My father is Jiajing

Chapter 107 Focusing on Economic Development
After chatting about Hai Rui's situation for a while, Gao Gong also started today's lecture.

Gao Gong's teaching method is still as always based on reality. He does not like to use those obscure exegesis chapters to show off his knowledge, so Gao Gong's lectures have always been based on practicality.

For example, the lesson that Gao Gong is going to teach now is based on the principles of economics.

Gao Gong was not like the other officials and gentry who avoided mentioning material gains and losses. In his simple understanding of state affairs, he believed that "righteousness" and "profit" could complement each other. There was no need to compare "a gentleman's metaphor of profit" to a scourge. As long as the "profit" could benefit the country and the people, it was "righteousness."

Therefore, when Gao Gong was giving this lesson, he also denounced the pedantic view that "a gentleman does not talk about profit". He also believed that it was precisely because the predecessors did not grasp this relationship that "the strategy of managing the country was ignored", those who were good at managing finances were not heard, and this brought disaster to the country and the people.

Zhu Zaigui listened to Gao Gong's class very seriously. He never expected that Gao Gong had such profound knowledge of economics. No wonder he was able to lead the "Anda Tribute" and "Longqing Opening" and save the Ming Dynasty's economy that was on the verge of collapse, and find a reliable way to increase revenue for the Ming Dynasty.

But unfortunately, in the original historical time and space, Gao Gong's political ideas were not maintained for a long time. After the death of Emperor Longqing, he was stabbed in the back by his former political allies, which made his political ideas lose sustainable momentum.

This has to be said to be a historical tragedy.

Now that Zhu Zaigui heard Gao Gong’s lecture, he couldn’t help but be impressed by Gao Gong’s talent!
You have to know that to Zhu Zaigui, Gao Gong was a "conservative-minded" ancient man, but an ancient man had already realized the importance of economy so deeply and put his ideas into practice with practical theories and actions. This kind of courage to explore and take responsibility is simply daunting!
Zhu Zaigui sighed after hearing the last part: "I admire your opinion very much! The biggest problem of our Ming Dynasty now is the uneven distribution of tax revenue and the problem of poor tax revenue. If the court can pay attention to your opinion, focus on economic construction, and vigorously develop and reform the financial and people's livelihood conditions, how great it would be!"

"It's a pity that corrupt scholars are in power nowadays, who value righteousness over profit. In the end, not only can they not explain 'righteousness' clearly, but they are also hesitant to talk about 'profit'. In the end, how can they help the country? The Guanzi says: 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace.' Such simple economic principles have been passed for nearly two thousand years, but no one has really put these two sentences into practice in the world."

"I really don't know whether some people are too selfish or too stupid! Although the sage once said: 'How virtuous is Hui! He has only a bowl of rice and a jug of water, and lives in a humble alley. People cannot bear the worry, but Hui does not change his joy.' However, I think this sentence does not mean that people should be content with poverty, but that they should be content with joy."

"After all, no matter how poor Yan Hui was, he still had a bowl of rice and a gourd of water to live in, and a good teacher to guide him. But the vast majority of the people may not even have 'a bowl of rice and a gourd of water', nor a gourd of water to live in, nor a good teacher like Confucius to guide them in their life."

"If we don't think of ways to change their current situation, and still expect them to have Yan Hui's enlightenment, isn't this just deceiving ourselves? Therefore, I agree with your point of view. A gentleman should talk about benefits, and he should talk about benefits for the world and for the common people. As long as the world is prosperous and the common people are prosperous, why should people's hearts be unstable?"

After listening to what Zhu Zaigui said, Gao Gong was also deeply shocked. He had just wanted to plant the importance of "benefit" in Zhu Zaigui's mind in advance, thinking that one day in the future when Zhu Zaigui ascended to the supreme throne, he would not be bound by the pedantic views of the world.

But he never expected that Zhu Zaigui's final remarks and conclusions would be so rational and thorough, and the language so simple and easy to understand. This could not help but shock Gao Gong at how profound his "student" was!
"Your Majesty, this is a very good thing! I never thought that Your Majesty would have such a profound understanding. Especially Your Majesty's words about 'focusing on economic construction' are like a thought-provoking wake-up call, pointing directly to the key points of today!"

Gao Gong was so moved that he couldn't help but express his feelings to Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaigui looked at Gao Gong's shocked and emotional expression, and a shy smile appeared on his face. "Sir, you are too kind. This is all because of your good teaching. Besides, I have also experienced what it is like to live in poverty. Although money cannot solve all problems, having no money will definitely lead to endless problems. So I know the importance of living a good life." "Now the food, clothing and daily expenses of the palace are all dependent on me. If I can't make sure the servants and guards of the palace are well fed and clothed, how can I have the face to be their master?"

"So to be honest, sir, I have been thinking about how to increase revenue for the palace every day for the past year. I don't know how much effort I have put in to achieve this, and only now can I have a moment of comfort today."

After Zhu Zaigui said this, Gao Gong immediately understood.

Although Gao Gong was still a little confused about the specific situation of Prince Yu's Mansion, he was also very keenly aware of the difference of Prince Yu's Mansion.

Putting aside other things, as far as he knew, several houses had been rebuilt in the palace in the past year, and every now and then Zhu Zaigui would give him some Yiran sugar, Bingxin sugar, soap and other items as a token of gratitude for his teachership.

These things are rare in the capital nowadays. If you don't have sufficient financial resources, how can you just give them away?
Obviously, the current situation of Prince Yu’s Mansion is very different from before!

But what exactly the difference was, Gao Gong couldn't tell.

After all, although Zhu Zaigui's business seems to be a high-profile one, it is actually very confusing. People who have some "inside" information will involuntarily link Zhu Zaigui's current actions with the palace or the East Factory that represents the palace.

Therefore, even if Zhu Zaigui always went to Shunyi for a stroll when he was "free", as long as he was not directly exposed, everyone who saw Zhu Zaigui going to Shunyi Industrial Park would think that Zhu Zaigui was helping the palace.

Therefore, the true situation of Zhu Zaigui was a mystery to ordinary officials like Gao Gong who had no right to investigate.

As long as Zhu Zaigui does not take the initiative to lift the lid himself, the palace will not take the initiative to come forward to explain the situation.

Even if someone saw this, they would pretend not to see it.

After all, the business that Zhu Zaigui is doing now is unique and does not infringe on the interests of others, so even if there are people who want to get involved, they have to consider whether they can do it after getting involved.

After all, Yiran candy, Bingxin candy, and soap are all too difficult to replicate. For a business that is so difficult to replicate, and to risk offending Emperor Jiajing, to "righteously" stand up and attack with the "sword of morality" is definitely like an old man eating arsenic - he is tired of living.

(End of this chapter)