The Imperial Grandson of the Great Ming

In the seventh year of Hongwu, the legitimate eldest grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the great ancestor of the Ming Dynasty, was born.

He who resides as the legitimate heir will surely ascend to t...

Chapter 80 A Small Attempt

Zhu Xiong Ying did not think that she was omnipotent or that she was so great just because she had traveled through time or been reborn.

He dared not underestimate the people of this era, especially those he could now interact with, who were basically the cream of the crop.

They were either born into wealth or had outstanding abilities; it was extremely difficult for ordinary people to appear around him, or rather, it was very difficult for ordinary people to have the opportunity to stay by Zhu Xiong Ying's side for an extended period of time.

Time travel isn't a magic bullet. Without a certain level of experience and ability, where does one get the confidence to claim exceptional competence? Zhu Xiong Ying's greatest advantage is probably his perspective beyond his own time, his broader view beyond his era, and his understanding of historical trends.

Zhu Xiong Ying paid close attention to many things. For example, at the Tianjin garrison, he ordered a large stockpile of oranges, as well as vegetables and other supplies. All of this was for the navy, especially for those sailors who spent long periods at sea, where vitamin supplements were essential.

Many people may not realize these things yet, but since the Crown Prince Zhu Xiong Ying gave the order, many naturally dared not be careless. Furthermore, some sailors and crew members may have gradually noticed some benefits as well.

Furthermore, in Beiping, Zhu Xiong Ying requested that a large quantity of garlic be prepared, as garlic is a natural antibiotic. Garlic was an essential ingredient for the border troops on campaigns, and Zhu Xiong Ying had a rather high standard for this.

If some people refuse to eat, resist, or outwardly comply but inwardly defy, Zhu Xiong Ying can't do much; he can't possibly monitor every single soldier. But Zhu Xiong Ying believes that once some generals realize this, that will be enough.

Many people know the saying "one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal," but this refers to gunpowder, which is said to have been developed by sorcerers for healing and exorcising evil spirits. Gunpowder was no longer just used for firecrackers; it began to be used in warfare as early as the Tang Dynasty. Especially during the Song Dynasty, cannons and arquebuses began to appear.

While modern firearms are not particularly advanced, they are still quite sophisticated.

Zhu Xiong Ying brought many craftsmen with him, including a gunpowder workshop. This shows that the old Zhu and the eldest Zhu were giving Zhu Xiong Ying more power. Normally, these firearms were of great importance to the royal family, and ordinary officials had no way to access them. Even the Ministry of Works could not get close to them, as they were kept in the Twelve Directorates.

Zhu Xiong Ying, with a detached expression, instructed a eunuch, "My requirements are very simple: for the bronze cannons produced, I demand that every component and every craftsman be traceable. Do you understand?"

The eunuchs nodded repeatedly, and the officials of the Ministry of Works also understood this principle; this was not something Zhu Xiong Ying had invented.

It is said that during the Qin Dynasty, craftsmen were required to inscribe their names on the tools and other items they made. This was naturally to identify the responsible party and ensure quality; such matters could not be taken lightly.

Zhu Xiong Ying continued, "We need to find a way to standardize the muskets and cannons so that some parts can be interchanged in the field. Also, don't be stingy with experiments. I need to test how long a cannon or musket will explode or how long it will malfunction after continuous use!"

This seems a bit unreasonable, because nowadays many people don't seem to have this concept at all. For them, building cannons and guns is enough, and as long as it looks about right on the surface, that's fine.

However, Zhu Xiong Ying was not so easily fooled. He needed his craftsmen and soldiers to understand these firearms better. He hoped to create a production line, which was naturally for the better development of firearms.

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't care about forcing people to do things against their will. As the Crown Prince, the future successor of this vast empire, many people viewed his decrees and orders as unquestionable "divine mandates," tasks that they would do their utmost to complete.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Xiong Ying said, "Reward those who have made contributions and punish those who have made mistakes. Compile a list of craftsmen with outstanding skills and a list of masters who have achieved remarkable results in training apprentices. I will reward them. Remember, those master craftsmen with excellent skills who have solved technical problems should also be recorded."

If Zhu Xiong Ying wanted to do this in Beiping, it would have been somewhat difficult, and the resistance would have been rather significant.

Many people today look down on artisans; the traditional social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are still the mainstream in modern society. Especially Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Zhu), who truly gives the impression of a 'peasant emperor'.

Previously in charge of the Longjiang Shipyard, Zhu Xiong Ying wanted to promote some shipwrights. However, his ideas were not widely supported, not only by some officials but also by the elder Zhu and the Great Zhu.

Rewarding them with gold and silver is no problem, and occasionally granting a few artisans of low social status freedom is also acceptable. However, the resistance to granting them a minor official position or promoting them to a higher official or bureaucratic rank is enormous.

This shows that they understood the core values ​​of the literati and touched upon their interests. After all, becoming an official was almost exclusively a privilege reserved for scholars. These scholars disdained associating with artisans, and they wouldn't even accept a minor official position.

There is a difference between officials and clerks, let alone craftsmen.

Moreover, the household registration system was already chaotic during the early Yuan Dynasty, and Zhu Yuanzhang continued to study these issues after he conquered the country.

By the third year of the Hongwu reign, the household registration system was basically established. The formulation of this system had a profound impact on the Ming Dynasty's taxation.

According to the division of labor, they were divided into civilian households, military households, and artisan households. Civilian households engaged in farming and paid agricultural taxes and performed corvée labor to the state; military households were obligated to serve in the army; and artisan households were required to perform labor service for the palace, government offices, and state-run handicraft industries.

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