Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 218 Zhang Juzheng accidentally stumbles upon the "Shangri-La" of the Western Hills

“In recent days, almost every day ministers have submitted memorials impeaching Xishan, saying that Xishan mistreats the refugees and treats them like straw dogs. The prosperity of Xishan built by Zhang Shiyuan is based on the blood and sweat of the refugees.”

The journey to Xishan is long and arduous.

Sitting in the bumpy carriage, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but ask Shen Shixing a question.

What is Ru Mo's opinion on these remarks?

Shen Shixing held a copy of "Discourses on Salt and Iron" in his hand, but it was unclear whether he had actually read it.

He looked up and answered as usual.

“The Emperor’s office saw impeachment memorials like snowflakes, but no memorials being recited, which sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.”

Some high-ranking officials even urged the court to vigorously promote the Xishan model, so that all future salt, iron, and mineral production would follow this precedent.

"Why?"

The topic of responding to questions can be considered to touch upon Shen Shixing's strengths, and after thinking for a moment, he answered succinctly.

"It's all about profit. Those who oppose it are often affected by Xishan's interests. Xishan offers generous wages, so even merchants and gentry in the capital don't dare to be too harsh on the workers."

Those who supported him often had some shares in Xishan, and since Xishan enabled them to make money, they naturally gave him their full support.

Shen Shixing looked a little embarrassed, because he had also invested some money in Xishan and, to be honest, hoped that Xishan would prosper.

They gained face, helped tens of thousands of displaced people who had lost their livelihoods, and are still accepting more and more.

The financial aspect is also in place; the silver income brought by Xishan is real and substantial.

“Unite all forces that can be united to create a mighty force.” Zhang Juzheng said abruptly, “This rebellious son is consistent in word and deed, which makes many people support his absurd behavior even more.”

Zhang Juzheng began to understand more and more the meaning of the saying, "All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit."

In the past, when he implemented new policies, he was always extremely forceful and ruthless, wanting to use thunderous means to save the Ming Dynasty from its dire straits and give the common people a chance to breathe.

In the end, not only did the gentry and officials oppose it, but even some officials opposed it.

However, the West Mountain Workshop's actions were seen as heretical by the world, and even with some assistance, they were still able to push forward with great effort.

It simply served the interests of another group of people. Zhang Yunxiu either cheated, swindled, or coerced people into joining his cause.

These people initially resisted fiercely, but later they began to enjoy it, to the point that they felt uncomfortable if Zhang Yunxiu didn't take advantage of them.

That's really quite a bit.
Zhang Juzheng exhaled and said, "This time when we go to Xishan, we are not in a hurry to find that rebellious son. Let's go to the workshop and see what kind of trouble he can cause."

Shen Shixing nodded and said, "Seeing is believing. If you really want to understand the truth, you have to practice it yourself."

Zhang Juzheng was somewhat surprised: "Ru Mo seems to believe more and more in that boy Zhang Shiyuan's reasoning. Is this perhaps the Wanli New Gazette's interpretation of Yangming's philosophy of mind?"

Shen Shixing raised his eyes: "Is the En family not like that either?"

Zhang Juzheng smiled.

It has been more than a month since my last visit to Xishan.

Yet, in just one month, Xishan seemed like a different world.

The originally steep and muddy road in front of the West Mountain gate has been widened.

A straight new road appeared, and upon closer inspection, it could be seen that it was made of a mixture of pebbles and a certain kind of mud.

Thanks to this material, the roads are exceptionally flat and wide, and even the carts and horses transporting goods on the roads seem to move much faster.

On both sides of the road are endless buckwheat fields. The wheat in Beijing has already been harvested in September, and winter wheat has not yet been sown. But even these buckwheat seedlings alone are enough to make people feel refreshed.

For a moment, Zhang Juzheng felt as if he had stumbled into a paradise.

He frowned and said, "What is this? It paves the road so smoothly."

