First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Ximeng fell into deep thought, and Song Lian and Liu Bowen couldn't give Zhang Ximeng the answer he wanted, so that Zhang Ximeng's mood declined for two or three days.

Until Lao Zhu issued an order, asking him to enter Kaifeng with him and rule the former capital of Zhao and Song Dynasties.

Only then did Zhang Ximeng cheer up, and following the triumphant Ming army, he approached Kaifeng... The army passed through Chenqiaoyi, and the soldiers and civilians on both sides welcomed more and more.

The old and the young come to watch this unique army.

The common people whispered that in the past half a month, the Ming army provided Kaifeng with 20 catties of grain every day... Liu Futong went crazy and slaughtered the loyal officials of the Song Dynasty. When the Ming army took over Kaifeng, he distributed a lot of grain and real estate to the people...

Ten years of fierce fighting, coupled with the previous floods, continued to ravage the poor people. Floods, droughts and locust plagues followed one after another. The people in the Central Plains did not survive.

Up to now, we have finally waited for an army willing to care about people's livelihood.

The common people took the initiative to come to greet and walk out of the house to welcome the new monarch.

Amidst the sound of long live, Zhang Ximeng glanced across the crowd. He saw the disheveled and disheveled people, the old and the weak, women and children, but there were not many men.

Some children even bare their buttocks, shake their big heads, stare at their round eyes, and look around... They urgently need to improve their lives and need abundant supplies.

The development of industry and commerce and the improvement of technological level are not aimed at making more money, nor can it be just a simple economic account. It must be focused on improving people's livelihood.

Zhang Ximeng had a flash of inspiration, and he gave the fundamental principle, which is called people-oriented. If economics is added after the people-oriented... wouldn’t it be people-oriented economics!

Chapter 483 Zhang Xiang's Small Classroom Starts Again

Zhu Yuanzhang successfully visited the former capital of Zhao and Song Dynasties and came to Kaifeng City.

Then Lao Zhu was disappointed.

Liu Futong's massacre left few loyal officials of Han and Song Dynasties... The Daxiangguo Temple, Bianshui Floating Bridge, Jinming Pond, and even Huizong's Gen Yue were all gone.

You want to recall the present and recall the past, and sigh, but you can't find a handle.

In the huge city of Kaifeng, there are only 30 million old and weak women and children left. Natural disasters and man-made disasters have repeatedly ravaged the land of the Central Plains. Looking around, there are large expanses of sand and soil on both sides of the Yellow River, and there is not much vegetation to be found.

In the low-lying area, there is accumulated water that cannot be drained for several years... The hinterland of the Central Plains is actually at risk of desertification.

The power of the people is exhausted, and the power of the land is exhausted.

It's the end of the mountain!

How to restore people's livelihood and restore the prosperity of the Central Plains?

As the commanders of the Central Plains War, Xu Da and Chang Yuchun looked at each other in blank dismay.

"Compared to the problem in front of us, defeating Chahan Timur is nothing?" Xu Da whispered.

Chang Yuchun rolled his eyelids, and said viciously: "That old bastard beat the Central Plains to the ground, no wonder he would collapse at the first touch! Killing him will make him cheaper, he should be cut into pieces, crushed and fed to the fish!"

The two gritted their teeth and cursed constantly.

At this moment, Hua Yun, Feng Guoyong, Zheng Yuchun, Wang Bi, even Hu Dahai, Lan Yu, all the generals, except those guarding the area, all arrived.

In addition, civil servants headed by Wang Guangyang and others were also there.

Just as the meeting was approaching, Zhu Sheng, who participated in politics, was also carried in.

Everyone subconsciously stood up... Zhu Sheng had contracted the disease long before the start of the war. During this period of time, it had good times and bad times. When it was serious, he was bedridden.

The old man is getting old, and a little illness is like passing through the gate of hell.

Everyone was worried about him, so Xu Da said, "Mr. Fenglin, why are you here?"

Zhu Sheng looked at the big guy, and smiled helplessly: "The Central Plains is so desolate, what magic method is there to bring the dead back to life, I don't come to listen today, I'm afraid I won't die with peace!"

Xu Da hurriedly said: "Mr. Fenglin, everyone is looking forward to your long life!"

Several people helped Zhu Sheng up, and sat down on the chair next to him.

As soon as Zhu Sheng sat down, Zhu Yuanzhang strode in from the outside.Unexpectedly, Lao Zhu didn't wear either a military uniform or a gun uniform, but chose a black uniform. The big guy wanted to salute, and Lao Zhu waved his hand.

"No need, today Mr. Zhang wants to learn, and we also want to hear his opinions."

After Lao Zhu finished, he just found a chair and sat down.

