I

  Chapter 291 289 [Say what you say]

  The "Suppressing Cotton Field Order" has been implemented, and it does not force anything, but only slightly increases the tax on cotton fields.

  At the same time, if there is a natural disaster, the preferential policies for cotton fields will be halved. That is, due to natural disasters, grain fields are exempted from taxes, but cotton fields can only be exempted from taxes by 50%; taxes on grain fields are halved, and cotton fields can only be exempted from taxes by 25%.

   Except for Northeast Jiangxi, cotton can be planted wide open!

  In recent years, Northeast Jiangxi, which suffers drought every year, is the best cotton-producing area in Jiangxi.

  The quality of the cotton produced there is comparable to Shandong cotton, and the water-powered spinning machine is a waste of material. It must be spun and woven by hand, and directly woven into fine cotton cloth, the price is many times that of coarse cotton cloth.

  Jiangxi Provincial Government is located in Nanchang, and Ouyang Zheng, the left chief minister, and Huo Tao, the right chief minister, made a special trip to Ji'an to report on their work.

  Ouyang steamed an agricultural development plan and reported: "The various departments of the provincial government comprehensively consider the situation of the whole province and believe that in terms of farming, we should focus on the development of tea, cotton, tung oil, ramie, and tobacco leaves. Especially ramie and tobacco leaves!"

   "Tell me in detail." Zhao Han nodded.

   Ouyang Zheng analyzed:

   "I don't need to go into details about Jiangxi tea. It was famous all over the world during the Han and Tang Dynasties. Merchants valued profits and neglected parting. The month before last, they went to Fuliang to buy tea. "Pipa Xing" mentioned Jiangxi tea. Jiangxi has many mountains and is very suitable for growing tea."

   "Jiangxi is one of the four major cotton-producing areas in the country. Cotton should also be planted, but it is best to only open it in the northeastern part of Jiangxi. Other areas in Jiangxi must restrain the number of cotton fields."

"Tung oil and tobacco leaves are better grown in southern Jiangxi, where there are many mountains, and there is no harvest for growing food. Southern Jiangxi can also develop tea mountains, but tea mountains, like tung oil, take shape slowly, and it takes several years to harvest. Therefore, tung trees , Tea trees are planted slowly, there is no need to rush for a while, and tobacco leaves can be promoted quickly.”

   "The main crop to be planted in Jiangxi should be ramie..."

  Jiangxi was one of the four major ramie producing areas in the Ming Dynasty, and this thing is not too picky. As long as the wasteland is ripe, it can be planted casually on the hillside, and the economic benefits will definitely be far greater than that of sweet potatoes.

   Moreover, the water-turned spinning wheel was originally used to weave linen yarn. Jiangxi is densely covered with rivers, and ramie is widely planted. Even if the water-turning spinning wheel is not improved, it can be perfectly matched.

  Ramie is mainly used to weave linen, which is the cloth worn in summer, which is breathable and cool.

  Now, the bandages in Zhao Han's army all use ramie linen. Ramie fiber contains ingredients such as eminence, purine, and pyrimidine, which can inhibit a variety of bacteria, and also have antiseptic and anti-mildew effects. It is simply the first choice for medical bandages.

  After the promotion of hydraulic spinning machines, the most rapid increase in production last year was not coarse cotton cloth and coarse cotton yarn, but grass cloth!

  Even merchants in Guangdong also buy in large quantities, which can be exported to Southeast Asia.

  Because Jiangxi Xiabu suddenly became extremely cheap, Zheng Zhilong bought 20,000 pieces in one go. The sailors especially like this thing, it is cooler and more breathable than cotton cloth, and it is not a problem to sell in Nanyang.

   Ramie can also be used to make matchlocks for matchlock guns, cables for sea ships, etc.

   "Ramie is a good thing," Zhao Han nodded approvingly, "Take your agricultural plan and go to the Department of Government Affairs to approach the Department of Huang Zhang. Remember, agricultural development must be accompanied by industrial and commercial development, and the two complement each other."

