My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 149 The Great Ming Civil Engineering Army
Gao Gong said:

"The report has been submitted to His Majesty, who is also very indignant about this report that spreads rumors and misleads the public. He has ordered the five city patrol censors and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest the suspect, but so far there have been no leads."

Su Ze was not surprised by this result.

The capital city is a metropolis with a population of over a million, a melting pot of all sorts of people. Even if all the Ming Dynasty's civil servants were sent out, they wouldn't get anywhere.

These privately printed newspapers, like banned books, were impossible to catch.

Gao Gong said angrily:
"Such outrageous words must have come from those hermits and sorcerers residing in the capital. Last year, I advised His Majesty to expel all these hermits back to their hometowns, but it was only because Grand Secretary Li objected that the matter was dropped. Now they are publishing heretical newspapers and slandering the sages, which is truly despicable!"

Su Ze said quickly:

"Minister, please calm your anger!"

Su Ze understood Gao Gong.

Gao Gong himself may not have been a loyal Confucian believer, but Confucianism was, after all, the official ideology and the greatest common denominator among all scholars.

Su Ze actually quite agrees with the views expressed in this article, but while he agrees, publishing it publicly undermines social consensus.

As a cabinet advisor, Gao Gong's academic views are irresistible, regardless of his own.

"This is absolutely the work of those arrogant and unruly disciples of the School of Mind, attacking my practical teachings!"

Gao Gong's thinking is reasonable.

Finally, his practical learning began to show some progress. Even if Zhang Siwei's philology was a minor path, at least he had embarked on a new one.

However, this article immediately slapped Shixue in the face, and it can be said that it completely ruined Shixue's development during this period. How could Gao Gong not be angry?

This is also why Gao Gong hastily summoned Su Ze.

How to do?
Could we use a "post-mortem sketchbook" to track down the real culprit?
Isn't it a waste to use a limited-use item like this in a place?

Moreover, this kind of piracy and private printing is something that the authorities cannot prohibit. How can you prohibit something that affects one's mind?
If the author of "Xin Yuefu Bao" is arrested, what will happen if "Yuefu Min Bao" and "Xin Xin Yuefu Bao" emerge later?
This kind of thing has been difficult to eradicate throughout history.

Moreover, Su Zexing's purpose in establishing practical schools was to promote intellectual progress. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?

Su Ze could only try to persuade him further, and Gao Gong gradually calmed down. He said:

"Philology is indeed a minor discipline; the real challenge lies precisely in this realism!"

Gao Gong astutely pointed out the predicament of practical learning.

No matter how good your theories are, or how advanced your practical knowledge is, if someone asks you where the practical application lies, Gao Gong will be speechless.

How can Gao Gong's research on practical theories be put into practice?

Practical learning is a methodology, but its implementation depends on each individual's learning progress, and how it is demonstrated.

This is even more mysterious than the philosophy of mind, which at least has a methodology of "extending innate knowledge" and a goal of "becoming a sage".

Gao Gong was furious about this article precisely because practical learning itself lacked a foothold.

Among the small inventions promoted by Su Ze, the telescope was considered a military secret, and the Minting Law couldn't publicize it.

Those studies of investigating things and extending knowledge, like philology, were toys for the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital to amuse themselves.

Isn't this just going back to the old ways of the School of Mind?
Gao Gong focused all his energy on practical learning and didn't even pay much attention to the imperial examinations, but this article dug up his roots, so how could he not be angry?

What can I do? Can I develop some practical inventions to help Gao Gong bolster his reputation?
Su Ze couldn't come up with a solution for the time being, so he could only promise Gao Gong that he would think of a way, and Gao Gong had no choice but to let him go.

As Su Ze said, the cabinet, as a whole, really doesn't have many good ways to deal with these tabloids.

The more the imperial court banned newspapers, the better they were distributed.

Such tabloids existed as early as the Song Dynasty, and despite repeated bans, they continued to proliferate.

The Ming Dynasty's control over the grassroots was not as strong as that of the Song Dynasty; at most, it would only give a warning to those who openly sold false information.

Su Ze could only advise Gao Gong not to get angry and to wait until the Five City Patrol Censors and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had investigated and found out the results.

Su Ze smiled wryly as he came out of the cabinet.

The newspapers are self-made, and now they are the ones jumping out to oppose practical learning.

People cannot only talk about freedom of speech when they need it.

While thinking of a solution, Su Ze walked towards the history museum and happened to run into Lei Li, the Minister of Works, who was returning from the palace after negotiating the cost of the corner tower.

Upon seeing Su Ze, Lei Li immediately spoke to the official beside him:
"Catch him!"

A group of Ministry of Works officials rushed forward. These officials, who spent a lot of time on construction sites, were all burly and had dark complexions. Surrounded by such a large army of civil engineers, Su Ze panicked.

