Chapter 192
Chapter 192
The court meeting ended and Ji Yuan wiped the sweat from his head.
But there is still no conclusion as to where he will be appointed.
The important people are mainly from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Household Department.
Ministry of War, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Justice?
It’s not that they don’t want it, but their competition is not as good as that of other departments, so they have to leave the competition first in disgrace.
The Imperial Household Department, to put it simply, is the royal family. Duke Zhao is still at the forefront, and so is Chen Jun’s grandfather, Duke Chen.
The Ministry of Personnel is still the department of Prime Minister Li, but everyone knows Prime Minister Li’s situation. Now he mainly relies on Minister Nie, who is Nie Shiming’s uncle.
This is an old acquaintance, one of us.
The Ministry of Revenue is the sphere of influence of the Grand Secretary of Wen, who is highly valued by the current emperor.
Moreover, the tax revenue of Tianqi State has been good in recent years, and the Ministry of Revenue has had an easy time.
Finally, there is the Ministry of Industry.
In theory, the Ministry of Industry is also a very powerful department, but in recent years, the talent has been declining, and every official in the Ministry of Industry is basically involved in corruption cases, so they are quite powerless.
The Minister of Works was considered very young among the ministers, and he was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily because there was no one in the Ministry of Works.
After the court session, many people took the initiative to greet Ji Yuan.
Everyone knows that Ji Hanlin is just a nominal position, he has no actual job, and he is even just a fifth-rank official.
But every official who saw Ji Yuan would greet him with a smile, and also want to know from Ji Yuan where he wanted to go.
The court had just ended, so Ji Yuan couldn't say it directly, so he just smiled and returned the greeting.
Just as he was about to say something polite, he heard the prince quickly approaching from behind and asked, "Ji Yuan, what have you been busy with recently? I didn't see you looking for me."
The prince has been very busy lately. After all, he had just come back from outside and had a good rest for some time.
After resting, he found that Ji Yuan did not take the initiative to look for him.
That’s okay, I can come find you.
Ji Yuan greeted him and said, "I just returned to the capital and rested for a few days."
The prince patted him on the shoulder and said, "I knew you were busy. The house has been tidied up. Your women didn't come with you. I'll send some people over."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. However, I am used to quietness and do not need too many people to serve me."
The prince paused and said that the female relatives he mentioned were not ordinary servants.
Ji Yuan just pretended not to understand.
His polite refusal forced other colleagues who had been thinking about it to shut up.
An era is still an era.
You don’t want money or sex, what do you want?
"Master Ji, please stay. Please stay."
Everyone looked back and saw the eunuch beside the emperor running over and politely saying, "Master Ji, the emperor invites you."
Prime Minister Li, Grand Secretary Wen and others were not in the group dispersing the court. It was probably because they were having a "small meeting" with the emperor.
Such small gatherings are now considered epochs.
The prince said directly: "Eunuch Liu, what does father want to see Ji Yuan for?"
If you can call out Ji Yuan in public, then you don't have to worry about everyone knowing about it.
"It's not even Master Ji's position yet."
"Your Majesty said that after all this discussion, it would be better to let Ji Yuan make the decision himself."
The prince laughed and said jokingly, "Others are waiting to be appointed as officials, only Ji Yuan has this kind of treatment."
Ji Yuan was helpless and just said: "I don't care about these things when I work for Tianqi."
"Let's go. I'll go with you."
Ji Yuan bowed and followed the prince to meet the emperor.
The civil and military officials in the court looked at Ji Yuan's back and couldn't help but sigh: "He is only 25 years old this year."
Twenty-five.
What were they doing when they were twenty-five?
Are you reading?
In the imperial examination?
On speaker?
Alas, people cannot be compared!
She was only 25 years old, and she had already been called by the Emperor to attend a small meeting, with the Crown Prince accompanying her.
When I arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, I heard a harmonious atmosphere inside. The emperor was laughing heartily and was even happier to see Ji Yuan.
"Ji Yuan, Suzhou's documents, come and take a look."
Documents from Suzhou?
Ji Yuan bowed first before taking it.
There are two things written above.
One is the tax revenue of Suzhou.
The combined revenue from the cement plant and rubber plant has exceeded the tax revenue of the entire Hexi Prefecture and is approaching that of Jiangnan.
Although this was expected, it is also really gratifying.
No wonder the emperor was so happy after seeing Ji Yuan.
The other news is even better: the cultivation of wheat seeds has also produced results.
The average wheat yield in Suzhou has increased from more than 300 kilograms to more than 500 kilograms.
