In the autumn of the thirteenth year of Yongle, the emperor placed a gold list and set up a purple gold stone tablet to search for capable people in the world, improve mulberry farming, and refine equipment.
Those who receive the Yongle Medal will have their names engraved on the purple and gold stone tablets, and will be given a memorial arch of merit, so that their names will be passed down through the ages.
As soon as this incident came out, it immediately spread throughout the country. All the people and farmers were surprised by the court's approach. This gave them, who could only face the loess and back to the sky all their lives, a way out, the same as the literati, officials, and generals.
A way to leave a name in history.
Seal the wolf and live in Xu, be the first to climb and capture the flag, bravely win the three armies, leave a name in history, be the pillar of the country, and be named on the gold list.
Who can refuse these things, but how can ordinary people have the opportunity to do these things in their lives? To be named on the gold medal list and to win the championship in the three armies is beyond their reach.
But now the emperor tells you that as long as you improve your farming and refine your equipment, you can leave your name in history, carve your name on the purple gold stone tablet, give you a merit arch, and honor your ancestors from now on.
Your name must be made larger and bolder in the family tree, and your achievements must be introduced on a separate page. Who can bear this?
And this matter basically only belongs to farmers and workers. Some of your officials in the court know how to farm, and some know where to improve.
At the same time, the imperial court also stipulated that officials at all levels in the yamen prefectures and counties in various places would be dismissed from their posts and beheaded if they dared to let others impersonate them. If anyone in their own government or county won an award, they would be rewarded in different levels.
This is also to find ways to prevent officials from appropriating the inventions and creations of the people below as their own.
You don't rob anything, you just push the people below to invent and create. If you win the prize, you will get a share. If you don't win, there is no fault. But if you dare to rob, you will be beheaded.
They would rather have no merit than make a mistake. It is impossible for most officials to take the risk of beheading to take away the merits of the people.
Of course, the issuance of this imperial order was not that simple. Xia Yuanji from the Ministry of Revenue objected. The reason for concern was the same: he was afraid that people would give up farming in order to get rewards.
However, Zhu Zhanzhen's reason was that to improve agricultural tools, one had to be tested in the farmland. Only those who succeeded in the test could win the prize. Instead, he encouraged some people to open up wasteland and conduct field experiments.
After weighing the pros and cons, Zhu Di finally decided to do it and reward him with a name instead of a large amount of money. The amount of the reward was actually not particularly large, because those who were capable would be rewarded with a name.
People in all states and counties got the news, and the most excited ones were all kinds of craftsmen. After all, modifying tools requires a certain degree of hands-on ability. For craftsmen who make a living by making tools, this is simply a big deal.
cake.
Go to the fields and mountains and ask the farmers where their current tools need to be improved, and which agricultural links require the development of new tools. There will always be some wonderful ideas inspired by the collision of ideas.
The farmers themselves are not good at mechanics, so they don't pay any attention to the gold medal. They just treat it as something to talk about after dinner, and continue to plow the fields as if it has nothing to do with it.
It is the same in all dynasties. Whatever the court values, the people will develop it. Even just a hobby of the emperor can develop a huge industry.
For example, Zhu Zhanji loved to play with crickets in history. When he became emperor, ministers became proficient in this trick. The crickets were divided into different categories, and the prices continued to rise. Some of them were worth thousands of gold.
It will take some time for the bounty to be responded to. Zhu Zhanzhen believes that these skilled craftsmen will continue to emerge. When the time comes, he can bring these people together to form a research institute, allowing everyone with ideas in this era to join in.
, to continuously improve and invent and create.
Zhu Zhanzhen, who came up with this idea, was praised a lot by Zhu Di, but there was no substantial reward, and the fat father Zhu Gaochi refused to give it to him.
If I give it, I'm afraid Zhu Zhanji will feel that his younger brother is too favored now, and he will feel resentment in his heart. If I don't give it, I'm afraid Zhu Zhanchang will feel that he is not taken seriously.
It is very distressing to be a father with two sons who are so outstanding.
Zhu Gaochi called Zhu Zhanchen over alone.
"Zhan Zhen, your Majesty didn't reward you with anything this time. Do you feel uncomfortable?"
"No." Zhu Zhanzhen replied indifferently.
But Zhu Gaochi didn't believe that he didn't care, so he sighed and said, "You kid, there are some things you should tell your father."
"Really not." Zhu Zhanzhen really doesn't care about money. There is not much to buy in this era, and there is no place to recharge games. Of course, if you can reward me with a beautiful woman from the Western Regions, that's fine.
"You tell me what reward you want, and I will give it to you personally."
"Father, do you have a princess from the Western Regions here?"
Zhu Gaochi rolled his eyes at him: "Don't use these nonsense words to try to frustrate me."
"I know you have grievances in your heart. Our Prince's Mansion is not like your second uncle who grabs handfuls of golden beans. Your mother told me that you hope that your fiefdom will be in Guangzhou Mansion or Lanzhou Mansion in the future, right?"
Zhu Zhanchen nodded.
"Where do you want to go most?"
"Guangzhou Mansion."
"This matter has been recorded and I will make arrangements."
"Thank you father."
Zhu Zhanyi came out of Zhu Gaochi's study. Zhu Gaochi was afraid that Zhu Zhanyi would be wronged, so he tried to find a way to compensate him. At least the fiefdom matter was as he wanted, which was considered good.
In the afternoon of that day, Zhu Gaochi discussed matters with Xia Yuanji and Lu Zhen, the Minister of Rites, mainly regarding the Yongle Golden List. Xia Yuanji was still very worried about farming and lamented over and over again, fearing that the farmers would not do farming and would waste their fertile land.
"Xia Shangshu, the matter has been implemented, and we will know when the results come out. There is still a certain threshold for improving mulberry farming and refining equipment. Ordinary farmers should not do it rashly, so don't worry too much." Lu Zhen, who was the Minister of Rites at the time.
Explained a sentence.
"But, hey..." Xia Yuanji said no more. There was no point in saying more. After all, the emperor had already made the final decision.
"I'm looking for you two. It's not just because of this matter. You two also know that His Majesty wants to have a military parade in the imperial city. If there is any change in Oala, Your Majesty will definitely march in person. The Ministry of Ceremonies will host the military parade. I will order Zhan Ming.
I will help you, Lord Lu, and I will forgive you if anything goes wrong when the time comes."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is serious. I have long heard that His Highness the Fifth Highness is very intelligent. It would be great to have His Highness the Fifth Highness help me."
"He has a bit of a loose temper. If there is anything naughty about him, remember to let me know."
"His Majesty is conducting a military parade in the Imperial City. His Majesty is majestic. I will do my best to cooperate with His Majesty the Fifth Highness."
Lu Zhen was a capable person, but he was also criticized a lot for his conduct.
The main discussion was about the military parade in the Imperial City. After estimating the cost, it turned out that there was not much overspending. Moreover, the military officers heard that they could be reviewed in front of the Imperial City, so they signed up one after another. Now each battalion is selecting the best among them.
.
As long as nothing goes wrong with this job, it is one of those rare things where the emperor, ministers and people are satisfied and happy to hear about it.
The matter was discussed smoothly, and the two ministers were about to leave. Zhu Gaochi coughed and left Lv Zhen, the minister of rites, behind.
Seeing that there was no one around, Zhu Gaochi asked in a low voice rather embarrassedly: "Lü Shangshu, are there any princesses from the countries in the Western Regions who have come to marry recently?"
