Chapter 977
Chapter 977
"We cannot afford to be without accurate data, not only because of layers of embezzlement, but also because we are powerless to investigate," Chen Xun said. "Even if people don't talk about it, do you know how much paper and ink we spend on each trip to the countryside?"
"Grand Secretary Yu is right to say that the Ming Dynasty has a serious problem of redundant officials. There is indeed a serious problem of redundant officials at the middle and upper levels. You should ask the Minister of Personnel about this!"
Cao Nai, who had been standing outside the crowd listening intently, never expected the fire to spread to him. He retorted irritably, "Ask me? How long have I been the Minister of Personnel?"
He paused for a moment, then continued, "However, Minister Chen is right. There is a shortage of officials at the grassroots level, but there is a serious overstaffing at the middle and upper levels."
Chen Xun spread his hands and said, "There isn't even enough paper to record the population and land area. In order to save on the cost of paper and ink, many poor counties will not go to the countryside to record for two or three years. They will just estimate and report to the higher authorities every year. If the prefectural government doesn't check, and we in the Ministry of Revenue can't find out, they will let it go. If we find something abnormal, we have to send people down to investigate. How much does it cost to make one official trip?"
“This is not only a problem of the Ministry of Revenue, but also a problem of the Ministry of Personnel,” a censor from the Censorate said in a deep voice. “Evaluating officials is the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel.”
“No matter which department, doing things inevitably requires spending money, and the national treasury is currently empty, so Grand Secretary Yu wants to conduct a land survey, rectify official corruption, find hidden land, and increase land taxes,” Chen Xun said. “But to do so much, land survey alone is not enough, and this year’s survey will take time to process. I discussed it with the Minister of Works, and since the Grand Preceptor strongly supports the Ministry of Works, the Ministry has recently developed many good products that can be used to generate revenue for the country.”
Hu Cheng seized the opportunity to nod and said, "Our Ministry of Works provides the technology, and the Ministry of Revenue manages the business. Isn't that a win-win-win situation?"
Officials: "A win-win-win situation?"
Hu Cheng: "If the Ministry of Works' technology is put to use, the national treasury will increase its revenue, and the people of the world will benefit."
Hu Ying stroked his beard and laughed, "According to what the Minister of Revenue just said, it's not a win-win-win situation, but a win-win-seven-win situation, hahaha—"
Everyone thought it made sense and burst into laughter.
But once outside the palace, at least half of those with genuine smiles on their faces were gone.
"Is it really that good? Are the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works trying to embezzle national funds by doing this?"
"Then you, the Censorate, will have to keep a close eye on things."
"I heard that yesterday the Imperial Preceptor invited several ministers to meet at the Ministry of Works, avoiding His Majesty. Isn't this forming cliques for personal gain?"
"Shh—stop talking, His Majesty now listens to the Imperial Advisor completely."
"Don't talk nonsense. I think the Imperial Preceptor is focused on weapon crafting and rarely participates in political affairs."
When everyone saw it was Wang Hong, they immediately fell silent.
Wang Hong frowned: "Why are you all stopped talking?"
"I can't reason with a fool like you. If the Grand Preceptor really doesn't participate in state affairs, why would he gather several ministers together to talk?"
"Stop arguing! Aren't you curious about what new gadgets the Ministry of Works has? How are they going to make money, and how much are they projecting to earn?"
"That's right, Minister Chen didn't mention it in his memorial!"
"His Majesty didn't even ask..."
Despite the officials' surprise and uncertainty, the cooperation between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works began.
In February and March, Yu Qian petitioned to abolish several tax collection points, which resulted in the layoff of a number of redundant staff related to these tax collection points.
The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works are now cooperating and need manpower.
Hu Cheng memorized Pan Yun's plan and, after studying the blueprints she provided with several trusted master craftsmen, decided that they could start with the steel mill and the textile factory.
Chen Xun was surprised: "Two?" "Yes, two," Hu Cheng said: "According to the Imperial Advisor's classification, one is heavy industry and the other is light industry."
"Why do we need textile workshops? Hasn't your Ministry of Works already opened branches in various places and published the blueprints for new spinning and weaving machines?" Chen Xun said, "I think the private textile workshops are enough. In addition, there is the weaving bureau under the jurisdiction of your Ministry of Works in Jiangnan. There is absolutely no need to compete with the people for profits in this area."
Hu Cheng said, "The main purpose of this textile factory is not textile production, but research and manufacturing of textile machines."
Hu Cheng had wanted to do this for a long time. He said, "The test site in the suburbs is still too small, and all sorts of things are piled up there. Since the Ministry of Revenue is coming in, these things should be sorted and categorized properly."
"In addition to making textile and loom machines, textile factories can also conduct research and manufacturing on related machines. From now on, all the looms and textile machines in the world can be ordered and shipped from this factory."
Chen Xun: "Then what about your Ministry of Works' branches in various places..."
Hu Cheng waved his hand dismissively and said, "The purposes are different. Do you think the blueprints we release are the most advanced?"
He said, "The new machines that are being announced by the public are the first generation. The textile workshop in the suburbs of the city used the first generation from the beginning. The machines that have been added now are the third generation. The machines that our Ministry of Works is producing now are the fifth generation. The quantity and quality of the textiles produced are 12% higher than those of the fourth generation. The fifth generation looms can even weave simple jacquard patterns."
Chen Xun stared at him with his mouth agape, and after a long while asked, "Why didn't you release the latest version?"
Hu Cheng said irritably, "Do you think we craftsmen can innovate and improve all the time? You release everything you make now, what if we can't make anything newer after a while?"
Chen Xun looked at him silently: "I didn't expect your Ministry of Works to have such scheming."
"Don't talk like your Ministry of Revenue is so naive. What are you thinking when you suppress the applications for funds from other ministries?"
Chen Xun remained silent.
Hu Cheng said, "Moreover, rapid technological updates may not be a good thing."
Chen Xun: "Hmm?"
"Imagine you're the owner, and you've just spent a lot of money to buy ten new spinning machines. The female workers have barely mastered using them when an even newer generation comes out, and the price is about the same. How would you feel?"
Chen Xun: "I wonder if the person who recommended this loom to me was playing a trick on me."
“That’s right, trouble will arise when people are not at peace,” Hu Cheng said. “Besides, new machines need to be tested, which takes time.”
“Previously, we could only test at the experimental field in the suburbs. The Ministry of Works spent money to buy silk and hemp. The threads produced in the experiment could be used to weave cloth, but what about the cloth produced in the experiment?” Hu Cheng said, “It was all disposed of as waste.”
Because Pan Yun is interested in textile machinery, the technological innovation in textile machinery has been the fastest from last year to this year, resulting in the largest reported fabric losses.
Hu Cheng then lifted his official robe to show Chen Xun his trousers underneath: "Look, they're made from worn-out fabric."
He then rummaged through the fabric inside his collar: "Worn-out fabric, and these shoes, that's worn-out fabric too."
He sighed, “Now, from me, the Minister of Works, down to the craftsmen and apprentices, everyone in our Ministry of Works is wearing worn-out fabric, inside and out.”
Chen Xun: "...Are you showing off?"
"No, I want to tell you that these losses could have been turned into money."
That's why he wanted to open a textile factory.
Moreover, this technology is mature, and its construction speed will certainly surpass that of a steel plant. (End of Chapter)