It is the result of the joint efforts of fertilizer production and breeding of good varieties.
Ji Yuan knew Cai Fenglan's handwriting, so he wrote these in a concise and clear manner, and also emphasized the sewage discharge issue that Ji Yuan mentioned.
Ji Yuan read the document very quickly and couldn't help but scan it again. He said, "It's all good news."
The emperor nodded: "Yes, it's all good news."
This year is only the fourth year of Yongkang's reign, and so many good things have happened under his rule.
The war was won, the grain harvest was abundant, and even tax revenue increased.
There's nothing better.
Therefore, no matter what kind of trade union or farmers' association Ji Yuan joined, the emperor still thought that Ji Yuan was a good person.
After all, those kinds of meetings shake the interests of the aristocratic families.
The royal family was somewhat satisfied with this.
The miners' union at the mine is a bit troublesome, but compared to the profits brought by Epoch, that's nothing.
The emperor felt that he could help Ji Yuan suppress these things.
As long as he can do his job well.
For example, the Rubber Division.
After reading Suzhou's documents, Ji Yuan looked at everyone present.
Your Majesty, Prince.
Duke of Zhao, Duke of Chen.
In addition, Prime Minister Li, who was sitting next to him, was not very sober.
As well as the Grand Secretary of Literature and the Minister of Works.
Royal family.
Aristocratic family.
There is another him.
"Most of Suzhou's tax revenue comes from rubber. With the method of making cooked rubber, it will be of great use." Duke Zhao sighed, "But there are more and more rubber workshops in the world, and the management seems to be a bit chaotic."
"How to pay taxes and how to collect taxes are different in different places, and there is no rule at all."
"Master Ji, you discovered this rubber. Do you have any solution?"
Duke Zhao asked directly.
If I remember correctly, the current head of the Rubber Department is his family's eldest son.
It seems that this prince has not figured it out.
The Duke of Zhao, the Duke of Chen, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince all looked at Ji Yuan. They didn't ask him to come up with a solution directly, but instead waited for Ji Yuan to speak up and think of an idea, which would then be given to him naturally.
"Rubber Department, we need to discuss this further." Prime Minister Li opened his eyes and tried to sit up straight.
It was obvious that Prime Minister Li was not in a good condition, and when the Rubber Department was mentioned, he still had to speak.
The emperor moved his lips but didn't say anything harsh.
Prime Minister Li is already like this, what else can he say?
But Prime Minister Li’s opinion was also supplemented by Grand Secretary Wen T.
"Yes, there has been controversy since the establishment of the Rubber Division. Lord Ji has just returned to Beijing, so I'm afraid he doesn't understand."
Everyone is aware of the controversy here.
That is, the Rubber Bureau should be subject to the imperial court's tax revenue, and the tax revenue should be paid into the national treasury.
It still belongs to the royal family and becomes the emperor's purse.
The reason why Wen Daxueshi said this was naturally to postpone the matter.
If Ji Yuan agreed and became the head of the Rubber Department, relying on his ability, then this matter could not be changed.
As long as Ji Yuan is willing, he can definitely help the emperor keep his purse secure.
This is definitely not the situation that the aristocratic families want to see.
This is not what Prime Minister Li wants to see.
Become public property or private property.
This is important.
The dispute over this matter has never stopped since the 44th year of Huayuan to the 4th year of Yongkang.
Ji Yuan looked at the gray-haired Prime Minister Li, then smiled at the Grand Secretary Wen, and said directly: "I really don't understand why the debate in the Rubber Department has not stopped yet."
"Rubber is a product of mountains and swamps, so it naturally belongs to the Royal Household Department." The two dukes said frankly.
Li Shoufu, Wen Dashi of the Ministry of Revenue, and Hong Dashi of the Ministry of Works said: "Rubber, like salt mines and iron mines, should all belong to the national treasury."
It seemed that they were about to have another argument, and it was about the same old topic.
And the emperor will certainly continue to take sides.
Ji Yuan spoke.
"Rubber is different from salt mines and iron ore."
Everyone looked at him.
When it comes to rubber, Jiyuan does have the most say.
Ji Yuan said directly: "Rubber is peeled from water melon trees and rubber grass. It is indeed a product of mountains and swamps."
“But this is raw rubber.”
"Ripe rubber has gone through many processing steps and is no longer a product of the mountains and swamps."
"Is there no need to argue about this?"
From the discovery to the use of rubber, and then to its current processing, all were facilitated by Ji Yuan.
