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

In the courtyard of the General Administration of Manufacturing, cheers louder than before immediately erupted.

Zhang Shikang had mentioned the inclusion of science, engineering and agricultural sciences in the imperial examinations more than a year ago, and the news was a hot topic in the workshops in the Xishan camp at that time.

It was not until May last year that Zhang Shikang formally advised the emperor and the ministers finally began to discuss the matter in the court.

In fact, the court had already confirmed it in September last year, but the specific assessment measures for these two subjects are still under debate.

This matter was delayed for a long time, until Zhang Shikang returned from the expedition in Sichuan. When he formally asked about the matter, it was then that progress was made.

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for Zhang Shikang's brute force intervention, given the Ming Dynasty's currently low administrative efficiency, this matter could have been delayed at least until the next spring examination, which is three years later.

According to the imperial decree, all craftsmen with a professional title of level three or above in various fields can participate in the spring examinations for science, engineering and agriculture.

But what surprised the craftsmen present was that the chief leader was actually the chief examiner for science and engineering and agriculture.

In the eyes of most craftsmen, no matter whether he is the head of the Guards or the head of the Manufacturing Bureau, the first thing they think of is power.

Their leader's power in the Ming Dynasty is absolutely second to none. It is no exaggeration to say that he is second only to one person and above everyone else.

But when it comes to specific skills in science, engineering and agriculture, they don't think the chief leader has much ability.

The reason why he was able to become the chief examiner of this spring's imperial examination was probably because of the emperor's trust in him.

But this is enough, at least in the minds of ordinary craftsmen, as craftsmen of the General Manufacturing Bureau, the chief examiner is their superior, which is a good thing no matter what.

Of course, in the eyes of high-ranking officials of the General Administration of Manufacturing such as Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang, Wang Zheng and even Johann Adam Schall von Bell, the emperor appointed Zhang Shikang as the chief examiner probably because of trust, but it was more than just trust.

Whether it is the improved spinning machines and glass that have already been conquered, the muskets, granulated black powder, and the many high-yield new crops that have begun to be promoted, or the cement, paper shell bullets and rifling that are currently being intensively researched.

All this shows that Zhang Shikang has an extraordinary understanding not only in agricultural science but also in science and engineering.

However, due to the high confidentiality of these projects, most craftsmen did not know that these projects were initiated by Zhang Shikang.

Therefore, when the court promoted Mao Yuanyi and Bi Maokang to higher titles, they both refused at first, as they both believed that Zhang Shikang was the one who made the greatest contribution.

If it weren't for Zhang Shikang's ideas and possible experimental plans, there would be no instantaneous muskets and granulated black powder.

It’s just that Zhang Shikang doesn’t care about these.

"You don't have to be so excited. Let me make it clear in advance that even if I am the chief examiner, I will definitely not bend the law for your sake.

As the chief leader said, whether it is a mule or a horse, take it out for a walk.

How capable are you? It's not enough to just talk about it, you have to show your true ability with your hands." Zhang Shikang said calmly.

He could denounce treacherous officials in the court, slack off at public expense to engage in trade while on the march to war, and even slander others in front of his brother Chongzhen.

All these can be done, but Zhang Shikang will never mess around with the formal imperial examinations and award assessments.

Whether a country can maintain long-term stability and prosperity, whether it is ruled by benevolence and filial piety or by the rule of law, is actually nothing more than the word fairness.

After all, the imperial examination was once the only way for ordinary people to rise to the top.

Of course, this was the situation before. Thanks to Zhang Shikang's efforts, he paved many new paths for ordinary people.

For example, if you join the army, you will have enough food, wages and pensions. If you win a battle, you will be rewarded with military merit, and if you make great contributions, you can be awarded a title.

For example, in business, as long as you have a brain in this area, you can still become wealthy and successful.

If you are interested in the art of craftsmanship, you can go ahead and learn it with confidence. As long as you have the skills and are awarded a professional title, you will live a better life than a farmer.

If one could be awarded the highest craftsman title in the field he studied, he would also receive subsidies and other preferential treatment from the court, and his social status would be greatly improved.

Not to mention that now that science, engineering and agriculture have been included in the imperial examinations, in addition to being craftsmen, they now have the possibility of becoming officials.

Farmers were naturally a way out. After the corvée system was abolished, farmers could be employed by the court to earn some extra money during their slack season.

In Zhang Shikang's future plan, science and engineering will continue to differentiate sooner or later, such as into mathematics, physics, chemistry and even biology.

But these can only be guided slowly in the future. After all, if the steps are too big, it is easy to get into trouble.

Even though ordinary people have more options, Zhang Shikang always believed that the imperial examination system is still very important.

The imperial examination was not the only way out for ordinary people, but it was the easiest way. This was exactly the same as passing the college entrance examination to enter a 985 university in later generations.

