"You want this and that too!"
Queen Ma pushed the inkstone in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Come on, let's try it."
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the brush in shorthand and dipped it in it: "Sister, this is not right. Su Jing, I really think this is good."
While speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang had already begun to write vigorously.
What he wrote was exactly what Su Jing said today. All of these must be recorded so that they can be handed over to Li Shanchang and Cui Liang for execution later.
"Chongba, is this what Mr. Su said just now?"
Queen Ma looked at what Zhu Yuanzhang had written and asked curiously.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Yes, what Su Jing said is quite interesting."
Now thinking about what Su Jing just said, the corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth also curved.
"Mr. Su said it, and that's what it is."
Queen Ma said matter-of-factly.
…
The next morning, the sun was just right.
In front of the "Niu Mansion" compound, Su Jing's carriage had been brought over a long time ago. There were a lot of things on the carriage. Mu Ying was sitting in front of the carriage, looking like a coachman.
Su Jing and Zhu Biao stood in front of the mansion, saying goodbye to Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma.
"Su Jing, I hope you find what you are looking for."
Zhu Yuanzhang said to Su Jing.
"Thank you, uncle, let's go."
Su Jing smiled and waved, with a faint smile on her face.
"Mr. Su, I'm sorry!"
Queen Ma bowed towards Su Jing.
"Don't worry, madam, I will bring Niu Yi back safely."
Su Jing nodded.
There were no pretentious people present. This was not a farewell, and the farewell was very simple.
The carriage slowly and leisurely left the gate of Yingtian Mansion and headed north towards Shandong.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not do anything to see him off, but returned directly to the Forbidden City for morning exercises!
In the Fengtian Palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon chair and glanced at the ministers below.
The ministers nodded and bowed, standing on the left and right sides of Fengtian Hall with great respect.
They were also quite curious, where did Zhu Yuanzhang go yesterday?
People disappeared at noon, and then no one was seen all afternoon.
This is relatively rare for Baiguan.
"Anything to start with?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly.
"Your Majesty."
Yang Siyi, the Minister of Household Affairs, walked out slowly and said: "Your Majesty, the Agricultural College has achieved quite a lot in cultivating grain this year. I want to expand the scale next year, and I hope your Majesty will approve it."
College of Agriculture.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Yang Siyi's words, he remembered it.
This is also what Su Jing taught and then Zhu Biao proposed.
Zhu Yuanzhang is busy with many things, and he really hasn't paid much attention to him recently.
"Yang Siyi, tell me, what are the results?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously.
Yang Siyi immediately said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, based on experiments, we have found a way to increase rice production and effectively prevent some diseases that reduce production. Once implemented, we will increase production by at least 12/10 next year."
In fact, what Yang Siyi said was conservative.
The level of agriculture in the early Ming Dynasty was actually just that.
Perhaps because of the influence of Confucianism, the farming methods passed down from ancient times have always been continued.
Apart from slight improvements in tools, there are actually very few improvements in planting methods.
After the Agricultural College was established, it only made some improvements in water and fertilizer, and it immediately achieved immediate results.
It can only be said that Confucianism has really kept Chinese thought in place.
It affects every aspect of life.
This leads to the fact that even if only a few changes are made, considerable results can be achieved.
"good very good!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and said: "I'm sure. Next year, no, this year, we can start preparing to expand the scale. At the same time, we must absorb more agricultural talents and strive to achieve greater results."
In the feudal dynasty, food was always the top priority.
Yang Siyi's achievements are remarkable.
The other ministers looked on with envy.
Not many people can be so praised by Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best."
Yang Siyi immediately knelt down towards Zhu Yuanzhang to thank him.
Although the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance was very tired, he worked very hard.
The Ministry of Household Affairs is actually quite strange. Normally, it is the department in charge of household registration and finance, and all matters related to money have to go through the Ministry of Household Affairs.
But because in feudal society, food is equal to money, so agricultural matters must also be taken care of.
There are many other names for Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance, such as District Official, Da Situ, Ji Xiang, Da Sinong, etc.
Yang Siyi's new job in agricultural college management is actually quite tiring, but he is very motivated!
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
The speaker was Zhou Zhen, the Minister of Justice, who was also a heavyweight.
