Daming Jingtai: I am the eternal benevolent king

Chapter 348: The Ming Dynasty had the ability to turn waste into treasure and turn stones into gold, so why did it stop pioneering?

"There are ten cities with a population of more than 5 million in the Ming Dynasty, including Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Changzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong."

"Cities with a population of more than 2 million: Shenyang, Tianjin, Zhending (Shijiazhuang), Baoding, Kaifeng, Nanyang, Jinan, Qingdao, Taiyuan, Datong, Luzhou, Anyi (Yuncheng), Chang'an, Yan'an, Fengxiang, Nanzheng , Lanzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Changsha, Guilin, Nanning, Huanzhou, Jiaozhou, Xinyi, Zhuhai, Chaozhou, Xiamen, Shaoxing, Huzhou, Zhenjiang, Hefei, Jiangning and Fengyang thirty-four cities."

"Places such as Harbin, Changchun, Chengde, and Fuzhou all have a population approaching two million, and the population is moving uncontrollably into cities."

Zhu Qiyu said: "I also have a headache. The population is highly concentrated in a city, which has great disadvantages."

"Not to mention other things, the burden of excrement treatment is huge. Like many cities in the south, waterlogging occurs after rains, and many people drown every year."

"But there are too many people in the city and we can't get rid of them."

"It used to be called a city. It was mainly for defense, so it was called a city."

"Now the city is mainly a city, so it can only be called a city."

“A citizen class was also born. They did not engage in agricultural labor and relied on factories and business to make a living.”

"Rice can be supplied to the city, but it is bought from India, and the central government strictly controls the price, which has caused many grain merchants to go on strike and are unwilling to do the grain business."

"Both the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Finance have sent people to understand that it is indeed not profitable to be a grain merchant."

"If rice prices increase, urban population pressure will increase."

"And the population is highly concentrated in cities, resulting in fewer and fewer people cultivating land. There is a rare situation in Jiangnan where land is abandoned."

"The central government went to great lengths to buy food, but there was land in the country but no food was grown."

"What can I do?"

Zhu Qiyu expressed his frustration: "The south is no better than the north. Food storage is extremely difficult and the cost is naturally high."

"The ministers in the Cabinet actually want to introduce outsiders to grow food."

"I have refuted it. The Ming army will shed blood and sweat, not to create a better life for outsiders!"

Chen Jiayou felt dizzy when he heard the emperor's complaints.

The good times have only been around for a few years, and the people have actually fallen into this state?

The main reason was to free the slaves.

Ordinary people kept one or two male slaves at home to farm the land, and small landowners had more than a dozen in their homes. The female slaves were eager to put together a platter of all nations.

Zhu Qiyu was worried that a serf rebellion would break out in the country, and then they would turn against the foreigners and lead to chaos in China.

There appear to be 300 million people in the country, and it is estimated that 100 million slaves exist among the people. In fact, 400 million people are eating, and the proportion of Han people has been diluted and reduced.

There was even a situation among the people where slaves secretly gave birth to children, and then the slaves' sons were allowed to serve in the military instead of their own sons.

Chen Jiayou chewed the emperor's words, this was a test.

The answer will determine his career.

"Your Majesty, farming is a very important matter."

"Wei Chen believes that there are three reasons why people are unwilling to farm."

"The first is the use of slaves. People are lazy, over-reliant on serfs, unwilling to work, and greedy for pleasure. The natural population moves to cities."

"Secondly, because the Ming Dynasty has been easy and comfortable, people are short-term animals, and few people live in peacetime. The central government suppresses the price of rice, resulting in people not cherishing rice."

"Thirdly, Your Majesty is too kind to the people, so the people think they can bully the central government, and they are thinking about how to take advantage of the imperial court. They are using their minds wrongly."

His perspective is unique.

Zhu Qiyu had no expression on his face and listened to him.

"I have four strategies for you. Your Majesty, please listen carefully."

"First, the central government raises food prices and housing prices, uses housing prices to control the population, and forces the population to flow backward. Food prices, oil prices, and meat prices also increase, making people think that it is not easy to live in the city."

"Second, to strengthen immigration, the central government strictly divides the amount of land. If the amount is not enough, all will be moved to new land."

"Third, the central government subsidizes agriculture and increases urban residence tax. This tax is subsidized to farmers, so that their income is slightly higher than the income of traders and workers."

"Fourth, strictly control the number of slaves among the people, start to recruit slaves from the people as slaves, and exhaust the slaves to death among the people, quickly reduce the number of slaves, and increase the selling price of slaves, so that ordinary families cannot afford slaves."

This Chen Jiayou has not lost his ability.

Zhu Qiyu's face showed a look of satisfaction: "Go on."

"Weichen believes that the high concentration of population in cities has major disadvantages, but it also has small benefits."

"With more people and greater strength, and a concentrated population, highly developed businesses, handicrafts, manufacturing and other intensive factories will be born, which will also reduce labor costs."

"The center provides strong support to factories, and you also hope to replace manpower with machinery to solve problems such as land abandonment."

"So, can you find a node that supports both? The best of both worlds?"

