Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 187 Shipping! Organization! Northern Birds Return to Their Nests!

"How's the textile factory?" Xia Zhibai suddenly remembered another thing.

"Sir, it has already started, but..." Jing Man's eyes flashed with a trace of struggle, and hesitantly said: "Because Li Sheng and others left, the textile machine is basically managed by Governor Zhou alone. There are not many changes. Although it is currently in operation, the efficiency is not very high."

"It's barely enough to maintain normal operations, but as for profitability, there's no hope of it happening anytime soon."

Jing Man told the truth.

If Zhou Ning, Li Sheng and others had focused their attention on it, perhaps the textile machine could be improved a lot. However, more than half a year ago, Li Sheng was dissatisfied and was unwilling to spend more time on it. He was only focused on showing off his skills, and Zhou Ning's mind was on the steam engine at that time, which resulted in spending too much time and achieving little results.

Xia Zhibai frowned, then quickly relaxed and said, "It's okay. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now that we've started, it's not a bad thing."

“Although it was a little delayed.”

“But it’s not bad.”

He actually told others about the idea of ​​the 'flying shuttle' at that time, but neither Zhou Ning nor Li Sheng were interested in his idea at that time. They were still thinking about creating a unique 'iron loom'. This could be considered a blessing in disguise.

He is back now.

After going through so much, those who still stay are the ones who have shared the hardships.

With everyone working together, it won't be difficult to develop the flying shuttle, and the textile industry will then be on the right track.

The salt production, post station reform, textile machinery, coal plant, etc. that he planned are actually more suitable for the North at present, because the North has a vast land and a sparse population, and the labor force is relatively scarce. The emergence of these emerging technologies can greatly improve the productivity of the North.

The South is fine too.

But no matter they are the salt-making households, the water transport workers in the misty Jiangnan, or the women weaving in the independent households, they can all be regarded as "million-dollar water transport workers". These gentry in the Jiangnan only see their own immediate profits, but ignore the livelihoods of these grassroots people.

It's bound to cause big problems.

At present, because the salt enterprises have just started to operate, the stove households have just begun to be artificially squeezed out of the market. The current "unemployment" situation is not too obvious and has not affected too many people. But in time, as the scale expands, this contradiction will definitely break out directly, and then Jiangnan will be in chaos.

The officials and gentry who caused all this could not escape the guise of borrowing people's heads for personal gain.

But he would try his best to avoid that from happening.

The turmoil has a huge impact on the world.

The Ming Dynasty he wanted was a stable one, one that strived for economic development, not one that fell into the trap of "sheep eating people".

Xia Zhibai said again: "Jing Man, go to the salt factory later and call Governor Zhou and other engineers."

"I have something to discuss with them."

"in addition."

“Remember to tell the workers in the salt and coal factories that the difficult times are over and their future life will be extremely bright.”

"I, Xia Zhibai, will not let them down, nor will I let them down for their persistence."

"Their perseverance is worth it!"

Xia Zhibai's eyes were extremely firm, with unquestionable certainty.

Jing Man was stunned for a moment.

The current situation of Kyoto's salt industry is not good.

Even if Xia Zhibai comes back, what can he do?
The steam engine drawings had been stolen by Li Sheng, and many engineers also left with him.

The current size of Kyoto's salt industry is almost half of its original size.

This is a reduction in all aspects.

He had no one under his command, no other technology to show off, a limited means of profit, and was being targeted in various ways. He saw no signs of a turnaround, but considering that this was Xia Zhibai, an inherently unpredictable man, he was inexplicably calmer.

He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll pass the message on."

Just as Jing Man was about to spread the word, he suddenly stopped and said with a look of satisfaction, "Sir, do you want to spread the news of your return? Li Sheng and his men are in Yingtian Prefecture now. They are usually very arrogant. If they knew that you are back, they would be so scared that their legs would go limp."

"And if the news of your return gets out, it can deter a lot of scoundrels who are spying on us."

Jing Man's eyes were full of revenge.

He was really furious. He had been bullied for so long. Now that his backbone had returned, he had to find a way to get back at them. Although it was impossible for him to really do anything, he had to make those who had gone against the Kyoto Salt Industry's business and those who had betrayed the Kyoto Salt Industry feel a little scared.

Xia Zhibai is never easy to mess with.

Always been a thorn in the side.

Seeing Jing Man's expectant look, Xia Zhibai smiled and nodded: "You decide for yourselves."

"The news of my return cannot be hidden."

"I'm not going to hide."

"In the past nine months, so many things have happened in the world. Due to fate, many things have been facilitated and some of my ideas have been realized ahead of time. I will not stop here. When I really take action against the world, I am afraid that the whole world will be shocked."

“This time is almost up!”

Xia Zhibai picked up the teacup with a faint smile on his face.

Others may not know.

But he knew it.

Li Sheng and others helped me a lot.

This will allow his plan to proceed more smoothly and also allow him to more smoothly "reduce the power of the vassal states" in Jiangnan.

