Chapter 490: Artisan Grading

Watching Zhu Youxiao's retreating figure, Noble Consort Yuan sighed helplessly.

This sovereign of ours is fine in every way, except he has no restraint when it comes to children. Especially toward these two daughters—he dotes on them endlessly.

If Noble Consort Yuan had also transmigrated from the future, she would know that Zhu Youxiao's behavior is called being a "daughter slave."

Zhu Youxiao didn't care much about this. After all, his daughters were meant to be spoiled—unlike those two unlucky sons.

Zhu Youxiao had even already planned that he would find good husbands for his two precious daughters in the future. And as for the rule that consort relatives couldn't participate in politics—he would abolish it when he got the chance.

Of course, it wouldn't be a true abolition either; there would still be restrictions. Even the imperial clansmen and nobles would be the same—he'd sort them out later too.

When the opportunity arose in the future, he would enfeoff them and send them out. After all, in Zhu Youxiao's view, the world was so vast—they ought to go see it. By then, he feared these imperial relatives might not even be enough.

Strolling along with his hands clasped behind his back, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Chao and said, "Are they all here?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, they have all arrived. The Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and the staff officers of the Staff Office are all present." Wei Chao said hurriedly.

Although His Majesty hadn't managed affairs much these past two years and was no longer as murderously sharp as before, now whether inside the palace or outside it, all the civil and military officials held Zhu Youxiao in even greater reverence—or rather, even greater fear.

This Emperor's prestige could be said to be deepening day by day. Under such circumstances, truly no one dared to act recklessly, and no one even dared to speak carelessly.

The reason was simple: His Majesty's prestige was simply too profound. Before, he had been all about shouting for heads; now his methods of dealing with people were like gentle rain soaking things silently. No one dared to underestimate him—one slight misstep and they'd be finished.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't be bothered with their thoughts. When it came down to it, wasn't it because he had the confidence?

The Imperial Guard Command Headquarters had already told everyone: don't even think about causing trouble, for the only outcome of causing trouble was death. Under such circumstances, there was nothing more to say.

When Zhu Youxiao arrived at the front hall, people were already waiting there.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, everyone quickly bowed in salute.

"No need for formalities." Zhu Youxiao said casually, then sat directly on the dragon throne.

His gaze swept over everyone, and Zhu Youxiao said, "I've called you all here today because there's a matter I wish to discuss with you."

Everyone's hearts tightened, all waiting for Zhu Youxiao to speak.

In truth, this kind of scene wasn't unfamiliar to them—it wasn't the first time. It was just that there hadn't been anything like this in recent years. His Majesty didn't manage much, and on ordinary days everything was submitted up and reported.

But this scene today made everyone recall several years ago.

"I've summoned you here today regarding the matter of artisan grading."

Zhu Youxiao had actually been planning this for a long time, but had never implemented it. At this point, it truly could be brought out.

The theory of the Four Classes had already fermented enough; everyone had accepted it.

The so-called theory of the Four Classes meant equality among the four classes—of course, referring to scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. But in reality, it didn't refer to these four types of people as individuals, but rather to four social strata. Extended further, it meant equality for all people.

Under such circumstances, proposing policies based on the Four Classes theory at this time was entirely fitting.

Of course, there was another problem here: although the theory existed and laws had been enacted, they hadn't been effectively implemented or enforced.

For the time being, people's thinking couldn't be turned around. Scholars still ranked first—they were officials with power and status, not something those below could challenge. It was only in legal standing that they were equal.

What Zhu Youxiao wanted to do this time was to elevate the position of artisans. In plain terms, he wanted to establish an artisan examination system and assign grades to artisans.

And artisans of different grades would receive different treatment. Zhu Youxiao would push artisan treatment toward parity with officials—but this couldn't be said openly; it had to be done quietly.

Once these artisans received their benefits, others would naturally understand what was going on when they saw it.

One must eat a meal bite by bite; this matter couldn't be rushed.

For Zhu Youxiao, this was only a beginning, and he believed it would be a good one.

Today Zhu Youxiao had gathered everyone precisely for this purpose—to properly assign grades to the artisans.

Such things had existed in the future as well. Zhu Youxiao still remembered how his father had once said he was a seventh-grade fitter, and how proud he'd looked saying it.

In his father's words at the time, he could make guns by hand.

Zhu Youxiao had been young then and hadn't understood what that meant. But after he grew up—or rather, after he arrived in the Ming Dynasty—he understood what that skill signified.

A man who could make guns—his capability went without saying.

The common folk of the Great Ming could be said to be teeming with hidden masters. All kinds of artisans and crafts had been passed down from ancestors, and these people made their living guarding these skills. Though much had been lost, quite a lot had been passed down as well.