"yes!"

   "Go."

  The two chief envoys left hand in hand.

  Being a political envoy under Zhao Han is not so easy. You must be familiar with the industrial, agricultural and commercial aspects of the province.

  In contrast to Ming Dynasty’s chief envoy, since governors became the norm, the chief envoy who was supposed to be in charge of the province’s government affairs was directly reduced to the director of the provincial government’s general office.

  Really, those chief envoys in the late Ming Dynasty, as long as the imperial court sent governors and governors, they immediately became the directors of the provincial general office, and their actual power was not as good as that of the prefects below.

   This situation is abnormal, but it was normal in the late Ming Dynasty.

   Except that the Ministry of War is slightly better, Daming’s cabinet, six departments, and six departments are all dysfunctional!

  If Emperor Chongzhen wanted to turn things around, he had to regulate the various departments of the central government first, and clarify the responsibilities of officials at all levels first.

  When Zhang Juzheng reformed, he first reformed the imperial court, rectified the cabinet, six departments, and six departments, and implemented a performance appraisal system. Otherwise, the central government will be in chaos, how can reforms be carried out at the local level?

   Chongzhen was just the opposite, taking the lead in disrupting the central government!

  He installed eunuchs in the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and directly disabled these two departments with a stick.

  But Chongzhen can't help it. The corruption of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households is too outrageous. He didn't trust civil servants, so he had to send eunuchs there... Then, the greed became even more outrageous.

  After dealing with a bunch of government affairs, Zhao Han glanced at the clock, stretched his waist and went home for dinner.

  Nowadays, there are two best clocks in the country, one is Suzhou and the other is Guangzhou.

   Unfortunately, there is only an hour hand, no minute and second hands.

  When Zhao Han was in Guangzhou, he summoned several watchmakers and asked them to study the minute hand.

  It will take time to develop the minute hand.

  Just like the chief envoys of Hunan and Guangdong provinces, it will take at least a year before they can fully understand the situation in the whole province. First formulate the province's agricultural plan, and then develop industry and commerce in a coordinated manner. It cannot be developed indiscriminately against local conditions.

   Walk back to the back house, the meal is ready.

  The younger sister was having lunch at school, only Fei Rulan and Pan Qimei were left. Both women have slightly protruding abdomens, and they are all pregnant, and the time is relatively close.

   "Husband, I can finish memorizing the Three Character Classic!" Pan Qimei said excitedly.

  Zhao Han encouraged with a smile: "You are very smart, keep working hard, and learn numbers together."

  Fei Rulan smiled and said, "Seventh Sister is really smart. She learns the "San Zi Jing" very quickly, but she needs to practice more even when writing."

  They were pregnant together, so they couldn't run around, so they just stayed at home and read all day.

  Pan Qimei regards "San Zi Jing" as a Chinese teaching material. Except for the strange accent, daily communication in Chinese is not a problem at all.

   The three chatted while eating.

  Suddenly, the guards came to report and handed over a letter.

  Zhao Han put down his chopsticks, chewed his food and opened the letter. After reading it, he said, "Let them meet at the General Military Mansion at 1 p.m.."

   "Yes!" The guard stepped back.

   To be honest, Zhao Han didn't have too much affection for that elder sister, after all, he hadn't met since time travelling.

   "Tap, tap, tap..."

  The pendulum in the office swayed and made a sound.

   Xu Fengcai, Xu Nianzu, Wang Wei, Lin Xue, and Liu Rushi have been waiting in the waiting room for a long time.

  Secretary Tao Aizhi walked in: "You two Mr. Xu, please follow me, and the three ladies, please wait a moment."

  The Xu brothers hurriedly followed, Xu Fengcai was a little nervous, but Xu Nianzu was extremely excited.

  Finally, they saw Zhao Han.

  Zhao Zhenlan is only in her twenties, her younger brother is of course younger, and the two brothers have long been mentally prepared.

   "Meet Mr. Zhao!"

   "Please sit down, both of you."

