Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 447: The ferocious dog bites the human
"Congratulations to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Congratulations to the Ming Dynasty..."

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, as cheers rang out from Chang'an Gate, the fleet heading to the East Sea took their seats inside and outside Chang'an Gate for the banquet.

Although such banquets have been held countless times, for Zhu Gaoxu, every time is a different feeling, and this time the feeling is even more profound.

Chen Xuan's return represented that the Ming Dynasty took the lead in conquering the Pacific Ocean. Only such a feat could give the Pacific Ocean the title of the Ming Dynasty.

Although in Zhu Gaoxu's expectation, Chen Xuan and the others should take the South Equatorial Warm Current, then take the East Australian Warm Current, and stop in Australia for a while, since it is certain that the North Equatorial Warm Current is also very safe, there is no need to insist on the South Equatorial Warm Current.

The current Ming Dynasty does not have the power to open up Australia. The examples of the Tang Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty are right in front of us. Only a little bit of actual control over the past can ensure that this land can be occupied by the Han people for a long time and become the Han family since ancient times.

Zhu Gaoxu doesn't have to worry. He still has a few decades and can take his time step by step.

Thinking of this, he stood up and bowed to Zhu Di on the golden stage:

"Father, I would like to congratulate my father for confirming the "Huntian Theory"."

"The imperial court is far away from Beijing, and the Zhili Prefecture around Nanjing is not easy to govern. How about setting up three divisions?"

Among the ministers, several censors stood up and bowed to ask questions. At the same time, they quoted scriptures and said:
"Although the Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties were called the Five Capitals, the five capitals were mainly large cities, not the capital, nor directly governed."

Zhu Di stopped this topic and set the main theme of moving the capital next year.

"Today is a good day. Going back to the East Ocean means that the waterway between the imperial court and Dongzhou will be smooth from now on."

As a rising star, the New Dealers benefited from the simple titles of the Northern Volume and the Middle Volume and crowded into the temple in large numbers. This is not a big deal at the moment, but it will not be enough in more than ten years.

The father and son got off the sedan chair and walked into the Qianqing Palace. After feeling the warmth in the palace, Zhu Di spoke:

For a time, the noise above the temple decreased a lot, and Zhu Gaoxu was also considering whether to let the Western Zhejiang Sect go.

Seeing this, the ministers still wanted to fight for it, but they had no choice but to sit down under the gazes of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di.

Since the Jie Jin case, Jiangnan has become less and less resistant to imperial power. With Southern Zhili and Jiangxi as examples, the Zhejiang and Western factions also know what to say and what to do.

"The current enemies of the imperial court are in the north. Living in the south of the Yangtze River is not a long-term thing. Besides, my father also said that the land in the south of the Yangtze River is thin, so we should choose another capital."

Zhu Di moved out Zhu Yuanzhang, and now the censors had nothing to say.

The reason why Lao Zhu split Southern Zhili into more than a dozen Zhili prefectures was to facilitate the control of Southern Zhili. If a third division was really set up to govern, then this place would definitely unite to compete with the imperial court in the future.

In the first year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang set Kaifeng as Ming Dynasty Beijing and Yingtianfu as Nanjing. However, because Zhu Yuanzhang gradually turned to Luoyang and Chang'an, he revoked the title of Kaifeng Beijing in the eleventh year of Hongwu.

"Besides, the distance between the five capitals is only more than a thousand miles, but the distance from Nanjing to Beijing is nearly two thousand miles."

The censors spoke eloquently, but Zhu Di had a headache.

"I congratulate your Majesty, long live your Majesty..."

Therefore, as long as the Western Zhejiang faction honestly accepts the New Deal, Zhu Gaoxu can still allow them to survive.

"The capital of Nanzhili Prefecture is also under the direct jurisdiction of the capital, and this matter cannot be discussed further!"

To be honest, if Jiangnan was not too big and Nanjing had to be retained to control Jiangnan Zhili Prefecture and Fuchengchi, Zhu Di was not prepared to retain Nanjing's establishment.

Sitting on the golden platform, Zhu Di raised his glass in response to the ministers, and finally said:

Zhu Di used Zhu Yuanzhang to implement the two-capital system, and there are traces of this.

Suddenly someone suggested something, and Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu immediately blackmailed them.

