"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being stupid!"
After all the ministers looked at each other, Cabinet Assistant Shi Fenglai stood up.
"Your Majesty, after the lakes are built, the river network will be dense, floods can be drained, droughts can be irrigated, and roads will be built to facilitate transportation and walking. These ministers can understand, but your first step is to reclaim wasteland, and I and others are a little confused."
Instead of reclaiming a large amount of wasteland in the disaster-stricken areas, we will reclaim it thousands of miles away. How can this be considered a flawed decision?
"I have my own intention in doing this, so just do it."
The four places mentioned by Chongzhen were famous for their potato production in later generations and were selected as products with national geographical indications.
He is now letting people reclaim wasteland to prepare for Song Yingxing's large-scale planting next year. The land in the hands of the gentry and clan is temporarily unavailable, so he can reclaim the land himself.
By then there will be a bumper harvest of potatoes with a yield of twenty or thirty kilograms per mu. Transportation will be a big problem. Now we need to build the roads first.
If it weren't for the current time and money constraints, he would have wanted to build cement and connect it from Kyoto to the provincial capitals.
"Your Majesty is wise, this will not only allow the people to have something to do, stop thinking about it, but also increase their fields.
It can also increase the prevention of water conservancy projects before they happen, and it can also distract refugees and not give them a chance to reunite.
What's more important is that it can save a lot of expenses and achieve five goals with one stone. Your Majesty is wise! "
After Shi Fenglai finished his compliments, the ministers called him a flatterer, but they all followed suit.
I have to say that Chongzhen’s work-for-relief scheme is a good idea.
In a major disaster, there is no harvest. If you can work hard and have enough to eat, and if you have enough to live, it doesn't matter if you put in a little effort.
"Xue Fengxiang, the construction of roads and the digging of lakes will be left to your Ministry of Industry. I have two requirements for the lakes. One is convenience and the other is safety. If the dam breaks, I will bury you in the dam as a memorial. sky."
"Guo Yunhou, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development is responsible for opening up wasteland. When opening up wasteland, pay attention to the location and don't destroy the deep forest. You can do it slowly but definitely not perfunctorily. Every acre cleared can be planted immediately."
"My dear friends, please remember that people who receive work-for-relief assistance must not deduct food rations. Only when they are full can they have the strength to work."
Xue Fengxiang and Guo Yunhou frowned at the same time. If they let go, the food would be doubled in an instant.
Xue Fengxiang explained the dilemma, and Chongzhen immediately said: "I will solve the food issue, just do it."
Faced with Chongzhen's determination, not only Xue Fengxiang and Guo Yunhou were confused, but also the entire courtiers.
Chongzhen didn't bother to pay attention to them. Was he going to tell the courtiers that he was going to attack the eight major Shanxi merchants and copy a batch of grain for disaster relief?
"Okay, let's talk about the third question - do the people believe it?"
"Your Majesty, I have some thoughts on this issue!"
As soon as Chongzhen finished speaking, Li Guopu, the cabinet minister, stood up.
"My dear, please speak!"
"Your Majesty, when big things happen in a folk village, it is basically the clan elders. Sometimes the clan elders have trouble speaking because they are highly respected.
When it comes to disaster relief, the imperial court can elect a highly respected courtier to serve as the governor of the three sides, responsible for all disaster relief matters, such as grain adjustment, road construction, lake construction, reclamation of wasteland, etc.
After thinking about it, I found out that among the entire dynasty, apart from Your Majesty, the only people with such prestige are Mr. Sun Ge and Mr. Yuan. "
Chongzhen's eyes lit up, someone finally spoke to his heart.
When he ascended the throne, in addition to Li Guopu, Huang Liji, Shi Fenglai, and Zhang Ruitu in the cabinet were all followers of Wei Zhongxian. The current cabinet was known as the Wei cabinet.
In the Manchu Dynasty, the only one who could be called Sun Ge Lao was Sun Chengzong.
And the person named Mr. Yuan is none other than Yuan Keli.
When Chongzhen first traveled through time, he originally wanted to find an opportunity to recall Sun Chengzong to be the chief assistant of his cabinet. However, the Kunai cabinet was controlled by Wei Zhongxian, whose military power was unstable, and he was not easy to influence the people in the cabinet.
Today Huang Liji, the chief minister of the cabinet, was killed by him because of the Shaanxi disaster, and he said so much to pave the way for Sun Chengzong.
