activa-t Chapter 040 Having connections makes things easier
Chapter 040 Having connections makes things easier
Chapter 040
Chen Ying didn't actually know how Chen Anning and Zhu Youjian had gotten into a fight. When he asked them, Chen Anning did answer, but only said two words: "He deserves a beating!"
When questioned, Zhu Youjian, the aggrieved party, could only weep and offer no explanation. As for the eunuchs and guards who served Zhu Youjian, he had long since discarded them.
The key point is that no one else was present besides Chen Anning and Zhu Youjian. It's pointless to pursue this now, since his daughter made someone cry and Chen Ying, as her father, could only comfort her.
"Prince Xin, that's enough, that's enough, stop crying!"
Chen Ying looked at Zhu Youjian, who was crying with snot bubbling from his nose, and felt utterly helpless. If any of Zhu Youxiao's sons had survived, even if they were just infants, Zhu Youjian would never have become emperor.
Of course, if this assumption were true, the Ming Dynasty wouldn't have collapsed so quickly. In fact, Zhu Youjian's series of questionable actions after becoming emperor not only failed to save the Ming Dynasty from its decline but also accelerated its demise.
Zhu Youjian felt very aggrieved at this moment. Little did he know that Chen Anning was standing below him. At that time, he was riding in a carriage all the way to the Shahe Garrison. Because there was a heater in the carriage, the air was relatively dry, so he drank more tea. After entering Gonghua City, he got off the carriage and strolled around the city.
Even when he was in a hurry to urinate, he still habitually found a secluded corner to urinate. Just then, Chen Anning came out of the alley and was urinated on by Zhu Youjian. Chen Anning was furious and grabbed him to give him a good beating.
Zhu Youjian realized he was in the wrong and apologized, but then he encountered a crazy woman who wouldn't let it go and kept chasing after him to hit him. He fought back and was beaten even more severely.
As a grown man, Zhu Youjian felt ashamed that he had never hit a girl.
Chen Ying wasn't very good at comforting children: "It's just a punch, right? How about I call Anning over and have her stand still so you can hit her back?"
"Waaah..."
Zhu Youjian cried even louder: "No, no..."
"Prince Xin, no offense, but haven't you practiced martial arts?"
Chen Yingdao said, "Young man, who doesn't get beaten up? Back when I was in the Ma Mu Hundred Household Garrison, I was bullied by the sons of other military households, but I never cried. If I couldn't beat them, I would practice my skills and get my revenge, right?"
When Chen Boying was a child, he was either getting beaten up or beating others up. Of course, Chen Ying himself wasn't like that when he was a child; he didn't fight and was the kind of well-behaved child that other people's families had.
"real?"
Zhu Youjian did not like practicing martial arts. He was usually surrounded by guards or eunuchs, so no one dared to beat him. This time, he suffered a great loss, which made him realize that martial arts were a very important thing.
Chen Yingdao said, "We have a school in Shahe. Why don't you go there to study? Our Shahe school not only teaches reading and writing, but also martial arts. You can go whenever you want!"
In the traditional private schools of the Ming Dynasty, an elite education was adopted. Teachers would read aloud while students followed along. Once the students had memorized the text, the teachers would explain it word by word. Writing also began with tracing characters. This traditional teaching method had been in place for over two thousand years and was highly sophisticated.
Whether it's a private school or an official school, teaching is done on a small scale, with a teacher teaching at most a dozen or twenty students. In some private schools, a teacher only teaches three or four students. But the problem is that this doesn't work for Chen Ying. The Shahe Academy he established only has twelve teachers in total, of whom only Song Xianze has the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination), while the other teachers only have a rudimentary understanding of literature.
However, each teacher had to teach forty or fifty students, so the traditional method wouldn't work. The most crucial point was that the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all very expensive. Even the cheapest set cost more than two taels of silver, and large-scale purchases would be even more expensive.
After much thought, Chen Ying learned from later methods and invented the blackboard and chalk. Neither of these items required any technical expertise, but this small reform greatly reduced the cost of education.
Zhu Youjian wiped away his tears: "Okay!"
"Have you eaten? Come with me!"
Chen Ying led Zhu Youjian to the school in the backyard. The backyard of the Qianhu residence was the Shahe School. Zhu Youjian hesitated for a moment, but still followed Chen Ying to the Shahe School.
From afar, one could hear the children's uneven recitations, occasionally interspersed with shouts of clashing wooden swords and spears. Shahe School was actually a primary school, because most of the students here had no foundation in the subject, and less than one-tenth of them had a foundation.
"Greetings, Commander!"
"Excuse me, a student from your Class A has arrived, Zhu Wu..."
"what……"
"What do you mean 'huh'? Go inside!"
"yes!"
Zhu Youjian entered the classroom and found it to be completely different from the main hall. The narrow classroom was crammed with forty or fifty students, almost shoulder to shoulder.
The teacher glanced at Zhu Youjian. Seeing that although his clothes were ordinary, he looked very energetic and had a shiny face, the teacher knew this student must have connections. He then said to a student sitting in the front, "Liu Asi, go to the back. You sit in the front!"
"yes!"