However, the prerequisite for this to survive is that the subordinate officials in Zhejiang must be replaced. Otherwise, with this group of insects governing Zhejiang, the court will never be able to truly govern Zhejiang.

"These old barbarians still want to set up a third division in Nanzhili. They are really stubborn..."

Although this two-capital system has not been truly implemented, eleven years has passed and it will not be criticized as an excuse.

The struggle between the central government and local governments has existed since the Qin Dynasty. Only the Southern Zhili, a dozen or so Zhili prefectures, are qualified moneybags.

"When my father was still alive, he sent my eldest brother, Prince Yiwen, to the north to inspect Luoyang and Chang'an. It was only because my eldest brother was unlucky that he died."

It wasn't until dusk when the drums started to sound that the state banquet slowly dispersed, and Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu also returned to Qianqing Palace in Buyu.

"In addition, Guangxi's reform of agrarian rule is also in full swing, and the implementation of Jiangxi's new policies is getting better..."

He had his own reasons for thinking this way. As Jiangdong and Jiangxi factions suffered blows, everyone could see the decline of Jiangnan.

"After the new dynasty began, I chose Peiping as Beijing. Now Beijing has been completely completed. The city is large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people and officials."

The New Deal faction was a dominant family, which was not conducive to Zhu Gaoxu's control of the temple in the future.

Zhu Gaoxu expressed his opinion, and Zhu Di frowned: "You want to move back?"

"Therefore, I am determined to start moving the capital next year, and at the same time follow my father's example and implement a two-capital system..."

"Next year, I will take the Zuo Shilang of the Sixth Department and half of the team of each yamen to Beijing. You will continue to stay in Nanjing. When Beijing is on the right track, you can go north again."

Zhu Di was greatly moved by the courtiers' proposal to establish three divisions in Southern Zhili. Once there were three divisions, it would be equivalent to an additional yamen between Southern Zhili and the capital. This was a situation that Zhu Di did not allow.

After an interlude, the state banquet continued.

"The Tang Dynasty had an eastern capital and a western capital. It was simply because Guanzhong could not feed the people, so it needed to frequently visit the eastern capital. However, during the Tang Dynasty, Nanjing was rich, but Beijing was poor. It is unreasonable to move the capital..."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu take the initiative to speak, the ministers all flattered Zhu Di.

"Nanjing cannot be abolished. When the north is settled in the future, the court's focus will inevitably return to the south of the Yangtze River. After all, the court's future direction will be mainly south."

"Your Majesty, do you need to consider this matter again..."

"Instead of moving the capital back, the emperor should visit Nanjing from time to time, especially after the trains are running."

Zhu Gaoxu explained: "When the railway between the two capitals is completed, it will only take three to five days to travel between the two capitals, and the trains are smooth. In addition to the need to transfer to ships when passing through the Yellow River and Yangtze River, government affairs can also be handled on the train."

"At that time, if the south is more important, we will come to Nanjing, and if the north and northwest are more important, we will go to Beijing. There will be no delay in both."

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, the territory of the Ming Dynasty will definitely be very large in the future, and the two-capital system is the foundation. If the Ming Dynasty expands the Western Region in the future, or encounters war in the northwest, then after the railway is built to Xi'an, Xi'an may also be sealed. Xijing.

"I'm afraid the railway project won't be seen in the short term. Have you gone to the Imperial College to inquire about the progress?"

Sitting on the golden platform, Zhu Di thought of the train he saw that day and couldn't help but ask Zhu Gaoxu.

"As you can see, the thermal efficiency has increased to about 5%, which is a big improvement."

Zhu Gaoxu explained, but Zhu Di had a headache and said: "I can't remember those words of yours, just tell me how many people it can carry and how far it can go in one day."

"Yes..." Zhu Gaoxu thought for a moment and gave a rough idea:
"The current thermal efficiency can probably carry more than a hundred people, and it can travel about 160 miles a day with a full load."

"It would take at least ten years to travel seven hundred miles a day and carry five to six hundred people."

"However, the survey and laying of railways can be carried out in advance, especially the Beijing-Beijing railway."

Zhu Gaoxu will not wait for the steam locomotive to run before laying the railway. If he starts making preparations now, the railway between Beijing and Beijing will be laid in only seven or eight years. When the steam locomotive comes out, it is estimated that the railway between Beijing and Beijing can be extended into the Northeast, or Headed northwest.

