I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 525 Ming Dynasty Federation of Industry and Commerce

Yang Jinshui looked at the doubtful faces of the crowd and said straight to the point: "The alchemy technique that the emperor taught us is technology."

Technology?

Some people are still confused, some are thinking about it, and some suddenly realize it.

Yang Jinshui took everyone's expressions into consideration and continued.

"When we first started, the emperor guided us and set up a training center early on to recruit talents and train craftsmen. Then the training center became a research institute.

Agricultural and Textile Research Institute, Mechanical Research Institute, Chemical Research Institute, Ship Research Institute, Geographical Research Institute
Different categories, each with its own specialization.

In the beginning, many people were indignant about the fact that the Emperor asked us to spend a lot of money to set up training schools and research institutes, and they felt it was a waste.

The results of it?
Everyone saw it.

By breeding improved silkworm varieties, over the years, we produced more and better silk cocoons than others.

He improved and invented new spinning machines and looms, and the cotton yarn and cloth he spun were thicker than those of others.

The coking coal method and blast furnace method he invented produced more and better steel and iron than others.

With the invention of the Prince's sailing ship and the Wusong ship, our goods can be transported to all corners of the world. The sea is no longer an insurmountable barrier, but has become a fast and convenient route.

A variety of dyes have been invented to make our cotton fabrics colorful and durable.

There are also glass, mirrors, cement, perfume, sugar, and clocks.
In addition, there are monetary theory, debit and credit balance bookkeeping, factory management, marketing, and advertising.
These are the power of technology.

Technology makes us have what others do not have; what others have, we are better at.

You see, we made a lot of money through technology, and that’s how we built our business today.”

Zhou Muxian was half a beat faster than the others and nodded like an owl: "Ah, yes, yes, yes!"

Yang Jinshui asked: "Everyone, what is technology?"

This time Shen Jialiang got the upper hand, "The emperor said that science and technology are science and technology. Science is the study of things; technology is the art of application."

"Yes, science and technology are science and technology. Science and technology can not only make money, but also govern the country. Do you believe it?"

Everyone hesitated and did not dare to answer.

It seems like it’s possible, but it also seems like it’s not. I have no confidence.

"The foundation of science and technology is mathematics and physics. Mathematics is a compulsory course in the Imperial College. In Jintai College and Baita College, whether you are studying mechanics or chemical engineering, or law or accounting, mathematics is also a basic subject.

What is mathematics? It is the foundation of our technology.

The talents trained by our Baita College play an important role in river engineering, mining, smelting, farming, construction and other fields, and serve as officials of all ranks in the Ministry of Works, Sinong Temple, Dushui Temple and Taifu Temple.

The talents trained by Jintai Academy were proficient in mathematics, accounting and law, and served as officials of all ranks in the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Justice, Taifujian and Taichang Temple.

They were not good at classics and poetry, but they were good at mathematics, physics, accounting and other sciences. It was because of them that the Ming Dynasty was thriving and full of vitality in recent years.

Everyone, do you understand?"

Yes, everyone can see the benefits of technology.

Not only did he help everyone make a lot of money, he was also successful in other aspects. There are too many details to mention, but in terms of practical work, he crushed the old-school scholars who only knew how to study classics.

Seeing everyone's eyes getting brighter and brighter, Yang Jinshui knew that everyone had figured it out, so he continued.

"Everyone, the emperor is determined to make new things and reform the new policies, in order to strengthen the country and enrich the people, and revive the Ming Dynasty. To strengthen the country and enrich the people, as everyone has seen clearly in recent years, is nothing more than establishing industries and revitalizing the economy.

These are all my specialties!

Why are we so far ahead? It is because we have learned the emperor's alchemy and technology.

In this case, why don’t we make the best use of our strengths and avoid our weaknesses? Use science and technology to defeat classics, use pragmatism to defeat empty talk, and use practical work to strengthen the country to defeat idle talk that harms the country. "

Everyone's eyes became brighter and brighter, and each one looked like a full moon. Zhou Muxian couldn't help but nod, "Ah, right, right!"

Everyone has a clear idea in their mind.

The Emperor's national policy is to strengthen the country and enrich the people. During the Meiji era, we are second in terms of ability in strengthening the country and enriching the people. Who dares to claim to be first?

Those Confucian scholars and celebrities who only know how to talk about romance and boast?

Those upright gentlemen who always talk about moral governance and benevolent government but cannot distinguish between beans and wheat?
We learned the alchemy technique taught privately by the Emperor, mastered the technology, and also verified its power in the past few years.

So why don't we make good use of our absolute advantages and vigorously promote science and technology, not only to make a lot of money with it, but also to fill the national treasury and make the people prosperous.

There is no harm without comparison. Once we fully utilize our advantages, we will definitely be able to defeat the traditional conservative group.

