The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin lowered his head slightly and was not in a hurry to defend himself.

"What the prince said is true. The population of the imperial court has not dropped sharply. It has even far exceeded the number in the four years of Hongzhi."

The number of households in the four years of Hongzhi was more than two million more than the current census.

If it is far more than that, wouldn't it mean that there are more than two million refugees?

The officials quickly calculated the difference and agreed that it was impossible.

Emperor Hongzhi also thought it was impossible: "If there are two million refugees, how could the imperial court not notice it?"

Liu Jian nodded.

"Your Majesty, in addition to being refugees, these people also include bandits and bandits. These people are not included in the yellow list," Yan Chengjin said.

Emperor Hongzhi fell into deep thought.

Li Dongyang felt that what he said was reasonable. It was not surprising that there were bandits, old, weak, women and children hiding in the mountains and forests.

There are so many mountains in the world, and it is not unusual for bandits, bandits, lake thieves, and pirates to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Chen Qing bowed and said: "Master Yan is right, these people are not in the yellow list, but how to place them?"

Refugees are highly mobile, so it is obviously impossible to send troops to hunt them down.

Xie Qian said: "We can provide porridge stalls to attract them, and then the government will resettle them."

Emperor Hongzhi thought it was reasonable, so he issued a decree, ordering the Thirteen Roads in the two capitals to distribute food relief and recruit the refugees.

But he did not listen to Yan Chengjin's suggestion and led the refugees to Guangxi.

Instead, he was sent to Yansui in the northwest.

"The Great Wall in the northwest is almost finished, right?"

Wu Kuan stood up and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, the imperial censor's Fangxue has been passed down to Shuzhuo for more than two thousand miles."

It lasted two years, from Boluo Fort in Hetao to Yanze in Xinjiang.

It is winding and winding, far more than a thousand miles.

With war horses and millions of refugees, the construction may be completed in another two years.

"I am very pleased that Fang Xue has lived up to my expectations." Emperor Hongzhi's expression softened.

But even if these people were relocated to the northwest, he still couldn't figure it out.

Why is it that despite all the hard work, he is not as good as the late emperor?

The late emperor slept until noon every day and rarely went to court in January. He hung out with Wan'an all day long, studying elixirs and erotic pictures. It was rare for officials to see the late emperor once.

This is exactly what I understand.

After he ascended the throne, he would get up to deal with government affairs every day when the Yin hour passed, and he was not allowed to go to bed until the Xu hour.

But his political achievements were not as good as those of the late emperor.

Not only him, but Liu Jian and Li Dongyang also frowned, not understanding what the problem was.

They read hundreds of letters a day, which is many times better than Wan'an's cabinet.

"Business Department, has the number of acres in the yellow book been released?"

Chen Qing bowed slightly: "Not yet, it will take a few more days."

His Majesty reacted like this just after hearing the census.

He had a hunch that Tian Mu would not be much better.

I don’t know how many gentry have hidden their fields. Is it really possible to conduct a thorough investigation?

Emperor Hongzhi breathed a sigh of relief and was not in the mood to punish Zhu Houzhao, so he ordered the officials to retreat.

"The capital is becoming more and more prosperous day by day. Why is it like this when we go to the local area, but my decree cannot be implemented?"

Liu Jian lowered his head and Li Dongyang did not respond.

Each of the six departments remained silent.

Yan Chengjin nodded slightly. He had only traveled to the Ming Dynasty for four years, and it was not easy to make the capital gradually prosperous.

In other parts of the Ming Dynasty, it is extremely difficult to see significant changes.

Even in later generations, it will be difficult to promote a developing country to a developed country in four years.

Your Majesty's question really embarrasses the cabinet.

"I was underestimation!"

Li Dongyang took the lead and apologized to Emperor Hongzhi.

Yan Chengjin shouted, and was hesitating whether he should take out the ten bullets in his sleeves to speak for himself once?

I heard that those who speak for themselves will not have bad luck.

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and said solemnly: "Send more officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs. No matter what, I will see the number of acres in three days!"

Chen Qing looked troubled and said hesitantly: "I... obey the order!"

Wang Ji was placed in the palace in case His Majesty became unwell.

