The old emperor noticed Zhu Jianfeng's reaction, and subconsciously looked at Zhu Jingyuan, and then saw Zhu Jingyuan's very ugly expression.
After a brief period of doubt, the old emperor turned his gaze, looked at Zhu Jianfeng and asked:
"Lao Jiu, there is a bill related to labor remuneration proposed by Jingyuan. When you were discussing and formulating it, did you ask Jingyuan for his opinion?"
At this time, Zhu Jianyan, Zhu Jingyuan, his son, and uncle Zhu Jianfeng were all surprised at the same time.
Zhu Jianfeng was a little panicked immediately because he had never expected to encounter such a problem. Why did he need to consult Zhu Jingyuan, an older child, about such a matter?
But this bill was indeed proposed by Zhu Jingyuan. It stands to reason that the person in charge should consult him. But does this make sense?
Now facing the old emperor's question, Zhu Jianfeng quickly organized his thoughts:
"To inform my father, I did not consult nephew Jingyuan because I thought that nephew Jingyuan had not yet started training.
“We still don’t understand the lives of ordinary people at the grassroots level, and simple imagination cannot provide valuable reference.
"My son went to consult the ministers and ministers of the bureaus related to engineering, commerce, and construction such as the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Commerce.
"As well as many doctors and principals, I also asked about the accountants and workers of the consortium.
"I believe that I have done a comprehensive enough investigation and the amount of labor remuneration given is in line with the actual situation."
After the old emperor got the answer, he did not react directly. He patiently listened to Zhu Jianfeng's explanation before turning to look at Zhu Jingyuan:
"Jingyuan, your uncle Jiu didn't consult you yesterday, so now you can speak for yourself."
Everyone at the scene, including Zhu Jianfeng himself, looked at Zhu Jingyuan.
Most people are a little confused, why must Zhu Jingyuan be allowed to express his opinion?
What does this half-grown child who grew up in a royal palace have to say about the wages of workers at the lowest level?
Zhu Jianfeng was also surprised, but he was not too nervous and was ready to see what opinions Zhu Jingyuan would come up with.
Ideally, he would come up with some simpler ideas.
For example, how can people's income be so low, how can one survive on one dollar of silver banknotes, how can one's own salary support 8,000 workers, etc.
Then he stood in the position of an elder, told him the cruelty of reality, told him about the suffering of the people, and then encouraged him on the surface.
In fact, it made his father and everyone truly realize his naivety.
Then, Zhu Jingyuan spoke:
"Uncle Jiu, I would like to ask you, what reference did you base on when formulating this monthly minimum labor remuneration?"
Zhu Jianfeng breathed a sigh of relief again. He had prepared for this kind of question early on, and he had really asked it, instead of just making a random plan:
“What I learned is that the monthly salary that the lowest-level apprentices without any skills can get is real.
"The officials have carefully investigated and collected the data. If nephew Jingyuan doesn't believe it, you can check it out with me after the morning court..."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slightly after hearing this, and immediately asked:
"I believe Uncle Jiu's data, but I don't understand why Uncle Jiu chose to use this number as the minimum labor remuneration standard set by the imperial court?"
Zhu Jianfeng didn't mean what Zhu Jingyuan meant, and the ministers around him didn't understand either. They all thought this question was nonsense.
Why use it as the minimum remuneration? Because it is the minimum remuneration!
Zhu Jianfeng felt that Zhu Jingyuan was messing around, but at this time he had to show his maturity and stability, so he patiently explained:
"Because the data I investigated is the lowest labor remuneration among the people of the Ming Dynasty. Does nephew Jingyuan find it hard to believe it?"
When the old emperor heard this, he instantly thought of some words in Emperor Shizu's Book of Holy Sayings. He immediately came to his senses and looked at Zhu Jingyuan expectantly.
Sure enough, Zhu Jingyuan spoke again:
"Then Uncle Jiu still remembers a question recorded in Emperor Shizu's Holy Words: What is governance by inaction?