"You can handle this matter yourself. When I go to Beijing this time, I mainly want to find a place for my palace."

"When the palace is ready, you will ascend the throne..."

Zhu Di said this uneasily, but this time Zhu Gaoxu did not refuse, but nodded: "I accept the decree..."

Zhu Gaoxu had no reason to refuse. It would take at least two or three years for Zhu Di's palace to be built. Two or three years would be enough for Zhu Gaoxu to clean up Jiangxi and Zhejiang.

At the same time, Guangxi and Yunnan should be almost done with the land-returning process, leaving only Huguang, Fujian, and Guangdong to implement new policies.

With a population of less than 10 million in the three provinces, it is completely possible to implement the New Deal thoroughly at once, and the trade in the Great Mingyang will be on the right track, and the imperial court's finances will be greatly enriched.

"Okay, I'll go north after the Lantern Festival and go back to your Spring Harmony Palace."

Zhu Di stroked his beard, and Zhu Gaoxu was a little depressed when he saw this. He thought that Zhu Di would have a lot to say when he asked him to come to Qianqing Palace, but he didn't want to stop at these few words.

"I'll take my leave then..."

There are indeed many things going on in the Chunhe Palace, and the construction of the railway requires a lot of preliminary preparations, so Zhu Gaoxu really doesn't have much thought about staying in the Qianqing Palace.

Not long after, he left the Palace of Qianqing in a horse-drawn carriage, and asked Yishuha to summon Guo Zi, Huang Fu, and Jin Zhong to the Palace of Chunhe.

Since the Wenhua Palace is closer to the East Palace than the Qianqing Palace, when Zhu Gaoxu walked into the Chunhe Palace, Guo Zi, Huang Fu, and Jin Zhong were already waiting in the palace.

"Your Highness Chitose..."

"Give me a seat!"

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu walking into the hall, the three of them bowed and bowed. Zhu Gaoxu responded by offering a seat, then took off his fox fur coat and walked to his seat to sit down.

After he sat down, the three of them took their seats one after another.

"The main reason I have called you here is to discuss some things with you."

"You must have gone to see Taixue's steam locomotive yesterday with Yi Shiha. What do you think?" The three of them were in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War respectively. They were responsible for the money, people, troops and horses Zhu Gaoxu needed. It has something to do with it, so after watching the train yesterday, the three of them had already made a guess after Yi Shiha gave them some advice.

"Your Highness is preparing to lay the railway in advance?"

Huang Fuzuo bowed his head and asked, Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "The imperial court is moving the capital, but that does not mean that the emperor has to stay in one place and cannot move. The Beijing-Beijing Railway can continuously transport materials from the south to the north. Its importance is self-evident."

"If trains can travel six to seven hundred miles a day in seven or eight years, then it will only take three days to travel from Nanjing to Beijing."

"Laying a railway requires surveying the terrain, hoarding iron materials, making rails, and sending troops to protect it. That's why I called you here."

After the words fell, Zhu Gaoxu said to Huang Fu: "How much iron is produced in the government-run iron yard of the state every year, and how much can it be stocked?"

"About 57,000 tons. If the artillery is not cast, 20,000 tons can be stored every year."

Huang Fu responded without thinking. After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu calculated the approximate iron materials needed for the Beijing-Beijing Railway.

The Liang-Beijing Railway starts between Beijing and Tongzhou and ends at Jiangpu in the north of the Yangtze River. The rest of the route is similar to the "Jin-Pu Railway" of the later Qing Dynasty, with a total distance of about 1,700 miles.

Based on the requirement of 90 tons of iron materials per mile, this railway requires at least 153,000 tons of iron materials, which is the total output of the Ming Dynasty for more than two and a half years. It would take at least seven and a half years to store 20,000 tons of iron materials every year.

Calculating this, as long as there is no military industry, it seems that this railway can be built in seven and a half years.

But for Zhu Gaoxu, this railway is just the beginning, and the pumping function of the steam engine can already meet the needs of the mine, so the next thing to do is to expand the production of coal and iron ore.

"The Ministry of Industry and the Governor's Office discussed taking the steam pump to the mine for experiments to see how much it can improve the efficiency of the mine."

"In addition, coal mines, iron mines and gunpowder fields in Northern Zhili, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, Southern Zhili and other places are expanding production to ensure that they increase the production capacity of at least 10,000 tons of iron materials per year."

