afterglow

Chapter 249 Father and son argue; Shangyuan Festival

The differences between the Constitutional Council and the Chinese Party can be discerned from their remarks. Although the overall positions are both center-right and center-right, the latter, which advocates chauvinism, is undoubtedly more inclined to start the war as soon as possible.

The political demands of the Ming dignitaries were essentially for profit, which was actually a manifestation of "economy determines politics".

However, the reaction of politics to economy cannot be ignored—the evolution model and system of Ming Dynasty made it difficult to change the production relations.

Although the relatively modest policy of compulsory land purchase has achieved remarkable results, the huge financial needs limited the scope of its implementation.

Due to the diverse sources of members, the internal opinions of the Constitutional Council are rarely unified. Although this is not a loose group, it is difficult to work together most of the time.

Right now, one of their views is the most conservative, that is, maintaining the status quo, or suspending the land redemption, is essentially to unite all classes in Ming Dynasty.

Another point of view is that the crown prince led the whole country before the war started, so as to lay a better foundation for the next war preparations and wars; and after the war broke out, this policy was suspended to ease dissatisfaction.

Compared with the Ming Dynasty Constitutional Council, the Chinese Party is much more unified. Its mainstream view is to implement a vigorous and large-scale public redemption after the outbreak of war, and the huge amount of funds needed can be filled by issuing bonds.

"The differences in various parts of Ming Dynasty are much greater than imagined, but not many people remember this. Don't be empty when making decisions. If it doesn't fit the reality, how can it be done? Who are the farmers and workers? How is the land condition? You must know that those who own a hundred acres of land are not the same as those who own a hundred hectares of land." Said the emperor.

"But... there must be a general direction." Zhu Liqie replied.

This answer made the emperor slightly annoyed, he put the chopsticks on the white porcelain chopsticks pillow, and made a crisp "咵".

"Whether it's stewed on low heat or deep fried, the purpose is to make a good dish. I don't think the Constitutional Council even thought about what to do. Redeeming land for the sake of redemption, isn't it ridiculous?"

"It's chaotic internally, noisy every day, that's not good. In recent years, the Constitutional Council has deteriorated year after year. Jiang Runcun is really unbearable."

The so-called Jiang Runcun was Jiang Jinlu, the top leader of the Constitutional Council for the past few years. This incident was an introduction, and the emperor's dissatisfaction with the Constitutional Council was clearly revealed.

Of course, this is also a disguised criticism of Zhu Liqie.

However, Zhu Liqie did not give in, and replied bluntly: "Father, let's not mention the matter of the Constitutional Council, just talk about the public redemption of acres. In the past two years since 36, the economic growth of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Hubei has slowed down significantly. It’s not as good as it was in previous years; peasant households are very oppressed and easily agitated. No matter how you think about it, this is an imperative move, even if it’s just a show.”

"You have your concerns, and I have mine!" The emperor said in an unquestionable tone: "This matter will be returned to the original state, and the expenditure from last year will be used, and the newly added national debt will be suspended."

The conversation between father and son made the good lunch on New Year's Day quite cold. Zhu Lingjing was quite helpless. She glanced at her younger brother who had been silent and buried his head in eating, and then looked away.

This half-brother of the emperor is still young, not yet young enough to be a weak crown, and he is also quite self-sufficient, likes to tinker with things he likes.

In terms of image, Zhu Houzhao is the second.

In view of the fact that Zhu Liqie's position as the crown prince is secure, there is no possibility of fighting for power, so he can simply live a leisurely life.

Compared with the criticism of the crown prince, the emperor's tone to Zhu Lingjing was much more soothing, "Always remember your own situation, be independent, and don't forget yourself."

The meaning is also very simple. You must keep in mind your status as a royal family. Although your status is detached, your words and deeds represent the royal family. You must look forward and backward when doing things.

"Follow father's instruction." Zhu Lingjing immediately agreed.

From a macro point of view, the 38th year of Zhichang was a watershed year.

According to the fiscal budget finalized at the end of last year, Daming's fiscal expenditure plan for this year is 253 billion yuan, of which 96 billion yuan is allocated to military expenditure.

The 36th year of Zhichang can be regarded as a relatively normal budget allocation in peacetime. The fiscal expenditure plan is 241 billion yuan, of which 61 billion yuan is military expenditure; the final expenditure is slightly more than the plan, which is 242 billion yuan.

In the 37th year of Zhichang, due to the Basic War Preparedness Act, the financial expenditure plan was 248 billion yuan and the military expenditure was 69 billion yuan. However, due to the loss and relief of the Caozhou earthquake, the actual expenditure increased by another sum.However, the balance of payments is still in balance on the whole, and there is no deficit.