"Can the Center repurchase a batch of land, then set up a reclamation company, hire a group of urban laborers, and hire a group of people to go to Huangzhuang for reclamation during busy farming periods? There is no need to pay wages during slack farming periods. In this way, a year's worth of Save two to three months’ salary.”

"And these people are still urban residents. The idle urban population can make money and solve the problem of land abandonment."

Zhu Qiyu admired him more and more: "You have not wasted time in India these years."

"I can't bear to waste any minute. Although I haven't read the Ming Dynasty books in these years, I have basically read the Indian books. So I have some superficial opinions. Your Majesty, please don't blame me." Chen Jiayou said with a smile.

"Your method is very good."

"However, the opening of Huangzhuang cannot be opened."

"The acquisition of abandoned land will inevitably lead to the formation of big landowners. The issue of land annexation must be considered after all."

"The reclamation company can give it a try and let the Cabinet discuss it."

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "With your merits, you can serve as a local magistrate, practice for a few years, and then be transferred back to the central government."

Senior officials of the Ming Dynasty must be Jinshi, must have experience at the grassroots level, and serve as a governor before they can return to the central government and enter the cabinet.

The standards for Jinshi have never been lowered. Although Enke is available, the Enke test is more difficult and the admission rate is lower. The Jinshi level is absolutely strictly controlled.

The road to promotion is a spiral, from the local area to the central government, and then from the central government to the local area. After repeating several times, you can become a governor and enter the seven departments and six temples of the cabinet.

But Chen Jiayou knelt on the ground: "I know that I am not a good minister or assistant, nor is I an unparalleled talent. In the center there are great talents like Li Yao, and in the local area there are talents like Ma Han. I am no more than a grain of rice. I only hope to spend my life on the road and serve your majesty." Make the nations.”

Zhu Qiyu frowned: "The envoy has no future in this life."

"Although you have been in India for twelve years and dedicated your life to the Ming Dynasty, you have not been able to rise to the cabinet ministry based on your merits as an envoy."

"Chen Jiayou, you have to think clearly. Do you want to stay in Honglu Temple for the rest of your life?"

Chen Jiayou gritted his teeth and said: "How can the Ming Dynasty be prosperous without envoys to travel to all countries? I am willing to walk on the road for the rest of my life, serving the Ming Dynasty as an envoy and showing my authority to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Qiyu was a little moved. The reason why China is still standing is that there are some fools in every generation. They work hard for this country and die for this country.

There are people in every era who will work tirelessly for this country, and even die for this land.

It is this sincere love that shapes the soul of China.

Chen Jiayou obviously has a better career. With his twelve years of service in India, he can serve as a local magistrate for four years, return to the central government and serve as a minister for a few more years, and then be sent to a local area. He will definitely be able to join the cabinet before he is seventy years old. An important minister, in charge of the world, has a long history.

But he chose the most unpromising path.

Even if you stay in Honglu Temple for the rest of your life, you will not be able to become a temple minister, because a temple minister cannot go on missions and has to serve in the court.

Zhu Qiyu helped him up: "Chen Qing, what you did for the Ming Dynasty and for me, I will never forget."

"I will let people write down your deeds and erect monuments on the road you have walked, so that future generations will always remember your achievements."

"Although you are in Honglu Temple and you are an envoy, you have made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty."

"I will not forget it, people in the future will not forget it, and future generations will not forget it either!"

"You are the hero of the Ming Dynasty! You are my Zhang Qian!"

Chen Jiayou choked with emotion.

He also has selfish motives.

There is no shortage of officials in the Ming Dynasty. Just look at Yu Jing and you will know that a small county magistrate is proficient in multiple languages, proficient in medical skills, and knows the policies of the Ming Dynasty inside out.

The official is no longer the official he was twelve years ago, and he has stayed in India for twelve years, and his relationship with the Ming Dynasty has been derailed. If he goes to be a local magistrate, he is afraid that he will be fooled by his superiors. If he becomes a confused magistrate, half a lifetime of wisdom will be ruined and reduced to Become a laughing stock.

However, the Ming Dynasty was short of envoys. After Bian Yong and Pan Benyu returned to China, they took charge of Honglu Temple and rarely had the opportunity to send envoys to other countries.

There are even fewer envoys with such great reputation as him.

Therefore, he wanted to be the emperor of Zhang Qian, walk on the road all his life, and finally be admitted to the Confucian Temple for his merits. This was his selfish intention.

After the emperor rewarded him greatly, he allowed him to go back and reunite with his family.

"Bring Bian Yongxuan."

Soon, Bian Yong came in.

After the Ming Dynasty opened the sea, especially after defeating the Southeastern Allied Forces, all nations came to the DPRK. All countries along the Tang Dynasty came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty.

The work of Honglu Temple was extremely busy, and Bian Yong, who had rich diplomatic experience, stayed in the capital to handle these chores.

The emperor didn't value the false reputation of Wan Guo Lai Chao, and even shamelessly blackmailed him everywhere. He didn't want the title of Celestial Kingdom at all.

Just the benefits, just the benefits.

This made Honglu Temple even busier. Honglu Temple used to be a etiquette department, but now it has become an extortion department. They tried their best to get the conditions set by the emperor.

