Chapter 29                                                             �

Zhou Mengchen knew this news without anyone else.

When Zhou Mengchen heard the news, he really talked to Shen Shixing. When he heard the news, he was just a little stunned. He sighed softly, not knowing why the sigh was for.

On the contrary, Shen Shixing couldn't sit still.

He said, "Teacher, what does your majesty mean?"

Zhou Mengchen said: "You don't have to worry about this matter. You know first. If you have been in the cabinet for two terms, it will be difficult for you to come back in the future."

The reason why Shen Shixing stayed in the cabinet for six years was not because Zhou Mengchen preferred it, but because there was no one. The Zhongshu Sheren in the cabinet before this was not the same as the Zhongshu Sheren today.

Before this, the Secretariat of the Central Secretariat was just an errand runner.

Today's Zhongshu Sheren can be said to be among the members of the cabinet and are assistants to the Grand Secretary, and the tasks they share are completely different. It can even be said to be directly involved in the Supreme Court decision-making and able to make suggestions to the Grand Secretary of the cabinet.

It can even decide national policies in just one word.

Therefore, the management and appointment of Zhongshu Sheren is very important.

Because of the importance, we cannot just put someone alone. Moreover, there were not many good people among the previous Zhongshu Sheren. So Shen Shixing was asked to take charge of some of the common affairs of Zhongshu Sheren in the cabinet, probably the office director, and manage some logistics.

But the same office director depends on where to manage common affairs in the cabinet, just like managing common affairs below. Not to mention anything else, the Zhongshu Sheren in the cabinet will have extraordinary status in the future, and it will be quite impressive to form such a connection.

Even when it is out, the county will be directly enlarged to give it a better starting point.

Shen Shixing said: "Teacher, I'm not in a hurry. Now it's fierce inside and outside. Many people want to attack this term change. Have the teacher been ready?"

Zhou Mengchen smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry about it. Tell me about yourself. Wherever you want to go now, I can open a back door for you. If you don't choose, you will fall into the hands of Grand Secretary Gao, but you will be unable to help."

Zhou Mengchen already has enough means to deal with internal and external offensives.

Not to mention anything else, Zhou Mengchen's achievements are real.

If Xu Jie overthrew Yan Song, Xu Jie's efforts brought the country's fortune back little by little from the abyss. Zhou Mengchen's efforts made the country's fortune go uphill. It can be said that Zhou Mengchen's contribution is obvious to all.

Although Zhou Mengchen also admitted that he had many shortcomings.

During his five years in office, he was more determined to resolve military issues.

So much more effort was to do not improve much in the military and civil affairs. The people of the Ming Dynasty were just a little peaceful. The fiscal reform was more based on the central government's supervision of the Ming Dynasty's finances. Although there was a little intention to exempt the harsh taxes. However, it was not obvious.

In addition to the war, Zhou Mengchen could not reduce the burden on a large scale.

Therefore, the lives of the people are just taking a breath from the dire straits of the middle Jiajing period. Although they gradually get better, at least they rely on regular troops to fight now, and they are also on other people's territory. The people do not have to suffer military disasters.

But just that, the people are already very satisfied.

Because of this, although Zhou Mengchen has many bad reputations outside, such as being a military man, disrespectful saints, etc., most people are still satisfied with Zhou Mengchen. Most of the people who oppose Zhou Mengchen are those whose interests are damaged.

However, this cannot reassure Zhou Mengchen.

Because the important factor that can keep him going is not public opinion.

Yes, before Zhou Mengchen took office, he issued a ban on newspapers. Now the Ming Dynasty newspaper industry is extremely prosperous. Many political and theoretical articles are about Zhou Mengchen need to carefully appreciate them. After all, the situation in the Ming Dynasty is somewhat different from that in history. Zhou Mengchen can only learn from history, but cannot copy it completely. Respecting the wisdom of contemporary people is also very important.

But many people think that public opinion can determine the direction of politics, so they are very wrong.

Jiajing still has the power to make a decision.

If Jiajing is dissatisfied with him, it would be impossible for Zhou Mengchen to be re-elected.

