Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 360: Where is the limit of Ming Dynasty’s territory?

In the third year of Qianxi's reign, August 27th.

After the dynasty ended, there was a shower in the capital.

After the rain, the sky cleared up, and the scorching sun broke through the clouds, revealing its dazzling light again, illuminating the entire world.

At this time, in the Wuying Hall, Xu Huizu, the left governor of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, Xia Yuanji, the minister of household affairs, Jian Yi, the minister of the official affairs department, and Chen Qia, the acting minister of the Ministry of War, were reporting to Zhu Gaoxu on the affairs they were responsible for.

Among the four people, except Chen Qia who was standing, Xu Huizu, Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi all received the treatment of being given a seat by Zhu Gaoxu.

"Your Majesty, in recent days, the Military Staff Headquarters has received 63-mile urgent deliveries from Yanran, Shuofang, Jinzhou, Yunzhong, Jiankun, Anbei and other grassland capitals, and learned that there are 310 buildings under the jurisdiction of each grassland capital. The foundations of the Acropolis and [-] five thousand-household cities have all been completed.”

Xu Huizu stood up slightly and saluted with his hands in hand.

In ancient times, the time it took to build a city was related to the size of the city and the era it was in.

During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Helian Bobo mobilized 10 people to build Tongwan City, which took six years to complete.

It took the Li Tang Dynasty only nearly four years to build the capital city of Chang'an.

Nowadays, Ming Dynasty takes advantage of the convenience of stone and mud, and with sufficient manpower and material resources, it will not take more than three years to build another Chang'an city.

However, the building materials on the grassland are limited, and transporting them from the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty is also very time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Therefore, in early June this year, Prince Zhu Zhanyu ordered the construction of a large military stone mud factory and a brick kiln near Yanran Mountain and Langjuxu Mountain.

If not for this, Shi Heng and many other generals of the guards would have been unable to complete the foundation building of the acropolis and Qianhusuo City in two months with their military households, Yu Ding and relatives.

Even with two large stone mud factories and two large brick kilns, during the construction process of each acropolis and Qianhusuo City, nearby materials were still used, and a large amount of soil was excavated and used.

After all, the climate conditions of the grassland are relatively arid, and there are calcium deposits in the lower part of the soil profile. The soil is relatively hard, and the deep calcareous layer soil is as hard as stone.

These hard soil blocks can be used directly as bricks after drying in the shade, but it is very laborious to dig them.

"The foundations of each acropolis and Qianhusuo City have been completed one after another. The prince has told me in his letter."

Zhu Gaoxu sat behind the royal table and stroked his beard and said: "The Military Staff Headquarters replied to all the capital departments that we must not slack off in building the city. Defense ditches, warning beacons, garrison pavilions and other buildings can be built next year after the weather gets warmer. No matter what, , it must be ensured that before the winter months come this year, the regular soldiers of each guard station, as well as the remaining members and family members who have moved with them, can enter the city to live in order to prevent the severe cold."

From the end of April to the beginning of August this year, in three months, the first batch of more than 16 guard sergeants who went north, as well as more than [-] family members and more than [-] relatives have arrived in their respective places. The camp where it should be garrisoned.

Among the first batch of 20 people who moved to the grassland, there were only more than 2000 registered soldiers, more than 6000 military households, and more than 2 family members of military households.

In the end, the huge number of more than [-] people were the relatives of military households who moved north to the grasslands with the sergeants under the guidance and encouragement of the imperial government's policies.

These relatives include the maternal clan, wife clan and other relatives of the military household. Most of them moved with their whole families, including young and old. Many people even brought the tablets of their ancestors' gods and masters.

Among these 20 people, in addition to more than 3 children under the age of ten and nearly 50 elderly people over 15 years old, the remaining [-] are all young and middle-aged people who can work. child.

Therefore, according to the plan, they will build the foundation of the city before the cold winter comes, and then build houses in the city to avoid the severe snow and cold.