"Also, let me say something. If any of you have passed the imperial examinations for science and engineering or agriculture, you should think carefully about what you really want."

Zhang Shikang's words were somewhat nonsensical, and many craftsmen were confused after hearing them, but Zhang Shikang immediately continued:

"Being an official is not like doing scientific research. To do scientific research, you don't need to study the ways of the world or curry favor with others, but being an official is not like that.

If being an official is for the sake of being more respectable, then this chief leader tells you that being a craftsman in the future can also be respectable. You don't need to question me for now, time will tell you the answer.

Being an official is naturally a good career path, but as a colleague of the General Administration of Manufacturing, if you really decide to become an official after passing the imperial examination.

What I hope you will do is to think about how to carry forward the artisan tradition, how to better pass it on, and how to encourage the people to take the initiative to learn science and engineering subjects. "

Inherent concepts are not easy to change. According to Zhang Shikang's definition of Jinshi in science, engineering and agriculture, those who passed the examination, even if they became officials, would mainly work in some vacancies in the Ministry of Works or even the Ministry of Revenue.

If they are decentralized to local levels, they will mainly engage in related industries, such as being in charge of the construction of a county or prefecture.

After all, when it comes to infrastructure, the Ming Dynasty is still almost blank at the moment.

Digging canals is just the beginning. If you want to get rich, you must first build roads, build bridges, construct dams and even reservoirs. Once cement is successfully developed, a large number of craftsmen will be needed for infrastructure alone.

There is also agricultural science, crop improvement, research and development of fertilizers to increase crop yields, etc. Although this slightly overlaps with the research and development work of the General Administration of Manufacturing, it does not affect it.

Zhang Shikang always believed that these projects, which were related to the national economy and people's livelihood, required more guidance and macro-control from the court.

Although I can take over this job temporarily, what about the future?

In short, professional projects should be handed over to professionals. Agricultural science scholars will regulate the agricultural science of the Ming Dynasty, while science and engineering scholars will regulate light industry, heavy industry and other infrastructure.

It is not enough for him alone to guide the industrial revolution of Ming Dynasty. Ming Dynasty also needs craftsmen to have more say in the court.

Of course, what Zhang Shikang said just now was to tell these people that passing the imperial examination does not necessarily mean one has to become an official, just like passing the 985 exam in later generations does not necessarily mean one has to become an official.

Sooner or later, Zhang Shikang will smash the backward idea that everything is inferior except for studying, and restore the Ming Dynasty to a place where a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend.

After Zhang Shikang finished his speech, he called Song Yingxing, Bi Maokang and others into the newly built meeting hall of the General Administration of Manufacturing.

After everyone arrived, Zhang Shikang said with a smile:

"Oh, there was something I forgot to announce.

I have discussed with His Majesty and decided that the first Great Invention Award will be awarded to Mr. Song.

The Innovation and Progress Award was given to Mr. Bi and General Mao. "

Zhang Shikang bowed to Song Yingxing and said:

"Congratulations, Mr. Song. The General Administration of Manufacturing will have a new uncle."

This is of course to increase the popularity of these two awards in Ming Dynasty.

But as a veteran of the General Administration of Manufacturing, Song Yingxing not only created new spinning machines but also developed glass in the past two years.

Of course, these two inventions are strictly speaking just improvements, and according to Zhang Shikang’s definition of the Great Invention Award, they are not enough to win this honor.

But Song Yingxing also spent a lot of time and effort to promote new crops. It can be said that Song Yingxing definitely made a significant contribution to the fact that people all over the world can have more food to eat.

Song Yingxing will also be responsible for the cultivation and improvement of new crops and existing crops, which will be a great contribution to the benefit of people all over the world.

Zhang Shikang proposed to his brother Chongzhen that the Great Invention Award be awarded to Song Yingxing, and also to make Song Yingxing a role model for agricultural science in the world.

In fact, Bi Maokang and Mao Yuanyi were also eligible to compete for the Great Invention Award, but these two had been promoted to earls by Brother Chongzhen because of their contributions to the war with their improved firearms.

Only then did Zhang Shikang decide to give the Great Invention Award to Song Yingxing, who had made the greatest contributions.

Zhang Shikang congratulated them, and Bi Maokang and other old colleagues from the General Administration of Manufacturing naturally congratulated each other, and the conference room was suddenly filled with laughter.

It was also at this time that Zhang Shikang finally showed his true colors. While everyone was happy, he smiled and said to the group of bigwigs:

"I have called you all here to discuss matters mainly regarding the examination questions for the science and engineering and agriculture subjects during the Spring Examination.

Mr. Song and Mr. Bi, you guys are really going to have to take care of this matter!"

……