diymy Chapter 015 Who in the world does not know you?
Chapter 015 Who in the world does not know you?
Chapter 015
"Boying, that's thirty-five mouths to feed! Have you even calculated it? These half-grown brats are going to bankrupt me! Even if each of them only eats two liters of mixed grains a day, that's seventy liters a day, and twenty-one shi of grain a month!"
Chen was heartbroken: "How much silver is twenty-one shi of grain worth now?"
With the successful production of iron-shafted plows and the disaster relief efforts undertaken by Zheng Sanjun, the prefect of Guide, in various counties, grain prices have begun to decline, from a peak of two taels and three mace of silver per shi to the current one tael and two mace of silver per shi.
The price of food will definitely continue to fall in the future, because the flood did not affect a very large area. Areas south of the Huai River were basically unaffected.
As the disaster struck, grain prices in Guide Prefecture soared, and grain merchants from other places also wanted to take advantage of the situation to make a fortune. Zheng Sanjun's solution was very simple: the gentry and powerful families who wanted iron plows could exchange them for grain.
These grain merchants from out of town were dumbfounded. They could either transport the grain back home, which would be very costly, or they could sell it at a low price and still make a profit.
"This costs more than thirty taels of silver every month. More than thirty taels of silver... It's not enough to just feed them; we also need to clothe them. All in all, sixty taels of silver a month might not even be enough!"
Chen Ying was also thinking about this issue. Adopting these thirty-five adopted sons and daughters was a considerable burden for him.
Did Song Yanniang do something wrong?
Actually, she did not make a mistake. The Song family of Yongcheng was a branch of the Song family of Guide Prefecture. The ancestor of the Song family of Yongcheng was Song Wan, who was the younger brother of Song Yang of Guide Prefecture.
At that time, Guide Prefecture suffered a severe drought. Song Yang gained a good reputation by providing relief to the disaster victims, which helped the Song family accumulate a lot of wealth.
At that time, Song Yang's eldest son, Song Zhan, had died young, and his youngest son was still very young. He relied on his adopted sons and daughters, who became the most loyal supporters of the Song family.
They cleared wasteland, built houses, and studied, which led to the Song family becoming one of the eight great families of Guide Prefecture. The Song family was able to establish itself in Guide Prefecture for a hundred years and pass on its scholarly tradition not because of the land, but because of the people and their reputation.
Song Yanniang knew the history of the Song family's rise to power. She wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to replicate the story and, taking advantage of the flood, adopt the children of the disaster victims, give them a way to survive, and lay the foundation for the rise of the Chen family.
Chen Ying was very clear that his adoptive father was only thinking about the present and not about the future.
Chen sometimes looked at Song Yanniang, his future daughter-in-law, and said, "Yanniang, Yanniang... I know you mean well, but this world... this world isn't a place where you can survive just by being kind!"
"Father, don't say anymore. I'll figure out a way to solve the food problem!"
Chen Ying was very clear that if he didn't take in these children, they would most likely die.
It wasn't that Chen Ying wanted to be a saint; rather, he had his own plans. Presenting the iron plow he had forged to Sun Chuanting was also for the sake of the future.
As Wei Zhongxian came to power, he caused great damage to the Ming Dynasty, namely the collapse of the bureaucracy. Before Wei Zhongxian, corruption in the Ming Dynasty was already very serious, and at least some precautions had to be taken.
Wei Zhongxian directly tore off this fig leaf, exposing the bloody truth to everyone. Corruption also has a consequence: it turned the impossible into reality.
In the early to mid-Ming Dynasty, before the collapse of the garrison system, it was almost impossible for Chen Ying to be promoted within the garrison system without military achievements.
However, he now has a great opportunity. He has basically completed his initial capital accumulation. He could have started military production by currying favor with Zhang Zhengyu and bribing the garrison commander's office to buy a position as a centurion or chiliarch.
Next, the Ming Dynasty suffered severe natural disasters and man-made calamities. Landlords and gentry in various places began to manufacture or purchase weapons and establish secret local armed forces. Despite Guide Prefecture being a place of constant warfare, it was still a place of great danger.
The problem is that both Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong suffered defeats in Guide Prefecture, which was because Guide Prefecture had a very strong local armed force.
Guide Prefecture was located within the area covered by the later Huaihai Entrepreneurial Group. The people here were fierce and martial. Even after the Xingyang Conference in history, Li Zicheng still failed to conquer Guide Prefecture, and Zhang Xianzhong failed to conquer Yongcheng County.
At that time, Zhang Xianzhong was able to capture the Fengyang Imperial Mausoleum, but he failed to capture Yongcheng, losing more than 20,000 men, which illustrates the point.
"What...what can you do?"
Chen seemed to have thought of something: "You're not thinking of recruiting them to the Construction Bureau, are you? The food and rations for the workers in the Construction Bureau are allocated by the county government, that's for the craftsmen. What are these kids? Can they forge iron or make plows? Huh?"
"I'm the Consul General of the Manufacturing Bureau. If I say they can do it, they can do it!"