But the news that Zhou Mengchen just heard made Zhou Mengchen mixed feelings. First, Zhou Mengchen knew that the gap between the king and his subjects was deeper. On the other hand, he knew that Jiajing had no intention of changing the chief minister.

Because he did not need to touch the Privy Councilor except for preventing him from being on guard against him.

In other words, Jiajing still wants him to be the chief assistant in the future.

I really don't know whether this news is good or bad.

But at least Zhou Mengchen breathed a sigh of relief and was no longer worried about this matter.

Shen Shixing heard Zhou Mengchen mention Gao Gong and his heart moved. Gao Gong is very strict with everyone. He has a bad temper and often does not give people any face. All the Secretariats are afraid of him.

Many times, Zhou Mengchen even wanted to give Gao Gong a little face.

Zhou Mengchen was not afraid of Gao Gong, but his status is different now. As the chief minister, Zhou Mengchen must be able to appease the people below. Moreover, Gao Gong is behind the crown prince. Even if Zhou Mengchen does not look at Gao Gong's face, he still depends on the face of the crown prince.

Many times, you can only use softness to overcome hardness, so that the high arch cannot be emitted.

But the people below have no choice.

Shen Shixing immediately smiled and said, "Teacher, can you tell me what to do in the next five years? It would also make me prepare in advance."

Zhou Mengchen said: "Okay, I won't tell you. After a while, I will also give it to the outside world. In fact, there are only a few key points, and all the good people will be taxed and serviced, and commercial laws will be established."

Shen Shixing has been with Zhou Mengchen for many years and is still sure about Zhou Mengchen's ideas. After hearing Zhou Mengchen's words, he immediately reacted and said, "The teacher really wants to pardon a lowly family and abolish slave family?"

Zhou Mengchen said: "Of course, this matter is not eliminated. Many things cannot be carried out."

Although Zhou Mengchen did not promote industrialization and establish factories during his tenure, Zhou Mengchen often opened the door to convenience, and this trend was formed spontaneously.

However, Zhou Mengchen discovered that the biggest obstacle to industrialization was the relationship between personal dependence.

Because many factories spontaneously regard their workers as their slaves.

In fact, in the original history of the Ming Dynasty, there were many owners of such handicraft workshops, all of which were like this, with thousands of slaves and a large scale of production. However, it was impossible for such slave factories to develop industries.

And some machinery is not something that slaves can operate.

Because slaves have no sense of responsibility.

Another point is that industrial development requires a large number of free people. As mentioned before, the landlords of the Ming Dynasty used their land to rely on tenants. Even if these tenants starved to death, they would not be able to choose a job freely.

Moreover, this not only affects industrial development, but also hinders foreign immigration.

The problem of overpopulation in the south of the Ming Dynasty was very serious. However, Zhou Mengchen found that although the south was stable in recent years, the number of immigrants to sea was getting smaller and smaller. On the one hand, it was difficult to leave his hometown. After the stability of his hometown, many people would not make up their minds to go to the ocean even if they lived a hard life.

Another aspect is that because of the recovery of traditional production relations, many people cannot leave if they want to leave. Not only are the basic conditions for going to sea, such as boat tickets, but they are also hindered by many aspects, such as landlords, clans, etc.

So, this is something that needs to be solved very much.

Moreover, Zhou Mengchen knew one thing very well, that is, the Ming Dynasty was a hierarchical society, and Zhou Mengchen could not make everyone equal at once. Not to mention the nobles of the Ming Dynasty, the scholars and officials who were not nominally nobles. Are they willing to be the same as mud legs?

Of course I don't want to.

Therefore, what Zhou Mengchen advocated was to wait for good and lowly, rather than wait for the noble and lowly.

That is to say, slaves are abolished. Slaves are not allowed. If the slaves who serve at home, the so-called domestic slaves, can be even opened up. However, all slaves in the production field must be abolished.

Whether it is slaves in workshops or the phenomenon of selling themselves as slaves on the land, it is all illegal.

But this thing is easy to say, but very difficult to do. Many government decrees cannot be done with just a piece of paper. Shen Shixing naturally understands this, so he is very surprised and even a little incredible.
Chapter completed!