His words seemed to directly determine the fate of rubber.
Ripe rubber is not a product of the mountains and swamps, so naturally it does not belong to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Raw rubber is a product of mountains and swamps.
But the problem is that everyone knows that since cooked rubber has come out, raw rubber is just raw material and cannot be sold at much price.
The bulk of the rubber industry comes from cooked rubber.
Is there no one in the court who knows about this?
I know.
Prime Minister Li, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works have been talking about this matter all the time.
This means that raw rubber can be owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The tax on cooked rubber must belong to the national treasury.
But they said that, compared with Epoch Times, the effects were completely different.
The emperor and others looked at Ji Yuan in disbelief.
The two dukes were pointing at him, and even the crown prince couldn't believe it.
Everyone thought that today was just a briefing and they would slowly discuss it with Ji Yuan in private.
After all, the Rubber Company issue has been going on for several years, and no one is sure it can be resolved quickly.
This was the idea behind why Grand Secretary Wen helped to delay time just now.
To put it bluntly.
Today was originally considered the opening ceremony of the "competition".
Players from both sides come on stage.
Then fight for the era together.
It’s also a reminder for Ji Yuan so that he can be mentally prepared.
Then what?
Then Ji Yuan "lacked martial ethics" and directly announced the result of the competition at the opening ceremony.
Don't argue, he supports giving the tax revenue from cooked rubber to the national treasury.
otherwise?
No otherwise.
He did not accept any negotiations between the two sides.
He also didn't need the profits the royal family gave him.
As shocked as the royal family was, Wen Daxueshi's situation was just as complicated.
I originally thought I would strive for the era.
Who knows, there is no need to fight for it.
But the Grand Secretary Wen also knew it.
Ji Yuan was not helping the court officials, but he did not want to make these taxes the emperor's private property.
When you think about it, it's not surprising.
The things he did when Ji Yuan was released were all extremely passionate and he could be said to be worthy of the common people.
Although their goals are different, their purposes are the same.
After hearing Ji Yuan's words, Prime Minister Li seemed to be relieved and comforted.
When Ji Yuan came out of the Qinzheng Hall, the emperor did not look very happy.
The emperor smiled as much when Ji Yuan entered the room as he looked as gloomily when Ji Yuan left.
Ji Yuan scratched his head. He was supposed to ask him where he wanted to work.
He hasn't said it yet.
Naturally, this matter cannot be hidden from others.
Before Ji Yuan and the others arrived at the Hanlin Academy, the news had spread to all the government offices, big and small, in the capital.
"Have you heard that Ji Yuan committed a serious taboo, and the emperor is very dissatisfied."
"The Rubber Division thing?"
"Yes, Ji Yuan directly said that cooked rubber is no longer a mountain or swamp thing."
What an awesome person!
The officials opened their eyes wide.
Who dares to say that directly?
Ji Yuan dared to say this on the first day he was summoned to court.
However, the rubber tax in the world was so high that over the years, it all went into the royal family's pocket, and not a penny was given to the people.
The money used to fight this war was transferred from other places by the Ministry of Revenue.
If the tax revenue from rubber was in the national treasury, the dams, canals and roads in many places could be repaired.
Why.
The royal family is a bit selfish.
But no one dares to say this.
If it weren’t for Prime Minister Li, the ownership of the Rubber Division would have been a matter of debate long ago.
Other officials discussed in low voices.
However, the discussion in the Historian Department of the Hanlin Academy was a little louder.
This year is the year of the imperial examination. In the Historiographers' Academy sit this year's top-class Jinshi, the top two and third place winners, as well as the successful candidates in the imperial examinations.
They came here the same way Ji Yuan and others did back then.
They were now crowded at the gate of the Historian's Court, pretending to be passing by, but actually waiting for Lord Ji to arrive at the cabinet minister's office opposite.
Not only because of the rumors just now, but also because, that was the era!
He is a role model for students all over the world and an object of study for students all over the world.
Pick any student out and ask him who he envies and learns from, and Ji Yuan’s name will definitely be mentioned.
Especially those Shujishi in the Historiography Office.
Only after I took the imperial examination myself, did I know what it meant to win six places in a row.
If we take out Mr. Ji’s articles from those days, they are still not as good as him.
This is especially true for this year's No. 1 pick Mu.
He felt that it was a fluke that he could win the top spot.
To hit the mark six times in a row like Lord Ji did is definitely a test of strength.
This Mu Zhuangyuan has another identity.
He was a student of the Imperial Academy.
