My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 169 Mission accomplished!

"Insurance?"

Zhu Yijun and Li Wenquan both looked at Su Ze with suspicion.

Su Ze said, "Li Guojiu also said that going to sea is very risky. Once a storm occurs, not only will you lose everything, but you will also have to pay for the ship and the crew's compensation."

"Many people have lost everything because of shipwrecks, and many more have lost their families."

Li Wenquan nodded repeatedly, which was also the main reason why he dared not expand the size of his fleet.

Su Ze said:

"That's why there's insurance."

“Every ship can pay for insurance when it goes to sea. If the ship is involved in a shipwreck, the insurance will cover the cost of the ship and compensation for the crew.”

Li Wenquan paused for a moment and asked, "What if the ship returns safely?"

"If the passenger returns safely, the insurance premium will not be refunded at all."

This?
Li Wenquan thought about it for a moment and felt that Su Ze's idea was brilliant!
Ship owners are most afraid of maritime disasters, but in reality, the probability of a maritime disaster is not high.

But even if the amount isn't high, for small and medium-sized boat owners who only own one or two boats, such an event could bankrupt them.

This type of insurance is quite attractive to ship owners.

And it's not just ship owners.

The operating model of Laizhou Port has actually shown a separation between ship owners and captains.

Simply put, a shipowner is the owner of a ship, the person who pays for it.

However, many ship owners do not board the ship themselves, but instead hire experienced captains to steer it.

These captains, on the other hand, had to lead their own teams.

Unlike on land, being a seafarer is a highly specialized profession.

On the vast ocean, the entire ship must unite as one and endure all kinds of difficulties, so the sailors on a ship are basically all fellow villagers who know each other.

The captain recruits his fellow villagers to become crew members. When the captain goes to sea, he manages the crew and also brings these fellow villagers back with him.

If someone dies or is injured at sea, the captain is also liable for compensation.

Crew insurance is also a necessity for captains, so that even if the entire ship encounters a maritime disaster, it can provide some protection for their families.

After careful consideration, Li Wenquan felt it was entirely feasible!
But then another question occurred to him, and he quickly asked:
"Su Hanlin, how much should the insurance premium be? And what will the compensation amount be?"

Li Wenquan had also gained experience in Laizhou Port and had some understanding of doing business.

Insurance is a good thing, but if it's too expensive, no one will buy it, and if it's too cheap, you might lose money. It's very difficult to strike the right balance.

Upon hearing Li Wenquan's question, Su Ze realized that this imperial brother-in-law was not a fool after all; he did have some talent in business and was able to grasp the crux of the matter.

So Su Ze said:

"I don't know about this. We need to ask a teacher who is proficient in mathematics to calculate it carefully."

Zhu Yijun immediately said:
"Master Huang!"

"Zhang Hong, quickly take the Imperial Brother-in-law to the Imperial Observatory and ask Master Huang to help with the divination!"

After seeing Li Wenquan off, Little Fatty Jun looked at Su Ze and said:
"Master Su, there is one more thing."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"I have also thought about it. It was only during the last Lantern Festival that I understood my father's heart for sharing joy with the people."

"Therefore, my Hundred Plays Festival is also to share joy with the people, to show Father Emperor's love for the people, and to honor Father Emperor through this festival."

Su Ze glanced at Zhu Yijun, surprised that Zhu Yijun had thought of this.

That's true. The royal family's education is quite proper, and the crown princes raised under such circumstances should all be of good nature.

His involvement also brought Zhu Yijun a lot of joy.

Zhu Yijun's original intention in organizing the Hundred Plays Festival changed from his own enjoyment to fulfilling his filial duty to his father.

Of course, having fun for oneself is also a major reason.

But the fact that the child had this idea already made Su Ze very gratified.

Zhu Yijun said:
"Master Su, do you have any ideas to make Father Emperor happy?"

How to please the Longqing Emperor?
The emperor would definitely be happy if you held a variety show.

But upon closer reflection, Su Ze said:
"Your Highness, I believe we can rehearse Shaoyue music to celebrate the grand gathering at Lingji Palace. This way, His Majesty will understand Your Highness's filial piety."

Shaoyue, historically known as Shunyue, is a traditional court music in China and an important piece of music for important national ceremonies.

By the Ming Dynasty, Shaoyue had evolved from a specific musical composition into a musical genre.

This kind of music, which integrates poetry, music, song, and dance, was basically used in court and state sacrificial occasions. Any solemn and elegant music can be called Shaoyue.

Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly. Since it was a variety show, Shao music was naturally allowed.

Using Shaoyue as the opening music for the Lingji Palace assembly would also showcase the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, which would surely make Father Emperor happy.

Zhu Yijun said, "Master Su, what kind of music should we play?"

Su Ze was powerless to help, and could only say:
“I am ignorant of music theory, Your Highness may ask the Duke of Dingguo for help.”

