…
…
Seeing Zhao Junchen's cautious look, which seemed vaguely like facing a formidable enemy, Zhou Shangjing couldn't help but become more curious.
With Zhao Junchen's powerful position and scheming skills, what other things can make him be so cautious?
You know, even when Zhao Junchen decided to deal with the "Eight Kings Shipping Company" and the Sixth Department of Nanjing at the same time, he still looked calm and calm.
So Zhou Shangjing reached out to take Zhao Junchen's memorial and began to read it carefully.
Then, a hint of surprise flashed across Zhou Shangjing's expression.
I thought that something that Zhao Junchen paid so much attention to must be extremely important and far-reaching, but I didn't expect that the content of Zhao Junchen's memorial was so "trivial."
Most of Zhao Junchen's memorials contained some suggestions related to agriculture. The content was very trivial, but in a nutshell, it was roughly the word "emphasis on agriculture."
For example, after the Ministry of Household Affairs recently gathered old farmers and sorted out agricultural books, it compiled a new agricultural book, which generally tells the methods and experiences of keeping crops warm and preventing drought. It is hoped that the imperial court can publish it and hand it over to local government offices, and strictly order local government offices to follow this guide. The requirements of this new agricultural book guide farmers in farming.
For another example, Zhao Junchen believed that corn and potatoes were cold and drought-resistant crops with extremely high yields. He suggested that the court should promote them and at the same time try to reduce the planting of fruits, tobacco leaves, cotton and other crops by southern farmers.
For another example, Zhao Junchen hoped that the imperial court could issue a decree to limit the quantity and scale of private wine brewing in order to save food and fill local grain stores.
In addition, Zhao Junchen also hoped that the imperial court could allocate a large amount of money to build agricultural-related infrastructure such as canals, waterwheels, and dams in various places.
In short, they are all "trivial" trivial matters that are not worth worrying about for important ministers like Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen, because they still have many more important things to deal with - such as temple games and the imperial court. The overall situation, such as benefit distribution.
However, Zhao Junchen happened to write such a memorial, and Zhao Junchen's good intentions were shown in every word of this memorial.
In fact, ever since Zhao Junchen deduced the arrival of the "Little Ice Age", he has been paying great attention to it. During this period, in addition to caring about the affairs of Nanzhili and the "Beijing-Cha", Zhao Junchen devoted most of his energy to In this regard too.
Because of this, Zhao Junchen felt more and more that his power was insignificant and not enough to affect the overall situation. So after hesitating for a long time, he finally found Zhou Shangjing and planned to communicate with Zhou Shangjing and get Zhou Shangjing's support.
Although Zhou Shangjing was recognized as a powerful official among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, he was not just fighting for power and profit, but was also willing to do some practical things.
On the other side, Zhou Shangjing was experienced after all, but after a little doubt, he quickly saw the true content hidden in Zhao Junchen's memorial.
On the surface, this memorial is just a suggestion urging the court to pay attention to agriculture. However, if you analyze it in depth, you will find that every suggestion in this memorial is to avoid too much losses caused by natural disasters.
After thinking of this, Zhou Shangjing's expression became a little more serious. He raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen: "What is the purpose of this memorial? Is it related to the drought in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi?"
Zhao Junchen looked serious and nodded and said: "Mr. Zhou Ge, I'm afraid it's not just Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi. I just received news that Henan also has very little rainfall this year, and the situation is not optimistic. Therefore, the imperial court may need to provide relief to the three countries at the same time in the future. Among the victims, the situation in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi is particularly serious."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen's expression was slightly worried, and he added: "If this is the case, with the current food reserves of the court, we can probably survive, but I am more worried that the situation will get worse in the future."
"More bad? What do you mean?" Zhou Shangjing asked with his gray eyebrows slightly wrinkled.
Although Zhou Shangjing is one of the smartest people of this era, but after all, he is limited by his vision and knowledge of this era. If Zhao Junchen explained to him the cause, principle, and harm of the "Little Ice Age", Zhou Shangjing would not be able to understand it at all. You may think that Zhao Junchen’s idea is a fantasy.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen picked some content that Zhou Shangjing could understand and said slowly: "Mr. Zhou Ge, you are already a veteran of two dynasties. Don't you think that natural disasters in various parts of the imperial court have become more frequent in the past thirty or forty years?"
week Fourteen years ago, it must have attracted the attention of the world, but in recent years, it has become commonplace and commonplace.”
