The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 416 The Mission Brought by Identity

Chen Jingke had only two goals from beginning to end.

First, the Chinese civilization will be more brilliant and splendid. Second, the people will be freed as much as possible.

The previous promulgation of the Employment Law can be regarded as a landmark progress in human rights.

However, this new law always had a blind spot, and that was the imperial palace.

The fundamental reason why the new law could not enter the palace was Zhu Yuanzhang.

As mentioned earlier, he accepted the new world view intellectually, but there were always emotional obstacles.

There is nothing that can be done about it. This is what he has been taught, heard and seen since he was a child.

Many ideas are already deeply rooted and cannot be changed by just a few classes from Chen Jingke.

Chen Jingke's new policies did make the Ming Dynasty better, and he forced himself to accept the various changes in the outside world.

But he regarded the palace as his own private territory and should not be touched easily.

Chen Jingke also didn't want to have any unpleasantness with Lao Zhu because of this small corner.

His plan was to wait until Lao Zhu was gone before conquering this small blind spot.

However, plans cannot keep up with changes, and this turmoil has put everything on the table.

After thinking about it, he decided to try to move.

Old Zhu is a very rational person. As long as he understands that some bad habits in the palace are not changed, the debauchery in the palace will continue to happen.

Even if he is emotionally unacceptable, he will most likely agree to make certain corrections.

But Mr. Zhu is very angry right now, so he definitely can’t bring it up at this time.

Besides, it would be far less effective to ask Empress Ma for her consent first than to tell him directly.

She is Lao Zhu's real weakness. As long as she nods, many things are basically done.

This trend became even more obvious after Zhu Yuanzhang abdicated.

However, Ma also has her own concerns: "What if the appointment system leads to the disclosure of royal privacy?"

Chen Jingke said, "Your Majesty, think carefully, is there really any privacy in the harem that is inconvenient for outsiders to know?"

After thinking about it carefully, Empress Ma felt that there really wasn't any.

Military affairs?

Generally, matters are discussed in the Qianqing Palace and not in the harem.

Besides, a secret that could be overheard by ordinary palace maids and eunuchs was not really a big secret.

If they heard the real secret, they would be killed on the spot.

Harem topographic map?
Quite a few people know this, and even if it is widely publicized it will have no effect at all.

The assassination of the emperor can only exist in novels.

Do you really think those palace walls and tens of thousands of guards are just decorations?

Not to mention outsiders coming in, even the palace maids cannot run around freely.

They can only stay in the small yard where they work for their entire lives, and they will be arrested if they go out.

In this case, try assassination.

Palace fighting in the harem?

This is actually not a secret. The palace fighting plot in the novel is more exciting than the real one.

If we really want to talk about scandals, what Hu Mei, Zhou Ji and others did is a scandal.

But this kind of scandal cannot be hidden from anyone and there is no way to conceal it.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized a reality: the so-called privacy of the harem was nothing but their own imagination.

In fact, it is not that important at all.

Xu Miaojin on the side seemed to have figured it out as well, and said with sudden enlightenment:

"When I read history books before, I saw that Emperor Taizong of Tang and Empress Zhangsun would occasionally release the palace maids to go home and live a normal life."

"I've always wondered, aren't they afraid that the palace's secrets will be leaked out?"

"Now I understand that there are no secrets in the palace."

Chen Jingke secretly gave him a thumbs up. He was indeed a good disciple. The assist came at the right time.

Master has not taught you in vain for so many years.

But he immediately refuted seriously:
"It's not like there are no secrets in the palace. After all, it involves the royal family, so it can be said that there are secrets everywhere."

Xu Miaojin looked like she was being taught a lesson: "Teacher is right, I was just thinking wrong."

"But most eunuchs probably don't have access to confidential information."

Chen Jingke acted like a teachable kid and said:

"Yes, with so many eunuchs, it is impossible for all of them to have access to the secrets."

"Most people are engaged in ordinary jobs, and only a very small number of people have the opportunity to access secrets."

Xu Miaojin continued: "Then, can we treat the two differently?"

“Those who have access to confidential information can be given tenure, but they must be compensated.”

“That way they can work willingly.”

"For ordinary people, there is no need to be on high alert. Just follow the normal employment system."

Chen Jingke praised: "Smart, worthy of being the Crown Princess personally selected by His Majesty and His Majesty."

