[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties":3,"chapter-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-964":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Really Am Not Neglecting My Duties",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364233,4622,"Chapter 964: Are the Poor Laborers Still Important to the Court?","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-964",964,"\u003Cp>The Great Ming places great emphasis on lineage, especially in the officialdom: those who passed as juren or third-class jinshi, second-class jinshi, and top-three jinshi each faced distinct career ceilings—lineage was the threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as for this threshold, there is no other way but to apply a blunt cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you passed, you passed; if you failed, no matter how learned you were, you could not participate in the machinery of power—Lin Fu, no matter how gifted, could not participate in the machinery of power, only offering research findings to His Majesty as reference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the four imperial workshops in the capital, a height of five chi is a rigid requirement, designed to screen applicants—regardless of gender, too many people seek entry, so this method filters out a portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era where even securing a meal is difficult, five chi in height also screens for family background: impoverished, displaced households without land simply could not raise children to five chi, thus effectively barring vagrants and idlers from entering the workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recommendation system raises the cost of error: if one errs, his recommender shares the blame, even implicating his family—artisans who collude with prodigal sons must weigh whether their recommending uncle or grandfather will be dragged down with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Recommendations: heads of workshops, assistant directors, deputies, and directors are forbidden to recommend candidates. If genuine personal obligations cannot be avoided, they may refer candidates to workshops in distant regions.” Feng Bao explained the preconditions of the recommendation system: those above workshop head level may not recommend; if personal ties are unavoidable, referrals must go to distant workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, if Wang Chonggu recommends his nephew, he must send him to a workshop in another region—this maximizes the avoidance of a recurrence of the Wang Jian case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an age where long journeys were nearly equivalent to parting forever, traveling far for the sake of becoming a workshop artisan was hardly worth the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Written exams are strict: within the workshops, standards are relaxed; for accountants, proficiency in abacus and calligraphy is required. Written exams are held at the Ministry of Revenue, oral exams at the Ministry of Personnel, and both must be supervised by officials from these ministries before entry is granted.” Feng Bao further explained the dual-examination system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Certain departments within the workshops, such as accountants, personnel officers, and warehouse directors, hold clerical status—these clerks take their exams not within the workshops but at the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These systems are all designed to ensure the workshops remain under imperial control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Yunyi and Gao Qiyi are both meticulous men; every step they designed had a purpose—to shift the workshops from personal connections to institutional governance, making them true sources of revenue for the Great Ming, continuously funding its renewal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of Wanli 18, the Ministry of Revenue completed its annual audit: annual revenue amounted to over 57 million taels of silver, an increase of 3.2 million taels from last year, though below the Ministry’s expectation of exceeding 60 million taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This year’s land tax converted to silver totaled 10.3 million taels, down from last year’s 13.58 million taels by 3.28 million taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s droughts and floods prompted the court to exempt affected regions: Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Xiyuan were exempted by 70%; Zhili, Henan by 30%; Shandong by 20%; all other regions by 10%.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This year’s commercial tax reached 46.58 million taels, up 6 million taels from last year—commercial tax now exceeds 80% of total revenue. This rapid growth stems from three sources: maritime trade, state monopoly on coke, and tobacco, especially tobacco, which brought in 3.1 million taels this year.” Zhang Xueyan handed the audit ledger to all court ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the influx of talent from the Dongjiaomin Lane prison, the Ministry of Revenue has finally been able to complete its annual audit and report to His Majesty each year-end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary, I recall that in Wanli 15, land tax was 15 million taels?” Zhu Yijun sat upright and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, in Wanli 15, land tax was 15.42 million taels, commercial tax was 36.58 million taels, totaling 52 million taels—commercial tax first exceeded 70% of total revenue. The peak land tax was 16.53 million taels in Wanli 12; since then, it has declined annually. This year marks the largest reduction in land tax.” Zhang Xueyan, the empire’s accountant, knew the imperial finances inside out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three years, land tax dropped by five million taels—equivalent to an entire year’s revenue during the Jiajing era; even the late emperor’s mausoleum is no longer a suitable unit of measure—Jiajing-era revenue is now the benchmark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reflects the vigorous growth of commercial tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the county system to function, land tax is still collected—but since Wanli 15, the court’s finances no longer depended on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet land tax must still be collected: if not, it ceases to be Great Ming territory; collecting