Zhu Gaoxu just gave a general idea, and Huang Fu frowned and said: "If this is the case, at least 20,000 more workers will be recruited, and the annual expenditure will not be less than 300,000 yuan. The Ministry of Household Affairs..."

As soon as Huang Fu spoke, Guo Zi stood up in embarrassment and bowed: "Your Highness, although the Eastern Fleet has returned, gold cannot circulate in the market, and Dongzhou's goods do not have much market. The profit this time is only more than 280 Wan Guan.”

"When I returned to the mansion yesterday, I calculated the cost of the railway. It was about 3,400 guan per mile. If calculated based on the 1,700 miles between the two capitals, it would be at least 6.3 million guan."

"If you include the cost of expanding the ironwork recruitment, even if it is completed in seven years, the imperial court will need to invest nearly 14 million guan in seven years, and no less than 2 million guan per year."

"Given the current situation of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it is really unaffordable..."

Guo Zi mentioned the dilemma, but Zhu Gaoxu said: "The majority of the increase in the Ministry of Household Affairs is mainly labor prices and iron material prices. Although more than 7 million yuan has been invested, the imperial court's iron output will reach 120,000 tons in seven years."

"At that time, I will not continue to expand production capacity, you can rest assured."

Zhu Gaoxu gave a guarantee that the production capacity of 120,000 tons of iron materials was enough for the Ming Dynasty to cope with future railway construction, at least during his lifetime.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Jin Zhong, Minister of War, and said: "The railway between Beijing and Beijing is 1,700 miles long. According to the setting of a small flag for every mile, at least 17,000 people are needed to ensure the safety of the railway."

"You can recruit these 17,000 people slowly. Wherever the railway is laid first, sentries will be set up wherever they are. At the same time, horses will be allocated for them to patrol at night."

"I accept the instruction!" Jin Zhong didn't say much. The Ministry of War originally had no command power, only the power to mobilize troops.

Since the control of soldiers and horses in the world, the Ministry of War has nearly 200,000 city-defending soldiers and horses. Now it is nothing to add 17,000 railway soldiers, since he does not need to pay for it anyway.

"Your Highness, these soldiers and horses are paid..."

Guo Zi asked cautiously, and Zhu Gaoxu rubbed his brows: "It will be distributed according to the fifteen strings."

When Guo Zi heard this, he knew that it was another two to three hundred thousand guan expenditure, and he couldn't help but feel that it was really difficult to be the Minister of Household Affairs in the Ming Dynasty.

"After you go back and do the calculations, hand over the royal court's expenses and income to me for review before the first day of the festival. At the same time, the Ministry of Industry will send people to Taixue to learn railway knowledge. We will start surveying and selecting the site in March next year. I will tell you the route."

"We will discuss starting construction after the railway survey is completed."

After Zhu Gaoxu finished speaking, he signaled that the three of them could leave.

When the three of them saw this, they could only bow to each other and leave, and Zhu Gaoxu didn't wait too long for the documents from the Ministry of Revenue.

Before New Year's Eve, Guo Zi handed over the court's expenses, income, inventory, as well as the "Yellow Album" and "Fish Scale Album" to Zhu Gaoxu's desk.

[At that time, the population of the world was 75,726,427, and the acres of land were 664,257,316 acres.]

[This year's land tax is 52,546,700 stone, with a balance of seventy-two pounds, five taels, and three coins. After the gold and silver mining tax, commercial taxes, customs duties, and miscellaneous items, the total income is 8,769,000. One thousand two hundred and forty-seven points and eight points]

【It's the year...】

After briefly looking at the population, land area, and financial situation, Zhu Gaoxu had a rough idea.

In the past two years, the court's expenses have not come down. On the contrary, they have eaten up a lot of capital left by Lao Zhu.

At present, the Ministry of Household Affairs still has more than 2 million taels of gold in stock, as well as more than 17 million guan of new money and new money to be minted. The grain stored in Changping warehouses and granaries in various places has been less than 30 million guan.

After excluding the gold that cannot be used and the new money and grain, there are probably more than 29 million guan left.

This may seem like a lot, but for the current system of the Ming Dynasty, it is simply not enough.

Under such circumstances, the imperial court's expenditures for next year are 2 million guan for sorting out the Yellow River, Wusong River, Huangpu River, and canals, and 2 million guan for the war in Guangxi, as well as 2,000 guan for army salaries, officials, teachers' salaries, and workers' wages. More than six million strings.