Xu Miaojin said shyly: "Teacher, you are too kind. It's all because of the good teaching of the Empress."

Madam Ma said unhappily, "Alright, alright, I know you have a deep relationship as master and disciple, so stop playing double game in front of me."

They both laughed.

Chen Jingke, Zhu Xiongying, Xu Miaojin and others often use this trick.

Whether it was Old Zhu, Empress Ma, or Zhu Biao, they all fell for this.

Everyone knows it's a double act, but everyone likes this way.

After the joke, Madam Ma said seriously: "Your suggestion is not unreasonable, but it is a serious matter and you need to be cautious."

Chen Jingke was delighted. She said that, which meant she agreed to the change.

The difference is the extent of the change.

In any case, any improvement is good.

"Your Majesty is wise. In fact, the reform of the palace is not just a matter for the royal family. It also involves the progress of reforms in the whole country."

"As the saying goes, if the superior likes something, the subordinates will like it even more. The whole world is watching the palace."

“The Employment Law has been introduced for so many years, but the progress has not been satisfactory.”

"Especially in the area of ​​employing slaves, there are many obstacles, and the most difficult to overcome are the powerful."

"They just keep an eye on the palace. If the palace doesn't move, they won't move either. Others will follow suit."

"With the changes in the palace this time, I wonder how they can find excuses."

In fact, this is a problem of concept. Our ancestors have been using bonded slaves (laborers) for generations.

In their minds, bonded slaves are their tools, whose life and death are in their control, and they can use them with confidence.

After changing to the employment system, the bonded slaves became "people" with personal rights, but they were still outsiders.

They found it very inconvenient to use, so naturally they were unwilling to do it.

Not to mention ancient times, even in the 21st century, some people who hired nannies treated them as tools.

If something goes wrong, he will be scolded.

In other words, the law does not allow beating people, otherwise they would immediately turn into skin-peeling ghosts.

This situation would have been even more serious in ancient times.

Without a bloody revolution, the implementation of the employment law is a long and arduous task.

But no matter what, Empress Ma's agreement to the appointment system for eunuchs is a phased progress.

As for the life of the palace maids after leaving the palace, it was not a problem at all. Women who had worked in the palace were very popular outside the palace, and there were countless people waiting to marry them in a sedan chair carried by eight men.

The ones we really need to worry about are the eunuchs.

These people are physically disabled and cannot live a normal life outside the palace. They are also discriminated against everywhere.

As for abolishing the eunuchs... forget it, Chen Jingke didn't want to cause trouble for himself.

Then we can only assume that eunuchs are lifelong employees, and what the court needs to do is arrange their retirement matters.

The solution is actually very simple, let them guard the imperial tomb.

A sanatorium will be built in the imperial mausoleum, where people can retire and live out their days when they reach a certain age.

Make sure they can spend their old age in peace.

This alone is not enough. Many inhumane rules in the palace must also be changed.

Otherwise, some people will not be able to bear it and something bad will still happen, and if the news gets out, it will indeed damage the reputation of the royal family.

Chen Jingke also made some suggestions in this regard.

There is no way around it for servants, they have to be on call at all times twelve hours a day.

It would be better to adopt a shift system for other work, especially for the laundry department, where he put forward a number of reform suggestions.

There are strict regulations on the time to go to and from get off work, three meals a day, etc.

After get off work, they are not allowed to be enslaved to work, etc.

"The Emperor and Empress are the parents of all people in the world. How can there be parents who don't love their children?"

"The royal family should set an example, so that the world can be governed well."

Madam Ma smiled and said, "Don't try to fool me, kid...but what you said does make sense."

"If the palace had adopted the method you mentioned before, I don't think this would have happened."

"Even if someone was dishonest, others who didn't want to be implicated would have taken the initiative to report it, so it wouldn't have been concealed for so long."

"But don't tell His Majesty about this for now. He's already angry, and saying this would just add fuel to the fire."

"When this is over, I'll find a chance to talk to him."

Chen Jingke flattered, "How dare I tell His Majesty this? Only you can persuade him."

Madam Ma rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop flattering me. If you have nothing else to do, just leave. You're just annoying me."

"Okay, you take a rest, I'll take my leave first." Chen Jingke stood up and left quickly.

Madam Ma looked at him with amusement as he left, and then suddenly asked:
"What do you think of his suggestion?"

