Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

As a hot-blooded Chinese man, he naturally had to dare to think and do. He could mobilize the border troops from Liaodong and Northeast China and march south to bloodbath the entire North Korea.

As a talented and strategic emperor, he needs to be far-sighted, not only to be able to control the overall situation at all times, but also to maximize the interests of China.

Although North Korea has been quietly learning from China, it is located on a peninsula surrounded by sea on three sides. It is actually a peninsula country that is not rich. The situation is not much better than Annan's back then.

According to statistics, less than 10% of the land area available for farming during this period was only self-sufficient in food production.

Regardless of the current feudal era, even in North Korea in the new century, millions of citizens died in just ten years due to the floods in North Pyongan Province.

Due to the complex climate of the Korean Peninsula, natural disasters are much higher than the average in plain areas, and what is more serious than natural disasters are man-made disasters.

Once the Ming Dynasty launches a war against North Korea, there will naturally be no need to mention if the Ming Dynasty loses the war, but if it achieves a hearty victory, then the number of men farming will be greatly reduced, and North Korea's food production will naturally be greatly reduced.

If after this war, North Korea suffers from famine due to natural disasters or man-made disasters, will the Ming Dynasty transport grain from the Northeast to North Korea to relieve the victims?

If they sit idly by and ignore the situation, the local forces in North Korea will definitely take the opportunity to instigate rebellion, and it will be difficult for Ming Dynasty's rule to last, and it will be easy to fall into Annan's predicament.

Originally, it was a good move for the Ming Dynasty to occupy Annan, but the output there was too low, and the civil servant group still wanted to rule by benevolence. As a result, a large amount of fiscal expenditures were occupied by the Ming Dynasty every year.

In this era, the biggest cost is actually not the food itself, but the high transportation cost. Even if the grain transportation loss in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is more than 80%, the loss in the Ming Dynasty when it was sent to Annan will only be higher.

If the Ming Dynasty rescued the disaster-stricken North Korea, not to mention that it would easily fall into the predicament of Annan, and the north was not yet self-sufficient in food. If it wanted to supply North Korea, it would actually have to be shipped from the south.

In addition, whether it was Annan back then or the North Korea that was about to face it now, the Ming army also needed to be dispatched to station there for a long time, and the army naturally needed military expenses and military rations.

The lights in Dongnuan Pavilion are burning brightly, and the ice cubes placed on the wall are slowly melting. The temperature here seems very suitable.

"How can we reasonably obtain food from the Korean people after the war?"

Zhu Youtang did not intend to retreat despite the difficulties, but silently wrote down the core issues facing the annexation of North Korea.

The Ming Dynasty has always been under the banner of being a state of etiquette. If it occupied North Korea and used cruel methods to squeeze the people to obtain food and other resources, it would cause too much damage to its own reputation.

If North Korea implements a benevolent government of thirty to one tax, the new government will not be able to get much food at all, and will eventually return to the old path of Annan.

"What is the food requirement for the garrison after the war? How much food preparation should be prepared for the Korean disaster?"

Zhu Youtang planned to calculate this economic account carefully, so he began to calculate expenses in advance. At the same time, he deeply understood the importance of food to the country.

Anyone familiar with history knows that the earliest hegemony was not the English Empire, but Spain, the bullfighter who devoted himself to the ocean earlier, and even annexed Portugal, which had drawn a line with him to carve up the world.

It's just that the land of the Iberian Peninsula where Spain is located is barren, mountainous and dry, and domestic food has always been insufficient, relying on imports from France and Sicily.

Incidentally, after the Spanish landlord class saw the huge business opportunities in the international woolen industry, they started the "sheep cannibalism" movement, trampling and destroying arable land.

Due to the drop in temperatures in Europe during the Little Ice Age, food harvests failed throughout Europe. Spain, which relied on food imports, bore the brunt. A large number of people at the bottom starved to death, and food prices naturally skyrocketed.

Although the Spanish royal family owned a large amount of gold and silver, it had to rely on food imports from France, and its own people could only survive by taking risks. In the end, this maritime hegemon became a meal for other European powers.

Although the Ming Dynasty has conditions that are a hundred times stronger than Spain, it still needs to learn from Spain and cannot collapse the Ming Dynasty's food system by occupying North Korea.

Since taking the throne, he has actually not advocated expansion.

It's not that he really doesn't want Ming to become the world's hegemon, but he doesn't want the food that the people have worked so hard to grow to be consumed in the expansion war, and he can't just sit back and watch the people who suffer from floods and locust plagues starve to death.

