Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Since ancient times, reform has always been a major event that affects the entire body.

The reforms carried out by the Ming Dynasty in the past two years can be said to be drastic.

Therefore, a series of problems have arisen during the reform process. The Ministry of Revenue has been working at full capacity since last year, and until now, it has been the busiest government office among the six ministries.

This is mainly because whether it is land reform or tax system reform, or household registration and canal digging, they are all related to the Ministry of Household Affairs.

The problems encountered during the reform process have been continuously solved, but new problems always arise after they are solved.

This is the drawback of drastic measures. Zhang Shikang, on the other hand, holds the idea that as long as the lower-class people are treated well enough, the Ming Dynasty will not be in chaos no matter what.

However, some changes still caused adverse effects, and the concerns mentioned by Song Yingxing were just one of them.

Yes, not only were the arrears of taxes exempted, but also the land tax for this year was exempted, and the court also spent a huge amount of money and grain to dig canals.

What does this mean? This means that the imperial court wants to vigorously develop agriculture!

The salary has been raised and the shackles have been removed. Who would still want to be a poor craftsman?

The chain of contempt has existed since ancient times, and the same is true in the Ming Dynasty.

Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans are a chain of contempt, and all walks of life are also a chain of contempt.

The cavalry despised the infantry, the infantry despised the firearms soldiers, the firearms soldiers despised the garrison soldiers and the military households, the military households despised the artisan households, and the artisan households... there was nothing to despise about the artisan households.

The military households were once serfs of the generals of the garrisons, and the artisan households were free workers for the officials and gentry. Not only were they taken advantage of for free, but they were also scolded and did not even have a meal.

If the court had a big job that needed more craftsmen, they would recruit craftsmen from other provinces to come to Beijing to help. They had no travel expenses and had to provide their own food. When they arrived at the work site, unfortunately, they didn't get paid, and at most they were given a bowl of porridge.

With such treatment, one is still at the bottom of the contempt chain. Who the hell would still want to be a craftsman?

"At the moment, several of the more urgent workshops in the General Manufacturing Administration should be completed in another month or two.

Whether it is the instantaneous musket, the cannon that Lao Bi and his team are developing, or the improved spinning machine.

If mass production is required, a large number of craftsmen of all kinds will be needed. Although some of them can always be recruited as long as the monthly salary is increased.

But sir, it’s OK in the short term, but if it goes on like this, these old craftsmen will get used to farming and forget their skills, and the inheritance will be gone. And where will we recruit craftsmen from in a few decades?”

Song Yingxing continued with great concern.

Zhang Shikang realized the seriousness of the problem after hearing this. Too many benefits were given to the farming people at once, so much so that the class balance was somewhat unbalanced.

However, Zhang Shikang only frowned for a moment and then felt relieved.

To be fair, the exemption of old arrears and this year's land tax were both suggested by Zhang Shikang, because the people at the bottom were suffering too much, and last year's unrest had delayed farming in many places.

But it is not right to say that the benefits given are too much. It is because only the farmers are given preferential treatment without balancing the craftsmen.

“It’s time to enhance the presence of craftsmen.

Mr. Song, I plan to organize a complete preferential treatment system for craftsmen.

Different types of craftsmen are classified and their own standards are set, and the government is responsible for the assessment. Taking carpenters as an example, in addition to apprentices, there are first-level carpenters, second-level carpenters, and third-level carpenters.

The specific levels still need to be determined by experts such as Mr. Song and Mr. Bi.

However, this treatment, at the lowest level, should be higher than the income of farmers.

For engineering disciplines encouraged by the court, such as firearms and ships, the income will be higher. In addition to employment income, the court can issue monthly subsidies to anyone who has an engineering-related grade valued by the court.

This is one of them.

Secondly, any craftsman with unique skills who is willing to write his or her skills into a book can apply to the court for a large reward.

This is something I think is very important. I have told Mr. Song before that in the Ming Dynasty we always like to pass on skills through master-apprentice relationship.

There are always sayings like “the skills are passed down to males but not females, passed down to sons but not outsiders”, “teaching an apprentice will starve the master to death”, etc.

I think this is very detrimental to the inheritance of skills. Therefore, Mr. Song should take the lead in telling the current craftsmen and encourage them to teach their skills to the recruited apprentices.

Of course, verbal encouragement alone is not enough, so silver rewards can be given based on the number of apprentices that graduate.

Third, after the General Manufacturing Bureau is completed, I also want to establish a specialized engineering and science school.

By then, all those skills of writing books will be put to use. As for the specific details, I guess it will still require you, Mr. Song and Mr. Bi, to perfect them.

What do you think, Mr. Song?

Zhang Shikang said a lot, and while he was talking, he was also thinking about it. However, Song Yingxing became more and more surprised as he listened.

He had the same doubts as Bi Maokang at this time. If someone said that Zhang Shikang was talented in military affairs, just like the champion marquis Huo Qubing, they would find it amazing, but would not be too surprised.

But what Zhang Shikang showed was so comprehensive.

He is not only familiar with military affairs, but also understands farming, government restructuring, and firearms. Now he even knows how to macro-control the profession of craftsmen.

More than two years ago, Zhang Shikang was still a commoner. In the past two years, he was promoted from earl to marquis just by virtue of his military achievements, and now he is already a duke.

This is really too scary for a young man who is only 21 years old.

"Sir, I think this plan is feasible, but..."

Song Yingxing glanced at Emperor Chongzhen and found that he was still asking his subordinates about the specific details of the planting. Then he lowered his voice and said:

“But sir, you should also know that once the government can strangle the people, a series of corruption problems will arise.

If craftsmen need to take exams from the government before they can get the level that matches them, I'm worried that there will be problems in the future!

And then there is the subsidy you mentioned, sir. The court’s expenditure this year must be very large. If the expenditure increases further, I am worried that the finances will not be able to achieve a balance between income and expenditure. In the long run, this will not be a good thing.”

After all, Song Yingxing was in the Ming Dynasty and was not aware of the huge prospects of business, let alone the development trend of industry, so he had his own concerns.

But in Zhang Shikang's opinion, this is not the biggest problem. He thought about it and said:

"Mr. Song, the court will have zero tolerance for corruption in the future. I will ask the factory guards to strictly follow the ancestral system and increase the number of factory guards to do a good job of supervision.

Once they are discovered, they will all be skinned alive so that all officials in the world can see that we have increased their salaries. If they are still not satisfied, we will kill as many as we can.

As for balancing income and expenditure, it may be difficult to achieve in a short period of time, but Mr. Song, you have to believe me.

In three years at most, you will know the answer.”

Zhang Shikang said to Song Yingxing with great certainty.

……