"Are there so many Mongolians in Datong?" The governor of Shanxi, as a feudal official, has the power of solo and secret information, and the news goes directly to Beijing.
The emperor read the secret letter and couldn't help but gurgled. In the letter, the governor of Shanxi stated that a large number of Mongolians have gone south in recent years, including nearly 10,000 people in Datong, and the trend is becoming more and more obvious.
The border, which is thousands of miles long, can no longer guard against those who cross the border after the guards have been removed and reduced. Once it's managed, it's easy to make mistakes.
The Shanxi officialdom thought over and over again, but no one wanted to take responsibility, so they reported it to the court. The cabinet has a copy, and the emperor naturally has a copy of the secret box to confirm each other.
Yan Chongxin rested half of his buttocks on the chair, enjoying the cool breeze. He lowered his head slightly, revealing his black and white hair: "Your Majesty, it is better for thousands of people in Datong Mansion to talk less."
"There are hundreds of thousands of people in Suiyuan and about 60,000 herdsmen. It is not uncommon for Datong Prefecture to have Wanmeng people in its twelve counties." Zhu Yixi nodded slightly, waved his hand, and asked the eunuch to give the chief minister a portion. Snowy mountains.
The so-called Sushan is an ice cream made by the emperor based on ancient books. It was called Sushan in the Tang Dynasty.
The emperor disliked the name because he didn't like ice cream, so he named it Snow Mountain. To make this thing, you need to heat the cream until it is semi-melted, then grab the cream with your hands, pour it on the ice tray, then insert flowers, colorful trees and other decorations, and finally put it in the ice cellar to be refrigerated.
Because of its shape like mountains, it was called by the Tang people
"Sushan". It's said to be freezing point, but it's actually a work of art. The latter hurriedly thanked him, carefully picked up the spoon and took two bites before putting it down. He smiled bitterly and said, "I am old and my teeth are tired." The emperor chuckled and said, "Then let's serve some iced sour plum soup!" After drinking the sour plum soup, , Yan Chongxin felt at ease: "It is common for the Mongols to go south. Although the Suiyuan grassland is fertile, it has reached its limit, and the herdsmen can only survive."
"However, some people in the government and the opposition were worried that the Mongols would occupy the magpie's nest like in the late Jin Dynasty, causing trouble, so they requested that the Mongols be driven back north."
"What does the first assistant mean?" The emperor said casually, scooping up the snowy mountain and eating the strawberries on it.
When I say I'm asking the chief minister, I'm actually referring to the cabinet. The emperor both trusted and guarded against the chief minister of the cabinet. It is required to control the cabinet, but not be too powerful and arbitrary. The balance is difficult for others to grasp.
However, Yan Chongxin was familiar with this. He heard the emperor's deep intention and said with a smile: "I naturally feel that this matter cannot be forced. There will naturally be worries when the Mongols go south, but it is better than going too far."
"As long as these Mongolian people learn to farm, won't they become good people again?" Zhu Yixi nodded: "Does the cabinet have a solution? It won't work in the long run."
"The cause of this matter is that the population in Suiyuan is increasing and the pastures are crowded. Therefore, in my opinion, some herdsmen can be moved to Anxi, Jilin and other places." Yan Chongxin was cautious and glanced at the emperor's face. He did not dare to speak loudly.
"This is just treating the symptoms rather than the root cause." The emperor's right hand unconsciously slapped the table and chairs, and he began to think in his mind: "Instruct Suiyuan to cultivate more cultivated land, teach herdsmen to cultivate the land, and in addition, move some herdsmen to northern Xinjiang to fill the population."
"Besides, didn't Suiyuan win the Jinshi this year? Then we should promote cultural education and let Mongolian people study."
"If you learn the way of a saint, you will naturally stop messing around." In Suiyuan, an average of 100 acres of grassland can raise ten sheep. A family of five needs at least 100 sheep and 1,000 acres of land to live a subsistence life.
If it were farmland, twenty or thirty acres would be enough for a family of five. Therefore, at this time, replacing grassland with farmland is the best solution at present. Immigration alone is not really a good solution at all.
At this time, Zhu Yixi also felt helpless. Population reproduction is a natural law. Especially in peacetime, herdsmen also like to reproduce.
It is impossible for him to follow the Manchu Qing Dynasty and implement the reduction policy!
"Your Majesty, you are wise." Yan Chongxin bowed hurriedly. Zhu Yixi remained silent. As long as Lake Baikal is captured, the redundant Mongols can be urged to move north to enclose the land, and the population will naturally be poured out.
By then, by setting up settlements one after another in Siberia, building cities, and enfeoffing small vassal states, we will be able to control the vast northern frontier.
