Chapter 400 "You are the prince"

Author: Wang Zixu

Chapter 400 "You are the prince"

Zhu Zhongliang and Zhu Jianyan, the two emperors of the Ming Dynasty, basically understood Zhu Jingyuan's intentions and ideas by comparing the contents of the pamphlet left by Emperor Shizu.

The two of them basically did not object to the plan proposed by Zhu Jingyuan, because it was an option that Emperor Shizu had also proposed.

But in terms of details, Zhu Jianyan quickly raised questions:

"How should we limit the scale and business scope of this government-run consortium?"

Zhu Jingyuan said directly:

"There is no scope. Since it is the property of the imperial court, any existing legal industry can be operated.

“Even industries that are illegal for ordinary people and can only be operated by the royal family can also be operated by government-owned consortiums.

“The government-run consortium can compete with the royal consortium in an orderly manner, reducing the negative effects of the royal consortium’s complete monopoly.

"There is no scale either. The imperial consortium is still essentially one consortium, while there are actually countless government-run consortiums.

“The central court can build global manufacturers that operate throughout the Ming Dynasty and even around the world.

“Provinces can build their own large-scale manufacturers, prefectures and counties can operate local manufacturers, and towns can also operate township manufacturers.

“But there must be some restrictions on management.

"The yamen at the same level cannot directly manage the government-owned manufacturers at the same level. They must be raised at least one level higher.

“The registration and management of township government-owned manufacturers should be placed in the county, and the registration and management of county-level government-owned manufacturers should also be placed in the government.

“Overseas provincial-level government-run manufacturers are under the jurisdiction of the large-region government, and overseas manufacturers in large-region areas and manufacturers in local directly-governed provinces are under the control of the central court.

“In fact, it is to put the status of government-owned manufacturers at all levels on the same level as the local government offices.

“Prevent local government officials from using their position to directly interfere in various affairs of local manufacturers.

“At the same time, manufacturers operating across administrative regions must be recognized as upper-level manufacturers.

“Manufacturers operating across two counties must be considered as provincial-level manufacturers and must register with the province and be managed by the province.

“For cross-government operations, even if it is a provincial-level manufacturer, those overseas have to register with the Dayu Yamen, and those locally have to go to the Central Yamen.

“Whether it’s local or overseas, inter-provincial operations must at least register and apply with the Central Government Office.”

Zhu Jianyan nodded and shook his head as he listened:

"If there are no restrictions on scope and scale at all, then if it is a government-owned manufacturer at the township or street level, can it also operate bun shops and small restaurants on the street?"

Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while:

"My advice is, if they can do it well and don't lose money, then go for it.

“The important role of government-owned manufacturers is to cover all industries and all aspects of society.

“We should allow all workers, in any industry, to choose to work in government-owned factories.

“Their goal is to compete with the people, that is, with private capital.

“The reform direction of the royal consortium in recent years is to focus on high-end and large-scale industries.

“In the past few years, we have been gradually clearing out low-level and small-scale industries.

"Previously, it was transferred to private operations, but in the future, it can be directly transferred to government-run manufacturers established by government offices at all levels."

Zhu Jianyan frowned in thought after hearing this, and Zhu Zhongliang spoke again:

"I think, Jian Yan, if you really follow Jingyuan's plan, Ming's private capital will be very painful in the future.

“The previous bureaucrats were opposed to the imperial court competing for profits with the people. In fact, they were opposed to the royal family directly competing with private capital.

“If the government-run consortium planned by Jingyuan competes with the people for profit, it will actually end up as a bureaucracy competing with private capital.

"The bureaucracy should not object, at least not collectively and explicitly.

“In this way, private capital may not be able to find a spokesperson to vent its dissatisfaction through official channels.

"But they won't tolerate it completely unconditionally, and I can't predict what they might do.

"You two have to be mentally prepared."

Zhu Jianyan still frowned and said nothing, thinking about these questions in his heart.

Zhu Jingyuan thought about this situation and added a few more thoughts:

“Actually, there is another option, which is public-private partnership.

“Government-owned consortiums do not have to operate entirely on their own; they can use money to invest in private manufacturers.

“The government-owned consortium holds shares but does not directly operate it.

“We can invest in various private inventions and entrepreneurial ideas to replace the ecological niche of private capital in investment.

"Furthermore... even if private capital is dissatisfied, it will not be very obvious now.

“It will not show up until the dividends of war and science and technology subside and private business begins to have difficulties.

"And this period is just a good time to carry out this kind of reform and adjustment."

This time Zhu Zhongliang stopped talking, and Zhu Jianyan couldn't help it:

"You also know that there are wars and technological dividends now, so even if there are problems, they will not show up.

"Then when it breaks out in ten or twenty years, can you solve it by yourself?"

Zhu Jingyuan shook his head directly:

"I don't know either."

Zhu Jianyan was suddenly speechless:

"Then you still dare to say it."

Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while:

"This is at least a generational thing. By the time private capital feels that the government-run consortium is suppressing them in every aspect, and the royal consortium is still controlling all the rules at the top, it will be a done deal."

Zhu Jianyan immediately asked:

"It's a done deal, aren't you afraid that they will break it and create the bourgeois revolution you mentioned?"

Zhu Jingyuan smiled and said:

“The highest-level bourgeoisie is the royal family, and the largest bourgeoisie is the imperial court.

"Under the suppression of these two giant mountains, private capital can develop to a scale that accounts for one-third of the GDP of the Ming Dynasty. It is not bad.

“As the emperor controls both the royal consortium and the government-run consortium, most of the bureaucracy will be on the emperor’s side.

“How do ordinary private capital groups rely on to carry out bourgeois revolution?”

Zhu Jianyan thought for a while and said:

"According to your statement, private manufacturers, let alone developing and growing, are more likely to be directly acquired by government-owned consortiums.

"In the end, there may only be some individual small vendors left, and it can also be a privately operated industry."

Zhu Jingyuan smiled again and said:

"That situation can't be said to be bad. If all industries are really run by the royal family and the court, then we can't directly turn to ownership by the whole people..."

As soon as these words came out, the reactions of the two emperors Zhu Zhongliang and Zhu Jianyan were a little fierce.

Almost at the same time, they looked at Zhu Jingyuan with wide eyes:

"You are the prince! The most core member of the royal family! What kind of ownership by the whole people!"

Zhu Jingyuan also immediately realized that he was a prince:

“Then let’s slightly limit the business scope and scale of government-owned consortiums.

"Remove the lowest level, the township-level government offices are too small, so there is no need to set up government-run factories or commercial firms.

“Government-owned manufacturers should start from the county level at least, and small and medium-sized markets and self-employed businesses below the county level should be left to the private sector as much as possible.

“At the same time, top-level industries can also be restricted.

“The government-owned consortium focuses on industries with economies of scale, bulk products and consumer goods, as well as various labor-intensive manufacturing industries, so as to absorb and control more industrial people for the imperial court.

“If you don’t take the initiative to get involved in high-tech core industries, those things will be left to the royal family consortium to run.

“In this way, Ming’s industry will be able to form a three-tier structure in the future.

"The royal consortium controls core and high-end industries, the government-run consortium focuses on bulk commodities and industries with economies of scale, and private capital engages in low-end, small-scale industries at the local and township levels,"

Zhu Jianyan was more satisfied and accepted this time:

"That's pretty much it."

After determining the general direction, Zhu Zhongliang, Zhu Jianyan, and Zhu Jingyuan continued to discuss the details.

Mainly Zhu Zhongliang and Zhu Jianyan stared at Zhu Jingyuan, listed all these ideas, and the three of them discussed and judged the pros and cons together.
To be continued...