Red Mansions: My Book is Cool

After the dust settled and the roll call, all the Shinke Scholars had to participate in the emperor's banquet - the Enrong Banquet, which represented the royal favor given to the Jinshi.

The Enrong Banquet is held in the Ministry of Rites and hosted by the Minister of Rites. The emperor himself will not come in person, and a member of the royal family will be sent as his representative.The representative of the Emperor Enrong Banquet in Jinke is Prince Zhongshun, and those who are interested can naturally see from it that the emperor attaches great importance to his compatriots and brothers, and strives to control the mind of talents.

The Jinshi arrived a little earlier and took their seats under the guidance of the officials.The seats are arranged according to their rankings. The Xinke Sandingjia is naturally arranged in the first row. Lin Mingan is No.10, and the seat is also very high. He saw the 'villain' in the Dream of the Red Chamber up close - Prince Zhongshun , unexpectedly, this prince is not the domineering and lustful person he imagined, but he inadvertently showed his capable and clear nature under his careless actions. Presumably, all the absurdities in the book are just a protective color for himself .Thinking about it, before Emperor Yongjia came to the throne, their brothers could hide their strengths and bide their time in the battle of the abolished prince and the princes, and became the final victors. How could they be ordinary people?

Prince Zhongshun came here with Emperor Yongjia's instructions. He could easily spot Lin Mingan in the crowd, because not only was he seated at the front, but he was also young and handsome, with an extraordinary demeanor, which fit the description of the emperor's brother.After he sent his entourage to confirm Lin Ming'an's identity, he ordered someone to secretly pass him a note, which briefly stated the general meaning: stay after the Enrong banquet, and Prince Zhongshun will send someone to invite him to meet him on his behalf. People have something to ask.

Lin Ming understood at ease, and kept his expression still.After the Enrong Banquet was over, he quietly walked all the way to a warm pavilion under the guidance of a man in brocade clothes.

"I have seen the prince!" Lin Mingan calmly saluted Prince Zhongshun.

King Zhongshun saw that his attitude was neither humble nor overbearing, neither the arrogance and princely attitude that literati deliberately made, nor the shrinking and flattery that ordinary people face him, first of all he had some good feelings in his heart.

"Lin Ming'an, this king is here to ask you a few words on behalf of the emperor's brother." King Zhongshun said straight to the point: "During your palace examination, the chief examiner originally rated No. This ranking change is meaningless, they are all among the second-class Jinshi. Do you know the purpose of it?"

"The top ten Scholars can freely choose the department to observe politics. If they perform well, they can be appointed earlier than others, and the rank is one level higher. I guess this is the consideration? I am grateful for the emperor's grace. !" Lin Mingan replied.

"That's right, Brother Huang, this is also a reward to your father and son. In addition, I have a few questions to ask this king to come here."

"Excuse me, my lord!"

"In the answer sheet of the palace examination, everyone only said that the emperor should rectify the administration of officials, lighten the taxation, be diligent in government and love the people, and strengthen education, etc., but you are taking the edge of the sword, and these are just brushstrokes, suggesting that the imperial court should work hard to develop all industries, so that the country can prosper and the people become rich. You said in your article that for a country to prosper and a society to prosper, the development of industry, agriculture, and commerce are all indispensable, what does it mean that 'no agriculture is unstable, no industry, no wealth, no business, no life'?"

"My lord, your majesty is a diligent monarch. Rectifying the administration of officials, diligently caring for the people, and strengthening education are all things he is doing or planning to do. There is no need for us to be clichés as ministers. As for light corvee and poor tax, that requires conditions. The country To govern the people, raise the army, develop, repair water conservancy, build roads, build schools, disaster relief, etc., which one does not require money or labor? Regardless of the needs of reality, it is not stupid to blindly advocate the need for light pay and light taxes with great principles , is bad!"

"That's right!" King Zhongshun felt that the words were right in his heart: "Brother Huang has reduced taxes as much as possible, and he himself has repeatedly saved expenses in the palace. Don't you know that this king is in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? I hate these people." So harsh!"