At that time, the Mongolian tribes in the Monan Grassland became springs one after another, constantly spurting population flows to the north, contributing to the great tomorrow and resisting Tsarist Russia's eastward movement.
This is his plan. Therefore, the key lies in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties.
"Soon, soon." He murmured in a low voice, his eyes bright. Yan Chongxin lowered his head and said nothing.
Immediately, he resigned. When he returned to Wenyuan Pavilion, all the cabinet ministers were quite polite, but he only smiled and showed little enthusiasm.
Sitting on the chair, Yan Chongxin felt that he was really old. Unknowingly, he has been Zhao Shu's chief assistant for nearly seven years, and has been in the position for nineteen years.
He entered the shogunate at the age of thirty-seven, became a cabinet minister at forty, and became the first assistant at the age of fifty-four. After passing his sixtieth year, he was already sixty-one years old.
Accompanying the king and handling government affairs for a long time has made him exhausted. His old body is getting tired and he can no longer keep up with the emperor's thoughts.
For a moment, he actually had the idea of becoming an official. The emperor stipulated that he should serve until he was sixty years old, and he seemed to have fulfilled the requirement.
But the emperor's kindness is so great. As long as the emperor keeps it, who can drive him away? This is the grace of ministers above the fourth rank.
"We have to go." Yan Chongxin recalled the past years and thought of Zhu Mou's expectant eyes, and couldn't help but feel worried in his heart.
In the past twenty years, almost everyone in the imperial court had his manpower, and he had unknowingly created a huge force.
Although it could not be called a partisanship, it was enough to make the king fearful.
"When it comes to retreating from the rapids, it's Zhao Shua!" At this time, Yan Chongxin thought of Zhao Shu, who entertained his grandson at home. The former chief minister is now relaxed and at ease, and is still lively and active even in his seventies.
During the Chinese New Year, the prince also went to pay New Year greetings. Recognized by two generations of monarchs, Yan Chong was filled with unspeakable envy.
...After the summer harvest, Hebei was immersed in joy. This year is good or not, it’s an average year.
Enjoying the dual benefits of the canal and the capital, even in an ordinary year, it is a good year for Hebei.
But for some, this year has been tough, or not a good year at all.
Hejian Mansion, as an important section of the canal in Hebei, is prosperous along both sides of the river, with countless markets and countless cars and boats.
After the canal was relieved of 70% of its grain transport tasks, it became a golden waterway and the most important economic lifeline between the north and the south.
Hejian Prefecture, as the largest prefecture in Hebei after Tianjin, has a population and tax far greater than other prefectures. In addition to the canal, Changlu Saltworks is the top priority.
Surrounding the entire Bohai Sea, there are spacious and flat muddy beaches, coupled with more wind and less rain, sufficient sunshine and strong evaporation, Cangzhou is an important salt-producing area of Changlu Salt Field.
Then it is transported to Shandong, Beijing, Henan and other places through canals and large and small rivers. Thousands of boatmen are supported just by transporting salt.
Xia Wanchun was dressed in Tsing Yi, followed by two young men. He looked like a young man who had become a monk and had no official bearing at all.
"Sir, the sun outside is so strong that it will kill you, so you should go back to the cabin!" the boatman holding the pole persuaded.
"There's no rush." Xia Wanchun shook his head. The newly shaved lips looked very white. He turned to the boatman and asked: "I heard that Cangzhou is one of the best places in Hebei. What's good to eat and do?"
"Sir, you have asked the right person." The boatman said proudly: "In Cangzhou, although there is a lot of saline-alkali land, there are many people who grow fruit trees. Peaches, pears, and dates are the three most popular fruits, and they are all provided to the emperor on a daily basis. "
"There are two to three thousand vendors selling this fruit every year. Every household harvests the fruit, which sells well."
"Besides, you have to try Cangjiu. There are some made with fruits and some made with grain. The taste is outstanding..." Cangzhou is close to the Bohai Sea, which has advantages and disadvantages.
The benefit is naturally the sea salt, but the disadvantage is that there is not much cultivated land, and most of it is salt flat land. This kind of barren land cannot grow food at all. It can only grow some fruit trees, but the harvest will be more.
Because Tianjin and Beijing are both big cities and consume countless fruits, Cangzhou can transport them to the two cities through canals, which is extremely convenient.
After hearing the situation in Cangzhou, Xia Wanchun nodded slightly, and the scene of the emperor summoning him appeared in his mind.
At that time, Yan Chongxin, the chief minister of the cabinet, was standing alone, his face was ashen, but when he arrived, the emperor was expressionless, obviously angry.
He came cautiously and learned something big. It turned out that Gaode, the general judge of Cangzhou, was killed by his wife.
Cangzhou reported it and said it was the Cangzhou general judge. He has daily disagreements with his wife, who is extremely jealous.