That's why the bloodbath in North Korea is not about North Korea's paper-thin army of 100,000, but how to properly solve the food problem it needs to face.

"The time is not yet ripe, so let them cause chaos first!"

Zhu Youtang realized that sending his troops south to bloodbath North Korea was not the best plan, and immediately realized that a conspiracy was needed, and immediately murmured to himself.

Regarding North Korea, we can actually learn from Mongolia’s earlier methods.

Although the Ming Dynasty is now powerful, it is true that it can kill Mongolia regardless of the cost, but it can use more clever solutions to solve the problem.

Since the last assassination of Dayan Khan, various tribes in Mongolia are now on the verge of falling apart, and they have achieved the effect of pulling a thousand pounds away.

That's why, although it was great to send troops south to annihilate North Korea, Zhu Youtang planned to adopt a more clever plan.

Niu Mengmeng had been standing under the lamp waiting for instructions, but the ice tank here was too comfortable, and the night was getting late, so he couldn't help but yawned greatly.

"Puppet...regime?"

Zhu Youtang thought carefully about the best solution, and then tried to write four words on the paper, and gradually he had a rough idea and plan in his mind.

Since direct conquest is not the best plan, but Ming Dynasty has frequent exchanges with North Korea, especially Xu Shiying, the governor of the East China Sea, has already established a pro-Ming faction in North Korea, then things can be more subtle.

If things really go wrong by then, the Ming Dynasty's army amassed in the northeast can directly raze Seoul to the ground with just one order from me.

North Korea is a country that values ​​civility over military power, and its army has long been corrupted. With the current military strength of the Ming Dynasty, it is easy to swallow up the small North Korea.

Zhu Youtang's eyes fell on the word "grain", but he knew that this was the best medicine in the farming era, and he turned his head to look eastward thoughtfully.

If Liu Zhang successfully brings back treasure seeds from South America, the population that the entire Ming Dynasty can support will no longer be 80 million people, but a full 400 million people, and North Korea can be included in his territory without subsequent harm.

With the Ming Dynasty's production technology, not only can it easily digest the entire North Korea, but it can even directly expand the Ming Dynasty's territory in all directions.

But at this moment, he felt uneasy, feeling that things might go so smoothly.

It was late at night, and a locust miraculously came to the courtyard of Qianqing Palace. Just when the locust wanted to explore deeper, it was startled and looked warily at the tabby cat that suddenly appeared.

Deep in the Qianqing Palace, a room on the second floor is filled with a cold atmosphere.

After all the rain, Zhu Youtang hugged the gentle and jade-like beauty, looking at the ceiling and sighing sadly.

No matter how much he struggled and tried his best to treat these women, although it was really satisfying, things still didn't turn around.

Another half a year later, the queen and concubines still had no movement in their stomachs. Not to mention the heirs of the empire, they didn't even have a daughter.

If the education in his previous life hadn't always emphasized the need to believe in science, now he couldn't help but imitate a certain emperor and stay in Xiyuan to refine elixirs, using the power of God to change his destiny, and even achieve immortality.

Fan Jinling returned from a state of contentment and nestled tightly beside Zhu Youtang. When she heard Zhu Youtang sigh, her eyes flashed with guilt.

Although she also worked very hard, whether it was because she was deeply attracted by the emperor or because she wanted to have someone to rely on in the future, she also tried various postures.

But it was as if God had really cast a spell on her. No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't get what she wanted, and her stomach still hadn't moved.

Fan Jinling knew that the emperor beside him took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility of the people of the world, and that his descendants were very important to him, so he gently laid his hands on Zhu Youtang's chest and said: "Your Majesty!"

"You want it again?" Zhu Youtang misunderstood when he heard this emotional voice.

Fan Jinling's heart moved slightly, but he still explained softly: "I want to tell you something serious? Your Majesty, do you want to believe that Taoist priest for once?"

Although she once did not believe in the so-called secret, half a year has passed in the blink of an eye from the Spring Festival to now, and they were still defeated after all.

"These words should not come from your mouth. The Queen treats you all very well!" Zhu Youtang frowned and reprimanded with dissatisfaction.

Fan Jinling knew the feelings of the emperor and the empress, but he seriously advised: "Your Majesty, in fact, the empress feels uncomfortable with your delay! And she..."

"What is she?" Zhu Youtang asked doubtfully.

