Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 35 Meeting Minutes, Blackboard Chalk [Seeking Follow-up Reading]

Zhao Chengzhu was just wondering if Liu Kuan was targeting him when he heard Liu Kuan say, "If Deputy Zhao doesn't understand what I'm saying, you can borrow someone else's meeting minutes later."

Although it was the first time that Zhao Chengzhu heard the term "meeting minutes", he understood that it probably referred to the content just written by Su Quan and others.

Although he was a bit straightforward, he was not ungrateful. After receiving Liu Kuan's kind reminder, he nodded and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Deputy Liu."

Liu Kuan looked at Su Quan again, "Doctor Su, you should be familiar with trains and railways now, right? Do you have any suggestions on building a train?"

Su Quan pondered for a moment and said, "We definitely can't build a train with just a few of us. To accomplish this, we must first select the right people."

"The Department of Science and Technology is in its infancy, and the positions are not yet filled. Your Majesty wants Vice-President Liu to make recommendations. Why don't you first tell me... well, what kind of talents are needed?"

Liu Kuan felt that what Su Quan said was reasonable.

To get things done, you first need people.

He then asked, "How many staff has Your Majesty given to our Science and Technology Department?"

The word "establishment" has existed in China for a long time. It was originally just a verb, but later it was also used to refer to the number of troops.

But it was the first time that Su Quan and others heard it used to describe an official position, and they thought it was extremely clever.

As the nominal head of the Science and Technology Department, he was clearly aware of the staffing allocation given by his superiors.

He replied, "One fifth-rank doctor, two to three fifth-rank assistant ministers, three to six sixth-rank officials, a ninth-rank official who has not yet been determined, and a clerk who has not yet been determined."

The organization of the Science and Technology Bureau was obviously much simpler than that of later agencies. Considering that it was the early Ming Dynasty, Liu Kuan was not surprised.

He said, "I need to think about this matter carefully. I will give Doctor Su a reply after I have considered it. Is that okay?"

Su Quan smiled and said, "Of course you can, but don't take too long."

"Understood." Liu Kuan nodded, then looked around at the others and said, "If there is nothing else, let's end this meeting here."

Liu Kuan's use of the word "meeting" here was novel to several people, but they did not have any difficulty understanding it, so they all nodded.

Liu Kuan originally wanted to wait for Su Quan and Zhao Chengzhu to leave his "office" before giving some instructions to a few clerks.

Seeing that the two of them had no intention of moving, he was too lazy to avoid them.

"Liu Yan, let me see the meeting minutes of the four of you."

After hearing this, Liu Yan, Cui Yan, and Zheng Zhiliang were only slightly surprised, but Zhao Wenyuan was a little flustered.

His face paled slightly as he said, "I didn't know Deputy Liu needed these... these meeting minutes, so I didn't write them carefully."

Liu Kuan said: "It's okay, I'm just taking a look."

Helplessly, Zhao Wenyuan could only follow Liu Yan and the other two to hand over the content he had just written on Liu Kuan's desk.

Liu Kuan browsed in front of the four people.

The four clerks waited with a little trepidation.

Su Quan and Zhao Chengzhu watched with great interest.

Both of them knew that Liu Kuan's origins were mysterious. Su Quan even had some reasonable speculations about Liu Kuan's origins, but he just didn't feel comfortable saying them out loud.

That's why he was quite curious about Liu Kuan's various performances, or rather, full of expectations.

Liu Kuan read the meeting minutes of the four clerks, firstly because he wanted to further understand their personalities or work attitudes through this matter.

The second is to select a special meeting recorder and let this person temporarily serve as his secretary in the Science and Technology Department.

Since he was just skimming through it, Liu Kuan finished reading it in a short while.

There was a reason why Zhao Wenyuan was flustered. Among the four people, his meeting notes were the most sloppy. He only wrote down some important words and sentences, which showed that he didn't care at all.

Zheng Zhiliang's meeting minutes contained the most content. He wrote down almost every word Liu Kuan said.

Liu Kuan couldn't help but sigh, this person's hand speed was really amazing, could he be a bachelor?

Cui Yan's records are standard, but there is a hint of perfunctoriness in them.

Liu Yan's record was the second most detailed, but unlike Zheng Zhiliang who recorded every word, he only recorded the main content of the meeting.

Most importantly, it looks quite organized.

This shows that this person not only listened carefully but also took notes carefully.

After putting down Liu Yan's meeting minutes, Liu Kuan said, "From today on, Liu Yan will serve as the meeting recorder of our Science and Technology Department and also serve as my secretary."

Liu Kuan had just finished speaking when Zhao Chengzhu said, "Vice-Chairman Liu, the Science and Technology Department doesn't have any recorder or secretary positions."

Liu Kuan frowned slightly, "It can be considered a kind of official, isn't it?"

Zhao Chengzhu also frowned and was about to say something when Su Quan smiled and said, "It's just a clerk, of course it's fine. Liu Yan, why don't you thank Deputy Liu for the promotion?"

After Su Quan decided on this matter, Zhao Chengzhu didn't say anything else.

Liu Yan was grateful for Liu Kuan's appreciation, but he didn't show any excitement. His face remained calm as he bowed and said, "Thank you, Vice-President Liu, for the promotion."

Liu Kuan nodded and said, "Take all the meeting minutes back. Liu Yan will find a larger blank book to use for meeting minutes so that the officials in the department can easily check them."

"Yes."

Liu Kuan looked at Zheng Zhiliang again and said, "When we hold meetings in our company, I'm afraid we'll have to write and draw in the future. There are many things that can't be explained clearly just by talking."

