The capital of the Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.
Zhu Yunwen sat on the throne, looking at the ministers who were doing the work below, nodding in agreement or refuting a few words, and then the next minister made a speech.
It is already the cold winter of November, and apart from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites, there is not much to report. However, these three ministries have already formed an operating mechanism. The Ministry of Industry arranges the building of houses, and the Ministry of Household allocates funds. When it comes to auditing the accounts, the Ministry of Rites is responsible for receiving envoys, and Zhu Yunwen does not need to interfere too much.
With fewer memorials, Zhu Yunwen could spare more time to educate Zhu Wenkui and accompany Zhu Wenyuan. He also spent a lot more time in the harem, helping Ma Enhui to check the accounts, taste delicious food, and talk about poetry and poetry with Concubine Ning and Concubine Xian. , having a really pleasant time with Yizhen'er and Axiaomu.
Concubine Shu was in good health, and the imperial doctor did not prescribe anti-fetal medicine. Zhu Yunqi walked with Concubine Shu from time to time, but he couldn't go out today. A heavy snowfall covered the road, and he did not dare to let pregnant women walk on the slippery road.
Looking at the raging heavy snow, Zhu Yunwen felt a little worried.
A few days ago, the Qintian Supervisor came to report that the winter this year will be colder than in previous years. This report is inaccurate. At least it should be said to be "far worse" than in previous years.
In mid-October, Tianjin Port began to freeze. Many ships were blocked there before they could leave Tianjin Port. Even the outer sea was blocked by ice for more than ten miles. This phenomenon was the first time for Ming Dynasty.
The Huai'an Prefecture also reported disturbing news. The winter was so cold that more than ten wandering and begging people froze to death in one night.
The severe cold has become a disaster.
In later generations, many people in Nanjing could not see snow for many years, but in the Ming Dynasty, snow and ice were common in Nanjing and even Suzhou and Hangzhou.
"The Little Ice Age?"
Zhu Yunwen frowned.
The Little Ice Age lasted through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties and lasted for four or five centuries. The Yuan and Qing dynasties were at the beginning and the end, and the Ming Dynasty was in the middle, becoming the most punished one. After severe cold, crop production will decrease, then drought, crop production will decrease again, and then people will eat people, well, foreign enemies will move, coal mountain lanyards...
It is inappropriate to attribute the demise of the Ming Dynasty to Xiao Glacier, but it is also inappropriate to say that Xiao Glacier was not partly responsible.
Zhu Yunwen could not solve the weather problem. The problem for later generations was that the temperature was rising, so they all studied carbon emissions. The problem for the Ming Dynasty was that the temperature was too low, so should he also study carbon emissions?
But leaving aside the cost of burning coal, Ming Dynasty cannot afford such a large amount of coal to burn and release carbon dioxide to fight the weather...
"Let Chen Mu come over."
Zhu Yunwen ordered to go down.
The little girl Chen Mu relied on her intelligence, strong learning ability, and ability to endure hardships. She was repeatedly promoted by Ma Enhui and took charge of the palace's new stove business.
Concubine Shu put down the book in her hand and whispered to Zhu Yunwen: "This woman Chen Mu is quite talented. The emperor really does not consider staying in the palace as a female official. Wouldn't it be a pity if she was returned to Peking?"
Zhu Yunwen retracted his thoughts and walked to Concubine Shu: "Whether she goes back to Peking or not, she will always go home to see her parents."
Concubine Shu smiled and said, "I'm just afraid that the Queen Mother and Queen will love her and be reluctant to let her go."
Zhu Yunwen smiled slightly. This is true. Chen Mu is an immigrant from Shanxi. He has endured a lot of hardships and met many people. He knows how to speak and do things, and is very popular with the Queen Mother and Queen. These two people may not really let Chen Mu return to Peking next year.
Chen Mu came, along with Ma Enhui and A Xiaomu.
It's not surprising that Ma Enhui came to Zhu Yunwen. What's strange is that A Xiaomu, a woman who was always uncomfortable seeing the queen, actually came together with the queen.
Seeing Zhu Yunwen looking over, A Xiaomu took two steps back, ready to run away at any moment.
Zhu Yunwen laughed and asked A Xiaomu: "But he violated etiquette again and was caught by the queen?"
Ma Enhui rolled her eyes at Zhu Yunwen, saying that even a favored person would not tolerate such a thing. She sounded cold and ruthless, so she couldn't help complaining: "When I manage the harem, I cannot do without etiquette and regulations, otherwise the palace will not be in chaos?"
Zhu Yunwen smiled and said to A Xiaomu: "Why don't you thank the Queen for your mercy?"
A Xiaomu had no choice but to salute the queen.
Ma Enhui waved her hand to let A Xiaomu stand up, then smiled at Zhu Yun and said: "But this time it was not my concubine who caught her, but she took the initiative to find her."
"oh?"
Zhu Yunwen was a little surprised. He looked at A Xiaomu who had his head lowered and said, "Tell me, is there anything I need to ask the queen to do?"
A Xiaomu knelt down and begged: "Your Majesty, it's snowing so far away from the capital. Isn't Liaodong frozen? I, no, I am looking for the queen because I want the queen to send someone to the capital." Buy some cotton clothes and quilts and send them to Liaodong so that my father and brother can survive this cold winter."
Zhu Yunwen looked at Ma Enhui, and Ma Enhui nodded: "That's true."
"Don't worry, your father took away enough winter supplies when he left. It shouldn't be a problem for Hu Li to change his troops to spend this winter."
Zhu Yunwen said calmly.
