Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 332 A Thousand Pieces of Gold and a Horse's Bones
Then, all the officials in the court craned their necks, held their breath, and secretly pondered.

According to ancestral rules and regulations, with these four appointed, the next step should be the appointment of the Ministers of Justice and the Minister of War.

The Ministry of War, in particular, is crucial; the safety of the nine border regions and the survival of the nation depend on it. I wonder which veteran general or renowned minister the Emperor favors.

However, if these officials could figure out everything that happened in the court, then what kind of emperor would he be?

The emperor on the dragon throne, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, slowly closed the register on his desk.

"Wang Chengen," the emperor's voice was calm.

Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, immediately bowed and stepped forward, his high-pitched voice echoing in the empty hall: "This servant is here."

"By imperial decree, all the artisans who contributed to the 'hand-cranked four-spindle spinning machine' project shall come to the palace for an audience."

"According to the order!"

Wang Chengen's announcement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a storm in the hearts of all the officials!

The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony fell into complete silence in an instant; you could hear a pin drop.

Then, the silence turned into a buzzing murmur, like countless bees hovering in the hall.

"What? Summon... artisans to the court?" A censor could hardly believe his ears. He subconsciously looked at his colleague beside him and saw that the other's face also showed the same astonishment and confusion.

“Since Emperor Taizu Gao established his capital in Nanjing, has there ever been a precedent of a commoner or craftsman appearing before the emperor? This is absurd! This is utterly improper!” An old scholar was so angry that his beard trembled and his face turned a deep purplish-red.

This shock quickly turned into anger and humiliation!

What do you mean?
Ordinary people can now access the Hall of Supreme Harmony?
Then what are we?
I have spent ten years studying diligently, enduring hardship and striving to survive the fierce competition of the imperial examinations, finally earning the right to stand in the imperial court.

Why should these lowly laborers who drive carts, sell goods, and wield hammers be ranked with us?

What exactly does the emperor want to do?
Does he intend to trample on the dignity of us scholars?

For a time, many officials were filled with grief and indignation at the "loss of civility" and the "collapse of ancestral systems."

They looked at the young emperor high above them, their eyes filled with incomprehension, doubt, and even a hint of hidden dissatisfaction.

Outside the main hall, on the plaza paved with gold bricks, seven men dressed in brand-new craftsmen's clothes stood with their hands at their sides, their hearts filled with unease.

The man in the lead was none other than Zhang Ji.

He kept his head down, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see the slightly trembling legs of several old buddies beside him.

The past year or so has felt like a dream to them.

A little over a year ago, they were just making a living in their respective hometowns, relying on their ancestral crafts, and were considered artisans with some reputation in the surrounding area.

But suddenly an imperial edict summoned them from all corners of the country to the capital.

Upon arriving in the capital, instead of the hardships he had imagined, he was put into the "Craftsmen's Residence" specially set up by the Ministry of Works, where he was provided with good food and drink, and his monthly salary was more than he had earned in a year before.

What moved them even more to tears was that the imperial court sent people to bring their wives and children over and made proper arrangements for them, so that they had no worries at all.

In their entire lives, when have they ever received such treatment?

So everyone poured their hearts and souls into the "new spinning machine".

They've lost count of how many times they failed, how many drawings they made, and how much wood they wasted.

All I remember is that those officials never scolded us; they just squatted with us in the workshop, planing wood together, sawing together, and staying up all night working together to make a gear mesh.

Finally, the "magical machine" that could make four yarns fly together was created!
And now, these craftsmen, who have spent their entire lives dealing with wood and iron, have actually been given the opportunity to enter the palace and meet the emperor!

This is a glorious honor that brings honor to one's ancestors and can be engraved on the ancestral tablet!
Zhang Ji took a deep breath and silently prayed, "May our ancestors protect us and not be disrespectful."

Just as he was pondering this, he heard a eunuch's high-pitched voice announce from inside the hall: "Summon—Zhang Ji, Qian Lingyun, Sun Qiao, Li Chi, Zhou Zhuan, Wu Si, and Zheng Gu to an audience—"

The seven men trembled. Led by the young eunuch, they took stiff steps and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a place they had never imagined they would enter before, a place that represented the highest power of the empire.

The hall was resplendent in gold and jade, with imposing golden pillars adorned with coiled dragons. The gazes of the civil and military officials on both sides were like needles piercing their bodies, making them almost afraid to look up.

