After being away from the capital for more than three years, Wei Bin returned.
The palaces and pavilions of the Forbidden City remained the same, but Wei Bin was still surprised by the busyness of the previous dynasty.
Only an old man like him in the palace is more aware of the difference between now and then.
The Wenhua Palace area in the southeast of the Forbidden City now has three major functional areas.
The courtyard of Wenhua Hall is no longer used for holding sutra banquets, and is now used exclusively by the cabinet.
The original Wenyuan Pavilion has been converted into a central shelf and library. The carved room and shrine to the east of Wenhua Hall have been converted into offices for officials who serve the cabinet.
The area of Wenhua Hall is larger than that of Wenyuan Pavilion. Now, each of the cabinet ministers has a small independent office building here. The first assistant and second assistant live in the back hall of the ministry, with the other four cabinet ministers on both sides. The central hall is the conference hall where cabinet meetings are held to discuss important matters.
To the south of the Wenhua Hall and to the north of the south wall of the Forbidden City, there are four courtyards. In addition to the Youguo Hall dedicated to the "God Xuantian", there are also the famous inner transport warehouse.
Now, the inner transport warehouse has been moved to the Sili Supervisor area on the north side of Renzhi Hall, and that area has become the area where the internal supervision and government offices are concentrated.
The four courtyards south of the Wenhua Hall now serve four important departments serving the emperor and the cabinet: the General Affairs Department, the Sixth Section, the Imperial Palace, and the Mingbao Office of the Ministry of Rites, located south of Donghua Gate.
This area was originally an incense warehouse, and there is also a general library for ancient and modern books.
But now because it is close to the water, the row of houses to the south has become the publishing room, the row of houses to the north has become the editorial office, and the warehouse to the east is closest to Donghua Gate. This kind of planning has its own purpose.
The last functional area in the Wenhua Palace area is centered on the Wen Building, and also includes many corridors in the area that were originally the Hanlin Academy History Museum and the Zhongzuo Gate and Dongjiao Gate. The cabinet and various ministries have many small offices and small offices here. meeting room.
The ministers of the six ministries or so who can stay here now all have another title: Wenlou Xing.
If a minister wants to go one step further and become a minister, it will be very difficult without this experience.
Wuying Hall, which is opposite Wenhua Hall, is obviously preparing for the same structure now. The house is still being renovated, but Wei Bin knows that the Wuying Palace and the Wu Tower will probably have a great effect.
Complementing these new changes are the number of internal and external ministers from the previous dynasty.
Wei Bin accompanied Zhu Houcong as he walked from the Yangxin Hall to the Jinshen Hall, praising him repeatedly: "What I have seen in the past half day since I entered the palace is that the courtiers are more single-minded and diligent than before."
Zhu Houcong said with a smile: "You are a first-class smart person, you know that this is still far away."
Wei Bin didn't look old, but gained a lot of weight.
Instead of being on tenterhooks next to Zhu Houcong, Wei Bin seems to be very nourishing in Guangdong.
"How is Liang Shuhou's health?"
"There is no serious illness, but after all, he has aged a lot." Wei Bin paused after hearing this, "I'm afraid he only has a few years to live at most."
He didn't say it to death, but since the emperor asked him personally, he still had to give his own judgment.
Liang Chu had lived in seclusion in his hometown for more than four years after resigning. Now when he heard what Wei Bin said, Zhu Houcong just nodded.
He could not curse people, so Zhu Houcong lowered Liang Chu's life expectancy a little further: he might only be able to survive another two or three years, or he might even die at any time.
Among the veterans who were active at the beginning of his succession, Yuan Zonggao and Zhou Zhao were the first. From now on, more and more old ministers will die intensively. After all, they have all passed the age of seventy and even approached the age of old age.
According to the life span at this time, they are already quite old.
But there is not much time left for Zhu Houcong to cultivate new blood who are dedicated to promoting reforms with him.
In another five years, only 70% to 80% of the Ming Dynasty’s fourth-grade and above people will have to be replaced.
So Zhu Houcong has really become the "first teacher" now.
In addition to speaking to the craftsmen at Huangming University, he also needed to speak to many people.
Today's "lectures" are to be given to the first batch of executives from the Ming Dynasty's imperial merchants and government merchants who had their charters compiled by Zhu Houcong himself.
Therefore, Wei Bin was called back, and he was naturally the "assistant coach."
Among the three main halls of the previous dynasty, Fengtian Hall was used for holding court meetings, Huagai Hall was a place where he took a temporary rest while participating in many ceremonial activities in Fengtian Hall and court meetings, and Jinshen Hall was basically only used for dressing and preparation.
Now, Jinshen Hall has been used as a classroom.
This was probably the most "advanced" classroom in the entire Ming Dynasty, because the eunuchs who worked in the imperial study were very familiar with some of the methods the emperor would use.