Immediately after him, Zhang Ximeng, Song Lian, Liu Bowen, and others were also dressed in dark clothes. After entering, they took their seats after greeting everyone.

Zhang Ximeng first said: "My lord, and colleagues... Not long ago, I talked with Song Shi and Liu Shi about restoring people's livelihood, and they expressed criticism of some of my views... After I went back, I learned from the pain and came here today. , I just want to talk to them about this matter and explain the problem clearly. I also invite colleagues to comment together to see which of us makes sense."

After the opening remarks of the short answer, Zhang Ximeng directly asked the question, "Song Shi, Liu Shi, we talked about why we can't pay attention to invention, create new machines, improve efficiency, and solve difficulties... Can you two explain your reasons again? once?"

Song Lian thought for a while, then replied: "Master Zhang, I have passed. We must ensure the supply of raw materials, pay attention to food, and ensure the vitality of the people. For example, the spinning wheel is just as Zhang Xiang imagined. Restoring a spinning wheel with 64 threads, except It can make 63 weavers lose their livelihood, and get a pile of cloth with many defects, and there is no benefit!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded with a smile, "That's true, then I would like to ask for advice, is the supply of raw materials really insurmountable? The food problem is so insurmountable?"

Many people were taken aback when they heard this, including Xu Da and others. Although they didn't understand these things, Zhang Ximeng talked badly about land equalization and food, so why did Zhang Xiang want to slap himself?

Not like ah?

When the big guy was puzzled, Liu Bowen said slowly: "Zhang Xiang, if there are so many acres, there is really no cure. If Zhang Xiang insists on solving it, is it because he wants to look at the world? Create a territory bigger than Dayuan, So as to get enough land to solve the problem?"

Zhang Ximeng didn't answer directly, but said with a smile: "Let's put aside the issue of food raw materials first... I also want to ask the big guys. Confucianism in the past dynasties has advocated the suppression of industry and commerce and the exclusion of all kinds of craftsmen. It is even the craftsmen's skills. What is the reason for this strange skill?"

This time, Liu Bowen said: "Mr. Zhang, I think it boils down to the problem of acres of land. If any craftsman has made something amazing, and he can make ten or a hundred by himself, he will definitely earn more. If you have money and merge land and fields, more people will go bankrupt."

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "This makes sense, but there is a problem. It is not good for craftsmen to make more money with their own craftsmanship, and it is not good to make money with new machines. Then why can scholar-bureaucrats continue to annex land by relying on their fame? Why can nobles be hereditary? , seal your wife and son, and get more land benefits?"

When the question came to this point, Liu Bowen and Song Lian were dumbfounded... Even if they had any ideas, they didn't dare to say too much!

Zhang Xiang, are you going to smash the big guy's job?

The generals were also dumbfounded, feeling targeted.

This is Zhang Ximeng. If it were someone else, he would definitely punish the country's thief.

The only one who was quite happy was Zhu Yuanzhang.

Old Zhu admired him all over his face, and he smiled and said, "Are you a hypocrite, sir?"

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "My lord, this is not what I want... What I want is, can skills, inventions, and machines that can improve efficiency be used as a means of profit?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, "Aren't those craftsmen all earning wages? Why don't they count?"

Zhang Ximeng shook his head and said: "My lord, what they earn is the wages of hard work. There may be differences, but it is not enough to reflect the value of skills... After all, no craftsman can be rich, and he has three wives and four concubines!"

Hearing what he said, Chang Yuchun couldn't help but interjected: "Mr. Zhang, they are just a few stinky workers. You treat them as scholars and powerful landlords!"

This made Wang Guangyang and the others roll their eyes, and they didn't like to hear it. Chang, don't be too arrogant!

Zhang Ximeng chuckled, stood up and paced the field.

"Actually, when we get here, we might as well unravel the mystery and get straight to the point...Since the collapse of the mine field, and since the Qin and Han Dynasties, the most important method of wealth distribution we have accepted is land!"

"Officials, nobles, wealthy families, gentry and merchants...the big guys all regard land as wealth. Whoever occupies more land can receive more land rent, so as to enjoy the benefits, continue to descendants, and pass on wealth to the family."

"Think about it, guys. Although merchants are more profitable than farming, most merchants are engaged in simple trafficking. Those pawnshops and money houses are also doing business for the common people... To put it simply, they also revolve around land and land properties. Make a fuss."

"Maybe let's expand the scope a bit more. The gentry owns the land, and with the land, they can support their descendants to study and test their fame. After becoming an official, they can firstly reduce taxes and taxes, and secondly, they can get rewarded land and prosper the family business. From this, scholars, farmers, businessmen, the government and the public, the most fundamental one in the past 2000 years is the ownership of land, which determines everything! Shapes everything!"

