No, when Wei Xuelian, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, heard this, he smiled bitterly and said: "It's another province, and the Ministry of Personnel has no officials to send!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangzhong, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, couldn't help but joked: "There are no officials to choose from? It is estimated that in two years, Dongwu Province will be established!"
Dongwu has occupied the most prosperous area, but there is no province now because the power of the original Dongwu Toungoo dynasty has not been completely eliminated.
A province is established with prefectures, prefectures and counties under its jurisdiction. These places do not need to consider the more detailed township yamen. But even so, there are definitely a lot of officials needed.
No, just listen to Wei Xuelian say: "Nowadays, it takes almost two years for a new province to be established. No matter how many candidates are elected, they cannot withstand such consumption!"
After hearing this, the Minister of Industry also came out and complained: "There are so many things going on across the country now that there are really not enough manpower!"
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Agriculture immediately echoed: "The water conservancy projects across the country, including the newly built provinces, are full of waste and are in need of manpower!"
"..."
Listening to their complaints, Emperor Chongzhen was a little unhappy. The provinces he established were all very important. It was a great achievement to open up new territories. Could it be that he shouldn't set them up just because there was no one around?
However, every time the Imperial Council was held, memorials were sent from various places. In the past few years, there has indeed been a trend of shortage of people.
For this reason, the imperial court also made it a national policy to encourage childbirth.
However, it is impossible to force a child to grow. It has only been a few years since the war subsided. The new generation of children born will have to wait at least ten or twenty years before they can contribute to the court.
Due to the previous wars, in fact, in the Ming Dynasty, overall, there were more boys than girls.
But generally speaking, it has only been a few years since the war subsided, and the demand for manpower will not be so urgent. The ultimate reason is that the arrival of Zhang Mingwei invented the steam engine and triggered the industrial revolution in the Ming Dynasty.
In all walks of life, because of the emergence of the stable power of the steam engine, there was a chain reaction. Together with other inventions, the Ming Dynasty suddenly prospered and construction began with great vigor. In layman's terms, it meant making money.
The most important thing is that if it develops according to natural processes, even the industrial revolution will be a slow process. However, with Zhang Mingwei as a cheating device, things that originally required decades of accumulation or an accidental factor to be invented were all invented by Zhang Mingwei in just a few years.
As a result, the demand for manpower in the Ming Dynasty increased dramatically.
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei immediately smiled and said: "Nowadays, I have two ways to alleviate the demand for manpower!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen quickly asked: "Sir, if you have any good ideas, please tell me quickly!"
After hearing this, the others immediately looked at Duke Xingguo with such expressions on their faces.
In their opinion, as long as they encounter a difficult problem and throw it to Duke Xingguo, there will definitely be a solution. And sometimes, Xing Guogong's methods are unimaginable and unheard of, but they are often very effective.
At this time, there is really no way to deal with manpower, except to launch a war and plunder people from other countries. Other than that, what else can be done?
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei looked at Emperor Chongzhen and replied with a smile: "First, try to implement mechanization and automated production. Maybe this concept is a bit early, but if there is a suitable industry or suitable scenario, use it if it can be used. "
Emperor Chongzhen and others were stunned when they heard this, a little confused.
However, Zhang Mingwei didn't wait for them to ask, and gave an example directly: "For example, in the northern plains, farming, harvesting, etc. can be done with more skillful methods and using machines. Or even if it is not a machine, as long as there are improved methods, All methods of saving manpower can be promoted and used. For example, threshing rice ears..."
Even in later generations, in the 1980s and 1990s, many places still used beating methods to remove rice ears. This method is not only tiring, but also very inefficient and labor-intensive. Later, there was a manual roller-type method of removing rice ears, which even a half-year-old child could easily remove.
Zhang Mingwei introduced this kind of thing and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "I believe there are many like this. People from all over the world can communicate with each other from south to north, east to west, north to south, and so on. They can all give feedback to the court and let local officials collect it. It must be effective. Whether it already exists or is newly invented, the imperial court can reward you heavily!"
The population base of Ming Dynasty is shown here, and there will definitely be no shortage of smart people. Under the guidance of the court and the stimulation of rewards, many people will definitely come up with good ways to increase productivity and liberate manpower.
After Zhang Mingwei said this, not only Emperor Chongzhen nodded, but Du Yinxi and others also had no objections and thought it was okay.
"Sir, is there any way to alleviate the problem of manpower shortage?" After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen asked again with expectation.