In the end, Li Guopu told him, which was good, so as not to surprise Wei Zhongxian.
Li Guopu's plan was very clear to Chongzhen. He just wanted this foreign aid. Now that Huang Liji was killed, only Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu in the cabinet were Wei Zhongxian's people.
If you find someone else, as long as you serve as the governor of the three sides and be responsible for disaster relief, it will be someone who is on the same front as you, two to two.
In addition, with the emperor behind him, not only can he suppress Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu, at least he can be invincible.
No matter what Li Guopu's plan is, since it is consistent with his own purpose, it is the best result.
Chongzhen was happy in his heart, but on the surface he said calmly: "Li Aiqing, tell me your reasons."
"Your Majesty, let's talk about Mr. Sun Ge first. He was the late emperor's teacher. Before he left office, he was the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Bachelor of Dongge University. In terms of status, no one among the entire courtiers is higher than Mr. Sun Ge.
Governor Ji Liao built the Ningjin 200-mile defense line and commanded an army of 110,000. He had outstanding achievements and gained a higher prestige among the army.
It is most suitable for him to serve as the governor of the three sides, and Mr. Sun Ge is now in his hometown of Gaoyang, which is very close to Beijing. "
Chongzhen did not comment and said softly: "Let's talk about Yuan Keli."
Li Guopu said without hesitation: "Although Mr. Yuan has not been in the cabinet, he has richer experience. He has served as the censor of Shanxi Province, the Sicheng of Shangbao Division, the Shaoqing of this Division, the Shaoqing of Taipu Temple, and the General Secretary Sizuo. Tongzheng, Youqiandu Yushi, Youshilang of the Ministry of War, Nanjing Hubu Shangshu, etc.;
After experiencing Wanli, Taichang, Tianqi, and three emperors, he was a minister of the "Elder of the Three Dynasties" and was awarded the "Fifth Generation of Enrong". The people together with Kuang Zhong and Hai Rui are called the three most upright officials of the Ming Dynasty.
Mr. Yuan will serve as the governor of the three sides. I can guarantee that Mr. Yuan will use every cent of silver and food for disaster relief for the people. "
The sound of clanking echoed in the Huangji Palace, and the expressions on the faces of the ministers varied.
After a few breaths, Chongzhen said softly: "What do you dear ladies think?"
"Your Majesty, I think Sun Chengzong cannot take up the post..."
"Don't talk nonsense to me. Just choose someone!"
Chongzhen interrupted the words of Shi Fenglai, the assistant cabinet minister: "The same goes for everyone else. Don't blame others. Either you recommend someone, or you can recommend yourself. I just want results."
Now that the emperor had spoken, the ministers also began to discuss.
Although the position of governor of the three sides is a hot potato, he is still a governor and a high official in the border areas.
If you do well in disaster relief, you will be promoted directly to the cabinet.
If it can't be done well, it will mean that the brain has been moved and it will be in disgrace for thousands of years.
Judging from the current understanding, the national treasury is empty and the possibility of failure is higher.
But this is the first major event for the new emperor to ascend the throne, and he will definitely support it with all his strength. Therefore, on the whole, it is half good and half bad.
The discussion lasted for a full quarter of an hour. The ministers started talking in low voices and ended up arguing fiercely. No one could convince anyone, and each party wanted to win over people in their own camp.
Chongzhen felt a little headache after hearing this, and then stood up: "I have some things to deal with. You continue to discuss the results at the court and when to withdraw from the court. Wang Chengen, you are here to watch and report the results."
After saying that, Chongzhen got off the platform and left the Huangji Hall. After returning to Dongnuan Pavilion, he looked at Fang Zhenghua and whispered: "Fang Zhenghua, get me some snacks."
After a while, Fang Zhenghua placed several plates of pastries in front of Chongzhen. Chongzhen took a bite of the pastries and a sip of tea, which made him feel comfortable.
In the Huangji Palace, all the ministers looked at each other and sighed.
The emperor's move was already obvious. He would either choose Sun Chengzong or Yuan Keli.
If it's not one of these two, you just stay in the Huangji Palace and see for yourself whether you're hungry or not.
Shi Feng looked at everyone: "Everyone, choose Sun Chengzong to stand on the right, Yuan Keli to stand on the left, and those who have opinions to stand in the middle. Whichever side has more people, please choose which side. Wang Zhongguan will be a witness, how about it?"