The Internal Affairs Department is already a more professional team of eunuchs and secretaries than the Nei Shutang. Teaching aids, courseware, teaching materials... Huang Jin can handle everything arranged by Zhu Houcong.
At least at this time, "slideshows" can be used in Jinshen Palace.
On the huge wooden shelves are those large scrolls that have been specially made - only the most critical contents will be made like this by the internal archives department.
The small pictures are drawn directly in the teaching materials and distributed to the lecturers with more detailed content to facilitate their listening and learning.
At this moment, nearly a hundred people lined up on the cloud platform outside the hall between Jinshen Hall and Huagai Hall.
Among this group of people, there are three people with the most prominent status.
One of them is Zhu Rangxu, the king of Shu. After Gao Kewei caused chaos in Sichuan, Zhu Rangxu supported all the emperor's demands without hesitation. With the reputation of King Shu in Sichuan for more than a hundred years, Yangwuhou Xue Lun and Fei Hong quickly stabilized the situation in Sichuan. This allowed the selected forwards from the Fifth Army Battalion who were supposed to go to Sichuan to stay in Huguang.
The other one is Xu Yande, the son of Xu Guangzuo, Duke of Dingguo. Xu Guangzuo first welcomed the emperor in person, then went south to support the emperor in Guangdong, and then rushed back to Beijing to temporarily supervise the capital camp. Now, Xu Guangzuo is seriously ill, and Xu Yande is the next Duke of Dingguo.
The third person was a newly-confessed earl, but his origin was very complicated—Liu Yu, the sixth-generation grandson of Liu Ji, the sincere uncle.
Three people, one is a prince of the clan, one is the son of a long-time Duke, and the other is an honorary minister whose title was renewed by the emperor of the new dynasty.
Among the rest, there were eunuchs, many civil servants, and some civilians wearing commoners with restrained and excited expressions standing at the back.
These civilians are businessmen.
They were selected from a large list after recommendation.
Just like the craftsman Zheng Kui, they did not expect to have the opportunity to attack the emperor, or even go to the Jinshen Palace to listen to the emperor's lectures in person.
In a solemn atmosphere, Huang Jin walked out of the palace door: "Your Majesty has arrived, and all the subjects entered the palace and took their seats."
Many desks and chairs have been set up in the hall, and there is a small wooden sign on each table with everyone's name written on it. Those businessmen are the top ones.
The name is placed in the Jinshen Hall. This is an important event that can be discussed carefully, the genealogy is published, and the ancestors are worshiped after returning home!
It was still after they all found their positions that Zhu Houcong arrived here.
Some rituals cannot be broken. After all, this is the Forbidden City.
But what they were asked to do today was to pay homage to Mr.
Disciple of the Emperor!
The four big words popped up in the hearts of these businessmen again, and they felt even hotter all over.
"Huang Ming Ji, Huang Ming Medical Nursing Home, Imperial General as Supervisor, Military War Bureau, Weaving Bureau, Mingbao Branch of the Ministry of Rites, Baoyuan Bureau, Baojin Bureau, Baoyan Bureau of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ordnance Supervisor and Tongyi Bureau of the Ministry of War, The Construction Bureau of the Ministry of Industry, the Treasure Ship Supervisor, the River Transport Bureau, the Maritime Transport Bureau, and the Qun Mu Supervisor.”
Zhu Houcong looked at the sequence one by one and named sixteen names.
"Starting next year, you will change many industries in Ming Dynasty."
What Zhu Houcong said is true.
Huangmingji has changed the entire "ecology" of maritime trade and even corvee labor in Guangdong, and now, huge changes are brewing in more fields.
It even includes coinage, salt production, mining, relay transmission, water transportation, horse administration and many other fields related to the lifeblood of the Ming Dynasty.
"Whether the new law can really enrich the country and strengthen the army, you are the key." Zhu Houcong wanted to let them understand the importance of this first. "As the leaders and senior executives of the first batch of sixteen large enterprises in the Ming Dynasty, you are clan members." Those who are relatives or ministers can understand that I entrust you with the important responsibility of the Ming Dynasty and can achieve great achievements; those who have official status will still retain their grade and official salary, and can still be appointed to other positions in the future, and even sit on the national policy council; those who do not have official status , the appointment will be finalized starting from today."
These words included everyone present.
The most excited ones are still the businessmen who will be in charge of many "big companies", which means that they can wear brocade and silk publicly in the future!
"But I want to warn you first: This is the Jinshen Palace, and you must keep it in mind. I am watching over you, and there are regulations, accounting rules, accounts, audits, the Cleaning Department, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate below, and there are all the places below. If any official or civilian commits corruption, perverts the law, commits adultery, evades taxes, or oppresses business people, I will not forgive him lightly!"
