve their lives at home. If it accumulates slowly and the people's lives become rich, then will they still think of rebelling against you?
?”
"You remember, the gentry is not rich if it is rich. The real wealth is the people's wealth. The country is rich when the people are rich. This is probably the reason why the country is rich and the people are strong."
Xia Jing's words were so shocking that they directly shattered the three views of King Qian and Mr. Zhang. It was so subversive to their cognition.
Growing up, they had understood that imperial power was prepared to protect the royal family, gentry, and officials. They had never heard anyone say that the interests of the people should come first.
King Qian came to his senses and was a little excited, and asked quickly: "How can we make the people rich? Can the people become rich if they are paid for their service?"
Xia Jing rolled her eyes at him, "Stupid!"
King Qian choked and then blushed. No woman had ever dared to call him stupid in front of him. This was Xia's challenge to his bottom line!
Mr. Zhang watched anxiously from the side, fearing that the couple would quarrel, so he hurriedly came to the scene in person and asked: "Princess, what do you want to do?"
When it comes to people's livelihood, Xia Jing has a little patience. "According to the current situation of Dayu, people can't even eat. How can we talk about being rich? It's too early to talk about being rich. What needs to be solved now is the people's food and clothing problem. Food and clothing."
There is no solution to the problem of development, are you right?"
Mr. Zhang was a little excited after hearing this. He nodded repeatedly, "The princess is right, but I really don't know what to do to provide food and clothing for the people."
Xia Jing thought about this question in her mind for a while and then said: "This question is a bit profound, but in short, it is to diversify grains, mulberry and linen, and weave more cloth, and vigorously develop productivity. Only the more materials can be produced
, the common people don’t have to worry about not having food to eat or clothing to wear. Only when people are full and strong can they think about progress, and only then will Dayu be energetic."
King Qian pointed to the craftsmen working in the workshop, "Just like them, they only have the strength to work actively when they get wages and food to eat?"
Xia Jing nodded: "That's almost the truth."
During the subsequent visit, neither King Qian nor Mr. Zhang asked any more questions, and both of them were carefully observing the craftsmen. From their subtle expressions, it was easy to see that they were very satisfied with their current lives.
When you are satisfied with life, you have the motivation to do things.
Maybe this is the vitality that the princess mentioned just now.
Until the two left, Xia Jing did not accompany them because she had something to deal with when she came to the iron workshop and it was impossible to waste time with them.
After leaving the iron workshop and getting on the carriage, King Qian thought about the state of work of the craftsmen in Bingzhanfang. When he compared it with the iron workshop, the difference was too obvious.
He sighed for a moment: "Maybe what the princess said is right. Sir, do you think we should change the current situation of Xiabingfang?"
Mr. Zhang said with a smile on his face, "Your Majesty, do you really want to change the current situation of Bingzhangfang?"
"Well," King Qian continued: "If the status quo does not change, perhaps in the near future, there may be incidents of shoddy goods in Bingzhangfang."
Craftsmen will not be rewarded for their serious work, and shoddy work may occur.
Needless to say, if the craftsmen’s food and clothing are not solved, this problem will definitely arise again.
Mr. Zhang affirmed, but also raised the practical problems to be faced, "The prince's idea is very good, but you have to consider the actual situation. The money in our official warehouse is useful. For these matters that need to be solved urgently, the spare money here is
It’s impossible for you to appropriate it.”
King Qian shook his fan and said, "I know what you mean. Since the money in the official warehouse is not available, then we will also follow the example of Wang Fei and Xiao Wu and pull out all the new recruits recruited by the guard to temper them and let them adapt.
What does a cruel battlefield look like? Don’t wait until you get to the battlefield. Seeing the bloody battlefield will make you sick and your legs will weaken."
"Okay, let's do as the prince said. We will try it out at Bingzhangfang for a period of time to see if there is any change." Mr. Zhang agreed, but he left room for words to avoid losing the prince's face.
For money, the two discussed the details of recruiting new soldiers to suppress bandits.
His mouth was dry as he spoke, so King Qian picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea. However, before he put the tea cup down, the carriage shook and all the tea in his hand spilled onto his brocade robe.
There was a large tea stain on the light-colored brocade robe, and King Qian's face turned completely black.
The light-colored brocade robe I wore today was specially worn to accompany Xia Jing. Now I don't have to see anyone anymore.
