Chapter 272: What Is The Right Path?
In the autumn of Xian Han year 2105, the Sparrow Eye Mantis Shrimp warship entered the shipyard dry dock. After the water was drained, the staff went down into the dock pit to first inspect and then maintain and repair the hull.
In the shipyard factory, workers were taking rivets and steel plates from the hot melting furnace for hot riveting; the workshop was filled with the smell of vaporized metal.
Seventy welders worked in shifts to weld thin steel plates onto the hull of the Sparrow Eye Mantis Shrimp, while adding reinforced support structures. These welders were all found by Xuan Chong through connections with the Lin Group.
The Lin Group, relying on “seeing the future,” not only researched black technology but also intervened in some workshops; cultivating technical talents ten or twenty years ahead of schedule.
The modification design was led by Xuan Chong, and the focus of this modification was the superstructure, so it needed to be sufficiently lightweight without affecting the center of gravity.
At the same time, it was also to prevent the currently popular “picric acid” shells from easily causing large fires in the superstructure; so each modification area was equipped with partitions and damage control as much as possible.
Xuan Chong provided a full three gigabytes of data modeling. The Lin Group received the data submitted by Xuan Chong and produced a total of more than two thousand pages of blueprints through modeling.
The data on these blueprints for the “ship magical modification plan” were all obtained by Xuan Chong through a series of sea trials measurements.
The metal enclosure covering added by Xuan Chong on the exterior of the hull earlier corroded very quickly in the high-salt environment; it rusted through in about seven days. These enclosures were actually prone to falling off during wave turbulence and firing; the reason they didn’t fall off was all due to Xuan Chong holding them with torque.
This was equivalent to the heavy tanks of the 1940s and 1950s, which relied on a large number of mechanics frequently replacing parts to operate. And with technological progress, the durability of these vulnerable parts and materials would be strengthened, reducing maintenance hours.
Xuan Chong’s supernatural ability now had the effect on this old warship equivalent to a “super damage control officer.”
After the damage control experience was summarized, the old warship modification plan and related operation manual were entered by the Lin Group; then the Lin Group coordinated with the Navy to specially approve the advancement of the “old ship modification” process submitted by Xuan Chong.
The Lin Group originally wanted to create “achievements” for Xuan Chong, and Xuan Chong lived up to expectations by delivering real achievements.
Even for a first-rate power, the money pit effect of the navy made many powers feel the pain.
Even though Jiangnan and Guangzhu Group were wealthy, when facing military revolutions at the “dreadnought” level, they couldn’t just scrap all old ship equipment on a whim; instead, they tried as much as possible to upgrade and modify old equipment to continue shining. Existing warships were also important military assets of the state.
Only things that truly couldn’t adapt to modern warfare, such as “littoral” and “junk” types, would be discarded.
In this factory where Xuan Chong was, equipment like acetylene cylinders and electric arcs was undoubtedly future technology for this steam age.
This was equivalent to the frontline domains of “artificial intelligence” and “robots” in the early 21st century, at least twenty years ahead of the current era. Xuan Chong waved his hand and mobilized this kind of advanced technology resources, which also made his fellow naval officers marvel at the energy behind Xuan Chong. After all, these resources couldn’t be solved just by having money.
The Lin Group, as the Southern Imperial Ancestral Temple, has always provided key technology services for the military and economy of Xian Han.
Because the Lin Group had a being who could “see the future,” its political energy far exceeded its deputy “Imperial Ancestral Temple” status, even able to contend with the main “Imperial Ancestral Temple” of the Dragon Group.
…Lord and vassal…
In the factory building, there was a secret room inside. Xuan Chong turned on the communicator, and in the projection beam, the Qilin Lord appeared. After appearing, seeing Xuan Chong standing foolishly, he couldn’t help but cough. Xuan Chong retracted his “civilian” stance and bowed properly in obeisance.
The Qilin Lord glanced at Xuan Chong, narrating as if looking at a mischievous younger brother: “You’ve done very well recently; your ability usage and deployment are much higher level than I imagined.”
Xuan Chong: “My efforts are inseparable from your care.”
