Daming: Old Zhu, we agreed not to rush!

Chapter 207 A major event for the country, a straw paper for the common people!
"You, you want this, you want that!"

Empress Ma pushed the polished inkstone in front of Zhu Yuanzhang: "Come on, try it."

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the writing brush and dipped it directly: "Sister, what you said is not right, Su Jing really thinks this is very good."

While speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang had already begun to write vigorously.

What he wrote was exactly what Su Jing said today, and all of these must be recorded, so that they can be handed over to Li Shanchang and Cui Liang for execution later.

"Chongba, is this what Mr. Su said just now?"

Empress Ma looked at what Zhu Yuanzhang wrote and asked curiously.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "That's right, what Su Jing said is quite interesting."

Now thinking about what Su Jing said just now, the corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth also raised an arc.

"Mr. Su said, it should be so."

Empress Ma said of course.

……

The next morning, the sun was shining.

In front of the gate of the "Niufu" compound, Su Jing's carriage had already been brought over, and there were a lot of things on the carriage. Mu Ying was sitting in front of the carriage, looking like a coachman.

Su Jing and Zhu Biao stood in front of the mansion, saying goodbye to Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

"Su Jing, I hope you find what you're looking for."

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Su Jing.

"Thank you, uncle, let's go."

Su Jing smiled and waved, with a faint smile on her face.

"Mr. Su, I'm sorry!"

Empress Ma bowed towards Su Jing.

"Don't worry, ma'am, I will definitely bring Niu Yi back safely."

Su Jing nodded.

There was no hypocritical person present, and this was not a farewell, and the farewell was very simple.

The carriage slowly left the gate of Yingtianfu and headed north towards Shandong.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't do anything to see him off, but went straight back to the Forbidden City for morning exercises!

On Fengtian Temple.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon chair and glanced lightly at the group of officials below.

The officials bowed their heads and stood respectfully on the left and right sides of Fengtian Hall.

They were also quite curious in their hearts, where did Zhu Yuanzhang go yesterday?
People disappeared at noon, and then I didn't see anyone all afternoon.

This is relatively rare for Baiguan.

"Anything to start?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly.

"Report to Your Majesty."

Yang Siyi, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, walked out slowly and said, "Your Majesty, the Agricultural College has achieved fruitful results in cultivating food this year. Next year, I want to expand the scale. I hope your Majesty will approve it."

Agricultural College.

Zhu Yuanzhang remembered what Yang Siyi said.

This is also what Su Jing taught, and then Zhu Biao proposed.

Zhu Yuanzhang is busy with many things, so he really hasn't paid much attention recently.

"Yang Siyi, tell me, what are the results?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously.

Yang Siyi immediately said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to experiments, we have found a way to increase rice production, and it can also effectively prevent some diseases that reduce production. Once implemented, the production will increase by at least one-twelfth next year."

In fact, what Yang Siyi said was conservative.

The level of agriculture in the early Ming Dynasty was actually the same.

Perhaps because of the influence of Confucianism, the farming methods passed down from ancient times have always been continued.

Except for a little progress in tools, there are actually very few improvements in planting methods.

After the establishment of this agricultural college, it only made some improvements in water and fertilizer, and it immediately achieved immediate results.

It can only be said that Confucianism has really kept Huaxia's thinking in place.

affected every aspect of life.

This leads to the fact that even small changes can have considerable effect.

"good very good!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and said: "I'm sure, next year, no, this year we can start to prepare for the expansion of the scale. At the same time, we must absorb more talents in agronomy and strive to make more achievements."

In the feudal dynasty, food was always the top priority.

Yang Siyi's achievements are remarkable.

The rest of the ministers looked at it with envy.

There are not many people who can be praised by Zhu Yuanzhang like this.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I will do my best."

Yang Siyi immediately knelt down to thank Zhu Yuanzhang.

Although the Minister of the Household Department was very tired, he worked very hard.

The household department is actually quite strange. Normally, it is the department in charge of household registration and finance, and all matters related to money have to go through the household department.

But because of the feudal society, food was equal to money, so this agricultural matter also had to be taken care of.

Hubu Shangshu also has many aliases, such as Diguan, Da Situ, Ji Xiang, Da Si Nong and so on.

