Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 379 It’s hard to control the family and the country
"At present, the Yellow River can be dredged, and the water canalization and sand flushing are also effective. The Yellow River has never burst since the second year of Jianwen, so emigration to Zhangde, Weihui, Kaifeng, and Guide is possible."

"In the case of Peiping, considering the issue of relocating the capital, immigrants will mainly rely on Baoding and Zhending in the Taihang Mountains, leaving both sides of the canal for future immigrants from the south of the Yangtze River."

In the Chunhe Hall, Sun Cheng and Zhu Gaoxu talked about what he had seen and heard along the way, as well as the situation in Henan and Peiping.

While Zhu Gaoxu was listening, he asked people to find Daming's sand table.

On the sand table, it can be seen that the counties in Henan and Peking in the early Ming Dynasty were far apart and not as dense as those in Jiangnan.

When the Yongle Dynasty began, Zhu Gaoxu once ordered someone to re-compile the "History of the Yuan Dynasty". This "History of the Yuan Dynasty" took four years and was successfully compiled in the winter of the fourth year of Yongle. Zhu Gaoxu read it at that time.

According to the records of the Zhizheng period in the History of the Yuan Dynasty, Henan was hit by disasters seventeen times in the twenty-eighth year of the Zhizheng period. Coupled with wars, 78 out of 10 residents died, so that "the grass north of the Huaihe River is thick with grass" and most areas were deserted.

Due to the sharp decrease in population, after Zhu Yuanzhang took over Henan, he changed twelve states into counties and merged 60 counties for management. Even Kaifeng Prefecture, which was densely populated during the Song Dynasty, was demoted from Shangfu to Xiafu. It can be seen that How bad the situation is in Henan.

In comparison, Shanxi, which was less affected by war, had fewer floods, droughts, and locust disasters, and had a concentrated population, became the first choice for immigrants, followed by Shandong.

However, since Shandong has supported immigrants from the Northeast and the New Deal has been implemented, the people in Shandong live and work in peace and contentment. If it is disturbed, trouble will easily occur. However, Shanxi is too densely populated and the people are overburdened. The court must rationally adjust the structure of local production means. Just fine.

Perhaps in the eyes of later generations, this already included a family, but in the Ming Dynasty, an era dominated by families, most of the people who were assigned were assigned in the form of families.

"It might be difficult to move so many people in one go."

It is precisely because of this background that Yunnan can actually occupy the top spot in the imperial examination.

Of course, in addition to this way of getting out of jail, Zhu Gaoxu also gave local criminals other ways to get out of jail.

"This time of immigration, the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province forcibly moved 200,000 Semu people from Longxi to live in Henan. The imperial court distributed cattle and draft horses, agricultural tools and rations."

In other words, if a family wants to escape crime, it must have at least a dozen or even dozens of Jinshi.

For example, if you open a private school and teach a Jinshi, the whole Jinshi can help the whole family of the teacher to escape from sin.

Zhu Gaoxu remembered the hardships of the people in Yan'an Prefecture. Due to lack of water sources, this was also the place where most uprisings broke out in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, it is not easy to get rid of the crime. Zhu Gaoxu stipulates that only parents, brothers, sisters-in-law and nephews can be exonerated.

"Select some people and send capable helpers to bring 400,000 yuan from the mint to the local area, buy fields and livestock from them, and at the same time ask the Shaanxi Chief Secretary to move people from Xi'an, Yan'an, Fengxiang and other prefectures into Longxi and resettle them on site."

After they became Jinshi, the whole family was freed from their criminal status and now they have settled down in Nanjing.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the terrain and said in deep thought: "Let's do this. This year and next year, the land tax and military settlements in Henan and North Zhili will be reserved for self-reservation."

"It is easy to move people from the mountainous areas of Guizhou to Sichuan to reclaim the wasteland during the Song Dynasty, but it is not enough to change the situation in Guizhou."

After all, isn’t it because of those officials in western Yunnan who were in trouble?
Zhu Gaoxu gave the descendants of these criminal ministers the opportunity to take the imperial examination, and most of these criminal ministers were related to the ministers in the temple today. It can be said that the successful examination was completely beneficial to this group of criminals in western Yunnan.

"I estimate that it will be necessary to mobilize 50,000 domesticated cattle and 150,000 draft horses from outside the customs at one time, as well as 5 million stone rations from Jiangnan every year."