Zhao Junchen sighed softly and said: "This junior has checked the relief accounts of the Ministry of Household Affairs in previous years. Since the reign of the late Queen, natural disasters have gradually become more frequent in various parts of our country. After His Majesty ascended the throne, this trend became more obvious. In the ten years before His Majesty took the throne, there were a total of eleven large-scale and severe droughts, floods, floods, locust plagues, and earthquakes. In the second decade of His Majesty's accession to the throne, this number increased to seventeen, and then to nearly ten. year, this number has become as many as twenty-three! Especially in the past three years, various natural disasters seem to have become commonplace. If this trend continues to spread, the younger generation will inevitably be a little worried. I don’t know what the imperial court can do. Can you cope with it..."
Then, Zhao Junchen frowned slightly and said: "I don't want to hide it from Mr. Zhou Ge. In recent times, the Ministry of Household's money has gradually become abundant, but the grain reserves in the national treasury are already on the verge of danger! If this trend continues , the Ministry of Household Affairs can only persist for two years at most, and then it will no longer be able to provide food to help the people."
Zhou Shangjing pondered for a long time and asked: "Junchen, do you mean that natural disasters will occur more frequently in various parts of the imperial court in the future?"
After seeing Zhao Junchen nod, Zhou Shangjing was a little disbelieving and shook his head: "I'm afraid Junchen is unfounded? Who can guess what God will do? Maybe the weather will be smooth and the world will have a good harvest in the next two years."
After a pause, Zhou Shangjing continued: "What's more, although the grain reserves in the household department are less, there is also more silver left. If the food cannot be circulated, you can use money to buy it from the people. Why should Junchen be so worried?"
Seeing Zhou Shangjing say this, Zhao Junchen sighed softly in his heart.
Even Zhou Shangjing's vision and knowledge were ultimately limited by this era.
However, if Zhao Junchen really wants to make a difference, he must get Zhou Shangjing's support.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen patiently explained: "The worries of this junior are not unfounded. I have conducted a special investigation and found that the temperature in various parts of the imperial court has become colder in recent years. Thirty years ago today, the people of the capital were already Short shirts are generally worn, but what now? Most people still wear long-sleeved shirts.
Mr. Zhou Ge also knows that weather changes are closely related to the harvest of crops, and will also indirectly affect the occurrence of droughts and floods. After the weather in various parts of the imperial court gradually became colder, natural disasters began to occur frequently in various places. Mr. Zhou Ge, do you think this Is there really no connection between the two?
Maybe all this is just unfounded worries of the younger generation, but as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the younger generation sees that the food reserves of the Ministry of Revenue are gradually depleted, but he dare not put all his hopes in God's mood. Now there is still time to prepare, naturally It is necessary to do everything possible to nip problems in the bud. "
After hearing Zhao Junchen's explanation, Zhou Shangjing fell into silence again, his old eyes full of thoughts.
Zhao Junchen continued: "Also, Mr. Zhou Ge, you said that the Ministry of Household Affairs should go to the private sector to purchase food for emergencies, but the actual situation may be more shocking than Mr. Zhou Ge imagined! The private grain reserves are already very dangerous! Even if the household department has money, I'm afraid they won't be able to buy much food!
Nearly half of the food of our dynasty was produced in Jiangnan. However, in the past hundred years or so, farmers in Jiangnan have abandoned farming in order to earn more money and turned to planting higher-value tea, cotton, spices, etc. Fruit and stuff! Grain production is already less than 30% of what it was a hundred years ago! In order to cope with the imperial court's grain requisition, various regions in the south of the Yangtze River had to purchase grain from other places every year. The grain grown locally in the south of the Yangtze River was barely able to meet the needs of the local people. In this case, where else could the Ministry of Household Affairs buy grain from? "
As the chief minister of the dynasty, Zhou Shangjing was naturally aware of the things Zhao Junchen said. However, he had always looked at these things in isolation in the past, but now after being reminded by Zhao Junchen, Zhou Shangjing finally connected several things. got up.
Then, Zhou Shangjing came to a shocking conclusion - if natural disasters continue to occur frequently in various parts of the imperial court in the next two years, there will soon be no food to provide relief to the victims! By that time, large-scale refugee riots will inevitably occur! Coupled with the various accumulated abuses of the Ming Dynasty over the years, the situation must be completely corrupt and out of control!
Thinking of this, even a deep and experienced person like Zhou Shangjing shudders.
Then, Zhou Shangjing finally understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts, and his expression gradually became serious, and said: "These speculations do have some truth. But I'm afraid they are not enough to convince His Majesty and the officials. If Junchen you tell these thoughts, maybe He will also be charged with making lies and deceiving the public."
Zhao Junchen sighed: "So, this junior only dares to tell Mr. Zhou Ge that you are the only one..."
