Work overtime

Chapter 778

Their fathers and brothers can sign up to study Chinese language and culture in the capital, and then they can see their relatives. And if they perform well, they can also work in the capital, buy a house in the capital, and settle down.

They can all write to their families to tell them the news in advance and prepare for it.

The concubines from Mongolia were so happy that they cried with excitement and toasted Jiang Yuebai with many glasses of wine.

Concubine Li of North Korea couldn't help asking, "Can North Korea be accepted?" Jiang Yuebai said, "Of course, we welcome them."

The Celestial Empire is a country that recruits talents regardless of their background. Only when there are enough high-level talents can we promote the rapid development of science and technology and culture and start the first industrial revolution as soon as possible. According to the history of the real world, the spinning jenny was not invented in Britain until the early 18th century.

Jiang Yuebai gave Li Beichen the blueprints and basic ideas and principles, and Li Beichen ordered skilled craftsmen to conduct research. Three years ago, they developed a cotton and wool spinning machine that was more advanced than the Jenny spinning machine. A year ago, they developed a silk spinning machine that doubled the production efficiency.

The productivity of cotton fabrics has been greatly improved, and the cost and price of domestic cotton fabrics have been greatly reduced. Coupled with the elegant and advanced pattern design and extraordinary printing and dyeing technology, the overseas sales of cotton fabrics soon exceeded the demand. Two years ago, Han Ziqian brought a large number of cotton fabrics and cotton textile crafts to the West, trying to open up sales for the domestic textile industry.

Han Ziqian originally planned to rest for a while before sailing to the West for the second time, but the Persian envoy's proposal for marriage forced him to start preparing for another voyage in May of the new year.

The next year was the first year of Taixing, the beginning of a new era.

On the first day of the first lunar month, Jiang Yuebai accompanied Li Chengji to get up at Yinshi, dressed in the queen mother's formal dress, and went to the Taimiao to worship the ancestors and pray for the new year. After returning, she accepted the New Year's greetings from the ladies of the court, the princes and princesses, and the concubines, and gave out red envelopes in turn.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the foreign concubine Seth from Persia gave birth to a pair of healthy twins, a boy and a girl. Jiang Yuebai named them Li Chengyang and Li Zimu.

Jiang Yuebai summoned the Persian envoy to the palace for an audience, allowed him to visit the newborn twins in the Qinzheng Hall, and rewarded him generously.

The successful birth of twins was considered a great omen, indicating that the royal families of Persia and the Ming Dynasty were blessed by heaven. The last time such twins were born was when the Empress gave birth to a son six years ago.

The Persian envoy was very excited and said that he would bring this good news to His Majesty the King.

In the first month of the first year of Taixing, Jiang Yuebai announced several major new national policies:
Mongolian was listed as the second official language. The Ministry of Rites took the lead, with the participation of the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy. All the main laws of the Ming Dynasty were translated into Mongolian, distributed to the administrative agencies in the Mongolian region, and special personnel were arranged to preach them.

All future important policy documents must have Mongolian versions;
In March, the imperial examination was reopened to select 100 officials for the Anbei and Anxi Protectorate areas, and Mongolian language training was provided.

Select outstanding young and middle-aged people and tribal leaders from ethnic minorities in Anbei and Anxi Protectorate to serve in the central government.

One hundred Mongolian young men were selected from each of the Anxi and Anbei Protectorates to come to the capital to learn Chinese language and culture;

The imperial examination was changed to a selection period of three years.

Three years later, foreign languages ​​became a compulsory subject in the imperial examination. The optional languages ​​were Mongolian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Arabic. The examination content was divided into two parts: written and oral. Those who were proficient in two or more foreign languages ​​were given priority for promotion.

As soon as the policy was promulgated, it caused a huge sensation inside and outside the court. A group of old officials were very dissatisfied with the new policy implemented by the Queen Mother, believing that it was a rhythm to destroy the country and allow the Yuan Dynasty to reoccupy the Han area.

In addition, Jiang Yuebai transferred Chen Ping from the Anbei Protectorate back to the capital a few years ago and appointed him as the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Zhou Shipeng didn't expect that the plan the Queen Mother finally came up with would be more comprehensive, more radical, and more inward-looking than his.

Isn't this going to kill all the scholars?

Is learning a foreign language really that important?

Is it more important than reading the Four Books and Five Classics and learning mathematics well?
Studying is hard enough. Now you have to learn one or even two foreign languages.

He said he couldn't understand it and it was too outrageous.

But he agreed that this would indeed promote stability and integration in the Mongolian region, strengthen the Mongolian region's recognition of the royal family and the Ming Dynasty's jurisdiction, strengthen the central government's management of the Mongolian region, and normalize the central government's management of the northern region.

So even though he didn't understand, he still chose to withstand the huge pressure and support Jiang Yuebai.

When his former colleague Chang Yian came to ask for his opinion after the court session, he still sighed.