When we, the emerging forces, have gained control of the economic lifeline of the Ming Dynasty and the scientific and practical talents we have fostered and trained become the mainstream of the Ming Dynasty officialdom, then our wealth and glory will be passed down from generation to generation.

But people with insight also recognize the difficulties.

"Eunuch Yang, the current imperial examinations are still based on the Four Books and Five Classics and the Daodejing. Although there is now an examination for recruiting civil servants, the starting point is too low, and the formal way is still the imperial examination.

And they still control the imperial examinations, continuously selecting old-school talents to fill the court and control government affairs, and we can do nothing about it."

Yang Jinshui said slowly: "Everyone, you have to eat one mouthful at a time and walk one step at a time. In the past, from the college examination to the provincial examination and then to the metropolitan examination, they controlled it tightly without leaving any loopholes.

The emperor took the opportunity of official system reform, recruiting additional officials, and settling relatives of various vassal states to open a civil servant recruitment examination, thus creating a gap.

We have all seen the sunrise. At first, the sky and the earth are pitch black, and then a crack of light is stretched out with great difficulty. This crack becomes brighter and brighter, and finally the red sun bursts out and the sky and the earth are full of light. "

Yang Jinshui's words made everyone more confident.

"We know something about Prime Minister Zhang Yuanfu's new policy reforms.

The provincial examination will be combined with the civil servant recruitment examination and held once a year. The Ministry of Rites will take turns sending personnel to the local areas to be the chief examiners, the Censorate will send personnel to supervise, and the provincial governors will assist in the examinations.

The number of recruits was determined by the vacancies of civil servants in the provincial government and the provincial inspection department in the previous year. The joint examination was also held once a year, half a year apart from the provincial examination. Only a certain number of candidates who ranked at the top of the provincial examination in each province were eligible to enter the capital for the joint examination.

It was also called the joint examination, and those who passed the examination were also called Jinshi, but they were recruiting officials for the six ministries, temples, the Censorate, the Xuanhui Court, and the Law Court. They would observe government affairs in the central government for two or three years, and then go down to the counties to serve as county magistrates.

"The prime minister must rise from the prefectures and the brave general must rise from the ranks." This will be the iron rule for the promotion of civil and military officials in the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, the provincial and metropolitan examinations were divided into two subjects: national politics and legal affairs. The examination content also had to be greatly changed, initially determined to be three basic subjects: Chinese, mathematics, and natural science. Then the national politics subject sometimes had policy theory, and the legal affairs subject had legal science, and both also had case analysis.

Yang Jinshui looked at everyone, and a rare hint of excitement appeared on his usually calm face.

"Everyone, listen to these exam subjects. Do we have an advantage?"

Everyone was surprised to find that Chinese, mathematics, and general science were the three subjects that Yang Jinshui started out teaching when he led everyone to establish Longhua Academy and Xiangshan Academy.

From easy to difficult, the course is gradually upgraded. The advanced version of natural science general education: physics and chemistry, is taught in senior grades.

In senior grades, current affairs theory, general legal knowledge and case analysis are also compulsory subjects.

When it was first established, everyone was very opposed to it. It was only Yang Jinshui who brought up the emperor, who was only the crown prince at that time, and barely suppressed everyone.

Because of this kind of course of study, nearby academies were mocking them. Longhua and Xiangshan academies gave up on themselves and completely gave up on the imperial examinations and official careers.

Later, it was only through several rounds of screening that a number of outstanding talents were selected. In addition, the examiners of the provincial and metropolitan examinations, under the suggestion of the emperor, showed some leniency, that a small number of Jinshi were admitted, such as Li Mingchun and Shen Wanxiang.

But at that time, everyone knew that no matter what, Longhua Public School, Xiangshan Public School, and the later supported and established Chongwen Public School and Jinling Public School were still far behind the old school in imperial examinations.

After hearing what Yang Jinshui said today, everyone suddenly realized that all their previous disadvantages had turned into advantages.

If the contents of the metropolitan and provincial examinations were to be changed so drastically, the people we train will be able to make the old-school students cry and make them question their lives.

Zhang Yuangong couldn't help but ask, "Do the officials in the court and the Confucian scholars agree to this change?"

Yang Jinshui replied: "The first person who disagreed with the change in the imperial examination was our cabinet prime minister Zhang Yuanfu. But the emperor told Zhang Taiyue that this was the will of heaven, the secret that the Six Imperial Emperors and the Three Pure Ones had revealed to the emperor when they came down to earth last time. It was destiny.

If we obey the will of heaven, the Ming Dynasty will prosper; if we go against the will of heaven, the Ming Dynasty will perish. "

There was silence in the room.

The people present could be said to be the first group of people in the Ming Dynasty to come into contact with technology and use it to make a fortune.