Are there organized crime groups in this palace?
Upon seeing Lei Li, the Minister of Works, Su Ze quickly said:

"Lei Sikong, why are you having people surround me?"

When Lei Li saw Su Ze, he pretended to be angry and said:
"Wasn't it you who tricked my Right Vice Minister Wang Zhihuan into working on the canal?"

"what?"

"Don't try to deny it! The construction of the new canal was announced in the Yuefu Xinbao newspaper. Don't try to say you have nothing to do with it!"

Lei Li continued, "The newly appointed Vice Minister Pan Jixun has not yet taken office. Now that I have a matter to attend to in the Ministry of Works, shouldn't Hanlin Su help me out?"

Looking at the large group of civil engineering "army" around him, Su Ze could only say:

"Of course, of course, Lei Sikong, let's go to the history museum first."

Lei Li waved his sleeve and shouted:
"go!"

A group of Ministry of Works officials surrounded Su Ze and marched into the History Museum.

Luo Wanhua and the others were also intimidated by the imposing manner of the Ministry of Works officials. After Su Ze asked them to serve tea, they quickly left the office.

Sitting at the head of the table was Lei Li, the lean and short Minister of Works, surrounded by a group of burly men from the Ministry of Works, who were dressed in white, scholarly robes. The scene looked rather strange.

Su Ze looked helplessly at Lei Li and asked:
"Lei Sikong, could you tell me what difficulties you've encountered?"

Lei Li snorted coldly, recounted the construction of the corner tower, and then looked at Su Ze and said:

"Su Hanlin, do you have any ideas?"

Su Ze smiled bitterly. He didn't know anything about construction, so what could he do?
Besides, this is a conflict between the Imperial Workshop and the Ministry of Works, and it's not something Su Ze can mediate.

However, Lei Li was so imposing that Su Ze hadn't expected the kind old man from the last cabinet meeting to have such a commanding presence.

It can only be said that all the cabinet ministers during the Longqing era were ruthless individuals; without ability, one simply could not survive.

Lei Li picked up his tea, looking like he wouldn't leave until he got a solution, when Su Ze suddenly had a brilliant idea.

Su Ze said to Lei Li:

"Lord Lei, the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Workshop are arguing over the cost of rebuilding the corner tower, right?"

Lei Li nodded and said:

"That's it. The Imperial Workshop, pandering to the emperor, lowered the budget submitted by our Ministry of Works. If we followed their calculations, this corner tower simply couldn't be rebuilt." "The estimate the Imperial Workshop used was based on the cost of rebuilding the corner tower during the Chenghua era. How many years have passed? How much have materials and labor increased? Why don't they use the cost of building the Forbidden City during the Yongle era?"

"If we wait until construction starts to argue and cause delays, our construction department will still be held responsible."

Lei Li looked at Su Ze and asked:

"Does Hanlin Su have a way to persuade the Imperial Workshop?"

Su Ze quickly shook his head and said:

"Lord Lei is joking. I am not an official of the Directorate of Ceremonial, how could I possibly persuade the Imperial Workshop?"

"Then what can be done?"

Su Ze smiled mysteriously and said:
“I remember when the three main halls were rebuilt, the Ministry of Works and the Palace Construction Bureau argued endlessly about the budget.”

“Every time the renovation of the palace is involved, there is always a long debate.”

Lei Li nodded. He was the most qualified to speak on this matter. During the Jiajing era, he was the chief person in charge of the reconstruction of the three main halls. At that time, he was busy with budgeting, working from the inner court to the outer court, and had many disputes with the Palace Construction Bureau, the Cabinet, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and other departments.

The outer court always felt the budget was too high, wondering if the Ministry of Works was embezzling funds.

The inner court felt that the budget was too small, which was why the project was progressing so slowly.

Lei Li mediated between the parties, shuttling back and forth, and used all his knowledge to complete the reconstruction of the three main halls.

"In Su's view, it is because our dynasty lacks legal procedures."

At this moment, one of the Ministry of Works officials present couldn't help but ask:

"Su Hanlin, what is French style?"

Lei Li flew into a rage and said:

"You're supposed to be studying all the time, but now you're making a fool of yourselves outside! Fu Shun, go back and copy 'Ministry of Works Designs' three times as punishment!"

Su Ze had seen "The Architectural Design of the Ministry of Works" at the Hanlin Academy. It was an introductory book on architecture, and it was so thick that copying it three times would probably wear out the brush.

Su Ze couldn't help but look back. This Ministry of Works official named Fu Shun was a big, burly man, but now he was shrinking his head like a quail. It seemed that Lei Li had a lot of prestige in the Ministry of Works.

Like a professor or department head making rounds in later times, Lei Li called on another person and asked:
"Wan Jing, explain what 'French style' means. If you can't answer, you'll have to go back and copy it like Fu Shun!"

Another burly official from the Ministry of Works immediately said:

"Reporting to the Grand Minister of Works, Guanzi said: 'Dimensions, plumb lines, compasses, scales, measures, and angles are called laws.' The term 'law' in the context of construction refers to the standardized patterns of building.