it obligates the court to care for the people, to clarify land ownership, and to resolve endless land disputes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luzon Governor’s Office also collects land tax, annually converting it into red copper and shipping it to the capital, symbolizing Great Ming’s rule over Luzon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Land tax involves countless matters—land, population, and more—and demands utmost caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This large-scale land tax exemption was primarily to secure the fulfillment of promises made by local gentry before the celestial portents: reducing rents in famine years, avoiding land consolidation, and other sixty-four pledges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court has substantially reduced land tax revenue, and county offices publicly announced the tax cuts. With the court citing drought, flood, and celestial signs as justification, the powerful and local gentry had no grounds to object—they must honor their promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Heaven itself yields profit, and His Majesty keeps his word—cutting taxes to share hardship with the people—how could the young masters not follow suit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun looked at the ledger before him—it was not merely good, it was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said solemnly: “When Wen Cheng Gong was alive, he feared most that technological progress would distance the court from the people. He was extremely cautious about mechanized workshops, insisting ‘if it can be avoided, avoid it.’ He feared that one machine turning could leave three hundred weavers unemployed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the past, the people could still arm themselves to resist taxes—as in the Yongtong 13 rebellion led by Ye Zongliu and Deng Maoqi in Fujian, or the Tianbing uprisings in Ruijin, Ninghua, and three other counties in Wanli 15.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, the court cares less and less about land tax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor’s words silenced the festive atmosphere in the Wenhua Hall; all exchanged glances, some whispering quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chonggu was no paranoid man—he had sensed the problem before his death last year and submitted three memorials on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun continued: “Since Wanli 10, no one has mentioned land surveying again. Even Zhejiang’s land redistribution—only when I visited Zhejiang and saw the results did I issue ‘The Turnaround’ and ask officials to comment on it during the Emperor’s Birthday tributes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet even within court, few now speak of land surveying or redistribution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning from his southern tour last year, Wang Chonggu noticed that all levels of government were growing increasingly indifferent to land tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangzuo, Jiangyou, and Huguang, local offices established procurement offices in Songjiang Prefecture to buy imported grain from overseas—ships were never unloaded; instead, grain was shipped directly to the capital with the maritime grain fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local offices now prioritize highways and canal dredging, growing ever more indifferent to land tax—when the court ignores land tax, it naturally ignores the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power never leaves a vacuum: village bullies, thugs, and ruffians are replacing the court’s authority in the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this continues, are these poor laborers still important to the court?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chonggu’s concern, summed in one sentence: the court’s foundation of rule is shifting from population and land to commercial capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As commodity economy transforms, cities grow vital, the countryside fades—Great Ming seems able to maintain stable rule without extending its reach into the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we adopt the Western method of vertical division and devise systems that pit the poor against each other, rule will become even more stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The importance of poor laborers to the court’s current operation—especially fiscal stability—has sharply declined, becoming increasingly irrelevant, even a burden at times; the court now has both motive and capacity to largely ignore their specific hardships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the countryside, thugs and ruffians have become the greatest scourge, yet no one restrains them;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In towns, poor laborers descend into vagrancy, aiding overseas expansion—risking all, they bow to Mazu and leave the heartland of Great Ming;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workshops continually raise thresholds, shutting the door on poor laborers;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laws increasingly favor protecting tax sources—commercial capital—over land and population;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial authority stops at the county level; below it, only clans exist; clans govern themselves; self-governance relies on ethics;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethics produce the gentry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gentry’s wild, vigorous vitality is like weeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, it is my fault—I thought too simplistically when I implemented the Single Whip Law.” Zhang Juzheng stepped forward, taking the blame—the Single Whip Law seemed the original sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-only doctrine is perfectly suited to bear all blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun waved his hand: “I’m merely reflecting. Master Zhang’s Single Whip Law was never widely implemented—it was trialed only in Songjiang. Blaming the Single Whip Law is like the Great Sage drawing a death list and erasing everyone’s faults.