Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 242 Technical Academy

Most people tend to think that seven out of ten businessmen in the Ming Dynasty were wealthy.

However, according to real historical records, the income of businessmen in the Ming Dynasty had an extremely serious polarization.

Especially those who are engaged in small businesses, such as vendors selling small commodities on the streets, their income is probably not as generous as that of ordinary tenant families, let alone middle peasant families.

According to historical records, during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, many small traders worked hard all day long and made profits of "two or three out of ten for large ones, and no more than one tenth for small ones." There were not a few small businessmen who were unlucky and lost their capital. .

If there are those who lose money, there will naturally be those who make money.

Historically, merchant groups such as Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants were already quite large in the middle and late Ming Dynasty.

Shanxi merchants emerged in the early Ming Dynasty and developed rapidly because they seized the opportunity to transport grain and grass to the Western Expeditionary Army and obtained the privilege of selling salt.

The history of Huizhou merchants is earlier. They gradually developed from Huizhou merchants in the Ming Dynasty who introduced silver to sell salt in exchange for salt. They were protected by the imperial court and had strong strength.

The two are mainly engaged in the salt industry, tea industry, processing manufacturing industry, etc.

Although the commodity economy of the Ming Dynasty developed rapidly starting from the Jiajing period, the vast majority of the people could only make ends meet.

If a natural or man-made disaster occurs, it will be difficult to guarantee the basic life of the people. This is one of the important reasons for the rise of refugees in the late Ming Dynasty and the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.

In front of the Minister of Civil Affairs and other senior officials of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Gaoxu asked about the income of farmers and craftsmen, and finally asked about the income of businessmen, which obviously had profound meaning.

Xia Yuanji was a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, a famous minister, and a wise minister. He was extremely intelligent, so he naturally had a rough idea of ​​Zhu Gaoxu's thoughts.

He said slowly: "Since the Yongle Dynasty lifted the sea ban, a large number of merchants have gone to sea with the imperial fleet to trade, and they have gained hundreds or thousands of times of profits. In the past 20 years, thousands of merchants have been exporting to several provinces in Jiangnan alone every year. Ordinary businessmen suddenly became wealthy businessmen.”

"So, generally speaking, the income of merchants is much higher than the income of farmers and craftsmen."

Zhu Gaoxu asked again: "How does the status of businessmen compare with farmers and craftsmen?"

"This veteran doesn't know how to answer."

Xia Yuanji said hesitantly.

Zhu Gaoxu said without changing his expression: "How do you say this?"

Xia Yuanji said: "Your Majesty, I really don't know how to answer this matter."

"Your Majesty, this matter has something to do with the Ministry of Personnel."

Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Service, spoke respectfully.

Zhu Gaoxu pretended to be surprised and said, "It's actually related to the Ministry of Officials?"

Jian Yi explained: "Your Majesty, although the imperial court prohibits merchants from wearing silk and satin, the vast majority of merchants will choose to donate to a low-ranking official after making money. Because the official positions are beyond the quota, they are in name only. Called 'Yuanwai'."

"Tell me more carefully."

Zhu Gaoxu stroked his beard and said.

"Yes."

Jian Yi said respectfully: "Before the Tang Dynasty, Yuanwai existed as an official title. At the end of the Wei Dynasty, Yuanwai Sanqi Changshi was appointed, and at the beginning of Jin Dynasty, Yuanwai Sanqi Shilang was appointed." "During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there were Yuanwai Generals and Yuanwai Sima. Governors, etc., add officials to their official names, such as the minister of cavalry and the minister of cavalry, and he will be a member of the wailang. When he enters, he will correct the fault, and when he goes out, he will disengage and follow."

"Each of the 24 departments of Shangshu Province in the Sui Dynasty appointed a Yuanwailang as a deputy to each department. Before Tang Zhenguan, Yuanwailang was the examiner of the imperial examination. During the Kaiyuan period of Tang Dynasty, Tang Xuanzong felt that this official position was too low, so he changed it to the Minister of Rites to preside over the imperial examination. In the exam, it is listed as the sixth grade.”

