Logistics tests financial resources, and Zhu Yijun knows very well that war means making money. Although the eastern and western armies were not at war with anyone at this time, when the army moved, grain, grass and silver were flowing like rivers.
Starting from the salt policy reform, after nearly ten years of review, the food shortage in Jiubian has been fundamentally alleviated. Under the combined effect of the imperial court's heavy strikes and various policy redemptions, within the border wall from Liaodong to Jiayuguan, the situation of land annexation has been fundamentally reversed, and homesteaders have occupied the mainstream of grain field owners.
In this way, although the method of opening the country was not restored, the imperial court was no longer burdened with the transshipment of grain and grass. The border officials only need to collect taxes normally, and then buy grain warehouses at the price guided by the imperial court, so that each army can be self-sufficient.
In the two years after the Saihanba Meeting, border trade between Han and Mongolia exploded. Mongolian traders actively participated in border trade with the furs and meat they collected, which led to a rapid improvement in the quality of life of the herdsmen.
After the reform of the salt policy, the annual production of salt was more than four times that of the first year of Wanli, which made it possible to preserve and long-distance transport of meat on the grassland. Because supply far exceeds demand, salt has achieved Zhu Yijun's original intention of carrying out salt policy reform - being as cheap as dirt.
Of course, being so cheap will cause problems: the profit from contracting salt fields has been so low that it is almost the same as the grain output of the same area, which in turn affects the enthusiasm of the entire industrial chain and circulation links.
Since the ninth year of Wanli, the Royal Salt Factory has begun to produce refined salt in different packages and sell it under the brand name. It also produces medicated salts for different purposes, known as palace secret recipes: for example, there are bath salts specially used for body scrubbing when bathing; there are foot salts for soaking feet - high-end people will never mix the two.
Once the imagination is opened, unlimited creativity will burst out from major salt-related trading companies across the country. For example, the best bamboo salt for brushing teeth is from the "Yipin pine" in the south of the Yangtze River, and its light rosin and sulfur aroma are the most popular. There is also refined salt produced in southern Sichuan, which is like peach blossom in color and is called peach blossom salt. Experts and newspapers from the Institute of Gewu said that it is rich in minerals and is the best for health, and it is the favorite of boudoirs. Fujian and Guangdong and Guangxi have a kind of caramel salt, which is brown and black in color, salty and sweet. If this salt is not used for seasoning during barbecue, the grade will naturally be lower.
In just a few years, there are more than a hundred varieties of salt on the market in Ming Dynasty, which is jaw-dropping. However, the class that can consume these products has limited usage, and the biggest market for the salt produced in large quantities is the industry and food processing industry.
Soap, glass, and steel smelting, the three major salt consumers, consume one-third of the current salt production in the Ming Dynasty, and another third flows into the food processing industry. With a large number of ships going to the sea, the demand for fish has increased sharply. Pickling is carried out directly on the ship; at the same time, a large amount of salt is transported to the grassland for meat processing.
When a certain product is extremely abundant, a new industrial chain will be born: for example, when there is more food, the wine industry develops, and the price of wine is cheaper and more people buy wine, which further promotes the development of the hotel and entertainment industry and the transportation and circulation of the wine industry. Increased benefits - this is the multiplier effect of the industrial chain. Zhu Yijun was trained in the party school.
The birth of each basic product will breed a new and ever-expanding new industrial chain. In the Ming Dynasty at the end of the 16th century, they still followed basic economic laws: in the dimensions of value, business, supply and demand, and space. Growth absorbs people, creates wealth, strengthens connections, and gives birth to new ideas and ideologies.
At this stage, Zhu Yijun's main focus is to promote basic products through the Gewuyuan, protect the seedlings of the industrial chain that they transform and grow, cut off the black hands of power that extend to them, and continuously enrich the soil for their growth.
But there were also things that the emperor had no control over - such as the climate. From March to April in the thirteenth year of Wanli, there were only two rains in Beizhili and Shanxi provinces, and a severe drought enveloped the northern part of the empire. Applications for relief were pouring in from all over the country, and as soon as the political leaders led by Zhang Siwei got started, they entered emergency mode.
As of April 30, all the snow water accumulated on the ground had completely evaporated, the seedlings had withered, the fields had dried up, and the canals leading to the state had been cut off. The merchants and people were all suffering.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of food in the Ming Dynasty today, and after the prosperity of industry and commerce, the people of Beizhili have a surplus of wealth, and there has not yet been a large-scale hungry people crying for food. But looking at the declining water levels in the Forbidden City's inner rivers and Xiyuan, Zhu Yijun was still worried: The climate anomaly caused by the Little Glacier had already begun to test its power. After thirteen years of hard work, could he and Zhang Juzheng withstand the test of God's will?
From then on, he not only had to fight with humans, but also with Heaven, and the power of Heaven was much more powerful than humans. The Ming Dynasty under the leadership of Zhu Yijun will soon enter the mode of overcoming the tribulation - if it can survive, it will ascend to the immortal world. If it cannot survive, the world will be in chaos and enter the dynasty cycle!
On the third day of May, the sky was still scorching hot. However, the weather monitoring team jointly established by the Gewuyuan and Qintianjian has reported that the air humidity has increased significantly, and a steep upward green line has appeared on the humidity chart on the memorial.
On the fourth day of May, the green line continues to rise steeply. Zhang Siwei reported to the emperor, saying that although the destiny of heaven is not worthy of fear, he should respect the heaven and the ancestors as an emperor. There is a severe drought in the capital and the will of heaven is unknown. There is no need to ask, but your majesty should fast and pray for rain to appease the people. Di Jia accepted it.