He was a student who listened to Ji Yuan’s lectures back then.
In the 38th year of Huayuan, the 16-year-old Ji Yuan went to the Imperial College to give lectures. He was 22 at the time and thought it was amazing for him to be studying in the Imperial College at his age.
So when he saw Ji Liuyuan, who was six years younger than him, giving lectures, he felt a little disdainful.
But that lecture completely changed his idea about studying.
It turns out that studying is not just for the imperial examinations, but also for enlightening the mind and for the purpose of academic study.
"He finally talked about following one's nature, cultivating the Way, being sincere, having a righteous mind, pursuing lofty aspirations, and expanding one's career."
"Reading is the most important thing."
This is not the first time that Mu Zhuangyuan has talked about what happened in the past.
But the scholars around him still loved to listen to it.
Because to Lord Ji, this is not just empty talk, he is really doing it.
Be true to your nature, practice Taoism, be sincere, have upright intentions, uphold high aspirations, and expand your career.
Which one is not?
There are many people who say nice things, but only those who do what they say are admirable.
Today’s students all take Ji Yuan as their role model.
Especially Mu Zhuangyuan, he really admires Ji Yuan!
Ji Yuan is his God!
So when Ji Yuan and several grand secretaries appeared in the Hanlin Academy, they were stunned.
Lord Ji!
Ji Liuyuan!
Their role model!
Although everyone tried their best to restrain themselves, when they saw Lord Ji greeting them with a smile, they still took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
When the door of the Historian's Court was closed, screams and shouts were heard from inside.
"Master Ji is so handsome!"
"Master Ji greeted us!"
"Is this really the God of Literature descending to earth?"
Even Prime Minister Li, who was carried back, couldn't help but smile: "They all take you as a role model."
Speaking of which, there is another reason.
This matter still needs to be discussed by the Minister of Personnel, Lord Nie. When he entered the cabinet, Lord Nie patted Ji Yuan on the shoulder excitedly and said, "Great, you know, there are many people who have passed the imperial examinations now. There were also special examinations in the past few years, so there were even more people who passed the imperial examinations."
"There is simply no place for them in the court. Fortunately, you proposed to open subjects such as engineering. Now the pressure of the imperial examination is much less, and everyone has other ways to go."
The Ministry of Rites has already started to improve various disciplines. In short, it encourages everyone not to just focus on the imperial examinations. If the imperial examinations fail, they can study other subjects.
Engineering is so popular nowadays. As long as it is related to steam engines, you can not only support your family but also live a good life.
In addition to this, there is another thing: "The Southern Qi Prefecture has nearly a million people to manage, and it is really good to send one or two thousand officials all at once."
"It's easy to be an official in the Ministry of Personnel."
In the past, several people had to wait for one pit spot.
Now there are so many more "jobs" at once, how can it be bad?
Furthermore, officials nowadays do not seem to be averse to remote areas. His nephew Nie Shiming is an example.
Nie Shiming wanted to go to the bitterly cold Northeast. His family was not willing to let him go at first, but after he cited the example of Ji Yuan, everyone agreed.
Nie Shiming is living well there, and his next assignment will still be in the Northeast.
It is said that rice is grown there and the rice is grown very well.
He wants to stay for another term.
The same is true for other companies.
Anyone who has a bit of enterprising spirit is not afraid to go to remote places.
Because they found that although life there was hard, they could also achieve political achievements.
Although they cannot compare to Ji Yuan, they still want to catch up with him, because Ji Yuan is their role model.
After Minister Nie finished speaking, he smiled and said, "How about coming to the Ministry of Personnel? We are all old acquaintances and we will definitely not treat you unfairly."
Ji Yuan did not respond for a moment.
The Ministry of Personnel is naturally excellent.
It is in charge of the promotion assessment of officials and can be said to be one of the most powerful departments in the capital.
Together with the Ministry of Revenue, it became the head of the Six Ministries.
Minister Nie believed that this would definitely be attractive to Ji Yuan.
And Minister Nie had a good plan.
Now the Minister of Personnel of T is Li Shoufu, but due to Li Shoufu's health, although Minister Nie is a minister, he has already been the Minister.
When Prime Minister Li retires next year, he will definitely be the Minister of Personnel. As the 59-year-old Minister of Personnel, he still has six years to serve.
There will be absolutely no problem in handing over the Ministry of Personnel to Ji Yuan in six years.
By then, he will be able to retire with confidence and will not be afraid of being forgotten.
This is a double trust in Jiyuan's character and strength.