The seven men dared not look any longer, and quickly walked to His Majesty. Following the etiquette they had rehearsed countless times beforehand, they knelt down with a thud, their foreheads pressed tightly against the gold bricks. With all their might, they trembled and shouted, "Your Majesty, this humble subject Zhang Ji (Qian Lingyun...) pays his respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The voices were not in unison, and even carried heavy regional accents, yet they conveyed a deep sense of awe and excitement.

Upon hearing this, many officials revealed a sneer of disdain.

The emperor, however, did not care. He said gently to Wang Chengen, "Read it."

Wang Chengen stepped forward, unfurled a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, and read aloud:
"Imperial Edict on Commending Craftsmen Who Made Contributions to the 'Hand-cranked Four-spindle Spinning Machine' Project and Establishing the Honorary Title of 'Academician of Tiangong'".

Upon hearing this headline, many officials frowned.

Wang Chengen continued reading: "...I believe that the strength of the nation is rooted in the people's livelihood; the prosperity of the people's livelihood comes from the various crafts... For a long time, craftsmen have worked in the marketplace and contributed to the countryside. Their achievements are great, but their names are not well known, which I regret very much... Now there are seven craftsmen who use wood and stone as paper and carving knives as pens... and finally they have created a 'hand-cranked four-spindle spinning machine' so that the spinning output of one person can be equivalent to the work of four people in the past."

This is not some strange or ingenious skill, but a vital instrument that benefits the nation and its people, and enriches the world! Without the perseverance of these seven men, this instrument would still only exist in my mind… Its merit is comparable to that of a strategist who plans brilliantly and a capable minister who governs effectively!…

When the imperial edict was read, the hall fell silent.

The expressions on the faces of the officials were varied and fascinating, ranging from astonishment and disdain to anger and contemplation.

To place the skills of craftsmen on par with those of generals and virtuous ministers?

This move is nothing short of turning the order of superiors and inferiors, and the distinction between the noble and the lowly, upside down the universe!
Zhang Ji and the others listened with tears in their eyes and trembling all over.

So this is how the emperor viewed them!

The emperor saw and remembered everything they did!
At this moment, they felt that all their previous hardships and sacrifices had been worthwhile! Even if they died now, it would be worth it!

The imperial edict was already a raging storm, but the officials were unaware that this was merely the prelude to the tempest; the truly earth-shattering thunder was yet to come!
After Wang Chengen finished reading the section praising the craftsmen's achievements, he bowed his head and stepped aside, leaving the second half of the imperial edict unread.

The air in the entire hall seemed to freeze. Everyone understood that the real climax would be initiated by the emperor himself!

As expected, this time, the emperor did not have anyone do it for him.

He slowly rose from the dragon throne, his not particularly imposing physique now exuding an aura of majesty that made people dare not look him in the eye.

His gaze, like a sharp sword sweeping across the autumn wind, swept over every bewildered face in the hall before finally settling on the seven trembling, excited craftsmen, and turning into a warm gaze.

Immediately, the emperor's deep and clear voice resounded throughout every corner of the Hall of Supreme Harmony:
"To recognize their achievements and to encourage all craftsmen throughout the land," the emperor's voice was clear and firm, "today, in this Hall of Supreme Harmony, I personally establish the highest honor for the craftsmen of my Great Ming Dynasty—'Academician of Heavenly Craftsmanship'!"

"From this day forward, the Hall of Fame of the Institute of Natural Sciences shall be established under the Institute of Natural Sciences."

"Anyone who makes a major invention or innovation in the fields of science, manufacturing, water conservancy, military industry, agricultural tools, medicine, etc., that is beneficial to the country, the military, and the people, may be awarded the lifelong honorary title of 'Academician of the Heavenly Crafts' after being reviewed by the Ministry of Works and the Academy of Sciences and approved by me personally!"

"The title of 'Academician of Heavenly Craftsmanship' is not an official position, yet one can see an official without bowing to them, and enjoys the salary of a third-rank official! This is the highest respect the Ming Dynasty has for top-notch technical talents!"

The emperor's voice still echoed in the hall, but the officials were already in a state of shock, almost fainting!

"He will not bow to officials!" "He will enjoy the salary of a third-rank official!"
These two words are more than just heavenly thunder! They are like divine thunder from the heavens, shattering the souls of all the officials in the court!

A third-rank official!
What does that even mean?!