The Qilin Lord was only ten years older than Liu Haoxing, not interested in putting on airs in front of Xuan Chong. He glanced sideways, seemingly uninterested in Xuan Chong’s smooth talk: “By rights, you could advance further next year, but the current situation there isn’t suitable. Wait another two years first. Do you have any issues?”
Xuan Chong: “I have no issues here at all?”
The Qilin Lord paused slightly: “You’re not anxious at all?”
Xuan Chong stated very seriously: “I’ve benefited greatly here; everything needs to be familiarized slowly.” (Just a second-line fleet has such deep waters; he temporarily doesn’t want to enter deeper places)
The Qilin Lord nodded indulgently: “That’s good. Don’t be too obsequious there! Remember, you are a person of the Lin Group.”
…What is loyalty…
After closing the call, Xuan Chong’s originally loyal expression became pensive; as a transmigrator who had experienced a “spacetime classroom,” Xuan Chong was not a “new hire” novice.
Xuan Chong realized this situation: after busying for over half a year, his “merit” was not recorded in Xian Han’s merit book, but in the Lin Group’s merit book. Then the Lin Group would use his merit to coordinate with Xian Han for benefits, and then the Qilin Lord would grant rewards.
“This? I actually don’t lose out.” Xuan Chong self-analyzed: “The Lin Group is also a prominent state-owned enterprise; I have a staffing quota in this top-efficiency state-owned enterprise, and my superior values me greatly. It’s just that I still hope my merit can be recorded in a bigger merit book!”
As a commoner from another world, Xuan Chong was not versed in Xian Han’s manners, but was quite sensitive to staffing quotas.
Education from his previous life, and historical experiences, made Xuan Chong very familiar with a phrase: “Only the state, x, and the people can test oneself.”
Xuan Chong: “In short, my ‘loyalty’ is directly under the highest will of the civilization system.”
If there was an intermediate organization, like a company boss saying “test you all,” and after testing, taking your merit, then this guy representing you to higher-ups for merit.
Xuan Chong would: “Pah, who the hell are you, monkey wearing a crown, you also worthy to represent xx to test me?”
However, in the above situation, most people in Xian Han were accustomed to it. That’s right, this is where Xuan Chong differed from Xian Han people.
…Which is superior, which inferior?…
Xian Han’s loyalty system is level by level. Under the ritual and law system, inferiors are not qualified to be loyal to superiors; inferiors must first be loyal to intermediates, perform extremely well, to be known by superiors.
The lowest nine classes can only be loyal to their gang bosses above; as for directly loyal to officials? Not qualified; their gang leader must first coordinate with the “black gloves” among bureaucrats.
In Xian Han, the level Xuan Chong was loyal to now was undoubtedly a very high level, belonging to the circle of imperial relatives. But Xuan Chong as a person from another world—
Xuan Chong: First, loyal to the Yangtze River and Yellow River, when dams collapse, willing to sacrifice oneself, using soil to block the wound; second, loyal to the orthodox lineage of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, when the nation faces crisis, willing to hold a gun and die for the way; third, loyal to the way of heaven, when old and dying, looking back on a lifetime of toil, seeing descendants heading to starry skies and vast seas, without regret.
So, Xuan Chong’s “loyalty” threshold was spoiled by his own historical line.
Die for the lord as vassal?—Who is lord and who is vassal.
Xuan Chong didn’t seek to change the world, but wouldn’t let himself be changed; accustomed to his “loyalty” directly under civilization will, actually accustomed to “freedom.”
In his previous life, the “loyalty” threshold was very low; just raising hand to salute the martyrs was enough.
As for other domains, school principals had no qualification for one’s loyalty, company bosses had no qualification for one’s loyalty.
Under high freedom, Xuan Chong could even see some “self-proclaimed wise guys” unwilling to abide even the last loyalty baseline. Going fully to embrace the freedom they thought they deserved.
This made the “object to be loyal to” too distant like mountains high and emperor far, so the entire civilization group’s examination of lower “loyalty” couldn’t penetrate the marketplace.
But in Xian Han, loyalty is progressive; parents-officials are truly “parents,” mentoring teachers are truly mentoring teachers. Small figures wanting to enter big circles really need to be like Lu Bu saying “if lord does not abandon, willing to be godfather.” Xian Han strengthened control over peripheral “loyalty.”