Then he has to write a report card and publish it to the world, so that the world can see how shameless the emperor is.

The emperor said smugly: Only by blackmailing all nations can I feel like the great emperor of all nations.

"Bian Yong, how did you place those Indians?"

"Your Majesty, I still want to ask you a question."

Bian Yong smiled bitterly: "Those Indians really don't understand etiquette. I asked them to learn etiquette. There are still some people who rely on their medical skills to ask for women from me. They are really a bunch of barbarians."

"Find some Indian female slaves and reward them with them. Han women are not allowed to have contact with them."

The Ming Dynasty is no longer the Ming Dynasty it was twelve years ago.

In the twenty-third year of Jingtai, even if they saw a foreigner in a corner, the people would not find it strange, because it was so common, and no wealthy family had a Western concubine.

There were also many Western slaves, many families had them.

Before, the emperor wanted to introduce the world's elites to the Ming Dynasty, so Chen Jiayou tried his best to recruit Indian elites to the Ming Dynasty. But now, the Ming Dynasty has no shortage of these talents.

Especially after Geng Jiuchou and others returned to Beijing from Sanya, Emperor Shangshu must strictly control the risk of Westerners taking root in the Ming Dynasty and guard against them taking over the magpie's nest.

Chen Jiayou also raised this concern.

Anyone who knows India knows that India's rulers have always been foreigners.

Nowadays, a large number of foreign barbarians have poured into the Ming Dynasty. It is very likely that the Ming Dynasty will make wedding clothes for people. Wasn't it because the prosperous Tang Dynasty absorbed a large number of foreign barbarians that the Anshi Rebellion broke out?

Even if the Anshi Rebellion did not break out, other turmoil would break out in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, Zhu Qiyu has been forcing sinicization, carefully attracting foreigners to join the Ming Dynasty, and he is even more cautious about military power.

This was also the reason why Zhu Qiyu did everything he could. He wouldn't worry if he didn't kill them all.

This is also the reason why we strive to promote the Ming Dynasty as a single nation state, which is to not allow even the slightest hint of separatism.

"It would be great if there was a way to sterilize people quietly." Zhu Qiyu murmured to himself.

Bian Yong rolled his eyes: "Your Majesty, even if there is, people will know about it sooner or later, why don't you still resent the Ming Dynasty?"

"Do you think the children they gave birth to will consider themselves Mingren?" Zhu Qiyu asked.

"Wei Chen doesn't dare to say anything."

Bian Yong expressed his helplessness. People all admire power. After the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty became known to the world, it attracted many foreigners to settle in the Ming Dynasty.

They say it's trade, but actually they're here to enjoy the benefits of the Ming Dynasty.

Everyone wants to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, and everyone is a greedy animal.

"Prince Xing entered the palace yesterday and told me about the bloodline theory."

Zhu Qiyu stood up and walked with his hands behind his back: "Nowadays, many mixed-race children among the people have grown up, and their appearance is indeed different from that of Ming people."

"I don't know how many generations it will take before I can completely become an Akito."

"In the past, the country was closed to the outside world and had to wait for hundreds of years."

"But now that the sea is completely opened, more and more foreigners have entered the Ming Dynasty. Yu Qian is worried that after they grow stronger, new ethnic groups will be born and then embezzle the fruits of the Ming Dynasty."

"I have worked so hard to make a wedding dress for a foreigner. I broke into a cold sweat when I heard that."

Zhu Qiyu looked ruthless: "Bian Yong, what do you think of killing them?"

"Your Majesty, I have considered this matter, but tell me how many slaves we have bought from abroad in recent years, and their country has not perished."

Bian Yong expressed helplessness: "Kill one batch and then another batch. Can we finish them all?"

"Especially since there are so many ethnic groups in the world, the best ones to distinguish are African, Indian, and Southeast Asian people. You can tell these people by how dark they are."

"As for the European tribes, we can't tell which ethnic group they are at all. We just use Western instead, which is actually very inaccurate."

"Even the tribes west of Congling look different from us, but they still look different from Westerners."

"We have been killing for so many years, tell me, have you really killed all the Annan people?"

"Laos? Cambodia? Siam? Which one will kill them all!"

Bian Yong sighed: "Wei Chen is even thinking, what if we don't kill them all and merge them into the Ming Dynasty?"

"But this was done in the Yongle Dynasty. Didn't Annan spit it out in the same way?"

"Today, the Ming Dynasty slaughtered Annan, Laos, and Cambodia, and instead occupied these territories."

"It's ridiculous to say that the Confucianism and Taoism that Ming Dynasty believed in could not allow Ming Dynasty to expand."

Bian Yong sighed.

Confucianism is highly centralized, and high centralization does not allow expansion.

Without Confucianism, the land of China would never be invincible, and similarly with Confucianism, it would not expand rapidly.

"Since it can't be killed."

"I was just wondering if I could spread Western-phobic rumors among the people."

"Let the people and the Western barbarians confront each other, and then prevent them from occupying the magpie's nest and harvesting the fruits of Ming Dynasty's victory?"

"We even introduced anti-Western laws to make it difficult for Western barbarians to move forward in the Ming Dynasty."

