"Even later, I didn't see it with my own eyes, but I heard that embroidery merchants also made many special tools. Using these tools to cut fabrics to the right size can be done at once, and the work speed is much faster."
"There are also some scholars who are very disgusted with industry and commerce. They have compiled a lot of words, saying that industry and commerce squeeze workers very hard. They have to work for six hours a day. The food arranged by the factory is not good, and the wages are pitiful. The court is thinking about the people.
Industry and commerce should be strictly restricted and the people who work should be cared for..."
Lian Zining talked a lot about Hangzhou Industrial Park, focusing on the embroidery industry. The key to this industry is the craftsmanship of embroidery, and this embroidery craft is different from the craft of carving jade, so it is difficult to imitate, so Hangzhou Industrial Park was the first
What he entered was the embroidery trade, and even the guilds had moved into the park. Lian Zining paid more attention to it, and when he racked his brains to introduce it to Yunxi, he focused on the embroidery trade.
However, Lian Zining himself was not interested in these. Although he accepted Yunxi's point of view and believed that industry and commerce were also very necessary for the Ming Dynasty, it was also from the perspective of taxation. If one penny more in commercial taxes and customs duties were collected, the national treasury would be richer.
, there is no need to rush for agricultural taxes. It’s not that he really likes industry and commerce. In fact, like most civil servants, he looks down on businessmen. He was very dissatisfied with personally introducing the industrial park to Yunxi.
Resistant.
But the more Yunxi listened, the happier he became. 'In the past, each trade held its own unique craftsmanship and would never hand it over to outsiders. However, the industrial and commercial households operating embroidery in Hangzhou are now willing to teach some embroidery techniques to the recruited female workers.
Why are they willing to spread technology? Because they can make more money than before! In order to make more money, the rules passed down can be dispensed with!'
'There are also ways to improve production efficiency, whether it is the division of labor or the manufacture of new tools, all of which are to solve the problem of insufficient labor to improve production efficiency and make more money!'
'Historically, the Industrial Revolution occurred under similar circumstances. Although there were many free workers in Britain, when Britain occupied a large number of colonies at the end of the 18th century, and these colonies gave priority to selling things from the local area, the handicraft industry gained
Due to rapid development, women rarely come out to work, and the number of workers is not as rich as imagined.'
'And at that time, workers also established trade unions in order to safeguard their rights and interests, especially in factories that required heavy physical labor. The trade unions united workers to fight against capitalists and demanded higher wages. If they didn't agree, they would go on strike. Who dares not to agree with the majority of people?
Likewise, if you insist on working, you will be beaten, eventually forcing the capitalists to raise wages. By the way, in the 1st century, European immigrants in the United States hated Orientals, including Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese.
The lower class hate Africans more than they hate Africans. One of the important reasons is that Easterners rarely participate in strikes, so their actions to force capitalists to raise wages through strikes often fail.'
'In this case, in order to save costs, capitalists had to invest in researching machines that could save labor. As a result, the steam engine was continuously improved after its birth and became a machine of practical significance, leading to the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution.'
'What is happening in the Ming Dynasty now is similar to what happened in the Industrial Revolution. Because the feudal power was still very strong, and the Ming Dynasty also had fewer people and more land at this time, the rural landowners were not too aggressive in squeezing the farmers, so they were willing to work
There are very few people and the labor force is not that rich.'
'At the same time, although there is no trade union for the time being, there are scholars with "unclear consciences". These people will seize any negative news about the factory and make a fuss about it, forcing industrial and commercial owners to reduce their profits and give more to the workers without losing money.
Some.'
'Of course there is a third one, that is, the Ming Dynasty's technology is very advanced. There has never been a systematic scientific theory in ancient China, but from a practical point of view, technology has been developing. At this time, it was relatively leading in the world. At this time, the Ming Dynasty's
The technological level should be no different from that of Europe in 16XX, and it should have the technological level to breed advanced machines. Therefore, even if capitalism is still in its infancy, it may not be possible that machines from the Industrial Revolution period will not be born.'
The more Yunxi thought about it, the happier he became. When he was drinking tea, he caught a glimpse of Lian Zining and smiled at him: "Aiqing did a good job in Zhejiang."
"Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty." Lian Zining, who did not understand the true meaning of this sentence, saluted and said.
"I must reward you!" Yunxi said again: "Lian Zining, listen to my instructions. I will give you ten pieces of silk and satin for your Majesty's wedding, a string of pearls, and six months' salary. After a while, I will ask the young eunuch
I will find some pieces of furniture that do not violate taboos from the palace warehouse and send them to your mansion as a reward from me."
"I will grant you the title of Ai Qing, a scholar with good qualities, a senior official, a senior official with political integrity, and then a senior official with good virtues."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Lian Zining said happily. He didn't care much about the things he was given as a reward at first, but the furniture in the palace was given as a reward. It seems that he had never heard of anyone in the court being given furniture. As a leader,
A portion is certainly worth the joy.
What made him even more happy was the civil official rank awarded to him. The rank was a reward given to civil and military officials who could not be promoted, or who could not be promoted according to the rules, but did something that pleased the emperor. It was a sign of being valued by the emperor.
, which is somewhat similar to the grades of merit recorded in the army in later generations. He was awarded the rank of civil official, which meant that he was favored by the emperor, so he was naturally happy.
Moreover, he not only awarded him the title of a gifted doctor, but also promoted and awarded him, which is a sign that he is more valued.
Seeing that he was so happy, Yunxi gave him a few words of encouragement, so that he would work faithfully on errands for the court in the future.
Yunxi even wanted to keep him in the palace for dinner. It was getting late anyway, it was almost noon. But he looked at Lian Zining's appearance and saw that he came all the way from Hangzhou in an emergency and did not rest after entering the city.
So he went to the palace to ask for an audience. His clothes were still a lot of dust and he had sweated a lot because of the hot weather. At this time, the stains caused by the sweat had penetrated through the official uniform and he could notice it. He asked him to eat with him wearing such clothes.
Although Lian Zining would definitely think that this was a favor, he wouldn't feel comfortable either.
But the clothes of the adult men in the palace are either his clothes or the clothes of eunuchs. The former does not dare to be worn, even if it is just home clothes, while the latter does not want to wear it. If he is forced to wear it, he will still wear it.
He thought it was an insult and couldn't change his clothes.
So Yunxi finally gave up the plan of keeping him in the palace to eat. 'That's all, Lian Zining has returned to Beijing anyway, let's talk about it later.'
He said a few more words to Lian Zining and asked him to retreat.
After Lian Zining left, he first asked Hu Yan to come in and draft an imperial edict on household registration reform. After reading it, he had it stamped and distributed. Then he stood up, walked back and forth in the room a few steps, and wrote some more in the notebook.
What? After resting for a while, he said to Lu Yi: "Xuan Yu's father and son come to see me."
Lu Yi agreed and was about to leave when Yunxi suddenly remembered something and asked: "What did the Yu family and his son do when they waited in Jinshen Palace for such a long time?"
"Officials, I will answer your Majesty after I ask the people in Jinshen Palace." Lu Yi said. Yunxi nodded, and he quickly retreated and went to Jinshen Palace to call for someone in person.
Not long after, Lu Yi hurried back to the back hall, wiped the sweat from his face, walked into the pavilion where Yunxi was, saluted and said: "The official family, Yu Xu, Yu Qian and his father's servants have taken them outside the hall."
He paused and then said: "I asked the people in Jinshen Hall, and they all said that Yu Xu, Yu Qian and his son had been sitting quietly in the room, and there was no trace of impatience on Yu Xu's face, nor any unnecessary movements.
; Yu Qian was a little impatient and wanted to jump off the chair, but Yu Xu stopped him, and Yu Xu whispered something to Qian. After that, Yu Qian sat on the chair honestly, only moving occasionally.
, there is no other action.”
"I got it, Xuanyu and his son can come in." Yunxi didn't say anything after hearing this, but just ordered. Lu Yi agreed and left. Soon, two people, one middle-aged and one young, dressed like scholars, appeared.
Walking in, he knelt down to Yunxi and said: "Yu Xu/Yu Qian, a common man, have met your Majesty. Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty!"
"Get up." Yunxi said after they finished their salutes. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Yu Xu agreed. Yu Qian slowed down and agreed, then stood up and stood a foot away in front of Yunxi with his hands lowered and his head lowered.