King Zhongshun felt aggrieved for Emperor Yongjia. Since his ascension to the throne, the emperor's brother has repeatedly worried about the lack of state treasury, reduced the expenditure of the harem, and lived frugally by himself.The unlucky ones are all the mess left by the father.He went to the south of the Yangtze River six times by himself, wasted money, and for the sake of the reputation of benevolence, he indulged the veterans and dignitaries. They borrowed all the money in the treasury, and they could only get in and out!Nowadays, the scholars are still admonishing to lighten the tax and pay less, so is it possible for everyone to drink the northwest wind?

"Food is the most important thing for the people. Without agriculture, the people's life is not guaranteed, and the country will be in turmoil. This is instability without agriculture!" Lin Ming'an was inconvenient to complain with King Zhongshun, and there was also the pot of the Supreme Emperor, he changed the topic and said .Needless to say, this is the consensus in ancient society.

"Without commercial activities, social resources cannot be exchanged, and people's lives cannot be sustained. We can eat rice from the south in the capital, use silk from the south of the Yangtze River, and sell coal in Shanxi through merchants. Without the merchants , there will be a shortage of goods, and life will be messed up. Moreover, business tax revenue is not cheap."

"Without industry, society will not develop, and people's living standards will not improve."

"The industries you mentioned are all kinds of workers? Both the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs manage many workshops, some of which can make money, and some may not. I know a thing or two about the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are also private businesses. The workshop is just a livelihood." King Zhongshun shook his head and felt that Lin Mingan was exaggerating. "Work" has always been there, but the country has not become rich because of it.

"The 'work' mentioned by the prince means a workshop, a livelihood. The 'work' in my sentence refers to industry." Lin Mingan had difficulty explaining for a while, the ancients could not understand the meaning of industry.

He thought for a while: "You can understand it as the development of productivity through technological innovation, so that the workshop can use its original strength to get several times the income."

"It's like the 'salt drying method' you offered? It is said that the effect is remarkable. Brother Huang is ordering his subordinates to make intensive preparations for a large-scale transformation. Because the salt industry affects the whole body, it has not yet been fully developed. Wait until The results have been revealed, and with such solid contributions, your father and son will be famous for it." Prince Zhongshun said.

"In ancient times, people lacked food and clothing and lived in poverty. It was not because the people were lazy and uneducated. It was because the people used tools made of stone, wood, and bronze. They did not have advanced plows and did not know how to make water. The production capacity of cattle is too low, even if they work day and night, the harvest is very little. In later generations, with the improvement of agricultural production technology, the common people work the same, even a little lazy, but they can get much more than before. Lots of gains."

"The development of this industry will be more obvious than that of agriculture, because there is a limit to the harvest of land, and industry, as long as there are necessary raw materials and trained skilled workers, the speed of development and benefits are unlimited. If you have the heart , can also turn waste into wealth and develop new industries. If it is such a 'work', how can the country and the people not be rich?" Lin Mingan looked forward to the future.

"It seems that besides the method of drying salt, you have other good things?" King Zhongshun narrowed his eyes and asked.This kid talked eloquently, with an air of confidence, he must have something to rely on.

"Prince Mingrui!" Lin Mingan praised, took out a few pieces of fabric from the bag he was carrying and handed them over.

King Zhongshun took it and molded it with his hands. The cloth under his hand was tight and soft, warm to the touch, and thicker than linen.He had never seen anything good, but felt that it was a little different.Take a closer look, huh?

"It seems to be made of wool?" King Zhongshun said uncertainly, "But this king has seen wool felt on the grassland, it's not like this!" That kind of rough and smelly, poor workmanship, people on the grassland brought it The thing that is covered outside the tent to keep out the wind and cold is simply two different things from the one in front of me.

"It's made of wool. The wool felt on the prairie is rough, but they don't know how to process it, so they waste everything!" Lin Ming'an introduced the whole production process in detail: first, the wool must be completely cleaned of grease, otherwise it will have a strong fishy smell. , this needs to use saline and alkali; then use a loom to weave woolen fabrics, and finally dye and fix the color, that's it.