Yang Siyi is actually very tired after being in the management of the Agricultural College, but he is full of motivation!
"Your Majesty, I have something to announce."

The person who spoke was Zhou Zhen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, who was also a heavyweight.

Not to mention the gold content of the six ministers themselves, since Zhu Yuanzhang came to power, the law has been strict, and quite a lot of criminals are arrested and tried every year.

Those who arrested them were from the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

The number of officials that Zhou Zhen has arrested is several times higher than the number of officials standing in Fengtian Hall now.

Among the hundred officials, he has the nickname of "King of Hades".

Usually, few people interact with it.

Zhou Zhen knew it well, and was also happy about it.

As the head of the Criminal Department, he is in charge of legal punishments, so he should be impartial, fair and strict.

Only by being alone can Zhu Yuanzhang not be suspicious.

This can be the boss of the six Shangshu positions, and none of them are simple characters.

"Zhou Zhen, what's the matter with you, tell me."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked simply and clearly.

Zhou Zhen replied: "Your Majesty, please expand the prison of the Ministry of Punishment."

As soon as this remark came out, the faces of the officials present all changed.

Expansion of the prison of the Ministry of punishment?

What does this mean? It means that there are not enough prison cells now.

The big prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice does not detain ordinary people, most of them are prisoners who have committed serious crimes.

Among these people, the proportion of officials is relatively large.

After Zhou Zhen finished speaking, he lowered his head and waited for Zhu Yuanzhang's answer.

He didn't explain anything because no explanation was needed.

This major and important case was tried by Zhu Yuanzhang himself. Zhu Yuanzhang knew how many people were arrested and how many people were imprisoned.

Everyone knows that there are not enough cells in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

"I'm ready."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not think for too long, and agreed to Zhou Zhen's request.

He has always spared no effort in punishing crimes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Zhou Zhen thanked Zhu Yuanzhang, he withdrew to the team.

The ministers all suppressed their faces, and this matter still had a deterrent effect on them.

Then there are some daily issues, such as rebellions in various places, and some minor disasters.

Zhu Yuanzhang also acted vigorously and gave replies one by one.

Although all officials will give solutions when they ask questions, what Zhu Yuanzhang has to do is to approve or not.

It may not seem difficult, but in reality it is not at all.

Because just listening to the courtiers, it is not an easy task to judge the whole picture and the truth of a matter.

Zhu Yuanzhang lived in the palace for a long time, so he couldn't go there to check the situation in person.

In the end, what they said was true or false, or how much they said and how much they kept.

These all have to be judged by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

The emperor is the pinnacle of power, but he is also the person most likely to fall into an information cocoon.

"Okay, I arrived here this morning, Shanchang, Cui Liang, you two come with me."

With a big wave of his hand, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and left Fengxian Hall from the side.

Li Shanchang and Cui Liang looked at each other and stayed where they were.

Outside Fengtian Hall, the officials walked out slowly.

Various voices of discussion also sounded.

"Your Majesty was not in the palace yesterday afternoon. It is said that he went to see someone."

"Master Li knows who it is?"

"I don't know, but I heard that the Fifth Prince is back."

"Fifth Prince! Isn't he studying with that Mr. Su?"

"So, the person His Majesty went to see yesterday was the one..."

"Hey! Be careful!"

……

In Fengtian Hall, Li Shanchang and Cui Liang stepped out after the officials dispersed.

But their destination is Fengxian Temple.

"Master Cui, what do you think His Majesty told us to do?"

Li Shanchang asked Cui Liang as he walked.

Cui Liang said: "Probably it's about the people's newspaper."

Li Shanchang said again: "Your Majesty left the palace yesterday afternoon, and didn't come back until early today, did Master Cui hear about it?"

This Li Shanchang and Cui Liang are not too young, and their steps are relatively slow.

Cui Liang said: "Your Majesty's matter, the lower officials dare not inquire about it, but when they only think about the public report, they are already exhausted."

Facing Li Shanchang's questioning, Cui Liang's response was quite watertight.

Li Shanchang didn't care, but continued with a smile: "Master Cui, I have heard something, probably related to His Majesty summoning you and me today."

"I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to pass the test in front of His Majesty."

As soon as these words came out, Cui Liang's face changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I don't know what the prime minister said, what is it?"