That is the prestigious position of the Left and Right Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries!
That's the majesty of the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!
These are the high-ranking officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony who are qualified to stand at the forefront and discuss matters with the nation!

Of the officials present, more than 90% would never reach such a high position in their entire lives!
Many learned scholars who passed the imperial examinations spent their entire lives in the Hanlin Academy, toiling away in local government offices, only to achieve a rank of fourth or fifth grade.

Nowadays, a group of craftsmen who sell goods and labor, without taking the imperial examinations or engaging in literary pursuits, have risen to the top and become comparable to high-ranking officials in the imperial court, simply by relying on their "minor skills".
This makes those officials who have painstakingly worked their way up in the officialdom for decades to reach the fourth or fifth rank feel utterly ashamed!

Doesn't this mean that all their lifelong hard work studying and navigating the ups and downs of officialdom are less valuable than a single piece of machinery tinkered up by these craftsmen?

In an instant, countless officials felt their blood rush to their head and their vision go black. The fire of humiliation, absurdity, jealousy and hatred in their chests almost burned through their official robes!

The emperor didn't give them much time to process this. He raised his hand, pointed at Zhang Ji and the other seven, and said in a passionate voice:
"I hereby announce the first batch of Academicians of the Heavenly Craftsmanship of my Great Ming Dynasty—"

"The names of these seven individuals, along with their hometowns and achievements, will all be recorded in the national history by the historians, and their legacy will endure alongside the nation!"

The emperor paused, then loudly proclaimed the names, each word like the sound of metal and stone, striking the hearts of all the officials.

"Chief Craftsman: Zhang Ji! Originally from Beizhili, he is skilled in using plumb lines and is especially adept at ingenious connections and gravitational transmission techniques!"

"Deputy Chief Craftsman: Qian Lingyun! Originally from Yingtian Prefecture, he is skilled in smelting and forging, capable of crafting machine parts with millimeters of precision. His craftsmanship is so exquisite that even the most skilled craftsmen cannot match it!"

"Master Craftsman: Sun Qiao! Originally from Zhejiang, he specializes in mortise and tenon joints and bracket sets, making even the heaviest objects as stable as mountains!"

"Master Craftsman: Li Chi! Originally from Shanxi, he is skilled in drafting and architectural design, with impeccable precision!"

"Core Craftsman: Zhou Zhuan! Originally from Fujian, he has unique expertise in ropes, pulleys, belts, and winches!"

"Core Craftsman: Wu Si! Originally from Jiangxi, he excels at exploring every variation and experimenting repeatedly to achieve perfection!"

"Core Craftsman: Zheng Gu! Originally from Huguang, he oversees the assembly of thousands of components, adjusting their key points to ensure smooth operation!"

Each time a name was read, the person whose name was called would shudder, then uncontrollably kneel down on the ground, tears streaming down their face, sobbing uncontrollably.

They were just humble craftsmen, yet one day their names were spoken by the emperor himself and recorded in history, leaving a lasting legacy!
What an honor!

What a blessing this is!
However, the shock among the courtiers was not yet over.

Just then, the emperor waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Bring it up!" Outside the hall, several burly imperial guards carried in a huge object and gently placed it in the center of the hall.

The object was quite large and had a peculiar shape.

Many officials who had seen the spinning machine had new questions, because this thing looked several times larger than an ordinary spinning wheel, and its structure was extremely complex. It looked very different!
"This...what is this?"

"Could it be that 'hand-cranked four-spindle spinning machine'?"

"Its shape is strange, and I wonder what its purpose is."

Just as everyone was discussing the matter, the emperor issued another order, and this order caused an even bigger uproar in the court than the previous reward for the craftsmen!
"Summon Zhao, the female craftswoman, to the palace to demonstrate!"

This caused an uproar in the entire court, like hot oil being poured into boiling water!

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! To allow...to allow a mere woman to enter the palace?!"

"What kind of behavior is this! This is a sacred place of our ancestors and the nation; how can such filth and evil be allowed to enter! This act is not only immoral but also detrimental to the dignity of our country!"

"Since ancient times, a hen crowing at dawn has been an omen of misfortune for the family; a woman interfering in politics has been a great calamity for the nation! Although she is not interfering in politics now, her presence in the inner chambers is already a sign that shakes the foundation of the country! Your Majesty, please think it over, please think it over!"

A group of officials, led by officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate, wept uncontrollably, as if they had lost their parents. They knelt down in large numbers, kowtowing repeatedly, and pleading with tears streaming down their faces, as if the sky were about to collapse.