"Do you think so?"

There are still not many who can understand what Zhang Ximeng said, but the big guys still have a vague understanding of the issue of land ownership.

It seems that this is true.

But the problem is that Zhang Xianggong has said so many reasons, what does he want?

"My lord, and fellow colleagues, what I am thinking now is whether we should value human ingenuity and allow the people to obtain their own benefits through technological inventions! That is, if a person improves the loom and creates a more High efficiency, we should reward this inventor, instead of treating his invention as a scourge, as an impact on the existing distribution of benefits, so as to suppress it as much as possible, or even destroy it!"

"We should respect technological inventions, raise this thing to a whole new level, and become a key factor that can keep pace with land and be able to participate in distribution!"

Zhang Ximeng talked eloquently, and anyone with a little common sense of politics in later generations would know what Zhang Ximeng was doing.

To allow science and technology, inventions and creations to participate in the distribution, we must pay attention to human wisdom, encourage inventions, and set up patents.

Don't you want to climb the technology tree!

Is it necessary to do a good job in protection?

Liu Bowen frowned, thinking about what Zhang Ximeng said, and asked: "Mr. Zhang, you mentioned the land earlier, and now you plan to let the people benefit from their own ingenuity... What is the relationship between this?"

"Yes, there is a big relationship! Before the Ming Dynasty, although there were many efforts to equalize the land in the early years of the country, the distribution of land was basically uneven, and most of the land was concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy landlords. In order to make their land more It is worth money and has developed a complete set of strict systems. I have mentioned the issue of family farming, reading and inheritance, the issue of men farming and women weaving, and the issue of renting tenants, as well as popular rural borrowing... and even According to the patriarchal system, this is all to tie people to their hometowns and cultivate the fields honestly."

"And today I want to add something, which is to reject all kinds of workers, oppose inventions and creations, be unwilling to innovate, and be afraid of improving technology! Because acknowledging these things will shake the land-centered pattern of wealth and interest distribution. Break the land only!"

"Because only from the standpoint of a wealthy family, will we strongly reject invention and innovation. Let's use weaving. If a craftsman invents a new loom that can weave more cloth, who will be the first to be impacted?" ?Naturally, it is the textile workshop of wealthy businessmen... Snatch raw materials with them, snatch the market, and cut meat from them. It is true that the machines that have just been manufactured may not be comparable to artificial labor, but as long as they continue to improve and strive for perfection, there will definitely be Breakthrough. Just like this crossbow in my hand!"

Zhang Ximeng actually placed the artifact that killed Chahan Timur in front of him to increase his convincing power.

"Back to the issue of raw materials and food I mentioned at the beginning... Indeed, if we only base ourselves on the Central Plains, this is an unsolvable problem. But if we create more wealth and have stronger power, can we occupy more land, so as to obtain enough food and raw materials?"

"Or directly, can we look around the world and get what we need from outside? I believe that no matter whether it succeeds or not, the gentry will not like it. Because it still threatens the value of the land in their hands!"

"But the problem is that we have implemented equalization!"

Zhang Ximeng suddenly raised his voice, "Under our rule, there is no such thing as a super-rich family in Tianlianqianmo, a wealthy family! Why do we still look at the inventions of craftsmen with the mentality of a wealthy family? Why are we still afraid of change? "

These few words cheered up the big guys, and they all looked at Zhang Ximeng.

And Zhang Ximeng continued to talk eloquently, "The problem we are facing now is not that in 20 or [-] years, machines will occupy labor and weavers will lose their livelihood. It is not that the prosperity of the textile industry will prompt more places to convert farmland into mulberry fields. cotton fields, thereby threatening the issue of food security.”

"The problem we are facing now is that the Central Plains is desolate, and there is a large area of ​​wasteland that no one cultivates. The people's livelihood is difficult, and they need to fill their stomachs and put on clothes... So what kind of inventions and creations do we need, which can save manpower and carry out large-scale The machine for sowing seeds in the area. It is the kind of efficient waterwheel that can drain the accumulated water and solve the salinity. Also, we have too many projects to do, we need farm tools, we need steel...we need blast furnaces, and new equipment for smelting steel The method...it needs to dig mountains to get rocks, more powerful gunpowder...it needs new transportation tools, carriages, and ships!"

"All in all, inventions and creations are not simply a means of profit, but to take care of the people's livelihood. Enrich the lives of the people, enrich the country's tax revenue, and enhance the national power of Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said: "We have talked about the equal land for ten years, not to abolish it, but the equal land can only be used as the cornerstone of Ming Dynasty. We regained the Central Plains and have a bigger foundation. We need to stand on the foundation of equal land Above all, to enrich the country and enrich the people... developing industry and commerce, encouraging inventions and creations, improving efficiency, and emphasizing the status of craftsmen are the key to the next revival of the Central Plains!"