Du Yinxi and others also looked at Duke Xingguo to see what other method he could come up with.
"The second method is easier!" Zhang Mingwei said, and when he saw their expectant faces, he continued, "It is to liberate women, make full use of women, and let women also participate in the team of building Ming Dynasty!"
"What do you mean?" Emperor Chongzhen was a little puzzled when he heard this, and asked doubtfully, "Let women work the same as men?"
After hearing this, Du Yinxi and others shook their heads, a little disappointed.
Everyone thought Duke Xingguo could come up with some good ideas, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a bad idea!
This time, Duke Xingguo disappointed people!
But who would have expected that when Zhang Mingwei saw their appearance, he raised his voice a little and answered Emperor Chongzhen: "Of course, that's what I mean!"
"Sir, is this inappropriate?" Emperor Chongzhen was also disappointed and shook his head.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Mingwei asked immediately after hearing this, and then continued to say in that firm and powerful tone: "We humans are divided into men and women, and one is indispensable. What a man can do, a woman can't do without." Why can't we do it? Even if it's a war, General Qin is still there, and there are other heroines, so it's not like there aren't any?"
Someone opened his mouth to speak, but when Zhang Mingwei saw it, he didn't give him a chance and continued: "There are also medical soldiers and art soldiers in the army who are also female soldiers. Is there a problem with this? In hospitals that have been opened one after another across the country, women What is the proportion? Nurses are almost all women. And..."
Zhang Mingwei said a lot in one breath, and finally concluded: "In most industries, women can do anything that men can do. There are even many industries where women do better. Over in the south of the Yangtze River, sericulture and textile industries are developed. , women have been out working for a long time, isn’t it normal? So, if you ask me, women can hold up half the sky!"
After he finished speaking, there was silence in the Wenhua Hall. Everyone was looking at Zhang Mingwei, and no one spoke for a while.
And standing in the corner of the hall was the palace maid on duty, her eyes wide open, looking at Zhang Mingwei, almost like a star.
When did women get so much attention? Women can hold up half of the gods! No, I must tell my good sisters later!
Seeing the silence of the people in the hall, Zhang Mingwei took a breath and said, "Actually, I have wanted to say this for a long time."
As soon as he spoke, everyone, including Emperor Chongzhen, looked at him, ready to hear what he had to say.
"According to the news Jin Yiwei received from all over the country!" Zhang Mingwei looked around them and said, "Among the free official schools across the country, there are many places that refuse to allow girls of school age to go to school. Only a handful of official schools in Jiangnan have made it possible for all citizens of the Ming Dynasty to enter official schools for free. This is the step to study.”
Regarding free official education, there are actually many problems during the implementation of the imperial policy and its implementation in various places, and Zhang Mingwei has always been paying attention to it.
In the past, the children of Ming people with low status were excluded by most local officials. It was only after the last household registration reform and the abolition of low-level registration that school-age children who originally belonged to low-level registration were able to legitimately enter free official schools.
Another issue is the education of girls, which is even more serious. In the Ming Dynasty, the vast majority of girls did not have the right to study and read. This was not only considered unimportant by the government, but also by ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, who did not take girls' education seriously.
"If Ming Dynasty wants to stand on top of the world, Ming Dynasty will not be strong just because men are strong. Women are also very important. If women are not valued as a group, Ming Dynasty will walk on two legs, one long and one short. That is lameness of!"
At this time, when he heard Zhang Mingwei give this lame example, regarding the power of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen thought seriously from this perspective.
It has to be said that what Zhang Mingwei has done over the years, including Emperor Chongzhen's breaking of the jar after the desperate situation and not abiding by the old system at all, has played a very big role.
Emperor Chongzhen was not monopolized by his previous thoughts and had the opportunity to think seriously.
Although Qin Liangyu led the troops in the war and was outstanding, this was a special case. However, he could not deny that some military branches, such as art corps and health corps, were suitable for women.
This is true for soldiers, not to mention other industries. Zhang Mingwei also cited many examples, and his impassioned voice still rings in his ears.
After thinking for a long time, Emperor Chongzhen looked at the ministers under him, with a serious expression on his face, and said seriously: "I think what you said is right. What do you think?"
Du Yinxi was the chief minister of the cabinet. When the emperor asked questions, he spoke first and said thoughtfully: "The Duke's intention is indeed reasonable, but how to do it specifically, I think it still needs to be discussed!"
The others listened and said nothing, just nodded in agreement.
Just the fact that women hold up half the sky is shocking.
