The importance of craftsmen to the development of the country is self-evident. Now Liu Hong has decided to take this opportunity to elevate the status of craftsmen, thereby drawing attention to them.

The conferment of titles was just the beginning, so Liu Hong kept a close eye on Chen Fan and the others. It would be best if they agreed, but if they objected, Liu Hong wouldn't mind replacing them.

"Your subject agrees to grant the title of Marquis to the Director of the Imperial Workshop!"

A moment later, Hu Guang was the first to stand up, indicating that he agreed with the emperor's opinion.

Cao Song also stood up and said, "I agree!"

"Your subject agrees!"

After a moment's thought, Chen Fan felt there was nothing wrong with it and stood up to agree.

Liu Hong looked at Yuan Feng, "What about Sikong? What does he think?"

"Your subject also agrees to grant the title of Marquis to the Director of the Imperial Workshop!"

Seeing that Chen Fan, Hu Guang, and Cao Song all agreed, and feeling the emperor's sharp gaze, Yuan Feng also spoke up and agreed.

Yuan Feng knew that as a representative of the aristocratic families supported by the emperor, if he were to voice his opposition now, the emperor would likely abandon the Yuan family in an instant and support another family to crush the Yuan family.

After all, there were quite a few powerful families eyeing the Yuan family's position.

Meanwhile, Mo Shang and several Mo family disciples were extremely excited. Being granted a title of nobility was something they never dared to dream of.

"Very well! Since all of you have agreed, then this matter will be announced to the officials at tomorrow's court assembly!"

Liu Hong smiled. With the Grand Tutor and the Three Dukes in agreement, no matter how much the other officials objected, they wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

"Now that this matter is settled, all of you may return to your posts! As for the Grand Edict, the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Works will be responsible for drafting it!"

"promise!"

Liu Hong then instructed Zhang Rang to escort Chen Fan and the others out of the palace.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

After Chen Fan and the others left, Mo Shang and the Mo family disciples knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Liu Hong to express their gratitude.

"Get up now! You deserve this."

Liu Hong stepped forward and helped Mo Shang up, then said with a laugh, "From now on, you're not allowed to kneel or bow casually. This kind of thing doesn't apply to the Han Dynasty, understand?"

"promise!"

Then Liu Hong looked at Mo Shang and said, "I do have a method that may greatly shorten the manufacturing time of the curved plow. Mo Qing, you might as well give it a try when you get back."

"Your Majesty, please speak!"

Liu Hong recalled the assembly line production methods of later generations and said, "I think the reason why the curved plow is slow to be made is because the method is wrong!"

"Wrong method?" Mo Shang looked at Liu Hong with some doubt.

“That’s right, Mo Qing. Think about it. All the parts of this curved plow were made by one person. He had just finished making the plow body and then had to turn around to make the handle. The switching between these tasks would definitely consume a lot of his mind and greatly slow down the manufacturing progress.”

"Your Majesty is indeed insightful and has hit the nail on the head. That is absolutely true!"

The emperor's words made Mo Shang's eyes light up. As a craftsman, he naturally felt the same way.

"Hehe~ Don't be in such a hurry to flatter me, I haven't finished yet!"

"Uh... Your Majesty, please speak!"

Mo Shang smiled awkwardly. He had spoken from the bottom of his heart and there was absolutely no flattery involved.

"I believe that when Mo Qing returns, he might as well apply the same division of labor and final assembly method used in the Qin Dynasty's crossbows to the making of this curved plow!"

Mo Shang nodded. "Your Majesty's method is indeed feasible. The Mo family might be able to implement it, but other artisan workshops may find it difficult to do so due to their different standards of measurement!"

"Then let's standardize the dimensions and have local government workshops strictly follow this standard. Once the government sets a standard, the artisans in the workshops will eventually follow it too!"

"Your Majesty is right!"

"Didn't Zhang Rang send some slaves over there a few days ago? You can try this method when you get back and come up with a plan as soon as possible!"

"promise!"

After Chen Fan and Hu Guang left Deyang Palace and returned to their official residence, they discussed the drafting of the Great Proclamation.

Chen Fan said, "Brother Boshi, I think that since this great proclamation is for the common people and craftsmen to see, its content should be simple and clear so that they can understand it."

Hu Guang nodded, "Brother Zhongju is right. Apart from praising His Majesty, everything else can be stated directly in plain language!"

"good!"

Upon returning to the Yuan residence, Yuan Feng sent someone to invite Yuan Wei and Yuan Cheng to his home.

Yuan Feng led his two brothers to the study and told them in detail about how Liu Hong had summoned him that day and how the Emperor was preparing to confer a marquisate upon Mo Shang.

After listening to Yuan Feng's account, Yuan Wei said, "Your Majesty's move is not hard to understand. Apart from Mo Shang's great contributions, it is simply to elevate the status of craftsmen."

Yuan Cheng nodded. "Indeed! Judging from this curved plow, these craftsmen are indeed remarkable. They may have an unimaginable impact on the Han Dynasty in the future!"

Seeing that his two brothers didn't seem too bothered by Mo Shang's title of nobility, he suddenly realized that it was indeed just a title, not an official position, and it wouldn't have much impact on people from aristocratic families like them.

Furthermore, many of the younger generation in their aristocratic families are interested in engineering and machinery. Once this precedent is set, their descendants will have another path to take.

Thinking of this, Yuan Feng felt relieved, and then looked at his two brothers, "Then should our Yuan family support His Majesty?"

“Shao’er has already joined the Imperial Guard and become the Emperor’s disciple. In the future, Shu’er will also enter officialdom. Now that my elder brother is the Minister of Works, the Yuan family is closely attached to His Majesty and should be supported!” Yuan Wei nodded and said.

"Very well! We'll give the order in a moment, and at tomorrow's court assembly, we must ensure that the Emperor makes this decision!"

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