Zhu Youjian had already seen the students outside, practicing martial arts with wooden swords and knives. There was nothing he could do about it; the space was too cramped, and if three or four hundred students were released at once, there would be no room for them to move around.
As for whether students outside would affect students inside, that's not a concern at all. That's why Chen Ying wanted to build the school.
Zhu Youjian sat on a small stool, watching the teacher write something clearly on a black wooden board hanging on the wall. The teacher was holding a white strip in his hand.
Zhu Youjian saw a familiar face – Chen Anning. Chen Anning raised his fist at Zhu Youjian, who secretly resolved to train hard and defeat this tomboy.
Looking out the window at the serious-looking Zhu Youjian, Song Xianze asked in confusion, "Brother-in-law, why did you bring Prince Xin here?"
"Isn't this good?"
Chen Ying smiled faintly and said, "This is like trying to curry favor with someone powerful in advance!"
"But the princes of the Ming Dynasty have no real power; getting involved with them would only cause trouble!"
Of course, Song Xianze had no idea that Zhu Youjian would become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty four years later.
"It's okay, it's just something to play with the kids!"
Zhu Youjian's deskmate was a burly, dark-skinned boy, half a head taller than him, named Shizhu. Seeing Zhu sit down, Shizhu grinned, revealing a missing front tooth, and whispered, "New here? Don't be afraid, call me big brother, I'll protect you!"
"you……"
Zhu Youjian was instantly enraged, thinking to himself, "You bastard, you dare to say that!"
"What?"
Shi Zhu punched Zhu Youjian in the stomach: "You don't want to?"
"I……"
This was Zhu Youjian's second beating today, and he was about to cry.
"Hold it in, or I'll beat you up again!"
Zhu Youjian instantly felt that it was better not to learn martial arts. Just as he was about to get up and leave, his teacher looked at the stone pillar and said, "Therefore, when Heaven is about to entrust a great task to someone... Does anyone understand why Mencius said that people must first suffer hardship in their minds and bodies?"
Most of the students in the classroom looked at each other, scratching their heads in bewilderment.
They were either children of military households or children of refugees, and the longest they had been enrolled in school was only a year or six months. They could barely read, let alone understand the profound meaning of the words. This senior grade was actually divided according to age groups, and Shizhu was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands.
"Stone Pillar, you answer!"
Shi Zhu's face flushed instantly, and he whispered, "Sir, I...I don't know how..."
"come over!"
Shizhu timidly got up and went to the teacher.
"Clap clap clap..."
The teacher, holding a ruler, struck the stone pillar three times: "I'll teach you to be inattentive! I've explained it three times already, and you still can't remember... Who can answer this...?"
The students immediately bury their heads in the sand, but Zhu Youjian remembered it very clearly. He had memorized this passage by heart in the Great Hall of the Forbidden City, but those learned scholars and lecturers mostly quoted classics and discussed the principles of mind and nature, never asking "why" so directly.
He raised his hand, a rule unique to Shahe Academy.
The teacher nodded: "Go on."
"The student believes that Mencius meant to say that only through the tempering of hardship and adversity can one develop talents and willpower that others do not possess, so that one can shoulder heavy responsibilities in the future. Just as... just as iron needs to be forged a hundred times to become steel."
"What a powerful saying: iron needs to be forged a hundred times to become steel!"
The teacher's eyes lit up, and he praised, "Although not entirely correct, you've grasped the essence. Sit down. Shizhu, look at Zhu Wu. He just arrived on his first day, and I only explained it once, yet he remembered it. You... go back and copy it ten times as punishment!"
The surrounding students' eyes immediately focused on Zhu Youjian, mostly with surprise and admiration, which made him feel very comfortable. You see, when he was studying in the main hall, his talent was really not high. He was one of the worst students and was always the one being scolded.
Now, Zhu Youjian has found absolute confidence here. He has heard most of what the teacher said before, and the lecturers at Hongru University mostly quoted classical texts, so he has memorized a lot by rote memorization.
Without comparison, there is no harm. This former underachiever of Dabentang became a top student at Shahe Academy. Teachers all liked Zhu Wu very much, and classmates were all very envious. This gave Zhu Youjian confidence, especially Shi Zhu, who was amazed by his talent.
In the afternoon martial arts class, the instructor had the newcomer Zhu Youjian practice standing meditation and basic boxing forms.
Zhu Youjian was initially clumsy and far less capable than those military families' sons who had been through thick and thin since childhood. However, he was stubborn and determined not to be defeated by women again, so he gritted his teeth and persevered.
During the break, Tie Zhu and several other teenagers saw that although his movements were clumsy, he was extremely serious, so they gathered around and gave him pointers on how to exert force, creating a lively atmosphere.
After a few days, Zhu Youjian became so engrossed in the pleasure that he forgot all about returning home.
The courses at Shahe Academy were not particularly difficult for him. In literature class, he could always answer questions that others could not, winning the admiration of his classmates and the praise of his teacher. In martial arts class, although his foundation was weak, his progress was visible to the naked eye, and he was gradually able to keep up with the pace.
