Carrying AK into Ming Dynasty

Chapter 140 Making a decision ([-])

Qianqing Palace, Dongnuan Pavilion.

As soon as winter came, the cabinet and Chongzhen's discussions were moved to Dongnuan Pavilion. Since the middle of Ming Dynasty, although the early dynasty system had been customized, important matters were all decided privately by the emperor and the cabinet, and they were discussed for the cabinet.

Chongzhen had already changed into his regular clothes, and sat at the head. Zheng Sanjun, the first assistant of the cabinet, Li Banghua, the second assistant, and the other six university scholars sat in turn.

The East Nuan Pavilion was surrounded by charcoal fires, and it was quite warm. Liu Hongjian was the youngest, and sat at the bottom seat bored, looking around.

A few small yellow gates came over with a few plates of snacks, and the elders in the pavilion were silent, Liu Hongjian wondered, standing in the court hall for a long time, could it be all made of iron? Hungry?

Liu Hongjian didn't care about these things, picked up a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his mouth, Chongzhen just glanced at it and opened his mouth.

"The purpose of summoning all of you Aiqing today is to check this year's revenue and expenditure, and to make a simple budget for the coming year. Now that the end of the year is approaching, Zheng Aiqing will report on the accounts first!"

Ni Yuanlu, a scholar of the Jianji Temple and Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, took out the notebook he had prepared from his waist, squinted his presbyopia, and put the notebook far away towards his eyes.

"My Majesty, last month, I received the withdrawal accounts from my colleagues in the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War, and all the officials in the Ministry of Households conducted a one-month check.

This year's tax collection of treasury silver totals 270 taels, and silk 340 catties...

The ministries of the imperial court have withdrawn a total of 890 taels of silver recorded in the book..."

After reading this, Ni Yuanlu's beard trembled, and Chongzhen's brows also frowned. There is a serious financial deficit!
"The balance at the end of this year... 880 taels..."

Well, at this time, everyone paid attention to Liu Hongjian, the newly promoted Marquis of Anguo who was at the end of the table.

"Hey, my minister said a long time ago that our Ming Dynasty has no shortage of money!" Although Liu Hongjian said it very seriously, the old ministers all had a boastful expression on their faces.

"Da Ming has had many disasters and disasters this year. Fortunately, with the concerted efforts of all of you, I have finally passed this most difficult year. To tell you the truth, I really almost couldn't hold on this year!"

While talking, Chongzhen stood up slowly, walked around the old Shangshu and Liu Hongjian who were sitting, and said that his back was turned to these people, and he was speechless.

The so-called worry about the humiliation of the ministers, several old ministers also sighed quietly and lowered their heads, how could they not be tired.

At the beginning of the year, the imperial court was full of smog, and orders could not be issued, forming cliques for private interests, and corruption prevailed. Today Zhang San sued Li Si for corruption and perverting the law, and tomorrow Li Si sued Zhang San for forming cliques for private interests.

Then Zhang San has a group of dog legs, and Li Si also has a group. With each other torn apart, even if you want to be alone, you can't do it. The old ministers are all too busy to take care of themselves.

"Thanks to the protection of our ancestors, I have sent a minister capable of saving the world." Chongzhen pondered for a moment, then walked to Liu Hongjian's side and patted him on the shoulder.

Liu Hongjian clearly felt that this light slap would add another burden to him.

Thanks to your support, old man, otherwise, wouldn't I have to go and hang out with the Nanming court!Liu Hongjian thought secretly.

"Let's not talk about those frustrating words. Now that the treasury has money, and the nine borders of Ming Dynasty have been restored for the time being, dear friends, tell me, do you have any suggestions for the imperial court's expenses in the coming year?"

Chongzhen walked back to his throne and sat down, took a sip from the teacup.

"Your Majesty, the north has experienced wars and severe droughts for a long time, and the people are exhausted. Now a winter snow will be a good sign next year. In my opinion, the court should prepare better seeds as soon as possible for the people in the north to cultivate!"