As a time traveler and one of the few prophets, Chen Ying predicted that Henan would generally enjoy favorable weather from the fourth to the sixth year of the Tianqi reign, until a new round of drought and locust plagues began in the first year of the Chongzhen reign.
This means he has five years left. If he can't even support thirty-five people within five years, he will be a disgrace to transmigrators.
Chen Ying's attitude made Chen sometimes deeply realize that a son is no longer under his father's control once he grows up.
"These children are still young and a burden now. But once they grow up, we can teach them a trade, teach them to read, teach them loyalty and righteousness... They will be the foundation of the Chen family's future."
Chen Ying sat on a bench with a roster spread out in front of him.
The first page of the roster was filled with neatly written, densely packed names.
Liu Qian, aged thirteen, was from Liuzhuang Village, west of Yongcheng City. His father died during a river construction project.
He Maodan, aged fourteen, was from Lizhai Village, Yongcheng. Both his parents died of an epidemic.
Chen Ying picked up a pen and began renaming his adopted sons. According to the Chen family genealogy, his sons would be of the "Yong" generation in the future. He was straightforward and blunt, arranging them according to the Confucian Eight Virtues: "Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, Xin, Zhong, Xiao, Ti." Chen Yongren was his eldest adopted son, and the others were named Chen Yongyi...
Later, he used the eight principles of Confucianism, namely "investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, rectifying one's mind, cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." He took one character from each of these, and the ninth son became Chen Yongge, Chen Yongzhi, Chen Yongcheng, Chen Yongzheng, Chen Yongxiu, Chen Yongqi, Chen Yongzhi, and Chen Yongping.
Next are the names of the nineteen adopted daughters, taken from the Book of Songs and classics on female virtues: Chen Shulan, Chen Wanju, Chen Jingmei, Chen Yazhu, and so on.
These children will be the first group of people Chen Ying has cultivated in this era. They will not ask him where his ingenious ideas come from; they will only regard him as a benefactor, a mentor, and a father.
In this era where clan and blood ties are paramount, relationships forged through gratitude and loyalty are sometimes stronger than blood ties.
Chen Ying kept the eight older children, including Bade, at the Construction Bureau as apprentices, providing them with meals and a liter of grain as payment each day.
Chen remained silent for a long time: "I accept that these eight boys are learning a trade from you in the workshop, and those girls are learning to read from Yan Niang, which is also a way out. But what about the rest... these little radishes? There's no work they can do in the workshop!"
Chen Ying smiled: "Father, I'll have to trouble you with these children."
"I?"
Chen Ying laughed and said, "Ma Muji, isn't our new house still empty? You and Mother can take them back, you can teach them martial arts, literacy, and manners, and let them grow their own vegetables and raise chickens. I will send grain back on time, so you can just think of it as... think of it as opening a primary school."
Chen was stunned: "A primary school?"
After Chen Ying adopted thirty-five sons and daughters, the eldest son, Chen Yongren, and eight other boys followed him around, learning the techniques.
Song Yanniang was accompanied by seven adopted daughters, who became her followers.
Chen Ying looked at Song Xianze and asked, "Bo'an, do you want a wife?"
"What are you doing?"
"Just tell me if you want it or not!"
Song Xianze turned and left, running away quickly with his short legs.
Chen Daniu leaned close to Chen Ying and said, "Brother Chen, he doesn't want it, but I do..."
"You want my ass!"
In late June, the first batch of seven-row wheeled seeders officially rolled off the production line at the Yongcheng Manufacturing Bureau. Although the seeders were a success, the development of the Frankish cannons was in trouble.
Sun Chuanting did not urge Chen Ying. He knew that cannon casting was not something that could be accomplished overnight. However, this time he did not hesitate. Having already seen the experimental results, he directly loaded the warm seeder onto a large cart and transported it to Guide Prefecture.
Before the seed planter even reached Guide Prefecture, officials from Kaifeng, including the Henan Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Councilor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission, arrived in Guide Prefecture.
At this trial planting site, there were over a hundred officials of various ranks, including high-ranking officials of the third rank and the third rank. Huang Yanshi, the former deputy commissioner of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, was transferred to the capital to serve as the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief for his meritorious service in presenting the iron plow.
Although this is a fourth-rank official position, the problem is that once it is transferred to a provincial governorship, it is equivalent to a provincial governorship with added titles. It is a promotion from the deputy commissioner of the provincial judicial commissioner to a fourth-rank official with real power. This is an official position that even the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet should be wary of. It is a typical example of a low-ranking but powerful position.
Zheng Sanjun stroked the inscription on the seeder that it was made by the Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau, remaining silent for a long time. He really hadn't expected that such a capable person would emerge from his jurisdiction.
The junior official reported to the other officials: "One ox and one person can sow eighty mu a day, while ordinary seed drills can only sow twenty mu at most. This is four times the efficiency, and the row spacing, grain spacing, and planting depth can all be adjusted. Different crops can use different methods... If this method is implemented in several northern provinces, it can reclaim more land, increase grain taxes, and benefit the people... the benefits are immeasurable!"