Xiao Pangjun continued to nod. Duke Dingguo, Xu Wenbi, had presided over many royal sacrifices and was a professional. Asking him for help was definitely the right thing to do.
-
Dragon Boat Festival.

According to custom, the emperor would bestow "Five Poisons and Tiger Badges" upon civil and military officials, which were official robes embroidered with scorpions, snakes, centipedes, geckos, and toads, and were used to ward off evil spirits.

Su Ze also got a set. Although it was a bit of a novelty, not all officials in Beijing had one. His wife, Zhao Lingxian, happily put it away.

However, there is also something that worries the cabinet this year: the emperor has bestowed golden pills upon members of the imperial family.

The usual practice was to bestow Celestial Master Talismans on the Dragon Boat Festival. Even when Emperor Shizong was most obsessed with alchemy, he did not bestow elixirs upon his relatives. This made the cabinet worry that Emperor Longqing might have become obsessed with alchemy again.

There are other exorcism rituals during the Dragon Boat Festival. In addition, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture would lead his officials to worship the River God in the capital.

Zhao Lingxian personally made mugwort steamed cakes, a type of dough mixed with mugwort juice, which is probably similar to the qingtuan of later generations.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, more good news came from Su Ze's residence: Zhao Lingxian was pregnant!

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Lingxian's family, who were staying in the capital for the festival, hurriedly sent gifts and made arrangements for midwives and wet nurses in advance, making Su Ze's residence even more lively.

With more people and higher expenses, Su Ze was overjoyed by his wife's pregnancy, but he also began to worry about the family's livelihood. He couldn't keep living off his wife forever, could he?
After the Dragon Boat Festival, on May 7th, Su Ze submitted a petition requesting the establishment of a copyright and patent office.

This memorial received strong support from Grand Secretary Li Chunfang.

So the emperor issued an edict to establish a copyright and patent bureau under the cabinet, with Grand Secretary Li Chunfang personally in charge, and Su Ze was also placed in this new department.

However, the current job of this government office is to formulate policies.

Two "anti-smuggling censors" were also appointed in the Censorate to be specifically responsible for cracking down on cases of smuggling, piracy, and patent infringement.

Of course, the current copyright and patent office can only govern the capital region. The emperor granted the anti-smuggling censors the power to mobilize the patrol battalions, placing them on par with the five gate patrol censors.

This is a very important right.

The major security forces in the capital.

The Imperial Guard, responsible for defending the capital, the fearsome Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, and then there's this patrol battalion.

The patrol battalion was originally established to maintain order in the capital.

Institutionally, both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Shuntian Prefecture had administrative authority.

However, starting in the mid-Ming Dynasty, the patrol battalions gradually came under the command of the Five Gates Patrol Censors, and this position gained a more important status within the Censorate. The Five Gates Patrol Censors, as the name suggests, were censors in charge of the capital region. Although they were responsible for five gates, they were actually in charge of the east and west routes within the capital city and the northeast, southeast, and southwest routes outside the city. These censors were specifically responsible for investigating and suppressing criminals in the capital.

After Su Ze's reform of the examination system, censors were required to exercise their power of investigation according to their regions, making the five-gate patrol censors responsible for investigations in the capital even more important.

After the Five Gates Patrol Censors took control of the patrol and arresting officers, they directly became the highest-ranking officials in charge of maintaining order in the capital.

The two newly appointed anti-smuggling censors also have the power to mobilize the patrol battalion, which is much greater than the power of ordinary censors.

Naturally, Su Ze recommended his fellow graduates, Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong, to serve as anti-smuggling censors.

On May 11, after the appointment was made, Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong took advantage of their holiday to visit Su Ze.

Upon meeting Su Ze, the two men showed no joy at the prospect of promotion. Instead, they sincerely sought his advice on how to be a good anti-smuggling censor.

There was no other way; the Censorate was now under the watchful eye of the Six Ministries using the performance evaluation system, and the newly appointed Anti-Smuggling Censor had to produce some results.

However, after Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong took office, they found that they could not mobilize the police battalion at all, and their original ambition to achieve something was quickly extinguished.

The two had no choice but to turn to Su Ze.

After recounting the situation since taking office, Shen Zao said helplessly:
"Brother Zilin, this is the situation after you took office."

Su Ze nodded knowingly.

That's how it was in the Ming Dynasty; power wasn't just something on paper.

Just like Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong, although they were appointed as anti-smuggling censors, the patrol camp did not listen to them. Even if you have this title, it is useless.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong had only recently entered officialdom and were unfamiliar with its intricacies. They rushed in headlong with enthusiasm, only to suffer heavy losses.

Su Ze said:

"Since you two are both censors who are in the same year, you have the power to evaluate the patrol battalion. Now, find a few capable but unsuccessful officials in the patrol battalion, promote them first, and bring a group of people over."