"Among the official positions of the six ministries in the early Song Dynasty, each had a Yuanwailang, the seventh rank. Later, the imperial court implemented the system of donating officials, and thousands of Yuanwailang other than the official were sold. From then on, Yuanwailang gradually evolved into a kind of A common name for wealthy people.”

"Especially after Zhao and Song Dynasty crossed south, rich people called each other Yuanwai when they met, and ordinary people called Yuanwai when they met rich people. There are Yuanwailang everywhere in the world."

Zhu Gaoxu knew that in the historical Song Dynasty, Yuanwai was mostly used to address wealthy households. For example, the well-known Jade Unicorn Lu Junyi was called Lu Yuanwai.

As for the small and medium-sized landowners, they are far less wealthy than the giant businessmen, so few of them can afford official positions outside the Yuan Dynasty.

As a result, there was still a certain distance between the small and medium-sized landowners in the Song Dynasty and their status as members of the party.

"During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, this situation changed significantly. Emperor Taizu's policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing business allowed the property of the landowners of the Ming Dynasty to increase rapidly."

Jian Yi respectfully said: "The imperial court followed the example of the Song Dynasty. Rich landowners and businessmen could spend money to donate a member to serve as an official, which created the illusion that a member of the government is equal to the rich."

"In this case, large and medium-sized landowners can buy official positions by donating official positions. Of course, they cannot get real power. Most of the official positions given by the court are supernumerary positions."

"Therefore, my role as Yuanwailang in the Ming Dynasty has become a kind of idle and idle position, and it is no longer related to the imperial examination."

Zhu Gaoxu's expression changed and he said in a deep voice: "There was no system of donating officials during the Taizu period, and His Majesty the Father never mentioned this decree during the Yongle period. But I don't know where the old system mentioned by Jian Shangshu came from?"

Jian Yi replied neither humble nor arrogantly: "During the time of Emperor Wu of the former Han Dynasty, there were many troubles at the border, and the imperial treasury spent a lot of money. The practice of exchanging titles for food was no longer enough to solve the problem, so they sold their official positions to increase their income to pay for the huge military expenditures. . Since then, in all dynasties, there has been a policy of donating officials."

Zhu Gaoxu fell into silence after hearing this.

He decided not to pursue the specific details, but said loudly: "There is no distinction between high and low in the profession that everyone is engaged in. Everyone's profession is worthy of respect."

"In this way, all the people in the world will be able to do their jobs in peace and order, and farmers and craftsmen will be respected. Farmers and craftsmen will not pursue profit, abandon agriculture and work, and go to sea to engage in business."

"Your Majesty is right. I think it is not shameful to be a craftsman or a farmer!"

Song Li, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, said loudly: "In today's capital, even an ordinary barber's monthly income is between ten and 20 silver yuan. Compared with an eighth-rank official who was born in Juren, the income is not only low. If it’s low, it’s better to find a mother-in-law.”

This is indeed the true income of barbers in Beijing.

As long as the barber's skills are good and his reputation is high, he will receive greater respect from ordinary people, even scholars and wealthy businessmen.

This kind of treatment is similar to that of official craftsmen in some yamen in the capital, and even the treatment of seventh- and eighth-rank officials in the capital is not much different. If you have nothing to do, you can enjoy the collection of antique calligraphy and painting, famous wine, and famous porcelain.

These benefits, which seem to be only available to officials who passed the imperial examinations or giant businessmen who made a lot of money in the sea, can also be enjoyed by famous craftsmen with special skills in Beijing.

Zhu Gaoxu saw the situation and said: "I have decided to set up a technical academy in the suburbs of Beijing. Craftsmen engaged in technical affairs are allowed to apply for admission to the academy to study skills. After completing their studies, they can obtain the title of Juren issued by the Ministry of Etiquette. membership."

"Your Majesty, I object! If this is the case, who will study hard for ten years and take the imperial examination?"

Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Affairs, was the first to object: "Many young people can apply for admission to a technical college after learning a skill and making money. They can also get the title of Juren and enter the official career. Why not for?"

(End of this chapter)