Having witnessed many ingenious machines and equipment, they were influenced by them and became the first group of people in the Ming Dynasty with scientific thinking and attitudes. However, they themselves may not know this.

Some people were in the capital and witnessed the gods descending to earth during the great court meeting in February. They were the ones who were most suspicious and the first to have doubts.

They knew very well that it was unknown whether the emperor could summon the gods, but when it came to using technological means, he was truly miraculous and incredible.

Who knows what kind of technological means he used to create this miracle.

But now the vast majority of officials, common people, soldiers and civilians in the Ming Dynasty firmly believe this!
With such a miracle happening at the grand court meeting on the beginning of February, the people's support for the emperor skyrocketed.

When the first emperor in history ascended the throne, a group of gods and the Emperor of Heaven came down to earth to congratulate him. It was so impressive.

The officials' awe of the emperor was overwhelming.

This is the public opinion and people's hearts, it is the general trend.

Now the emperor said that I have a divine relative who came down to earth yesterday and told me the secret of heaven, and that it is destiny to do this and do this.

Everyone, do you want to follow the will of heaven?
Why did Wang Lin and Wang Shizhen dare to attack the emperor so crazily, impeach the ministers, and force the emperor to issue a self-criticism edict?
Isn't it just that the celestial phenomena under the interaction between heaven and man are the will of heaven and the destiny that cannot be violated?

The miracle at the grand court meeting on the first day of February showed the emperor to the whole world that I have status in heaven and have people above me. I have the final say on heaven's will and destiny.

The emperor wanted to use miracles to develop science and technology, but the few people who knew the truth found it absurd and weird.

But on second thought, I feel that this is something that is both unavoidable and natural.

After Yang Jinshui revealed the secret, he said no more and went straight to the point: "Everyone, keep what I just said to yourself for now, and don't tell your parents, wives, and children."

"Don't worry, Eunuch Yang. We are all tight-lipped people."

"Okay, then let's complete the first major task, which is to establish the Ming Federation of Industry and Commerce. I propose that we first set up a preparatory committee, nominate several highly respected preparatory committee members, draft a charter, and promote progress, okay?"

"Okay!" Everyone responded in unison.

Soon, Song Yingqing, Shen Jialiang, Zhou Muxian and four other big shopkeepers were elected as members of the preparatory committee, with Song Yingqing as the chief member.

Yang Jinshui, Zhu Xixiao and others served as consultants.

After finishing the business, everyone sat down to eat.

Everyone was a gentleman with different social status, so there was no enthusiastic toast. Song Yingqing took the lead and led everyone to toast Yang Caishen with a glass of wine.

Yang Jinshui stepped aside and suggested that everyone toast the emperor with a glass of wine and wish him good health and longevity.

No one dared to refuse this suggestion, so facing the north towards the West Garden, everyone respectfully toasted Emperor Wanli with a glass of wine.

Then they drank, ate and talked.

Yang Jinshui toasted Song Yingqing beside him with a glass of wine and asked, "Song Gong, I heard that your third son served under Qi Fengning and participated in the war against the Tumed tribe?"

Song Yingqing sighed, "Yes, my third son likes military affairs, and no matter how much you persuade him, he won't change his mind."

"Song Gong, it is a good thing that the third son serves under Qi Fengning. Qi Fengning is prudent in using troops, and he has never suffered a defeat since he started suppressing the Japanese in the southeast.

This time, the Third Young Master will surely be rewarded for his meritorious service."

Song Yingqing shook his head: "I don't ask Jie Di to do anything meritorious, I just hope he comes back safely."

Zhu Xixiao, who was sitting on the other side of Song Yingqing, sighed, "It is said that the Yanbei Command has already sent out troops, I wonder if they have engaged the enemy yet?
After this great victory, the nine frontiers of the Ming Dynasty are no longer frontiers. "

Everyone sighed and lamented.

Since the Battle of Tumu in the Zhengtong Period, the Qing Dynasty was deeply disturbed by the northern barbarians. During the Jiajing Period, there were smoke signals almost every year, and there was no peace in the nine borders.

Unexpectedly, in just a dozen years, the Nine Frontiers were no longer the borders of the Ming Dynasty.

Ding-ding-dang, rhythmic and crisp knocking sounds rang out.

Everyone turned to see Zhou Muxian, the one who looked like an owl and always liked to say "Ah, yes, yes, yes", tapping the rim of the bowl with his chopsticks.

He sang loudly: "Have you not seen the horses galloping along the snowy sea, the vast yellow sand reaching into the sky?"

Everyone raised their glasses and sang loudly: "The Xiongnu's grass is yellow and their horses are fat. To the west of Jinshan Mountain, smoke and dust are seen flying. The Han general is marching west."

(End of this chapter)