Chapter 484 Jialu River

After the Ming Dynasty recovered Kaifeng, the news spread to Yingtian, and the whole country rejoiced to celebrate the victory.

For the first time, Empress Ma set off fireworks in the palace and entertained her wife.

Everyone in the capital was immersed in joy.

It's just that the mansion of Shen Zhizheng Jia Lu is a little different. The old man ordered to pack his clothes, took the scrolls, and hurried northward, but he didn't want to stay for a moment.

A dozen or so young students followed Jia Lu to the north.

One of them, Du Guang'an, was the most respected by Jia Lu.When I first saw this kid, I definitely wouldn't think of him as a scholar.

In fact, it is not true. Du Guangan is at least 1.9 meters tall, strong and strong, with a square face, and his arms are thicker than ordinary people's legs.

If he was wearing armor, he would probably be a bit bigger than Chang Yuchun.

But it's just such a huge monster, holding a relatively small brush, writing petty small letters on the drawings, marking the data, and indicating the explanation.

Jia Lu looked at his student with a kind smile and couldn't help admiring him.

"Don't look at this for now... It's been a long time since we master and apprentice have chatted, are you still blaming me as a master now?"

Du Guang'an didn't raise his head, and said in a muffled voice: "My nephew dare not blame uncle, you and my father are old friends, and have taken care of our family since we were young. My father is also grateful for entrusting me to your old man. Your old arrangement, how can there be any complaints!"

Jia Lu laughed loudly, "Boy, the vinegar vat in your stomach is upside down, the sour taste can even stain the dumplings."

The old man paused, put his hands on Du Guang'an's thick shoulders, motioned him to raise his head, and then looked at each other, Jia Lu said: "Son, I know what you think. You practiced martial arts since childhood, and your father is also good at it." With backbone, he is not like me, he is unwilling to serve Yuan Ting. As my official position grows bigger and bigger, his friendship with me is getting weaker and weaker. Later, he sent you here because he heard that I was working under the superior. "

As Jia Lu got older, his feelings became richer. When he mentioned old friends, he couldn't help sighing.

"Your father wants me to send you to study martial arts and join the army. With your ability, after a few years, you will be more than enough to be a commander. In the future, it will be no problem to confer your wife and son!"

"Humph!"

Du Guang'an snorted softly, "Uncle, do you care so much about being a nephew when you are a nephew? I want to expel the barbarians, Le Shi Yanran!"

Du Guang'an simply put down the brush in his hand, held his head up, and said to Jia Lu: "The world is in chaos, and heroes rise together. Every man with blood, the son of the Han family, who would not want to join the army and put on the sword. Kill the Tartars and get back Zhonghua! But I have brute strength and ambition, but I have to play with these things all day long... I, I am not reconciled!"

Jia Lu smiled slightly, not surprised at all.

"Do you think that repairing rivers and controlling water is not as good as doing meritorious deeds on the battlefield, and cannot be famous for future generations?"

Du Guangan's face was sullen, and his heart was surging. Because of this incident, the two of them had quarreled countless times, "Uncle, I also know that if we can build Dujiangyan, Zhengguo Canal, and the Grand Canal...it will naturally be famous for future generations. He is admired by people. It’s just that, in the final analysis, he is still a dirty job. Regardless of whether he is in the government or the public, he is not highly regarded by others. Besides, he is a hero from top to bottom. Even if he dies in battle, he can enter the country. Hall of Martyrs. Like Uncle, who takes charge of the great cause of river control, there are so many craftsmen and peasants below! But how many people can be reused? I, I am aggrieved for this pedestrian!"

Jia Lu nodded, and suddenly smiled again: "Since you hate this knowledge so much, why do you have the best understanding among so many people, and you can understand my meaning the most. In just a few years, you have used my skills Have you learned seven or eight?"

"I!"

Du Guang'an was stunned, and after a while, he said helplessly, "Maybe it's because I'm so talented?"

Jia Lu was amused by him, and couldn't help scolding: "How did you learn to be so thick-skinned? I admit that you have some talent, but you study at night, sleepless, and study hard. I don't know these things? You Then I went to investigate the Grand Canal, Yantietang, walked all over the canal, drew blueprints, and recorded numbers. Is this also fake? Master also knows that twisted melons are not sweet. If you don’t like them, why bother so much? effort?"

"I!"

Du Guang'an blushed, "I, I just think that water control is not as good as being strong and strong, making contributions on the battlefield, okay?"