This is a contradiction.
A grain yield of two dan per mu is worth 2 taels of silver, and a cotton yield of one shi per mu is worth four taels of silver. However, this is not the case every year. In normal years, it is only about one tael to two taels.
Although the value is almost the same, the grain grown is actually returned to the warehouse, but the price of cotton cannot be guaranteed.
And it may not be sold, so even if the court provides policies, people are not willing to grow cotton.
A family starving to death and one person freezing to death is a good trade-off.
Of course, the most important factor is the lack of cultivated land.
"Li Aiqing, do you know where cotton was introduced to the Central Plains?"
Listening to the emperor's questions, Li Ruolian was very puzzled. He didn't know why the emperor's questions today were so weird.
But he still said: "Your Majesty, forgive me, I... I'm not sure!"
"Your Majesty, I seem to know something about this!"
Listening to Wang Chengen's response, both Chongzhen and Li Ruolian were a little surprised.
Chongzhen said softly: "Since you know, then tell me!"
"yes!"
Wang Chengen stepped forward and pulled the mink coat that had spread out when Chongzhen just turned around: "As far as I know, there are three ways for this cotton to reach the Ming Dynasty."
"The Northern Cotton Road is the Northwest Silk Road. It was brought back from the Qin Dynasty (Roman Empire) by the Han envoy Zhang Qian. It seems to be called Caomian.
This kind of cotton has a short growing season and likes arid climate, and the Western Regions are just suitable for the growth of cotton grass. It was only introduced from the Western Regions to the Central Plains in the Song Dynasty.
Next is the South Cotton Road. The South Cotton Road is the Southwest Silk Road. This Silk Road was formed around the Western Han Dynasty, about two hundred years earlier than the Northwest Silk Road.
The connection is between Han Dynasty and Shendu at that time, which is today's Ming Dynasty and Tianzhu.
It was introduced from Tianzhu to Yunnan via Myanmar, Siam (Thailand), Annan (Vietnam), and then to the Yangtze River and Yellow River basins in the interior.
The third route was inflow through sea trade. It probably originated in the early Three Kingdoms period and took shape after the Wei and Jin Dynasties. It was brought into Fujian by merchants during the Yuan Dynasty.
The introduction and vigorous promotion of cotton prevented too many people from freezing to death.
But it is a pity that although there are three routes that have been introduced into the Central Plains, the cultivated land area is not enough, and there are problems with production. Therefore, although the court is trying its best to promote it, it is still far from enough. "
"According to what you said, the Western Regions and Siam are rich in cotton, right? Besides cotton, what else is there?"
"Back to Your Majesty, since the Han Dynasty, the Western Region has referred to the west of Yumen Pass and Yang Pass, including today's Uzang (Tibet), Yarkand (Xinjiang), and Turpan.
Uzang mainly produces wheat, highland barley and some legume crops. Highland barley seems to be particularly adapted to the climate of Uzang, and the yield per mu is about three to four stones.
But highland barley is very rough and chewy, like... finely ground plant ash mixed with sand and gravel. People in the Central Plains are not used to eating that food.
Yarkand mainly produces various fruits, with high yield and excellent quality.
The main crops in Siam and Annam are rice, with two or even three crops a year. "
The corner of Chongzhen's mouth twitched. He couldn't live anymore. Who cares whether it tastes good or not, as long as it can fill his stomach.
Hearing Wang Chengen's response, Li Ruolian was very surprised. He did not expect that this usually low-key lieutenant general would be so knowledgeable.
But he couldn't understand how the emperor switched from cotton to various crops.
But before he could think about it, he heard the emperor's words: "Li Aiqing, I remember that Wuszang and Yarkand are my territory of the Ming Dynasty!"
Listening to the emperor's questions, Li Ruolian's expression changed suddenly, from pride to pity, and then to anger.
Then he whispered: "Your Majesty, during the reign of Emperor Chengzu, in addition to the two capitals and thirteen provinces, the entire Ming Dynasty also had the Seven Guards of Guanxi, the Military and Civilian Marshal's Office of Orisi, the Onan River Guard, and the Jiaozhi Chengxuan Political Envoy Department.