According to statistics from the 22nd year of Jingtai, three million foreigners settled in the Ming Dynasty.

There are hundreds of millions of slaves active among the people.

This is the most unstable factor in society.

The imperial court can control Ming people because it can threaten them with immigration and execution, but it is ineffective against slaves. We are all slaves, so what are we afraid of?

In recent years, there have been many cases of slaves killing their masters, and many slaves have been executed.

There were even mass slaughters of slaves, and all aspects of slavery were restricted.

The most popular thing in folk blacksmith shops is chains. The chains that are branded on slaves will never be able to get off the chains for the rest of their lives.

This only intensifies the hatred between the slaves and Akito.

"Your Majesty, are your worries too far-fetched?" Bian Yong thought it was unnecessary.

Because mixed-race children have just reached adulthood, it is the time for marriage. If this bill is announced now, the blood relationship between mixed-race children and Akito will be stripped away.

In recent years, the central government has been very protective of mixed-race children and has tried its best to publicize that they are Han Chinese.

It is precisely because of this that these mixed-race people admit that they are Han Chinese and support the emperor. Many patriotic poems among the people come from their mouths.

If the Spanish Exclusion Act is announced, the fragile balance will be broken, and defamatory words such as bastard will appear again for mixed-race people.

This is something the emperor will never allow.

As long as one parent is Han Chinese, the child must be Han Chinese.

Don’t forget, the Ming people and the Meng Yao, Zhuang, Hui, Yi, Miao and Wei ethnic groups have always intermarried. Once the blood theory is made public, will these people immediately rebel?

The Central Committee will never allow any separatist remarks to appear. We are guarding against foreigners, not our own people!

Zhu Qiyu pondered: "Why would those foreigners settle in Ming Dynasty if they don't return to their own country?"

"Bian Yong, haven't you thought about this problem?"

"If you don't go back home, you will be a second-class person in the Ming Dynasty. What are you doing?"

Bian Yong was stunned: "Maybe there was war in the mother country, so you came to Ming Dynasty to escape the war, right?"

"Is there a possibility that their mother country has perished long ago?" Zhu Qiyu asked.

Jade Titan: Just give me your ID card.

Bian Yong said: "Wouldn't that be better? Just merge into Ming Dynasty directly."

"It's a beautiful thought. My Ming Dynasty is a paradise for Ming people, not a place for wild dogs!"

Zhu Qiyu knew very well that the beautiful country was controlled by a certain Tau tribe. Although they did not have a country, they controlled the world.

These people have been in exile for more than a thousand years and can still preserve their nation intact.

They came to Ming Dynasty absolutely to control Ming Dynasty economically and realize their bullshit dream of rejuvenation.

They were very good at doing business, so they would naturally become the guests of many nobles, and they would naturally settle in the Ming Dynasty.

But in order to maintain their bloodline, they do not marry with foreigners, so they can easily tell them apart.

Bian Yong smiled and said: "Your Majesty, there is actually no need to implement the Anti-Spanish Act. There are only three million people."

"Wei Chen has a way."

"The center can issue a bill that prohibits second-class people from marrying or having children. Once discovered, they will be executed immediately, and those who protect them will be castrated."

Damn it! Absolutely enough!

Zhu Qiyu was actually happy: "This is a good idea. In our Chinese territory, Ming people are first-class people, slaves, foreigners, and those without household registration are all second-class people. If you are not allowed to get married, you are not allowed to have children."

"No matter what their purpose is, they will either leave Ming Dynasty or become homeless in Ming Dynasty."

"But it's easy for them to come, but it's hard for them to leave."

"Add another one, second-class people go offshore, and each person pays an offshore tax of one million."

This ensures the purity of the bloodline.

"Your Majesty, you can set up a separate department to collect offshore taxes from second-class people." Bian Yong was even worse.

"allow!"

Zhu Qiyu was in a good mood: "The prince has reached the age of marriage. I will let the local government select some beautiful girls to come in."

"I plan to select a beauty from each ethnic group of Miao, Yao, Yi, Meng, Hui, Chaosuo, and a mixed race to marry the prince together."

"There are so many princes, pick one of them to be your concubine."

"how do you feel?"

Bian Yong rolled his eyes, and I was worried about the prince's waist.

"Hahaha, everyone has his own style, the prince is lucky."

The sons have no chance of escaping from what their father suffered.

Emperors all like their girls, the powerful will naturally follow suit, and the common people will naturally ask to marry their girls.

As time went by, intermarriage naturally occurred. After a few generations of intermarriage, they were completely integrated into the Han people.

Bian Yong knew very well that the princesses of the princes were selected from among the important ministers, including Geng Yu's daughter, Liu Jian's daughter, Wang Yue's daughter, Li Jin's daughter, etc.

The princess is mainly chosen from these four families.

It seems that the queen likes Geng Yu's daughter, and Geng Yu's daughter looks down on the prince a little, thinking that the prince is too stupid. She seems to like the fourth prince Zhu Jianji.

What troubled Bian Yong the most was that his youngest daughter was also in the process of choosing a concubine for the prince, and she was taken into the palace to raise her early.

