noffsinger Chapter 327: Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry
Chapter 327: Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry
The "mysterious veil" of the remaining two pieces of cotton cloth was also unveiled by the emperor himself.
When the "veil" fell to the ground, the curve of the emperor's mouth widened.
He smiled, "It seems I don't have to worry about which piece of cotton cloth to use for my lining."
All the officials curled their lips quietly.
Isn’t that right? If you don’t use that piece of pure white cotton cloth to make underwear, what else can you use it for?
The emperor laughed and stroked the pure white cotton cloth.
"If I remember correctly, a piece of cotton cloth can make more than one set of clothes, right? If so, I... can't keep it all to myself."
Yue Zhenchuan's eyes sparkled.
His Majesty!
It really is his Majesty! At this time, he is still thinking about his subjects.
He looked at the emperor with pleading eyes and expectation: Choose an old minister, choose an old minister!
Before he could be happy for a moment, he heard the emperor say, "Hong Banban, when we leave the court and go to Kunning Palace, I want to show this cotton cloth to the queen. The clothing bureau has good craftsmanship, and I and the queen should be able to have three sets of new clothes each."
Yue Zhenchuan's eyes widened and his face flushed.
He was ignorant, and actually wanted to compare himself with the Queen...
The other officials were so amused by the emperor that they could only perfunctorily shout, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty, on receiving the cotton cloth!"
They were even reluctant to say flattering words.
The emperor coughed lightly and decided to stop while he was ahead.
"My dear ministers, when cotton cloth comes out, the people of the entire Great Zhou will be the ones who should be congratulated. I have only helped the common people to wear cotton clothes before they do."
Yes.
The officials were stunned.
They were so amused by His Majesty that they forgot what year it was and had completely forgotten about the cotton cloth.
The low price of cotton cloth, once it came out, was a good thing that benefited the country and the people, because what was expensive was never the cotton and dye, but the tools and craftsmanship!
Yue Zhenchuan was itching to try it.
He rubbed his hands, stepped forward and saluted:
"Your Majesty, may I borrow your cotton cloth for a look?"
This statement expressed the thoughts of many people, and they all echoed: "Your Majesty, please lend us the cotton cloth to have a look!"
The emperor had touched enough and looked enough, so he waved his hand generously.
"Hong Banban, take my cotton cloth and show it to you, my dear ministers."
Eunuch Hong picked up the pure white cotton cloth in his hand and wanted to leave, but the emperor frowned and called him:
"Take the black and red one."
Eunuch Hong was stunned and obeyed the order to change the cotton cloth.
The emperor looked at his back with disdain. He had just praised him for his intelligence, but now he was acting stupidly.
There were so many people in the palace that Hong Banban didn't know how to count them. Could the white cotton cloth withstand their touch? He also didn't know if they washed their hands before going to court this morning. Otherwise, if everyone touched it, the white cotton cloth would be turned into gray cotton cloth.
He and the queen were still waiting to wear new clothes, it would be so disgusting to be covered with dirt.
As soon as Eunuch Hong stepped down from the stage, Yue Zhenchuan rushed towards him with a gleam in his eyes.
"Eunuch Hong, Eunuch Hong, please let me see it first, let me see it first--"
All the people from the Ministry of Works rushed forward and surrounded Eunuch Hong. The emperor sat on the dragon throne and could just see the tip of his hair.
"Oh, my Lords! Please stop pushing me! I can hardly hold my hand steady! Please don't drop your Majesty's cotton cloth..."
The Minister of Works was quick to grab the tray and said:
"I will serve it to you, and Eunuch Hong can wait on the side."
"Hey - my lord -"
Eunuch Hong looked at the emperor for help through the crowd. Seeing the emperor smiling and waving his hand, he dared to bend down and adjust his hat and squeeze out from the crowd of people in the Ministry of Works.
The people from the Ministry of Works formed a circle, and standing in the middle were the Minister of Works Yue Zhenchuan and the Vice Minister of Works holding cotton cloth.
Yue Zhenchuan looked at the cotton cloth so close to him and felt a sense of retreat.
His eyes were slightly red, and he stretched out his hand tremblingly, but did not dare to put his hand down for a long time.
Today's court lasted a long time. Everything that should be discussed and should not be discussed, everything that should be argued about and should not be argued about, was discussed.
It was not until the sunlight passed through the eaves of the palace, around the pillars, and finally through the gate and sprinkled on the cotton cloth that Yue Zhenchuan realized that it was already noon.
The cotton cloth is black and red, and the cotton wool on it remains black and red even after being exposed to sunlight.
The breath he exhaled hit the cotton cloth, making the fine hair on the cloth sway, as if calling him: Touch me, come and touch me.
Yue Zhenchuan suddenly felt that the only senses left among his five senses were sight and touch.
At this moment, it’s enough to see and touch the cotton. As for the rest? Who cares?
His hands got lower and lower, his breathing became heavier, and finally...
"Uuuuuu——"
Finally burst into tears.
"I have touched it... Your Majesty, I have touched real cotton cloth. Wow... It is so soft, warm and hot, just like cotton. How comfortable it would be if I wore it on my body..."
The generals outside the circle crossed their arms and rolled their eyes silently.
The sun is so bright that it's blinding, and the cotton cloth is exposed to the sun. How can it not be hot?
What a fool Yue Zhenchuan is. He is so old, but he is like a child, crying in the palace. He is not ashamed at all!
A real man should be like them, fighting in battle and defending the country, instead of shedding tears in front of outsiders.
Yue Zhenchuan bit his lower lip and rubbed the cotton cloth in his hand repeatedly with his thumb.
He had a big bubble of snot on his face and was talking to himself with tears in his eyes.
"It's because my Ministry of Industry is useless. We haven't built a cotton weaving machine for many years. It's a pity for the cotton in the west, and it's also hard for the people of my Great Zhou... It's because I, the Shangshu, am useless..."
The people from the Ministry of Works nearby were all upset by what he said.
Yes, if they were smart enough and useful enough to develop cotton spinning machines earlier, so much cotton would not be wasted, and the people would not be without warm clothes...
The two ministries that officials least want to work in are the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue.
It’s not that these two are bad.
But how many of those who serve as officials in the court truly care about the people and are willing to plead for them?
Actually, there are not many.
Most of them just want to achieve great things, bring honor to their family, and protect future generations.
But human hearts... are so complicated, hard to fathom and understand.
Even if your original intention of becoming an official in the court is for yourself or your family, as long as you enter these two departments, it is like you have been bewitched by a wizard.
On the first day you joined the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, you were full of confidence and high morale, thinking to yourself: I want to achieve great things, I want to bring honor to my family, I want to be the one who creates the family tree.
On the second day after you entered the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, you felt that this place was a little strange, but you still had firm ideas in your heart.
By the third day after you joined the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, your thoughts became somewhat out of control, but you still stubbornly thought: I want to do something big, but it would be even better if it could benefit the people.
On the fourth day after you entered the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, you didn't know whether you had succumbed or the poison had taken effect.
Your mind is full of: I want the people to have enough food to eat, I want the people to have warm clothes.