For marketplace small fries, the “state” is very distant to them, but the gang boss forcing them to kowtow is very close; these small fries dare not “free independence,” because the boss will use power to teach them “heaven, earth, lord, kin, teacher.”
Women dare not jest, because the father-husband beside them is their principle.
Under imperial power to the county, loyalty to persons.
…System matching, who benefits?…
After leaving the secret room, Xuan Chong started from the factory; in the adjacent factory building, workers were meticulously overhauling some previously sealed warships. The maritime war with Eastern Shu was imminent.
Xuan Chong wore a safety helmet, but couldn’t look freely; there was always a “craftsman head” from inside the factory accompanying him.
This “craftsman head” had not passed the imperial examination system.
Regarding the situation inside the factory, Xuan Chong asked the craftsman head as follows.
Xuan Chong: “You mean, now the shipyard must be nominally under a scholar master’s name?”
The artisan looked at Xuan Chong: “Sir, your family could also buy this industry.”
Xuan Chong laughed: “My family has no money, very poor.”
The artisan glanced at Xuan Chong: “Sir, you’re joking; at your level, what you lack isn’t money.”
Xuan Chong sensed the craftsman head’s tone and did not continue this “joke.”
…Era of scholar-officials…
In the chat, Xuan Chong further understood Xian Han’s ritual and law founding of the state.
The ritual and law were so powerful that even capitalism was distorted out of shape. Merchants in this stage of industrial revolution development were also suppressed tightly.
“Steel,” “shipbuilding,” “cement” these officially defined legitimate professions, merchants could spend money to buy shares, participate in management, but must find someone with merit to nominally affiliate. Only the “scholar” stratum was qualified to lead legitimate professions.
This also led to, in the process of Xian Han’s first industrial revolution over these decades, no great merchants like in Europe, no oligarchs like in Dragon State. Handicraft industries dispersed in scholars’ hands, scholars forming interest alliances to coordinate and plan the legitimate professions in hand.
Xian Han also had no “industry transfer” issue. “Scholars” in Xian Han did not move.
If “scholars” disagreed, factories couldn’t relocate; so each prefecture was building railways, concentrating scholars from villages into cities, and thus factories also concentrated in urban areas.
As for cheap labor in Southeast Asia now? Xian Han would arrange some scholars to open textile factories, processing factories to process raw materials, open mines. And these scholars were also connecting with their seat masters’ industries.
Xuan Chong became interested. After carefully understanding the imperial examination system, he found that Han imperial exams did not test eight-legged essays. But similar to modern basic education. After all, studying eight-legged essays couldn’t master the modern industry and commerce system, and without grasping the system, couldn’t grasp power. Xuan Chong’s previous life’s “Qing” consciously suppressed Han scholar-officials from grasping modernization power, so confined Confucianism for centuries.
The most basic “child student” assessment in Xian Han, besides traditional classics interpretation, also included Universe Chronicles (geography), four items of natural philosophy,
Among the four items of natural philosophy, “alchemy” is chemistry, “mechanics” similar to physics, but more complex.
“Physiology” is human anatomy, requiring proficient recitation of all bone names, positions of each part’s muscles and vessels, with applied questions requiring judgment of “wind-cold,” “pregnancy” etc. significant pathologies from pulse frequency. And “criminal law” is naturally the law exam. Those with merit must be familiar with “Great Han Law.”
At the scholar level, the exam content rigor was equivalent to 985 in previous life.
Xuan Chong reviewed textbooks, thinking compared to early 21st century gaokao examinees divided into liberal arts and sciences, these subjects were also very complex; recitation, calculation, reasoning difficulty very high.
Scholar was not something ordinary people could pass; with Xian Han population over 800 million, literacy rate 80%. Xian Han officially certified child students around 10 million.
Child student not counted as merit, because certified every five years, considered ability test; to prevent those seventy or eighty year old child students squeezing the imperial examination path, let them exit early, do other things.
Every year nationwide, over 3 million take the scholar examination. Ultimately passing scholar, only around 400,000.
And scholar merit is lifetime; nationwide scholars just 20 million, this is Xian Han’s current civil servants, base force of state industries.
