Huangming

Chapter 336 Imperial Merchants with Private Treasury Funds: Pragmatic and Innovative

Zhu Youxiao's gaze darkened slightly upon hearing Fang Congzhe's words.

He could clearly see the old minister's resentment.

The so-called "going back to ponder it carefully" is nothing more than an attempt to delay the inevitable or to unite the officials to obstruct the plan.

A cold, sharp smile curved his lips, and his tone carried a hint of authority: "What do you think is wrong with this matter, Grand Secretary? Why don't you explain it clearly today?"

Seeing the emperor pressing closer and closer, Fang Congzhe knew he couldn't escape. His white beard trembled slightly, and he sighed heavily, thinking to himself, "This is bitter."

He bowed deeply, his voice tinged with bitterness: "Your Majesty, I dare to speak frankly, these so-called 'science' and 'investigation of things' are mostly strange and ingenious tricks from the Western barbarians. Our Celestial Empire has its own way of teaching the people with the wisdom of sages, why should we learn those barbarian tricks?"

Furthermore…

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly earnest.
"The civil service examination for selecting officials and the military examination for selecting generals are rules established by our ancestors and have been used for hundreds of years without wavering. Now, suddenly adding a 'physics examination' would be disrupting the established rules and violating the laws of our ancestors."

At this point, he glanced at the emperor's face, noticing Zhu Youxiao's furrowed brows and increasingly somber expression, but he still forced himself to continue:
“If this matter is implemented, the conservative ministers in the court will surely rise up in opposition, and there will inevitably be another upheaval that could shake the foundation of the country.”

Zhu Youxiao listened quietly, without the slightest surprise on his face.

These words were exactly what he had expected.

He asked calmly, his voice low but each word clear: "Does what our ancestors passed down have to remain unchanged? If so, then we should follow the Zhou rites instead of the Ming laws; we should use the enfeoffment system instead of the prefecture-county system?"

"Everything in the world needs to evolve with the times. The imperial examination system was first established in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Wasn't it an innovation of the Nine-Rank System of the Wei and Jin dynasties? If we blindly adhere to the established laws of our ancestors, how could we have inherited the Qin system from the Han dynasty? How could we have innovated in the Sui and Tang dynasties?"

He stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Your Excellency says that Western barbarians' products are not worth taking, but the power of the Red Barbarian cannons and the high yield of sweet potatoes—haven't they all benefited our Great Ming? Scientific investigation of things does not mean abandoning the ways of the sages, but rather making up for the shortcomings of our Great Ming:"
When firearms became outdated, they studied weaponry; when food was scarce, they improved agriculture and sericulture; when weaving was laborious, they innovated machinery.

Aren't these the foundation for a strong and prosperous nation?

His words were so powerful that Fang Congzhe opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

His face turned pale and then flushed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The emperor's words were all reasonable, but the ideas of "valuing principles over skills" and "despising trivial skills" were already deeply ingrained in his mind.

After a long pause, he stammered, "What Your Majesty said... is reasonable, but... but the way of the sages is the foundation of the country. If artisans and craftsmen are ranked alongside scholars, it may corrupt the social atmosphere."

Seeing that he was still stubbornly sticking to his own opinion, Zhu Youxiao was not angry. He simply waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind about this matter. The Department of Natural Sciences will be established, and the Academy of Sciences will also be built. As for the opposition from the officials, Grand Secretary, you only need to tell them that I will not tolerate anyone who obstructs the path to a strong nation."

Seeing the unwavering determination in the emperor's eyes, Fang Congzhe's last struggle vanished.

This young emperor was far more charismatic than he had imagined.

only……

He still felt that elevating "ingenious skills and tricks" to such a high level was ultimately a risky move.

"Your Majesty, perhaps the matter of investigating things can be put aside for the time being, and we should deal with the affairs of the Academy of Sciences first."

Seeing the emperor's resolute attitude, Fang Congzhe knew that confronting him head-on would be futile, so he changed to a roundabout approach.

He bowed and clasped his hands, his voice tinged with weariness, clearly intending to back down and temporarily shelve the most controversial reform of the imperial examination system.

This is a typical compromise, and also a delaying tactic commonly used by Fang Congzhe, the paper-mending craftsman.