  A direct descendant of Xu Jie, a descendant of Xu Jie's younger brother, Zhao Han is still very interested.

  The Xu family is a big landlord!

  Xu Fengcai cupped her hands and said, "My third younger brother, Xu Zhiyuan, is in love with a woman. According to her siblings, her original name was Zhao Zhenlan, and she was separated from her younger brother Zhao Han in Tianjin."

   "That's right, it's my eldest sister." Zhao Han said.

  Xu Fengcai said: "The younger brother and sister are good concubines now, and they live alone with the third brother in another industry. Apart from the younger brother and sister, the third brother only has his wife and no other concubines."

  Zhao Han nodded and said, "I see."

  What kind of reaction is this?

  Xu Fengcai felt more and more anxious, the Xu family really didn't dare to divorce their wife. The main wife is also a wealthy family, if she quits without fault, or because of currying favor with Zhao Han, the Xu family's reputation will be completely ruined.

  Finally, Zhao Han said, "I will send some people to bring my elder sister and brother-in-law to Jiangxi."

  Xu Fengcai sighed and was thankful that Zhao Han had given enough face and planned to deal with this matter coldly. As for the future, it is likely to be reconciled and divorced, or divorced if not divorced.

  The Xu family still has time to do ideological work, otherwise, after the reconciliation, what would happen if the third brother's original partner committed suicide?

  By then, not only will the Xu family lose face, but it will also affect Zhao Han's reputation.

   "The matter is settled like this, the head and tail of the Xu family, you can handle it yourself." Zhao Han directly ordered without discussing with Xu Fengcai at all.

  Xu Fengcai cupped her hands and said, "The Xu family will take care of it."

  Zhao Han suddenly asked: "The Xu family has a lot of fields?"

  The Xu family's land property is more than a lot, the whole family adds up to millions of acres!

  However, the family has been separated several times. Take the three brothers Xu Fengcai as an example. This branch owns about 200,000 mu of land.

   "Don't worry, Mr. Zhao, the Xu family will definitely cooperate with the division of land." Xu Fengcai said quickly.

  Since the third brother is married to Zhao Han's sister, he can do various things. Sell ​​the family land in advance and exchange it for various goods, and then devote yourself to being an official and businessman.

  Zhao Han said: "The Xu family has too much influence in the south of the Yangtze River, so we have to move some. How about breaking up and moving to five provinces?"

   "This..." Xu Fengcai didn't dare to agree, and he didn't have the right to make decisions.

"That's it." Zhao Han made another decision, "If anyone in the Xu family is unwilling to divide the land or move far away, I will send someone to persuade them. I am reasonable, and I believe the Xu family can do the same. Listen to the truth."

  Xu Fengcai hesitated to speak, but finally dared not object.

  The Xu family is finished.

   One point for the land property, one point for the family property, scattered and relocated to five provinces, and it is estimated that they can be scattered to more than ten counties. At that time, the hearts of the Xu clan will be broken, and it is impossible for them to be twisted together again.

  Xu Nianzu felt a little scared, even sweating in his vest.

  These words Zhao Han said prove that he is extremely afraid of the Xu family. If he hadn't married his eldest sister, it is estimated that the Xu family would be used to establish a prestige, and it would not be as simple as breaking up and moving away.

   Good risk, good risk!

  At the same time of fear, Xu Nianzu's blood boiled, this is what a hero looks like.

  The founding monarch, which one is not strong?

   Zhao Hanruo showed signs of compromise, but Xu Nianzu looked down on him instead.

  Xu Nianzu stood up suddenly, cupped his hands and said: "Please send troops to the south of the Yangtze River immediately!"

   "So anxious?" Zhao Han laughed.

Xu Nianzu said: "South Zhili suffered severe drought this year. Although Zhejiang has not been affected by the disaster, there will be famine in Jiangnan this year. The court's taxes are too heavy and they have been increased repeatedly. The people have long been unbearable. If the general town does not send troops, Jiangnan will at least Hundreds of thousands of people will starve to death!"

  (end of this chapter)