Xu Miaojin said modestly: "This still requires you and His Majesty..."

Madam Ma: "Speak human language."

Xu Miaojin: “The teacher’s advice is very good.”

"I went to the laundry once and had nightmares for days. I never dared to go there again."

"As the royal family, there shouldn't be such inhumane things happening in the royal family."

Madam Ma nodded and said, "You are indeed more deeply influenced by him and pay more attention to the power of people."

Xu Miaojin was about to explain something, she continued:

"But this is also because you are kind by nature. There are so many people listening to his lectures, but few are willing to learn."

"It's a good thing that you have a kind heart, but you must remember your identity."

"There are some things that your identity requires you to do. If you don't do them, more people will die."

Xu Miaojin looked puzzled. What kind of identity required him to do this?
Ma Niangniang explained: "If you were the emperor, some people must be killed, even if they are loyal to the court."

"Zhou Yafu's ability and loyalty are beyond doubt, but Emperor Jing of Han still forced him to death."

"It's not that Emperor Jing of Han was mean and ungrateful, but his status as an emperor required him to do so."

"Zhou Yafu has a strong personality and is a representative of the nobility. His father Zhou Bo even deposed and enthroned a ruler."

"If we don't kill him, he will definitely hinder the young Emperor Wu of Han in the future."

"It is even possible that he would follow his father's example and depose and enthrone the emperor."

"As an emperor, Emperor Jing of Han cannot turn a blind eye to these potential dangers."

"So, Zhou Yafu is dead."

Ma Niangniang connected with the present again and said, "In this regard, Chen Jingke did a very good job."

"First he cut himself off from the military, then he offended the civil officials with his reforms."

"It is to proactively eliminate the danger in oneself."

"Although he is in charge of the Imperial Guard, all generals at all levels are appointed by His Majesty and Jiang Li."

"If he doesn't rebel, those people will listen to him."

"If he had any other ideas, those people would be the first to tie him up."

"The mathematics circle is the only force he can control."

"But the accounting officer is only an assistant officer, he follows orders, the one who makes the decision is the chief officer above."

"So, he poses no threat to the royal family."

"He is trustworthy in his work, and the royal family is worthy of him, which is why he has the status he has today."

Xu Miaojin couldn't help but nod repeatedly, and she had great admiration for the teacher in her heart. He was so smart.

Madam Ma continued, "Chen Jingke lowered his own danger level not only for self-protection, but also because his status required him to do so."

"If he doesn't do this, he will either live in vain or die after achieving success."

"You see, everyone is trying to do what they should do according to their status."

The doubt in Xu Miaojin's eyes gradually turned into understanding.

But then she thought of something and whispered:

"Once the teacher's worldview of universal harmony is released and accepted by the world, he will have the reputation of a sage. Isn't this also very dangerous?"

Ma Niangniang shook her head and said, "On the contrary, if he really became a sage, he would be even less dangerous."

"There will be countless people who will hold him to the standards of a saint and will observe his every word and action through a magnifying glass."

"If his words or actions are not in line with etiquette, he will be attacked by the crowd."

"If he doesn't change, he will be despised by the world."

"Do you think he is still dangerous in this situation?"

Xu Miaojin said thoughtfully: "This is how Zhu Zi was criticized back then, right?"

Madam Ma said: "The situation he faces is more serious than Zhu Xi's."

Zhu Xi did not enter the core of power, but only made achievements in academics.

Those who attacked him were his rivals in the academic community.

Chen Jingke is different. He is always at the center of power.

Those who attacked him included people from not only the academic community but also government circles.

"By that time, he will have only one way to survive, which is to be closely tied to the royal family."

“This is one of the reasons why we all encouraged him to write about the world of universal harmony.”

“Not only will we encourage him to write, but we will also help him promote the book once it’s released.”

"Do you think we are heartless and calculating against him in every way?"

Xu Miaojin shook her head and said, "From an emotional point of view, I don't want him to be calculated like this."

"But rationally, this is good for everyone."

Ma Niangniang smiled and said, "Well, you are a really smart child. You have learned how to consider things from the perspective of your identity."

"You are the Crown Princess, the future Queen of the Ming Dynasty. It doesn't matter if you have empathy, but you must remember to do the task assigned to you by your identity well."

"Otherwise it will bring bigger troubles, bigger troubles than today."

(End of this chapter)