This memorial is naturally about the specific ideas and regulations of the Patent Office. It also includes the crown prince's signature, and it's the kind of thing that's publicly presented. Suddenly, it naturally caused a huge sensation in the capital again.
"Have you heard that Duke Xingguo is planning to set up a new yamen, the Patent Office under the Ministry of Household Affairs!"
"This matter spread immediately, who hasn't heard about it? But this time, I think the Duke took it for granted!"
"Indeed, who would reveal the ancestral skills to the public? As the saying goes, if you teach your apprentice well, the master will starve to death!"
"That's true. Although you can make quick money for a while, what about your descendants?"
"..."
Of course, there are also some people who have learned more information, so their views are different.
"If you can keep the good things passed down from your ancestors and prevent them from being copied by others, of course you can not make them public or apply for patents from this patent office. No one will force you anyway! But if your good things, It’s easy for others to imitate it, so it’s best to apply for a patent at the Patent Office. In this way, you will be protected by the court’s laws and you won’t be afraid of being imitated by others!”
"In this case, it's okay! After applying for a patent, it can be passed on to future generations and it will be guaranteed by the government. That would be great!"
"You have such a beautiful idea. This patent depends on the importance of your patent, and there is a time limit for protection. After the time has passed, others can use it."
"Why is this? If this is the case, why bother setting up a patent?"
"Don't you understand this? It is said that the prince and the duke's memorial said that this is to encourage us people of the Ming Dynasty to invent and discover new and good things that can improve the lives of our people and benefit our Ming Dynasty. However, If it continues to be protected, it will become a separate business, which will prevent us people from living a good life, so we need to set up a protection period for this patent, not an unlimited one."
"Ah, the Duke is really racking his brains and thinking about helping us live a good life!"
"No! I'm afraid you don't know. This time, together with the memorial from the Patent Office, there are two other treasure trays belonging to the Duke. They are specially intended to serve as a demonstration for the Patent Office. However, the Duke has made it clear that as long as We, the people of Ming Dynasty, don’t need money.”
"What, there are two more treasure trays, what treasure trays?"
"..."
While the people in the capital were talking about it, Emperor Chongzhen felt that the news had almost spread, so he held a large court meeting in the Huangji Hall, commonly known as the Jinluan Hall.
In the middle of the Jinluan Hall, there are four rare objects placed rarely. Logically speaking, it is absolutely impossible to appear in the Jinluan Palace.
Most of the civil and military officials in the palace had never seen these four things; however, some officials who came from poor backgrounds recognized what two of them were. But they can also guess the other two.
If it is combined with the current rumors, then all the civil and military officials in the Jinluan Palace will know that this should be the "treasure plate" presented by Duke Xingguo.
That's right, two of these four objects are the spinning machines and looms that Emperor Chongzhen ordered the palace to specially build according to the memorial. The other two items are ordinary spinning machines and looms brought in from the palace.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen was very excited and said to his ministers: "First of all, take a look at how powerful these two things Mr. Sir invented this time are!"
After saying that, the four palace ladies who were accompanying him immediately stepped forward to operate the machine.
The civil and military officials in the palace knew that this was a treasure trove for making money, and they heard that the Duke had disclosed these two things. Therefore, they all stared at it with wide eyes, thinking that if they could see it clearly, they could go back home. There are multiple sources of making money.
Needless to say, this most intuitive comparison immediately surprised all the civil and military officials. They didn't expect that the new spinning machine and loom invented by the Duke of Guo were so efficient!
Seeing their shocked faces, Emperor Chongzhen felt proud, as if he had invented it, and said to the ministers: "Let's see, what do you think? These two things that Mr. Sir invented are good, right?"
Needless to say!
Naturally, all the civil and military officials praised him one after another.
After they talked for a while, Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile: "Sir, the most difficult thing about these two things is who can come up with it first! After that, as long as anyone with skills sees it, they can imitate it. Therefore. , the person who invented this thing would probably hide it at home and use it alone. In this way, the invention would only benefit one family."
After a pause, he continued: "However, no matter how hard we prevent this thing, there is still a possibility that it will spread. In this case, the person who invented this thing will know that all the benefits will be lost!"
Having said this, he glanced at the civil and military officials below, his face became serious, and he said seriously: "So Sir proposed to set up a patent office. On the one hand, the court will protect the first person who comes up with it, so as to encourage More people will use their brains to invent more good things; secondly, it will allow inventors to come up with things that are not conducive to keeping them secret earlier, benefiting more people."