"I want to make a blackboard and some chalk. The Ministry of Works should have a place for making all sorts of things, right? Can Scribe Zheng handle this?"

Zheng Zhiliang was excited when he heard this. He understood that Liu Kuan asked him to do something, which was to give him a chance to prove his ability.

But then he frowned again and said, "Reporting to Deputy Liu, the Ministry of Works has many miscellaneous construction sites, but if you want the craftsmen there to do anything, you need official documents."

"Also, I'm ignorant and don't know what blackboards and chalk are. How are they made? What if the craftsmen can't make them?"

Liu Kuan looked at Su Quan.

He really didn't understand the Ming Dynasty's procedures, so he could only ask Su Quan for help.

Su Quan smiled and said, "This is a simple matter. Vice-President Liu will write a document later. As long as the cost of grain and money does not exceed 100 strings of cash, it will be signed by Vice-President Zhao. You can use your seal and it will be valid. You can take it and start doing business."

Liu Kuan nodded, "I understand."

Then he said to Zheng Zhiliang, "Come here and get some paper and pen. I'll tell you how to make the blackboard and chalk. Write it down so you don't forget."

"Yes."

Zheng Zhiliang immediately found a stack of white paper, took a pen and inkstone, and carefully sat down in front of Liu Kuan.

Seeing that Su Quan and the others were still watching, Liu Kuan said helplessly, "Doctor Su and Deputy Doctor Zhao, don't you have anything else to do?"

Zhao Chengzhu looked embarrassed.

Su Quan laughed heartily and said, "Liu Fulang is the backbone of our Science and Technology Department. Without your orders, how can we do anything? Besides, I also want to know what this blackboard and chalk are, and what they are used for."

Although Su Quan's words were a bit of a joke, they were also true.

Liu Kuan thought it wouldn't matter if a few more people listened, he just needed to adapt.

So he began to tell Zheng Zhiliang how to make blackboard and chalk.

Because he was not familiar with some of the tools and materials of the Ming Dynasty, he was bound to ask some questions in the process.

After some explanation, the matter was finally made clear.

At the same time, it also helped several people understand the specific functions of blackboard and chalk.

While the others were still pondering the merits of these two items, Liu Kuan bluntly stated, "Actually, the best use of blackboards and chalk is in the classroom. Teachers can write words, phrases, and sentences directly on the blackboard with chalk and have students imitate them. This teaching effect is definitely better than having students read and practice from a textbook."

Hearing this, Su Quan couldn't help but clap his hands in praise. "Just as Vice-President Liu said, these blackboards and chalks are truly wonderful tools, and are extremely beneficial to education!"

"I will immediately write a memorial to Your Majesty, advising you to promote these two things to local officials and schools."

"This can be considered an achievement for our Science and Technology Department. It's only been a few days since we were established, and people are already gossiping about it. They probably never imagined we could accomplish something beneficial to the world so quickly!"

Seeing Su Quan say these words with a happy face, in an instant, in Liu Kuan's mind, Su Quan's image overlapped with the images of some leaders and bosses in later generations.

This made him feel that being an official in the Ming Dynasty was not much different from being in later generations.

After Su Quan finished speaking, he finally left the room and went back to his "office".

Zheng Zhiliang also took the paper with the blackboard and chalk making methods recorded on it back to the wing room to sort it out - he had to wait for Liu Kuan to give him the official documents before he could go to work.

Zhao Chengzhu left as well, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable or had something to do.

Liu Kuan then looked at Cui Yan and said, "Clerk Cui, does our Science and Technology Department have any personnel files?"

"Personnel files?" Cui Yan pondered the meaning of the word, and after understanding it, he shook his head and said, "No, the Ministry of Personnel should have them."

Liu Kuan also knew that the Ministry of Personnel must have it, but what he needed was that the Science and Technology Department had it.

So he said, "Well, you should create a file for the clerks of our Science and Technology Department. Each clerk should have a booklet with their relevant information recorded, so that it will be convenient for future reference and recruitment."

Immediately, Liu Kuan explained in detail how to establish personnel files.

Although Cui Yan felt that Liu Kuan's action was unnecessary, he did not object. He agreed and went to do the job.

Liu Yan also went to reorganize the meeting minutes, so Zhao Wenyuan was the only one left.

Zhao Wenyuan became even more nervous and stepped forward to ask, "Does Deputy Liu have any instructions for me?"

Liu Kuan looked around his office and wasn't very satisfied with the layout, so he said, "Let's rearrange the tables, chairs, and bookcases together."

"Yes."

Zhao Wenyuan felt relieved and agreed in a lighter tone.

He never thought that having something to do would make him feel relaxed and happy.

···
Liu Kuan asked Su Quan about his working hours.

Knowing that officials could eat and rest at noon, he listened to the drum sounds and left the Ministry of Works compound as soon as noon arrived. He was still escorted by Wang Guangyue and other Yiluansi soldiers and returned home.

Su Quan left one step later than Liu Kuan, but did not go home. Instead, he went to the Forbidden City.

He wants to meet the Holy Spirit.

　Please collect, read and vote.

　　When a plot begins, there are always a lot of things that need to be laid out, and they have to be written in detail, which will make those who follow the update feel that it is slow, but there is no way around it.

　　(The New Book List has a limit of 20 words. I write about words a day, almost brushing the limit. There is really no way to increase it now.)
　　But when the progress needs to be fast, it will definitely be fast, and there will be no deliberate delays to add water, because there are indeed a lot of plots waiting to be released later, so it's not that there is nothing to write.

　　Thank you friends for reading this, you are the cutest!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)