Not to mention the gold content of the Six Books of Secretariat itself, since Zhu Yuanzhang came to the throne, the law has been strict, and a lot of criminals have been arrested and tried every year.
The people who arrested them were people from the Criminal Department.
The number of officials Zhou Zhen arrested was several times more than the number of officials standing in Fengtian Hall now.
Among the officials, he has the nickname "King of Hell".
Usually, few people interact with him.
Zhou Zhen knew it and was happy about it.
As the head of the Criminal Department, he is in charge of legal punishment, and he should be impartial, fair and strict.
Only by being alone can Zhu Yuanzhang avoid suspicion.
None of these bosses who can hold the position of six ministers are simple characters.
"Zhou Zhen, what's the matter with you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked simply and clearly.
Zhou Zhen replied: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask you to expand the prison of the Ministry of Punishment."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the officials present changed somewhat.
Expansion of the Ministry of Punishment Prison?
What does this mean? It means there are not enough cells now.
The prison of the Ministry of Punishment does not hold ordinary people, most of them are prisoners who have committed serious crimes.
Among these people, a relatively large proportion are officials.
After Zhou Zhen finished speaking, he lowered his head and waited for Zhu Yuanzhang's answer.
He didn't explain anything because no explanation was needed.
Zhu Yuanzhang personally tried these major and important cases. Zhu Yuanzhang knew how many people he had arrested and imprisoned.
Everyone knows that there are not enough cells in the Ministry of Punishment Prison.
"I'm sure."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not think for too long and agreed to Zhou Zhen's request.
He has always spared no effort in punishing criminals.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Zhou Zhen thanked Zhu Yuanzhang, he returned to the team.
The ministers all had expressions on their faces, this incident was still a bit of a shock to them.
Next are some daily issues, such as rebellions in various places, and some minor disasters.
Zhu Yuanzhang was also very resolute and gave his approval one by one.
Although officials will give solutions when they raise problems, all Zhu Yuanzhang has to do is approve or not approve.
It may not seem difficult, but in fact it is not at all.
Because just listening to what the ministers said, it is not easy to judge the complete picture and the truth of something.
Zhu Yuanzhang has lived in the palace for a long time, and he cannot go there to check the situation in person.
In the end, what they said was true or false, or how much they said and how much they left behind.
All these must be judged by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.
The emperor is the pinnacle of power, but he is also the person most likely to fall into an information cocoon.
"Okay, we arrived here this morning. Shanchang, Cui Liang, you two come with me."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, turned around and left Fengxian Hall from the side.
Li Shanchang and Cui Liang looked at each other and stayed where they were.
Outside Fengtian Hall, the officials slowly walked out.
Various voices of discussion also sounded.
"His Majesty was not in the palace yesterday afternoon. It was said that he went to meet someone."
"Master Li, do you know who it is?"
"I don't know, but I heard that the fifth prince is back."
"Fifth Prince! Aren't you studying with Mr. Su?"
"So, the person your Majesty went to see yesterday was..."
"Hey! Be careful what you say!"
…
In Fengtian Hall, Li Shanchang and Cui Liang stepped out after the officials dispersed.
But their destination is Fengxian Palace.
"Master Cui, why do you think His Majesty called us?"
Li Shanchang asked Cui Liang as he walked.
Cui Liang said: "It's probably about the people's newspaper."
Li Shanchang added: "His Majesty left the palace yesterday afternoon and didn't come back until the morning of this morning. Did Mr. Cui hear about it?"
Li Shanchang and Cui Liang are both very young, and they walk relatively slowly.
Cui Liang said: "I don't dare to inquire about your majesty's affairs. I just think about the people's retribution, and my mind is already exhausted."
Facing Li Shanchang's questioning, Cui Liang's response was quite watertight.
Li Shanchang did not pay attention, but continued with a smile: "Master Cui, I have heard something, and it is probably related to the fact that His Majesty summoned you and me today."
"I'm afraid it won't be easy for us to get through in front of His Majesty."
As soon as these words came out, Cui Liang's expression changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I wonder what the prime minister said?"
If you can know what Zhu Yuanzhang is going to ask in advance, you can make a mental draft so that you can deal with it better.