Gathering all these things together and bringing these artisans into one place was naturally impossible.

But if these artisans were given examinations, given treatment—even treatment equal to officials—then they would certainly be willing to step forward.

Zhu Youxiao believed that sending people from the Hundred Crafts Institute to organize examinations in all directions would certainly select a fine batch of artisans.

By that time, he would have artisans to use. When recruiting workers in the future, he could directly call for them by grade—for example, needing a fourth-grade blacksmith.

And once the court set wages and benefits, if outsiders wanted to hire such workers, they would need to offer higher prices. Because if the price was lower than what the court offered, the artisan could go work for the court—why work for a private employer?

After all, besides wages, the court also provided all kinds of benefits.

In this way, the status of artisans would naturally rise, and people wouldn't all be charging headlong down the single path of studying books.

This was something that would turn the tide of public sentiment, and it might cost money in the early stages.

As for whether there would be too many artisans to use?

That was impossible. In the next several hundred years, such a thing would never happen. The Great Ming's artisans could only ever be insufficient—everywhere would be short of people.

Shipbuilding, cannon-making, steam engines, trains—in short, however many there were, they could all be used.

The ministers below didn't react at first, but once they gave the matter of artisan grading a little thought, they understood.

After all, His Majesty had produced plenty of strange and novel things, and everyone had seen quite a few. But everyone also realized that the current Emperor had vision.

The things he'd made back then—by now, most of them had already shown their power. This was also the reason everyone increasingly admired the Emperor.

It was just that for the moment, no one spoke—or rather, no one had figured out what to say.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over the crowd as he said, "No one has any thoughts? Or is it that you don't know how to go about it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject believes this matter is feasible."

At this moment, a man stepped forward. His expression was very serious, but his tone revealed excitement—clearly showing an attitude of support.

Zhu Youxiao looked over and saw that the man was Yuan Yingtai.

Ever since being taken down in Liaodong, Yuan Yingtai's days could be said to have been very difficult—he had been completely silent for three full years.

After the Donglin Faction collapsed, Yuan Yingtai no longer had much use, and had been continuously cold-shouldered by Zhu Youxiao.

It was only a year ago that Yuan Yingtai was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

At this time, the Donglin Faction's influence at court had already grown very small—they wanted to reach in, but could no longer get a hand in.

By now, the power at court had essentially been carved up. Besides Xu Guangqi, Han Kuang, and Huang Kezuan in the Grand Secretariat, there were also the newly appointed Minister of War Cui Jinglong and Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo—each of them could count a small band of brothers under their banner.

Rather, it was over at the staff office that Yuan Keli and Sun Chengzong had banded together, while Zhang Weixian and others kept meddling, and at the same time Cui Chengxiu and his lot, backed by Wei Zhongxian—one could say the hills were thick with independent chieftains, each ruling his own patch.

Under such circumstances, there was simply no way for the Donglin Faction to rise again.

Under such circumstances, Yuan Yingtai was naturally pulled back by Zhu Youxiao, because for the moment he truly couldn't find a suitable candidate, and the Ministry of Works was not a place where he dared to casually install just anyone.

So Yuan Yingtai was now Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works—and moreover, the Left Vice Minister.

For Yuan Yingtai, even having become Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, his days were not particularly good.

The entire court, high and low, ostracized him—after all, he had no one above him and no one below him; he was the sort who had been hollowed out and hung in the air. If not for His Majesty's protection, he would probably have already been squeezed out by now.

At present, above the Six Ministries at court, every position was fiercely contested, especially between Xu Guangqi and Han Kuang—the competition between those two could be described as intense, and they had even made a scene about it before the new year.

Seeing Yuan Yingtai step forward, everyone's expression differed. Some didn't care, some furrowed their brows, and some wore looks of gloating satisfaction—in any case, none of them were particularly pleasant.

As for a man like Yuan Yingtai, everyone had their own thoughts about him—in short, he simply wasn't well liked.

Zhu Youxiao broke into a smile. Though this Yuan Yingtai was no good at fighting wars, he was quite capable when it came to logistics and engineering, and he was also a decent enough official.

This time, seeing Yuan Yingtai be the first to step forward in support, Zhu Youxiao was quite pleased.

Zhu Youxiao said: "My dear minister, if you have any ideas, speak freely—so long as what you say is good, I will certainly not be stingy with rewards."

"If you can draw up a plan for this matter, then I shall entrust this affair to you to handle."

Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the crowd turned somewhat ugly, and some even began glaring, ready to kick Yuan Yingtai aside and snatch this commission for themselves.