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not Zhang Juzheng’s fault, nor the Single Whip Law’s—it’s nobody’s fault; the state as a collective simply operates this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A regime, a court, may permit heavy taxes, may ignore popular suffering, may even permit cruelty—but it will never permit defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you still win, these hardships are tolerable, because the spoils of foreign wars must be distributed—even if only a sip of broth: land in Liaodong, lambs in Xiyuan, palm plantations in Luzon, cinchona groves in Jiugang, gold in Jinchi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Vice Minister sent me two memorials to choose from—seemingly a choice, but in truth, none. If I do not defeat the West and seize the crown of the sun never setting, Wanli Renewal will be a failure.” Zhu Yijun spoke of Gao Qiyi’s two memorials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One argued for struggle; the other for non-struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Non-struggle seems like an easy win: Great Ming has cost and commodity advantages; the West cannot survive without Great Ming’s goods—let the West plunder the barbarians, then let Great Ming plunder the West with its goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the grand vision of Wanli Renewal cannot be realized—profits will be captured entirely by the West as middlemen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun promised that the glory of Wanli Renewal includes every person in Great Ming, including the poor laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the path is clear: seize the crown of the sun never setting, become the world’s hegemon, occupy habitable lands, distribute these gains downward, and fulfill all promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun’s situation mirrors Emperor Wu of Han: Wu must defeat the Xiongnu, for victory ensures everything; Zhu must defeat the West—so long as new colonies and governorships are continuously opened, he can answer the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason the West currently cannot match Great Ming is simple: Great Ming has always treated the West as a single entity, deliberately stoking internal divisions, desperate to make them fight harder, pouring oil on the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The West, by contrast, is a fragmented mess, each faction with conflicting interests, unable to unite—this is how Great Ming achieved these results despite lagging in maritime expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun sat upright, his expression grave,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>saying: “Water can carry a boat, and water can capsize it—ancient wisdom is clear. Though commercial profits are abundant, never forget agriculture as the root; though markets flourish, never treat hundreds of millions as straw dogs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Specifically, the Dinghai Education System, highways, the Yingzhuang system, land tax reduction, and the shareholding system must be implemented, must be implemented well, must be continuously advanced—none can be relaxed; these are long-term strategies benefiting all people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty is wise. We humbly obey your instruction.” Zhang Juzheng led the ministers in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor gave clear direction: on the path of Wanli Renewal, never forget agriculture as the root, never forget the hundreds of millions of commoners—this was the original purpose of Wanli Renewal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, should the Agricultural Academy expand enrollment to 1,500 next year?” Gao Qiyi did not return to his place but stepped forward with a proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the countryside, what is most needed are agricultural officers—to teach farmers how to till, to help them grow better crops. Agricultural officers and medical officers are the two most vital tools to ensure the people’s safety and livelihood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qiyi had read “Hygiene and Simple Remedies”—just the “Rules for Women” could save countless rural women and children, let alone the wormwood pills distributed—these are life-saving medicines in the countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought, the more alarmed he became: when His Majesty established the Baoqi Bureau, was he really just playing around?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing the promotion of Zhongsheng Sweet Potatoes, Gao Qiyi could only conclude: in His Majesty’s heart, the people have always been the most important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Food is the paramount necessity—nothing matters more than eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no silver left. We’ll reconsider expansion.” Zhu Yijun wanted to agree, but the imperial treasury was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a frustrating truth: the imperial treasury has money—if it didn’t hoard gold, didn’t issue gold banknotes, or redirected gold elsewhere, much silver could be freed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who dares audit the emperor’s Tonghe Palace gold vault? The Grand Secretary? The Grand General? The Minister of Revenue? None of these ministers can audit how much gold is truly in the Tonghe Palace—it’s the emperor’s word alone that determines its amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet His Majesty keeps his word: the gold banknotes truly contain gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty has too many projects, leaving the imperial treasury strained and insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the silver Gao Qiyi requested is minimal: expanding to 1,500 students at 120 taels each, plus 6 taels annual stipend for four years, totals only 210,000 taels—all other costs combined amount to no more than 300,000 taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Imperial University also needs expansion, the eighteen academies, the Beijing-Guangzhou highway, the Jinan to NanYa Yangzhou highway—all require silver; each item adds up, creating heavy burden and pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were silver, would the emperor still have Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang carry goods?