This year's planned military spending jumped to 96 billion won, a sharp increase of 37% compared to last year. The specific allocation is 29.6 billion won for the army, 34.5 billion won for the navy, and 31.9 billion won for the air force.

This is just the expenditure for war preparations. Considering that special military operations will be carried out on the land of Japan this year, the actual military expenditure must be far more than that.

With the sound of the cannon and ten thousand taels of gold, most of the supplies needed by tens of thousands of people had to be transported thousands of miles from the mainland.

This is just the army. The battleships of the navy need more than 6000 tons of fuel to fill up, and a round of 3000-inch high-explosive bombs is worth more than [-] yuan.

The maintenance of Air Force fighter planes is also extremely expensive, and the cheapness of aerial bombs is only relatively speaking. Each of the scorned "sweet potatoes" - [-] kilograms of light aerial bombs is equivalent to half a month's salary of a white-collar worker in Beijing.

According to the estimates of the Ministry of War, if all goes well, the additional military expenditure will be about 30 billion won.

The dignitaries of the Ming Dynasty have already felt the atmosphere of the imminent war, but it has not yet spread to the people.

In fact, the dignitaries have no fear of war, but are full of expectations—only to gain but not to suffer, why not do it?
The military circles long for war, in order to make contributions, prove their worth, and gain glory; the political circles look forward to war, in order to enhance their prestige and realize their aspirations; civilian merchants also hope for war, so as to win orders, earn huge profits, and expand their business scale.

The attitudes of ordinary people who are directly affected by the war are ambiguous, such as the families of active duty and reserve soldiers. On the one hand, they hope that their husbands or sons can make contributions to improve their families, but on the other hand, they are afraid that they will only receive a piece of paper in the end. Martyrdom obituary.

Everyone wants to pursue a better life, but the possible price makes many people entangled.

How do you say that?Repent to teach her husband and son-in-law to find a Marquis.

"What? Do you want to practice?"

"Well, the date hasn't been finalized yet, but it will probably be early March."

After these days of deliberation, Zhou Changfeng decided to reveal the truth to Xia Xiaoshi, so as not to be too abrupt when he suddenly announced the news.

The latter hesitated and asked: "I heard a program that the imperial court is going to send troops to Japan, is it true?"

The smiling Zhou Changfeng just stared at her dark eyes, said nothing, but said everything.

As a result, the atmosphere in the whole new home became much more dignified, as if something bad was about to happen.

Seeing her sullen look, Zhou Changfeng snapped his fingers, and said casually: "If you want to open up and relax, it's not difficult at all. Let's go, it's time to cook."

It's not like a big family, a young couple live a life, there is no need to pay too much attention to the matter of eating.

Although today is the Shangyuan Festival, lunch is nothing more than reheating the leftovers from last night and cooking a new dish at the same time.

Both glutinous rice balls and perch were bought from the market early in the morning. The former was saved for cooking at night, while the latter weighed two catties and one tael. The stall owner claimed that they were fished from the Yangtze River before dawn, so they were extremely fresh.

The so-called beautiful sea bass in the first month and fragrant saury in February, the sea bass is not only fat and tender, but also has no spines. Although it is more expensive, the eating experience is quite good.

Zhou Changfeng put the cleaned and viscerated bass on the chopping board, and cut five shallow cuts on the fish at an angle.

Then heat the oil in a pan, fry both sides for a while, then add the onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and dark soy sauce, and sprinkle some salt.

Increase the firepower, use high heat to collect the juice, and finally throw some parsley, and the simple braised sea bass is completed.

As far as cooking skills are concerned, Xia Xiaoshi's ability is really not necessarily better than that of someone Zhou. Although she had been "bragging" about her excellent cooking skills before, it was not until now that she lived together after marriage that Zhou Changfeng realized that her so-called skills were limited to those few. A few dishes, and the knife skills are not very good.

As for other dishes, it can be said that it is hard to say.

Therefore, he claimed that this kind of bragging is no different from lying. How can he boast about himself as a teacher?So that night, she was taught a hard lesson, which directly led to the exhausted two people not getting up until Sishi the next day.

Nanjing is still relatively cold in the first month of the month, and the indoor temperature during the day is only in the early ten degrees. After having lunch in the chilly east wing, the two of them fled back to the room on the second floor of the main house.

The days of the holidays are very leisurely, with nothing to do at all.

The heater made the whole room warm like spring, and the radio was playing a crosstalk of an unknown program. Xia Xiaoshi was knitting a sweater, giggling from time to time, and Zhou Changfeng was holding a copy of "Three Words and Two Beats" with great interest. look.