"In addition, not only Shanxi needs immigrants, but other places also need them."

"Yes!"

"I have read the "Yellow Book" about Longxi in Guanzhong. Semu people account for 60% of the local population. This is too much and is not easy to manage."

The establishment of this policy has allowed the number of private schools in western Yunnan to increase from seven to ninety-two in the past eight years, and the literary style has flourished.

"Have you heard what happened in Guizhou in the temple today? Do you understand it?"

"The court officials said that Guizhou's population is no less than four million, and the court wants to relocate the people of Guizhou out."

This is also true. In the last imperial examination, among the 30 successful candidates, 14 were from Yunnan, 10 were from Sichuan, and there were three each from Jiaozhi and Guangxi.

"I think it is easy to move out but difficult to move in." Sun Cheng continued:

"The situation in Guizhou is still that there are many Han people but few Han people. There are not enough Han people to support the local health centers."

Among the sixteen Jinshi in Yunnan, twelve more were divided equally among the four prefectures of Dali, Yongchang, Nandian, and Longchuan.

Migrating people from Xi'an, Yan'an, and Fengxiang to Longxi can not only change the local ethnic structure, but also reduce the burden on Yan'an. This is also a great good governance.

"Taiyuan Prefecture, Pingyang Prefecture and the five prefectures of Lu, Ze, Liao, Qin and Fen are densely populated and have convenient transportation. It is completely possible to move millions of Shanxi people to Peiping and Henan."

"If this is maintained for two years, the immigrants can cultivate no less than five million acres of cultivated land."

"First, encourage them to voluntarily immigrate and send military escorts. If the effect is not good, then force them to immigrate."

Sun Cheng bowed respectfully, and upon seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu also mentioned the matter in Guizhou.

"So I feel that what His Highness wants to say is to move people into Guizhou?"

If you check carefully, these twelve people are basically the descendants of the guilty minister Jingnan.

Sun Cheng understands Zhu Gaoxu's approach, but now there are not so many big charges, and there is no chance to get hundreds of thousands of literate people to distribute to Guizhou.

With the help of plowing oxen and draft horses, it only took them two years to resume production.

Sun Cheng had paid close attention to His Highness's immigration policy for a long time, especially the expansion and relocation of the Jingnan criminals to the western Yunnan area, which was a brilliant move by Zhu Gaoxu in his immigration methods.

"I heard it. I have been corresponding with students in Sichuan over the years. When His Majesty planned to set up the Third Division in Guizhou last year, I was already paying attention to Guizhou." Sun Cheng replied.

There is no need to worry about Jiaozhi, but Guizhou must go further so that it can influence Guangxi and then Jiaozhi together with Yunnan.

Among the North and South papers, why are there so few people who oppose the middle paper, while most people oppose the Northern paper?

Yunnan's immigration policy is worthy of learning and imitating by Guizhou, Guangxi, and Jiaozhi. After all, the three places, like Yunnan, are areas with a small population of Han people and a large population.

The so-called five million acres, this is what Sun Cheng said. After all, the wasteland in Shanxi has been fertile farmland for hundreds of years. As long as the weeds are treated, it will become the best farmland. It will be cultivated in the first year and in winter. By freezing a batch of insect eggs to death, crops can be sown next year.

"When students arrive in various places after April, people will be mobilized to immigrate at the beginning of the New Deal."

"Ji Gang, Hu Lun, and Chen Ying are already taking care of it. Although there may not be as many as before, it is not a problem to affect tens of thousands."

"In addition, taxation and household registration issues are also issues."

Zhu Gaoxu spoke slowly, and Sun Cheng's eyes lit up.

There were many officials under his command who went to the Taxation Department. From the exchange of letters, he also learned about the issues of taxation and household registration in Jiangnan.

These questions can all be used to make a fuss.

If His Highness were more ruthless, it would not be a problem to affect hundreds of thousands of people. However, in that case, His Highness might be targeted by Confucian scholars all over the world.

"Where are you going to start, Your Highness?"

"Salt tea iron class." Zhu Gaoxu responded to Sun Cheng without thinking, and looked at the palace door.

He heard familiar footsteps, and the next second there was a singing voice from the door of the palace: "Your Highness, Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Civil Affairs, wishes to see you."

