Chapter 267.

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi with a strange look.

Zhang Anshi also looked a bit embarrassed.

“If you say so, I am not a petty person.” Zhu Di is in good spirits today.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Your Majesty, what I mean is that I need quite a few strong men.”

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi suspiciously and said, “Strong men? What do you need strong men for?”

Zhang Anshi smiled again and said, “I need some craftsmen on my side to build some things, but it s a pity that …… Qixia s manpower is already far from enough.”

Zhu Di heard, then laughed: “You have opened this mouth, how can I not allow it? This is good to do, I order Shandong Buzhengji Division, and Hunan Buzhengji Division, draw three thousand craftsmen to you is.”

Zhang Anshi, however, shook his head and said, “Your Majesty ……鑷ｆ兂鐨勪笉鏄繖涓€�”

“Not this?” Zhu became even more suspicious, so he asked, “Isn’t three thousand enough?”

“I am wondering if I can allow the craftsmen to be able to move to Qixia ……” Zhang Anshi said this sentence, in fact, very bottomless.

For according to the laws of Daming, the people of the world are divided into civil households, artisan households, medical households, and so on.

In fact, what this inherits is the system of the Yuan Dynasty.

In the Yuan Dynasty, in order to fight, all the people in the dominion were divided into different household registers according to their occupations, so that whenever there was a need to fight, how many craftsmen, doctors and people were needed could be drawn from them to fight with the army.

And when it came to the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Great Ancestor, also thought that such a system seemed quite desirable.

Of course, this raises a lot of questions.

This is the case, for example, with the issue of doctors, where the hereditary nature of the medical household makes it highly likely that a doctor’s son will not be proficient in the art of medicine, but because he is a member of the medical household, he will continue to become a great doctor and treat people.

This military and artisan households were actually similar, and the more the system collapsed in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty.

And the reason why this system worked well in the Yuan dynasty is because it did help the Yuan military system, it was very easy to recruit manpower, and there were other problems as far as civil affairs were concerned ……

Obviously, for the Mongolian nobles, this is not a problem at all, after all, these nobles after entering the Central Plains, on the issue of turning the Central Plains directly into a pasture, and disputed for a long time it.

And the system that goes with it, in addition to the strict occupational household registration system, accompanied by the different occupational household registration, often attached to the official government in various places.

For example, Shandong’s craftsmen, often mobilized by the Shandong Buzhengji Division, where the need to repair the embankment, how many craftsmen are needed, they can be recruited.

This is not much different from the system of military households, but it also brings a huge problem, that is, …… the people of each household shall not move easily.

And once you move, it means you become a migrant, and the government has the power to arrest migrants.

Of course, in the early days of the People’s Republic, when a hundred things were yet to be done, and the world was just beginning to be settled, a large number of people of all kinds of household registers were conscripted to build water conservancy measures and to repair bridges and pave roads, and at the same time to reclaim the wastelands.

This occupational household registration system, indeed, played a number of positive effects, the imperial court, etc. did not cost too much, the prototype of a water conservancy was built, while also repeatedly moved against the then North Yuan, and the cost is extremely low.

Without this system, it is still uncertain whether the Ming Dynasty would have recovered from the war.

In particular, the problem of stragglers, which ran through the whole of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, if no restrictions were imposed, I am afraid that the mountains and forests all over the world would be full of bandits.

The problem is that by now, the drawbacks of such a system will begin to emerge.

For example, there is a lack of manpower in Suxia, but in many other places, those who want to be craftsmen are not craftsmen households. People who wanted to come to Qixia, but their household registration was in other places. In this way, instead, the people had no other way out but to stay in their own way.

Hearing this, Zhu Di frowned and said, “You might as well make it clearer.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I’m only talking about it; if Your Majesty thinks it’s bad, you can listen to it as a joke.”

Zhu nodded, “Speak.”

