Since the emperor ordered the establishment of the Maritime Trade Department, Gao Gong, Yan Shifan, and Zhang Juzheng often stayed after their duties to discuss suitable candidates.
Naturally, quarrels and insults were inevitable during the whole process. If Zhang Juzheng hadn't been the mediator, Gao Gong and Yan Shifan would have started fighting!
Finally, after several days of repeated discussions, a final list of members of the Maritime Trade Department was officially released.
"Phew~ It's finally done!"
Zhang Juzheng looked at the final list in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief.
The endless abuse and quarrels over the past few days have made him physically and mentally exhausted. Now he just wants to hand over the list to His Majesty quickly and then go back and have a good sleep.
"Hmph, if some people didn't want to install their cronies, I'm afraid this list would have been released a long time ago!"
Gao Gong glanced at Yan Shifan and meant something.
"What do you mean?"
Yan Shifan, who was closing his eyes to rest, immediately stood up from his seat and glared angrily after hearing Gao Gong's words.
"Humph, don't you know what I mean? Some people seem to regard this Maritime Trade Department as their back garden!"
Gao Gong glanced at Yan Shifan contemptuously and said slowly.
"Hmph, when I select candidates, I never look at their background, only whether they have talent and whether they are qualified for the job!"
"It's you, Gao Gong, take a look at the list you drew up. How many people on it are officials from your Qingliu sect?"
Yan Shifan paused for a moment, then took out the prepared list, pointed to the names on it, and spoke word by word.
Just when Gao Gong wanted to continue to reply, Zhang Juzheng stood up and said helplessly: "Two adults, stop arguing!"
"Now that the final list has been decided, there is no point in arguing about it now. How about we just let the facts speak for themselves?"
Seeing Zhang Juzheng standing up to mediate the situation, Yan Shifan and Gao Gong looked at each other and stopped arguing.
"Humph, let's speak with the facts then!"
Yan Shifan glanced at Gao Gong and said in a deep voice.
"I think so too."
Gao Gong did not show any weakness and responded in a deep voice.
"It's not too early now, let's quickly hand over the list to His Majesty!"
After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, he carefully put away the drafted list and said to the two of them.
"Um."
Gao Gong and Yan Shifan nodded, agreed to Zhang Juzheng's proposal, and then the three of them embarked on the journey to the Yangxin Hall together.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
At this moment, Jiajing was holding the formation secret book in his hand and studying it hard, while Lu Fang stood quietly aside, like a statue.
After constant attempts, Jiajing has been able to restore most of the enchantment array recorded in the books!
Since the formation is not perfect, it needs to be maintained with magic power at all times, otherwise it will collapse soon, which is very different from Jiajing's previous idea.
Jiajing originally expected to have these enchantment formations engraved into the flag! In this way, when the two armies are fighting, the enemy will be trapped in the enchantment formation, unable to extricate themselves, and can only be slaughtered by the Ming army.
The currently restored ecstasy array requires mana to be maintained at all times, so it can be said to be a completely defective product.
"It seems that I still have to wait until my strength becomes more refined before it can be realized."
At this moment, I saw a guard coming from outside to report: "Your Majesty, Mr. Gaoge and the others are waiting outside. They said they have something important to report to Your Majesty."
"Well, let them in."
Jiajing immediately put down the formation secret book in his hand and gave the order.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After the guard responded, he quickly left.
After a while, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Xuan Gaogong, Yan Shifan, and Zhang Juzheng are here to see you!"
As soon as the three of them entered the Yangxin Hall, they knelt on the ground respectfully and said loudly: "I bow to your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Well, everyone, get up."
Jiajing then turned his eyes to a few people and said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, several people stood up from the ground.
"It's so late, you guys came to see me. Do you have anything to report?"
Jiajing asked as he rubbed the dragon heads carved on both sides of the dragon chair.
"Your Majesty, this is the list of candidates for the Maritime Trade Department discussed by Wei Chen and others in recent days!"
After Gao Gong finished speaking, he raised the list in his hand high above his head and said respectfully.
"Oh, it's progressing so fast?"
After listening to Gao Gong's words, a look of surprise appeared on Jiajing's face.
Immediately afterwards, Lu Fang, who had been standing beside Jiajing, quickly stepped forward, took the list from Gao Gong's hand, and handed it to Jiajing respectfully.
Jiajing then opened the list and began browsing for a personal name recorded above.
Whenever he sees a familiar name on the list, Jiajing will start to recall the person's past deeds and make an evaluation to see if he is qualified for the job of the Maritime Trade Department.
After a long time, Jiajing slowly put down the list. After clearing his throat, he said, "Well, you did a good job on this matter! Everyone on the list meets the requirements."
"Next, let's set up the Maritime Trade Department according to the list we've drawn up!"
After reading the list, Jiajing felt much better and ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"
Seeing that the list that I had worked so hard to compile in recent days had been approved by the emperor, I was so excited that the stone that had been hanging in everyone's hearts fell to the ground.
Just when several people breathed a sigh of relief, they thought the emperor was going to send them away next.
Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, waved his hand and said, "Come here, give Aiqing a seat!"
As soon as he finished speaking, eunuchs immediately prepared seats for several people.
"Your Majesty, you still have something to give us!"
Everyone looked at each other and thought in their hearts.
Then he was seen sitting upright, not even daring to breathe, waiting for Jiajing to speak.
Jiajing turned his attention to Yan Shifan and asked, "Yan Shifan, you are both an official and a worker! How many craftsmen are currently registered in the imperial court?"
"Why did Your Majesty suddenly mention this matter? Are you saying that His Majesty wants to abolish the craftsmanship system?"
After listening to Jiajing's words, Yan Shifan's expression remained unchanged, but there was an uproar in his heart.
In the second year of Hongwu, the imperial court issued an order that all military, civilian, medical, craftsman, yin and yang, and other professions would be recorded by the imperial court and could not be changed at will! Craftsmen households belong to the Ministry of Industry and are divided into two categories: shift craftsmen and live craftsmen.
Shift craftsmen were required to serve in the handicraft workshops run by the imperial court in shifts every year or five years, with an average of three months per shift. Resident craftsmen were required to serve in the handicraft workshops run by the imperial court for ten days every month. If they did not go to work, , you need to pay nine coins of silver every month, and the government hires someone else.
After Yan Shifan recalled for a moment, he respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, there are currently a total of 369,581 class masters recorded in the register!"
After listening to Yan Shifan's report, Jiajing couldn't help but sigh: "These craftsmen not only have the whole family involved in production, but also have meager incomes and low status."
"Any craftsman who is registered as a craftsman will not be able to leave the registration for generations to come! And this just cuts off their hope."
"Therefore, I have decided to formally propose the abolition of the craftsmanship system at the next cabinet meeting! And appropriately improve the treatment of these craftsmen. What do you think?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, he turned his eyes to a few people and then asked.
Seeing that the emperor dropped such a bombshell as soon as he came up, everyone didn't know how to answer for a while, hesitating and hesitating, with a look of embarrassment on their faces.
And Jiajing seemed to see the embarrassment on their faces, and then waved his hands generously and said: "It doesn't matter, I'm not asking you to give me a definite answer now. You go back and think about it." Think about it.”
Seeing that the emperor was so considerate of his ministers' difficulties, everyone's thoughts were racing, and a hint of warmth flashed through their hearts.
After a long time, everyone stood up from their chairs and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I will leave!"
(End of chapter)