This is the finished product after he tried his hand at the examination in the capital. The raw material is wool that was regarded as waste. He found a workshop and made it according to the above procedures and methods. He picked the best of them and presented it to the emperor.

How much does it cost?Because the raw materials are limited and the production is not much, the cost is still slightly higher now.If large-scale production is carried out separately, each program is called an assembly line, and the cost will be greatly reduced.I used the loom in the workshop, but in my opinion, the loom is very outdated. When I have time, I will modify it and increase the speed by three times. It can be done.

It's not just about making money, my lord, look, the source of this wool must come from the grasslands, right?In every dynasty, the nomadic peoples on the grassland would invade the Central Plains and do looting.On the one hand, it is because of their nature, but more importantly, I am afraid that it is forced by life.They herd cattle and sheep for a living, and only raise sheep for meat and sheepskin. Selling the sheep to the Central Plains is really inconvenient, and the Central Plains does not need so many, and this is a one-shot deal.Their income is limited and unstable. Once they are short of food and clothing, they will think of going to the Central Plains to plunder, so they can't starve to death.Hungry is the biggest reason, any kind of education is useless in front of this!

But their plundering also costs money, and they also have to bear casualties.A sheep can be sheared twice a year, and four or five catties of wool can be harvested at one time.If this industry can be established, the shepherds on the prairie can live comfortably as long as they raise their sheep and sell them to the merchants in the Central Plains every year. Then do they still want to invade?No matter how brutal and brutal the nomads are, the pros and cons will be counted.I heard that there is a rule that everyone abides by on the grassland, that is, not to harm the caravan, because the caravan has undertaken the task of buying and selling goods for them.

It is best that the imperial court can control the industry as a whole. Imagine that there are always rebellious tribes on this grassland. If the imperial court wants to punish them, they don’t need to send troops to conquer them. They can stop buying their wool and cut off the trade routes, so they can make them submit. .

King Zhongshun was puzzled: "If this is the case, wouldn't it be better for those tribes on the grassland to do this business by themselves? The wool is in their hands, and they can also buy looms and learn how to weave. Can you handle them?"

"Cleaning wool requires a lot of water, which cannot be done on grasslands. Besides, they are also short of salinity. Therefore, they can only be the origin and supplier of raw materials, and production, technology and market are all in the hands of Daqing court. If this industry is compared to a long chain, they are at the lowest end of the industry chain, and they are in the hands of the upper reaches, and the benefits they get are the least. Of course, compared to their original In terms of life, it has also improved a lot. It is easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal! Therefore, they will gradually like and get used to this kind of life, and finally, like a frog that is put into warm water and slowly heated, it will not jump out of the soup pot This is the reason why Guan Zhong used business to stop wars." As an elite who once managed the family business, Lin Ming'an was very good at understanding people's psychology and knew how to persuade.

These words moved King Zhongshun. He looked Lin Mingan up and down, and sighed in surprise: "How can you understand this at your age? Not only are you proficient in the art of investigating things, but you are also very clever. Alas, in the official workshop There are so many craftsmen, how come no one can figure out these methods?"

Lin Mingan smiled wryly: "Xiaguan has liked these miscellaneous studies since I was a child. To tell you the truth, I am more interested in these than studying, and I am also very talented in this. In fact, I want to specialize in these in the future. Contribute to the country and share your worries!"

King Zhongshun had a thought: "Oh, I think that among you Jinshi today, there are not many people who think like you! Don't you think that you will enter the cabinet in the future, ascend to a high position, and have power over the world?"

"People are valuable with self-knowledge!" Lin Mingan said calmly: "My talent lies in the skill of investigating things and managing them well. Turning my hands into clouds and turning my hands into rain is beyond my abilities! Moreover, I think that if I can pass the My own director is really doing things for the country and the people, and everyone can benefit from it, so he can leave his name in history, and the emperor will not treat me badly! Only my father and son offered a method of drying salt, the emperor treats us You can see it clearly. It is the luck of Qianlima to meet Bole. I can serve the emperor, just like Qianlima met Bole!"

