The Great Survey

Although Emperor Hongyao was an iron-fisted ruler with highly centralized power, he was not an emperor who ruled by his word alone. So, after issuing the order and before the people were brought in, he immediately opened a court discussion.

The question was what level of reward would be appropriate for the artisan.

Everyone understood that His Majesty had taken Shen Anxin's words to heart.

Shen Anxin: Huh? I misunderstood? He wasn't going to dismiss the artisan with a token reward, but actually intended to give artisans proper attention?

Chacha: Maybe they know how important this invention is, but it should be a special case. They won't start valuing artisans because of it. After all, the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and the idea that all pursuits are lowly and only studying is noble, are etched into their bones.

Shen Anxin: You have a point. Even the wise and mighty Great Emperor Hongyao, decisive in killing and conquest, can't break out of his established way of thinking.

Emperor Hongyao: Who says I can't?!

"My ministers, I want this reward to send a signal to the people of Great Qi. Whoever they are, whatever their background, if they have the talent to create new things and devices, and offer up their techniques or creations, Great Qi will value them. As long as what they make can help Great Qi develop, the greater their contribution, the more generous their reward will be. High office, handsome salaries, land, gold, silver, fame, and status can all be granted."

His meaning was perfectly clear now. Emperor Hongyao intended to give those nameless artisans a chance. As long as they had something good in their hands, they could exchange it for every kind of glory and riches.

This was a chance for artisans to ascend to heaven in a single step, encouraging them not to think only of the little plot of land right in front of them. If they wanted to turn their lives around and change their fate, they had to put their minds to work.

With hope and motivation, as long as enough people did this, more good things like woodblock printing would emerge.

Shen Anxin: Holy shit, what suddenly got into Emperor Hongyao?

Chacha: Perhaps he didn't take this incident as an isolated case, but realized something from it.

Shen Anxin: Th-this kind of change won't cause problems, will it?

Chacha: Doesn't the host quite like this change too?

Shen Anxin: Talking big is one thing, but I know perfectly well I don't have the brains to direct the affairs of a nation. There was no such change in the history I know. As the saying goes, tug one hair and the whole body moves. It feels great, sure, but who knows what it might set off?

Some reforms in ancient times looked great to modern people, but when actually carried out, some had destroyed entire dynasties.

Chacha: The course of history can't be changed by one person. Host, you don't need to worry too much.

The entire court: Don't worry, Lucky Star. We don't just sit around eating for free, either.

The ministers immediately launched into an enthusiastic discussion.

"Your Majesty, the rewards can be divided into grades. The more useful the invention, the greater the reward, naturally. If their inventions are used by the court and generate profits, they could also receive a share. That would be a stronger incentive than any one-time reward." Minister Zheng, who was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, immediately offered a suggestion.

"What about those that aren't very useful? I think there should still be a guaranteed minimum. After all, some things may only be of limited use for the time being. We can register and record them first. If they inspire others, that would be an indirect contribution as well," the minister of works added.

"I suggest establishing a dedicated agency to manage this matter. It could not only accept applications from artisans, but also be responsible for assessing grades. Furthermore, we could take the initiative to go out into the localities and collect things. Sometimes the people may not know whether what they've made is useful," the minister of personnel said.

An imperial censor frowned and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we must still be cautious. If the rewards are too generous, or too easy to obtain, how many people in the realm will abandon farming and turn to studying how to become artisans, hoping to seize this chance to ascend to heaven in a single step? If there isn't enough grain then, there will be great chaos."

At those words, the hall gradually fell quiet.

That was right. Countless natural disasters still awaited them in the future, and the most important thing for dealing with them was grain. Someone had to grow it.

Their surging passion seemed to cool gradually.

Emperor Hongyao narrowed his eyes slightly. That was how the court was: where there were radicals, there were naturally conservatives.

As Shen Anxin listened to everyone debate, her head buzzed. How could she put it? She didn't really understand, but it all sounded impressive. Whoever spoke seemed to have a point.

Just then, Xiao Yanchen stepped forward. "I understand the imperial censor's concerns. But if some of these artisans can improve farming tools or invent better ones, saving farmers the effort of working the fields, then farmers can cultivate more land. Grain production could actually increase."

"Your Highness is being too idealistic."

Xiao Yanchen smiled slowly. "It is the imperial censor who is being overly cautious. Everyone in the realm knows that by studying and passing the imperial examinations, they can ascend to heaven in a single step. Yet have all the people in the realm stopped farming to take the examinations? No.

"By the same reasoning, becoming an artisan cannot be done overnight. They would also have to spend who knows how many years researching on their own without payment before they could invent anything. It is an even bigger gamble.

"Most people will not indulge in such a daydream.

"If things really do tilt too far, that will mean our policies are unbalanced. Rather than thinking about limiting rewards for artisans, we should increase the benefits of being a farmer. Only with balance can there be stability.

"The opportunity Imperial Father is offering merely encourages artisans to give things a little more thought beyond their work.

"Some little gadget they put together offhand might be an important invention. As long as there is a dedicated agency to collect such things, they will not be buried away, never to see the light of day."

