In Lishui County.
Just back from the mountain, Su Jing didn't arrange anything and just let Zhu Biao rest by himself.
No matter how good your health is, you cannot sleep less.
In the room, Zhu Biao was sorting out what he had heard and learned from Su Jing.
At the same time, he also had in his hand a letter from his father, Zhu Yuanzhang.
After briefly reading it, Zhu Biao immediately replied.
As Gong Weilang left with the letter, Zhu Biao also breathed a sigh of relief.
He always felt that he felt sorry for Su Jing for being like this.
But when he thought that the future of the Ming Dynasty was at stake, he gritted his teeth and had no choice but to continue.
At the same time, as a transfer station for exchanges between Su Jing and Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao felt more deeply the profound knowledge of Su Jing.
Su Jing simply put forward a knowledge point, but when it came to Zhu Yuanzhang, he needed to think hard and couldn't figure it out.
And when Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to ask for the answer, Su Jing's teaching was already ahead of who knows how many versions.
It was like when climbing Donglu Mountain, Su Jing was strolling in front, but she could only catch up behind her, still panting from exhaustion.
How to solve this natural disaster that occurred more than two hundred years after the Ming Dynasty?
Zhu Biao actually also thought, but no matter how he thought, he got useless methods.
Zhu Benbin thought that after telling his father, and with the help of many ministers, there might be a way.
Unexpectedly, I had to rely on Su Jing in the end.
At three o'clock in the morning, Su Jing finally finished catching up on her sleep.
He stretched out, touched his belly, smacked his lips and said:
"We still need oil and water!"
Not long after, Su Jing brought Zhu Biao to Shaxian snacks.
If you want oil and water, you still have to have pork trotters and rice.
After the meal, Su Jing sighed with satisfaction: "Sure enough, food is the most important thing for the people, and eating is the most important thing in the world."
Zhu Biao echoed from the side: "Master Su is right. People in this world actually have very low requirements. They will be happy if they have enough food and clothing."
Su Jing nodded and said: "Yes, food and clothing are the most basic needs of human beings. Only when this need is met can there be other possibilities for development."
The two of them didn't stay in the store too long. After all, the table turnover rate of Shaxian snacks was very high. Sitting there after eating would easily affect subsequent diners.
Under the willow trees on the river bank, Su Jing took a casual stroll and ate away.
Zhu Biao followed closely, but he was thinking about how to ask Su Jing how to solve the natural disaster more than two hundred years later.
The breeze blows, and there are many vendors hawking along the river.
Su Jing's eyes fell on the packaging of those products, most of which were straw paper produced by her own paper mill.
Yes, this shows that his papyrus has gained market recognition.
After the sweet potato workshop became unsustainable due to lack of raw materials, most of the customers of the wrapping paper produced by Su Jing were these vendors.
Su Jing doesn't seek to make money, as long as she can maintain operations, that's enough.
Because the paper mill is an important part of his business map, and later the printing factory will be gradually added.
Finally why, it's simple.
Because the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty will be reopened soon, and the number of scholars will increase dramatically by then.
As more people read, the demand for paper and books will increase.
You have to make arrangements in advance.
"Master Su."
Zhu Biao's voice came from behind Su Jing, pulling Su Jing back from her thoughts.
Su Jing turned around and said, "Niu Yi, what's wrong?"
Zhu Biao said: "Su Jing, the students have also reviewed and consolidated the climatology you taught a few days ago."
"The students have a question. Please answer it, sir."
Su Jing stopped and turned around and said, "Oh, let's talk about it."
Zhu Biao paused and said: "Master Su, my students asked at that time whether there would be natural disasters like those in the late Tang Dynasty in the Ming Dynasty. You said that after more than two hundred years, the celestial phenomena will reincarnate again."
"Students have checked the records of the three years of drought in the late Tang Dynasty. It was like no grass grew, no grain was harvested, and people were displaced. It was simply a hell on earth."
"Students want to know, did the Ming Dynasty really have no way to deal with such natural disasters? Can the people just accept the purgatory reality?"
Compassion for heaven and earth, compassion for others, and a mind to help the world.
Zhu Biao is still quite good to the people, although he is only a prince now.
Su Jing had no doubts about Zhu Biao asking such a question.
This disciple of mine cares about the suffering of the world.
"There is a way."
Su Jing didn't want to dampen Zhu Biao's enthusiasm too much, so she still gave him a possibility.
Zhu Biao's eyes lit up and he immediately said: "Please ask Master Su to teach me."
Su Jing immediately said: "Niu Yi, don't worry. I said there is a way, but it is not that easy to do."
Zhu Biao's excitement continued. For him, as long as there was a way, it would be fine.
If you have a way, you will at least have a direction to work towards instead of running around like a headless fly.
"I know this must be difficult, but I believe in Master Su."
Zhu Biao's eyes were extremely firm.
have to!
You treat me as a god!
Su Jing looked at Zhu Biao's eyes and complained in her heart.
However, he still said: "If we want to solve the problem of natural disasters, we must first analyze the matter and find out the main contradictions and secondary contradictions."