The emperor looked at them coldly, the last trace of warmth in his eyes gone.

He calmly looked at Wang Chengen in front of him and uttered a few words:
Write it all down.

Wang Chengen's heart skipped a beat. He bowed and replied, "Yes." With a slight flick of his whisk, several eunuchs stepped forward with pens and wrote down the names of the dozen or so officials who had just cried out the most fiercely and spoken the most vehemently.

The wailing officials were momentarily speechless, exchanging bewildered glances, a sense of foreboding rising within them.

The emperor didn't even glance at them again, turning his gaze to the palace gate: "Summon Zhao, the female craftswoman."

Soon, a woman of about thirty years old, dressed in clean cloth clothes, with calloused hands, walked in cautiously with her head down, led by a young eunuch.

She had never seen anything like it before. As soon as she entered the hall, she was so frightened by the solemn and murderous atmosphere that she trembled all over and almost collapsed to the ground.

The emperor's voice, however, softened considerably at this moment, as if a spring breeze had melted snow: "Zhao, do not be afraid. Raise your head and come before me."

His gaze swept over the officials who were still kneeling on the ground, their faces full of resentment, and his tone became icy again.

"You only need to operate this textile machine as you would in a workshop, and let all the officials see how this seemingly lowly skill, which they consider unworthy of respect, and how women can create wealth for our Great Ming and weave clothes for the people of the world."

The female worker, Zhao, felt the encouragement and strength in the emperor's tone. She took a deep breath, and her trembling body miraculously stabilized.

She walked up to the huge spinning machine, her eyes fixed on this familiar companion.

She first skillfully inspected the spindles and transmission ropes, then bowed deeply to the emperor on the dragon throne.

Just then, the emperor's cold voice rang out again, this time issuing an order to Wang Chengen:
"Those people I just noted down, there's no need to wait until the court session ends. Immediately, have the Imperial Guards strip them of their official robes and confiscate their official certificates right outside this hall. Let them beat their feet and wail as they please, it's none of my business. Issue my decree: These people, who have roared in the court, criticized the emperor, and obstructed the nation's vital instruments, are hereby stripped of all their titles and honors, sent back to their hometowns, and their descendants for three generations are barred from taking the imperial examinations and never to be employed again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony fell silent!

All the officials, whether they had been opposing or observing just moments before, now felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, chilled to the bone.

The young emperor on the throne will crush any obstacle in his path without mercy!
The emperor said nothing more, but simply made a starting gesture.

What followed was a scene that everyone present would never forget.

The female worker, Zhao, did not appear flustered or disorganized like a typical spinner.

She stood firmly, gently grasped the large wooden wheel crank on the right side of the machine with her right hand, and began to rotate it at a steady speed.

"Buzzing—"

As the large wheel turned, through a set of ingenious ropes, the four small spindles arranged side by side began to rotate at high speed at the same time, emitting a uniform buzzing sound!

This single move alone was enough to secretly alarm some knowledgeable people.

But the most amazing thing is yet to come!

The female worker's left hand operated a wooden handle that was connected to the main body of the machine.

She gently pulled the handle backward, and the sliding wooden frame that held the four rolls of coarse cotton yarn moved smoothly and slowly backward along the lower rail.

As the sliding frame moves backward, the four rovings are simultaneously pulled out of the cotton roll and magically stretched and thinned by the twisting force of the spindle!
This is not the end!

During the stretching process, the four high-speed rotating spindles are twisting the four stretched fibers at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning the loose fibers into a strong and uniform fine yarn!
One person, two hands, drives four spindles, spinning four threads simultaneously!

This scene was like the work of ghosts and gods, completely beyond the comprehension of everyone present!
Once the yarn has been stretched to the appropriate length and fineness, the female worker stops pulling it back and then pushes the handle in the opposite direction. The four sections of snow-white yarn that have been spun are then neatly and precisely wound onto the four spindles at the same time.

Then she pulled the sliding frame again, repeating the process.

The entire operation was smooth and seamless, without any unnecessary movements, only the stable and efficient hum of the machine.

I know everything!

This is even more outrageous!
Those officials whose families owned textile businesses were now so astonished that their mouths were agape and their eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

"Oh my god!"

"This...this new textile machine, is this still the textile machine I know?"

"Four spindles... spinning at the same time... How is this possible!"

"One person did the work of four people!"