"Xuan!"

Zhu Gaoxu responded, and Yi Shiha quickly signaled to the eunuch in the palace to bring up a chair.

After just a few breaths, Xia Yuanji, who had changed into official official uniform, walked into the hall, bowed to Zhu Gaoxu and took a seat.

It is already known to all the officials of the six ministries that you can take a seat when you come to Chunhe Hall.

Compared with those emperors who liked to make people kneel down, Zhu Gaoxu at least respected most officials in his actions.

"The main reason I asked you to come this time is to inspect the salt and iron tea classes, and at the same time clean them up and clean up the illegal salt along the coast."

Zhu Gaoxu got straight to the point, and Xia Yuanji frowned and nodded after hearing this, seeming to find this matter a bit tricky.

During the Hongwu period, salt tax revenue accounted for at least half of the monetary tax system of the Ming Dynasty's fiscal revenue.

Since people all use salt, there is no need to worry about the sales of this kind of goods. Therefore, strong control over salt has been implemented in all dynasties, and there are clear regulations from the production of salt to the final sales, and the Ming Dynasty is no exception.

As early as the Zhizheng period, Zhu Yuanzhang established the Salt Law to increase tax revenue in order to obtain sufficient military pay to support his struggle for the world.

Zhu Yuanzhang had kitchen households specializing in the production of salt. In order to ensure the production of salt, the Ming Dynasty had very strict management of these kitchen households. Once naturalized, future generations were not allowed to leave the household registration. Each generation must leave one household to specialize in the production of salt.

The salt they produce can only be sold to the government, and private trading is strictly prohibited. As for the treatment, it gradually decreases as time goes by.

In the early days of Hongwu, the treatment of kitchen households was relatively good. At the beginning, every salt produced (four hundred kilograms) was given to rice and one stone.

In the 17th year of Hongwu's reign, all the workers' rice was converted into banknotes, and the price of the banknotes dropped sharply, making it difficult for Zao households to make ends meet.

In the 27th year of Hongwu, because Zhu Gaoxu proposed to postpone the issuance of treasure banknotes and start recycling them, the treatment of Zaohumen was changed back to one stone per meter and preferential exemption from handymen.

This alternative management system ensures the production of salt to a certain extent, but it places a heavy burden on kitchen households and severely dampens their enthusiasm for production.

After all, making Yiyin salt requires a lot of coal, charcoal, and firewood, and these things are expensive in Jiangnan. The price of one stone of rice is simply not enough to support the production of Yiyin salt.

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, Lao Zhu's salt class and salt transportation system is very good, and it only needs to be slightly modified and the Kaizhong method should be retained. "I want to take over the Salt Department and Salt Transportation Department first, and then change the kitchen households to private households and recruit salt workers specifically to produce salt."

Zhu Gaoxu wants to grasp the source of production. As long as he controls the salt production plant and knows how much salt is produced every year, and then intensifies the crackdown on illegal salt, the salt tax revenue will continue to increase.

"Shiohiki's system is good, but the quantity needs to be changed. It should be increased according to the number of people in the world today."

Zhu Gaoxu expressed his opinion, and after hearing this, Xia Yuanji bowed and said: "If this is the case, then I am afraid that there will be no less than 50,000 workers needed."

"Fifty thousand people are scattered on the ground, which is not too much, but the places where salt is produced must be carefully selected." Zhu Gaoxu said:

"Salt production is mainly based on sun-dried salt, which can be made along the coast. If it is boiled, coal must be used in the north, while firewood can be used in the south."

"You and Sun Cheng should explain this matter. Now the provinces will take the lead in implementing the new policy."

After he finished speaking, he was about to wave his hand, but Xia Yuanji said: "Your Highness, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me." Zhu Gaoxu was curious about what Xia Yuanji would say, but he never thought that Xia Yuanji would say: "Today, the number of teachers, subordinates, officials, district chiefs, grain chiefs, etc. in the New Deal area has reached more than 376,000 People’s annual salary expenditure is more than 8.7 million guan, while the imperial court’s salary for the whole year is only more than 29 million guan.”

"This year's New Deal will be implemented in three provinces at once. The ministers and officials from the Ministry of Revenue have calculated that the salary expenditure will further reach more than 12.8 million yuan, accounting for 40% of the imperial tax."

