The Red Mansion

Chapter 105: Another performance before the two saints
Jiang Nian knew that it had not been long since he had offered suggestions to investigate the deficits, and now he was offering suggestions to improve the government warehouses, which made him seem eager for quick success and showed off his edge.

If he didn't have the golden finger of luck, he would not have acted like this.

If you work hard, you will have good luck!

Because of this golden finger, he can boldly display his talents.

Moreover, the proposed improvements to the government warehouses would take more than half a year to show results. By that time, he would be getting married and entering the imperial court. His proposal was intended to pave the way for his entry into the imperial court next year, strengthening his foundation.

That day, when Jiang Nian saw Ren Pijiang coming to the Jiang family again and announcing that Emperor Taishun had summoned him, although he had anticipated that this might happen, he still felt a little strange in his heart, thinking that Emperor Taishun had summoned him too frequently recently.

Although his treatment could not be compared with that of prime ministers like Prince Zhongyi and Wang Tingyu, it was comparable to that of a court dignitary.

Jiang Nian changed into the crown and clothes of a third-class guard, and accompanied by He Yun, he and Ren Pijiang set out together. The three of them galloped from the eastern suburbs of Shenyang to Changchun Garden in the western suburbs.

The weather was extremely hot, and Jiang Nian was wearing a guard's uniform and riding his horse at full speed. When he arrived at Changchun Garden, he was already sweating profusely.

Fortunately, he has good physical fitness and can withstand both severe cold and heat.

When Ren Pijiang and Jiang Nian arrived outside Danning Residence, they saw an old man walking out of Danning Residence. When they looked closely, they found that it was none other than the retired Emperor Jingning!

Jiang Nian felt something strange again. Last time, Emperor Taishun summoned him to Changchun Garden for his proposal to investigate the deficit, and he had bumped into Emperor Jingning outside Danning Residence. Today, Emperor Taishun summoned him here for his proposal to improve the government granary, and he had bumped into Emperor Jingning outside Danning Residence again.

The difference is that last time Emperor Jingning was about to step into Danning Residence, but today he came out from inside.

Jiang Nian and Emperor Jingning noticed each other almost at the same time. When their eyes met, Jiang Nian hurriedly saluted respectfully.

Emperor Jingning was slightly puzzled, so he stopped and said to Jiang Nian, "Come closer."

Jiang Nian walked up to Emperor Jingning.

Emperor Jingning looked at Jiang Nian and asked, "Did the emperor summon you here?"

Jiang Nian said respectfully, "Replying to the Supreme Emperor, it is indeed His Majesty who has summoned me to an audience."

Emperor Jingning was curious: "Why did you summon me today?"

Jiang Nian responded frankly: "I don't know yet, perhaps it's because I proposed to improve the Tongzhou Canal Transport Warehouse and the Shenjing City Warehouse."

Emperor Jingning was surprised, his brows furrowed slightly. "You're offering advice again?"

Jiang Nian said, "I boldly believe that both the Tongzhou Canal Warehouse and the Shenjing City Warehouse can be improved, and I have a proposal for improvement, which has been submitted to Jia Langguan of the Ministry of Works. Therefore, I suspect that the emperor's summons today may be related to this."

Emperor Jingning became more and more surprised.

What the hell? This fifteen-year-old commoner's previous suggestion to clean up the deficit was already shocking, and now, not long after, he's actually offering suggestions to improve the government warehouse?

After a brief hesitation, Emperor Jingning decided to return to Danning Residence. He was curious about how Jiang Nian had improved the Tongzhou Canal Warehouse and the Shenjing City Warehouse, and he also wanted to see how Jiang Nian would respond today.

So, Jiang Nian followed Emperor Jingning into Danning Residence.

Emperor Taishun and Prince Zhongyi were staying together in the room. Emperor Jingning had something to tell them, so he summoned Prince Zhongyi.

At this moment, Emperor Taishun and Prince Zhongyi suddenly saw Emperor Jingning return, followed by Jiang Nian. They looked at each other in surprise, and thought to themselves, "Father has met Yi'er (Yi Ge'er) again today! What a coincidence!"