Zhang Anshi then assuredly said: ”Your Majesty, Qixia has a great shortage of population, and when the hereditary system was first formulated, it was meant to stabilize the people, but now …… it is different. Deng Jian’s side, is now cultivating new seedlings, the future of the food problem, must be able to greatly alleviate, and many of the new grain, does not need to be carefully plowed, so the excess manpower, if it is still left on the land, what good will it do to my Daming?”

“So I hope …… might as well try, on this, to open an opening, to try whether it is effective. If it works, those folk who are willing to farm can take care of more land, and a family, too, can get more food, and those people who are not interested in farming, if they want to work, what’s wrong with letting them make the attempt?”

“If so, won’t the world be in chaos?” Zhu Di showed a few moments of worry.

Zhang Anshi laughed dryly, “Then how …… about trying it first?”

Zhu Di froze: “Try? How?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Open an opening, for example, Qixia side, why not directly and Taipingfu side direct docking. The people of Taipingfu can flow with Qixia, and the government shall not stop them, in addition to this, Taipingfu will temporarily lift the division of civil households, medical households, military households, and artisan households, how about it?”

“Pacific House?”

Taipingfu is actually the latter-day Maanshan and Wuhu area, neighboring Nanjing, only now, under the South Zhili.

Zhang Anshi’s intention is very obvious, this place is close, simply come to a free flow, see how effective, if the results are good, then look at whether to liberalize.

Zhu Di thought for a moment, and what he was afraid of was that it was, after all, the law of the ancestors.

Only a few days ago, he had bragged about how he had practiced the Ancestral Laws, so he couldn’t just punch himself in the face so quickly.

But it was true that a shortage of laborers in Susha would be a nuisance, which could mean that he would earn less silver.

This is my money!

For a time, Zhu Di could not decide, so he said, “I hand over the Wen Yuange to discuss it.”

Zhang Anshi also had to say, “Oh ……”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but be a little disappointed, he felt that if he let the ministers deliberate, nine times out of ten, it would definitely not be passed.

It is not that he is pessimistic, but this kind of system, in fact, can be seen as unreasonable by anyone with a discerning eye. But in the Ming Dynasty, which lasted more than 200 years, there was hardly a single heavyweight minister who raised any objection to it.

What does that mean?

It means that everyone thinks it’s reasonable.

Zhang Anshi then laughed dryly, “Indeed, we should let the ministers discuss it, but ……”

“But what?” Zhu Di gave Zhang Anshi a contemplative look.

Zhang Anshi smiled bitterly and said, “Hundred officials have traditionally been quite critical of Qixia, saying that the Qixia side, only know how to do business, especially merchant banks, extracted a lot of people fat and cream …… they are eager to merchant banks can not recruit manpower.”

Zhu Di glanced obliquely at Zhang Anshi, “You kid, you’re quite good at provoking right and wrong.”

Zhang Anshi quickly smiled and said, “Your Majesty, I can swear ……”

Zhu Di waved his hand, “Indeed it is only a matter of the district Taipingfu …… unless ……”

Zhu Di pondered for a moment before adding, “Unless I edict you to be the governor of Taiping Province. In that case, you are the governor and town of Qixia, wouldn’t that be reasonable?”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

This Qixia belongs to a region of Nanjing, and Taipingfu, although and Nanjing is located in Yingtianfu are belong to the South Zhili, but after all, from the administrative division, there is still a difference.

But then again, Wuhu and Maanshan, in later years, although belonging to Anhui, but rounded up, their provincial capital is also roughly Nanjing, which seems to be very reasonable.

Zhang Anshi said with a few hesitations, “Just …… can I do the governor?”

Zhu said, “Aren’t you also a scholar?”

Zhang Anshi has a little bit of weakness, “I …… did read some books, and yesterday night, I also read the Spring and Autumn.”

That was a very underhanded thing to say.

Zhu Di said: ”District a Taipingfu, I if I use this to call the ministers to discuss, think …… there should not be any controversy. Even if there are ministers oppose, but I am after all violating is not the law of the ancestors, opposition is also useless. This matter, so decided, you wait for the news is.”

