Chapter 1411 - 1320: The People’s Benefit

This cannot be summed up in just one sentence.

To develop a place, it must be comprehensive, with a view towards the future. Zhao Hanzhang told Shi Le, "Mineral resources require millions of years to accumulate, much longer than it takes for timber to mature, so they are considered non-renewable resources."

Like a bucket of ice water being poured down, Shi Le argued, "Who says so?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said, "Both I and Minister Fu say so."

Shi Le was immediately speechless.

Since they are non-renewable resources, how to mine and how to use them are matters for discussion, and cannot be decided in a short time.

However, this was still a huge surprise to Shi Le, who began inquiring about the prices of various ores.

Minerals belong to the state and are developed by the imperial court, but as a local government office, they too have benefits.

Mining requires people, right? Transport, trade, and even related industries can be set up locally, isn’t that essentially the economy?

Shi Le no longer felt Youzhou was barren. "The teacher was right, Youzhou is indeed a treasure land, not only with abundant salt mines but also coal and iron mines. If we look closely, maybe we’ll find copper, silver, and gold mines."

If they directly find copper, silver, or gold, wouldn’t that be like directly producing money?

Oh, right, he didn’t have the right to mint coins, and minerals also belong to the court.

Shi Le regretted for a moment.

Zhang Bin laughed, "General, I inquired that the wages set by the court for miners are higher than those for common workers outside. Although local offices do not have the direct mining rights, miners must live locally and are mainly locals."

"When they earn money, they’ll spend it. Merchants in Youzhou who make money have to pay taxes; the richer the people, the richer our local government becomes. It’s not much different from directly producing money."

Wei Jie thought the same. After returning from the Observing Things Department, he went directly to the post station, asking Shi Le and Zhao Hanzhang to fight for rights. "It would be best to fight for mining rights. If that’s impossible, then we should fight for the rights to manage the miners. I heard there are labor unions for hired workers and farmer unions for farmers. In that case, shouldn’t Youzhou also have a miner’s union?"

Shi Le: "Wasn’t that set up by Yuan Li on the emperor’s orders to collect information?"

Wei Jie shook his head, "The purpose of a union is naturally not just this. More importantly, it’s another way for the court to participate in and fight for the rights of union members."

He continued, "The hired workers’ union naturally fights for the rights of the nation’s servants; the farmers’ union fights for farmers’ rights. As the name implies, the miner’s union is for the miners, the miners of Youzhou. They are the people of Youzhou, and the people’s benefits are the prefectural and the Inspector’s benefits too."

Zhang Bin praised, "General, what Wei Junshou said is very true; I support it."

Shi Le was somewhat restless, "Should I go to the palace now?"

But he feared he couldn’t fight alone, so his gaze swept between the two, and then he grabbed Wei Jie, "Shubo, you go to the palace with me."

Wei Jie: ...

He was just a Prefectural Governor; shouldn’t this matter be discussed between the Inspector and the emperor?

But Shi Le pulled him up and directly dragged him into the palace.

The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Revenue were arguing about the mining matters, as both believed they should each be in charge.

Minerals, and matters related to nature, should be managed by the Ministry of Industry, but the Ministry of Revenue believed that since gold, silver, and copper were primarily used for coining, they should manage it.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t think this needed discussion; she asked, "When the minerals are mined, don’t they still have to be sent to the Coinage Bureau under the Ministry of Industry for minting?"

Zhao Ming immediately said, "So, for ease of management, the Coinage Bureau should also be under the Ministry of Revenue."

This was excessive, and Qiu Wu immediately looked at Fu Tinghan and called out aggrievedly, "My Lord..."

Fu Tinghan, who had been silent, finally said, "The minerals and Coinage Bureau should still be managed by the Ministry of Industry. Regardless of whether it’s mining or coining, technology needs to continuously progress. If it’s managed by the Ministry of Revenue, wouldn’t it mean that every technological advancement would require cross-department collaboration?"

Zhao Ming: "What’s wrong with cross-department collaboration? It’s a great way to strengthen communication between the two ministries. Regardless of whether it’s the Ministry of Industry or Ministry of Revenue, the officials need to rotate positions, it’s a perfect opportunity for everyone to strengthen communication."

Everyone waited for Zhao Hanzhang to decide.

Zhao Hanzhang: "Follow the old system."

With that one sentence, everyone stopped arguing.

When Shi Le and Wei Jie arrived, Zhao Ming and others immediately pulled him aside to discuss the mining matters.

It’s not difficult to gather a team for mining; the challenge is in protecting the rights of the mine and miners, balancing the relationship between local offices and the court, and ensuring continued mining operations.

Where do the miners come from?

Once the mining is done, where will they go, and how to handle the abandoned mine?

People and nature should be in harmony. One should not fish with bare pools; should a mine be completely excavated and turned into wasteland before addressing other business, or should a part be left?

Even the environmental impacts around due to mining should be considered.

This is an era where a child is born, you plant a few trees for them; when they grow up and get married, they cut trees to make boxes and beds.

Even when cutting trees on the mountain, they are harvested one for one, it is about taking as much from the land as you give back, so that there is balance and longevity.

Then, having extracted large quantities of ores from the earth, what do they give back to the earth?

Mining can have a very bad impact on the surface plants and surrounding land, and processing minerals can also affect the air, all of which require thorough aftercare.

After being pulled into a day-long meeting, Shi Le almost forgot his purpose for coming to the palace, until Wei Jie reminded him, "Your Majesty, I wish to request that the Ministry of Industry hand over the coal mining affairs of Youzhou to Youzhou."

Zhao Hanzhang: "You can cooperate."

Shi Le was caught off guard by her straightforwardness and, after a moment’s pause, asked, "How do we cooperate?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Naturally, in a way beneficial to Youzhou. I mentioned before that these minerals are treasures bestowed upon the people of Youzhou by heaven."

Wei Jie was overjoyed, "General, Your Majesty means a joint development between Youzhou and the Ministry of Industry." In fact, Youzhou’s say might even surpass that of the Ministry of Industry.

This is a measure beneficial to Youzhou.

Yet Shi Le’s expression was grave as he asked, "Why is Your Majesty so lenient with Youzhou?"

If he were the emperor, he certainly wouldn’t grant mining rights to Youzhou, nor even the Ministry of Industry, but to the Imperial Family instead.

For the Imperial Family, for himself to earn that wealth and wield this powerful tool.

Zhao Hanzhang countered, "Isn’t Youzhou my land, and aren’t the people of Youzhou my subjects?"

Shi Le pondered for a moment before lowering his eyes, "Your Majesty is broad-minded, your subject thanks Your Majesty on behalf of the people of Youzhou."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "A wealthy people make a wealthy nation, a strong people make a strong nation. I hope not only for Youzhou’s prosperity but also for the prosperity of other states and prefectures, so that the nation can be strong."

Power should be centralized to the center, so that decrees can reach localities, and borders won’t cause unrest.

But the benefits should be spread throughout the world, not all held in one hand or place.