Shen Shixing tried hard to recall: "According to the Wanli Xinbao and the report from the Mechanical Engineering Institute, this thing was also first created by Zhang Tongzhi and is called cement."

It is said to require less effort than using traditional bricks, stones, and clay, yet it is much stronger.

Zhang Juzheng frowned: "I'm afraid it's been quite wasteful, hasn't it?"

“The students don’t know either.” Shen Shixing looked a little embarrassed. “Since the establishment of the School of Mechanical Engineering, we have come up with a lot of novel things. This cement is just the tip of the iceberg.”

According to the scholar from the Mechanical Engineering Academy, if this project succeeds, our Great Ming Dynasty will no longer have to worry about border troubles.

"What a loud tone!"

After Shen Shixing brought it up, Zhang Juzheng remembered this matter.

Since the establishment of the School of Mechanical Engineering, many students from the Imperial Academy and students from Beizhili have joined it.

In the past, even those extraordinary skills and crafts could not lead to officialdom, yet many students still studied them. This time, the Great Ming Mechanical Academy has provided some ways to enter officialdom. Although it is not as good as the Hanlin Academy, it is still possible to become an official.

Many students who felt hopeless about taking the imperial examinations joined the School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Medicine to participate in research.

Before even meeting Zhang Yunxiu, Zhang Juzheng was given a "baptism of fire" during his trip to Xishan, which naturally displeased him.

Their visit to Xishan naturally required a pretext. Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing concealed their identities and came to Xishan to investigate under the guise of officials from the Ministry of Works.

Zeng Shengwu, the Minister of Works, was the biggest supporter of Xishan and was naturally the most respected in Xishan.

In the past, the Ministry of Works and Xishan had cooperated. Upon hearing that officials were coming, they did not dare to be negligent and sent a guide to lead the two officials.

Zhang Juzheng originally wanted to make an incognito visit, so he naturally wouldn't be bound by anyone. While waiting at the post station, he and Shen Shixing headed towards Xishan Village.

In just a few months, a huge village was built at the foot of Xishan Mountain. It was more like a city without walls than a village.

The road was flat and smooth. Even though it had rained a few days ago, there was no mud at all when stepping on the gravel and cement ground. This is something that cannot be done in Beijing.

Zhang Juzheng was increasingly alarmed as he looked around, for what he saw was a vast, flat land with neat houses and crisscrossing paths, truly resembling a paradise on earth.

It was during working hours, and there weren't many men in Xishan Village. A few elderly people were sweeping the courtyards, and there were also a few women washing clothes.

"Is this really the Western Hills?" Even Shen Shixing couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"We'll ask around." Zhang Juzheng frowned deeply.

He strode forward and found a kind-looking old man, giving a brief self-introduction.

"So it's a high-ranking official from the imperial court." The old man named Su Er hurriedly bowed, but was interrupted by Zhang Juzheng.

"Is it true that the old man said his son went to work at the Xishan Coal Mine, his daughter-in-law went to the Xishan Weaving Workshop, and his grandson went to study at the Xishan Academy?"

Su Er was somewhat surprised: "You two gentlemen don't know? This is how it is in Xishan. Men go to work in the workshops, children go to the academy to study, and recently women have been sent to the workshops to weave."

Su Er spoke with a Shaanxi accent and his speech was very slow and gentle.

However, Zhang Juzheng had many questions, such as whether there was oppression in the coal mines, and whether he was worried about tarnishing his reputation by sending women to work in the workshops.

Most importantly, how are these people doing in Xishan?

Su Er frowned, feeling that these two were there to cause trouble, but still answered anyway.

“Oppression? It’s still better than the gentry and lords in our old village. As for hardship, it’s still better than working in the fields all year round and not being able to earn a full meal.”

He seemed to be quite helpful.

“We country folk are not like you gentlemen, who can live a life of plenty with the government’s stipend. Just being able to survive, have enough to eat, and send our children to school is already a great blessing.”

"Women can't show their faces in public, that's a rule for men. We country folk, even six or seven-year-old children have to work, we don't have so many rules. Country women work in the fields every day."