Zhu Di then looked at Zhang Anshi strangely and said, “What, did the merchant bank have another big deal? Does the Secretary have such a great need for manpower?”

Zhang Anshi said: “This people in the future if they can eat a mouthful of rice, the industry will prosper, after the prosperity of the industry, the price of manpower is bound to rise. But I have heard of many abuses of the people’s power, for example, now many ministers, has begun to sit in a soft sedan chair, this sedan chair, need two people, or four people to carry.”

“Your Majesty, on weekdays, when ministers mention manpower, they pay lip service to the need to love the people and use them prudently, but when they want to ride in a sedan chair, a few people carry them, and they think it’s justified.”

“Of course, I’m just making an analogy, I don’t mean to criticize the hundred officials, when it comes to being reasonable, where can I compare to them.”

“But since it involves the issue of manpower, I was thinking, since manpower is precious, then why not try to minimize the waste of manpower? The merchant bank side …… intends to establish some workshops for this purpose, in addition to this, this is all these years the merchant bank has invested money, and cultivated a group of skilled craftsmen, brainstorming, and finally came up with some results. I intend …… to display them, or to give the world an example.”

“Display?” Zhu gazed at Zhang Anshi.

He actually wanted to blurt out off the top of his head, is this going to make any money?

But it wasn’t asked after all.

Zhang Anshi obviously saw what Zhu Di had in mind, so he said, “After displaying it, if it gains popularity, you can think of ways to produce it and sell it out.”

Zhu Di is a shocking statement, “You are already the Duke of the country, do not always talk about money in your mouth.”

“Ah …… this ……” Zhang Anshi froze, as if reacting at once, and then hastily said, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, it is the minister is too vulgar. Talking about money is not elegant, I mean …… that the main thing is to open up the people’s wisdom, which is for the sake of my Daming Jiangshan.”

“If it is for the sake of the Daming Jiangshan ……” Zhu Di nodded, and then said, “This matter is not excusable, I appreciate you the most, is to serve the king with loyalty, treating the people as if they were relatives of the heart.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Yes, yes, yes, Your Majesty’s words have taught me to be ashamed. I only have so much loyalty, barely comparable to Yue Wumu. Recently, I am reading the Three Kingdoms, every time I read Zhuge Kongming, I can not help but tear up …… for the strangling, but I am better than Zhuge Kongming, he met the first master, the business is not half of the body first death. And I met the monarch, but than that Han Zhaolie emperor ten times hundred times more brilliant ……”

Zhu Di instantly waved his hand and said in disgust, “Come on, come on, if we say more, I’ll have to compare myself with Yao Shun.”

Zhang Anshi put on a very sincere look and said, “In my heart, Yao and Shun can not be compared to Your Majesty …….”

Zhu Di could not help but lose his smile, “This can not be said nonsense, at least can not be said out, cough …… how do I see you today …… some strange, in the end you still want what?”

Zhang Anshi was happy, then said: “In fact, I also have an ungrateful request, I do not make a display? This display of things, there are many treasures, these treasures, none of which is not to my Ming, there is a great benefit. Of course, on the merchant bank also has great benefits, just …… I do not have much influence after all, this display is only afraid of the time, not many people are willing to go to see, I was thinking, if your majesty can ……”

Zhu Di said, “Just this? This is easy, I like to hang around anyway.”

But I heard Zhang Anshi say, “What I mean is, if the Empress …… is the Queen Mother.”

Zhu Di, however, glared at Zhang Anshi before saying, “As you know, her body is not well.”

Although the last time to cure the disease, but after all, this age, and Empress Xu body has been weak, if not necessary, more need to rest and recuperate.

Zhang Anshi, on the other hand, said, “The empress may just be staying in the palace on weekdays to be like this, let her go out to see the action, maybe this body will be able to get a lot better.”