The emperor seems to pay more attention to the opinions of young people. A strong-willed person is not sweet, and people don't like each other. It's useless to try to bring them together, and it's not comfortable to live a life of seemingly inseparable people.

I heard that the concubines in the harem were all angry with the emperor. Each concubine had his own choice of daughter-in-law, but the emperor let them decide for themselves and mainly listened to the woman's opinion.

The concubines are all going crazy. Who is your biological son?

Just as he was talking, Wang Hua came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the cabinet has not decided on this matter. Please make a decision."

Bian Yong immediately retreated.

Zhu Qiyu picked up the memorial and frowned slightly. This was Fan Guang's first memorial. He believed that the Timur Khanate was weak and should take the opportunity to enter the Fergana Basin and take a bite of its fat meat.

Yang Xin also believes that now is a good opportunity.

"What do Li Xian think?" Zhu Qiyu frowned and asked when he saw that there was no approval from the cabinet.

"Your Majesty, it's difficult for the chief minister to make a decision, so I came to ask you." Wang Hua reported back.

Wang Hua and Xie Qian were both Jinshi in the same ranking.

The cabinet was more optimistic about Wang Hua's test paper and wanted to select him as the number one scholar. However, the emperor thought that Xie Qian's test paper was more pragmatic, so he selected Xie Qian as the number one scholar and Wang Hua as the second. Xie Qian and Wang Hua are good friends. Historically, Wang Hua's number one scholar was Xie Qian's number one scholar. Because Wang Hua was unlucky and failed to pass the exam, and finally became the number one scholar through the back door of his good friend.

And Wang Hua has a famous super talented son, Wang Shouren.

Wang Hua is not without talent, but simply unlucky.

As a scholar, he served as an official in Jiaozhi for three years. He was able to take the exam for civil servants one more time. He took the exam in Jiaozhi. He took the Baiyue examination in Jiaozhi, so he passed the exam.

After serving in Xinyizhou for another three years, he passed the Enke examination and was admitted to the same examination as Xie Qian.

Nowadays, they all serve the emperor in the military aircraft department.

"The Western Region is too far away and beyond the reach of the central government. Let Fan Guang and Yang Xin make their own decisions based on the situation in the Western Region."

Zhu Qiyu put down the memorial: "But Li Xian thinks it's inappropriate?"

Wang Hua knelt on the ground: "I can't hide anything from Your Majesty. The chief minister is worried that Duke Yi and Marquis Jianchang will have inappropriate thoughts when they are away from home all year round."

The main reason is that the Western Region is too far away and there is no waterway communication.

Therefore, the center has appeared. Don't let the sound expand westward. It will spit out as much as it expands, which is a waste of money.

The voice of public opinion is even louder, and they all believe that it is better to stop expansion and manage the current land well.

"Yang Xin's daughter is the same age as Xiao Twenty. I want to be Yang Xin's in-laws."

"Fan Sheng's daughter is the same age as Lao Fifteen. Let's marry Lao Fifteen and become his concubine."

Zhu Qiyu understood what Li Xian meant, which was to use the prince's marriage to tie up his merits.

Although Emperor Taizu objected many times, this was the most direct and effective method and could not be used.

The two sons he chose are both the queen's sons and legitimate sons. Is this enough to appease the two of them?

"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Hua complimented.

"Stop it."

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said, "You and Xie Qian are working together in a department. Do you ever quarrel in private?"

Wang Hua rolled his eyes, you are too nosy.

However, after being around the emperor for a long time, I understand the emperor's temperament. The emperor is usually very tolerant.

"A humble minister is not as good as Yu Qiao Yuan." Wang Hua said humbly.

"This is the first time I have seen you, Wang Dehui, so cowardly."

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "Did you know that your imperial examination papers are better than Xie Qian's, and the ministers in the cabinet are more optimistic about you. It is I who made Xie Qian the number one scholar. What do you think?"

wanna die!

Wang Hua said angrily: "How can your Majesty make fun of such important matters of family and country?"

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Qiyu laughed: "Stop teasing you, let's get down to business. What do you think of the Western Regions?"

Wang Hua said seriously: "Wei Chen believes that the Western Region can be developed, but it cannot be fully developed."

That is to say, be prepared to throw it away at any time.

It is a clever idea to use the Western Region as a strategic buffer.

"The Western Region is indeed barren."

Zhu Qiyu fell into deep thought. He wanted to push the territory to the Caspian Sea, because there was energy all along the Caspian Sea.

Moreover, south of the Caspian Sea is Persia, adjacent to the Middle East, and energy resources are within easy reach.

Even if one day the Ming Dynasty loses the land of Baiyue, it can still survive by relying on the energy of the Middle East and it will still be the kingdom of heaven.

However, the terrain and climate in the west are harsh, and it is too far from the center.

Just like in the Western Region Province, if two generals are released, the cabinet will not be at ease, fearing that they will close the Western Region's main roads and start a rebellion.

If we continue to go west, we cannot do it with the current productivity.

Tsarist Russia was able to control the Far East because the places it controlled were all freezing and rotten land, which China did not want at all. Only later did we learn that there was energy in that place.