At this point, Emperor Chongzhen sighed with emotion: "For this reason, sir, you have specially invented these two things as a demonstration. And they are free for the people of Ming Dynasty!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the group of people below and said, "Tell me, who has the ability to be a gentleman, and who has the demeanor of a gentleman?"
"Hmph!" Emperor Chongzhen snorted loudly, "If I hear anyone dare to criticize you again, I will ask the factory guards to check who is qualified to criticize you!"
Upon hearing this, some people held their heads high, while others lowered their heads and remained silent. It was obvious that they had different positions. The huge Jinluan Palace suddenly became quiet.
As a native of Jiangnan, Min Hongxue stared at those two figures, his eyes shining for a long time. After feeling the silence in the hall, he suddenly came back to his senses and asked Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, you just said these two are good. If things are free for the people of Ming Dynasty, does that mean they are no longer free for outsiders?"
When others heard this, they didn't notice this detail and quickly looked up at Emperor Chongzhen.
"Of course!" Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile after hearing this, "Not only these two things, but also the cement formula that has been disclosed before, are only free for the people of the Ming Dynasty. If outsiders want to use it, they have to pay... patent fees . However, the royalties for these items sir have been donated to the imperial court."
Hearing this, Min Hongxue frowned and said, "If outsiders really want to use it without paying... patent fees, what can they do?"
"Haha!" Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile after hearing this, "Sir, he said that as long as Ming's fist is strong enough, there is no fear that they will not pay the patent fees; but if Ming's fist is not strong enough, they can all come to my Ming Dynasty to rob it! Whether the fist is hard enough or not is the key!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was a little dumbfounded.
But if you think about it carefully, although this statement seems a bit vulgar, it makes a lot of sense.
Seeing them like this, Emperor Chongzhen continued: "With this patent office, I believe that the good things produced in Ming Dynasty will definitely increase. When the Ming Dynasty has more good things, they can be sold outside. But at this time, we must The court must protect them from being robbed by others when they go out to do business. Therefore, the court will naturally collect patent fees, and when business flourishes, business taxes will also increase. Under this cycle, the court's tax revenue will definitely increase. increase."
Speaking of this, he suddenly felt a little emotional. He was really afraid of poverty before, so he said with emotion: "If the imperial court collects more taxes, it can do more things. Correspondingly, the burden of our common people in the Ming Dynasty can also be reduced." Lighten it up a bit. If it were possible, I would very much like to say that the people of the Ming Dynasty would be tax-free for three years, five years, or even ten years, etc. You think so, right?"
Emperor Chongzhen's question immediately left all civil and military officials without a second answer. As a result, everyone in the Jinluan Hall should claim "yes".
The rhetoric designed by Zhang Mingwei for Emperor Chongzhen echoed the three views of people of this era. After all, you are here to steal something from me, and I don’t want to ask for it back?
On the other hand, if Zhang Mingwei said that there are many good things overseas, we should go and grab them, because Xiyi is already grabbing them, and if we go late, we will not be able to grab them from others.
If you really want to say this, some people will definitely object. If others are robbers, do you also want to be a robber?
But now, the perspective given by Zhang Mingwei has even reached the point of serving the country and the people. The court is rich and the people of Ming Dynasty benefit. Who dares to object to this?
At this time, seeing that everyone below agreed, Emperor Chongzhen said to them: "Before, I forced the promulgation of the "Regulations on Pensions and Preferential Treatment of Military Personnel of the Ming Dynasty" to make our Ming Dynasty's fist strong enough. Just rely on words. Others will ignore us.”
Most people in the palace were shocked when they heard this. It turned out that the emperor and Duke Xingguo had been planning this for a long time?
While they were thinking about it, they heard Emperor Chongzhen continue: "Regarding matters related to the Patent Office, the Cabinet and the Minister of Household Affairs will take the lead and discuss a charter based on your memorial. Before the end of the year, I will issue it. The world!"
The Patent Office will be under the control of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Minister of Household Affairs is of course the most active.
………………
At the same time, Zhang Mingwei, the instigator of this incident, had also led his troops to leave Wuchang Mansion. He led the 100,000 troops who had finished changing their uniforms and marched westward in three directions to pursue the bandits.
As long as Zhang Xianzhong fled to the west, he would not be in a hurry to pursue him, but would just walk slowly.
But things often don't go as you want, just develop as you want.
When Zhang Mingwei led the main force of the middle road, a total of 50,000 horses, and had just passed Hanyang, Zhou Yuji, who had set out early to hang on to Zhang Xianzhong's subordinate, sent an urgent envoy back to report the news.
