Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 37: Private Banquet in the Eastern Palace, Rumors about the Prince Consort [Please Read]

Liu Kuan naturally also considered the choice of craftsmen.

He said, "First, we need craftsmen who can smelt iron and steel, and secondly, craftsmen who are suitable for casting boilers - perhaps we can choose people who are good at casting cannons and bells?"

Liu Kuan didn't know much about the situation of craftsmen in the early Ming Dynasty, so he asked Su Quan for his opinion halfway through his words.

Su Quan now had a general understanding of the principles of the steam engine, and he felt that among many metal castings, only cannons and bells were most similar to it.

So he nodded and said, "It is indeed possible to choose those who are good at casting cannons and bells."

Liu Kuan then continued, "We also need skilled craftsmen who are good at building complex machines. The above three types of craftsmen will be the core craftsmen for building trains."

"But we'll probably also need some carpenters, painters, and other craftsmen. Building a train is a systematic project that involves a lot of work."

Su Quan nodded again, "I understand. In the next few days, I will communicate with the various departments and locations of the Ministry of Industry to recruit some craftsmen who meet your requirements as backup."

"If it's not enough, we can recruit more later, right?"

Liu Kuan had never built a train, and he didn't even fully understand the relevant theories. Now he didn't know exactly how many craftsmen were needed, so he could only grope his way through everything by referring to the data.

Hearing this, he said, "Of course you can."

As for the question of whether the various departments and places of the Ministry of Industry would release the people, neither of them discussed it.

Zhu Yuanzhang once said that he would make it easier for Liu Kuan to build a train, and he actually did so.

When Su Quan selected craftsmen, he must have had Zhu Yuanzhang's edict, and all departments and places of the Ministry of Works must have obeyed it.

···
After Liu Kuan finished discussing with Su Quan, he returned to his "office", took out the relevant information about the train, and wrote and drew while thinking.

Not long after, Cui Yan came over.

"Reporting to Deputy Liu, I have already completed the personnel files for the Science and Technology Department clerks."

As he spoke, he placed four thin bound books on the table.

Liu Kuan picked them up and looked through them one by one.

When he saw Liu Yan's copy, he realized that he had misunderstood for most of the time and mistook Liu Yan for "Liu Yan".

Fortunately, no one knew about this, and he was the only one who felt a little embarrassed.

He then took out Cui Yan's own file and pointed it out, "Your file is still not detailed enough, and it's even missing some necessary information."

"For example, you wrote down your registered place of residence but didn't write down your current residence..."

The personnel file made by Cui Yan was considered qualified at that time, but Liu Kuan wanted a personnel file similar to that of later generations, so he could only give him some pointers and ask him to redo it.

Fortunately, there are only four files at present, and the information is not much, so the workload is very small.

After Cui Yan left, Liu Kuan continued to study the relevant information about trains, and before he knew it, it was Youshi (17:19-:).

The sound of the drum announcing time was heard. Although Liu Kuan felt it was still early, the officials and craftsmen had not yet arrived. Even if he had any ideas, it would be difficult to realize them.

So Liu Kuan went to see Su Quan and then took his leave and went home.

As a result, as soon as he left the Ministry of Works compound, he was stopped by an unfamiliar young eunuch.

"Vice-Lang Liu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince invites you to a banquet at the East Palace."

Liu Kuan came out with Wang Guangyue and other Yiluansi officers and soldiers. He was the only one in the Ministry of Works who could have such a grand ceremony, so he was easy to identify. It was not surprising that he was recognized by the little eunuch at a glance.

After hearing what the young eunuch said, Liu Kuan hesitated and said, "Isn't this too sudden? I haven't prepared anything, and I'm wearing an official uniform..."

The young eunuch smiled and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that this is a private banquet and only Vice Minister Liu has been invited. He can leave as soon as he finishes his duties and there is no need to be formal."

Liu Kuan didn't like all kinds of formalities, so he nodded and said, "Okay, please lead the way, eunuch."

"I'm not worthy of the title of eunuch. My name is Li Chong. Vice-officer Liu can just call me by my name."

Liu Kuan nodded, but said nothing more.

The group walked north from outside the Ministry of Works compound, passing the Ministry of War, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Personnel, and Ministry of Clan Affairs in the east in turn.

After passing the Chang'an Right Gate, the Outer Five Dragons Bridge, the Chengtian Gate, the Duanmen Gate, and passing the Taimiao and Sheji Altar, we entered the Wumen Gate.

After entering the Forbidden City and walking northeast, you will soon arrive at the Chunhe Palace.

Chunhe Palace is the Eastern Palace, and is considered the residence of the crown prince.

Less than a hundred steps southwest of Chunhe Palace is the Wenhua Hall complex - this is both where the prince studies and his official office space.

After the group entered Chunhe Palace, Wang Guangyue, Li Xiaoer and others were taken elsewhere to have meals, while Liu Kuan and Li Gui went to a side hall.

Before Liu Kuan went in, he saw Zhu Biao coming out with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Liu, I have been waiting for you for a while."

Liu Kuan did not forget to salute.

After bowing, he said, "Since I have joined the Department of Science and Technology, Your Highness, please address me as Vice-President Liu."

Zhu Biao gestured for Liu Kuan to enter the hall and said as he walked in, "We are meeting privately. How formal is it to call me Vice-President Liu?"

"Since you and Sister Huilan have been engaged, the wedding will take place on the 29th of this month. Then you will be my brother-in-law." "In that case, I will change my address in advance and call you my brother-in-law. How about that?"

Liu Kuan was not very familiar with the various address habits of the Ming Dynasty. He just felt that although this address was a bit early, it was better than being called "Young Master Liu" by Zhu Biao, so he agreed.

