"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this is inappropriate, isn't it?" Shoufu Xue Guoguan was the first to raise an objection and said, "Although the imperial court has a little money now, but this is just a one-shot deal, if even this kind of thing costs money, this money is estimated to not take long!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng on the side heard this, and also played the right words: "Your Majesty, once this matter is opened, what will I do in the future?" What about the other errands? Weichen thought that Shoufu's concerns still had to be considered. ”

Sun Chuanting was also there, and also stood up and objected: "Your Majesty, this is not only the case in my Ming Dynasty, even in previous dynasties, why make an exception?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen saw that several of his henchmen and courtiers were opposed, so he couldn't help but bow his head and think for a while, then raised his head and said to them: "You Aiqing is also reasonable, then it's okay, I will take a step back, and the craftsmen used by the royal family will do what I say, and the rest will still be done according to the original, so it's okay?" ”

Just now, he proposed to his confidants that the current labor system, including craftsmen, should be abolished, and that people from all walks of life should no longer be required to work for the government without compensation, but instead changed to a salary system.

Since ancient times, the burden of the common people has been divided into two parts, one is taxation and the other is servitude. It can even be said that the impact on the lives of ordinary people, sometimes, the service is more than the tax. Because this service, no matter what it is, escorting food, building roads, building water conservancy, and even low-profile errands such as serving as a servant are all a kind of service, and if it is their turn, they must be done free of charge.

Some of the big labor, such as building the Great Wall, many people went and never came back. Even if the Great Wall is not built, as long as the government is not careful, it will be difficult for many laborers to return to their hometowns safely.

However, after Zhang Juzheng's whip reform, everything can be converted into silver. Including service, yes. As long as you pay the silver, you don't have to serve.

But no matter what, this thing is a mountain that weighs on the people. The operation of the government also depends on the two legs of service and taxes. But now, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly proposed to abolish this unpaid service and change it to a salary system. For future generations, this is not too ordinary, but for people at this time, it is a very shocking thing.

Therefore, even his confidants and courtiers, including Xue Guoguan, Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting, all expressed their opposing opinions.

For this, in fact, Emperor Chongzhen expected it. It's just that he is a little unsure of the attitude of the ancients, so he tries to put it forward, if he can accept it, it is the best, if he can't accept it, then he can take a step back.

The reason why he thought about it for a while just now before answering it was because he originally wanted to answer Xue Guoguan's question.

If free service is abolished, then all the pressure will be on this tax. According to the understanding of the people of this era, it is impossible to support the operation of the imperial court by taxes alone. But for Emperor Chongzhen, who came from later generations, it was not a problem at all. As long as business is vigorously developed, communication between various localities can greatly promote the productivity of various localities. As long as the total amount of commerce increases, then the increase in commercial tax and industrial tax revenue driven by commercial development can make up for the exemption of this part of the service. Even the plans he already has in the plan can bring enough profits to the imperial court and him to support the operation of the imperial court.

However, Emperor Chongzhen finally considered that these things were still a bit difficult to explain for the ancients. Instead of wasting saliva, it is better to do a pilot first to promote it, and the resistance encountered should be greatly reduced.

Otherwise, no matter how good the policy is, after it is implemented in the local area, with the wisdom and wisdom of the Chinese people, it can be interpreted and implemented for you to a crooked road that you can't even think of.

This has been proven many times in history. In particular, the bigger the country, the more difficult it is to reform the system.

