I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 206 Lü Kua Kua: Shen Ziheng alone is worth half the court's civil and military officials, making the cabinet ashamed.

As dusk approached, inside the Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Wanli finished reading the memorial jointly submitted by Guo Chaobin, Minister of Works, and Li Youzi, Vice Minister of Works.

There are three strategies.

First, the craftsmen who invented the tools for river management will be richly rewarded; second, the Anlan Conference will be held earlier, with the main focus on the craftsmen and supplemented by the students; third, the craftsmen's exhibition will be held once a year and will be a regular event.

When Li Youzi was writing the second strategy.

He also added a small note below: "This strategy was proposed by Shen Nian, a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and all the officials in the Ministry of Works praised it."

The joint proposal of the three cabinet ministers on this memorial was very concise: all three policies were feasible, but the second policy was the best.

"What a wonderful idea of ​​'craftsmen as the main force, students as assistants'! Having students assist the craftsmen is exactly what I wanted! Exactly what I wanted!"

Emperor Wanli couldn't help but slap the table and applaud.

This strategy will not only elevate the status of artisans, but also enable them to perform better when giving presentations at the Anlan Conference.

"As proposed!" said the young Wanli Emperor to Feng Bao.

……

The next day.

By April 30th, all civil and military officials in the court were aware of the Ministry of Works' three policies.

No one submitted a memorial stating that "craftsmen should be the main force, and students of the Imperial Academy should be the secondary force," which would overstep the bounds of propriety and confuse the distinction between the noble and the lowly.

Because river management is more important than such rituals, because the young Wanli Emperor and the cabinet both agreed with this policy, and because everyone knows that there are countless instances of transgressing rituals these days.

Upon learning of this matter, Wang Xijue, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, immediately began selecting students who were of superior appearance, eloquence, and knowledgeable in river and canal management.

In order to cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in the future.

In his eyes, this move was not only not presumptuous, nor an insult to the status of the students of the Imperial Academy, but rather an honor that required the students to contribute to the court's river management.

The current prevailing sentiment in the court is that the government will not support useless people.

However, the Imperial Academy at present is a gathering place for "useless people," and Wang Xijue is eager to get the students to do more practical things!

at the same time.

Shen Nian's statement, "Students of the Imperial Academy are unwilling to serve as assistants, but officials of the Hanlin Academy are willing to serve as assistants," also reached the ears of the students of the Imperial Academy.

They don't dare to put on airs, nor are they qualified to do so.

There are those who dislike or are unwilling.

They dared not utter a single word of complaint.

Otherwise, if Shen Nian were to produce another essay on the topic of "uselessness," it would be enough to scare these students so much that they wouldn't dare to leave their homes.

The people of the capital were very excited when they heard about these three policies; they loved seeing such contrasting events.

……

The third day of May.

After review and verification, the Ministry of Works selected 520 craftsmen from nearly 2,000 who came to Beijing and set up separate stalls for them.

The Ministry of Works will compile the practical river management experiences of the other river workers into a book based on their accounts.

The Imperial College immediately assigned 520 outstanding students to pair up with the artisans to understand the content of their stalls. Then, in accordance with Wang Xijue's requirements, they wrote an "instruction manual" for the river management inventions and experiences that the artisans wanted to showcase.

at the same time.

The Ministry of Works is also selecting artisans who are eligible to receive the reward. The new Governor-General of the Grand Canal, Pan Jixun, will personally determine the recipients and distribute the rewards after his arrival.

This was specially arranged by the young Wanli Emperor.

The purpose was naturally to enhance Pan Jixun's prestige among the river-controlling craftsmen.

This was due to the participation of students from the Imperial Academy.

River management suddenly became the most fashionable thing in the capital.

In the bookstores of the capital, all the books and articles on river management and canal management, as well as simplified diagrams of the Yellow River, the Grand Canal, and the Huai River, were sold out.

Whether they were scholars or commoners, they would talk about river management when chatting in the streets, alleys, restaurants, or teahouses.

Some children were drawing the shapes of the canal and the Yellow River with sticks while playing in the street.

Even the daring storytellers in Geji Hutong.

They also transformed traditional stories of scholars falling in love with famous courtesans into stories of river management, such as Wang Jing's river management in the Han Dynasty and the three river diversions in the Song Dynasty.

This atmosphere gives the impression that everyone is involved in river management.

Shen Nian really liked this atmosphere.

In the past, river management was a matter for the river transport authorities, and the common people knew nothing about it; the imperial court only cared about the results.

This time, the imperial court demonstrated its commitment, allocated funds, and sparked public interest in river management.

In the future, river management will certainly be subject to public oversight.

In this way, many vanity projects and embezzlement will be reduced on the river and canal.

This is a blessing for the people.

……

On the tenth day of the fifth lunar month, at dawn, the preliminary exhibition for the Anlan Conference officially began.

On Qipan Street, more than 500 stalls stand on both sides.

Behind the stall.

The craftsmen wore the craftsmen's robes issued by the Ministry of Works, while the students stood behind and to the side of the craftsmen, all dressed in gray-white long gowns.