"This group of people will be separate from the Five Cities Patrol Battalion and will be under the direct management of your Anti-Smuggling Censor. I will ask Grand Secretary Li for instructions on their treatment and give them more public funds."

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong quickly expressed their gratitude.

In fact, this is a common tactic used by local officials to seize power.

For those at the grassroots level, emphasizing theoretical morality is impractical; frankly, it all comes down to money and official positions.

With so many people in the police force, there are bound to be some who are decent in their work and character, but who have never achieved their goals.

A new department brings new official titles, and naturally some people are willing to try.

Increasing the benefits can also attract some people to come.

After resolving the issue of the police battalion, Wang Renzhong asked:
"Brother Zilin, you were the one who first proposed the Copyright and Patent Office, so where should we, the Anti-Smuggling Censors, focus our efforts?"

The two were eager to achieve something to prove themselves, but they didn't know where to start.

Su Ze said:

"Of course it's pirated!"

Su Ze said:

"Copyright and patents, the latter are mostly used in workshops. There are no patents registered yet, so naturally there is no need for anti-smuggling."

"Now, as the editor-in-chief of the Yuefu Xinbao, I am reporting to the two censors that many newspapers in the capital are pirating our serialized version of 'Journey to the West.' I implore the two censors to help me!"

Wang Renzhong and Shen Zao realized that Su Ze was joking, and the atmosphere immediately became cheerful.

However, after Su Ze's reminder, they realized that cracking down on the piracy of Journey to the West was indeed a good breakthrough.

There's no way around it, this book is just too popular in the capital.

One out of every two tabloids publishes a pirated copy of Journey to the West.

In addition, the serialized parts of Journey to the West were made into books and printed.

There are also those who fabricate their own storylines and publish them as "The Sequel to Journey to the West".

Thanks to Su Ze's reminder, Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong found their way.

On May 12, the Anti-Smuggling Censorate posted a notice announcing its intention to crack down on the rampant piracy of Journey to the West in the capital and to combat illegal booksellers.

At first, these booksellers didn't take it seriously, but when the anti-smuggling censor and his patrol team came knocking on their door...

The punishment wasn't severe; it only involved confiscating the printing blocks and paying a fine. The booksellers readily complied and promised not to reprint again.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong never expected that the profits from piracy would be so high!
They conducted a three-day search in the capital and collected a staggering five thousand taels of silver in fines!

When the money was delivered to Li Chunfang, even the Grand Secretary was taken aback.

Unable to decide how to handle the money, Li Chunfang summoned Su Ze to the cabinet.

When Su Ze heard about Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong's achievements, he was also surprised by the profits from piracy.

No wonder the piracy industry was so prosperous in the Ming Dynasty; it was really profitable!

Li Chunfang said with some concern:

"With the anti-smuggling censors cracking down so fiercely, won't it affect the cultural heritage of our dynasty?"

Su Ze said:

"Your Excellency need not worry. Cracking down on piracy will only benefit our dynasty's cultural heritage, not harm it."

"Only by cracking down on these pirate booksellers can those who genuinely commission writers to publish books rise to the top, and only then can more people make a living from books."

The publishing industry in the Ming Dynasty was already very prosperous, but the anti-smuggling censors only confiscated the woodblocks and imposed fines, without completely shutting down these booksellers.

Of course, it's impossible to completely eradicate it.

But as long as the cost of piracy becomes high, some people will be willing to produce the genuine version.

Li Chunfang then asked, "What should we do with this money?"

Su Ze said:

"The police have worked hard these days, and some silver should be allocated as a reward."

Li Chunfang nodded and said:
"As it should be."

Su Ze said again:
"This money should be paid as compensation to the copyright holder. Grand Secretary Li, is this 'Journey to the West' a book in your personal collection?"

Li Chunfang resolutely refused:

"How could I possibly embezzle this sum of money!"

Su Ze said again:
"Can we give it to the newspaper?"

"no!"

Su Ze had already guessed Li Chunfang's reaction, and he said:
"Your Excellency, how about we establish an award under the Copyright and Patent Office in the name of the author of Journey to the West, the Master of Huayang Cave, to reward artisans who have made innovations in mathematics, construction, and craftsmanship?"

This statement really hit Li Chunfang where it hurt.

As the Grand Secretary, Li Chunfang was more concerned about his reputation for posterity.

If an award could be established in the name of the master of Huayang Cave, wouldn't it be able to be passed down to future generations?
Li Chunfang said with satisfaction, "You're the best! You always have a way with things. Let's call it the Huayang Award!"

[Achieving a "close" relationship with Grand Secretary Li Chunfang, mission 3/3 complete]

Main quest completed!

[Task Reward: 1 Chance to Draw an Orange Item]

Prime Minister Li's reputation has been maxed out.
(End of this chapter)