Wait until next year, the fourth year of Qianxi, when the weather gets warmer, and the court will move another group of people to the grassland.

Due to the experience of people migrating north, the number of the second batch of people moving from the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty to the grasslands will exceed 50.

The first group of people mainly settled in various acropolises and a few thousand-household cities, while the second group of people mainly lived in various thousand-household cities.

As for the many inns scattered among the acropolis and Qianhusuo City, they can only wait for the third batch of people to move north in the fifth year of Qianxi to enrich them.

"The minister obeys the order."

Xu Huizu said respectfully.

"What else?"

Zhu Gaoxu saw that Xu Huizu was hesitant to speak, so he took the initiative to ask.

Xu Huizu hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, Song Ying, the admiral of the fifth battalion stationed in the desert, sent a memorial before."

"If you didn't tell me, I almost forgot."

Zhu Gaoxu glanced sideways at the memorial on the imperial table and said with a smile: "I don't think it's time yet for him to request that he be transferred back to the fifth camp stationed in the desert."

"Your Majesty, I request that the fifth battalion stationed in the desert be transferred back."

Seeing that Xu Huizu chose silence, Xia Yuanji immediately answered.

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly asked playfully: "Do you want to persuade me on behalf of Duke Wei?"

"Your Majesty, I am not speaking for Duke Wei, but the five battalions have been stationed in the grassland for almost a full year."

Xia Yuanji said with a bitter face: "Last year, His Majesty rewarded the soldiers of the Northern Expedition based on their merits. The Ministry of Revenue paid 420 million taels of silver yuan from the treasury. Soon after, the Baoyuan Bureau withdrew 20 taels of silver and 10 taels of gold from the treasury. Come and make the gold and silver coins that His Majesty will reward the soldiers of the Northern Expedition during the Spring Festival this year."

"Since the beginning of spring this year, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Military Supplies Department of the Metropolitan Governor's Office have successively transferred 90 shi of grain to the north. In addition to the [-] shi of grain transferred last year, the imperial court has invested up to one million shi of grain in the grassland this year."

He stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, although the Ming Dynasty's treasury is full, it cannot afford such expenses!" "What you said makes sense, but if you don't pay, where will the reward be?"

Zhu Gaoxu was not angry, but asked calmly.

When he saw Xia Yuanji opening his mouth to refute, he quickly said: "This Spring Festival, I will reward each civil and military officer of the Manchu Dynasty with two cows and three sheep. These cows and sheep are all trophies captured from the grasslands by the soldiers of the Northern Expedition. You do the math, next year How many cattle and sheep can the Sixth Governor of the Grassland contribute to the imperial court?"

Hearing this, Xia Yuanji looked helpless. He wanted to say a few words to rebut, but for a moment he didn't know how to speak.

"Your Majesty, at the beginning of last month, I was ordered to take charge of the establishment of the Administrative Envoys' Department, the Prosecution and Prosecution Envoys' Department, and the Capital Command and Envoys' Department in the two provinces of Nanyang Cape and Hainan."

Just when Xia Yuanji was at a loss, Jian Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, spoke up: "A few days ago, I received an urgent delivery by sea from the governors of the two provinces, and I learned that the yamen of the three divisions of the two provinces and the yamen of the prefectures and counties under their jurisdiction had completed the main task. After construction, in more than a month, all government officials can move from the temporary government office to the new government office."

"But everything is difficult at the beginning. Each government office in the two provinces has been established, and the manpower is far from enough. Some important official positions, such as the Immigration Department of the three provinces, are still vacant. I request your Majesty to add a group of elected officials. 300 people are enough, 500 people most."

"I agree to this matter. You will work with Yu Yanzhao, the Minister of Rites, to draw up a list and submit it."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Remember, the candidate must at least have a good family background."

In the 31st year of Hongwu, the new imperial examination system implemented by the imperial court stipulated that all students who completed their studies in Changke Academy and passed the graduation examination (graduation examination) would be awarded the title of imperial examination.