First, follow the emperor's wishes and establish the Academy of Sciences. As for the "Investigation of Things" examination, wait until the hype surrounding the Academy of Sciences has died down, or until the emperor himself can find a more suitable reason, and then try to obstruct it.

Anyway, at his age, it's uncertain whether he can stay in the position of Grand Secretary until the Academy of Sciences is "run well".

Let's get through this first.

Zhu Youxiao looked at his graying temples, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"I understand your thoughts, Your Excellency."

Fang Congzhe's heart tightened, but then he heard the emperor continue, "It's best not to mention the 'Investigation of Things' for now. The matter of the Academy of Sciences does indeed need time to be implemented. Site selection, personnel selection, and regulations all require meticulous planning."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "But the rest, such as finding skilled craftsmen, defining research directions, and allocating funds, must begin tomorrow."

What I want is a prosperous country and a strong military, not just empty talk.

Now that the peasant uprising in Shandong has just been quelled, the displaced people are crying out for food, the war in Liaodong has not yet ended, and the national treasury is empty. If we don't find another way out, are we just going to watch the ship of the Ming Dynasty sink?"

"The sweet potatoes recommended by Xu Guangqi have now yielded a bumper harvest on the imperial estates, amounting to three million shi of grain. How many people can this save? How many refugees can be settled down? Isn't this the true 'way of the sage'?"

Zhu Youxiao picked up the sweet potato from the table, his voice suddenly rising.

"If we merely cling to the idea that 'the methods of the Western barbarians are unusable' and 'strange skills and tricks are not worthy of being considered refined,' and watch helplessly as the people starve to death and our territory is lost, then what use is the so-called 'way of the sages'?"

"To save the people of the world, to give them food to eat, clothes to wear, and shelter to live a peaceful life, is this not the greatest way?"

His gaze was piercing, fixed on Fang Congzhe.

"If Confucius and Mencius were to be reborn and witness this chaotic world, would they cling to the 'ancestral laws,' or would they adapt to survive and save the people from suffering? I do not believe they would speak of benevolence and righteousness to starving people!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, each one piercing to the heart.

Fang Congzhe's throat bobbed as he was asked the question, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that all his reasoning had been blocked by the emperor.

The opposing side used "people-centeredness" as a shield and "pragmatism" as a spear to refute his adherence to the "way of sages" and "ancestral laws," leaving them teetering on the brink of collapse.

There was dead silence in the warm room.

Fang Congzhe lowered his head, his white beard trembling slightly, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

He had to admit that in this debate about "the Way" versus "application," he, an old minister who had been immersed in Confucianism for decades, was rendered speechless by the young emperor before him.

It wasn't a lack of eloquence, but rather that there was something much more weighty hidden in the other person's words.

That was an insight into the suffering of the common people, a clear understanding of the perilous situation, and a kind of sharpness and sense of responsibility that he had long since lost in the ups and downs of officialdom.

"minister……"

Fang Congzhe was about to speak up and explain that he was not trying to shirk responsibility, but was just very concerned.

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and waved it, interrupting him: "You may leave."

His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I will personally examine and select the officials for the various departments of the Academy of Sciences. I am very concerned about this task, so you should do your best to assist me and not disappoint me."

These words are both an instruction and a warning.

Fang Congzhe's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "This old minister obeys the order."

The old man finally felt a little relieved; he was fortunate to have escaped this thorny conversation.

But after a moment, he couldn't help but ask the most practical question: "But where will the money needed to establish this academy come from?"

If the Ministry of Revenue were to allocate funds, given the current depletion of the national treasury, it would inevitably be delayed for a long time, and might even be shelved due to opposition from court officials.

He wanted to see if the emperor truly had the courage to use his own funds for this "strange skill and ingenuity".

How could Zhu Youxiao not understand his thoughts?
He smiled slightly and said calmly, "The Academy of Sciences' funds come from the inner court."

A hint of surprise flashed in Fang Congzhe's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected the emperor to be so decisive.

"nature."

Zhu Youxiao then changed the subject. "The money comes from the imperial treasury, and all the achievements produced by the Academy of Sciences should also belong to the imperial court."

In fact, Zhu Youxiao never intended for the Ministry of Revenue to get involved in this matter.

The officials in the Ministry of Revenue were already overwhelmed with daily expenses; asking them to allocate funds to an academy of sciences that was "not doing its job" would only create endless trouble.