Emperor Taishun and Prince Zhongyi hurriedly stood up and saluted Emperor Jingning, and Jiang Nian also saluted them respectfully.

After Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun took their seats, Emperor Jingning spoke before Emperor Taishun could say anything, "I just ran into him outside again. I heard he offered another proposal? And this time, was it about improving the government granaries?"

Emperor Taishun said, "As your Majesty has said, I summoned him here today precisely for this very purpose. Would your Majesty be interested in seeing his proposals for improving the Jingtong official granary?"

Emperor Jingning nodded slightly.

Emperor Taishun hurriedly handed the plan consisting of several pieces of paper to Emperor Jingning with both hands.

Emperor Jingning put on his glasses and carefully examined the plan for improving the Jingtong official warehouse, a look of thought between his brows. He was not very proficient in the design and construction of official warehouses, and several parts of the plan were a little obscure to him.

After reading it, Emperor Jingning looked up at Emperor Taishun and asked, "Is this plan feasible?"

Emperor Taishun replied, "According to what my thirteenth brother said, the Ministry of Works has already carefully considered this plan with several experts in the design and construction of government granaries. They all agree that if implemented, it will certainly reduce grain losses. However, whether it can achieve the predicted results remains to be seen after its implementation."

Emperor Jingning nodded, pointed at Jiang Nian, and asked Emperor Taishun, "Did he come up with this strategy?"

Emperor Taishun replied, "When I first heard about this, I found it hard to believe, so I summoned him to an audience and wanted to question him face to face."

Emperor Jingning said, "Since that's the case, the Emperor will ask him."

Last time, when Jiang Nian proposed to investigate the deficit, it was mainly Emperor Jingning who interrogated him. But this time, Emperor Jingning did not want to interrogate him personally, and let Emperor Taishun interrogate him. He would wait and see what happened, to observe Jiang Nian's talents and responses.

Emperor Taishun stared at Jiang Nian and said solemnly, "Just watch me and I will answer!"

Last time, he had Jiang Nian kneel down to answer his questions; this time, he had Jiang Nian look directly at him. This move was more imposing than the previous one. This was because when Jiang Nian knelt down to answer his questions, he lowered his head and gaze, while looking directly at Emperor Taishun would have required him to face his stern expression and sharp gaze.

Jiang Nian said "yes" and looked up at Emperor Taishun who was wearing glasses. The two looked at each other and the atmosphere was solemn.

Emperor Taishun asked sternly, "Was this plan to improve the official granaries in Tongzhou your own? Or was it someone else secretly helping you with this plan?" Jiang Nian, looking calm, replied, "In order to thoroughly study the official granary system, I have carefully inspected the Tongzhou Canal Transport Warehouse and the granaries within Shenjing City. A few days ago, I consulted with Jia Langguan of the Ministry of Works' Cleaning and Maintenance Department, and received his careful guidance. I also consulted my mentor Qu Gexue on this matter. I wouldn't dare to claim that this plan was entirely my own, but it is indeed the result of my careful consideration and planning."

Before Emperor Taishun could ask again, Jiang Nian solemnly replied, "I dare not speak nonsense in front of the Supreme Emperor and Your Majesty. If Your Majesty has any doubts, I humbly request that you send someone to investigate. If what I said is untrue, I am willing to die as an apology!"

Emperor Taishun: "..."

Well, this illegitimate son of the people showed such a decisive attitude as soon as he played the game.

This attitude immediately dispelled many of Emperor Taishun's doubts. He thought that if what Jiang Nian said was not true, he would not dare to speak so resolutely.

"Don't be presumptuous!"

Emperor Taishun reprimanded Jiang Nian and then took up the several pages of the plan and began to read it again. He was not very familiar with the design and construction of the government warehouse, and the plan was so well-organized and detailed that he was at a loss as to how to persuade Jiang Nian to respond.

