The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Shen Sen was well aware of the significance of this technology. If they could truly create transparent glass, the Shen family would not only be able to turn their fortunes around, but they might even be able to restore their ancestors' glory.

"I, Lin, am fully capable of taking responsibility for my words. I have already clarified the key techniques for making transparent glass. All I need is for your Shen family's craftsmen and kilns to cooperate," Lin said in a deep voice.

Shen Sen thought for a moment, then suddenly thought of someone and asked, "Is your Excellency Lin Boyan, the Imperial Censor?"

"Oh? You know me?" Lin Yue was somewhat surprised.

Shen Sen cupped his hands and said, "The name of Lord Lin is known to everyone in Nanjing today!"

He dared to risk his life to remonstrate against moving the capital, revealed the truth about the lunar eclipse at the shipyard, and vowed to circumnavigate the globe. Now, you, sir, have been granted the official robes of a third-rank official by His Majesty with the rank of seventh. Such talent and imperial favor truly make you a pillar of the Ming Dynasty. I, Shen, have long held you in high esteem. I was momentarily blind and failed to recognize you. Please forgive me!

At this point, Shen Sen had no more hesitation: "If you can truly pass on this skill, I will agree to the cooperation!"

The workshops and artisans will all be at your disposal. The Shen family is willing to invest in acquiring raw materials and upgrading the kilns. The imperial court will take 80% of the profits, and the Shen family will only need 20%!

He voluntarily offered concessions, hoping to firmly secure this opportunity. Although Lin Yue was not a member of the royal family, being able to obtain transparent glass technology and the protection of the imperial court was already a great blessing.

Lin Yue was taken aback, not expecting Shen Sen to be so agreeable. The 80% profit also far exceeded his expectations. He immediately nodded: "Okay, it's a deal. I'll let you know the details later..."

After saying goodbye to Shen Sen and returning home, Lin Yue immediately began to rack his brains over the key to making transparent glass.

The reason why Ming Dynasty glass was opaque was primarily due to a lack of high-quality natural alkali, which had to be replaced with lead, and lead would cause the glass to lose its transparency.

He suddenly remembered that he had heard in his previous life that seaweed and seaweed ash contained a lot of salt, which could be extracted and used to make alkali after being burned.

If enough seaweed ash can be found, high-quality alkali can be produced, laying the foundation for transparent glass. At worst, the glass factory can be built by the sea, where raw materials are readily available.

With that in mind, Lin Yue began to write his memorial.

Since he had decided to launch reforms in the Ming Dynasty, he had to carry them out boldly and decisively; timidity was not in Lin Yue's style.

Memorial on the Establishment of a Jointly Operated Public-Private Glass Factory

Your Majesty, I, Lin Yue, respectfully submit this memorial: Your Majesty is determined to expand the country, develop treasure ships, and regulate taxes. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace and wish to offer my knowledge of transparent glassmaking techniques to repay the court.

I recently met Shen Sen, a descendant of the Shen family in Suzhou. His family has a complete glass workshop and kiln, but the techniques are outdated. I have learned the Western method of studying things, and I can use seaweed ash to refine alkali instead of lead to aid melting, which can produce glass as clear as ice.

This object has many wonderful uses. In the military, it can be used to make telescopes, allowing for clear observation over a hundred miles. In the sea, it can be used to decorate compasses and stargazing windows, aiding in global navigation. In the nation, it can be used to make utensils and buildings, increasing tax revenue. In education, it can be used as an optical teaching tool, benefiting the study of things.

It is proposed to establish a joint government-private glass factory, with the Ministry of Works as the official supervisor. One hundred acres of government land along the coast of Yingtian Prefecture will be allocated, with no taxes levied for three years. An official will be dispatched to oversee the operation. The Shen family will provide more than one hundred craftsmen, ten kilns, and ten thousand taels of capital to be responsible for the operation.

This move avoids huge expenditures by the government, prevents the abandonment of traditional industries by the people, and does not increase national taxes. Raw materials for factories along the coast are plentiful, and the cooperation between the government and the private sector helps to avoid redundancy and risks.

I am willing to personally oversee the construction. If there are any problems, I will accept the crime of deceiving the emperor. If the project fails, you may cut off my head.

In the first year of the Yongle reign, Lin Yue, a supervising secretary, submitted a memorial.

Looking at the memorial he had written in a flourish, Lin Yue smiled with satisfaction.