"Sparrows cling to their grass nests, thinking that they are safe as long as they keep them. However, when a storm comes, they have nowhere to hide. The Queen Mother is preparing for a rainy day, using her greatness to ride the wind and seek the Central Kingdom. I admire you!"

Chang Yian couldn't help but ask, "But what if this is the woman's way, thinking it's to win over someone, but in fact it's to invite a wolf into the house?"

Zhou Shipeng glared at Chang Yian and said, "How can the foundation of a country be shaken by a few barbarians? If you don't understand, read more. Go read the history of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and you will find the answer there."

"Aren't you worried at all? We can't let the Ming Dynasty fall in our hands." Chang Yian asked in confusion.

He really couldn't understand why Zhou Shipeng, an old scholar with strong principles, who had been the most ardent opponent of the harem's interference in politics in front of the late emperor, would stand on the side of the empress dowager.

Chang Yian couldn't help but speculate: Could it be that the Queen Mother used a beauty trap on Prime Minister Zhou?

Zhou Shipeng seemed to sense the speculation in Chang Yian's eyes, and gave Chang Yian a joking look, "I advise you to go back and spend time learning Mongolian. In the future, officials in Mongolia will still rely on you to supervise them, and you will inevitably have to deal with them."

Chang Yian was speechless when he heard this. This was his real concern.

Isn't this extra work?

Going to work every day is much more tiring than before.

In the past, they just had to do some work, but since the previous emperor required briefings to be more clear and specific, they have a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of every matter. They were already very busy. Now they have to learn to speak like barbarians.

I'm so angry and tired!
Lie down, I really want to lie down.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Alas. It's not easy to learn Mongolian. It's tiring."

Zhou Shipeng said calmly, "It's always like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. I plan to learn Mongolian. As long as I learn, I can learn it, and I can also teach my grandson. We used to work together. To be honest, if you want to live a comfortable life, you might as well go home and enjoy your life. It seems that the Queen Mother doesn't plan to support idle people."

Chang Yian was annoyed, "Prime Minister Zhou is right. What else can I do? I'll just learn!"

Zhou Shipeng couldn't help but smile, "You might as well think of it this way, you are learning Mongolian not for the Empress Dowager, but to inherit the will of the late emperor.

Gaozong spent his whole life in the military, and he fought against the Tatars and the Waqi many times, but he failed to defeat them. What was his greatest wish? To conquer the Tatars! The late emperor finally realized his last wish through his civil and military achievements and conquered the two places. Now all we have to do is to defend them. The Queen Mother did this to truly turn these two places into the territory of the Ming Dynasty. "When the two were talking, many officials seemed to be far away, but they were actually listening to their conversation with their ears perked up. After hearing Zhou Xiang's explanation, the previous worries about the country's demise and the resentment and dissatisfaction with Jiang Yuebai were somewhat alleviated, but they still disagreed with Jiang Yuebai's approach.

In fact, it implied a point: if people from the Tatars and the Oirats were allowed to enter the six central ministries, there would be more fish in the pond, and they might very well take away their jobs, which would naturally make them unhappy.

And I have to start from scratch in Mongolian. Isn't this going to kill me? Who wants to make things difficult for themselves?

Chen Ning followed behind with his hands behind his back, and couldn't help curling his lips when he heard the conversation between the two. He didn't expect that the last time he saw Concubine Jianing, she was still shot in the leg and couldn't move, and when he saw her again, she had become the empress dowager, had given birth to eight children, and her eldest son became the new emperor.

He admired the fact that she was a merchant girl with no background who had fought her way through the complicated and bloody harem and became the winner.

The new order issued today shocked him even more. He couldn't help but think of the day when he was sitting in the carriage from the Prince of Jin's Mansion, with Empress Dowager Xiaoci and Jiang Yuebai in the carriage. He was curled up in the middle, not daring to move, and the only thing in his sight was the long sword in Jiang Yuebai's hand that was glowing with cold light.

That kind of calm and vigilant spirit, the spirit of moving forward fearlessly, and killing gods and Buddhas who stand in his way, has already hinted at the aura of a king who controls the country today.

A smile appeared on his lips.

Although the Tatars and the Oirats were conquered, the northwest still faced the threat of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.

The Eastern Chagatai Khanate was also a loose political union composed of the descendants of Genghis Khan's "Golden Family", the Mongolian tribes as the main body, and the various ethnic groups in the Western Regions.

Hei De Er Huo Zhe, who was from the Golden Family, died in the holy war. After his son succeeded to the throne, he worked hard to govern the country and always maintained friendly relations with the Ming Dynasty and paid tribute. However, unlike the Oirat and Tatar, he did not send noble women for marriage and remained relatively independent.

The "holy war" brought super strong cohesion and fanatical fighting power, but it also created cultural isolation between them and the northern Mongolians who shared the same ancestry and believed in Buddhism.

It is very difficult and unstable to completely subjugate them. Control is more in line with the reality.

