Although the Emperor fully supported it, the Imperial Court was mostly composed of literary officials, primarily of scholarly background, which resulted in persistent resistance to drafting and implementing patent law.
With Jinrong and the involvement and suggestions of many behind him, the content of the patent law not only included clauses for protecting the achievements of craftsmen but also proposed grading and status guarantees for those who made significant contributions.
Under Jinrong's proposal, which is actually Ye Xinyan's suggestion, craftsmen are to be graded based on their output and contributions. Craftsmen of different grades enjoy different levels of official salary from the court. They also receive preferential treatment, including not having to kneel before officials, akin to the treatment of scholars.
This references Xinyan's past life, where during the early rise of industry, such measures were implemented to encourage workers to improve their skills.