This kind of life is so comfortable and peaceful, people can't help but want to stay in this moment forever.

The sky is getting late, and the annual Lantern Festival, which attracts the most attention, is coming as scheduled.

Since ancient times, people have attached great importance to the Lantern Festival. In a sense, it is even more joyful than New Year's Eve.

Compared with other festivals, the Lantern Festival is more like a kind of carnival - with lanterns and festoons, and the joy of the monarch and the people. People often spend a lot of effort in preparing various lanterns.The Ming Dynasty, which has the fewest holidays in history, also gave a ten-day long holiday on this festival for the first time.

"During the Yongle period, Emperor Wen bestowed a ten-day holiday on the Lantern Festival. It was a grand event to cover the Lantern Festival."

After eating a bowl of glutinous rice balls almost perfunctorily, Xia Xiaoshi couldn't wait to drag Zhou Changfeng out.

In her words, there are all kinds of delicious snacks on the night market later, so I have to save my stomach for them.

The last rays of the setting sun gradually faded, and the night sky completely enveloped the sky of the capital, and the bright stars were dimmed on this day, because the lights of the city were really shining to the extreme.

Colorful neon lights and lanterns of various colors are intertwined, making the whole city a sea of ​​colorful light spots.

The streets were even more crowded, and the flow of people in many places was so dense that Zhou Changfeng was terrified—if a stampede happened, it would be too tragic.

The patrolmen were yelling and blowing their whistles from time to time, but the usually sharp and piercing whistle sounded like an embroidery needle thrown into a pan of oil, and it was swallowed up without a trace in an instant.

Women seem to get carried away more easily in this situation?At least Xia Xiaoshi lacked sufficient sense of crisis, and was a little unhappy after being dragged by Zhou Changfeng to a place with few people.

"Obviously nothing is wrong, everyone is fine..."

"Oh, I don't cry when I don't see the coffin."

Seeing her talking back, Zhou Changfeng got angry, subconsciously raised his hand and slapped her waist lightly.

As a result, while she was embarrassed, Xia Xiaoshi was even more ashamed.

In this way, the two walked cautiously among the busy streets, tasting snacks and guessing lantern riddles along the way, and unknowingly came to Jubaomen.

The game of guessing lantern riddles at the roadside stand was easy for Xia Xiaoshi. Although the bracelets and pendants she won were just cheap gadgets, the sense of accomplishment they brought was enough to make her feel good.

"Come on, sir, let's go to the tower."

Walking the bridge is a custom with a long history, also known as "walking all kinds of diseases". Women in the Ming Dynasty usually wore white silk jackets and walked the bridge or the city wall together on the Lantern Festival. healthy.

After stepping up one step after another, Zhou Changfeng and Xia Xiaoshi managed to climb up the tower of Jubao Gate.

Just at this moment, a piece of Kongming lanterns was released somewhere in the distant urban area, and the stars rose from the ground, rising into the night sky like stars.

Next, the fireworks that soared into the sky burst out suddenly, as if a colorful epiphyllum bloomed on the black screen.

Xia Xiaoshi's eyes reflected the prosperity of thousands of lights, and she couldn't help chanting: "The moonlight lights are all over the imperial capital, and the streets are covered with fragrant cars and precious chariots. If you don't see prosperity in your body, you are ashamed to chase Sai Zigu, a villager."

"A good poem, as expected of my little poem."

"Well... sir, this is what Li Yishan did."

"..."

Even though the general environment is so joyous and lively, danger and evil will not go far away, they follow like a shadow.

Just beside the city tower not far away, a couple traveled not only with their young son, but also with their sister-in-law.

When they were playing, the son was led by his sister-in-law.Suddenly, a handsome young man and an extremely kind-looking woman walked over together.

The woman took out a bunch of candied haws and sugar figurines and began to strike up a conversation with the teenage sister-in-law. When she was not concentrating, the young man picked up the boy.

The two cooperated extremely skillfully, their techniques were very skillful, and they quickly got into the crowd.

After more than ten seconds, this textbook abduction was not noticed by people.

"kidnapper!"

"There is a kidnapper!"

Panicked and angry shouts came from the crowd, and everyone was in danger for a while. The couple who were traveling with their children on the city wall immediately hugged their children tightly, and then looked around.

A female patrol officer who was struggling to maintain order also quickly looked left and right. Whether she was lucky or professional, she immediately and keenly caught two abnormal figures in the vast crowd.

"The two in front, stop!"

(End of this chapter)