Jiang Yuebai transferred the Minister of War and Wuchengbo Sun Shangli to Anxi Protectorate as the commander-in-chief, in charge of the military defense of the region.

Li Beichen's cousin Li Gongliang was promoted to the position of Minister of War to unify the thinking. Lu Ruilin, the Left Governor of the Henan Provincial Government and History Department, was transferred to the position of Left Vice Minister of War. Zhou Shipeng then recommended a general who served in a local position to be transferred back to Beijing to serve as Right Vice Minister of War.

At the same time, Feng Qian, the head of the Ministry of Rites who had persuaded the Oirat Khan Jie Li last time, was sent to the Eastern Chagatai Khanate to persuade him to submit to the Ming Dynasty, sign a peace and friendship agreement, and jointly reduce border conflicts.

Although the new policies proposed by Jiang Yuebai in the first month of the year encountered a lot of opposition, they were still forcefully implemented under the promotion of the six ministers of state.

In February, the eleventh prince, born to Concubine Qian Taigui, who was originally from the Waqira clan, unfortunately died.

Nowadays, it is different from the past. If you lose a child, you can get another one. If you lose a child, it is gone and there is no hope for it. Concubine Qian was depressed all day long and had no appetite.

Jiang Yuebai originally wanted to give the two-year-old Tenth Princess to her for upbringing, but after thinking it over, he decided to give up. It would be better to raise his own child by his own side. And once he started, he couldn't stop.

The Enke held in March was held smoothly. Jiang Yuebai personally presided over the palace examination and asked two questions: one was what to do if the decision from above could not be implemented at the lower levels; the other was what to do if an armed conflict occurred between Mongolians and Han people in the Mongolian area?
Based on these two questions, one hundred people were selected. After three months of training, by the end of July, more than thirty people had passed the Manchu language test.

Jiang Yuebai divided all the people into two groups, leaving sixteen people in each department.

The remaining eighty-four people were divided into eight leagues based on the Eight Banners system, with four leagues in each of the two divisions. The four with the highest comprehensive qualities were assigned to serve in the two protectorates, and the remaining eighty people, ten from each league, were assigned tasks based on their comprehensive examination scores.

First, we need to survey the geography, population, livestock breeding, tribal distribution, internal tribal structure and external relations, economic conditions, etc. of the area under our jurisdiction to gain detailed information about each region.

Second, preach the Sino-Mongolian friendly policy and the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

Third, develop villages and trade fairs, and on the basis of helping herders solve basic survival problems, prohibit herders from moving across regions to prevent tribal riots.

Fourth, establish schools to provide education and teach herders Chinese for free.

During this imperial examination, he unexpectedly met a special person - Du Ruo, the third place winner.

Jiang Yuebai called him to the imperial study and ordered someone to serve him tea made from the dew on lotus leaves in the early morning.

"Why are you here this time?"

Du Ruo knelt down and said, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, I am grateful for your kindness in saving our lives. I have no way to repay you, so I will serve the court."

Jiang Yuebai, "Have you decided?"

"I have made up my mind. I am willing to sacrifice my life for the Queen Mother."

“Can we go to Mongolia?”

"Follow the Queen Mother's orders."

Jiang Yuebai looked at Du Ruo with approval.

That's right. Why do you need to fall in love? Why do you need to avoid the world? Use your talent to give back to society, don't be too perfect. This is the correct way to open up a talent that can benefit the world.

"After arriving in Mongolia, you should make full use of your medical expertise and win over the nobles as much as possible. You should treat the herdsmen equally and treat them as much as possible, so that they can feel the sincerity of the court."

"The minister obeys the order."

Jiang Yuebai arranged for him to serve as deputy protector of Anxi Protectorate, and arranged for him to marry Jiang Siqi, the legitimate daughter of Jiang Binglian, who worked in the Inspectorate of a branch of the same clan, and chose an auspicious day for the wedding.

In March, his younger brother Jiang Binggong turned sixteen. He insisted on marrying his benefactor's daughter Xu Danxia, ​​and Jiang Yuebai followed him.

The wedding was a grand occasion.

Jiang Binggong has now become a brave and skilled young general. Two years ago, he was sent to recapture the Waqira. He was both wise and brave, and made great contributions in encircling and capturing Jie Li. He was awarded the title of deputy captain, a fifth-rank official.

Soon after the wedding, Jiang Binggong was transferred by Jiang Yuebai to Anbei Protectorate to be Mao Yuliang's deputy. The newlywed Xu Danxia not only did not complain, but also took the initiative to ask to follow the army.

Jiang Yuebai was deeply moved and liked this virtuous and kind sister-in-law very much. Not only did he arrange a large amount of supplies to accompany her, but he also arranged for reliable palace maids and nannies to serve her. Considering that she was already 19 years old, he gave her a boy-birthing powder, abortion-preserving pills, folic acid tablets, vitamins for pregnant women, etc.