Chapter 448 Fair Opportunity
Minister Liu sighed, knowing that it must be the second daughter of the Jiang family who came to the palace to file a complaint against him.
However, Lao Liu dared to say with confidence that he had no selfish motives, so he was particularly confident when he refuted.
"Your Majesty, I also cherish your talent.
The artisans in Qianji Pavilion are both skilled and intelligent, and it would be a waste of talent to keep them in this small workshop. If they could be recruited into the Ministry of Industry, they would surely have great potential!
I implore Her Majesty to reconsider."
"I have thought about this many times."
The queen still smiled gently. In front of the ministers who were dedicated to serving the country and the people, the queen always remained calm.
"The paths of development in each area are different, so how can we just squeeze them into one place?
Although Qianji Pavilion was a small workshop, it allowed them to fully display their talents. Without so many social conventions and rules to constrain their talents, they could walk steadily on the path of studying things.
Minister Liu, after you send them to the Ministry of Works, can you guarantee that they will not lose their original intentions? Will they continue to be good craftsmen, or will they devote themselves to being good officials? How can people choose?"
The Minister of Works was silent for a moment. He certainly couldn't guarantee that human nature would not change, but he did feel sorry for those talented people being stranded outside.
"I know what you said makes sense, but think about it from another perspective. The Ministry of Works is in charge of the nation's construction projects, so the Qianji Pavilion should naturally be included.
The people in Qianji Pavilion clearly have this ability, but the court does not give them corresponding status and rewards. How can people's hearts be at peace if this continues for a long time?
What if they are tempted by someone with ulterior motives and offered huge benefits? What will they do then?"
"So, I came up with a plan."
The queen's intelligence was known to all the ministers in the court, so Liu Yitong had no intention of questioning her. He just saluted with both hands and listened attentively.
"How about this? We can set up a special imperial examination to select talents.
Minister Liu, please don't speak yet. Let me finish what I have to say.
What I mean is to establish a special imperial examination that tests all kinds of ingenious skills. Whether it is carpentry, blacksmithing, masonry, or expertise in mechanical engineering, as long as you have real skills, regardless of gender, age or status, you can take the exam.
As long as they could pass the various examinations, the imperial court would grant them official positions and allow them to work in a special department under the Ministry of Works. This department was independent of the original Ministry of Works system and was not subject to too many official rules.
This allows them to concentrate on their skills while also getting the status and rewards they deserve.
What does Minister Liu think?
Liu Yitong's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he weighed the Queen's words in his mind.
If this were done, it would indeed solve the problem of talent treatment while not interfering with their original Daoist aspirations. Most importantly, these people would be affiliated with the Ministry of Industry, naturally preventing them from becoming too powerful and replacing the Ministry in the future.
That’s great!
but,
He then frowned again, his voice filled with worry.
"But Your Majesty, the Imperial Examination has always been a matter of great importance, and the Talent Selection Ceremony is a political achievement that the Ministry of Rites closely monitors. If my Ministry of Works were to establish a separate subject like this, I'm afraid the ministers in the court would have many objections.
Moreover, the woman..."
He looked at the queen and gritted his teeth to finish his words.
"Women taking the same exams and ranking on the same list as men is unheard of throughout history. How can women become officials?"
"Why can't women do the same?"
The queen raised her eyes slightly, her expression calm.
"Sir Liu, you once shared the Dongling Mansion with many women and risked your life. I thought you were different from those stubborn people in the court. Why are you so pedantic now?
Let's think about it carefully. Was it that Deng Linlang, Wan Jingya and others failed to manage the Salt Monopoly Bureau well, or was it that Feng Lan, Meng Yu, and Lu Ping'er failed to earn enough tax revenue for Dongling Prefecture?
You have seen the excellence of women with your own eyes, so why are you unwilling to let them continue to serve the country now?"
The queen asked three questions in a row, which made Liu Yitong's old face flush red, and he hurriedly bowed his hands to refute.
"It's not that I'm unfair, it's just that the human heart is like a towering mountain of prejudice. How can it be changed with just a few words from you, Queen?
Please, Queen, for the sake of Dongling Mansion, allow me to speak a few words. Whether you dismiss me or execute me later, I have no complaints.
This is also a way to repay your life-saving grace in Dongling Mansion and to repay my loyalty to the king!"
He took off his official hat and knelt on the ground. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear. Seeing him ready to die, the queen was stunned for a moment, then a flash of understanding flashed across her eyes, and she nodded in agreement.
"Can."
"Thank you, Queen!"
Liu Yitong boldly raised his eyes and met the gaze of his superior.
“To be frank, Your Majesty, the reason you are so prestigious in the court is entirely due to the right time, right place, and right people.
If the emperor had the same character as the late emperor, if Prince An was not weak and frail, if the child you gave birth to was not the eldest prince, you would not be who you are today!
But Queen, the fact that you are the only extraordinary woman in this world is enough to attract the attention of the world. Why do you have to be so obsessed with changing the world?
"I say this not out of disloyalty to you, but out of recognition of your achievements, which transcend the bounds of man and woman, and which are sufficient to convince me of your wisdom and intelligence. It is precisely because of this recognition that I worry that your obsession will drag you into the abyss!"
Liu Yitong's advice was almost heartbreaking, and the main point was to persuade the queen to give up the idea of forcing the woman to rise.
It must be said that his starting point was indeed to consider the queen, and his concerns were reasonable, but unfortunately the queen was not willing to listen.
"I appreciate your sincere advice. My dear Liu, please stand up and speak."
"I am extremely disrespectful. Please punish me, Queen."
"What is your crime?"
The queen stood up and walked over to help the man up.
"I know your concerns are justified, but I can't just sit there and watch it go wrong just because it's a difficult path.
I am the Queen of Dayu, and all the people of Dayu are my subjects, regardless of gender. As I said at the beginning, women should not be trapped in the harem and their talents buried.
You look at me and think I'm a remarkable woman, but I'm just a lucky coincidence brought about by the right time, right place, and right people. There are many women who are better than me, and what they lack is opportunity. This opportunity is not only for women, but also for the entire Dayu."
The queen walked back to the table, opened the wooden box, and carefully took out a glass bottle.
"My dear, you've been to the Qianji Pavilion time and time again, but have you ever seen their masterpieces? Look at this glass bottle. It was made by the Pavilion Master, Jiang Han."
There was a hint of pride and satisfaction in her voice.
"Look, maybe there are differences in status and identity between men and women nowadays, but when it comes to talent and ability, God has always been the most fair. He has given everyone opportunities. And what I have to do now is just to give this fairness a chance."
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