"Not only that! Look how easily she operates, how evenly she spins the yarn! It's even better than what the master spins! This is incredible!"

Shocking, absolutely stunning!

If the previous rewards were merely a shock to values, then what they were seeing with their own eyes now sent chills down the spines of every official with a modicum of sense!
This means that cotton yarn production will increase several times over! Fabric prices will drop dramatically! The original textile industry landscape will be completely overturned!

It means... endless wealth and endless possibilities!
Seeing the distraught expressions of his officials, a cold smile finally appeared on the emperor's lips. He slowly descended the steps to the still-humming spinning machine, reached out and stroked its cold surface, then turned to face his assembled court officials and said in a deep voice:
"My lords, look carefully! This is what you usually scorn and call 'strange skills and tricks'—its power is evident!"

The emperor's voice echoed throughout the hall, deafening and resounding.

"Theoretically, its efficiency has quadrupled! Even considering the issue of female workers' skill level, a skilled worker's actual output can easily reach more than three times that of the past!"

"What does this mean?" the emperor emphasized. "It means that a job that originally required four, or even five or six, female workers can now be completed by just one person!"

"The impact it brought was unparalleled! It was not just an invention, but a harbinger! A harbinger to the whole world of an imminent new era centered on efficiency!"

After the emperor finished speaking, the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony remained silent.

This time, it wasn't because of shock, but because of a profound sense of reflection and fear.

They seemed to see a door to a new world being slowly pushed open by the emperor himself!

After a long while, the emperor returned to his throne, his gaze sharp as a knife as he once again swept across the entire audience.

This time, no one dared to meet his gaze.

Zhu Youjian looked at the Minister of Rites: "Wen Tiren."

Wen Tiren immediately stepped forward and said, "Your subject is here."

"I will announce today's events to the world! I not only want all the artisans to know of their glory, but I also want all the scholars to see what true practical application of knowledge is!"

Wen Tiren understood immediately and kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Subsequently, a detailed plan on how to publicize this matter through the "Da Ming Weekly" was dictated by the emperor and recorded by Wang Chengen, and quickly took shape.

"The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works shall work together to make this commendation event the front page headline of the next issue of the Ming Dynasty Weekly, with the headline 'The Holy Emperor Rewards Skilled Workers, Seven Commoners Enter the Hall of Fame,' to announce it to the world!"

"The content of the page must include: "First, the full text of the Emperor's edict! It must be printed in the largest Song typeface so that every literate citizen can feel the Emperor's boundless grace!"

"Secondly, the introduction of the 'Academicians of Tiangong'! The names, hometowns, and backgrounds of these seven craftsmen, such as 'three generations of carpenters' and 'former renowned blacksmiths,' as well as their specific contributions to the project, will be detailed to highlight their achievements!"

"Thirdly, Minister Song personally wrote an article! He ordered Song Yingxing, Minister of Works, to personally write an article entitled 'On the Spirit of Craftsmen Not Inferior to that of Officials,' detailing the hardships and joys of living and working alongside the craftsmen, and conducting research together, in order to clarify to the world the new concept of 'unity of officials and craftsmen, and prioritizing the investigation of things'!"

"Fourth, print the designs for the rewards! Court painters shall create exquisite designs for the 'Heavenly Crafted Purple Ribbon and Qilin Robe' and the 'Investigation of Things and Attainment of Knowledge Medal,' ensuring that their images are deeply ingrained in people's minds and that all the people of the world know that this is the supreme honor of the craftsmen of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

"This editorial aims to clarify the truth and set things right! I want to clearly tell all scholars in the world: What does it mean that all professions are inferior? Useless learning is inferior! What does it mean to be a virtuous scholar? Learning for practical application, benefiting the country and the people, is the mark of a true virtuous scholar! We must overturn and shatter these outdated and ignorant views that prioritize profit and fame and waste the country and the people!"

"Order local officials to organize personnel to post and publicize the message in densely populated areas, ensuring that it is known to every woman and child and deeply ingrained in people's hearts!"

In the end, the emperor opened his arms as if to embrace the entire world.

His voice was filled with unprecedented passion and determination:

"I want all scholars in the world to know that empty talk in the study is no match for the sweat and toil in the workshop!"

"I want all the artisans in the world to know that your wisdom and your hands are also an indispensable cornerstone of the empire!"

"From this day forward, our Great Ming Dynasty will not only respect learned scholars, but also masters of their craft!"

(End of this chapter)