In the following county exams, 95% of scholars brushed off before age 25; seat masters allocate them to official schools in “medicine,” “industry,” “construction” (civil engineering), “water conservancy,” “maritime trade” etc. 360 lines based on strengths in imperial exams.
For example, this craftsman head accompanying Xuan Chong was a scholar! So hearing Xuan Chong just say “family poor,” he was displeased.
Topic back to the remaining 0.5% passing scholars, that is recommended scholars. Around 2,000 new ones per year.
These over 2,000 recommended scholars not studying in hometowns, but concentrated in the four places: South Capital, North Capital, East Capital, West Capital “Imperial Universities” for advanced study.
In this advanced study, another 90% brushed off. Because only 100 scholars determined per year!
And even recommended scholars brushed off are top figures locally. Xian Han’s current “legitimate professions,” in familiar terms, important industrial chains, gripped in these people’s hands!
Xuan Chong couldn’t help marveling: Those entering palace exams are top elites! In Xian Han, talents climbing via imperial examination system not only enter officialdom, formulate policies for agriculture and crafts development; industries involving “state vessels” manufacturing, like shipyards, steel mills, railways, shipping, also only scholars and recommended scholars qualified to operate.
As for this group’s loyalty! Xuan Chong sighed: You can mock Confucian scholars might “water too cold” when weak; but no need to worry they defect when national power strong!
Transferring assets overseas for good life? Assets important as merit?
Currently in Xian Han clans, if one branch produces a recommended scholar, will immediately transfer ancestral property to that branch. Absolutely not give to traveling merchant branch.
Traveling merchant business branch also no objections; even if sea merchant, that branch head with a group of strongmen under him! Also smiles, washes hands in gold basin, arranges subordinates well, follows main family.
If a clan without recommended scholar protection, massive “clan property” can’t find enough familiar recommended scholars to affiliate, accidentally trapped in debt, lose clan property and continuity.
Xuan Chong: Imperial examination system is the orthodox path. In Xian Han commoners’ hearts, all “legitimate professions” concerning state altars’ destiny to be left to scholars!
Heavy industrial production materials, steel mills, shipyards, etc. things involving “state heavy vessels”—merchants unqualified to master.
Xuan Chong glanced at himself, currently 15 years old, in peak rising energy period. Thus a thought sprouted: “How about trying the imperial examination system myself, worst case cheat, use torque system for cheat sheet.”
…Prodigal son returns, worth more than gold…
On the other side, on a naval airship, someone was observing the naval factory with a telescope.
Seeing Liu Haoxing and the recommended scholar-origin shipyard person in charge discussing blueprints for over an hour at the sparkling welding point; Zhou Xu sourly said: Really “talking and laughing with great scholars, coming and going no commoners”!
Xuan Chong’s behavior of leaving banquets on time every time, he knew. And now Xuan Chong diligently doing practical work, Zhou Xu very much wanted to beat his own family’s nephews.
A woman beside in female guard military uniform said: “Sir thinks he doesn’t know his place, why not transfer him away?”
Zhou Xu glanced at his female guard: “Long hair, short insight. Kick away doers, left with sacks of wine and rice, wouldn’t the brocade tower collapse? I’m just sighing, he has family background if wanted, perseverance if wanted. Such promising person, in a few years will rise above me.”
The female guard paused, after a while, found chance to hug General Zhou’s arm, continued asking: “Sir, you say this military guard general, his family background, exactly what is it?”
Zhou fiercely slapped the table: “What are you prying into?”
This female guard from sea merchant family, from young liked wielding spear and staff, wanted to be a heroine, but her family impossible let her really be “little ruffian,” um, should call martial world child, thus arranged her to big figure here.
Due to excellent “martial arts,” thighs firm, quite favored by Zhou Xu, formally became concubine. Often by his side.
Her family recently instructed, let her pay attention to Xuan Chong!—After all such young general, boundless prospects.
Zhou Xu grabbed female guard’s waist, fiercely on butt, amid coquettish rebuke female voice, Zhou Xu warned: “This guy from above, if can handle, I’d go up; tell your family, don’t scheme, don’t think of currying favor!”