Zheng Sanjun nodded slowly: "Select two of the finest ones, disassemble and pack them, and send them directly to the capital by express courier... One to the Ministry of Works, and the other directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial, saying... that after the Tianqi plow, Guide is presenting the Tianqi seed drill again to celebrate His Majesty's auspicious occasion."
……
The capital city, the Qianqing Palace, the West Warm Pavilion.
Zhu Youxiao listened to Wang Tiqian's report: "Zhou Shipu, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, said that if Your Majesty values craftsmen over scholars, I fear that the hearts of scholars throughout the land will be chilled, and the foundation of the nation will be shaken..."
"shit!"
Zhu Youxiao continued, "Stay in the capital..."
"Seventeen people, including Zhao Nanxing, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, jointly petitioned that the official seal is a public instrument of the state and cannot be given away privately. They requested Your Majesty to rescind the decree immediately to set things right... The Cabinet has drafted a motion requesting Your Majesty to withdraw the decree."
Zhu Youxiao remained silent, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.
Zhu Youxiao suddenly laughed: "I remember last year, the Ministry of Works conscripted 3,000 artisans from Jiangnan to repair the three main halls, and more than 200 of them died of illness or exhaustion on the way. At that time, why did no one tell me that artisans were a lowly profession? Why did no one submit a memorial saying that we should show compassion to the artisans? Now that I have rewarded a military household that has created a tool that benefits the people, they jump out. They talk about etiquette and law, about famous tools... In the end, they just think that I should not promote someone they look down on."
Wang Tiqian dared not utter a sound.
"What did Wei Banban say?"
Wang Tiqian hurriedly said, "Eunuch Wei said that there are some rumors outside... that are quite unpleasant. They say that if His Majesty withdraws the decree, it would be bowing down to the civil officials, and in the future... in the future, even the palace's expenses and timber procurement will be subject to their interference."
The young emperor's face darkened.
"The draft decree states that the reward given to Chen Boying is a special favor from me and need not be discussed further. The cabinet's request is denied. Anyone who dares to make further unfounded suggestions will be accused of trying to guess the emperor's intentions and sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers."
"Yes."
"Also, regarding the matter of reporting the Eastern Depot, make sure to handle the matter properly and protect Chen Boying!"
"Your Majesty means..."
"I want to see what new way my world's number one craftsman can plow out."
Since the Iron Plow entered Beijing, Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, had always acted on impulse, bestowing upon Chen Boying a hereditary position as a centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the title of the greatest craftsman in the land.
He had really stirred up a hornet's nest, drawing collective opposition from the ministers. The back-and-forth between the two sides had lasted for more than a month, with six court meetings held in total.
More than 200 officials were flogged in court.
The ministers' threats did not make Zhu Youxiao back down; instead, they aroused his rebellious spirit, and the two sides engaged in a head-on struggle.
The name Chen Boying has now become a hot topic in Beijing; even ordinary people know his name.
July 13th, the third year of the Tianqi reign (1623), Wenhua Hall.
The morning court session had just ended, but the atmosphere inside the hall was even more oppressive than during the session.
Dozens of cabinet ministers, officials from the Six Ministries, and censors stood solemnly on both sides of the dragon throne. Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, had a gloomy face. On the imperial desk in front of him was not a memorial, but a seven-row wheeled seeder made of fine steel.
"Have you seen everything clearly?"
Zhu Youxiao was now brimming with confidence. He looked at his ministers with a smug expression: "This is my greatest achievement in the land, the newly built Tianqi Seeding Machine. One machine can replace four seed drills, saving 30% on planting. The row spacing and grain spacing are adjustable. According to reports from Henan, if this machine were implemented in Beizhili, Shandong, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, it could reclaim a million mu of land and increase grain production by a million shi... a million shi!"
Ye Xianggao stared in disbelief: "This..."
He wanted to question whether it was really that powerful, but he swallowed the words. The Tianqi Emperor had definitely already tested it, and he would never lie about it.
Zhu Youxiao slammed his hand on the table: "Such a skilled craftsman, I wanted to reward him with a hundred households, what do you say? 'A prestigious position should not be lightly bestowed, lest it open the door to favoritism...' Hmph, and now? If the Tianqi Plow is implemented throughout the land, this seed-sowing machine will benefit hundreds of millions of people, and Chen Boying will ultimately be remembered in history, while you all will also benefit from it, but be infamous for ten thousand years..."
"puff……"
Wei Zhongxian almost burst out laughing.
Fortunately, no one was paying attention to the old man now; everyone's attention was focused on the huge seeder, which was still covered in mud.
The Ming Dynasty was based on agriculture, but Chen Boying did not create any strange gadgets. Instead, he created plows and seeders that were crucial to the national economy and people's livelihood.
The seed drill was also called a seed-seeding machine. The officials of the Ming Dynasty were almost all landlords; they might be pedantic scholars who couldn't distinguish between the five grains, but everyone was very clear about the importance of this machine to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Youxiao walked up to Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, spitting on Ye Xianggao's face: "Master Ye, tell me, is it more important to uphold ancestral rules and regulations, or to ensure the people of the land harvest a few more bushels of grain and prevent a few people from starving to death?"