Chapter 84 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
The emperor looked at He Fei's memorial.
He Fei's Memorial: 1. Establishing a Grading System for the "Agricultural Implements Order"
- Horse-drawn harvesters were classified as "Class A agricultural machinery" and were only available to government farms and estates with a total area of 500 mu or more.
- Hand-pulled harvesters are classified as "Class B agricultural equipment," allowing ordinary farmers to purchase them with joint guarantees.
- Traditional tools such as sickles will be allowed to circulate freely as "Class C agricultural tools"
2. Establish an agricultural machinery supervision system
- The Agricultural Machinery Bureau was established under the Ministry of Industry to monopolize the casting of core components (gears, chains).
- Implement the "Agricultural Machinery Household Registration" system, where each machine is engraved with a serial number and is bound to the user.
- Horse-drawn harvesters must be equipped with special copper bells that sound as a warning when plowing.
3. Implement a tiered machinery tax
- Horse-drawn harvesters are taxed based on horsepower, with an annual tax increase of two taels for each additional horse.
- A "farming tax" will be levied on landowners who use machinery, with the tax rate increasing with per-acre yield.
- Injecting tax revenue into "agricultural machinery compensation" to subsidize tenants who are forced to change their occupations
4. Innovate land transfer mechanisms
- Piloting "farming rights trading" in mechanization promotion areas, allowing tenants to sell traditional harvesting rights
- Establish a government-run harvesting guild, and machine owners must pay a servant bond
- Implementing a "three-three system" harvesting quota: one-third each for machinery, one-third for manual labor, and one-third for sickles.
5. Establish a career transition channel
- Opening "Agricultural Equipment Schools" in disaster-stricken areas to teach new skills such as machinery maintenance and livestock care
- Transform the eliminated sickle makers into knife sharpeners and grant franchise rights to government-run iron shops
- Organize mechanical harvesting teams to participate in water transport, city construction and other projects to achieve seasonal job transfer
6. Reconstructing the rural governance system
- Force machine users to hire "field guards", at least two former tenants for every 100 mu of land
- Set up "Encouragement Offices" in clan ancestral halls to mediate disputes arising from the use of machinery
- Harvesting efficiency will be included in the assessment of local officials. Those who exceed the target will be required to explain the whereabouts of their labor force.
7. Ownership of the Horse-Drawn Harvester
- Awarded a nine-tassel crown in recognition of his invention and appointed as the Director of the Agricultural Machinery Bureau
- 30% of the output of the experimental fields will be set as "Prince's salary", cutting off their direct interests with local tyrants
- Appointed Hanlin scholars to compile the "Agricultural Instruments Catalogue", and the invention rights were returned to the royal family
8. Utilization of horse-drawn harvesters
- Have it parade around the streets to demonstrate a human pulling a harvester, creating a royal image of "Mercy for Farmers"
- Choose the right time to marry important officials from the frontier regions and transform the spread of technology into political marriages
9. Checks and Balances on the Three Provinces and Six Ministries
- Order the Ministry of Revenue to coordinate machinery taxes, the Ministry of Works to manage manufacturing, and the Ministry of Justice to formulate laws and regulations
- Authorize the Censorate to monitor the promotion of machinery and establish the privilege of "reporting on rumors"
- Set up secret agents in Sinong Temple to regularly report harvest casualties from various places
Final Decision:
The imperial edict declared, "Northern machinery prohibited, southern machinery prohibited; official advancement slowed down." Horse-drawn harvesters were introduced north of the Yellow River to replenish grain supplies in the frontier regions, while human-drawn harvesters were maintained south of the Yangtze River to protect tenant farmers in rice-growing areas. Taicang was ordered to allocate 200,000 dan of grain to establish "new and old alternate granaries." This not only ensured food security during the technological transition period but also reserved relief grain for potential influxes of refugees. This policy maintained productivity growth while keeping social unrest within manageable limits.
After reading it, the emperor handed it to the prime minister.
After reading it, the prime minister was unable to pass it to his subordinates because this memorial clearly divided the harvesters into horse-drawn and human-drawn ones.
Now that we have the general direction, all that remains are the small details.