Of course, the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion still has Juntun Seed Grain, but after reform, the Juntun Seed Grain is now worth only 3 million guan after discount every year, and the Ming Dynasty's total income is 32 million guan.

In other words, the fixed expenditure for next year has already reached 29 million yuan. As long as there is a slight movement, the court will have to live a life of poverty.

After looking through the brochure, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but rub his brows, and Yishiha next to him also said:

"If Zheng He and the others come back in time, they may be able to alleviate the urgent need."

"That's what it is..." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, then shook his head and said:
"I don't know how their war with the Southern Kingdom will go. If they are delayed, it would be a bit bad."

"It seems that there can't be any big changes next year. At least three million yuan must be saved to deal with the Zhejiang New Deal and railway construction the year after next."

"In addition, the reform of Yunnan's land-returning system will have to be postponed depending on the situation..."

After sorting out the financial situation, Zhu Gaoxu had to slow down his pace.

He picked up the yellow book and looked at it. There was a separate page for workers. There were more than 647,000 official craftsmen in the world, and more than 2.67 million craftsmen were registered.

It can be said that the proportion of workers in Ming Dynasty has exceeded 4% of the total population, but if the hidden population is included, it is estimated to still be around 3%.

This is not surprising. The Ming Dynasty had not yet entered the industrial age and did not need many workers.

But as steam engines begin to move towards mines, and trains begin to communicate with places, and some of Taixue's new products continue to provide new demands, and finally make breakthroughs in agriculture, the Ming Dynasty will be able to complete several decades in history in the next few decades. A hundred years' journey.

Zhu Gaoxu has done everything he can, and it is enough to just follow the steps for the next few decades.

Thinking of this, he closed the album, stood up and walked out of Chunhe Hall.

Yishiha followed his footsteps, and the two of them shuttled through the East Palace, and met Zhu Zhanhe who was coming back from school and playing with his younger brothers and sisters.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't interrupt, just watched from a distance for a while, then walked to a corridor in the East Palace and sat down.

He sat here in a daze, relaxing at the same time.

But before he could relax for a while, rapid footsteps sounded not far away, and Hu Lun walked quickly from a distance with an ugly expression on his face.

Anyone who knows him well knows that he will only show such an expression when something big happens.

Zhu Gaoxu saw his expression from a distance, but he still sat calmly where he was, waiting for Hu Lun to come to him before speaking: "No need to salute, let's talk."

"Yes!" Hu Lun bowed in return and said with a livid face:

"Your Highness, if I fail to guard you well, then Jie Jin..."

"What's wrong?" Zhu Gaoxu had a bad premonition in his heart, but saw Hu Lun lowered his head:

"He was found dead in the snow outside the prison just now. Ji Gang said that Xie Jin couldn't accept the ending of being exiled to the army, so he found a place to freeze to death..."

Hu Lun's words made Zhu Gaoxu slowly tighten his hands.

He was not angry because of Jie Jin's death, but because his decree was violated.

Jie Jin deserves to die, even Zhu Gaoxu wants to cut him into pieces, but the problem is that he shouldn't die now, at least he still has value to Zhu Gaoxu now.

Moreover, sending him to be a military household was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation for him. Now that Jie Jin died in a snowdrift, it meant that someone was dissatisfied with his orders. After all, with Jie Jin's courage, it was impossible for him to do so. suicide.

"If some people are disobedient, then check it out and teach them a lesson so that they know what it means to be a king, a minister, a father and a son..."

Zhu Gaoxu stood up and glanced at Hu Lun. Hu Lun bowed quickly after hearing this: "I understand!"

"Your Highness, if we take action now, then Zhejiang..." Yi Shiha said hesitantly.

"Don't worry about Zhexi for the time being. They are out of control. It would be good to suppress Ji Gang for the time being and let him fight with Zhexi later."

After Zhu Gaoxu explained, he told Hu Lun: "Just give him a lesson, he will still be useful."

"I understand!" Hu Lun responded. Upon seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu turned around and walked towards Chunhe Hall.

Yi Shiha followed his footsteps, while Hu Lun stood still. It wasn't until Zhu Gaoxu walked away that he walked out of the East Palace with a gloomy face...

(End of this chapter)