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang’s robes shimmer with jewels—imperial craftsmanship, always exquisite, glittering yet never vulgar, meant to show\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>??These beautiful stones are truly valuable, truly precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three men make a tiger—the imperial estates’ jade sells superbly, supply cannot meet demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the Anti-Corruption Office has seized vast sums from confiscated estates—accumulated little by little, it’s enough for expansion.” Lu Guangzu, hearing the emperor lacked silver, immediately stepped forward: “I know where the silver is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anti-Corruption Office has seized so many corrupt officials—just the confiscated wealth alone is enough for expansion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anti-Corruption Office has handled the Beijing-Guangzhou highway case and the capital’s corruption cases, totaling over 1.5 million taels—this silver is sufficient for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If still insufficient, the Anti-Corruption Office can tighten its net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Yunyi glanced at Lu Guangzu in surprise—this senior minister had always appeared moderate, avoiding offense to anyone; Ling Yunyi had assumed Lu Guangzu was one who pretended ignorance. But could he openly speak of anti-corruption as a revenue source?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Guangzu did not wish to equivocate, but he had just entered the cabinet and his position was unstable; any rash statement would make him a casualty of factional struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, complete the anti-corruption task and secure his footing—only then can he speak of other matters. Just as before, he had leveraged Grand General Qi Jiguang’s influence to ignite his first three fires as head of the Anti-Corruption Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, there is silver—then expand enrollment next year.” Zhu Yijun’s eyes lit up at once—he nodded, for if silver was available, he would never be stingy; necessary spending, he would never cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We humbly obey your decree.” Gao Qiyi and Lu Guangzu bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ministers never feared the emperor squandering silver; today, beyond essential court expenses, most imperial treasury silver is allocated to the Dinghai Education System, highways, and gold banknotes—all matters of state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we speak in terms of grace, the court owes His Majesty a debt of grace—true gold and silver grace—that can never be repaid in full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely building the Longchi Road cost thirty-five million taels, all drawn from the imperial treasury; this Longchi Road should truly be called the Road of Grace!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This year, all fifty-one official factories have commenced construction on schedule, with completion expected within four years,” reported Minister of Works Zeng Tongheng on the northern official factories under construction by his ministry—110 in total, with the first batch of fifty-one mostly coal, coke, and steel plants, primarily supplying coal for daily life and production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every city in Great Ming maintained a large corps of woodcutters, haulers, and sorters of firewood, just like water-carriers and dung-truck masters; woodcutters had their own guilds, powerful and numerous—even in the south, where coal was not used for winter, firewood remained paramount for cooking rice, oil, and salt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These woodcutters of the guilds cut down one mountain after another, until today, every mountain in Great Ming is bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many now say the celestial changes afflicting Great Ming are Heaven’s retribution—for humanity’s reckless destruction of the natural environment has finally brought its due.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But people must live; without reliable coal mining technology and inadequate transportation, before coal can be steadily supplied, would they rather starve than cut trees? Destroying the environment is indeed bad, but one must first survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with the growing number of coal, coke, and steel factories, this problem has finally found an answer: coal at six wen per jin is also a profound imperial grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This year, His Majesty’s grain transport fleet has acquired a new type of vessel,” Zeng Tongheng signaled the ceremonial officer to present the model he had submitted before entering the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inspection by the eunuch, the model was placed before the throne: the vessel consisted of two sections—a tug in front and a barge behind; the barge had no power of its own, measured six zhang five chi in length, six chi four cun in depth, drew three chi six cun of water, and could carry one thousand liao, each liao being 120 jin—the weight of one Taiyue grain crate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeng Tongheng gazed at the model in His Majesty’s hands and said: “The tug is roughly the same size as the barge, its hull sheathed in copper to extend its life, powered by a Shengping No. 9 engine, with a central output of four hundred and forty horsepower, capable of towing four to eight barges, traveling three hundred and sixty li per day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One tug towing eight barges can carry eight thousand dan of grain; four million dan of grain transport would require only five hundred such vessels; with the five major shipyards working overtime, they could all be completed in roughly six months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, shifting from sea to river transport, what once required four months to traverse the Grand Canal can be accomplished in a single month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many haulers can one such vessel replace?” Zhu Yijun turned the model over in his hands, asking for details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing His Majesty’s question, Zeng Tongheng drew a deep breath and bowed low: “One thousand two hundred haulers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, the Grand Minister of Works proposes establishing, under the Ministry of Revenue, a new bureau—the Navigation Bureau—headed by a Transport Commissioner, with funds allocated to shipyards to commission these tugboats and barges exclusively for transport.