Above or behind the stall.

There are river-control tools invented by craftsmen, river transport sand tables, books on river control, and "instruction manuals" written by students.

Emperor Wanli the Younger ordered the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to prepare rice porridge and meat pies for the artisans and students of the Imperial Academy as breakfast.

Everywhere, it demonstrates the importance the imperial court attached to river management and the respect it showed to these river management craftsmen.

The Ministry of Works had already posted notices in advance, calling on the public to think about ways to manage the river and invent tools for doing so. Anyone with ingenious ideas should report them to the Ministry of Works and they would be richly rewarded.

Ever since.

As soon as it was light, the Anlan Exhibition on Qipan Street was packed with people.

Some came out of curiosity, some to offer advice, some to seek knowledge, some to write news for their tabloids, and others simply to see the combination of craftsmen and students...

The crowds were huge, and it was very lively.

In this atmosphere, if the imperial court's river management efforts are all bark and no bite this time, it would be a huge embarrassment!

……

May 12th, near noon.

The newly appointed Governor-General of the Grand Canal, Pan Jixun, finally arrived in the capital. He received an imperial edict that the young Wanli Emperor would meet with him that afternoon.

Shen Nian was also appointed as the official in charge of recording daily life.

He will stand by Pan Jixun's side and take detailed notes when the young Wanli Emperor summons him for an audience.

……

In the afternoon, inside the Wenhua Hall.

Pan Jixun, dressed in a scarlet official robe, entered the main hall.

"Your subject Pan Jixun pays respects to Your Majesty!" Pan Jixun knelt on the ground and bowed.

"Pan Qing, please rise, please rise!" Little Wanli said with a smile.

This was Shen Nian's first meeting with Pan Jixun.

The latter was of medium build, with slightly dark skin and very bright eyes.

Pan Jixun stood up, cupped his hands towards the young Wanli Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, I am fully aware of the situation regarding the Grand Canal's peace and tranquility in the capital. The court attaches great importance to this river management project; I will certainly do my utmost to ensure the river remains calm and the canal transport proceeds smoothly!"

Pan Jixun spoke these words with a slight sob in his voice.

In the past, river management was hampered by a lack of funds and manpower. In the event of floods, those in charge of river management were often the first to be punished.

And this time.

The imperial court provided ample funds, recruited the right talent, and elevated the status of the river-controlling craftsmen.

The preliminary preparations were so thorough.

Pan Jixun naturally wanted to do everything in his power to carry out the river management to the end, ensuring that every penny was spent wisely.

Little Wanli nodded with satisfaction.

"Minister Pan, your task now is to determine how the Anlan Conference will proceed. Next, we will determine the detailed rules for river management, how the one million taels of silver will be spent, what kind of river management equipment needs to be manufactured, and how many government officials are needed to cooperate. I and the Six Ministries of the Cabinet will fully cooperate with you!"

"If one million taels isn't enough, as long as there are results, just ask me for more money. The court will treat this as the top priority of the new policies!"

Pan Jixun's eyes were red, and he looked deeply moved.

With the court placing such trust in him, he naturally had to devote himself to river management.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, within three years, I will surely be able to ensure the Yellow River is calm and the canal is unobstructed, and the Ming Dynasty will be free from river disasters for the next twenty years!"

"I believe in you!" the young Wanli Emperor said loudly, puffing out his chest.

……

On May 13th, after Chang Chao's meeting.

Emperor Wanli brought Pan Jixun to the Anlan Conference and Exhibition.

The young Wanli Emperor first ordered people to give pastries to the artisans and students, and then he and Pan Jixun took a stroll around the exhibition.

The craftsmen living in the small courtyard of the Imperial College that day were very excited to discover that the "son of an official" who had dinner with them was actually the current emperor.

After returning to my hometown.

Their recounting of this experience was enough to deter officials, clerks, and local bullies from bullying them.

Subsequently.

Control of the Anlan Conference then shifted to Pan Jixun.

He has extensive experience in river management.

He knew better than anyone what kind of river management tools were useful, what kind of river management experience was worth recording, and what kind of river workers and canal workers were worth promoting to be in charge of river and canal management.

Pan Jixun is pragmatic and hardworking.

At the fourth watch of the night, he appeared at the Anlan Exhibition on Qipan Street with several river transport officials.

He spent two days inspecting all five hundred-plus inventions for river management.

among them.

He offered suggestions for improving hundreds of river-control tools, and he also kept a book full of river-control strategies.

Zhang Juzheng always admired Pan Jixun.

It was precisely because of his pragmatic approach to officialdom and his lifelong pursuit of river management that he achieved this.

These days.

The students of the Imperial College also benefited greatly.

They learned about the hardships faced by river and canal workers, the raging and merciless nature of the great river, and that what they had initially thought were "ingenious tricks" and unworthy of serious consideration were actually profound knowledge that could reduce the number of casualties among river and canal workers.

Some students even developed a strong interest in river management and canal management, and planned to make it their profession in the future.

These days.