"If this kind of treatment continues, I think that the New Deal will be implemented in Shaanxi and Shaanxi Xingdusi at most, and then it will be unable to be implemented. After all, the salary of soldiers and horses in the world is around 9 million guan, while the salary in other regions is around 5 million guan. about."

Although Xia Yuanji is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he also helps with many matters of the Ministry of Hubu, so he can understand the situation of the Ministry of Hubu so well that he comes to remind Zhu Gaoxu on behalf of Guo Zi.

However, facing his statement, Zhu Gaoxu chuckled and said: "I didn't say that I would make these more than 200,000 people become subordinate officials."

"What do you mean..." Xia Yuanji asked cautiously, and Zhu Gaoxu also said: "If these two hundred thousand people are really recruited, then there will be at least 50,000 subordinate officials in each province. Think about how many subordinate officials the imperial court needs. Officials and teachers?"

Zhu Gaoxu picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea, moistened his throat and continued:

"Of the more than 200,000 people, the imperial court only needs 100,000, of which 80,000 are responsible for the new policies in the four regions, and the remaining 20,000 are responsible for inspecting the Salt Class, the Salt Transportation Department, and taking over the salt production plants."

After telling the results, Zhu Gaoxu said helplessly: "There is no pressure. Most students feel that after graduation, the world will be brighter and they can just eat and die."

"If that's all, it would be fine, but judging from last year's impeachment trial by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the number of New Deal subordinates and instructors who were punished last year was as high as 4,600."

"Does this mean they don't appreciate this hard-won job at all?"

"Give them some motivation, and also change the rules for subordinate staff and teachers."

"From now on, after the three-year term of subordinate officials ends, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will launch a Beijing inspection to evaluate and promote the subordinate officials under the new policy."

"The capable ones will make an exception and be promoted to officials, while the weak ones will be eliminated. If they want to continue serving as subordinate officials, they will return to their place of origin to take the official school re-examination."

"As for those who committed crimes, took bribes and violated the law during their term of office, they will be sent to Nuergan City, Heishui City and other places together with their families."

"In addition, starting from next year, only those with grades B and above can serve as subordinate staff and teach, and those with grades A will enter Taixue to study."

Zhu Gaoxu set rules for New Deal students, and these rules are not easy to say.

Taking the B-level graduation exam results as an example, among the more than 246,000 candidates who graduated in the past few days, less than 30,000 achieved B-level results, and only more than 2,700 students achieved A-level results.

This kind of difficulty is no worse than the imperial examination.

"Then what should students like C and D do?"

Sun Cheng knew very well how large this group of people was, so he nervously asked Zhu Gaoxu.

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he looked at Yi Shiha, and Yi Shiha also took the initiative to say:

"Joining the army is also a way out. After all, after the implementation of the New Deal, the guard stations will be eliminated. Only the establishment will be retained, and the military camps and military status will not be retained."

"At present, there are as many as 200,000 soldiers in the field in Beizhili, Henan, and Shanxi, but only 100,000 soldiers."

"After eliminating these 200,000 field troops, each province will still need to recruit 80,000 troops, 20,000 in Henan, 30,000 in Shanxi and Peiping each."

"His Highness plans to recruit these 80,000 soldiers from among the students. They will join the army for a minimum of three years. After three years, you can decide whether to stay or leave."

"If you want to leave the military, the military will pay three times your salary as retirement pay based on your official position."

After Yi Shiha said this, Sun Cheng nodded, feeling relieved.

He didn't think New Deal students would find it humiliating to be a soldier. After all, with the continuous improvement in the treatment of soldiers in recent years, it was almost an honorable job for their families to serve as soldiers.

Although there is no enlistment field and pension field now, the enlistment fee of ten guan and the pension of 100 guan are considered a lot of wealth.

Official school students have three classes every day in the morning and afternoon. The last two classes in the afternoon are equestrian, riding and shooting, and short-hand training, so their skills are not bad.

Just talking about the last imperial examination, the students from outside the customs basically achieved good scores in riding, archery and stone lifting. On the contrary, the results of the students from Jiangnan were not ideal.

Because of this, the price of horses in Jiangnan has soared in the past two years, and many private schools and wealthy households are buying horses for their students and children to practice riding and shooting.

"In addition to joining the army, there is also a military department where they can take up their posts."

