met free Chapter 459 1 As Always, an Inhuman Son
Chapter 459 1 As Always, an Inhuman Son
Yang Shaofeng wondered, "Have I never been to school?"
Before I, Yang, transmigrated, I was a proper scholar. Not to mention the subjects I studied from elementary school to university, I've read thousands upon thousands of online novels, countless classics, the Five Volumes of Dragon Slaying Technique, and those books on "homemade methods for refining all things," as well as "Friends of Dual-Use Talents," "Militia Training Manual," and "Barefoot Doctor's Manual"...
Regardless of how much I, Yang, have actually learned, or how much of it I have memorized, it doesn't matter.
Let me tell you, in your Great Ming Dynasty, is there anyone who has read more books than me, Mr. Yang?
If I, Yang, cannot be considered a scholar, how can your Ming Dynasty find another scholar?
Besides, I, Yang, know that the title of Marquis of Champion is not something that just anyone can control.
But am I, Yang, just an ordinary person?
Besides, the title of Marquis of Champion sounds so prestigious and is so cool to talk about.
A pleasant voice is something you can enjoy for a lifetime.
Seeing Yang Shaofeng's silent demeanor, which clearly showed his dissatisfaction, Emperor Zhu felt even more displeased.
The title of Marquis of Champion is like a curse.
Its power is roughly equivalent to that of the title "Lord of Wu'an".
Although this son-in-law is no good, and sometimes I even wish I could hang him up and beat him, I can't really give him the title of Marquis of Champion, can I?
If all else fails, after we get rid of Hu Yuan, we can have Bo Ren clean up Japan again, and then we can make that bastard the Duke of Japan.
At worst, we can give him a few more fiefdoms, and while we're at it, we can also move the fiefdoms of Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun to Japan.
After pondering for a while, Emperor Zhu finally spoke up, saying, "Alright, we'll talk about the Marquis of Champion later. First, tell me how many titles you want and what you want to do with them."
"No, you haven't said what title you want yet."
"If you were a viscount or a baron, we could grant you a few right now."
“You need to explain to us clearly what exactly happened regarding the terms of Duke, Marquis, and Earl.”
"You can't act recklessly just because we're the emperor."
Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but roll his eyes and said, "What I want is a viscount and a baron."
"And it shouldn't be the kind that's hereditary and perpetual."
At this point, Yang Shaofeng suddenly changed the subject, and under the bewildered gaze of Emperor Zhu, said, "Father-in-law, don't you want more good things like harvesters?"
Harvester?
The Emperor Zhu's heart immediately burned with excitement.
Harvesters are great things.
While it's not very reliable for harvesting beans—either they're too hard to cut or they get stuck—it can greatly improve harvesting efficiency for rice and wheat.
As an old farmer who had personally farmed the land and even cultivated a plot of land in the palace after becoming emperor, Zhu Chongba knew all too well the benefits of harvesters.
If we could create more great things like harvesters...
Given condition 1: Harvesters can make farming easier for farmers.
Given condition 2: People are always busy and always thinking about planting something in the fields.
Given condition three: This bastard wants several titles, saying he can create more great things like harvesters.
Then what the hell is there to consider?
How many titles of nobility do you want?
"How about giving each of those carpenters who make harvesters, whom you reported last time, a noble title?"
Before Yang Shaofeng could even name how many titles he wanted, Emperor Zhu began to promise conditions: "We'll have Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen think about it later, and then we'll divide the baron and viscount titles into county baron, county viscount, prefecture baron, and prefecture viscount."
"I'll think about the stipends, preferential treatment, and the matter of hereditary titles with demotions for these titles later."
"Last time we were negligent, only thinking about giving them some real money and preferential treatment such as exemption from taxes and corvée labor."
"If we can really develop more good things like harvesters, this amount of preferential treatment is indeed too little."
"..."
Seeing that Emperor Zhu was already somewhat incoherent, Yang Shaofeng muttered "country bumpkin" to himself while respectfully saying, "Father-in-law, you are wise."
Emperor Zhu immediately laughed twice and said with a smug look, "Right? I think so too."
Ok?
I flattered you, and you actually took it seriously, didn't you?
Just as Yang Shaofeng was secretly complaining, Emperor Zhu suddenly blinked and said, "That's not right."
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback and asked, "What's wrong?"
Emperor Zhu said, "Something is wrong, something is really wrong."
"Think about it, none of the emperors who became emperors throughout history, especially the founding emperors, were fools, right?"
“You just mentioned wanting a title, and then asked if we wanted more great things like the harvester. I immediately thought of using titles to entice the craftsmen to develop more great things like the harvester.”
"Our Zhu Chongba was born a cowherd and beggar, and he didn't have much education."
"If even we can think of this, how could those brilliant and ambitious emperors not have thought of it?"
"If they've thought of that, why don't they do it?"
Yang Shaofeng really wanted to ask Zhu Chongba, that old geezer, if he was just daydreaming.
However, considering that it was not appropriate to call him Old Deng directly, and that saying "fart" was not very elegant, Yang Shaofeng finally bowed respectfully and said, "Father-in-law, to create something as good as a harvester, there are not just a few conditions involved, nor can it be done by those emperors who want to do it."
"The first problem we need to address is iron smelting and steelmaking."
"Without enough ironworks, it is impossible to produce enough steel."
"Secondly, there is the issue of standardization."
"The parts made by one craftsman are not interchangeable with those made by another craftsman. Harvesters are essentially disposable farm tools, which makes them very troublesome to repair."
At this point, Yang Shaofeng's voice lowered: "There is another, most important reason, which is the exhaustion of the people."
"For dynasties and officials throughout history, the more tired the people were, the less time they had to think about anything else."
"This is the same principle as the son-in-law setting up a workshop and letting the people work in it."
"To put it bluntly, my son-in-law is also working to exhaust the people, but he makes money while making them tired."
"From being utterly exhausted to being able to make the people feel content with a modest income."
"..."
The more Yang Shaofeng spoke, the darker Emperor Zhu's face became.
This dog...
He remains as inhuman as ever.
Is it acceptable to openly and honestly use the phrase "exhausted people"?
No, I've been led astray by this bastard again.
If all the people were as exhausted as you are, then no one in history would have thought of this.
So you're the only smart person in all of history?
Just as Emperor Zhu was internally complaining, Yang Shaofeng added, "There's another, less important reason."
"That's a matter of timing."
Emperor Zhu was taken aback for a moment, then sighed and said, "Yes, it's a matter of timing."
"The most likely time for these things to be produced is during the most prosperous period of each dynasty."
"But at its peak, no one was willing to pay attention to this issue."
"By the time they start to pay attention, it's usually already the end of a dynasty, and by then it's too late to do anything about it."
At this point, Emperor Zhu couldn't help but sigh again and said, "We grant you the title you want. Just write a memorial to the throne later."
Upon hearing Emperor Zhu's promise, Yang Shaofeng was overjoyed.
If titles are given as carrots, wouldn't the most skilled craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty be reduced to donkeys?
When these donkeys start working hard to pull the millstone, shouldn't the ironclad ship of my dreams also appear in the world?
Do it well, my dear!