Zhu Di said, “I didn’t think that you would be so attached to what this display is.”

Zhang Anshi said earnestly, “Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is the heavenly matter.”

Seeing that Zhang Anshi attached such importance, Zhu Di said, “When will it start?”

“The First Nine”

“That’s not for a few days.” Zhu Zhu mused, “We’ll see then, if we have the leisure, we’ll naturally go.”

Zhang Anshi sighed in relief, it would be best if His Majesty could go, it would be like a golden sign.

It’s like a latter-day commodity that needs a fresh meat as a spokesperson.

And in the Ming, Zhu Di is the biggest fresh meat.

Although this little fresh meat …… is a little bit older, a little bit fatter, a little bit darker, and speaks not in a girlish voice, but moves into his mother.

Zhang Anshi took his leave with satisfaction.

From the Forbidden City out, Zhang Anshi will be widely distributed invitations, hate this whole world’s princes, grandchildren and aristocrats to get together.

In turn, he ran to the Eastern Palace.

After meeting Crown Princess Zhang, Zhang Anshi said, “Sister, in a couple of days, there will be a Universal Exposition in Qixia, you must go and see it.”

Zhang said, “I’m a woman, how can I move around?”

Zhang Anshi said very directly, “The Empress Dowager will also go.”

Zhang’s eyebrow raised, feeling that there was something unusual: “You wouldn’t be hitting on something again, would you? You’re so powerful now that you’ve already dared to move earth on the mother’s head?”

When she said this, Zhang was glaring at Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi but a little afraid of this sister, immediately said, “do not dare, do not dare, just that his majesty extraordinarily valued this matter …….”

Only then did Zhang’s face look a little better, and she murmured, “Tell me straight, is it that you want me to go?”

Zhang Anshi finally sighed and said, “It is true that nothing can be hidden from my sister, indeed I wish for my sister to go.”

Zhang said, “Then you said earlier, just …… by then only afraid of all the inconvenience, and then look at it, later some I ask your brother-in-law, see how he arranged, if you can arrange properly, naturally, do not teach your mind to fall through the cracks.”

Zhang Anshi was overjoyed and cheerfully said, “Many thanks, sister, sister, you are really too good to me, others say I am blessed …….”

Since the task of coming to the East Palace was completed, Zhang Anshi didn’t have time to stay longer, and after chatting with his sister for a while, he rushed back to Qixia.

On this side of Qixia, there was a flurry of busy work, and soon, this Qixia’s original auction house had put up a scalding signboard.

In Zhang Anshi’s opinion, this exhibition was of vital importance, and thus, for several days, the news of the exhibition was published in the residence newspaper.

It is just that the day of the opening of the ordinary merchants and people is the tenth day of the first month, while the agreement with Zhu is the ninth day of the first month.

The ninth day of the first month was a day of display for the kings and grandchildren.

The reason for this is to get support from the court.

Very often, if you want to accomplish something, you have to try to eliminate resistance, therefore, for this exhibition, Zhang Anshi made a very delicate arrangement.

In it, in addition to the various instruments forged in steel, there is also a pavilion dedicated to the life of the future.

After many days of busyness, finally, it was finally foolproof, and Zhang Anshi was reluctantly relieved.

By the eighth day of the year.

In the Clerk’s Court.

Hu Guang, Yang Rong, and Jin Youzi, the Hanlin prefect who was on duty in the cabinet, received a strange decree from His Majesty.

The three men looked at each other.

After Xie Jin went to Java, Jin Youzi then into the value of the Hanlin, but …… is not a university scholar, of course, in the eyes of the hundred officials, this Jin Youzi from the future of the university scholar is not far away.

“Seal Zhang Anshi as governor of Taiping Province, what does His Majesty mean by this?” Among these people, Jin Youzi has the least seniority, so although he knows that everyone has questions, it is most appropriate for him to inquire at this time.

Hu Guang, however, subconsciously looked at Yang Rong.

