Zhu Jingyuan arranged tasks for several officials from northwest provinces and sent them back.
Several provinces have no dedicated personnel and no offices in Xi'an.
However, Zhu Jingyuan arranged a special telephone line and assigned a special operator.
The chief officers of several chief envoys can call this line directly and have a dedicated operator directly call Zhu Jingyuan.
The few tasks arranged by Zhu Jingyuan seemed to be just a few, but in actual implementation they were complicated.
It is impossible for Zhu Jingyuan to complete the two-year term. It would be good to see initial results when Zhu Jingyuan leaves.
To build new industrial zones and new large-scale concentrated residential areas around selected cities, it would take several months to a year to simply build the houses.
Once the personnel are properly trained and the factory is put into production, another year may have passed.
The key is that before that, the people scattered on the grasslands and plateaus must be sent to the city where the factory is located.
This is because the Ming Dynasty already had grassroots ruling institutions on the grasslands and plateaus.
Since the time of Emperor Shizu, a unified management organization has been established on the grasslands and snow-covered plateaus, assigning relatively fixed pastoral areas to each tribe, and arranging specialized management and liaison personnel within the tribes.
At the same time, the Ming Dynasty's local abolition reforms were also implemented on the grasslands and plateaus.
The serfdom system on the plateau ended a hundred years ago.
Without these foundations, it would be impossible to implement Zhu Jingyuan's orders now.
After Zhu Jingyuan sent away several political envoys, he first wrote a report to his father.
Clearly write down the plans that you have discussed with officials from several provinces, and at the same time clearly list the policies that require the cooperation of the central court.
The cooperation requirements from various aspects including the central court, royal consortium, etc. are also written down.
Then I contacted the management staff of Daming Airlines and asked them to contact the yamen of several provinces on the grasslands and plateaus.
Provide them with off-road mopeds, cars and airplanes suitable for use on plateaus and grasslands.
In the grasslands, Gobi, and plateaus, there is not enough transportation network. It is impossible to build railways for cities of all sizes. Even the Ming Dynasty cannot afford such costs.
In the past, communication in most remote areas could only rely on horse teams, but now mopeds, cars and airplanes can be used.
The relative maturity of the internal combustion engine industry is also an important condition for the northwest of the Ming Dynasty to complete Zhu Jingyuan's mission.
At the same time, Daming Airlines and its affiliated machinery companies are required to invest in and open new factories in Xi'an, Lanzhou, Ili and other places.
Emperor Zhu Jianyan of the Ming Dynasty frowned after reading his son's report.
Then he instinctively drew a pen and paper in front of him:
"This guy is too loud. He is engaged in industry, big city construction, and large-scale immigration in the northwest...
“The logic is very reasonable, and the goals can be considered relatively clear.
“Concentrating people from various ethnic groups dispersed on the grassland to the nearest big city to become new workers is indeed the best way to completely integrate these marginalized populations.
"But the question is, how much money will the court spend in this process..."
The reform plans proposed by Zhu Jingyuan will of course cost money.
Of course, the products of the Imperial Consortium and Daming Airlines cannot be given to government offices at all levels for free.
At most, the wholesale price is slightly lower than the market retail price.
The intensive construction of new urban areas, the construction of government-run factories, and the relocation of the population itself also cost money.
The tax revenue of the northwest provinces is already low. Zhu Jianyan feels that even if all the local taxes are paid back, it will probably not be enough to consume these measures.
The court will definitely need to allocate additional funds to implement it.
Zhu Jianyan thought about it for a while, and finally accepted all his son's requests directly.
Instruct your secretary to write the order, read it to yourself and confirm it is correct, and then distribute it to the corresponding departments and agencies.
The current financial situation of Ming Dynasty is relatively good, which is also the basis for the implementation of these reforms.
Everything will be relatively easier when the dynasty is on the rise...
Of course, Daming Aviation and its subordinate machinery companies could not refuse orders from Zhu Jingyuan, their direct boss.
Although it is definitely not as convenient to build a factory in the northwest as in Jiangnan, Central Plains and other places, there are also special markets there.
For the northwest region, airplanes and cars can even be considered urgent needs.
In the next few months, the Ming Dynasty court, the royal consortium, Ming Dynasty Airlines and other institutions began to gradually transport materials, funds, and personnel to the northwest, and cooperated with officials from the various chief ministers in the northwest to implement Zhu Jingyuan's plan.