At this time, hearing that Emperor Chongzhen had given in, Xue Guo looked at Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting, and after making eye contact, he said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, must this matter be done?" ”

It seems that they still want to persuade the emperor again.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he had to explain again: "I ask Qing and others, can the people have enthusiasm for the continuous labor? Can you take the initiative to do things? Or is it necessary to rely on the supervision, whipping, and pressure of the government to accomplish what needs to be done? ”

There is no need to answer this matter, and the feudal officials present naturally know what the answer is. They also understand the truth, and only when it is related to the vital interests of those people, their enthusiasm will be higher. For example, when water conservancy is built, the local people will be much more active than in other places. Of course, lazy people also exist. This, in fact, is the truth of the big pot of rice.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't need them to answer, so he continued: "Not to mention anything else, just the craftsmen who inspected the War Bureau before me are very dissatisfied. What kind of craftsmen are they! To put it mildly, it is a group of bastards waiting for death, wasting time waiting for the craftsman to finish. Their level, needless to say, should also be known. Those craftsmen with exquisite skills are all working in silver, so they will not come to serve as craftsmen. ”

Seeing that Sun Chuanting seemed to want to speak, he expected it, so he looked at Sun Chuanting and said: "Then strictly discipline them, and punish them severely if they dare to be lazy and treacherous, and use supervision, whipping, severe punishment, and coercion like other labor services?" ”

"Yes, it might allow them to do what they have to do, but that's about it." When Emperor Chongzhen said this, his face was serious, he looked at the three courtiers in front of him and said, "But what the War Bureau makes is ordnance armor, and in this kind of thing, there is no best, only better." Qing and others also said that Jianyu's armor is better than my Ming's. But if on the other hand, my Ming is better than Jianyudi, will that greatly improve the combat effectiveness of the army? ”

Sometimes, the truth of the matter is actually very simple, but, based on habitual thinking, you don't think about it deeply. But if someone mentions it, it will make people think that this matter is actually like this, which is very understandable.

"Your Majesty, isn't that okay with a reward?" When Lu Xiangsheng heard this, he played again.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, the rewards and punishments are clear, especially these ministers who lead troops can understand. However, he added: "Yes, but I really don't want to buy and sell it all at once, but as a system, it will be passed on for a long time." If you don't even have a basic livelihood guarantee, how many people will be willing to fight for a reward? Therefore, my idea is to give them a fortune so that they can have no worries about food and clothing, so that they can devote more energy to the creation of armor. And on this basis, we will give the necessary rewards to improve their enthusiasm for innovation. In this way, I don't believe it, with my Ming manpower, I can't create more sophisticated and powerful armor? ”

Xue Guoguan listened, and was the first to rebel against his position, and immediately supported: "Your Majesty Shengming, Weichen thinks that this is the same reason as Your Majesty's increase in the salary of Ming officials!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting glanced at him, and then looked at the emperor, both of whom said that they had no objections.

When it comes to armaments, the two of them definitely feel more than any other courtier. If the Ming Dynasty can overwhelm Jianyu in the sophistication of the armor, then for a Baoding governor and a Jiliao governor, the pressure will be greatly reduced.

Who knew that Emperor Chongzhen was not finished, and continued: "After this innovation of mine is announced, when I can gather the smartest craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty and let them have no worries about food and clothing, there is another intention, that is, to prepare them to record what they have learned, form a complete set of records of apprenticeship, and pass on this experience and craftsmanship to others......

"Apprentices?" When Xue Guoguan heard this, he couldn't help but interject.

Or only Xue Manzi would interject in surprise.

"Yes, that's right!" Emperor Chongzhen didn't care, but nodded with a smile, "But this apprenticeship is not a private matter of craftsmen, but a matter of the government." For now, it's the royal family who comes in. Qing can be understood as similar to county learning, but instead of teaching the Four Books and Five Classics, it is the craft of building armor and armor! In this way, the craft can be passed on without fear of being lost. ”

His statement is a completely new thing. The royal family came forward, similar to the county school, not teaching the Four Books and Five Classics, but only teaching the crafts of craftsmen, passed down from generation to generation?

This kind of thing has not existed since ancient times. Even in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the professors of the hundred schools of thought were the actions of their respective people, not the government, let alone the royal government.

As soon as this brand-new point of view was said by Emperor Chongzhen, it was another shock to Lu Xiangsheng and others. They feel that why is the emperor's thoughts one after another today, all of them are so strange, but it sounds very reasonable?