The only private matter Pan Jixun did was to treat Guo Chaobin, the Minister of Works, Li Youzi, the Vice Minister of Works, and Shen Nian to a meal.

The preparations for this event were very thorough.

In particular, the idea of ​​"craftsmen as the main force and students of the Imperial Academy as the secondary force" was enough to make countless craftsmen raise their heads and see hope for life.

These are things that Pan Jixun alone could not have done.

……

May 18th.

The second phase of the Anlan Conference, "Discussing Strategies for River Management," has begun.

A group of officials, clerks, river workers, and canal workers skilled in river management gathered at the Ministry of Works for a five-day meeting to discuss specific measures for the river management project.

The past.

Such meetings held in the capital would involve cabinet ministers and eunuchs, and a report would be submitted daily to ensure the emperor's knowledge.

But this time, the young Wanli Emperor completely relinquished power.

Pan Jixun was in charge of all matters related to river management, and the heads of the six ministries attended the meetings and awaited his orders.

The Ministry of Works only needs to maintain the exhibition on Qipan Street and ensure that the participants have orderly food and lodging.

Emperor Wanli did this naturally by drawing on his previous experience in river management.

The current river management requires Pan Jixun's "one-man show" decision-making.

If the young Wanli Emperor did not grant him sufficient trust and power, once the river management began, a flood of impeachment memorials would likely be presented to him.

Examples include: Pan Jixun's river management caused a fleet of grain ships to fail to reach the capital on schedule; Pan Jixun's construction of dikes disturbed the people; Pan Jixun practiced nepotism and promoted local officials in violation of regulations.

These reasons were almost all retaliatory memorials written by officials whose own interests had been harmed.

Therefore.

The young Wanli Emperor showed absolute trust in Pan Jixun, which strengthened the latter's confidence in completely resolving the river disaster.

……

May 23rd.

The Anlan Conference and Exhibition, along with the meeting on river management strategies, concluded simultaneously.

After rewarding the inventors of the river-control tools, Pan Jixun submitted a general summary of river control to the court and then applied to leave the capital to manage the river.

On that very day, Emperor Wanli granted Pan Jixun's request.

This season.

This is the time when the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Caohe River are relatively dry, making it the best time to measure data and clear river sand.

Later still.

This could be during the time when the Yellow River overflows its banks and floods rage.

……

May 25th.

Pan Jixun led a group of river transport officials and selected river workers to the old course of the Yellow River near the Grand Canal.

Other artisans who participated in the Anlan Conference also returned one after another.

The imperial court provided each person with transportation, food, and lodging expenses to ensure they could return home without spending a single penny.

When these people return home, their minds will inevitably turn to the invention of river management, and they will also influence their fellow people around them.

……

May 27th.

The Ministry of Works announced that a two-week artisan exhibition would be held on the first day of September each year, and all qualified artisans could participate. The Ministry of Revenue would cover all expenses for their clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

With the "Anlan Conference" as a precedent, the number of people signing up to participate will inevitably be large.

This artisan exhibition will promote the rapid development of the handicraft industry in the Ming Dynasty and bring Shen Nian's goal of "registering artisans as citizens" one step closer.

……

May 30th.

Emperor Wanli ordered officials of the Directorate of Ceremonial to bestow upon Guo Chaobin, Minister of Works, 3,000 strings of new banknotes, three layers of silk fabric, and three sheep; upon Li Youzi, Vice Minister of Works, 2,000 strings of new banknotes, two layers of silk fabric, and two sheep; and upon Shen Nian, Academician of the Hanlin Academy, 1,000 strings of new banknotes, one layer of silk fabric, and one sheep.

An hour later.

Shen Nian was also rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, three layers of colored silk, ten cakes of tea, and three bottles of wine.

Many officials were confused by the young Wanli Emperor's reward, not understanding why Shen Nian was rewarded twice in one day.

Soon, a clever official uncovered the mystery.

Recently, Shen Nian has made two major contributions.

One solved the problem of temples and monasteries hiding their land, and the other proposed a bold strategy of "craftsmen as the main force and students of the Imperial Academy as the auxiliary force."

Emperor Wanli visited Shen Nian twice in one day.

It was meant to make the officials realize that they were not as capable as Shen Nian in sharing the emperor's burdens, and that they should learn from Shen Nian and use their brains more in the future.

On the day.

In coordination with the young Wanli Emperor's act of "rewarding Shen Nian twice a day," the Second Grand Secretary Lü Diaoyang submitted a memorial to the Cabinet proposing to strengthen the supervision of the performance evaluation of the Six Ministries, intending to urge officials to work harder.

One sentence in the memorial was quickly spread among the officials.

“Shen Ziheng alone is worth half of the civil and military officials, making the cabinet ashamed. We should strive to emulate him.”

Some officials, upon hearing this, were filled with resentment, their teeth grinding together, but they could find no reason to refute it.

Some officials, upon hearing this, became even more diligent in their thinking and actions, hoping that one day they could present a groundbreaking plan on a major issue and win Shen Nian's favor.

(End of this chapter)