Fan Jinling looked into Zhu Youtang's eyes and said very frankly: "She has found a few of us privately and wants our help to persuade you to demote her to a noble concubine, saying it is so that you can have children!"

"Don't get involved! I have made up my mind and will never abolish my queen!" Zhu Youtang also had to face the problem of possible extermination, but he still did not intend to compromise.

Fan Jinling knew that the man next to him was very responsible, so he couldn't help but whisper softly: "Your Majesty, if you persist like this, the queen will probably feel uncomfortable all the time, and she will also feel that she has delayed the empire, so it is better to send her away It’s more peaceful to be demoted to a noble concubine!”

"Let's wait another year! If it doesn't work, I will find a few stepsons in the royal family and choose the one who is most like me!" Zhu Youtang knew that Fan Jinling was right, but he put forward his own plan.

Originally, he believed that man could conquer nature, especially since history had already proved that his body had no fertility problems at all. The more women he dated, the higher the probability of having offspring.

But now there are various signs that some things are really beyond the control of human will, and insisting on supporting Empress Chang may directly lead to death.

Even though things have reached this point, he still has no intention of deposing the queen.

According to the secrets that Dongfang Dao had gleaned, plus his knowledge of the original historical direction in his past life, even if he changed Zhang Yujiao to be the queen, it would actually be drinking poison to quench his thirst, and the result would even be worse.

If Zhengde still had to fall into the water and die later, why would he give up his efforts? Not to mention that he still couldn't escape the fate of being an heir, and the dignified orthodox lineage didn't even have an heir, which even brought instability to the dynasty he built.

Because of this, he might as well choose someone from the royal family to become the current crown prince as his adoptive son, inheriting his own imperial line and ensuring that the dynasty can safely complete the transition of power.

Fan Jinling was stunned for a moment, then asked seriously: "Your Majesty, if you do this, I'm afraid the Queen will blame herself even more!"

"I will explain it to her personally! Don't just think about being a lobbyist. In the end, you still don't dare to work hard. Continue!" Zhu Youtang knew that he had to find a chance to explain it clearly to the queen, but he stretched out his hand and forcefully asked the vassal to Jin Ling's head was pressed upward.

Fan Jinling originally wanted to explain something, but there was only a whining sound.

It's not that she doesn't want to give birth to a prince, in fact she has even dreamed of it. In the past six months, she and the Queen's group of women have inquired about various folk fertility recipes, but so far they have not been able to get what they wanted.

The golden bells of Qianqing Palace kept ringing that night, but there was just a sense of sadness.

The world is so helpless. He is obviously a talented and strategic emperor who is rare to see in a hundred years. He is obviously sitting on the sixth palace of Fendai, but in the end he has no heirs.

Matters related to the heirs were eventually put aside, as the locust plague had spread to Beizhili, making this disaster instantly more serious.

Although Beizhili has opened up a large number of fields in recent years, the population of Beijing has continued to increase, and the south has always needed help to fill the food supply.

This sudden disaster will definitely reduce food production, and the price of rice in the capital will naturally rise.

It's just that things are strange. July is not the harvest season now. May is even the harvest season, but rice merchants in the capital actually take the opportunity to stock up.

"A few days ago, it was twenty cents per pound!"

"Forty cents? Why don't you go and grab it?"

"Locusts eat fur, but you want to eat human flesh and blood!"

…

Usually the price of rice is only 20 cents per pound, but now the price of rice has doubled, which is unacceptable to the people who come to buy rice.

"Don't think it's expensive! Most of the grain in our grain store has been ordered. If you want to buy it, buy it quickly. You may not be able to buy it tomorrow." The shopkeeper of the rice shop was in a very good mood and looked very proud.

this……

When the people who had just wanted to make trouble heard these words, they thought of the consequences of cooking without rice, and suddenly rushed towards the waiter over there, and loudly said: "Give me fifty catties!".

Although they hated this group of profiteers, and even more hated the business gangs who were preparing to harvest them, they had to bow to reality. Based on past experience, we can only stock up on more food for our family while the price of rice is still within an acceptable price range.

Later, in a brightly lit house, the place seemed to be filled with voices.

A group of rice merchants who were fat and strong raised their wine glasses and said confidently: "In less than a month, let's increase the price of rice tenfold together!"

Things seemed to be under their control. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was originally the best passage for grain from the south to the north. However, due to the impact of regulating the Yellow River, the canal was not navigable to the north. (End of chapter)