Many of the well-informed businessmen thought that the Ming Dynasty was going to engage in the "Northwestern Development". Some businessmen were ready to consider whether to invest in the northwest along with them, while others went directly with them.
What Zhu Jingyuan asked the chief envoys in the northwest to do can indeed be regarded as the development of the northwest in a sense.
Although Zhu Jingyuan and Zhu Jianyan, father and son, do not actually want to develop the Northwest.
After previous communication, the two have unified their thoughts and will not build in places where the environment is inappropriate.
However, exceptions are made when there are actual strategic needs.
Most of the northwest region can be left deserted, but key transportation lines must be protected.
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty's northwest development operation started quite enthusiastically even though the emperor himself was unwilling.
…………
At the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, on an open pasture, a family of herdsmen were grazing their livestock.
The morning sun shone brightly on the earth. After having lunch, several children rode ponies and ran outside the herds of cattle and sheep.
Amidst the neighing of cattle and sheep, a strange sound could be heard faintly in the distance.
Soon, two moped-engine cars appeared in the herdsmen's sight.
The children were very interested in these "iron horses" and held their ponies slightly forward to meet them.
But adults don't have much favorable impressions of these things.
The herdsmen of this era are far from being able to drive herds.
Cars and mopeds had just been invented not many years ago, and herders in remote areas had not seen much of such things.
Most of them are only seen occasionally when shopping in the city.
But their appearance has really affected the sales volume and price of horses.
Traditional herders are still in a state of "workers resisting new machines" for the time being, so they don't have much favorable impressions of cars and mopeds.
But they also wanted to know who was driving to the ranch.
The two mopeds soon arrived at the place where the herdsmen were, and the herdsmen finally saw the person clearly.
Two men in their thirties, both county government officials, had come to the village to collect household registration information for their children.
But the herdsman couple still didn't understand why the two officials came to the village at this time.
There seems to be no family in the village who has given birth to a child recently but has not yet registered it.
A tall and thin male officer stopped the moped, greeted the herdsmen on horseback with a smile, and explained the purpose of his visit:
"Laowa is herding sheep. The court has new arrangements. We need to notify the village. Is your village chief at home?"
The male herdsman Lao Wa said casually:
"I may not be at home now, but I will go back in the evening..."
The officer seemed to have anticipated this situation:
"Okay, then I'll wait until night."
Seeing this situation, Lao Wa asked curiously:
"Is there something big going on? You can't tell me directly, and you can just tell me no when I go back to the village?"
The officer thought for a while, anyway, it was just afternoon, and it was still early in the evening.
Moreover, he could go to their village with this herdsman family, so he casually explained to Lao Wa:
“The imperial court wants you to go to the city, and not to our county, but directly to Ili.
"This time it was directly arranged by His Highness Prince Dashi, so that all the herdsmen under the Tianshan Mountains go to live in the city...
"Do you know, His Royal Highness Prince Dashi? He is the most valued prince of our Emperor.
"Now he is the great governor of our entire northwest, and all the chief envoys must obey him."
When several children heard that they were going to Yili, they cheered subconsciously.
Regarding the identities of Prince Zhu Jingyuan and Governor, they did not quite understand what they could do.
But everyone knows that he is definitely a very high official, and he is also a prince.
After hearing this, Lao Wa said with a sad face:
"We know nothing but herding, so what can we do in Yili? There is no place to live in the city, and there is no way to make money..."
The clerk immediately explained to Lao Wa:
"You can learn if you don't know. The work in the factory is very simple now, and anyone who is not a fool can learn it.
"Even if you really can't learn well, you can go to Yili to raise cattle. You know how to raise cattle, right?"
When Lao Wa heard this, he almost laughed out loud:
"Sir, are you kidding me? Why do we have to go to Yili to raise cattle? Isn't it the same as raising cattle here?"
The director seemed to feel that what he said was unclear, and immediately added:
“It’s not the way you used to raise cattle anymore, you’re not driving the animals to graze on the grassland.
“Instead, they are concentrated and raised in captivity, directly fed with concentrated feed to produce milk and meat, and cattle are raised like a factory.
“One person can raise more cattle and sheep, they will grow faster, and they can be easily sold near big cities.
"You must have heard of it before, the Royal Ranch is doing this now."