Yang Rong mused and said, “This matter, indeed, is very strange and somewhat incomprehensible to people. But for His Majesty to give this decree, it has made it difficult for us.”

“Yeah.” Hu Guang blew his beard and said, “This is out of order! Lord Yang, let’s go see the Emperor and persuade His Majesty to withdraw his order.”

Yang Rong shook his head and said, “His Majesty will not retract his order.”

Hu Guang froze, puzzled, “Why?”

Yang Rong analyzed: “Such an unorthodox appointment, obviously His Majesty has ulterior motives. And let Zhang Anshi come, this Zhang Anshi is the heart of the minister, must be in order to accomplish a certain thing, and the special decree, at this time you and I go to see the driving, but what is the use? This matter is not big, not small, according to my opinion, why don’t we observe and see first.”

Hu Guang but frowned: “I am afraid that the people outside, are going to point to you and me to scold, do ministers have no bones, everywhere to meet ……”

Yang Rong instead smiled and said, “There are also people who do not flatter, they have their own mind, that person …… called Xie Jin ……”

Hu Guang: “……”

What does that leave him to say?

Jin Youzi never uttered a word, and only then said, “In that case, I will go and draft an edict.”

Jin Youzi this person, people are most quiet, usually do not show the mountains, but when things are quite responsible.

He came to draft the edict meaning that if someone outside scolded, he, the one who drafted the edict, might be under the most pressure.

So, Kim Youzi went.

Yang Rong glanced at Jin Youzi and suddenly said, “Youzi acts calmly and steadily, and in the future will be above you and me.”

Hu Guang, however, said, “Aren’t you at all worried about Zhang Anshi being the governor of Taiping?”

Yang Rong said, “There are too many things to worry about in the world for the old man to worry about coming up.”

Hu Guang: “……”

“It is rumored that there is some kind of exposition tomorrow, which is run by this Zhang Anshi, there is leisure, are you going to see?”

“Tomorrow? How to get free.”

“His Majesty is only going to be there.”

“Hey ……,” Hu Guang shook his head, “I always feel …… that this is not good.”

By the next day ……

Zhu Di took Empress Xu with him and departed for Qixia.

At the same time the hundred officials accompanied, the rest of the kings and grandchildren of the relatives, also accompanied the driving.

Zhu Di rides a horse while Empress Xu sits in a riding carriage.

Riding out of the Damien Gate, the hundred officials followed.

When Zhu Di turned back, but saw the back of the team, there are really a lot of ministers, actually sitting in a soft sedan chair to accompany.

Zhu Di instantly fire up, huffed: “Taizu high emperor in the time, even if the age of the old, as long as there is no disaster or disease, but also riding a horse, I am more all day long in the horseback, how can the hundred officials so at ease? Teach them all to give me down from the sedan chair, walk with the driver.”

The eunuchs panicked and went to pass on the edict.

This time, many people screamed, but they did not dare to squeak, the imperial order can not be disobeyed, so they can only obediently walk.

It was true that there was some distance from the Forbidden City to Qixia, and by the time they arrived, the vast majority of them were exhausted and weak, and many of the ministers were usually pampered, so where could they endure such suffering?

Even when Empress Xu exited the riding carriage, she looked tired.

Obviously, the road is not good, all the way wobbly, and the speed of the carriage ride is slow, one or two hours down, Empress Xu is a little overwhelmed.

Zhu Di took her next and said with a gentle smile, “If I had known this, I wouldn’t have come, it’s all Zhang Anshi’s ghost idea.”

At this time, Zhang Anshi has brought the three murderers of the capital to receive the driver, he joyfully went up to salute.

Zhu Di then said, “Today to fulfill your wish, go, if there is nothing to see, I will not spare you.”

“It is ……” Zhang Anshi said, “There are too many things to show, Your Majesty, let’s take it step by step, I will be the guide.”

The fair, which is being held here in a new building that covers a large area, near the library, is magnificent.