Yunxi also stood up and smiled at them again: "Look up. I allow you to look at me."
"Common people thank you, Your Majesty..." After hearing Yunxi's words, Yu Xu slowly raised his head and was about to thank him again. But he only said four words when he suddenly became dumbfounded and stopped mid-sentence. It was not just him.
, His son Yu Qian was also very surprised. Xie En stopped after saying two words, and blurted out: "Why is it you!"
"Bold!" Lu Yi scolded immediately.
Just as Lu Yi was about to continue scolding, Yun Xi suddenly waved his hand. "Hey, he is just a child, and he is a child who has met me before. It is normal to be so surprised at this time. There is no need to be harsh."
Hearing Yunxi's words, Yu Xu came to his senses, and pulled Yu Qian to kneel down again to apologize. Yunxi, who was well prepared, asked the young eunuch on the side to hold the two of them, and said with a smile: "I just said that
Well, Yu Qian is still a child. It is normal for him to blurt out what is in his heart when he is surprised. I will not blame him. You do not need to apologize. "
After hearing Yunxi's words, Yu Xu, who was still in shock at this time, subconsciously obeyed his words, saluted and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
"It's just a child." Yunxi repeated this sentence, ordered Lu Yi to bring a small stool, and said to the father and son: "You all sit down, there is no need to stand and talk to me."
Yu Xu subconsciously sat down again, and asked Yu Qian to sit on the small stool he had just taken out, bowing and thanking him.
Yunxi also sat down and said with a smile: "That's it." Then he drove out most of the serving officials, leaving only Lu Yi to wait in the room, and then said to Xu: "Yu Xiucai, I'm calling you father and son in today."
Palace, I have two things to tell you."
"I left the palace yesterday for something. I met you and your son on the way back to the palace. After observing you, I felt that you, Yu Xiucai, are upright, upright, and knowledgeable. It is too unworthy to stay in the Chang Mansion and teach a few children. I want to die.
You will be the teacher of the Royal Academy and teach the princes and the sons of the vassals. Are you willing?"
Yunxi thought he would hear Yu Xu's excited response immediately, but he didn't expect that after hearing what he said, Yu Xu sat in a chair blankly, not knowing what he was thinking, and did not answer. Yunxi waited for a while, and saw him
Still silent, he had to ask again: "Yu Xiucai?"
"Common people, please forgive me!" Yu Xu suddenly jumped up from the chair, pulled Yu Qian to kneel down again, and said.
Yunxi was confused by his words: "What do you mean?"
"In front of Your Majesty, is there any place for a common man? The son of a common man has also offended Your Majesty, please punish him," Yu Xu said.
When Yunxi understood these two things, he suddenly felt dumbfounded. "Have you been sleepwalking all this time? You just realized it now." However, he did read the report from Jinyiwei: Many ordinary people saw the imperial court and were of third rank.
The senior official was trembling for a long time and couldn't say a complete sentence, and he couldn't answer any questions he asked. Compared with such a person, Yu Xu's performance was remarkable.
"I have just forgiven you Yu Qian's fault. As for the seats, can I sit and be obedient while you stand and talk? I feel uncomfortable." Seeing Yu Xu still kneeling, he said to Qian: "Yu Qian, you
Help your father stand up quickly."
As a child, Yu Qian was very surprised that the emperor he saw today was the man he saw yesterday who claimed to be Chang Jichang's cousin, but after all, he was young and came to his senses after a while; Yu Xu usually
Taught him that "the king of heaven and earth is the master of relatives". Before marrying the king, he would naturally listen to the words of "the king", so he followed his words and wanted to help his father up.
Yu Xu turned his head and was about to say something to him, but suddenly remembered that he was in front of the emperor, and that Yu Qian was obeying the emperor's order. He could only stand up together.
"Help your father sit down again." Yunxi ordered Yu Qian again.
This time, Yu Xu was not 'forced' to sit down by Yu Qian, but refused again. Yun Xi tried to persuade him several times but he still refused to sit down, so he had to say, 'I am issuing an order. Do you want to resist it?
Isn't it disrespectful?' After hearing this, Yu Xu bowed and sat down. (To be continued)