Fang Congzhe wanted to push the problem onto the Ministry of Revenue and delay the inevitable.

But he had other plans from the very beginning.

Once the Academy of Sciences has established itself, its improved agricultural tools, new firearms, and commercially viable technologies will generate a continuous stream of wealth once they are put into the market.

At that time, the imperial treasury will have an additional source of income far exceeding that of imperial estates and mining taxes.

Just imagine, with improved spinning machines that increase efficiency several times over, the fabrics woven from them will surely sell like hotcakes.

The refined gunpowder and sophisticated firearms could not only equip the army, but also be exported through official channels.

Even the most processed sweet potato products could become special imperial offerings, which were then distributed to the general public by imperial merchants...

This is far more respectable and sustainable than confiscating property or collecting mining taxes.

At that time, with the imperial treasury full, he, as emperor, will be able to truly control the finances and will no longer have to worry about a few taels of silver from his court officials. He will also have the confidence to implement various new policies.

Seeing that the emperor was confident, Fang Congzhe knew there was no room for maneuver in the matter and could only bow and take his leave.

"Your Majesty, I will immediately go and prepare for the site selection and initial matters of the Academy of Sciences. I will certainly not fail to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

As soon as Fang Congzhe's figure disappeared outside the hall, Wei Chao walked in quietly and bowed to reply:
"Your Majesty, Bi Maokang, the Vice Commissioner of the Shaanxi Provincial Surveillance Commission, Geng Ju, the County Magistrate of Changshu, and Song Yingxing, a scholar who passed the imperial examination, are already waiting in the office of the Nine Ministers."

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes, and the gloom that had been hanging over him when he was dealing with Fang Congzhe vanished: "Quickly let them in."

Before long, three men dressed in official robes of different ranks followed Wei Chao into the warm pavilion.

The leader, nearly fifty years old, had a resolute face and a sharp, military-like air about him; he was none other than Bi Maokang, the Vice Commissioner of the Shaanxi Provincial Surveillance Commission.

The man in the middle, around forty years old, wore a blue county magistrate's robe. His hands were covered with calluses, and his eyes were calm and pragmatic. He was Geng Ju, the county magistrate of Changshu.

The youngest was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. Although he had not yet been granted an official position, he was tall and upright, and he was none other than Song Yingxing.

These three individuals were carefully selected by Zhu Youxiao after reviewing countless files and combining them with his own memory of historical events.

Although Song Yingxing was only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level), he had an amazing insight into agricultural and industrial skills.

His future work, *Tiangong Kaiwu*, meticulously records various techniques in Ming Dynasty agriculture and handicrafts.
From the "seed soaking method" in rice breeding to the "silkworm bathing technique" in silkworm improvement, from ore smelting to tool forging, it covers everything.

What's even more remarkable is that he had already observed the phenomenon of species variation and proposed the idea that "one mother produces nine offspring, each with its own differences." He was a rare all-rounder in the fields of agricultural administration and technology.

Geng Ju is a well-known pragmatist.

During his tenure in Changshu, he noticed the difficulty of irrigating farmland, so he improved the traditional "dragon bone waterwheel" by adding gear transmission, which increased irrigation efficiency several times over.

He also promoted terraced field reclamation technology in Jiangnan, turning many abandoned slopes into fertile fields and effectively solving local livelihood problems.

Bi Maokang was an extraordinary genius in the field of firearms.

His self-fired flintlock musket replaced the traditional matchlock with flint, which was not only rainproof and moisture-proof, but also greatly shortened the firing preparation time, making it a prototype of the flintlock musket.

His "Thunderbolt Gun," which uses multiple barrels to fire in rotation, provides continuous firepower and already has the rudiments of an early machine gun. If it can be further improved, it will greatly enhance the Ming army's combat power.

The three men entered the hall, bowed in unison, and said in loud voices: "Your subjects, Bi Maokang, Vice Commissioner of the Shaanxi Provincial Surveillance Commission, Geng Ju, Magistrate of Changshu County, and Song Yingxing, a scholar, respectfully wish Your Majesty good health!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at the three talented individuals before him, each possessing unique skills, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"They're all here, that's great!"

Without any pleasantries, he went straight to the point: "I intend to establish an Academy of Sciences, directly under my jurisdiction, free from the constraints of the Cabinet and the Six Ministries. This Academy will have three functions: academic research, technological development, and talent cultivation."