Zhu Houcong paused for a moment before saying: "You are half a government agency and half a trading company. What I grant you are some privileges related to the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. What you need to keep in mind is that your first task is not to make money. How much money you make, how much merit you make, how big an official you are promoted to, but what each person’s responsibility means to the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and the new law. Now, I will explain it to you one by one!"
Sixteen very large "state-owned enterprise" groups, each with monopoly resources.
Huang Mingji, who has relatives as shareholders, has monopolized the privileges of maritime trade, and is now establishing a new system in the field of labor services and land transportation.
In the field of water transportation, Zangfeng and Ma Cheng have each taken the lead since then. One is in charge of canal water transportation, and the other wants to "take the blame" to develop sea transportation.
Baoyuan Bureau already existed, but from this moment on, Zhu Houcong began to take back the minting rights step by step and lay the foundation for the future banking and financial system.
After the mining and manufacturing of many key products such as salt fields and mines are consolidated and integrated, these areas will involve changes in many fields such as the salt introduction system.
The group of livestock supervisors will take on the matter of raising horses in the form of an enterprise. To this end, Ming Dynasty will need a number of specialized "state-owned horse farms".
The Imperial General Bureau, Construction Bureau, Treasure Ship Bureau, Weaving Bureau, etc. will be based on the huge amount of craftsman resources already owned to both generate income and demonstrate.
The War Bureau and Ordnance Supervision are more specialized in the research, development and manufacturing of military equipment. With the emperor's authority, the ministers, honorable ministers, and civil servants will simultaneously participate in this major event related to the Ming Dynasty's military preparations. In conjunction with the procurement law, there are new regulations for the manufacturing, distribution, and storage management of equipment.
As for Mingbao Bank, Tongyi Bureau, and Huangming Medical Nursing Home, they use the existing post system, Dibao system and doctor resources to generate revenue and profits in the form and efficiency of enterprises, and better implement the official treatment law.
"Guangdong and Shandong have set an example for the local governments in the reform of government agencies. As for how the central government will reform, you only need to care about your salary." Zhu Houcong looked at them, "Your grades, honors, merits, and titles are what you will need from now on. A place where you can think about yourself.”
From the first level to the ninth level, Ming's eighteenth level basic treatment will be determined from then on. As long as you have good grades, your basic official salary and benefits are already determined. In addition to money and food, there are also benefits in housing, travel, children's education, medical care and many other aspects. This welfare system is being implemented with the establishment of a number of large enterprises and the establishment of the Huangming College system.
The title of en is a virtual title of previous civil and military grades, such as a certain doctor or a certain general. But now, these honorary titles will have corresponding clear additional salary and welfare benefits, and there will even be the folk title of eighteenth-grade rural virtuous man.
The titles are the words of honor added by the three gongs, three orphans and the honorable ministers and generals. Basically, each word represents certain privileges. These are basically the status manifestations of high-level bosses - at this level, they have also transcended. material needs.
The title is simpler and will benefit future generations.
"From next year onwards, those who have made meritorious services in the Ming Dynasty will be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be punished." Zhu Houcong said clearly, "In the Ming Dynasty, from the clan to the common people, from scholars, soldiers, merchants, workers and even farmers, everyone can be rewarded for their meritorious service." In the Ming Dynasty, he received a favored title and was even conferred a title. The titles of king, duke, marquis, uncle, county, and township can be promoted or demoted. If there is no merit, even the clan will have to be demoted and exonerated from generation to generation. "
In front of the leaders of the newly born "state-owned enterprises" in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houcong said this to both encourage and warn them.
Zhu Rangxu, the king of Shu, had heard many "instructions" from Zhu Houcong. He knew that the three large enterprise groups, Huangming Grain Reserve, Imperial Generals as Prisoners, and Huangming Medical Nursing Home, were only owned by the clan kings. What a weight.
Only the senior princes and princes of the clan lost the right to be hereditary as a direct descendant, but the middle and lower classes of the entire clan gained freedom and the opportunity to be promoted to nobility, as well as a sufficient salary guaranteed by the emperor.
Xunqi can participate in the Huang Ming Ji, the Military War Bureau, the Shipping Bureau, and the Interpretation Bureau. The reason is the same. The establishment of the sixth-class earl system and the new title of Duke Jingguo gave the nobles the possibility of being promoted or even granted the title of king with a different surname despite the pressure of being demoted.
In this promotion of rewards for meritorious service in the Huguang Rebellion, some middle-level generals who started as soldiers were rewarded with counts, county lords, and township lords.
As for civilians, in addition to soldiers, craftsmen, businessmen, and farmers have the title of eighteen-level rural sage. Those at the lower level can work as officials in these "state-owned enterprises" and localities - the prerequisite is that they must be literate. Those at the intermediate level have the qualifications to deliver letters to the emperor and attend Xiangxianyuan, and those at the upper level can rely on the Xiangxianyuan as a whole. With the authority to submit official memorials, travel to other places to patrol counties, and even patrol roads as censors.