Zhu Gaoxu reminded Sun Cheng and said to Xia Yuanji: "The model of the Five-City Military and Horse Division can be transferred to more than 1,400 counties below, with each county having a military division ranging from 100 to 1,000. Soldiers."

"Except for not being equipped with a matchlock gun, the soldiers of the Bingma Division are equipped with the same standard equipment as the soldiers."

At the moment, all counties and cities are basically garrisoned by garrison troops. However, with the implementation of the New Deal, garrison troops are needed in border areas and areas with a large number of people. There is no need for garrison troops in the interior. Instead, a sparse but elite army of soldiers and horses can be used. .

"I need to go back and do the math to find out." Xia Yuanji did not rashly agree to the implementation of the Military and Horse Division, but was prepared to see if the Ming Dynasty could support enough Military and Horse Division in the mainland after canceling the troop garrison in the mainland.

"Specifically, you two should discuss it together. It's getting late. If I don't go to Qianqing Palace, Qianqing Palace will have to send someone to rush me."

Zhu Gaoxu stood up to see off the guests, and Xia Yuanji and others also stood up and followed Zhu Gaoxu out of the East Palace.

After Zhu Gaoxu took Yishiha to the golden carriage, Xia Yuanji bowed to Sun Cheng and said, "If Mr. Sun has nothing to do, why don't you go to the house with me to discuss the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel?"

"Thank you Xia Shangshu for the invitation..." Sun Cheng knew that Xia Yuanji was from the East Palace, so naturally he would not resist anything.

Soon, the two of them walked out of the palace city, and Zhu Gaoxu also arrived at the Qianqing Palace in a golden carriage.

Two hours have passed since the end of the Great Court Meeting. It seemed that he had not stayed in Chunhe Hall for long, but in fact it was already past lunch time.

"You are late."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu from a distance, Zhu Di leaned on his chair and greeted him dissatisfied.

Zhu Gaoxu ignored the old man and kept his eyes on the man next to Zhu Di.

That was Empress Xu, but now she looked very thin, probably not even weighing 70 kilograms.

Even though she was just sitting, Zhu Gaoxu could feel her fatigue and weakness.

Before entering the palace, Zhu Gaoxu asked softly: "Is there any progress in Annan?"

"No..." Yishiha responded softly, his voice revealing a kind of despair.

"understood."

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes dimmed a bit, and his voice also revealed a sense of loss.

He walked into the palace and bowed to Zhu Di and Empress Xu who were sitting in the palace: "My son, I am late. I hope my father and mother will forgive me."

"Hurry up and take a seat. It's unlucky for you to come. Gao Sui has just left the palace."

Queen Xu is very thin, but her eyes are still kind, and her voice is hoarse but gentle.

Listening to her voice, Zhu Gaoxu always had images of his predecessor being taken care of by her and communicating with her in Bohai, and his nose felt sore.

"Yes..." His voice suddenly became hoarse. Upon seeing this, Zhu Di immediately coughed:
"Okay, okay, let the music troupe perform two songs. There is not even a bit of a Zhengdan and New Year atmosphere in this palace."

"Yes!" Wang Yan heard this and hurriedly summoned Leban.

Soon, as the music troupe entered the hall, the songs composed by Zhu Gaoxu also began to be played.

Guo Yan held Zhu Zhanhe's hand and walked out of the side hall, followed by a pretty-looking concubine with charming eyes who was holding a three or four-year-old child.

That was Zhang Fengyi, who had spent some time with Zhu Gaoxu, and she was holding four-year-old Zhu Zhanqi in her arms.

Speaking of which, Zhu Gaojiu hadn't seen her for more than a year. At this time, he should have a chat with her, but after what happened just now, Zhu Gaojiu really wasn't in the mood to communicate with her.

He looked calmly and did not speak for a long time, looking at Zhu Di and Queen Xu who were chatting and laughing together from time to time, and also thought of Zhu Gaochi's family far away in Yunnan.

After a while, he turned back to Guo Yan and said, "You wrote a letter to my sister-in-law, saying that the war in Guizhou will end soon. Let her and my eldest brother take Zhanji and the others to Nanjing."

Hearing this, Guo Yan was stunned for a moment, but quickly turned his attention to the thin Queen Xu, then turned back to look at Zhu Gaoxu and nodded: "Okay..."

(End of this chapter)