Chapter 977

“We cannot afford to lack accurate data—not only because of layer upon layer of corruption, but because we lack the power to investigate.” Chen Xun said: “When people refuse to speak, do you know how much paper and ink is wasted on every grassroots inspection?”

“Grand Secretary Yu always says the Great Ming has too many idle officials—he’s not wrong; at the middle and upper levels, bloat is severe. Ask the Minister of Personnel about this!”

Cao Nai, standing outside the crowd and eavesdropping, never expected the fire to turn on him. He snapped: “Ask me? How long have I even been Minister of Personnel?”

He paused, then added: “But Minister Chen is right—the grassroots officials are insufficient, yet the middle and upper levels are bloated.”

Chen Xun spread his hands: “We don’t even have enough paper to record population and landholdings. Many poor counties, to save on paper and ink, go two or three years without grassroots inspections, merely estimating figures and submitting them annually. The prefectures and departments don’t verify, and our Ministry of Revenue can’t audit them—so they slip through. When we do find anomalies, we must send people down to investigate. How much does one official mission cost?”

“This isn’t just the Ministry of Revenue’s problem—it’s the Ministry of Personnel’s too,” said a Censor from the Censorate sternly. “Evaluating officials is the Ministry of Personnel’s duty.”

“Regardless of which ministry, doing anything requires spending—and now the state treasury is empty. That’s why Grand Secretary Yu wants to survey land and reform the bureaucracy, uncover hidden landholdings, and increase land taxes,” Chen Xun said. “But doing all this solely through land surveys isn’t enough. Moreover, if we survey this year, the entire process—from bottom to top—takes time. After consulting with the Minister of Works, I learned that, thanks to the State Mentor’s strong support, the Ministry of Works has recently developed many useful devices. These can be deployed to generate revenue for the state.”

Hu Cheng seized the moment to nod: “The Ministry of Works provides the technology; the Ministry of Revenue runs it. Isn’t that a triple win?”

The officials: “Triple win?”

Hu Cheng: “The Ministry of Works’ technology is deployed, the state treasury gains revenue, and the common people benefit.”

Hu Ying stroked his beard and smiled: “According to Minister Chen’s earlier words, it’s not a triple win—it’s a septuple win! Hahaha—”

Everyone realized it was true and joined in laughing.

But once they left the palace, at least half the officials no longer wore genuine smiles.

“Is it really this good? Could the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works be colluding to embezzle state funds?”

“Then the Censorate must keep a close eye on them.”

“I heard yesterday the State Mentor summoned several ministers to the Ministry of Works, avoiding His Majesty. Isn’t that factionalism?”

“Shh—don’t say that. His Majesty now listens to the State Mentor without question.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I think the State Mentor devotes himself entirely to crafting and rarely involves himself in state affairs.”

Everyone fell silent the moment they saw Wang Hong.

Wang Hong frowned: “Why are you all quiet now?”

“We can’t talk sense to a fool. If the State Mentor truly didn’t meddle in state affairs, why gather several ministers together?”

“Stop arguing. Aren’t you curious what the Ministry of Works’ new device is? How will they make money? How much do they expect to earn?”

“Right! Minister Chen didn’t mention it in his memorial!”

“And His Majesty didn’t even ask…”

Despite the officials’ suspicion, the collaboration between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works began.

In February and March, Yu Qian submitted a memorial to abolish several tax checkpoints, dismissing a number of redundant officials tied to them.

Now, the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works needed personnel.

Hu Cheng carefully noted Pan Yun’s plan, then, after studying her blueprints with several trusted master craftsmen, decided they should begin with the steel mill and textile mill.

Chen Xun was astonished: “Two?”

“Yes, two,” Hu Cheng said. “According to the State Mentor’s division, one is heavy industry, the other light industry.”

“Why build a textile workshop? Doesn’t your Ministry of Works already have branches nationwide and have published new spinning and weaving machine blueprints?” Chen Xun said. “I see the private textile workshops are sufficient. Combined with your Ministry’s weaving bureaus in Jiangnan, there’s absolutely no need to compete with the people in this area.”

Hu Cheng said: “The main purpose of this textile mill isn’t textile production—it’s to research and manufacture textile machines.”

Hu Cheng had long wanted to do this. He said: “The experimental site outside the city is too small and cluttered with random junk. Now that the Ministry of Revenue is joining, everything must be properly categorized.”

“The textile mill, besides making spinning and weaving machines, can also research and manufacture related machinery. From now on, all spinning and weaving machines in the empire can be ordered and shipped from this mill.”

Chen Xun: “Then what about your Ministry’s branches nationwide…?”

Hu Cheng waved dismissively: “They serve different purposes. Do you think the blueprints we published are the most advanced?”

He said: “The new machines released to the public are first-generation. The Queen’s textile workshop outside the city started with first-generation machines. The machines we’ve added since then already use third-generation models. Our Ministry’s current models are fifth-generation—20% higher in output and quality than the fourth-generation. Fifth-generation weaving machines can even produce simple brocade patterns.”

Chen Xun stared at him, mouth open. After a long pause, he asked: “Why not release the latest models?”

Hu Cheng snapped: “Do you think our craftsmen can innovate and improve constantly? If we published everything the moment it was made, what would we do when we can’t produce anything newer later?”

Chen Xun stared at him silently: “I never thought your Ministry of Works had such cunning.”

“Don’t act like your Ministry of Revenue is innocent. How do you think when you routinely suppress funding requests from other ministries?”

Chen Xun said nothing.

Hu Cheng said: “Moreover, rapid technological turnover isn’t always beneficial.”

Chen Xun: “Hm?”

“Imagine you’re a proprietor. You just spent a fortune buying ten new spinning machines. The female workers finally get used to them—then a newer generation appears, at nearly the same price. What would you think?”

Chen Xun: “I’d think the person who recommended these looms was mocking me.”

“Exactly. Unease breeds trouble,” Hu Cheng said. “And new machines require testing—and that takes time.”

“Previously, we could only test at the suburban experimental site. The Ministry of Works spent money buying silk and hemp, and the yarn we produced could be woven into cloth. But what about the cloth?” Hu Cheng said. “It was all written off as waste.”

Because Pan Yun was interested in textile machines, technological innovation in textile machinery was fastest last year and this year—resulting in the highest recorded cloth waste.

Hu Cheng lifted his robe to show Chen Xun his trousers: “Look—made from waste cloth.”

He pulled at the collar of his inner garment: “This shirt too—and these shoes—are also made from waste cloth.”

He sighed: “Now, from me, the Minister, down to the apprentices, everyone in the Ministry of Works wears nothing but waste cloth.”

Chen Xun: “...Are you showing off?”

“No. I’m telling you these wastes could have become revenue.”

This was why he wanted to open the textile mill.

Moreover, this technology is mature—the construction speed will surpass the steel mill.

(End of Chapter)