After pondering for a while, Emperor Taishun asked Jiang Nian, "You said in this plan that it takes into account the convenience of material supply and strives to save money. Is this true?"

Jiang Nianzou replied, "This is true."

"I propose the use of oak. Daqing is rich in oak, especially in Liaodong. It is stronger than pine and cheaper than nanmu. Coated with alum and tung oil, it can withstand the moisture of the Grand Canal. I have heard from Jia Langguan that when the retired emperor toured the east, he saw that the granaries in Liaodong were mostly made of oak, which remained rotten for a hundred years. This is also my imitation of the old Liaodong method."

"Reeds grow on the canal's mudflats, providing an inexhaustible supply. If copper and iron pipes were used, a single granary would cost 120 taels of silver, but reed tubes only cost eight. Furthermore, the canal workers could be paid to weave reed mats, a truly benevolent policy."

"Charcoal ash is mined from the coal mines in the Western Hills. It's three times cheaper than lime and absorbs water well. I've heard that Jing Fu, the famous minister of river management during the Jingning reign, used charcoal ash to strengthen the embankments. I'm using it now to prevent flooding."

When Emperor Jingning heard this, his expression was moved. Because of Jiang Nian's words, he briefly recalled Jing Fu, a minister who had a deep friendship with him in the past.

Jiang Nian continued his response: "I have heard that 'clam powder can relieve dampness,' and that ramming earth with clam shells can bear twice the weight of ordinary earth. I have also heard that clam shells are piling up like mountains along the coast of Zhili, causing great suffering for the fishermen. If we buy them at three cents of silver per stone, we can save a thousand taels of silver per year in transporting discarded shells. The fishermen will benefit, and the granaries will get materials. This can be considered a manifestation of benevolent government."

"The Jingxi Liuli Bureau produces mud bricks, the clay of which is durable. Although it takes three days to polish and align the bricks, they can last for twenty years. During the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, when the Beijing granaries were being built, the brickwork was so uneven that it collapsed within thirty years. Today, it costs five taels of silver per granary, but it saves ten taels per year on repairs."

"Ceramic pipes can be fired locally and are inexpensive. The brick ducts in old warehouses were about two feet wide, attracting insects and rodents in the summer and freezing dew in the winter. These are now reduced to three-inch ceramic pipes, with branches inserted at a 45-degree angle, allowing air to flow freely without stagnation."

Jiang Nian's response made Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun and Prince Zhongyi call him "professional" in their hearts. This boy is truly gifted and has amazing talent.

Emperor Taishun reviewed the design plan again and asked Jiang Nian, "You stated in this plan that although it only applies to the official warehouses in Beijing, it can also be applied to official warehouses throughout the country. It only needs to be adjusted according to local conditions. Is this true?"

Jiang Nianzou replied, "Indeed! Regardless of where the official warehouses are located, the core principles are the same: they all need to address the two major issues of 'isolating the ground' and 'air circulation'. This is a universal requirement across all regions. The three key technical elements are: overhead, moisture-proof, and ventilation. Therefore, although I have only improved the Tongzhou Canal Warehouse and the Shenjing City Warehouse this time, the solution can be flexibly adapted to suit the geography, climate, and resources of other official warehouses by adjusting the overhead height, changing the materials, and adjusting the proportions."

Although Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, and Prince Zhongyi were not very proficient in the design and construction of official granaries, they all understood what Jiang Nian said.

The implication was that Jiang Nian's improvement plan could be applied to government granaries across the country, requiring only flexible adjustments tailored to local conditions. If Jiang Nian's plan proved effective, it could save the country a significant amount of grain each year, saving the court a significant amount of money.

A mere plan to improve government warehouses can actually be said to benefit both the country and the people!
Before Emperor Taishun could continue questioning, Jiang Nian took the initiative to respond, "Also, I proposed in my proposal the policy of inspecting grain boxes and comparing samples. I wonder if the Examination Office has already implemented this policy. If not, it can be used in the Examination Office, as well as in grain inspection and acceptance, river management projects, and other areas."