With the Juren registration, you have the qualifications to be an official, and at the same time you have the qualifications to participate in the national examination and become a Jinshi.

"According to the order."

Jian Yi said respectfully.

"Your Majesty, with the exception of Shaanxi, Yunnan-Guizhou, and Guangxi, all the provinces in the mainland have completed the establishment of defense patrol envoys. The candidate list of defense envoys in each province has been drawn up by me together with the officials. Please take a look at it."

Chen Qia, acting secretary of the Ministry of War, took out a memorial from his sleeve pocket, bowed and began to read.

Kang Pingping went to Chen Qia, took the memorial from the other party, and then forwarded it to Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu opened the memorial, glanced at it quickly, and then put it down without speaking.

Then, he looked up at the huge screen on the west side of the hall, looked at the oversized map on the screen, and asked loudly: "Now that the grassland has been brought under the rule of the imperial court, how does the territory of the Ming Dynasty compare with that of the Han and Tang Dynasties?"

Xu Huizu, Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, and Chen Qia were all stunned when they heard this.

They couldn't figure out why Zhu Gaoxu suddenly asked this question.

"Your Majesty, if we include the Shitu Guards in the areas under the jurisdiction of Nurgan Dusi, Wusizang Dusi and Duogan Dusi, the territory of the Ming Dynasty is at least twice the territory of the Han Dynasty."

Xu Huizu thought: "If compared with the territory of the Tang Dynasty at its peak, it should be comparable."

The "territory" mentioned by Zhu Gaoxu and Xu Huizu refers to the areas actually controlled by the Ming Dynasty, that is, the areas where prefectures, counties or troops were established.

To put it bluntly, it is a place where soldiers can be recruited and taxes collected locally.

The vassal states established overseas by the Ming Dynasty kings also belong to the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but the dependent countries such as Korea, Champa, Chenla, Siam, Balni, Guli, Ceylon and other dependent countries can only be regarded as the sphere of influence of the Ming Dynasty. , not considered a territory in the actual sense.

Although the three capitals mentioned by Xu Huizu were originally Jisi capitals set up by the imperial court, after the development and penetration during the Yongle period, many places were turned into solid military bases by the imperial court.

For example, as of the second year of Qianxi, among the 180 seven guards under the jurisdiction of the Nurgan Dusi, 82 guards were left as Jisi guards, and the remaining [-] guards were all solid guards under the direct control of the imperial court.

Even Ji Weiwei had to pay tribute on time. The tributes included sea greens, mink skins, horses, pearls and other local specialties, which were equivalent to the taxes in the mainland.

Moreover, because the Ming Dynasty restored the Nurgan Station system leading to the interior on the basis of the Qianyuan Station, hundreds of guard posts north of Liaodong directly obeyed the imperial court's orders without going through the intermediate link of Nurgan Dusi.

In other words, the Nurgan Dusi at this time can basically be regarded as a real Tudusi under the direct control of the imperial court.

"Do the three beloved ladies also think so?"

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Xia Yuanji, Jian Yi, and Chen Qia, and asked loudly.

"The minister waits for a second opinion."

Xia, Jian and Chen almost answered in unison.

Zhu Gaoxu stood up, walked around the imperial table, and stopped in front of the screen on the west side of the hall.

Seeing Emperor Qianxi stand up, Xu Huizu, Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi quickly followed suit.

Zhu Gaoxu looked up at the huge map hanging on the screen and asked slowly: "After taking the grassland, I was thinking, the Great Nine Continents are vast, but I don't know where is the limit of my Ming Dynasty territory?"

"Your Majesty is extremely ambitious, but none of my veterans can match him."

Xia Yuanji bowed and said: "But if your Majesty asks where is the limit of Ming Dynasty's territory, I have a little foolish opinion."

Zhu Gaoxu turned sideways and looked at Xia Yuanji, and asked with interest: "What does Da Situ have to say?"

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(End of this chapter)