He kept several concubines outside, but he didn't dare to bring them home. One day when he came home, the smell of rouge and gouache all over his body made his wife angry, and they started fighting her without realizing it, and she accidentally died.
On the surface, this is a typical family matter, but it seems unexpected because it involves officials.
Cangzhou officialdom burst into laughter for a while, causing the whole Hebei and the people in the capital to watch the fun. Originally, this incident was over.
Unexpectedly, Gao De's brother-in-law did not agree with his sister's murder, so he exhumed his body in the middle of the night and invited someone from another county to conduct an autopsy.
One bad result turned out to be poisoning. In this way, the so-called fight between husband and wife became a lie, and Cangzhou officialdom deceived the court.
It would be fine if he just deceived the court. The key is to deceive the emperor. This naturally made Emperor Shaowu very dissatisfied.
Because Jin Yiwei, Cangzhou, and the governor of Hebei all agreed that it was manslaughter, but in the end it turned out to be murder by others.
For the emperor, wouldn't this make Long Yan furious? Therefore, Xia Wanchun became an imperial envoy and came to Cangzhou to supervise this matter.
If nothing else happens, it will be necessary to take off a few official hats, and it may even implicate the entire Hebei officialdom.
As an imperial envoy, he has a humble position and great responsibility. It also represents the emperor's trust. Once this is done, he will rise to the top, just take it easy.
Thinking of this, Xia Wanchun couldn't help but clench his fists and made up his mind. Therefore, facing the entire Cangzhou officialdom, Xia Wanchun did not act like an imperial envoy, but decided to do some research in private before reacting.
He has served in various localities, so he naturally understands the relationship between local officialdom and the lakes above. Unfortunately, as soon as he stepped onto the pier, he was surrounded by a group of people.
“Xia Tian’s envoy has come all the way from Cangzhou, and we are very happy to welcome him to Cangzhou.” Hong Zhengming, the prefect of Cangzhou, said with a smile, the smile on his face was particularly bright.
Behind him, there were dozens of officials, all wearing official robes. After suffering for a long time in the summer, they were sweating profusely and their official robes were soaked through.
This is obviously an outpouring of officials. But Xia Wanchun felt no joy in his heart. This is a show of force.
He was a dignified imperial envoy and came out in private. He was stopped and greeted as soon as he arrived at Cangzhou Pier. Doesn't this mean that his every move is controlled?
who is it? Xia Wanchun looked back and saw the boatman bowing with a smile, his smile very conspicuous. My heart sank, this difficulty was greater than imagined.
He smiled and cupped his hands and said, "We have Magistrate Lao Hong and people from all over Cangzhou to welcome us, but is this a bit of a mobilization of troops?"
"Hahaha, the status of an angel is precious, no matter how grand it is, it cannot be too grand." Magistrate Hong said with a smile. Immediately, he was introduced to everyone one by one.
There are officials and local elders. His young face was remembered by dozens or hundreds of people in less than a moment.
It is conceivable that in just half a day, it will spread throughout Cangzhou. Traveling in plain clothes is simply impossible.
As he expected, after entering the inn, although it was convenient for him to travel, he always felt like someone was following him.
Everything said and done was monitored. Whether it's afternoon work or judgment, it all goes with him. But after three or five days, the result remained unchanged.
Gao De was killed because his quack doctor was at fault and he accidentally lost his life during the fight. Is this conclusion feasible? Xia Wanchun himself didn't believe it.
I started to write in the letter, but I couldn't finish it. Everything is stuck in the quagmire.
He simply couldn't dig out the cocoon to find out the truth.
"Or is this not fate?" Xia Wanchun was completely unable to understand the purpose of covering up this incident in Cangzhou.
Therefore, this eucalyptus is only on the surface, but inside it is the key to connecting the officialdom. Thinking of this, he called Gao De's brother-in-law to complain to his sister.
Pan Zhuo was born into a scholarly family. At this time, when I met the imperial envoy, he was thin, with a sallow face and protruding eyes. He had obviously suffered a lot.
Xia Wanchun was not worried but happy, and it was as expected. All the dignified scholars have suffered such torture, and the situation here is very complicated.
"Imperial envoy, please forgive me, the student just wants to avenge my sister." Pan Zhuo said in a low tone: "Although my sister is jealous, she is just making trouble on weekdays. She doesn't have much hatred for her brother-in-law, and she will never murder her. .”
"Who did Gao De offend?" Xia Wanchun looked at him and asked.
"My brother-in-law is a kind man and has a soft personality, so my father married my sister to him..." Pan Zhuo was a little embarrassed: "He has no intention of offending anyone in the officialdom." Xia Wanchun raised his eyebrows: "Then he is Unintentionally blocking someone else’s way.”