"What are we fighting against natural disasters for?"
Zhu Biao immediately replied: "It is to let the people have food to eat and avoid famine."
Su Jing nodded and said: "Yes, so actually our core issue should be how to solve the people's food problem when natural disasters strike, right?"
"Um!"
Zhu Biao nodded and said, "What Master Su said is absolutely true."
Su Jing continued: "Then the next thing will be simple. Things like natural disasters are changes in nature. Manpower is small, so it is very difficult to change."
"We might as well change our thinking and start with agricultural production to improve our productivity."
"How about allowing people to still farm and produce food even when natural disasters strike?"
Su Jing's words suddenly turned Zhu Biao's mind around.
All he had been thinking about before was how to reverse the natural disaster and prevent it from happening.
Now it seems that there is a problem in the thinking.
Su Jing continued: "I have said before that the fundamental cause of the dynasty's demise is the conflict between man and land and the annexation of land."
"Leaving aside the discussion of land annexation, the contradiction between man and land can actually be revealed in this natural disaster."
"As a dynasty develops, the population will inevitably increase. Natural disasters will occur, food production will decrease, and people will riot if they don't have enough food to eat."
Zhu Biao was a little confused, why did he suddenly switch to the conflict between man and earth?
But if you think about it carefully, there is indeed no problem.
He nodded and said: "Master Su is right. The fundamental reason why natural disasters caused people to revolt is still not enough food."
Su Jing said lightly: "I didn't tell you how to solve the conflict between man and earth at that time, but I can tell you now."
Um?
Zhu Biao's eyes widened instantly and he looked at Su Jing in disbelief.
Strictly speaking, the conflict between man and earth is more serious than the natural disasters that occurred more than two hundred years later.
What he asked was how to solve natural disasters, but what Su Jing wanted to teach him was to deal with the contradiction between man and earth.
This is really profitable.
"Master Su, wait a moment."
Zhu Biao said quickly, then came to Su Jing's side and straightened his clothes, which seemed to be some kind of ritual.
Su Jing was stunned by this.
"Master Su, it's ready."
Zhu Biao was ready to listen to the memory.
Su Jing didn't care that much and said: "Natural disasters will intensify the contradiction between man and land, and the core cause of the contradiction between man and land is the contradiction between the infinitely growing population and the productivity of land with the ultimate carrying capacity."
"First of all, the population grows exponentially, I taught you this. But the land carrying capacity, that is, the productivity of the land, grows arithmetically."
"Whether it is natural disasters, wars or diseases, they are all means to smooth out the gap between the two due to development."
"This is an unsolvable problem in an agricultural society, also known as the Malthusian trap."
Su Jing spoke slowly, and Zhu Biao listened very carefully.
He didn't dare to say anything for fear of disturbing Su Jing.
If you don't understand something, you can only memorize it first.
"To escape from this trap, it is actually very simple, that is to give up the small farmer economy."
Su Jing calmly stated the solution.
But after hearing this, Zhu Biao's expression immediately changed. He immediately said: "Master Su, if you give up the small-scale peasant economy, what should the people eat?"
The disadvantage is that I have talked about small-scale peasant economy before, so I don’t need to explain too much to Zhu Biao.
Su Jing said; "Niu Yi, you have misunderstood. Giving up the small-scale peasant economy does not mean giving up agriculture."
"Those are two different things."
Two different things?
Zhu Biao fell into doubt again.
Su Jing smiled and said, "Do you remember what I told you before about the changes in the social system?"
"What led to the emergence of feudal society?"
Zhu Biao immediately replied: "Iron plows and oxen plowing! Master Su said that the emergence of iron plows and oxen plowing means the emergence of new productivity tools, leading to changes in the social form."
"very good!"
Su Jing nodded and said, "Niu Yi, it seems you haven't forgotten what I taught you."
"Let me ask you again, how did people carry out agricultural production before the iron plow and oxen plowed?"
Zhu Biao thought for a while and replied: "Stone tools and human farming?"
Su Jing said: "It does exist, but the earliest agricultural method was slash-and-burn farming."
"What do you think, whether it is farming with stone tools, slash-and-burn farming, or farming with iron plows and oxen, which one produces more food?"
After hearing this, Zhu Biao immediately said: "Of course it is plowed by iron plows and oxen. This is a more advanced agricultural production method, otherwise it would not be widely spread."
At this point, Zhu Biao suddenly stopped.
He seemed to have thought of something.
Su Jing smiled and was not in a hurry to ask questions. She just looked at Zhu Biao.
"So what Master Su means is that as long as there is a more advanced production method than the iron plow and ox farming, then whether it is the contradiction between man and land or natural disasters, it can be solved!"
Zhu Biao said excitedly.
Su Jing nodded and said, "Yes, this is the most fundamental way to solve this problem."
"It's just that, Niu Yi, there's something you shouldn't forget."
“Advanced production methods are often promoted by the emergence of new productivity tools, and the emergence of new productivity tools means social changes.”
"I don't need to say more about what will happen to the feudal dynasty by then."
(End of chapter)