"The law also means the laws and regulations of the imperial court. In the Song Dynasty, there was a book called 'Yingzao Fashi' (Building Standards), which was in charge of the regulations and calculation of materials for various types of construction. By using this method to calculate, the cost of construction can be determined, the cost can be accurately calculated, and waste can be reduced."

Fu Shun, the official who had just been punished by copying texts, immediately said:

"Since such a method exists, why doesn't our dynasty use it? If we also use the legal system to set budgets, then the Palace Construction Bureau won't be able to make unreasonable demands!"

Some of the Ministry of Works officials nodded repeatedly, clearly driven mad by the corner tower budget issue.

To everyone's surprise, Lei Li became even angrier. He glared at them and said, "You never study when I tell you to! Now you're making a fool of yourselves! Everyone knows that the 'Yingzao Fashi' has been lost!"

Fu Shun's expression darkened, but remembering Su Ze's consistently miraculous abilities, he quickly said:

"Does the Su family possess a lost copy of the 'Yingzao Fashi' (Building Standards)?"

Lei Li was nearly driven to the brink of rage when Wan Jing, the official from the Ministry of Works who had just answered the question, said:
“Brother Fu, the book ‘Yingzao Fashi’ has not been lost. It is in the palace, and the Ministry of Works also has a rare Song Dynasty edition in its archives.”

"Then use it!"

Wan Jing also felt mentally exhausted, and he said:
"The book itself has not been lost, but the techniques described in it have been lost."

Fu Shun asked in confusion:
"How could this technique be lost?"

Wan Jing paused for a moment before saying:
"The art of craftsmanship is passed down orally and through personal instruction. There are very few written books on it. The 'Yingzao Fashi' was written in the Song Dynasty, but many things in the book are incomprehensible, let alone understandable."

Su Ze glanced at Wan Jing. Since Lei Li had chosen him to speak, Wan Jing must be a capable official from the Ministry of Works.

Wan Jing is right; the "Yingzao Fashi" (Building Standards) was lost during the Ming Dynasty.

This loss of knowledge is not because the books are gone, but because the terminology recorded in them is no longer understandable to later generations.

As Wan Jing said, the Yingzao Fashi is a reference book that records construction techniques, but it is also an official cost manual of the Song Dynasty.

The author of this book, Li Jie, was an official of the Directorate of Works during the Song Dynasty. His purpose in writing this book was to establish a standard for the construction projects of the Directorate of Works.

The "Yingzao Fashi" (Building Standards) categorizes various engineering projects and calculates the material and labor costs required for each project based on its size.

By relying on the methods of the "Yingzao Fashi" (Building Standards), the cost of any project can be reversed, which can greatly reduce the situation of falsely reporting costs or falsifying projects.

Therefore, this book holds a very important position in the history of Chinese architecture and is a very useful reference book.

Unfortunately, due to the wars of the Song and Yuan dynasties, many craftsmen's skills were lost, and by the early Ming dynasty, they could no longer understand the "Yingzao Fashi" (Building Standards).

Therefore, the style of ancient architecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties is quite different from that of ancient architecture in the Tang and Song dynasties. In some respects, the architectural level of the Ming and Qing dynasties even declined.

The imperial palace in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty was built in just ten months, three times faster than the Forbidden City built during the reign of Emperor Zhu Di.

The situation worsened during the Jiajing era. A palace fire destroyed the three main halls, and it took a full five years to rebuild them!

For example, the Mingtang, built during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, is recorded in historical records as being 90 meters wide and deep, and its area was four times that of the three main halls of the Forbidden City.

The main hall is nearly 80 meters high, and this massive wooden structure was completed in less than a year.

The Tang and Song dynasties can be said to be the golden age of wooden architecture, something Lei Li often remarked about when studying ancient books.

Lei Li stared intently at Su Ze and asked:
"Can you understand the *Yingzao Fashi* (Treatise on Architectural Methods)?"

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"Of course I can't understand it."

Lei Li said somewhat dejectedly:
"Su Hanlin, you make it sound so easy. How difficult is it to create a legal code? I have been engaged in construction for so many years, and I dare not say that I can produce a legal code myself."

Lei Li was disappointed again. He had actually approached Su Ze because he had argued with Gong Zaoju and lost his temper. After seeing Su Ze, he remembered that Su Ze was always resourceful and had solved many problems since becoming an official.

But I was overthinking it.

Su Ze is not omnipotent. He has never worked in the Ministry of Works and does not know anything about construction. He is really grasping at straws in his desperation.

Just as Lei Li got up to leave, Su Ze suddenly said:

"But I do have a solution."

All eyes turned to Su Ze.

Lei Li stepped forward and stared intently at Su Ze.

All that was heard was Su Ze saying:
"We can seek it from practical learning!"

(End of this chapter)