Moreover, some energy sources, based on technology, will take two to three hundred years to be exploited.

Tsarist Russia has indeed had a national destiny for hundreds of years, and its luck is really overwhelming.

Now, the territories that Ming Dynasty values ​​are different. They are all fertile areas. These places will definitely arouse the covetousness of all parties. They will be rebelled all year round and will be developed after being ruled for hundreds of years. How much money will it cost?

With Zhu Qiyu's power, he was still unable to convince the cabinet. What about the future kings?

"Wang Hua, do you think Lake Bakir Kashi is the western frontier of the Ming Dynasty? I still want to get the West Sea." Zhu Qiyu asked quietly.

Wang Hua pondered slightly: "Wei Chen doesn't know much about the terrain of the Western Regions, but the barrenness of the Western Regions cannot support a major battle involving millions of troops."

"And when the Ming Dynasty occupied the Western Regions, it was inevitable that small battles would continue. The continuous increase of troops from the interior would only make the Western Regions poorer. The poorer the region, the more chaotic it would be. This would repeat itself over and over again, falling into an endless cycle."

"Wei Chen feels that if we take one step at a time, if we can swallow up the Fergana Basin in one go, then the Ming Dynasty will have a base in the west, and then we can start plotting."

"If you can't eat it, ask the prince to entrust it out and occupy the Fergana Basin."

It is easy to enfeoff, but it is difficult to control the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Qiyu pondered: "Will the princes who are entrusted with enfeoffment invade the territory of the Ming Dynasty?"

This depends on the level of the king in future generations. If the level is poor, he will definitely be dismembered.

No matter how much territory Zhu Qiyu conquered, future generations would not be able to defend it.

Fortunately, the meat is rotten in the pot, and it is all from Ming Dynasty.

Genghis Khan set a good example. Mongolia fought with each other for hundreds of years, and eventually there were many countries.

"That's all, don't think too much."

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "Try the tea provided by Yunnan."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wang Hua took a sip. The taste was the same as that produced in the mainland.

"Zhu Ying said ten years ago that Laos is a good place to grow tea."

Zhu Qiyu also took a sip, and it tasted sweet: "More than ten years have passed, and all the tea gardens in Laos are ready for picking. The price of tea this year is probably going to drop."

"Weichen thinks it tastes better than Yunnan tea." Wang Hua said.

"The point is it's cheap."

Zhu Qiyu stood up: "The land in Laos is surrounded by mountains and is full of plantations. It entered its peak production period last year, but transportation is difficult."

"A lot of asphalt roads were built last year, which solved the transportation problem."

"This year we will be able to bring down the price of domestic tea, so that people all over the country can drink tea."

Wang Hua said: "Your Majesty, low grain prices hurt farmers. Tea trees need to be carefully maintained for ten years before they can enter their peak production period. Others don't know the hard work that goes into it."

"It is precisely because the price of tea is high that tea farmers make money."

"With the price of tea falling this year, tea farmers will lose money. Why don't they cut down the tea trees next year?"

This is a basic economic law.

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "Wang Hua, if the price is lowered, what will happen if all 300 million people in the Ming Dynasty drink tea?"

"If the output is doubled, it won't be enough to drink." Wang Hua's eyes lit up.

"Moreover, tea leaves are graded. The better ones, the more expensive they are. Good teas are drunk by the rich and powerful, ordinary teas go into ordinary people's homes, and mid-range teas are exported."

"The more people drink, the more money you make."

"Don't forget, Daming's original tea is not exported."

"What is exported is branded tea."

"Mid-range tea is packaged into high-end products and sold abroad for people abroad to drink."

"Not to mention that tea trees are planted in Yunnan, Jiaozhi, Xinyizhou and other places, even if they are planted in the whole of Nanyang, they will still be sold."

“As the Ming Dynasty’s population grew, more and more people drank tea.”

Zhu Qiyu plans to launch tea drinks to reap the benefits of wealthy households.

Wang Hua somewhat understood that many of the plantations in the Baiyue Land were planted by the emperor and were later awarded to meritorious officials. Many officials in the central government had tea gardens in the Baiyue Land.

But the emperor still has it in his hands, and he has been giving it away as rewards over the years.

"The land of Laos, in the hands of the Laotians, is a barren land."

"In the hands of the Ming Dynasty, there were prosperous plantations and tea gardens all over the mountains and plains."

"What's the reason? Are Laotians lazy? Or are they stupid?"

Zhu Qiyu asked Wang Hua.

Wang Huadao: "It is the Laotians who do not master irrigation technology and have no ability to resist natural disasters, which leads to droughts in spring and floods in summer."

"Yes, it's technology!"

Zhu Qiyu said: "When Laos ruled, even if we gave them tea trees, they couldn't plant them!"

"In the hands of Ming Dynasty, there are plantations all over the mountains and plains, and everything can be grown!"

"The land is still the same land, and the climate is still the same climate!"

"Because Ming people have mastered irrigation technology, planting technology, soil cultivation technology, chemical fertilizer technology, and even anti-disaster technology to prevent pests and disasters!"

"This is the experience accumulated by the Chinese people over thousands of years!"