More importantly, here no one kneels or bows at the drop of a hat, no one constantly reminds him of his identity as Prince Xin. The classmates joke and laugh together, exchanging skills and competing. Although it is simple and rustic, it has a kind of vitality and joy that has never been found in the Forbidden City.
As for his original intention of seeking revenge against Chen Anning and learning martial arts, he had long since forgotten about it.
Occasionally, when he encountered the fierce girl who had made him cry at the school or the garrison, she would simply glance at him, snort, and walk away. Zhu Youjian no longer felt wronged or angry; instead, he felt a little embarrassed. After all, he was the one who had been rude first.
Just as Prince Xin was enjoying the thrill of being a top student at Shahe Academy, Wei Zhongxian in the capital once again revealed his claws, and the agents of the Eastern Depot sealed off all the warehouses of the Bureau of Arms and Weapons.
Wang Shunding, the Minister of Works, died suddenly at home, and seventeen officials, including the Vice Minister of Works, the Director of the Bureau of Armed Forces, and the Deputy Director, were all imprisoned.
After being subjected to severe torture, these officials confessed to how they withheld iron materials, falsified work and food allowances, and used inferior materials... The details were shocking.
What's even more alarming is that the valuables seized from the homes of the seventeen officials included over 530,000 taels of silver, countless land deeds, and dozens of boxes filled with precious paintings and calligraphy.
A sixth-rank official in charge of military supplies had over 34,000 mu of fertile land and a hundred shops. More importantly, he had over sixty children.
The news caused a stir in the capital.
The Donglin Party members didn't care whether Wei Zhongxian arrested corrupt officials or not. In their eyes, as long as someone was arrested, they were being persecuted by Wei Zhongxian. The evidence was irrefutable, and it was Wei Zhongxian who had forced them to confess under torture.
Censor Xie Xuelong submitted another memorial, denouncing Wei Zhongxian for fabricating charges and framing loyal officials, and demanding the release of Xu Zhaokui, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and others. Memorials from the Censorate and the Six Ministries poured into the Office of Transmission.
But this time, the Tianqi Emperor's attitude was unusually tough.
All memorials pleading for the Bureau of Armory were withheld and not issued. Instead, an imperial edict was issued: Xu Zhaokui, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was dismissed and investigated; all officials involved in the case from the Bureau of Armory were transferred to the imperial prison, and their property was confiscated.
……
These things have little to do with Chen Ying.
The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.
At the Shahe Garrison, Chen Ying looked at the Ministry of Works document that had just been delivered. It was stamped with the Emperor's seal and ordered the Shahe Garrison to produce 30,000 sets of plate armor, 50,000 sets of lamellar armor, and 100,000 swords and spears.
Song Xianze looked at the data and instantly felt overwhelmed: "Brother-in-law, can we even produce all of this?"
"How can we not make them all? Not only do we have to make them, we have to make them even better."
"Notify the Ordnance Bureau that all officers of the rank of captain and above must attend a meeting!"
For traditional craftsmanship, it is extremely difficult to create 30,000 sets of plate armor or 50,000 sets of lamellar armor. Each suit of armor requires at least 10,000 hours of work.
Each armor plate is forged and polished by hand. However, the armor produced by Chen Ying is cast directly, just like casting copper coins. One mold has twenty-four plates, and the holes are even pre-drilled during the casting process.
Simply sand down any burrs and flash before assembly.
"Greetings, Commander!"
As the artisan supervisors of the Ordnance Bureau gradually took their places.
"Gentlemen, from this day forward, our Shahe Institute has prospered!"
Chen Ying smiled and said, "The imperial court has placed an order with us for 30,000 sets of plate armor, 50,000 sets of lamellar armor, and 100,000 swords and spears each. This order is very important, and we must ensure the quality. As long as we can complete this task, everyone will benefit."
Chen Ying divided the plate armor into five workshops: batching, refining, casting, fine grinding, and assembly, and arranged production tasks using an assembly line operation method.
"The rules of this commander are simple: you get what you work for. Those with good skills get double the pay, while those who slack off get fired."
Chen Ying continued, "Craftsmen cannot be promoted, but in our thousand-household garrison, as long as you do a good job, I, the thousand-household commander, will recommend you for promotion."
Systems are rigid, but people are flexible. In a garrison like Guidewei, every household is like a radish with its own pit. If you want to get promoted, not only is it impossible for ordinary military households, but even those who are only bannermen or centurions find it difficult to get promoted.
The problem is that the Shahe Thousand-Household Office is an exception, directly under the Daning Military Command. The Daning Military Command does not have this Thousand-Household Office, so Chen Ying's superior becomes the Central Military Command.
The Assistant Commander of the Central Military Commission was Zhang Guoji, who was also the father-in-law of the Tianqi Emperor. The key issue was that Zhang Guoji was incompetent and basically just a figurehead. Chen Ying, on the other hand, was now considered a favorite of the Emperor, and his application was approved immediately. He promoted Chen Daniu and Wang Tiezhu without any further approval. Now, the entire Thousand-Household Garrison only had twelve Hundred-Household Commanders, and twenty-five or one hundred and twenty-five Banner Commanders, which was seriously overstaffed.
The problem is, they have connections in higher positions, so everything goes smoothly.