The prime minister suddenly envied the deep brotherly love between the emperor and Prince Jing.
Prince Jing wrote about every aspect of the horse-drawn harvester, and did not want any credit, but gave it all to the emperor, just like the emperor's shadow.
Prime Minister: "Your Majesty, Prince Jing is pure and kind."
The Prime Minister solemnly responded, "Your Majesty is wise. I will supervise the relevant departments to ensure that all policies are implemented."
The Emperor sighed softly and spoke slowly, "Although Prince Jing does not take credit for his achievements, I understand that the invention of the horse-drawn harvester will undoubtedly change the agricultural landscape of our dynasty. I only hope that this reform can proceed smoothly and not cause too much social unrest."
The Prime Minister bowed and said, "Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous, and the people of the world will surely be grateful for your grace. We, your subjects, will do our utmost to assist Your Majesty in implementing your new policies and ensuring peace and prosperity for the country."
The emperor nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of determination. "Okay, I will leave this matter to you, my dear. If there are any progress, please report to me at any time."
——
Zhang Xiaojia happily handed the rice transplanter to He Fei.
He Fei put it directly into the stove.
Zhang Xiaojia looked at her in confusion.
He Fei hugged her and said, "Jia Jia, if the wheat in the experimental field hadn't doubled, I wouldn't have invented the horse-drawn harvester. With the horse-drawn harvester, 30% of the tenants might have no place to live. If you invent the rice transplanter, 80% of the tenants would have no food to eat. Let's increase the grain yield first, and then think about making other farm tools!"
He Fei slowly analyzed everything to Jia Jia, why did he do this?
Zhang Xiaojia is a person who will listen to advice as long as the reasons and consequences are explained to her.
Zhang Xiaojia asked, "How is the Fourth Imperial Concubine now?"
He Fei: "Three more states have experienced major outbreaks of smallpox and cholera. Your medical books and policies helped bring these states under control. Now she's probably being tortured!"
Zhang Xiaojia sighed deeply.
He Fei continued, "Jia Jia, you will also have to work hard during this period. Write down all the diseases, treatments, and prevention plans you know about the plague and submit them to the emperor. Don't leave your name on it."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled and said, "You're not the one to tell me. I've already written it, but I don't know what the reward is. What do you think about me asking my mother to come to the farm?"
He Fei's mouth twitched. "My brother, despite the pressure, agreed to let Mother go to the Royal Temple to pray in a few days. If you bring Mother to the Royal Manor, my brother will be scolded by the scholars and officials of the world for being unfilial."
Zhang Xiaojia cursed: "My mother has two sons. Can't I live with the younger one for a while? I don't care about their affairs. Can't I use this time to do more for the people? I just want to live with my mother!"
He Fei patted her head and said, "Don't be sad. I know you and Mother have a good relationship. In a few days it will be the anniversary of that bastard's death. My brother said that Mother should go to the imperial mausoleum to offer sacrifices. You should accompany Mother!"
Zhang Xiaojia snorted, "The only benefit of offering sacrifices to that bastard late emperor was that he allowed my mother to leave the palace for a few days every year."
He Fei held Jia Jia's hand and slowly walked into the sunroom. The early summer sun streamed through the glazed windows, illuminating the entire room. In the lotus pond, a few tender green lotus shoots had quietly emerged from the water, their pointed tips adorned with glistening water droplets.
Jia Jia looked at the newly emerged lotus arrow and whispered, "He Fei, let's not travel through the ancient world anymore, okay?"
He Fei held her hand tightly and said softly, "Okay, my dear wife, I will listen to you."
"Did you ask the imperial physician to tell your mother that you were poisoned by the living dead and that you would have no children?" Jia Jia turned around. "Did you ask the imperial physician to tell your mother that?"
A trace of heartache flashed in He Fei's eyes, and he gently took her into his arms: "In ancient times, having children too early was not good for your health. Let's wait until we are 25 years old to have children."
He Fei: "I don't want you to be wronged. As long as I am the one who handles the problem, you won't be talked about by those scholars and women in the backyard."
"Brother He..."
The sun shone on the two of them, and the faint fragrance of lotus flowers wafted in the air. In the distance, a few crisp bird calls came, as if testifying to their decision.
