My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 474 Let the craftsmen eat at the table

Newlyweds.

Gao Yu, however, did not indulge in the pleasures of women and neglect his political duties.

It wasn't that Gao Yu was overly career-oriented; although the snow had melted and everything was reviving, the temperature hadn't yet risen.

However, the women in the household were either pregnant, such as the newlywed Xiao Miaozhi and Xie Youning. They were petite and had little endurance, so they were easily overwhelmed by the slightest force. They were just two little wimps.

She lay convulsing in his arms, begging for mercy in pitiful cries, which had a unique charm.

Thinking of this, Gao Yu chuckled twice.

"What makes the Prime Minister so happy?"

After bowing, Cui Jie saw Gao Yu smiling so happily and couldn't help but ask.

Gao Yu coughed awkwardly before speaking, "I imagine this year will also be blessed with favorable weather and abundant harvests for the people. Thinking of this, I am very happy."

"The Prime Minister's concern for the people is truly a blessing for them."

Cui Jie praised him repeatedly.

Since the topic of harvest has come up, Gao Yu also chimed in, "After spring plowing, we still need to organize the people to build water conservancy projects. Although we have been blessed by heaven with favorable weather in recent years, it is always better to be prepared."

The newly constructed water conservancy facilities can release floodwaters during heavy rains and release water during droughts.

As Gao Yu's stronghold and a secure rear area, Qingzhou has the capability and resources to spare the time to do these things.

As for Hebei and other places, organizing manpower to restore agricultural production is the top priority, while the construction of water conservancy facilities will have to wait.

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I have already ordered people to begin preparations for this matter."

Cui Jie is capable and willing to do his best, so Gao Yu doesn't really need to worry too much about most things.

After seeing Cui Jie off, Gao Yu reviewed the official documents that had been submitted. There were all sorts of matters, big and small. It's no wonder that many emperors didn't like to review memorials; those who did were historically known workaholics.

Like Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Yongzheng...

Halfway through his reading, Gao Yu was interrupted by a series of hurried footsteps. He looked up abruptly and was immediately stunned.

After staring at it for a long time, he finally spoke, "Zhixing..."

"I've met the Prime Minister."

Gao Yu quickly got up, stepped over the table, and came to Jia Sixie's side. He helped him up and looked him over carefully, deeply moved.

Jia Sixie has always been a man of action.

Especially after being entrusted with important responsibilities by Gao Yu, he devoted himself to improving farm tools, promoting composting, and further studying how to increase crop yields.

When Gao Yu first arrived in Qingzhou, Jia Sixie was unlike ordinary people from aristocratic families or powerful clans; he had dark, rough skin.

at the moment……

We haven't seen each other for just one year.

Jia Sixie already had a weathered face, the wind and rain had left their marks on him. Although he was the same age as Cui Xian, his hands were very rough and were thrown into the fields.

He was no different from a farmer; who would mistake him for a member of the Jia family of Qingzhou?

"Knowledge and action are so hard-working and tiring."

"Prime Minister."

Jia Sixie shook his head. "My lifelong wish is that everyone in the world can eat their fill, and that the Central Plains will no longer be filled with the sight of starving corpses. It is the Prime Minister who has given me the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong wish, and I am happy to do so. What is there to suffer?"

Gao Yu opened his mouth, but only sighed, "The world has given me all the praise, but little do they know... if it weren't for Brother Zhixing and others helping me behind the scenes, how could I have accomplished anything?"

Jia Sixie said with a serious expression, "The Prime Minister has the ambition and ability to bring order to the world. It would be my honor to help the Prime Minister seize power and benefit the common people."

"Since the Empress's usurpation of power, the people of the North have suffered for far too long. The people need a prime minister like myself who cares deeply about the people to seize power and bring prosperity to the nation."

"It's just that you've suffered..."

Gao Yu shook his head. The purpose of his summoning Jia Sixie this time was to have Jia Sixie leave Qingzhou and go to the imperial court in Yecheng to serve as the Minister of Works, so as to promote the mature technology of Qingzhou to Hebei and other places.

This will undoubtedly further increase the burden on Jia Sixie.

"Zhixing, I intend to promote you to Minister of Works and have you lead a group of craftsmen from Qingzhou to Yecheng to promote agricultural tools, compost, and other products in Hebei."

"Your subject will certainly not fail the Prime Minister's expectations!" "I heard you are writing a book?"

Jia Sixie was taken aback, and then told the truth, "I want to record all that I have learned in my life in a book, so that it can be passed on to future generations and prevent the skills of the curved plow, composting, etc. from being lost due to war."

“This is excellent. After you finish writing the book, you can give it to the craftsmen in charge of printing so that the skills can be promoted through the book and benefit more people.”

Isn't this exactly what Gao Yu wanted to achieve by training a large number of literate grassroots officials?
If you can read, you can understand books.

He instructed artisans to refine printing and papermaking techniques in order to better disseminate knowledge.

People can only think about other things when they are not hungry.

Spreading these techniques that can effectively increase crop yields is like sowing seeds; you can simply wait for the seeds to take root and sprout on their own.

Gao Yu cannot single-handedly drive overall technological progress, but he can provide a suitable environment for productivity improvement and technological advancement.

"Sending you to the Ministry of Works as Minister is also a preparation for raising the status of craftsmen in the future."

"You must also know that there are imperial examinations in the academy, and that the soldiers are awarded ranks based on their military achievements."

Jia Sixie nodded; it wasn't a secret.

"When the time is right, I will also have the craftsmen assessed. Those skilled craftsmen who can improve their skills or develop new techniques will be awarded honorary titles."

Jia Sixie was taken aback.

Good craftsmen are precious, but they rarely receive high political status. After all, how can craftsmen be compared to scholars who study the classics?

Gao Yu, however, wanted to open a door for all the artisans in the world.

To receive an honorary title means that one has gone from not being worthy of eating at the table to being entitled to it.

Their social statuses are worlds apart.

"I have already communicated with the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat by letter. Once you arrive in Ye City, you can go directly to see the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat if you have any requests. He will help you. Hebei has suffered from war for many years. The most urgent task is to restore production. Agricultural tools and farming techniques are of utmost importance. I entrust this to you."

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister!"

Jia Sixie readily agreed.

After seeing Jia Sixie off.

Gao Yu then reviewed the official documents again.

But in his heart, he was calculating the days to come.

Erzhu Rong suffered a major defeat last year, losing two major granaries, Hebei and Henan. It is unlikely that he will easily start a war anytime soon.

He also had to travel north to Yan and You to appease the local people.

They even had to go to Anzhou, Yingzhou, and Pingzhou, which were the three most remote northeastern prefectures of the Great Wei, almost beyond the reach of the central government. Further northeast from Pingzhou lay Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.

Even if we don't want to control this place, it would be good if we could keep it stable and prevent any trouble.

He also needed to find out what the situation was like on the grassland.

Erzhu Rong wasn't stupid. After suffering a major defeat, he would definitely try to find ways to borrow strength from other places.

The herdsmen on the grasslands are natural mercenaries.

If you have milk, you are a mother.

We must also be careful to guard against it.

"After inspecting Yan and You, we must return to Ye City."

"Yang Zhong should have already led his army to conquer Hedong."

Gao Yu thought to himself that this year's main focus should be on restoring production in Hebei and Henan.

As for conquering Erzhu Rong, there's no rush.

With so much fertile land at his disposal, even if both sides resumed production simultaneously, Erzhu Rong would not be able to outlast him.

Once I've rested and recuperated, I'll be able to march straight to Luoyang and take it back!

(End of this chapter)