Mr. Zhang noticed King Qian's expression and opened the curtain before him and asked: "What's going on?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the driver's aggrieved voice came in, "Reporting to your lord, it was a young lady who blocked our way, which forced me to brake urgently."
So it's all the woman's fault.
Mr. Zhang frowned slightly and looked towards the front of the carriage, only to see a look of surprise in his eyes when he saw the woman blocking the road.
"Why is it her?"
King Qian wiped the tea stains on his body, heard his muttering, and asked with anger: "Who?"
Mr. Zhang turned around and said, "It's a girl from the Mou family."
"Mou family?" King Qian couldn't remember which Mou family it was.
Mr. Zhang explained: "The Mou family in Jingzhou came with us to Lingnan when we fled. Their eldest wife and our princess are from the same hometown."
King Qian suddenly understood, but even though he was covered in tea stains, he still said in a bad temper: "Since the princess knows her, why doesn't she go to the princess to find me?"
Mr. Zhang frowned: "." How did he know this? The most important thing is how to answer this?
Fortunately, King Qian didn't want him to answer, but took a look outside the car.
At this glance, he met Mou Guangzhen's eyes.
This expression of desire and reluctance immediately stunned King Qian. It took him a while to recover and then he remembered who this girl was.
Isn't that the girl I saw at the princess's place last time? It seems that she was there at that time
After such a while, King Qian thought a little too much.
"Mou Guangzhen, a civilian girl, has met the prince and bumped into him today. She hopes that he will forgive her."
King Qian looked at Mr. Zhang.
Mr. Zhang understood instantly, cleared his throat and asked, "I wonder what Miss Mou meant by stopping the prince's carriage?"
Mu Guangzhen heard that the voice was wrong, and raised her head to look at the carriage in surprise, and found the face of a thin old man peeking out of the carriage door.
For a moment, she didn't know how to react. She didn't expect that there would be someone else on the Wangjia.
"Girl, girl!"
Mr. Zhang frowned and was very dissatisfied with Mou Guangzhen who was in a daze. Although the prince was a prince, he was also very busy.
This time I came out just to take time out of my busy schedule to accompany the princess. How could I have time to deal with other women?
Mou Guangzhen greeted him and said, "I've met you sir. Is it a little girl who disturbed the prince and sir? To make amends, could you please give me a cup of tea?"
"Huh?" Mr. Zhang pointed to his nose, dumbfounded.
He turned back to look at Prince Qian, "Your Majesty, are all the women in Lingnan so unrestrained?"
Not even sparing him, an old man who is half dead?
King Qian looked at Mr. Zhang's gray hair, which was even thinner than his own, and couldn't help laughing.
After a while, the smile disappeared from his mouth and he said loudly to the outside of the carriage: "Okay, it's okay to apologize. If we still have something to do, just take the first step. Girl, please respect yourself."
Mou Guangzhen seemed to have been hit. She took two steps back and said sadly: "The daughter of the people was abrupt today and delayed the prince's schedule. I hope the prince will not take it to heart."
After hearing this, King Qian's mouth twitched. He would never take these words seriously to those who were insignificant.
As for the beauty of the women outside the carriage, they are not as good as the maids in the palace. He really doesn't like her appearance.
Well, considering that the princess also wants to bring them together, we really can't force this matter.
As long as I fail to live up to her good intentions, I hope she won't be angry when I explain it to her next time.
If Xia Jing knew what was going on in King Qian's mind, she would definitely question him, "I am not a pimp. When did I reveal my intention to match you up?"
King Qian felt aggrieved and pointed at each other: "Didn't you bring the Mou family's mother and daughter with you when I met you last time? The Mou family's daughter revealed a little bit of meaning, and you didn't object at the time?"
"Your Majesty!"
Mr. Zhang cannot understand what King Qian is thinking. The daughter of the Mou family is outside waiting for your reply. Why are you so dazed!
King Qian calmed down and said to the outside of the car: "Don't delay any more, go back to the palace immediately!"
This was obviously said to the coachman.
That night, when Xia Jing learned about Prince Qian's affair today, she sneered and stopped paying attention.
Her personal guard captains had captured a lot of bandits and it took a lot of energy and time to transform these bandits into their own personal guards. How could she have time to deal with such sexy news?
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