————
These days, Zhang Xiaojia and He Fei lived a romantic life for two in the imperial farm, but they saw Prince Rongchang.
Zhang Xiaojia: "Uncle Prince, what's the matter?"
Prince Rongchang sighed. "In Lin'an, there's been a plague in those three states, and the people are displaced. The situation is extremely critical. I've been ordered to go there to provide disaster relief, but I'm afraid I won't be back for a while. It's just that..."
He paused, his brow furrowed. "My eldest daughter is gentle and can't stand up for herself. She's a county lady like you, but she's always been controlled by her mother-in-law, and her life isn't going well. I'm really worried about her now that I'm gone. Can you help me check on her?"
A trace of concern flashed in Zhang Xiaojia's eyes. "Okay, Uncle Prince, don't worry. I'll take care of this. I'm going to the palace to see my mother tomorrow. I'll take Sister Yi'an with me and check on her situation."
Prince Rongchang smiled with relief. "I feel much more at ease with your words. Yi'an is too soft-hearted. I've worked diligently all my life to provide disaster relief, never embezzling a single cent, just to be a support for him."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled slightly: "Uncle Prince, don't worry, I will take good care of Sister Yi'an. You should take good care of yourself when you go to provide disaster relief."
Prince Rongchang's eyes were filled with gratitude: "Okay, okay, I feel relieved with your words. I'm not afraid of her being lawless, but I'm afraid of her being submissive."
Watched Prince Rongchang leave.
Zhang Xiaojia gently stroked the teacup in her hand. "Bai Shao, send someone to Ningguo Mansion to deliver a note to Princess Yi'an. It should say that Concubine Chen has been thinking about Princess Yi'an a lot lately and misses her very much. She'd like her to accompany Princess Jing to the palace tomorrow to chat."
Bai Shao bowed slightly. "I'll do it right away." She paused, then added, "I'll have a servant ride a fast horse and deliver it to Ningguo Mansion before dinner."
Only then did Zhang Xiaojia notice Bai Shao's attire today. She wore a light blue skirt and a plain silver hairpin in her hair. It was unlike her usual formal attire when on duty.
A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes: "By the way, Bai Shao, today is not your day of duty, right? Why are you at the Imperial Manor?"
Bai Shao heard this and a hint of helplessness appeared on her face. "Princess, you forgot again. I am now living in the Imperial Manor. The mansion allocated by the Kyoto government, the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that it will take some time to renovate before I can move in."
Zhang Xiaojia couldn't help but smile: "Oh, look at my memory. Thank you, lady official, for helping me write the post." She deliberately emphasized the four words "lady official", her eyes full of mischief.
Bai Shao quickly waved her hands, her face flushed. "Princess, please stop making fun of me. I'm your maid, and these things are part of my job."
Zhang Xiaojia put down the teacup, stood up, walked over to Bai Shao, and gently held her hand: "Girl, why are you saying such things again? We grew up together, and I never treated you as a maid."
Her voice was soft, yet filled with genuine emotion. "You are now an official appointed by the imperial court. You passed the examination on your own merit. I couldn't be more proud of you."
Bai Shao's eyes were slightly red, and she whispered, "Princess, your kindness to me is as great as a mountain. If you hadn't insisted on letting me learn to read and write, I wouldn't be where I am today..."
"Alright, alright," Zhang Xiaojia interrupted her, pretending to be serious, "Hurry up and write the post. It's almost dark if you delay any longer."
Bai Shao burst into laughter and bowed: "Yes, I will do it right away."
[I copied He Fei's memorial. When I was reading quick-travel novels before, I saw the reform of agricultural tools and felt very excited without thinking. After I wrote it myself, I looked up a lot of information. Every new agricultural reform will cause the old system to collapse. If a new system is formed, it will be fine. If a new system is not formed, new unrest will arise.
For example, the use of the curved plow enabled some farmers to accumulate wealth through efficient farming, exacerbating social stratification. This differentiation conflicted with the principle of "equal distribution" of the equal-field system and accelerated its collapse.
The most important thing is that I didn't count the words. Each chapter is 2,000 words, and this chapter is over 3,000 words.]
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