"So, in my hands, Laos has turned into hundreds of thousands of acres of tea gardens, and it has become the foundation of the king's hegemony!"

"In more than ten years, the Ming Dynasty bulldozed all the forests all over the mountains and plains, turning them into plantations one after another, into fields of medicine, cultivating the raw land, and turning the harsh land where natural disasters and man-made disasters continued, into A pleasant place to live.”

"So I said that in the hands of the barbarians, the Western Region was a rotten land, but in the hands of the Ming Dynasty, it might become a prosperous city."

"Kou Shen planted a vineyard in Turpan and turned it into a wine base. Turpan wine sells well all over the world!"

"Fan Guang engages in onion cultivation to supply onions for mainlanders to eat."

"Officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs said that the climate in the Western Regions is suitable for growing cotton. If the Ming Dynasty planted cotton in the Western Regions, would the northern border provinces still be worried about not having cotton clothes to wear?"

Zhu Qiyu said: "There is no barren soil in this world, it's just about whether the locals know how to dig and develop it!"

"Then Jilin and Heilongjiang, what kind of paradise were they ten years ago?"

"The Hongwu Dynasty and Yongle Dynasty didn't use it, and the Xuande Dynasty gave up directly. But in my hands, Jilin and Heilongjiang became the capital of grain."

"Millions of acres of fertile farmland support the food supply of the entire north."

"The reason why I can conquer the Western Regions and invest 100 million in it is because I have the two provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin to protect me."

"Is North Korea poor? Isn't it still being fed by Heiji to make it fat and white, with a population of more than 10 million?"

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "So the cabinet wants me to give up pioneering, but I don't agree."

"So what if it's thousands of miles of desert? As long as Daming is willing to manage it, this desert land can become a treasure."

Wang Hua fell in admiration and understood that the emperor's pioneering spirit would not stop.

He also returned to the cabinet.

Li Xian sighed. He is also sixty-five years old this year and is no longer young.

If the emperor hadn't assigned him a huge medical team, he wouldn't have been able to survive the serious illness six years ago.

"Dehui, do you know why I gave up the Western Region?" Li Xian was very fond of Wang Hua and even considered accepting him as a closed disciple.

"Looking back at the First Assistant, I believe that if we want to completely occupy the Western Region, we must completely control Duosi. However, Duosi is extremely poor and is a semi-plateau area. It would be too difficult to actually control it. His Majesty is unwilling to entrust it to the chieftain."

"If the Western Region invests 100 million, Duosi will need 200 million."

"And if this much money is spent in the mainland, the mainland will be more prosperous."

Wang Hua understands Li Xian.

Li Xian also has a public heart. He mainly does calculations and invests money wherever he thinks is suitable.

"Those who know me well are also virtuous."

Li Xian sighed: "Duosi Dusi is so bad that even Emperor Taizong, who wanted to be the ancestor of Tang Zong and Song Dynasty, didn't want that bad place."

"In the past few years, the cabinet has conducted many deductions, and we can't even imagine how the place in Duosi developed."

"Dosdusi is estimated to have a population of over one million."

"How can we feed so many people? The land is so vast and sparsely populated, how can we Chineseize it?"

Li Xian smiled bitterly: "Such a barren piece of land requires 200 million yuan. Nowadays, the Ministry of Household Affairs is not well-off. Even His Majesty turns a blind eye to this piece of land. You will know how bad it is."

That's right.

Zhu Qiyu doesn’t even want it, he really doesn’t want it, it’s too bad.

Not only do we not want this area, but the two provinces north of the Xing'an Mountains, Mongolia Dusi and Yuerhai, and north of Ningxia are not wanted.

Really too poor.

But if you don’t want these places, there is a sword hanging above your head. If you want them, you have to throw money into them every year.

When the center is rich, it is okay to invest some, but one day, Ming Dynasty will decline. Where can you get money to give them?

The rebellion in these places is definitely enough to make Ming Dynasty drink a pot.

It's not that the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are stupid, but they have known since the Qin Dynasty that these places are bad land and there is no need for the dynasty at all.

The Tatars in the back just drew maps and never actually controlled them.

It's not that I don't have the ability, it's just that I'm at a loss, it's such a loss.

The Yongle Dynasty put it into practice, and since then no dynasty has done this loss-making business.

If you expand southward, you can at least get profits and see money back. Investing in these places is a bottomless pit and will always be a loss.

In the afternoon, Changde went to the palace to visit the Queen Mother.

Both the queen mothers of the two palaces have been in poor health recently. Both Changde and Gu'an often go to the palace to accompany the queen mothers of the two palaces.

Coming out of Renshou Palace, Changde took his two children to see the emperor.

After she got married to Guo Deng, she gave birth to two children with Guo Deng. It was very dangerous to give birth at an advanced age. The Queen Mother even issued an edict that if anything happened to Changde, Guo Deng would be buried with him.

Fortunately, mother and son were safe. Empress Dowager Sun, who had never been to the palace, went to visit Changde in person. It is said that Guo Deng knelt the whole time, and Empress Dowager Sun did not give him a good look at all.

"Changde is here? How is the Queen Mother's health?" Zhu Qiyu buried his head in reading the memorial.