He explained to the three of them the ideas he had previously discussed with Fang Congzhe, including the separation of the Institute of Natural Sciences and the Bureau of Crafts, the imperial examination plan for the Department of Natural Sciences, and the research directions of military and agricultural industries.

Bi Maokang, Geng Ju, and Song Yingxing were all dumbfounded after hearing this.

Bi Maokang's clenched fist trembled slightly.

Geng Ju frowned, but her heart was in turmoil.

The most excited was Song Yingxing. He suddenly looked up, his eyes shining with disbelief, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty... this... this is true?"

After passing the provincial examination in the 43rd year of the Wanli reign, he failed the metropolitan examination multiple times and had long since given up on the idea of ​​taking the imperial examination.

But just now His Majesty said that he wanted to establish a "Department of Natural Sciences" to test knowledge of mathematics, water conservancy, and mechanical engineering.

These are the areas he has immersed himself in for many years!

If such an examination truly existed, he might very well have been able to pass it and become a "Jinshi in the Imperial Examination of Things," thus putting his lifelong learning to good use!

Zhu Youxiao looked at the three men's different expressions and nodded solemnly: "It is true. However, things are just beginning and there is considerable resistance in the court. Therefore, I plan to first establish an Academy of Sciences, recruit people to study diligently, and once we have achieved results, we will then promote the science of natural sciences into the imperial examination."

These words dispelled most of the doubts in the three people's hearts.

Bi Maokang said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is wise. Only by winning people over with concrete achievements can you leave the court officials with nothing to say."

Geng Ju nodded in agreement: "That's right, taking one step at a time is the way to long-term success."

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao picked up a plump sweet potato from the imperial desk and handed it to the three of them:

"Gentlemen, take a look at this. The Shuntian Prefecture Imperial Estate only used 30% of the land, yet it yielded 3 million shi (a unit of dry measure). Such a yield is enough to relieve the people's famine. However, it also has its shortcomings: the taste is coarse and astringent, pests are difficult to prevent, and it is not easy to preserve."

He looked intently at the three men: "I would like to ask you, do you have the courage to take on this responsibility, to improve its varieties, to make it more palatable, more durable, and less susceptible to pests? In addition, in the war against the Jurchens in Liaodong, firearms and warships also need to be improved, and all of these require specialized personnel."

The three exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of eagerness in the other's eyes.

They had already heard the news of the bumper sweet potato harvest, and now that the emperor himself mentioned the need for improvement, they understood even more that this young emperor was no ordinary person who talked big.

He needs practical people who can solve real problems.

Bi Maokang stepped forward: "If Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to accept the order to improve firearms!"

Although he was not skilled in agriculture, he knew that "to do a good job, one must first have the right tools," and he was able to participate in improving agricultural tools and developing insect control equipment.

Geng Ju followed closely behind: "I feel the same way!!"

Song Yingxing could not contain himself any longer and bowed, saying, "I am currently writing a book called 'Tiangong Kaiwu,' which records the characteristics of more than twenty kinds of crops. I am willing to do my best to help Your Majesty improve the sweet potato varieties!"

Seeing the enthusiasm in the eyes of the three men, Zhu Youxiao felt reassured.

What he wanted was that bold and decisive spirit.

"it is good!"

He announced in a loud voice: "I hereby appoint Bi Maokang to temporarily lead the Bureau of Craftsmen, specializing in the improvement of firearms and machinery; Geng Ju to temporarily lead the Agricultural Department of the Academy of Natural Sciences, in charge of the breeding of sweet potatoes and various crops; Song Yingxing... although you have not been granted an official position, you have real talent, so you shall temporarily serve as the scribe of the Academy of Natural Sciences, responsible for compiling agricultural and industrial techniques into a book."

The three men bowed in unison, their voices firm and resounding: "Your Majesty, we obey!"

The atmosphere inside the warm pavilion suddenly became lively, and the previous restraint vanished.

Looking at these three talents who were about to support half of the Academy of Sciences, Zhu Youxiao knew that he had ignited not only the ambitions of a few individuals, but also the spark of technological innovation for the Ming Dynasty.

And this spark, in due time, will eventually ignite a prairie fire.

(End of this chapter)