Meng Zhaoxiang, a scholar of Zhongji Temple, spoke.

"Well, this matter will be recorded by the Ministry of Accounts." Chongzhen said immediately.

The rest of the court elders also put forward their own opinions. When it came to Liu Hongjian, the elders wanted to see what good ideas the emperor considered a capable minister to rule the world.

"Your Majesty, have you heard of the two crops of potatoes and sweet potatoes?"

Liu Hongjian frowned, and decided to start with the most fundamental problem of eating.

Although Liu Hongjian knew that potatoes were introduced from the Ming Dynasty at about the end of the [-]th century, but Liu Hongjian stayed in the north for more than half a year, and he has never seen any family eating potatoes, let alone the later introduction of sweet potatoes.

In fact, although potatoes and sweet potatoes were introduced to Ming Dynasty at this time, they have not been popularized for a long time. The reasons are actually as follows.

Ming people have a strong sense of locality, and many people are unwilling to live in other places, and there are laws in Ming Dynasty that people are not allowed to move around at will, which is a major reason for the slow spread.

In addition, northerners are used to eating noodles, while southerners are used to eating rice. The self-sufficient economic system of the Ming people also led to a closed fire, and it was not easy to accept new things.

Third, I don’t know how to grow or eat. The above three points led to the fact that there were only artifacts in the late Ming Dynasty without knowing it.

These two crops were really grown as staple foods on a large scale until the end of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, when they were touted by later generations as the prosperous Kangxi and Qianlong ages. The greatest contribution to cooking is potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Before that, Liu Hongjian had been busy fighting fires, but now that he was finally free, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't eaten shredded potatoes with vinegar for more than half a year.

"I've never heard of sweet potatoes, but I've eaten this potato before, and it's not very tasty!" Chongzhen wondered why Liu Hongjian asked this suddenly, but he still told the truth.

"Dare to ask how the emperor ate at that time?"

"boiled."

"Your majesty, what does boiling potatoes have to do with boiling radishes? This potato is a magic weapon. It can be fried, fried, cooked, deep-fried, and cool...

Oh, these are not the point, the point is where are the potatoes now! "

Liu Hongjian almost mentioned potatoes and beef on a whim. You must know that beef is a contraband these days.

Chongzhen saw that Liu Hongjian's serious expression did not look like he was joking, so he asked the eunuch who was waiting on him, and learned that the Jiashu Department did not grow this crop.

"Does Hou Ye value this crop so much? I have this kind of crop in my hometown, but it's just that the neighbors grow some randomly to improve food. If Hou Ye needs it, I will write to my hometown to bring some when I go back."

Dongge University scholar Shi Bangzhao is a native of Hu Jian. Although he has never seen sweet potatoes, there are indeed potatoes, but no one is stupid enough to plant them on a large scale.

"It's not the Marquis' need, it's Da Ming's need, it's about Da Ming's lifeblood!

The emperor should immediately decree that the household department go to the south to buy potatoes and sweet potatoes, and the price can be priced at one tael per catty, the more the better! "

Liu Hongjian said excitedly, not to mention one or two to one catty, but two to three or three to one catty. As long as we can get enough potatoes and sweet potatoes for the north, great things can be expected.

"Ai Qing, don't be impulsive, my Ming Dynasty's national destiny is determined by two crops, don't be kidding!"

Chongzhen thought that Liu Hongjian was joking, this guy often spoke in a nonsensical way, a tael of silver could buy a stone of rice in the south, how much is a catty of potatoes?
This is the case for the so-called entrants who are confused. The monarchs who often regard the territory as extremely important to the people have never thought that for an agricultural empire, the most important thing is food.

"Your Majesty, do you know the yield of these potatoes?" Liu Hongjian looked at Chongzhen and said word by word.

　Thanks to book friend 2KuDuang for the reward of 500 coins, thanks to book friend Tianze Dragon King for the reward of 100 coins, and thanks to all the friends who voted.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)