Emperor Taishun asked anxiously, "How can this policy of comparing grain boxes be used in the Imperial Examination Office? How can it also be used for grain inspection and river control projects?"

This time, Jiang Nian pondered for a moment before replying, "The Examination Office can issue a rule: For all project estimates, sample boxes of materials must be kept. They must be made of fir wood and sealed with wax. After completion, they must be inspected and compared. Any discrepancies will be punished. When grain is loaded onto ships, the Grain Transport Governor's Office can seal the sample boxes. After the ships arrive at Tongzhou Wharf, the boxes can be opened for comparison. When inspecting stone materials for river control projects, a 'standard stone sample box' can be sealed. After every hundred feet of embankment construction, river workers can compare stones with the sample box. This should reduce project corruption, reduce grain loss, and reduce dam breaches."

"However, this policy still has loopholes such as sample fabrication and low sampling rates, and needs to be strengthened by combining systems such as collective responsibility for baojia and strict criminal laws."

"Furthermore, fir wood boxes are much cheaper than glass boxes. If they were adopted nationwide, we could save tens of thousands of taels of silver annually."

Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, and Prince Zhongyi all showed expressions of surprise, their hearts surging with emotions, unable to control themselves.

The strategy of using the fir box as a sample, when applied in various fields such as the Examination Office, grain inspection and acceptance, and river management projects, can be regarded as another good strategy that benefits both the country and the people. It is of great significance and can be regarded as another great achievement of Jiang Nian!
Moreover, this incident was a sudden interrogation by Emperor Taishun, and Jiang Nian responded to the situation and offered advice. His agility and far-reaching strategy are truly admirable. Should we doubt that Jiang Nian was misrepresenting someone else's plan as his own? This demonstrates that Jiang Nian truly possesses extraordinary talent and strategy.

At this point, Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, and Prince Zhongyi were all satisfied with Jiang Nian's performance today, and they all had a greater appreciation for Jiang Nian.

Emperor Taishun no longer had any questions to ask, and was already thinking about how to reward him this time...

After thinking for a while, Emperor Taishun said to Jiang Nian, "You may leave."

Jiang Nian hurriedly bowed to Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun to take his leave, and did not forget to salute Prince Zhongyi.

After Jiang Nian left, Emperor Taishun respectfully asked Emperor Jingning, "Father, do you think this plan to improve the government warehouse is feasible?"

Emperor Jingning said, "Since Yu Xianfu said this plan is feasible, and the response just now was also detailed, I think it is feasible. The plan of comparing the fir box with the sample can also be implemented."

Emperor Taishun pondered and hesitated for a moment, then respectfully asked Emperor Jingning for instructions: "Yu Xianfu is busy with water conservancy projects, and the Ministry of Works is currently short of a vice minister. I wonder if your Majesty would be willing to promote Cabinet Scholar Qu Tai to the position of vice minister? Qu Tai is Jiang Nian's teacher. If he is appointed vice minister, he can take charge of improving the government warehouses. What do you think?"

Qu Tai is now a cabinet scholar of the second rank, and the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works is a second rank, and an important position.

Obviously, Emperor Taishun was taking the opportunity to promote his trusted minister Qu Tai.

Emperor Jingning thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes!"

Emperor Taishun was delighted and couldn't help thinking to himself, "Yier has not only made great contributions this time, but has also brought me good luck again!"

So he decided to promote Jia Zheng from the fifth rank of Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Works and Civilian Affairs to the fifth rank of Langzhong of the Ministry of Works and Civilian Affairs. For such a small promotion, there was no need to ask Emperor Jingning for permission; he could just issue an order directly.

As for Jiang Nian, Emperor Taishun had no intention of rewarding him now. In his opinion, this illegitimate child from the common people seemed too eager for quick success and too aggressive. He couldn't be pampered any longer. Let's see how the improved official warehouse and the fir wood box compare and promote the results. Oh, and by the way, I can give this kid some money and property for his wedding later...

(End of this chapter)