When Zhu Biao hosted a banquet for Liu Kuan this time, they did not eat at separate tables, but sat together at a round table.

Just as he changed the way he addressed Liu Kuan, it was obvious that he had already treated Liu Kuan as a family member.

After the two men sat down as host and guest, Zhu Biao ordered the dishes to be served and then couldn't wait to start talking to Liu Kuan.

"I've been busy these past few days helping my father set up the cabinet and the Grand Council, and revising the six-ministry system. I haven't had time to communicate with my brother-in-law."

"I finally have some free time today, so I can't wait to greet you and invite my brother-in-law to the banquet. Do you mind, brother-in-law?"

Liu Kuan shook his head. "I don't mind. I don't have anything important to do after I leave this job."

Zhu Biao then asked, "Are you used to living in the mansion given by the emperor?"

Liu Kuan said, "It's okay, but it's a little too big. After all, I'm single now. Including the slaves and maids given by His Majesty, there are only about thirty of them."

Zhu Biao laughed when he heard this and said, "When Sister Huilan marries him and you become his consort, you won't think the mansion is big anymore, you'll just think it's small."

When Zhu Biao mentioned the word "son-in-law", Liu Kuan immediately thought of the various restrictions on son-in-law in the Ming Dynasty that later generations knew about, such as not being able to participate in politics, not being able to lead troops, and not being able to take the imperial examinations.

However, there seems to be no such regulation in the early Ming Dynasty.

For example, Mei Yin, the husband of Princess Ningguo (the eldest daughter of Empress Ma), was a leading general.

For example, Ouyang Lun, who later became the son-in-law of Princess Anqing, took advantage of his position to send slaves to smuggle tea for huge profits, which led to his being executed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

But Liu Kuan was not sure whether some other strange rules appeared at this time.

As he had read on the Internet, the prince consort could not eat at the same table with the princess, but had to stand and serve on the side; the prince consort was not allowed to take concubines; when the prince consort had sex with the princess, there had to be an old palace maid from the palace watching them, and so on.

Although he felt that such unreliable rules were either rumors or deformed products derived from the corruption and degeneration of the ruling class in the Ming Dynasty, and might not exist at this time, he still felt a little uneasy.

Thinking that today was a private dinner with only him and Zhu Biao present, and that Zhu Biao was a good person, he decided to find out.

He coughed lightly and said, "Your Highness, I was actually a little hesitant when I agreed to Princess Shang's promise."

Zhu Biao was surprised when he heard this and asked in confusion, "Why?"

"Because according to some later historical materials, whose authenticity is unknown, the Ming Dynasty imposed great restrictions on the imperial consorts, and the imperial consorts' lives were not easy..."

Once he opened his mouth, Liu Kuan told everyone that the son-in-law was not allowed to participate in politics, lead troops, or take the imperial examinations, as well as some strange rules he had seen on the Internet.

As Zhu Biao listened, his expression became increasingly strange, and finally he even looked a bit angry.

After Liu Kuan finished speaking, he couldn't help but slam his hand on the table. "This is ridiculous! How can people in later generations fabricate such stories about my Zhu family?!"

Hearing this, Liu Kuan couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, perhaps some of these 'rules' were not made up by later generations, but actually appeared in the Ming Dynasty later on?"

Zhu Biao said, "My brother-in-law Li Qi, the eldest son of Duke Han, is a civil official; and my brother-in-law Mei Yin, the nephew of Marquis Runan, is a general!"

"As for the claim that the imperial consort cannot take the imperial examination, although the Ming Dynasty currently does not have an imperial examination, it does have the Imperial Academy. You should know that Xuan Le is about to be promised by our father to a student of the Imperial Academy."

"So, how can a prince consort not be an official, command troops, or take the imperial examinations?!"

After hearing Zhu Biao cite the example of Ouyang Lun again, Liu Kuan thought about it and realized that there seemed to be no explicit rule in later generations that the son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty could not be an official.

Moreover, in every dynasty, the prince consorts still held unimportant official positions or received some unimportant tasks.

But perhaps due to the restrictions of unspoken rules, there was indeed no Ming Dynasty prince consort who served as a powerful civil servant or general in the two hundred years after Yongle.

Thinking of this, Liu Kuan said, "Your Highness, I'm actually not interested in whether a prince consort can participate in politics, lead troops, or take the imperial examinations. I just want to know if there are any strange 'rules' against prince consorts in the Ming Dynasty today?"

"Absolutely not!" Zhu Biao quickly gave an affirmative answer, but seemed afraid that Liu Kuan would not believe him, so he continued: "If my brother-in-law doesn't believe me, go to the other two princes' houses and you will know for sure!"

Zhu Biao hesitated slightly and then said, "However, although my father has not explicitly forbidden the taking of concubines, my two brothers-in-law have indeed not taken concubines yet..."

When he said this, Zhu Biao looked ashamed.

It seemed that she felt that not allowing Liu Kuan to take a concubine would be quite unfair to him.

He thought of something and added, "But this isn't absolute. According to the Great Ming Code, commoners are not allowed to take concubines. However, if a man is forty and still childless, he can take a concubine."

"For a prince consort, if he has no children, perhaps he doesn't have to wait until he's forty..."

Having said that, Zhu Biao really couldn't continue and his face looked even more ashamed.

Because he thought about it.

Someone married your daughter and has been childless for many years, but you still want him to wait until he is 30 or 40 years old before taking a concubine. This doesn't seem like the way you treat your son-in-law well.

"I must persuade my father not to restrict the prince consort too much. I must also ask my father to leave behind ancestral teachings, so that future generations will not come up with those bizarre rules that Liu Kuan talked about!"

Feeling ashamed, Zhu Biao secretly made a decision.

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(End of this chapter)