Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 856 New Official Expenditures
"The minister's hereditary Ding Haibo and Zhang Wenyao, the admiral of the North Sea Fleet, are meeting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Xun Wenli, the magistrate of Chen Dengzhou, kowtows to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"My fellow minister Fu Min of Dengzhou prefecture kowtows to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Chen Dengzhou prefecture sentenced Wu Chaoxun to kowtow to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Li Dingguo, deputy commander of the Beihai Fleet, is meeting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Ten miles outside the city of Dengzhou, various flags fluttered in the wind, and [-] well-armed officers and men of the North Sea Fleet lined up neatly along both sides of the official road, waiting for the arrival of Prince Zhu Cihong.

Headed by Zhang Wenyao, the civil and military officials of Terengganu Prefecture gathered in the middle of the road. When Zhu Cihong's mount stopped ten steps away, they all knelt down on the ground and kowtowed to the future successor of the Ming Empire.

"Your highnesses are free of courtesy! Flat body!"

Zhu Cihong, who was dressed in black armor, jumped off the horse and said loudly.

After traveling thousands of miles and being exposed to the wind and the sun, Zhu Cihong's originally fair complexion turned a bit dark, which made his delicate face look more angular and his temperament more heroic.

"Thank you Your Highness!"

Zhang Wenyao and the others shouted in unison, and then each got up and adjusted their clothes and bowed again to salute.

Rituals cannot be discarded.

Although Zhu Youjian has long decreed to abolish the daily ceremony of prostration between the monarch and his ministers, the status of the crown prince is comparable to that of a senior official or even a senior cabinet minister. In addition, it is the first time for everyone in Dengzhou to see Zhu Cihong's true face. It can be said to be a great honor, so it is common sense to see him.

After paying homage, Zhu Cihong walked slowly to the crowd of civil and military officials. With a smile on his face, he greeted and chatted with the ministers one by one. Zhang Wenyao and others felt both nervous and excited, and felt very honored to be able to talk with the second most noble person in the world. .

The courteous reception ended quickly, and Zhu Cihong got on the horse after taking the reins from the eunuch Zhao Xin.

The three cavalry who opened the way walked slowly with their bridles in a row, and then the three hundred cavalry of the Chinese army guarded Zhu Cihong's mount and marched forward in the middle. guard.

In order to improve the efficiency of officials, the cabinet issued a document as early as the 19th year of Chongzhen to completely abolish the treatment of official sedan chairs, requiring officials at all levels to use horse mules as assistance when they go out on business, and not to use the population.

After the promulgation of this new regulation, because the road conditions in most areas are being improved, many roads are narrow and uneven, and it is difficult for four-wheeled carriages to pass. In desperation, officials have no choice but to learn to ride horse mules to go out.

The large and small Mongolian tribes living outside the Great Wall have become extremely docile now, because those who are disobedient have become fertilizers that nourish the earth.

As the Ming society entered a stage of comprehensive development, whether it was official or non-governmental, the demand for large-scale livestock was greatly increased, and this demand drove Mongolian compatriots to live a happy life that they had never imagined.

All kinds of livestock raised outside the Great Wall are continuously transported to the inland every day, and then sold to the government and the people through various channels. Among them, the government has become the largest customer of horses.

In order to make it easier for officials to travel on official business, the Ministry of Households allocates money to purchase a large number of horses and mules and distributes them to local governments. In addition, according to the actual situation in various places, it also allocates fodder silver and a number of service camps every year for raising horses and hiring grooms.

In fact, this is equivalent to an ancient official car, but the number of "official cars" and supporting personnel are not many, and the related expenses are also within the acceptable range.

Zhu Youjian has always believed that the necessary expenditure of public funds is an indispensable and effective means to stimulate domestic demand, promote economic development, and increase the number of employed people. It is better than letting money rot in the warehouse. With the support and encouragement of the company, it is growing day by day. Judging from the current situation, this initiative has achieved good results.

For example, the bearers in the original government lost their jobs due to the adjustment of imperial policies, and the income of the bearers may be the main source of income to support the family's life. The disappearance of the bearer industry means that countless families are facing life difficulties .

Now that there are horse mules, the bearers can completely change their careers to become grooms and raise livestock. The monthly income has not decreased, and it is much easier than carrying a sedan chair.

The raising of mules does not require too much technical content, as long as you study carefully, you can get started easily.

The fodder needed to feed livestock also needs to be purchased from the private sector, which will give the common people an extra job to earn money, and their manure is also a good fertilizer, which has made an indirect contribution to improving productivity.

Amidst the attention of the officers and soldiers on both sides of the road, Zhu Cihong urged his mounts to move forward in small steps. Looking at the neat military appearance, mighty and upright posture of the generals and soldiers, and the various battle flags waving in the wind, he was also very proud in his heart. The upcoming cross-sea expedition is also more confident.

Regarding the fact that his father arranged for him to go out with the army, Zhu Cihong was a little apprehensive, but more of it was anticipation and excitement.

There are few young people who don’t like gold and iron horses and galloping on the battlefield. Since there are not many opportunities to contact the army, Zhu Cihong is full of curiosity about everything in the army. This time he went south to Dengzhou Prefecture under the escort of elite cavalry. Strictly follow the military code of conduct.

How many miles before the expedition, the distance between the forward, the middle army, and the rear team, choosing the most suitable camping site, how many guards to be on duty at night, how many teams to patrol, and the prohibition of walking and noise in the barracks after dark, etc. What he had experienced made him feel novel and at the same time, he also realized the difficulty of being in the army.

In the late afternoon of the same day, Zhu Cihong and his party arrived in Dengzhou Prefecture, and then he declined the invitation of the prefect Xun Wenli to hold a welcome banquet in the city at night, and took the guards to the North Sea Fleet barracks. This scene moved Dengzhou Wenwu greatly.

Now that the Ming Dynasty is flourishing, the peaceful and prosperous times have been widely recognized by the world, but under such circumstances, the Prince of Ming Dynasty does not appear to be arrogant or extravagant at all, and his simple and low-key style is admirable.

After a brief grooming, Zhu Cihuang, accompanied by the main officers of the North Sea Fleet headed by Zhang Wenyao, inspected the three large barracks where the fleet was stationed, and personally boarded a "Bending Sky" class warship docked at the port for inspection. visit.

The North Sea Fleet now has more than 100 ships of various types and 2 officers and soldiers, including [-] large-scale main battleships. The two most advanced "Zunsun" class cruisers have gone to Europe, and there are three "Kunlun" ships left in the port. class, six "Mending" class warships, five "Splitting Sky" class warships, and other supply ships, troop carriers, arson ships, small fast gunboats, etc.

Most of the 1 officers and soldiers of the North Sea Fleet are veterans who have participated in many battles on land and sea, and a small part are recruits who have just been recruited.

(End of this chapter)