If you can know what Zhu Yuanzhang is going to ask in advance, you can make a draft in your heart so that you can deal with it better.

Li Shanchang said: "Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that the person His Majesty went out of the palace to meet yesterday was Mr. Su, and Mr. Su is the one who proposed this Minbao."

"Lord Cui, do you think His Majesty summoned us just after seeing Mr. Su, did Mr. Su say something to His Majesty again?"

Su Jing proposed Minbao!
Cui Liang frowned. Although there was no clear evidence for this matter, he could guess it.

"Thank you, Prime Minister, for letting me know, and I thank you, my subordinate."

Cui Liang cupped his hands towards Li Shanchang.

Li Shanchang waved his hand and said: "Lord Cui, you don't have to do this. Master Cui and I are working together for the people's newspaper. We are originally on the same boat. This is what I should do."

Although the pace of the two is not fast, the distance between Fengtian Hall and Fengxian Hall is not very far.

The conversation room has arrived.

Both of them are people who come here often, the guards at the door did not stop them, and the eunuch turned slightly sideways to let them in.

"Minister Li Shanchang pays homage to His Majesty."

"Cui Liang pays homage to Your Majesty."

Li Shanchang and Cui Liang saluted Zhu Yuanzhang respectfully.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand directly and said, "Wai Li, I really have something to ask you."

"Yes, Your Majesty." x2
The two immediately came to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Shanchang, Cui Liang, I have seen the layout of the Minbao in Yingtian Mansion. It is indeed well done. I have also read the accounts. It is not bad."

"Your Majesty praises me, this is just what the minister should do."

Li Shanchang replied immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Li Shanchang and said: "Shanchang, since you have spoken, I will ask you. The accounts are too simple, and some things are not clear."

"Please, Your Majesty."

Li Shanchang immediately said seriously that he was already a little nervous.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "The number of sales of the Minbao is now, but what is the distribution of the people who sell it? How many officials and gentry, how many common people, how many scholars, how many merchants, and how many farmers?"

"There is also the time distribution and regional distribution of sales. I am not very clear about these."

When Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, it was what Su Jing asked him yesterday.

This directly confused Li Shanchang.

A Minbao sales account is not enough, do we need such detailed data?
Although in terms of sales in Su Jing's previous life, this is called user portrait.

But for the Ming Dynasty, this is obviously too far ahead.

"Cui Shangshu is mainly in charge of this matter, the detailed work is not involved in the specific work, let Cui Shangshu talk about it."

Li Shanchang changed the subject, and directly threw the hot potato to Cui Liang.

A dead Taoist friend is not a poor Taoist.

Li Shanchang's wave of Tai Chi immediately made Cui Liang unable to hold back.

He doesn't know either!

"Your Majesty, minister... minister... minister has not yet started sorting out the situation, it is not clear yet."

Cui Liang replied somewhat stammeringly.

"Humph."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, glanced at Cui Liang, then at Li Shanchang.

He had already expected such a result.

He was just a little distressed, what Su Jing said casually, why his own prime minister and Shang Shu could only stammer and respond.

Is this gap so big?

"Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you. I just want to ask you one thing. Do ordinary people buy a lot of people's newspapers?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked the trembling two, his words were very serious.

This time Cui Liang immediately replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, although Minbao is not expensive, it is still an expense for ordinary people, so few people buy it."

He didn't know the detailed data, but he still knew the general situation.

Cui Liang is not the kind of Shangshu who can only paddle, but he still has real talents.

"Sure enough, what do you think is the point of doing this Minbao if the people don't buy it or read it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

Both Li Shanchang and Cui Liang knew the importance of Minbao.

In the current situation, it seems that the Minbao is very popular, but it has not actually penetrated into the ordinary people.

Li Shanchang and Cui Liang were dumbfounded by Zhu Yuanzhang's question.

This matter, they know, but can't solve it.

"Your Majesty, how about giving it to the people for free?"

Li Shanchang hesitated and said.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Shanchang and said, "It's free, I'm afraid it will only become straw paper for the people to wipe their asses."

Ever since Su Jing pointed it out last night, Zhu Yuanzhang also realized that if the content is not good, the common people will not read it.

After all, he used to be an ordinary person, and he knew what the people were thinking.

(End of this chapter)