The cabinet's decree was quickly issued. In addition to the capital, porridge stalls appeared in various prefectures and counties.

The weather is cold, and the refugees will be attracted with alms.

…

Nanchang Mansion, Prince Ning's Mansion.

After Zhu Chenhao returned to his residence, he placed Jiang, the daughter of a refugee, in a side courtyard.

Jiang was pregnant, which was something he had never expected.

Concubine Lou was calm as usual, neither making trouble nor fussing, as if he had never cheated on her.

"What exactly did Yan Chengjin say to Concubine Lou?"

The housekeeper hurriedly apologized: "I don't know, I just know it's a letter from the capital. I don't dare to open it. Concubine Lou burned it after reading it."

Burn after reading?

Zhu Chenhao was sure it was Yan Chengjin who sent it. What exactly did you say to Concubine Lou? Why didn't she twist my ear?

"Your Majesty, why are you so scrupulous about the censor?"

"I always feel that he knows that I am going to rebel." Zhu Chenhao expressed his feelings.

He was in the capital to carry out the feudal king's grand timing.

Although Yan Chengjin did not obstruct him, he always had incredible strategies.

After returning from the capital, he even vaguely felt that the vassal king's plan was prepared for him.

But when I returned to Nanchang, it was too peaceful.

At this moment, it was like prey entering the range of a hunter's trap and could be caught at any time, which made him uneasy.

"Although the imperial court is checking the yellow records, the young man has hidden his fields. He is not afraid of being investigated. Your Majesty, you can rest assured."

Zhu Chenhao nodded, and he suddenly thought of Tang Yin.

We came to a quiet courtyard. In the courtyard, a scholar spread rice paper on the ground and painted with ink.

"Student Tang Yin, I have met the prince."

"It doesn't matter, you draw yours, and I will see what I draw."

…

Yan Cheng, the duty officer of Jinhubu, visited Xie Yu.

Since the yellow book was cleared, Xie Yu has been living in the house assigned to him by the Ministry of Household Affairs.

"Master Yan, I don't want to settle the matter anymore."

"Why?"

Xie Yu cried and wiped her tears. I heard that His Majesty fainted after reading the population in the yellow book.

If you see the fields in the picture album, wouldn't it be a disaster?

This is a serious crime against the Nine Clan, and I dare not let it go anymore.

"Why do I have to do the work of the household department when I receive wages from Liangxiang? I don't dare to let it go... Please let me go."

He has been in business for decades and has seen murderous bandits and cannibals starving to death.

But he was alone. No matter what, he was the only one who died and his family was not affected.

But now, it is a serious crime that punishes all the nine clans.

Businessmen have always been shrewd. Yan Chengjin comforted him: "Your Majesty is a generous man and will not chop off your head."

Xie Yu hesitated and held up the yellow book: "Look at these numbers, are you really not good at cutting?"

Yan Chengjin looked at the numbers above, pondered for a long time, and then said: "Maybe it will be cut."

Xie Yu actually figured it out, but secretly hid it and didn't report it to the Ministry of Household Affairs?

It seems that he is also a man and knows this matter, which is more serious than the census of the population.

Yan Chengjin thought for a while and decided to hand it over to His Majesty himself, so as not to have the Ministry of Household Affairs manipulate and make random changes.

The serious loss of acres is due to the failure of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

To be honest, he still likes Korean.

Arriving at Fengtian Hall, Xiao Jing stood guard in front of the hall door. In the hall, Emperor Hongzhi and the cabinet were reading the memorials of the day.

Seeing the yellow book in Yan Chengjin's hand, Xiao Jing knew what was going on: "There is no need to report it. Mr. Yan can go in by himself. Your Majesty is waiting."

"Call Wang Ji first."

"Master Yan is right, you wait first." Xiao Jing hurriedly ordered.

After a while, Wang Ji came over with a medicine box on his back and bowed slightly to Yan Chengjin.

Yan Chengjin said solemnly: "Is the medicine ready?"

Wang Ji nodded.

The next moment, Yan Chengjin opened the door and walked slowly into the hall.

"Your Majesty, the land acres have been counted. This is the yellow book."

Emperor Hongzhi felt a little scared and stared at the yellow book in Yan Chengjin's hand. Here it comes!