On the sixth day of May, the capital was still in hot weather. Although there are a few thin clouds over the Forbidden City, the sunlight shines through, making one's body seem to be covered with a wet shell. At eight o'clock in the morning, the palace stopped for the big ceremony and the palace gates were opened wide. Zhu Yijun, wearing green clothes and holding a wooden stick, walked out of Fengxian Hall to Daming Gate.
There were no eunuchs around the emperor, and there were no ceremonial canopies. Except for the wooden staff in his hand and the kettle on his waist, there was nothing else. He had a serious face. When he walked out from the middle of the royal road, Jinyi soldiers stood on both sides of the road to protect his safety.
Outside the Daming Gate, there are already crowds of spectators. The people in the capital who heard that the emperor had started fasting the day before yesterday were waiting on the streets for the emperor's arrival. Seeing the emperor's blue-robed wooden staff coming from afar, some knelt down, while others turned sideways and lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
The Holy Emperor walked to the gate of the Ming Dynasty. According to the etiquette established by the Ministry of Rites, the officials of Taichang Temple came out and knelt down to invite the emperor to Yuanqiu.
After the emperor exchanged a few simple words with him, he issued an order and set off. Immediately, the civil servants were in the east, the military officers were in the west, the humble ones were in front, and the lofty ones were in the back. They all lined up in single rows and walked symmetrically to the Temple of Heaven with the emperor. This hall was called Que Chaan, which showed the emperor's sincerity.
The straight-line distance from Daming Gate to the Temple of Heaven is about ten miles. The concrete road was as hot as smoke under the scorching sun, and the emperor and ministers were sweating profusely. Zhang Siwei hung two gourds around his waist, one filled with cold boiled water and the other with salt water. He took a sip after walking more than a hundred steps, but still felt dizzy.
The emperor, who has been exercising all year round, has a wheat-colored face and brisk steps. At a distance of 10,000 meters, Zhu Yijun would be out of breath for a long time if he ran there, but if he walked there, he would feel no pressure at all. Although the weather was scorching hot and the green clothes on my body were soaked, I didn't show any signs of fatigue.
Gradually, the sound of long live appeared around me. The sound seemed abrupt at first, and each sound seemed messy. Then it gradually became uniform, and the shouts were full of emotion.
"Long live!" "Long live!" The voice got louder and louder, making Zhu Yijun, who was a little panicked after Zhang Juzheng's death, wet the corners of his eyes for no reason. He looked to both sides of the road and saw the red-clad soldiers standing straight with their backs to the center of the street. In the gaps between the pro-army troops, expectant faces appeared.
Some people's faces are carved with ravines by the weight of life, while some people's cheeks are round and shiny; some people raise their heads and look directly at themselves because of their excitement; some people are in this fanatical atmosphere. Tears streaming down my face.
The shouting didn't stop, it was deafening and reached the sky.
Lovely and respectable people, I will not let you endure the suffering of China's land sinking, calling for migration, and remembering the dead.
The people in the distance also shouted, maybe they still need a savior and a fairy emperor at this time.
Well, I will let you know the etiquette in a practical way, get rid of ignorance and become knowledgeable and polite.
Tears fell from Zhu Yijun's face, and his lips trembled.
I will expand my territory so that you can thrive in a wider land and you will rarely be left alone.
I will bring this nation to the top of the world so that the people will never suffer from bullying!
...
With excitement, Zhu Yijun finally led the ministers to the Zhaoheng Gate of the Temple of Heaven. The censor in charge of the ceremony and the officials of Honglu Temple maintained order and strictly prohibited noisy and inappropriate behavior. Under the guidance of the usher, the emperor went to rest in the tent outside Zuolingxing Gate. Subsequently, the Ministry of Rites and the chief official of Taichang Temple invited the emperor to come to the altar.
At this time, the leading officials of Nezan led the emperor forward, and the deacons and ceremonial singers performed their duties. The internal praise official was in place, the emperor came to pay homage, the ceremony officer sang to send off the gods, after offering incense three times, he kowtowed to heaven four times, and all the officials knelt down after passing on the praise. Afterwards, the ceremonial officer sang the silk libation and performed the initial offering. The emperor went to the gods to present the silk and the title, and read blessings on the throne. The emperor knelt down, and all the officials knelt down after passing their praises. After reading the blessings, he prostrated himself and made his body flat.
Then the ceremonial officer sang Xingya to present the gift, and the emperor went to the gods to present his title. The ceremonial officer sang and presented the gift at the end of the line, and the ceremony followed the ceremony. The ceremonial officer sang to send off the gods, the emperor kowtowed to heaven four times, and all the officials knelt after passing praise. The ceremony officer sang and read the blessings, the blessing officer held the blessings, the entering silk officer held the silk, each went to his position, and the inner praise officer finished the ceremony. The guide led the emperor to the tent to rest.
In the tent, the emperor told Zhang Siwei and other cabinet ministers: "There is a severe drought. Although I am not virtuous, it is also because there are officials in the world who are corrupt, corrupt the law, exploit the common people, and are unwilling to care for and support the people. As a result, the heaven will be harmonious. From now on, Please ask this department to make careful selections." Zhang Siwei and others said they obeyed the order.
After the ceremony was over and he was driving back to the palace, Zhu Yijun said, "I wonder if the people have dispersed?"
Duke Dingguo replied: "Not yet."
Zhu Yijun ignored the pale faces of the ministers and ordered: "If you don't take the chariot, you will go back with me on foot."
Zhang Siwei: "..."
On Bingxu in May, it rained heavily.
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