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only five hundred such vessels would rob sixty thousand haulers of their livelihood,” Zhu Yijun adored the tug and barge model, yet his words left the court ministers in the Wenhua Hall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun cherished this tugboat model beyond words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tug’s structure was simple: one Shengping No. 9 steam engine, a single underwater propeller, nothing else—everything else was coal storage; coal could be replenished en route, and crew could cook meals and boil water on board using the furnace’s heat, living aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tug towing four barges or eight barges was equally flexible: fewer goods, four barges; more goods, eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Towing just one was impractical—a waste of coal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an inland river vessel designed and built by the Longjiang Shipyard; modifying vessel design was a long, complex process, especially for steam-powered ships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Great Ming’s vessels relied entirely on haulers; now, steam machinery had finally begun to take hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mechanized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the arrival of five hundred iron-horse tugs would leave sixty thousand haulers without work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun looked at Zeng Tongheng and said: “The Shengping No. 1 had only three horsepower, each horsepower costing four hundred taels; back then, no one saw any need to refine the iron horse. Thirteen years later, the Shengping No. 9 delivers four hundred and forty central horsepower, each horsepower now costing only twenty taels—if mass-produced, each could drop to fifteen taels, even lower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One Shengping No. 9 costs only 8,800 taels; accounting for depreciation, repairs, and coal consumption, the annual cost of a tug is barely ten thousand taels, replacing twelve hundred haulers. Each hauler requires at least fifteen taels annually—this is a grueling labor, costing eighteen thousand taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barges have existed since ancient times; ever since the canals were built, these wide, shallow vessels crawling across water have been present. Inland rivers are far calmer and safer than the sea, so barge costs remain identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of towing efficiency, the Shengping No. 9 tug is vastly more economical than twelve hundred haulers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, Great Ming is short of labor everywhere: overseas governorates and plantations lack workers, Liaodong reclamation lacks workers, the pacification of Suiyuan lacks workers, even the expansion into the Western Regions lacks workers; workshops lack workers, fields lack workers,” Zeng Tongheng said, drawing a deep breath. “Sixty thousand laborers could effectively alleviate this shortage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Minister of Works, these are people’s livelihoods, not mere numbers,” Zhu Yijun reluctantly set down the tug model, took a deep breath, and said: “Proceed slowly. Do not build five hundred at once. Build one, then another, gradually, and improve the technology along the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the Longjiang Shipyard must also operate profitably; otherwise, if shipwrights build fine vessels but cannot produce them, they will cease making new ships in the future, and no one will wish to innovate—after all, it is forbidden,” Zeng Tongheng carefully weighed his words, voicing the Longjiang Shipyard’s hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Longjiang and Qingjiang shipyards were the two inland river yards among the five major shipyards; these tugboats and barges would be their central focus for the next five to ten years. If they did not build these high-value, high-profit vessels, how would the shipwrights earn their dividends?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haulers struggle, shipyards struggle, all struggle—hundreds of thousands of canal workers depend on this for their food and clothing. I am no woman with a soft heart. Build them,” Zhu Yijun tapped his fingers on the table. “As the Ministry of Works proposes: establish a Navigation Bureau, dedicated to the Grand Canal and Yangtze River grain transport.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the livelihoods of sixty thousand haulers was no act of feminine weakness; yet when decisive action was needed, Zhu Yijun would not hesitate. This was already the third time Longjiang Shipyard had submitted a similar tug design; further delay would make it impossible for Longjiang and Qingjiang to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Works’ proposal to establish a jointly managed Navigation Bureau under the Ministry of Revenue was never meant to seize the haulers’ livelihoods outright; whether on the Grand Canal or the Yangtze, the current problem was not lack of ships, but lack of haulers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ships were available, but haulers were insufficient—cargo had to wait for haulers; many blockages occurred simply because there were not enough haulers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were not enough coolies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tugboats built by Longjiang and Qingjiang were designed to fill the gap in transport capacity, increase cargo turnover, and keep goods moving—not stuck in inland river ports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filling this transport gap would inevitably devastate haulers’ livelihoods, but the tide of history is always merciless; the Wanli Reforms were no child’s play—when a decision must be made, it must be made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun discussed the tug production details thoroughly with Zeng Tongheng and ultimately approved the Ministry of Works’ memorial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a decision must be made, act decisively.\u003C\u002Fp>",4070,"2026-06-21T07:56:02.219Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","dff981a2203a7db36b8613e95952f63f15e0f81c0742b14c1cc4c894bab79322","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-965","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-963",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-cover.jpg"]