The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

After dealing with the matter of Shendan and the Southern Wei people, Zhao Yao started busy building a water mill workshop. Previously, he built a waterwheel and solved the irrigation problem in Lingnan. Later, he made a windmill and solved the problem of harvesting. However, after harvesting, the rice had to be processed before it could be turned into rice.

In terms of grain processing, not to mention Lingnan, the entire Zhou Dynasty used pestles, mortars and mills passed down from the previous dynasties for processing. Processing grain with these two tools is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also cannot produce much grain. The efficiency is really poor.

Zhao Yao did not notice this problem at first. It was during these days, when the whole of Lingnan was busy harvesting the second season of rice, that he discovered this problem.

He thought of the water mills used to process grain in the Song Dynasty in Zhao Yao's world history in his dream, so he planned to build all the water mills in the Song Dynasty.

Building a water mill requires water conservancy. Fortunately, the most important thing in Lingnan is water. In addition to being close to the sea, there are also many rivers. He thinks that these rivers can be used to build water mills beside the rivers.

During these days, Zhao Yao and Zheng Cheng first built a water mill specifically for grinding rice and flour. After that, they made a large water-spun spinning wheel, specially used for twisting linen yarn. They also built a tea mill specifically for grinding tea.

Speaking of tea mills, we have to mention Zhao Yaoxin’s way of drinking tea. He made out the tea order of the Song Dynasty in Zhao Yao's world history in his dream, and also made out the "tea show", and he didn't expect it to be very popular.

He originally thought that ordering tea would not be accepted, after all, he had invented the method of brewing loose tea many years ago. Since then, the entire Zhou Dynasty, and even foreign countries such as the Western Regions and Annan, have fallen in love with this novel way of drinking tea.

Compared with the method of drinking loose tea, the steps of ordering tea are more complicated, and the drink is still tea powder, which may not be popular among people. I didn't expect that ordering tea is more popular than brewing loose tea.

Seeing that everyone liked the way of drinking tea, Zhao Yao simply came up with the "tea show", which caused a sensation in the Marsh Mansion.

In addition to using the water mill for grain processing, Zhao Yao also used it for iron smelting, which also improved the efficiency of iron smelting.

They also developed the technology of "five-turn continuous grinding", that is, one water wheel can drive five millstones. With five millstones, you can imagine how much the work efficiency has been improved.

The people only need to pay the cost of construction, and then the water mill will be theirs, and they can use the water mill as they please. Of course, if there is a problem with the water mill, you can also ask the Yamen for help, and the Ministry of Works will send someone to repair it. Maintenance is not free, people need to pay maintenance fees.

When Zhao Yao saw so many water mills being built on both sides of the Lingnan River, he began to build various shops on both sides of the Lingnan River. Businessmen also saw the business on both sides of the Lingnan River and rented shops one after another. Of course, businessmen can also rent land and build their own shops.

During this period, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household Affairs were very busy. If people want to build water mills, they must first go to the local government office to apply. The government office then applies to the Ministry of Industry. After the Ministry of Industry agrees, it will send people to help people build water mills.

Seeing that the Minister of Industry looked like he was about to cry, Zhao Yao felt guilty. He put his fist to his mouth, coughed twice and said: "Ahem, there is really no other way, so let's rent out the land on both sides of the Lingnan River and let them build their own shops."

Having said that, the construction of water mills is not only convenient, improves efficiency, but also increases income.

Today, various water mills have been built along the Lingnan River in Marsh Mansion, and most of them are already in use. Therefore, both sides of the Lingnan River have become very lively.

"Your Highness, I am not here to complain to you, but I am really too busy." After the trade conference, the Ministry of Industry was busy building schools, residential buildings, libraries, commercial districts, roads, etc. Nowadays, the Ministry of Industry is busy building various water mills and various shops on both sides of the Lingnan River. They are really overwhelmed. "Your Highness, the Ministry of Industry does not have enough manpower. Now you have to build a commercial district on both sides of the Lingnan River. This... is really overwhelming." The commercial district in Marsh Mansion City has not yet been completed, and His Highness has to build a commercial district on both sides of the Lingnan River. The commercial cities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are really... exhausting them to death.

The Ministry of Works was responsible for the construction and maintenance of water mills. The Ministry of Household Affairs is busy collecting taxes. The tax collected is not the tax on the construction of water mills, but the tax on the business of water mills.

Zhao Yao encouraged people to build water mills and also encouraged them to make money by doing business in water mills. He has never emphasized agriculture and suppressed business. Instead, he encouraged people to do business.

In the past few days, many people have come to the shops agreed by the Ministry of Industry, and the people in the Ministry of Industry are extremely busy. The Minister of Industry was so busy that he had no time to eat.

Nowadays, many teahouses have been opened in Zhuma Mansion. In the teahouses, many people watch the performances of "100 Tea Shows" every day. There are also people competing for tea, and the competition is also "100 Tea Shows".

In the beginning, water mills were built by local government offices. Later, people began to build various water mills themselves. For a time, many "small factories" were opened by the private sector.

"That's what I mean." If the merchants were allowed to build their own shops, it would save a lot of trouble.