"Emperor Shizu said that some people like to eat sweet rice dumplings, and some people like to eat salty rice dumplings.
"But the imperial court cannot ask that the whole country eat only sweet rice dumplings, nor can it ask the whole country to eat salty rice dumplings.
“We can’t stipulate that northerners can only eat sweet rice dumplings and southerners can only eat salty rice dumplings.
"You can eat sweet rice dumplings, you can eat salty rice dumplings, and you can eat meat rice dumplings. Don't talk nonsense about it.
“If it is not necessary, do not add new laws, it is just to rule by doing nothing.
"Uncle Jiu, what do you think is the point of marking the lowest salary we have found and announcing it to the whole country?
"What's the difference between this and the imperial court's special announcement saying that both sweet and salty rice dumplings can be eaten? What's the difference between this nonsense and a new law?"
The ministers and princes at the scene suddenly understood. This was saying that what Zhu Jianfeng was doing was useless.
The operation was as fierce as a tiger, and the result was zero and five.
Regardless of how many files you have investigated, inquired, and summarized before, or how authentic the data you find is, it is all in vain according to Emperor Shizu's standards.
They don't bother with you about the problem of the data at all, and directly reject the significance of your work at a high level.
The key is that you can't refute it yet.
Zhu Jianfeng also understood, and suddenly became a little irritable, and at the same time asked in confusion:
"But the establishment of minimum labor remuneration standards was a proposal proposed by yourself, Jingyuan, and now you yourself say it is meaningless?"
Zhu Jingyuan, who had recovered his memory of later generations, was a little disgusted with the data that Zhu Jianfeng presented from the beginning.
Looking at his reaction now, I was sure that he really didn't understand it at all, so he asked a little rudely:
"Then have you asked me why I need to set a minimum labor remuneration? Have you asked me what my opinion is on this standard you proposed?"
Zhu Jianfeng was born in this era, and the education and information he received made him unaware of the problem.
In addition, I found that this junior's attitude had changed, and he was no longer as respectful to me as he was in the early days, and I began to accumulate anger in my heart.
While Zhu Jianfeng's tone became harsh, he instinctively threw the pot back to Zhu Jingyuan again:
"Then Jingyuan, tell me now yourself, what is your purpose and why do you ask for the establishment of this nonsense law."
Zhu Jingyuan took a deep breath and did not look at Zhu Jianfeng again. He turned to the emperor and cupped his hands, then cupped his hands to the surrounding ministers, and finally said loudly:
“My purpose is to let the royal family, nobles, businessmen, and elites allocate part of their resources to provide the lowest level of workers with the most basic living security.
“Because these groups who are struggling to survive are the groups that are now endangering the country, and they are the potential followers of Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.
"I want you to give them something to eat, something to wear, and a place to live, so that they can stop making trouble and not be seduced and coerced by Li Zicheng again.
“In this way, by stabilizing the internal situation in the empire, we can pass on the legacy of the Ming Dynasty, and the wealth of you and your relatives and friends can continue to be passed on.
"The ancestors before Emperor Shizu did not master this degree well, so they gave Li Zicheng a chance. Are you ready to give him another chance now?
“If we don’t want to give them another chance, then everyone has to come up with money together to appease the poor people.
"The imperial court sets a reasonable minimum labor remuneration standard, and then as long as everyone abides by it, the money will be shared fairly, and this goal can be achieved with less money."
The Wenhua Hall had fallen silent, and Zhu Jianfeng opened his mouth and was speechless.
Although everyone has different positions and tendencies, their mentality at this moment is very similar.
Why do you, a half-grown child, have so many twists and turns in your head? Is this something a fifteen year old should be thinking about?
The key is, couldn't you just say it outright before what you wanted to do?
Or do you think in your heart that the things you said are things that everyone should understand?
Then if we didn’t understand it before, wouldn’t it make us look particularly stupid?