Jing Man ignored all this.

He was just an ordinary clerk, without even a rank, and had no intention of thinking about Xia Zhibai's thoughts. Now, only one sentence remained in his ears, which was that Xia Zhibai agreed. He smiled and ran out to pass on the message.

Xia Zhibai drank up the tea in the cup.

He went to the study in the store and took out several memorials from his package.

This was a summary of his nine-month trip to the northern border. He opened the pages one by one.

"Social Classes and Population Changes in the Ming Dynasty".

"The income and composition of various social classes in the Ming Dynasty".

"A Brief Analysis of the Social Group of Gentry in the Ming Dynasty".

Xia Zhibai opened them one by one, and then lit them directly with candlelight. Zhu Yuanzhang would not be happy to read these things. Even the two memorials he had sent before might not be acceptable to Zhu Yuanzhang.

He will not rebel against his class.

Nor dare.

People in high positions have too many things to worry about, especially Zhu Yuanzhang.

These things are useless.

In the tenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang stipulated that the families of current officials had the privilege of being exempted from corvee labor.

In the 12th year of Hongwu, another order was issued: From now on, officials inside and outside the country who retire and return to their hometowns will have nothing to do with their families for the rest of their lives.

The 13th year of Hongwu.
The additional privileges that Zhu Yuanzhang granted to local officials seemed particularly extraordinary when these edicts were written, and they also pushed the gentry to the top of the grassroots level.

But Zhu Yuanzhang would not admit that he was wrong.

Because there were few officials in the Ming Dynasty.

If the local governing functions were not entrusted to the gentry, the court would have no control over the vacuum of local order. The gentry were introduced by Zhu Yuanzhang to act as mediators between state power and local interests.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, it is also a consumable that can be consumed at any time.

Xia Zhibai pointed out long ago that only Zhu Yuanzhang could play this game.

No one else can do it.

Zhu Biao was not good enough, and Zhu Di was even worse.

The other emperors of the Ming Dynasty, or any of Zhu Yuanzhang's descendants, could not play this game. How could an emperor who grew up in the deep palace really be able to see through things like seeing fire, really know the general situation of the local area, and play with the emperor's mind? Keeping all officials in fear?

Such natural emperors have been extremely rare from ancient times to the present.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty, there was not a single one.

Looking at the memorials turning into ashes, Xia Zhibai's gaze became more determined.

No matter how much you say, it's hard to touch the pain point.

Only when you truly experience it will you change your mind.

half an hour.

All the memorials that were not submitted turned to ashes.

Xia Zhibai clapped his hands and shook off all the dust on his hands.

Unload your burdens and travel light.

Xia Zhibai took out a piece of rice paper from the study, dipped some ink, and prepared to plan how to let the "wanderers from the north return home". At this time, suddenly an eunuch came to the Kyoto Salt Shop and conveyed Zhu Biao's decree to summon him.

After sending the eunuch away, Xia Zhibai chuckled and said, "It seems that the current emperor and the crown prince really care about me. I just returned to Kyoto and I learned the news. They summoned me to the palace without stopping."

Xia Zhibai shook his head.

He was in no hurry to leave for the palace.

Instead, he continued to put ink on the rice paper, but the few strokes he had originally written were ruthlessly crossed out by him.

In the end, only a few words remained on the paper.

By sea.

prepared by.

Birds return to their nests in the north.

diplomatic!

After writing down all his thoughts, Xia Zhibai stopped writing contentedly. He bent down, blew away the wet ink, and then admired what he had written. Finally, he laughed, rolled up the rice paper, and put it aside.

He looked at the dusty clothes, brushed them off, and walked out of the shop towards the palace.

When Xia Zhibai got on the carriage.

The news of his return to Kyoto had spread like wildfire.

In just over half an hour, it had reached the ears of many people.

When Wei Heng, the salt transport envoy, heard the news, his eyes darkened slightly, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes, but then he gently turned the teacup in his hand, and his face returned to calm. What if he came back? Now that the situation has been determined, what can he do?
Can you really push everything away?

There is never just one person behind him.

Behind him are Lianghuai, Liangzhe, and even the entire south.

What is he afraid of?
Li Sheng, who was originally sleeping soundly and indulging in the gentle arms of a gentle woman, was suddenly awakened when he heard that Xia Zhibai had returned. His face turned pale with fright, and he hurriedly put on his clothes and walked towards the Salt Transport Bureau. Although others were not afraid, he could not help being afraid.

If Xia Zhibai pursues the matter, someone might really die.

This person Xia Zhibai.

But he is very unscrupulous.

He did things completely unnaturally, and if he really got angry and there was no one else to protect him, he would not be able to struggle at all.

He must make Wei Heng fulfill his promise.

With Xia Zhibai's return, there was a commotion in the city, but more of it was curiosity. People were curious about how Xia Zhibai would deal with and respond to these things. While people in the city were speculating privately, Xia Zhibai had already arrived at the East Palace.

(End of this chapter)