Li Shanchang said: "Actually, it's not a big deal, but the person your Majesty came out of the palace to meet yesterday was Mr. Su, and Mr. Su is the proposer of this people's newspaper."
"Master Cui, do you think that His Majesty summoned us just after meeting Mr. Su? Did Mr. Su say something to His Majesty again?"
Su Jing proposed a democratic newspaper!
Cui Liang frowned. Although there was no clear evidence for this matter, he could still guess it.
"Thank you, Prime Minister, for informing me. I will thank you."
Cui Liang cupped his hands towards Li Shanchang and said.
Li Shanchang waved his hand and said: "Master Cui, you don't have to be like this. Master Cui and I are working together for the people's retribution. We are in the same boat. This is what I should do."
Although the pace of the two was not fast, the distance between Fengtian Hall and Fengxian Hall was not very far.
During the conversation, it has already arrived.
Both of them were people who came here often. The guard at the door did not stop them, and the eunuch turned slightly to let them in.
"My minister Li Shanchang pays homage to Your Majesty."
"Cui Liang pays homage to Your Majesty."
Li Shanchang and Cui Liang saluted Zhu Yuanzhang respectfully.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand directly and said: "Without courtesy, I really have something to ask you."
"Yes, Your Majesty." x2
The two people immediately came to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Shan Chang, Cui Liang, I have seen the layout of the Minbao in Yingtian Mansion, and it is indeed done well. I have also seen the accounts, and they are good."
"Your Majesty, this is just what you should do."
Li Shanchang replied immediately.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Li Shanchang and said: "Shanchang, since you have spoken, let me ask you. This account is too simple and there are some things that I cannot understand."
"Excuse me, Your Majesty."
Li Shanchang immediately said seriously, he was already a little nervous.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Now that the number of people's newspapers has been sold, what is the distribution of the people selling it? How many officials and gentry are there, how many common people are there, how many scholars are there, how many merchants are there, and how many farmers are there?"
"There is also the time distribution and regional distribution of sales. I am not very clear about these."
When Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, it was exactly what Su Jing asked him yesterday.
This directly confused Li Shanchang.
A sales account from a civilian newspaper is not enough. Do you need such detailed data?
Although based on Su Jing's sales in her previous life, this is called user portrait.
But for the Ming Dynasty, this was obviously too advanced.
"This matter is mainly handled by Cui Shangshu. The detailed ministers are not involved in the specific work. Let Cui Shangshu do the talking."
Li Shanchang changed his subject and threw the hot potato directly to Cui Liang.
A dead Taoist friend is not a poor Taoist.
Li Shanchang's wave of Tai Chi immediately made Cui Liang unable to hold his nerve.
He doesn’t know either!
"Your Majesty, I... I... I haven't started sorting out the situation yet, and it's not clear yet."
Cui Liang replied with some stuttering.
"snort."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, glanced at Cui Liang, and then at Li Shanchang.
He had already expected such a result.
He was just a little sad that what Su Jing said casually, why his prime minister and minister could only stammer in response.
Is this gap so big?
"Forget it, I won't make it difficult for you. I just want to ask you one thing. Do ordinary people buy a lot of this newspaper?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked the two shivering people, his words were very serious.
This time Cui Liang immediately replied: "Your Majesty, although the people's newspaper is not expensive, it is still an expense for ordinary people, so very few people buy it."
He didn't know the detailed data, but he still knew the general situation.
Cui Liang is not the kind of minister who only knows how to paddle. He is still very talented and practical.
"As expected, then what do you think is the point of me doing it if the people don't buy it or read it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.
Both Li Shanchang and Cui Liang knew the importance of public newspapers.
The current situation seems to be that public newspapers are very popular, but in fact they have not penetrated into ordinary people.
When asked by Zhu Yuanzhang, both Li Shanchang and Cui Liang became dumbfounded.
They knew about this, but they couldn't solve it.
"Your Majesty, how about supplying it to the people for free?"
Li Shanchang hesitated and said.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Shanchang and said: "Supply it for free, I'm afraid it will only become the tissue paper used by the people to wipe their butts."
After being pointed out by Su Jing last night, Zhu Yuanzhang also realized that if the content was not good, people would not read it.
After all, he was once an ordinary citizen and knew what the people were thinking.
(End of chapter)