Seeing their pensive looks, Emperor Chongzhen added: "This later matter should also be based on Yulu, not only do you have no worries about food and clothing, but you can even get some other things, such as not worshipping officials." Even for those who have made great contributions, they can be knighted......"

Hearing this, Xue Guoguan and the others couldn't help but be surprised, and hurriedly dissuaded them first. It's appalling that a mere craftsman should be knighted!

However, Emperor Chongzhen didn't give them a chance, and preemptively explained: "Of course, this is my initial idea, this title is not the title that I currently have in the Ming Dynasty, but the kind similar to the pre-Qin military merit title." Create a set of artisan titles, giving them the corresponding status and wealth. In this way, I believe that not only will they be very motivated, but they will also be very motivated to create new armor, and they will also be willing to pass on what they have learned to others! ”

Of course, he's talking about a general situation. After all, there are exceptions to everything. No matter how superior the conditions given by Emperor Chongzhen are, some people will cherish themselves.

Hearing Emperor Chongzhen's explanation, Xue Guoguan and the others couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, okay, fortunately, it was a prince who was sealed by the craftsman, what should I do with the scholars who have studied hard in the cold window?

Based on the example given by Emperor Chongzhen, it is related to the war. After Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting thought about it, they did not object. However, Xue Guoguan, as a representative of readers, was still a little hesitant. I heard him say to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the craftsman is knighted, even if it is similar to the title created by the pre-Qin Dynasty, you still have to be cautious, otherwise, the rough work of the craftsman, not to mention the scholars, the people who farm the land will have opinions......"

"Xue Qing still thinks too badly!" When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he shook his head with a smile and said, "If I tell you that if a craftsman can build a car that flies in the sky and can take people to the sky, you say that this is still rough work, will others still have opinions?" If you build a car or a boat that can walk on its own, do you think it's still rough work? What if we could create a musket that fired lead bullets instead of changing ammunition like it is now......"

Listening to his rhetorical questions one by one, giving examples one by one, not to mention Xue Guoguan, even Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting on the side were all stupid.

Cars flying in the sky? Auto-walking cars, boats? A musket that can also fire lead bullets continuously?

This...... How is this possible! Your Majesty, did you listen to someone talking so nonsense or did you dream about it yourself, what did you dream about?

Thinking like this, Xue Guoguan said a little unfavorably: "Your Majesty, this is ...... It's impossible! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Sun Chuanting, who was straight, also followed, "The other Weichen don't know, but this fire gun must not be fired continuously. ”

Speaking of this, he remembered something, and added: "Weichen can't understand it, even if it's a three-eyed gun or a five-eyed gun, it's just a few clicks, and it can't be launched continuously!" ”

At this time, Da Ming already had a three-eyed gun, and even a five-eyed gun. In his understanding, according to Emperor Chongzhen's words, he imagined it, how many pipes do you need? Same as cellular? But even so, it still can't be continuous, and each pre-loaded buckshot is gone!

Although Lu Xiangsheng didn't speak, he was actually similar, and he couldn't think of what the emperor said, and it was possible to achieve it!

Who knows, Emperor Chongzhen faced their doubts, but said with a smile: "Sun Qing can change his thinking, what if today's fire gun is the same as the Buddha machine, not from the mouth of the gun, but from the back?" Or from the side. And it is not the ignition of the arquebus, but the ignition by firing, and the lead bullet is not just a lead bullet, but it is loaded with the propellant, which can quickly and automatically reload? ”

At this time, there were actually flintlock pistols. With the knowledge and experience of Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting, they naturally know it. However, they still couldn't imagine what the emperor described.

But what the emperor said seems to have a basis. For example, firing ignition, flintlock pistol is, rear loading buckshot, Franc machine is. Lead bullet and propellant together, and the same is done in the army. It's just that when it is loaded, it bites through the wrapper, pours gunpowder, and then loads it with buckshot......

In each case, there seem to be examples to follow. However, everything is so incredible!

For a while, they were all stunned by Emperor Chongzhen's brains.