Hearing this, the assembled officials could not help nodding repeatedly.

Emperor Hongyao's lips curved in even greater satisfaction.

Xiao Yanchen had not finished. "I also suggest that this should not be limited to artisans. For example, a farmer might have a remedy for insect pests or a special method for making crops flourish. A physician might develop a more effective, better treatment for a particular illness, or discover a new medicinal formula, and so on.

"I cannot think of too many examples for now, but I believe that as long as something can benefit the people and help Great Qi develop, it should be protected and encouraged."

His words caused an uproar.

They had not expected His Highness the crown prince to draw so many inferences from one example. Had he not made the scope of this far too broad all at once?

Even Shen Anxin was startled.

Shen Anxin: Oh, right! If other professions are properly encouraged, their fields could boom too. It's because no one manages and records things in a unified way that so many good things have been lost as time passed.

Chacha: There really are quite a few good things hidden among the people. Sometimes the people who possess them don't know how good they are, or have no way to spread them. Worse still, some are suppressed by interest groups. They appear and disappear in the long river of history. It really is a great pity.

Shen Anxin: If the imperial court took the lead in encouraging them, I can hardly imagine how much energy would burst forth among the people.

When everyone heard that many good things among the people had indeed appeared and disappeared, they could not help imagining the possibilities.

What good things could they be? Oh no, the itch is unbearable! If we're a moment late collecting them, will they disappear? What if they're important?!

The ministers grew restless and anxious.

By this point, Emperor Hongyao was thoroughly satisfied.

"You have all heard the crown prince. I also understand that you worry such a great change will carry hidden dangers. Yes, there will certainly be hidden dangers, but if our generation does not do it, the next generation will. Do you have more faith in yourselves to do it well, or in your descendants?"

With a single question, Emperor Hongyao instantly awed the ministers.

That was right. They had sworn to assist His Majesty, and for Great Qi's great undertaking through the ages, they ought to look further ahead.

Some things had to be done by someone. If they did not do them, their descendants would only be less enterprising. Just look at Southern Xia, where generation after generation had lost its fighting spirit, leaving only decline. How could they possibly feel at ease leaving things to their descendants?

As long as Great Qi developed rapidly, they would have a better chance of getting through the future, even if great natural disasters came one after another.

Emperor Hongyao watched the eyes of the assembled officials gradually light up.

He smiled. "My ministers, establish a reward system and search among the people. If anything is of vital importance to the state, it must be brought under state ownership. Go ahead and do it... This is the best time."

Even Shen Anxin felt her blood stirring as she listened. They're going to launch a great survey of the skills and techniques among Great Qi's people! As expected of the Great Emperor Hongyao I admire. He really is bold. This generation of ruler and ministers is simply a golden generation. Maybe, if they work hard, my quality of life will improve by leaps and bounds! Even if I'm lying flat, I want to lie comfortably.

Although a certain someone was thinking only about the quality of her life while lying flat, Emperor Hongyao was still delighted by the praise. Even the assembled officials could not help puffing out their chests.

For the sake of Shen Anxin's assessment alone, they would work harder and harder to develop Great Qi well, so that the little girl could lie comfortably too.

Xiao Yanchen: ...It seems I've been overlooked.

Never mind. If Shen Anxin hadn't suggested those lines of thought we'd never even imagined before, I wouldn't have thought of these things either. The credit belongs to her.

We're fortunate to have her here.

Before long, the court had discussed a framework of rules for the matter.

The family of the artisan who had invented woodblock printing was also brought into the hall.

The artisan, his wife, their son, and their young daughter made a family of four. Apart from the son, who studied and was somewhat more composed, the other three were nearly scared witless by their first encounter with such a scene.

Fortunately, the minister of works helped smooth things over, and no trouble arose.

A title of earl, future profit shares, a residence and landed estates, rewards of gold and silver, an imperially bestowed plaque, and the honor of being the first person entered in the Welfare Chronicle.

Leaving the earlier rewards aside for the moment, once the artisan understood what it meant to be the first person recorded in the Welfare Chronicle, he fainted on the spot.

From then on, the Welfare Chronicle would be dedicated to recording those who made great contributions by discovering or inventing things beneficial to the nation's development. Its records would be passed down to later generations along with Great Qi. Even if Great Qi ceased to exist one day, people would still remember them. It was true fame that would endure for a thousand ages.

In the end, the artisan's family wept and fainted, then fainted and wept, as they were escorted to their rewarded residence to the beating of gongs and drums. The effect rivaled a top scholar's procession through the streets.

Woodblock printing was indeed a great achievement, but Emperor Hongyao also intended to present them as an example for the whole realm to see. This was a signal, an expression of his attitude.

The extraordinary news spread swiftly along with the decree, soon stirring up enormous waves among the people.

They did not yet know how many surprises this measure would bring them in the future.