However, the Minister of Revenue, Grand Secretary Wen, probably had the same idea.
Scholar Wen is fifty-six this year, three years younger than him.
If he wanted to take over the position of the Grand Secretary of Literature in that era, he would have to wait three more years, which is nine years.
Besides, after all, he is more familiar with Ji Yuan, right?
To put it bluntly, the successor must be a trustworthy person who will not settle accounts with the previous people, and must have absolute ability, because everyone's interests are tied together.
Ji Yuan is definitely a good choice.
As they were talking, Mr. Wen also looked over here frequently.
Ji Yuan simply didn't hide it from everyone and directly told everyone where he wanted to go.
"Actually, I want to go to the Ministry of Industry."
Prime Minister Li, Vice Minister Nie, Grand Secretary Wen, and the Minister of Works who was only in his forties at the back slowly raised their heads.
ah?
Come to the Ministry of Industry?
The Minister of Works is only forty-three this year.
It seems very impressive to be in this position at such a young age.
But everyone knows that most things happen in the Ministry of Industry.
Previously, the Ministry of Works had colluded with Grand Secretary Chu, and it was discovered that they had some dealings with the royal family.
Anyway, the Ministry of Industry was severely damaged by the political purge a few years ago.
People like Song Liuqun and the Song family who went to Suzhou to seek refuge with Ji Yuan, and even Ji Yuan's father-in-law, Lord Cheng, had all gotten into trouble in the Ministry of Works before.
In addition, Grand Secretary Chu had contacts with the then Minister of Works. When the matter was settled, that minister and his cronies all "retired."
So the Ministry of Works was short of talent, so a young Minister of Works was appointed. Many people said that this was just a temporary position and they would be replaced once a suitable candidate was found.
Why?
Because the Ministry of Industry has a lot of money.
Otherwise, why would Grand Secretary Chu place his own people here?
Building palaces, repairing river embankments, building bridges and roads, or forging weapons for the Ministry of War, basically all happened in the Ministry of Works.
So the right person must be chosen for this position.
Ji Yuan said he wanted to come to the Ministry of Industry.
The current Minister of Works thought to himself, Oh no, this is aimed at my position.
But it's okay.
Anyway, he had no say in the court or the Qinzheng Palace.
He was the same as Ji Yuan's father-in-law before, in charge of construction. He could do it if asked to build bridges and roads.
He really can't afford to engage in intrigue with a group of old foxes.
It seems so.
Ji Yuan is indeed suitable to come to the Ministry of Industry.
To put it in today's terms, Ji Yuan came here to help alleviate poverty!
Ji Yuan’s choices are always so unexpected, but Ji Yuan really doesn’t think that much about it.
He wanted to go to the Ministry of Industry simply because Tianqi was about to enter the steam age. If he didn't make preparations, the Steam Department that was about to be established would be as chaotic as the Rubber Department.
Here, cement and steam engines appeared.
Next came rubber tires, steam trains, and steam ships.
Shouldn't it come into being?
This is the most important thing.
Otherwise, what is the point of developing so much technology?
Who has time to engage in intrigue with you?
Let’s develop well.
Only development can solve all current problems.
The steam engine has developed to its current level, why are we still clinging to the previous interests?
We have cement and steam engines. Why are we waiting to build cement roads and railways instead?
The more sincere Ji Yuan's words were, the weirder everyone's expressions were.
The royal family and the aristocratic families were just about to drag Ji Yuan into the environment of political struggle.
Let Ji Yuan enter their world and have a hearty fight.
But he didn't take the bait at all.
Who wants to play political infighting with you?
If you want to play, play development.
What's the point of political fighting?
Isn't it more interesting to develop technology?
The Ministry of Personnel said that thanks to the era, there were so many new positions.
The Ministry of Revenue also said that if it weren’t for Ji Yuan, there wouldn’t be such an extra tax.
The royal family also felt that with him around, the Rubber Division would definitely be stable.
The question is, were these things obtained through political infighting?
No, it’s development, innovation and technology.
In a sense, this is also a case of one person defeating ten people with one's own strength, right?
Mu Zhuangyuan and the other scholars who were eavesdropping at the cabinet ministers' place all looked at each other in bewilderment.
They both thought of Ji Zhuangyuan's words at the same time.
Be true to your nature, practice Taoism, be sincere, have upright intentions, uphold high aspirations, and expand your career.
“I read books for the sake of this.”
He did it.
He studied with this in mind.
The eyes of the Shujishi became even more fanatical.
era!
Who wouldn’t worship Ji Yuan?
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