Daming: Apocalypse of Longevity

Chapter 119 Agricultural Affairs Situation in Northwest China
Zhu Tianqi did not speak, but twisted the knob on the side of the kerosene lamp. This knob controlled the wick of the kerosene lamp to be adjusted in and out, thereby controlling the brightness of the kerosene lamp.

Looking at the kerosene lamp that flickered on and off with Zhu Tianqi's control, the young man was even more excited and couldn't help but say: "This lamp is so bright, far better than ordinary candle oil lamps, and it is also equipped with a light that can be adjusted manually. The mechanism of brightness, Weichen believes that if this lamp is sent to Jiangnan, it will definitely sell well! Even if each lamp sells for hundreds of taels of silver, there will be no worries about sales!"

Zhu Tianqi said: "That's not necessary. The kerosene lamp I'm showing you now is a bit larger. You only need to sell it for 30 taels to 50 taels a piece. There is also a smaller one. The selling price can be set at around 20 taels. In the early stage, the focus is on small profits but quick turnover. After all, this kerosene lamp is not a one-time sale, and you can continue to sell kerosene in the future.”

After hearing this, Young Shaoqing nodded with deep understanding: "Yes, yes, the emperor is wise, but the humble ministers have thought too little."

Zhu Tianqi continued: "The other thing is the pricing of kerosene. You can decide this according to the actual situation. I haven't tested it yet. I don't know how long this kerosene lamp can be used once filled with kerosene. If it is durable, it should be more expensive. If it’s not durable, make it cheaper. In short, the price shouldn’t be too expensive. A can of kerosene only costs 20 taels of silver!”

After saying this, Zhu Tianqi seemed to be worried that Young Shaoqing had no idea about a can of kerosene, so he immediately bought a can of kerosene in the Krypton Life store. Young Shaoqing looked at the one-liter large can of kerosene in front of him, and then looked at it. That kerosene lamp, this can of kerosene is enough to refill more than a dozen kerosene lamps. Isn’t it easy to sell it for 20 taels of silver?
Young Shaoqing immediately nodded and saluted: "I have taken note of it, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

When everything was settled, Zhu Tianqi first bought one hundred kerosene lamps of two sizes, one hundred cans of kerosene, one hundred boxes of rubber rings, and one hundred boxes of small blue pills in the Krypton Store. After picking up the box, he sent Jin Yiwei to deliver it to the ship for Nian Shaoqing, and then Nian Shaoqing took these things and went to the sky under the escort of more than a dozen Jin Yiwei.

After sending away Young Shaoqing, Zhu Tianqi opened a new memorial sent by Zhang Guoji. He had already embarked on his return journey with the last batch of sand ships, escorting the last batch of Annan rice.

The nearly 200 million stones of rice purchased by Zhang Guoji in Annan can be said to have solved the urgent need of the Shaanxi Chief Executive's disaster relief work. It is precisely because of this rice that the negative impact of the famine on the Shaanxi Chief Executive's Office has been greatly reduced. , ensuring the basic stability of the Shaanxi Chief Envoy area.

However, this drought will not only last for this year, but will last for several years, and will even spread to the entire Central Plains region. Therefore, the food problem will be a major problem that continues to plague the Ming Dynasty.

At present, it seems that purchasing rice from Annan is a good way to alleviate the food crisis of the Ming Dynasty, but if it takes a long time, I am afraid it will not be as smooth as it is now. First of all, the Civil War is going on in Annan, and the planting and production of grain are also affected. The decline in grain production will lead to a significant increase in Annan rice prices.

The second is the transportation issue. Now I am temporarily seconding the sand ship of the water transport to assist Zhang Guoji in transporting grain. The officials in the water transport may be willing to cooperate with this grain transportation work in order to please themselves, but if the grain transportation becomes the norm, then the water transport officials Officials at higher and lower levels may not be as selfless and honest as they are now. By then, there is a question mark as to how much rice can be transported back to the capital.

Thinking of these things, Zhu Tianqi also felt very headache. It seemed that he could not just pin his hopes on the outside. The internal problems of Ming Dynasty still had to be solved from the inside.

Zhu Tianqi first called Xu Guangqi and asked him about the recent agricultural situation at the Chief Envoy of Shaanxi Province. It has been two or three months now, and he can basically tell how much production can be produced.Xu Guangqi brought over all the agricultural conditions reported by agricultural officials from various prefectures and counties under the Shaanxi Chief Minister's Department, and wrote a summary report. Overall, the grain planting situation of the Shaanxi Chief Minister's Department was relatively optimistic.

Although they are greatly affected by the harsh climate and drought environment, because there are agricultural officials stationed to provide guidance, and because the imperial court has abolished corvee service, local people have the time and ability to spend more time managing their fields. This year's grain output in Fuzhou County should still be enough to meet the living needs of local people.

After Zhu Tianqi read Xu Guangqi's report, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, but still told Xu Guangqi: "Although the grain growth situation in the Shaanxi Governor's Office seems to be relatively optimistic now, don't relax because of this. Wait until After harvesting this season’s grains, we must seize the time to sow next season’s grains and strive to have another harvest before winter!”

Xu Guangqi nodded and said: "If we can seize the opportunity of summer planting, there should be no problem in harvesting another season of grains before winter. However, although grains are drought-resistant, they still require moisture in the first month after sowing. Higher, the drought situation intensifies in summer, I’m afraid the second season’s grain harvest will not be very good!”

Zhu Tianqi naturally knew this situation, but now is not the time to consider whether the harvest is good or not, "Xu Aiqing, now we can only win by quantity. God has the final say on how much harvest can be produced per acre of land, but it can It’s up to us to decide how many acres of land we plant!”

Xu Guangqi and Zhu Tianqi had already discussed the strategy of increasing the number of acres of planted fields to make up for the decline in production, so Xu Guangqi responded with a salute: "I obey the order, and I will go and reply to the agricultural officials of the prefectures and counties. Ask them to fully assist the Shaanxi Chief Envoy’s summer planting work!"

After saying this, Xu Guangqi bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, I have one more thing that I need to ask your Majesty for permission!"

Zhu Tianqi nodded and said, "If Xu Aiqing has anything to do, please just say it!"

Xu Guangqi said: "It is already May, and it is about to come to the time when the imperial court collects the summer grain. After collecting the summer grain, it will be the autumn tax. This year is the first year of the implementation of the new tax law of the imperial court. I am worried that someone will take advantage of this opportunity." They took advantage of the loopholes in the new tax law, allowing the people to suffer losses for nothing, and discrediting the court's new tax law."

After Zhu Tianqi heard this, he immediately paid attention to it. He frowned slightly and asked, "Xu Aiqing, what do you mean..."

Now the new tax law of the imperial court has merged all the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes into one, and only levied taxes at a fixed tax rate based on the number of acres of land. It is clear that taxing officials have no opportunity to engage in favoritism and malpractice, and it is not the local government that is responsible for taxing now. The officials are not from the Ministry of Revenue, but from the newly established Taxation Department directly under their own authority.

(End of this chapter)