Zhou Shangjing nodded again, and once again picked up Zhao Junchen's memorial and reviewed it in detail.
Although Zhou Shangjing still doesn't believe Zhao Junchen's inference and thinks it is a bit alarmist, he has to admit that this situation is indeed possible and the consequences will be very serious, so precautions must be taken.
On the other side, after seeing Zhou Shangjing's performance, Zhao Junchen felt faintly helpless.
Since ancient times, all powerful ministers are first and foremost capable ministers! Only after becoming a capable minister can one climb to a high position and gain power over the world.
Zhou Shangjing is like this. He is experienced, far-sighted, thoughtful, flexible, and willing to do some practical things for the court. But even so, Zhao Junchen spent a lot of effort to convince him!
Even Zhou Shangjing is like this. If Zhao Junchen wants to convince more people to accept his judgment, it will be even more difficult!
"It seems that it is difficult for me to rely on others to deal with the Little Ice Age."
Zhao Junchen thought secretly.
While Zhao Junchen was thinking deeply, Zhou Shangjing reviewed Zhao Junchen's memorial again.
Then, Zhou Shangjing raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen: "Do you hope that the imperial court will strictly order the local government offices to guide the people in farming and promote the planting of corn and potatoes according to the new agricultural book compiled by the Ministry of Household Affairs? This is a measure to prevent frequent natural disasters in various places. ?”
Zhao Junchen nodded and said, "That's right."
Zhou Shangjing frowned and said: "These two things seem very simple, but the people have always adhered to the rules, and the government in various places also has a style of doing more than doing less. With your and my support, it is not enough for the imperial court to issue a few decrees. It’s difficult, but whether these decrees can be implemented smoothly is another matter! I’m afraid that both the people and the government will just deal with it and go against it.”
Zhao Junchen said: "Now we can only do our best. Maybe the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs can combine these things with official assessment and strictly supervise them. Maybe the effect will be better."
Zhou Shangjing nodded noncommittally, and then pointed to Zhao Junchen's other suggestions and said: "However, Junchen wants to reduce the cultivation of fruits, tobacco leaves, and cotton by the people, and also limit the scale of private wine making. These two things may be It’s more difficult to handle, and it touches the interests of too many people!
In fact, without today's conversation, I would never have supported Junchen's ideas, because I also own a large number of fields in Jiangnan, and most of the tenants grow tea, fruits and cotton. If they were allowed to change Growing grain, I lose a lot of money every year... This is what I think, let alone what the officials think. This is ruining people's wealth..."
Zhao Junchen was speechless, knowing that his proposal would be difficult to get the support of the court officials.
After a long time, Zhao Junchen sighed: "Juniors also know that it is difficult, I just try my best!"
Zhou Shangjing was still noncommittal, and pointed to Zhao Junchen's last suggestion and said: "As for asking the court to allocate a large amount of money to build canals, waterwheels, and dams in various places, it is even more difficult! If it is just to allocate a large amount of money, it will be even more difficult!" No one would say much if you put in a little money, but the imperial court only has so much money. If you use a lot of money to build canals and dams, it will be equivalent to less money being allocated to other yamen, which will inevitably attract people. The backlash from all the officials...even His Majesty would not agree."
Zhao Junchen had his own ideas this time and reminded: "Mr. Zhou Ge, do you know how much money Huang Yourong seized from Nanzhili this time?"
"How much?" Zhou Shangjing asked.
"Nearly nine million taels! After our plan succeeds, the six and eight vassal princes of Nanjing will also be unlucky, and this number will further increase." Zhao Junchen explained in detail, with a twinkle in his eye.
A trace of surprise flashed across Zhou Shangjing's face, and he asked: "Oh? So, you are eyeing this money?"
Zhao Junchen nodded, seeming to have made up his mind, and said calmly: "If you have money, you will naturally use it. If the Ministry of Finance has too much money, your Majesty will not pay attention to the juniors. This is for the juniors." It’s not a good thing! Since the money has to be used up, why can’t we do something practical?”
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "In addition, those eight vassal kings all occupy a large amount of cultivated land. If they fall, these cultivated lands will be returned to the court and can also play a great role."
Zhou Shangjing was surprised again when he heard Zhao Junchen's thoughts.
Not only was I surprised by Zhao Junchen's thoughtfulness, but I was also surprised by Zhao Junchen's good intentions of caring about the country and the people.
Who would have thought that when a notoriously corrupt official like Zhao Junchen was faced with a large sum of money, he would first think about how to stabilize the country and benefit the people?
…
First update! There is another big chapter around early morning.
…
:. :