Now I can work in a workshop, sit all day, and earn an income every month. What more could I ask for?

Shen Shixing was quite indignant. "We didn't mean that."

Su Er did not argue with him, but instead acted as if she were a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.

"We all remember our benefactor's kindness, which is why you officials often find fault with him. I am seventy-six years old; punish me if you wish."

After asking several more questions, Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing gained a general understanding of Xishan Village.

The two walked silently on the cobblestone path.

As they walked, Zhang Juzheng finally opened up and started talking.

"Ru Mo." His eyes were somewhat profound. "Do you remember the refugees who gathered in the western suburbs of the capital during the plague?"

“How could I not remember?” Shen Shixing said with great emotion. “At that time, tens of thousands of refugees gathered outside the western suburbs. Hunger and disease were rampant. Everyone was like a skeleton, dressed in tattered clothes. As long as they could be given a bite to eat, they would do anything.”

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Shen Shixing was not someone who sat in the court all day and didn't care about worldly affairs.

He not only visited the refugees, but also toured various prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Beizhili. He had seen far too much of the living conditions and hardships of ordinary people.

The family of five huddled in their mud-brick house, shivering. Those who could afford to wear coarse cloth jackets were considered to have once been "respectable."

Some of them looked numb, some were thin with limbs but bloated with bellies. They were already grateful to have a bowl of rice to eat, let alone anything else.

However, what one sees and hears in Xishan Village is completely different.

It's no exaggeration to say that the living conditions of the people in Xishan are comparable to those of wealthy households in ordinary villages.

However, who has ever seen a town where tens of thousands of wealthy households live together?

For a moment, Shen Shixing was filled with emotion, and he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if the Xishan Method were promoted throughout the country.

Wouldn't that bring about a peaceful and prosperous world?

He couldn't help but say, "I never imagined that Magistrate Zhang would possess such talent in governing the people. It seems that the methods of Xishan have some merit. If these methods were applied to the whole country..."

“Not so.” Zhang Juzheng shook his head. “Just because it works in Xishan doesn’t mean it will work everywhere. The new policies will take time to be implemented, let alone the Xishan method. Besides…”

His hesitant expression suggested that he couldn't very well tell Shen Shixing directly that, according to Zhang Yunxiu's rebellious son's plan, implementing the Xishan Law would be tantamount to deposing the emperor.

Even so, Zhang Juzheng quickened his pace. He was already quite impatient. If this was the scene in the homes of ordinary people, what about in the mines? What about in the workshops?

Is this the way for the Ming Dynasty to save the world?

As the two were walking along the cement road, a group of people rushed over in a great hurry.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a group of Imperial Guards.

"stop!"

The Imperial Guards, riding fine horses, surrounded the two men.

A moment later, a scholar in a blue robe stepped out from the crowd. His face was ashen. He took two steps forward and immediately began to berate them without saying a word.

"Who exactly are you two? I know Yang and Wang, the officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, well. Why are you impersonating them?"
"You two infiltrated my heavily guarded Western Hills area to investigate. Were you acting on orders from someone? Tell the truth, or if the Vice Magistrate returns, I won't be so accommodating!"

After saying this, the scholar flew into a rage.

"I have already said that the imperial court should not be involved in the affairs of Xishan. They are all a bunch of incompetent officials who only think about making money all day long!"

Dealing with these people is a complete waste of my research time. How will I ever be able to invent a steam engine if I keep doing this?

The Imperial Guards were watching him intently, and the scholar in blue robes was spouting nonsense again, but Zhang Juzheng remained unmoved.

He squinted, staring intently at the man's face, and couldn't help but speak in a cold voice.

"So you are Zhao Changji?"

Zhao Shizhen was stunned for a moment. With his dark circles under his eyes, he raised his monocle and looked at the man. He was so frightened that he wet himself.

"Grand Secretary"

Looking at the old man next to him, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Grand Secretary Shen."

(End of this chapter)