Land on both sides of the Lingnan River can only be rented, not bought.

In the past two days, Zhao Yao and Zheng Cheng were busy improving the water mill. They came up with the technology of "water wheel three functions", that is, the water wheel axis can do three things, grinding, hulling and grinding. This technology is more convenient and efficient than before. Most importantly it's easier.

"But you can't build them casually. Your Ministry of Industry has set specifications and asked them to build shops according to the specifications." If businessmen are allowed to build them casually, we don't know what they will look like. By then, the shops on both sides of the Lingnan River will be built crookedly. Jujube, it affects the appearance of the city too much.

"Your Highness, how about following the specifications of the commercial city in the city?"

"It's not that great. All the commercial cities are built the same, so what's the point." Zhao Yao glared at the Minister of Industry, "You have to design the commercial cities on both sides of the Lingnan River, and then let the merchants build shops according to the regulations." "Yes. , Your Highness. “It is better to design a commercial city than to build one.

"By the way, the commercial city on both sides of the Lingnan River must have Goulan Courtyard."

The Minister of Works exclaimed: "Goulan Courtyard?"

"Where are you thinking? Don't mention Goulan Courtyard. What you are thinking about is the brothel." Zhao Yao planned to refer to the Goulan City of Song Dynasty in the world history of Zhao Yao in his dream. "The Goulan Courtyard is specially used for performances, such as opera singers, storytellers, buskers, shadow puppets and so on." Goulan Courtyard is actually an entertainment venue.

Hearing what Zhao Yao said, the Minister of Industry blushed and said, "I understand."

"There must also be a night market in the commercial city..." Zhao Yao told the Minister of Industry in detail about the layout of the commercial city on both sides of the Lingnan River.

The minister of the Ministry of Industry listened and carefully wrote it down.

"The curfew will be lifted after the commercial city is completed." Because Marsh Mansion is still under construction, the curfew has not been lifted. After the commercial district in Marsh City is completed, Zhao Yao plans to cancel the curfew.

"Your Highness, is it inappropriate to cancel the curfew?" There have been curfews since ancient times. Except for the Lantern Festival where the curfew is lifted, the curfew has never been lifted on other days.

"There's nothing wrong with it. It's really lively when it's lively at night." Zhao Yao said, "Only by lifting the curfew can Marsh Mansion become more prosperous."

The Minister of Industry thought that the cancellation of the curfew was not something he should worry about. Besides, the commercial district in Marsh Mansion City had not yet been built, so it was too early to worry about canceling the curfew.

Zhao Yao told the minister of the Ministry of Industry some things before letting him leave. After that, he called Zheng Qian and Wen Daoji to discuss business taxation and legal matters.

When Marsh Mansion was first established last year, a series of taxes and laws related to business were formulated. However, judging from the current situation, it is not complete and needs to be added.

Since people are encouraged to do business, laws in this area must be improved so that people will not be cheated in the process of doing business. Of course, laws to protect buyers must also be improved to prevent buyers from being cheated by sellers.

Although Zhao Yao does not suppress business, it does not mean that commercial taxes are lower than agricultural taxes. Commercial taxes must be higher than agricultural taxes. However, the commercial tax in Lingnan is lower than that in the interior, so that more inland people can be attracted to do business in Lingnan.

Zhao Yao encouraged people to make money by doing business, and at the same time, he would also increase the price of food so that farmers could secure their land. He also plans to lower agricultural taxes. The climate and environment in Lingnan are suitable for growing a lot of grains and fruits. If farmers cannot make money, then they will become businessmen to make money. Who will grow the grains and fruits then?

He also encouraged women to go into business. If a woman runs a business, her taxes can be reduced by one-third.

In terms of protecting women, he also made many laws to protect them. First: Women have the same right to inheritance as men. Of course, women and men also have support obligations. There is no longer a situation where a married daughter is like water thrown out.

Second: Women have land just like men. If a daughter marries off, the land can be used as her dowry.

Third: Women can study like men, and parents have no right to prevent women from studying.

When the free schools are built, girls aged six years old can go to the schools.

Fourth: Protect women’s property. After a woman gets married, her husband’s family cannot embezzle her dowry, and her family members cannot take her dowry at will.

After a woman's husband dies, she has the right to inherit her husband's property. Even if she remarries later, her husband's family cannot appropriate the money she should inherit.

Fifth: After a woman gets married, if her husband domestically abuses her, she can apply to the Yamen for divorce. Husbands who do domestic violence will be severely punished. If a woman kills her husband during domestic violence, she is not guilty.

Sixth: If a woman is raped, the rapist shall be punished by death.

seventh:……

Zhao Yao originally planned to let women take the imperial examination and then become officials. But now is not the right time. If he brought it up now, he would definitely face opposition. Previously, ministers were strongly opposed to allowing women to study in schools. After a few years, when more and more women are doing business, we will then propose to let women serve as officials.

Improving business taxation and laws cannot be discussed in a day or two. Zhao Yao first mentioned what he wanted to add, and then asked Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian to add what they wanted to add, and then discuss it together. (End of chapter)