The two children saluted in a decent manner.

"Your Majesty, my mother's health is not improving."

Zhu Qiyu put down the memorial and raised his eyes: "Please come to the palace to attend to the illness."

"I obey the decree." Changde was not in a high mood. It was obvious that Queen Mother Sun's life was coming to an end.

Xue Xia, Marquis of Yangwu, married a daughter of the Fang family, and Xue Xian married Ou Xin's son Ou Boring as a second string. Before the marriage, she was granted the title of princess.

"Your Majesty, Tian'er and the tenth princess play very well. I think they look like a couple." Changde felt very insecure.

Although she was married to Guo Deng and her children had a good home, Guo Deng's eldest son Guo Tian was worried.

"How old are they this year?"

Zhu Qiyu frowned: "Tian'er is my nephew, you are my sister, Guo Deng is my favorite general, and his son will inherit the title. Why are you so busy?"

Changde couldn't stop crying.

She was worried that after her mother's death, she would be useless and the emperor would alienate her. Even though the emperor had been nice to her in the past few years, that was not family affection, but just use.

Seeing her crying, Zhu Qiyu was a little upset. He put down his pen and walked over and patted her head: "How old are you? You come to me to cry? Let the children laugh."

He pulled her up and said, "Enter the palace and serve well, don't think too much."

"My sister and my brother are crying, what are others laughing at?"

Changde climbed up the pole and took the emperor's arm: "Your Majesty, you want to conquer San Burma in the west. My husband wants to serve the country."

This is her goal. If she can earn a prince, she will be stable.

Zhu Qiyu did not blame her for interfering in politics, but considered: "There is Wang Yue in the south, so Guo Deng is not needed in this battle."

"But the expansion of Luzon requires a capable person, and the credit is not great. Can Guo Deng take a fancy to him?"

Chang De's face turned bitter, obviously he didn't like it.

Guo Deng is extremely capable, and he also wants to lead an army alone to fight a big battle, and be honored as a Duke for his great achievements.

"The King of Chu is going to join the vassal state."

"Guo Deng marries you, and you are considered his biological uncle."

"The King of Chu's vassal territory is not easy to fight. If you are willing to suffer the pain of separation for a few years, I can let Guo Deng lead the army to Africa to open up territory for the King of Chu."

Changde was unhappy again when he heard about Africa.

After being away for several years, her boudoir was lonely.

"There is no big battle in the north. A few young generals can handle it, and Song Jie is still there to hold the battle."

"Guo Deng has no use anymore."

"You still look down on Luzon's little battle."

"Africa is still too far away."

"How do you think I can comfort you?"

Zhu Qiyu pulled her arm away and sat on a chair. Changde immediately poured him a cup of tea and brought it to his mouth: "Your Majesty, when will the Japanese be conquered?"

"There is no money to fight." Zhu Qiyu expressed his helplessness.

"Then go to Africa!" Changde gritted his teeth: "I won't come back until I earn the title of Duke of the country!"

"You are so willing." Zhu Qiyu was speechless.

Chang De raised his eyebrows and glared at him, while Zhu Qiyu laughed.

The news spread like wildfire that Guo Deng was going to assist the King of Chu in setting up the vassal state. The next day Gu'an came to the palace to ask for an official position for her husband.

Gu'an gave birth to four children, one died in infancy and three survived, two sons and one daughter.

"Is your father-in-law still acting up lately?" Zhu Qiyu asked her.

"Father, father-in-law doesn't dare anymore."

Gu'an wanted to laugh, but didn't dare.

After Fang Ying returned to the court, she held a banquet, which was called the feast of the Duke of the State. It made a big fuss in the capital. As a result, she fainted and became very embarrassed. Afterwards, she was hung up by the emperor and whipped ten times.

I have become more honest in recent years. It may be that after the syncope, some functions were disabled and I had to stop.

"If he continues to be dishonest, I will give you a whip and you go and whip him."

Gu'an rolled his eyes and asked her to beat her father-in-law. Will she be unable to survive in the future?

"It's good for Fang Han to want to make meritorious deeds."

Zhu Qiyu said: "Let him find Guo Deng and go out with Guo Deng."

As soon as he heard that he went to seek Changde, Gu'an showed hatred.

"Do you still hate Changde?"

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said: "Back then, your aunt was joking with you, but you took it seriously."

"You have been joking with your brothers all these years. Did I tell you that?"

Gu'an is quite shameless, even the princes have suffered losses at her hands.

The emperor really didn't care.

At this point, the emperor was really even-keeled, and Gu'an's resentment finally found some balance.

"Guo Deng has real ability. Unlike Fang Ying, he would rather put his real ability in the coffin than teach it to his two biological sons."

Zhu Qiyu advised her: "Let Fang Han become a disciple of Guo Deng and study hard with him, and he will have the opportunity to become a famous general in the future."

"Thank you father for your advice." Gu'an immediately went to find Changde.

Zhu Qiyu looked at her back and sighed. There are many people in the Ming Dynasty who can fight, but there are no successors. I hope Fang Han can seize the opportunity and become not only a famous general, but also a general.

　Not yet……

　　

　

(End of this chapter)