The emperor was expanding the entire official system, building more channels for advancement, and expanding more opportunities for private voices to convey and even supervise the government.
How effective it will be, the old officials now standing here are still unsure.
But two things are certain.
First, after the suppression of the Huguang rebellion, no one now dares to block the wheel of the new system.
Second, look at the first batch of businessmen who came here with special grace and directly obtained official status. What are their expressions now?
They were not allowed to think too much. After the opening remarks, this round of classes that would last for many days began.
Zhu Houcong has sufficient theory, and Wei Bin has rich practical experience.
Wei Bin shared his experience on how Huang Ming Ji undertook various affairs in Guangdong, contributed taxes, and at the same time relied on its monopoly power to support national needs and boost the development of related industries.
At the same time, Huang Mingji's assets and profits were also told to them under the double-entry accounting method and during the annual accounting.
Trading firms are not a new thing. Private trading firms aim to make money. Businessmen with low status used to rely on good relations with the government and officials to obtain the right to operate some businesses.
Now, these sixteen state-owned enterprises have some business monopoly rights, or they have huge advantages directly relying on the government.
But the mission that Zhu Houcong wanted them to complete was to stimulate the potential of related industries, to take the lead in practicing commercial and tax laws, and to promote the creation and flow of wealth in Ming Dynasty.
The truth here involves a new understanding of wealth and a macro understanding of the entire economy.
"How to manage your own people and run your own businesses well in accordance with the regulations, and how to balance the needs of the court with your healthy turnover, you need to understand." Zhu Houcong said at the end of this class, "If ten The situation I want will be realized in twenty years, and you all have made great contributions. I can give you a reassurance first: twenty years from now, some of you will be crowned marquises and worship the duke. If there is anything else wrong It is not impossible for him to be a hereditary prince and a king with a different surname because of his merits in this world!"
The prince must begin to strive to achieve great achievements outside of his bloodline and become one of those special and truly hereditary princes.
The relatives of different surnames in Gonghoubo County and Township are faced with the temptation of upward mobility and the pressure of downward mobility.
But in front of the middle and low-level civil and military officials and even the common people, it is possible to climb up among the four sequences of character, grace, merit, and nobility.
At this moment, in the editing room of Ming Pao, which was under preparation, were the first batch of Hanlin bachelors from the Hanlin Academy who participated in the compilation of "Jiajing Dictionary".
Lin Xiyuan was a Jinshi in the twelfth year of Zhengde. His ranking was not high. His first official position was as a judge of a certain state.
After the beginning of the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, amid the frequent exchanges between the imperial court and local officials, he returned to the capital and became the Qingliu of the Hanlin Academy, which is now favored by fewer and fewer people.
Now, after participating in the compilation of the "Jiajing Dictionary", he became the first batch of officials to "eat crabs" and turned to the chief editor of Ming Pao Bank, which was not in the civil service ranks.
His rank is still: fourth grade, but he no longer has civil affairs authority over other officials or people.
He is only responsible for editing and reviewing the content of each issue of "Ming Pao" and using new simplified characters.
Now, the content of the first issue of "Ming Pao" has been almost determined, and he is watching it carefully.
The content of this issue will shock the world. It will also be the first newspaper to be sent to the entire Ming Dynasty through the Ming Dynasty's post system and the new interpretation bureau.
Each government office will directly issue one copy, which will be purchased by the Ministry of Personnel on an annual basis.
The rest of the government and the public can also buy this newspaper through various channels.
This "front page headline" of the first issue of "Ming Pao", which will be printed on relatively large paper, is exactly what the emperor said in the Jinshen Palace.
"All officials and citizens will be rewarded for their meritorious service: Detailed explanation of the new system of titles, titles, and honorary titles in the Ming Dynasty"
The content and writing style are different.
When Lin Xiyuan was in charge of compiling the "Jiajing Dictionary", he stayed with Zhu Houcong for a long time as a staff member of the imperial study. He knew very well that the emperor valued this matter and these details, so he "abandoned politics and engaged in business."
There are more than two thousand eloquent words written by him, and there is not much nonsense.
One meaning is highlighted: The emperor’s favor is so great that the Ming Dynasty is about to change. Even if you are an ordinary citizen who cultivates fields and pays grain and accumulates good deeds, goes about business and pays taxes and abides by the law, and is a craftsman who creates crafts and tools with care, there will be a day when you will not receive a title or even a knighthood.
[Everything can be of high quality, only those with merit are the best. Make a promise to the world, and you will be rewarded for your merits. 】
Lin Xiyuan couldn't help but think of the emperor's young face: in his lifetime, is it really possible to change the situation where everything is inferior and only education is good?
(End of chapter)