It is well known that officials in the Ming Dynasty were mostly involved in collusion with merchants.

His plan was to let Zhu Di monopolize the glass industry and swallow up the entire Ming Dynasty's glass industry in one fell swoop, and this was just the beginning.

Next, Lin Yue will continue to set up government factories, whether through public-private partnerships, privately-run and government-supervised operations, or government-run and directly administered operations. In short, he will gradually dismantle the old commercial system of the Ming Dynasty.

You, Zhu Di, can bear the hatred of abolishing tax exemptions for officials, but can you withstand the hatred of cutting off people's livelihood, which is comparable to killing their parents?!

Other transmigrators' actions of sharing profits with the rentier class were too weak. A truly capable transmigrator should be like Lin Yue and wage war against the entire bureaucratic class.

War! War! War!

Censors are here to bombard the world with their words!

......

The following day, Lin Yue once again attended his loyal morning assembly.

As a result, he still didn't get a chance to perform this time.

As soon as the court bell rang, Zhu Di sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall, and immediately spoke.

"Two important events are announced today. First, the eldest son of the emperor, Zhu Gaochi, is hereby appointed as the crown prince to consolidate the foundation of the country. Second, the merits of the pacification of the rebellion will be recognized and the generals will be rewarded."

For a moment, the hall was filled with uproar.

Left Commander Qiu Fu stepped forward first, bowed and said: "The Book of Rites says that the eldest son of the legitimate wife should be established, so as to consolidate the foundation and secure the country."

"Your Majesty's Crown Prince is benevolent, filial, gentle, and respectful, practicing frugality and possessing the virtues of an ancient wise ruler. Your Majesty's actions are in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, truly laying a foundation for future generations!"

Minister of Rites Li Zhigang followed suit, quoting classical texts: "Crown Prince Chi has always prioritized the people, providing disaster relief and compassion for the populace, earning widespread praise. With the foundation of the nation secured, the hearts of the people are with him; this is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty!"

Several civil officials echoed his sentiments, some citing the Zhou rites to establish the proper name of the heir apparent and restore the great cause for ten thousand years, others praising Zhu Gaochi for his wise and virtuous nature and his earnest and sincere words, which were in accordance with the rites and laws. Almost no one in the court had any objections.

No sooner had the imperial edict appointing the crown prince been read than Zhu Di issued a series of decrees.

"The second son, Zhu Gaoxu, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Han, and the third son, Zhu Gaosui, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Zhao."

Feng Qiufu was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi, Zhu Neng as Duke of Cheng, and Zhang Yu was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Rong…

Numerous titles and honors were bestowed, and those who had contributed to the Jingnan Campaign were either promoted, granted land, or given additional stipends. Yao Guangxiao was even appointed as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, ranking first among the civil officials.

For a time, expressions of gratitude filled the air, the hall was filled with joy, and everyone's face radiated honor.

Only Zhu Gaochi, who had just been granted the title of Prince of Han and was standing in front of the assembled officials, looked rather grim.

Lin Yue stood among the courtiers, his face showing deep thought.

He had intended to submit his memorial from Liulichang during the court assembly, but now he didn't even have a chance to interject.

Moreover, the time when Zhu Di appointed the crown prince seems to be much earlier than in history. Could it be that he rebuked Zhu Di for not establishing an heir so many times that Emperor Yongle changed his mind ahead of time?

Just as he was pondering this, the eunuch announced loudly, "Lin Yue, the Supervising Secretary, is hereby promoted to Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy!"

Lin Yue was taken aback, then expressed his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

He never expected that he would be among those receiving the honors. Although the position of Hanlin Academy Lecturer was not a powerful one, it allowed him to stay by the emperor's side and be in charge of lecturing on classics and history, making it a very prestigious and respectable official post.

After the investiture and bestowal of titles and rewards, it was already past noon, the court session had ended, and naturally, other matters could not be discussed.

Lin Yue was about to step out of the main hall with the cheerful crowd when he was stopped by a palace attendant: "Attendant Lin, His Majesty summons you for a meeting."

Lin Yue had become accustomed to being dragged to private meetings by Zhu Di so many times, and followed the eunuch through the corridor.

This time, the meeting was being held in a study, where Zhu Di was playing with a glass-like bottle, which appeared to be perfume.

As for how Thai perfumes are made, Lin Yue had actually heard a little about it...