Chapter 940
Chapter 940
Zhu Qiyu smiled bitterly: "Grand Preceptor, how can I face my ancestors after I die?"
Pan Yun said solemnly, "If Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong find out, they will only be happy and will never blame Your Majesty."
“Filial piety must come from one’s natural instincts. Your Majesty knows in your heart that the old laws are inappropriate, but you are forcing yourself to uphold them. This is not filial piety,” Pan Yun said solemnly. “True filial piety is to carry on the will of one’s ancestors and to carry on their deeds. If Your Majesty wants to fulfill your filial duties to your ancestors, you must first understand the will of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, their true will.”
Yu Qian immediately stepped forward and said: "Back then, Emperor Taizu Gao ordered that members of the imperial clan could not leave their fiefdoms without an order, nor could they enter the capital without an imperial edict. This was to prevent the imperial clan from colluding to cause trouble and threaten the emperor. Now, after the first generation of imperial clan members, some have already reached the rank of Fengguo Zhongwei, and some have been stripped of their titles for crimes. These people have no power or influence and can no longer threaten the imperial power. Emperor Taizu Gao's concerns can be reduced."
Zhu Qiyu's heart skipped a beat: "Does Minister Yu mean that members of the imperial clan without titles can leave their fiefdoms, but others cannot?"
After thinking for a moment, Yu Qian lowered his eyes and said, "It's not necessary to be without a title. In my opinion, it's possible to remove him from the rank of Zhenguo Zhongwei."
The titles of nobility established by Emperor Zhu were that of Prince and Prince of the Second Rank, which were hereditary and enjoyed permanent hereditary privileges. This was an unlimited inheritance for the eldest son of the legitimate wife, without any reduction in rank.
Apart from the son who inherited the title, all other sons were demoted one rank from their titles. Demotion by one rank meant becoming a General Who Guards the State. If any son committed a mistake, he could even be demoted two ranks.
General of the State, General of the State, General of the State, Lieutenant General of the State, Lieutenant General of the State, Lieutenant General of the State.
After being demoted to the rank of Lieutenant of Fengguo, his descendants will permanently inherit the title of Lieutenant of Fengguo and will not be demoted again. However, only the eldest son will inherit the title, while the other sons will only receive the basic protection of the imperial clan.
Old Zhu had a good plan. He thought that the title would be passed down from generation to generation, and by the time it reached the seventh generation of Fengguo Lieutenant, the children would have accumulated wealth generation after generation, and with the government's salary as a guarantee, whether it was the accumulated wealth or their own abilities, the bloodline of the Zhu family would last for thousands of years.
But he forgot that there is another kind of creature in this world called a spendthrift!
Not everyone can be like him, feeling happy just to have a piece of land to cultivate.
His descendants said they were not happy at all and could not understand their ancestors. Why did they have to make them farm instead of living a good life?
Yu Qian: "The second ironclad decree of Emperor Taizu Gao regarding the imperial clan was that members of the imperial clan were not allowed to take the imperial examinations or engage in any profession. This was to prevent members of the imperial clan from competing with the common people for profit and exploiting them. However, there were many members of the imperial clan who secretly engaged in any profession under the guise of being stewards, advisors, or brothers-in-law of their wives. These were mostly princes, dukes, and generals in various regions."
“On the contrary, there are almost no members of the imperial clan below the rank of Fengguo General who dare to engage in or are able to do so.” Yu Qian said, “Therefore, I propose that this law be slightly modified. Members of the imperial clan below the rank of Zhenguo Lieutenant shall not be allowed to engage in or practice within their fiefdoms, while members of the imperial clan above the rank of Fengguo General shall still not be allowed to take the imperial examinations or engage in or practice.”
Pan Jun smiled slightly, stood aside and listened quietly without interrupting.
Cao Nai immediately added, "This method can be referenced from the change of generals in the army, where the court temporarily designates the place of change each time."
Zhu Qiyu didn't react for a moment and exclaimed, "Huh?"
Pan Yun said softly, "It refers to the imperial examinations. Whether it is business or other industries, one is not restricted in any place except for the fiefdom. However, if one participates in the imperial examinations, one must take them separately. Alternatively, a separate examination may be held for members of the imperial clan, with only a certain number of candidates selected each time, and then they will be sent to various regions and departments."
Pan Yun said, "Aside from major military and national affairs, there are too many areas where the Ming Dynasty can make a difference. The imperial family members are even more talented in divination and craftsmanship."
Zhu Qiyu: "Huh?"
Yu Qian's eyes lit up even more, and he immediately said, "Your Majesty, this matter should not be implemented immediately. We can first select one place to try it out. If it is controllable and can indeed improve the lives of the imperial family members and benefit local finances, then it can be promoted on a large scale."
As for trial policies, there were precedents for this in the Ming Dynasty.
Whenever the imperial court introduces a new policy, it will first try it out in one place, and then promote it if it is successful.
Only those who are eager for quick success and instant benefits would come up with what they think is a great idea and then promote it nationwide.