The Seven Guards of Guanxi are Yarkand, Turpan and other places, and the Oris Military and Civilian Marshal's Mansion manages today's western Uzbekistan and Ladakh.
In the third year of Xuande, because Jiaozhi was too far away and inconvenient to control, the local people rebelled repeatedly, so they just gave up! "
Speaking of this, Li Ruolian's eyes were full of helplessness.
Chongzhen looked indifferent. The local rebels had to invest tens of millions of taels of silver as military pay every year, and the local government could only pay tens of thousands of taels in taxes every year.
Rather than giving up, it is better to say that it is weak-minded. This is the inevitable result of the regression and decay of political civilization.
It is also a reflection of the crisis that the government and the military are in ruins but unable to change.
From here we can also see that the national power of the Ming Dynasty began to decline.
"Keep talking!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Li Ruolian bowed slightly: "In the 14th year of Orthodoxy, during the Tumubao Incident, the Ming Dynasty lost 200,000 elites. The border areas felt that the Ming Dynasty was on its last legs, so they became more and more wanton and repeatedly provoked the imperial court, but the imperial court was unable to fight back.
By the Jiajing period, the seven tribes in Guanxi collapsed, and the west had shrunk to Jiayuguan.
After seclusion, the commanders of each of the Seven Guards in Kansai rebelled, became independent, and established the Yarkand Khanate.
In the seventh year of Jiajing, the Shazhou Guards were annexed by the Tubo Khanate. Since then, the Seven Guards of Guanxi have existed in name only, and the Western Regions and Xining Prefecture have become independent from the Ming Dynasty.
In the forty-fourth year of Wanli, Jiannu established the country, Nuergandusi was controlled by Jiannu, and Uzang was basically out of control. "
Having said this, Li Ruolian paused for a moment, his eyes full of thoughts, and his face changed one after another: "Your Majesty, I forgive you for being so presumptuous.
Taizu and Chengzu conquered a huge territory, but they were too gentle in their control.
Although guard posts were set up, these people did not truly surrender. Envoys and tribute envoys from various places were intercepted and killed from time to time.
For example, in the 22nd year of Yongle, Zhongguan Qiao Laixi and Deng Cheng envoy Wu Sizang were intercepted and killed by the Anding Guard commander Ha San Sun Sange and Qu Xian commander San Jisi and others.
In the first year of Hongxi's reign, he also sent envoys to Li and Samarkand to pay tribute. When the road passed through Hami, he was intercepted and killed by Shazhou guards.
Similar things happened at least dozens of times. Although the court suppressed them, they always happened again after a period of quiet.
The tribute envoys from various places were afraid of being intercepted and killed, and the imperial court was also afraid of using troops. Coupled with the local turmoil, the three reached a tacit agreement. They belonged to the Ming Dynasty in name, but they governed and ruled independently.
The most regrettable thing among them is Hami Guard. Hami Guard was built in the fourth year of Yongle. It is located in the eastern part of the Western Regions and is the main route from the Western Regions to the interior of the Ming Dynasty.
It has been the throat of the Silk Road since ancient times, and is known as the 'throat of the Western Regions, guarded by China' and the 'gateway to the Western Regions'.
Since the Hami Guard lost control, it has been extremely dangerous for merchants to take the Silk Road again, and they had to change their routes.
Due to the combination of various reasons, the prosperity of the Silk Road has ceased, which has also slowed down the development of the northwest. "
Seeing Li Ruolian's face full of anger, helplessness, and pity, Chongzhen said calmly: "Don't be angry. I have only been on the throne for three years, but I destroyed Jiannu. Northern Mongolia and Eastern Mongolia surrendered. Jiannu was destroyed, and Korea was completely destroyed." Incorporated into the territory of Ming Dynasty,
In the cross-sea battle next year, it is only a matter of time before Fuso is destroyed.
The north, northeast, and east of the Ming Dynasty were pacified. Can the west and south be far behind? "