Lao Wa seemed to understand, and then continued to say with a grimace:
“It’s just because the Han people started raising cattle and sheep like this, it’s hard to sell our cattle and sheep.
“Plus you guys are riding these mopeds, it’s hard to sell our horses.
"In recent years, our lives have become increasingly difficult..."
When the officer heard this, he immediately continued:
"The imperial court knows that you are having a hard time, so don't you have arrangements now?
"His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness Prince Dashi are going to take you into the city now and take you to build a new pasture together.
"Of course, it's better to go into a factory. Woolen mills employ more people than ranches and earn more money.
“With His Highness Prince Dashi’s clothing store taking the lead, woolen clothes have become popular all over the world.
"If you go to work in the factory of Dashi Clothing Store, you can get at least twenty silver coins a month, and you will do better.
"Even if you two don't want to join the factory, you can still let your eldest child join the factory.
“In the future, they will be able to live in buildings in the city, and they won’t have to follow you in the wind, sun, and rain on the grassland.
"Isn't it more comfortable to get married and settle down in Chengdu than to herd cattle in the village?"
When Lao Wa heard about the salary of twenty silver coins, the idea of living in a building, especially the idea that his children would be able to settle down in the city without having to continue grazing with him, he was immediately a little tempted.
However, Lao Wa instinctively feels panic and worry about all unknown things.
Lao Wa asked with expectation and worry:
"Can you really earn twenty silver coins in Yili? Will there be a job after you go? Where will you live after you go?"
The clerk immediately said:
"According to the arrangements given above, we will notify you only when there is work. This is also the request of His Highness Prince Dashi.
“I’m here this time to prepare you, and I’ll take you there after arranging work for you.
"The place to live was also arranged. When I first arrived, I lived in the dormitory of the factory.
"After you make money, buy your own separate house."
After hearing this, Lao Wa became even more tempted, but the worry in his heart was still not completely eliminated:
"Why does the court do this? Why does His Highness Prince Dashi take such good care of us herdsmen?"
The clerk immediately held his head high and said:
"Because you, like us, are all subjects of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
“In the eyes of His Majesty the Ming Emperor, there are no Hans, Mongols, or Uighurs, we are all Ming people.
"Our Majesty certainly hopes that all Ming people can live a good life.
"From the perspective of the court, it means that the people have money in their hands, they can make more money, and the court can also receive more taxes."
Lao Wa was a little confused when he heard this, but he was also keenly aware that the Ming people had a good identity.
The emperor is the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, so the people of Ming Dynasty are the emperor's own people.
Just like the chief of his own tribe, he will take care of the people of his own tribe and go to rob the people outside.
Of course, most of the things snatched from outside must belong to the chief, and part of the livestock raised in the tribe must be contributed to the chief for his enjoyment, just like the Ming Dynasty court also collected taxes.
The more cattle and sheep the herdsmen below raised, the more offerings the chief could receive.
Now that the people of Ming Dynasty are rich, the court can receive more taxes.
Lao Wa felt that he basically understood. The principles of the elders had not changed, but the Ming tribe was too big.
I heard that outside the grassland, most of the land under the sky belongs to the Ming Dynasty.
If you are also a member of the Ming Dynasty, it is indeed quite good...
So Lao Wa nodded and said:
"Let me think about it, let me think about it carefully. Anyway, you are not taking people away directly this time..."
When the clerk heard what Lao Wa said, he knew that he had already moved his mind, and he relaxed a little.
Then continue chatting with Lao Wa and ask about the situation in the village.
In the middle of the afternoon, we drove the sheep with Lao Wa back to the village where we live together.
Lao Wa said that he could help the officer go to the village and give a shout-out, or he could tell the matter to the village chief.
But the director knew that Lao Wa's ability to talk was limited and it was difficult for him to explain things clearly.
The key is that for such a serious matter, I must go to the village in person and explain it to the herdsmen in person.
I also need to meet with the village chief to confirm that I have done my job well to avoid any trouble later.
Most of the Ming Dynasty officials' working methods and standards, as well as the bureaucracy itself, were reshaped by Zhu Cihong.
Especially the affairs at the village and town level that did not exist before were the rules set by Zhu Cixiang himself.
As a result, the situation at the grassroots level in various places is very similar to the typical situation in rural areas in later generations.
(End of chapter)
