usatvline Chapter 1127 - 1109: A House Filled with Visitors
Chapter 1127 - 1109: A House Filled with Visitors
Fu Tinghan returned home, having already written a lot, "Tomorrow I want to invite officials from various departments to come to the house to discuss some matters, you should stay home as well."
Fu Tinghan asked, "What matters are you discussing?"
Zhao Hanzhang showed him a part she had completed, saying, "Reform. Take advantage of the chaotic times to extend our reach in many areas; otherwise, once their interests become entrenched, it will be exceedingly difficult to change anything."
Fu Tinghan noticed that her reforms covered everything from villages to markets, from agriculture to handicrafts, and commerce; the aspects relating to the military, aside from military doctors and some logistical systems, were not listed.
"Weren’t you planning to divide the army into two parts, with one part as elite soldiers and the others involved in farming? Why isn’t that written here?"
"The matters of the military don’t need to be discussed with them. I can make decisions after consulting with Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and a few generals." Asking them is merely to fill in gaps and clarify specific details. She’s not planning to bring military system matters to court discussions; currently, she wants to ensure absolute control over the military.
Fu Tinghan nodded, putting the papers down and pressing them neatly, "I have no objections."
"Did you gain anything from visiting the Glazed Workshop today?"
Fu Tinghan replied, "A little. Jian Jia is very skilled, we tried making several attempts. I dare not claim success, but there is indeed an arc. With continued research, I believe we can achieve it."
Jian Jia is the chief craftsman and person in charge at the Luoyang Glass Workshop, very skilled at glazing, far better than Fu Tinghan who is revered as an ’ancestor’.
Many things Fu Tinghan wants are made by Jian Jia through his oral descriptions and research, often producing items they hadn’t thought of.
In Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes, he is no longer just a craftsman, but a scientist, an engineering scientist, truly impressive.
Thus Zhao Hanzhang likes him very much, saying to Fu Tinghan, "These chief craftsmen and scientists find it difficult to enter official circles through technology. Simply put, official circles are fundamentally places for management and development, and their scientific research skills would be wasted here."
"But they have made significant contributions to the country and the people, deserving of corresponding honor. I want to establish a Mozi List, updated every three years; the top three each time will not only receive monetary rewards but also official ranks, granting them the honor given to top scholars. Those with outstanding contributions might even receive titles."
Zhao Hanzhang said enthusiastically, "I want the world to know that not only civil servants and military generals can be granted titles, but achievements in science too."
Fu Tinghan’s eyes brightened, "This is great. How will the scope be defined? Should I gather people from the Ministry of Industry for brainstorming? The Ministry of Agriculture is within the Mo School range, isn’t it?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Of course, agriculture is a top priority and needs strong support."
The most urgent concerns are the efficiency of farming and yield per acre. Zhao Hanzhang circled this matter prominently to show its importance, intending to discuss specific details with Ji Yuan and the others.
The two discussed for a while, when Ting He knocked at the door outside, "Lady, sir, dinner is ready."
Suddenly Zhao Hanzhang didn’t feel like going to the dining hall, finding walking around cumbersome, and the study was much warmer with the prolonged burning of charcoal, likely superior to the dining hall, so she said, "Let them bring the food here."
Ting He agreed.
Soon she and the maids brought the food in, along with two basins of warm water for the two to wash their hands.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "We hunted deer and rabbits today, we’ll eat rabbit meat tonight and deer meat tomorrow."
Fu Tinghan nodded, sitting with her on the couch to eat.
"Rabbits reproduce quickly, but after observing closely, wild rabbits aren’t domesticated, so the meat yield is still low; besides grains, edible meat is also critical, but the Ministry of Agriculture seems not to have a department specifically for breeding?"
Fu Tinghan replied, "There is; it was just established last year to study pig breeding and swine fever, but they only took a veterinarian from a racecourse, so for now, pig farming in Luoyang is limited."
Zhao Hanzhang suggested, "Why not let the Ministry of Agriculture collaborate with various villages, provide guidance and seeds, the court will give some subsidies, and the Ministry of Agriculture will take thirty percent of raised pigs, chickens, rabbits as seeds, the rest going to the farming peasants, how about this?"
Fu Tinghan pondered and said, "This cooperation model is good, but I need to calculate the costs and decide the distribution."
Zhao Hanzhang agreed, "Pay attention to this matter, the time after spring farming is best for breeding, select a few regions for testing first, if suitable, it can be promoted from Luoyang to other places."
Zhao Hanzhang handed him a rabbit leg, "And the oxen, draft oxen are important, we’re short on labor force, besides improving tools and enhancing efficiency, all options left is raising more cattle."
"Cows on the grassland are mostly beef cattle, but some trained can be used for farming; this requires domestication starting from calves," Zhao Hanzhang stated, "I’m planning to collaborate with Tuoba Xianbei on this, but in that case, it’s not appropriate for the Ministry of Agriculture, I’ll see who’s more suitable."
Fu Tinghan thought for a while and said, "Zhao Shen?"
Zhao Hanzhang began considering, "It’s not impossible, I’ll talk to him before deciding."
The two talked while eating, and this meal lasted until late at night.
Over the next two days, Zhao Hanzhang was constantly discussing various military operations with Ji Yuan and others. Officials and staff who used to habitually seek her out at Zhao Mansion began transitioning to the General’s Mansion, gradually adapting to its layout.
Every day, she could receive visiting cards from the gatehouse as soon as she woke up, all from officials seeking an audience. Evidently, no one was idle during New Year, beyond those wanting to build connections and present gifts, most were carrying documents to discuss state affairs with her.
Zhao Hanzhang stood in the courtyard, feeling the swirling cold wind, and said to Ting He, "Have the gatehouse tidy up the vestibule on each side of the main entrance, place tables and chairs, invite visitors to sit in the vestibule, offer hot tea and charcoal braziers, don’t let anyone catch a cold."
Ting He agreed and bowed to leave.
The lively court of the Great General was stark against the serene coldness of the Imperial Palace.
Yet the Little Emperor rather enjoyed this tranquility, wishing the palace to remain this way. No ministers entering the palace, nor any teacher visiting; besides the Imperial Guard, eunuchs, and palace maids, only he remained.
He could sleep when he wanted and eat when he wanted, how pleasantly free this was.
Yet such freedom was interrupted on the evening of the seventh day; as night fell the eunuch reminded the Little Emperor, "Your Majesty, it’s time to retire. You have court early tomorrow."
The Little Emperor had been sleeping late these days, and now restless, he used his special privilege to play for another hour before finally drowsily falling asleep, feeling he had barely lain down when he was awakened.
The Little Emperor was pulled out of bed to dress; as he was surrounded exiting the door, the cold wind made him shiver.
Looking at the morning sun on the horizon, the Little Emperor felt a bit bewildered, asking, "What time is it?"
The little eunuch responded, "A quarter past seven, Your Majesty, the ministers have entered the palace, you’ll be just in time if you eat breakfast now."