There was a youth in Zhang Family Village. His father had died, his mother was sickly, and his younger brothers and sisters were crying out to be fed, so he had become the pillar of the family. It was terribly difficult for him and his elderly grandfather to plow the fields, as neither had enough strength or the build for it. The old beam plow was too cumbersome in their hands, and it had broken. He repaired and repaired it, altered and altered it, and somehow made it lighter and easier to use. When he heard about the decree issued by the Great Qi court, he took his beam plow to the Welfare Pavilion. To his surprise, it quickly received attention and reached the emperor's ears. Before long, Great Qi's grain output doubled.

At a blacksmith's shop, there was a man who was not particularly quick-witted. Though he was not clever, he was focused on his work, and his master was very fond of him. Seeing that he had no family, his master planned to take him in as a son-in-law. The man was also fond of his master's daughter, and to marry her, he wanted to forge her the finest dagger. He devoted himself single-mindedly to the task for more than half a year, and somehow muddled his way into making a dagger of an entirely different level of sharpness. As soon as his master saw it, he took the man straight to the Welfare Pavilion. Before long, Great Qi's weapons were upgraded, striking even greater fear into the hearts of its enemies in the surrounding lands.

After hearing about the Welfare Chronicle, a woman fled from the Divine Physician Valley in Southern Xia, traveling thousands of miles. She was the daughter of the valley master, but the Divine Physician Valley had a rule: its teachings were passed to men, not women. Even if a woman learned them, she was not allowed to call herself a physician or treat patients. They even dismissed the treatments specifically for pregnant women and children and the new medicinal formulas she had developed herself. The woman refused to accept this, so she went to Great Qi instead. From then on, her name was recorded in the Welfare Chronicle, and the women and children of Great Qi revered her as a medical immortal.

There were countless examples like these, creating Great Qi's most brilliant generation, but all that happened later.

Just as word of the artisan's story was spreading, and the decree was first causing a great uproar in the capital,

A young woman who had just returned to the capital with Marquis Chengping heard about it. Taking the books left by her deceased parents, she went to see the marquis.

The next day, Emperor Hongyao excitedly took the books to court.

At the time, Shen Anxin was still following Xiao Yanchen, listening to the ministers of revenue and works complain.

"Woodblock printing is useful, certainly, but the cost of paper still limits what it can do."

"If only paper could be a little cheaper."

Shen Anxin: Paper? Is paper very expensive right now?

Chacha: Their papermaking technique still uses hemp scraps, rags, and tree bark as raw materials. Of course it's expensive.

The people around them immediately pricked up their ears.

Shen Anxin: I really don't know much about this. I remember there's a book on papermaking in the store. Let me see... Damn! Fifty points? That expensive?! That's robbery!

Chacha: Papermaking is one of the four great inventions. Even an improvement can reduce costs twenty- or thirtyfold. The impact is far-reaching, so naturally it's expensive.

Shen Anxin: Sorry, not enough points. I'll take my leave!

The melon-eating crowd: Don't! Twenty- or thirtyfold! That means twenty or thirty times as many books for the same cost. If you don't have enough points, we'll find a way to scrape them together!!!!!

Who has a melon? Hurry up and offer it! If you don't have one, then even if you have to manufacture one, make a huge melon for Shen Anxin to eat!

Everyone had just obtained useful information and was frantic with anxiety when Eunuch Chen announced the start of court.

The melon-eating crowd: Is this the time to hold court? That's improved papermaking we're talking about! Once papermaking is improved, woodblock printing will be even more powerful!

The delighted Emperor Hongyao said, "My ministers, I have good news today..."

The entire court: ...Quiet~

Emperor Hongyao: Huh? Why do their expressions all look wrong? I said I had good news.

Seeing that the officials' minds were elsewhere, Xiao Yanchen could only respond to his father himself. "Imperial Father, may I ask what the good news is?"

Emperor Hongyao swept a displeased glance over the officials. "Marquis Chengping returned to the capital yesterday and presented a technique to improve papermaking! It can reduce the cost of making paper more than tenfold."

The entire court: *!!!!!*

Emperor Hongyao: Shocked, aren't you? Hmph! That's what you get for letting your minds wander!

"Summon Marquis Chengping to the throne!"

Just moments ago, Shen Anxin had been lamenting that she was too poor to exchange for a book on papermaking. Now someone had actually delivered an improved method. Whatever she lacked seemed to arrive.

She had never met Marquis Chengping before and craned her neck curiously. He was a refined-looking middle-aged man.

Xiao Yanchen noticed her little movement and gave her some background by speaking as though to himself.

"Marquis Chengping is an external supervisor of the Directorate of Imperial Stables and does not normally need to attend court. Some time ago, he requested leave for a private matter and was away from the capital for more than a month. I did not expect him to bring back an improved papermaking technique as soon as he returned."

Shen Anxin: So he was the one who discovered how to improve papermaking?

Chacha: Nope.

By then, Marquis Chengping had already paid his respects to Emperor Hongyao and come to the subject of the person behind the improved method.

Marquis Chengping said modestly, "My son worked out this method."

The ministers were shocked. How envious! He actually has such a talented son?!!

Shen Anxin: So it was his son.

Chacha: Nope. He's lying. It was brought by his wife's older sister's only daughter. Host, want to eat a melon?

Everyone: *!!!!!!*