Zhang Anshi hit the head, but turned back to see the back of the ministers, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one.

He then said, “Your Majesty, there’s a Future Life Museum there that Your Majesty must take a good look at.”

Chu said, “What’s the Future Life Center?”

Zhang Anshi said with a smile, “It is that in the future, what will our Daming …… look like, and what …… will be popular in the future.”

Zhu is still in the dark.

Empress Xu at this time fell interested, it seems that shopping, is a woman’s nature in general.

Zhang Anshi at the moment, first led people to the future of life hall, and enter the entrance, when the first, a small cubicle, but displayed a thing ……

This thing …… seems to be a piece of clothing, rather light and thin, well …… there are hoods …… only …… it looks that the surface again does not look like fabric.

Empress Xu said, “This garment is not pretty.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, it’s black, of course it doesn’t look good, but it’s not meant to be seen.”

Zhu froze and said curiously, “It’s not for looking at?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, please look.”

With that, Zhang Anshi pointed his finger at Qusong behind him and said, “Fourth brother, you come, you come, show His Majesty.”

Chuson bulged his eyes with a very reluctant, untamed look.

Zhu Yong and Zhang will be busy to take the clothes, to Qiu Song set on, one side comfort: “Big brother’s words to listen to, a moment will be good, you do not get angry.”

The clothes covered half of Qusong’s body, and then, even Qusong’s head was covered by the hood.

Qiu Song then looked like he was at the mercy of others and stood still, but Zhang Anshi was indeed considered to be a man of the people, and as a model, Qiu Song’s stiff expression was apt.

Zhang Anshi snapped his fingers at this time, “Someone …… pour me water ……”

Zhu Di and others only then realized that the original in the upper part of this compartment, but stood a few fellows, a few fellows each end of a large copper basin, listening to Zhang Anshi’s orders, but really will be a basin of water directly down.

This basin of water, drenched down directly on Qiu Song’s head, Qiu Song still stood, wooden and unmoving.

Zhu Di frowned, subconsciously trying to protect Empress Xu, some water droplets, but also difficult to avoid splashing on Empress Xu’s body.

Zhu Di was quite angry and felt that Zhang Anshi, this guy, was really acting without rules.

It’s just …… strange ……

This moment actually triggered the other courtiers in the back to exclaim.

Zhu also froze.

This Qusong still still wearing this clothes, the water fell on his body is, then quickly slipped off.

Although his body was wet, he didn’t seem to react.

Zhang Anshi then asked Zhu Yong to help remove this piece of clothing from Qiu Song’s body, and when the crowd looked again, they saw that Qiu Song’s body was barely stained with any water.

“Your Majesty, this is a raincoat …… ” Zhang Anshi said, “Look, this raincoat is so light and thin, but than the waterproof effect of the straw raincoat, ten times stronger, wear this coat out, wrapped the whole body, and do not worry about the rain. ”

Zhu looked at the light raincoat with surprise; perhaps he was not deeply touched.

But many of the ministers behind him came to their feet.

You know, many of the ministers here, have to go in and out of the palace ban, and the palace is not allowed to hold umbrellas, and even wearing a bucket hat seems taboo.

As a result, many people went in and out and had to get wet, and in this day and age, getting wet meant typhoid fever, and typhoid fever meant there was a chance of death.

Even if there is a straw raincoat, that straw raincoat is bulky and heavy, and now this raincoat, both light and thin, waterproof and strong, really eye-opening.

Zhang Anshi said, “This raincoat, in fact, is thanks to Eunuch Deng.”

“Ken Dunn again?”

With his hands behind his back, Zhu turned in a circle, sizing up Qusong like an animal, which convinced him that this Qusong really didn’t have many water marks on it.

He and the hundred officials imagined but different, for him, if this is available, then …… will not the army can march in the rain? There are also those original materials that are afraid of moisture, is it possible to use this thing to waterproof?