Once a problem arises, it's a major one, and the situation is often difficult to control.
Zhu Qiyu asked, "Where should we conduct the pilot program?"
The ministers exchanged glances and then looked at Pan Yun together.
After thinking for a moment, Pan Yun said, "Why don't we start with Fengyang?"
Everyone fell silent. This was the land where dragons rose to power.
There are many problems there.
Zhu Qiyu then asked, "Who can do this?"
After much deliberation, the ministers suggested a few names, but Zhu Qiyu frowned at each one.
It's no wonder he frowned, because they had also frowned when they brought it up, clearly indicating that they themselves felt there was something wrong with it and that it wasn't quite appropriate.
Seeing that their faces were all scrunched up, Pan Yun said, "I also have someone in mind, and I think he's very suitable."
Zhu Qiyu quickly asked, "Who?"
"Yang Zan, Right Envoy of the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commission."
The emperor and his ministers were all startled and remained silent.
Pan Yun has already made her recommendation, so the rest is no longer her concern. She took out a bunch of things from her sleeve and said, "You can discuss and decide on these important matters yourselves later. I'm just offering a suggestion. Your Majesty, gentlemen, since you're all here today, I'll show you something good."
Pan Yun took out the filament and simple light bulb and placed them on the table, saying excitedly, "Hu Wei from the Ministry of Works is very capable. I only mentioned it briefly, but I didn't expect him to actually be able to make filaments and conductive wires. Your Majesty, you should make good use of such talents. By the way, I would also like to talk to you about the incentive policy for craftsmen. Is the national treasury short of money? No problem, I will cover the cost!"
Pan Yun's face flushed with excitement, her eyes shining brightly. She said, "I want to take out ten thousand taels of silver. You have someone keep an eye on it for me. Throughout the country, no, throughout the world, whether it's the Ming Dynasty or foreign countries, as long as someone invents something useful for the people, the minimum reward will be twenty taels, and the maximum will be one hundred taels, depending on its practical value!"
After a moment's thought, Chen Xun said, "Grand Preceptor, with this setup, I'm afraid it won't take long to collect ten thousand taels of silver, will it?"
Pan Yun: "June is almost here, and the sea will be windy. My eldest nephew will definitely be back. I'll go ask him for money, and if it's not enough, I'll add more."
He then urged Chen Xun, "Lord Chen, this is a matter of benefit to the country and the people. Shouldn't your Ministry of Revenue also contribute something?"
Chen Xun looked miserable and said, "Grand Preceptor, if others asked, I would pretend, but you, I can only tell you the truth, as you know, the national treasury is really poor."
Seeing that Pan Yun was still more interested in artifacts, Cao Nai's wariness of her involvement in politics lessened slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said, "The national treasury can't spare any money. Perhaps His Majesty's private treasury can provide some support?"
Pan Yun then looked at Zhu Qiyu.
Zhu Qiyu opened his mouth, and after a long while, he said, "I... I'll go back and ask the Empress."
Yu Qian stared at the things on the table and asked, "What is this?"
Pan Yun then gave them a demonstration.
She conjured a hand-cranked generator out of thin air. Everyone's eyelids twitched, but they pretended not to see it and tried to ignore the anomaly. She connected the wires, stuck a yellow talisman directly on the handle, and the hand-cranked generator started spinning rapidly like a madman.
The connected light bulb suddenly lit up.
Zhu Qiyu, Yu Qian, and the others suddenly stood up, "This, this..."
Pan Yun snapped her fingers and exclaimed excitedly, "This is an electric light!"
Yu Qian was the most perceptive, grasping the key word: "electricity?"
“Yes!” Pan Yun said, “This is where we have to praise another person, Xu Min, a craftsman from the Ministry of Works. He helped to make the wind-powered spinning machine. After completing the wind-powered spinning machine, he was able to make a wind-powered motor without any instruction, and wanted the wind to drive other things, such as stone mills, presses and stone crushers. His idea was correct, but the materials required were too large and the Ministry of Works did not have the funds to support it.”
Pan Yun then complained, "The Ministry of Revenue is giving the Ministry of Works too little funding for research and development. I've found that our Ming Dynasty's artisans have many great ideas, but they can't implement them because of a lack of funds."
"This hand-cranked generator is what he made as a second-best option. It took him three months to complete. I took a look, and it can still be improved," Pan Jun said with a smile. "This lamp wick was made by Hu Wei. Last time we were stargazing together on a thunderstorm, I mentioned that electricity could be used to burn tungsten filaments to produce light, like lightning illuminating the night. I didn't expect him to actually make it. Amazing, truly amazing..."
Pan Jun felt that these craftsmen were even more useful than her fellow Daoists; they were truly imaginative and dared to think of anything.
Pan Jun chuckled and said, "Fortunately, I went to the Ministry of Works after talking with His Majesty that night, otherwise the Ministry of Works would definitely have been burned down. Hu Wei was so bold as to want to test the burning and glowing of tungsten wire at high temperatures, without any isolation."