"So, what about other tribes?"
A Xiaomu hesitated and asked.
Zhu Yunwen stopped smiling and became serious: "I gave them more than a year to think about it, but how many other tribes believe in me? It's not like you don't know that not many Jurchen tribes have come to court this year. "
"Then why doesn't the Emperor take this opportunity to give them some cotton-padded clothes and quilts? After the spring comes next year, they will definitely be grateful and come to pay homage to the Emperor and thank the Emperor."
A Xiaomu knelt forward.
Zhu Yunwen looked at the simple and kind-hearted A Xiaomu and shook his head slightly: "In such cold weather, no one can transport supplies to Liaodong. Even caravans and sergeants dare not travel far. Do you think, if I send The sergeants were escorting the supplies, but the mountains were blocked by heavy snow on the way, and they ran out of food and heating supplies. What should they do?"
Ma Enhui stood up and helped A Xiaomu up: "I know that you are pure and kind, and I also know that you care about your tribe. The emperor rewarded the Huli Kai tribe lavishly, and did not forget to publicize it along the way. Isn't it just to give other Jurchen tribes a way to survive and avoid suffering in the winter? Hungry, suffering from cold? But doing things with good intentions may not have good results. After this cold, they will also know Ming's good intentions."
A Xiaomu wanted to say something more, but couldn't.
Indeed, the Ming Dynasty had been lobbying the Jurchen tribes to become vassals and pay tribute since the end of the fourth year of Jianwen. But now it is the end of the fifth year of Jianwen, and not many Jurchen tribes have visited the Ming Dynasty. It has been four or five months since my father Ahachu left the Ming Dynasty. Putting aside During the time on the road, other Jurchen tribes should have arrived in Nanjing at this time. Even if it is not good, there should be news coming to Nanjing.
But no, not one.
A Xiaomu didn't know why, but Zhu Yunwen knew it very well.
At the same time that the Jianzhou Guards appeared, the Ming army also entered. This move meant that the Ming Dynasty gave up the purely restrained policy, and the Jurchen tribe faced the possibility of losing its autonomy.
They don't like the Ming Dynasty's army stationed. They always feel that there are a pair of eyes staring at them in daily life. They feel uncomfortable. If they want to do something shameful, they have to go into the woods. This is too hard to let go. As usual, today they steal a Gua, throw a stick at me tomorrow, it will be fair and aboveboard, won’t your life be easy?
Jurchen also knows how to allow others to sleep soundly next to the bed.
Zhu Yunwen did not force them. Just as promised to Aha, Daming would patiently persuade them to surrender, again and again... until the patience was exhausted, your mouth was dry, and you couldn't listen. When the time comes, just leave it to the knife in your hand to discuss.
Zhu Yunwen didn't have a good impression of the Jurchen tribe. If they could be assimilated in a peaceful way, moved inward, and lost the characteristics of their ethnic group, then it would be peaceful. If there is no hope for peace, then war.
The implication of not promising to give up force is that I can beat you at any time.
In the northeast, the Wenhe River suddenly stabbed.
This is the important grazing land of the Haixi Jurchen and Huluwen Jurchen tribes.
The leader, Xiyang Ha, looked at the frozen Hulawen River, his eyes full of sadness. There were nearly a hundred tribesmen standing on the river, holding sharp wooden poles and shouting slogans to cut through the ice, hoping to catch some fish from the river. .
But the ice was too thick. After three hours of beating, it was almost up to my waist. I just couldn’t penetrate the ice. It was getting dark. If I gave up and the wind blew, there would be thick ice again tomorrow!
Suo Shiha came over, wrapped his clothes tightly, and said, "It's no longer possible. They eat too little and don't have the strength to break through the ice. Stop and replace them."
"We can't stop and let them continue! A group of people have been fighting for a whole day and can't even break through the ice. How can I explain to the tribe? The fish must be fished out!"
Xiyang Ha rejected Suo Shiha's proposal.
Suo Shiha turned his back to avoid the north wind and said, "Even if we catch five fish today, what about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow? This winter is going to be long, and our people can't survive it."
"What do you want to say?"
Xiyangha asked sharply.
Suo Shiha took a breath and sighed: "You also know that the Huli Gai tribe of Aha's headquarters has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and received countless rewards. Not only did they have enough food to eat, but they also sent We have bought a lot of winter supplies. Let’s keep our heads down and talk to Ming Chao so that we can find a way out for the tribe.”
Xiyang Ha gritted his teeth and kicked a stone away: "You only saw Aha coming out to bring food and cotton clothes, but did you see the Ming army? The Ming army stationed, don't you know what this means? Wait. Once the Ming Dynasty takes control of the situation, it will definitely be like the Liao Kingdom and the Northern Yuan Dynasty. They will not regard us as human beings and will take away all our belongings without restraint. The people of the Ming Dynasty will only become slaves of the Ming Dynasty!"
Suo Shiha looked at the angry Xiyang Ha and understood his worries.
In fact, the Huli Wen tribe planned to send envoys to the Ming Dynasty to surrender. Especially after hearing that the Huli Gai tribe had brought generous rewards, they wanted to surrender to the Ming Dynasty.
But the establishment of Jianzhou Guards and the direct garrison of the Ming army made the Ministry of Wen hesitate.
Xiyang Ha is understandably worried about the Ming army controlling his tribe.
But from Suo Shiha's point of view, this worry is somewhat secondary, because if he does not surrender to the Ming Dynasty, Hu Wenbu will starve to death or freeze to death. Without the control of the Ming army, there will be no way to survive...