Many well-known foreign companies, marketing directors, operation managers, etc., look glamorous, but in fact they may be replaced frequently.On the contrary, the expert in technology and industry, although low-key and inconspicuous, has the right to speak and has a stable and lofty status in the company.Lin Ming'an has a clear positioning for the future. He has no prominent family background and no support. It is difficult to get ahead in ancient society. If he is not careful, he will be regarded as a pawn and a victim.Especially the subordinates of the emperor like Yongzheng, they will not dream of Long Aotian anymore!Really being a trusted and reused person is inseparable from everyone. A technical talent who relies on you to make a profit is the best choice.

Prince Zhongshun laughed and said: "You are really good, I should drink a big glass for your words!" I thought in my heart, if the emperor brother is here, I will be so happy to hear this!This kid said it sincerely, but it didn't make people feel flattering.It seems that if you have nothing to do, you need to read more books. Only those who have read through the books will be so enlightened in the world and sophisticated in human feelings.This kid must have a future in the future, so he has to win over him.I will tell Brother Huang in detail what he said today.

He heard Lin Mingan sigh again: "My lord, you regretted the incompetence of the craftsmen in the workshop just now. But this is not the reason for their low ability. To be honest, if I were to change my identity with them, I would not want to study these things."

"Ah, why is that?" King Zhongshun was taken aback and asked.

"My lord, are they all craftsmen?" Lin Mingan said softly: "Then even if they have such ability and can produce things that are better than mine, so what? The government will reward some money at most, not Revoke their craftsman household registration, right? They won’t get the same rewards as my father and son, because their status and status are different, and they are not even counted as good citizens. I’m afraid, because of their talents, the government will not let them leave this business .In that case, who still has the enthusiasm?"

"The rules of craftsmen have always been like this, and they can't be changed immediately. If you want them to save their lives, is there another way?" King Zhongshun asked Lin Ming'an in embarrassment, but he didn't expect much.

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingan lowered his head and thought for a moment before giving the answer: "My lord, when Xiaguan was in Sichuan, his family owned a hot pot restaurant. Whether the hot pot is good or not depends on the bottom of the pot and the sauce. At that time, Xiaguan It was stipulated that whoever can prepare a good taste can get a generous reward. Later, when other people saw that my hot pot restaurant was doing well, they also opened one after another, and the competition was fierce. The next official set up regulations, and each shop was assigned If the amount of money you want to earn exceeds, there will be extra rewards according to the share from the shopkeeper, accountant to the waiter below. Later, the subordinate officials simply stipulated that in the family property, the capable shopkeepers will all be given some shares. There is a proportional dividend every year. In this way, the success of this industry is closely related to their interests. Therefore, the people employed by the lower officials have always been conscientious and hardworking, thinking of ways to do a good job in the business."

King Zhongshun pondered and said, "I'll report the matter of wool weaving to the emperor right away. You should write down the method in detail, and tell me which workshop it was made in. You just said that now the workshop Textile machine, will you improve it?"

"I don't need your lord's order, and I will do it properly. As for the improvement of the loom, can I study it after I bring my mother and younger sister back from Sichuan to the capital? It won't happen overnight. It can be done." Lin Mingan said.

"My lord has forgotten that the new Jinshi has three months to return home to visit relatives." Zhongshun Wang said with a smile: "You have just been a Jinshi, and you have been thinking about picking up your mother and younger sister. You are a good son, a good brother!"

But I saw the handsome young man in front of me with a sad look on his face: "My lord, I can't repay my parents' kindness to me enough!"

King Zhongshun sneered: "Isn't it human nature for parents to love their children? Why do you say that?" I couldn't help but feel a little tired. Such a performance of filial piety has been seen enough in the palace!Originally thought that Lin Mingan was free and easy, but no one knew that he couldn't avoid it!

Lin Ming'an smiled bitterly: "To tell you the truth, the lower official's life experience is quite different from others!"