Zhu Qiyu and the three ministers, not understanding what they were hearing, asked, "What will happen?"
Pan Yun then slapped her hand and laughed, "It'll explode!"
Zhu Qiyu: ...
Pan Jun seized the opportunity to suggest, “Your Majesty, let’s find a secluded, spacious and safe house outside the capital for the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works. Let’s also set up a workshop in the suburbs. That way, small and safe things can be tested inside the city, and large and dangerous things can be tested outside the city.”
Zhu Qiyu: "...I understand. The Imperial Advisor came to see me today just to ask for money."
Pan Yun: "How much would it cost to build two workshops? You certainly have existing houses in the city. Just choose one from the vacant houses and give it to the Ministry of Works. It would be cheaper to build outside the city. You only need to spend some money on materials and labor. The court doesn't need to worry about the design. The people in the Ministry of Works can design it. By the way, the Ministry of Works can also provide the craftsmen themselves."
The Emperor and his three ministers: This is exactly what the Ministry of Works does.
Pan Yun's requirements were indeed not many. As for the house, she just wanted something functional. She didn't expect it to be like building an imperial palace, with specific requirements for materials like wood and stone.
She presented the bill directly and handed it to Chen Xun, saying, "Don't even mention the Ministry of Works spending money. The construction of this workshop outside the city cost less than the number of steps to build the Chengqian Hall in the palace."
Cao Nai glanced at it and said, "Indeed, no, the budget is only one-tenth."
Pan Yun spread his hands: "Look how frugal our Ministry of Works is."
Cao Nai said with a complicated expression, "Hu Cheng has really got a good helper."
Pan Yun: "Lord Cao, you can't bully Lord Hu just because he's from a foreign land."
Cao Nai refused to admit to this crime and immediately said, "Grand Preceptor, please be careful with your words. When have I ever bullied him?"
Pan Yun looked at Chen Xun and said quietly, "Then it was Lord Chen who bullied him."
Chen Xun immediately waved his hand: "I didn't either, Grand Preceptor, don't listen to others' instigation."
Pan Yun: "Then why is it so difficult for the Ministry of Works to apply for funding?"
Chen Xun looked complicated: "Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. Every department is in trouble. If you don't believe me, you can ask the magistrate."
Pan Yun glanced at Yu Qian.
Yu Qian nodded and chuckled, "Fortunately, the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office sent another batch of tax silver in March this year, which relieved the court's urgent need."
Chen Xun said, "Tianjin has also sent a batch of tax silver. Although it is not as much as that of Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office, its prospects are promising."
This was also a policy unanimously approved by the court to open more customs posts and further lift the maritime ban. Compared with last year, there were almost no opponents in the court.
Sure enough, after the great battle, everyone was more united and also saw the difficulties of the national treasury.
The national treasury is already depleted; what's the point of fighting tooth and nail for such petty gains?
Even some princes in the royal family who were involved in maritime smuggling no longer thought about stopping maritime trade, but instead wanted to open a customs house exclusively for the royal family.
Sure enough, if you can't beat them, join them.
This topic was a bit sensitive, and everyone only mentioned it briefly before Yu Qian quickly changed the subject: "Could this electric light possibly replace an oil lamp? But... the cost isn't low, is it?"
He bent down to examine the hand-cranked generator and the light bulb, and frowned, saying, "Leaving aside how much it would cost to equip a light bulb with such a machine, just the fact that you need a yellow talisman to get the light... Can every Taoist priest draw such a talisman? And how much does it cost?"
Pan Yun paused for a moment and then said, "Even disregarding my status, such a Swiftness Talisman costs five taels of silver."
Yu Qian looked at her speechlessly: "Imperial Preceptor, a farmer wouldn't spend five taels of silver on lamp oil in his entire life. Can you use this talisman for a lifetime?"
Pan Yun choked for a moment, then removed the yellow talisman and waved it in his hand to show him: "You don't need the yellow talisman."
Chen Xun leaned in, gloating: "You need someone to crank it, right? How much does this hand-cranked generator cost?"
Pan Yun: "...It's just starting out now, so the cost is naturally high. But I'm not trying to promote this. I just want to tell you that there are still things in this world that can shine, and you don't necessarily need lamp oil to provide light."
"But lamp oil is cheap; at least every household can afford it."
Pan Yun: "Can every household really afford it?"
Cao Nai paused for a moment and then said, "That's still much, much cheaper than this set."
Pan Jun: "We can make further improvements. The essence of this system is that we have discovered new energy sources and new lighting fixtures. What we need to do now and in the future is to reduce costs and increase utilization."
Pan Yun looked at them with disappointment and said, "In this respect, you are not as farsighted as us craftsmen."
The three smiled politely at Pan Yun, and even Zhu Qiyu, who always trusted and doted on her, could only smile awkwardly.
Pan Yun gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and said, "How about this, tomorrow you go to the Ministry of Works, and I'll show you something else, something that doesn't exist in this world. You should be able to understand what I mean." (End of Chapter)